#Waste to Energy Market Share

[futuretonext]

The Global Waste to Energy Market was valued at USD 39.21 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 6% during the forecast period, i.e., 2023-28. The growth of the market would be driven primarily by the massive amount of residential & commercial waste generated every year due to urbanization & industrialization, coupled with increasing population & power consumption levels. As a result, there's a mounting focus of various countries on clean power generation from renewable sources, i.e., augmenting the demand for waste-to-energy plants to treat the substantial waste produced worldwide.

[ladysophiebeckett]

if i were to give my opinion on reselling i would be cancelled. 

[p1utofairy]

★ how will people feel about you going public with your fp?

NOTE: for entertainment purposes only. take what resonates & leave what doesn't. ⭐️ i always appreciate the feedback so don't be shy. MWAH. enjoy!

PILE 1.

i feel like this relationship is going to cause quite a stir, pile 1. the energy is giving “that should be me!” lmao some people are really going to be mad as fuck. your person is going to treat you like an absolute queen and i’m hearing people scoff like “UGH!” which is crazy cause you might not even know these people, but y’alls relationship evokes this energy out of them. you (or possibly your fp) might have a narcissistic ex lurking in the shadows who constantly watches your social media & keeps tabs on y’alls relationship. it’s really weird, EW. they feel like they didn’t have you the way your person does, and it makes them really fucking jealous – it’s honestly absurd.

they fumbled you and they’re really going to regret it!especially because of how well your fp treats you & prioritizes your relationship. this ex has a BIG ass ego like the way they make everything about themselves is insane?! this person could be a fire sign – i’m picking up on some leo energy. they’re in disbelief that you moved on from them, and found someone wayyyy better that fulfills you in so many ways that they couldn’t possibly measure up to. they might create fake pages or reach out to you repeatedly trying to win you back over…it’s shameful honestly. from the outside looking in, your relationship with your fp is going to look so lowkey + private yet so warm + stable. you or your fp could have scorpio/taurus placements, but i just feel like neither of you are the type to post every single thing you do together on social media but people will know that’s YOUR FP, YOUR FP, YOUR FP! like don’t play!

y’all will make it very known that y’all are a couple, but people will not be all up in the mix because y'all simply don’t want them to be. they’ll see little hints and clues that you’re off the market, but this relationship is for you two, not everyone else. i can see you both posting things like holding hands, dinner dates, taking long walks together, an off guard while one of you is doing something, etc. just cute moments that only show a small glimpse of the immense love you two share on a day to day basis.

PILE 2.

were you split between choosing this pile and pile 1 lol? if so, check out pile 1 as well! there might be some messages in there for you too. now anyways, i’m ngl this is giving me single era vibes. you might have options and even if you don’t…you’re like “is any person really worth going public with?” LOL i get it, i really do. you’re very cautious and want to make sure that you’re not wasting your time on a relationship that you know might not last in the long run – you’d rather save yourself the embarrassment.

if you went public with someone…that means you really are committed like they REALLYYYYY won you over because you don’t pop out with just anybody! it takes a lot of effort to keep your attention, let alone gain your trust to be in a public relationship. i actually think your content with being by yourself right now. of course, you want a partner who can provide you with the best and also be loyal and committed to you.

however, you're willing to wait for that one person instead of wasting your time on others who don't meet those standards. OOOOO did some of my fellow saturnians choose this pile? this energy is amazing like seriously i’m so proud of you! you’re doing the inner work and it’s genuinely going to pay off in the long run. you’re cultivating your own happiness and building up your self-confidence. because of that, you’re going to attract a like-minded partner. you will have your desired reality, pile 2! you don’t live your life based on society’s standards and expectations. you’re on a different vibration and are attracting love, prosperity and abundance towards yourself effortlessly because you refuse to settle for less and put yourself in a box.

i know this reading is about how people will feel about you going public with you fp, but you genuinely don’t give a fuck what people think lol. people won’t even be able to form a proper opinion, because you are genuinely on a different level. i randomly just heard that one nicki minaj video when she’s like “BROKE PPL SHOULD NEVER LAUGH!” lmfaooooo i’m sorry but yeah! once you get everything you always said you would, including your fp, people are gonna be real silent no shade.

PILE 3

um pile 3 why is this energy a bit messyyyy, hold awn?! your relationship with your future partner might be different from what you perceive, or at least that’s how the public views it. take that with a grain of salt, but i feel like this relationship is going to have its ups and downs and it’s going to reflect on y’alls social medias.

you or your future partner might be the type to get emotional and act out by reposting different quotes on your IG story or tiktoks that relate to your situation, might even go as far as posting cryptic messages to allude that you two are on the outs. you and your fp know how to push each other’s buttons, and it honestly can get petty between you both. someone is not fully healed from their previous relationship in this connection & the unresolved baggage is carrying over into this one. idk, pile 3. for some of you this could be a karmic relationship and for others of you this could be baggage on your end that you need to work through in order for you to be in a stable relationship.

there seems to be a lot of wishy-washy energy, and people might perceive your relationship as having a 'one minute they're together, the next minute they're not' type of vibe. also, i’m picking up on a third-party situation where either you or your partner is keeping someone on the back burner without completely closing the door.

honestly, people might be amused by this and say things like, 'OMG, go check [Y/N]’s IG story and go see what [Y/FP] posted,' which only fuels the mind games being played. ultimately, i think this relationship will teach you about healthy boundaries and what you are and aren’t willing to tolerate, especially in public. it’s messy because this third party keeps interfering and amplifying the situation to make it worse. the ball is ultimately in your court, pile 3. you’ll know what to do.

[reasonsforhope]

"Scientists have developed a way to dramatically reduce the cost of recycling certain electronic waste by using whey protein.

Their method allows for the easy recovery of gold from circuit boards at a cost of energy and materials amounting to 50 times less than the price of the gold they recover—these are the numbers that big business likes to see.

Indeed, the potential for scalability depends on this sort of cost savings, something traditional e-waste recycling methods just can’t achieve.

Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from ETH Zurich has found that whey protein, a byproduct of dairy manufacturing, can be used to make sponges that attract trace amounts of ionized gold.

Electronic waste contains a variety of valuable metals, including copper, cobalt, and gold. Despite gold’s public persona as being either money or jewelry, thousands of ounces of gold are used in electronics every year for its exceptional conductive properties.

Mezzenga’s colleague Mohammad Peydayesh first “denatured whey proteins under acidic conditions and high temperatures, so that they aggregated into protein nanofibrils in a gel,” writes the ETH Zurich press. “The scientists then dried the gel, creating a sponge out of these protein fibrils.”

The next step was extracting the gold: done by tossing 20 salvaged motherboards into an acid bath until the metals had dissolved into ionized compounds that the sponge began attracting.

Removing the sponge, a heat treatment caused the gold ions to aggregate into 22-carat gold flakes which could be easily removed.

“The fact I love the most is that we’re using a food industry byproduct to obtain gold from electronic waste,” Mezzenga says. In a very real sense, he observes, the method transforms two waste products into gold. “You can’t get much more sustainable than that!” ...

However the real dollar value comes from the bottom line—which was 50 times more than the cost of energy and source materials. Because of this, the scientists have every intention of bringing the technology to the market as quickly as possible while also desiring to see if the protein fibril sponge can be made of other food waste byproducts.

E-waste is a quickly growing burden in global landfills, and recycling it requires extremely energy-intensive machinery that many recycling facilities do not possess.

The environmental value of the minerals contained within most e-waste comes not only from preventing the hundreds of years it takes for them to break down in the soil, but also from the reduction in demand from new mining operations which can, though not always, significantly degrade the environments they are located in.

[Note: Absolutely massive understatement, mining is incredibly destructive to ecosystems. Mining is also incredibly toxic to human health and a major cause of conflict, displacement, and slavery globally.]

Other countries are trying to incentivize the recycling of e-waste, and are using gold to do so. In 2022, GNN reported that the British Royal Mint launched an electronically traded fund (ETF) with each share representing the value of gold recovered from e-waste as a way for investors to diversify into gold in a way that doesn’t support environmentally damaging mining.

The breakthrough is reminiscent of that old fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin who can spin straw into gold. All that these modern-day, real-life alchemists are doing differently is using dairy and circuit boards rather than straw."

-via Good News Network, July 19, 2024

[idkyetxoxo]

Four | Enchanted | Aemond Targaryen

Word count - 3870

Warnings - Substance use?

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The next morning, I awoke with an involuntary smile tugging at my lips. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, and I could already see Alaric standing dutifully outside my chambers.

My thoughts were elsewhere—lingering on the kiss I had shared with Aemond the night before. A kiss that still haunted my senses, making my skin hum with a strange, undeniable energy.

I touched my lips lightly, recalling the firmness of his, the way time had seemed to stop in that one heated, unexpected moment.

Even the dull ache between my legs—a reminder of the night's other... indulgences—couldn't distract me from the memory.

I stretched lazily, shaking the sleep from my limbs. My handmaidens, who had grown accustomed to my moods, dressed me with begrudging efficiency, wrapping me in fine silks and adorning me with jewels.

Their whispers and curious glances did not go unnoticed, but I ignored them. Let them gossip. None of it mattered.

"Alaric," I greeted curtly as I stepped into the corridor, my tone betraying nothing. He nodded stiffly, falling into step beside me as we made our way to the dining hall. 

Inside, my father and Nymor were already seated, locked in one of their usual heated debates that barely paused as I entered. 

I slipped into my chair with practiced ease, plucking an orange segment from Nymor's plate with a casual smirk.

"What?" I asked, feigning innocence as Nymor glared, swatting at my hand in irritation. His scowl only deepened as I popped the fruit into my mouth, savoring its sweetness.

But before the banter could escalate, my father's voice cut through the room, authoritative and unyielding. 

"You two will accompany the princes and princess to the market today." His words were simple, but his tone left no room for argument.

I scoffed, my distaste immediately showing. "For what possible reason would I waste my morning pandering to those dragons?" 

My voice dripped with defiance, my face twisting into a scowl at the very idea. "I have no interest in playing handmaiden to a bunch of pompous Targaryens."

Nymor grunted in agreement beside me, his irritation evident. 

The last thing either of us wanted was to spend our day trailing behind the very people we resented—the silver-haired gods who thought the world bowed to their whims. The dragons who thought their fire made them untouchable.

My father's brow furrowed, eyes narrowing with impatience. "They are our guests, and you will treat them as such."

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms with a defiant huff. "I don't see why I should be dragged along on their little sightseeing expedition. Let them find their way to the market on their own. They are more than capable, aren't they? Or do Targaryens need a map when there's no sky beneath their dragons' wings?"

The barb landed, sharp and intended, but my father's expression didn't waver. He simply looked at me with that same steely gaze he always had when he was laying down the law.

Nymor, always quick to jump into the fray, chimed in. "She's right. Why should we babysit a bunch of silver-haired brats who think they're better than the rest of us? Let them explore the market on their own."

But my father wasn't having it. His voice dropped to a measured calm, the kind that warned of an argument I wouldn't win. 

"He has proven himself worthy, just as you requested." His words were pointed, meant to strike, and they did.

I felt my stomach twist, a hot flicker of embarrassment rising in my throat. "What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped, though the answer was obvious.

"You know exactly what it means," he replied, his voice steady but firm. "It was you who insisted on testing his worth, and now that he's met your challenge, you're ready to turn your back? Will you go back on your word, or is it all just bluster when it suits you?"

The sting of his words cut deep, and I clenched my teeth, my pride and frustration warring within me. 

He was right, damn him. I had been the one to demand Aemond prove himself, and now that he had done so, I was bound by my own challenge. I hated the way my father's gaze pinned me in place, like a hawk watching its prey. 

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Nymor groaned beside me, rubbing his temples in frustration as if the entire conversation had already exhausted him. 

"Fine," he muttered under his breath, clearly resigned. "But let's be clear: I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm doing it because we apparently have no choice in the matter."

I exhaled slowly, turning my head away from my father's piercing gaze. Swallowing my pride with a bitter huff, I relented. 

"I will go," I said through gritted teeth, my voice edged with resentment. "But don't think for a second that I'll enjoy a moment of it."

My father nodded, his stern expression softening slightly as if that was all he had ever asked for. "That is all I ask."

The Targaryens could have their market visit, and I would play the dutiful host, but I wouldn't make it easy for them.

They wanted to see our world? I'd make sure they saw it—thorns and all.

─── ✦⋅♡⋅✦ ───

The golden carriage jostled and rumbled with each turn of the wheels, the ornate crest on its side catching glints of sunlight as we rode through the bustling streets of the Dornish capital. 

The city was alive with noise and color, the air thick with the smell of spiced meats and exotic perfumes. 

Inside, Helaena gazed out the window, her pale eyes wide with wonder as she quietly muttered observations to Aegon, who barely mustered the energy to respond. 

Half-awake and disinterested, he slouched in his seat, a portrait of royal indifference, his eyelids heavy from what I suspected was another night spent in some tavern or brothel.

I watched him, irritation bubbling beneath my skin like molten lava, and I had to resist the sudden urge to yank him back by his hair and slap some semblance of life into his lethargic expression. 

"If he keeps staring at you like that, I'm going to gouge out his other eye," Nymor whispered in my ear, his voice dripping with protective annoyance, his breath hot against my neck.

Following his line of sight, I spotted Aemond across the carriage, his sharp gaze locked on me, his one good eye glinting with a mixture of amusement and something darker. 

That insufferable, self-assured smirk played on his lips, the one I both loathed and couldn't quite ignore. There was something magnetic about his attention, even as it set my nerves aflame. 

He seemed to find every moment with me some private, twisted game—a battle of wills neither of us was willing to lose.

"Let him stare," I whispered back to Nymor, my voice laced with defiance. "It seems I have become his latest fascination."

Nymor shot Aemond a glare that could've melted iron, but the prince only smiled wider, utterly unfazed by my brother's barely veiled threat. 

He leaned back casually, as if the carriage ride, the tension, the entire city were little more than an amusement to him. His attention, however, never wavered. He was watching me like a cat watches a mouse—no rush, no fear, just the certainty that he'd win in the end.

The carriage finally slowed to a halt with a creak of wood and metal, and Nymor was the first to step out, ever the protective brother. 

He turned immediately to offer me his hand, his grip firm and steady as he helped me descend, his touch a reminder that, for all my defiance, I wasn't alone. 

I accepted his hand with a small nod of gratitude before he moved to assist Helaena, whose cheeks flushed pink at the unexpected chivalry. 

She mumbled a shy thank you, her fingers brushing his arm as he helped her down, and I caught the ghost of a smile on Nymor's lips.

The marketplace sprawled before us, a riot of color and sound, vendors shouting out their wares, stalls overflowing with silks, spices, and jewels. 

It was a feast for the senses, and I felt a surge of pride. This was Dorne, a land of beauty and danger, where nothing was ever as simple as it seemed.

We began our stroll through the crowded market, Nymor and I setting a pace that dared the Targaryens to keep up. 

Helaena, to her credit, was enthralled, her eyes wide as she took in the sights. She ran her fingers along the delicate threads of an embroidered rug, marveling at the craftsmanship with a soft, breathless wonder.

"Everything here is so beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine awe.

I couldn't help but smile at her appreciation. "It's the finest craftsmanship you'll find in the realm," I said warmly. "Each piece tells a story."

Aegon, meanwhile, looked bored, glancing around the market with an air of indifference, though I didn't miss the gleam of greed in his eyes as he eyed the golden trinkets on display. 

"A lot of gold," he commented dryly, his tone laced with disinterest.

I laughed lightly, the sound mingling with the vibrant chatter of the market. "Gold is the prettiest metal, don't you think? It has a way of making even the simplest things feel extraordinary."

But it was Aemond who captured my attention the most. He moved through the crowd like a shadow, his eye taking in everything, though it always seemed to return to me. 

His presence was unsettling, a constant reminder of the kiss we'd shared—a kiss I couldn't seem to banish from my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried. 

And it wasn't just the kiss itself; it was the way he looked at me now, like he knew something I didn't, like he could see into the very heart of me and was daring me to acknowledge it.

We stopped at a jeweller's stall, where Helaena's gaze was drawn to a pair of delicate emerald earrings that shimmered in the sunlight. 

Without a second thought, I picked them up, holding them against her ears with a smile. "Do you like them?"

She nodded shyly, her face lighting up with joy.

"Then they're yours," I said, turning to the jeweller. My fingers slipped deftly into the pouch at Nymor's side, retrieving a handful of coins and handing them to the jeweller without a word.

Aegon watched the exchange with a smirk. "How generous of you, Princess," he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "I didn't know you were in the habit of giving gifts to strangers."

I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, Aemond spoke, his voice smooth and laced with a hint of mischief. 

"Very generous indeed," he murmured, his gaze fixed on mine, his words heavy with insinuation. "I wonder just how far the princess's generosity extends."

The air between us crackled with tension, his challenge hanging in the space like a sword waiting to fall. 

Aegon snorted with laughter, clearly enjoying his brother's taunt, but I wasn't about to let Aemond get the better of me.

I raised an eyebrow, my tone cold and sharp as a blade. "Wouldn't you love to find out?"

Nymor, ever my shield, cut in before Aemond could respond. "Keep dreaming, one-eye," he sneered. "My sister's generosity doesn't extend to the likes of you."

Aemond's smirk only deepened, his gaze never leaving mine as he ignored Nymor completely. 

He leaned in slightly, his voice low and dangerous, meant for me alone. "Tell me, princess," he whispered, "what's more maddening? That I kissed you... or that you can't stop thinking about it?"

His words were like a spark to dry tinder, igniting something hot and angry inside me. "Get over yourself," I snapped. "I'm not one of your conquests, and I won't be another name for your list of careless indulgences."

His gaze darkened, though his voice softened. "Then don't be. But don't lie to yourself either. I know you felt it. I know you still do."

I opened my mouth to deny it, to tear him down with words as sharp as the blade I wanted to stab through his chest, but I couldn't. 

The truth was there, lingering in the space between us, undeniable and infuriating.

I tore my gaze from his, turning sharply on my heel. "Come," I called to the others, my voice too cheerful, too sweet. "There's something I'd like you all to try. A true Dornish delicacy."

Aemond's gaze burned into my back as we wove through the market stalls, the tension between us like a taut string, ready to snap. I would make him pay for rattling me, for making me feel anything at all. 

I would show him exactly what it meant to play with fire in Dorne.

Helaena's face lit up with curiosity, while Aegon looked mildly interested, probably hoping for another indulgence to amuse himself. 

Nymor stayed close, casting suspicious glances at the Targaryen brothers, but he didn't question me, knowing better than to interrupt when I had that particular glint of mischief in my eyes.

We made our way through the bustling market, weaving between stalls of silk, fragrant spices, and brightly coloured wares until I stopped in front of a small, unassuming stand. 

The air was filled with the sweet, heady scent of candied fruits and honey, the stall covered in vibrant, jewel-toned sweets that shimmered under the sun like tiny, edible gems.

"These," I announced, gesturing to the array of brightly coloured treats, my eyes sparkling with barely concealed mischief. "Are my favourite Dornish sweets. They're made from a rare fruit that grows only in the deep desert. Quite the experience, I assure you."

The vendor, an elderly woman with a knowing smile, nodded as she carefully arranged the sweets. She gave me a wink, recognizing me instantly as a regular patron. 

We'd shared more than a few quiet chuckles over the reactions of those unaccustomed to the particular effects of her confections.

Helaena leaned in, her gaze fixed on the array of vivid colours. "They're beautiful," she murmured, enchanted by the glossy reds, purples, and blues. "What are they made of?"

"Oh, a blend of fruits, spices, and a touch of something special," I replied with an innocent smile. "One of the rarest tastes in Dorne. It's said to heighten the senses, make the world feel a bit more...vivid."

Aegon, always eager to try anything that promised pleasure or distraction, reached out without hesitation. 

"I'll bite," he said, popping a deep violet sweet into his mouth and chewing eagerly. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," I said sweetly, watching him closely as he savoured the flavour, his expression quickly shifting from casual enjoyment to something more bewildered.

His eyes widened slightly, and I could almost see the moment the candy's subtle, mind-altering effects began to take hold.

I turned to Helaena, offering her a pastel green sweet. "You should try one too. The taste is... unlike anything you've ever experienced." 

She hesitated for a moment, then took the sweet from my hand, trusting and eager as she popped it into her mouth. 

Her reaction was slower, more subdued, but I could see her pupils dilate, her gaze softening as the colours around her seemed to grow more vibrant, the world suddenly full of shimmering light and unexpected beauty.

Aemond watched his siblings' reactions with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, his eye narrowing. 

"What exactly are these sweets meant to do?" he asked, his tone guarded, but there was a challenge in his gaze as he looked at me as if daring me to tell him the truth.

"They simply elevate the senses," I said coyly, selecting a deep red sweet and holding it out to him. "They make you see things differently, feel things more deeply. Dorne is a land of intense experiences, after all. Why not embrace it?"

He took the sweet from my hand but didn't eat it immediately. 

Instead, he studied it as if trying to determine its secrets. "You seem awfully eager to share," he said, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Should I be worried?"

I leaned in closer, my smile mischievous, eyes locked on his. "Only if you're afraid of a little adventure. But I wouldn't worry—you like playing with fire, don't you?"

Aemond held my gaze for a beat longer, then popped the sweet into his mouth with a decisive snap of his teeth. 

He chewed slowly, his expression impassive at first, but then his eye flickered with something new—a brief, unguarded moment of surprise as the effects began to take hold. 

His posture shifted, and for the first time, the ever-composed prince seemed caught off guard, the sharp edges of his demeanour softening just a touch.

I grinned, watching them closely, satisfied as the subtle effects worked their magic.

 "Welcome to Dorne," I said, my voice tinged with a playful edge. "Where nothing is ever quite as it seems."

We continued our stroll through the market, Nymor and I stayed close, exchanging knowing glances as we watched the Targaryens, eager to see the full effects unfold. 

It wasn't long before the signs began to show: Aegon, ever the eager fool, started to sway slightly on his feet, blinking rapidly as if the world around him had suddenly become too bright.

He stumbled into a stall selling perfumes, knocking over a display of glass vials that shattered in a symphony of colour and scent, the air filling with the overpowering mix of jasmine and rosewater.

"Easy there, Aegon," I teased, biting back a laugh as he fumbled to steady himself, his movements clumsy and disoriented. 

He looked at me, his pupils blown wide, his usual arrogance replaced by a dazed, blissful confusion.

"Everything's so... so colourful," Aegon mumbled, his voice slurring slightly as he squinted at the world around him. 

He grabbed at the air as if trying to touch something invisible, his fingers twitching in odd patterns. "It's like the sky's moving... the colours are... singing?"

Nymor snorted, barely able to contain his laughter. "Maybe stick to wine next time, Aegon. Seems sweets aren't your strong suit."

I couldn't help but laugh, watching Aegon make a fool of himself, staggering and tripping over his own feet. He wandered over to a nearby fountain, dipping his hands in the water and splashing his face repeatedly as if trying to ground himself.

 "The water feels... alive," he muttered, marvelling at the way it seemed to shimmer and dance under his touch.

Helaena, meanwhile, was fairing better, though she wasn't entirely immune to the effects. 

She moved slowly, her eyes wide as she gazed at the intricate patterns of a nearby fabric, her fingertips tracing the threads with exaggerated care.

"It's like... I can feel every stitch," she said dreamily, her voice soft and breathy. She was lost in her own little world, a serene smile spreading across her lips. "I've never seen anything so beautiful."

I patted her shoulder gently, feeling a small pang of guilt but also relieved that the effects on her were mild, more like a pleasant daydream than anything troubling. 

"Just enjoy it, Helaena," I said kindly, guiding her away from the stall so she wouldn't be overwhelmed by the bustling crowd.

But Aemond—oh, Aemond was having the worst of it, and I couldn't deny the wicked satisfaction I felt watching him try to maintain his composure. 

The ever-stoic prince, who prided himself on his unshakable self-control, was clearly struggling to keep it together. His gaze darted around, his eye glassy and unfocused as if he were seeing things that didn't quite make sense.

He blinked rapidly, shaking his head as though trying to clear away a fog. 

"What... what is this?" he muttered under his breath, his voice strained and edged with a frustration that only made his predicament funnier. "The walls are... moving. And the ground... it's... it's breathing."

I bit my lip to keep from bursting into laughter, but Nymor had no such restraint. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as he howled with laughter. 

"Look at him!" Nymor wheezed, pointing at Aemond, whose attempts to appear unaffected were failing spectacularly. "The mighty prince of the Targaryens, undone by a bit of Dornish candy!"

Aemond shot him a glare, or at least tried to, but his expression quickly melted into one of bewilderment as he reached out and touched the stone wall beside him, recoiling as if it had burned him.

"It's... it's moving," he stammered, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and disbelief. He turned to me, his composure cracking as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. "What did you give us?"

I shrugged, feigning innocence while barely suppressing my laughter. "Just a little taste of Dorne. You said you wanted adventure, didn't you?"

Aemond's mouth opened and closed, his words failing him as he tried to keep his balance. He stumbled back, nearly tripping over his own feet, his hand reaching out to steady himself against a merchant's cart. 

The vendors and passersby watched him with a mixture of confusion and amusement, the sight of the prince reduced to this state proving to be quite the spectacle.

"This isn't... this isn't real," Aemond muttered, his tone a mix of defiance and vulnerability as he fought to regain control. He clenched his fists, trying to force himself to focus, but his body wouldn't cooperate. "Everything's... distorted."

Nymor and I were beside ourselves, trying to contain our laughter as we watched Aemond grapple with the vivid hallucinations.

 The market seemed to pulsate around him, colours bleeding into one another as if the world itself was playing tricks on his senses. 

His frustration was palpable, and for the first time, Aemond looked genuinely lost, struggling to reconcile the reality he knew with the chaos unfolding in his mind.

"Relax, Aemond," I said, trying to maintain a straight face but failing miserably. "It's just the sweets. It'll wear off soon. Or not. Who can say?"

He shot me a withering look, though the effect was somewhat diminished by his dilated pupil and the bewildered expression he couldn't quite hide. 

"This... this is your idea of fun?" he asked, his voice laced with a desperate attempt at his usual snark, though it came out shaky.

"Oh, you have no idea," I replied, enjoying every moment. 

Aemond groaned, rubbing his temple as if that would dispel the vivid, swirling colours that seemed to dance at the edge of his vision. He tried to collect himself, but every time he seemed to gain some ground, another wave of distortion hit, pulling him back under.

 I could see the frustration boiling beneath his calm facade, and it was all the more satisfying knowing he couldn't hide from it.

Nymor finally straightened up, wiping a tear from his eye as he patted me on the back. "You're wicked, sister," he said, still chuckling.

I nodded, my eyes still locked on Aemond, who was leaning heavily against the wall, his breaths coming in shallow, uneven puffs. 

"Just a little reminder," I said softly, my voice carrying just enough for Aemond to hear. "Dorne isn't for the faint of heart."

The Targaryens might have thought they could handle anything, but today, they'd learned a valuable lesson: Dorne had its own way of humbling even the most arrogant of dragons, and I was more than happy to be the one to teach it.

A/n - Got a tad bit carried away writing about their acid trip oops 

Enchanted tag list - @mamawiggers1980 @shilphy87 @esposadomd @targaryendestiel @deepeststarlightmoon

@thebirdandthebee @queen-of-elves @believeinthefireflies95

[lumiconic]

“ if you’d say you love me ”

✧ some way or another, every member of the global pop sensation 6REEZE has fallen head over heels for you.

✧ kunikuzushi, venti, kazuha, heizou, aether, xiao ; fluff, slight hurt comfort ; idol au ; not proofread

  the first to be sucked into your irresistible gaze is kunikuzushi, known as the main dancer kuni to 6REEZE’s devoted fanbase, STORM’S EYE. it’s almost funny, considering how kuni is known for being the sharpest and most angry member of the group, who dismissively flicks his hand at fans pleading for his autograph. somehow, it was always you who was able to see past his thorny exterior to the blazing passion underneath.

  as the group’s manager, you know almost everything about each of the boys, from their favorite colors to their most coveted dreams. only kuni refused at first to open up to you, calling it a waste of time because he had more important things to do than team-building. there were some tiny hints of disappointment on your face whenever he opted out of the group hangouts early, but you never forced him into anything, no matter how eager everyone else was.

  yet, there was some tiny part of him, buried far beneath, that almost wanted you to make him. to be given an excuse to learn more about you, and to be known as well as you knew the other boys. he never acted on it, and so it’s by complete chance the first time you show having knowledge of him beyond what he’s voluntarily shared.

  he was in the rehearsal room, packing up his bag and wiping the sweat off his brow after another long day of practice. while his singing and rapping skills were mediocre – for an idol, of course, which made them still far above average – he had been scouted solely for his skill at dancing and thus had to train much more in that area than any other. while it was his passion, he still found himself exhausted beyond belief at the end of the day.

  you opened the door without looking up, talking on the phone to someone about future marketing plans (i’m sorry, but if you want heizou to model that line then you need to take aether too because he doesn’t have enough deals yet). kuni cleared his throat.

  your head shot up and your eyes landed on him. “kuni!” you said, sounding surprised and ending the call with a tap of your finger. “oh, do you want this? here – ” you dug in your tote for a moment, then tossed a bottle to him. startled, he threw out his hands and almost fumbled the catch. 

  “ragnvindr energy?” he read the label out loud. the neon pink coloring on the plastic wrap almost hurt his tired eyes, but he was still able to discern the title. “what is this?” 

  “isn’t that your favorite brand?” you asked, sounding surprised.

  “yeah, but – how would you know that?” he said, the usual bite in his voice gone, replaced by confusion as he stared at the bottle. you tilted your head. “well, you bring it practically every day and keep it in your bag, so,” you shrugged, “i just noticed. that one’s my favorite, so i thought i’d have you try it too. which flavor do you like best?”

  there was some strange pulse of feeling through his chest at those words. that casual recognition, the easy way you stated that you had noticed something about him. that you were paying attention. He couldn’t explain why it felt so important. so heady and exhilarating in a way that almost rivaled the feeling of dancing.

  “green tea,” he said, without thinking. “the more bitter it is, the better.”

  you laughed, and he sucked in a breath. the sound was like – the first rays of light peeking over the horizon in the morning; like rain drumming on leaves in the midst of a storm. like music. so easily, he could be lost in that rhythm the way he gets swept into a song even in just the first few beats of an addictive melody.

  “green tea, huh. you aren’t supposed to have that much caffeine, but i saw how hard xiao was pushing you today.” you lifted your shoulders in a what can you do gesture, then pressed your index finger to your lips. “maybe try to drink more water in the future, but for now you definitely deserve this. let’s keep it our secret, okay?”

  “o-okay,” kuni stumbled over the word, surprise still freezing his wide-eyed expression in place, hating the choked breath lingering in his throat as you smiled back at him. a blush rose to his face at the sight, coloring the apples of his cheeks bright red. “thanks.” 

  “of course! once this next m/v comes out, you’ll have more room to breathe,” you said reassuringly. “just hold out til then.” he nodded, not trusting himself to speak without his voice cracking embarrassingly. what is this? [name] of all people, causing this reaction? get yourself together! they’re just your damn manager, not your – 

  he silenced his inner thought before it could finish that humiliating sentence.

  “well, see you later,” you said, waving goodbye and leaving the room as you tugged your phone out of your bag, already returning to your itinerary of plans to make. there was silence for a long moment, his eyes still focused sightlessly towards the door. kuni looked at the bottle in his hand, turning it over multiple times before unscrewing the cap, lifting it up, and dumping the whole thing over his head.

  he stood there for a moment, the smell of artificial sunsettia flavoring soaking through his hair and cool, sticky juice dripping down his cheeks, soaking into his long sleeved exercise shirt, and pooling at his feet, an speechlessly angry and dumbfounded expression on his face. the heat in his cheeks refused to dissipate. then he took a deep breath in, hoisted his bag over his shoulders, and headed for the showers.

  the second person to be enchanted by you is venti, the main singer, with a pleasant, boyish voice that can go unexpectedly deep and serious. considered immature and childish, he’s also the most rebellious of the group, in a way; the one who would disappear for hours at exactly the wrong times, fetching expensive gifts for the other members and interrupting meetings with the company heads to interject his own opinions on music and production.

  this was yet another day that he was spending doing the opposite of what he was meant to; visiting a local café, one of his personal favorites because of their cutely decorated cakes and lattes, wearing thick black sunglasses and a face mask.

  currently, he was hurrying away from the café, holding a bag with a small box of petit fours and a caramel-apple flavored special edition coffee, trying to lay out his plans for the rest of the day. i just need to get out of here, then i’ll get right back to the company and start practicing again. it’ll only be about ten minutes to go straight home, it shouldn’t take that long…

  “oh my god! is that venti?! like, from 6REEZE?!” 

  … damn it.

  “can i please get a photo? i love 6REEZE, i know all your songs! i have, like, every single photocard released since you debuted!” the nervous babble of the girl who spotted him was admittedly somewhat flattering. “h-hey, sure, a photo’s fine!” venti said, a dazzling smile leaping to his face as he bent slightly to make a peace sign at the camera. the girl clutched her phone in both hands as she took the photo, like it was a priceless item of some kind. 

  “oh, me too, please! you’re my favorite!” begged her friend, bouncing excitedly; her hysterical voice reached a new pitch as venti did finger hearts in her photo. “hey, what’s going on over there?” “what, is he some kind of celebrity?” voices began to bubble through the crowd at the noise, and soon enough, there was an entire group of people shoving up against him, asking for pictures and autographs and asking questions that he could barely hear. 

  panic was starting to burn in his chest, flustered words of hey, excuse me, i’ve really got to go spilling from his lips, with no end in sight to the mayhem. then, he spotted a familiar figure; you, hand shielding your eyes from the sun, peering out over the crosswalk for, presumably, him. your gaze lit on the commotion, and then on him. your jaw dropped slightly in surprise at the uproar being caused simply by his presence. 

  he made eye contact with you through the crowd, panic sparking in his eyes, an unmistakable help me forming on his lips. there was annoyance on your face, and for a second he thought you were going to leave, but instead you opened your mouth as wide as it would go and shouted, “HEY! IS THAT CHILDE FROM DCKZ?” pointing – somewhat unkindly – at a random passerby, a tall boy with bright ginger hair.

  screams rose from the crowd, the unique sound of teenagers seeing their favorite, most handsome celebrity crush, and in the following roar of sound as the poor boy was swarmed without warning, venti was able to slip away, flicking his sunglasses back down onto his face. 

  you met him in the center of the crosswalk, quickly starting to walk again. you chided him gently, smacking his arm with the back of your hand at his impulse to suddenly disappear, and he apologized, only sort of meaning it.

  “part of me is kinda annoyed that someone like childe would get more attention than me,” venti remarked wryly, hooking his mask with one finger and pulling it back over his face, careful to tuck his two toned braids into the back of his hoodie. “with his one-note singing, he shouldn’t have half the audience i do.”

  “sure, but don’t worry, that won’t last for long,” you said, your eyes sparkling with determination as you strode confidently through the streets; venti’s slightly shorter legs scrambled to keep up with your quick, assertive pace. “you’ll be a superstar someday. i’ve always been sure of it.”

  there was a sudden, strange feeling of a lump in his throat; his green eyes flickered to your back, the 6REEZE tour hoodie that you were wearing and its list of sold out dates written down the smooth, high quality fabric, and strange whispers of memory fluttered into his mind. a thousand days spent practicing, the moments right before rising onto the stage, his heart pounding so hard he could barely think and sick nervousness boiling in his stomach, rendering him almost unable to speak. and you, of course, holding out a water bottle, a sheet of lyrics, a helping hand, as always.

  his breath caught and a frantic whirl of thoughts spilled into his mind. the feeling that there’s something he was always overlooking before, something obvious that he never noticed even though it was right in front of his face, like he was missing something crucial, something so important that now that he had noticed its absence it was like a puzzle piece had been cut out of his still beating heart.

  wind blew past his face, and time seemed to slow down in the next second; you turned, a smile flitting to your lips and the words “hey, go a bit faster!” falling into the air as your hand flashed out, connecting the space between you, and grabbed his wrist. in that moment, there was no other way to describe you than… angelic, with golden sunshine drenching your face, your fingers cool against his skin, and he struggled, suddenly, to take air into his lungs.

  “anyway, what did you leave for?” you asked, abruptly breaking the spell. venti shook his head, disoriented. “w… what? oh – i,” he held up his paper bag sheepishly. “i wanted to get a coffee.”

  “oh? from where?”

  “just this café i like,” he said, almost embarrassed of the answer. “well, can i try something?” you asked. he fumbled in the bag for a moment before taking out a small pastry, a layered cube of strawberry shortcake. you popped it into your mouth and chewed for a moment, and he found himself holding his breath with the hope that you would like it.

  “wow, that’s really good,” you said with surprise. “can i come with you next time?”

  there was no excuse for the shot of adrenaline that rushed through him at the innocent question, and he was so thankful that you weren’t facing him as a giddy smile crossed his face. “sure thing!” he said, brightening, and quickened once more to continue in pace with you.

  the third person to melt into your fascinating mind is kaedehara kazuha, the songwriter of the group and main rapper; a fan favorite for his calm and relaxing exterior that belies a fierier soul underneath. it helped, of course, that he wrote extremely popular and romantic songs. you had a strong friendship with him, as he was the member you had known the longest, practically since he was a trainee and you were both much younger.

  right now, he was laying on the floor of your apartment and listening to a demo track of a new song, already planning the words to the sweet, delicate piano melody, while you sat on the couch scribbling in a spiral bound notebook, eyebrows knit in a concentrated expression. you heaved a sigh, ripping out a sheet of paper and crumpling it into a ball before tossing it on the floor frustratedly. kazuha paused the music. “what’s wrong?”

   “i’m just – trying to figure this out,” you sighed. “the words just won’t come to me.”

  “what are you writing?”

  “… poetry,” you said begrudgingly. when he laughed, hiding the surprised and excited thump his heart made when he heard that word, and then the following shock at those emotions, you threw a pillow at him. “stop it! you write this kind of thing too!” 

  “yes, but i get paid to do it,” he pointed out, refraining to mention that it was also his main pastime outside of his idol duties. “can i see it?” you shook your head instantly, and his lips tugged downwards into a frown. so, [name] writes poetry. what a coincidence. his eyes glittered, fixing his unhappy look on you.

  you closed your notebook and gave him a big smile, slightly pained in a way he could only recognize due to your years of friendship. “really, it’s just a hobby. it’s about time for dinner anyways. shall i start making something?”

  “no, show me,” he requested, tilting his head, dark red eyes locked onto yours. “please?” he wanted to see them so badly, a hint of desperation seeped into his voice. he almost cringed at that sound. but why was he so curious? of course, he inexplicably loved the idea that you had one of the same hobbies as him. composing poetry and songs? it was as if you were made to be together.

  he bit down hard on the inside of his cheek, and tasted salt on his tongue for a second, the pain jolting him back into his right mind. partners, of course, is what he meant. friends. nothing more than that. how could he be having such stupid thoughts about you, his oldest friend? 

  your voice drew him into reality again. “okay, fine, just don’t judge me. it’s… really dumb,” you admitted, closing your eyes and cracking open the spine of the notebook. kazuha ran his fingertips over the paper, ridged with line after line of your cramped handwriting in thick ink. as he took in the contents of the pages, his eyes widened. this is…

  “a love poem?” he said aloud. you squeezed your eyes shut as he started to read the words halfway down the page. “… lost to me like dandelion fluff / i grasp for another handful / another breath, wishing for you cupped in my hands.” he rocked backwards, clapping his hand over his mouth not soon enough to muffle the laughter.

  your cheeks colored and you snatched the notebook back. “ugh, kazuha! get out of here! i didn’t even finish it yet!”

  “no, no! i’m not laughing at you!” he said, though he was a bit. such a tacky way of words, and yet… “it’s just so sentimental, i never would have expected this from you. it’s, sort of sweet.”

  “well, you never know,” you said, placated slightly by his words. “and anyway, i’d never show it to anyone but you. it’s just for fun.”

  you’d never show it to anyone but me? logically, he knew there were a thousand reasons for you to say that, ranging from him being another poet, to him being your close friend. and yet, he latched onto the one he wanted the most. 

  “who’s it for?” he asked, as casually as he could, as calmly and slowly as he could. as if there was no meaning behind that question at all. as if the idea that such a poem could maybe, possibly be for him didn’t make his heart explode into fireworks of joy, without him even knowing why. no, not quite; of course, he knew why. his job was writing love songs, anyway. he had just never thought that of all people, it would be you who caused these feelings he’d sang about a thousand times yet never experienced.

  “i’m not telling,” you said, sticking your tongue out childishly before looking embarrassed. his heart plummeted into his stomach. even though it was an answer to be expected. he couldn’t explain this crushing disappointment at your refusal to speak. “w-well, anyway… why don’t we go get something to eat now?”

  it was unmistakably an escape from a conversation you didn’t want to continue. yet, kazuha wanted to ask you to wait, so he could see another poem of yours. even if it led to heartache, he wanted to know so badly that it almost hurt. the possibility of you writing something like that for him was something he wanted more than anything in that instant. and yet…

  more than that, he wanted you to be comfortable around him. that was truly what he wanted most. so… “okay, sure,” he obliged, and you set down your precious notebook as the two of you stood to leave, him casting one more glance towards it and wondering after its tantalizing contents. 

  as you both stood in the elevator, waiting for its descent to the bottom floor, he turned to you. “hey, what was the name of that poem again?”

  “dandelions,” you said, another embarrassed flush tinting the tips of your ears. “it’s silly, but— ”

  “no, it isn’t. dandelions,” he repeated, the word tingling on his tongue. it felt like he was on the verge of something new, somehow, that familiar warm, sparking feeling he always got right before an idea for a brand new project. “i like it.”

  the next single is soon released, titled wishes in the breeze, a heartfelt ode laced with sugary-sweet declarations of love for an unknown person. you find a copy of the tape– its cover plastered with an image of the boys sitting together with their backs to the camera, kazuha in the middle, one eye showing as he turns his head– outside your apartment door; in the liner notes of the tape are shreds of a poem in red ink.

  the third to fall prey to your beauty is shikanoin heizou, the main visual and most outgoing, charismatic member of 6REEZE. of course, he’s quite talented as the other members, but his true strength is in his magnetic personality that draws in new fans almost every day. he always knows just what to say, a perfect comeback locked and loaded on his tongue and ready to burst no matter what the situation is.

  after wishes in the breeze won ‘best new pop song’ at a prestigious teyvat awards event, you and 6REEZE were invited to a celebration dinner with many other famous artists. heizou was standing with the other members and holding small talk with a punk-pop girl band trio that recently released an album that swept the awards, golden apple. 

  “heya, [name] just came in,” the shortest girl said, tilting her head towards the entrance. “ain’t  that ya manager, heizou?” he smiled instantly, and agreed, “ah, yes!” with a gleeful look on his face. “i wasn’t sure they were going to show up, they don’t usually like big crowds, but i guess this was too important of an opportunity to pass up.”

  he swiveled to greet you, hand already raising in a wave, and as his gaze landed on you, the world seemed to stop turning for a moment, the words falling out of his mouth and disappearing.

  highlighted underneath the dancing lights, there you were; in a forest green tuxedo, the silken material of your sleeves almost glowing as you rubbed the back of your neck nervously. your hair was styled in such a way that you looked like royalty, sweeping over your shoulders, and when you turned your head slightly and the bright color of your eyes was caught in the glimmer from the spotlights above, he could just feel his heart in his throat and the bittersweet taste of longing.

  heizou was unable to speak for a few seconds, almost unable to breathe. it was lucky for him that kazuha caught sight of you and waved you over, because he couldn’t get a single syllable out, let alone a greeting. you crossed the room to the small group.

  “how fancy,” kuni scoffed, sharp nose turned up as he jutted out his chin. “no wonder it took you so long to get here, primping like this.”

  you pulled at your sharp collar. “it’s a little stifling,” you said with just a hint of sweat to betray your flustered interior underneath your calm expression. “i don’t usually get dressed up like this, but… it’s for such a special occasion, and it’s a little fun too – ”

  “it looks amazing, [name]!” venti exclaimed, stars in his eyes as he grabbed your hand and pumped it up and down. “seriously, the best! you didn’t have to go so all out for us, we would have been happy with just a fancy sash or something,” he laughed. you accepted his handshake without a change of expression, as the other boys oohed and aahed dutifully.

  “i mean, come on! this is so fancy, i’m shocked to see [name] all dressed up and looking sharp! i wish we could see you like this more often,” venti continued, turning to look at heizou with a smile. “right?” 

  the question was surely meant innocently, as a query for the other contender for flirtiest member. it was most likely that venti had expected only a oh yes, it’s quite stunning, but not as stunning as [name]’s cute face by itself. but heizou had no smart remark, instead offering only a “yeah, it’s fine,” with a flat, unchanging face, before turning on his heel and practically running for the exit. “hey!” venti said, surprised, as if trying to call him back, but it was no use; the red-head boy was already out of earshot in a matter of seconds.

  “ah… ? heizou?” you said, taken aback as you watched heizou’s rapidly retreating frame. “did i… do something wrong?” a strange sadness seemed to fill your chest, and your hand fell away to rest limply by your side.

  pushing through the double doors, heizou finally managed to escape. he ducked around a corner, hunching over and staring at the floor, his breathing fast with exertion and agitation. “that’s… just not fair,” he mumbled into his hand, palm pressed to his mouth and face burning red. “to suddenly show up in something like that? it’s practically playing dirty… ”

  he sunk to the floor, getting dust on the legs of his suit, but he barely noticed, burying his face in his hands with only thoughts of you rushing through his head. he had no doubt the others were wondering after him, but there was no chance he could go back in his current state, barely able to think straight. 

  “man, [name]… you really are dreamy.” 

  though the mood of the celebration was dampened by heizou’s partial absence and your dejection, you managed to go to bed that night with a smile on your face due to the fun atmosphere and the others making a special effort to cheer you up. the next time you saw heizou, he presented you with a gift box tied in an intricate knot with a silk ribbon. inside, was a less formal version of that outfit, in a popular style that you could wear out on the street.

  “because you said you thought it was fun,” he says, tucking his hands behind his back to conceal their shaking. “i thought you would like something like this. to wear whenever you want. but if it’s too much, or silly, i – ”

  “i love it, heizou,” you say firmly, cutting him off. “thank you.” when you hesitantly pulled him into a hug, his arms came up automatically to wrap around your back, his breathing almost stopping with an nervous thrill that traveled up his spine. he wondered for a second if you could feel his heartbeat and how fast it was pounding inside his chest, before pushing the thought aside and letting himself just feel the warmth of your arms for that short moment.

  the fifth person captivated by your kindness is aether, the youngest member and the least experienced, with no solid lead position. every person in 6REEZE has their fair share of fans, but he had a noticeable lack of support compared to the others; the company that managed the group, SHOGUNATE ENTERTAINMENT, just seemed to have it out for him, barely giving him any solos or spending any time marketing him.

  of course, no one ever voiced their concerns at his treatment aloud, not when he seemed so truly optimistic. nobody wanted to be the person to make that grin disappear. spending all day, every day practicing, waving the others off when they asked him to take a break, every moment was dedicated to the betterment of his idol persona, never letting that golden smile drop from his face.

   it felt like it was a thousand degrees on the set of their next m/v, yet aether was still practicing, the sound of their upcoming release today and tomorrow blaring through his ears. it was the only song he had heard in at least a week, but he couldn’t take a break for even a second if he wanted to remember the whole thing without one mistake.

  when his twenty-third(? he lost count around number fifteen) runthrough of the song finally finished, leaving him kneeling on the floor, he shut off the music. in the silence of the empty room, there was some kind of pounding still echoing in his head, making it hard for him to think straight. as he rose to his feet, his vision blacked out for a moment.

  “aether, you’re still here?” said a sudden voice, laced with surprise. he looked up to find you, apparently having just entered and in the midst of rearranging a couple of set pieces. as your gaze traveled over him, your eyes widened slightly. “are you okay? you look so pale.”

  “yeah, ‘m fine, just – just tired,” he mumbled, swaying on his feet slightly. your worried expression swam before his eyes. “is it hot in here, or… ?” were his last words before he stumbled and fell, the ground rushing up to meet him faster than he could react with his exhausted, nonresponsive limbs, eyes closing and unable to think properly.

  huh… ?

  the world pulsed around him in blinking black dots. somehow, he hadn’t hit the ground yet. it felt wrong that he would still be falling; he forced his eyes open with great struggle, and found that you had caught him. how strange… why couldn’t i move… ?

  you gently lowered yourself to the floor, allowing him to rest his head against your leg. “aether,” you said, your voice pained and worried, “how hard have you been practicing? have you taken any breaks today?”

  “no, i was trying to learn the choreography without – ” the words caught in his dry throat, breath scraping painfully, and you looked even more worried as he coughed. “without pausing at all.”

  a tch sound escaped your lips, expression more concerned than he’d ever seen it before. “you must be so dehydrated.” you bit your lip. “aether, you know you’re just hurting yourself this way. this level of work… it’ll hinder your progress, rather than help it.”

  despite the discouraging nature of your words, it was gratitude for that acknowledgement, and some thick, warm emotion that brought a strange moisture to aether’s eyes. he tried to rub at his eyes, but his hand was shaking too hard. “no, i have to do this.”

  “why?” you demanded.

  he barely knew how to put it into words. “i’m just… the weak link,” he said, tears pricking for a moment before he blinked them away, one hand resting on his temples and shielding his face from your concerned gaze. “i’m not good at anything, so i have to practice and practice to make up for – ”

  “you’re not the weak link, aether,” you said firmly, your voice so kind and earnest that it almost brought tears to his eyes yet again. “you’re like – the glue, you can do everything perfectly well. there’s nothing wrong with not having a specialty. you work so hard, and always go out of your way to support everyone. don’t let me hear you talking like that, okay?”

  “but – ” he tried to protest, then almost melted underneath the force of your angry, anxious eyes. even with the embarrassment of being in this situation, there was some foreign ember of warmth in his chest that burned hotter with every word from you. he couldn’t explain it, but it was like hearing those things from you was rejuvenating somehow; soaking into his body and leaving him feeling looser, calmer in its wake. he didn’t know if it was because it was you specifically, and he was almost afraid to think about it. 

  “no buts!” you snapped. “i refuse to listen to you thinking this way about yourself. you’re incredibly capable and strong, and don’t you dare bottle this up and work yourself to the point of passing out again. i know you can do it, without punishing yourself for no reason. it’ll be okay.”

  “… okay,” he nodded. you pressed your hand against his forehead and winced. “you better not be getting sick. now go home and rest up. i don’t want to see you here again until tomorrow afternoon, got it?”

  you walked him to the exit, making sure he drank almost the entire contents of his water bottle, with orders to go to sleep extra early. yet, even with those directions, he tossed and turned almost all night, still feeling the force of your laser-hot gaze every time he closed his eyes. 

  the day filming started, there was no doubt in him that he could nail the entire choreography. even xiao commented on his movements seeming more sharp than usual, his voice more fluid as well. of course, there was a reason for that, but he would never have voiced it aloud that he wanted just one more second of your eyes on him. just one more word of praise that felt so much more real coming from you than anyone else.

  there was a six-second focus on him for the second chorus, and he poured all of his saved-up energy into that moment. “i want you here, i want you with me in my arms,” he sang, throwing his entire body into the next twirling movement, and pointed straight at the camera with the unfaltering wish that you would see and know he was speaking to you. “you’re my love, the one i’m wishing for, today, tomorrow, forever!”

  the sixth member of 6REEZE to love you is xiao, the center and leader of the group. though STORM’S EYE has no shortage of love for him due to his mesmerizing voice and mature good looks, he is the least social of the boys, known as ‘ice prince’ because he’s so aloof and cool at fan events. there is no one in public knowledge that he chooses to let his guard down around; even in vlogs, he barely socializes and keeps to himself, practicing or listening to music on bulky headphones.

  SHOGUNATE ENTERTAINMENT works mainly out of an enormous compound filled with training rooms and facilities for all of their groups and other productions. the residence reserved for 6REEZE is attached to it. technically, it could be shared by the group, but the only people who really live there are venti and xiao, and venti is almost always out on other business (or so he claims) anyway.

  the roof of the apartment has an amazing view of the entire city and the sky. it’s the perfect place to go when a break and fresh air is needed, meaning xiao can almost always be found there. and now, after an incident in which a very important standalone project where he was meant to collaborate with a girl group has been cancelled due to strong pushback from fans, he’s vanished, and you know exactly where he’s gone.

  watching the door still swinging shut from his sudden exit, president miko clicked her tongue carelessly. “ah, so immature. do you remember when we were young enough to be able to throw tantrums whenever things went awry, ei, dearest?” she tilted her head at the purple haired woman, who sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “we could secure another collaboration, but apparently not with any girl group. perhaps xing/yun or LUPICAL… ?” she mused. “could someone please go after him?”

  “i can – ” kuni volunteered, already raising from his seat, before you rocketed to your feet, pushing your chair in. “i’m on it! please email me your consensus later!” the other boys watched, taken aback, as you gave a hasty bow and practically sprinted out.

  you found him on the roof, of course, leaning over the balcony with a stony line to his jaw. you approached, and he raised his hand without greeting. “what happened back there?” you asked tentatively.

  “how can they take away an opportunity so selfishly?” he spat. you weren’t sure whether he was talking about the fans or SHOGUNATE ENTERTAINMENT, but nodded anyway. as the leader, he was naturally under the most stress, and when he got into a bad mood there was nothing to do but wait it out. 

  “i don’t know if i can do this anymore,” he said, feeling the smallest crack in his voice and dragging a hand down his face. “we’re always being watched, always having to obey stupid rules that don’t even make sense! this was an important collaboration, i’m not a commodity that will lower in value if i work with a girl! if our fans can’t handle us acting like normal people, they aren’t even our fans, are they?”

  “i know,” you said, trying to soothe him, placing a hand on his arm only for it to be shaken off. he glared out at the city for a moment, eyes focused above the horizon. “it’s just not fair,” you continued. “but xiao, there are alternatives – ”

  “i don’t want alternatives,” he interrupted, “i’m not sure if i even want to be an idol sometimes. all these rules are too much.” he turned and met your eyes. “and you know the worst one of all.”

  “of course i do.” you reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. “but are you serious about not wanting to be an idol? because, if you ever chose to leave the company, i… can also leave.”

  “you can’t put your career in jeopardy just for this.” he gave a frustrated huff. “this stupid company is just so stifling. i didn’t think being an idol would be like this when i first signed up.”

  “well, that’s why i’m here, right?” you offered. “to make your life easier. my career isn’t as important, so as your manager, i could – ”

  “you’re more than my manager.” his tone was gentler, the earlier roughness somehow melting away, and the words were quiet enough that nobody could possibly hear, meant only for you as he tilted his head, golden eyes finding yours. “you know that.”

  “xiao.” 

  “i won’t let you endanger your own job prospects if i leave.”

  you stared at each other for a moment. the wind stirred your hair around your face, framing it in the most beautiful way. his heart caught in his throat. the painful look of uncertainty mixed with determination that you wore was sure to be mirrored on his own face.

  “i would never stay here, without you,” you said finally, your voice tight. “i’ll go wherever you go.”

  he opened his mouth, unable to form words as a response to this, and you looked at him. there was nothing in your eyes but earnestness, and he thought for the millionth time how heart-stoppingly beautiful you were. he cupped your face with both hands, and there you were in silence for a long second, the cotton candy sunset gleaming down onto you.

  “[name],” was the word that finally escaped his lips, taking in your sweet scent that enveloped you like an angel’s aura. you wrapped your arms around his neck, murmuring xiao in the quietest voice, a secret that wreathed through the air, like smoke curling into a calm breeze. “i love you.”

  you kissed him, then; and when your lips met, he felt his worries melt away, and the overwhelming thought that he couldn’t care less if the whole world knew about your relationship; it was like he could feel everything, like he was frozen and time only started moving again when you were together. eternity could pass in a heartbeat and he would never know, not when he was holding you.

  whether 6REEZE was together or not, whether he stayed an idol, or the trifling problems of his everyday life – nothing like that seemed to matter when he was with you. it felt inconsequential. no matter what the company wanted from him, he could do it; as long as he could continue to kiss you like this, he would do anything in the world. 

© lumiconic ; please reblog and follow if enjoyed

[softer-ua]

Hc that Kacchan developed a very discerning sweet tooth as a little kid after learning about the existence of devils and angels food cake, which he thought was hilarious and became fascinated learning about flavor profiles and how they shape the perception of food

As he gets older he leans more into cooking than baking because he grows too impatient and ill tempered to create the level of baked goods he wants and huffs it off as a waste of time anyway

But after the war Izuku wants to make Eri and Kota some treats for their conjoined birthday party,

Izuku didn’t even have to ask Katsuki to help him, Katsuki just found his feet moving on their own into the kitchen where some cook books were stored and grabbing a small one for simple desserts, while asking the freckled hero what he had in mond

Beaming Izuku started rambling that it should be something portable because their having the party outside, he knows Eri loves apples, he once made her some candy apples, has Kacchan ever made candy apples? It was harder than he’d expected but Kacchan would probably have no problem, especially since he’s more heat resistant. He’s not too sure about what Kota likes but he kinda reminds him of a younger Kacchan so something spicy? Can desserts be spicy? Eri might not like that

Katsuki caught himself leaning against the counter, book forgotten, listening with rapt attention and blatantly staring. Embarrassed by his lack of irritation he quickly straightened up and shoved the book into Izukus mouth.

“Start looking nerd, choose something good, because it’s gonna have to stand out against sugar guy’s cake”

With that Katsuki stomped over to check the cupboards and fridge, mostly to hide his blushing but also making note that they had plenty of apples and the base ingredients for nearly any dessert, so they likely wouldn’t need to go to the store

After some debate they decide on Apple Pie Snickerdoodles, adding a little more to the spices, it’s something different but nothing beyond an amateur bakers capabilities and sure to be enjoyed by both kids

It’s not as mind-numbingly boring as Katsuki remembers, maybe because Izuku is there making himself both useful and entertaining; from using a hand whisk to cream the sugar and (cold)butter together with the efficiency of even the best stand mixers on the market, to catching leftover apple chunks in his mouth like a trained seal

Katsuki hasn’t had this much light hearted fun in what feels like eons, that light feeling carries over into the next day at the party

The cookies are big hit, Eri might be the smiley-ist child Katsukis ever met, her joy is so contagious that everyone is infected

Even the shy cranky little boy Kota is full of energy and high spirits, he seems so different from the brat he watched punch Izuku in the dick at camp

Watching her and Kota jump around feels healing in a way he can’t describe, he’s not great with words, but it’s like proof of their victory, reassuring that their sacrifices were worth it

More than that it brings to mind his own childhood birthdays-

The ones where he had to invite Izuku; annoyed he showed up, and devastated the one time he didn’t, only to be annoyed when he arrived the next day with a gift and apologies.

The ones where he had to go to Izukus, grumbling the whole time but never leaving his side and even throwing a fit when it was time to leave

The ones were he no longer had to invite Deku, so he didn’t, and the building annoyance when he didn’t show up that day or the next, instead a present and card were just left in the mailbox, so a singed card was left on Dekus desk that next Monday

The following ones where Izuku invited no one and no one bothered to inquire about it, what the nerd had done if anything at all was a mystery

Now he stood watching two kids with just as different temperaments as him and Izuku, choosing to share a birthday, pulling each other out of their usual bubbles with wild exuberance for life that only children can possess

Well children and a handful of UA losers who seems just as excited about the party games as any child

Mirio was helping his boyfriend cheat at twister by disappearing a leg, Kaminari was failing epically to pin a tail on a donkey, and Kirishima was trying to break open a piñata with just his arm while Sero kept it out of reach so he was left swinging wildly at nothing, while Mina was trying to incorporate her dance moves into a game of charades and making it impossible to guess what the hell she was miming

All of which was entirely independent of the actual birthday kids, who were currently being swung around by Izuku’s black whip like a living carnival ride

Katsuki enjoy just watching, so he sat next to Momo who’d brought tea and some seriously fancy looking scones(they each had had a perfectly candied fruit slice on top) to go along with a costume closet she’d tailored for each kid for dress up tea time

Humoring her he dawned a crown decked out in concerningly realistic looking rubies, when she refused to meet his raised eyebrow he changed the unspoken topic and in faux haughty tone asked for the recipe of the scones, when she actually produced several recipe cards he was pleasantly surprised by how warm the idea of making them made him

The idea of spending Sunday morning in the kitchen slowly making a perfect replica of each brought a smile and sense peace to him, even as he looks over the cards and noted how simple the steps, there’s be no rushing and he kinda liked the idea of taking his second chance at life a little slower, enjoying the little things just a little more.

No grande event on the horizon that he felt the need to rush towards, this time he’d enjoy getting there just as much as he enjoyed the victory,

Maybe even more he thought smirking up at an out of breath Izuku, who’d come to join him, now adorning a glossy top hat and a monocle that were completely out of place on such a sweaty dopily grinning face

Definitely more

[gendervapor14]

sorry for another gap in posts. my power went out so uh. yeah lost wifi and service. also just. hhhhhh. life yknow. it’s back now tho we’re all good 👍 just might be a little while before i get the queue up and running again.

vent beloww

aurora’s new album is making me reconsider so much of my life. thinking about starvation rn. thinking about how much i stare at my phone trying to fill my starving soul. hmmmm. every night i lie in bed yearning for something i can’t place. and every day is just as empty in the back of my mind. yeah. that’s a problem.

i love to connect with the community tho. there are good things in this little online space we share. i love ya’ll. but sometimes i can’t help but feel pressure that i’m wasting my life away. working a ruthless job with no end in sight since the job market is ass… spending my dwindling remaining energy scrolling online or bending over backwards to meet dozens of baseless deadlines…..

i hardly even write anymore. i hardly even draw. i am too weak. i am too brittle. i am starving and i need something to SUSTAIN me. something big and meaty. something raw and personal. my life felt best when i was writing 01746, honestly. i need to get back to writing big elaborate stupid things for myself, just to feed myself. just to convert my wild repressed energy into something less painful. ugh.

then maybe i can find the strength needed to do some actual good for our poor planet

[greenlifeinsights]

10 Easy Ways to Start Your Sustainable Journey Today

Introduction:

Embarking on a sustainable journey doesn't require a complete overhaul of your lifestyle. In fact, small, mindful steps can lead to significant positive changes for both you and the environment. If you're new to sustainability or looking for simple ways to make a difference, you're in the right place. In this post, we'll explore ten easy steps you can take right now to kickstart your sustainable living journey.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

The classic mantra holds true. Start by properly recycling items like paper, glass, and plastics. Before tossing something out, consider if it can be repurposed or upcycled. Reducing waste begins with conscious choices.

2. Conserve Energy:

Switch off lights and unplug devices when not in use. Opt for energy-efficient LED bulbs and appliances. Even adjusting your thermostat by a degree or two can make a difference.

3. Ditch Single-Use Plastics:

Invest in reusable shopping bags, water bottles, and coffee cups. Say goodbye to disposable utensils and straws. These small changes can significantly reduce plastic waste.

4. Choose Sustainable Transportation:

Whenever possible, opt for walking, biking, or using public transportation. Consider carpooling or investing in an electric or hybrid vehicle if it aligns with your needs.

5. Support Local and Sustainable Food:

Frequent local farmers' markets, and choose seasonal, locally sourced produce. Reducing food miles and supporting sustainable farming practices benefit both you and the planet.

6. Unplug and Disconnect:

Set aside tech-free time to reduce screen time and energy consumption. Encourage family or friends to join you in reconnecting with nature and each other.

7. Practice Mindful Consumption:

Before making a purchase, ask yourself if it's a necessity. Invest in high-quality, durable items that will last. Choose brands with a commitment to sustainability.

8. Compost Your Kitchen Waste:

Turn food scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. It's a fantastic way to reduce landfill waste and enrich your soil naturally.

9. Educate Yourself and Others:

Stay informed about environmental issues and solutions. Share your knowledge with friends and family to inspire collective action.

10. Get Involved Locally:

Engage with local environmental groups and community initiatives. Participate in clean-up events, tree planting, or sustainability workshops. Your active involvement can create positive change at the grassroots level.

Conclusion:

Remember, sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Each step you take, no matter how small, contributes to a brighter, greener future. So, start today, and together, we can make a meaningful impact. Stay tuned for more insights and tips on sustainable living from GreenLife Insights!

[roo-bastmoon]

The Radical Act of Choosing Happiness

Hey, besties.

Got a secret for you...

Our mutual happiness is the best antidote to miserable antis.

Next time some troll starts up on their bullshit?

Make them choke on your bliss.

Solo dickheads victimizing or gatekeeping one of the members?

Don't fall into the trap. Instead, hashtag support for that member and move on.

Subgroup hell-bent on spreading lies and mistranslations again?

Don't engage at all. Just share the truth. Exalt in the truth. Celebrate the truth so loud, it drowns out the noise.

A bunch of antis dogpiling slurs and hate on your fave?

No need to stoop to their level or return their energy--energy is precisely what they want. Report, block, move on.

Instead, you lean on in to the absolute euphoria of BTS's relationships, official content, and fan works.

Are disingenuous anons clogging up your inbox?

Feel free to delete. We don't have time to waste playing tit-for-tat with assholes, and we aren't obligated to share our platforms to host their opinions. We've got songs to stream and folios to purchase and videos to like and share.

Not to mention voting. ARE Y'ALL STILL VOTING??

Look, my dear-hearts. I get that it's aggravating--these little shits coming into our spaces, trying to ruin things. But BTS has learned to rise above all that and work hard for ARMY. They still are out here working hard for us. They are the ones that deserve our focus. STAY FOCUSED, BROTHERS.

And every time we focus on BTS, it makes us happy, doesn't it?

I'm just out here on my soapbox today to encourage all my moots to choose to be unabashedly, uncontrollably, incandescently joyful.

The best revenge is to live well. Be radically happy.

And on that note, I'm gonna go get ready to see the Yet To Come Busan Concert in theaters. Today I am dragging my work bestie to see it with me. She says she's eager to become a newborn ARMY and might be Yoongi biased! HUZZAH!!

Go get out there and shift your focus to what brings joy. BTS would want you to.

Love and undaunted happiness to all of you,

Roo

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Anthropocene Magazine:

I write about the climate and energy for a living and even I can’t quite wrap my head around how cheap low-carbon power technologies have gotten. The cost of onshore wind energy has dropped by 70% over just the last decade, and that of batteries and solar photovoltaic by a staggering 90%. Our World in Data points out that within a generation, solar power has gone from being one of the most expensive electricity sources to the cheapest in many countries—and it’s showing little signs of slowing down.

So where does this all end?

Back in the 1960s, the nuclear industry promised a future in which electricity was too cheap to meter. Decades later, the same vision seems to be on the horizon again, this time from solar. It seems, well, fantastic. Perhaps (almost) free renewable power leads to climate utopia. Then again, should we be careful what we wish for?

The Road To Decarbonization Is Paved With Cheap Green Power

1. More renewables = less carbon. The math isn’t complicated. The faster we transition to clean energy, the less carbon dioxide we’re adding to the atmosphere and the fewer effects of global warming we will suffer.While humanity is still emitting more greenhouse gases than ever, the carbon intensity of electricity production has been dropping for well over a decade.

2. Cheap, clean power also unlocks humanitarian goals. Modern civilization rests on a foundation of electricity. Beyond its obvious uses in heating, cooling, cooking, lighting and data, electricity can decarbonize transportation, construction, services, water purification, and food production. Increasing the supply and reducing the cost of green electricity doesn’t just help the climate, it improves equity and quality of life for the world’s poorest.

3. Scrubbing the skies will take a lot of juice. Once we get emissions under control, it’s time to tackle the mess we’ve made of the atmosphere. Today’s direct air capture (DAC) systems use about two megawatt hours of electricity for every ton of CO2 plucked from fresh air. Scale that up to the 7 to 9 million tons we need to be removing annually in the US by 2030, according to the World Resources Institute, and you’re looking at about 0.5% of the country’s current energy generation. Scale it again to the nearly 1,000 billion tons the IPCC wants to sequester during the 21st century, and we’ll need every kilowatt of solar power available—the cheaper the better.

Cheap Power Has Hidden Costs

1. Cheap technology doesn’t always mean cheap power. If solar cells are so damn cheap, why do electricity bills keep rising? One problem is that renewables are still just a fraction of the energy mix in most places, about 20% in the US and 30% globally. This recent report from think-tank Energy Innovation identifies volatility in natural gas costs and investments in uneconomic coal plants as big drivers for prices at the meter. Renewables will have to dominate the energy mix before retail prices can fall. 

2. The cheaper the power, the more we’ll waste. Two cases in point: cryptocurrency mining and AI chat bots. Unless we make tough social and political decisions to fairly price carbon and promote climate action, the market will find its own uses for all the cheap green power we can generate. And they may not advance our climate goals one inch.

3. Centuries of petro-history to overcome. Cheap power alone can only get us so far. Even with EVs challenging gas cars, and heat pumps now outselling gas furnaces in the US, there is a monumental legacy of fossil fuel systems to dismantle. Getting 1.5 billion gas cars off the world’s roads will take generations, and such changes can have  enormous social costs. To help smooth the transition, the Center for American Progress suggests replacing annual revenue-sharing payments from coal, oil, and natural gas production with stable, permanent distributions for mining and oil communities, funded by federal oil and gas revenue payments.

[futuretonext]

The Saudi Arabia Waste to Energy Market is projected to grow at an exponential CAGR during the forecast period, i.e., 2023-28. The demand for such techniques is aided by the colossal amount of waste produced in the region due to surging population and rapid urbanization, further resulting in a rise in industrial and construction debris. In addition, the high urban population has also raised the requirement for higher power consumption needs, getting fulfilled by installing plants, thus leading to the application and expansion of the industry.

[theambitiouswoman]

What’s your take on dating apps? All my friends use them and go on about all their dates they go on, their “rosters” of men they have and communicate with all the time...for me, I want a relationship and don’t think I’ll meet a guy on a dating app that turns into a relationship? It’s just so hard because I don’t have a ton of friends and the friends I do have don’t love going out so idk how to meet guys? My standards are very high, I just don’t know how to put myself out there more. Dating apps to me seem like a waste of time, with the hooking up, situationships my friends are in and that just doesn’t interest me.

I have never been a fan of dating apps. The underlined idea of dating apps is that they are hook up sites. Not everyone on dating apps is looking for the same thing, and that includes relationships. Some people are looking for hookups, casual dating, or simply to expand their social circle. Can you stumble upon and meet someone you can be in a relationship with? Sure. But the odds are against you.

The very few times I have seen this happen, I have noticed that the people weren't really intending, or expecting to meet someone, it just happens. VS when you go in with the mindset of looking for a relationship, your intention shifts and affects the end result. The difference is that one is more open than the other.

Where you meet people is also very important. For example, you cant go to a club expecting to meet the love of your life. Yes, it can happen. But everyone is generally there to get drunk and hook up. No one is really in their "take them home to mom" behavior or mindset.

Realistically, you can meet anyone anywhere. Men are everywhere. You can go to the food market and meet your next boyfriend. You're probably saying, "well i've never met a guy at the market." But you were probably in the market looking for food. You probably, like most of us going to the market, not looking our best. Even if you found someone attractive you wouldn't approach or attract them because your energy in that scenario is blocked.

You cant really "want it so bad". That's basically like you are chasing love. And what happens when we are chasing something? We're just pushing it away. It is running away.

Its great to have standards and you should, but those high standards should be there for you to not settle and know what you deserve. It shouldn't block you from meeting new people.

Every guy I have dated, I met in the most random ways. Absolutely not intending to meet anyone, if anything, I was emotionally closed off and ironically looking horrible hahaha

Stay true to yourself and what you're looking for in a relationship. If dating apps don't feel like the right fit for you, it's okay to explore other options and take your time to find someone who shares your values and goals.

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - March 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi! Also, if you tip me on here or Ko-fi, at the end of the month I’ll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn’t use each week - almost double the content! (I’m new to taking tips on here; if it doesn’t show me your username or if you have DM’s turned off, please send me a screenshot of your payment)

1. Scimitar-horned Oryx: A Story of Global Conservation Success

“Eight years following the first reintroductions of the species in a protected range in Chad, the species has been downlisted to ‘Endangered’ [an improvement from “extinct in the wild”] in the most recent IUCN Red List update.”

2. Thailand moves closer to legalising same-sex marriage

“Under the law, it describes a marriage union as one between two individuals, rather than a man and a woman. It will give LGBTQ+ couples the ability to adopt, have equal access to marital tax savings, rights to property and the ability to decide medical treatment when their partner is incapacitated.”

3. Juvenile platypus found in NSW: a sign of breeding success

“A baby platypus was discovered in the Royal National Park less than a year after 10 were reintroduced to the area, marking the end of a half-century local extinction. […] “Finding the juvenile platypus is a clear sign the reintroduced population is not just surviving but thriving, adapting well to their environment, and contributing to the genetic diversity and resilience of this iconic species.””

4. New Laws Protect Bird-Friendly Yards From Neighborhood Rules

“A blossoming legislative trend prevents homeowners associations, which set landscaping rules for a growing number of Americans, from forbidding native plants.”

5. Bookstores Around The World Are Flourishing Again

“[I]t’s not just the major chains like Barnes & Noble that are flourishing, as the US book sales market continues to both grow and diversify, the majority of the retail book market is controlled by small indie stores.”

6. 'Like a luxury condominium': Providence zoo unveils new red panda habitat

“"Kendji and Zan's new home boasts a spacious two-story, climate-controlled indoor space designed to mimic their natural Himalayan habitat," the zoo said in a news release. "This ensures their well-being regardless of fluctuating Rhode Island temperatures and humidity."”

7. The first CULTIVATE Mobile Research Lab on food sharing in Barcelona

“[Volunteers] engaged in growing, cooking and eating food together, and redistributing surplus food, as well as other actors involved in food sharing and sustainable food systems in Barcelona and its surroundings.”

8. New Methane Rule Will Reduce Natural Gas Waste, Generate Money for Taxpayers, Help Address Climate Change

“The Bureau of Land Management’s final rule on reducing methane waste from oil and gas production on public lands will conserve critical energy resources, with the added benefit of decreasing toxic pollution [….] The rule will benefit wildlife, public lands, water resources, and nearby communities. By requiring royalties for wasted methane, the rule will also generate more than $50 million each year for American taxpayers.”

9. 'Exceptional' Two-Headed Snake Undergoes Surgery in Missouri

“Tiger-Lily's [the snake’s] abnormal ovaries were then removed during surgery at the Saint Louis Zoo Endangered Species Research Center and Veterinary Hospital on March 11. The procedure went smoothly, with her ovaries being successfully removed, and the snake is recovering well.”

10. Aruba Embraces the Rights of Nature and a Human Right to a Clean Environment

“A draft constitutional amendment would make the Carribean nation the second country in the world to recognize that nature has the right to exist.”

March 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[mariacallous]

Three years after seizing power in Afghanistan, the cash-strapped Taliban are desperate to finally unlock the country’s bounty of copper, a crucial input in electric vehicle batteries and semiconductors. And they’re aiming to do so with the help of a key partner: China.

In the global scramble for raw materials to power clean energy technologies and advanced weapons systems, Afghanistan’s mineral wealth should position it for success—at least on paper. The country may hold as much as $1 trillion worth of valuable minerals, according to U.S. estimates from 2010, and is home to what could be the world’s second-biggest copper deposit. But decades of war, political instability, and uncertainty have long thwarted any efforts to extract those treasures, leaving the country’s resource riches untapped. 

The Taliban are eager to change that. At the center of their ambitions is finally transforming Mes Aynak, a massive copper deposit that lies southeast of Kabul at a historic archaeological site and is estimated to hold some 4.4 billion metric tons of copper ore. China—which commands many of the world’s critical mineral supply chains—is pivotal to seeing that vision through. 

The Taliban are “all in” on this project, said Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center and the author of FP’s South Asia Brief newsletter. “The Taliban would see this project as very much a part of this broader vision that the Taliban have for making Afghanistan a bigger part of connectivity projects spanning South and Central Asia.” 

The Taliban’s interest in copper is nothing new; Afghanistan’s rulers have long sought to exploit the country’s mineral riches. The effort to transform Mes Aynak dates back to at least 2008, when the Chinese state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corp. secured a $3 billion, 30-year mining concession for the project. After 16 years of delays, the Taliban and Beijing appeared to turn back to the project this summer with a July ribbon-cutting ceremony for the construction of a road to the mine, which Chinese officials said marked a “significant step” forward.

Yet even with this apparent momentum, analysts warn that a raft of security, regulatory, legal, financial, and infrastructure challenges stand in the way of the project’s success, alongside concerns of how mining could damage historic ruins. Advancing a mining project in any country is a risky endeavor that requires years, if not decades, of investment and commitment.

“This is not easy, and investing in a mine like this requires not just a lot of money but a lot of stability,” said Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, the founding director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh. “China is not stupid. They do not want to waste a lot of money and scarce resources on an investment that will yield very little if [Afghanistan] blows up in civil conflict again.” 

China’s involvement in the project reflects Beijing’s broader desire to ensure regional security and minimize instability that could spill over its own shared border with Afghanistan. “Their primary interest in Afghanistan is not in the mines,” Murtazashvili said. “Their primary interest is in stability [and] security, and the Taliban understand that darn well.” 

Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, experts said, China’s engagement with the Taliban has been largely driven by Beijing’s practical interest in maintaining productive ties with its neighbor and advancing its own security and political goals. “They’ve been very active in Afghan diplomacy, and they have been very pragmatic,” said Eric Olander, the editor in chief of the China-Global South Project. Beijing sees opportunity in the fact that “the United States has left and will not come back,” he added. 

China was the first country to name an ambassador to the country under Taliban rule, while Chinese firms have inked oil extraction deals with the Taliban and eyed the country’s reserves of lithium, another critical mineral. Beijing has given Afghanistan more than 350 million yuan (about $49 million) worth of humanitarian assistance since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“The Chinese always have this mindset that development leads to stability and peace,” Olander said. “My guess is that part of the political thinking is that economic engagement from Chinese entities will pave the way for more stability and contribute to a country’s development, which then contributes to peace.” 

Beyond politics, Beijing also has major commercial interests in the success of Mes Aynak specifically. “I think the Chinese are in a quite eager position to see some action about the resolution of this project,” said Yun Sun, the director of the China program at the Stimson Center, adding that the project has just been “sitting there.” “The Chinese have invested, they have spent their money, but nothing is really coming through—so of course they want to resume it.”

That is good news for the Taliban, who have been searching for new revenue streams and sources of foreign investment. After they seized power, foreign aid to the country plummeted as a result of international sanctions—a change that decimated the country’s economy and pitched millions of Afghans deeper into a humanitarian crisis.

“Ever since the Taliban took over, it’s faced a severe economic crunch because for so many years, Afghanistan’s economy had been so heavily reliant on international assistance,” said Kugelman, who noted that the group has struggled to secure foreign investment, particularly from capital-rich countries. 

Hungry for more cash and international legitimacy, the Taliban have actively sought out deeper economic ties with Beijing. Just last year, the group announced plans to officially join Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship foreign-policy program, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which emerged under the BRI.

“The Taliban is trying to prove to the world that it is not isolated,” Kugelman said. “I think that the symbolic implications of China—a very consequential global player—working with the Taliban on economic projects, that’s a pretty powerful message that I think that the Taliban would want to send out to the world.”

Still, many challenges loom. No matter how much Beijing and the Taliban expand their economic ties, any efforts to advance the Mes Aynak copper project will still come up against the threat of Islamic State-Khorasan attacks and other security concerns, along with enormous financial risks and legal and regulatory uncertainty—all of which could prove to be too difficult to overcome. Copper prices have also whipsawed in recent months, offering yet another indicator of how difficult the project will be to get off the ground. 

“There’s virtually no infrastructure in Afghanistan: power, water, trains,” said Olander of the China-Global South Project. “So there may be vast reserves of lithium and copper in Afghanistan, but extracting it and getting it out and getting it to port, every step along that supply chain is risk and is cost when you have lots of other alternatives that are far less risky, more developed, and arguably way more cost-efficient.”