#activate air plane mode

[pin-k-ink]

pent up // hoshina soshiro

tw ⇢ semi public sex, biting, marking, nipple play, dirty talk, established relationship, unprotected sex, begging, fingering, mention of male masturbation

wc ⇢ 1.2k

a/n: not satisfied with this one either…and i keep forgetting that this guy has a kansai dialect

The lab was cloaked in near total darkness, save for the bluish glow of the monitors humming in standby mode. You suppressed a yawn as you entered the data from today's latest round of kaiju cell analyses, the rhythmic clacking of keys filling the stillness.

At least these late night sessions afforded you some peace and privacy to focus without distractions. With the spike in kaiju activity lately, you'd been logging far too many long hours bent over these microscopes and petri dishes--

"Well, well...what do we have here?"

You jolted ramrod straight at the teasing baritone that seemed to resonate directly against the back of your neck. Before you could whirl around, a pair of corded, muscular arms snaked around your midsection from behind, anchoring you against a powerful, chiseled chest as hot lips ghosted over the racing pulse at your throat.

"Working late again without me, baby?" Soshiro growled in a voice dripping with playful accusation. "You know how I hate being left out like this..."

Your breath hitched at the delicious vibrations thrumming against your nape with each rasping word. He plastered himself fully along your backside - every rigid, defined plane molding against your softer curves so deliciously you nearly whimpered. The rigid outline of his rapidly swelling cock nudged insistently against your ass, leaving no doubt as to his state of riled desire.

"S-Soshiro!" you exhaled shakily. "I thought you were still out in the field--"

"Mmmm, got done sooner than expected," he rumbled in smug contentment, nuzzling deeper into your hairline to pepper kisses there. "Lucky me too, otherwise I might've missed the chance to catch my gorgeous girlfriend working late all alone...again..."

He punctuated the accusation by rolling his hips forward in a slithery, teasing grind that sent liquid fire pooling between your thighs instantly. You gasped at the blatant lust riding his every motion, hands flying up to grip his corded forearms reflexively as need swamped through your veins.

"Fuck, I've been so goddamn worked up without you around," Soshiro groaned against the slick skin beneath your jaw, fangs grazing there in stinging little nips. "Jerking off twice a day just thinking about burying myself in this perfect body until you're a goddamn mess..."

He reached up to shove your sweater and shirt aside with impatient motions, dragging the soft cup of your bra down to bare one breast to the open air. You shuddered violently as cool oxygen seared your inflamed skin - nipple tightening into a rigid point that Soshiro wasted no time lavishing with rough swipes of his tongue.

"Nngh, 'Shiro! We c-can't..." you tried in a broken whimper, even as your spine arched wantonly into the scorching heat of his mouth. "Not here, someone could--"

"So what?" he growled against your saliva-slick flesh, sucking a lurid mark into the tender swell hungrily. "Let them finally see how crazy you make me after being denied for weeks...hear how pretty you sound when I fuck you like my life depends on it..."

His hand found the waistband of your slacks in the same breath, dipping past the lacy barrier of your panties to swipe his knuckles over your dripping entrance with devastating bluntness. An inarticulate noise punched itself from your throat in stunned rapture at the glide of his calloused fingers seeking out your swollen clit.

"God, you're so fucking soaked already," Soshiro snarled in husky approval. "Told you how much I've been thinking about devouring this perfect little pussy of yours, didn't I?"

You cried out shamelessly, nails scoring down his forearms as he speared two thick digits past your fluttering folds to the last knuckle. His thumb found your aching clit, thrumming tight little circles that shattered your vision in white nova bursts.

"So good for me, opening up so beautifully," he praised roughly against the corner of your slack mouth, teeth scoring your earlobe in a stinging burn. "Like your greedy little cunt was made to milk me dry again and again..."

Distantly, you registered the sounds of him shucking his pants off behind you with frantic motions, the heavy line of fat cock finally springing free. You rolled your hips in mindless desperation, chasing the delicious friction of his thrusting fingers urgently.

"Yes, yesss, Soshiro!" you babbled around a helpless stream of sobs and moans. "Please, I need...need you to..."

"Shhh, baby...I've got you," he growled with dark reassurance in your ear, swollen cockhead finding your entrance with precision guidance.

You keened at the thick stretch and glorious impalement as he hilted himself to the root in one smooth, fluid roll of his hips. Behind you, Soshiro released a ragged sound of bliss, hot breath fanning over your nape as he savored the velvet heat enveloping his aching cock at last.

"Fuuuuck...baby, you feel so goddamn tight, squeezing me so fucking perfectly..."

You could only whimper and rut back against his bulk needfully in response - utterly overwhelmed by the sheer size and weight of him buried so profoundly. The slick noises of his withdrawal teased obscene symphonies in the quiet lab, only for his girthy thrust home to pummel the breath from your lungs anew in rapture.

Over and over, he ground into your convulsing walls at a ruthless, relentless cadence - every snap of his lean hips punctuated by rough groans and fevered praises filtering against your sweat-slick skin. The unyielding suction of his chest to your back anchored you in sublime torment, his hands possessively palming and groping every lush curve as he staked his dominion.

"Just like that, sweetheart," Soshiro growled in your ear as his pounding rhythm punched guttural noises from the depths of your being. "Hold those gorgeous tits for me while I ruin that tight cunt, fuck...taking me so fucking deep, squeezing so tight..."

His sharp canines found the fevered juncture of your neck and shoulder in an implacable bite, the fiery sting only amplifying the maddening friction splitting you apart from root to core. In the same breath, he latched one calloused hand around your throat - not squeezing, just a heavy grounding vice as he pistoned deeper.

You bucked back onto him, relishing the addictive drag of his veiny cock along your rippling walls. Every gasping moan and keen shattered against the sterile air surrounding you both, as if to defy the pristine silence entirely in favor of hedonistic ruin at last.

Soshiro railed into you with gradually increasing savagery, fingers bruising at your hip and throat as his climax mounted insurmountably. Something molten and feverish kindled to rapturous life behind your fluttering lids. Finally...

"Mine..." he snarled through gritted teeth, teeth scoring your nape and back arching as release crested. "Say it, [Y/N]...you're fucking mine, only ever fucking mine..."

"Yours!" you howled unintelligibly, every nerve ending splintering into infinite fragments of ecstasy at his brutal claiming. "Always yours, Soshiro, oh fuck...!"

Your shared shouts splintered to hoarse shrieks of blissful rapture as his shaft pounded home in one final, bestial thrust. Thick, creamy cum flooded your convulsing pussy torridly as Soshiro threw back his head and roared your name - muscles corded in stark relief while his climax milked out in pulse after pulse of abandon.

Your juices gushed freely around his iron length, spasming through soaring peaks and crashing falls of blinding intensity until exhaustion finally bled into a twilight half-consciousness. Dimly, you felt his slick, softening cock withdrawing, only to be gathered up and cradled in strong arms as you drifted on the ebbing tide of aftershocks.

[octuscle]

I'm on a flight to Tokyo, and I'm definitely going to stand out amongst the locals... what should I do?

I always have the greatest respect for visits to Asian countries myself. So it's more than natural that you need support. I myself have had very good experiences with a preset that I am sending you. I recommend that you activate the preset as soon as possible, the transformation is set to last 12 hours.

Okay, it's exemplary that you had your cell phone in flight mode, so the message only reaches you after the plane is already on the tarmac on its way to the terminal. With your seatbelt still fastened, you activate the default setting. After the first few seconds, the first effect becomes apparent. The tension is gone. This is not the first time you have landed in Haneda. Only tourists and fools jump up and open the luggage compartments before the seatbelt signs have gone out. You are disciplined. Discipline is the only way to survive a juggernaut like Tokyo. You know that. The idiots around you don't.

You say goodbye to the person sitting next to you. You say goodbye to the flight crew when you leave the plane. In broken Japanese. You struggle with the language. Even though you've been learning it for over a year. At least you recognize a few of the characters at the airport. At least you can understand fragments of the conversations around you. And you know your way around the airport. Even if you're not the first to jump on, you're one of the first at the baggage carousel. It pays to have a Japanese ID card. Wait a minute! A Japanese ID card? Sure, you've been living here for years. Tokyo is your second home. Naturalization was only logical. You have a Japanese great-grandmother. That made it easier. You inherited your black hair from her.

You look at the people with the big suitcases with pity. They're either going to waste a fortune on cabs now. Or they'll have real problems on the train during rush hour. You've packed efficiently. And your advantage is that you stand out from the crowd. 190 cm… That makes you a giant in Japan. And a colossus at 120 kg. When you finally take the steps from the subway into the open air, the default setting has already been active for three hours. You walk the last few meters to your hotel. It's so nice to be back here. Yes, you actually live in London. But you spend as much time as you can in Tokyo for business and pleasure. For years now. You speak the language very well, you're up to date with all the fashions and gossip. And a regular guest here at the hotel. The concierge addresses you by name. You greet him back by name. Nevertheless, you exchange business cards. Tradition is tradition. The building trembles. A slight earthquake.You don't know how many earthquakes this is in your life. It's not even worth mentioning in your conversation.

Now a quick bowl of noodle soup. And then to the gym. You've spent too much time motionless on the plane and in the subway. You need action now. The feeling that your body has given its last. And then a hot bath and a massage. Your buddy at reception has already arranged everything. You just quickly take your luggage upstairs and get changed. And then you run down the stairs to the gym. The earth has just shaken a little again. The last thing you need now is to get stuck in the elevator.

Two hours later, when Atsushi presses his elbows into your back, all is right with the world again. Atsushi is a master of his trade. And you've known each other for ages. In fact, you played baseball in the same club as children before you moved to Europe with your parents. It was a real coincidence when you found each other on one of your visits here on Grindr. It's one of the biggest and hardest reasons why you're staying here at the hotel. Rarely have you experienced a better masseur who is both good for your back and offers a first-class happy ending. He stands behind you and massages your neck. And his hard-on sticks out in front of your face. Shit, if he doesn't suck you off right away, you'll cum without him laying a hand on you.

You two spend the evening at karaoke. Unfortunately, Asushi can't stay in your hotel room tonight. But he will take you upstairs. And you fuck him as a thank you. Asushi thanks you with a deep kiss goodbye. He says that your education in Europe has paid off. Nobody fucks like real Japanese men who learned to fuck in Paris. You grin. Well. An almost real Japanese man. Your one grandmother was English. You owe your blue eyes to her.

Get up, go to the gym, take a hot bath. That's how your next morning starts. Not easy with the jet lag. But you have to get back into the rhythm of the city of your ancestors quickly. The first meeting is at 07:30. Time is money. And life in Tokyo is not cheap. "それで、侍よ？よく眠れましたか？" Asushi sent a picture of his morning wood. You return the favor with a selfie, freshly showered. "よく眠れたよ！しかし、私には硬いものと柔らかいものがある。疲れ果てた夜に備えよ," you reply. "はい、侍よ！" You're looking forward to the end of the day!

[fiuworks]

TMA OCS!

working on an oc mini universe! workplace comedy but its three avatars of fears actively killing off as many people on flights as possible

Hermes Dillon - Captain! He's an avatar of the vast...feeling too much turbulence? Waking up abruptly feeling like you're falling? About to step off the plane and disappear into the abyss? Sorry! Your captain is fucking with you <3

Santiago Vitar - Cabin Crew! Feeling a little ill after plane food? Your seat feeling horrible to the touch? Are your rowmates coughing on you with no masks on? Sorry the cabin crew who served you is actively waiting for the bug eggs to hatch!

Marina Ibrahimovic - Cabin Crew! Having a panic attack about being inside a big metal cage filled with warm bodies? Dreaming about crashing into cities or the fact that this mode of travel is killing the planet? Is your on flight entertainment suddenly spewing messages of doom and the end of humanity even though you're watching Crazy Rich Asians? Sorry the air hostess is actively hoping your heart rate gets so high that you die!

DO u enjoy them? Ask me stuff abt them! Askbox wiiide open fellas

also they're a throuple lol

[braveseeker3]

Aerialbot Headcanons

Silverbolt

Tired Dad vibes

Second most introverted after Skydive

He can carry his brothers on his wings while flying. Not all of them at the same time, though

Doesn't get acrophobic in space

Worrier by nature

Has a lightning outlier ability

Air Raid

Closest equivalent to Team Medic

He's very ADHD

Definitely the most extroverted

Can, has, and will play mid-air chicken with Ramjet

Gets mistaken for a Seeker (usually Skywarp) in fights a lot. Has lots more faction badges on his alt mode than the rest of his brothers to try and avoid him being shot down by friendlies

Skydive

Plays strategy games with Prowl

Nerd for military aviation history. And just. . . aviation history in general

Quietest of them all, and soft spoken

Definitely the guy you hang out with if you just want to read something or do some other quiet activity with company

Birdwatcher

Really into RC planes

Knowledge Sponge

Fireflight

Very perceptive - often acts as a spotter for snipers

Loves and collects shiny things, usually rocks. Has a sizable collection of agates and geodes in particular

Picks up on others' emotions very easily, and is a good judge of character

Also very ADHD

Goes birdwatching with Skydive a lot

Slingshot

Silverbolt's most common passenger, due to his alt mode being the slowest and having the shortest range

Team Sniper

Uses the agility of his alt mode to access vantage points like the roofs of skyscrapers

First one to defend his brothers (Air Raid is the second)

Holds grudges

Superion

Very protective of Optimus

Since he doesn't combine a whole lot outside of active combat the Autobots don't know him very well. But the Aerialbots usually say he's short-tempered, and protective if someone asks

Y'know how Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are described as front liners in fanfics a lot of times? Superion is that

Once picked up Starscream and threw him like a baseball

Can use Silverbolt's outlier ability. Fortunately, the limbbots are protected from being electrocuted by it regardless of them being combined or not

[redhairedwolfwitch]

Broken Arm - Alexia Putellas x Reader

A/n: a short piece that came into mind when I was making lunch during halftime of the NLD today... although I should be working on part 2's and part 3's of other fics... oh well, i'm supposed to be trying to sort my life out but instead i'm writing fics to distract from my anxiety ✌🏼

Summary: you break your arm on international duty and return to your club in a cast, activating your teammates' overprotective mode, but all you want is to be next to your love.

///

Breaking your forearm on international duty wasn’t something that was on your bucket list. Landing on your arm after a poorly timed tackle that flipped you through the air wasn’t something you could control through. Putting your arms out in front of you so you didn’t land on your head was the only thing you could control, how you felt your arm crack as you landed on it hurt. You couldn’t stop the tears down your cheeks, no matter how desperate you were to hold them in. The cameras were on you as you laid on the grass, cradling your arm, waiting for the medics to get you off the pitch.

Heading to the hospital, your arm was x-rayed, finding what had been assumed by the audible crack and how you were struggling with movements involving your arm. It was broken.

Your national team ended up losing the game, the opposing team had been brutal throughout the match, and after taking you out, they had had time to score another goal.

“Don’t blame yourself.” was what you were told over and over, but you couldn’t help but feel like you’d scared your teammates with your injury, but the injury itself? Not your fault.

It took a while to get you back to Barcelona, luckily your team had had one final match before the international break was over, but you needed to get your arm sorted out and approval to fly back to Spain from your doctor.

“I do not advise you to keep watching that.” 

Glancing up from where you were sitting watching the video someone had uploaded to YouTube of your injury over and over, you met the sports psychologist’s eye, letting out a sigh as you closed the app and put your phone down on your thigh.

“When can I fly back to Barcelona?” you asked, leaning your head back onto the back of the chair before trying to fold your arms. The sports psychologist watched as you grimaced at your arm.

“The airline requires you to wait at least 48 hours after your cast is fitted, in case of risk of swelling in your arm that could affect your circulation. There’s talk of your cast being split before you fly, then you’ll have it re-casted by your doctor in Barcelona.” 

“Okay, thank you. I just want to go home.” You explained, jolting slightly as your phone vibrated on your thigh, unlocking your phone to see your international teammates had texted the group chat, wanting to check in on you.

///

Arriving back in Barcelona from international duty, your first stop, annoyingly, was the hospital, but you had your cast sorted out then headed home to flop into bed, the exhaustion and stress of everything knocking you out. You’d tried to sleep on the plane, but keeping your arm steady was more distracting than anything.

///

You had to get to the training ground early to talk to the staff about your arm. Everything else worked, you could still play since you weren’t a goalie, but you knew your arm needed time to heal and you’d be in the cast for at least 6 weeks.

Heading out of the medical room, you went to pick up your phone from where you had left it in the locker room with your bag.

“You’re finally here!” Aitana began to tease before her face fell, eyes landing on your casted arm.

“What happened to your arm?”

“This happened on international duty?”

“Who did this to you?”

“Can we kill them?”

“Okay, first, not late, I’m on rest for at least a week, because I landed on my arm and broke it after a nasty tackle whilst playing for my national team, and, I don’t want to tell you who did it now you’ve just asked if you can kill them, I can’t get you guys out of a murder charge.” You looked at each teammate as you answered their questions, from Aitana to Patri, to Sandra to Leila and Mapi.

The rest of your teammates all lingered in varying proximities to you, varying amounts of concern on their faces as the overprotectiveness activated.

It didn't help that they weren't there when you were hurt, since it was international duty and you weren't playing against any of their national teams.

“But who did it-” Mapi began but she was cut off as a familiar video began to play on Jenni’s phone, leaving you to grimace as your teammates watched the incident video you’d watched over and over (until the sports psychologist advised you not to, then nearly took your phone away when you watched it again).

“Do we play them any time soon? Can we take them out?” Leila asked, wondering if she should be googling the next international games but Alexia sighed.

“Training, girls!”

///

Sitting on the sidelines of the pitch with the drinks coolers instead of in the stands (where you should have been), you sipped your drink and continued to observe the rest of your teammates' training.

A knee bumping yours ever so slightly broke your concentration as you realised the girls had gone for a water break, turning to meet the eyes of your concerned captain, but she was a lot more than that to you.

“How are you?” Alexia brought her drinks bottle to her mouth, her hand about to rest on your thigh but she decided against it after her eyes lingered on your cast for too long.

“I’m not made of glass, you can touch me,” moving Alexia’s hand so it rested on your thigh, you could feel her hand tense against your skin for a moment before relaxing again as your arm wrapped around her.

“I’m better after I seeing you. All I wanted after they took me off the pitch was to come home and be with you. Nothing else mattered, I was stuck in a loop waiting, watching that video over and over… you know I have to wrap the cast in a bag just to shower? Looks ridiculous.” You admitted, resting your head on Alexia’s shoulder as you talked, her eyes not leaving your cast, even as she rested her head on top of yours slightly, snorting slightly at the thought of you in the shower with your forearm in a bag.

Her fingers drew patterns on your thigh as she listened to you speak, smiling softly at the atmosphere as you yawned slightly.

“Can we sign your cast?” It was Jana who had approached, Clàudia lingering behind out of shyness, plus she didn’t want to interrupt whatever was going on between you and her captain.

“If the others give up plotting to murder the player that tackled me, yes, you can sign it later. Otherwise, no way, it’ll end up as evidence when they’re on trial for murder.” You bargained, watching as the two young players ran off to go ask the others about their murder plan.

“Can I sign it?” Alexia’s tone was playful as she turned to look at you, her thumb rubbing circles into your thigh as she smiled.

“Later, I don’t have a sharpie on me… can you sign my lips with yours in the meantime?” You proposed, pouting as Alexia laughed then leaned in to kiss you, but then, a whistle blew, reminding the girls to get back to the drills.

“You owe me!” You called out, watching Alexia get up and walk away with a smile on your face as she threw a grin back at you.

///

Taking a nap on a couch in the physio room was not part of your itinerary, but you’d gone there whilst Alexia was practising her free kicks, talking to the physio about your arm. Next thing you knew, you were asleep.

Fingers gently running down your cheekbone were the thing to stir you as you let out a small whine, hearing Alexia chuckle and kiss your forehead as you began to get up.

“Where- what time is it?” You murmured, accepting the affection as you nuzzled into Alexia, getting up from the couch.

“Time to go home, mi amor. The girls have already gone, but they left you a present.” Alexia pointed out, gesturing to your cast as you gave her a confused pout, before letting out a groan.

“I swear if anyone drew a dick on it…” You grumbled, glancing over your cast at all the signatures, little messages and doodles that covered it, your annoyed look fading quickly.

“You didn’t write anything?” You glanced up, raising an eyebrow as your fingers ran over a message from Irene.

“I owe you this first.” Alexia reminded you, kissing you gently on the lips before pulling away with a smile, “you can have more at home.”

“I like that idea, the girls better give up on their murder plot now though.” You replied but Alexia’s laughter left you rolling your eyes, her arm wrapped around your waist as the two of you went to get your things and head home.

Your teammates would most likely not let what happened to you on international duty go as quickly as you hoped they would.

[sky-poprocks]

Actually just looked at the hints for Fire Prophet and they're all cute

all hints under read more due to the fact... it's a lot of things

1st set of hints:

Wears socks to bed

Is a huge anime fan

Is not afraid to cry

Stands against cyberbullies

Tells you to go to BED

Doesn't know how to wear sunglasses

Likes slice of life shows and comics

Doesn't have an indoor voice

Has broken a bone before

Is vegetarian

Would prefer me not to answer the question "....would they eat socks? And would it be holiday socks?"

Says Zoinks when surprised

Doesn't like playing rock paper scissors because they lose a lot

Would enjoy watching high-stakes cooking shows

Is a Leo sun, Aries moon, Pisces rising

[ikô] Is really good at roasting marshmallows

[ikô] Is up to date with the Jujutsu Kaisen manga

[ikô] Actually enjoys the anime more because since they're the active one who likes to get pumped up for exercises, they enjoy studying the character's movement when they're fighting. story-wise? The manga is their go-to.

[ikô] Doesn't like guacamole

[ikô] Owns a bumble bee pillow pet

2nd set of hints:

Enjoys listening to 80's pop new wave music the most

Is learning to knit

Doesn't like to use air conditioning

Thinks legwarmers could be the next fashion trend

Is more acrobatic than you think

Burns soup

Is a shy artist

Missed their Sky plane once

Enjoys getting dizzy

"The 80's song I was thinking of was "You spin me right round"!"

"What's their favorite color?"

"I would tell you but it would be obvious once the TS is revealed"

"So is it red?"

"Yes probably an obnoxiously bright colored shade of it too"

[wes] Is not Nicolas Cage, probably

[reika] I think it's about time to not trust what Ash says about TS

[reika] Is more acrobatic than you

[reika] I'm still waiting to be exempt from slow mode

[wes] Is a little bit concerned about how feral gen-chat gets for the TS reveal

[wes] As an AI language model, I cannot generate Sky TS hints for you. That responsibility lies solely with Ash.

[black-aengel-07]

Scythe Model: Arrowhead

An interceptor-fighter craft known for its speed and unique style of combat that had made it the bane of all Imperial attempts at air superiority. The Arrowhead Model is specialized for Aeronautics combat, while its much larger and heavily armed variant, the Viper, is specifically constructed as an orbital fighter.

General Design:

Shaped like a leaf, the Arrowhead is quite small for an aircraft, not even nine meters long, with a width of three meters, its small profile makes it a challenge to target, especially when its right up in your face about its deadly intentions. Yet its proportions hide a surprisingly sturdy frame, on top of having a passive sensor mask that makes it very challenging for standard targeting equipment to get a lock on it or detect their approach until they are almost on top of its target.

Propulsion and Manoeuvrability:

The Arrowhead Scythe is propelled by six thruster engines at its caudal side that are not too dissimilar to the design of the plasma thrusters on void ships, if only with a much smaller profile. Furthermore, it is aided by grav-plates to remain suspended in the air without the need of wings to support its flight. However, these are not the most outstanding features of this craft, those would have to be the Gyroscopes.

Mechanicum adepts are still in heated debates as to the inner workings of recovered pieces of the Gyroscopes, as they have been dubbed, from dead Arrowhead craft. But what they all agree upon its that they are the singular most fundamental piece in the Arrowhead’s near physics defying agility.

Named after the device they most closely resemble in appearance; it is theorized they emit some form of gravitational anchor point that allows the craft to always be relative in their positioning to the closest primary gravitational well.

This is how the Arrowhead is able to remain in stable flight and turn without the need of any form of wings, as well as perform manoeuvres that would otherwise kill an organic pilot within. For instance, by simply rotating both Gyroscopes inside the Arrowhead in the same direction along a horizontal plane, the craft immediately spins on its axis without changing direction, allowing it to suddenly turn around on a pursuing target and light it up with its main armament before reconfiguring its trajectory back into a stable flight configuration.

For this reason alone, the Arrowhead has earned the righteous ire and fear of all Imperial pilots who have ever faced them in battle and survived to tell the tale.

Weaponry:

Arrowheads are a significant threat to face in combat, made all the deadlier by their arsenal.

Primary Weapon: Arrowheads maintain their weapons locked beneath their plating when in cruising mode or whenever they are performing their most famous attack. Depending on the Sub-Model of the Arrowhead, one could either expect forward facing twin linked las-cannons with surprisingly high rates of fire or a missile volley, ranging up to ten fire-and-forget missiles before the craft needs to fabricate replacements.

Secondary Weapon: Arrowhead Scythes all tend to be fitted with a secondary weapon on its underside, usually geared for smaller targets like infantry. These weapons tend to vary greatly from direct energy weapons like Laser Beamers and Volkites, or kinetic weapons such as RCGs.

Power Field Blade Wreathe: The most famous weapon of the Arrowhead, even if it’s the one with least range, if only due to the sheer gal of the Men of Iron to create a fighter craft specialized for melee.

Given its sturdy design and high manoeuvrability, the Arrowhead is designed to ram against enemy aircraft to immediately achieve a kill or shatter formations, forcing a chaotic dogfight where the Arrowhead holds the advantage or is actively forcing enemy craft to focus on it while other aircraft deal the finishing blow.

This final armament converts the Scythe into a flying Power Blade capable of slicing clean through a Lightning Strike Craft without hardly loosing speed, and given its agility, entering close quarters combat with these crafts is always a deadly dance where one wrong move could result in a swift end by the reaper’s blade.

[ask-a-bot]

My autism has activated: a good book series for anyone of any age! Guardians of Ga'Hoole! And the series that comes after, Wolves of the Beyond! They were my fav books when I was growing up. Guardians is 16 books, and wolves of the beyond is 6 books!

Added to the list! Thanks! I've got the first book so he can give that a try too. If nothing else, he's got plenty to try out. He's currently listening to... Biggles. Funny... I don't think I had that on the list.

I told him to try it. Biggles is a WWI air ace. I thought he'd like those.

One of your favourites, eh?

One. Yes. Not that his plane is anything like my alt mode.

Well, no. It wouldn't be, would it. Still, those little biplane can still pull off some impressive stunts.

If you say so.

How did the surfing go?

Great! Best conditions so far. Shame you had to miss it. Want me to kick Megabum's bum for you?

No thank you. Not unless you want to sit in the Naughty Corner.

Not unless you want me to bite your finials.

Do you want to live in the Naughty Corner?

I think I'd rather draw, thanks. Afthole.

[moodbroads]

BACK IN MY WOLFQUEST PHASE ONCE AGAIN!!! MEET ROSEMARY :3

also heres some goofy ah photos of my mate being scared of his own pups-

ANYWAYS IM SO EXITED FOR HELLROARING MOUNTAIN!!! i wonder if theres gonna be a new achivement for like interacting or killing a wolverine since i think they said its gonna be rare or smthin! i already know theres prob gonna be new cool collectibles so im exited about that- OOH WHAT IF THEY ADD A WOLVERINE SKULL

would be nice to also have a den in an abandoned human camp ehehe tbh my dream wolfquest update would be if you could raid like a rabbit warren or maybe get revenge on stranger wolf dens so there could actually be war n stuff >:D MAYBE IF YOU FIND A NON-ABANDONED FOX DEN IN WINTER U CAN MAKE IT UR OWN BY DEFEATING THEM >:D

it would also be so epic to have mutations like having a piebald pup!! aionguedbhklwsuv i have SOOO MANY IDEAS like a 'rp mode' in multiplayer servers where ur able to play as a puppy or special rp-only emotes like stretching, shaking or play fighting/roughhousing! and maybe even splitting players into diff packs (maybe being able to attack the other players- if in a diff pack XD)

BUT YEE ANYWAYS BACK TO RAISE MY PUPS-6 MORE POUDS TO GO (to 15) AFTER THE DEN FLOODED T_T (edit cuz im too lazy to make another post)

I FORGOT HOW DRAMATIC WOLFQUEST CAN BE LIKE SKIPPER JUST GOT YOINKED BY A COUGAR AND THEN 5 MINS LATER THE ALPHA FEM OF THE MOLLIES CAME

also yaya its spring i can finally bring food cuz the only beavers are like a million miles away :')

OH AND I SAW AN EAGLE PERCH FOR THE FIRST TIME ON LAMAR PEAK AND IT WAS SO PRETTY-

PLZ GROW SKIPPER PLZPLZZPLZZAAA IM ON MY WOLF KNEES AND HOWLING WHY DID U HAVE TO DO THIS UR BROTHER IS 16.9-

anyways yeah i saved and left after that to take a break-hope to update yall once again soon XD

i have returned once again i couldnt resist >:)

WE GOT TO THE REN SITE FINALLY!! :D the personalities of em are rlly starting to come out sooo...

introducing...creek the napper/antisocial, ember the explorer/rebel, and skipper the energetic/extremely lucky XD

i got revenge on the cougar that snatched skipper /j

BONE PARTY!! (yeah thats creek sleeping once again ;-;)

fun fact i found out durin this playthrough: the plane will visit your mate if they have a radiocollar on and you dont! even if your far from the den and theyre still at it! i saw it a few times and it was pretty cool but very hard to get good shots of :')

AGRHJ MORE DRAMA- dang calfree creek moved in super close to my home hex while skipper got sick- ;-;

once again skipper being 1 tiny pound away BUT AYYE SHE GOT HEALTHY AGAIN LIKE 2 NIGHTS LATER SO YAYA

also me findin the barbie bag and lance being scared of it for some reason (AgAinSt GuRLiEpOpS?!?1/1/!?)

underappreciated local redhead XD

i finished and creek got air jailed by lance for tryna be active T_T

I KNEW SHE WAS A RUNT >:(

ANYWAYS HERE THEYRE ADULT FORMS!! ember got a cool tinted buffy which was my first npc coat!! (XD aint suprised tho cuz lance was stormy) and creek looks like he ate face-first into a bag of flaming hot cheetos

ANYWAYS YAYAAA I HAD A FUN TIME!! i might continue this bloodline too..someday >:)

[smokescreenimusprime]

I'm gonna take two of your ideas for Fifth Sigma (Smokescreen having multiple alt modes and him reuniting with the rest of the Rescue Bots) and connect them to make a plot.

Let's say, Smokescreen gets another alt mode that allows him to travel way easier. Something like an air ambulance. This probably happens pretty early on, when he's getting his own

Later on, Optimus tells Smokescreen about how there's a group of Rescue Bots that are also on Earth, but because of the situation with the Decepticons, they can't send him there just yet. They gotta be cautious and safe about this whole thing.

Smokescreen is of course excited, but also reasonable and gets why he can't meet them just yet. However, because Smokescreen is still the somewhat impulsive person that we know and love; one day, when Decepticon activities were low, Smokescreen decides to take his chances and finally meet these other Rescue Bot guys. He can handle himself! Maybe he found out where they're located, or even Optimus could've told him where it is. (What are you talking about, he definitely told Team Prime where he was going, of course he did, why wouldn't he)

So, Smokescreen starts flying and goes to Griffin Rock. Shenanigans ensues because now everyone is wondering why is there an unauthorized helicopter flying around here?? and the Rescue Bots are definitely gonna get involved

GDFFGHUGFFGGFFGGT SMOKEY NO-

however, as impulsive, I do have a possible counter point that would possibly lead to him pushing the meeting off for a while: his capture

while he is going to be able to escape (possibly via pretending to be helpless and weak to get the drop on them), Smokescreen is going to be with them for quite a bit longer than he was in canon. And well...... the Decepticons are probably going to want to check to make sure Smokescreen is in fact a real Rescue Bot instead of someone pretending to be one, meaning it's entirely possible for him to have been Psychic Patched. Luckily they didn't have time to scrutinise every single conversation he had with Optimus before he escapes, but it really puts into perspective for him that he is a target and could put the other living Rescue Bots in danger

(I'll also admit, I'm. SO tempted to have Smokescreen get kidnapped a second time by Soundwave alongside Ratchet in S3. Not sure specifically what'll happen there, but he's Tired and Stressed and maybe manages to talk with Predaking a few times)

but after the war's over and Megatron dies? It's free game and you bet the first thing he does when everyone is in stable condition. Maybe during a data transfer or something he was looking through the Autobot computer and remembered "hey...... wait a second, I can do that thing now :0"

I also love the mental image of him leaving the Cybertronian equivalent of a sticky note on the monitor about where he's going before just. ZOOMING out of the base. He's so excited he completely forgets about the Groundbridge and instead flies across the whole US as fast as he can

and just. Oh god Smokescreen with a flying alt mode is going to give him so much room for chaos which he is going to relish in. I'll admit, I don't really want to give him a helicopter alt because Blades already has that one, but maybe he could transform into one of those ambulance planes instead? but yeah, as you've brought up, the Rescue Bots are going to be very confused about this weird bright blue jet circling part of the island. Maybe Dr.Green tries hailing it to see who they are and what they want, and he only gets a vague response of wanting to speak with Charlie Burns and that he'd like to meet somewhere away from town

and just. God imagine the reunion itself. Smokescreen's basically bouncing on his feet waiting for the apparent new Rescue Bots to arrive, so absolutely elated by the prospect of not being alone anymore after several painful months. Maybe there's some slight anticipation and exctiement over the possibility of being on an official team, but with a tinge of bitterness over the team not being Sigma-17 and also a tinge of anxiety becuase..... well, what if they don't like him? What if they're like all those bots back from his Academy Days who didn't think he was good enough? What if he flubbed the first impressions and they thought he was just a goofy idiot who didn't take his job seriously??? Oh Primus wait, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all, maybe he should have waited for Optimus to introduce them, oh scrap why did he have to be so impulsive like this what would the others have-

and then they arrive.

Chase was of course a given, after all, Charlie was the one asked for and Chase wasn't going to let his partner go alone. Heatwave was there to gague the newbie and for protection on the off chance this was a trap, Boulder came out of curiosity, and Blades didn't want to be left behind and wanted to meet a possible new friend

And when they arrive, it's not a stranger at all. His colors, his alt mode, the way he carries himself is all different.......

but it's still Smokescreen. Still their beloved 5th team member who they thought died alone without them. Some one they mourned and missed and reminisced about

never in a million years could they have guessed it would be him

as for Smokescreen.......

he looks as though he's seen a ghost.

Because honestly, for all intents and purposes, he has. For weeks, months, years, his team has been dead. He saw and read the reports, spent countless sleepless nights trying to rationalize their survival, only to finally accept the fact they were gone

and just as he rationalized their survivial before, now he tries to rationalize their death

because this- this shouldn't be possible. They were dead, they died, for millions of years they were GONE, he must be dreaming or hallucinating or being Psychic Patched by the Decepticons, this can't be REAL, it can't, it can't it can't it can't it can'titcan'titcan'titcan'tit-

but it can. They're alive. They're here. They're real.

and suddenly Smokescreen gets crushed with a suffocating grief he never had a chance to work through, but also a small bubble of hope

once both parties get over the initial disbelief, there's a pure wave of euphoria that hits. Finally, after so so very long, they've been reunited. They can finally work together as the team they were always meant to be. He gets along great with the Burns family, but it does take a little time for hi to fully slide in with the established dynamic

however, the first thing he does when he arrives is that he immediately drags them all in for a check up. Who knows what possible health issues have sparked up in his absence, plus it would be good to establish a new baseline for their health on earth

Smokey definitely becomes a more or less permenant addition to Griffin Rock. Occasionally he'll pop a quick visit to help out on Cybertron, but almost all of his time is spent with the team helping out with local distasters. He's absolutely flabbergasted by how much Pure Absolute Insanity goes down on this island, but he low key loves it

Both sides have quite a lot of stories to share from their respective adventures, but Smokescreen's stories have a bit of a tendency to make the others loose their minds because what do you mean you got captured by Decepticons THREE SEPERATE TIMES-

but all in all, they're happy together and reunited :D

(also just for an added pinch of angst that won't really affect anything but could still be Neat, I had a Thought for something to happen before the actual meeting

so like......... what if during the S2 finale when Optimus was sending all the Autobots away, he ended up sending Smokescreen to Griffin Rock. He didn't have time to explain what the place was or why, but if all of this was coming down he might as well guarantee Smokescreen's safety. Him being out by himself is just asking for the Cons to find him, so he decides to take advantage of Griffin Rock's cloaking and at least make it so the number of Rescue Bots won't decrease any further

but ofc...... Smokescreen doesn't stay. He looks back at the Groundbridge and can't bring himself to abandon Optimus. He's a medic, a healer, it's his job to protect people and save lives, he took his oaths and isn't going to break them now

and just maybe some of Dr.Greene's tech picked up on the Groundbridge and Smokescreen's signal. Maybe the Rescue Bots searched the place but found signs of nothing and assumed it was just an error, completely oblivious to how close they were to being reunited)

[secretlywritingstories]

We balance each other out on the seesaw of life | Phan one shot

Summary: Phil had dragged Dan to Isle of Man after his return home from tour. The sea air would do him good (even if it gave him hobbit hair) and he could be surrounded by Phil's family (who were his family too). He hadn’t actively planned to drag him onto a seesaw on a playground but it turned out to be a precious moment all the same.

Tags: Established relationship, domestic fluff, being the best guncles, playing on a playground and embracing their inner child

Word count: 5.1k

No warnings.

Inspired by this video Phil posted on Twitter.

Read on AO3 or below

It was wonderful to have Dan back. Phil felt as if he hadn’t really been a functioning human without him. Perhaps that should be cause for concern. After all, there was such a thing as being too dependent on each other.

However, it was not a concern that Phil would or really could entertain because if there was anything in this whole world that he felt sure about… it had to be Dan. If pressed or feeling contrarian, Dan could might be able to come up with a million and one arguments of could occur to pry them apart, even or particularly against their will, but Phil decided not to listen to any of those hypotheticals.

He trusted the universe to let him keep Dan until they were both grey and old. They would be one of those old couples that died within days of each other because they couldn’t live without each other. He had already decided that within the first year of knowing Dan.

It hadn’t quite been that extreme feeling to be without Dan while he was on tour, but there had been moments where Phil had felt a new sense of being lost. He had taken for granted what it was like to always have his love so close. He begrudgingly had to admit that he had taken that privilege slightly for granted. It had become their everyday life, and while it was wonderful, it became a given.

Maybe that was why Phil was even more all over Dan since he had returned. He understood that Dan needed to go into hermit mode, have a whole week of frydays, and no responsibilities.

No people too.

Other than Phil.

Of course.

Phil didn’t count as people to Dan anyway. He’d called him a piece of furniture once. Phil had chuckled at that one and teasingly demanded that Dan take him back to the store. Dan’s eyes had crinkled, even with the dark bags under them, and he’d said Phil was too used to be returned. Phil had hit him with a pillow. They’re giggled and laughed and fallen into each other.

For a moment, Phil hadn’t been able to tell where he ended and Dan begun. It wasn’t the first time he’d experienced that.  

It had been a few weeks since Dan’s return to London post tour and Phil had deemed it necessary that they started to see people again. They made plans to catch up with friends, more days in a row than initially planned to accommodate other schedules, and then setting off for Isle of Man to see Phil’s parents, as well as Martyn, Cornelia and little Freja.

“People did that once you know,” Phil said to Dan when they were on the plane.

Dan turned from where he’d been blindly staring out of the window. The seatbelt sign turned on to indicate that they would begin their descend.

“Huh?”

“Go to the seaside,” Phil said.

He realised that he’d just again started a conversation with no context, or rather the context of his thoughts, which Dan didn’t have access to. He wasn’t really worried though because –

“Go to the seaside when they were unwell? Faint ladies prescribed visits to seaside towns to regain their strengths?”

– Dan often figured out where his head was at without any direct access anyway.

“Yes,” Phil said, clutching onto Dan’s arm after he’d doubled checked his seatbelt was still on.

“Are you telling me I’m a faint lady?” Dan said, mock offended with a soft scoff.

The last couple of weeks had done him good but the exhaustion still lingered in his face. Phil knew that he had loved every night out on stage in front of their audience, but all of the travelling and the effort had definitely taken a toll on him.

“You need it. The fresh seaside air,” Phil said with a hum.

Dan just hummed and slumped more in his seat, leaning towards Phil.

“I do like the seaside air,” he said after a beat. “You can breathe in without filling your lungs with car exhaust. It’ll kill my hair though, especially now that it’s so long.”

It would. Phil was rather looking forward to that really. Dan still hadn’t gotten a haircut since he had come back from tour. He was past his normal due for one by now, but he hadn’t wanted to use his limited social resources on getting a haircut.

Phil had offered to cut it for him, but Dan had just put the old haircut video up on their big screen TV and turned the volume all the way up to remind him how it had gone last time. Phil might be dense at times, but he got the hint there. Though he stubbornly maintained that it had made for a hilarious video and Dan hadn’t even looked that bad.

When they arrived home, Kath was the first to greet them. She stood in the doorway with a warm smile and something deep within Phil’s heart ached a little. It wasn’t that long since he’d seen his parents. It had just been for his birthday in January less than two months ago, but he loved her and his dad, and they were growing older.

Not just older. Growing old.

Not yet, but it was creeping up on them, slow and deadly.

Phil stayed in his mother’s embrace a touch longer than he would otherwise have, and he only really let go when Dan poked his side and then also demanded a Mama Lester hug. Phil reluctantly relented, if only because he wanted to watch the comfort and love with which his mother and Dan handled each other.

Dan had really been readily adopted into his family years ago, and it had been Phil’s mother leading that charge. Nigel met them in the kitchen, instructed to keep an eye on Kath’s latest baked creations in the oven while she came out to greet them. Dan was a little more awkward around him, but it was still a lovely reunion, even if Dan got insulted right off the bat.

“It looks like you haven’t slept for a week,” Phil’s dad told him, not meaning offence but just stating it plainly.  

“I feel like it too,” Dan laughed with an easy smile. “Even though it’s the opposite. I’ve pretty much been asleep every day since I came home.”

“I can confirm that,” Phil said and raised his hand. “Practically comatose.”

It was an afternoon of warmth and comfort, and then an evening full of laughter and games when Martyn, Cornelia and Freja came over too. It was good to see them again. It was more of a treat to see them now that they’d moved out of London, and Freja was growing much faster than Phil had anticipated.

“Do you want to come to the playground with us tomorrow?” Cornelia asked, as the evening was wrapping up and she was standing in the doorway with her sleeping daughter over her shoulder.

“Playground?” Dan asked, looking slightly bemused.

“We’ll be there,” Phil promised for the both of them.

“Cheers, I’ll send you a text when we get ready to leave. It’ll be around 10 AM, but it might be a little before or later depending on the princess’ mood,” Martyn said, trying to sound annoyed but there was too soft a tone in his voice.

It had been a strange thing to see his big brother become a parent. Sometimes, Phil was reminded of how him and Martyn had been as children, and now Martyn was the one with a kid. It felt rather adult.

Much more adult than Phil felt himself. He knew he technically was an adult and he was capable of many things, but he wasn’t sure if that supposed “I am an adult” feeling would ever kick in.

It was still on his mind when him and Dan curled up together in the guest bedroom in his parents’ house.

“Do you feel like an adult?” he asked Dan.

Dan didn’t answer right away and Phil looked over to see if he had fallen asleep immediately. It hadn’t been that long since they had gotten into bed, but it wasn’t a lie that Dan had been sleepy lately.

“No,” he said, spoken softly into the dark bedroom. “But I don’t quite feel like a kid anymore either. It feels like I’m stuck somewhere in between. Responsibilities and childishness mixing in a rather terrifying manner.”

His words were slightly slurred, like he was just barely clinging to his consciousness.

“That’s not childish, it’s your inner child still living,” Phil said, after a moment. “No need to kill him.”

Dan didn’t reply. Phil snuggled closer and he could feel his steady breathing, clearly drifted off to sleep mid-conversation. Phil didn’t really mind. He looped his arms around Dan, ignoring the face full of curls and felt how Dan shuffled back just a little into Phil’s embrace. Even sleeping they drifted towards each other. Sought comfort in each other.

Bright and early – at least according to their usual morning rhythm – they grabbed their coats and headed out to meet Martyn, Cornelia and Freja. Dan had slept in until the latest moment, and his face still had creases from the pillow where his skin hadn’t evened out yet. Phil on the other hand was just feeling the effects of his first coffee of the day and he was almost giddy in his steps as he dragged Dan along by the hand.

They didn’t usually hold hands out and about but experience taught them that they could get away with a bit more on Isle of Man. It was a smaller community, less people out and about, and the ones that did see them didn’t seem to care one bit.

The playground was located on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. You couldn’t see it from within the playground, but it was close enough that the sea air was wafting liberally through the air. Dan’s hair had curled in the moisture just on the walk to the playground.

Phil noticed and he couldn’t stop himself from pausing and reaching out with his free hand. Just tugging on a curl and watching it spring back up. Dan narrowed his eyes and tried to do his best to send a death glare at Phil but he wasn’t really succeeding. Maybe because he still looked more sleepy and mildly grumpy than scary.

“It’s cute,” Phil said.

“It’s a mess.”

“A cute mess.”

“I’ll make you a cute mess,” Dan grumbled, even as his mouth lifted in a slight smile.

Phil reached forward to poke Dan’s nose, and then let go of his hand. He smirked before starting to sprint off the last of the way to the playground.

“Last one is a rotten egg!” he hollered over his shoulder.

He was granted with a rather delighted expression of surprise, disbelief and fondness on Dan’s face before he turned around to look where he was actually going. He knew he would need to do that, or injuries was way to high risk.

“You can’t just say that!” Dan complained in a yell but Phil could hear him start to sprint after him all the same.

There was a glee building in his chest, a bright smile on his face, even as his heart beat way too fast and he was running out of air in his lungs. It was worth it; he could live on glee and happiness of being silly with the love of his life.

It was moments like this that made life worth living.

Phil predictably reached the playground first, touching the fencepost and letting out a shout of victory. Dan wasn’t far behind but rather than heading for the post, he just ran right into Phil.

Phil stumbled a little, nearly tripping over but he managed to catch Dan and keep them both standing. Just barely. Dan was panting and if Phil had to guess, he would wager that his heart also was beating out of his chest.

“Cheater,” Dan said and then coughed twice. “You got a head start.”

Phil didn’t even try to deny it. He moved his hands to hold onto Dan’s shoulders better, but still let him lean into him.

“Sore loser.”

“False winner.”

Oh, how Phil loved him.

“Well, there’s one way we could fix it. All or nothing!”

It made Dan pull back, a little, to be able to look properly at Phil’s face. He shook his head when he saw the sincerity in his eyes.

“You’re a mad man if you think I’m running twice. Once was more than enough,” Dan said, pinching Phil’s side. He yelped and tried to pull away but Dan managed to wrap his other arm around his shoulder and keep him there to endure the abuse.

Well, the babuse.

“Did we get here first?” Dan asked, looking around at the empty playground. There wasn’t a single child in sight, let alone Freja with her parents.

Phil fished out his phone and saw that a new message had ticked in that Freja had refused to put on shoes for a bit but they were on their way now.

“They’re on their way, just a little delayed,” Phil said, looking down at his phone.

“Shoes?” Dan asked, as he let go of Phil and strolled into the playground.

Phil chuckled. “Yeah. But can you blame her?”

“No, I too want to live a wild barefoot existence. Well, at least until I cut my foot on something or just, like, get cold.”

Phil smiled, shaking his head fondly. The fact that Dan knew his niece currently had trouble accepting shoes on his feet felt nice. He’d been paying attention to even stupid silly things.

Phil took in the playground around him. Before Martyn and Cornelia had gotten Freja it had been a while since he’d actually been on a playground. It had felt a little strange coming here as an adult without a child. He had a feeling that he would have gotten some weird looks for lurking around on a playground or playing near other people’s children.

But they were alone right now, and Phil had his perfect playmate.

“Come on,” he said, tugging Dan properly into the playground. Most of the playground was entirely too small to cram their large bodies into. It would surely break. They couldn’t fit their asses down the slides and the seat of the swings looked far to narrow too. But there was one item that Phil was pretty confident could hold them.

“What are we doing?” Dan asked, even as he let himself get dragged along. He might question why but he didn’t hesitate for a second.

“The seesaw,” Phil said, and he knew that would be explanation enough.

“Phiiil,” Dan whined. “It’ll snap.”

“We’re not that heavy, and it’s like meant for parents to be able to use it too, isn’t it?” Phil insisted.

He put a hand on the little race car seat on one side and tried to wiggle it. It felt more than sturdy enough.

“I don’t think it’s meant for adults,” Dan said with a frown. “Imagine tiny Freja on one end and you on the other. There’d be no balance. She’d just be up in the air the whole time.”

It was a fun imagine, and Phil made a mental note to try it with her. Freja loved to be tossed up high, so he thought that she might actually like it. He could imagine her little giggle.

“Well, I’m not asking Freja to get on it with me, am I? I’m asking you,” Phil said. “Jump on.”

He made a shooing motion with his hand, to get Dan to walk over to the other side of the seesaw as he put just one foot on his side in preparation. Dan just looked at him with a blank expression.

It didn’t say blank for long. His resolve cracked far too quickly, warm smile spreading on his face and eyes sparkling slightly.

“You want me to ride the seesaw with you.”

“Yes.”

“For real?”

“Are you hard of hearing already?” Phil quipped, completely unphased. He wasn’t backing down. He didn’t need to with Dan. Together they could indulge in every single silly idea.

Dan shook his head, making his curls even more messy for a moment. Phil watched with a smile as he walked around to the other side of the seesaw and put a single foot up, just like Phil.

“You want to do this at the same time?” he asked.

“No, you get on first, then I’ll go.”

“You just want to see my ass hit the ground. If I fall off and break something, you’re paying for the hospital bills,” he remarked.

“We’ve got joint finances,” Phil snorted. “And it’s a children’s playground.”

“Never underestimate the dangers! We’re getting old,” Dan said, the last bit with a glint in his eye.

“We are not. Now get on the seesaw, buddy.”

Dan did. As predictably, it tipped under his weight. His legs were far too long, having to almost curl up to fit on the tiny footrests but he just managed it. Phil tried to not let the seesaw drop all the way down by keeping his foot on it, but Dan was heavier than he’d thought.

“Just let me fall, huh?” he asked, bright smile on his face, even with the accusation.

“And now I’m about to raise you up!” Phil argued and got on himself.

Dan had made it look quite easy. It wasn’t. Phil’s legs were too long as well and it felt like his muscles protested as soon as he tried to bend them into position. But he was going to do this, and his body just had to get on board with the fun.

It did. He managed to cram himself onto the little seat and then they were swinging. Their weight was similar enough that they evened out almost perfectly. And Phil got the pleasure of looking right at Dan, with his messy hair and the dark circles under his eyes and the small smile on his lips.

He rocked back a little, clinging on tightly with his hands, and let them tip back and forth. Dan did the same and soon they were rocking back and forth gently. Phil got a vision of them in rocking chairs on some porch as old men instead of being in their 30’s and rocking back and forth on a seesaw in a playground.

The movement was small, but there was still something fun about it. Maybe just because it was an indulgence and an experience shared with Dan. Most things were more fun when they were shared.

“Happy?” Dan asked, sounding caught been exasperated and fond.

“Yes,” Phil said, warm and secure.

Dan’s eyes softened a little. He knew that Phil didn’t just mean in this moment.

It was so good to have Dan back. Phil had taken to staring at him more than normal, delighting in looking over and just be able to see him without a screen between them. He never quite wanted to go back to that again. Long distance wasn’t made for them, at least not for long.

Though it was all good in the end, as long as he got Dan back.

“I see you started without us,” Martyn called out.

Phil turned to look at him walking into the playground with Freja on his hip, Cornelia walking behind with a bag slung over her shoulder. They never really went anywhere with Freja without a bag for her things.

It reminded Phil of how he and Dan would bring just one shared backpack going to the BBC when they went to do the radio show. They’d take turns carrying it, just like Cornelia and Martyn did.

“We can’t let the kids have all of the fun,” Dan quipped, and then it looked like he was ready to get off.

Phil wasn’t quite ready for that yet.

“Corn?” he called out.

“Yeah?”

“Take a video of us?” he requested, effectively halting Dan’s movements.

Dan raised an eyebrow at Phil in question, but Phil didn’t meet his gaze. He wanted to remember this moment. He wanted video of it. He loved that he had so many fun memories with Dan captured on camera and this would be another one.

“Got it,” she said with practiced easy, pulling out her phone.

Martyn sat Freja down who pointed at the two of them. “Guncles,” she mumbled out, words half hidden behind her other hand shyly coming up to her mouth.

Dan threw his head back and laughed. It made the whole seesaw move more his way; elevating Phil as Dan threw his weight around.

“Did she just call us… guncles? Who’s taught her that?” he asked, looking pointedly at Phil, but he looked quite touched.

“No one, she came up with that all on her own,” Phil argued, trying to wink at Freja and not really succeeding.

“Liar,” Martyn was quick to call him out. Phil could always count on his big brother being a little shit. “Phil practically rehearsed it with her on his birthday visit.”

Dan laughed again, and it was such a lovely sound. Phil rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too.

“Alright, ready when you are, boys,” Cornelia called, camera ready in her hand.

Dan and Phil exchanged one look and then schooled their expressions. They kept their faces neutral as they rocked back and forth a couple of times. Phil hoped it came off both as silly and a little eerie.

“Some performer you are, huh?” Cornelia said with a shake of her head as she lowered her phone. “You make the seesaw look tiny.”

“It is tiny,” Phil argued.

Suddenly, Freja ran over and tried to climb up on the middle piece unprompted. She couldn’t quite clamber up on her own, even as Phil put a foot down to steady the seesaw for her. She turned around and pointed at her father.

“Up!” she requested and then tried to climb on again.

Martyn grabbed her and carefully placed her on the little platform in the middle. She let out a delighted giggle, even as her legs wobbled under her. Martyn stayed by her side, keeping a hand on her shoulder to steady her and be ready to catch her if she lost balance. Phil carefully eased his foot off the ground and the seesaw started swinging back and forth again.

Cornelia walked around to the other side and lifted her phone to film again.

“Want to swap out, Corn?” Dan asked. “I can get one of the family together.”

Phil was about to protest that Dan was just as much a part of the family, but Cornelia beat him to it.

“You’re family too, Dan. Besides I want a video of my little girl with her father and her guncles.”

Freja seemed to agree, wiggling her little butt happily. Phil took that as they should keep the gentle rocking of the seesaw going. He may even had leaned back as much as possible to give it more momentum. Dan did the same on the other side and she let out a happy laugh.

Martyn rolled his eyes at the two of them, but he also couldn’t quite keep the smile off his face.

It didn’t take long for Freja to tire of the seesaw, and so they went around the playground watching her try everything at least once. She was so full of energy and Martyn and Cornelia seemed delighted that Dan and Phil were the ones running around with her the most. It seemed like it was a welcome break for them.

Phil was pretty sure he was more exhausted than Freja by the time they left the playground. They waved off Martyn, Cornelia and Freja, but not after Freja ran up and gave both him and Dan a hug.

She also kept waving at them from over her mother’s shoulder.

“She’s quite cute,” Dan said, falling into step next to Phil. He walked close enough that their shoulders bumped with each step as they headed back. “I’m fucking exhausted though. She’s fast.”

“She is,” Phil agreed with a chuckle. “Not quite rocking back gently on a seesaw for her.”

Dan let out a hum of agreement. “It was fun though,” he said, voice barely loud enough to be heard.

“What did you say?” Phil asked, mostly just to make him repeat himself.

Dan narrowed his eyes in mock annoyance but he did repeat himself all the same.

“The seesaw. With you. It was fun.”

“I’m glad,” Phil said, feeling warmth spread in his chest. “It’s supposed to be fun.”

“Yeah,” Dan agreed. “And it was but also just… there’s something life affirming about it. Like… you never get too old or too big to play around. No one is stopping you except yourself. Life if meant to be fun and silly, and do random things just for the sake of it. It’s what everything is about.”

The warmth continued to expand in Phil’s chest and he leaned close enough to latch onto Dan’s arm.

“You got all that from a children’s seesaw?” he asked, chuckling.

“Shut up.”

“No. You’re being soft and sentimental. That means I’m allowed to tease you.”

“I never signed anything like that,” Dan protested, while fighting a smile.

“Yes, you did. Must always entertain Phil’s whims. Must endure teasing when sentimental,” Phil listed off on his fingers. “It’s all right there in our contract.”

“What contract? I just told you I didn’t sign anything.”

“Hmm, well, I know how to forge your signature, so are you sure about that?” Phil teased, leaning his head on Dan’s shoulder for just a moment.

He wanted to get snuggled up once they were back at his parents’ house. It was nice enough to be outside in the fresh air and run around but it felt like they could do with getting cosy and warm now. A little late morning nap never hurt anyone. It wasn’t like their sleep schedules could be more thrown off than they already were.

“What else have you signed with my signature, Philip Michael Lester?” Dan asked, even as he pulled Phil more into his side as they walked.

Just like they had balanced each other out on the seesaw, it was so easy to fall into perfect step next to each other. The length of their strides and the tempo matched without a second thought. A side effect of having walked next to each other for so many years.

“Oh, you know. All the regular stuff. Deals with the devil and such.”

“You sold the devil my soul. Imagine their disappointment when they find out that I have none. That’s mean of you,” Dan said, voice growing a little tired. A little sleepy.

They were almost back at Phil’s parents’ house. Judging by the look on his face it seemed like it wouldn’t take much to convince Dan to crawl back into bed.

“It’s incredible that you work actually. No soul and no heart,” Phil said.

“No heart?” Dan echoed.

“Yeah, ‘cause you handed it off to me,” he said, cringing a little at his own cheesiness. Dan was the one for sappy declarations, but at times Phil tried to purposely speak his language.

It was worth it when Dan snorted, almost choking on a laugh.

“You did not just say that. That’s corny as shit, Phil,” Dan protested, even as he tried to lean closer to Phil. Almost melting into his side as they walked side by side.

“Doesn’t matter. You love it. You want to hear all that corny shit,” he said, full of confidence.

Dan shook his head but didn’t argue. It would have no point. They both knew he’d lose that discussion. Phil knew him too well.

His phone buzzed in his pocket just as they reached the house. He pulled it out to find a message from Cornelia. She’d sent over the two videos of them on the seesaw. The first one with their stoic faces and the second one with Freja giggling in the middle and Martyn standing behind her.

“Look,” Phil said, leaning close to show Dan the two videos.

“Cute. You should post the first one,” he said as he pushed open the front door.

The car hadn’t been out front, so Phil’s parents had probably left to do something. Phil still called out to announce their return just in case he was wrong. No one replied.

“What, with no context?” Phil asked, even as he already moved to save the video.

“Keep them on their toes,” Dan said with a shrug. “And to remind them that if grown ass men can play in a playground, then so can they. You’re never too old for a little fun.”

“We look more like we’re being held hostage,” Phil said, as he opened Twitter and picked the video from his gallery.

“All part of the aesthetic,” Dan said, closing the front door behind Phil that he’d just left open because he’d been distracted by his phone. “That and my awful hair.”

“It’s cute,” Phil maintained. He left the video sitting in his drafts for now. He could post it later. Right now, he was much more interested in putting his phone away and falling into bed with Dan. “Come to bed?”

“We just got out of bed like an hour and a half ago,” Dan argued, even as he toed off his shoes and hung up his jacket and headed right back to the guest room.

Phil did the same and when Dan wasn’t moving fast enough, he grasped him by the hand and pulled just to make sure that he didn’t get any other idea. Again, Dan let himself get pulled and they stripped off their pants and just crawled back under the covers.

“We’ve been outside, we’ve been active. We deserve a little rest,” Phil argued, and snuggled up close.

His nose was slightly cold, and he nosed along the underside of Dan’s jaw. Dan pinched Phil’s hip but otherwise didn’t protest being used as a personal heater. Phil then reached up to trail his hands through Dan’s curls one more time.

He hummed contently and leaned into Phil’s touch.

“Thank you for dragging me along, and making me remember to have fun,” Dan mumbled, speaking against the top of Phil’s head. He placed a soft kiss there.

“Always,” Phil promised. “We’ll be 84 years old and I’ll still make you ride the seesaw with me.”

[inthedayswhenlandswerefew]

So I've never written out my thoughts like this as I'm reading a fic but this was so over the top amazing that I HAD to...I debated just reblogging with these things but spoilers...and also I wanted to be sure you saw it...I hope this was okay ❤️

"It takes courage to build ladders for people who might one day outclimb you."

This sentence stopped me in my tracks. I reread it a bunch if times. This is so profound and beautiful. I wrote it down in my journal..i hope you don't mind.

"when you slink covertly into therapist mode like a water moccasin weaves through swamps, subtle ripples in the muddied water and vigilant eyes."

Gorgeous writing. Beautiful imagery.

“ No, fuck the coyness that women are supposed to cloak themselves in to preserve their worth. You’re waiting for him to kiss you like someone drowning waits for a gasp of air."

Can I just fangirl over these two sentences.  The first sentence...YES. ALL THE YES. The second sentence. SAME girl SAME.

“So.” You hesitate. “Aemond.”

“Yes, I’m familiar with the concept.”

Hilarious response from Aegon. Hilarious. This is why I want him to be my bestie.

“He’s insecure. Very insecure, though he’s learned how to hide it.”

This is giving me One Direction "what makes you Beautiful" and I love it.

I loved the entire interaction between our girl and Aegon in her room.  Just seeing that friendship and how he does care about her. Beautiful.

Aemond coming to get her when the fire alarms are going off? Gahh what a gentleman! And then giving her the hoodie and telling her to keep it?!

The entire fire bit with Aegon was pure comedic gold. And LUKE fighting FOR Aemond. So therapeutic!

“No, you could use some more of it, you could use a lot more, you have so many demons it’s like Paranormal Activity in your brain, they’re in there all day tearing things off the walls and kicking over chairs and sabotaging anything you dare to care about and you let them!”

This entire scene broke my heart, but holy crap the imagery. GENIUS. so freaking genius. Amazing writing, love.

I so hope that Aegon talks some sense into Aemond soon. I don't want these two souls apart for long. I don't know what Stargirl's past really is, but I feel like she needs him as much as he needs her. So excited to see what you have planned for them all!

OH! AND I adored how she called out Jace on the plane. He is the WORST in this and I'm enjoying hating him...

MISS KATE!!! 😭 I cannot even express to you how happy this made me! I was smiling MASSIVELY the whole time I was reading it. 🥰 This is the stuff writers live for, so thank you so much for taking the time to share it.

Sometimes lines of dialogue/description will pop into my head randomly and I'll think "...Is this good or is this too weird? Will people get it?" and to see someone pick out the exact same snippets and connect with them...it's just priceless. 💜

I absolutely cannot wait to show you what's next for Stargirl, Aemond, Aegon, (evil!) Jace, and the rest of the Comet fam! ☄️

"I don't know what Stargirl's past really is, but I feel like she needs him as much as he needs her." 👀👀👀

[usafphantom2]

Ukrainian Air Force lost 62 planes in 2022. So far, in 2023, he has lost only seven.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 11/08/2023 - 19:35 in Military, War Zones

The Ukrainian Air Force should not last more than a few days in a broader war with Russian forces. Eighteen months later, the Ukrainian air service not only lasted but also turned into a long-range attack force. One that is shaping the battlefield throughout Ukraine.

And, notably, the Ukrainian Air Force is becoming more able to survive over time: firing new Western rockets and missiles at greater distances and thus avoiding the most intensive Russian air defenses.

On the day Russia intensified its eight-year war against Ukraine in February 2022, the Kiev air arm had only 125 or more former Soviet warplanes: about 50 Mikoyan MiG-29, 30 Sukhoi Su-25 and a few dozen Sukhoi Su-27s and Sukhoi Su-24s fighters.

Some observers expected Russian missile attacks and fighter sweeps to entirely eliminate Ukraine's fighters and attack brigades in hours or days.

That didn't happen. Warned by NATO intelligence that the attack was coming, Ukraine's fighter and attack teams flew with their planes to small airfields and airstrips, avoiding the initial dams at their main bases. Flying into battle, the pilots remained low - very low - to minimize their exposure to Russian missiles.

After a year and a half of intense fighting, the Ukrainian Air Force lost no less than 69 aircraft - mainly to ground air defenses - but managed to maintain its overall strength on the front line by restoring old and grounded fuselages and acquiring 18 Su-25s and 27 MiG-29s from NATO countries.

Equally important, Ukraine armed each of its frontline types with new Western-made ammunition with greater range than the Soviet ammunition they replaced. Significantly greater range, in some cases.

The Su-25 received Zuni rockets made in the United States with this distance and precision for their distinct "rocket launch" attacks against targets up to eight kilometers away. The MiG-29s and Su-27s obtained, from U.S. stocks, high-speed anti-radiation missiles that hit enemy radars of up to 80 miles.

Perhaps the most notable is the fact that Ukraine has armed its Su-24 with two types of cruise missiles, the British Storm Shadow and the French SCALP, both of which can travel 155 miles. In recent weeks alone, Su-24 cruise missiles have blew up a warehouse of Russian vehicles and shot down several vital bridges carrying supplies to the south of Russia-occupied Ukraine.

Ukrainian Su-24 sighted with Storm Shadow missile.

The shift to isolated attacks - all Ukrainian jets, except the Su-25, can fire ammunition beyond the range of most of Russia's land air defenses - has greatly increased the life expectancy of Ukrainian pilots. After losing more than 60 jets last year, this year the Ukrainian Air Force apparently lost only four MiG-29s, a Su-24, a Su-25 and a Su-27. A loss rate for 2023 that is one fifth of what it was in 2022.

If the most recent phase of the transformation of the Ukrainian air force was the adoption of modern Western munitions, the next phase should be the adoption of Western planes. After many months of diplomacy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands announced in May that they would work together to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the Lockheed Martin F-16 jets.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands signaled that it would give Ukraine some of its approximately three dozen active and retired F-16s after the completion of the training. A White House official said that a training plan should be in place “at the end of the year”.

The F-16 is not a new plane. The fighters that the Netherlands can donate to Ukraine were built in the 1980s and deeply updated 20 years later.

But the F-16 is fully compatible with a wide range of modern ammunition - and, for example, it can fire HARM anti-radar missiles in its most accurate mode.

The F-16 is not a miracle weapon. But it should help the Ukrainian air force to fire more and better missiles even farther and more accurately than it is doing now. In the third year of the broader war, this may mean even fewer losses for an air force that should not last longer than a few days.

Source: Forbes

Tags: Military AviationUkrainian Air ForceWar Zones - Russia/Ukraine

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work around the world of aviation.

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[rabbitcruiser]

Go For a Ride Day

Go For a Ride Day, celebrated on November 22, urges you to just get up and get out! Do you ever feel like you’re tied to your laptop/phone/tablet screens? We’ve become a pretty sedentary bunch — a far cry from the people who discovered countries, oceans, and animals simply by getting off the couch and exploring.  Make today a day to set your spirit free and enjoy your wanderlust on whatever mode of transportation suits you best. Bike, boat, car, skateboard, sleigh—it doesn’t matter what you choose! Pick a location you’ve always wanted to visit and make today the day you’ll go.  

History of Go For A Ride Day

Birthdays are fun and Christmas means presents (if you’re lucky), but nothing quite compares with the magical day you get your driver’s license. That’s when your world truly changes forever. Why? Cars mean freedom. You can suddenly go anywhere at anytime (as long as your parents are cool with your plans). Such is the nature of transportation — something we in the 21st century take for granted. We all grew up with planes, trains and automobiles — so we’re quite used to getting where we need to go.

But it wasn’t always that way. When President Jefferson asked Lewis (and, eventually, Clark) to explore the American West in 1804, there were no nonstop flights from St. Louis to the Oregon coast. As the History Channel describes it: “The excursion lasted over two years.   Along the way they confronted harsh weather, unforgiving terrain, treacherous waters, injuries, starvation, disease and both friendly and hostile Native Americans. Nevertheless, the approximately 8,000-mile journey was deemed a huge success and provided new geographic, ecological and social information about previously uncharted areas of North America.”

And today we complain about trying to squeeze our carry-ons into the overhead bin.

Americans have always loved to “go for a ride” — with whatever mode of transportation existed. Horses. Boats. Bicycles. And of course, the ubiquitous car. The nation had a long love affair with automobiles starting in the mid 20th century and lasting until recently — as a new generation of car buyers, born after the car craze, loses interest in design — focusing instead on practicality. Stellar gas mileage makes Priuses as sexy as Porsches. Well, almost.

Go For A Ride Day timeline

1950s Car culture

Cars inspired new businesses like drive-through restaurants and drive-in movie theaters, and employed one in six working Americans.

1956 Interstate highways

President Eisenhower authorizes $25 billion for the construction of 41,000 miles of the Interstate Highway System.

1964 ‘Pony car’

Ford introduces the sporty and powerful Mustang — the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A.

2019 Driverless cars get smarter

MIT engineers develop a system to help autonomous cars determine if there’s a moving object coming around the corner.

Go For A Ride Day FAQs

What does Go For A Ride Day celebrate?

Go For a Ride Day 2019 encourages us to get out in the world, as opposed to seeing it on a screen. Any mode of transportation will do on this day. What was America’s first car company?

Brothers Charles and Frank Duryea founded the Duryea Motor Wagon Company in 1893, becoming the first American automobile manufacturing company.  What happened to supersonic jet travel?

The Concorde, which flew faster than the speed of sound, never turned a profit. When the plane broke the sound barrier (about 760 mph), it created shock waves that would hit the ground with a loud and sudden sonic “boom.” The FAA eventually banned all commercial aircraft from flying at supersonic speeds over land.

Go For A Ride Day Activities

Make it fun

Make it easy

Make it memorable

Dare yourself to try something new and adventurous. Why not try a mode of transportation you’ve never used before? Suggestions include jet skiing, parasailing, or going on a hot air balloon ride. In colder climates you could try a sleigh ride, or a horse drawn carriage.

Maybe you weren’t born to be wild, but don’t let that stop you from joining in the fun. Play tourist in your own city or neighborhood. Use public transit and see the sights like visitor.

Exploring is an adventure, but it can be even more fun if you have someone to share it with. Bring along an adventurous friend or family member to help make some memories. If your local friends are sticks in the mud, then bring your more adventurous friends along virtually by posting your adventure to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Why We Love Go For A Ride Day

It’s an escape from reality

It can be great exercise

It helps us be spontaneous

Every now and then we just need something to break up the status quo and make us feel alive! Go For A Ride Day exists for that very reason. It can be hard to get motivated to see new places or even try new foods, but Go For A Ride Day provides the momentum.

You can try skateboarding or using a scooter. How about getting out your helmet and going for a long bike ride? Did you know you can burn over 400 calories an hour horseback riding?

Our lives tend to run to the predictable, and for the most part, that predictability helps the world go round. But we all still have a small streak of rebellion, and that's what Go For a Ride Day helps bring out.

Source

[lcttruckingco]

Understanding 2PL Logistics: A Comprehensive Overview

Logistics is a key pillar of modern supply chain management. Businesses today operate in a global marketplace where the efficient movement of goods, raw materials, and finished products can significantly impact profitability and customer satisfaction. This has given rise to various models of logistics management, including 1PL, 2PL, 3PL, 4PL, and 5PL. In this blog, we will focus on the Second Party Logistics (2PL) model, its benefits, and why it's an integral part of the logistics ecosystem.

What is 2PL Logistics?

2PL or Second Party Logistics refers to a logistics service provider that owns the means of transportation and is responsible for moving goods from one location to another. Unlike 1PL (where the company manages all transportation and logistics internally), 2PL providers are external contractors that handle transportation but are not involved in other aspects of logistics, such as warehousing or inventory management.

The primary function of a 2PL provider is to transport goods either within a specific region (domestic logistics) or internationally. They usually specialize in a particular mode of transportation, such as trucking, shipping, rail, or air freight, and operate under contracts for businesses that need to move goods efficiently and safely.

Key Characteristics of 2PL Logistics

Ownership of Transportation Assets: 2PL providers own or lease the vehicles, ships, or planes required for transportation.

Direct Contracts: They work directly with the business to deliver goods but don't manage the entire supply chain.

Single Transport Mode: Typically, a 2PL provider specializes in one mode of transportation, whether it's land, sea, or air.

Regional Expertise: Many 2PL providers focus on a particular region or geographical area where they have specialized knowledge and experience.

How 2PL Differs from Other Logistics Models

1PL (First Party Logistics): In a 1PL system, the company or manufacturer owns the entire logistics operation, including transportation, warehousing, and supply chain management. All logistics activities are handled internally, which is generally more resource-intensive.

3PL (Third Party Logistics): 3PL providers offer more than just transportation; they manage the entire logistics process, from warehousing to distribution and freight forwarding. 3PL providers act as comprehensive logistics partners, handling multiple facets of the supply chain.

4PL (Fourth Party Logistics): A 4PL provider takes on an even broader role than a 3PL by overseeing and managing all logistics operations and integrating different service providers within the supply chain.

5PL (Fifth Party Logistics): This model includes broader strategies such as e-commerce and management of digital supply networks.

Benefits of 2PL Logistics

Now that we understand what 2PL is, let’s explore the significant benefits of choosing a 2PL provider for your logistics operations.

1. Cost-Effective Transportation

One of the primary reasons businesses opt for 2PL services is the cost-effectiveness. By outsourcing transportation to a dedicated logistics provider, businesses save on the significant costs associated with maintaining a fleet of vehicles, fuel expenses, driver salaries, and vehicle maintenance. Instead of investing heavily in transportation assets, businesses can focus their capital on core operations.

2. Access to Expertise and Specialization

2PL providers are experts in their field. They are familiar with the nuances of transportation, whether it's road, rail, sea, or air logistics. Their specialization in one mode of transportation ensures that the movement of goods is efficient, cost-effective, and compliant with regulatory requirements. Additionally, 2PL providers often have experience navigating regional challenges, such as road conditions, weather patterns, or cross-border regulations, which may be unfamiliar to the business itself.

3. Enhanced Flexibility

Working with a 2PL provider offers a high level of flexibility. Businesses can quickly scale their transportation needs up or down based on market demand, seasonal spikes, or other factors. For example, during peak seasons, a 2PL provider can increase the number of trucks or shipping containers used to ensure timely deliveries, and during off-peak seasons, they can scale back operations, saving costs.

4. Reduced Risk and Liability

Transportation inherently carries risks such as accidents, damages, or cargo loss. A 2PL provider assumes much of the liability associated with transporting goods. By working with a dedicated logistics provider, businesses can mitigate risks, especially if the 2PL provider offers insurance or other safeguards against transportation-related issues. This also means that businesses are shielded from the potential legal and regulatory complexities associated with transportation.

5. Focus on Core Business Activities

Outsourcing transportation allows businesses to focus on what they do best. Rather than being bogged down with logistics management, companies can direct their energy and resources toward product development, marketing, and customer service. 2PL providers take care of the heavy lifting, so businesses can operate more efficiently.

6. Customization and Tailored Solutions

Many 2PL providers offer customized transportation solutions to meet the specific needs of their clients. Whether it's temperature-controlled trucking for perishable goods or expedited air freight for urgent shipments, 2PL providers can tailor their services to ensure the safe and timely delivery of goods based on the unique requirements of each client.

7. Regulatory Compliance and Documentation Handling

Transportation often involves navigating complex legal requirements, especially in cross-border shipments. 2PL providers are well-versed in the regulatory landscape, whether it's obtaining permits, managing customs clearance, or handling shipping documentation. Businesses can rely on the expertise of 2PL providers to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, thereby reducing the likelihood of delays or fines.

Limitations of 2PL Logistics

While 2PL logistics offers numerous advantages, it is not without its limitations. Here are a few challenges that businesses may encounter when working with 2PL providers.

1. Limited Control Over the Supply Chain

Since 2PL providers specialize solely in transportation, businesses may find that they have limited visibility and control over the broader supply chain. For example, a 2PL provider won’t manage inventory or warehousing, so businesses will need to integrate additional logistics services to handle these aspects of their supply chain.

2. Dependence on External Providers

Relying on external logistics providers means businesses are dependent on the efficiency, reliability, and capacity of the 2PL provider. Delays, scheduling issues, or service disruptions can significantly impact the supply chain, especially if the 2PL provider is managing high volumes or dealing with unpredictable external factors such as weather or labor strikes.

3. Lack of Multi-Modal Options

Since 2PL providers generally specialize in a single mode of transport (road, sea, rail, or air), businesses requiring multi-modal transport solutions may need to coordinate with multiple 2PL providers or upgrade to a 3PL provider that can offer integrated solutions across different transportation modes.

Examples of 2PL Providers

To further understand how 2PL logistics operates in real life, let’s consider a few examples of companies offering 2PL services.

1. FedEx Freight

FedEx Freight provides road transportation services for businesses that need to ship large volumes of goods domestically or internationally. As a 2PL provider, FedEx focuses exclusively on trucking and freight transport but does not manage warehousing or broader supply chain functions.

2. Maersk Line

Maersk Line, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, offers ocean freight services that transport goods between countries. As a 2PL provider, Maersk focuses on sea transport, moving goods across continents, but does not provide 3PL services like warehousing or end-to-end supply chain management.

3. DHL Global Forwarding

DHL offers both air and sea freight transportation services under its 2PL model, specializing in moving goods quickly across long distances. Like other 2PL providers, DHL Global Forwarding primarily focuses on transportation without handling broader supply chain activities.

Conclusion

Second Party Logistics (2PL) plays a crucial role in the transportation and logistics ecosystem by providing dedicated, cost-effective, and specialized services for businesses that need to move goods efficiently. While 2PL may not offer the full spectrum of supply chain management, it is an ideal solution for companies that require transportation expertise without the complexity of broader logistics services. By partnering with a 2PL provider, businesses can focus on core operations while enjoying the flexibility, cost savings, and reliability that these logistics experts offer.

Whether you're a growing company looking to scale up transportation capabilities or an established business looking for specialized shipping solutions, 2PL logistics providers can be a vital partner in ensuring your goods reach their destination safely and on time.