#Why Digital Transformation is Important

[thehrhelpboard]

HR Transformation

Should HR Transformation be directly included in startup’s digital transformation plans? Find out what is HR transformation and why Digital Transformation is so important for startups? Click the link for more information: https://www.hrhelpboard.com/human-resource/articles/hr-transformation-why-your-startups-digital-transformation-plans-should-include-it-1237.html

[samridhi92]

A digital world full of prospects is revealed when investigating the importance of digital marketing for small businesses. As you've seen, digital marketing is a fundamental component that may raise your small business in a cutthroat online economy, not just a tool. Your brand's trajectory can be changed by your dedication to this dynamic toolkit, which will enable you to engage with consumers in ways that will both broaden your audience and build sincere relationships.

[ayeforscotland]

What is Dataflow?

This post is inspired by another post about the Crowd Strike IT disaster and a bunch of people being interested in what I mean by Dataflow. Dataflow is my absolute jam and I'm happy to answer as many questions as you like on it. I even put referential pictures in like I'm writing an article, what fun!

I'll probably split this into multiple parts because it'll be a huge post otherwise but here we go!

A Brief History

Our world is dependent on the flow of data. It exists in almost every aspect of our lives and has done so arguably for hundreds if not thousands of years.

At the end of the day, the flow of data is the flow of knowledge and information. Normally most of us refer to data in the context of computing technology (our phones, PCs, tablets etc) but, if we want to get historical about it, the invention of writing and the invention of the Printing Press were great leaps forward in how we increased the flow of information.

Modern Day IT exists for one reason - To support the flow of data.

Whether it's buying something at a shop, sitting staring at an excel sheet at work, or watching Netflix - All of the technology you interact with is to support the flow of data.

Understanding and managing the flow of data is as important to getting us to where we are right now as when we first learned to control and manage water to provide irrigation for early farming and settlement.

Engineering Rigor

When the majority of us turn on the tap to have a drink or take a shower, we expect water to come out. We trust that the water is clean, and we trust that our homes can receive a steady supply of water.

Most of us trust our central heating (insert boiler joke here) and the plugs/sockets in our homes to provide gas and electricity. The reason we trust all of these flows is because there's been rigorous engineering standards built up over decades and centuries.

For example, Scottish Water will understand every component part that makes up their water pipelines. Those pipes, valves, fitting etc will comply with a national, or in some cases international, standard. These companies have diagrams that clearly map all of this out, mostly because they have to legally but also because it also vital for disaster recovery and other compliance issues.

Modern IT

And this is where modern day IT has problems. I'm not saying that modern day tech is a pile of shit. We all have great phones, our PCs can play good games, but it's one thing to craft well-designed products and another thing entirely to think about they all work together.

Because that is what's happened over the past few decades of IT. Organisations have piled on the latest plug-and-play technology (Software or Hardware) and they've built up complex legacy systems that no one really knows how they all work together. They've lost track of how data flows across their organisation which makes the work of cybersecurity, disaster recovery, compliance and general business transformation teams a nightmare.

Some of these systems are entirely dependent on other systems to operate. But that dependency isn't documented. The vast majority of digital transformation projects fail because they get halfway through and realise they hadn't factored in a system that they thought was nothing but was vital to the organisation running.

And this isn't just for-profit organisations, this is the health services, this is national infrastructure, it's everyone.

There's not yet a single standard that says "This is how organisations should control, manage and govern their flows of data."

Why is that relevant to the companies that were affected by Crowd Strike? Would it have stopped it?

Maybe, maybe not. But considering the global impact, it doesn't look like many organisations were prepared for the possibility of a huge chunk of their IT infrastructure going down.

Understanding dataflows help with the preparation for events like this, so organisations can move to mitigate them, and also the recovery side when they do happen. Organisations need to understand which systems are a priority to get back operational and which can be left.

The problem I'm seeing from a lot of organisations at the moment is that they don't know which systems to recover first, and are losing money and reputation while they fight to get things back online. A lot of them are just winging it.

Conclusion of Part 1

Next time I can totally go into diagramming if any of you are interested in that.

How can any organisation actually map their dataflow and what things need to be considered to do so. It'll come across like common sense, but that's why an actual standard is so desperately needed!

[anuradha-us]

Why is Digital Transformation Important for Business?

A digital transformation is the up-gradation of current methods or the outline of new methods of booming out business actions using digital technologies that improve a client’s knowledge and leads to advanced conversion rates for the business. Let’s know the Why is Digital Transformation Important for Business?

[thesoftgirlguide]

A Soft Girl's Guide to Home Organization ˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆

Decluttering and creating a peaceful sanctuary in your home.

I’ve had such a stressful, depressing week and one of the things that made me feel better everyday was coming back to a neat, decluttered room. As a soft girl, you must value comfort, elegance, and serenity in all aspects of your life, including your home. A cluttered and disorganized space can be overwhelming and draining, making it challenging to relax and unwind. In today’s guide, we'll explore gentle and effective home organization and decluttering methods, tailored specifically for a girl like you.

╰┈➤ The Soft Girl’s Approach to Decluttering

🌸 It all starts with a mindful mindset. Acknowledge that decluttering is a process, and it's okay to take it one step at a time.

🌸 Focus on gentle decluttering. Prioritize items that bring joy or serve a purpose, rather than strict minimalism.

🌸 Create a soothing atmosphere: Play calming music, light candles, or diffuse essential oils to make the process enjoyable.

╰┈➤ Define Your Organization Goals

Before you begin decluttering, set clear intentions. Ask yourself:

🌸 Why do I want to organize my home? Is it for relaxation, creativity, or efficiency?

🌸 What do I like about my home’s current layout? Identify what works and what needs changing.

🌸 What are my pain points? Recognize areas that stress you out.

╰┈➤ Crafting a Master Plan

🌸 Take Inventory: List spaces that need organization (closets, kitchen, living room, etc.).

🌸 Arrange tasks based on your life—room by room or category by category.

🌸 If you can’t do it all in a day, allocate time in your schedule for dedicated organization sessions.

╰┈➤ Decluttering Room by Room

🌸 Begin with small areas: If you’re cleaning out just your room always start with your bed. Once you take care of your bed, everything else looks “wrong.” You can move on to drawer, shelf, or closet to build momentum and confidence.

🌸 Sort items into categories: Group similar items together (e.g., books, clothes, kitchen utensils).

🌸 Use the "touch once" rule: Handle each item only once to avoid repetitive decision-making.

╰┈➤ Organizing Strategies

🌸 Utilize storage containers: Choose decorative bins, baskets, and boxes that complement your home's aesthetic.

🌸 Implement the "one in, one out" policy: Maintain a balanced amount of possessions to prevent clutter buildup.

🌸 Designate a "launching pad": Create a designated spot near the entrance for keys, bags, and other essentials.

╰┈➤ Tackling Paper Clutter

🌸 Create a paper sorting station: Designate a spot for sorting mail, bills, and documents.

🌸 Digitize important documents: Scan and store papers electronically, shredding or recycling the originals. If you can’t do that, find a place a store them.

🌸 Organize digital files: Use cloud storage and clear file names to access documents effortlessly.

╰┈➤ How to Maintain Your Sanctuary

Now that you’ve cleaned out your space, you have to maintain it. To do this:

🌸 Schedule regular decluttering sessions: Set aside time each month to maintain your space.

🌸 Practice mindful consumption: Be intentional about purchases, considering whether they align with your values and needs.

🌸 Embrace the "home for everything" rule: Assign a designated spot for each item to prevent clutter accumulation.

Transforming your home into a personal sanctuary requires patience, self-care, and willingness. Remember, organization and decluttering are ongoing processes – be kind to yourself, and enjoy the journey.

[yappaccinocookie]

demon snow!

yn cookie with an ability like kyouka from bsd, how would and ancients and beasts react?

I only did the beasts that have been released (seen in the story) so far. I haven't finished watching bsd, so i used most of my sources from wiki! since cellphones don't exist in crk (that I know of) the inanimate object that is used to control her ability is not described as anything else but an "object." stupid tumblr also deleted all of my work, so I redid this. i didn't proofread, it's just straight brain to paper (digital paper maybe) i also didn't know if you wanted them grouped together so I did them all separately this is why this ask took forever. you can take this as romantic or not!

LOWER CASE INTENDED!

context (from wiki) : her ability, demon Snow (夜叉白雪, Yasha Shirayuki), materializes demon snow, a ruthless sword-wielding phantom that only follows orders coming from her mobile phone, which allowed Akutagawa to control her ability in the past.

— ANCIENTS

White Lily —

"Really? That's... terrifying— wait not to degrade you I think it's neat!"

she was terrified at first, after learning about your ability she felt guilty knowing you couldn't control this winter beast in you, instead it was controlled by a phantom that wouldn't listen to you. this poor cookie over thought everything.

she immediately (although patiently) asked you for more information, to see if she could do anything to make sure this ability wouldn't harm your dough or cookies–a–like that are near you during transformation.

white lily noted everything she could discover about your ability, although she was terrified at the possible outcomes she was also intrigued with what it could do. this phantom would only listen to that object you hold around, and it made her paranoid considering somebody could steal it and use your ability for bad. she started working around ways to make it safer for you with the information you provided and the things she could find in every nook and cranny of the library.

at the end, when she's done all she could do she'll just help you maintain a healthy relationship with your ability, and even though she kind of shivers watching it destroy everything in the battle field there's always a glint of amazement in her eyes.

her reaction is a mix of confusion, curiosity and fear. know she just wants the best for you, and she's also trying her best for you! if you need help you can ask white lily, she'll find a way.

Golden Cheese —

"Wait really? That's pretty cool, what can it do?"

she found it badass, and didn't look more into it. golden cheese is a god herself with godly abilities, so abilities aren't new to her she won't be that curious, I don't see her as the type to do much/serious research other than a few random questions.

golden cheese is eager to battle the phantom though, it didn't seem like a cookie like everyone else. it would be a fun experience! only if you want to though, maybe it could get out of control and she knows that's unsafe for both you and her.

her reaction is like "OH COOL!" a few 5 year old questions and then she doesn't look into it much, unless you want to talk about your ability or you want her to talk about it.

Dark Cacao —

"That's quite a dangerous ability, are you able to control it properly?"

the answer to that is no, the phantom won't listen to you, anyway dark cacao isn't really concerned about what you can do but what it can do to you.

you cannot underestimate anybody, nor can you be too comfortable around companions, and he's had bad memories with curses and swords, so he is kind of stiff when you mention it. there's this random part of him sometimes that wonders if the phantom will act up and slice him with a sword.

dark cacao observes the object that controls the phantom, wondering its importance, considering there are multiple of rare objects the phantom could've chosen why this one?

he's pretty chill, but if you tell him that the object got lost or got stolen, all hell will break loose and he'll order his subjects to turn his kingdom upside down, backwards, reversed, whatever just to find it.

his reaction is more of a "I see..." thing, he gets flash backs of war since he's old. he'll be concerned for your wellbeing, but if you're alright he'll be okay. even if companions are not to always be trusted, he wants to make sure his companions (you) are safe too!

Hollyberry —

"Ooh, that's amazing!"

hollyberrys eyes shine like never before, full of curiosity and contagious amounts of excitement.

after seeing the phantom fight in your frail cookie body, she deems you and the phantom as a worthy opponent and, like golden cheese, asks for a battle. she won't pressure you, but she also won't admit defeat. that won't be the last time you hear her asking for a battle, and if you accept win, or lose, hollyberry is giddy after and before the battle.

she wants to see its full potential, but makes sure you're safe too. hollyberry would take you on expeditions with her to various places to see how this snow demon fights, with her fighting along side you.

hollyberry would also ask to see the object that controls it, but becareful she may be high and mighty but she's not slow and steady she might drop it! she'll be looking at it for a while, like she's seeing all the stories it's been through, through one glance.

hollyberry is definitely the one that reacts the most enthusiastic, she's always up for a new adventure and she sees this as an opportunity to learn more about her pal! (you)

Pure Vanilla —

"Fascinating, I've heard of this ability but never seen such in person."

considering pure vanilla is all–knowing he's already seen a bunch of cookies with strange abilities, he's seen yours in one of those library books from back when he was still young!

he knows alot, but not all. there are times where the phantom just straight up controls you to communicate with this guy, I don't know why, but pure vanilla seems to have that nature.

if you're having struggles, like white lily cookie, pure vanilla wants to help you to the best of his abilities. he's known for guiding cookies to the right path, and this doesn't exclude you, even if cookies mark you as dangerous.

he'll tell you all he knows, and make sure the thing that controls it is safe—also this ability is yours, not his, and if you can handle it then he will only support your decisions!

like for example, he will not stop the phantom from attacking enemies, but only shield and tell the allies to back off or becareful around it.

like everyone else, as long as you're okay it's not much of a problem. the phantom doesn't seem hostile to cookies who haven't angered it, so he focuses on the host (you) and make sure you haven't irritated it lately.

his reaction is most the most chill of the bunch, but he does get concerned once in a while when it breaks loose.

— BEASTS

Shadow Milk —

"What can you do for me?"

beasts are evil, this is no surprise to anyone. Shadow Milk wouldn't cause harm on YOU specifically but the things around you. Beasts had live long enough to know alot, so he knew already about what your ability can do.

he's not afraid of the snow demon, but knows others can be, and uses it to scare little cookies playing. "there's this scary cookie with a monster inside of them! they're gonna eat you!"

you're gonna have to stop him before fairy tales of a scary snow demon start popping up, it's his way of teasing you since he has no peace with anybody.

do NOT show him the object that controls it, once you blink he's already taken that and hid it somewhere you won't see. Shadow Milk is very sneaky.

he'd steal the object that the phantom follows orders from, and has let it break free and cause alot of accidents. ones you've felt guilty for, but he won't kill anyone, only fires and house destruction.

unlike pure vanilla, he would not have a nice relationship with that phantom. he'd probably make fun of it by stealing its sword, and/or fight it depending if it would hurt you or not he doesn't want his old pal dying on him! he'd probably be a trigger for it to come out, and if it does come out he'd plan scripts as if he was doing one of his carnival performances.

when you tell him to stop he freaks out, and either stops being all smiley and scare the living crumbs off of you or he cries out and tells you to stop being cruel and let the him have fun. either way he won't stop, but will subtly make his pranks less damaging.

the only time he'd shut up is when he's observing the phantom fight, there's a glint of admire, he likes destruction no matter what type.

his reaction was more of him realising the power you hold, and what he can do with it! (100 crimes would be committed if you don't make/set boundaries.)

Mystic Flour —

" ... "

mystic flour is closed off, and she barely speaks on your ability unless you guys are really close. it may seem like she doesn't care, but trust me she's really intrigued just not to the extent of the others.

she's neutral about the whole thing, and wouldn't use you for bad or let it break free for the joy of wanting it to destroy things. infact she finds it pretty annoying when she just wants peace and quiet.

mystic flour sees the phantom as greedy, and won't listen to any sob backstory of why it controls you. if you show her the object she'll look at it for 5 seconds and then give it back. maybe she knows too much.

fighting or communicating with it is not her forte, she prefers hiding away. she won't listen to the phantom if it begs for a fight, but if YOU specifically ask her for a battle she'll hesitate, but give in.

her reaction is empty, it seems not even that unique demon snow ability of yours can make her care enough to move away.

Burning Spice —

"At last, you're not boring like the other dough!"

you've captured this beasts attention! burning spice wants to destroy the phantom, he would definitely want to fight it. actually, not a want, he WILL fight it no matter what you say.

each fight with you/demon snow entertains him, because you/it can catch up with his speed and be as ruthless as him. he does remember you're but a frail cookie made from dough, and only ever fights it once it's out and you seem healthy/fired up to fight. this is not a boundary (although that would be nice) it's him preventing you from dying so he won't get bored.

he secretly admires it's strength, but always makes degrading remarks to it. "weak!", "I can do better", "I will destroy you!"

speaking of destroy he will destroy the object that controls it unless you never let him hold that thing. it's impulsive behavior and he has no self-control if it doesn't harm him, himself.

his reaction is terrifying, not for him, but for you!

Silent salt and Eternal Sugar aren't here...

[andauserene]

Star Eyes

This is the part 2 of my Oshi no Ko!Transformers x Reader and this is the part 1. Sorry for the long wait, factors such as time, energy and activity took me too long to make the part 2🫂🙏🏻 (3 months missing-)

Warnings!! : mention of blackmailing, some suggestive parts (interpret on your own), mention of social anxiety, fluff and overall just sweet reader gets consoled by her Cybertronian lover(s).

Optimus Prime

That Saturday, there's only you and Raf on the base while Miko and Jack both are busy with their own thing - well, it's not like you want or need to know, anyway.

"Hey, Raf. Could you teach me the basics to hack?" You softly ask at him, kneeling down to Raf who types something on his laptop. The said boy turned his attention to you as he smiles. "Oh, sure [Y/N]. I didn't know you're interested in computer science." he gives you a tilting head look and confused one, but you only smile, with those dark star eyes.

The more you learnt about hacking, the greater you get at it. You even know how to hack surveillance data of the nearby cameras. And you can hack on someone else's personal drives. Which you don't even bother to check what's inside. "Not important..." you'd mutter to yourself. That's not what you're looking, after all. No. It's not.

Everything went great so far, but your eyes telling a whole different story. The others, oblivious to the reason why your star pupils are black and dark, just believe in your deception that "Oh yes, this is fine. This is normal. It'll return back to normal anytime soon." Which won't happen, unless someone put a halt on it.

...

Now, here you are. Snatched from where the kids are by Optimus as he brings you with his servo towards his berth. What is he doing? Well, he's just staring into your eyes. Organic, little eyes met metal, big optics. He doesn't say anything, as if he silently demands you to explain. Which you only respond by looking down.

"Little one," he speaks up after the eerie silence, making you instantly look up to him, "care to elaborate?" he gestures your eyes, and you only look down, "it's fine, Optimus. It will return to normal again."

Oh, how the Prime actually wants to believe that, had it not been the fact that you're so obsessed in blackmailing some certain people.

"[Y/N], look at me," he speaks up again, using one of his digits to lift up your chin, "please do not lie to me. I love you very dearly, and if the lack of time I give you makes you feel unloved, then I apologize to you from the depth of my spark..."

He apologies, and he looks at your soul. Slowly but surely, there are more tears flowing through your eyes. Of course Optimus notices this, and he whispers so gently to you.

"What is bothering you?" he coos softly, wiping a few tears away. "I don't know... people are very annoying to me lately, and that one girl keeps bugging me to death... I just wished she would disappear and..."

There you go. Rambling about everything while Optimus keeps listening to you wholeheartedly. Or in this case, wholesparkedly. He smiles and being patient all the time. The Prime is no one but soft spark and kind.

"She matters very little. And you have more than that to think about." he teases you gently and seductively running his digit over your thigh, making you blush slightly. Hey, at least those dark eyes are gone, and replaced with the beautiful stars he always knew. Yeah, you know the drill, don't you?~

Bumblebee

It's another Sunday, and the base is quite chill. No urgent mission, no 'Cons detected, no rambling from Agent Fowler, and everything is fine. At least, from the outside that is. Your eyes are dark, and many have commented on it, but you shake your head and turn the questions down.

"[Y/N]??" Bumblebee's voice ringing on your ears, and you turn around. Since he got his voice back, you've been very happy and ready to listen to everything he says. But, this time is just different. "Yeah? What's wrong, Bee?" you reply to him with sweet smile, but his optics telling you that he's bothered.

...

And that's how you ended up being scolded and interrogated by him. He asks you what's wrong, why are your eyes dark, what happened, why are you angry, and lots of other questions, but you don't want to answer and you keep on insisting you are fine.

"Bee, thank you for asking but please, I'm fine! I'm just... a little bit tired is all," you lied again, and Bumblebee definitely not buying it at all, "You're lying, aren't you, sweetspark?" he speaks gently as he stares into your eyes softly. "I'm not lying, Bee, I'm fine..." you insist again, and Bumblebee ex-vent on this.

He smirks and then brings his faceplate close to your own face and his voice drops into one of those seductive one.

"You know what liars get when they are found out lying?" he raises an optic ridge and smirks ever so slightly, teasing you. Despite knowing this is his method on pushing you, you can't help but blush. "Y-yeah... I know... b-but you don't need to remind me all over again!" you stutter and blush, making the smile on your lover's faceplate widen. "Good girl gets reward, bad girl gets punishment~" and those words successfully changed your eyes to bright stars again.

Safe to say you two are having some quality time after that, and how he keeps reminding you on not to blackmail anyone and just ignore those annoying people around you. And let's hope that Raf wouldn't disturb you two for some time. Whatever happens is happening~

[mechdyke-after-hours]

INSIDE THE TOWER OF GOLD

⚠️ WARNINGS!! ⚠️

mild transformers one spoilers, non-con, drugged sex, mild violence

THIS IS A NON-CON FIC. if you don't like any of the above tags PLEASE just scroll onwards.

once again another messy ficlet or whatever! but I want that mech's pussy destroyed... so... :)

Second part is here! heed the warnings!!

Sentinel Prime had all he ever wanted. Power. Money. Respect. Fame. Everything he ever dreamed was in the palm of his servo. And he LOVED it. He loved broadcasting himself in front of Iacon and letting all of the other, less important, Cybertronians see his glorious frame. He preened and polished himself constantly, making sure his plating was shiny enough that it was practically a mirror. He was the picture perfect heroic prime, as far as the citizens of Iacon were concerned.

But of course, it wasn't enough for Sentinel. It could never be enough. Which is exactly why he held the most luxurious parties he could. Free from anyone he felt too far beneath him. The best energon money could buy, triple filtered high grade and a pack of Syk. The little patches were arranged delicately on a platter, a warning card placed at the front explaining the effects, HEAVILY encouraging mechs to not take more than one and explaining how to properly use them. Avoid applying patches to the helm or chassis... the usual scrap that was only there to avoid possible lawsuits. Not like anyone would ever dare to try, but better safe than sorry.

The party was going perfectly, as it always did. He already knew he wasn't going to take anything or drink too much, since he was required at the surface tomorrow morning. He mostly just stood around, a small glass of high grade balanced between his digits that he sipped at between conversations with mechs he didn't care to learn the names of.

He'd be lying if he said he didn't jump when a servo suddenly pressed against his back. He bristled, but kept his cool, his derma curled as he forced a smile onto his face. He stayed polite, keeping up the conversation with the mech. Sentinel felt a familiar helmache coming on. His legs started to feel weak, his vision going slightly blurry. He kept up the conversation as well as he could, but his speech was starting to get slurred, his voicebox glitching. Next thing he knew, his vision was spinning and he was collapsing to the floor, the glass in his servo shattering against the floor.

Sentinel's optics slowly started to flicker online, a strange ache and pressure blooming from his crotch. He tried to move his arms, he was completely paralysed. His vision was blurred, his hearing muffled. He reset his optics, and his audials. Once. Twice. The world around him slowly started to gain some clarity. He glanced down between his legs, only to be slightly horrified at what he saw. His interface panel had been forcefully pried off. Small glowing blue droplets of energon stained his plating, mixing with splatters of pink. His array was aching and burning, feeling impossibly stretched and loose. Sentinel Prime was never a mech to pray. But in that moment, he prayed.

He glanced down at his frame. Syk patches littered his arms and his chassis. Enough to have him completely paralysed, but not enough to cause his frame to go into full system reset. His arms and legs were useless, unable to kick or push, he had to just lay there uselessly as his valve was used and abused. The swirling mix of pain and pleasure swam through his systems. His comms had been disabled, his HUD blinking a warning about needing repairs. Someone was moaning and whining, and he became aware that it was his own voice. Mechs were lined up, servos running over his once untarnished and shiny plating, now defiled and sticky. He tried to protest, but his voicebox failed him.

Sentinel sobbed, or at least he thought he did. He was vaguely aware of another round of transfluids filling his valve, dripping down onto the luxurious padded sofa beneath, now stained and torn. The mech pulled out, only to reach down and scoop up the spilling transfluids, shoving them back into his valve. He could barely make out the words being said to him, his processor taking twice as long to work. "Hah! C'mon, Prime! Keep that load in ya pretty lil' valve. Why don't you open that gestation chamber for us and we'll spark ya up, huh? Maybe then you'll actually be useful for something!" Came a sneering voice from above him. He bit his derma hard enough that he tasted energon.

Another fat spike pressed against him, the golden folds of his valve parting and wrapping around the thick metal rod. He held back a noise as thick ridges stretched his calipers to the limit, and then some. His spike twitched, before he overloaded with a loud cry, shooting transfluid up across the shiny dark blue of his chassis. The mech above him laughed cruelly, forcing Sentinel's intake open before spitting directly onto his glossa. "Dirty mech. Cumming while being passed around like shareware. If only Iacon could see their beloved prime now, with a nobody's spike shoved up his pretty cunt." Sentinel overloaded again.

The mechs manhandled him. Positioning him in whatever way they wanted. He was on all fours presenging himself like some sort of mechanimal in heat, and with the way he was panting he may as well have been. He didn't remember offlining his optics, but they shot open when a spike started to press against his intake. A rough hand squeezed at his cheek plates, forcing his mouth open. A mech of his status shouldn't be doing something as lowly as sucking spike... but it seemed he didn't have a choice. His intake hung open, the blunt tip of a spike pressing against his glossa. It slipped in further, until his nose was pressed against plating. His throat cabling felt tight, his glossa pressed flat against the floor of his intake as he drooled oral lubricants onto the floor beneath him. His tanks lurched as the mech started thrusting brutally, surely bruising the sensitive rubber of his throat. A servo wrapped around his neck and squeezed, causing him to gag even harder, an obscene bulge visible through the soft plating. His optics rolled back as tears of coolant spilled down his cheeks.

Sentinel didn't remember passing out again. But next thing he knew, he had woken up. A datastick was next to him as well as a single printed photo, his abused and whored out frame covered in Syk patches. A threat of blackmail if he'd ever seen one. He fumbled as he plugged the datastick into one of the ports on the inside of his arm, quickly uploading the footage to an encrypted folder deep in his memory banks. He groaned, as he checked his internal chronometer. He was going to be late. He couldn't be late. The quintessons would kill him if he didn't get them their energon on time, or worse, expose his treachery to all of Iacon. He gritted his denta, standing up and peeling the used Syk patches off of his plating as he trudged to the washracks with a groan, and a massive helmache.

Solvent washed over his frame, feeling like fire against his still exposed tender valve and spike housing. He scrubbed quickly, removing most of the evidence. Buffing off paint transfers and scrubbing away as much dried transfluid that he could. He rushed, turning off the shower and drying off, being careful around his exposed delicate areas. He picked up his discarded modesty panel from the floor of the main room, retrieving a welding kit from his emergency kit and getting to work. His welding job was shoddy, much more used to having people fix him up, but it'd have to do. He needed to address the people of Iacon, before heading to the surface. He just hoped quintessons didn't have the ability to smell transfluids.

[the-colourful-witch]

The All the Young Dudes book covers project

I've been working on this fun project in my time off from social media. It consists of three illustrations to use as book covers for All the Young Dudes by MsKingBean89 on Ao3. This book has been the foundation of my involvement in the fandom. It's the first fic I read about the Marauders and I loved it so much! I laughed, and I cried, it was a real rollercoaster. After making the cover for A Brief History of Dragons by Eyra, I caught the bug and started thinking of more covers to illustrate. I loved working on the first cover, but I didn't love doing it on my tablet. At heart, I am a traditional illustrator and for this kind of illustration, I felt paper might work better. So I got to work. I knew I wanted to make three covers. From what I've seen online most people bind their own copies of All the Young Dudes in three parts: Year 1-4, Year 5-7 and Until the End. Therefore, I made three covers. I have not yet digitalized these illustrations, but I'll turn them into downloadable covers for binders to use for their book projects. I am working on binding my own physical copies of AtYD too :) It's fun! Right, to the covers. There's so much to say!

Book One

This is the start of Remus' life at Hogwarts and his friendship with the other Marauders. I wanted it to feel a bit like reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for the first time. It's the realisation that magic is real, it's that first spark you get when picking up a book you instantly connect with. That was the feeling I wanted to incorporate in this first cover. There are a bunch of little easter eggs for the story and I hope you'll pick them all out. Let me know in the comments what you think they are. Also, for this project, I studied the language of flowers. I am not sure if all my information is correct, but in this one, I put dandelions in the top corners. Dandelions represent new beginnings :)

Book Two

The second half of the Marauders' time at Hogwarts. This part is all about love and loyalty; something I liked a lot! It's also the time when the Marauders complete their animagus transformations. The animals had to be on the cover! That, I knew for sure. I went for a forest theme for this second cover, because of all the mischief the Marauders got up to in the Forbidden Forest during full moons. I used flower language here as well. For every Marauder I picked a flower I felt represented who they are. For Peter, at the top, I chose Bleeding Heart and Belladonna. Both of them represent betrayal and death. Nice and cheery :) For Sirius, on the Right, I chose Bluebell, which represents loyalty. For Remus, on the Left, I chose Acacia, which represents secret love or forbidden love, because he's hiding his sexuality for most of the book. But it's a love flower and in his core Remus is caring and loving, despite his rough edges. For James, on the bottom, I chose violets. And violets represent love at first sight. I know we all know why <3 I like this cover a lot. The picture is a bit grainy, but like I said, I'm still working on digitalising.

Book Three

Last but certainly not least. This book is about war, love and loss. It was definitely the most challenging piece out of the three, but worth the trouble. On this cover, I put Hogwarts at the top, because that's where it all started and where it ends. On the bottom, there's a prophecy, which is about Harry and Voldemort. There are a few gravestones at the bottom. Very cheerful, I know, but if you pay attention, you see a Deathly Hallows on one of them. On the sides are my favourite parts. I like the lily flower in the arms of death, because it's obvious, but also beautiful. I like the Death Eater on the other side because it's spooky. The snakes represent rebirth and Slytherin House, which is important to the story of the Second Wizarding War, connecting good and evil. Once again I put all the flowers in this piece, scattering them around because they're all interwoven in each other's stories. Finally, I want to say something about the three central images. In the first we see Remus as a child. He's alone and scared of the big scary wolf. The three images are a timeline. It represents Remus' relationship with the wolf in him. At first, he despises it and is scared of it. And finally, he stands with it, not quite embracing it, but he's not scared anymore. In the middle, I wanted to show Remus with his friends, because they banished his fear whenever they were together. With his friends, the wolf didn't control Remus and he could control the wolf. I hope it's all clear. I loved working on these pieces and I hope you like them too!

[in1-nutshell]

Nightlight meets the Batfamily

SFW, Platonic, Cybertronain reader

TFA

Nightlight didn’t know why she got transported to this smelly dinging alley.

All she remembered was helping Professor Sumdac carry some heavy material’s then feeling fuzzy and landing in the ally.

Worse, several important wires responsible for transformation had come out of their sockets.

Nothing could get wo—

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

Nightlight looks at her window and sees a small figure leaning on her frame. They were bleeding. She opens the door, and the figure falls into her front seat. It was a boy in a costume.

Nightlight: “Hey kid! Are you okay?”

The boy slowly lifts his head groaning.

Nightlight: “Kid is there a hospital or place we can go to get help?”

The boy groaned more, his eyes closing. Nightlight wraps her seatbelt around the boy. He yelped as the belt went over his wound and tightened.

Nightlight: “Sorry, can’t have you bleeding out. Now, is there a place we can go and get you help?” The boy hazily nods: “…putting in coordinates… wanna sleep bats…”

Nightlight puts the coordinates in and speeds off.

Nightlight: “Hang tight kiddo. Help is on the way.”

Nightlight’s spark was in overdrive when the boy suddenly slumped in her seat.

She was surprised when a secret entrance opened into a large cave.

She honked her horn several times getting the attention of an older human and another human in a wheelchair.

Carefully opening the door and letting the boy get carried off by the older man.

The woman rolled over to her.

Barbara: “Bruce? Bruce where���” Nightlight: “Who’s Bruce?”

The human woman in wheelchair made a startled noise.

Barbara: “Who said that?” Nightlight: “I did.” Barbara: “You’re the car? But how the batmobile—wait how—”

Nightlight pops her hood.

Nightlight: “If you can connect those wires, I’ll explain everything.”

The woman hesitates but eventually plugs in the wires. Nightlight transforms and stretches a bit. She looks down at the woman and kneels offering her digit.

Nightlight: “Thank you Ms…” Barbara: “…Oracle.”

Nightlight tilts her helm a bit.

Nightlight: “Oracle? Not a traditional human name I’ve heard. Or is it a code name?” Barbara: “Code name. Now, explain.”

Nightlight explained her situation to ‘Oracle’.

The older human, Alfred, soon came towards the pair telling them that ‘Red Robin’ was now stable.

The bot vented in relief and introduced herself to the older human.

She eventually sat down by the med bay while happily chatting with the older man when ‘Red Robin’ had woken up.

Tim groans as his eyes adjust to the light. Alfred goes to Tim side gently patting his head.

Alfred: “Good sleep, Master Tim?”

Tim groans as he adjusts himself to sit up in the bed.

Tim: “I guess. But I was having the strangest dream about the batmobile talk—”

Tim looks over at the giant robot in the cave waving at him.

Tim: “…I think I’m still dreaming. The batmobile is a mech.” Nightlight: “I’m no mech kid. The names Nightlight.” Tim: “…” Nightlight: “Yeah, don’t worry we’ll explain everything, right Barbara?” Tim: “It knows your names?!”

It takes a bit to explain to Tim what happened, but he does eventually understand and does say thank you for the rescue.

Nightlight simply pats his head.

Now… to tell the others about their temporary companion.

Tim was half tempted to bring Nightlight with him to his team’s hide out until she could go back home.

But it was ultimately decided that The Batman should be let on this.

The batmobile and two motorcycles pulled into the cave. The vigilantes get out.

Jason: “And that’s why you don’t film pigeons while you’re on patrol.” Damian: “Todd I swear--.” Bruce: “Enough both of you.” Bruce: “Did anyone check in with Red Robin.” Dick: “I thought he was with you. He was calling for the batmobile… are you guys seeing this?”

Tim, with bandages, was in the palm of a giant robot that looked oddly similar to the batmobile.

Nightlight: “Then I somersaulted Starscream and shoved the bomb right up his—Oh! We have visitors.”

Nightlight was picking out tiny ‘batarangs’ while Tim, Barbara and Alfred explained the situation.

Jason wants proof of the transformation.

Nightlight does then goes back to her root mode.

Jason: “So, she’s kinda like the female robot alien version of you B.” Nightlight: “I am not—” Bruce: “She is not—" Dick: “What did you say your job was again?” Nightlight: “I’m a detective. I solve mysteries, put the bad guys in cuffs—”

Jason gives Bruce a smug look.

Damian: “Did your parents die when you were young.” Dick, Tim: “Damain!” Nightlight: “Umm, no? I don’t have any parents. That concept is more of the traditional Earth thing. I have had mentors though.” Dick: “… How about a complicated love life?” Bruce glares at all his children: “Okay now how about we stop—” Nightlight: “I have a Conjunx if that’s what you’re asking.” Batfamily: “Conjunx?” Nightlight: “I believe its translated as ‘Spouse’, on Earth.” Jason: “… how come the robot version of you has her life together and you don’t.” Bruce: “Jason--” Tim: “Last one! Do you have a tendency of adopting orphans or kids in general?” Nightlight laughs a bit before thinking back at most of the members on Team Prime: “… I have become a figure to some extent.” Nightlight looks over at Tim before plucking him up and placing him on her shoulder: “Anymore questions?” All Bat kids looking up: “…” Nightlight: “If you want up—” Batkids: “Please!”

Bruce broods in silence as his kids are carried up the bots shoulders and helm.

[s1i9d]

I’m going to compile a quick list of things that I know from Archives in totality. Wanna make it clear what I do and don’t know so it could be interesting for perspective reads. [Spoilers up to Magnus Protocol E20]

Disclaimer: Aside from anything in this list, I do not know anything about Archives. I am listening to Protocol specifically devoid of Archives spoilers. So please no Archives spoilers. Also if I am wrong about something here, please do not correct me. I think it’ll be more fun that way if I’m not spoiled on these assumptions.

Celia is a character from Archives, and she’s aware of the Magnus Institute in her supposedly alternate timeline is definitely why she’s more genre savvy here. As for what the Magnus Institute did in Archives, or what role Celia had in Archives, I have no idea.

This one is more of a theory. I initially thought Celia was some kind of werewolf or creature transformation thing that was locked in the basement and that’s why she appeared on the side of the road in E11. I thought this because E10 ends with the thing in the Institute basement unlocking itself and freeing itself, and immediately at the start of E11, Celia wakes up so I thought there was a tie between them. [It’s still unclear if that’s what’s happening, but more likely it’s random teleportation.] I know the shapeshifter thing has a maybe(?) presidency of some kind in Archives. To what extent, to what’s happening, to what specifically, I have no clue.

I know Jon and Martin are the supposed main characters of Archives, and they’re in FR3-D1 as Chester and Norris respectively. They are gay for each other and Jon is ace(?) which I appreciate as a gay ace agender person.

Jon is also the person who sent Sam that email Sam showed Colin who freaked out back in E7. I suspect he/Martin are also the one who sent the email to Sam about the Protocol and Magnus Institute in E20. They seem to also be the ones in Fr3-D1 that are trying to get Sam to keep researching the institute every time he says he’s going to stop.

There’s a third character in FR3-D1 who voices Augustus named “Jonah”. I don’t know who the fuck he is, but my theory is that he is an evil villain of some kind who Jon and Martin are actively fighting against in the computer, since Alice mentioned Augustus is the rarest voice of the three, which I think is Jon and Martin trying to suppress Jonah by making out sloppy style with each other. I know that the three of them together form the .jmj error that Alice keeps getting.

Tea is some kind of metaphor in Archives, and the fact that Celia has tea consistently instead of coffee like the rest of our crew makes it clear that she’s from Archives.

Certain words are weird. I know they’re key words but I have no idea what they mean: Hunt, Compel, Avatar, The Eye. They’re just gibberish but they sound important. I do know Hunt refers to the statement about Lady Mowbray in E15, but I think there’s more context that was in Archives that isn’t in Protocol.

Georgie is voiced by the Magnus creator’s wife and is maybe in Archives? Unclear about that.

The alchemy stuff in E19 is NOT from Archives. That’s new stuff and plays an exclusive role in Protocol.

Worms?

The fire (at least in E7) can be interpreted as a ritual. Given that The Protocol™️ is anti-supernatural driven arson, I think there’s a chance it was not a ritual. But my friends reaction to E7 was that it was a ritual, so there’s a chance it could be.

Live music is apparently a big no no in the Magnus multiverse?

Influencer speak is not a thing in Archives?[I absolutely loved it, no lie. I satirically speak like an influencer sometimes but I died laughing first time I heard E15]

Protocol is far more digital, having use the audience listen through devices like phones, CCTV or computers via FR3-D1. The only exception is E10 and E15, where fucking tape recorders show up. Tape recorders are a main motif in Archives, and it’s very odd it’s here as an analog device compared to the digital listening devices.

Yeah, that’s all I got. I feel like I’ve scraped my brain clean of any details. If there’s more I’ll probably reblog this with more info. If anyone’s curious, feel free to send an ask and I’ll probably get to it. (No Archive spoilers in the asks obv.)

Kthxbyeeeeeeeee

[egophiliac]

Hello! Sorry to bother but do you have any digital art tips? I’m quite new to it and any tips, tricks or advice would be helpful! Your coloring style is very beautiful and I love it a lot!

thank you! 💚💚💚 sorry this is a bit late, hopefully there's still something helpful in it!

(also, it got pretty long, sorry!)

I think the biggest thing is to just take things slow -- digital art feels different than drawing traditionally, and it's SUPER easy to get overwhelmed by the billions of cool features that the digital world offers. (I say, as someone who spends a lot of time downloading cool brushes and textures...and then never using them ever.) there is a ton of really cool stuff you can do digitally, but because there's so much, I think it's really important to take time to figure out what is and isn't working for you. spend some time doodling without any intent to do a finished piece, figure out how you like to hold (or not hold) your tablet, what keyboard shortcuts you end up using a lot (and therefore might want to map to your pen/tablet buttons for quicker use)...that kind of thing!

everyone's workflow and preferred program and style are different, so it's hard to give hard-and-fast general advice. but the things that I think of as the essentials for learning digital art programs, and what I think of as a good order to focus on learning them in (although YMMV, especially depending on what kind of art you're doing):

brush customization (e.g. flow, opacity, softness)

layers and layer masks

selections and transformations (e.g. scale, rotate, flip horizontal/vertical, skew) (skew is underrated and I will die on that hill)

blending modes (e.g. multiply, screen)

adjustments/adjustment layers (e.g. hue/saturation, curves)

and I think most stuff after that is gravy! often very good gravy though! but yeah, as overall advice I recommend just taking things one little bit at a time, spending some time just drawing and messing around with each feature and what you can do with it. whether or not you end up incorporating any of it into your workflow, it's always good to try things out and just see how they feel! :D

and just so there is at least a little more concrete helpfulness in here, here's a few more specific things that I think are super important to keep in mind!

use! your! tablet/pen buttons! I mentioned this earlier, but they are extremely useful for keyboard shortcuts that you use often! most programs will also let you create new shortcuts for other things -- personally, I use the magic wand tool to fill in big color blocks a lot, so I made shortcuts for 'expand selection' and 'fill' and then mapped them to my tablet buttons.

flop your work horizontally often! when you're working on something, you get used to the way it looks, so seeing it mirrored is a quick way to see it with fresh eyes! in my experience, it often feels like this:

(a common thing is to find that everything is sort of 'leaning' too much one way, which is where skew really comes in handy!) (seriously, I love skew, it is my savior)

if you're working with color, keep a hue/saturation adjustment layer (or a layer filled with black or white and set to Color) on top and toggle it on occasionally to check your values! a lot of people who know a lot more about color than me (and are better at putting it into words) have written about why values are so important, so all I'll say is that the rule of thumb is that your image should still be readable in greyscale:

there are some exceptions and grey areas (do ho ho), but it's a good general rule to keep in mind! (some programs also have a colorblind mode, so you can check to see how your work will look to someone with colorblindness!)

and finally, here's some digital art programs I recommend, if you're still looking for a good one!

free: krita, FireAlpaca

paid: ClipStudio, Procreate (iOS/iPad only)

[theforestghost]

MegOP Week 2024 Day 4

Day 1: Peace Fandom: Transformers Animated Prompt: Optimus is the reincarnation of the 13th but does not know it. Rating: G

Optimus stirred slightly, recharge lingering in his frame as his optics slowly came online. The room he was in was dark, a low purple glow from the ceiling lights giving away nothing but shadows. Beside him, Megatron remained deep in his own recharge, large engines purring in a familiar hum that nearly lulled Optimus right back under. He resisted however, moving his helm to look up at the mech he was comfortably laying against. 

Megatron laid on his back kibble, one arm under Optimus’ helm as a pillow and the other laid across his waist like a weighted blanket that he knew from experience he could not move. In fact, this weighted blanket had a habit of holding him tighter whenever he tried to move too early in the day cycle. Optimus didn’t mind though; he loved these domestic starts to his solar cycle. Megatron clearly didn’t mind either since the large warlord always grumbled about Optimus waking far too early and dragging him back into a cuddle session until mid cycle at least. 

Optimus turned to face Megatron and carefully moved his servo to the other’s helm, gently tracing over the features with a barely there touch. Despite how much Megatron enjoyed waking late, the warlord was a surprisingly light recharger and would awaken at the slightest jostle. So Optimus had picked up a habit of quietly admiring his lover during these early cycles, watching his slumbering faceplate and sometimes daring to run a digit along his frame. It was therapeutic in a way. 

Optimus didn’t understand why he found such solace in Megatron. Just a couple of stellar cycles ago, the two of them were at each others throat cables. Their only goal had been to defeat the other and in the end, Optimus had succeeded in capturing Megatron. Not like it had actually lasted long since the moment his trial was held, Megatron was free and just vorns later, Optimus had been captured by him instead. Though he did have Ultra Magnus to thank for that loss. His assault on the Decepticons had hit Optimus as well and Megatron had taken advantage of the attack to capture Optimus. Things had gone by quickly after that.

Optimus had eventually defected, becoming Megatron’s new strategist. They’d restarted their assault on Cybertron, specifically in Iacon where Optimus was caught by Alpha Trion and told about his identity as the reincarnation of Thirteen. Optimus hadn’t believed the old mech until he’d had the Matrix of Leadership forced into his spark chamber and recalled every single memory of the mech. His inner turmoil over that had been stressful to every bot around him and eventually Megatron managed to remove the Matrix and free him. Optimus still had the memories of Thirteen but was no longer under the influence of his “siblings”.

A large and warm servo came and rested on the back of Optimus’ helm, making him look up at Megatron who watched him with warm crimson optics. Optimus let his own servo rest against his cheekplate in turn, smiling up at his lover who hugged him close. 

“What has woken you so early?” Megatron mused, his tone soft and hushed, thick with recharge. Megatron began stroking along his back struts with his free servo and Optimus let out a soft purr at the feeling.

“Nothing important.” Optimus said, laying his helm against the side of Megatron’s chassis.

“Your field says otherwise.” Megatron replied.

Optimus scowled slightly before letting out a soft ex-vent. “I recalled the time I had with the Matrix,” he explained. “It’s hard to believe that you removed it just two solar cycles ago. I still feel so raw…”

“I would think you would.” Megatron said. He gently pressed his field again Optimus, letting it embrace the younger mech in a way Megatron knew he enjoyed immensely. “The artifact is one of great power and whatever or whomever is inside put a great deal of stress on you, both physically and mentally. I would be more surprised if you did not feel raw.”

Optimus said nothing, just buried his faceplate into Megatron even more. The warlord turned his frame to face Optimus, embracing the smaller mech completely. Optimus was a cuddler and Megatron knew he found great comfort in touch and affection. Something Megatron himself had no issues in offering to his little one whenever he needed it.

“Can you stay here with me?” Optimus muttered against Megatron.

“I do not see why not.” Megatron hummed, resuming his stroking of Optimus’ back struts with his digits. 

He enjoyed peaceful day cycles like this.

[playedcrowd5610]

The Nemesis Chase - Transformers x Danny Phantom

Summary: Danny books it through the Nemesis with an angry Knockout on his heels

---

Notes

Set in a series where Danny finds Starscream one day and decides to start haunting the Decepticons. That's basically all the context you need but if you want more here is the rest of the series:

Haunting the Nemesis

Part 1: Chasing Stars

Part 2: Burning Rubber

Part 3: Adventures of the Decepticons' Pet Ghost Or Tumblr Master List

---

This scene was one of the first things I wrote when I started this series, so it may seem somewhat random. You can imagine it placed pretty much anywhere in the series timeline, it doesn't matter where. But I had nowhere else to put it for my posting schedule! So enjoy a fun little crack scene <3

---

Danny darted down the long, metallic hallway of the Nemesis, his sneakers barely touching the ground as the sound of angry, stomping steps echoed quickly from behind. 

"Get back here, you pest!" Knockout’s voice called out from behind him, filled with fury.

Danny glanced over his shoulder, laughing to himself as the fuming Knockout pursued him. Knockout had been boasting about himself again, and how much more sophisticated Cybertronains were than Organics. After one too many snide comments, Danny decided to throw one of the tools on the desk he was sitting on at the Con… And maybe he had thrown it with a little too much enthusiasm.

"Aw, come on, Knockout, it’s just a scratch!" Danny called back, smirking to himself as he turned a sharp corner. He could have easily just turned invisible or even just phased out through the floor, but where was the fun in that?

Just ahead, Breakdown was walking down the hallway, looking over a data pad and muttering to himself.  His optics shot up when he heard the commotion as Danny grinned and zipped by him. "Hi, Breakdown! Bye, Breakdown!"  Danny waved as he ran.

Breakdown blinked as Danny sped past, followed moments later by a livid Knockout. The red mech skidded to a halt in front of Breakdown, who raised an optic ridge at him. 

 "Why didn’t you grab him?!" Knockout threw his servo in the general direction where Danny took off.

Breakdown shrugged and tilted his helm to the side. "Why are you trying to kill Danny?" He asked.

Knockout lifted up one of the doors that were attached to his forearms, showing off a fancy new mark that trailed across it. "He scratched my paint!"

Breakdown sighed exasperatedly. "Right. That’s a perfectly good reason to chase a human down. Knockout, I can buff it out when I’m done this.”  He raised his datapad, which was small in his large servo. “There’s no need to kill him."

Knockout shot him a glare. "You’ll never understand the importance of keeping a finish pristine." He took off running again, shouting after Danny. "You’re going to pay for that, Scratch magnet!"

Danny, now several corridors away, zigzagged down another hall, laughing between breaths. He recognized the control center and ran in without a second thought.  The door opened for him instantly. Soundwave had programmed in his biosignature to open the doors for him when he walked up to them because he couldn’t reach the door panels with his tiny human limbs. Speaking of Soundwave – he spotted a familiar tall, thin figure standing at the control panel. 

Danny skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into him. "Hey, Soundwave!”  The mech turned his helm towards the human.  “Uh…Where’s Starscream?"

Soundwave, without saying a word, pointed a long, silent digit down the next hallway.

"Thanks!" Danny flashed a grin and bolted, but not before waving behind him to the mech.

Not a second later, Knockout stormed in, vents running overtime. "Where did he go?"  He demanded, leaning up against the doorframe for a moment's rest.

Soundwave’s visor remained blank, and he went back to his console as if nothing had happened.

Knockout growled, throwing his servos up in defeat. "Ugh, why is everyone so unhelpful today?!"

Meanwhile, Danny rounded the corner and nearly crashed into Starscream, the mech was distracted with a data pad and stepped back when Danny tripped in front of him. Danny righted himself dusting himself off and without missing a beat, he grinned up at the Seeker.

"Hey Screamy, how about a flight?"

Starscream narrowed his optics suspiciously, opening his intake to protest, when he suddenly noticed Knockout barreling toward them, pure irritation on his face.

Starscream let out an exasperated groan dragging his servo down his faceplate. "What have you done this time?"

"No time to explain!" Danny said quickly, hopping in place as Knockout drew closer.

Starscream sighed dramatically but grabbed Danny in one smooth motion, transforming mid-action and launching into the air, soaring through the hallways of the Nemesis. Knockout skidded to a halt just as they flew out of reach for the mech.

"I am going to get him one of these days," Knockout muttered, stomping away. Once he turned the corner he ran into Breakdown again and, without a second thought, he grabbed the larger mech by the transformation seam under his neck into his chest plates and pulled him along behind him. Breakdown made a sound of surprise but decided just to follow his partner anyway.

Soundwave closed out the security camera he had opened on the monitor that he was using to watch the whole ordeal and continued his work.  A very light hint of amusement reflected in his EM field.

[h50europe]

I had to write another episode coda for episode 8.03, and this time, I found a way to integrate Tommy into the plot. Hope you all like my take on it. (Chapter 1/2 now available)

Excerpt:

Tommy enjoyed flying, but he wished he could skip the paperwork that followed each mission. Thankfully, everything had been digitized some time ago, but it was still a hassle. He had just started typing when one of the probies burst into the office and said, “Sir, don’t you have your cell phone on? We have someone from 118 on the line who needs to speak with you urgently.”

Concerned, Tommy patted his pockets and found his cell phone in his left breast pocket. The display was dark, and nothing happened when he tapped on it. Meh, he'd forgotten to charge it. The landline hadn't been working for a while. The offices were in desperate need of an overhaul. Judging by the look on Probie's face, it seemed highly important, so Tommy jumped up and hurried after the young woman.

Tommy wondered what could be so urgent that someone from the 118 would call him on Harbor Station's main line.

“Kinard?”

“Thank God, Tommy. Where have you been? I've been worried and trying to reach you for a while. It's terrible. So much has happened here and Athena, and the thing with the flight she's on, and then the crash with the private jet.”

“Evan, hey Evan, that’s too much input,” Tommy interrupted. Buck tended to talk too fast and too much when excited, making it hard for Tommy to keep up.

“Oh, sorry, Tommy. So sorry. I can tell you about Gerrard later. What's important now is that we need you. Athena needs you. I told you that she's transferring a prisoner. And things went wrong on the flight here. This swarm of bees has affected us all, and although we don't notice much of it down here, the swarm was probably the cause of the crash between the passenger plane Athena is on and a smaller plane.”

There was a brief silence at the other end of the line. Buck was obviously trying to organize his thoughts.

“You mean goodness, is the plane about....” Tommy didn't dare think any further.

“No, no, it's not. That's why we need you now. The pilots are both down. The captain of the flight was sucked out of the cockpit after the impact, and the other one doesn't seem to be responsive.”

"Holy shit," Tommy muttered. “And who's flying now?”

“Athena."

[thecorruption-thespiralsversion]

!!!!!SPOILERS ALL!!!!!

Some thought on The Magnus Protocol.

Specifically on the category numbers.

So some ground rules I'm speculating with so far:

-The last two set of numbers are just the dates. I'm sure they'll be important for setting up a timeline, but not for what I'm currently working on.

- CAT stands for Category, right?

- The DPHW or last 4 numbers of the first set of digit can be ignored for now. That's the "literal" thing that happened. 2155 = Reanimation (Partial) and little else.

- So the digit we are working will be those in-between CAT and the DPHW.

Example:

Rolling With It was a CAT3RB3354. Broken down it's:

CAT - Category

3RB

3354 - Dice(Bone)/Fate

So what does 3RB mean? Well, let's see if the most recent episode can give us some help.

Futures - CAT3RB4622

3RB -

4622 - Gambiling(Application)/Self-destruction

A 3RB case seems like it has themes of luck, chance, and betting.

So here are my current questions.

What do Dolls, Watching have to do with Ep. 7 Give and Take CAT - 2RC

What do Bonso, and Needles have in common- both, across 3 episodes (2 for Bonso) CAT - 1RB and why not The Tattoo Artist?

!!!CORRECTION!!!

The Reanimated Amalgamation case is a 1RBC not a 1RB. They may not have a connection.

A note on Ink5oul - both statements they appears in aren't "rated/score" about them.

Making Adjustments was a 3RBC for 1567 (Transformation (full), Dysmorphic)

Marked was a 23RC for 5246 (Tattoo (corpse), compulsion)

And, I mean, Yeah. On paper they aren't similar. They have nothing related.

But we know they do.

Anyways, late night magnus thoughts