#best paying jobs in public utilities

[grandstarlightperfection]

best paying jobs in public utilities

The Utility Worker is tasked with maintaining the cleanliness, orderliness, proper maintenance, safety, and security of buildings, grounds, equipment, and inventory. They offer support to skilled maintenance, landscaping, and custodial teams by following instructions and carrying out various semi-skilled or unskilled responsibilities related to the maintenance and repair of facilities.

What are the rights and responsibilities of public utilities?

(i) Public utility undertakings have the obligation to offer services to all individuals without any form of discrimination based on caste or creed.

(ii) These services must be provided promptly and as needed. It is important to establish rules and regulations to ensure the uniform and regulated use of public utilities.

Electrical Engineer:

An electrical engineer specializes in the design, development, and maintenance of electrical systems. They work on projects involving power generation, distribution, and transmission, and are responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of electrical infrastructure.

Requirement:

Generally, obtaining a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related field is typically a prerequisite.

Demonstrating a solid understanding of electrical principles, systems, and codes is essential.

Proficiency in utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software and other engineering tools is necessary.

Having analytical and problem-solving skills is vital for designing and resolving issues in electrical systems.

Effective communication and strong teamwork abilities are crucial for collaborating with colleagues and clients.

Lineworker:

A lineworker, also known as a line technician or lineman, is responsible for installing, maintaining, and repairing power lines and electrical distribution systems. They often work at great heights and in various weather conditions to ensure the uninterrupted flow of electricity.

Requirement:

High school diploma or equivalent is typically required, though some formal training programs may be available.

Physical fitness and strength to work at heights and in challenging weather conditions.

Knowledge of electrical systems, safety protocols, and tools used for installation and maintenance.

Ability to interpret blueprints, diagrams, and technical instructions.

Excellent balance, coordination, and manual dexterity.

Electrician:

Electricians are highly trained and proficient experts responsible for the precise installation, upkeep, and restoration of electrical systems within various structures, including buildings, residences, and other architectural establishments. They work with wiring, circuits, fixtures, and equipment to ensure electrical safety and proper functioning.

Requirement:

Successful completion of an apprenticeship program or vocational training specific to electrical work is typically required.

A comprehensive understanding of electrical codes, regulations, and safety practices is necessary.

Proficiency in accurately interpreting and comprehending electrical blueprints and schematics is essential.

Hands-on experience in electrical installations, repairs, and proficient troubleshooting is highly valued.

Excellent hand-eye coordination and meticulous attention to detail are crucial attributes for this role.

Power Plant Engineer:

A power plant engineer is involved in the design, operation, and maintenance of power generation facilities. They work with various types of power plants, such as thermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, or renewable energy plants, to ensure efficient power production and adherence to safety regulations.

Requirement:

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field.

Understanding of power plant operations, thermodynamics, and energy conversion processes.

Knowledge of environmental regulations and safety standards.

Demonstrating advanced proficiency in utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software and other cutting-edge engineering applications is crucial for this role.

Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Wind Turbine Technician:

Wind turbine technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines used for generating renewable energy. They perform inspections, troubleshoot issues, and ensure the efficient operation of wind power systems.

Requirement:

Completion of a wind turbine technician training program or related education.

Understanding of wind turbine systems, components, and maintenance procedures.

Ability to climb heights and work in confined spaces.

Knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems.

Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Operator:

Operators are professionals who oversee and control the operation of public utility systems or facilities. They monitor equipment, maintain operational parameters, and ensure the smooth functioning of utilities such as water treatment plants, power plants, or wastewater treatment facilities.

Requirement:

High school diploma or equivalent, though additional technical training may be required.

Knowledge of specific utility systems, equipment, and processes.

Ability to monitor and control systems, detect abnormalities, and respond to emergencies.

Basic computer skills for operating control systems and data entry.

Understanding of safety protocols and regulations.

Water Treatment Specialist:

Water treatment specialists work in water treatment plants to ensure the purification and treatment of water for safe consumption. They operate and maintain various equipment and processes to remove impurities and contaminants from water sources.

Requirement:

Education requirements can vary, ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemistry, or a related field.

Knowledge of water treatment processes, equipment, and chemicals.

Familiarity with water quality standards and regulations.

Ability to operate and maintain water treatment systems and equipment.

Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Energy Auditor:

An energy auditor assesses energy consumption patterns in buildings, industries, or public facilities. They identify areas of energy inefficiency, propose energy-saving measures, and recommend improvements to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Requirement:

Obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field is typically a fundamental requirement for this position.

Knowledge of energy systems, efficiency principles, and renewable energy technologies.

Familiarity with energy auditing methods, tools, and software.

Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.

Effective communication skills for presenting findings and recommendations.

These public utility jobs play crucial roles in maintaining and delivering essential services such as electricity, water, and energy to communities while ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

Conclusion:

The field of public utilities offers a diverse range of career opportunities with different skill sets and requirements. These jobs play vital roles in ensuring the efficient and safe delivery of essential services to communities. While compensation can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and industry demand, it is worth noting that some public utility jobs are known for being among the best-paying in the industry.

Professions such as electrical engineers, power plant engineers, and wind turbine technicians are often recognized as highly lucrative careers within the public utilities sector. These roles require specialized expertise, technical knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex systems and technologies. Additionally, management positions within public utility companies can also offer competitive salaries and benefits.

It is important for individuals interested in pursuing the best paying jobs in public utilities to consider the specific educational requirements, experience, and skill sets necessary for each role. Keeping up with advancements in technology, regulations, and industry trends can also contribute to professional growth and increased earning potential.

Overall, the

offer not only financial rewards but also the satisfaction of contributing to the reliable and sustainable delivery of essential services to communities.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Lies, damned lies, and Uber

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me TONIGHT in PHOENIX (Changing Hands, Feb 29) then Tucson (Mar 10-11), San Francisco (Mar 13), and more!

Uber lies about everything, especially money. Oh, and labour. Especially labour. And geometry. Especially geometry! But especially especially money. They constantly lie about money.

Uber are virtuosos of mendacity, but in Toronto, the company has attained a heretofore unseen hat-trick: they told a single lie that is dramatically, materially untruthful about money, labour and geometry! It's an achievement for the ages.

Here's how they did it.

For several decades, Toronto has been clobbered by the misrule of a series of far-right, clownish mayors. This was the result of former Ontario Premier Mike Harris's great gerrymander of 1998, when the city of Toronto was amalgamated with its car-dependent suburbs. This set the tone for the next quarter-century, as these outlying regions – utterly dependent on Toronto for core economic activity and massive subsidies to pay the unsustainable utility and infrastructure bills for sprawling neighborhoods of single-family homes – proceeded to gut the city they relied on.

These "conservative" mayors – the philanderer, the crackhead, the sexual predator – turned the city into a corporate playground, swapping public housing and rent controls for out-of-control real-estate speculation and trading out some of the world's best transit for total car-dependency. As part of that decay, the city rolled out the red carpet for Uber, allowing the company to put as many unlicensed taxis as they wanted on the city's streets.

Now, it's hard to overstate the dire traffic situation in Toronto. Years of neglect and underinvestment in both the roads and the transit system have left both in a state of near collapse and it's not uncommon for multiple, consecutive main arteries to shut down without notice for weeks, months, or, in a few cases, years. The proliferation of Ubers on the road – driven by desperate people trying to survive the city's cost-of-living catastrophe – has only exacerbated this problem.

Uber, of course, would dispute this. The company insists – despite all common sense and peer-reviewed research – that adding more cars to the streets alleviates traffic. This is easily disproved: there just isn't any way to swap buses, streetcars, and subways for cars. The road space needed for all those single-occupancy cars pushes everything further apart, which means we need more cars, which means more roads, which means more distance between things, and so on.

It is an undeniable fact that geometry hates cars. But geometry loathes Uber. Because Ubers have all the problems of single-occupancy vehicles, and then they have the separate problem that they just end up circling idly around the city's streets, waiting for a rider. The more Ubers there are on the road, the longer each car ends up waiting for a passenger:

https://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Uber-Lyft-San-Francisco-pros-cons-ride-hailing-13841277.php

Anything that can't go on forever eventually stops. After years of bumbling-to-sinister municipal rule, Toronto finally reclaimed its political power and voted in a new mayor, Olivia Chow, a progressive of long tenure and great standing (I used to ring doorbells for her when she was campaigning for her city council seat). Mayor Chow announced that she was going to reclaim the city's prerogative to limit the number of Ubers on the road, ending the period of Uber's "self-regulation."

Uber, naturally, lost its shit. The company claims to be more than a (geometrically impossible) provider of convenient transportation for Torontonians, but also a provider of good jobs for working people. And to prove it, the company has promised to pay its drivers "120% of minimum wage." As I write for Ricochet, that's a whopper, even by Uber's standards:

https://ricochet.media/en/4039/uber-is-lying-again-the-company-has-no-intention-of-paying-drivers-a-living-wage

Here's the thing: Uber is only proposing to pay 120% of the minimum wage while drivers have a passenger in the vehicle. And with the number of vehicles Uber wants on the road, most drivers will be earning nothing most of the time. Factor in that unpaid time, as well as expenses for vehicles, and the average Toronto Uber driver stands to make $2.50 per hour (Canadian):

https://ridefair.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Legislated-Poverty.pdf

Now, Uber's told a lot of lies over the years. Right from the start, the company implicitly lied about what it cost to provide an Uber. For its first 12 years, Uber lost $0.41 on every dollar it brought in, lighting tens of billions in investment capital provided by the Saudi royals on fire in an effort to bankrupt rival transportation firms and disinvestment in municipal transit.

Uber then lied to retail investors about the business-case for buying its stock so that the House of Saud and other early investors could unload their stock. Uber claimed that they were on the verge of producing a self-driving car that would allow them to get rid of drivers, zero out their wage bill, and finally turn a profit. The company spent $2.5b on this, making it the most expensive Big Store in the history of cons:

https://www.theinformation.com/articles/infighting-busywork-missed-warnings-how-uber-wasted-2-5-billion-on-self-driving-cars

After years, Uber produced a "self-driving car" that could travel one half of one American mile before experiencing a potentially lethal collision. Uber quietly paid another company $400m to take this disaster off its hands:

https://www.economist.com/business/2020/12/10/why-is-uber-selling-its-autonomous-vehicle-division

The self-driving car lie was tied up in another lie – that somehow, automation could triumph over geometry. Robocabs, we were told, would travel in formations so tight that they would finally end the Red Queen's Race of more cars – more roads – more distance – more cars. That lie wormed its way into the company's IPO prospectus, which promised retail investors that profitability lay in replacing every journey – by car, cab, bike, bus, tram or train – with an Uber ride:

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1RN2SK/

The company has been bleeding out money ever since – though you wouldn't know it by looking at its investor disclosures. Every quarter, Uber trumpets that it has finally become profitable, and every quarter, Hubert Horan dissects its balance sheets to find the accounting trick the company thought of this time. There was one quarter where Uber declared profitability by marking up the value of stock it held in Uber-like companies in other countries.

How did it get this stock? Well, Uber tried to run a business in those countries and it was such a total disaster that they had to flee the country, selling their business to a failing domestic competitor in exchange for stock in its collapsing business. Naturally, there's no market for this stock, which, in Uber-land, means you can assign any value you want to it. So that one quarter, Uber just asserted that the stock had shot up in value and voila, profit!

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/hubert-horan-can-uber-ever-deliver-part-twenty-nine-despite-massive-price-increases-uber-losses-top-31-billion.html

But all of those lies are as nothing to the whopper that Uber is trying to sell to Torontonians by blanketing the city in ads: the lie that by paying drivers $2.50/hour to fill the streets with more single-occupancy cars, they will turn a profit, reduce the city's traffic, and provide good jobs. Uber says it can vanquish geometry, economics and working poverty with the awesome power of narrative.

In other words, it's taking Toronto for a bunch of suckers.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/29/geometry-hates-uber/#toronto-the-gullible

Image: Rob Sinclair (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Night_skyline_of_Toronto_May_2009.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

[skeletoninthemelonland]

I'm sorry about what you're going through with your family. Personally I've never had to move out quickly, but I've been in tight situations to stay out and this is what worked for me. Everything I'm outlining is assuming you're in the US and that you're 18+. If you're younger than 18 you're parents can report you missing and that's a whole shitload of problems.

1. If you don't have a job, get one. Even if it's part time and entry level. Barely any money is better than no money. If you can get a job making good tips, even better. But do what works for you. If you're worried about transportation, look for jobs in a city that has public transport and jobs near either bus or train stops. You can also Google how to build a resume if you don't have one.

2. Try to make a budget as best you can. That shit is hard and frustrating and it seriously sucks. But you'll be able to figure out exactly how much you need for rent, groceries, transportation, and utilities. To get an idea for rent prices, check out Zillow or apartments.com in cities you're interested in. Preferably close to your job so you can spend less on transportation, but not many people get that lucky.

2.5. Look in Facebook, Craigslist, and other sites to find roommates. Roommates will DRASTICALLY decrease your rent cost. But meet them ahead of time, make sure they're legit. Online stalk them, talk with them, their contact info EVERYTHING you can know about them to make sure they're a good fit for you.

*you can do 1 and 2 interchangeably. If you don't know how much you'll need to make to afford an apartment, check out apartment prices first, then look for jobs in that area*

3. Reach out to anyone who can help you move. I know that's hard, but the worst people will say is no (I know that sucks too and I'm sorry I even had to write it) but if people in your life know your situation and that you're trying to leave, that you're working on a tangible plan, they'll be more likely to help.

4. If you're worried about not being able get back in once you're gone, try to pack things discreetly as possible and take only what's important so you can get it in one go. If you've got money to rent a moving truck, even better.

5. Keep tabs on any bills your parents might be paying for you, like a phone bill. You'll need reliable internet to help find jobs and places to live. If you don't think you'll get to have that, get a library card. Libraries have public access to computers and the ability to hook you up with a TON of community services. Plus library cards are free which is nice.

I'm sorry that's all I've got off the top of my head. I hope you get the help you need!! You are loved 💜

thank you so much!!!

though i'm not from the US, some of the things you listed might work for me. i also wanna figure out how i can leave with someone else so we can both work together to sustain ourselves, so i think that should count as a roommate? i can't really abandon them.

i wanna try finding a temporary job (though college classes are suspended now, once it returns they'll take majority of my day) and make comissions.

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Just a note because I've had some inquiries lately -- it's always fine to include more than one way to give when submitting an item for RFM! It's always best to have a crowdfund page of some kind (gofundme, fundly, etc) and only list a direct payment processor like paypal or venmo as a secondary, but including multiple payment methods is okay, as long as you don't mind your paypal/venmo/etc being public.

Ways to Give:

hi-this-is-ali-rae is getting top surgery, scheduled for January; they're preparing for the surgery and the healing after, and raising funds to cover out-of-pocket costs and make their recovery as comfortable as possible. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

Anon linked to The Big Gay Market, a LGBTQ+ owned-and-operated pop up maker's market in Madison, Wisconsin, which has been in operation for nearly a year. They're looking to move into a bigger venue after receiving fantastic community support, and are crowdfunding via Kiva loan for a down-payment to reserve the space for their next market. (When you support organizations and people via Kiva it's a no-interest loan from you, so the money eventually comes back to the lender.) You can read more and contribute to the loan fund here.

nehirose's cat Winston had to go to the emergency vet last night for pyometra; they were able to get antibiotics and fluids, but she's fundraising for the visit fees and follow-up and spay with a non-emergency vet, which is a struggle with rent looming this week. You can read more and support the fundraiser here, read more and reblog here, or give via paypal here.

News to Know:

Anon wanted to remind folks that the US government is offering another round of free COVID tests; you can order four tests per household, and if you didn't order tests in September during the previous round, you can order eight per household. You can order tests via the post office or the COVID.gov website.

Recurring Needs:

Anon linked to a fundraiser for Alchemia and Bugland, who have urgent financial needs after the loss of their home, and are also looking for media contacts who would be interested in covering their story, or advocacy and legal support in Illinois, particularly support for people with disabilities, autism, blindness, and/or who are LGBTQ+. You can read more at Dreamwidth here and support the fundraiser at GoFundMe here.

gwydion's very elderly car broke down in late October; the repair, to a cooling hose, has cheap parts but expensive labor, and ate most of zir budget for the month. Ze can't do without a car, being disabled, but can't afford to replace it either; ze's raising $280 to help cover bills and the repair. You can give via PayPal here.

gwydion linked to a fundraiser for Squirrel, a good friend who has recently lost his job and needs to raise about $800 to cover bills and food; Squirrel has had a lot of interviews and believes he will have an offer but won't start work until December. You can give via paypal here.

gwydion linked to a fundraiser for a friend, whose dog Rosie needs medical care, dental work, and special food; you can read more and give here at gofundme.

mid-nighttiger linked to a fundraiser for a friend, Katherine, a cosplayer (501st and Rebel Legion, among others) who was in a serious car accident and has had a gofundme set up for her medical expenses; you can read more and reblog Mid-Nighttiger's post here or support the fundraiser here.

rilee16 is raising funds to cover utilities after having to use bill money to cover rent and late fees; Rilee also needs to be able to pay for medication. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[blueberryratz]

not asking for money; please send me resources

so i will potentially be moving soon - my family has taken financial hit after hit and its not looking good for us to be able to afford rent. my mother wants to house with my grandparents and i am completely uninterested in joining due to how far it is, the lack of space/privacy, and the fact that my old abuser lives there currently. since im 18 now this means i will have to find alternate housing by myself and i have very little idea what to do. please send me advice, suggestions, or any resource you may know on the following topics:

transport - probably my biggest issue. even if i can quickly get my license i dont have a car nor insurance. walking/biking to where i need to go is not ideal because my legs get fatigued and weak easily and if i need to bike to work and then do an 8 hour shift i think i would die. also there is literally no public transport where i live because texas hates me

housing - right now my best bet is most likely moving in with my step dad and paying him rent, but honestly if im gonna move out anyway i might as well see if there's any options i have for living outside my parents' house. some options ive thought about are the transitional housing for homeless young adults near-ish to me as well as finding a room to rent in the area im already residing

money/jobs - i currently have a job that pays $13.20 an hour but i just started this week and i haven't seen a paycheck yet. im currently flat broke. if i need to move out i may drop out of college and see about working full time for the first time and/or taking a second job

mental health - i currently get meds for free through a public program i utilized but im not getting the therapy i need especially for this stressful time. i have autism, ptsd, and osdd and need a therapist that specializes in those issues

physical health - as stated before my legs are not very strong and its impacted my work life multiple times previously to the point of losing my job. i have no idea whats going on with my legs and finding out what the issue is would be great so i can find solutions, but i don't have insurance and i dont know the first thing about getting ahold of it

i will update as i recall anythings else id like help with 👍 for a frame of reference i live in north texas. thank you for reading/reblogging/sharing suggestions :)

[mothmags]

omg nashi dragneel headcannons that no one asked for!

part 1 - part 3

is the bitch who would say "thats so Scorpio rising of you" ironicly and she intentionally gets the persons star sign wrong because she thinks its funny

she knows everyones birthday by heart, and their star sign, rising sign and the list goes on

gives people either very criptic or very specific horoscopes whether they ask for it or not

not just interested in astrology but also astronomy and can read celestial maps really well.

She would randomly say space facts as a kid and natsu would just smile and nod not knowing if she was just fucking with him

theres like a 50/50 chance that she is

she wanted to be an astronaut growing up

space is very much so her special interest

has cried to The Planets - Jupiter and will cry again (me too)

she becomes very emotionally attached to the bots the Fiore Space Institute (FSI) send into space

she does a lot of writing

After literal years of begging, Natsu and Lucy help her get into the FSI Mage Program when she was 14

its where they utilize celestial and other space based magic to better understand the cosmos

In-between jobs, she studies and researches for FIS and is eventually considered an accomplished astronomer when she's older.

when shes in what her family calls "research mode" she will forget to take care of herself

Is "best friends" with gray and juvias middle kid, Maree

She takes her out to the middle of the ocean occasionally to stargaze (they are definitely not dates. they dont know what you are talking about)

lightweight when it comes to alcohol

LOVES traveling and seeing new places

cat person (obviously)

is a sarcastic little shit in the best way

she and leo have little outings every week - like to get boba or to a bakery to get snacks

as the designated older sibling leo is "forced" to pay

he hands his card over to the cashier with a fake groan and complains about how unfair it is that HE has to pay despite nashi not saying shit about him paying

Fiercely independent, like oh my god girl its ok to ask for help jfc

It mainly stems from the pressure of living up to the dragneel name in the eyes of the public

being in one of the most famous guilds with your parents being some of the strongest in said guild will do that to you

she's working on it, guys. i promise

her love language is touch

shes always hooking her arm around someone elses, holding onto their sleeve or leaning on people she cares about

she might be independent, but she's a daddys girl at heart and will hook her arm around his whenever she can

she gets cold fast, so in the winter months, she constantly has her arm hooked around his

[beelicious-and-fictitious]

Getting Off

❤ A Valentine's Day Special! ❤

Summary || [Walter “Keys” McKeys X Female Reader SMUT] the cop arresting you is wearing a cock ring and you get out of trouble by bending over for him. 

Free City AU | 3.5k words | NO BETA/ SELF- EDITED, Swearing, Valentine’s Day Theme, Prompt: “Day Three + Walter McKeys + Ring,” Dubious Consent, Impersonating A Police Officer, Car Theft, Mentions of Toxic On-And-Off Relationship, Infidelity, Vibrating Sex Toy, Public Sex, Exhibitionism, Manhandling, Torn Clothes, Size Kink, From Behind, Hair Pulling, Rough Sex, Creampie (Please Use Protection IRL Use Condoms), Cockwarming

More Valentines! | Other Keery Fics | Main Masterlist 

Stupid fucking car. Stupid money hustling boyfriend. How hard is it to give a fuck about Valentine’s Day? It's one day a year! You have tried everything: begging, screaming, dropping hints like an anvil, sending yourself your own fucking flowers, making the dinner reservations and handing him the fuck details just so he shows up, fucking his best friend. But year after year, February 14th rolls on and your boyfriend does nothing. He was either stealing away to a basketball game, cajoling a client at his day job to buy into one of his entrepreneurships (which would fail like all the others had, or refused to leave the house gym because he had to “get swole.” 

The entrepreneur shit pisses you off the most– you are professional bank robbers! Who needs a legitimate job when crime pays so well?! 

So this year, you stole his favorite car! This particular make and model of super car went from 0 to 90 in a second flat, though you could tell from the way it accelerated and decelerated was weighed down by all the added armor plating. The paint job is obnoxious neon colors with the graphics from his shitty mandom podcast.

Now you could have stepped on the gas when the cop car behind you turned on their lights. You could probably make it by crossing over county lines and out of his jurisdiction. But you have had enough of car chases for a while and pull over instead. As long as your boyfriend hasn't reported it as stolen yet, you’re probably fine. 

A set of knuckles wraps on the window and you roll it down. “Afternoon officer, how can I–” 

“Turn the ignition off,” he interrupts you gruffly and leans down to glare at you. This part of Free City is flat and dry, no shade to hide you from the burning rays of the sun and air conditioning is the only thing keeping you from fainting, but you turn it off anyways, hoping he'll be quick about this stop given he should also be extremely hot, too. 

Slicked back chestnut brown hair and a comb for a mustache. His eyes were hidden by a pair of reflective aviators (of course), his shirt collar was open at the throat in the heat and his white undershirt glowed pristinely. His big, meaty hands were tucked by the thumbs into his utility belt, and your eyes dragged lustfully back up his lean torso to his freckled, handsome face– well he would be handsomer if he wasn’t wearing the meanest fucking scowl. 

“Got a hot date?,” he asks with sarcasm dripping from his voice. “That why you’re driving so fucking fast? 60’s not enough for you?” 

“‘M so sorry officer,” you say, distracted by a light buzzing sound (was that his radio maybe?). “I, like, dropped my phone and stupidly tried to pick it up and my foot pressed down on the gas and, and…” 

His uniform makes you double take. It’s tight on him– you only need to look at the bulge of his crotch to see that– but it’s also the wrong color for this area. That shade of navy blue is reserved for Free City’s urban jurisdiction… but he pulled you over in the sticks, nothing but desert and meth dens and old highways like the one you’re on. He should be wearing khaki, he should be a state trooper or something, right? And what the fucking is that buzzing! 

“Hey,” the weird cop snapped, “I said. License. And registration, ma’am.” 

Shit, shit, shit. It’s not your car and you were driving twice the speed limit and you can get in trouble anyways. “Yeah! Grabbing it! My license… but I should tell you this is my boyfriend's car, that’s why I'm not on the registration.” 

The cop– his name tag says Keys– hums mockingly. He snatches your wallet from your hands and walks back to his patrol car (also weird looking, might be missing decoration on the door but it could just be your position in the sun) without waiting for you to fumble for the registration. Fuck, fuck– this wouldn’t be the first time a cop fucking robbed you, how much cash did you have in that thing this time?!

You check the rearview mirror and see nothing but the cop's head looking down in the driver's seat, possibly entering something into his laptop– fuck again. You’ve got a record– who the fuck doesn’t have a record in this fucking city– so there’s no way you’ll get away with just a warning. Even a speeding ticket was seemingly unlikely given Officer Keys shit attitude. You need to have the registration before he gets back or he’ll become insufferable. 

“Okay,” you take a deep breath to calm down and pull the glove box handle, only to have it fall open and dump paper, dime bags, and guns into the passenger seat and onto the floor. “Oh, motherfucker!” 

There’s a gun– there’s two guns laying on the floor of the car in plain sight and a pissy cop who will be back any minute looking for probable cause to arrest you. You rip your hand back like the guns were going to explode and your blood pressure only raises more when you realize there’s no way to dig anything resembling a registration out of that mess without getting your ass shot. 

Defeated, you cover your face with your hands. Maybe you could get out of the car and drop straight to your knees. It would piss the cop off as he didn’t tell you to get out and he’d obviously fucking shoot at you but maybe he’d just graze you for climbing out instead of unloading his whole fucking clip if he finds you staying– 

A shadow falls over your body, one you feel rather than see as you the boiling directness of the sunlight washes away. “UHm…” 

You hear the cop sigh and pull your car door open. “Step out of the vehicle slowly and with your hands out.” 

The curses flooding your brain overwhelm you. It’s fucking Valentine’s Day! You should be sipping champagne and getting your back blown out in a luxury sized bathtub, not harassed by a city cop in the desert and taking the fall for your loser boyfriend’s coke and unregistered weapons. 

“I said get out of the car!” The cop grabs you with his thick hands (hands that you had, for half a second, wanted on you before you remember he’s a damn cop) wrapped around your thighs to drag you out faster.

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry, stop!” Shaking, you hold your hands out in front of you and try your best to roll your body off of your back on the very edge of the seat. He was the one who commanded you to move slowly, but now he was impatient and this time his big hands capture your waist, making you flinch a second before you are ripped upwards into his chest, nearly hitting your head on the low rise of the car cabin door. “I didn’t know that was in there! Jesus Christ!” 

You never expected to feel hatred when a hot man’s body was pressed against your back, but today you’ll make an exception for this prick. High off his authority, officer Keys kicks the car door closed with so much force that a cool breeze kicks up among the dust. Then he slams you bodily into the hot car body and probably delights in the angry shriek that leaves you. 

“You fucking asshole!” All the fear that had been bubbling in you earlier turns to anger for a moment and you try to push off the hot car to free yourself unsuccessfully. 

The cop groans in response– probably the weirdest thing about this exchange, it almost sounds… sexual? “Keep talking, baby. Maybe the courts will give you a nickel and a dime to serve!” 

He forces your arms up and behind your head and starts patting his belt for his handcuffs. He grunts, and this time it sounds repressed, like he was trying to keep it down… that’s when you realize the bump in his tight pants is pressing hard into you… and vibrating. 

Your mouth falls open and dries up instantly in the dry desert air. “...are you wearing a cock ring?” 

“What?” You can still hear him fumbling for the handcuffs, his other hand so tight on your wrists that it hurts. “Shut up.” 

You push back with your hips and feel him counter you– and you would have believed it was just him being pissy about you not holding still, if it weren’t for the way his hips roll at the end. Effectively rubbing his very hard cock into your ass to get some friction. It’s embarrassing when it suddenly feels like the hot air around you is suddenly inside of you, spinning into a ball and writhing like fighting cobras in your gut. 

You desparately need a way out of this dilemma and you may have found it. “Fuck me…” 

The cop hummed, slapping a silver cuff on your wrist. “What did you say?” 

“I said–” you pull your arms until your elbows graze the painfully hot roof of the car. Because your motion was unexpected, the cop startles and freezes when he feels your head lay on his shoulder. You can peer past his sunglasses at his indignant, brown eyes. “Fuck. Me. I don’t want to go to jail for my trash boyfriend, and you don’t want to be suspended for sexual deviancy on the job, do you? Win–Win.” 

“Who said I wanted to fuck you, huh?” The cop, less angry and more amused now, tightens the other cuff to your wrist and braces his hand on your chest. “If you’re stupid enough to steal your boyfriend’s car full of illegal shit and get pulled over, who’s to say you're not stupid enough to give me a venereal disease, you little slut?” 

You pout. “... I didn’t steal his car and I don’t have a disease. And don’t fucking call me a slut!” 

But officer Keys just laughs at your indignance. “Open your mouth for me, cupcake.” 

You do what he says cautiously and are instantly gagged by his fingers. You can taste dust on his dry skin as well as something foul like oil. It’s entirely reactionary when your teeth close around the intrusion, and officer Keys grunts and draws them back but not fully out. Now that you know what to expect, it only takes a second to relax and allow him to press his fingers deeper into your mouth again, struggling to fight back your gag reflex and remember how to take it. He’s testing you but it doesn’t take long for you to ease into it, even sucking on them and swirling your tongue for him. 

“Atta girl,” the cop purrs, “yeah, yeah. Oh, I can work with this. You can deepthroat, right? You’re gonna need to be able to swallow the whole sword.” 

You nod your head and then find yourself suddenly unbalanced. The officer’s fingers pull free with a wet pop and he takes a massive step back from where he was crushing you against the car. You are stopped from falling by the very strong grip that takes hold at the back of your neck and he commands you to drop to your knees. Hot car, hot pavement, by the end of this, you’re going to have burns and bruises. You delicately squat instead of kneeling, wishing you had your knee pads or a jacket to throw down for protection but Keys is already unbuckling his belt. 

Your lip curls impatiently as you wait for him to finish pulling his dick out. A part of you wants to smack the sunglasses right off his face or pull his gun and shoot him, but you know it’ll do you no good in the long run. And as he uncovers his junk, the sound of vibrating gets louder. There's a wet patch on his underwear that you immediately forget about when he pulls the waistband down and his fat cock pops up. 

"Jesus Christ–"you gasp and try to protect your mouth, turning away from the sight before you but unable to tear away completely. 

It appears Keys is a meticulous groomer below the belt, too. The cock ring is glittery cyan blue, a ring around his balls and another around his cock making them both flushed red and veiny. You watch him twist the vibrating plate around his swollen flesh and use his other hand to pull back his foreskin. 

"Hey! Tick tock, cupcake," he says as he winds his hand in your hair and starts to pull you forward. "I'm on the clock and we're running out of daylight." 

Time to work for your freedom.  

Gathering saliva in your mouth, you wrap a hand around the base (fuck, your fingers don’t touch your thumb) and with your other hand still cuffed, you push the vibrating plate to his balls. Keys pulls his phone from his pocket and turns up the vibe via remote app, causing his hips to jerk and leave a wet smear of pre-cum under your nose. 

“Okay deep breath, baby.” The hand in your hair pushes you forward and despite the warning, you still gag when he slides right back and hits the back of your throat. “Uho, more.” 

He barely pulls back to let you suck in a new breath before he’s back at it, pushing you down on him despite your squirming resistance until your nose is buried in his short pubes. Your hands drop to his thighs and your nails leave red scratches on the pale white skin, tears gathering on your lashes until you are able to take one shaking breath through your nose. 

You should be mad, but the simpering whine he makes fills you with pride instead. It was impressive for you to take all that cock on one go. Your sex pulses with need and you don’t even notice your knees are on the hot pavement. 

“Swallow, baby, come on,” he praises as he looks down at you, his sunglasses moved off his sweaty nose to his head so he can better. 

Your jaw aches fiercely but you manage to obey and Keys’ moans at the feeling of your throat constricting his length. “Good girl, fuck.” 

Finally, Keys releases you and you’re able to gasp and cough and catch your breath while you stroke him to keep him happy. Your preferences for servicing him begin to shift as you feel your underwear slicken and stick to your outer lips. The last time you had good dick was probably that bank bathroom mid-heist (that janitor was packing just like this). This cop may be a complete asshole and a pervert, but damn it a huge dick was always going to do something for you! 

“Officer?” Keys looks down at you with slight disdain. He does admire the glistening drool on your chin and the wetness of your lashes, and he’s quickly distracted by your leaning back to squeeze your breast over your top. You’re going to ask him for something he fully intends to deny you until… 

“I’m so wet, please please…” you bite your lip unconsciously and make him watch you touch yourself to tell him about your soaked panties. “You can fuck me as hard as you want, don’t even need a condom, baby, please…” 

Officer Keys seemed to like the sound of that very, very much. He hauls you to your feet and walks you backwards twenty feet to his patrol cruiser. Still handcuffed, you can’t do much except obey and try not to trip over your own feet and fall. He keeps a tight hand on your arm as he swings open a door in the back before shoving you in halfway. You feel him yank your bottoms down your thighs and spit on your slick and puffy folds. 

“O-ho, baby,” he cooes almost mockingly and runs a calloused thumb over your clit, “how bad did you need to be fucked? You are one lucky girl that I pulled you over, aren’t you?” 

You try to answer him but he smacks your pussy and you shriek instead. 

“Just breathe, sweetheart,” he says, stroking his length still dripping with saliva, “nice and easy…” 

And then you feel the head of his cock pressed against your entrance and realize he is not going to stretch you out first even with that monster. On a long exhale, you force your body to relax but still you squeal a little as you feel him begin to fill your channel. For all his perverse snarling and coldness, he does exhibit some level of mercy as he doesn’t make you take too much all at once. It’s still a bit of a painful stretch but he moves slowly right up until he bottoms out inside you and growls loudly. 

“Goddamn!” You feel him grind against your hips and the cock ring vibe bumps your clit adding pleasure over the slight pain. “Haven’t fucked a pussy this tight since the Penris Bank robbery.” 

He starts moving in you, but your mind is somewhere else. Penris Bank has only ever been successfully robbed once in thirty years. You did that– I mean, you and your crew did that. Walked away with 20 mil each. Okay, your crew robbed the bank while you got your back blown out in the executive office bathroom suite. Hold the fucking phone– 

“Oh my god, you’re not a fucking cop!” In the blink of an eye, you realize how blind you’ve been. How could you forget that dick? Just because it was cosplaying as a police officer? So stupid. “Fucking asshole!” 

You try to struggle out of his grasp, but Janitor Keys adjusts his grip on your hips and lifts you up until your legs are kicking uselessly and he’s spear heading his cock into your g-spot. And as angry as you are, you can’t resist the coiling fire in your gut turning your arms to jelly or punching some high pitched moans out of you. 

“That’s it, kitten, purr!” Keys laughs and fucks you faster. “You missed this dick, huh baby?” 

You grumble and he smacks your ass so hard it stings. “I can’t hear you, bitch, did you miss this dick?!” 

“Yes,” you cry and drop your chin to your chest and throw your head back when he starts furiously circling your clit. “Yes, fuck! No one fucks me like you do–” 

“Fucking A’ right, baby…” 

Your feet find purchase on the car floor allowing you to brace against the heavy assault and push back, taking him even deeper. If a car packed full of people wolf whistling and shouting obscenities drove by, you hardly noticed, except for Keys' prideful wave as they disappeared. 

"Fuck, fuck," your stomach tightened painfully and tears gathered on your lashes. The bumping of the cock ring vibe slapping against your clit does you in and you collapse, gushing all over your partner's cock and soaking his pants. 

You feel lightheaded as you are gently laid out in the backseat of the faux cop car on your stomach with Keys cock still deep inside you. It only takes him three or four thrusts before he stills with a grunt and pumps you full of his cum. One of his hands rubs your back just like he had done when he finished on your stomach at the bank. 

Damn, you really had missed him. 

Catching your breath, you lift your head and turn a bit, then smack him across his face. Keys looks at you wide eyed, sunglasses gone and fake mustache peeling off his upper lip. 

"Ow…" He swallows and ducks his head to mumble, "okay, I guess I deserved that. Sorry."

You lay your head on your arms, feeling exhaustion wash over you as the role play ends. 

"...you know if you want, you can come over to my place and uh," Keys voice drifts off as he traces shapes on the soft skin between your shoulder blades. "I've got this huge bathtub in my penthouse thanks to the cut you gave me. We can, I dunno, throw some rose petals everywhere and drink champagne since it's Valentine's day." 

You lift your head again and give him a puzzled look. "Why would you do that?" 

Keys is a great actor because the way he blushes now is so sincere that you almost forget he was manhandling you not five minutes ago. 

"Because I like you, and you deserve it…?" 

Well, if your shit boyfriend wasn't going to spend Valentine's day with you… "fuck it, sure. But you need to clean this up and tell me what the fuck you are doing in a cop uniform!" 

Keys finally pulls his overstimulated cock out, leaving you empty and leaking but he massages your sore flesh to ease the slight pain. "Happy to tell you everything! We've got all night, if you want." 

And he leans over you one more time to plant a kiss on your temple before climbing back to eat his cum out of you. 

It looks like you are in for a great Valentine's day!

More Valentines! | Main Masterlist

So I was deadass going to scrap this entire fic several times, but I feel like I managed to work around the whole "fucking a cop" aspect. Drop a like if you liked this and leave a comment or anon ask if you wanna let me know what you liked about it!

[snowmuttgetsweird]

5/12/24, late morning

How about something a little more positive while I wait for my mom to give me the okay to call her for mother's day?

I love my day job! I'm a TCG guy more than anything, hobby-wise, so exploring board games as a sales person has been intimidating, and I frequently feel like I'm underperforming even when my coworkers tell me I'm doing great and that I'm providing skills the crew doesn't have otherwise, but it's a wonderful job. It's relatively low stress, there's ample opportunity to steal extra shifts which makes up for the middling pay, and a (generous) employee discount for arguably my most expensive hobby (ironically Digimon is one of the cheapest TCGs out there) is a godsend.

On quiet days, I'm frequently treated with an opportunity to learn a new board game. Last week I learned Wingspan, a few days ago I learned Wyrmspan, and just yesterday I learned Scout. I've even had opportunities to play multiple games before they were even available to the general public like Gloomhaven Buttons & Bugs and Star Wars Unlimited! So far almost everything that I've played I've enjoyed a lot too.

It might not be the highest paying job, but it's very easy, the staff and management is super laid back and grounded, and I get to learn board games. I literally can't think of anything wrong with that. It's the kind of job that makes me WANT to do my best, so I frequently go above and beyond the level of effort I'd normally exert for other retail jobs I've had.

Besides all that, it might have literally saved my life. Art is cool, but it doesn't pay that well- especially at the level I'm at. This day job being my primary flow of income with art being supplemental has been very good, and I'm very lucky that my patrons and followers are willing to be so patient with me while I find my footing.

I know I've said so before, but I feel like this year I've really got a great chance at succeeding financially. Last year I only had my day job since September, so for 8 months I had to earn a bare minimum of about $1800 a month through art alone so I could set aside 20% for taxes and still pay rent. This year, my day job and Patreon more or less cover rent for me, and everything I make through art is technically "gravy." Right now, all of that is going toward paying off money I owe to my roommate for covering most of our utilities by himself, but once that's all paid off and I'm consistently making enough to keep up with paying half of those bills, 30% of whatever I make through art will be set aside for taxes from now on, regardless of how much I make since I'm not trying to hit a specific threshold for rent, and then the rest can become SAVINGS! The key now is to calculate the average cost of our bills and utilities so I can try to make sure I make MORE per month than what I owe so I can catch up to the ongoing fees. I'm pretty optimistic about that.

BOOKS! As you know, I've been reigniting my love for reading since a little before I moved to WA- mostly because it's cheap (I've fallen in love with my local discount book shop's clearance racks), and it's a great way to fill in dead hours and lunch periods at the day job and quiet evenings at home when I'm done with art. Especially now that it's warming up, sometimes I like to head outside for a walk and then settle down and read in the park. Once in a while I treat myself to a milk tea or something too.

I finished The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon, and I loved it. I'm probably going to give it a second read because I think there were some parts I may have ADHD'd through and not quite absorbed, and the sequel should be out sometime this year too. I got The Archive Undying as a birthday gift last year, so the sequel might be the first brand new book I'll have purchased in a while lol- I'm super excited.

My friend that let me borrow Legends & Lattes picked up a copy of the prequel, Bookshops & Bonedust, which he let me borrow before he started reading it himself, and I devoured it. Much like the first, it's a super cozy little read- not much in the way of substance, very little in the way of world building or complex character relationships, etc, but rich in comfort and good feelings.

Right now I'm working on a collection of Lovecraftian/Cosmic Horror short stories called Horrors Beyond: Tales of Terrifying Realities, and I found a couple more books from my local discount book store I'll tackle after that: What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson (honestly I did not know this was a book first- shame on me) and The Star Fraction by Ken Macleod. I got them both off the clearance rack for just a little over $5 bucks in all!

I'm also experimenting with audio books. While I'm doing relatively mindless logistics stuff at the day job, I'm listening to audio books in one ear of some things I've read a while ago, but since kinda forgot. My mom was always a huge Anne Rice fan and had proudly collected the entirety of her works, and so I read a handful of books from her library growing up (my personal favorite of what I've read myself actually being Cry to Heaven). One I remember reading but not really enjoying much was actually the first book in her Vampire Chronicles, Interview with the Vampire. I'm not a big Louis fan (I'm more in the Lestat camp myself) and found the book as a whole kinda dull, mostly due to Louis' weak and winging personality, but I've since decided to give it another shot as an audio book, and it IS at least better than I remember giving it credit for. I still don't care for Louis though, lol. I prefer to read myself, but audio books are nice just to keep my brain going with something in the background while I'm doing something otherwise fairly mindless, like alphabetizing and rearranging miniatures or beautifying shelves of product.

GAMES! Not a TON to talk about here tbh. I've mostly been playing FF7 Rebirth, and it's been... Good...? I finally beat it on Normal after about 150 hours trying to exhaust every sidequest and minigame as much as possible, and I've since begun my Hard mode NG+. The story is great, there are a couple parts I'm not fond of that feels like Nomura is just Kingdom Hearts-ing all over FF7, but it's good overall and the gameplay feels really good. The most frustrating part of the game by far is just all the minigames- mostly that in order to completely beat them all, you have to do them PERFECTLY- it's very unforgiving.

Gotta go for now. Talk later. :)

[hollowsart]

Cryptid Crawler Spiderverse info master post

Rogues Part 2 🔮⚡🤠

getting creative with a few since I didn’t have the info already written down for some of the rogues gallery, but that’s fine. that’s kinda what this is for.

Long post once again!

=============

==[[Mysterio]]==

Worked for years in the movie industry as a professional in the field of special and practical effects. a HUGE movie buff, has seen and collected many movies and posters over the years and knows all the ins and outs of various tricks and gadgets and all that has been used in movies from the first film pioneers to modern day movie makers. Working in movie production has been his job for years since graduating out of university in a different state (he got an idea later on from a guy he knew from university that was doing a study on fear).

Upon his sudden firing from his job as the times were changing and the higher ups deemed special/practical effects to be unnecessary with the rise of CGI being the new big thing. Safe to say.. he didn’t take it kindly. Luckily for him, though, he overheard the same people talk about a new superhero movie, but they didn’t have a villain yet.. Oh, so they need a villain? He’ll give them one.

Lives in a relatively small apartment, pays rent. It’s not the best living conditions, but it’s home to him. Like with everything, he makes do with what he has.

He may be stupid.

Great with robotics/engineering as well as chemistry and math. Created his own special gases and gadgets that he utilizes during his "performances" as Mysterio. He also used some when he was still doing movie work, but to a far lesser degree. He had a talent for it, but it sadly went underutilized during that work... at least now he's able to earn a decent enough pay for all the work he puts in and is able to do what he loves as well.

Outside of his Mysterio persona, Quentin Beck works a few spare jobs here and there for extra cash. One of which is a small restaurant favored by Acedia coincidentally. He never uses his real name while working these jobs as well his real identity has been kept unknown from the public. Still, it's best to be extra safe than sorry.

During one escape stunt away from authorities he encountered Phineas Mason, The Tinkerer, in hiding as well but for a different reason. Ever since this little encounter they’ve become an odd sort of duo, friends with similar technical skills they can bond over. Mason helps him with hiding out for limited periods of time by staying at his place while he relocates his theatrical lair. Mason helps out a lot with mass producing whatever little new gadgets he requires in exchange for his mathematical aid on his own projects.

Becomes a sort of fun uncle in a way to Mason’s granddaughter.

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

==[[Electra]]==

Maxine Dillon

Just a regular civilian trying to make a living. Never had a real chance to go to college. She works as an electrician and is very knowledgeable about the field, she is rather down to earth and mellow and looks up to a speedy red superhero in a distant city, definitely a role model.

She’s only had a few previous relationships, none ever lasted very long, she ended up being the one to break things off. I want to say around 3? 2 from her teen years and 1 during her college years.

She’s given up on putting herself out there since, focusing more on her job and being a little more at peace until the accident.

With how she is now, it’d be very difficult for her to have a relationship with someone. Doesn’t do much with her feelings of loneliness and isolation.

When unconscious her electricity is put in a “powered down“ state and her appearance reverts back to normal. When enraged her light glows even brighter and hotter and her electricity is far more erratic.  Likewise, when deeply saddened her light dims and you can see her appearance through the electricity much more clearly.

Maxine accepts her fate and becomes ok with it after awhile, but she has her moments and does eventually get a cure to stop the electricity and help her return to a normal life again after so so long of needing to get used to a life with her electrical disability.

After all, it’s not very fun at first and then it’s only so fun for so long until it just becomes tiring and frustrating to constantly be conducting electricity.

She can’t control her appearance, unfortunately, so whenever she’s conscious her electricity sparks back up. To be safer to others she appreciates the electrical suit she was given to confine the electricity. Utilizing the gloves and hood/mask when she isn’t feeling too great or just wants to try and be normal again.

..Or when she just really needs a hug.

It takes some time, but she does forgive Shocker for what he did and for what happened to make her what she is today. She’s become friends with him and sometimes visits and hangs out at his bar.

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

==[[Shocker]]==

Real name: Montana Shultz

He makes a decent amount of cash doing what he does, but most of it goes to keeping his billiards bar in as good condition as it is. He lives a modest life, however, living in a small quaint apartment.

He created the shock gauntlets himself, took him a year to figure out and make and another of practice to get so good. The gauntlets sit in specially made holsters that rest on his hips from his belt. He can easily and quickly dip his arms in to pull them up and shoot them off as though they were like guns in an old spaghetti western.

Takes on some odd jobs being paid to perform acts such as sabotage and theft and the like. He’s good at his job, but he does have his own struct moral code to which he lives and works by. If anything involves direct physical harm to anyone innocent he is not going to be happy and will deny taking the payment. This.. leads to an accident with Maxine. She was innocent and fell victim as a side effect to him being paid to sabotage the Connors Lab, destroying the electrical breaker and cutting all power.. Caused a circuit breaker inside to explode and well.. He has many deep regrets about that. He does what he can to atone and make it up to Electra. He considers himself blessed with a miracle that she understood and forgave him.

He, along with a fair number of others, want to seek revenge on the likes of Norman Osborn and has joined The Vulture’s “Sinister Six” alongside Mysterio, Rhino, Sandlady, and Electra. He keeps the morale and order.

While Montana may have eventually become friends with Electra he is also kinda like a father. Him, along with his enforcer friends, Ox and Fancy Dan, they’re all like fathers to her once the other two are introduced and learn about her. She has 3 dads now. 3 dads and 3 friends all in one triple package.

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

[terrence-silver]

Hi! this is kind of a weird topic… BUT I noticed this past the year or so of people getting literal microchips implanted into their hand and using the it to pay for groceries or unlocking doors in their house and there even was this big thing going around of Elon musk wanting to test (LITERALLY TEST ON PEOPLE) these brain chips that he claimed would make the blind see, the paralyzed walk, and eventually turn people in cyborgs??? It was rejected by the U.S regulators but it’s just so crazy and surreal to think abt but I was think if this was something Terry would do cause honestly would it be all that surprising from all the stuff that man has done? Like would he think about doing that to beloved to just track them? What I was thinking was he would cause again it’s Terry Silver but another part is thinking he wouldn’t cause where would beloved be going without him? They barely leave his house to begin with and is under watch.

---

Why do I think that after the 80's, Dynatox could've re-branded from handling toxic materials (and their often ethically questionable disposal) and went straight into the business of cyber-tech...among other things, of course. All the Billionaires are doing it, so why not Terry Silver, trailblazing along with Steve Jobs, Zuckerberg and Musk. A new company for a new age and a new, equally re-branded Terry. Allegedly re-branded Terry, of course. Also, it proved to be the marketing ploy of the century to have people conveniently forget Dynatox's undoubtedly numerous controversies from the past and draw in a hip, fresh, innovative crowd that thinks Dynatox's ultraviolet goggles are just the breakthrough of the decade and ignore the fact that Dynatox hasn't in fact 'gone green' and is still very much in the business of destroying the planet with dirty chemicals. And it works! Thing is, the court of public opinion has a notoriously short memory span when faced with consuming new technology. New things. People care more about having the next new thing than the fact that these new things are tested on other people. On animals. On destroyed environments. On nature. You give the public a new phone and they tend to neglect the fact it utilizes Third World sweatshops and child labor in the process of production.

Speaking of which, after it is deemed totally safe, of course beloved gets microchipped by Terry Silver and they don't even know it happened or maybe they consented not really realizing what they're consenting too. Their movements, their very life is literally something he can track from his phone like they're his property, which they are.

Not just that, as Terry Silver himself ages, it is not entirely unbelievable to think he'd replace organs that are failing or not functioning as well as he'd like, perfectionist that he is, that he'd have them exchanged for these cyborg-like augmentations, maintaining his prime, or what he deems as his prime for as long as possible. Just does miracles for his need to control everything, even the quality of his liver pumping out water, because he wouldn't accept a part of him having subpar quality. By-passes and Stents. Implanting new hearts from vetted donors. Blood transfusions. I can see Terry as the type to re-juvenate himself constantly at private, highly coveted clinics for the uber-wealthy, like a vampire, to keep himself vital and alive for as long as possible. In the best shape he can possibly be in. If he could insert a computerized heart made out of steel into his chest, he would. As for beloved? There's a miniscule, microscopic plate under their skin patented by Dynatox's scientists. They're quite literally marked. If they ever strayed or goodness my, ran, they would be found within hours. Minutes. There's an App for that. Hey, the wealth insure and secure their cars, estates, their antiques and their watches. Their goddamn branded Birkin bags.

Why wouldn't Terry Silver insure and secure the one he loves?

[aeon2407]

Pyro's Pyrotechnic Love Life - Chapter 9: Lesser Evil

For @contentment-of-cats. Also on AO3.

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Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Palpatine was... worried. It wasn’t a feeling he experienced often, but there it was. Vader, his most utilized enforcer, was nowhere to be found, once again chasing down Kenobi, this time somewhere in the Deep Core, right after the initial battle on Krownest was over. That damn obsession the weakling Skywalker had for his old Master would be Vader’s downfall, and Palpatine needed to find a backup apprentice soon. That redheaded boy that’d been harassing his operations would be quite a Sith from what he’d seen, he’d be a suitable replacement.

Thrawn was occupied with Krownest, and until that portion of Mandalorian Space was stabilized he’d be indisposed. Palpatine was aware enough to recognize the Mandalorians for the threat they were. Thrawn was the best option, even if he’d rather have him elsewhere.

And then there were the Tagges. It was no secret to anyone that Domina Tagge was making moves at every moment of every day. He’d hope that having Killian and Sanya Tagge be high-ranking Separatists would’ve weakened The House when the CIS inevitably lost the war, and he’d be able to nationalize TaggeCo as part of the reparations.

He did not foresee Cassio and Domina Tagge committing parricide and completely cutting out the Separatist leadership, or TaggeCo starving the entirety of Serreno when Dooku decided to move on Tagge Space by force. He ruled the galaxy, but the Tagges controlled it, and nothing short of a brutal and public incursion to seize TaggeCo would take that control from them. They were a problem, a problem he didn’t know how to solve.

And was that dread in his stomach? Something was about to happen, he could feel it in the Force, but what?

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

Containment Cell Two, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

Hera was thinking over the offer. If what Lapin Tagge said was true, the Tagges fully intended to remove Palpatine from power, one way or another. Should they succeed, the Rebellion would be rendered irrelevant and unnecessary unless the Dynasty proved to be just as bad or worse than the Empire. The offer was simple. Join the Armada or any department of their operations and they would guarantee amnesty for her. She’d get a stable paying job no matter which department she chose, along with healthcare and other benefits.

But what made her truly consider it was them saying TaggeCo could restore Kanan’s vision, and that they had an hour to decide before the ISB’s Major Partagaz came to interrogate them and the offer expired. She’d heard of Partagaz before, a Clone Wars hero that was involved in so many secrets his name had to be redacted, leaving only ‘Partagaz’ on his illustrious, medal-filled record. She’d also heard horror stories about his interrogation techniques. The man was psychological warfare personified.

Hera caressed her stomach. She was deciding for two. The offer was made almost an hour ago. She was running out of time. The toggle was flicked. “Tell Lapin Tagge that I accept the offer.”

If any of her family rejected it, she would only be able to watch as they were taken away. The child inside her was the priority now.

It took ten minutes for a guard component to arrive and release her. She looked down the hallway to see Sabine, Kanan, Zeb, and Tristan being guided out of their cells. Chopper was nowhere to be seen, and Ezra was looking at them with stubborn eyes through the ray shields. She wanted to talk to him, to beg that he accepted before it was too late, but that was the moment two ISB officers arrived. She recognized Wullf Yularen, and the other must be Partagaz.

Hera stared back at Ezra with pleading eyes as she was escorted away and the two officers made their way over to her son.

“Where are you taking us?”

“To The Lady. The specifics of your arrangements still need to be made.”

Well then, time to see what her future would look like.

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

Recovery Room, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

“Wait, you two were engaged?” Yana was looking between Yissa and Artur in shock, all three of them now somewhat dressed and on a different bed while Merri blissfully twitched on the other one, barely conscious. Yissa was blushing lightly and Artur just shrugged.

“Our families arranged it. Yissa chose me out of a lineup and Aunt Mina gladly paid the bride price to get the Hammerlys into the blood web. By the way, Yissa, six million was criminally low.”

“Well, I didn’t have much of a say in things, Artur.”

“Alright, cut it out, both of you. What happened after you got engaged?” Yana interrupted before they could argue again. She’d only just managed to make them get along.

Yissa looked at her wyf. “Well, we got engaged, went on a few dates mostly for the publicity, and then on my wedding day I found a note detailing the best route out of the building to the nearest recruiting station. The rest you already know.”

Yana did know. It was broadcasted live a week after the Youth Corps placed her on Corulag. The Runaway Bride, climbing down the side of the Hall of Citizens with no less than thirty kilos of jewelry on her dress, hotwiring a speeder, and gunning it for the nearest Imperial recruiting station will forever be imprinted in her mind. Yissa had inadvertently inspired her.

“Who placed that note there? Did you know?”

“I don’t. Whoever it was didn’t leave a name.”

Artur spoke up. “I do.”

Both women looked at him, and Yissa’s eyes widen as she registered the look on his face. She tackled him in a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”

Yana was connecting the dots. Artur left that note, making sure to keep himself from suspicion in the process. Why? Did he not like Yissa? Or was it the arranged marriage he didn’t want? Did he not want to get married? To anyone? To her? What if he-

No. Stop. Bad brain. He loved her, that much she knew. That was enough. Now, just one last thing.

“What are we gonna do about Merri?”

Before any of them could deliberate on it, Lapin poked their head in. “Everyone, check your personal message stack. Artur, Operation Titanfall is a go. Get dressed, you’re needed on the bridge.”

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

Conference Room One, The Acquisitor, Tagge Armada

The trip from the Levinbolt to the Acquisitor was silent, save for Lapin relaying instructions to the pilot and giving a clearance code on approach. The Spectres were all huddled in one corner, heads down. They all took the deal. They were selling out. They were leaving the rebels, leaving the cause, behind to save themselves. Chopper was missed, but Lapin had assured her that the droid was safe and untouched, and that she’d get him back eventually. Ezra, on the other hand…

Why was he so damn stubborn? Hera knew why, but this was unwinnable. You didn’t go up against the Tagges and expected to survive. You just didn’t. If it was the Empire she would’ve been right there with him, ready to die before giving up or giving in, but it wasn’t. Unlike the Empire, the Tagges realized that while not everyone could be threatened into submission, anyone could be bought, you just needed to find the right currency.

She had been bought. They offered her a damn good life, and even promised new eyes for Kanan as a ‘signing bonus’. In the end, she was selfish. For once in her damn life, she chose the selfish, self-serving option.

Did she regret it? Maybe. Too late to back away now.

Sabine was staring at her boots, leaning on Tristan for support. Her father was still in the brig, so was her riduur. She needed to use this opportunity to negotiate their releases, secure them protection like what they offered her. Some cynical part of her brain told her to leave her mother out of it. Ursa Wren abandoned her own family, let her see what it felt like. That line of thought did nothing for her guilt.

She was running away again. First her family, now the Alliance. Once a coward, always a coward, she supposed.

A voice snapped them out of their thoughts. “We’re here. Landing now.”

A squad of guards in gray, red, and gold escorted them from the moment they left the shuttle to the moment they walked through the doors of the conference room. Lady Domina was there, sitting at the head of a long table, datapad in hand.

“Captain Syndulla, Commander Dume, Captain Orrelios, Lord and Lady Wren. Sit down, if you please.”

Eyebrows raised at the formal address of their ranks, or title in Sabine’s and Tristan’s cases, but the five of them sat down at the other end of the table.

“I’ve been told that you five have accepted my offer. This meeting is just to finalize some finer details and give each of you a chance to… negotiate.” Her eyes turned to Sabine. “Your parents, in particular, can still be spared, if you can offer me something equally valuable in return.”

Sabine and Tristan both glared at her, rage bubbling up. Their parents were people, not bargaining chips. But to this woman that’s exactly what they were. “What do you want?” Sabine growled.

A smile, deceptively sweet. “A life for a life. Your father, mother, and husband, for Jan Dodona, Gial Ackbar, and Saw Gererra.”

All four sets of eyes widened. “Why Saw? What’s so special about him?”

Sabine felt, rather than saw, Domina’s eyes hardened. A screen appeared in the middle of the table and a news report from HNN was played.

“Controversy from the Senate Building today as Senator Ulric Tagge of Tepasi accused several other senators, including Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Bana Breemu, of colluding with notorious terrorist Saw Gererra to cover up a planetwide genocide on Jegsziv, a world in the Expansion Region that has long been classified as a Class-4 bioweapon after a supposed mining disaster infected the planet’s atmosphere. Along with that, new evidence from the ISB has apparently been brought to light on supposed connections between several senators and the insurgent organization known as the Rebellion or the Alliance. All of the accused senators have, at this point, refused to comment on the allegations. This is Alton Kastle, reporting live on HoloNet News.”

She looked at the four stunned rebels. “Before you ask, no, that wasn’t propaganda. The allegations are real. Every single one of them.”

Kanan could feel the truth from Domina Tagge, so at least she fully believed what she was saying, and he told the rest of them as much. Hera was disgusted. Not exactly surprised, not with Saw, but she was surprised about Senator Organa or Mon Mothma covering it up.

Regardless, there were also the connections between the senators and the Alliance. If those charges stuck, and the ISB being confident enough to arrest two prominent senators publicly was alarming, the Alliance would lose their best assets in the Core, their eyes and voices in the Senate, and would also have to mount a rescue mission that was likely an ambush.

No matter which way this went, the Alliance just took a possibly lethal blow. Morale would be low, and if either of the senators talked the Empire would have enough information to rout the entire rebellion.

Sabine was… glad. Shamefully, she was glad. If the Alliance was doomed, then there was almost no reason for her to stay when there was an alternative that would end up overthrowing the current regime anyway, and with many more resources under them. Wait. Idea.

“How would you feel about including Alliance personnel into the deal? My parents, Ezra, and the Alliance. The same deal you offered me.”

Domina raised an eyebrow. Bold, this one. Expectedly so, but still bold. “Unlike your Alliance, Lady Wren, I operate on guarantees, not hope. Defined terms. Hard boundaries. So, make me a proposal, and I will consider it. Until then, this negotiation will be strictly focusing on your immediate family.”

Shoulders sagging, Sabine nodded regardless. It was objectively reasonable. The Lady was being generous enough. Testing that generosity was not the best idea, not right now. “Fine, but I’m coming back to that later. I’m not leaving them to fend for themselves, not if I can help them.”

A nod. “Fair enough, although you understand that you need to betray two important rebel commanders to get your parents back, don’t you?”

Hera took control of the situation before Sabine could answer. “We need some time to discuss. And some privacy.”

Lapin looked at Domina, got a nod, and escorted the four rebels into a side room. “You have five minutes. Again, I hope you choose wisely.”

Hera waited until the door is shut before turning around. “I’m going to ask this very seriously. Are we going to give up Admiral Ackbar and General Dodona to save the Wrens and Ezra?”

Sabine looked around. If it was just up to her, she would do it in a heartbeat. At least Dodona and Ackbar had a chance to escape whatever ambush was coming their way. The others were doomed if they couldn’t help them, right here, right now. Her found family seemed to share that line of thought, and Kanan confirmed that Domina was being truthful.

“I’m not part of this Alliance, and this is a choice between two strangers and my parents for me. I’m choosing my parents.” Sabine nodded in agreement at her brother’s statement. Despite what her mother’s actions might have indicated, family truly was everything to a Mandalorian.

It came to a vote. Zeb was hesitant, but eventually he relented that at least the two rebel commanders had a chance to evade capture. Hera looked around. “Alright, we’ll tell Domina where to find them. Hopefully they can escape. Now, what about Gererra?”

Sabine looked at Tristan. “I have an idea, but I need you to agree to it.”

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

“So, do you have a proposal for me?”

Sabine stared at those eyes, those icy blue eyes, and almost buckled. Somehow, the woman looking at her was more terrifying than most of the beings she’d encountered so far. “Yes. We’ll give you intel on Ackbar and Dodona, in exchange for my father, Ezra, and protection for any Alliance personnel that wants it.”

“And Gererra?”

“We don’t know where he is.”

“Shame. Amnesty for your father, Commander Bridger, and consideration for any defecting Alliance personnel in exchange for Ackbar and Dodona. That’s my final offer.”

Sabine looked around, getting one last round of confirmation. “Done, but we need to get them back before you get your intel.”

“Perfectly reasonable. What about your mother?”

A second of hesitation. Domina analyzed it. Ah, so that was how she wanted to do this. If her guess turned out to be correct then Wren was more ruthless than she thought.

Her guess was proven right when Sabine turned back to her. “She abandoned her son. Her family. Let see how she likes it.”

Domina smiled. “As you wish. Lapin, arrange transport for Alrich Wren and Ezra Bridger from the Levinbolt. Now, regarding your positions within TaggeCo, have any of you given any thought as to what you want to do?”

Hera was the first to speak. “Piloting. I want to fly, and none of that orbital nerfshit either. I want to travel deep space.”

Lapin checked their datapad. “There’s always a cargo pilot position open at TaggeCo, and 3rd Scout Platoon on the Enterprise is requesting a new pilot. I’m guessing you’d want a job away from combat?”

Hera frowned. “How’d you figure?”

A pointed glance at her stomach. Of course they knew. Of course. “Yes, I’d like something calm for a while at least. I’m guessing I’ll be hauling cargo across the galaxy?”

“Not right away. There’s a training course on procedures and protocol, then you’ll fly shorter deliveries first. Understand that all of you are effectively on parole, and you will be treated as such. You will be under surveillance, your movements and access will be restricted, and you can be subject to randomized check-ins from a TaggeCo enforcer at any time. This is the only way to peacefully keep Great Uncle Wullf off your backs.”

Hearing Colonel Yularen, Scourge of the Rebellion, referred to as ‘Great Uncle Wullf’ was jarring, but Hera forced herself to move on. “I’ll also need the Ghost back. It’s a modified freighter, I can use it for deliveries.”

Went unsaid was that the Ghost has been her home for over a decade, and she didn’t want to lose it too.

Domina shook her head. “TaggeCo has very strict standards for the vessels in our fleet. Besides speed, the Ghost doesn’t meet any of them. You can have it back as a personal spacecraft after the ISB is done examining it.”

The tone left no room for debate. Once again, Hera had no desire to get on this woman’s bad side. Domina turned her gaze to Kanan. “Every freighter requires a copilot and a security officer. Once we restore your sight you can get both certificates in three months. Would that be acceptable, Commander Dume?”

Kanan frowned. “It is, but how did you know-?”

“Your original name? We have access to the Jedi Archives, Commander, including the list of members and their blood samples. A simple DNA test was sufficient.”

His brows shot up. “You have access to the Archives!?”

“A replica of it, yes.”

“How!?”

A chuckle. “A Lady needs her secrets, Commander. A Tagge even more so. Now, your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and you all will be processed into our system a week later.”

Her eyes turned to Sabine and Tristan. “If either of you want to join the Armada, there are positions available for you both in either Weapons or Engineering. All enlisted, no officer posting. The next intake for the NCO Academy is full so you both will have to start at Private E-1. Not to worry, with your skill you’ll be promoted to Spec-4 soon enough. Any further and you’ll have to take the NCO exam.”

Sabine thought about the ranks for a second. “Wait, you-“

“Use the same rank structure as the Imperial Army? Yes, up to Marshal. No sense fixing a system that works. The Navy ranks are similar.”

Sabine thought about it. “And you’re sure there are no officer posts for us?” Being an officer would come with privileges and authority, and they’d also get paid more.

Domina shook her head. “No, but even if there were neither of you have a baccalaureate, so you’re both ineligible for commission. You’ll be given the opportunity to earn one as you serve, but I’d recommend rising through the enlisted ranks first before you go for a commission.”

Sabine looked at Tristan. He nodded. He wanted to keep fighting. “We’ll enlist.”

Lapin tapped their datapad. “You’ll be sent to our primary facility on Tepasi for basic training, then assigned to a ship or a planetside base. We’ll make sure you two are assigned together. I’m classing you both as Weapons Engineers. Your new uniforms and rank devices will be provided before you leave. Here are your contracts, take your time reading, feel free to ask any questions.”

While Sabine and Tristan read through the contracts, Lapin shifted to Zeb, who was offered the chance to become a Dax by Master Ordis and was eager to take it. While the Armada patrolled and protected Tagge Space, the Dax acted as protectors of Tepasi itself. The elite warrior sect of the Temple of Lotus, the symbol of Tepasi faith, and under the command of the revered Grandmaster Teshin, who was once a Dax himself, they protect and serve Tepasi, not any family or faction.

Zeb had met them before, when he escorted the Royal Family to Tepasi for a diplomatic trip. They were honorable and just. To be a Dax would be an honor.

Lapin finalized some of the paperwork. “Well, if you’d come with me, Commander Dume, we’ll get you prepped for surgery. Any preferences on eye color?”

Kanan turned his head to Hera, feeling her out in the Force. “Blue. Bright blue.”

“Done. Follow me. You can accompany him, Captain Syndulla. Captain Orrelios, you’ll need to swear in and be initiated into the Tepasi faith. Seeker Rell will guide you to the ship’s prayer room to get the process started.”

A short man in a white set of leather armor approach the door, hood drawn up to the forehead and head bowed. “Follow me, Initiate Garazeb. I will guide you on the first few steps of your new journey.”

Zeb shot one last look at Tristan and Sabine, still sitting at the table. He waved them goodbye, nodded at Kanan, saluted Hera, then followed the Seeker out. A new journey. An honorable one.

Sabine waved him off. “Will we get to see him again?”

“That depends on scheduling. You’re allowed leave while on duty, and the Dax have ample free time between shifts and missions. Captain, Commander, if you two will stay here a while more, your exchanged prisoners are docking now.”

The door opened five minutes later, both Ezra and Alrich escorted through the threshold in cuffs. Ezra was also sporting a Force dampener around his neck. Kanan felt a chill through his spine. He could hear his apprentice, and by tomorrow he would be able to see him, but he couldn’t feel him. Where there should’ve been a bright conduit of the Force, there was only… a Human. A normal Human. It was jarring, and terrifying, and… stop. Stop that line of thought. As long as Ezra could behave, he’d be just fine.

Things would be just fine. As long as The House kept its word and there were no other complications.

…

He just jinxed them all, didn’t he?

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

Docking Bay 74, Coruscant Spaceport, Coruscant

One ‘Codi Lerobi’ checked through customs at the spaceport and made his way to the central hub. He needed to get information, reorient himself with the Core, then make it back to Bay 81 in time for his flight to Tepasi. He didn’t notice the plainclothes ISB spoof sending a message through his comms.

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

The Stinger Mantis, Tanalorr, Koboh Abyss

Life was good for Cal Kestis. He had an integral part in the Hidden Path, he had a daughter to care for, friends to hang out with, a safe world to settle on, and, after a slip up with Merrin about using his last name on her citizenship forms since she didn’t have one of her own, he had a very scary and very loving wife.

So of course the galaxy decided that now was the perfect time to drop a bomb in his lap.

“Kestis? It’s Jung. Obi-Wan Kenobi is on Coruscant. He has a ticket to Tepasi at 2115 today under ‘Codi Lerobi’. I got a holo enclosed with this message as proof. Thought you’d want to know. Gonna try to keep ISB away from this as long as I can. Jung out.”

Cal tried his best to not get his hopes up as he opened the file and looked at the holo. That… that was Master Kenobi. No doubt about it. Older and rougher, but that was him. He should… he should go meet him, right? At the very least Master Kenobi would be safe on Tanalorr, and a Jedi like him surely had many things to teach.

But he promised Kata he’d be there for her natal day next week, and Merrin was so excited about it…

“BD, calculate travel time for me. Here to Coruscant.”

“Beep boop.”

He winces. “How about to Tepasi?”

“Beep beep boop.”

“That’s better. We’re going there. Extraction job, quick and easy. No one needs to know, right?”

“Boop boop bah.”

“Don’t be like that. She won’t even notice! Come on, get the engines started.”

They were just lifting off when his comms cackled to life. “Cal, where are you going?”

Cal froze. Shit. She was supposed to be busy with some ritual in the basement. “Just a quick check in with a contact, making sure everything’s still safe over there.”

“Over where?”

“Uhhhh…. Naboo. Yeah, the cell on Naboo. I’ll be back in two, three days tops. Tell Kata I love her?”

“…You don’t need backup?”

“Uh, no. No, it’s okay. Just a standard check in, shouldn’t be any trouble. Besides, one of us needs to arrange things for Kata’s natal day and we both know I’m useless.”

“Yes you are. Alright, be safe. You take care of him, BD.”

“Beep boop.”

“Alright, gotta go. I love you, Merrin.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

“Beep beep bah!”

“Yes, and you, BD.”

Cal laughed as the comms cut off. “Alright BD, set course for Tepasi and take us out.”

Time to get a Jedi Councilor back. What could possibly go wrong?

[stormxpadme]

A little preview of the next series part for @sneakymystique who can use a little pick me up after the last few weeks.

"If I may ask, Miss ..." For a moment, he feared that he wouldn't remember how the lady had introduced herself, but fortunately, that somewhat exotic name had stuck. "... Miss Katsopolis ... Is there any particular reason for your visit? Have there been any difficulties with major league customers that have not been brought to my attention? I assure you, if there is ..."

"Routine," a seductively deep and smoky voice replied shortly, with a strange smile that might have seemed charming had the eyes above it not been so icy and calculating. "In recent years, there have been repeated attacks by mutants on public utilities. We fear more terrorist attacks like the one at Liberty Island. Especially now that Lehnsherr has escaped prison."

"Magneto? Oh please." Harold rebuffed with a throwaway hand gesture. "Not to mention that I can't currently imagine what that old fart and his freaks would want with a power plant, of all things ..." Mildly amused, he caught an irritated twitch around Rachel's pretty bright eyes. Well, with him she had chosen the wrong man to lecture. He had been in this business far too long for that. And even if someone would try to rob his chair at some point, he would get a new lucrative job within a few weeks. No need to worry about routine checks by the authorities. "There has never been a single hostile incident in my building. Every single person who enters and leaves this house is thoroughly checked out. As I have pointed out ..." He fished an information sheet from his desk that told visitors about the not always entirely pleasant measures at the entrances.

"... DNA scanner, you mentioned it." The woman had only a quick glance for the laminated piece of paper to spare. "Great effort for someone not attaching any importance to themselves regarding current political events as a simple energy supplier."

"I didn't say that. And simple hardly covers." Terrorist attacks, however ... If that was what this control was really about, Harold had presented his work in the best light, anyway. Perhaps now he could get back to his real job. Only after he had found out the agency girl’s phone number, of course. "There’s certainly threats for us to expect, though not necessarily from misguided people with faulty genes. Thanks to our advantageous location in this wind sector and our technological innovations, we have been able to triple our output in recent years. Our network is accessible to every location in the city. This plant is designed so that, at the push of a button, it could power all of New York on its own for days, should there be an emergency. It must meet the highest safety standards."

"Then it's high time you put them in place, Simmons," was the very definite retort from his visitor. "You seem to hide in your laboratory too often. A few scanners and guards equal little more than a rusty garden gate should, say, followers of the Brotherhood of Mutants decide to take advantage of your work. You have a lot to learn. I see my visit here has come at just the right time. Provide me with a laptop with access to your network. But before we go into details, why don't you have a cup of coffee with me?"

"Uh ... yes ... of course." There weren't many people who could leave Harold speechless. So much for hoping he could somehow still keep the appointment with the Europeans. Just what he needed. Hurricanes, tsunamis, fires, earthquakes, and now mutants ... What was he going to protect himself from next? The apocalypse itself? Resigned, he reached for the phone. "Mandy? Tell the Swedes to be patient until tomorrow. Organize someone to show them the plant for me, and pay for their hotel room upgrade. And bring us something to nibble on. Big and black." This was apparently going to be another long afternoon.

"You'll excuse me for a moment." Rachel reconciled him with a charming smile for the inconvenience. Maybe the useless lecture wouldn't be half as boring as expected, at least, with this walking seduction sitting right next to Harold ... The woman shouldered her purse, got up, and looked around with raised eyebrows.

"Down the hall, second door on the left."

****

Raven hissed, relieved to be out of the haze of this chubby creep of a homo sapiens for at least a few minutes. There were jobs that required mentally stubbornly telling yourself over and over again what you were actually doing them for. Otherwise, she probably would have long since snapped this sexist moron's neck with her bare hand. Unfortunately, she still needed the guy. As tempting as it sounded to get rid of him, to take his place so that Erik could take up his plans in this building here undisturbed, she simply didn't have the time. It was difficult enough on many days to play her parade role as Senator Kelly without attracting anyone's attention because she spent far less time in Congress than would have been appropriate. For now, unfortunately, they needed this Simmons guy. But it would give her a lot of greatest pleasure to shut him up. She knew what she needed to know now, and by the time she got back, the guy would hopefully have provided full access to the plant's computer system. Then Raven could finally get on with her actual work. She took a quick peek into one of the offices she passed, entered the restroom just long enough to match her physical shape to that of one of the female employees, and then hurried to the coffee kitchen as unobtrusively as she could, where a red-haired, obviously completely overwhelmed girl was filling two cups with flying hands. "Mandy? One of the Swedes is asking for you."

"Great, this just keeps on getting better. You take the tray to Harold. You know he hates to wait. You don't have anything to do anyway, do you? That's what I thought. Hurry up." Cursing and swearing, without even waiting for a reply, the young woman ran past her.

"With the greatest of pleasure." Raven kicked the kitchen door shut with her heel and reached for a blister of pills she had brought with her in a pouch of flesh under her sternum. After a moment's thought, she dissolved three sleeping pills in one of the cups instead of the usual two. It would be a relief to hear her talkative friend fall silent as soon as possible.

"Wait, that wasn't the point. You're a guest here. Where's my assistant?" Frowning, Harold looked up when she single-handedly balanced the large tray of coffee and cookies into his office.

"I guess your girl had more important things to do. Vanished in some broom closet with a male coworker. This was in the kitchen." Raven smiled sweetly and handed Simmons his requested caffeine refill. "Laptop?"

"We can work on mine. Have a seat." Patronizingly, the man patted the seat of the leather chair he'd placed next to his, barely more than a few inches from it, and typed a few letters into his keyboard. Access data, Raven noted with satisfaction. She allowed herself to put her hearing on mute for the next five minutes, unless it was for any data relevant to her task. It was an art that was perfected when one had to team up with an oversized toad and a hormone-driven Neanderthal. With pointed fingers, she pushed Harold's chair aside when the guy finally dozed off and read into the plant's downright ridiculously simplistic administrative program. She quickly put on her headset to inform her leader of her progress, connecting her cell phone to Erik's with a quick press of one button. "I'm in."

"Hurry up," was the unusually gruff reply. Trouble, Raven heard it immediately from the uneasy nuance in Erik's voice.

Once again she cursed the fact that she had already had to waste so much time in this office crammed with tasteless kitsch. "What happened?"

"Toad needs your help. We have scouts in the system."

"Xavier." Raven gritted her teeth hard to keep from letting loose a very unkind comment about her favorite enemies, for whom Erik notoriously had a lot more love than she did. Now these plagues had gone too far. They wanted access to the Brotherhood's computer system? Well, Raven would be happy to show them what happened when you couldn’t keep your nose out of other people's business. There were some technical gadgets in Xavier's house that could be used against its own inhabitants ... She had already toyed with the idea at Liberty Island when she had first looked around Westchester. And this time she would not hesitate.

[theknightlywolfe]

Okay, so, removing state income taxes, a $65k per year salary is ~$49k take home with zero health insurances.

If rent/mortgage is $1000/mon, utilities and insurance are $250/mon, and food is $250/mon then for bare survival that is $18k gone, you are left with $31k. Most places in the US do not have comprehensive and capable public transportation so that's another $5k on registration, gas, maintenance of a car, down to $26k.

If you have health insurance that your job pays half of, that is another $5k gone, we're down to $21k. (If you buy on the open market that is $4k to $12k a year gone.)

So, if you have no health issues, always eat at home, barely use AC in the summer and Heat in the winter, live in a state with no income tax, don't have any obligation to pay property tax (or any form of housing maintenance), have no issues with your car other than minor maintenance and repair, take no vacations, go to no events, and have zero other people you have to support in any way, you can put $20k in the bank in a year.

But if you do have state income tax, goodbye another $3k to $9k. Health issues, even minor ones, say goodbye to at least $2k even with insurance. Car issue, there's another $1k to $2k. Lucky enough to own a small place, $2k to $13k gone on taxes and maintenance, or maybe you just live where it gets hot or cold and like being comfortable. So, if these things are your situation in a year, even if you have no fun and no life, that annual savings is down to $10k a year.

Your entire enjoyment of life, buying of daily life needs like clothes, and savings for living past working is $10k to $20k per year. Again, if you have no dependents and only do the minimum to survive. No kids, no pets, you are on the cheapest phone and internet and have no TV or streaming services. And, notice what else was missing? *Student debt*

And yeah, that sounds like a lot. Until you realize how little things like a weekly coffee, a weekly drink, meeting with friends to go to the movies/escape room/get a couple cocktails add up. So, even if you manage to use that to enjoy life a little and save $5k a year and work a full time job getting an average of $65k/year for 40 years, your savings at retirement would be a whopping $200k. Let's say your average investment return was 5%, let's say you have $220k now. Well, I sure hope you owned your own place in the first ten years of your $65k job and never moved and now don't have a mortgage or rent to pay.

Oh, you never had issues and never enjoyed life and had no state taxes, and were able to put away $10k a year? A 5% return every year on that to pay for your cost of living is $20k. Which is housing, and food and almost nothing else. Or maybe you expect to die at 76 and will just use it all up in the 11yrs after retiring. I'm sure inflation isn't a thing and you will have no health issues and you can manage to enjoy life on the $18k left after paying the bare minimum to survive.

Can you survive on less than $65k a year salary? Absolutely. I did for years. And not having kids or pets meant I could also enjoy life in a lot of small ways. And I, for the most part, was *healthy* and had no debt except a mortgage (and I only was able to get a home due to Obama's first time home buyer credit and qualifying for FHA and because the market was downturned).

$65k is, even in the best of situations, the entrance to middle, middle class.

i can't stop thinking about the results of that 65k income poll. i've spent my entire life straddling the poverty line so i understand feeling like even just another 10k would assuage my anxieties, but good fucking lord the ultra-wealthy are absolutely winning this class war if the economic policies they have influenced have convinced so many people that an income that can't even afford to own a home or raise a child is 'rich'.

i really, really hope the majority of those votes are from non-americans applying usd conversion rates to their own currency's purchasing power.

[unilifeabroadcareersolution]

Cost of Studying in Italy - Complete Guide

@unilifeabroadcareersolutions

This is a hot spot not only because of its significance in art, history, and culture but also because it holds some of the world’s top-ranked universities. The university tuition fees are also not expensive compared to other popular destinations besides having a rather interesting lifestyle. However, to plan your journey to this Mediterranean gem, you will need to know more about cost of living and cost of study.

Tuition Fees

It is less expensive to study in an Italian university compared to the universities of Western Europe. Universities: Depending on the course and depending on your income, it ranges between €900 and €4,000 per year. Most universities have different fees depending on your family’s economic status Universities: They are very pricey with a fee range from €6,000 to €20,000 per year. Best Universities University of Bologna-the oldest university in Europe. • Politecnico di Milano – it is known by engineering and design. • Sapienza University of Rome.

Living in Italy costs

The price may vary according to the city; the bigger cities like Rome, Milan, Florence are usually more expensive than Bologna or Pisa. Average Monthly Costs Living:

Shared student dorm: 250-400€ a month. Private apartment: 400-800€ a month, depending on town.

Food: Groceries: 150-250€ a month. Eating Out: One dinner at a budget restaurant would be 10-20€

Accommodation: Pass to public transport for the month – 25-50€. Many cities have offers for a discounted pass for students.

Utilities and Internet: Utilities: Electricity, heating, water, etc. – 50-100€/month Internet: Approximately 25-30€/month

Miscellaneous: Entertainment, clothing, and leisure: 50-150€/month

City-Wise Breakdown Milan: 1,200-1,500 €/month Rome: 1,000-1,400 €/month Florence: 900-1,200 €/month Bologna: 800-1,100 €/month

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Other scholarships are designed specifically for international students who would like to come to Italy and these ones highly reduce the weight of the expenses. DSU Scholarships: They also alleviate the burden of room and board for the qualified set of students. Invest Your Talent in Italy: They exempt this scholarship from tuition fees, with an additional monthly stipend for postgraduate students. University-Specific Scholarships: It is common to find specific scholarships offered by different universities for international students.

Working While Studying

International students in Italy are allowed to work part-time up to 20 hours a week. That will cover some of the living costs. All jobs usually pay between €8 to €15/hour, depending on the job and locality.

Cost Management Tips

• Live in Budget-Friendly Cities: Small cities like Pisa or Perugia are cheaper than Rome or Milan. • Cook food at Home: Italian markets have immense fresh and easily available ingredients. • Student Discounts in Transportation: Generally, majority of museums, cinema’s etc. have transport facility with student discount. • Split accommodation: Sharing with flatmates will miraculously save you a lot on accommodation.

Conclusion

Italy combines world-class education, a rich cultural experience, and affordable living costs, making it an ideal destination for international students. With proper budgeting and planning, you can make the most of your academic journey in this beautiful country.

Ready to explore your study options in Italy? Contact Unilife Abroad Career Solutions for expert guidance and personalized support in achieving your dreams!

84284 40444

info@unilifeabroad.com

[treasurypreserve]

Insurance Agent vs Adjuster

With regard to exploring the mind-boggling universe of protection, two jobs frequently come up: the. Insurance Agent Vs Adjuster While they might sound comparative, their capabilities, obligations, and the worth they give contrast essentially. This article explains the qualifications between protection specialists and agents, assisting you with understanding which proficiency you could require in different circumstances.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT INSURANCE AGENT VS ADJUSTER

An insurance specialist is an authorized proficient who sells protection contracts for the benefit of an insurance agency. Specialists act as mediators between protection suppliers and clients, assisting people and organizations with choosing the right inclusion in view of their one-of-a-kind necessities. There are two essential kinds of protection specialists: hostage specialists and free specialists.

Hostage Specialists

Hostage specialists work for a solitary insurance agency. Their essential job is to advance and sell that organization’s items, meaning they frequently have top-to-bottom information on the strategies presented by their boss. While hostage specialists can offer incredible assistance and custom-made exhortation about their organization’s contributions, they may not present choices from different guarantors.

Autonomous Specialists

Autonomous specialists, then again, work with different insurance agencies. This permits them to offer a more extensive scope of items and track down the best fit for their clients. Free specialists can give fair-minded exhortation since they are not restricted to a solitary safety net provider’s strategies.

OBLIGATIONS OF INSURANCE AGENT VS ADJUSTER

Client Discussion: Protection specialists survey the necessities of their clients through meetings to decide suitable inclusion levels and types.

Strategy Proposals: In view of the evaluation, specialists suggest reasonable insurance contracts that meet the client’s necessities and financial plan.

Application Handling: Specialists help clients finish protection applications and social event documentation.

Progressing Backing: Specialists offer ceaseless help, addressing questions, assisting with strategy recharges, and helping during claims processes.

Remuneration

Insurance specialists commonly procure a commission in light of the contracts they sell. This implies their pay is frequently attached to their deals execution, giving them the motivation to offer phenomenal help to clients.

What is a Protection Agent?

A protection agent, some of the time referred to as a case agent, is an expert liable for researching and surveying protection claims. Their essential job is to assess claims recorded by policyholders after an episode, like a mishap or catastrophe, to decide the insurance agency’s obligation.

KINDS OF PROTECTION AGENT

Staff Agents: These agents are utilized straight by insurance agency. They handle claims for the safety net provider and are in many cases the primary resource for policyholders documenting a case.

Autonomous Agents: Free agents fill in as workers for hire. They are recruited by insurance agency to survey asserts yet are not workers of the guarantor. This can give a degree of objectivity to the cases cycle.

Public Agents: Public agents address the policyholder in the cases cycle. They work for the benefit of the safeguarded to haggle with the insurance agency for a fair settlement. Public agents are in many cases employed when policyholders feel they are not being sufficiently redressed.

Obligations of Protection Agents

Claims Examination: Agents audit the subtleties of the case, including gathering proof, meeting observers, and investigating property harm.

Harm Appraisal: They assess the degree of harm or misfortune to decide how much the insurance agency ought to pay.

Strategy Translation: Agents should have an exhaustive comprehension of insurance contracts to decide inclusion and prohibitions precisely.

Discussion: In the wake of evaluating the case, agents arrange settlements with policyholders or their delegates.

Pay

Protection agents commonly procure compensation or a charge in view of the cases they handle. Free agents could deal with a case premise, while public agents normally charge a level of the settlement sum.

Key Contrasts Between Protection Specialists and Agents

While both protection specialists and agents assume basic parts of the protection business, their capabilities are unmistakable:

Assuming that you’re thinking about buying insurance, changing your contract, or need direction on inclusion choices, a protection specialist is your go-to proficient. Here are a few situations when you ought to contact a protection specialist:

Looking for Protection

At the point when you’re on the lookout for new protection — be it auto, home, life, or business — a protection specialist can assist you with exploring your choices. They can make sense of strategy elements, advantages, and prohibitions, permitting you to settle on informed choices.

Strategy Survey and Updates

As your life conditions change —, for example, getting hitched, having kids, or purchasing a home — your protection needs may likewise change. A specialist can assist you with surveying your ongoing approaches and making essential updates.

Understanding Arrangement Terms

On the off chance that you’re befuddled about your arrangement terms or the inclusion you have, a protection specialist can explain any ambiguities. They can separate complex protection language into justifiable language.

Claims Help

While specialists are not agents, they can direct you through the cases interaction. They can give exhortation on the most proficient method to record your case actually and may advocate for your benefit with the insurance agency.

When to Contact a Protection Agent

On the off chance that you experience misfortune or harm covered by your insurance contract, you’ll have to contact a protection agent. Here are normal circumstances when you ought to connect:

Documenting a Case

On the off chance that you’ve experienced a misfortune —, for example, in an auto collision, property harm, or robbery — you should document a case. An agent will be relegated to assess the case and survey harms.

Claims Questions

Assuming that you feel that the underlying case settlement presented by the insurance agency is lacking, you might consider recruiting a public agent to haggle for your sake.

Complex Cases

For claims including broad harm or misfortune, for example, cataclysmic events, a free agent might be brought in to give a definite evaluation and guarantee a fair settlement.

The Significance of The two Jobs

Both protection specialists and agents are fundamental to the protection environment, each serving exceptional capabilities that benefit policyholders:

Protection Specialists Cultivate Connections

Specialists fabricate associations with clients, assisting them with finding reasonable inclusion and filling in as an asset for different kinds of feedback all through the strategy lifecycle. This relationship can prompt customized administration, which is particularly significant in the midst of hardship.

Agents Guarantee Fair Settlements

Agents assume a basic part in the case cycle, guaranteeing that policyholders get fair pay for their misfortunes. Their ability to assess harm safeguards both the backup plan and the protection, keeping up with trust in the protection framework.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the distinctions between protection specialists and agents can assist you with exploring the intricacies of the protection scene all the more actually. While specialists are your essential asset for buying and overseeing insurance contracts, agents are fundamental with regard to claims and guaranteeing you get the remuneration you merit.

Whether you’re looking for protection or documenting a case, knowing which expert to contact can have a significant effect you would say. By understanding their particular jobs, you can guarantee you get the ideal help with impeccable timing, eventually prompting better assurance and an inward feeling of harmony.

As the need might arise, recall the worth every expert offers that would be useful. Furnished with this information, you can arrive at informed conclusions about your protection inclusion and feel certain about exploring your protection process.

[rgeee]

Apartment for rent in columbus

Finding the Perfect Apartment for Rent in Columbus: Essential Tips and Tricks

Introduction:

Hook: Emphasize the appeal of living in Columbus, from its thriving job market to its unique neighborhoods.

Problem Statement: Searching for an apartment for rent in Columbus can be overwhelming with so many options and factors to consider.

Solution Overview: This guide will provide essential tips and tricks to help readers streamline their search and find the ideal apartment for their needs.

Section 1: Define Your Needs and Budget

Set Your Budget:

Budget Breakdown: Explain how to set a realistic budget, considering monthly rent, utilities, and other expenses.

Typical Rent in Columbus: Give an overview of average rents in Columbus neighborhoods, like Short North, Downtown, and University District.

List Your Priorities:

Must-Haves vs. Nice-to-Haves: Encourage readers to distinguish between essential features (e.g., number of bedrooms, pet policies) and optional perks (like gyms or pools).

Lifestyle Considerations: Suggest looking for features that align with their lifestyle, such as proximity to parks for pet owners or a dedicated workspace for remote workers.

Section 2: Research Columbus Neighborhoods

Popular Columbus Neighborhoods:

Short North and Downtown: Describe these lively areas, ideal for those who enjoy nightlife, dining, and art scenes.

German Village and Italian Village: For those looking for charm and a quieter atmosphere, with historic architecture.

University District: Close to Ohio State University, perfect for students or those who enjoy a young, vibrant environment.

Suburban Options: Highlight suburban neighborhoods like Dublin or Upper Arlington, which are family-friendly and offer larger spaces.

Commute and Accessibility:

Proximity to Work or School: Suggest choosing a neighborhood close to their daily destinations to save on commuting time and costs.

Public Transport: Mention areas well-served by Columbus public transit or bike paths for easy commuting.

Section 3: Tips for the Apartment Search Process

Use Reliable Rental Platforms:

Popular Platforms: Recommend trusted websites and apps like Zillow, Apartments.com, and local Columbus rental platforms.

Set Alerts: Show how to set up alerts for new listings in their preferred neighborhoods to stay updated.

Plan Apartment Tours:

Virtual and In-Person Tours: Explain the benefits of both virtual and in-person tours, including specific things to look for like storage space, room sizes, and natural lighting.

Tour Checklist: Provide a checklist for tours, including checking appliances, water pressure, noise levels, and security features.

Consider Seasonal Timing:

Best Times to Rent in Columbus: Share that spring and summer often have more listings but potentially higher prices, while fall and winter might offer lower rents but fewer options.

Section 4: Evaluating Amenities and Lease Terms

Must-Have Amenities:

Building Features: Describe desirable amenities, such as on-site laundry, parking, fitness centers, and outdoor spaces.

In-Unit Features: Suggest looking for in-unit amenities like dishwashers, central air conditioning, or large closets, depending on their lifestyle.

Review Lease Terms Carefully:

Lease Length: Describe typical lease lengths in Columbus (e.g., 6 or 12 months) and what to consider when choosing one.

Fees and Policies: Emphasize understanding all fees, including pet deposits, parking fees, and late payment penalties.

Renewal Clauses and Rent Increases: Encourage renters to check if there's an option to renew and potential rent adjustments.

Section 5: Securing Your Ideal Apartment

Prepare Required Documentation:

Documents Needed: List common documents required for Columbus rentals, such as ID, proof of income, and references.

Credit Score and Income Verification: Explain that many landlords check credit and require proof of stable income, offering advice on gathering pay stubs or bank statements.

Submit an Application Promptly:

Act Quickly: Emphasize the competitive nature of Columbus rentals, especially in popular neighborhoods, and encourage prompt applications to secure a unit.

Application Fees: Mention any typical application fees and why they’re often non-refundable.

Negotiate If Possible:

Rent and Lease Flexibility: Offer advice on negotiating rent, lease length, or amenities—especially if the rental has been on the market for a while or they’re signing a longer lease.

Section 6: Additional Tips for a Smooth Move-In

Inspect the Apartment:

Move-In Checklist: Recommend creating a move-in inspection checklist to document any pre-existing damages and ensure repairs are made before moving in.

Utility Setup and Transfers:

Utilities and Internet: Suggest arranging utilities, internet, and any renter's insurance ahead of the move-in date for a smooth transition.

Conclusion:

Recap: Summarize the main tips and reassure readers that, with careful planning and research, they can find the perfect apartment for rent in Columbus.

Call-to-Action: Encourage them to start their search with a clear plan, tour options, and check Columbus’s popular rental platforms to find their next home.