#and if you activated it in the evening it would automatically transport you to the following morning

[autisticaradiamegido]

day 35

some call it hyperfocus personally i refer to it as The Gamer Zone and when i come out of it i get hit by every status effect at once

[fozmeadows]

There's a lot of conversations to be had around the current influx of Americans to Xiaohongshu (RedNote/Little Red Book) ahead of the TikTok ban, many of which are better articulated by more knowledgeable people than me. And for all the fun various parties of both nationalities seem to having with memes and wholesome interactions, it's undoubtedly true that there's also some American entitlement and exoticization going on, which sucks. But a sentiment I've seen repeatedly online is that, if it's taken actually speaking to Chinese people and viewing Chinese content for Americans to understand that they've been propagandized to about China and its people, then that just proves how racist they are, and I want to push back on that, because it strikes me as being a singularly reductive and unhelpful framing of something far more complex.

Firstly: while there's frequently overlap between racism and xenophobia, the distinction between them matters in this instance, because the primary point of American propaganda about China is that Communism Is Fundamentally Evil And Unamerican And Never Ever Works, and thinking a country's government sucks is not the same as thinking the population is racially inferior. The way most Republicans in particular talk about China, you'd think it was functionally indistinguishable from North Korea, which it really isn't. Does this mean there's no critique to be made of either communism in general or the CCP? Absolutely not! But if you've been told your whole life that communist countries are impoverished, corrupt and dangerous because Communism Never Works, and you've only really encountered members of the Chinese diaspora - i.e., people whose families left China, often under traumatic circumstances, because they thought America would be better or safer - rather than Chinese nationals, then no: it's not automatically racist to be surprised that their daily lives and standard of living don't match up with what you'd assumed. Secondly: TikTok's userbase skews young. While there's certainly Americans in their 30s and older investigating Xiaohongshu, it seems very reasonable to assume that the vast majority are in their teens or twenties - young enough that, barring a gateway interest in something like C-dramas, danmei or other Chinese cultural products, and assuming they're not of Chinese descent themselves, there's no reason why they'd know anything about China beyond what they've heard in the news, or from politicians, or from their parents, which is likely not much, and very little firsthand. But even with an interest in China, there's a difference between reading about or watching movies from a place, and engaging firsthand, in real time, with people from that place, not just through text exchanges, but in a visual medium that lets you see what their houses, markets, shopping centers, public transport, schools, businesses, infrastructure and landmarks look like. Does this mean that what's being observed isn't a curated perspective on China as determined both by Xiaohongshu's TOU and the demographic skewing of its userbase? Of course not! But that doesn't mean it isn't still a representative glimpse of a part of China, which is certainly more than most young Americans have ever had before.

Thirdly: I really need people to stop framing propaganda as something that only stupid bigots fall for, as though it's possible to natively resist all the implicit cultural biases you're raised with and exist as a perfect moral being without ever having to actively challenge yourself. To cite the sacred texts:

Like. Would the world be a better place if everyone could just Tell when they're being lied to and act accordingly? Obviously! But that is extremely not how anything actually works, and as much as it clearly discomforts some to witness, the most common way of realizing you've been propagandized to about a particular group of people is to interact with them. Can this be cringe and awkward and embarrassing at times? Yes! Will some people inevitably say something shitty or rude during this process? Also yes! But the reality is that cultural exchange is pretty much always bumpy to some extent; the difficulties are a feature, not a bug, because the process is inherently one of learning and conversation, and as individual people both learn at different rates and have different opinions on that learning, there's really no way to iron all that out such that nobody ever feels weird or annoyed or offput. Even interactions between career diplomats aren't guaranteed smooth sailing, and you're mad that random teenagers interacting through a language barrier in their first flush of enthusiasm for something new aren't doing it perfectly? Come on now.

Fourthly: Back before AO3 was banned in China, there was a period where the site was hit with an influx of Chinese users who, IIRC, were hopping over when one of their own fansites got shut down, which sparked a similar conversation around differences in site etiquette and how to engage respectfully. Which is also one of the many things that makes the current moment so deeply ironic: the US has historically criticized China for exactly the sort of censorship and redaction of free speech that led to AO3 being banned, and yet is now doing the very same thing with TikTok. Which is why what's happening on Xiaohongshu is, IMO, such an incredible cultural moment: because while there are, as mentioned, absolutely relevant things to be said about (say) Chinese censorship, US-centrism, orientalism and so on, what's ultimately happening is that, despite - or in some sense because of - the recent surge in anti-Chinese rhetoric from US politicians, a significant number of Americans who might otherwise never have done so are interacting directly with Chinese citizens in a way that, whatever else can be said of it, is actively undermining government propaganda, and that matters.

What it all most puts me in mind of, in fact, is a quote from French-Iranian novelist and cartoonist Marjane Satrapi, namely:

“The difference between you and your government is much bigger than the difference between you and me. And the difference between me and my government is much bigger than the difference between me and you. And our governments are very much the same.”

And at this particular moment in history, this strikes me as being a singularly powerful realization for Americans in particular to have.

[ivorydragoness44]

Red Hood x Reader: Dibs

Word Count: 1,100 Warnings/Notes: Inspired by an episode of Batman: Wayne Family Adventures. Minor injury mention for the Reader (a bruise on their knee), some of the Batfam trying to figure out which one of them is the Reader’s favorite, and the Reader getting assistance to walk up a set of stairs. Summary: Walking home for the night, the Reader is found with a slight limp. They are offered a ride home from Batman. After some back and forth, the Reader finally agrees and finds that Batman is not the only one is the Batmobile.

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

  Gotham City. The night was almost as busy as the day depending where you were. For the most part, you were grateful that you were missing any and all villain or otherwise ill intended activities.   There was a public text alerting citizens to a delay in public transportation. More notably, a bus that you wanted to use to go home. Walking home, in theory, would take the same, if not less amount of time than the estimated wait time for the bus alone. And walk you did. It would not have been so bad if not for a bruise you had gotten on your knee earlier that day. It made walking a bit more challenging.

  Continuing down the sidewalk, you kept a closer eye to the surroundings to the right of you, rather than the streets. However, the slowing down of a vehicle definitely caught your attention. The intersection was further up the street. Hesitantly, you peered over. What you saw made you stop with a small uncomfortable hop. The Batmobile.

  The passenger’s side window slid down. With it, revealed the black cowled cape crusader.   “Excuse me, I don’t mean to bother you,” he called over, leaning toward the other side of the car. “But, would you like a lift home?”   You shook your head slowly as you turned toward the vehicle. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”   “Oh, I saw you limping a little. I only wanted to offer some assistance in case you were injured.”   You rubbed your arm in your small wave of awkwardness. “I’m sure the bruise is healing by now,” you said, not missing Batman’s glance into the backseat. “I mean, if you really don’t mind?”   Batman smiled. “Not at all.” The side-door swung open.   Carefully sitting inside, the door closed on its own. “Automatic?”   “No,” he chuckled, “I pushed a button.”   “Oh,” you laughed quietly, buckling the seatbelt securely before giving him the directions/address to your home.

  Taking a breath, you calmed yourself. It was not every day that Batman asked to drive you home. Unless he was doing that now between vigilante work. You had no idea. What you did know was that every button, switch, and dial on the main console had absolutely no indication of what either of them did. Did he have every function memorized?

  “So, um, how’s your night going? I mean, I hope there isn’t a lot of villain incidents or anything, because I’m sure even you need the rest.”   “Mister Freeze was out tonight,” a voice replied from the backseat.   “We stopped him of course, but man were we freezing.”   “If that was you trying to do word play, it was awful.”   Surprised to hear other voices, you turned around in the seat. There, squished together in the backseat were four additional vigilantes. Red Robin, Robin, who was sitting with quite the disgruntled expression between Nightwing’s legs, and the Red Hood.   Side-glancing over to Batman, you whispered. “Are they in trouble?”   He smiled, steering the Batmobile down another street. “No, a… decision could not be made.”   “They all called dibs on this seat, didn’t they?”   A collective agreement affirmed your humored suspicion.   Nodding in understanding, you turned to sit correctly in the seat.

  A quiet moment or two passed before anyone spoke again.   “So, who’s your favorite?” Asked Nightwing.   “Hey.”   “That’s not fair to ask.”   “Overall, or specifically in the Batmobile?” You asked with a laugh.   “Batmobile,” they said rather quickly.   “You’ll be disappointed to know that I don’t pick favorites.”   “Aw.”   “But if you had to choose.”   “Obviously Batman. He’s the responsible adult driving right now.”   “That doesn’t count.” Red Hood’s muffled voice interjected.   “Yeah, well, Wonder Woman isn’t in the Batmobile, so,” you laughed with a shrug. They were appearing more normal by the second.   With a thoughtful hum, Red Hood replied. “That’s a good answer.”   “I thought so. Besides, if I were to have favorites, they’d probably change day to day.”

  The Batmobile slowed to a stop by the sidewalk. “Here we are.”   “Thank you, Batman. I really appreciate it,” you smiled gratefully.   “You’re quite welcome,” he smiled in return.   With a press of a button, the passenger side door flicked open and you stepped out.   “Will you be all right?” He asked, his voice laced with concern.   “Yeah,” you assured, stepping carefully away from the open door. “I’ve been dealing with this all day.”   “All day?” The backseat erupted in protest.   You gave a tired shrug. “Just another day in the life of an ordinary citizen.”   Red Hood pushed the passenger seat forward with a single gloved hand. Climbing out of the vehicle, he joined you on the sidewalk. But before you could ask, he put up a hand to stop you. “You shouldn’t have to struggle on your own.”   “It’s not that bad,” you assured, “I can manage.”   Reaching up, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Just…can you let me help you?”   Genuine. That was the word you wanted to use to describe the sudden turn of events for you that evening. First, an offered ride home, and now this? Were they like this with everyone?   “Okay,” you finally answered.   Red Hood’s sigh of relief was not subtle enough to go unnoticed by you. He likely thought it was.   Shutting the door to the Batmovile, it only drove away after the pair of you started walking toward the steps to your apartment building. Red Hood offered his arm. Previously intending to grab ahold of you for your own stability, but quickly retracted his hands.   Holding onto his arm, the initial warmth was a welcoming contrast to the cool night air. And thick. How much muscle did these vigilantes have/ And where did they even find the time?   “Easy,” he cautioned softly.   You pushed your weight onto his arm with every other step. Other than that, going to your apartment door was quiet and uneventful.

  Standing by the door to your apartment, you retrieved your keys. “Thank you for your help. And… I hope I didn’t bruise your arm.”   “Ha, I doubt it,” he crossed his arms. “Even if you somehow did, I’ll take it as a temporary momento.”   “And despite my better judgement, I’ll definitely be telling my boyfriend, Jason about this.”   “Heh, maybe not the best idea,” he advised.   You smiled. “I’m going to anyway. Have a good night. And thank you again, Red Hood.”   “No problem. Rest that knee.”   “I will. Bye.”

  In your apartment, door shut, and thoroughly locked, you laughed at the ridiculousness that had became your evening. “Jason might not believe me.”

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

Thank you for reading! If you would like to read more imagines and fanfics, check out my pinned post for My Masterlist of Masterlists.

[soobnny]

classmate au | sim jake

❝ i’m sorry we only got 26/30 on this worksheet ❞

heeseung | jay | JAKE | sunghoon | sunoo | jungwon | ni-ki

jake…

oh jake.

student athlete and math genius jake

you’re in the same class but he feels so far because he hangs out with his rly pretty friends

u can only look from afar

he’s always a tiny bit late to class

always drawing attention to his pretty boy face 😞

at 7:30, the bell rings and classes start

at 7:31, jake walks into class late

but the teachers always give him a pass bc how could they not when he smiles at them like that and apologizes like that

even ur teachers are down bad

he probably becomes your class representative for that one strict teacher’s class bc they always have a soft spot for jake

u want the deadline of the homework extended? ask jake to message them

he sits in the middle seats

not too prim and punctual to be at the front

but still likes school enough not to completely goof around at the back

sometimes your math teacher lets you do quizzes and worksheets by pair

(it’s the only way some of you can get a passing grade)

by statistics and some type of sampling, you end up getting partnered up with jake

“hi, good morning,” he’d greet with his infamous smile

now you get why all the teachers swoon for him

he’s so cute. this is going to be a problem

this is going to be a BIG problem

you were already bad at math, and now there’s a big pretty distraction sitting next to you

though, tbh, you were also relieved when you heard your name with his bc he’s ltrly known as a math genius

he’s one of the students that teachers excuse for their math contests

and wait 😭 did he just say something to u? did he ask about a formula bc u honestly have no clue

“(name)?” he’d shake your shoulder gently and it’s enough to bring you back on earth

“sorry, did you ask something?”

“oh, i’m done … if u wanted to compare answers? or if u trust me enough?”

you trust him enough

he’s ltrly THE carry

jake will speedrun differential calculus like he’s writing the alphabet

uh oh.

why does he look so HOT with his pencil and the way he writes numbers

you’re going insane

you should never be paired with jake ever again

but by some twist of fate, you always end up as jake’s partner in numerous activities

lab work and experiments and communication reports?

“jake and (name),” the teacher would announce

ofc… typical of friends, they HAVE to push you around as you walk to your seat beside jake’s

while you’re of great help with anything else, you’re starting to feel bad about his literal carry in math tho

“are you sure it’s ok? i’m just rly horrible i’m sorry,” you’d apologize

he would just laugh and dismiss your concerns

“nooo, it’s okay. i’m fine! i can tell you didn’t get enough sleep last night”

(you spent the night binging a new show that came out)

your stomach doesn’t feel so good after that one.

who gave him the right to NOTICE things now???

when your teacher returns your paired worksheets, he has the GALL to apologize

a big fat 29/30 will be written on top and he’d say “oh i’m sorry we had one mistake 😕” like BOY SHUT UP !!!!

after your partner shenanigans, you’d start talking more in the classroom

he’d give u a fist bump if u bumped into each other in the hallways while walking with ur respective friend groups

sometimes even shout your name to get your attention only to wave at you

“why are you smiling like that?,” sunghoon would ask accusingly

and you know what? jake has no shame

“(name). she’s pretty cute, no?”

BYE absolutely no shame

so now, when he speedruns an activity, you’ll find him hovering around you until he starts to make conversation

if the teacher leaves early ?? suddenly he’s transported to the seat next to yours and flirting

being friends with jake is chaotic…. bc that would automatically mean being friends with HIS loud ass friends

pretty friends have upgraded to pretty LOUD friends

they’re so annoying too

“jake and (name), can you buy us water?”, heeseung would ask

WHY R U BUYING WATER FOR HEESEUNG

but jake’s already taking your hand and dragging you away bc he will take every opportunity to hang out with you alone

BTW computer science god idk i just got the vibes

during valentines that year, he codes you a little website please end me

mind you, you aren’t even together yet

he just codes for you as a friend 😂😂😂 as if anyone’s believing that

oh and he also avails those anonymous services so you’ll just be receiving flowers from the student council throughout the day

“oooooh, who are those from,” he would be smiling like it’d be so painfully obvious it’s from him

“do you like them?” NOOOOOOO he just wants to know ok!!! tell him you love them please

OK back to normal no more valentines

when class dismisses, you’d find him lounging around the basketball court with heeseung

sweaty….. wet hair…. oh dear

jake is a sight to see when he’s playing basketball

u usually sit at the bleachers anyway bc ur friends enjoyed watching

he is SOOOOO annoying esp now that you’ve grown closer over the months

he’d make stupid plays and draw attention to you 100%

“if i get this shot in, will you go on a date with me?”

cue the screams and the teasing and the fake vomiting as you’re pushed around

OFC he makes the shot

he’s sim jake, math genius AND student athlete

“so, tomorrow after class?”

“huh?? i thought you were joking??”

“what? no! have i not been obvious? i ltrly flirt with you evry chance i get??”

“well… idk! maybe you do that with everyone!”

“only you”

OK WISH I WERE YOU THEN 😒😒😒😒😒

note. credits to user @.luvknow for the layout of this post! let me know what you think! please discuss these with me i’m crazy

[dailynnt]

FRIENDS WITHIN TUCHING DISTANCE

⊹ Summary: Jungkook and you, his childhood friend, live together in an apartment, sharing space as roommates. Your relationship, built on years of friendship, is gradually becoming strained by growing sexual tension. You decide to become friends with benefits, trying not to complicate your feelings. But Jungkook's world is not so simple. When you begin to realize that he is hiding something, you open the veil of his double life - a world of mafia, criminal activity, and risk that could ruin not only your deal, but everything you valued in each other.

⊹ Couple: Jeon Jungkook/ Fem!Reader

⊹ Characters: The Reader, Jeon Jungkook, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung, Min Yoongi, Kim Seokjin, Kim Namjoon, Jeon Hoseok.

⊹ 🔞 Age restrictions: 18+

⊹ 👩🏼‍❤️‍👨🏻 Relationships: ⚤

⊹ 📘 Number of part: 27/?

⊹ 🖇️ Tags: best friends, friends with benefits, slow longing, sexual tension, protected sex, unprotected sex, alcohol, drunken sex, inexperienced main character, mafia au, illegal trade, deaths of minor characters, weapons, swear words.

⊹ 👩🏼‍💻 From the author: Hi guys 🥰 It's been a week since I posted part 25. I really don't have enough time to write for you on time, so I apologize for the long wait 🥺🫂 I hope this part was worth it 🥹 Let me know in the comments ❤️‍🩹

⊹ 🫂 Dedication: For you, my love @myjungkookthighs. You are my favorite person 😘🥰 You know that I appreciate you so much and LOVE you🥰💜

⊹ ⚠️ Warning: English is not my native language, so there may be mistakes in the text. Please don't get mad at me too much! Those under 18, please don't read this story!

⊹ 📋Tag list: @myjungkookthighs, @notsevenwithyou, @nikkinikj, @lovelyyylunaa222, @jiminiemanura, @jalexad, @kelsyx33, @bhonbhon, @unholyforjk, @ambiee3, @mianhae-baozi, @someoneelse0109, @medstudentlifestyle, @mskookie, @kooccult , @smokinghotstargirl, @curse-of-art @wintaemoonjen (If anyone wants to be in my tag list let me know)

≣ Chapter Index ↓

Part 25. Gold on the tip of the knife. 

Jungkook walked over to the table. His thoughts were overloaded and he was still there, in the businesses he could never fully detach himself from. He had done too much today. He had gone over the plan for the delivery of the Uranium, talked to the logistics company that would be transporting the Uranium, and decided issues about set up a fake company that would sell depleted uranium to the military. It all took a lot of time, absorbed him, made him keep his mind in constant tension. 

You had been with his mother all day, so he didn't have to constantly apologize for his busy schedule, but even now, when you and your parents were gathered for dinner together, Jungkook left the table every now and then to talk on the phone and take care of important things.

His fingers automatically gripped the phone before he put it away in his jacket pocket. His head was buzzing with endless calculations and plans, but as soon as he look up, all that tension gave way to something deeper.

You. 

He looked at you and didn't like the way you looked. He saw you trying to smile and make conversation with your parents, but you were doing it for strength and he could see it.

Tomorrow, when you get back to Seoul, he will take you to the doctor right away. Most likely, it's overwork from work and studies. He told you to quit that job, but you're stubborn. You made a promise to someone. That's ridiculous. Why are you so righteous? But if the doctor confirms that you're exhausted, he'll go and fire you from that store himself. 

Jungkook sat down slowly, not taking his eyes off you. You gave him a quick glance and looked away. You didn't even smile at him. Are you annoyed that he's always leaving because of calls? Or is it because he's having a busy day? 

Jungkook looked at your plate. It was almost clean. And the panjang you had bitten once remained lonely on the round plate, obviously never to be finished at all. There was a lot of food on the table: baked fish in ginger sauce, kimchi, several types of panjon, beef soup stewed in spicy herbs, rice with chestnuts, and, of course, makkoli. You helped his mother prepare all these dishes, but you barely ate any of them. 

His fingers involuntarily gripped the edge of the table. When your mothers switched to discussing a recipe and your fathers left the table, Jungkook leaned over to you. 

"You're not eating anything." - His voice sounded calm, but there was a hidden anxiety in it. You barely looked up and forced a smile.

"I'm just not really hungry. I had time to taste everything while we were cooking with the omony." - You answered, adjusting your plate. Jungkook didn't believe you.

He saw how you could barely hide your fatigue. He saw how your eyes were a little cloudy. He had noticed this for days, but you kept insisting that everything was fine. He was irritated by your self-sacrifice for no one in particular. 

"Do you feel bad now?" - He asked, still quietly, but insistently, so that the mother would not hear. 

"No, I'm fine." - You said seriously. He saw that you were tense. He is annoyed leaned away from you. He touched the glass from which he was drinking the juice, and just started spinning it. Jungkook ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek, holding back the urge to yell at you. He was annoyed by everything today, but he couldn't snap at you. 

Suddenly, you stood up from the table. Jungkook watched you stand up, pushing the chair back with a slight movement. Your fingers touched the fabric of your dress briefly, as if you wanted to tidy it up, but he knew it was a habit when you were nervous or trying to hide something from him. 

You said something about being right back, but didn't look at him. This alerted him. 

"Son, between you everything okay?" - Jungkook heard his mother's voice. He turned his head toward her and met two pairs of concerned eyes. His and your mothers were waiting intently for an answer. 

"Yes, mom, everything fine." - Jungkook says, and he doesn't believe his words. Of course nothing is fine. Why would you be sick? "But I'm going to go check for sure."

Jungkook wants to get up from the table, but the phone rings. 

Shit. His fingers tightened around the device, and he pulled it out of pocket, glancing at the screen. An unfamiliar number. The mothers watched with the same concern. 

"Excuse me." - He says briefly and walks into the kitchen. Behind the kitchen in Jungkook's parents' house was a closed terrace. He goes there so that no one can hear his conversation. All day long, he hasn't been contacted about the direct delivery of uranium, and maybe this is the that call. On his way terrace, Chonguk picks up the phone. 

"Yes?" - His voice is unwavering. 

"Jeon Jungkook-shi?" - He hears a man's voice on the other end of the line. 

"Who is this?" - He doesn't answer, but instead asks his own question. 

"My name is Lee Hyuwon, I'm a transportation agent. I was given your number. They told me to contact you about a delivery." - The voice on the phone was low and steady, as if the man was talking about something mundane. Jungkook tensed slightly, looking out the window at the dark sky. His fingers tightened their grip on the phone. 

"What kind of delivery?" - He asked, just to be sure. 

"The cargo you're interested in." - He answers meekly. Uranium. But must be a code word. If he says it, this is exactly the man he needs. Jungkook is silent for a moment, staring at the reflection of his face in the glass of the terrace.

"I see." - He finally answered, keeping his voice calm and businesslike. "Who gave you my contact?"

"Mutual acquaintances." - The man answered without giving specifics. Jungkook was on the alert.

"Did they give you the details?" - Jungkook asked. 

"The highlights. The cargo is special, requires care, and needs to be delivered on time." - Lee Hyuwon says seriously. 

"Okay, but..." - Jungkook wanted to ask about the code word, but he was interrupted by the man on the other side of the line. 

"Jeon Jungkook-shi, I have some samples with me that you could inspect, so if you have time we could meet." - The carrier offers. 

"Samples?" - Jungkook asks again. No one said there would be samples, and that he should check them. "I have no information about that."

The man on the other end of the phone falls silent and hums into the receiver. 

"That's strange. That's why I had to contact you, to arrange the delivery and for you to look at the samples." - The man says. Jungkook raises his eyebrows. This is really strange. 

"I need to know out more information. Besides, I'm not in Seoul, so there's no way I can meet you today." - Jungkook says, already planning to call Jimin. 

"Oh. Yes, sir. I really don't understand why this happened. However, I don't know if my boss not will be happy that the meeting won't take place soon. I also don't think he'll be happy with the fact that you didn't know about the samples..." - The man says. Jungkook tenses up more. He clutches the phone in his hand as if he wants to smash it. He's been in trouble all day, and he doesn't need Namjoon to get angry because Jimin or Hoseok didn't give him any information. He exhales into the phone, he needs to make an appointment for tomorrow morning. But before Jungkook can say anything, the carrier continues. "In any case, let's coordinate with each other on what time we can meet. Because the cargo is not in Seoul, but in Suwon, you'll need to come in person." 

Jungkook freezes. In Suwon? What a coincidence. Perhaps it's fate smiling down on him. Because if he can come now and look at the samples and discuss all the details about the uranium (its quantity and payment), Namjoon will be satisfied. He hasn't told anyone that he's going to visit his parents in Suwon with you. So it may be for the best that he is here. 

"Are you saying the cargo is in Suwon? Where is the warehouse?" - Jungkook asks. 

"On the outskirts of town. It's an industrial warehouse on Gyeonggi-ro. I'll send you the location via geolocation." - The driver replies. 

"I'm not far away. I can get to the warehouse within 30 minutes." - Jungkook offers. He runs his hand over his chin, waiting for a response. 

"How nice to do business with you. It's so good that you are here. Then our bosses won't have to worry. Right? I'll be waiting for you in thirty minutes. I'll reset the geolocation in just a minute." - The man says flatteringly. Jungkook responds "waiting" and disconnects the call. He stood there for a few seconds, staring at the black screen of his phone, analyzing the conversation.

Everything sounded like it was really the person who was supposed to contact him. But why hadn't he been warned about the samples he was supposed to examine? Besides, he didn't know how he was supposed to do it properly. He's learned some of the information he needs about Uranium, but he's definitely not an expert to evaluate the product. Maybe samples to know what the actual product will look like? That's weird. It's very weird. 

Jungkook dials Jimin's phone. He doesn't pick up. Then he dials Hoseok’s phone. There are several rings and the call is dropped. Damn it. He'll call back on the way to the warehouse. 

Jungkook turns around and walks to the door leading to the kitchen. He needs to go to the table and tell everyone that he's going to be gone for an hour. But before that, he needs to find you. 

Jungkook opened the door and literally ran into you. You were standing under the door, looking at him in fright. He froze, just like you. You wanted to leave, but he grabbed you by the arm and pushed you out of the kitchen and onto the terrace. You gasped at the sudden movement. Jungkook pushed you against the wall, locking the door. 

"Did you really do that? Are you eavesdropping?" - Jungkook asks, hovering over you. He can feel the irritation getting the better of him. You don't need to know what you're not supposed to know. You stand against the wall, pale and tired. But your gaze is determined and shows no weakness at all. 

You didn't answer him right away. He saw you trying to collect your thoughts, as if you were looking for the right words.

"I accidentally..." - You say confidently, but Jungkook interrupts you unceremoniously. He doesn't want you to know anything. 

"What did you hear?" - He asks a bit abruptly, which makes you raise your eyebrows slightly. He doesn't want to push, but he needs to know what you heard. You put your hands on his chest and want to push him away. But it makes Jungkook angry, he's not in the best mood today, so he's loses his temper easily. And even you are starting to make him angry. Your curiosity and stubbornness can backfire on you. You're up to your old tricks, and he has to be more careful this time because dealing with uranium is too dangerous.

"Let go of me." - You say, and he pressing your body against the wall. The wall is cold and Jungkook is worried that it might worse you, because you are already unwell. But he can't let go of you until you tell him what you heard. Your palms on his chest, giving him warmth, but your eyes are angry. 

"Tell me." - He says shortly. You stare at each other, your eyes drilling into each other. Right now you don't look like a couple in love, but rather like people who won't give in for anything. 

"I didn't hear much." - You say dryly. 

"I'm not asking how much, I'm asking what did you hear?" - Jungkook insists. His voice is demanding, but not harsh. Again, you just stare at him angrily. Jungkook is late for the meeting, so you have to speak up. 

"I heard you were going to leave. And that it was some about the samples." - You finally answer. Jungkook clenches his jaw. So it's almost nothing. But he needs to make sure that's all you heard. He brings his face closer to yours. 

"Are you sure that's all you heard? Because if you lied to me..." - Jungkook says quietly. You raise your eyebrows skeptically. 

"So what?" - You ask confidently. Jungkook bites his lip, and you can't miss the movement. He laughs when he sees you following his lips. 

"Baby, you better not try to find out. You don't need it. So just tell me everything you heard." - He says with a shadow of a smile on his lips, but it quickly disappears when he looks back into your eyes. "I don't like being followed, especially by you." 

"I told you everything I heard." - You say harshly. Your hand presses down on his chest again, leaving even more heat. Jungkook gets upset when you add. "Don't talk with me like this. I'm not your client, the one you're beating information out of. I overheard your conversation because I was looking for you. I'm not spying on you."

He holds his breath, as if for a moment he realizes that you are telling the truth, that he shouldn't be talking to you like this, but he's not ready to let go of the situation. He knows that you could have heard everything, but for some reason you don't tell him anything. 

He pressed himself against you as much as possible, so that his chest was now touching yours. One of his hands rested on the wall near your head at eye level, and the other clenched your jaw. His lips touched your cheek. 

"Everything is so fucking annoying today, and you're not helping. You walk around pale, eat nothing, and eavesdrop. Do you think I should hold back now, or should I let go of everything that's been building up?" - Jungkook's voice sounds tense and heavy. You can feel his heart beating in time with yours, but he doesn't let himself relax completely. His hand on your jaw tightens, and his breath is heavy and hot, close to your ear.

"Jungkook..." - Your voice is quiet but determined. You try to keep it calm, even though your heart is beating faster from what's happening. You don't want him to understand your emotions, your uncertainty. But he notices it anyway.

He touches your cheek again, gently, but still with a hint of control. 

"Are you forgetting who I am? It's not my fault that you have some problems. We went to parents' house, and you're on that fucking phone all the time, and you're going to go somewhere at this hour." - You say irritated. You try to pull away, but he won't let go of you. His eyes are dark, and his anger and irritation are evident in every movement.

"That's why you're angry with me, I can see that. But honey, I really have a lot of work to do, and it can't wait." - He says softer. 

"Of course it can’t. But I'll wait, right? You can do whatever you want and go all the four sides of the world." - You say colorlessly. Jungkook was torn inside. You really angry. He holds his breath when he hears your cold response. His hand on your jaw tightens, his fingers gripping your chin so hard you feel slight pain. His eyes burn you, but he doesn't let go. There is bitterness in your words, and he cannot lose control again.

"You tell me not to talk to you rudely, but watch how you talk, baby. I'll go all four ways if it's with you." - His voice becomes deeper, almost hostile. He leans in closer, so that his breath touches your lips, and he are already reaching for your lips gently but insistently. You rest your hands against his chest, not letting him kiss you. 

"I don't want you to kiss me right now." - You say even more harshly. He stops just a centimeter away.

"But I want to." - Jungkook says, unrestrained. "I haven't kissed you all day." 

You snort, and it sounds mocking. 

"Have you noticed? Don't kiss me when you're acting like this. Your work is none of my business. I didn't lie to you, I told you what I heard. That's it. Let me go now." - You say threateningly. Jungkook sees how angry you are, but he can't let you go. He really can't. He wants to kiss you. Even more, he wants to fuck you, but wonder if he should? Your parents might notice that you've been gone for a long time, and he's late for a meeting. 

Jungkook suddenly leans down and captures your lips. Unexpectedly, you scream softly into his lips. You didn't close your eyes when he kissed you. You try to push him away, but your boyfriend is a rock. He kisses you, a hot, eager kiss that makes your heart beat faster. 

You involuntarily feel all your control dissipate. But you don't want to give up, you don't want to show how you going weakness in front of him as soon as he kisses you so passionately. So you sharply push him away from you, trying to give yourself some space. 

"Are you deaf, Jeon? I told you not to touch me!" - You almost shout. Your voice is filled with anger. 

Jungkook smiles. He doesn't even let you take a step back. He comes closer again, pushes you against the wall again, his body literally engulfing yours. You can feel his heart beating in time with yours, but his hands on your hips no longer resemble control - they own you, stubbornly trying to make you submit. 

"Come on, my baby. You want it too." - He says boldly and his lips find yours again, this kiss even more impatient, thirsty. He wants your commitment, he wants your attention, he wants you to stop fighting him.

You can't let it go that easily. You respond to his kiss, at first with a little resistance, but then your hand involuntarily stops at his neck, pulling him even closer. Your bodies touch, and you feel all the bitterness that has accumulated between you, but at this moment you want nothing more than to give yourself to him completely.

Jungkook sees you giving in and breaks the kiss and looks at you, his eyes burning with desire. 

"See? I know you." - He slips his hand under your sweater, slides it easily over the top you're wearing instead of a bra. When he squeezes your breasts slowly and with some force, you hold back a moan. He looks into your eyes, radiating cunning. 

"It pisses off..." - You say, exhaling. Jungkook pulls your sweater and top up over your breasts and presses his lips to one of your breasts. As his tongue sucks in your flesh, you hold back a scream of pain. Jungkook tastes your nipple so good. But he wants to feel how wet you are. When he ignores your words and kisses your nipple, he reaches down to your leggings and easily gets under your underwear. 

Jungkook pulls away from your nipple and, breathing heavily because he's aroused, approaches your flushed face. A moan escapes your lips as he massages your clit. Fuck, you're so wet for him, he could enter you so easily. 

"So what were you saying? What's pissing you off?" - Jungkook asks demandingly, subjecting you to sweet torture. He kisses your jawline, and you try to say.

"It pisses off... that you..." - You are completely unable to speak because Jungkook has entered you with his fingers and is fucking you with them. He stretch up the fabric of your leggings so that his hand has a comfortable position. 

Your legs give out and you can't stand. Jungkook is amused by your reaction. You look so sexy. Red, with your hair tousled, your eyes closed in pleasure. He leans down to kiss you. He puts his tongue in your mouth and you willingly accept it. And you return the kiss more than willingly, making him even more excited. Jungkook parted your lips and whispered without pulling away. 

"Do I piss you off?" - He tries to find out. His fingers continue to fuck you. 

"Mhhh." - You moan at his actions. "Not you. But that you turn our fights into fucking." - You finally say it. Jungkook laughs lightly. 

"I never believe that you don't like it." - He says defiantly. "Besides, we didn't fight. We just argued a little." - You can't react because Jungkook has moved to your clit again. You're about to come. 

"I... I don't like..." - You want to object, but you come on Jungkook's fingers. He feels your clit twitch and he presses lightly on it, extending your orgasm. You moan, feeling blissful. God, your parents are at the table, and you, or rather Jungkook, is does this with you. He's smiling, happy to have made you come. You try your best to fill your lungs with air.

Jungkook's hard length presses into your thigh. You cast a quick glance between your bodies, and when you return it, you meet your boyfriend's lustful eyes. 

"I want to fuck you, my love." - Jungkook says. 

"But we've been gone long enough. Our parents will be looking for us." - You warn. But Jungkook has already turned your back to him and removed your leggings in one motion, along with your underwear. He admired your naked ass for a moment, and then leaned over to you, pressing you against the wall. You put your arms at wall for something to hold on to. 

"They won't look for us, because they know I went to comfort you." - Jungkook mockingly said the last word. "How do you like my consolation? Huh, baby?" - He asks in your ear. He takes off his pants and boxers and his warm, hard cock hits your buttocks. It takes him a matter of seconds to find your passage and insert his erect cock into it. You're wet, and Jungkook can feel it with his tip. 

"Kook..." - You call out to your boyfriend, who is already plunging into you. At the beginning, you feel a slight pain, and the way Jungkook is in a hurry. You press your fingers against the wall until they turn white. 

Jungkook heard your soft cries and slowed down, and he plunged more slowly the rest of the way. He moved away from your ear and stood up straighter. He took his hands on both sides of your hips to better control his movements. Jungkook squeezed in out of your passage as much as possible and you moaned. He couldn't hold back his moan either. That beautiful pussy took him well, as always. 

Jungkook leaned down to your ear. 

"Does it feel good, love?" - He asks in a caring, gentle voice. He's still worried that you're not feeling well. 

"Yes." - You assure him, turning your head to him. "Very well." - Your voice sounds like a confession. Jungkook kisses shoulder and then straightens up. He strokes your thighs as if to soothe you. 

"Be quiet, my baby." - He asks, and then begins to fuck your cunt rhythmically. It feels divine as always. Your tight pussy wraps around his cock so tightly. Jungkook fucks you every day, but he's never satisfied. What have you done to them? How do you make him want you so easily?

Jungkook has never felt this way about anyone before. He can't understand what's happening to him. He's never enough. It's like you're destroying all his reasonable boundaries by making him want you more and more. 

How do you so easily overcome his emotionally controlled emotions? How do you seem to be able to make him forget everything else with simple words or gestures? You are not like everyone else. "I'm never enough," is the thought in his head again, and he can't push it out. He doesn't even want to. With you, he always need more. 

You have broken down his walls. And he feels you in a way he hasn't felt anyone before. You are his addiction.

Jungkook fucks you fast and deep, he doesn't have time to stretch out the pleasure. You moan softly, your head tilted down. Jungkook grabs your chest and holds you close. You reflexively put your hands on his, squeezing his it. 

"Where do you want me to cuming? Inside? Or maybe in your mouth?" - He asks, sounding bass in your ear. You moan, his cock inside you, his suggestions, and his hands massaging your breasts. 

"Wherever you want." - You answer, not quite soberly evaluating Jungkook's words. Jungkook smiles with satisfaction. He turns your head and kisses you, deeply, hotly. 

He leans you against the wall and speeds up the movement. You moan with every movement. The friction inside takes you to heaven. After a moment, you squeeze Jungkook's cock with your walls, you come around his cock. Jungkook can barely keep from cumming. He stops abruptly and comes out of you. He turns you toward.

"Get on your knees, love." - He asks. You kneel down, still feeling the waves of your orgasm. Jungkook takes a step towards you and you immediately open your mouth. His length is halfway in, and you start sucking him off. You don't have to do this for long, because Jungkook is about to come. His hard cock is in your mouth. You can taste the salty taste of his and your own cum. 

You pump your head, sucking his hot cock. Jungkook curls his hand around your hair and moves your head. His velvety tip is dangerously on the bottom of your tongue. 

Jungkook hardens even more. Your lips look so good on his cock. He can't hold back any longer. He gets hard as a rock and then he cums on your tongue. You swallow every last drop. He moans above your head, throwing it back. He looks down at you, admiring your position. 

Jungkook stops moving his hips when he's completely softened. He gently withdraws from your warm, welcoming mouth, his cock. A ribbon of your saliva and his cum trailing his cock from your lips. You smile at him. He smiles back at you. 

Jungkook gently helps you off your knees and kisses your lips. Lightly, almost without weight. He puts on his boxers, pulls on his pants, and even manages to dress you. 

"Don't be mad at me." - Jungkook asks, hugging you and putting his forehead against yours. "I'm going to go to a meeting in a little while and we'll talk afterwards, okay?" 

You smile. You feel better than you did before sex with Jungkook, even if it did take some energy. You're even hungry. You pull away from his forehead. 

"It's okay. I won't be angry. How can I be angry after all these?" - You joke. Jungkook laughs heartily. 

"That was the plan from the beginning." - Jungkook jokes back. "I'll only be an hour, maybe less." 

Kongi-ro, 8:17 p.m.

The black Hyundai Palisade came to an abrupt stop at the entrance to the large warehouse. Jungkook took his father's car so he wouldn't have to use his own. On the way to the warehouse, he called Jimin and Hoseok several times, but no one answered. What the hell were they doing? 

Jungkook is almost twenty minutes late because he fucked you on the terrace. This sex helped him partially relieve the tension he had been feeling all day because of organizing the uranium delivery. 

However, his muscles are tensing again, but he is calm. He turned off the engine and turned off the headlights. At the entrance to the large warehouse, a group of men stand, cars and several minivans lined up along the side. 

He got out of the car, glancing at the tall, thin figure of a man in a black coat standing in the center. His eyes glittered coldly in the semi-darkness, and he wore a slight smile on his face, as if he knew Jungkook would be there, despite his lateness.

"Jungkook-shi." - Lee Hyuwon was the first to respond, as if they had known each other for years. "You're late, but I'm still glad you came." 

Jungkook looks around at the people around him. He didn't expect so many people. But these people are allies, he doesn't worry about them harming him. 

"I got into a little traffic jam. I apologize." - He says, shaking hands with a man who introduced himself as Lee Hyuwon. 

"Oh, it happens sometimes." - Hyuwon says in a friendly manner. They fell silent and Jungkook felt an inner discomfort. He cast a few glances around and turned to the man who had made the appointment. 

"So where's the cargo?" - Jungkook asked. It was suspicious that Seongwan was taking his time.

"It's inside." - Hyuwon says meekly. "Please follow me." - The skinny man turned around and walked toward the entrance of a tall metal structure. Jungkook followed after Hyuwon, taking a closer look at everything around him. It was quite dark inside the warehouse, with only a few neon lights creating dim illumination. The air smelled like oil, iron, and something else... Jungkook knew the smell for sure - gunpowder.

His heart beat faster for a moment, but he remained outwardly unmoved. Long wooden crates were stacked on top of each other, and some of them had plastic wrappers sticking out. Hyuwon slowly walked over to one of them and tapped the lid with his fingers.

"Here is the product. I'm sure you'll like it." - The man's voice was excited with joy. Jungkook raised his eyebrows. He took a few steps forward, as if curiously evaluating the goods. One of Hyuwon's men opened the crate, and what he saw was not nuclear material, but precision weapons. 

Heavy semi-automatic rifles, with perfectly polished black bodies, lay neatly in a row.

"These are weapons." - Jungkook says, more to himself than to the others. 

"Yes. Good weapons that are highly accurate and of excellent quality. I've been assured that this is the kind of weapon you use." - Hyuwon confirmed. Jungkook thinks. This is not Uranus. So this meeting is not what he expected. Where the hell did this man come from and why did he think he needed a guns? 

Before the new year, Jungkook bought a new weapons, he doesn't need it. He looks at the boxes and then turns to Hyuwon. 

"Who gave you my contact remind me again?" - Jungkook asks demandingly. Hyuwon is visibly nervous, but he tries to hide it behind a smile, but Jungkook sees through it. 

"Takeshi Tanaka, you worked with him. He mentioned you and said you'd be interested." - Hyuwon says, putting confidence in his voice. Jungkook doesn't remember the name. But they're actively working with the Japanese mafia, so he could have just forgotten. "This is an exclusive, Jungkook-shi. Great guns, great price. Take a closer look, you can hold it in your hands, evaluate the balance." - Hyuwon offers. Hyuwon looks at the weapon and then at the man in front of him. 

"I don't need this weapon. And I don't know why Tananki thought I'd buy it from you." - Jungkook says businesslike. Hyuwon doesn't look upset. But his eyes have narrowed slightly, and he doesn't look as friendly anymore.

"You didn't even consider the offer." - He said coldly. 

"Because I'm not interested." - Jungkook replied indifferently. The people accompanying Hyuwon visibly tensed up. He held the man's gaze, demonstrating his position. Hyuwon smiled, slowly, almost predatory.

"Well, then, you have no business being here, Jungkook-shi." - He bowed slowly. Hyuwon watched this movement. His intuition told him that something was wrong. Something was wrong with this man and this meeting in general. 

"Obviously." - Jungkook said looking Hyuwon straight in the eye. 

"But I'd advise you to write down my number, I'll give you the best prices and quality product." - He holds out his hand. Jungkook looks at it, but doesn't shake it back. 

"I'll keep that in mind." - Jungkook says. Jungkook took a step back, watching Hyuwon's men stand frozen, waiting for further developments. He no longer had a reason to stay here, and he had to find out who the Japanese man was who was throwing his contacts around.

Jungkook leaves the warehouse. He gets behind the wheel and drives away. He keeps looking in the rearview mirror. He can't help but think that this meeting is strange. Hyuwon let him go so easily, didn't even insist on a deal. 

Jungkook pressed the gas pedal, leaving the warehouse behind. His fingers tapped on the steering wheel, giving off a pent-up tension. Hyuwon was too calm. Too confident. And that Japanese guy... Hell, he was sure he'd never had any business with Takeshi Tanaka.

He dialed Jimin again. The rings went on for a long time, until finally the other end of the line answered.

"Oh, kid, I'm sorry, I didn't hear you call." - Jimin immediately apologized. 

"Where the hell are you that you didn't hear me calling you?" - Jungkook asked, irritated. "Hey, are you going to kill me over the phone?" - Jimin muttered. His voice was filled with background noise-people's voices, music, laughter. "What happened? Why three missed calls?" 

"I needed to know out some information, but I've already did it myself." - Jungkook said seriously. He decided not to talk about the meeting with Hyuwon because Jimin would want to know the details, and he didn't want to say he was in Suwon. When it comes to his parents and you, he hides everything. "Are you at the club?" - Jungkook asks, changing the subject. 

"Yeah. At Muse. We decided to relax with Hoby-hyung. We had a crazy day today." - Jimin says, now it's clear why Hoseok hasn't been answering. Jungkook is also having a crazy day. "Where are you, by the way? Don't you want to come over? Let's have a drink. Or are you busy with more important things?" - Jimin asks slyly, hinting that this “important thing” it’s you.

"Yes, I have more important things to do." - Jungkook replies with a smile. "Give me Hoby-hyung, I want to ask him something." - Jungkook asks, but Jimin doesn't listen. 

"So you two made up?" - Jimin asks. He's the only person (besides Taehyung) who wanted you and Jungkook to get together. Jimin and Taehyung have long suspected you of having feelings, but you two denied it, and now you've there, told your parents you're dating. 

"Yes. Thanks to you, Hyung. I guess I'm forever in your debt." - Jungkook thanked him. Jimin laughs briefly into the phone. 

"Not forever, but you will to do whatever I ask you to do. Let's just keep it a wish." - Jimin suggests. 

"Deal." - Jungkook agrees without hesitation. He will always be grateful to Jimin for arranging their meeting in that café. "Then put Hoseok on the phone." - Jungkook reminds him. He drove out onto the main street to return home. 

"But wait. I'm burning with curiosity. So how did you two start dating? Did you start fucking her, and then you realized you were in love?" - Jimin asks. He makes it sound dumber than it actually was. 

"Why do you think that we started fucking before we started dating?" - Jungkook doesn't answer, but asks his own question.

"It was obvious. The way you were with each other. The sexual tension between you was obvious. You tried so hard to hide it, but you couldn't convince Taehyung and me. Besides, I know you were living together." - Jimin replies. His voice sounds like he's smiling. Jungkook rolls his eyes. 

"Jimin-hyung, you know you're really annoying, right?" - Jungkook said with a smile on his lips. 

"Oh, come on. Just tell me when it happened." - Jimin demands. Jungkook exhales. Still, as much as Jimin is his friend, he will tell the truth if he is so desperate to know. 

"After I meeting with you and Taehyung at the restaurant, when we were eating samgyeopsal." - Jungkook says, feeling a little lighter inside, although he tries not to show it.

Jimin on the other end of the phone instantly freezes. He laughs softly, but with obvious pleasure.

"Ooooh, it’s happening that night! You lied to me that nothing happened between you then. But I didn't believe you. Y/N's so cute when she's drunk, I think that's why you couldn't resist that night." - Jimin thinks out loud. Jungkook clutches the steering wheel. He stops at a traffic light and waits. 

"She wasn't cute. You just don't know her well. She provoked me that day." - Jungkook tells the truth about your first time. Jimin laughs into the phone. 

"Really? She can do that?" - Jimin asks through his laughter. Jungkook smiles too. 

"She can do a lot of things." - Jungkook says, and he thinks it sounds polysemous. 

"I don't even doubt it. So what's she like? Quiet or loud?" - Jimin continues, his voice sounding fiercely interested. Jungkook feels a surge of irritation. He doesn't want to discuss what it's like to be in bed with you, even if it's Jimin.

"Hey man, are you really that naive to think I'd tell you something like that?" - Jungkook asks. 

"I know so much about your sex life. Why can't I know the same about you and Y/N?" - Jimin asks, offended. 

"Because it's Y/N. You won't know what she's like in bed because she's my girlfriend." - Jungkook argues. Jimin snorts into the phone. 

"Oh my God, can you hear that? Jungkook is really in love with his best friend because he's hiding everything about her." - Jimin sighs softly, still joking. 

"Yes, I am head over heels in love with her. That's why I don't like the fact that someone else will know what she's like in bed besides me." - Jungkook says so that the topic can be closed. Jimin realizes this instantly and immediately concedes. 

"I'm glad to hear that, buddy. I'm honestly glad you're in love with Y/N. She's perfect for you and you know I've been shipping you for a long time. I'm sorry if I crossed the line." - Jimin apologizes. Jungkook is silent for a while, feeling the tension ease a bit. His heart is still beating fast with emotion, but Jimin's words somehow calm him down.

"Don't worry, I know you were just kidding." - He says, relaxing his shoulders, but still not letting go of the steering wheel. "It's just... I'm not ready to discuss this with anyone, not even you." - Jungkook says, and moves the car out of the way because the light is green. Jimin laughs briefly. 

"I see. I was really joking. But don't worry, my friend. I can see that you're happy with Y/N, and that's cool."

Jungkook feels his heart lighten, even though he knows they won't talk about it again. 

"She's... she's really important to me. I don't want anyone else to judge her or interfere with what's between us." - Jungkook explains. 

"I understand." - Jimin replies with a serious tone, though you can still hear the support in his voice. "You've known who to choose for a long time. And it's Y/N. Keep it up."

Jungkook feels his heart fill with warmth at his friend's words. He hadn't expected such support, but he realizes deep down that Jimin has always been his rock, even if it seems ironic at first glance.

"Thanks, Hyung." - He says quietly. "So, are you going to let me talking with Hoby-hyung?" - Jungkook reminds me what he wanted. 

"Yeah, I'll put him on the phone right now. Just give me a moment." - Jimin replies. Jungkook waits until he's almost home. Jungkook hears muffled voices on the other end of the phone. Jimin must be saying something to Hoseok, and Hoseok is answering, but Jungkook can't make out the words. He's almost home. A few seconds later, he hears a familiar voice in the phone.

"Hey, little one. What’s up?" - Hoseok asks, sounding cheerful. Jungkook smiles involuntarily. 

"Hi. Hoby-hyung, I have a question for you." - Jungkook says as he parks the car outside the house. 

"Okay, but if it’s some difficult, I'm not in the right state to answer questions like that, right now." - Hoseok laughs. Jungkook laughs back. 

"It won't be a difficult question." - Jungkook turns off his headlights and looks out at the street, lit by streetlamps. "Did we ever work with someone named Takeshi Tanaka?" 

Hoseok is silent, obviously remembering. Jungkook hears him buzzing into the phone and later he hears his voice. 

"It's someone from Japan. I can't remember right away. Why? Who is it?" - Hoseok asks. 

"He might be connected with the supply of weapons. Rifles, grenades, and stuff like that." - Jungkook explained. Hosok is silent again, but only for a moment. 

"Jungkook-ah, I don't remember, but that name sounds familiar. Let me find out more information and let you know. Tomorrow." - He adds quickly. Jungkook sees you coming out of the yard. Jungkook hurries out of the car to come to you. 

"I'd appreciate if you knew something about." - Jungkook says. He blocks the car and walks to meet you. You are wrapped in your jacket and watch him as he arrives. Jungkook comes up to you and immediately hugs you. You can't help but smile lightly and rest your head against his chest. 

"No problem. So should I wait for you or not?" - Hoseok asks. 

"No, Hyung, I'm already home." - Jungkook says half-truthfully, not in a hurry to let go you from embrace. "I'll be waiting for information about this Tanak tomorrow."

"Okay, brother. Get some rest." - Hoseok says, and then adds with a twist in his voice. "Or work hard." 

Jungkook rolls his eyes, though you can't see it.

"Have fun, Hyung." - Jungkook says shortly. He ends the call and puts the phone back in his pocket. You lift your head, looking at him with a bit of curiosity. 

"Is everything okay?" - You ask quietly. Jungkook runs his fingers through your hair and then touches your chin lightly.

"Yes, my love. I'm fine. Why are you here?" - Jungkook asks, smiling and gently touching your nose with his finger.

"I went out to get some fresh air and then I heard you drive up." - You answer. Jungkook lowers to your face. He presses his lips to yours and enjoys the softness of them. 

"Have you been waiting for me?" - He asks, forcing your lips apart. You smile. 

"Maybe." - You answer playfully. Something dangerous but tender flashes in Jungkook's eyes. His lips are still burning from your kiss. Jungkook laughs softly, putting his arms around your waist and gently pulling you closer. He kisses you again, unable to get enough of your lips. 

"You don't even miss me?" - Jungkook asks, pulling away just a centimeter to look into your eyes.

You bite your lip lightly, but he instantly runs his thumb over it, forcing you to let go.

"Maybe." - You repeat teasingly. Jungkook responds to your mockery with a smile.  

"What maybe? You must have meant “yes”" - He says, leaning closer to your ear. His voice is warm, a little husky, and it makes you flinch involuntarily.

"No, I probably meant to say “no”. You were only gone for 30 minutes." - You tease him, hiding your smile. Jungkook tilts his head, looking at you with a sly smile.

"I probably won't believe you." - He whispers and kisses you again, this time slower, deeper, as if he wants to commit this moment to memory. You put your hands on his chest, feeling his heart beating faster, even through his jacket.

"Do you want to come in?" - He asks when your lips finally part. "Or do you want to go for a walk?" 

You decided a walk. It's a great opportunity to be together and clear your head. It sounds like you both need it. 

10 days later.

You were sitting in the kitchen, slowly winding a lock of hair around your finger. On the table was a cup of barely warm tea and a plate with a half-eaten cheese and avocado sandwich. You took another bite, but as soon as the cheese touched your tongue, you instantly twitched. Something was wrong. Jungkook that you were talking to on the phone noticed that you had fallen silent. 

"Baby, are you okay?" - He was worried. Wincing, you put the sandwich back on the plate and took a sip of tea to kill the strange aftertaste. But suddenly a strange feeling appeared in your stomach - a heaviness, a slight nausea, like a wave rising from somewhere deep. 

"Shit, I don't think the cheese was very fresh..." - You muttered into the phone, putting the food aside. 

"Don't eat it." - Jungkook said. "Do you want me to come over and we'll have lunch somewhere?" - Jungkook offers. You are not hungry. Your appetite is gone and your nausea is getting worse, so you take the plate and put it in the fridge so you don't even have to look at the food. 

"No, love. I'm not hungry anymore. Don't worry about it. Besides, I have a doctor's appointment at 11 am." - You say. The feeling of unpleasant nausea did not go away. On the contrary, it was getting stronger. You felt a little dizzy. You leaned on the sink, near the fridge. 

"A doctor? Ah yes, you said yesterday, that you have planned a visit to the gynecologist!" - Jungkook recalls. "After that you'll have to make an appointment with a therapist to see you. I've been asking you for a week to check your condition. You didn't just feel bad for no reason." - Jungkook says. So since you came back from your parents' house, Jungkook has been telling you to go to the doctor almost every day. He wanted to take you there himself, but you assured him that you felt better after resting for a few days. It was just fatigue, nothing more. 

"Okay, I'll make an appointment. But later. When I have time. When are you coming?" - You asked, going to get a cup of tea, which you didn't want to finish either. 

"If you don't make an appointment with a doctor this week, I'll tie you and take you there myself, and you won't be able to convince me that you don't need to do it." - Jungkook said seriously, but it made you smile. You laughed into the phone, holding back the terrible nausea and dizziness. Jungkook shouldn’t know that you felt sick again. 

"That sounds so threatening." - You said through your laughter. Jungkook exhaled quietly into the phone.

"I'm serious, baby." - His voice was a little softer, but still sounded harsh. "I don't want you to neglect your health." 

You dumped the tea into the sink and turned away. With each passing second, the nausea became more intrusive, as if your body was trying to tell you something.

"I know, I know... I just have a lot to do." - You put on a smile, hoping he wouldn't notice it in your voice.

"When I coming? I'll be home early tonight. Around 7 or 8 in the evening." - Jungkook recalls your question. You're happy that Jungkook can come early, because he's been working a lot this past week and arriving late, when you're already asleep.

You called him often and he didn't mind, he always found time to talk to you. You missed Jungkook because you hardly saw him all those days. But you couldn't really rejoice because of this terrible nausea. 

"Oh, this is so wonderful. I can't wait for tonight." - She said sincerely. Jungkook chuckled into the phone. 

"Me too, my love. I missed you so damn much. I don't know if I'll let you sleep tonight." - He says in a low voice. You purr seductively into the phone. 

"Okay, now I'm going to be burning up with anticipation. I've missed you so much too." - You say. Jungkook takes a deep breath and exhales, probably burning with impatience as well. 

"As soon as you get out of the doctor's office, text me, okay?" - Jungkook said. 

"Okay." - You answered briefly. 

"Now go lie down for a while. Don't do anything." - You rolled your eyes. 

"I have to go to the doctor." - You say with a slight protest. 

"Go, but get an Uber. Don't take buses." - Jungkook orders. You smile. 

"Yes, yes, Mr. Controlling Boyfriend." - You joke. 

"Well, how could I’m not?" - His smile was almost tangible. "You're mine, and I'm going to take care of you, whether you like it or not." 

For some reason, these words caused a warm wave of tenderness in you, which slightly drowned out the unpleasant feeling in your stomach.

"Okay, I'm going to go get dressed. And I'll order a taxi." - You promised. 

"Good girl. I love you." - Jungkook confesses. 

"I love you too." - You reply with great trepidation.  You say goodbye and put the phone on the table.

But as soon as you take a few steps into the bedroom, your stomach twists, and a wave of nausea rushes up your throat so strong that you barely make it to the bathroom.

Standing over the sink, you breathed heavily, trying to collect your thoughts. What was it? Was there really something wrong with that cheese?

Your stomach was empty, but nausea still lingered somewhere in your throat. There was an unpleasant taste in your mouth, and an unexplained feeling inside. But you threw up, and it should be easier soon. 

You slowly went to your room and picked out some clothes. You pulled on a warm sweatshirt and high-waisted jeans, and glanced in the mirror, assessing your appearance. Your face seemed pale, your lips a little dry. This sucked. 

Tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, you sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the phone to call a taxi. Your fingers hovered over the screen when a notification came through. 

10:25 AM. Tuesday | Sunbae Ji Sung: Hi Y/N. I'd like to see you. Do you have time? 

You raised your eyebrows. Why does he want to see you? You haven't talked to Sunbae since you asked him to get information about the Jungkook’s clan. That was before the new year. So much has happened since then, it's like you've lived a lifetime. Why would he want to meet you all of a sudden? You quickly scribbled down an answer. 

10:25 AM. Tuesday | You: Hi. Is it something urgent? I have a doctor's appointment at 11:00. Can we meet later? 

The message was read immediately. 

10.25 AM. Tuesday | Sunbae Ji Sung: It's urgent, I won't take much time. If you want, I'll take you to the doctor 😇 

10.26 AM. Tuesday | You: Okay. We'll have 20 minutes. Drive up to the cafe on Guro-gu called Passionate Croissant. 

10:26 AM. Tuesday | Sunbae Ji Sung: I'll be there in 5-7 minutes. 

You reply to a message and get dressed. You don't feel great, but your eyes are opening a little bit. By the time you get to the cafe, you should feel even better because you're walking. 

You threw your coat over your shoulders, quickly checked the contents of your purse - phone, wallet, documents - and took a deep breath and left the apartment. It was a little chilly outside, but the fresh air helped you to gather yourself. You walked slowly toward the cafe, trying to push away the remnants of your nausea and headache.

When you got inside, the smell of fresh pastries mixed with the aroma of coffee, creating a warm atmosphere. The nausea was slowly disappearing. You sat down at the table by the window and ordered a cup of tea, which you didn't even intend to drink, because you thought you might throw up again. 

Sunbae arrived a few minutes after you. He greeted you warmly and even gave you a hug as a sign of old friendship. 

"I'm glad to see you. You have become so beautiful." - Sonbe compliments you, but you give him a skeptical look. 

"Hey Sunbae, have you lost your eyesight? I saw myself in the mirror today. I look terrible." - You say, making the sonbe laugh. 

"If you don't look at your eye bags, you've gotten even prettier in the last few years." - He says almost flirtatiously. You blush. 

"Thank you." - You say shyly, touching your hair. Silence falls between you. Tea is brought to you, and Ji Sung orders coffee.

"Love has people's beautifully." - Sunbae say, returning his gaze to you. You look back at him. His expression looks sly. 

"What do you mean?" - You ask. Sunbae doesn't answer right away. 

"Do you remember our last conversation? You asked me to find you some information on Run Noir?" - You listen to Sunbae carefully, trying to understand what he's saying. "I remember when you said you were worried about your boyfriend, who might be connected to this clan. Why didn't you say it was Jungkook?" - Sunbae finally asks. You freeze for a moment. You feel your heart speed up. 

"Does it matter?" - You ask cautiously. You feel the atmosphere at the table change and become tense.

"Well, I guess it does." - He finally answers, still studying you with his penetrating gaze. "He's one of Namjoon's closest associates. You've been friends with him for years, why didn't you tell me you had such influential friends?" - Ji Sung says, almost mockingly. You're annoyed, but you control your emotions. 

"I see you've learned a lot about me. I didn't know I had to tell you my whole biography." - You reply, trying to sound indifferent, but in reality, you're feeling all tense inside. Ji Sung leans back, smiling slightly. 

"Now I understand why you were looking for information on the entire clan. You wanted to see how much the situation sucked, didn't you? So how do you like your boyfriend's activities?" - Sunbae says unceremoniously. You don't answer him. He leans forward a little, his voice quieter, but no less intense. "You must live well on the money he takes from people." 

Your fingers grip the cup so tightly that your knuckles turn white. You feel anger boiling up inside, but you try not to give in to it.

"Don't you dare say that." - You say quietly but firmly.

"Oh, so I hit the nail on?" - Sunbae raises a subtle eyebrow, his smile almost mocking. You stop talking as a waiter approaches the table with coffee for Ji Sung. 

"You don't know anything." - You throw back as the waiter leaves. You try to control your emotions as best you can. 

"I know more than you think." - He takes a sip of coffee, not taking his eyes off you. "And that's why I'm here."

You sigh, realizing that he's not going to let go. You are disappointed by this behavior of the sunbae. He's just like everyone else, looking for an advantage for himself. 

"What do you want?" - You ask, crossing your arms over your chest. 

"Remember, my dear, you have a debt to me. And to pay it off, I have a favor to ask of you." 

A debt. You'd forgotten that you'd promised him you'd do whatever he asked in exchange for information. 

"A request?" - You tilt your head, looking at him warily.

"You're close to Jungkook, so you can help me find out what I need to know." - Sunbae says. You will not find out anything for him. 

"What if I refuse?" - You ask. Sunbae stretches his lips into a smile. 

"Then your name will be in a place it shouldn't be. And not only yours, but his as well." - He says as if he's telling you what the weather is like outside. Your breath catches in your throat. His casual tone makes you angry. 

"Are you threatening me?" - You ask with one eyebrow raised. 

"I'm giving you a choice, Y/N. You're a smart girl, you know how to make the right one." - Ji Sung replies and takes another sip of coffee. You press your lips together. Now things have really become even more complicated. 

"What do you want me to know?" - You ask, as if you're making a choice in favor of sunbae. But you're not. You're curious about what he wants to know. Ji Sung smiles wider. You hold back your smile. 

"Namjoon's clan is involved in the supply of uranium to Korea. Jungkook is one of his trusted men who is in charge for the organization. I need to know what kind of transportation and when the first deliveries will be made." - Sonbae replies. You want to hold back your laughter, but you can't. You laugh openly and almost mockingly. Sunbae raises his eyebrows and clutches the handle of his cup. 

"You made me laugh." - You say, touching the assets of your eyes. You're not afraid of Seongbae and his threats, because you know that if you say a word to Jungkook for him, Sunbae will be in trouble. "Sunbae, do you seriously think I'm going to do that? I'm not going to tell on my boyfriend to you. If you want to know any information about him and his activities, please find another source of information." - You get up and want to leave. But he stops you.

"You owe me!" - He says coldly. You freeze near his seat. You turn to look at him. "If you don't want to pay me back, you'll be in trouble." 

"One word from me and you'll be in trouble." - Now you're the one making threats. "Sunbae, I'm ready to pay off the debt, but it's this way." 

He assesses your reaction, as if he's trying to figure out if you're bluffing or if you're really ready to fight back. Ji Sung sighs, as if he's bored by your heroics.

"Y/N, be realistic. You do realize that this isn't just your boyfriend. He's Jeon Jungkook, Namjoon's right-hand man. And sooner or later you're going to get hurt by him yourself." - He gets up and stands close, which makes you uncomfortable. He leans forward, his eyes full of hidden excitement. "I'm offering you an opportunity to get ahead of the game." - You clench your fists.

"You know nothing about us..." - You say angrily. 

"I know more than you think." - He interrupts. "For example, that he's been living with you in your rented apartment for almost a month. And that he would do anything to keep you close. But have you ever thought about what would happen if he stopped being interested in you?" - His words hurt, even though you don't show it. It can't be that way. You love each other, and this man's words are nothing. 

"Stop it." - You say coldly. "I'll pay you money for that fucking information which one did you get for me, how much do you want?"

Ji Sung smiles even wider.

"It's not about the money, Y/N. I could just tell you the amount, but that's not what I need. I need information." - Sunbae doesn't give up. 

"Then consider that I don't owe you anything." - You say, picking up your bag and turning to leave.

"Think again." - His voice catches up with you at the door. "You have until the end of the week. And then... well, I don't want to scare you, but know that I'm not someone to ignore." - You give him one last angry look and walk out the door in desperation. 

You walk out of the cafe, feeling your heart pounding furiously in your chest. Ji-sung is playing a dangerous game, but you're not one to give up easily, either.

You lie down on the chair, trying to calm yourself down as the doctor examines you carefully. The meeting with the sunbae, which had been so unexpected, had turned into something really horrible. He wanted to use you to get information. What kind of information? Jungkook is involved in the uranium supply. While you were in the taxi to the hospital, you read something about uranium and what it's used for. It's dangerous and very bad. 

Is it suspicious why he wanted to know this information? He definitely wanted to know it for someone. Because he specifically indicated that he wanted to know how much and through what means the supply would go. Sonbe gave you until the end of the week. What should you do? Tell Jungkook?

It's only everything was fine, there was no word about Doohoon, but now this Ji Sung showed up and demanded from you to get information your boyfriend. That crazy. 

Your body felt tired, and you could barely keep still as the doctor pressed her cold fingers on your stomach, listening intently.

"Are you in any pain?" - The woman asked in a calm voice, bringing you out of your thoughts. 

"No." - You answered briefly. The doctor just nodded, finishing her examination. She sat down at the table, asking you to get dressed and sit next to her. She was checking something in her notes with a computer mouse. You got dressed and sat on the table opposite her. 

"Y/N, do you have a register care with us hospital?" - The doctor asked, looking up from the monitor. 

"Register? What register care?" - You didn't understand, looking up in surprise.

"The register for prenatal care. You're about three weeks along. But I don't see any records about you in our database." - Says the doctor. You freeze. You think you heard something. It seemed like you were about to lose your balance, even though you were sitting in the chair.

"What...?" - Your voice was weak, barely audible. Your heart was pounding furiously in your chest. "By all indications, you're in early pregnancy, so if you haven't registered yet, I'd advise you to do so as soon as possible." - The doctor explained calmly. You couldn't move. You just blinked your eyes, feeling as if your consciousness was separating from reality. But how? You had been taking anti-inflammatory drugs and in some cases emergency contraception every time you didn't take your medication. How could this happen? 

You are carrying Jungkook's child?

This discovery hit you with a powerful wave of shock. You didn't even know what to feel: fear, panic, or something else that didn't fit in your head. 

You are pregnant. How do you tell Jungkook? What will happen now? 

↰ Previous chapter ⋮ ≣ Index ↓ ⋮ Next chapter ↱

[the-oc-lass]

EVERYONE WHO MISSES TECH, PLEASE STAND

Because Dave Filoni really looked at us and said “FUCK YOUR TECH DREAMS!”

Tech did not return and I am screaming.

Anyway, please enjoy Tech and a Baby

Crosshair and a Baby

Wrecker and a Baby

Gregor and a Baby

Echo and a Baby

Full fic below the cut in case you don't want to go to Ao3:

Tech isn’t what you would call a “baby guy.” Babies are illogical and can’t be reasoned with. At least once they reach a certain age, you can start communicating and getting some understanding out of them. Unfortunately for Tech, baby Echo “Ec” Yothia is still just that: a baby. None of this is to say that Tech doesn’t love Ec because, no, no, he does. He just tends to find himself a little…Uncertain when it comes to the child. He prefers to simply observe others interacting with him rather than truly engaging with the child himself. 

So, of course, he would find himself in this situation. Ec’s mother, Rayona, has been working herself incredibly hard for the clone rebellion. As the acting pseudo-General and one of two resident Jedi, she takes what she does very seriously. She’s worked herself so hard, in fact, that Echo, as their resident Rayona-specialist, has taken it upon himself to start enforcing nap times for her. This is fine. Usually, it’s Echo or one of the other Bad Batch squad members that sit or lay with her to make sure she actually rests, some even resorting to lying on top of her. The problem is, Rex has Hunter and Wrecker helping him with a job and Crosshair is preoccupied with Omega. Apparently, Rayona is extra unwilling today, so Echo said it would be best for him to enforce nap time. Which leaves Tech with the baby. 

“Are you absolutely certain that you cannot come and watch over him? I am not equipt for the caretaking of an infant,” he says into his comm. He can hear Crosshair laughing on the other side of the transmission, but it’s Omega who answers. 

“Sorry, Tech. Crosshair and I are busy with Plaa and Ky right now.” Ah, of course. Rayona’s Jedi friend and her padawan/adopted daughter. Crosshair has taken a rather keen interest in them. “Have you asked any of the others?” 

“I have accounted for everyone else in the base. They are all either busy or not currently able to properly watch over Ec. While I am not equipped to care for him, I will not pass Ec off to someone who has more pressing matters to attend to. His safety is prioritized over my own comfort,” Tech says. He adjusts his goggles slightly. “I will attend to him. Thank you for your help, Omega.” 

“Good luck, Tech!” With that cheerful send-off, Omega is gone and Tech is once again alone with his thoughts and the infant. Ec stares up at him with big brown eyes, taking a moment before he smiles and reaches up toward Tech’s face, gurgling. His hand waves toward Tech’s eyes in particular, and Tech quickly deduces that he must be able to see his reflection in Tech’s goggles. He shifts the child away slightly, hoping to avoid getting any small fingerprints on his goggles. After taking a few moments to consider what he could possibly do with the child, he comes up with an idea. 

For the time being, Tech sets up Ec’s feeding chair near his workstation and places Ec in it. This will allow him to monitor the child but will prevent Ec from possibly grabbing something he shouldn’t. With Ec out of his lap for the moment, Tech is able to work on his latest project. It is, however, a project for Ec. A common problem is that Ec constantly needs to be held since there aren’t many good places to put him down. Tech has been working on a solution for that. Simply put, a hovering pram for Ec to rest in. It would make it easier to transport him around while still having one’s arms free. Tech decided to fit it with an energy shield, should the day ever come when they need to move the baby through an active battlefield. He also asked about mounting small automatic turrets to shoot anyone not in a specific scan-related database, but Rayona had very quickly nixed that idea. Despite his well-cited argument about the turrets keeping Ec safe, she’d argued that it was “too dangerous” for the rest of them. A rather preposterous concern, if you ask Tech, but he went along with Rayona’s wishes. She is Ec’s mother and Tech respects her too much to go against her will. It’s easy for him to focus all his attention on the project in front of him…At first. After approximately three minutes and thirty-six seconds, Ec begins to babble. Tech ignores him at first. He can’t expect the infant to be quiet, after all. They’re only quiet when they sleep. However, it quickly becomes clear that Ec is seeking attention and Tech looks over at him. 

“Yes?” he prompts, though he knows Ec won’t respond. Ec giggles and smiles at him, and Tech adjusts his goggles as he considers what to do. Ec seemed pleased that Tech spoke to him, which makes sense considering that infants recognize the sounds of speech. After Rayona had Ec, Tech also read that speaking to infants helps their cognitive development, meaning they’re able to acquire speech and language skills sooner. Perhaps he could help move that process along. Yes, that solution will do nicely. Tech pulls the feeding chair a little closer to his side, turning it slightly so that Ec can watch him work. “Now, Ec, while I understand that you do not currently have the capacity to understand me, I assure you that listening to me will help with your mental development. Now, as you can see, I’m currently wiring together the necessary controls to activate and deactivate the energy shield over the body of the pram. Once that is complete I will finish calibrating the repulsorlift and set it to the inner shell, which will allow your pram to hover, therefore making you easier to transport. I should also incorporate a sensor so that the pram can be summoned from a distance, and the sensor can be synced to your mother and-” 

“Why are you sayin’ all that to him?” Tech lifts his head from his work, turning to look over his shoulder. Ah, it seems that Wrecker and Hunter have returned. Tech adjusts his goggles again. 

“I had read that speaking to an infant helps with their mental development, especially when it pertains to speech skills,” he says. Wrecker blinks, clearly confused, and Tech sighs. “If I continue to talk to Ec, it is likely that he will learn to talk more quickly.” Now Wrecker’s eyes widen with understanding. 

“Oh. I get it. But why all that…Smart stuff? Doesn’t he want to hear about baby stuff?” he asks. Tech glances at Ec, who he finds looking back at him. When Tech’s eyes land on him, Ec smiles and babbles slightly. Tech smiles slightly in satisfaction before looking back at Wrecker.

“I believe my ‘smart stuff’ is plenty entertaining for Ec. Perhaps he will retain some of it and someday have an intellect matching my own,” he says, perhaps just a little proudly. Hunter appears at Wrecker’s side, helmet held against his hip. 

“Does that mean you don’t want us to take him? Omega mentioned that you weren’t sure what to do with him,” he says. Tech once again looks down at Ec, who is still smiling at him. 

“No. He may remain with me,” he says after a moment. Hunter shrugs, then gestures to Wrecker with his head. The two leave and Tech turns back to his project, though not without briefly brushing some of Ec’s hair back. “Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I should consider making some sort of gauntlet or chip to ensure that your pram can be summoned to…”

[nicklloydnow]

“The system of the motorway, the social relation of the motorway, is left untouched by any attack on its specifics - untouched or is it reinvigorated? Does it bloom like the desert in places where fire and rain have visited. Anarchism against circulation is an ethics; it doesn't hurt the motorway even though it wants to. It doesn't hurt the motorway because it is just one response among many to present conditions, and it takes its place alongside all other theories and actions as an ideology - it exists as one strand in the strand of strands of commodified consciousness.

On the motorway, everything that can happen will happen, including dissent against the motorway. But we see now that achieving the heightened condition of dissent does not bestow upon the rebel a capacity to change anything, or even to escape the conditioning of the possible exits open to her/him. Saying "no" does not transport us to a place where we might make decisions separately from the world in which we live. I have met anarchists who live like ironside puritans and others of a deliberately decadent inclination, but whether you forbid or celebrate you do not touch capitalism itself. At every point it holds you in its palm - sometimes allowing a little more movement, sometimes gripping harder. Capitalism has facilitated democracy, fascism, state socialism, theocracy, militarism, human rights, religious revivals; it processes and transforms all social organisation into its social organisation. Every political aspiration is compatible with its productive relation. You propose the counter culture? Capital will commodify it, instigate it, reproduce it, and sell it. There is no outside of the loop.

The motorway cannot be undone either by ideas or practice. It cannot be undone. You think a million people like you could do the business? Well, where are they? If you haven't got them after two hundred years of agitation what makes you think they will turn up now or at some time in the future? And do you really think it possible that a million people can believe the same thing at the same time? How would you check they were really thinking what you thought and not hoping to get something else out of it: a Phd thesis, a promotion, a ministerial promo-tion, a groovy party, radical credibility, a new girlfriend? And if they did truly believe as you believe, if they downloaded your consciousness - by what mechanism would that change the world? Proposed democratic change works like magic, it has a misdirected relation to the movement of capital: if we all think the same thing then everything will come good. In reality, we know that agreement is both false and also not decisive on the mechanisms of power, which act automatically, independently of decision-making.

Why should large numbers of people be convinced by what one person claims more than the promises of any other? The internet is full of get rich quick schemes, anarchism is just one of them.

The easy anarchist answer is that it is not thoughts that change the world but acts. The fundamental flaw in political action is this: the more militant (and therefore true) the action is, the fewer people want to participate in it. The more unreal and fluffy, the more inclined they will be to turn up. Anarchists, being mostly young men, still have not learnt that only young men like to fight back on the streets, everyone else will find excuses not to be there. In directing campaigns, the choice for activists is stark, it is between numbers or ideological purity.

But even to say that rubs some up the wrong way; all discussion subverts the glory of acts. Apparently talking and thinking gets you nowhere because "there is no point in theory without action", as if the likes of Class War or RTS have ever got anywhere. How could Monsieur Dupont demonstrate its activities on the streets? How is anarchism demonstrated on the streets? It seems after all, that all deliberate interventions made by the pro-revolutionary minority are acts but what is really important is whether the proposed interventions either achieve, or are capable of achieving, what is claimed for them.” (p. 160 - 162)

[monstersdownthepath]

Monster Spotlight: Tophet

CR 10

Neutral Large Construct

Bestiary 3, pg. 271

Construction Requirements: Craft Construct, Bull’s Strength,Endure Elements, and a caster level of at least 12. Craft (Sculpture) with a DC of 20.

A Tophet is built from at least 3000 pounds of iron, steel, and/or brass forged in heat comparable to that of an active volcano.

Cost to Build: The strict heat requirements and the formation of the Tophet's rotund body makes the final cost of this Construct a generous 23,500gp!

Open wide and say aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHI'M BURNING

Often formed in the likeness of whoever the creator dislikes, the Tophet look like comically waddling, rounded caricatures of their inspiration, harmless as a jester and created only to be mocked. Much like a jester in a fantasy setting, though, the Tophet is more dangerous than it looks! Though its toddling gait and silly face can be disarming, it's still an animated hunk of solid metal, capable of dealing hefty blows with a duo of slam attacks for 1d6+8 damage each and having DR 5 that's only bypassed by adamantine weapons.

And, of course, their mouth. Unhinging and opening up like some nightmare portal, the Tophet's bite deals 2d6+8 damage and Grabs whatever it locks down on. Any creature that can't break out of the grapple by the time the Tophet's turn rolls around again is sucked straight into its hollow but cramped interior. The Construct itself has no Swallow Whole damage, acting purely as a prison cell (or, in desperate times, an armored transport) and even having a doorway to let out anyone who can succeed the DC 30 Disable Device check to pick the lock (with a -2 penalty because they're still grappled) or who has the key. The Tophet itself can be ordered to open and shut the hatch at any time, and it automatically shuts it as a free action whenever a creature picks the lock to escape, resetting the mechanism.

However, being a living prison cell is only its primary function. It's also a torture device and, in some cases, an executioner. Immune to Fire damage, these rounded guardians are Conductive, transferring half of any Fire damage they would have taken to their prisoners instead. While a party needs only to hear the screams of their roasting ally once to stop hurling Fireballs and Scorching Rays at the thing, the Tophet's commander has little reason to not hurl as much fire as they can at their mechanical ally, roasting the victim inside with no saving throw allowed. The book points out that Tophet can be ordered to stand in lava to execute their prisoners, with total immersion dealing 20d6 Fire damage a round; that's an average of about 72 damage, so captured victims take 36! And with nowhere to escape but into the lava... well... Not a pretty way to go.

On the plus side, Tophet are unintelligent, entirely beholden to the orders of their creators and with no tactical flexibility. Their entire game plan is to waddle up to a target and Full-Attack as early and as often as possible, something they actually struggle a little with despite their CR and Large size; their silly little arms are good for the court's morale but not for the machine itself, which possesses a 10ft space but only a 5ft reach, and their silly little legs mean they only move at 20ft a round, allowing most parties to stay out of their reach. They're not exactly meant to fight, they're meant to swallow people who are brought to them already bound and gagged and act as an emergency last line of defense between a prisoner and people who want them freed. If a Tophet is in battle, it's likely because the party is trying to rescue someone who was put inside one earlier... and a DM wanting to make an encounter with one especially harrowing can put a time limit on it, with the Construct sitting atop a fire pit, pinging its held victim's health every round it can't be moved...

You can read more about them here.

[rookerystories]

Star Trails and Ash Rails: The Ship Part 2

Her pilot was humming to herself when Rei got to the bridge.

“Good mood?”

“Always,” Vri said with a quick smile.

“Got an update for me?” Rei asked, straight to business, looking over the readouts.

“Ship’s in view. Looks like an old prison ship, like I thought. No external damage, but scans are showing some gnarly radiation levels throughout, except for this room,” Vri waved a finger at a small, square room near the top of the ship, “which is weird, but I’ve seen weirder.”

“Any life signs?”

“Rads are too high to get an accurate read. If anyone is alive, they’ve gotta be in there, whatever there is.”

“Warden’s office.” Rei said, matter-of-factly.

Vri raised an eye at her to which Rei shrugged. “Long story. Looks good for a core leak though,” she commed down to Karish and the others, “Boys, Yllis, set up in rad suits, we’ve got a core leak. Karish, you got everything you need to fix it?”

“Depends on what it is, but if I don’t, hopefully their engineering does.”

“Any life signs Dodger?” Dex asked.

“Too much interference to tell. But Dex?”

“Yeah?”

“Warden’s office looks clean.”

“Fuck.” Dex muttered and she heard the distinct sound of a round replicator whirring to life.

“I’ll meet you in the hangar,” Rei cut her comm and looked at Vri. “Keep a good distance, we’ll fly in. If shit goes off the rails Vri, blow us outta the water. I’m not going to a Parishi prison or a slaver pen. That’s an order.”

Vri was about to make a smart remark when she saw Rei’s face. “Sure thing, captain,” she said somberly.

Rei nodded and set off at a brisk pace to the elevator that’d take her down to the hangar. Adrenaline fought with her own willpower to make her jittery and nervous, flooding systems indiscriminately. Instead, she forced her mind to tick, to think. Chances were good the warden was dead; if they’d let their ship deteriorate this badly, it was one of the only answers. The others were… less ideal.

She walked into the hangar to see Dex and Yllis stowing gear on a small, agile transport and to hear Karish ask “Wait, what’s the problem with a Parishi warden?”

Dex looked grim, a face he usually reserved for pre-mission jitters and to fuck with green pilots. He nodded at Rei.

“What do you think, Dodger?”

“Right now, I don’t think a damned thing. But I’m hoping to all the hells the fuck’s dead.”

“It would explain the state of the ship,” Yllis signed rapidly.

“Exactly.”

Rei checked her own gear; a new Raptor 7 semi-automatic handgun loaded with high density ferro rounds and a nearly antique Cobra-9 assault rifle — a souvenir from her participation in the war. The rifle had been retrofitted to accept the new round-replicators that kept you from needing to reload, and she switched the device to craft static crumple rounds after ensuring its material load was full.

“Is there something I should know?” Karish asked, panic rising in his voice.

“Stay behind us, fix the core, and hope to whatever gods you believe in the warden is dead,” Rei said and climbed aboard the transport, sealing the rad suit she’d thrown on as she did so.

She strapped herself into the pilot’s chair and flicked the pre-flight checks, feeling a sense of serenity fall over her as she felt the Roc’s systems activate in tandem. Dex and Yllis had already climbed aboard and Karish, fighting panic, followed them tentatively. Rei sighed and turned in the pilot’s seat to the engineer.

“Look, Matthais,” she said gently, “it’s probably nothing, okay? But since you’re freaking out, I’ll tell you. The Parishi wardens are — were,” she corrected herself, “Cyborgs. Sort of. They still had some fleshy bits, but it was mostly tech. No emotion, no pain. And they were ruthlessly efficient. And I don’t know if neural programming can be mean, but if it can, they were the meanest fucks you could find. Didn’t even do it for pleasure. They’d torture a prisoner just to make the others watch. But they’re old. Haven’t been made since the end of the war. And they weren’t great on the self-maintenance thing. So, if we’re lucky, this one’s long dead and we don’t have to worry about it. But if it isn’t, you stay the fuck behind us, okay?” There was bite in the last sentence and Karish, who was pale but looked less panicked, nodded.

“Besides,” Dex added with a grin only Rei noticed was fake, “We’ll be lucky if we get there in one piece, considering Dodger’s flying.”

“Excuse me, which one of us held the record for walk-away crash landings six years running?”

“Least I walked away from my crash landings,” Dex fired back.

“That was one time, and it was only because I was upside down!”

“Whatever you gotta tell yourself, Dodger.” His grin this time was more genuine, but she could still see the tension in the line of his jaw. They both knew firsthand what the wardens were like.

Rei kicked the Roc out of the hangar before she could think more on those memories, feeling the inertia pull at her innards. It was a familiar, comforting feeling.

[lattedusks-mochadawns]

Ever felt like you have banger AU ideas or crossovers for fandoms but the moment you try to draw, write or explain it, it starts fizzing down?

Either due to fearing only makes sense to you, it’s hard to explain/express or you just don’t have the time? So then you just stop and it becomes like an afterthought.

It happens to me way too much, and I don’t have to time now to work on it. So here is a list of every idea I’ve ever had for a fandom that hasn’t been put into place. I really hope to work on these eventually. Spoiler, ideas are very out there.

Warning: the ideas with Red mean there are TW.

Wild Sekai - Wild Kratts x Project Sekai crossover where the bros suddenly get transported to that one grassy sekai with the Sekai Tree. This is due to a malfunction from the time trampoline (an excuse I use too much to transport the bros to a new dimension) and they meet Hatsune Miku. It was supposed to be a fanfic series where the bros would travel into the units’ sekais briefly, meet the Sekailoids but never actually meet the units themselves. It would start from Leo/need to Nightcord - The one I actually tried to write shit and got some of it down. However, they haven’t even met Miku yet in the story so far. I just really wanted to think of what the bros reactions would be in the different sekai, especially at WxS and 25ji.

WK “Normal”/Work AU - (TW: dark themes, coma, simulation, derealisation + depersonalisation, psychological stress). This is the newest one I literally thought of 2 days ago. I actually did make small doodles of this. It’s in a universe where the bros have like normal 9-5 jobs (that somehow switch different weeks). The only thing is that they’re constantly activated in their Creature Powersuits, which changes automatically to a different creature power every new day. The bros have no choice in what their activated as and are unable to deactivate. However, they see it as “normal” and believe it’s just a part of their very “normal” life. The bros also have a personality change. However in reality, they are living in a simulation. What’s actually happening is that their conscious is trapped in a simulation in order to keep them alive due to them being in a coma-like state from a very bad creature powersuit malfunction. And Aviva, Koki and Jimmy are monitoring them in real time as they work tirelessly to try and avert it. The malfunction is either due to Zach tampering with it during the later testing phases and fucking up big time or during the early phase when the safety protocol programming fails big time. Either way, Aviva is especially blaming herself big time and working herself to death to save them. Let me know if you wanna know more about this. ^^

WK VBS, WK WxS and WK L/N - you can see the recurring theme of my ideas mainly being crossovers. I can’t help it personally. Literally just the Tortuga crew in place of PJSK units. For VBS: Aviva as Kohane, Koki as An, Chris as Akito and Martin as Toya. For WxS: Martin as Tsukasa, Aviva as Emu, Koki as Nene and Chris as Rui. For L/N, Koki as Ichika, Martin as Saki, Aviva as Honami and Chris as Shiho (l/n is the one I’m most undecided on). And Jimmy is all the Sekailoids. Yes. All of them. And there are no current ones for MMJ or 25ji because I really have no idea who would fit best.

Lacka-Kratts - (TW: Gun violence and alcohol) literally just Lackadaisy x WK crossover. Basically, Martin and Chris somehow get swapped places with Rocky and Freckle. Aviva and the tortuga crew are shocked and trying to stay sane with Rocky’s antics. Meanwhile, the bros in 1927 - also in cat form - are with Ivy during what was supposed to be a bootlegging run and are trying not to get shot by the marigolds. (Basically, the pilot plot but replace Rocky and Freckle with the very confused bros who are too nervous to aim a gun at the enemies.)

WK Gas Station/Urban/idk they have clothes- Yeah I really don’t have a better name, it’s the story that counts. Oopsie, another creature powersuit malfunction. Except this one is a 100x less horrible as the bros are just stuck in the suits. No really bad shit. However, there is still bad shit as the tortuga is being hunted down by the CIA. Or whatever government organisation there is, idk my governments. Anyways, they are being hunted down for all the wrong reasons and have been wrongfully accused by the villain. The bros are in a forest near a gas station, somehow have no communication, and basically are trying to survive and get help from people to find the Tortuga (as the Tortuga crew are on the run). However, these people don’t recognise the Wild Kratts or Creature Powersuits, and are scared as the bros can’t describe. Chris is in a coyote powersuit, Martin is in the raccoon suit. Also, they find clothes and wear it. This AU literally sparked because I wanted them to have fashion while activated in the power suits.

Poke-Kratts - (yes, I don’t have better names atm) POKÉMON X WK!!! TORTUGA CREW (+villains later on) GET SENT TO THE POKÉMON WORLD. THEY GET POKEMON. YAY!!!

Pokémon but there are no trainers and Pokémon work jobs - (don’t have a title for this) Also, first idea with no WK. It is what the title is. Pokémon, act like people. This is way more personal to me as it focuses on my mons from my Pokémon Sword play through. Mainly my Lucario named Rei and my Cinderace named Dasher (but in this AU, he is Damien). Rei is like an IT guy, Damien is a professional soccer player. And they are gays roommates.

Pokémon Sword - literally just my Sword team and normal Pokémon universe, except I give my mons ✨personality ✨. Also Dasher is named Dasher here.

Lackadaisy x Showtime - I actually did draw this one a while back. Remember when Rui made a MOTHERFUCKING TIME MACHINE in the Petit Sekai episode? Well, he made an oopsie and the machine accidentally sent WxS back in time to 1927s St Louis. And they are cats for some reason

And that’s that akshanjsnjshs. I really needed to get my thoughts out.

I need to work on National Science Week stuff now.

[maristellarium]

since I finished ch17, I've had a particular thonk, and that thonk basically boils down to me rewriting a part of the story to fit more with Yulia's Deep OC Lore implications - for complete funsies. because I can. and I said so.

will preface by saying this is just for my own amusement so this doesn't really need to apply for interactions. if you want. maybe. ww

anyway tl;dr my headcanon is that Yulia woke herself up from her coma somewhat on her own. sorta. there was a little deus ex machina bit to it, but at least half of it was her own efforts.

as for how that even works - Deep OC Lore Time!!

so in Yulia's original setting, there was a place known as The Dreamland - a pocket dimension which only select individuals were allowed to access, and with this location being created, safeguarded and maintained by higher beings (that tend to resemble angels).

technically speaking, accessing the Dreamland entails separating the soul from the body, after which it is transported through a preset route bypassing the third and fourth and fifth dimensions to reach the Dreamland's hidden location; upon arrival, a physical vessel constructed from the soul's preferences and experiences is formulated around the soul both to house it and to protect it while it's detached from its source body.

from the layman perspective though, anyone who can access the Dreamland just needs to be at a deep level of unconsciousness - usually at the REM stage of asleep, or otherwise actually knocked out for a period. of course, being in a coma also counts as being unconscious enough; for those with access permissions—the Dreamers—they will often be pulled into the Dreamland in such an event, where they have the privilege of being able to continue having conscious experiences while their actual body heals, as well as use the Dreamland's monitoring systems to keep tabs on what's going on in reality if they wish.

anyway you can see where I'm going with this headcanon, yeah?

so for the events of ch17, while Yulia is indeed in a coma, her soul has since been whisked to the Dreamland. and got stuck there.

Even after death and reincarnation, she technically maintains her access permissions to the Dreamland, as her soul has not changed or degraded to a point that her permissions have expired via incompatibility or would be rejected by the Dreamland's soul verification system. That said, this would be her first time visiting the Dreamland after her reincarnation - because the place has since been "deactivated" (due to the universal reset and stuff), with its Administrator absent.

despite this essentially defunct state of the place, the Dreamland's systems aren't actually offline - merely on a sort of low power, sleep mode state. which entails not pulling in anyone with access rights, like it normally would, but nonetheless remaining active and monitoring itself, its systems, and any exterior connections—to, say, a former dreamer who by all counts shouldn't even be alive, but nonetheless is, and also retains her access permissions.

so when Yulia gets unfortunately knocked into a traumatic head injury that entails prolonged unconsciousness due to health concerns, the Dreamland's systems briefly sparked to life and automatically grabbed her soul on an emergency basis.

and the thing is. this place is. basically running on low battery. on purpose. because there's no one with admin privileges to run anything properly.

so Yulia gets yoinked across a couple of dimensions, dropped into a deathly quiet void, and has no way to return manually like she would have been able to when the place is running as usual. sure, she could probably wait for her real body to recover in full and see if any lingering automated services will return her - but considering what the situation was before she landed there, she's not keen on twiddling her thumbs on a risky maybe.

so what has she been doing for the past three months in ch17? hacking into the Dreamland's systems using what user privileges she still has, either trying to force a return to her body or otherwise gain something akin to admin-level privileges so that she can write up a proper removal order.

of course, in-between all of that, she tries to keep a basic tab on what's going on on Earth after what happened in Pulia Park using the Dreamland's monitoring systems. but she only maintains these observations for the first month or two, when she sees how absolutely dire things are spiralling, and turns off the monitoring to focus on her hacking attempts.

at this point, I'm split two ways on how to go about this headcanon - like either Yulia does manage to wrangle something akin to admin privileges and hurries back the first instant she can, or. Deus ex Ishmael still happens, but differently.

as mentioned, the Dreamland is supposed to be maintained by higher order beings. perhaps, while Yulia is furiously headbutting her way through things, Ishmael happens to notice the interdimensional connection - and currently, immense distance - between Yulia's comatose body and her actual spirit far, far away. as such, she reaches out to the other end of that connection, pleasantly surprised to find a very conscious (and different-looking) Commandant, who has been trying to work around access privileges and system restrictions in an Observer-level creation that prevent any sort of flow or return between soul and body.

perhaps, intrigued by the fact that this Commandant is more aware of higher-order things and concepts than it would seem, Ishmael lends her a hand - using her own Observer status to act as a substitute Administrator or briefly force the Dreamland's systems to give admin rights to Yulia and let her return to her body. Ishmael may have also thrown in a little bodily restoration while she was at it, judging from the Commandant's apparent good health after 3 months of a whole coma lmao.

tl;dr of the Deep OC Lore - yully's soul for isekaied for three months instead of being in a legit coma, and so, she tries to reverse isekai herself back to her body. ishmael may or may not have given her hand in the reverse isekai-ing.

[weratebeanz]

Living along the Gulf Coast, my kids and I know firsthand how unpredictable and dangerous hurricane season can be. With forecasts predicting an especially active season this year, being prepared is more important than ever.

While many families take steps to protect themselves, pets are often left behind during emergencies, forced to endure the terror of massive storms because their owners weren’t prepared to evacuate with them or because local resources couldn’t accommodate them.

Preparing in advance is crucial for keeping your family—including your pets—together and reducing the risk of abandoning them during an emergency.

Here is our simple guide to creating a Hurricane Preparedness Kit for your cats and dogs and tips on training your pets to be ready to go immediately.

This post contains affiliate links, and we only recommend products we have either used, are using, or would use and share with our family and friends. Click here to read our Affiliate Disclaimer.

Hurricane Preparedness Kit for Cats and Dogs

A well-stocked Hurricane Preparedness Kit is essential for ensuring the safety and comfort of your pets during a storm. Here’s what to include:

Emergency Contact Information

ID Tags Ensure collars have up-to-date ID tags with contact details and any medical information.

Emergency Contact List Keep phone numbers for your vet, local animal shelters, and emergency contacts.

Basic Supplies

Food & Water Pack 3-7 days' worth of food and bottled water for each pet. A portable water filter is also helpful for extended emergencies.

Portable Bowls Collapsible or travel bowls for easy feeding and watering.

Can Opener Include a manual can opener for canned food.

Medications & Health Supplies

Medication Please ensure you have a minimum 7-14 day supply of prescribed medications.

First Aid Kit Your pet first aid kit should include antiseptic wipes, gauze, bandages, tweezers, and a thermometer suitable for cats and dogs.

Flea & Tick Prevention Have prevention supplies on hand. (We carry flea-killing medication and dewormer as well.)

Comfort Items

Favorite Toys or Treats Familiar items provide comfort during stressful situations. Invest in a second version of your dog's favorite squeaky duck or tennis ball (with single toss manual or automatic launcher). Don't forget the catnip and catnip toys for cats!

Blanket or Bed A portable, waterproof blanket or foldable pet bed.

Safety Gear

Leash & Harness Pack a sturdy leash and harness for your dogs and cats and ensure they’re accustomed to them.

Collar Ensure collars are well-fitted with ID tags. Consider a GPS tracking device to help keep track of your pet, just in case.

Cleaning Supplies

Litter & Litter Box Pack enough litter for at least a week and a portable or collapsible litter box for cats.

Waste Bags For cleaning up after dogs.

Puppy Pads Useful for indoor bathroom needs.

Travel Gear

Carrier or Crate A sturdy, well-ventilated carrier or crate for safe transport.

Seat Cover Keep your vehicle clean with a seat cover during travel.

Seatbelt Clip Ensure your pet's safety even if you opt not to use a carrier, crate, or backpack. Humans wear seat belts for our protection in case of an accident, your pet should too.

Dog Runner/Tie Out System Let your dogs or cats stretch their legs and get some energy out in a safe, controlled way. We use carabiners or bull snaps to change the length of the line and there are tree protectors.

Medical Records

Vaccination Records Keep copies of vaccination records and other necessary medical documents for each pet. Even if your vet is part of a more extensive network like Banfield or is great about sharing their records when needed, having copies on hand can save time during a medical emergency. They can also help when local authorities or pet-friendly accommodations need access to specific health and vaccination information.

Vet’s Contact Information Have your vet’s contact info readily accessible.

Identification

Microchip Info Ensure your pets are microchipped and the registration is up-to-date.

Recent Photo A current photo of each pet in case you need to post lost pet notices.

Backup Power

Portable Charger Keep a charger handy for essential electronics like phones or GPS trackers.

Hydration & Food Accessories

Portable Water Filter Useful for extended emergencies.

Freeze-Dried Food Lightweight, long-lasting food option.

Additional Items

Carrier Cover Helps to calm pets during transport. You can buy a custom cover or use a towel. [Please ensure your pet can still breathe fresh air.]

Calming Products Pheromone diffusers and calming treats to reduce stress are available for dogs and cats. Our multi-cat household has had great success with Feliway diffuser plugins.

Pet Raincoat Keep dogs dry during heavy rain. Smaller dog raincoats can be used for cats.

Cooling Bandana, Vest, and/or Mat Helps manage body heat in hot, humid conditions. In a pinch, you can use ice packs stuffed into spare pillowcases.

Rechargeable USB Fan To ensure your pet gets access to continuous air flow, consider investing in a rechargeable USB fan. We prefer the clip-on kind like our mini Gaiatop because they fit almost anywhere and are easily charged with a standard USB C but they come in larger sizes and with different bases. The 8" Koonie is used by several vanlife YouTubers. You can also choose a fan that uses a battery pack that is interchangeable with your cordless tools and lawn gear.

Packaging Tips

Waterproof Bag or Container Store all items in a waterproof bag or container (dry bag) and place it inside or on top of one of the carriers. In an emergency, this will make everything grab and go. For pets with special needs, consider using a carabiner to attach a smaller dry bag with pet-specific items to their carrier or backpack. This also works well for multi-pet households if more than one family member will be helping with pet evacuation as each dry bag can contain all the pet related items for the pets each family member will be responsible for.

Easy Access Keep the kit in a readily accessible place for quick grab-and-go and make sure every family member knows where these items are, how to access them, and how to use them.

Training Your Pets for Emergency Situations

Being prepared isn’t just about having the right supplies—it’s also about training your pets to stay calm and respond to commands during an emergency. This is true for both dogs and cats.

Here’s how:

Practice Evacuation Drills Regularly practice quickly getting your pets into their carriers or crates. Reward them with treats and praise to create positive associations.

Go Bag Familiarity You can get your pets used to their emergency kits by slowly introducing them to the items. Let them sniff and explore the carriers, leashes, and other gear.

Command Training Teach basic commands like “come,” “stay,” and “shh” to help maintain control in a chaotic situation. Practice these commands calmly so your pets are more likely to respond during an emergency.

Stay Calm Pets often mirror our emotions. Take a few deep breaths, remember you've been preparing, and consider your circumstances. What do you know? What do you have? What can you do? If you can stay calm during an evacuation, your pets are likelier to remain calm, too. Your confidence will help them feel safer and encourage them to self-regulate, just like you did.

No family member left behind.

Preparing for hurricane season is about more than just securing your home—it’s about ensuring the safety and comfort of every family member, including your pets.

By creating a Hurricane Preparedness Kit and training your pets for emergencies, you can keep your family together and reduce the stress and chaos of a storm.

Stay safe, be prepared, and protect the ones you love.

[moonhuit]

“I’d come for you. No matter what, when you need me, I will be there.” :)

prompt from here! (thank u for enabling me :DD)

seven faintly recalls scrambling herself back up on the ship, right after transporting icheb to the pod. janeway had given her a secure channel to use for emergency communications–and this, the predicament of her son–their son, was one of those.

it doesn’t take a moment for the vice admiral to answer–almost as if she’d been anxious about something too. seven had only told her a day ago that icheb had been taken–and that she would be the one dealing with it–as soon as janeway had given her any official and unofficial communications. they didn’t argue. janeway had sent her off with a kiss on the back of her hand.

the day happens—seven finds icheb, her body chilling with every step she takes inside the borg butcher compound—so many ex-borgs, so many hopes shattered. it made her stomach churn, only the adrenaline keeping her upright. the end comes too quickly—her phaser set to kill—one for the surgeon mercilessly harvesting parts of her soul, and one where a part of her soul asked to be set free.

grief hadn’t consumed her then—in its place had been this overwhelming sense of anger, the one where it sits beneath your skin and where it was utterly familiar in its manifestations. she transports herself and icheb to the ship she ‘borrowed’ (something janeway had gotten from b’elanna and tom). her hand shakes when she attempts to operate the ship—the adrenaline hasn’t come down so she could probably go home—safer outside the seven domes and closer to kathryn.

she sets the ship on autopilot and tends to icheb.

-

seven finds herself awakened to tender touches—like someone is lathering her skin with a hot towel and had cradled her close to their body. how long had been the ride home? there wasn’t much energy left in her to even attempt to process what the borg implants are telling her.

“seven?” the lathering stops, a hand resting on her waist as she feels her chin being lifted gently. the hydrobath had enclosed her in a state of grogginess. the owner of the voice was always the person she’d hoped to see at the end of everything. the way her designation drags out of this woman’s lips has always felt tender.

“kathryn?” it takes a few moments for seven to get accustomed to the low light fixtures in the bath—the first thing she sees is kathryn, of course, but with tears brimming in her eyes.

“i took off as soon as i heard. the ship automatically sent me a signal beacon as soon as you set autopilot home.” kathryn’s voice shook, carrying the uncertainty the beacon must have brought—for all she could’ve known seven had been wounded in an altercation that it had been activated.

seven had forgotten about that subfunction. did kathryn pilot a ship to meet her halfway?

“kathryn, did you…?”

“there was no way i was going to risk you running into others, possibly piloting a spacecraft with half the strength.” kathryn resumes her gentle caressing, making sure not to press too much on the bruises. “you needed me, and regardless of reason, i went. tom did not have half the wit to try to stop me.”

seven almost chuckled at the thought of paris getting into a squabble with a vice admiral in the hallway like a pair of siblings. maybe it had been reckless of her but she was certain she was going to wake up from her nap after….arranging icheb’s belongings.

“kathryn, we have to—icheb—”

“i know—i got him first—the doctor will be coming by in a few hours, we have time with him. you have time to say goodbye to him.”

seven settles in her arms, though sitting upright this time around, eyes contemplating reality. “you know what i’ll have to do.” and silently, in her mind, she apologizes. kathryn

it had been the elephant in the room—the lingering question of what’s next.

“i know….” kathryn takes both of her hands and intertwines it with hers. “….but you…we can grieve him…for now. they will lie low, they know you’re looking. and my committee hasn’t stopped taking asylums—icheb’s work won’t be forgotten.”

there is a certain callous stillness that seven forgets that kathryn carries—that in the passion carried by her tenderness, there was also wrath and anger that seethes. it is uneasy when one is reminded of it. that whatever seven decides from here on out, there would be no moral debates over it—only that it will be done, eventually. the years have corroded kathryn’s generosity—but never her hope and that’s what makes seven breathe easier in the world she came back to.

it was a family affair. even if the family was composed of everyone on voyager who could arrive in bloomington, indiana–at the soonest possible time–to bury icheb, to remember his genius and the lightness he brought with him. this is what he would want. icheb had made her promise on his graduation, that he would always like to be home, where seven would be– safe and sound. this was home.

[dragonmasterkaylz]

Arceus Quest in Scarlet & Violet

Okay! Okay! I know I said that getting Arceus would probably not happen… however, it could! And this is the only way it could happen:

Finished Legends Arceus and had caught Arceus there.

Finished Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, to activate the Cynthia event.

Catch Arceus in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl as well.

Catch every Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet, as well as each Legendary, Mythical and Paradox Pokémon (even by transferring Pokémon to the version you have).

Finish the Epilogue and battle the Director of Blueberry Academy too. Finish it all!!!

Have Dialga, Palkia and Giratina in your party.

Go to Mystery Gift and require the Azure Flute.

Then the Arceus Quest will start….

Cynthia will then contact you, telling you meet her at Mesagoza.

Once you get there, she will inform you that there is a mysterious Pokémon flying over Area Zero. She then asks, if you’ve got the three required Pokémon with you. If you have, she will gift you the items, which will transform them into their Origin Forms.

(If not, she will ask you to return with them).

Then, she will tell you to head over to the Area Zero laboratory with Miraidon or Koraidon and use the Azure Flute.

Once you get there, use the Azure Flute and Arceus will float down, as Dialga, Palkia and Giratina come out of their PokéBalls. They will transport you, all the way to Spear Pillar (this is the first and last time you will be able to go there), and you will be faced with a staircase. You go up and will be faced with Arceus.

It will talk to you…

Arceus: Well done on making it this far. Tell me, do you know where Paradox Pokémon truly come from?

MC: The Past? / The Future?

Arceus: You may think so… but you have been to the past, have you not? This is the future of that past, yet nothing has changed.

Dialga, Palkia & Giratina: *Cry Out*

Koraidon / Miraidon: *Appear in Battle Form*

Arceus: I see. You’ve been travelling with one of the Paradox Pokémon. Interesting. Show me its power!!!

The battle will begin, but you only have your Paradox Partner with you. You are also prevented from using your Tera Orb, as you are in the Sinnoh Region. It will be a normal battle, but Arceus will be using its plates in order to protect itself, making the battle harder.

Arceus will also be Lvl 95.

When you win, Arceus will tell you the truth.

Arceus: I see. So, this is the strength of the Paradox Pokémon you have kept with you throughout your journey. Then, I must tell you. Paradox Pokémon do not come from the past or the future, but a different dimension entirely. You did Dialga and Palkia a great favour when you shut down the man-made machine, called a ‘Time Machine’. Because, it had twisted both time, space and dimension. I thank you… Y/N.

MC: You know my name…?

Arceus: You truly have forgotten, haven’t you? Well, I have met you before. You came to Hisui and after you caught all of the Pokémon, we became good friends. I wish to travel with you once more.

MC: Of course.

Arceus: Hm. Thank you, my child.

After that, you will automatically be returned to Area Zero and have Arceus in your party. If you back to Cynthia, Rika will be there… to scold you, once more.

Cynthia: Ah! I see… so, you caught it. Well done!

Geeta: Catching such an amazing Pokémon is every trainers dream. Well done, Champion Y/N!

Rika: *Sighs* How many times do you have to thrust yourself into unnecessary danger?! First Area Zero… and now, this?!

MC: I-I’m sorry!

Rika: It’s fine. But, I want you to battle me with that Pokémon in your party!

Cynthia: Same here! But did you find the truth about the Paradox Pokémon in Paldea?

MC: Yes, I did.

Cynthia: You have to tell me all about it!!!

Geeta: *Laughs* I, too, am interested.

And that will be the end of the Arceus Quest.

Arceus will be able to Terastallize, as soon as you get back to Paldea and it will become the Steller Type. You cannot change its typing. You will also be given all of Arceus’ Plates, including the Legendary Plate.

It sounds like it’d be a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end. And yes, I do believe Paradox Pokémon come from a different dimension. I also believe that the Time Machine would affect Dialga and Palkia, in some way. And not in a good way either.

Anyway, this is my theory. But obviously, it wouldn’t ever happen! Like I said, a girl can dream, at least!

END

[lunarsilkscreen]

Lipolysis and Inflammation

As always;; just because I said it, doesn't mean it's the truth.

Lipolysis is the process in which the body breaks down adipose tissue; How? We know the body can break down its own cells for reuse and discard; is this process related to the similar process in inflammation?

Occam's Razor would suggest "yes, because it's inefficient to have two separate processes that do essentially the same thing."

I've been reading through a bunch of lipolysis information and it is chock full of incredibly specific to endocrinology scientific terms.

It's very difficult to collate them to more accessible terms, or even similar biological terms. If only there was some kind of tool that could do that for me...

If I've got this right; and it won't be completely correct if I am: the body creates fat cells, which simply store extra lipids. These cells automatically secrete their stored lipids around the body; which may be used or stored as needed.

Trying to put this in layman's terms, and trying only to reference things in the public perception so that it's not too wild a concept.

As part of digestion; the body uses acids and bases (PH modulated digestive enzymes) to melt down the food in your stomach so that the fats and liquids can be absorbed by the blood stream to distribute to the rest of the body.

The lipids and liquids (like water) tend to contain lipid or water soluble minerals and nutrients. Which is how all that good stuff is easily transported in the blood.

Theory; the blood takes as much of these liquids as it can carry; while the rest, with no where to go, gets stored in the "time-release capsule" we call fat tissue (adipose tissue).

As the blood circulates through the body; it will release its stored minerals and nutrients to whichever cells take it first.

I think that's why Stomach fat seems to be the primary location to store it. Because it doesn't have anywhere else to go.

Here's my theory on the matter; taking what I said about Inflammation Markers before; if a cell needs something; it's possible it releases these [local markers] which is how the cell can signal to the circulatory system that it needs something.

And because there are fat stores all over the body; it's possible that fasting allows blood to take the stored lipids all over the body for storage.

Each 'remote' fat cell simply absorbs what it can hold. Which is how we get this term "Fat Redistribution"

That is; your muscles burn energy they need as they need it, and restore their own stores with lipids and water.

This potentially suggests that some "muscle loss" that isn't tear and wear actually comes from using up the lipids.

Here's where my focus is; what does this say about IBS and GERD?

The circulatory system may release a bunch of inflammation markers in the event it needs lipids to secrete faster. Say... During high stress or activity periods.

And because it's literally right next to your digestive system; it could cause digestive inflammation at the same time when the body is trying to get some nutrients or mineral that it is deficient in.

Because what it needs *might* be stored in the Gut Adipose Tissue.

This may be why you may get hungry *despite* being overweight, having a full stomach, or any number of reasons.

Because when the inflammation subsides and the body is still deficient; or the body just doesn't have enough of *something* it will trigger to your brain that you're deficient and need something for cellular repair.

Maybe something like "needs more stem cells" which the body can make itself.

Then the question I still have is; does IBS mean you're actually burning fat (and hence why there's all this gas, because fat breaks down into water and carbon dioxide)

And could it also mean that you're deficient in some key nutrient?

And *at the same time* cause damage to stomach and intestinal lining *because* it can't get what it needs, exacerbating the condition?

Is that why magnesium seems to work as a digestive aid?

I made the observation before that the doctor said I was Vitamin D deficient; but I wasn't craving Dairy or lettuce, I was craving Oranges (a very good source of Magnesium, and vitamin c) I drink a lot of Monster, so I know I don't have scurvy or a B deficiency at the very least.

Hmmm ... Needs more research on the topic...

<aside>Marijuana may work as an inflammation reduction aid while maintaining an actual physical feeling of hunger for this reason.</aside>

[jobarmer41478]

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