#battery section in settings even confirms that

[dreamertrilogys]

43 fucking hrs…the fact that i spent the equivalent of almost 2 days last wk on my phone makes me want to vomit soooo bye bye apps i’ll see you guys like. when school starts & i’m normal again

[sickficideas]

gotta hear me out || sick Akutagawa w/ caretaker Atsushi - chapter 2 of 3

ao3! 5.1k/10.6k - please refer to the tags in the link for content + warnings! sicktember 2024, day 30: past prompt (2022, day 27: sleepless night)

Atsushi tries to keep himself busy. There’s not many signs at all that Akutagawa has done anything in his home outside of his room - there’s a few dishes and a pot in the sink that Atsushi decides to clean and put away, dishes far fancier than necessary, he thinks - a rice cooker and a teapot on the counter too. He thinks his next objective is going to be to get Akutagawa to eat something. Rice is probably an easy start.

The storm seems to have let up a bit. It’s still raining, sky still filled to the brim with dark clouds, but he hasn’t heard thunder for a while. He knows that it won’t continue like this, but it’s a nice break for now. He really hates having to listen to thunder.

He finally finds a thermometer, too. He snuck into Akutagawa’s bathroom through a second door, finding one buried under other medical supplies, without charged batteries, of course. At least the batteries were easier to find, and now he has a working thermometer.

He checks his own temperature, laying the thermometer under his tongue for a few seconds, to make sure it’s working properly. He’s been told by Yosano that his temperature is higher than the average human’s, closer to that of a tiger’s, and the thermometer reflects that. A hundred and one point one. That would be a decent fever on a normal person. He washes the thermometer and sets it on the counter beside the rice cooker.

Atsushi turns the TV in the living room after peering around for a remote. Thankfully, it was already on a very low volume. He doesn’t need it loud at all, he really just wants to keep track of the news. They’re actively reporting on the storm, confirming his hypothesis that it will indeed continue on through the night.

He bites his lip.

He wanders back into the kitchen, deciding he’ll work on the daunting task of trying to figure out how the rice cooker works. It’s more difficult than it looks. It’s way, way fancier than one he’s ever seen, and he thinks he might have to give up and opt for cooking rice in a pot, but luck is on his side, and he finds a manual.

He turns back to the island in the kitchen, opening the foldable manual to find the section that explains which buttons do what, and he catches something dark in his peripheral. Atsushi backs up, nearly hits his back against the other counter, arms defensively over his chest as he gasps.

Akutagawa just raises his eyebrows in vague confusion. He’s sitting at the kitchen island on one of the bar stools, one arm crossed and his head propped on the other.

“You scared me,” Atsushi says with the heavy sigh, lowering his arms and closing his eyes for a few seconds, trying to lower his heart rate. “How long have you been sitting there?”

“Not long,” Akutagawa says simply. Atsushi has no idea how he didn’t hear him leave his room. He doesn’t even really look half-asleep, his eyes just squint, bothered by the overhead light. Atsushi wanders over to the light switch to turn it off.

“Do you ever have these on?” Atsushi asks him, realizing a pattern from earlier.

“No,” Akutagawa says. “I hate having the lights on. Such a waste. I can see perfectly fine without them.”

“Maybe you’re still a vampire after all,” Atsushi jokes, finding the connection a little amusing.

“Ugh, shut up,” Akutagawa grumbles, bringing his head down into his hand and pressing them against his temples. Atsushi realizes he still definitely has a headache, no wonder the lights are bothering him so much. He’s slept a few hours, at the very least, Atsushi was hoping that would help. He definitely needs something in his system.

“When was the last time you had something to eat?” Atsushi asks him, folding up the manual after figuring out enough to be able to do simple things with the rice cooker.

“Not sure,” Akutagawa murmurs, lowering his hands back onto the counter, “a couple of days ago.”

Atsushi’s eyes widen. “Days?!”

“I don't eat often. That's not abnormal,” Akuatagwa huffs, like that’s an easily acceptable answer.

“Well, yeah. That's clear,” Atsushi mumbles. Akutagawa is ridiculously thin, which he’s sure has something to do with his illness, but he’s seen him regularly refuse to eat. “You should eat every day. No wonder you're passing out all the time.”

Akutagawa seems taken aback by that accusation. “I do not pass out all the time.”

“I can't count the number of times I've seen you pass out on two hands, so, that's too many,” Atsushi chides. It’s not always for a long time, but Akutagawa clearly never has enough energy to fight regularly. He’s seen him pass out, just for a few seconds, many times after using his ability for extended periods of time. “Also, you literally passed out when I got here.”

“I’m sick, in case you forgot,” Akutagawa grumbles.

“I thought you’re always sick,” Atsushi says, mocking how difficult he was being earlier. Akuatagwa just rolls his eyes, props his chin up on his palm and stares out the window, childishly pretending Atsushi isn’t there.

Atsushi opens a few cabinet drawers and doors looking for rice, surprised Akutagawa doesn’t try to wring his neck for going through his things, but he finally finds the rice. He takes the container out onto the counter.

“How’s rice sound?”

“Nauseating,” he answers, still staring out the window.

“Okay, well you have to eat something, Akutagawa,” Atsushi tells him with a half-pout. He wishes there was some way to help his nausea without him taking medicine, because he’s sure any of that would make him feel terrible on a completely empty stomach.

“Do as you wish,” Akutagawa huffs, repeating his earlier sentiment. Maybe he's realized that Atsushi won't back down.

Atsushi takes that, and decides to continue.

Akutagawa doesn't say a word to him for at least the twenty minutes while the rice is cooking. He stays on the chair for a while, listless and staring out the window, deep in thought. Atsushi wonders what he's thinking about, or what's ever on his mind in general, but he thinks that's something he'll never find out.

He disappears behind Atsushi's back once he's turned around and scooping the rice into a bowl. He sees he's gone and sat down on the couch, his eyes now on the TV screen instead of the window. They're still covering the weather. Atsushi suspects they'll probably be doing that through the night too.

Atsushi wanders into the living room with two bowls of rice and just sits with him and watches the news for a little while. It's kind of nice - calm, quiet. Akutagawa doesn't turn it up and neither does Atsushi, so at times the raindrops against the windows are louder than the weather reporting, but Atsushi doesn't mind it. He wishes Akutagawa had some sort of rice seasoning or chazuke packets laying around, but based on what he found in his kitchen, he gets the feeling that the latter never cooks at all. He thinks eating rice plain in solidarity with Akutagawa is fine in the end.

Akutagawa eats more of the rice than Atsushi expected him to, considering he hasn't eaten or taken medicine in days due to his nausea. Maybe he had been mistaking hunger pains from not eating for nausea. Atsushi decides he'll see how it goes, and if that's really the case, maybe he can take some medicine.

He's relieved at the idea that Akutagawa might be fine after all. He just needed a few simple things, just to be taken care of for a few hours.

The weather report starts to show aerial clips of Suribachi City. Atsushi's been through there several times in his time at the Agency, being it's an area of high crime that even the mafia seems to stay out of.

He'd never thought out how horribly prone to flooding the crater-shaped slums are, but it makes perfect sense. The reporter talks about how many of its inhabitants will be found in Yokohama during the storm to avoid drowning in the floods. They have nowhere else to go.

Akutagawa takes the remote, changes the channel to the next one down and hands it to Atsushi.

“Choose something else to watch,” Akutagawa tells him. Atsushi takes the remote, a little surprised by the sudden demand, but the look in his eyes is strange. It's not fear, is it?

“News not good enough for you anymore?” Atsushi says, testing to see if he's receptive to teasing, because even the tone of how voice is a little concerning.

“Are you enjoying watching homeless children drown?” he bites back. It's not quite as mean as he usually is, more defensively, and a strange comment considering nothing of the sort was shown on screen. It was simply implied.

“Since when do you care about kids? You kill people,” Atsushi reminds him. He's really just teasing him, but he's never seen Akutagawa interact with a child other than Kyoka, and he wasn't good to her. “Or, used to.”

Akutagawa looks angry for a few seconds, like he's trying to figure out what to say, but it seems Atsushi's comments have left him speechless enough to decide against it. He just sighs and turns his head back towards the screen.

Atsushi thinks the entire interaction was strange. Akutagawa getting so defensive out of nowhere isn't like him. Atsushi at least knows what to avoid in conversation most of the time so he doesn't get choked out, but this time, he has no idea what set it off. Or, if he does, he doesn't know why.

He knows a lot less about Akutagawa than he thinks he does.

Akutagawa coughs into his hand a few times before he places his bowl of rice on the coffee table, chopsticks laying over the top of it, to then cough into his elbow. Atsushi gets up quickly and decides he'll get him a glass of water. He needs to start getting hydrated anyway. The dizziness and headache could certainly be lessened if it wasn't dehydrated.

Atsushi hands him a glass of water once the coughing dies down. Akutagawa is hesitant on taking it, looking like he's considering ignoring Atsushi's presence, but he gives in and takes the glass from him, only taking a few sips of it.

“You're aware my lung illness doesn't care if I'm hydrated or not,” Akutagawa mumbles, ignoring Atsushi's eye contact as he stands in front of him.

Atsushi's heart sinks a little, hearing him say that.

“Let me look at that wound again,” Atsushi decides, not wanting to start an argument on how Akutagawa should care for himself. It's a losing battle with how unbelievably stubborn he is. He takes the glass of water and sets it behind him on the coffee table.

He leans forward over Akutagawa, who doesn't resist, pulling down the neckline of the sweatshirt to reveal the bandage. Blood has seeped through it already, but not enough to stain the sweatshirt, it looks like. He lifts a knee up onto the couch to avoid awkwardly leaning over Akutagawa, trying to inspect the wound a little more closely as he peels the bandage back.

It looks okay. Not better by any means, but cleaner at least, from Atsushi's earlier work. He thinks this should be stitched up, but it's far too old to do that now - it would only trap the infection the way it is. He thinks right now all he can do is keep it clean and covered, but once Akutagawa is feeling a little better, he needs this looked at by a professional.

He wishes he could lend Akutagawa some of his self-healing. It would make his life so much easier.

“You're too close,” Akutagawa mumbles suddenly, and Atsushi realizes how close he really is.

He's almost straddling him. One knee leaned against the couch and the other propped up on the other side of Akutagawa’s leg, almost leaning against him. This would have been much easier to do from the other side of the couch, but he was already here.

Akutagawa doesn't do anything to push him away, but his cheeks are suddenly red.

“Right - sorry,” Atsushi stammers awkwardly, standing and backing up. “I'll be - right back. I think I just need to change the bandage.”

So he does just that. He takes some supplies out from the bathroom and leaves the basket on the counter, since he'll certainly need this again later.

Atsushi just sits beside him this time, taking off the bandage as carefully as he can. Akutagawa doesn't react to much of what he's doing, aside from when he tries to clean it up. He can feel him flinch and tense up, but he doesn't make any noise - just staring forward, even though he's paying no attention to the random channel he flipped to on the TV.

Atsushi looks up every now and then, just to peer at what he can see of his eyes, and he's deep in thought about something, so much so that Atsushi is worried he'll scare him if he suddenly speaks.

He wishes he knew what Akutagawa was thinking about.

As he finishes up the bandage, he eyes Akutagawa’s unfinished rice. He ate a fair amount of it, but not as much as Atsushi would have liked him to.

“You need to eat more than that,” Atsushi tells him after he pulls the collar of Akutagawa’s sweater back up over the new bandage. He thinks he'll have to change it every few hours or so. 

“Do you want me to vomit?” Akutagawa grumbles, using the armrest of the couch to force himself up, an action that seems to be rather painful. He's sore. He hopes that doesn't mean his stomach is already hurting.

“Does that mean you feel sick?” Atsushi asks him.

“I wish you would leave,” Akutagawa mumbles under his breath, not with any intention of hiding that sentiment from Atsushi. He thinks that's a yes, then, with how he's deflecting. His arms are crossed over his chest, very defensively, but Atsushi's at least glad to see he can stand on his own.

“I don't get all your back and forth. You let me bathe you and then you want me gone,” Atsushi huffs. Akutagawa has never made any sense to him. He can never tell what he's thinking or what he'll say next.

“You're only here because of Dazai, are you not?” Akutagawa says, walking towards his bedroom, “Tell him I'm alive and go home. He doesn't care how I'm doing beyond that. As long as - I can still use my ability.”

Atsushi can't see his face, but he can tell by the way his tone wavers that it hurts him to say out loud, like it's something he's only recently come to terms with.

“That's not -”

Akutagawa slams his bedroom door behind him with the help of Rashomon, as if it's helping him prove his point.

That can't be true. Dazai isn't like that. Sure, he did ask Atsushi to make sure Akutagawa wasn't dead and really didn't say anything beyond that, but it was because he hadn't heard from him in over a week, and he wanted to make sure he was okay before the storm came in. He doesn't think Dazai would be okay with Atsushi leaving as long as Akutagawa’s still breathing. He still needs help, he's not okay by himself.

Surely that doesn't have anything to do with the usefulness of Akutagawa’s ability.

As the sky gets darker, it brings on more thunder. He thinks the storm is starting to kick things into gear, and he changes the channel to confirm his suspicions. They talk about how the worst of it will come at around three in the morning, and they're still only at eight in the evening. He shivers at the thought of having to deal with the thunder all night.

He decides to force himself back into Akutagawa’s bedroom.

Akutagawa's sat up against his pillows with his comforter up over his knees, reading a book, of all things. He looks a little cold. Atsushi doesn't understand how he can read the words with how dim the light on his nightstand is, even with the pair of glasses he's suddenly wearing.

Akutagawa glares at him, and Atsushi stares back, but only because he can't stop thinking about the glasses. Does he think they look cute? Stupid? He doesn't know, but he's staring, and Akutagawa doesn't like it. The way he looks at him almost make it seem like he's taking it as a challenge, like a dog would.

“Glasses?” Atsushi just says.

Akutagawa tilts his head, confused at first. He rolls his eyes, visibly annoyed, before lifting his book back up. “I have terrible eyesight.”

“You do?” Atsushi says. That's new. He's never realized that. Does he wear contacts? Akutagawa doesn't seem like the time for that. Maybe he only needs them to see close up. Why does he even care?

“Must you always bother me? If you refuse to leave I'd rather not have to interact with you,” Akutagawa grumbles. Atsushi's realized over time that when he says stuff like this it doesn't sound genuine at all. Akutagawa thinks it does, that's what he's trying to put on, but Atsushi doesn't think he wants to be alone. But Atsushi doesn't have any idea how to call him out for it.

“Just shout if you need me, then,” Atsushi says, feigning indifference, nonchalance, he doesn't know, he just doesn't want Akutagawa to know it doesn't bother him.

“I will not,” Akutagawa says in some feeble attempt to defy him, but as if immediately struck down by karma, he suddenly groans from some intense pain, painful enough to make him drop his book and wrap an arm around his middle, painful enough to catch him off guard like that.

“Are you okay? Atsushi asks him, cautiously approaching the bed. “Is it your stomach?”

Akutagawa nods with a little noise of discomfort. He has a feeling this is a result of him eating, and he's got a lot more to be concerned about if Akutagawa throws up.

“Please just - leave me be,” Akutagawa groans quietly, his book already forgotten and off to the side as he doubles over, clearly in pain. Atsushi doesn't want to leave him. He is a little afraid of the backlash he'll face by ignoring him, but he thinks Akutagawa has other problems to worry about right now.

Atsushi wonders for a moment if maybe he has a heating pad somewhere that would help the pain a little bit, but Akutagawa derails any of Atsushi's mental plans to prevent him from getting sick when he gags.

Atsushi is fast enough to get the trash bin under his chin just as Akutagawa shifts to the edge of the bed, presumably to vomit on the floor to avoid the bed. He has his mouth covered and he's breathing fast and heavy, staring forward like he's too focused on avoiding throwing up to see Atsushi has the bin for him.

“Here, use this,” Atsushi tells him, fairly certain that whatever Akutagawa is trying to do to breathe around his nausea isn't going to work, and he's right. As soon as Akutagawa is aware of the bin, he coughs and retches, and a rush of vomit splatters into the thin bag.

It's not much at all, just a few bits of rice mixed in with saliva. Atsushi is fairly certain that there's blood there too, but he's not sure if it's a result of

his cough or how poor his health has been the past several days. He bites his lip, trying to stay as still as possible as he holds the bin.

He breathes heavy, shaky over the bin, strings of saliva caught on the sides, his lips shining from it. He spits to break them off and tucks the side piece of his hair that's facing Atsushi behind his ear. Atsushi holds his breath. That was weirdly attractive.

He groans quietly, gagging one more time over the bin, catching him off guard. Atsushi reaches over to lay a hand on his back to give him some comfort, but before he can, Akutagawa shifts himself back to the center of the bed to lie down, arms wrapped around his abdomen.

Atsushi sets the bin down on the floor, assuming he doesn't need it anymore, but he doesn't look any less nauseous.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Akutagawa grumbles. Atsushi didn't realize that he was making a face. “I'm not…a stranger to this.”

Atsushi feels his stomach sink. He knows that. This isn't even the first time he's seen Akutagawa throw up, but seeing him in so much pain and discomfort without much of a way to help him still makes him feel awful. Atsushi really wants him to see a doctor.

“I think you should -”

“I'm fine,” Akutagawa mumbles, now letting Atsushi even finish his suggestion, “let me sleep. I'll be fine.”

Atsushi doesn't believe him. He's still visibly nauseous. He thinks Akutagawa just wants him to leave to save him some embarrassment, but really, Atsushi has no real power over him there, as long as he's not actively throwing up right now.

Atsushi takes the comforter and shifts it around a little before laying it halfway over Akutagawa, who pulls it up closer to his shoulders. He doesn't say anything, doesn't ask Atsushi to leave or to do anything else, he just shuts his eyes and pretends he isn't there.

Atsushi supposes that's better than pushing him away.

…

Atsushi thinks it's around one in the morning when he hears Akutagawa's bathroom door shut.

He hopes for a few seconds that maybe he's just gone to use the bathroom, but the coughing and retching that follows is enough to get him off of the couch and headed that direction.

It's dark. It's probably midnight now, Akutagawa somehow slept for longer than expected, at least as far as Atsushi is aware. He left Akutagawa’s bedroom door open just enough for him to still hear anything, but even so, his enhanced hearing helps as a backup.

Unfortunately, though, it makes him extra sensitive to the thunder roaring overhead and the needle-like raindrops flying against the windows, too.

Atsushi sneaks into Akutagawa’s bedroom, peering through the first door and allowing the dim light from the living room to spill into the bedroom. Akutagawa isn't here, of course, he can still hear him coughing in the bathroom, but his sheets are strewn across the bed as a sign of a very restless sleep. The sweatpants he wore are tangled in the sheets, too.

He opens the bathroom door now, carefully, and flips on the light switch because it's far too dark for him to see anything right off the bat. Akutagawa is on his knees in front of the toilet, his forehead pressed against it for a moment before he lifts his head to hiccup, and gag unproductively into the bowl. He's just wearing the long sleeved shirt and a pair of boxers now. He must've gotten too hot and taken his sweatpants off.

“I don't need you in here,” Akutagawa grumbles, whipping his head to the side and attempting to glare at him, but the light is too much. He hisses through his teeth, like he didn't realize it was on to begin with, turns his head back and presses a hand up against his forehead.

“Does your head hurt?” Atsushi asks, his hand on the light switch.

“Turn them off,” he mumbles. “Please.”

Atsushi shivers as thunder roars over head just as he turns off the lights, and he swears he sees the same reaction from Akutagawa, barely lit by the plug-in light near the sink.

“I didn't know you knew how to say please,” Atsushi teases, trying to keep his voice quiet, now that he's aware of his returned headache - if it ever even left in the first place.

“Leave me alone, Weretiger. I don't need you to sit here and watch me vomit,” he mumbles back, his tone weak and desperate, almost, the bite from his tone completely gone now.

Atsushi's heart sinks. He sounds miserable. He really sounds like he's in a lot of pain, and Atsushi can see it, too. He moves and sits beside him, close enough to be useful but not too much in his space, and watches him wrap an arm tight around his stomach, groaning quietly from the pain. His skin is paler than before, in a harsher contrast against the dark circles under his eyes, and there's some shine against the sweat collecting on his forehead. He’s certain his fever isn’t any better.

“You don't wanna try taking anything for your stomach?” Atsushi asks, clicking his tongue. He knows anything Akutagawa swallows will just come right back up. There's injectable medications for nausea, but he doesn't exactly have those resources in this situation. He thinks Yosano would kill him if he even attempted asking her.

“There's something I have that -” he stops, his body tensing up sharply as his stomach cramps,  but his mouth stays closed through grit teeth and nothing seems to come up, “in the mirror…that can melt under my tongue.”

“The mirror?” Atsushi repeats, standing up and headed for the absurdly large sink counter where the mirror, three times the size of his own at home, stands. He didn't know such a medication existed, but Akutagawa certainly would, considering how often he's sick.

“Just press the corner of the left panel,” Akutagawa mumbles, laying his head against the porcelain with a shiver and a defeated sigh.

Atsushi does so very gingerly, not entirely sure what that will do, but the panel pops out at an angle, like a cabinet would. He takes the corner and opens it all the way, revealing six or seven shallow shelves filled to the brim with various medications. Most of which are in prescribed amber bottles.

Atsushi's stomach twists at the sight of all of them. He doesn’t think that even Yosano has this many in her in-house supply. They all have his name. Akutagawa Ryuunosuke. He catches sight of various dates, ranging from a month ago to two years ago, and so many medication names he doesn't recognize. Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Prednisolone, and dozens of others, some unfinished and some empty. There's over the counter stuff in here, too - Midol, Theraflu, extra strength Tylenol, and more - some of which he's never seen before.

“Which…one?” Atsushi asks, overwhelmed by what he's looking at. He had incorrectly assumed it would be easy to find.

“Zofran,” Akutagawa murmurs quietly. Atsushi can barely hear him. “Or…Ondansteron.”

Atsushi scans over his collection and finds it labeled under the second name, carefully removing it as not to knock over the others, one hand splayed out just in case they happened to fall. He’s tempted to make a joke about it to lighten up how he feels seeing this collection, but he doubts Akutagawa wants to hear any of that, being this sick or not.

“I need to sort through those,” Akutagawa mumbles when Atsushi kneels down next to him, crossing his legs just a foot or so away as he opens the box and pulls out the silver packing. “It’s…it’s not as much as it seems.”

Weirdly enough, Akutagawa seems to be saying that to make Atsushi feel better about it. He doesn’t think that it’s true, and that makes him feel worse.

Akutagawa twists up in pain again, breathing out a pained groan as his eyes screw shut. He shifts to gag over the toilet bowl, an arm still wrapped around his abdomen, but he still can’t bring anything up. Atsushi doubt he has much left anyway with how little he’s had to eat.

Akutagawa breathes heavy over the bowl, very visibly nauseous now, having trouble focusing, it seems like. Atsushi hears more thunder, louder than before, and Akutagawa shakes at the sound of it, this time, apparently not caring much to hide that fact from him right now.

Atsushi bites his lip. He scoots a little closer and lays a hand between his shoulder blades, surprised to not see him lash out considering how much he wanted him gone.

“I’d be surprised if you had anything left to throw up,” Atsushi says with a quiet sigh.

“I don’t think I do,” Akutagawa mumbles back, “that’s - the problem.”

Atsushi tries to shift his hand a little in attempt to rub his back, give him some comfort, but he fliches at the sudden movement and Atsushi takes his hand back. It’s strange, how he won’t allow this despite the fact that Atsushi bathed him not too many hours ago. Maybe the fever was subduing him. Maybe he’s a little more with it now.

That’s good, he thinks, but it means Akutagawa is pushing him away.

Akutagawa lays down on his side in front of the toilet, slowly. almost holding his breath. He wraps both arms around his middle with a quiet groan and almost relaxes on the floor. Atsushi would rather he realx in his bed, but he’ll let him rest here for a moment before he makes him move.

Atsushi's pained to see how battered Akutagawa’s thin legs are. There's awful scars of all shapes and sizes - Atsushi can pick out several from bullets, he's able to recognize those fairly easily. There’s newer injuries, too, as new as the one on his shoulder, but none nearly as bad.

He doesn’t often think about the kinds of things Akutagawa has suffered through. He’s sure bullet wounds are just the surface, even despite how long something like that must take to heal, and the nasty scars they leave behind. It’s no wonder Akutagawa’s body can hold up long anymore, illness or not.

“Do you wanna go ahead and take it?” Atsushi asks him quietly, trying to ignore how loud his own thoughts are. “You can lay here for a little to see if it works. But I don't think you should sleep here.”

Akutagawa lets out a quiet, defeated groan, and reaches a hand out to take the pill from Atsushi. He watches him take it, but he can’t use that to ignore what he’s thinking.

He doesn’t think he could ever convince Akutagawa to leave the mafia, but he’s worried he won’t survive through it much longer in his condition.

Why does he care, anyway?

[resetfirestickremote]

How to Reset Firestick Without Remote : Comprehension Guide

Are you struggling with any issue with your fire stick, and unable to find your remote? And now you are thinking about how to reset fire stick without remote.

Then no need to get upset, here you will learn how to do the same. Many users have complained about facing issues with their devices.

And they want to restore it but are unable to find the remote, as they just lost it. You might be thinking about whether I can reset the fire stick without a remote. Then the answer is YES.

You can reset the fire stick without a remote. It is because there are several alternatives available for us, to utilize this device as we can use an HDMI CEC enabled remote.

Without a remote, you won’t be able to reset your fire stick. The app is the only technique, that will help you in resetting the fire stick without a remote.

So, if you don’t have a fire stick remote, then you might operate the fire stick mobile app to reset it. If you don’t understand how to do the same. Then simply Obey the below steps to do the same.

Methods for how to reset fire stick without remote Resetting the fire stick without a remote is not a challenging task, it is simpler than you think. If you are unable to do this on your own, so here are the steps that you require to follow to reset your fire stick without a remote.

To do this, first, you have to go to the “App Store” on Android or iOS.

After this, search for the “Fire Stick TV Remote” and open the first app.

Then click on “Install” and “Get” and the app will start downloading.

Wait until it downloads completely.

And once it is downloaded successfully, open the app on your phone.

If you are using this app for the first time, then you will see Fire TV Announcements.

In this, ignore it and simply click on the “No Thanks” option.

Now you need to connect with the same WiFi, which is connected to your TV.

Then you will see the name of the Fire TV appear on the screen, simply click on it.

After this, a code will appear on the TV, just fill in the code on your mobile to pair the remote.

Now your mobile is successfully paired and you can tap and choose the command by using the navigation key.

Once you successfully paired the fire stick remote with the app. Now it is time to reset your fire stick TV. So, below are the instructions for how to reset fire stick without remote.

Steps for how to reset fire stick After pairing the remote with the app, it is time to reset your device. Resetting the fire stick through the app is an excellent alternative for remote control.

Doing this is not a complicated task, it is quite uncomplicated. Below are some straightforward steps to reset your device. Simply go through the below instructions.

On the fire stick TV app, click on the “Setting” icon.

After this, you will see the options, from there click on “FireTV Settings.”

From here you can also put your device in sleep mode.

Now after clicking on settings, then launch the “My Fire TV’ section.

And then scroll down, until you discover the “Reset to Factory Defaults” option.

Once found, simply click on it.

After this, a warning will appear on the screen, as “You Are About to Reset” this device.

So, when it will ask for confirmation, simply click on the “Reset” button. How to reset fire stick remote?

Wireless remotes are outstanding until they unexpectedly stop connecting and you can't even turn your TV on. If your fire stick remote stops working, and you are sure, that it has fresh batteries.

Then you should restart the remote. Doing this will refresh its connection, and also fix all sorts of bugs. When we restart another device, then it includes just turning the switch on and off.

But it is not the same with a fire stick remote, you can't just reset a Firestick remote by flipping a switch. And the same buttons you require to press depending on, what type of remote you have.

Doing this will take a few minutes with any remote. Here is How to reset fire stick remote. So, obey the following steps to reset fire stick remote.

Firstly, you have to unplug the power cable of your device, to shut it down completely.

After this, wait for a minute and press and hold the left, menu, and back buttons.

Then keep holding the buttons for another few seconds.

Now release the button and wait for at least 4-5 minutes.

And then remove the batteries of the remote, and plug it back in the fire stick.

After plugging back the TV, wait for some minutes, and put tha batteries back into the remote.

Now press the home button on the remote, and then a blue light will flash on top of it when it successfully reconnects.

If no light flashes on the remote, then press and hold the home button for another some seconds.

After this, try it again. And last, see if it successfully reset or not. Binding up Hopefully, the above instruction will assist you with How to Reset fire stick without remote. Follow the above steps as given to do the same.

Doing this is not a challenging job, it is simpler than you think. If you don’t know how to do so, then simply obey the overhead techniques to do the same.

You can also reset your fire stick remote. If you are unaware of how to do so, then obey the above methods for How to reset fire stick remote.

So, before seeking help from someone else, go through the above guide. This will definitely, help you with how to reset fire stick without remote and How to reset fire stick remote.

[economyev]

The future is altered by hypervolt EV charging

EV charging will never be the same thanks to the ground-breaking hyper volt technology. Due to its unrivaled speed, effectiveness, and simplicity, hypervolt EV charging has the potential to completely alter the way we power cars. This innovative device gives owners of electric vehicles speedy, hassle-free charging using cutting-edge wireless technology. By eliminating the requirement for large cables and connectors, hypervolt EV charging streamlines the process and makes recharging quick and simple. This innovative strategy opens the door for the widespread adoption of EVs by establishing an incredibly effective infrastructure that can meet the continuously rising demand for EVs while also resolving the issues with conventional EV chargers. As more cities and nations adopt sustainable transportation alternatives, hypervolt EV charging has become a key aspect in the global move toward clean energy solutions.

All the Information You Need to Know About the Hypervolt EV Charger

It goes beyond being a standard charging station, the Hypervolt EV Charger. It offers cutting-edge technology and novel features that are intended to improve your charging experience, and it is a game-changer in the field of electric vehicle charging.

Its tremendous power output is one of the defining qualities of the Hypervolt EV Charger. You can quickly re-enter the road thanks to its lightning-fast EV charging capabilities of up to 150 kW. During lunch breaks or shopping outings, say goodbye to inconvenient wait times and hello to convenient top-ups.

But this charger's unique qualities go beyond just its speed. Intelligent connectivity features that make it simpler than ever to monitor and manage your charging sessions are another benefit of the Hypervolt EV Charger. You can keep tabs on current information, like battery life and charging status, through an intuitive mobile app. For added convenience, you can even schedule upcoming charges.

The Hypervolt EV Chargering also excels during installation. Professional installers can set it up quickly and easily in a variety of sites, including as parking lots or houses, without sacrificing performance or aesthetics thanks to its compact design.

With built-in protections against overvoltage, overheating, and short circuits, Hypervolt recognizes the importance of safety when it comes to electric vehicle chargers. The fact that your car will always be charged safely should give you peace of mind.

The Hypervolt EV Charger, in addition to its technical competence, features a sleek, contemporary style that fits well with any setting. It is useful and provides a sense of class to any location where it is installed thanks to its simple lines and minimalist design.

There's no denying that the Hypervolt EV Charger is paving the way for an exhilarating future of efficient and practical electric vehicle charging with all these astonishing capabilities bundled into a single unit.

Common Hypervolt Installer Problems and How to Fix Them

You installed a Hypervolt EV charger, but are you having problems using it? You're insured, so don't worry. In this section, we will examine some typical issues that installers may run into and offer troubleshooting advice to make quick work of any issues you may run into.

Defective Wiring: Defective wiring is one of the most prevalent problems. Be cautious to check that all connections are tightened and secured. Verify everything is in order by checking the wiring schematic that Hypervolt has given.

Inadequate Voltage: Ensure that the charger's voltage is supplied in accordance with Hypervolt's specifications. If the power source is the problem, a voltage meter can help to confirm it.

Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues: If your installer is having problems establishing a Wi-Fi connection for the charger, look around the area for any obstacles or potential signal interference from other devices.

Software upgrades: New software upgrades can occasionally result in installation problems due to compatibility difficulties. Before continuing with the installation, verify that the charger firmware and smartphone apps are both current.

Overheating: If your installer observes an excessive amount of heat emanating from the charger unit while it is in use, this could point to a ventilation issue or a broken cooling system within the device.

Always refer to the manufacturer's literature or contact their customer support staff for more precise advice targeted to your circumstance while troubleshooting these typical Hypervolt installer issues.

Learning More About the Easee One Charger's Features

One development in charging technology—the Easee One Charger—has come to the fore in a world where convenience is of the utmost importance. This ground-breaking item is more than just a simple charger; it changes the game.

For each electrical item you own, you no longer need to carry along multiple charges. In order to make life easier and more productive, our Easee One Charger provides a universal solution that can power any device you can think of. Electric automobiles, tablets, cellphones, and laptops may all be charged simultaneously using this universal charger.

Just picture not having to worry with cluttered charging stations or incompatibilities ever again. With its sleek appearance and smart algorithms, this charger adapts to every power requirement easily, assuring the optimal performance for each individual device. Like having your own personal charging concierge!

But what really sets the Easee One Charger apart from its competitors is its commitment to sustainability. By adding clever energy management tools like load balancing and dynamic current control, it minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency, thereby reducing our carbon footprint.

So, say goodbye to your home's or office's mess of tangled connections and many adapters. Accept the Easee One Charger as the technology of the future for charging without hesitation!

[emperoriptv]

How to Setup App “Net IPTV” - EMPEROR IPTV

Our homepage displays the Net IPTV APP with each step.

All devices can have Net IPTV manually installed (with the exception of LG televisions and Apple devices).

Additionally, the APK file can be found in the download area’s steps section.

You can only pay with us through the homepage. You can also pay with a bank account, credit card, or debit card.

Payment No, the Net IPTV application does not come with any channels and does not tell you where to get individual channels or packages of channels. Additionally, the application developers are not accountable for the content uploaded to Net IPTV.

There are two MAC addresses on each television — one for Ethernet and one for WiFi — and a second MAC is automatically activated whenever IPTV is restarted or connections are switched. Each television has a unique MAC address that cannot be changed by hand.

On LG webOS televisions, the app has only had access to the APP-ID since version 3.0.0, when the MAC address was removed. However, if you have already activated your television, it will be activated when Net IPTV launches.

First, try the sample test list for Net IPTV:

After that, confirm that everything works as intended and that your television supports the codecs.

Different TV models and manufacturers may support different stream formats.

The Net IPTV application doesn’t include any channels and doesn’t tell you where to get channels or channel bundles. Providing your device with good internet performance is also crucial.

It’s possible that a problem with your device or your internet connection will prevent you from using the Net TV app. If you think there is a problem with the Net TV app, please let us know in the box below. One of our community members might be able to help you. You can also try the following solutions while you wait:

It is one of the most frequent issues with the Android operating system. Typically, when you open an app, it will either display an error message or a black screen for a few seconds before crashing. This problem has a few solutions.

Most of the time, it might be a temporary loading issue. On your phone, simply press the Recent Applications menu, which is typically the first button on the left. You then close the app with the issue. Open the app once more right now. It could function normally.

“Try Hard” can force your Android device to reboot. Hold the “Home” and “Power” buttons simultaneously for up to 10 seconds. When the screen comes on, release the buttons and hold down the “Power” button. Now you can try to open the app; it could work.

You can defer turning off your phone automatically until the battery runs out if none of the previous methods work. After that, put it on charge and press the power button. It might work after this.

Finally, after uninstalling the app, you may need to reinstall it if nothing else works. Android usually restores all of your settings after reinstalling the app and logging in. You can try to see if that helps by testing.

Even in rare instances, the reinstall step fails as well. Try installing earlier versions of the app if that is the case. Have a ball!

[kermittedfelony]

a little leading to alot

C H A P T E R 4

Nobody asked for it but here is the final part!! BIG BIG TRIGGER WARNING SO MAKE SURE U READ THAT THXXX Enjoy <3

Word count: 3941

**TW: SUICIDE ATTEMPT**

Next time you woke, it was 1140 pm.

The utter emptiness you felt made itself known to you in several ways. The one that was the most impactful to you and noticeable to the team was the isolation.

When you were around people, your social battery drained faster and faster, leaving you exhausted after a simple conversation. You felt like you weren’t bringing anything to the table and were rarely even in the mood to socialise, so why not just stay in the private sanctuary that is your room? Why make people feel awkward when you could only manage one-word responses, or no responses at all? Being in your room allowed you to avoid the loud and boisterous auras of Sam and Peter, avoid making Steve and Bucky feel guilty when you couldn’t muster the energy to reply, and most importantly, avoid the prying eyes and questions from Natasha.

It was only when all your symptoms came to a peak that you knew something was wrong, so wrong that you couldn’t deny it to yourself. To top it all off, you had projected to everyone that you were doing good, you were stable and content. You felt like you couldn’t speak up and change your narrative for fear that the others would think you were doing it for attention. So naturally, when Steve assigned you and Nat a mission, you had to say yes, even though you knew you really shouldn’t be in the field.

The job itself was simple, making you think you could actually do it and not put anyone in danger. All you had to do was get in, confirm/deny reported activity within the ‘shut-down’ Hydra base, and get out. No engaging with whoever may be present. Easy peasy lemon squeasy.

STRESSED DEPRESSED LEMON ZEST.

You and Natasha entered and found the first floor (of two) clear of any persons. It definitely lulled you into a false sense of security. How were you to know that the people with guns had seen who was coming for them and decided to take up a full-frontal defensive position on the second floor? All they had to do was lure you two into a sense of safety with complete silence and hiding all the signs of life on floor one and unleash a whirlwind of bullets on floor two. And you both walked right into the fucking trap. Well, maybe it was only you. You with your exhaustion and eagerness to get the mission over with so you could go back to your dark quiet room. You took the leading position, with Nat bringing up the rear, and half-heartedly peaked through the door at the top of the stairs. In retrospect, if you had properly looked, you would have seen how the worktables were set up in a makeshift barricade, blocking you from advancing and giving the Hydra soldiers decent cover to shoot from. But you didn’t fucking look and simply glanced at a small section beyond the door before easing it open and walking through. Sure, your gun was up, but what is a gun going to do about 5 bullets coming straight at you. Lucky for you (not so lucky in your mind), the Hydra soldiers are akin to stormtroopers in many ways, including the fact that they can’t accurately shoot to save themselves. Out of five bullets, only two hit you: one in the thigh and one in the abdomen, just above your hip bone. The force of the bullets pushed you back through the doorway, causing you to collapse on the landing. Nat, acting on instinct, kicked the door shut and dragged you by the armpits to an alcove just to the side. Once she had you out of direct fire, she unclipped a shock grenade, opened the door and chucked it in. The sound of a blast was accompanied by yelps and bodies hitting the ground.

“That will keep them down for 10 minutes. Enough time for us to get out. Jesus y/n what the fuck were you thinking. Acting like some gods damned recruit,” Nat harshly reprimanded you, as she pulled out a bandage from one of her infinite pockets. In order to see what she was dealing with, Nat cut away at the thigh section of your suit so that she could get to the bullet wound. You flinched and tried to stop her, but she was too quick.

The only sign of shock she gave at the mutilation in front of her was a quick intake of breath. She knew you had cut recently, but this much damage in that amount of time? You had to have been doing it at least once a day. Nat allowed herself three seconds to steady her hands before quickly wrapping the gunshot wound, tightening it enough to earn a wince out of you.

“I know, I’m sorry. I need to make it tight, so it stops the flow.” You both knew how to wrap a gunshot wound in the leg. It was what the pressure of the bandage was also affecting that Nat was apologising for. She also made a quick wrap around your abdomen, slowing the flow of blood there as well.

“Alright, we have about four minutes left, let’s get out of here, yeah?” You nodded at her words, letting her take control. Once Nat was standing, she hauled you up by your hand, you groaning at the strain in your thigh and abdomen. The blood loss hit you hard as soon as you were upright. So much so that you didn’t even realise as your hand was flung over her shoulder. With you leaning almost all of your weight on Nat, you both made the descent to the first floor and out of the building. Your first step outside of the building had you crumpling, falling face first towards the ground, black crowding your vision. You must have blacked out, as the next thing you knew, you were being carried bridal style while Nat used her comm piece to quickly give an update to Steve.

“-five, maybe six hostiles present. Two got a shot on y/n, thigh and stomach. Significant blood loss. I’ve got us out of the building, and we’ll be on the quinjet soon.”

You heard Steve’s muffled reply, “alright Nat. We’ll have the med bay prepped and ready.”

Nat dropped her hand from her ear and glanced down at you, seeing your glazed eyes barely open. “You’re okay y/n, just hang on. We’re almost at the jet. I need you to stay awake for me, alright?” She watched as your eyelids began to droop closed once more. Nat swore and broke out into a run. The pain from being jostled brought you back to the present and you watched a single tear roll down Natasha’s cheek. You knew then that you had fucked up. Next time you were in a life-threatening situation, you had to make sure nobody was there to watch you fall.

- - -

You woke to white walls and an incessant beeping. You were warm and comfortable, despite there being an ache in your thigh. The deep breath you took brought forward a sharp pain in your abdomen, causing you to inhale quickly and wince. You went to move your hand to where it hurt but found it weighed down. The movement caused Nat to slowly wake up herself and when you two made eye contact, her face crumpled.

“Hey, hey, there’s no need to cry Nat. I’m right here, I’m okay.”

“Yes, but you almost weren’t y/n!” Nat shouted, “Don’t you get that? You almost fucking died in my arms!”

“I know, I know. I made a mistake-”

“A mistake? A fucking mistake? Is that what we’re calling it now? A mistake is wearing odd socks or putting salt instead of pepper. What you did was complete and utter stupidity. We both know you’re better trained that charging into a room without having a proper look first. You were careless, reckless, and frankly, selfish. I know right now you don’t give a shit about anything, but I do! I fucking do!” Nat took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair.

“I- I’m sorry Nat, I didn- “

“No, stop right there. Don’t you dare say you meant to try. It is very clear you couldn’t care less what happens to you right now.”

At your quizzical look, Nat went on, “You think I haven’t noticed? That Wanda and I haven’t noticed? We watch as you walk through the halls like a wraith, a shadow of yourself. You’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not showering, eating properly or training. You’ve been isolating again and have the social battery of a gods damned plank of wood. And to top it all off, you’ve relapsed, heavily, with the self-harming.”

The assertive manner Nat used to detail what you were going through made your face flush with embarrassment; if it was that obvious, everyone must know about it. You shrank down, your shoulders curving slightly inwards. Trying, desperately to become smaller so that Nat would forget you were there and leave.

Nat was also a world-class spy and was trained in body language.

She sighed at your timidness, “y/n, none of us are mad or disappointed or whatever else you’re thinking. We’re worried. We want to support you.” At your lack or a response, Nat leaned in to cover your body with hers in an attempt at a hug, even though you were still lying down. “I just want youto want to be here. I need you. I know that may seem selfish when I have some understanding of what’s going on in your head from last time this happened, but I refuse to let you go. You are my person, my twin flame.” When you still refused to make eye contact, Nat sighed and stood up. “I’m going to go get the doctor, I’ll be back in a minute.”

As soon as Nat left the room, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. You knew most of Nat’s anger wasn’t directed at you, but rather at herself, for not stopping Steve from assigning you to this mission when she knew your mental state. But shit, it had hit home. Everything you did was bringing her and other people down, making them worry. You didn’t deserve their worry. You were wasting their time. It was clear from your ‘mistake’ that you were also a liability to the team. You had no real purpose here. Anywhere. You moved to sit up and let your legs hang off the side of the bed. There were still enough painkillers in you that the pain wasn’t debilitating. You knew now, while you wouldn’t bump into anyone (it was late at night), was your chance. At freedom, escape from this prison that had become your mind.

You tentatively placed your feet on the floor and stood. Took a step. The pain in your thigh became sharp when you used that leg, but it was manageable. It wasn’t far to the elevator.

As you made your way to the doorway, you swiped a couple bottles of painkillers and sleeping medications. You looked left and right out of the door. All clear. You turned left, towards the main hallway. Left again and you would find the elevator. You pressed the up arrow on the elevator that wasn’t in use and stared down at your feet as you waited. When you looked up at the ding, it wasn’t your elevator doors that opened, but the other ones. And who would step out? Oh, you know, the mind-reader, the one who could easily slip through your mental walls and stop your plans where they stood. Your heartbeat increased as anxiety spread through your body.

Wanda stepped out of the elevator and jumped a little when she saw you standing there. “Y/n! what are you doing up? You need to be resting!”

Your mind went blank, and you opened and closed your mouth like a fish, desperately trying to come up with a viable excuse.

Wanda tilted her head in that mystical way of hers, as if she could see into your mind without ever having to use her powers.

“Y/n? Everything okay? You really should be in bed, not standing.” She took a step towards you, hands slightly raised in a placating way, as if she knew if she moved to quickly you would bolt.

An idea surfaced in your mind, and you stuttered, “Uh Ye-yeah Wands, everything’s okay. You know how stuffy those rooms get, no windows or anything. I’m just going up to watch the stars and get some fresh air. Nat is waiting up there for me. She wouldn’t let me go alone, and you know how protective she is.”

Wanda’s mouth quirked up a bit on the side, as if she wanted to believe your story, but something wasn’t quite right. She could either call you out on it, or just trust your word. She decided on the latter and gave a nod. Just then, your elevator arrived at your floor. You limped into it and pressed the button for the roof.

“Alright well, enjoy. I’ll see you tomorrow, y/n.”

You made eye-contact with Wanda at her words, your throat becoming slightly choked. You couldn’t cry now; it would give away your mission. So, you hastily cleared your throat and replied, “Yeah, see ya.”

The doors closed, and Wanda continued on her way to see Vision, who was having more humanoid implants put into his body. When she went to his room, she saw he was still in surgery. She waited, five, ten minutes before letting out a big yawn and deciding to come back in the morning. As she walked towards the elevators, she ran into Nat. Nat, who should be with you.

The shock that quickly turned into horror on Wanda’s face caught Nat’s attention, “Wanda? What, what is it? Is y/n okay, please don’t tell me the- “

“Roof. Roof now. You need to go. Shit Nat, we need to go now!”

Nat peered around Wanda into your room, to see the bed empty. Her face drained of colour as her brain finally acknowledged the location Wanda gave. Both women ran to the elevators, frantically pressing the buttons, and hopped into the lift as soon as it opened.

- - -

The night sky truly was serene tonight, the blackness littered with stars. You leant on the railing.

- - -

The elevator would just not move fast enough. The two women shared an anxious glance. Wanda’s eyes lit up as she used her powers to sense if you were still alive, still breathing. When Wanda got confirmation, she gave Nat a small nod. The other woman exhaled a breath. She needed to be calm when she got up there; if she was upset or anxious, it would only worsen what you were feeling. She knew she shouldn’t have had that outburst in the med bay. She called you selfish for fucks sake. Of course that would push you over the edge, especially when it came from the person you trusted most in this world.

- - -

You poured out five pills and quickly swallowed them. You didn’t bring any water and you were not a good dry swallower. You would have to do it in small amounts. Another five went down the hatch. You took a breath. You were really doing this; you were getting your escape. You poured seven more pills into your cupped hand and brought it towards your mouth. The inertia caused by your hand suddenly stopping caused the pills to spill.

“Shit, shit, sh- “

“Y/N! STOP. STOP PLEASE.” You whipped your head around and saw Nat coming towards you while Wanda stayed back and used her powers to prevent you from swallowing more pills. “Y/n please, I need you to listen to me, I’m begging you.”

The way in which you were being controlled by Wanda made anger bubble to the surface

“BACK THE FUCK UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE,” you shouted back. You turned back towards the bottle, but Wanda sent it flying before you could get to it. You screamed in anger. You were being herded into a corner. You only had one option left: jump. As you made to leap over the railing of the roof, Nat flung a hand out behind her to stop Wanda from using her powers. If you did not feel like you had a choice in this situation, you would never properly trust them again. In your mind, they would become the bad guys.

You had one foot up on the railing, hands braced to hoist yourself up.

“Y/N! y/n, look at me, please. PLEASE.” The desperation in Nat’s voice and the lack of magical red bindings holding you in place made you pause and look over your shoulder to Nat, who was also noticeably a lot closer than before. “Just, just stop a minute and think. Slow down and rationalise.”

Nat knew one of your shortcomings was your impulsivity. You and her had had many altercations where it got in the way and the best method to fix it was to slow you down, and to push yourself to think. Which is exactly what Nat was doing right at this moment.

The request to think caught you off guard, the familiar solution hitting home. Your eyes slid to the ground, and you blinked rapidly, trying to wash away the emotion. But then you remembered why you were up here. Your life was a waste, you were a waste. Simply existing to exist, not for any purpose. You stood up to your full height on the railing, causing Nat to step forward some more, hands reaching toward you, but not quite willing to touch you in case you spooked.

In a quieter voice, Nat said, “y/n, please. We are in this together, this life together, you and me, me and you. I won’t let you give up on your future.”

“What future Nat? I don’t have one. Whether it’s today, in a week or even a year, I will come back to square one. No matter how hard I try, how much therapy, I keep coming back to this spot. It won’t change.”

“You will make it change, and I will help you every step of the way. You can survive and live, I know you can. I also know you don’t want to jump… you literally have a fear of heights.”

She wasn’t wrong; regardless of her words, as soon as you looked down, your fear started to battle your desperation to die.

You bent your knees and sat down on the ledge. You weren’t quite ready to get back onto the roof proper. Slowly, Nat climbed up and sat a few feet away from you; close enough to touch, but far enough away to give you the space to talk.

You started playing with the rings on your hand while you let your head drop, “I don’t know where to go from here Nat. The others will think me some worthless coward, just doing this for attention. I won’t be able to face them.”

“Okay, then we’ll only tell the people that need to know. This is between you and me. Even Wanda has gone back downstairs. And if you don’t know where to go from here, that’s okay too. Nobody expects you to just bounce back up. We will take it one day at a time.”

Just through her voice, you could tell Nat was being completely genuine. She truly meant every word she was saying. As the full reality of what you were about to do hit you, tears bled from your eyes, and you covered your face with your hands.

Nat murmured some comforting Russian phrases before getting up behind you and helping you back onto the roof. You quickly collapsed into her arms; the pills you did manage to swallow finally taking affect.

Nat, missing nothing, asked, “how many did you manage to take, detka?”

In-between sobs you replied, “j-just ten.”

“Of the painkillers? Or the sleeping ones?”

“I’m n-not sure.” At your inability to answer, you started to cry more. Nat simply pulled you tighter against her chest and rubbed soothing circles on your back, shushing you the whole time. Her warmth, strength and comfort quickly lulled you. Soon, your tears stopped, and your eyes started to droop. Nat must have messaged Wanda to come back up to help you two down to the med bay again, as you heard the elevator ding and saw her walk back out. When she saw you sitting on the ground with Nat, she hurried her step, so that she could come to the other side of you.

“Oh malyshka, come here, come here.” As she pulled you into her chest, you wrapped your arms around her middle, Wanda’s vanilla scent wrapping itself around you. Nat stood up and wiped away her tears, found the bottles of pills and put them in her pockets. She wouldn’t allow you or anyone else to find that kind of opportunity up here. When she walked back over to you and Wanda, both women helped you stand up. The pills were really taking affect; you were so relaxed that your muscles were weakened. Nat easily hoisted you up bridal style and walked towards the elevator. On the ride down, you properly fell asleep.

Wanda leaned against the side of the elevator, Nat doing the same.

“That could have gone very, very wrong.” Wanda merely nodded her agreement. “Thank you, for helping and letting me take control of the situation.”

“Yeah, well, I knew you had helped them last time; you had the most experience.”

Nat let out a soft laugh, “Yeah, I guess. Hopefully I won’t gain any more.”

“With the support they’ll have, I doubt you’ll need to. We’ll both be there for them every step of the way. They won’t go through this alone.”

Once they made it back to the med-bay, and you were comfortably situated on the bed, Wanda took the bed next to yours while Nat sat in the chair by your bed. With the lights off, Nat lightly stroked your hair while she held onto your hand. You stirred and squeezed her hand to let her know you were awake.

You quietly murmured, “thank you, Nat. For saving me. Again.”

Nat chuckled, “anytime, detka. You know I’m always here for you. Just come to me earlier next time, IF there’s a next time.”

“I will, I pinkie promise I will.”

Nat linked your pinkies together and you both shook. It was an unbroken rule that pinkie promises were sacred between you two. She knew she could trust your word.

“Now please get in here with me, I’m cold as hell.” Your joke earned another chuckle from Nat, and she climbed into the bed beside you, careful not to jostle your wounds. You lay your head on her chest and wrapped your arms as tight as you could manage around her middle. As you drifted off to the beating of her heart, you knew that with Nat and Wanda by your side, you could do this. You could slodge through the shit that was your life at the moment and find a new way to live, one that could sustain you, even through the ups and the downs. You would do it for the women in the room with you, but also for yourself, so that you could show yourself it was always possible.

A/n: and there u have it friends. Hope y’all enjoyed, pls send through any feedback or comments you have and let me know what you think! Love from kermy <3

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

She [3]

Warnings: non-consent sex (series)

This is dark! Steve and explicit. 18+ only.

Series Synopsis: Steve Rogers’ life is turned upside down by a reporter.

Chapter Summary: The reader finds herself at the center of even more unwanted attention

Note: This is a slow slow creep but that’s always the best kind. Thanks everyone who is reading this. The series is in full 10 chapters and they are all DONE! So we will have a smooth ride from here on out.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

Reader

The morning was more hectic than any before. There was a brief lull, right after the story drop. The long wait for the verdict. Was it a hit or a flop? You sat at your desk, typing away at your latest assignment. Nothing so glorious as the famous super soldier. Merely a fluff piece on a local foundation for children in need. The usual fare.

Then it began. The comment section on the article was overwhelming and the coverage of the printed article was just as fervent. The Google alerts on your phone threatened to drain the battery and the stationary phone on your desk began to flash. You answered.

“My office. Now.” Poppy’s demand was followed by a click.

You stood and tucked your cell up your blazer sleeve. You knocked on her transparent door and she waved you in as she remained sitting. One leg was crossed over the other as she leaned back and swiveled back and forth.

“Do you know what you’ve done?” She asked. Your eyes rounded. “You’ve set the world on fire. I have been on the phone all morning and who do you think I’ve been talking about?”

“I don’t--” You began.

“You. And Steve Rogers.” She trilled. “Even heroes must be mindful of the press.”

“What do you--?”

“Tell me haven’t been divulging in all that praise, hun,” She chimed. “What are you working on right now?”

“Um, well, I just went down the Centre for Advocacy and Assistance and I’m--”

“Drop it. Throw it on an intern’s desk,” She interrupted again. “You’ll be much too busy for that.”

“What do you mean?” You stood just behind the acrylic chair.

“Interviews!” She almost shouted. “Everyone wants to know what it was like to face down Captain America.”

“Interviews? No, no. It wasn’t like that.”

“You know what you wrote,” She jabbed a pointed nail in the air. “I think you might be as hot a commodity as he is.”

“I don’t want to be interviewed.” You said. “I’m a reporter. I don’t--”

“This is an opportunity,” She insisted. 

“It’s one article. I can’t just depend on that.” You said.

“Think about it.” She said. “Even so, clear out your desk. We’re moving you to the features department. I hope you know what that means.”

You nodded. That was a win at least.

“Long hours. Better pay.” She leaned an arm on her desk. “But it’s hard work. One wrong pitch and your back down to blurbs.”

“I know,” You assured her. “Thank you.”

“Thank me if you make it a year,” She adjusted her glasses. “And keep those eyes open. You might not want the attention, but you’re going to get it.”

🖋️

You headed out for your usual midweek lunch. As you stepped out the front doors, you were surprised by a lens. In your effort to find the card to collect stamps for your sandwiches, you stumbled and your bag fell to the pavement. You knelt to gather the scattered contents and quickly righted yourself.

You flitted past the photographer as he called after you. “Miss, miss, are you afraid of Steve Rogers?”

You rolled your eyes at the question and dipped into the sandwich shop. You got your usual turkey club on rye but not to go. Instead, you ate in, still on edge at your run-in. As a member of the press, it was startling to get a taste of the other side. You were determined in your work, but never the one to unnecessarily hound a subject.

You wiped your mouth and sat back as you checked the time. You wondered how bad it was for him. You had underestimated yourself; your article. You had ignored Poppy’s prediction that the article would be a best-seller and let your self-doubt get the best of you. And now, it was all a mess.

You hadn’t meant to villianize Steve Rogers, merely humanise him. To make him more than the man behind the perfect smile and golden hair. You thought a glimpse into his internal dilemma would be grounding, not ostracizing. You were wildly mistaken.

You tidied up and threw away your garbage. You set off back to work and passed another photographer, her curly hair barely contained under a wool cap.

“Miss, why did you smear Steve Rogers?” She asked as you tried your best to ignore her. “Can you confirm--”

You hurried through the front doors and tripped on your own foot as you entered the lobby. You cursed under your breath and caught the elevator before it could close. Your bag shook as your phone began to dance once more. You cringed and gripped the slender strap of your purse. You didn’t feel too sorry for yourself, you were sure it was much worse for him.

🖋️

The rest of your day dragged on. You were greeted by the same probing photographers but evaded them in the subway. The crowded train had you even more on edge than usual. You kept your eyes on the phone, your notifications muted but for your work e-mail. You played the little farming game as you waited for your stop.

The same walk as any other day. Short but it saw the sky greying by the time you reached your building. Your keys jingled with the overzealous keychains and attachments, an empty bottle of sanitizer clung to the mess.

You climbed up the stairs, one at a time. The wood was old and warped beneath the mats. Your door jammed and you fought the thick barrier until you forced your way inside. You flipped on the lights and locked the door behind you. You kicked off your shoes and dropped your purse. You wriggled out of your blazer and stretched as you looked around the cramped space.

You went to the buzzing refrigerator and pulled out your leftover shawarma plate from the night before and a can of sparkling water. You popped open the styrofoam and took out your phone. You leaned on the counter and at the chicken and rice cold and scraped up the last of the pickled turnip and cabbage.

Poppy wanted you in early the next morning. That couldn’t be good. Your junk box was quickly filling too as you redirected e-mails from your cohorts asking for statements and explanations. You didn’t feel the need or desire to justify what you wrote. It was the truth.

You thought of how quickly the meeting with Steve Rogers had turned tense. The mere mention of his old friend was enough to rile him but you had continued to poke. Well, that was your job. To follow the scent until you could latch onto the sinew of a story.

You tossed the container and went to the couch. You turned on the television and stretched out. You listened to the re-run of an early 00s sitcom and your eyes slowly closed. You were exhausted and expected to be more so after tomorrow. You only hoped the news cycle spat you out sooner than later.

You turned onto your side as the breeze rattled the fire escape outside your window. You switched the channel as the credits rolled and yawned against the pillow. As tired as you were, you knew you’d spend too much of your night on the couch; wakeless and watching episodes you’d seen a dozen times before.

🖋️

You knew something was off as you walked into the office. It was earlier than your usual start time but several others were already at their desks. You wondered if a few had even left the night before. You passed your old desk and looked at your vibrating phone.

‘Where are you?’ Poppy’s text popped up and you didn’t even stop to stare at the shell of your former workspace.

You continued onto her office and froze as you peered through her transparent wall. A man stood by her desk, his back to you and a bald head with a crooked thin strap around it. His long leather jacket hung to his knees and Poppy sat upright as she watched him tinker with the hummingbird ornament she kept on the corner.

You held back a gasp and continued forward. You raised your fist to knock but Poppy caught the movement with her seafoam eyes. She pushed her glasses up her nose and waved you in impatiently. The man turned to watch as you entered.

“Hey?” You said confused. “What’s--”

“Ma’am,” The man interjected and looked back at Poppy. “This is her?”

Poppy nodded as her lips formed a thin line.

“Hello, I’m--”

“Nick Fury.” You finished for him. “And I assume you know who I am already.”

“I know who everyone is.” He assured you and held out his hand. You shook it and felt a crushing strength in his grip. “And you know why I’m here?”

“About the article but I don’t know what you would want from me.” You said.

Poppy’s eyes widened. You’d never seen her so rattled. It was usually her doing the rattling.

“A conversation.” He said. “I understand you must be busy but I’m certain you can spare me a couple minutes.”

“I guess,” You shrugged.

“If you find yourself too busy, I can return with a subpoena.” He offered.

“A subpoena? Really?” You blinked at him. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“I would agree,” He put a hand on his hip and you spied the sidearm there. Was that intentional? “Is there somewhere private we might talk?”

“Take the conference room,” Poppy offered. “Just over there.” She pointed through the wall.

Fury nodded and you turned back to the door. He followed, his boots heavy on the floor behind you. You led him to the conference room and he closed the door swiftly. You didn’t sit as he began to pace around the long table. You stayed by the wall and hugged your purse.

“Look, I don’t know what you want. The article’s already out there and I didn’t write anything by the truth.” You said nervously. “I can’t control how people react to--”

“You have the recording still?” He asked as he stopped sharply. You nodded. “Good. Can I listen?”

It wasn’t really a question. He stared you down with his single eye and you took out your phone. You searched the files and hit play. You set the phone on the table as it began. You listened silently as your voice began and Steve replied. 

The conversation filled the airy conference and Fury crossed his arms as he listened. He wasn’t happy as Steve’s tone deepened and his words turned venomous. You felt a chill roll along your spine. You’d almost forgotten how hateful he’d sounded. You felt as if he was there now, his eyes boring into you as his lip curled.

As it ended, Fury nodded and rubbed his chin.

“Well,” He snatched your phone off the table. “Thank you.”

“What?” You neared the table as he tucked your cell in his pocket. “Wait, that’s my phone. I need that!”

“Your phone? Under the authority of… well, me, I am seizing it.” He declared. “For your security and every one else.”

“You can’t be serious.” You huffed.

“I can’t have this leaking.” He said. “I hear Best Buy’s having a promotion on iPhone’s. Looks like you need an upgrade anyways.”

You frowned and kept your lips sealed. He didn’t need to know about your cloud back-up. You’d have enough time to download the file before he could find it for himself. You rolled your eyes.

“Is that it?” You asked.

“I got what I wanted, like I always do,” He said. “But there is one more thing.”

You watched him. He was worse than any nosy photographer or internet troll.

“I don’t take these things lightly. You’ve sidelined one of my best men and compromised my team.” He hooked his thumb in his pants pocket. “But we’ve taken note of you and we are always vigilant of our enemies.”

“Enemies?” You shook your head.

“I suggest you steer clear of any public statements,” He warned. “Or I would consider some legal representation in the near future.”

You squinted at him in disbelief. You rubbed your forehead, tired and unprepared for your early morning interrogation. You still had a full day ahead of you. 

“Are we done?” You uttered. “I know my work isn’t as important as yours but I do have a job.”

“For now,” He said. “The public has a short attention span, miss, I suggest you find a new subject soon.”

With that he rounded the table and left you in the conference room. You sighed and grabbed the back of a chair. What the fuck were going to do without your phone?

🖋️

With your back-up done and a five minutes crash course in being a features writer from a new cohort, you felt entirely lost. You hid the flash drive in your purse and headed out on the guise of research. No one seemed to care very much, they all just thought you were off to search out a pitch to keep hold of your new position.

What you were truly off to do was sit in line for one of only three mobile associates at the electronics shop. When it was finally your turn, you asked for the most affordable yet reliable option. You brushed away the offer for the latest Apple shill and walked out with something a lot more comfortable next to your wallet.

You dreaded a return to the office. You were thankful for your sudden step-up as it meant a longer leash. You could check in once a week at most as long as you presented something to explain your absence. You weren’t so concerned about that anyway. 

You were more worried about getting this phone set-up. Oh, and creating new accounts because as it was, Fury and his people now had every drop of info on you. That meant, at some point, you would have to visit IT and get a new ID. For now, you forwarded all your messages to your new private e-mail and stopped by the coffee shop around the corner from your building.

You hated this new normal. Not only did you have to be aware of those who thought they could jump on your cloud, but those who would label you an enemy of the people. You were certain Fury would be keeping tabs on you and judging by the influx of bings from your phone, you were fairly certain the blow back was building by the second.

You didn’t bother delving into the chaos of the comments section. People arguing with each other over your exposure of the heroes versus those who felt it was a betrayal and misrepresentation. You had never expected the spotlight to include you but you were centre stage alongside the American hero. You only assumed it was much worse for him.

You thought on what Fury said. ‘Sidelined’. Did that mean Steve Rogers was no longer an Avenger? Had he stepped down or been forced out? Hmm… you were tempted to dive down that rabbit hole but did the flames need any more fuel? And yet, it was your job to prod and poke at the vague. 

However, it would be better to steer away from that and not rely on that one trick. Besides, you didn’t truly think there was anything particularly deceptive about Steve or his associates. They were secretive only because they had to be. They were doing their jobs as you did yours.

You sat by the window and picked at the curled lip of the paper cup. What would you pitch then? If you couldn’t grasp onto your momentary high, you might find the way down steep. You leaned your chin in your hand and watched the steam rise. The door chimed and you kept your eyes on the dark brew.

Maybe it was best to move along and sniff out your next bone. It would help you forget about the mess you had created while keeping your career alive. The only thing you could do was move forward and hope that this was all just buried by the next headline.

[aenramsden]

Okay then.

Let’s break this down.

(Spoilers and predictions ahead, obviously.)

So, we know the first five titles in Owl House Season 2 and their short summaries. Amusingly, before seeing these I had already put some of this together from the trailer. Behold!

Episode 1: Separate Tides - “Luz feels guilty about Eda losing her powers, so she sets sail in search of a lucrative bounty to help the Owl House.”

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Lilith and Eda sitting at school desks outside the Owl House. Pic 2: Luz in an adorable sailor outfit (complete with fish-bandana) firing an ice blast in front of some steam chimneys. Pic 3: Luz in the same outfit in front of the same chimneys casting her plant spell.]

Here we have SAILOR LUZ, in an adorable new outfit, and it seems likely that Luz’s Lessons In Glyph Magic For Cursed Witches will be prompting this quest. But I think there’s a high chance this won’t be the only boat trip we take this season, because...

[Image description: Pic 1: Luz in a different outfit, tied up on another ship with a hemispherical canopy in the background, casting an ice glyph with her feet. Pic 2: An incredibly creepy dragon with a face like two hands clasped in prayer and thumbs and fingers all over its wings and body sitting on what looks like that same canopy atop a balloon envelope, looking down with narrowed eyes.]

Here, we seem to see something that may (oh please oh please oh please) be Luz on a skyship, in snazzy cool new pants that do not match her sailor get-up. The balloon canopy the hand-dragon is perched on looks an awful lot like the one above Luz’s head in the first shot, so this is likely either a monster they encounter in whatever aircraft this is, or the possibly the thing lifting it in the first place. They might also be on a roof, but I’m getting strong balloon vibes from what it’s perched on there, so here’s hoping.

Moving on to Luz’s dangerous deal with Amity’s parents, this isn’t hard to match pictures to.

Episode 2: Escaping Expulsion - “When Amity's parents get Luz, Willow and Gus expelled from Hexside, Luz strikes a dangerous deal with them to get back into school.”

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: A giant Abomination cyborg standing in front of a sign that says “??? Industries” with an Abomination-track logo. Pic 2: A green-haired woman firing a jet of green fire from an Abomination-gun on-stage in front of a backdrop reading “Blight Industries” in the same style as the sign. Pic 3: Luz looking battered in her school uniform, running away across overhead pipework as the Abomination-cyborg chases her with a morningstar-hand.]

So yeah, fascinating stuff here. An Abomination-based company, Blight Industries, Abomination-tech. Looks like the Abomination track is the engineering/STEM field and the Blights own one of the biggest companies in the field, which is probably what Amity is being raised for (so why are the older twins in Illusions, I wonder?). This is probably going to be Luz agreeing to fight the Cy-bomination as a test run or something in order to get back into school. May or may not be an Amity-heavy episode, highly likely to have A++ Blight Parenting, child abuse and trauma either way. Be warned.

Episode 3: Echoes of the Past - “King's delusions of grandeur lead Luz, Lilith and Hooty to a dangerous new island.”

Now, this one is going to be both cool and creepy, because...

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Hooty in a doll house in front of the Owl House door, which seems to have organs protruding from the circular hole left in his absence. Pic 2: King and Luz flying on Owlbert in front of Lilith and a Hooty-house backpack on her staff. Pic 3: Luz venturing through an old ruin with crescent-headed statues in the walls. Pic 4: One of said crescent-headed statues revealing some rather nasty claws in front of Luz and King, with a backdrop of the same ruins. Pic 5: Lilith, also in the same ruins, showing some fair aptitude with a trio of ice-glyph spells, staff in hand.]

Yeah, this one’s going to have Hooty removed from the Owl House for the episode, which might well net us some lore on what the hell he is. These might be ancient Witch ruins, which would be cool, and I’d say there’s a strong possibility it’ll also be a “Luz coming round to forgiving Lilith for what she did to Eda” subplot, depending on whether or not Luz is holding even more of a grudge over than than Eda is (which I hope she is, because it would be a good character point). Also, can I just say that I adore Lilith’s “low battery icon” t-shirt? Hilarious character point. Much love. We may also see some of her Palisman, which would be nice; it never showed any independence from her staff in S1.

Episode 4: Keeping Up A-fear-ances - “Eda gets an unwelcome visit from a family member who puts strain on everyone in the Owl House.”

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: An old witch with grey hair and a giant eagle Palisman on her staff lands(?) in front of the Owl House. Pic 2: Present Eda fade-transitions into Past Eda in a clear flashback. Pic 3: Young Eda hides behind a door looking scared as a shadow on the wall very similar to her own silhouette shouts angrily on the other side. Pic 4: An older Eda, with a cloak, Owlbert and a streak of grey in her hair, turns around as something lunges toward her in a strange spherical room with a giant keyhole-shaped opening behind her.]

Mom? Mom. That unwelcome visitor in the first picture is almost certainly Eda and Lilith’s mother, which means we are going to be getting family dynamics and possibly flashbacks. This may or may not be a full flashback episode, but I’d say it’s at least likely that this will dig into Eda’s life - we’re certainly going to be getting a flashback of Eda’s life at some point. It looks like things weren’t happy at home - that third picture may be shortly after she was cursed, or possibly a reaction to her mischief-making, and the fourth may (given that keyhole opening) be where she got the portal door. Very excited for this; I love flashback episodes.

Episode 5: Through the Looking Glass Ruins - “Gus tries to impress a group of cool kids from Glandus High, while Luz and Amity journey into the most dangerous section of the library.”

I just wanna say I absolutely called both of these points from the trailer before looking at the episode summaries. Observe!

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Amity ties her hair back in front of a bookshelf, wearing a lanyard that says “Amity Blight: Staff”. Pic 2: Amity and Luz stand in the Library, flanked by bookshelves, in front of an enormous set of doors. Pic 3: Luz and Amity hold hands against a backdrop of blue and purple. Pic 4: Flying books/roof tiles with wings and eyes flap around amidst the rooftops. Pic 5: Gus fires a fireball through a blue magic circle in a forest, with giant thorny vines in the background. Pic 6: Gus’s fireball EXPLODES, scorching a path through more vines as four kids (one of them Matholomew) cower in the foreground.]

I was pretty sure from the library shots that there was going to be another Lumity-focused episode in the library, with the third picture possibly being books gone wild from the same episode or possibly not. Meanwhile, I connected the last two pictures from the environment and spell, and given all the plants, I’m betting this is either Gus going somewhere horribly dangerous to impress those kids, or him having accidentally upset Willow by trying to be popular and having to get her out of the horrible murderplant wall she’s surrounded himself with. 50/50, really, giant murderplants are very much her thing, but also not uncommon in the Boiling Isles ecosystem. This probably won’t be where we get canon Lumity, but I bet it’s a major step towards it. Looking forward to it!

---

So, that’s the episodes we have concrete info on. What about the ones we don’t? What else might we see this season? I believe canon Lumity is all-but-confirmed - and even if it isn’t I’d say there’s a very, very high chance - but that feels more like a mid-season thing to me. What else?

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Lilith desperately reaches forward from where she’s fallen to the ground in the Owl House living room with hands that are growing talons and feathers. Pic 2: A monstrous Curse Beast with a white face unlike Eda’s and mottled plumage stalks around one of the Owl House doorways. Pic 3: A close up of this new Curse Beast snarling terrifyingly.]

Yup, looks like we’re getting a “Lilith’s First Transformation” episode. This confirms that she and Eda’s lessened curse will still have them (probably both) transforming sometimes, which is cool - I like the Owl Beast and it leads to interesting plots. Solid odds on this being something of a horror episode, with Curse Beast Lilith chasing them through the Owl House - and Eda no longer has magic to stop her. What’s Lilith reaching out for there in that first picture? Luz and Eda, warning them away? Her staff? The elixir? Possibly some combination of the three? Gonna be traumatic for her, that’s for certain.

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Camilla stands in front of a fullblown string-and-newspaper-clippings conspiracy wall, looking surprised. Pics 2 & 3: Nine individuals, each wearing a white cloak fastened with a brooch that bears the symbol of one of the nine major Covens (from left to right: Bard, Beast, covered-but-presumably-Healing, Illusions, Potions, Abominations, Oracle, Plants, covered-but-presumably-Construction (same short bald guy that was manning the Construction booth at Covention).]

On the “authority figures” side of things, we have Camila! And the Coven heads! Looks like Luz’s mama is going looking for her daughter - or possibly for whoever’s sending her those creepy letters - and I hope the background there is meaningful and not just filler backdrop, because that key on a hook to her left looks significant and might be the key for the ruined shack Luz entered the Boiling Isles through, while the strange figure holding what seems to be a paddle of some kind in the newspaper clipping to her right looks like it’s at the centre of the string-web. Meanwhile, we’re gonna be seeing the heads of the major covens in some form, probably in a single episode that has all of them cameo in minor roles - except wait a moment. That figure on the far left; the head of the Bard Coven in the hooded cloak with the shiny glasses and frown. Doth my eyes deceive me? Or...

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: a short-haired older witch whose glasses and frown match the Bard Coven head turning to glare at the camera in front of a rock-strewn sandheap(?) Pic 2: The same witch playing a violin in front of a stone pillar, looking unhappy. Pic 3: Eda’s Grudgby scrapbook, including a photo of her, Lilith and a third girl in the Bard track enjoying sweets with Eda.]

... be this the same character? I believe it be! And it looks like an old friend-slash-possible-girlfriend of Eda’s! (Thanks to HeyRebeccaRose on Twitter for pointing that third picture out). That means Head Bard is probably going to get more focus than the other Coven heads (though the Abomination one is very front-and-centre and might also get significant focus from the Amity side if it’s a “Career Day” sort of episode), and we may get even more about Eda’s past.

Speaking of which...

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: A strange conical figure shrouded in robes with a single yellow eye staring out from within them, holding a purple-fire lantern and pointing with elderly, long-fingernailed hands. Pic 2: Another strange cloaked figure, this one with a crescent moon for a face and stars all over their robes.]

Who are these two? Mysterious, and somewhat Oracley in the second case. Could these perhaps be other Wild Witches? We’re likely to see a running subplot of Luz searching for more glyphs and old-style glyph magic this season, so she may well meet some. I don’t get an “antagonist” vibe from either of these, more a “mysterious possible ally” one. Wild Witches they well could be. I wonder what Luz will learn from them?

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Creepy statues in a possible-graveyard with glowing red eyes that are crying blood. Pic 2: A giant blue dragon with a Shellder for a face that’s wreathed in cyan fire appearing out of nowhere in said creepy possible-graveyard. Pic 3: Hooty rearing up in the woods outside the Owl House, clearly fighting, surrounded by orange-glowing brown masses that could be trees or could be wings and may well be on fire either way. Pic 4: Lilith in a burning forest hitting something with a broken branch.]

What would The Owl House be without action, creepy monsters and horror? Not half as good, that’s what. These creepy evil statues may just be creepy evil statues or they may be petrified wild witches - either way, that’s probably going to be a horror episode, with the Shellder Dragon as a guardian of some sort for the possible-graveyard they’re in. And the second two pictures look alarmingly like an attack on the Owl House - one involving fire. We’re probably going to see Hooty cut loose and fight again, so, uh... RIP to his opponents, I guess. We’re also going to be getting more wide-scale action in the form of...

[Image descriptions: Pics 1-3: The Titan’s Skull, its eyes first glowing yellow, then burning with golden fire, then engulfing the whole frame in a giant explosion. Pic 4: Luz activates a combo-glyph comprised of Fire and Ice together, painted onto some giant boulder or similar. Pic 5: Luz floating apparently-unconscious in a glowing body of water of some kind, with a rope tied around her waist that’s either connected to something deeper down, or has been cut loose from whatever it was anchored to.]

... the Titan itself. Yeah, we’re going to be seeing it acting in some form this season - and I include the pictures of Luz there, because the first shows her increasing skill at glyph magic and the second looks either like a stock “fell from a great height after the rope tying her to another character/the skyship was cut, landed in water, passed out” thing, or a “communing with the Titan while in trance” pose. Or maybe even both! Certainly I think we’re going to be seeing Luz discover that Belos isn’t the only one with a way to talk to the Titan in this season, and if she takes a trip up to the Skull - highly likely - we may see it take a more active role in communicating its own desires and viewpoint, such as they are, and Luz developing her form of magic further as a result.

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: Owl-Masked figure seated on a techno-staff, waving merrily, against a backdrop of what seems to be the Skull. Pic 2: Owl-Mask in front of a set of doors, watching inscrutably as a horned figure (whose shadow is cast across them) undergoes a monstrous transformation. Pic 3: Owl-Mask taunts a caged King. Pic 4: A distressed Kikimora casts a spell. Pic 5: Luz (in her snazzy new patterned pants and cloak) leaps up onto a roof with a red bird (Palisman?) on her shoulder and Owl-Masks’s techno-staff in her hand.]

So yeah, saving the most interesting till last, there’s this asshole. Owl-Mask (and I’m not giving a gender, since we don’t know either way) is probably going to be the new Lilith in this season, either being the primary one in that role of “Belos’s hand”, or sharing the role with Kikimora (who is at minimum going to be in at least one fight). Given the techno-staff like Belos’s and the owl theme of the mask, this person has strong themes of being a foil to Luz; with Belos as their Eda. And indeed, that monstrous figure they’re watching has horns - is that Belos? Does he have a cursed form as well? That would increase the parallels even more.

Of course, it seems Luz is, hilariously, going to steal that techno-staff (like mentor, like student, I suppose), and possibly learn something about this third form of magic-as-technosorcery without glyph or circle that Belos uses. She also has a friend! This might well be someone else’s Palisman that she’s helping escape (since we see in another shot that Belos is still murdering and eating Palismans), but it might also be her own! If so, hopefully she’ll carve it from the giant wisteria tree she and Amity grew in Enchanting Grom Fight, and hopefully it will be gay as hell.

And of course, closing out the season...

[Image descriptions: Pic 1: A gauntleted hand puts a patchwork key into the keyhole of the reassembled Franken-Door-Portal as it lights up. Pic 2: Belos stands in front of the still-incomplete Franken-Door-Portal, with shaggy blonde hair reaching his shoulders and his mask in hand. The shot, even as he puts it on, very carefully hides any sight of his ears from the viewers.]

Yup. Belos’s work to reassemble the Door and the “Day of Unity” is the ticking clock this season (which I suspect it will end on him successfully opening, and then the three 44-minute Season 3 mega-episodes will be the consequences of that). I’m nearly certain he’s human at this point, the framing is just being too coy about hiding his ears for anything else, and his hands and hair are definitely humanoid rather than some kind of eldritch monster. Though I’m sceptical about him being Luz’s father as some have suggested. It’s possible, but I’d rate it as a somewhat flat twist. We are getting more Camila this season though, so who knows?

The “Day of Unity” is what he’s working up to, and I wonder - unity with what? Between all witches? Between worlds? Between him and the Titan? I’m inclined to believe him when he says it’s not as simple as a straightforward invasion of the human world, less because I trust his word (I don’t) and more because, like... what would be the point? What would it gain him?

There are a couple of other shots from the trailer I could ask about - the giant demon shadow on the wall that I called out as probably being another King gag of being cast by a tiny demon when I saw it and was vindicated by the short excerpt from Ep 1 that got released, the shot of Luz clinging to some kind of mechanical-looking arm holding a boulder, a guard using magic (maybe at a magicless Eda), a knightly-looking fellow being attacked by a giant monster, etc - but none of those are shots I can get much from in terms of what to expect, so I’ll close off there. All in all, I’m super eager for this new season and can’t wait to see how much I got right!

See you when the new episodes drop!

[am-i-right-marines]

Prompt: A Random Idea I had

Rain.

Mud.

Lightning.

Darkness.

The epitome of trench warfare.

John-117 wasn’t a stranger to these natural elements, but admittedly he didn’t typically experience them in this context all together.

The Spartan walked along the five foot wide trench with his MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System at the ready. To his right was a concrete steel-reinforced firing-step about four and a half feet off the ground, as to allow Marines to fire over the parapet of the ten foot deep concrete trench. To his left, a concrete wall occasionally broken up by the entrance to a dugout containing a few dozen bunks or ammo crates. He watched a pair of marines climb up onto the firing step and take position by a mounted machine gun. The Master Chief recognized them from last week.

“Will you shut up?”

“‘Who’s Bob?’ The hell kinda question was that? Haven’t you heard of a first name?”

“Your first name is Private, you’re gonna be Private all your life.”

Private Schmegeggy and Private Rosen.

The pair had charged a trio of Elites that had pinned down a Corpsman in a shell crater as he tried to help the artillery officer that had been caught in the blaster. With a few close calls, the pair of Privates had rescued both men and returned to friendly lines.

John could respect that bravery. As such, when Rosen glanced over at him as he walked by, he nodded at the young Marine, who’s face broke into a smile and nodded back.

John understood that he was considered a hero to the ranks. A very long successful mission record, plenty of eyewitness accounts of “heroism”, and the Office of Naval Intelligence’s Section Two hyping up his achievements with propaganda had led to him being one of, if not the most revered human alive.

Just because he understood it didn’t mean it didn’t confuse him. A soldier didn’t deserve the title ‘hero’ just for doing his job. But, he did what was needed of him. Sometimes people needed a hero, be they real, fictional, willing, or unwilling.

The Spartan walked down a set of stairs to pass under a pillbox that spanned over the top of the trench and was partially buried to hide it from Covenant air strikes. Inside the pillbox was an M68 Gauss Cannon along with two M247H Heavy Machine Guns, capable of being manned by just four marines; Two for the M247s, and two for the M68. There were several dozen just like it in the outer defense ring of Firebase Romeo.

Firebase Romeo may have been called a Firebase, but it was more like a fortress. Three rings of trenches with a dozen pillboxes each, artillery batteries between those trenches in concealment holes, several dozen M79 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems mounted on the base walls, countless heavy machine guns, ten M808C Scorpion Main Battle Tanks, a dozen M12 LRVs, the list went on.

Making a turn down another trench, John made for the main section of the Firebase, only to stop. His instincts started screaming at him.

Something’s wrong

Something’s wrong

Somethi—

“Incoming!”

The trenches sprang to life, Marines diving for cover, looking out for incoming fire, dragging comrades to safety.

John’s eyes immediately found the barrage of incoming plasma bombs, and subsequently deduced where they had come from.

A nearby ridge line with heavy foliage concealed the dozen or so Wraith tanks that had fired the barrage, and he could already see readying a second barrage. He blinked into his HUD and connected to the comm channel the artillery crews used to communicate.

“Romeo Battery Command, Sierra-117. Eyes on hostile armor. Request One Round, followed by Battery Fire For Effect at following coordinates.” The Spartan blinked again and transmitted said coordinates to the Battery Commander.

“Confirmed Sierra, standby.”

A pause. Then a single boom.

“Shot! Over.”

A few seconds.

“Splash! Over.”

The Wraith rounds finally landed as he saw the single artillery shell land in exactly the right place. Crouching down against the trench wall just to be safe as dirt and residual plasma washed over him, he spoke again. “Splash confirmed. Fire For Effect.”

“Understood, Firing For Effect!” And a second later, deafening booms started echoing over the trenches as Romeo Battery opened up with everything it had. John saw fire erupt over the Wraith line followed by a second plasma barrage before several explosions in the tree line as the line of Wraiths went up in purple flames.

Blinking into the open-comm frequency, John caught the next major problem.

“Pillbox 17, hostile infantry in sight, north-by-northwest. Contact. Contact.” Followed by the sound of both heavy machine guns in the pillbox opening up.

From closer to him, John heard Private Rosen scream. “Here they come!”

As he quickly made his way back to the outer trench, John reconnected to the Artilerry Frequency and examined the open field the UNSC Corps of Engineers had created when constructing Firebase Romeo that the Covenant were now crossing. Open, muddy ground with little to no cover. Hundreds upon hundreds of Covenant infantry and vehicles charging across No Man’s Land.

“Battery Command, Sierra. Recommend adjust firing position by twelve degrees East.”

“Understood Sierra, adjusting. Keep your heads down.”

Shells started flying overhead leaving trails of fire in the sky, slamming into the Covenant lines.

John shouldered his MA5B and added his own fire to the roaring staccato.

No shots missed. Two Grunts. An Elite. Even a Brute.

He heard the anti-air cannons on the base walls open up, followed by the sound of Banshee engines screaming. “Strafing run!”

John dozen to the ground as his shields started draining from high-power plasma strikes. As he stood up, he watched a pillbox detonate in a ball of green fire as a Fuel Rod blast detonated the M68’s power cell.

The Master Chief spotted Private Rosen staring in fear at the fireball approaching and then turning to run.

He’s not gonna make it.

The Spartan launched himself down the trench and grabbed Rosen’s wrist, flinging him into one of the dugouts and covering the entrance with his own body to protect the other marines inside.

His shields shattered. Heat washed over him. He heard a grunt of pain escaped his lips as small bouts of flame slipped past, but nothing more. When the flames passed, he moved away without another word and returned to the firing step.

“Master Chief, we just received an E-BAND transmission from a Ranger unit on a nearby hill-“

And then leaped out of the trench as he spotted a Brute Chopper zipping towards him. He sprinted towards the vehicle, sidestepped the spikes it shot at him, then grabbed the Brute in the driver’s seat as it drove by. He tore it from its seat and took its place.

“-assist if you can.”

“Mayday! Kilo 279, I’m hit!”

“-Delta Two Bravo, Mine Strike!”

John spotted the flaming Pelican descending through the clouds, and knew he had a decision to make.

Kilo 279...

or the Rangers.

Not enough time.

John revved his engine as Kilo 279 slammed cockpit-first into the dirt, running over Covenant troops in the process. He depressed the triggers on the handles and mowed down more. Then he spotted the Locust.

Pulling a grenade from his belt, he primed the detonator and shoved it into the wheel-well before leaking into the air and pulling backflip as the Chopper slammed into one of the Locust’s legs and detonated, destroying the siege-platform.

John landed at a kneel with one fist on the ground and tilted his visor upwards.

“The Demon-!”

Spartan Time kicked in.

His MA5B practically teleported into his hands.

Body after body dropped to the dirt.

The Spartan shot forward and grabbed a Jackal by the throat, throwing it at a pair of Sangheili that were charging him in slow motion. As the Jackal took flight, John whirled and emptied and entire magazine into a Brute, then tossed his rifle onto his mag-clamps on his back.

No time to reload.

Magnum in his hand without even realizing, he downed three Jackals and a pair of Sangheili with one mag.

As time sped up again, he became aware of a shout from behind him.

“Cover the Chief!”

He didn’t have to look behind him to hear the dozens of marines and the crew of Kilo-279 rallying behind him.

Then engines screaming. Shouts of joy.

“Hell yeah! Air support!”

John looked up as a flight of B-65 Shortswords swooped low over the valley and dropped napalm on the Covenant advance. A second flight focused on the Covenant armor, dropping Mark 208 High-Yield Gravity Buster bombs.

And then nearly all of them exploded.

Covenant point defense weapons had shot them down. A Covenant frigate lowered through the clouds, and John tensed. Not even he could deal with that. Not from the ground.

“Sierra-117, Vindication-Actual. Standby for MAC strike.”

—————

So, this is a thing. I don’t know what it is but I like it.

See if you can spot the movie references I dropped in here!

Also, @ladywolvesbayne , I think you might like this one because of how badass John is.

And you asked to be provided with this, @cloakedinfall !

[officialotakudome]

New Post has been published on Otaku Dome | The Latest News In Anime, Manga, Gaming, Tech, and Geek Culture

New Post has been published on https://otakudome.com/cyberpunk-2077-patch-1-3-detailed/

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.3 Detailed

CD Projekt Red has detailed upcoming fixes and content for Cyberpunk 2077:

August 17, 2021 Patch 1.3 is coming to PC, consoles, and Stadia soon! Here is a list of the most notable changes coming in this update.

Please note that the issues listed below did not affect all players.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

A list of all the free DLCs can be found in the Main Menu under “Additional Content”.

Johnny Silverhand’s Alternative Appearance – can be enabled in Settings in the “Additional Content” tab. Multilayered Syn-Leather Deltajock Jacket, Luminescent Punk Jacket – both available in the stash in V’s apartment after receiving a message from Viktor after completing The Ride. They’re of Rare/Iconic quality by default, Crafting Specs to craft a higher quality will also be unlocked. Archer Quartz “Bandit” – available as a reward or for purchase (depending on choices made by player) after completing Ghost Town and then receiving a message from Dakota or Rogue. If you haven’t received the message, make sure to be in the Badlands area and move further away from Dakota’s workshop. Dakota will also need a couple of days to contact you.

IMPROVEMENTS

Improved the minimap’s zoom level when driving, so that it’s more zoomed out and easier to navigate. Automatic Love – screen with pictures of Skye and Angel will be displayed substantially longer, making it easier to choose between the two. Added a button which allows to reallocate the distribution of Perk points on a character’s skill tree. Increased the number of slots for autosaves from 10 to 20 and for quick saves from 3 to 10 across all platforms. Added Database links to Journal entries. Added an accessibility option for center of screen dot overlay which helps with reducing/avoiding motion sickness. It can be enabled in Settings → Interface → Center of screen dot overlay. Fixers will now message V to offer a car for purchase less often. Improved the Screen Space Reflections effect so that it looks less grainy on consoles and on lower visual settings qualities on the PC . Added a filter for quest items in the Backpack. Quest item tags from miscellaneous Job items will now be removed after finishing associated quests, allowing to sell or drop them. It is now possible to rotate V in the Inventory with a mouse. Players will now properly be able to craft a quickhack even if they once crafted it and then got rid of it. Added a comparison tooltip for cyberware. Improved a notification when buying cyberware and not meeting the level requirements to equip it. It’s now possible to upgrade crafting components in bulk. Added new sleeping spots for Nibbles in V’s apartment. Icon on a disposal crate will now turn red when player picks up a body instead of being grayed out. Landmine icon will now be grayed out after disarming it. It’s now possible to use an elevator while carrying a body. Happy Together – Barry now has an updated, more unique appearance. Base item will now be highlighted green like other components if it’s present in the Inventory when crafting the same item of a better quality.

BALANCE CHANGES

Detection time of enemies now depends on game difficulty. Enemies on Easy and Normal difficulties will now detect the player slower. Enemies on Very Hard difficulty will now detect the player faster. Enemies on Very Hard difficulty (and only that difficulty alone) will now be more aggressive when searching around when they are in the “Alerted” state. NCPD will no longer react and turn hostile because of dead bodies in Open World activities. NCPD will now also react to hitting NPCs with a non-lethal weapon. Adjusted the damaging process when shooting crowd NPCs while in combat depending on distance and the weapon used. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper — improved Adam Smasher’s behaviour during the fight. Play It Safe — improved Oda’s behavior during the fight. Transmission — improved Placide’s behavior during the fight. Transmission — increased Placide’s hacking resistance. Cyberpsycho Sighting: Letter of the Law — improved Cyberpsycho’s behaviour during the fight. Every Breath You Take — improved Red Menace’s positioning and aim. Increased stats of La Chingona Dorada (Jackie’s iconic pistols). The Rescue — increased the number of ammo at the beginning of the quest. Introduced minor tweaks and improved balancing of the Contagion quickhack. Improved the Crafting system, so that items with Random quality scale their quality with player’s Crafting skill — it’s not possible anymore to roll a quality exceeding that of the relevant Crafting skill. The level requirement of items will now increase with each upgrade. Note: the level of upgraded items will be adjusted as a result of this change. The equipped items which exceed the level requirement can keep being used but, if unequipped, will have to wait until the required level is reached. Added more crafting specs for cyberware mods. Added crafting specs for knives (available from the start of the game). Updated the number of components required to craft some items, e.g. Bounce Back, MaxDoc, quickhacks, clothing mods and some weapons. Balancing of crafting specs for clothing mods. Balancing the number of components required to craft clothing. Balancing the number of components required to craft Sandevistan Fragments. Optical Camo cyberware will now be available for purchase from Ripperdocs. Adjusted price of the Sensory Amplifier cyberware mod. Rare Unity crafting spec will now be obtainable only during Suspected Organized Crime Activity: Tygers by the Tail. Changed the price and quality of Kerry’s guitar that can be obtained during Gig: Psychofan.

GAMEPLAY

Fixed an issue where crafting specs from clothing stores were available only during the first visit to a vendor. Fixed an issue which occurred after visiting the Nomad Camp, resulting in being unable to use weapons and quick menu items. Fixed an issue where hacking a neutral target wasn’t counted towards the Christmas Tree Attack achievement. Tutorial windows about skill checks will no longer pop up when the “Unauthorized” prompt is displayed on devices. V will no longer look down after using fast travel.

STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE ACROSS PLATFORMS

This section discusses changes that enter all the platforms but many of them make a bigger difference on last generation consoles and lower performance machines.

Delamain’s image will no longer get stuck on holocalls when V leaves the car too fast after completing Epistrophy: Badlands. Item tooltip will no longer disappear if its content is too long. Fixed various typos in subtitles, shards, quests and weapons’ descriptions. Added a text message received after failing Epistrophy: North Oak by leaving the Delamain cab. Changed back the name of the fast travel point near V’s apartment to “Megabuilding H10”. Removed some items labeled as “None” and without proper icons from the inventory. The on-hover menu with multitude of mods on an item in inventory will now show stats properly. Fixed an issue where male variants of the VR tutorial were in Polish for Brazilian Portuguese language version. Black-Market battery mod description will now display strings with item attributes properly. Fixed an issue where the Contagion quickhack button was missing its icon outside of inventory. Status Effects icon of the “Cold Blood” perk now looks like a snowflake. Punk Duolayer Tank Top will now be visible in the Inventory when equipped. Added a loading screen tooltip informing about Fast Forward settings. Fixed the Galena “Gecko” vehicle’s name next to the “Buy vehicle” prompt. Image in the second message from Nancy Hartley in Holdin’ On/Killing in the Name will now be displayed properly. Adjusted wording of the Crafting skill progression reward related to upgrade cost reduction. The image displaying Mackinaw MTL1 in the “Call vehicle” menu will now match with the car’s model. Removed debug strings from the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” perk’s tooltip. Icon grouping artifacts will no longer get detached from their respective locations on the map when zooming in/out. When Stamina Meter is depleted, the appropriate icon will now appear next to the health bar instead of the overload icon. Villefort Alvarado V4F 570 Delegate description will now correctly state that the drive is rear wheeled. The period of the possible occurrence in the description of Synaptic Accelerator in the tooltip will now display a proper value when playing in Polish. Fists description in the weapon wheel will now display an appropriate item type. Fixed text in the shard about Chiba-11 district. Opening Photo Mode and a vendor menu in quick succession will no longer result in freezing the game. Gold iconic loot icons will now be displayed on the minimap. Fixed an instance where hit markers and kill confirmation weren’t visible when destroying enemy turrets. Fixed enemy markers using the incorrect color on unaware enemies – they will now be yellow instead of red. Fixed an issue when RAM Recovery Rate below 0.50 was not displayed correctly. Fixed an issue when the disassemble item button was displayed incorrectly. Fixed an issue where the buttons on switching mods warning were not working as intended. Fixed the non-functional hinted keys when Breaching Protocol. Removed redundant input hints in the Cyberdeck panel.

GRAPHICS, AUDIO, ANIMATION

Reinforced Composite-Lined Rocker Foldtop is now properly aligned with V’s legs. Fixed an issue where the Monowire could slightly dislocate male V’s arms and clip through clothes. Fixed an issue in The Heist where Flathead’s case could float outside the hotel room in Konpeki Plaza, blocking the doorway. Fixed an issue where changing music volume in Sound settings affected car radio alongside with the background music. Fixed an issue where Takemura`s voice was doubled while talking to V in the van in Down on the Street. Fixed an issue where some netrunning suits clipped with female V’s legs and male V’s pants. Fixed an issue with the running animation after jumping on downwards or upwards slope. Fixed dust particles, which were sometimes incorrectly displayed. Characters’ skin will no longer become too bright in dark areas. In The Information, Smasher’s shadow will no longer appear on the elevator’s door after rewinding braindance to the beginning. Fixed Arasaka soldiers spawning on player’s sight when going back upstairs to save Takemura in Search and Destroy.

ENVIRONMENT AND LEVELS

Fixed various map holes in Watson, City Center, Westbrook, Heywood and Santo Domingo. Fixed faulty pathing for vehicles on the City Center ring road. Fixed multiple places where the player’s character could get stuck permanently. Fixed multiple issues with disappearing environments. Fixed multiple issues with objects popping in on player’s sight. GPS in Biotechnica Flats will no longer lead players to unreachable areas.

QUESTS

Rearranged shards into correct categories. Fixed an issue where calls to quest NPCs would abruptly end, making the NPC appear in other calls and potentially breaking other holocalls from the NPC. Fixed an issue where interrupted holocall would resume along with another call, which could make the NPC appear in other calls and break the next holocall from that NPC.

OPEN WORLD

Fixed an issue allowing multiple debrief holocalls from fixers to play at once, which could lead to blocked completion of various gigs (like Gig: A Lack of Empathy, Gig: Fixer, Merc, Soldier, Spy and others). We continue working on visual issues related to gigs stuck in the Journal, note that the latter don’t prevent district achievements from unlocking. Removed redundant loot from the body in the ferris wheel. Fixed an issue where Quadra Type-66 could be destroyed before buying it, blocking the progression of its “Buy Vehicle” quest and possibly the completion of the Autojock achievement. Fixed an issue in a shootout in Wellsprings where enemies were immortal because the trigger area was too small.

CINEMATIC DESIGN

Fixed an issue causing NPCs to not look at V during various scenes. Fixed an exploit where player was granted a Unity Pistol after each save/load. V’s facial animations while looking in the mirror will now be played properly. Fixed an issue where Rogue was spawning next to the player after calling her and asking about Adam Smasher. Fixed an issue where some NPCs could stop performing animations after a longer game session. Fixed multiple issues with NPCs mounting vehicles incorrectly. Fixed various issues where NPCs could be placed incorrectly and clip through objects after loading a saved game. Fixed an issue that could cause NPC animations to be played in the wrong spot in various quests. Fixed an issue where Jackie could spawn before the player’s eyes during the half-year montage. Fixed an issue where NPCs’ appearances got randomized when looking away. Fixed an issue where quests and scenes could progress before the loading screen disappeared.

MISCELLANEOUS

A gift from Judy can now be found in V’s apartment after player receives a text about it after completing her romance side quests. Fixed some story inconsistencies in radio broadcasts. Fixed the blackout effect persisting during Love Like Fire when using certain language settings.

PC-SPECIFIC

Fixed the issue where tutorial tooltips weren’t correctly displayed on 8k screens. Fixed an issue that caused the game to crash if a save thumbnail was corrupted. Fixed toggling Windowed and Fullscreen modes with the Alt+Enter shortcut. It’s now possible to exit locked scanning overlay by pressing TAB. Added a more compact PC version of the mouse cursor.

CONSOLE-SPECIFIC

Inner Dead Zone setting will now be applicable also to the game menus. [PlayStation] NPCs will no longer speak after being killed. Improved streaming of city lights. Overwriting a save game when there’s insufficient memory space will no longer corrupt the save. Masks and tubes inside the barn in The Hunt will no longer be invisible. Rogue will no longer clip through Johnny and will hold the glass correctly in Ghost Town. Fixed an issue in The Rescue where loading a save in front of the police blockade resulted in the NCPD officer not starting dialogue, blocking progress. Fixed an issue on PS4 where the meeting scene with Judy and Dolls in Pisces wouldn’t start properly. [Xbox] Fixed an issue in A Cool Metal Fire where a part of the scene in Cassius Ryder’s clinic could be cut off after the fade out. Fixed an issue where weapons were equipped to a wrong slot when assigning them from the Backpack.

[that-one-girl-behind-you]

Illicio 10/?

Part 9

Bit of a content warning for the first section because Martin's Lonely thoughts are starting to feel a little like suicidal ideation, just in case.

"What part of 'don't antagonize Martin' translated into 'go and lie to his landlady to break into his house' to you?" Jon asks that evening. The bus is nearly empty, and Gerry's arm is a comforting weight across his shoulders, a nice contrast against the hard plastic seat.

"I knew he'd tattle," Gerry rolls his eyes. "Go figure, pull a guy out of the Lonely with a nice cup of tea and some good conversation, and the first thing he does is go tell on you with his crush. 

Martin bundles himself a little tighter in his coat, as he waits for the kettle to boil. The worst thing about the Lonely is definitely the bone-deep chill that follows wherever you go, no matter how many layers you wear, or how high you crank up the heater. The cold is inside you, and Martin is starting to run out of ways to chase it out.

The kitchenette attached to Peter's office is smaller than the one at the Archives' break room, but also much better equipped; it has a high end coffeemaker and all sorts of coffee and tea sorted in delicately crafted tins. Martin has the thought that he would've been excited to try them all before, but now he just cracks the tin open and pulls out a bag at random. This is just... something else he's supposed to do, like eating, like breathing. It doesn't matter that they don't bring any satisfaction, because nothing really does anymore, when he's like this.

He goes to pour the hot water into a single mug, and drops the bag inside, watching it sink and bob with a curious sense of detachment. It smells like nothing, and it tastes like nothing when he takes a sip. His hands barely even register the warmth of the cup, and Martin places it back at the countertop. He'd expected it would make him feel something, but there goes that hope.

The only spark of emotion comes when he finally listens to the prickle of unease in his chest, and goes to close the small room's exit where it connects with Peter's office. Standing alone behind two locked doors, he almost feels at ease. Nobody can find him here- or they wouldn't, if anyone was looking for him of course. Jon hasn't come to him since the last time they met before the coffin, and Gerard seems to have a supernatural sense to know when Martin just finished an Extinction statement to come pester it out of him.

It's a bit pathetic, that Jon's- that Gerard is the only one who seeks him out, and even then it's only out of necessity. The Lonely likes it, and it likes even more that Martin doesn't feel any special way about it.

Outside, someone walks past the door to Peter's office, and Martin's stomach clenches. The room around him loses a little more color. Maybe… maybe he'll go home early today. Peter won't care; he would probably encourage it, now that Martin thinks about it. Just... it'll be easier there. More quiet. Calmer.

Martin leans his head back, and the room around him begins to dissolve.

--------------------------------------

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Gerry asks with a smile, and Melanie nods, entranced.

"We should find another," she declares. The Flesh book -aptly titled just 'Guts'- burns nicely in a metallic garbage bin between the two of them.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you." Gerry snorts. "I've been hearing some rumours about the Desolation. Some weird fires around the city; might be worth taking a look at."

Melanie squirts some more lighter fluid onto the book, delighting when the fire roars and flares up.

"How is it different?" she asks, the question popping suddenly into her mind.

"Sorry?" Gerry arches an eyebrow.

"I know the Desolation is destruction, and Slaughter is violence." It's odd, to talk so freely about the entity that would've claimed her soul; like mentioning someone you knew in passing, one of those who were impossibly important once, but now are just a memory you're not sure how you feel about. "But I wanted to destroy too, when I was- you know."

"I know." Gerry lets out a careful huff, running a hand through his hair. "They tend to bleed into each other, some more than others. Some care about the end result only, like the Desolation, some care about the process, like the Slaughter or the Hunt. Smirke had a good idea with the list, but sometimes I think he oversimplified."

"So what's your take on it?"

"Colors," Gerry shrugs, then adds with a small smile, "if colors hated you."

Melanie has no idea what that's supposed to mean, but his tone makes it fairly clear that it's got something to do with Jon, and she rolls her eyes. Ridiculous, but apparently something she'll have to get used to, considering the sneak peeks she's gotten through the Institute's windows in the past week.

"How's Georgie?" Gerry asks after a moment, once the flames have started dying down. "You've been going out more lately, right?"

"Yes. I'm-" Melanie feels her body tense, and takes a deep breath, until it relaxes again. This- she can tell Gerry this. It's not a big deal. They're- they might be friends, now. "She takes me to therapy. I've been feeling- I added an extra day. I feel like it's working."

Gerry gives her a quick look and a quicker smile, before focusing on the remnants of the burning book again. "That's good. I tried therapy once, but it turns out there is just no way to work 'my mother accidentally framed me for her gruesome murder and then came back to life and continued to stalk me until I handed her over to an old woman to be destroyed' into a credible lie. Not that you would know the difference, of course," he adds with a wink over his shoulder.

"I'll have you know my therapist doesn't suspect a thing, so I'm clearly not as bad of a liar as you think." Melanie rolls her eyes, smiling. There's a certain giddiness to her chest, a kind of light-heartedness she'd almost forgotten.

"Mmmm nah, you're very bad." Gerry reaches a hand towards her, and she passes him the bottle of lighter fluid. He squirts the rest of it in the trash can, unflinching when the flames roar up again, before he turns back to look at Melanie. "But I'm glad it's helping. I'm guessing the after-session dates with your girlfriend are nothing to scoff at either, are they?"

"They help," Melanie's smile turns a little smug. It may be sappy, but she's allowed a bit of happiness, thank you very much.

"I can imagine," Gerry rests his closed fist against her shoulder and gives her a little shove. Melanie kicks at his boot, rolling her eyes.

This is... comfortable. Life is far from perfect, and the number of things that make Melanie happy are still in the single digits but this- this might be one of them.

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something..." Melanie starts after the fire has died down again and the relaxed silence has stretched for a few minutes, making her voice as casual as possible. "Remember when you told us that you fed on Jon's voice? Recharging a battery, kind of?"

"I... do?" Gerry looks down at her with an arched eyebrow.

"Okay. And remember that other time you told me there was nothing going on with Jon, but you let me believe that so I didn't find out you were leeching on him to survive?"

"Ah." Gerry averts his eyes, and the line of his shoulders stiffens. Melanie frowns, puzzled; it's been a while since she's had any friends to joke with, but this is most definitely not the mood she was trying to set up. "I didn't want any trouble, Melanie. You and Basira were very on board with killing me that first day because you thought I wasn't human, and I was just- well, I knew if you got actual confirmation of that, then-"

"Oh- oh no, that's not what I'm talking about," Melanie shakes her head, rolling her eyes. "I get why you did that. You were right, too, I would've killed you," she shrugs.

Gerry turns to look at her again, amused and confused in equal measure. "Okay? So what's this about then?"

"I just wanted to ask," Melanie struggles a little to keep her face blank now that she's put them back on track. "Do you also feed on holding hands with Jon, or is that just so he doesn't get lost into another entity when you're on your way from the bus stop?"

Gerry freezes when her words register in his mind, his face a carefully blank mask whose only emotion lies in the slight panic brewing behind his eyes.

"I-"

"Yes?" Melanie lifts her eyebrows, nodding along with pursed lips. The flush starting to darken his cheekbones is fascinating to watch, a much deeper hue than would correspond to his skin tone, probably on account of the ink that runs through his veins.

"Have you been- listen, we have- the fires." Gerry turns abruptly to start walking away from the smoldering can, and Melanie smirks. "We should look into it, could be a new avatar."

"Mhm. Alright. Just a little question I had, don't let it keep you up at night." Melanie follows, not even angry that she has to trot to keep up with him.

"I won't."

"Good, good."

--------------------------------------------

"You're far too early. Nothing to find today?" Jon looks up when the door to his office is pushed open, a smile already on his lips. Gerry shrugs, taking his jacket off. Jon's gaze trails over the burn-smooth skin of Gerry's arms, the tattooed eyes at his elbows seeming to almost look at him when Gerry's muscles contract and stretch as he moves to hang the jacket by Jon's coat.

"Hello there?" Gerry asks, and Jon's eyes snap up his face. He's got an amused smile and a raised eyebrow, and Jon whips his burning face back down to his statement. "Melanie's busy today, so I did some recon by myself, but there's nothing tangible asides from Rayner's freaks."

"This is- yes, alright." He's not terribly worried about the Church of the Divine Host, he thinks, his fist clenching tightly around the pen he's using to make annotations on the statement; they cannot come into his Archives, because they won't risk being Seen. It still irks him that they dare come this close to the Institute, like a taunt to-

"What are you working on?" Gerry's long, black hair curtains down by the side of Jon's face, and all thoughts of Seeing the Darkness into oblivion evaporate from his mind.

"I just- I'm going over old statements," Jon clears his throat. "I'm trying to find anything that feels like the Extinction."

"I see... Found anything yet?" Gerry leans closer to look at the paper on the desk, and Jon freezes at the warmth at his back.

"I don't-" this is where Jon admits he hasn't been able to focus for the past three hours, isn't it? "Martin left early yesterday. And he didn't come to work today."

"Ah," Gerry sighs, before retreating to go sit across the desk. His eyes are soft and sympathetic, because it's just Jon's luck to be surrounded by good, caring people that he doesn't deserve. "How did you-"

"I just Knew it. I think- I think it was too much today." Jon averts his gaze again; Gerry's gentle concern is too much to deal with, what with everything that's been tumbling around in his head. "Which is why I'm looking into this, but the Watcher doesn't seem to be too interested in the new competitor." Jon scowls down at his desk. No helpful tidbits from the Eye either when picking out statements to revisit, or when going over things he already knew.

"Hey." Gerry slides a warm, heavy hand on top of Jon's, and Jon, because he's a selfish coward, doesn't move away. "You're doing what you can. We all are, Martin too."

Jon nods slowly, after a moment. Martin is- Martin knows what he's doing. He's far from stupid or weak, Jon knows that now. Even though he's still human, Martin moves through this world of fears with a sense of cunning and determination that Jon couldn't even begin to emulate, despite being a key player himself.

"I must admit, I... it's nice that you have changed your mind about him." Gerry hasn't told him what brought on the change, but Jon finds that he doesn't care. It's just one less thing to be worried about.

Gerry shrugs, giving his hand a squeeze. "Turns out we have a few things in common."

"You do." Jon nods; that much has been clear to him for a while. A fatal flaw that bears his name and his face.

Gerry's gaze is heavy on him, far from the usual playfulness in their interactions, and Jon feels his heartbeat start racing.

"Jon, we-"

"Jon?" the door opens again, and Daisy pokes her head through. "Oh. Sorry."

"No, it's- do you need anything, Daisy?" Jon asks, extricating his hand from Gerry's in the softest movement he can manage.

"I can come back later," Daisy shrugs.

"Actually, let's trade." Gerry pushes off his chair, and onto his feet. "You stay here. I'll see you when it's time to go home." He doesn't seek Jon's eyes when he says this, moving instead to grab his jacket and shove his arms through the sleeves.

"Careful," Jon mutters quietly.

Gerry stops at the door, his shoulders dropping in what might be a sigh, and he turns to look at him over his shoulder, his eyes softening just the slightest amount. "...Yeah. Yeah, you too."

And he's gone.

Daisy comes in once the sound of Gerry's boots stomping against the Institute's polished floors fades from earshot. "That was very dramatic."

Jon crosses his arms over his chest. "No, it wasn't."

Daisy rolls her eyes. "You're making this too big of a deal, just like the monster thing."

"I- excuse me?" Jon's face goes slack in disbelief, but Daisy merely leans a hip against his desk, looking down at him with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Poor, poor Jon, with these two men who lo-"

"Daisy! We don't- there's no-" Jon sputters, as it becomes increasingly clear he doesn't have anything to say, and just wanted to stop her from finishing the thought. "What did you need?"

Daisy shrugs. "Basira went to see Elias, and Melanie's out too."

"I see..." Jon sighs; the only reasons he's able to brave being alone are both the fact that recording statements keeps the walls from closing in, and the terrifying knowledge that Gerry would stay in the office just to keep him company if he asked. "Well I- it's good that you came. I need your opinion on something."

As soon as it becomes clear that she's wanted here, Daisy's entire body relaxes; Jon smiles to himself as she goes to take the seat Gerry left. Daisy deserves some kindness, she's just... another victim. He's the only one who chose this.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Did yo- have you seen Martin lately?" Jon reaches into a desk drawer for a tape recorder that wasn't there a minute ago. This one, he Knows, will contain Martin's recording on the Extinction.

"Not really. Where is he?" Daisy frowns.

Jon's eyes fall to the recorder in his hand. He doesn't know if he feels guiltier for Knowing about Martin, or for not going to him after what he found out.

"Taking a break from all of this, hopefully."

----------------------------------------

"-tin Blackwood? Yes, he lives here. We haven't seen him in a few weeks, though." The woman's eyes narrow in suspicion. "Did he die?"

Gerry snorts. God forbid landlords have any tact. He thinks back at one of the many things he learned about Martin while trying to Know the address to his flat.

"No, he's fine. But he had to go out of town for a while, because his mother passed away." He closes his eyes for a moment, trying to look solemn. "I'm going to go stay with him for a few days, but he wanted me to pick up his phone and some other things for him."

"I see... and who are you again?" The woman asks; the mistrust is a fair response, honestly, considering what Gerry's here to do.

"Well, you know..." he gives her a little smile and a non-committal gesture, pointing at himself and an imaginary Martin by his side. Whatever, it worked with Melanie and Basira, it'll fool a random landlady.

"Ah. Huh." The woman runs her eyes over him, evaluating him under the light of the new revelation; Gerry probably -hopefully- doesn't look anything like a self deprecating mop that specializes in giving off mixed signals and avoiding necessary conversations, but this woman clearly doesn't know Martin enough to know his tastes, because she just shrugs. "Then don't you have a key already?"

"Oh yes, I have one,' Gerry hurries to say. "He just wanted me to tell you that he's, you know, coming back and-" and here he crosses a leg over the other, bringing a knee up against the desk with enough force that the landlady's mug topples over the edge and spills its contents on her lap. "Oh shit, I'm sorry! Did you-"

"I'm alright," the woman says through gritted teeth, her skirt dripping lukewarm coffee on the carpeted floor when she climbs to her feet.

"I'm really sorry," Gerry apologizes again, but the woman is already heading towards the door without sparing him a glance. Good.

He Knows she keeps the spare keys in the bottom left drawer of the desk, and it only takes him a couple seconds lto find the one labeled with the number to Martin's flat, before unhooking it from the ring and pushing the drawer closed again.

By the time the woman comes back, patting at her damp lap with a towel, Gerry's already sitting back on his chair, sporting his best apprehensive look. "Did you need anything else?" she snaps.

"No, I'm just-"

"Sorry, yes. Thank you, could you leave?" the landlady's lips are pursed into a tense line. "I need to change."

"Yes! Sorry, I'll just-" he hops to his feet, crossing the office hurriedly. "Sorry!" Gerry apologises again before she closes the office door in his face, and he smiles. That's one less thing to worry about.

Martin's door opens easily enough with the key, and fog spills out like some sort of cheap haunted house trick. Not great, Gerry decides. The interior is freezing cold, and he bundles a bit tighter in his jacket, before closing the door behind him. There's a picture of a woman on a small table by the door, right behind the key bowl, and Gerry remembers the tape he listened to, with Elias' cruel, mocking voice and Martin's pained, choked back sobs.

It's a little selfish, but it's nice to know that Gerry's not the only one who can't bring himself to get rid of the memory of a mother who never loved him.

"Martin?" he calls out, bundling himself tighter in his clothes. "Are you-"

"What are you doing in my flat?!" Martin says by his side, where Gerry's pretty sure he wasn't a second ago. "How did you get in here?"

"It was open," Gerry shrugs. Martin looks... gray. His eyes, his hair, even his skin seems desaturated, blending in against the muted hues of his lightless flat.

"No it wasn't." Martin says firmly, and a bit of green starts seeping back into his eyes. Gerry lets out a relieved exhale. He's not too far gone, yet. "In fact, I made sure it was locked, because I've been being stalked lately."

"That sounds terrible," Gerry says, and because it seems like Martin is gaining more and more color the more exasperated he grows, he walks past him into what turns out to be the kitchen. "Want me to beat them up for you? I'll do it, just point me at 'em. Do you have coffee here? I'm not much for tea."

"I don't- why are you here?!" Martin sputters angrily, closing the cupboard doors Gerry purposefully leaves open as he moves down the room. "I'm not exactly going to record Extinction statements at home!"

"Well, I'm not here for that." Gerry gives him another look. He looks mostly solid now, enough that it might be a good time to let him know. "Jon was worried about you, so I came to check how you were."

"...Oh." Martin's flustered face goes slack at the news, and Gerry snorts. These two are the freaking same. "I- does he know?"

"That you're trying to save the world?" Gerry arches an eyebrow. "Or that you're doing it for him?" that has Martin's face regaining the color it was lacking.

"Both, I guess," Martin mutters, bringing a hand to rub at his arm nervously. "...I think I do have coffee, but it's- I don't drink it, I just had it for when Sasha- for when friends came over. I don't know if it's any good."

"I've probably had worse." Gerry knows what it's like to be alone. He's been that way for most of his life, but it's... he chose to live like that, it was never a burden for him. Here, as Martin talks of friends ripped from him by a world that feeds on despair, he feels a pang of sadness for this man who clearly didn't. "I have an hour before I have to go get Jon."

"Alright," Martin lets out a noise between a sigh and a groa, before he finally moves towards the cupboards again, and starts pulling out mugs and tins and spoons. "But you have to tell me how you got in."

"I'll let you guess," Gerry smirks as he sits at the breakfast table.

"How is he?" comes Martin's voice amidst the clinking of metal and porcelain. There's a careful quality to it, like he thinks he's not allowed to ask, and Gerry sighs.

"He's alright. Very defensive when we talk about his rib-related choices."

The sound of a mug dropped on the countertop, and Martin spins around. "Excuse me, his what?"

Gerry arches an eyebrow. "I hadn't told you? Could've sworn I mentioned it when we spoke about the marks." He wipes a hand under his nose, but it comes away ink-free. Edging around the topic is okay then, good to know.

"I don't- you didn't mention any ribs," Martin's voice is this close to a groan, Gerry notes with a smile. "What did he do now?"

"You better finish making that tea, you're going to need it."

--------------------------------------

The door to the cell slams shut, and Elias rolls his eyes. Frankly... he'd known Peter wasn't in the best of moods, but this is childish.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to either calm down or leave."

"How are you doing it?" Peter lands heavily on the chair across the table, blue eyes stormy with badly concealed rage and a muscle twitching on his jaw. Elias tries, he really does, but he can't hold back a snort. "Elias!"

"I'm sorry, sorry," Elias chuckles. "It's just amusing, really, that you seem to think I have the power to stop your puppeteering from in here. You mistake me for the Web's own, Peter."

He gives him the smile he knows Peter despises, just the slightest curve to his lips, and a single arched eyebrow.

"Don't play coy with me, Elias. Martin was progressing incredibly well, and all of a sudden he's stuck? Don't pretend you had nothing to do with it."

"Oh, but I didn't!" Elias reaches over to pull out the scotch bottle and the two tumblers, and Peter's hand closes around his wrist with bruising strength. "I'm afraid I did warn you the Watcher wouldn't let its own go so easily."

"How?" Peter's eyes narrow as his grip tightens even more. "I will not ask again, Elias."

Elias laughs, amused. Peter is awfully easy to rile up- if you know how to play him, and Elias has had decades to learn.

"Tell me something Peter... what do you know of Gertrude's last ill-fated assistant?"

--------------------------------------------

There's a person standing across the street from the Institute. They're wearing dark clothes, and over their chest rests a pendant fashioned to look like a closed eye. It's a ridiculous notion, to come to the tower of the Ceaseless Watcher, and believe their god will protect them here.

Jon comes to a stop before the Institute's doors, the taste of Markus Burnett's encounter with the End still fresh in his mind, and considers crossing the street towards them. It would certainly send a message to the rest of-

"Jon?" the voice is puzzled and soft, and it feels like a curtain is lifted from Jon's mind, as he sees the person scurry away; he turns to find Martin looking down at him in concern. "Are you alright? Oh- your... your eyes."

"Ah- yes I just- it's-" Jon gestures vaguely towards the spot where his would-be victim was just standing.

"Oh. That's- that's not good, is it?" Martin frowns. "It's probably good you didn't-"

"I wasn't going to. Or- I hope I wasn't," Jon scowls as well. He definitely wanted to. He can still feel Martin's eyes on him, but for all that he's fantasized about this encounter, he can't think of anything to say. "You look better."

"I guess." Martin's frown melts into a mask of dry resignation. "Gerard broke into my flat two days ago. He won't tell me how he did it."

Of course, the Eye chooses that moment to let him Know exactly how Gerry got a key to Martin's flat, and Jon feels his face grow warm. It's a bit of a whiplash mood, to go from preparing to Behold a person to thinking about- yes, okay.

"I- yes. He does that," Jon clears his throat, "keep him away from your sofa."

"I'll keep that in mind. Just-" Martin gives a nervous look around, and Jon frowns.

"He's not around." Jon says, the static rising in his ears as he Sees both what Martin wants, and the answer to it. It still feels odd to use his powers willingly, but he'll do it for Martin anytime. "He's on his way back from meeting Elias."

"Oh- okay?" Martin blinks. "Thanks. I- he can't do that, Jon."

"Peter-?"

"Gerard." Martin's face grows pained, serious. "Peter is- he's happy I'm going along with his plan. If Gerard keeps trying to meddle in... I made a deal, and I have to keep it. Please tell him to leave me alone."

"Martin, you don't have to-"

"But I am," Martin sighs. "You said you'd respect that."

And he does, he really does respect the sacrifice Martin is making, but- but watching him hurt himself is just too much. This is the first time Martin has looked like himself in months, and Jon is suddenly confronted with just how much he's missed him.

"I'll talk to him." Jon says, before anything else can get out. "I'm- I'm sorry, Martin."

Martin nods wordlessly, before turning back to walk into the Institute. Jon watches him go, a million things he should've said running across his mind now that they're utterly, completely useless.

I dreamt of you in the Buried. Thank you for the tapes. You don't have to be strong all the time, please let me help you. I miss you so much it scares me, but it's a kind of fear I want to feel, the kind of fear I'd dedicate my life to.

None of it matters, because by the time Jon walks in after him, all that's left of Martin are a couple wisps of fog.

----------------------------------------------

"What part of 'don't antagonize Martin' translated into 'go and lie to his landlady to break into his house' to you?" Jon asks that evening. The bus is nearly empty, and Gerry's arm is a comforting weight across his shoulders, a nice contrast against the hard plastic seat.

"I knew he'd tattle," Gerry rolls his eyes. "Go figure, pull a guy out of the Lonely with a nice cup of tea and some good conversation, and the first thing he does is go tell on you with his crush. You didn't tell him I had the key, did you? I don't want him to change the locks."

"I did not." Jon rolls his eyes. "But you can't- Gerry, I promised I'd leave him alone."

"And you did. Very respectful of his boundaries."

"And you should do so too. We're- we agreed we'd investigate about the Extinction so he didn't have to do everything on his own, not that we'd intrude on his plan."

"It's not a great plan, if you ask me."

"I didn't ask." Jon slaps lightly at Gerry's thigh with the back of his hand. "Listen, I trust Martin-"

"And I trust him too, sure. But I'm not going to- I can't just leave it alone, Jon." Gerry turns to look at him, and Jon -as he often does- finds himself distracted by the lights of the street outside gleaming off the metallic rings and beads on his face. "I'm not going to let them win. Not if I can help it, especially with someone they seem as hell-bent on getting as Martin."

Jon sighs. Of course he won't; Gerry's far too stubborn, far too-

"Just- Martin knows what he's doing."

"And I know what I'm doing too." Gerry shrugs, his shoulders set and his brow furrowed. "I'm not- I can't exactly stop him from aligning with the Lonely if that's what he wants. I'm just slowing it down. Getting us more time."

"And what happens when Peter Lukas finds out you're breaking into his flat to sit him down for tea?"

"Well, he doesn't have to find out," Gerry says, smirking. The gesture leaves the ring on his lower lip just the slightest bit off-center, Jon realizes. He runs his tongue over his own bottom lip, that feels too dry all of a sudde. "As far as anyone knows, it was just a very considerate man looking out for his partner."

"You can't possibly believe that was anywhere close to a good lie," Jon hisses, trying his best to ignore the fact that he doesn't know if he's annoyed or just embarrassed by the ruse.

"It's not unbelievable. Anyone could be my boyfriend," Gerry shrugs. "Martin could have good taste."

"I very much think he doesn't." Jon grumbles.

"I think he does, actually," Gerry's arm gives his shoulders a squeeze that has Jon's face burning, "besides, the position is open."

Jon coughs. "This is our stop," he says, ignoring the way Gerry rolls his eyes before climbing to his feet.

The conversation is pretty much over after that, but Jon finds -as he usually does, lately- that he has to let go of Gerry's hand to pull the keys out of his pocket.

--------------------------------------------

"Did you do your exercises today?"

Daisy exhales slowly, her hands on her stomach and her gaze nailed to the ceiling. The cot she shares with Basira feels small at the best of times, but now under her too-heavy stare, it's like laying on a coffin, waiting for the lid to be slammed down again.

"They won't work."

"What?" Basira doesn't come closer, doesn't sit by the edge of the cot, and Daisy feels more and more like a disgusting, wasted carcass of her old self.

"The exercises. I- it's not going to work." The truth of her words weighs on her, the call of her blood begging her to follow, to lose herself again. "The only way I'm going to get better is if I hunt again, and I don't- I'm not doing that."

In the long silence that follows, Daisy darts a quick look at Basira. She's standing by the door, her white-knuckled hand shaking around the crumpled edge of a bag of Daisy's favorite takeout.

"There has to be another way," she says in the end. "What are we supposed to do, just wait for you to die?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask Elias?" Daisy shrugs. There's a dark pang of delight in her stomach when Basira stiffens, and she sighs. Not exactly a chase, but the Hunt will feed wherever it can. "I'm sorry."

"Do you think I haven't?" Basira's voice is tense and hurt. "Do you think I haven't spent every waking moment since you came out trying to find a way to make you-"

"Back to how I was?" Daisy says quietly, and the way it's enough to stop Basira's rising tirade really says a lot.

"That is not what I want," Basira forces through gritted teeth.

"But it's what you need, isn't it?" After a moment's hesitation, Daisy pushes up into a sitting position, and turns to face Basira. "You were there when I needed you, and now I can't do that for you."

"This is not- I don't keep a tally, Daisy." Basira finally takes a firm step forward and then another and another, until she's standing so close Daisy could reach her if she stretched her arm. She doesn't. "I don't have- I'm just trying to keep everyone from dying, or-"

Basira's voice breaks, and Daisy flinches, eyes wide. In their years working together, she can count on one hand the times she's seen her lose control.

"You were gone," she snaps, "you were dead, I mourned you. I had to- there was no one else. Everyone was dead, Melanie was more and more unstable, and Martin was doing his secretive bullshit. What was I supposed to do? I was the only one. If I gave up, then it was like letting Elias win, and I was not going to let that happen."

"Basira-"

"Of course I wanted you back. As soon as that lying worm told me there might be a way to pull you out, I-"

"I heard your voice in the Buried."

Basira freezes. She looks- Daisy has been her partner for years, and the thing with her is, Basira always knows what to do. Even when she doesn't, she knows what should be done next. Never a second guess or a moment of doubt, or anything less than cold, hard certainty. Now Basira looks lost, and Daisy can only wonder what that means for her, who's always depended on Basira's solidity to ground herself.

"I'm- I want to be here for you. I want to help, Basira, but I can't- I don't want to go back to the Hunt. Or rather, I want it too much, and I know I won't-" Daisy groans. She's never been good with words, one would think spending an eternity with the Archivist would've helped, but apparently it's too much to wish for. "I just want to be myself, for however long I can. I'm- sorry it's not what you-"

Basira crashes against her, and Daisy feels her breath leave her all at once, as they topple over onto the cot, the crumpled falafel bag landing on the floor to be forgotten.

"I'll figure something out," Basira's breath is hot against her shoulder. Daisy can smell her coconut shampoo through her headscarf, and it's all she can do to hold her tighter, because they live in a world in which these moments are fleeting and fragile, and all the more precious for it. "For this. For you."

Daisy nods furiously, her eyes shut tight and her blood singing an entirely different song.

"Basira," she says, the only word she knows, the only word that matters.

Basira nods like she understands, and Daisy can't bring herself to care about anything else.

[guettaes]

More Possible Details on Resident Evil 8 [RUMOUR]5 min read

any Resident Evil fans were looking towards the now postponed Playstation 5 event scheduled for this week in hopes for more information or possibly a trailer for Resident Evil 8 to be revealed. Unfortunately, due to the current state of affairs, Sony has opted to postpone the event. So for now, it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see if anything comes to fruition.

In the meantime, following on from our previous articles compiled by others on our staff, including the name of the upcoming title that was also reported to our friends at Rely on Horror, we have received more on story developments from the latest build of Resident Evil 8 that adds new information and expands on previous reports.

DISCLAIMER: The following details have not been confirmed to date. However, due to the reliable and vetted sources we use here at Biohazard Declassified, we have taken all reasonable measures to ensure that the information, so far as is practicable, is of good quality. As with all rumors, a pinch of salt should be taken.

Exploring Occultism

Occultism will play a big part, but there is no magic. There is a cult that worships the abominations created from the new virus. At first, there are hints at something supernatural but it is explained by the virus, which is in the air, causing hallucinations from time to time.

The Antagonists

The main villain of the game is a man called Alan R., a mysterious count living in a castle. He is the leader or at least a high ranking member of ‘The Connections.’ Alan is also mentioned in an article published by GameRant on May 15th.

The secondary villain is Natalia/Alex Wesker. There are also files hinting that Blue Umbrella is not as clean-cut as they portray themselves to be.

New Playable Character, Emily

Parts of the game are played as a Mountain Resident called Emily, a woman in her late 20s, who aids Ethan. She is looking for her father. Emily grew up in the village and will assist Ethan and later work with him to find her father and escape.

The Flashlight Will Play a Large Role

You have a flashlight and the game is often pretty dark, forcing you to use it, akin to many other games that are in the same genre. The flashlight can run out of batteries, but slowly recharges by itself over time.

The Locations

Aside from the titular ‘Villiage’ (Stylised as VIIIAGE), Resident Evil 8 is set to explore other locations such as Castles, Caves, and Forests. It will have a larger focus on “Outdoor” locations that the rest of the series.

The Child and Evil Chris Redfield?

Mia and Ethan have a child. Due to their infections during Resident Evil 7, it is deformed and by all accounts, not a normal child. They live a pretty lonely life in a remote place and try to hide their child. However, Chris Redfield breaks into Ethan’s house, ending in the execution of Ethan’s Mutant child, followed by shooting Mia. Apparently, he is operating on his own and that is not part of an official operation.

When Ethan wakes up, Chris is gone. He did not leave Mia to die but bandaged her. There are some shadowy figures in the room. Ethan is abducted there and then wakes up in the ‘Village'

Ethan’s Trek

Ethan has to make his way through the mountains. There have been disappearances in this region that are unexplained. You will also start off defenseless before getting your first weapon a bit into playing.

The Enemies of Resident Evil 8

The main enemies are zombies and pale human-like enemies, that resemble Ganados. Dogs, wolves, and enemies that resemble Lickers do appear as well. There are zombies with swords, knives and clubs. They appear mainly in the later section of the game, where you enter “The Castle”.

These “werewolf-like” enemies we are going to refer to going forward as “beast men”, judging by the description it seems to be more fitting. And it seems their build is to more disgusting than normal enemies. This seems to match up with the description of the game being a “serious departure” and “the darkest and most gruesome” entry in the series thus far as reported by AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem.

Web infomartion. Biohazard declassified

Me: when i read this it was okay but when i read that chris killed a kid just because it was bio organic in it. I don't think Chris killed her... I think it helped heal Ethan's wife and child. as I thought these may be examples but I hope. the first is that it is possible that a Chris Redfield clone could be the one in parts 7-8 that was the first time I thought about this. the second if it was real Chris Redfield... and if they meet each other, you have to expect who Chris Redfield fans might be going to die Chris. he hoped he could be a clone or somehow erased his memory and told him that his umbrella was working. hoped Chris Redfield had a clone.

Chreon fans (Chris x Leon) sure Leon would find out, sure he wouldn’t understand and believe what he was doing, and if he believed and had a child together then Leon wouldn’t even let Ollie be close and wouldn’t let everything. (I liked this now and I want to keep it because I want to put it in my story as well.)

[purplesurveys]

1114

survey by dishwallafied

WHO was the last person...

you spoke to, in person? I think it was my sister, like earlier at 1 AM. She was the last person apart from me to head upstairs for bed.

you called? I tried calling our internet service provider’s hotline to inquire about our lost connection last weekend, but all I got was a useless automated message saying they’re on top of all concerns and will be addressing ours soon, which did not make any fucking sense because I didn’t get to report my issue anyway. Their social media was virtually useless too, and my dad had to physically go to one of their offices last Monday to settle the issue.

that called you? My phone’s not near me at the moment (omg a rarity) but it was the delivery person for Reggy’s croissants. GPS has always hated our street and has never been able to identify it, so whenever anyone in the family makes a purchase for delivery we’re bound to get a call or two from the rider assigned to our order to ask for directions.

you texted? It was the same delivery guy. He had tried to call me but I was in a meeting that I couldn’t get out of, so I explained to him I could only text. I also gave him a Waze link containing the exact positioning of our house so that he could set it up on his phone.

that sent you a text? I think it was just my mobile services provider sending out some random promotional text. Idk, I never open those.

you kissed? Gabie.

that kissed you? Also her. I don’t plan on kissing anyone new any time soon.

you yelled at? I haven’t recently been in a situation where I’ve had to yell at anyone...I do slightly raise my voice a lot on video call meetings just so I’m sure everybody on the call can hear me. That’s the closest I’ve got.

that yelled at you? My mom, when she was being a real drama queen about MY money a couple of weeks ago.

you watched a movie with? I watched it by myself, but I remember calling my ex for comfort because the movie was a little scary and creepy. I also remember how bothered she sounded that I was calling her, as if I was a huge burden, so...there’s that. Y’all do me a favor and be with someone who gets delighted when you call instead of making you feel like you’re a waste of space okie?? Good

you ate dinner with? My family. My dad laksa for dinner, which was perfect because I had been watching 2 Days 1 Night yesterday and the cast members kept eating ramyeon, which made me develop a serious craving for noodles all day.

you were in a photo with? I think it had been a family selfie. My family and I were about to leave the accommodation we stayed at in Tagaytay, and my mom wanted a final photo in the living room before we stepped out.

you took a photo of? My employer sent out heart-shaped red velvet cakes for all of us for Valentine’s Day, so I took a photo of it with Cooper in the background to share to the work group chat. I definitely did not expect any goodie sendout considering I never viewed Valentine’s as a special day even when I was still in a relationship, so it was a nice surprise to receive. 

you went to a concert with? Oh my Paramore show was a solo date. Gabie did come to the arena with me and I also drove Denise, Erycka, and Leigh, but the three of them settled for a different section somewhere farther out given how they already did VIP seats for Paramore’s previous concert in 2013. It was my turn to have a front-row seat and since I didn’t know anyone who was as big of a fan as I was or was willing to shell out ₱7,000 for a VIP seat, I went by myself.

you lied to? I think it was Bea, my manager? She scheduled a quick call last Tuesday just to do a check-in with me, and she was asking how I was. Of course I had to tell her I was doing fine, which is never completely true for a lot of people, I think. I didn’t want her to ask me to open up anyway, so saying I was fine was the easy way to go.

you invited somewhere? I recently saw a music clip of a certain song that’s played a lot in bars, so I tagged my entire college barkada telling them we should go back to TK soon, at least when the lockdown and the pandemic subside considerably.

you dated? Gabie.

you dumped? It worked the other way around.

you rejected? I mean, I guess I technically rejected the girl Mik told me was interested in me. We never met since Mik refused to tell me her name or show a photo, but I informed him I wasn’t planning on talking with anyone soon so she can stop thinking I’m available.

you held hands with? Angela.

you hugged? Andi, before they got out of my car since we were parting ways for the evening.

you let cry on your shoulder? This hasn’t happened in a very long time. Most likely Gabie, but this would’ve been around at the start of 2020 when we could still see each other regularly.

that let you cry on their shoulder? Figuratively, Angela and Andi.

you bought a gift for? I got a weekend accommodation for my family, but it was really meant for my dad for his 50th birthday.

you wished a happy birthday? Hans.

that disappointed you? I was more annoyed than disappointed, but it was some random Fil-Am who was being ignorant at the Subtle Filipino Traits Facebook group. That community gives me a huge migraine most days because of Fil-Ams who continue to romanticize the ~beauty~ of the country whilst completely ignoring the socio-political trainwreck here, but the group is kind of the place to be for Filipinos so I can’t see myself leaving it either.

that stayed over at your place? They didn’t stay over for the night but Angela and Hans did a surprise visit to my house a few days after Christmas.

that let you crash at their place? Gab. I used to always crash at her place when I’ve had a few drinks.

that made you angry? Idk man, can I give Mark Zuckerberg as an answer? HAHAHA I went on Facebook first thing today and the first thing I saw was a Facebook Memory, and it was a photo of me and Gabie at Athenna’s birthday party four years ago. I got irritated at first until I remembered that we were both tagged in the post, which means it would most likely show up on her feed as a Memory as well. Just to humor my petty ass, I kinda hope the memory would make her sad, wherever she is; but otherwise seeing the Memory pop up didn’t make me sad or bothered anymore so that’s a win for meee.

that complimented you? Leah, my employer’s CEO. She did a check-in call with me recently to get to know me better, so one of the first things she asked was a list of the clients I handle. I happen to be in the team that works with the company’s more big-league clients, so once she heard the brands she told me I must be a good enough worker to be assigned those clients. It meant a lot and it still does.

whom you complimented? Bea. I just let her know how helpful she’s been with me considering I’m a fresh graduate on her first job in a work-from-home setup in the middle of a global pandemic.

you thanked? A supplier I’m currently in contact with, for work.

that thanked you? The said supplier thanked me back.

you saw, in person? My sister.

that bought you something? Dad bought siopaos for us yesterday.

that made you laugh? The cast of 2 Days 1 Night, from when I was watching the show last night.

that you said you loved? I don’t remember. I think it was Kate since she helped me out with a favor.

that said they loved you? Hannah.

you flipped off? I haven’t whipped out the finger in a while, come to think of it.

you made a silly face at? Not a person, but Cooper.

that drove you somewhere? Dad was the driver for our Tagaytay trip.

WHAT was the last thing you...

touched? Aside from my keyboard, my vape pen.

threw? Cooper’s bowling pin squeak toy. He’s gotten a lot better at catching things with his mouth, so I’ve been throwing it a lot at him to continue training him.

ate? A caramel croissant.

drank? Coffee.

found stuck in your teeth? Haven’t had this happen to me in a while.

cooked? I’ve never tried cooking anything.

baked? Idk, maybe cookies 873984732842 years ago.

threw away/tossed out? The packet for the sauce that came with the siopao my dad bought.

bought? I made a purchase for 20 bags for a work thing, but only because I was assigned to do the whole correspondence with the supplier. My manager was the one who sent over the payment when the purchase was confirmed.

sold? I don’t think I’ve ever tried selling anything before.

took a photo of? Cooper hahaha. I had been dancing to a song and he was staring at me.

were frustrated with? Our internet provider when they cut off the connection last weekend.

broke? I’m not sure if I can say I broke it, but the adaptor for my phone charger finally gave up on me the other day. I’ve taken to borrowing my sister’s for now, since she says she “doesn’t use it a lot” anyway.

spilled? Some drops of coffee spilled out of my mug when I dumped several ice cubes in it.

tripped on? Kimi. He follows me evvvvvvverywhere, so I bump into him at least once a day.

kicked? I’m not really sure.

put batteries in? Haven’t had to use batteries in a while, either.

turned on? The Bluetooth on my laptop.

turned off? The electric fan last night since I found it loud.

wrote? Other than my answers to this survey, I’ve also been talking with Angela this morning over Messenger.

wrote on? Other than my phone/laptop, my journal.

cleaned? My glasses.

stuck up your nose??? My finger when a nostril itched recently.

WHERE was the last place you...

dined at? Ramen Nagi.

ordered something to go? I don’t do takeout deliveries, but the last thing I got for delivery was banh mi and iced Vietnamese coffee last week.

bought something? Facebook Marketplace.

cried? In the living room. I came across that viral video of a guy proposing to her girlfriend at a Taylor Swift concert, when he knelt at the exact moment Taylor sang “He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring” from Love Story. It was such a sweet, classy, non-cringey public proposal and I allowed myself to be swept away by the cheesiness of it all, haha.

felt uncomfortable? Dining room table. I was sharing a story to my parents about work involving a guy and my mom asked me if I had a crush on him. My dad kind of snorted and said, “Her? Crush on a guy?” which told me he knew something was up re: my preferences lmao. They’ve never heard anything from me yet, so that made me feel awkward and I most especially didn’t want my mom to catch on to the question and suddenly put me in the hot seat.

drove to? Other than back home, I last drove to UPTC.

had an appointment at? Google Meet, hahaha.

went on vacation? Tagaytay. 

hung out with a friend? Andi and I went to a Korean barbecue place at UPTC (again), but we also drove to UP after just to revisit the good old days of being in campus.

bought clothes? H&M in Feliz.

spent more than you had planned? Ramen Nagi. I had a couple of add-ons in my meal and I didn’t know their service fee was going to be quite high, so my final bill ended up being slightly more than the budget I planned out for that day.

saw a band/singer/musician perform? Late 2019. My ex and I stopped by a jazz bar and there was a live band playing.

WHEN was the last time you...

told someone 'I love you'? Last Friday.

cried? Last night.

laughed? This morning. Cooper was being silly around me and my dad, as always. This time he was unusually behaved when we let him out, and the bizarreness of it all made us so unsettled we ended up laughing.

left your home? Last Sunday. I might go out later, too.

drank a soda/pop? Early last year. There was Coke being served at an org event, and since I felt thirsty and there was no drinking fountain around I just said fuck it and drank the soda.

made your bed? Last night when I left my room to settle in the living room.

visited a doctor? May last year.

went to the emergency room? Other than when 23 years ago when I was born, I’ve never been brought to the emergency room.

kissed someone? September.

hugged someone? Mid-January.

prayed? Six years ago. Or maybe five; I can’t really tell when exactly I made it a point to stop for good.

worked out? Around a week ago. I’m thinking if I should keep at it or if I should just stop, seeing as I’m not willing to give up my favorite foods anyway lmao.

made a phone call? I tried to make a phone call to our internet provider last weekend.

answered a phone? The other evening when the landline rang.

had an argument? Two weeks ago, instigated by my mom as usual.

played a video game? I think 2-3 weeks ago when I got in the mood to play the Switch.

played a card game? Safe to say at least a couple of years ago.

played a board game? November when we suffered a power outage for two days and had nothing to do at home.

rode a bike? LOOOOOOOOL March. The lockdown had just started and I made plans to learn how to ride a bike, but those plans fell through as soon as they began.

fell on your butt? This doesn’t happen often.

took a shower? Last night.

took a bubble bath? I can’t even remember anymore; this is a rare occasion for me.

watched TV? I last watched a TV show in general last night, but I last watched something on an actual television last Sunday when my family watched a Sunday mass livestream.

saw a movie at a theater? December 2019.

ate fast food? I got Bonchon for my family last December, if I remember correctly. My dad had done a huge favor for me and I asked what I can do to repay it, and he said to just buy dinner for the 5 of us for that evening.

ordered a pizza? Last month.

made someone laugh? I’m not sure if I had made her laugh in real life, but Angela and I had a humorous conversation over chat earlier this morning.

sang? Few minutes ago.

played a musical instrument? Absolutely no clue.

read a book? Couple of weeks ago when my employer sent me this book on PR that I was asked to read in preparation for my meeting with Leah.

drove a car? Last Sunday.

went swimming? Think it may have been my Nasugbu trip with Angela, Sofie, and Gabie back in August 2019.

got a sunburn? Idk man, when I was 8? I stopped getting sunburns as I got older.

went to church or temple? The last Sunday in March before the lockdown started.

went shopping? I did my final around of Christmas shopping last month for friends I still had to give presents to.

drank alcohol? Sometime last month after my work shift, following back-to-back meetings with my least favorite client.

smoked a cigarette? Feb last year, I think. I don’t buy cigarettes of my own and I’m also a lot more watchful of my cigarette usage, so I haven’t been able to smoke since I haven’t been around a crowd who does. I mostly vape.

threw up? I last felt like throwing up back in May, but I haven’t actualy thrown up in at least a couple of years now.

had a headache? Just this Thursday.

had a cold? No idea.

had the flu? It wasn’t strictly the flu, but I was last sick in May.

had your hair cut? March last year.

dyed your hair? Never done it.

laughed so hard that you cried? It’s happened in at least the past couple of weeks, I’m sure.

[mommoshh]

Review and feedback on CMS WordPress

WordPress is a free open source CMS that suits both novice users and professional developers. Here are just the first in order to understand the capabilities of the engine, at least at a basic level, you need to be ready to study instructions, guides and forums with tips.

WordPress can be used to create blogs, company websites, landing pages, online stores, portals with the ability to register users. The functionality of the engine largely depends on what plugins are installed on it - and also on the skills of the webmaster: open source allows experienced developers to customize the system for themselves.

Many users start out with WordPress on their way to web development. This is not the easiest solution because there really is a lot to learn to create and customize a website. However, the engine updates clearly demonstrate that it is moving towards simplification, although deep customization still requires programming skills.

Although we are focusing on wordpress here, there are better alternatives to wordpress too.

 What's new in WordPress 5.5.1?

Major updates in recent versions concern the Gutenberg block editor. For example, in version 5.3, a new Group block was added, which allows you to divide the page into several parts, and in the Columns block, support for fixed column widths appeared. In addition, text and background controls are now available in title blocks. The possibilities for deep customization have also expanded - now, the preferred style can be set to any block that supports this function.

Version 5.4 has two new blocks - social icons and buttons. With their help, you can quickly add interactive elements to the interface for going to pages in social networks, reposting, opening other sections of the site. In addition, there are new ways to work with colour: you can use gradients in the button block and skin.

There are also less noticeable improvements. For instance:

Images are automatically rotated when loaded according to built-in landmarks.

The extended health check screen recommendations indicate potential site issues.

When you log in, you are periodically prompted to confirm your email address to reduce the likelihood of the site being blocked due to a change in the administrator's email address.

The last major WordPress update is version 5.5. It has updated three key areas - engine speed, search capabilities, and security.

Lazy loading of images. Images placed on the page are not loaded until the user scrolls to them. On mobile devices, this technology also prevents browsers from loading images intended for other devices - for example, widescreen photos for the desktop. This saves traffic and reduces the load on the battery.

New XML sitemap that helps search engines find important pages right away.

Ability to enable automatic updates for plugins and themes, as well as support for manual updates via downloading ZIP files.

Much attention has been paid to the visual editor as well. It has new templates with combinations of text and media files, from which you can assemble beautiful layouts. All available blocks are now collected in a catalogue available in the editor. In addition, there was a built-in image editing - you can crop, rotate and scale photos directly from the image block.

 Functionality

WordPress is the most popular system in the world. This fact is usually enough to immediately draw close attention to it. But it's much more interesting to understand why developers love WordPress so much. We have identified several reasons:

Flexibility due to the open-source engine.

Unique extensibility provided by a huge plugin base.

Multifunctionality and ease of use.

If you have never created a website before, then you will be surprised how easy it is to do it in WordPress. Even to get additional features, no special knowledge is required - in most cases, it is enough to install the required plugin. Experienced developers, on the other hand, value WordPress for its common PHP language and detailed documentation.

Before you start creating a WordPress site, you need to choose a suitable hosting and purchase a domain. Some hosters offer special rates optimized for working with the engine, but you do not need to buy them - for the first site, ordinary shared hosting is fine.

Even a novice webmaster shouldn't have any problems with installing WordPress - on most hosting sites; the system is deployed in a few minutes in one click. This also applies to the latest version. However, you need to be careful with updates. The main danger is the incompatibility of the engine and plugins after the update.

If you already had a site with an old version of WordPress, but now you decide to upgrade to 5.5.1, then it is recommended to disable all extensions before updating and then enable them one by one and check the functionality.

Once installed, WordPress is a fairly crude system that requires additional configuration. At a minimum, you will have to:

Go through all the settings sections to specify the name and address of the site, the type of permalinks, the format of the main page and other parameters.

Select and install a template.

Add and configure plugins for spam protection, SEO optimization, sitemap creation, name transliteration, etc.

All these actions you will perform through the administrative panel. It has been completely translated into Russian and made very logically. The control panel is an excellent example of a balance between functionality and simplicity. It is convenient to use it in all browsers and even on mobile devices without installing any add-ons or applications - although they are also available for iOS, Android and Windows.

The main menu of the control panel consists of the following functional sections:

"Console" - the main page, which collects general information about updates, news, comments.

"Records" - all materials posted on the site with the ability to edit them, add new ones and delete unnecessary ones.

"Media files" is a manager of images, videos, tables and other types of files uploaded to the hosting.

"Pages" is a section for managing static information - for example, the "About" page, terms of use or advertising. It offers the same functionality as Posts, except that published content does not appear in the blog feed.

"Comments" - all discussions on the site and moderation tools.

"Appearance" - tools for adding and customizing themes, including a built-in editor for template files.

"Plugins" - section for adding, removing and configuring extensions.

"Users" - managing all registered visitors, adjusting access rights.

"Tools" - WordPress service features such as import and export.

"Settings" - the main parameters of the site: name, language, mail, file format, rules for generating addresses, etc.

Within each section, there are thematic subsections containing their own sets of settings. All this makes the system highly customizable.

For advanced users who know how to work with CSS and PHP, WordPress offers a built-in code editor. With its help, the site can be deeply customized by adding widgets and blocks or, for example, replacing standard comments with an application from a third-party service. True, when making serious changes, it is recommended to unload the template files from the hosting and edit them on the computer, first creating a backup copy - this allows you to quickly return the theme to its original state if necessary.

The main tool for adding pages and posts is the Gutenberg visual editor. The classic editor offered limited content management functionality. To add additional features, users had to install plugins, which is not always convenient, including due to the increased load on the server. The Gutenberg editor addresses this issue by offering content function blocks:

heading, paragraph, quote, list;

image, gallery, audio, video and file;

code and markup elements;

widgets and inserts from popular services.

Each block can be configured individually. To add a widget to a page or a post from Twitter to a post, you do not need to work with the code: just select the appropriate block and provide a link to the content of interest, after which it will appear in the editor field. Permanent block combinations can be saved as templates, increasing the speed of publication creation.

Basically, Gutenberg allows WordPress users to do what website builders have long been suggesting - focus on how the content will look without being distracted by complex configuration settings. In visual editing mode, you can immediately evaluate how the page or post will be displayed, and you can make changes to the interface without resorting to editing the code.

Many WordPress users didn't like replacing the classic editor with Gutenberg. For those who prefer a traditional text / HTML editor, the Classic Editor extension has appeared in the plugin list. After adding it, you can choose with which editor you will add content - classic or visual.

 Designs and work with templates (themes)

Websites are built on the basis of templates, of which a huge number have been developed for WordPress. The standard theme catalogue is available from the engine control panel in the "Appearance" section. Here you can select and install a template from the library, as well as download files downloaded from other sources.

Finding free templates for WordPress is not a problem - even if the theme is not Russified, you can fix it manually or using special programs. Version compatibility is much more difficult. However, the official plugins are updated fast enough so that there are no problems. If you have a paid template with support from developers, then there should be no errors either. Only old free themes that are no longer supported by the creators cause problems.

To avoid unnecessary problems, before installing the template, make sure that it is optimized for the latest version of WordPress. If there are no suitable options, then it does not matter. The same Gutenberg editor can be used to customize the template that would have required code changes in the past.

In the functionality of WordPress, we have already explored what the new editor is capable of. In fact, you can use it to customize the site's interface by creating new pages and adding widgets and blocks to them. If you have had experience with website builders, then you will instantly understand how it works. But even if the WordPress site is the first one, there will be no difficulties. With the help of widgets, plugins and shortcodes, you can quickly build the look of the page you want.

In addition, each WordPress theme has its own settings that allow you to upload a site logo, change the colour scheme, create the main menu, and enable/disable the display of individual widgets. The number of configurable parameters varies depending on the template, but the basic set is present in any theme. If you know how to work with CSS and PHP, then there will be even more possibilities for customization thanks to the open-source code of the engine and the built-in code editor, in which all template files are available.

 Optimization (SEO) and promotion

When analyzing the pages at the top of the search results, it becomes clear that most of them are made in WordPress. This is due not only to the popularity of the engine itself but also to its promotion capabilities. When used correctly, the content is well-indexed by robots and ranks high.

Basic WordPress is not the best example of SEO optimization. But if you work a little with the engine, then you can achieve good results in search results without any problems - of course, taking into account the publication of useful and interesting content.

The first step to optimizing your website is choosing an SEO friendly theme. For a template to be considered as such, it must meet a number of requirements, including layout according to CSS3 and HTML5 standards, as well as fast page loading. If you buy or download a free theme from a third-party site, pay attention to its description - it should contain an indication of SEO friendly or SEO Optimized.

After choosing a suitable theme, you need to change the default configuration for WordPress.

In the general settings, specify the site address in the same style - with WWW or without WWW. In order for search engines to accurately identify the site at the specified address, add it to Yandex. Webmaster and Google Search Console.

Set the format of links like "site/category/post name". Go to the "Permalinks" section in the settings, select the "Custom" option and insert the value /%category%/%postname%.html into the field.

Further optimization of the engine is possible only with plugins. The first extension to install is Cyr to Lat. This plugin will automatically transliterate the names of pages and posts in Cyrillic to Latin. This will avoid the difficulties with an encoding that search engines face due to addresses with Cyrillic characters.

To optimize, you will also need to install one of their powerful plugins - All in One Seo Pack or Yoast SEO. After adding them, a new section will appear in the editor, where you can specify the title, description and keywords of the post. But the impact of SEO plugins on WordPress is not limited to this: there are a lot of options in their settings, for which there are separate guides for working. All in One Seo Pack covers all optimization needs, from meta tags for search engine spiders to creating an XML sitemap. Yoast SEO offers no less functionality, so it will be difficult to make a choice, but in any case, you will get very powerful website promotion tools on WordPress.

To improve behavioural factors, it does not hurt to connect an online consultant widget and install an online calculator to calculate something right on the site. You can use a CRM system to work with clients and process orders/requests. Of course, we recommend adding buttons for social networks. Such tools have a positive effect on website promotion in the search engines Yandex and Google, add weight to the perception of the site and are able to bring customers.

 Price policy

The engine itself is distributed free of charge. You can download it from the official website or install it directly from the hosting admin panel - most hosters provide this option. You can also not pay for plugins and templates: even if some extension is distributed for money, you can almost always find a free alternative that will do the job just as well.

If you still want to install a premium theme, then prepare between $ 50 and $ 100. In this price range, there are a huge number of options on different theme sites, such as TemplateMonster. The cost depends on the functionality of the theme, its prevalence and the degree of the seller's popularity. Popular template stores average $ 75, but you can find options for both $ 45 and $ 600.

VIEW PREMIUM TEMPLATES

The situation is similar to plugins. The price is usually tied to what opportunities they offer. Often a free light version of the plugin is available in the WordPress directory. If you use it but at some point understand that there are not enough tools, then you can easily upgrade to the Pro version. Expanded functionality isn't the only benefit of the paid plugins. You also give money for support from the developers, which ensures compatibility with new versions of WordPress.

 Advantages and disadvantages

The main plus of the latest versions of WordPress is the development of the Gutenberg editor, which adds a visual content management mode. Its appearance demonstrates the movement of the system towards simplification, lowering the entry threshold for novice webmasters. Gutenberg makes installing a number of extensions pointless by offering similar functionality in the base CMS.

Version 5.5.1 finally has support for lazy loading images. This will noticeably affect the speed of page loading, especially on mobile devices, where high-resolution images added for the desktop will no longer be loaded.

Other advantages of the system after major updates remained unchanged:

simple admin panel;

built-in file manager, which has become even more convenient to use thanks to the introduction of the Gutenberg editor.

an extensive library of plugins that extend the basic functionality of the engine;

a competent community and a large number of training materials.

With a change in the updated policy, a problem may appear - the frequent occurrence of problems with the compatibility of templates and plugins. If earlier large updates arrived twice a year, now the developers will send them more often. But there is a way out - you can not update immediately but accumulate versions with changes. In addition, in WordPress 5.5.1, update management has become even more convenient - now you can install plugin and theme updates automatically or download them manually via ZIP files.

 Best WordPress Hosting

Even if you don't pay for themes and plugins, you will still need money for a WordPress site - at least in order to purchase hosting space and register a domain name.

The best site for WP projects is Bluehost hosting. It has an official recommendation from WordPress.org - the developers of the engine. They recommend Bluehost as one of the best CMS optimizations. Independent experts agree with the WordPress developers, who, on an ongoing basis, include Bluehost in the rating of the best ratings in the world.

TRY BLUEHOST HOSTING

To understand why Bluehost.com has so many positive reviews, just look at the list of its advantages:

Automatic installation of CMS WordPress on hosting in one click!

Server uptime rates are steadily approaching 100%.

High download speed.

Using a CDN to quickly deliver content to users.

Hosting web projects on servers in different countries of the world.

Free domain and SSL when paying for the plan.

Support for one-click installation of a large number of web applications.

Prompt technical support that answers questions through tickets, online chat or by phone.

Bluehost has special rates for WordPress sites. They are based on shared hosting and come in two lines: WordPress Hosting and WP Pro. The first one is suitable for small projects and consists of three tariffs. In the minimum configuration for $ 3.95 per month, you get 50 GB of SSD, on which you can create one site. At higher tariffs, the restriction on the number of sites and the available disk space is removed. All service packages include a free domain and SSL as a gift.

The WP Proline provides more powerful solutions that allow you to create professional WordPress sites.

Build ($ 19.95 / month) - The foundation for launching a professional website with a built-in analytics centre, 100+ free themes, daily backups, and malware protection.

Grow ($ 29.95 / month) - All Build features plus additional SEO tools, video compression up to 10GB / month, premium support.

Scale ($ 49.95 per month) - All Grow features plus unlimited backups, PayPal integration, unlimited video compression, advanced search, live chat support.

The latest service pack is suitable for e-commerce. But if you want to create a store on WordPress, then it is better to immediately go into another category of tariffs called eCommerce. Here are service packages optimized for WordPress and WooCommerce, the most popular e-commerce plugin. The cost of the tariffs is from 6.95 to 12.95 dollars per month. All packages have a built-in theme tailored for sales, free SSL and a free callback widget.

For large projects, Bluehost also offers VPS and Dedicated rentals. Virtual servers start at $ 18.99, and physical servers start at $ 79.99. All the features of shared hosting are available for them, but some tools need to be installed manually - for example, a backup system.

The domain name of the site is also registered with Bluehost. The rental price for a year depends on the domain zone. For example, an address like mysite.com can be purchased for $ 11.99 and mysite.blog for $ 16.99. The cheapest solution for Bluehost is a.SPACE domain. National zones are not represented in the catalogue, so if you want a site in.RU / RF, then buy a domain on another site and then link it to a project on Bluehost in a few clicks.

 WordPress counterparts and competitors

With its open-source code and many extensions, WordPress offers functionality that only a few web development tools can provide. But when creating a website, it is not the power of the tool that is more important, but its effectiveness for the implementation of the project. If you look at WordPress from this position, you can find many services that are much easier to learn and do the job just as well.

Best WordPress Alternatives

uKit is a website builder for business, where you can assemble a one-page page, a business card, a company website or a small online store in a few hours. Intuitively simple and straightforward. Its tools are selected so that the service is convenient for novice webmasters. uKit offers several hundred thematic templates, made at a very good level, and the sites created on it are no different from the projects of professional developers.

uCoz is the only website builder competitor that can easily compare to WordPress in terms of functionality. The service uses a modular system that makes it versatile. What is added to WordPress as plugins are presented on uCoz in the basic package or available for installation as a module. The builder can be used to create any type of site, from a one-page site to an information portal with a forum, blog, and user registration.

Wix - Can be an alternative to WP when it comes to customizing the look and feel of your site. The constructor offers a huge number of colourful design themes made by professional designers. Basic functionality is higher compared to WordPress. In the built-in Wix App Market, the user can find dozens of useful applications and integrations with third-party services that extend the functionality of the service. So when creating, for example, an online store, choosing between WordPress and Wix is ​​a very real situation.

Drupal is a free content management framework. More flexible, versatile, but also much more difficult to work with when compared to the WordPress CMS. Contraindicated for beginners, strong programming skills are required. Suitable for creating stores, news portals, social networks, corporate and other large-scale types of sites. It is impractical to use it for business cards, landing pages and other things in this spirit. There are many templates and modules, but their number is several times less than those on WP. Suitable for professionals only.

Joomla is a slightly more complex free CMS compared to WP. Usually, newbies choose between these two engines. The number of templates and plugins is very large but still noticeably inferior to that on WP. Best used for creating business cards, corporate websites, shops and social networks. Not so good for creating blogs, landing pages and forums. Basic coding skills are required - knowledge of HTML / CSS, the page code is easier to edit here than on WP with its PHP base. Good SEO opportunities, but the level of security in the stock suffers—balanced and popular engine for beginners.

Despite the fact that WordPress, in the latest versions, is moving towards simplifying content management tools, it is still far from top builders in this regard. In fact, Gutenberg is the same extension that adds visual editor capabilities to the CMS, only provided in the basic package.

The logic of working with Drupal is complex and inaccessible to beginners. This engine is usually used by webmasters who have been developing sites on the same WP for a long time, wanting to get more scalability for large projects. Joomla is comparable to WP in complexity and many features, but still not so easy to use, has a slightly different specialization.

On constructors, the ease of learning is not limited only to the design of pages and content. When creating a site on uKit, uCoz or Wix, the user does not need to worry about anything at all, except for the design and content, which are fully customizable in visual editing mode. To fully manage WordPress, however, coding skills are still required. On the other hand, it provides more customization options, which not all designers can boast of.

 Conclusions and recommendations

WordPress is one of the best website building tools out there, which has gotten a bit easier with the release of version 5 thanks to the introduction of a visual editor. However, in terms of creation and reconfiguration, there are no major changes. Users still have to choose to host, take care of security on their own and follow the updates.

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WordPress 5.5 offers almost unlimited functionality, which is based on open source code and a wide range of extensions. However, not every project requires such versatility and power.

uKit and Wix are much more efficient to use if you need to create a company business card website, landing page or a small online store - these builders offer all the necessary tools.

uCoz - it is wiser to choose when it comes to a complex project - at least it will eliminate the need to select hosting and monitor updates.

However, WordPress is one of the top website building tools used by both beginners and seasoned developers alike. It can be used to solve various problems, but only you yourself know whether it is suitable for the implementation of your idea.