#create digital catalog

[inside0ut-dotnet]

The Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is a digital treasure trove of over 1,200 LGBTQ books, providing a valuable resource for individuals across the country to access. This unique collection offers a diverse range of literature that celebrates and explores the LGBTQ experience in all its complexity. QLL has attracted over 50,000 readers, providing safe access to queer literature regardless of location or circumstances. Unlike traditional libraries, the Queer Liberation Library is specifically curated to center LGBTQ voices and experiences. With a focus on inclusion and representation, this digital catalog offers a wide range of genres, from fiction and poetry to memoirs and academic texts. While the collection is extensive, here are a few notable titles: "A Burst of Light" by Audre Lorde “One Last Stop” by Casey McQuiston: A contemporary novel with LGBTQ themes. QLL continually adds new titles to enrich its catalog and cater to diverse interests QLL was founded by a team of nine volunteers in response to state laws and school policies challenging books with LGBTQ themes. By providing access to a wealth of LGBTQ literature, the Queer Liberation Library offers readers the opportunity to explore diverse perspectives, gain insight into different lived experiences, and foster a greater understanding of the LGBTQ community. It offers free digital access to over 1,200 LGBTQ books for readers across the United States. Whether you are looking for resources for research, personal enrichment, or simply to broaden your literary horizons, this digital library has something to offer everyone. Representation matters, and the Queer Liberation Library plays a crucial role in amplifying LGBTQ voices and stories. Unlike many public libraries, QLL specifically curates books with queer themes or written by queer authors. By providing a platform for LGBTQ authors and their work, this digital catalog helps to create a more inclusive literary landscape and promotes greater visibility for the LGBTQ community. With over 1,200 books to explore, the Queer Liberation Library is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to learn more about LGBTQ history, culture, and identity. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally looking to educate yourself, this digital library is a rich source of knowledge and inspiration. 🌈 📚 Check it out HERE: www.queerliberationlibrary.org

@queerliblib

[carriesthewind]

Ok. I am maybe kind of losing my mind just a little bit.

A few days ago, I mentioned in a post that the IA only cares about information being digitized, not about actual digital access. And I mentioned that access includes patrons being able to actually find what they are looking for, and suggested IA did not prioritize that critical aspect of access. But I didn't really go into any more detail.

So someone over on bluesky linked to this write-up of a talk Brewster Kahle gave about using so-called AI. And one of his reported statements made my mouth drop open in shock.

...and then I read further in the article and realized it was incorrectly reporting basic facts around Hachette, so I had to go and listen to the whole speech myself.* (And I want to say, briefly - he raises some legitimate potential uses for LLMs! He's kind of a dick about some of it ("it's up to us to go and keep [Balinese] culture alive"), but some of the things he's talking about actually seem useful.)

*Incidentally, while Kahle doesn't lie about the ALA brief in the speech, he absolutely misleads about the nature and facts of the case and deliberately omit the part of the story where the IA decided to suspend the one-to-one owned-to-loan ratio thing, despite repeatedly emphasizing that one-to-one was what the IA was doing with their lending program.

And oh my god. He really said what the article reports. (This portion starts around 20:10.)

He says that the IA has scanned over 18,000 periodicals. And that they used to have professional librarians manually create descriptions of the periodicals in order to catalog them. (Sidenote: there are existing directories, but he describes their licensing terms as "ridiculous." This is not a field I know much about, but I spoke to one person who agreed, though for different reasons. His reason is that you can only license, not purchase, the directory descriptions. The person I spoke to was instead focused on the prices demanded for the licenses. Regardless, the idea of creating an open, free directory seems both like an incredible amount of work and an amazing resource...if it was accurate.)

But according to Kahle, it took 45 minutes to an hour to create a description and catalog each periodical.

And so now, instead, they're using AI to make the descriptions and so it only takes 7-10 minutes!

"And yes it hallucinates, and it has some problems, and whatever — but it’s a lot faster than having to write it yourself!"

Oh. My god.

Just.

YOU ARE KNOWINGLY INTRODUCING AI HALLUCINATIONS INTO YOUR CATALOG?!

(And yes, he says that they are "confirmed by a librarian" but it can't really be, not if it's only taking 7-10 minutes! Maybe the librarian can do a quick check for super obvious errors, but actually checking a AI's summary work requires actually going back to the source and reviewing it yourself!)

I just....

I need to emphasize for those of you for who aren't familiar - if a book or article is miscataloged, it is effectively lost. Because it doesn't mater if a library or an archive owes it - if someone can't find it when they are looking for it, it is not only inaccessible, the only way to find it again is through chance. Imagine if you went into a library, but instead of organized shelves (where if even if you can't find what you're looking for, the librarians know where to look), every single book was just piled in a heap.

If a book is miscateloged, it still exists, but it is lost, not truly accessible. And they know that this is happening, "but whatever." Because Brewster Kahle doesn't actually care about real, practical, digital access. (Much less non-digital access.)

(And then to top it off, he goes on to criticize the Library of Congress for not being "access oriented.")

I just. 18,000 periodicals. And they've knowing, recklessly lost who knows how many of them. I feel like crying.

18,000 periodicals.

[clonerightsagenda]

Thank you for applying for a library card!

We are a large metropolitan library with twelve branches here in the city and a consortial agreement with ninety-seven different timelines (and counting). Your card is your ticket to our physical and digital collections, where we have something for everyone.

You’ve indicated that you are licensed for time travel and regularly travel in time or between timelines for work purposes, so you are eligible for our trans-timeline borrower’s card. Please read this document carefully to ensure you’re using your new card to its fullest potential and in compliance with library policy.

Our services:

The library has a floating collection, meaning items remain at the branch where they were returned rather than being sent back to the lending branch. However, we do return inter-timeline loans to their home universe to minimize temporal strain. If you’re browsing the shelves and see a book phasing in and out of existence, alert an employee. It’s probably misshelved.  

Our new online system allows you to keep the same login information in all timelines. No more keeping track of dozens of passwords! If you previously created multiple logins tied to one card, visit the circulation desk, and we’ll merge your accounts for you. No, this will not make you responsible for alternate selves’ outstanding fines, and any version of yourself telling you that is lying to you.

You asked, and we listened. Our new online catalog displays reviews from patrons from all relevant timelines on items exceeding a 90% similarity score. We request that patrons keep debates over the superiority of their timeline’s version to venues other than our catalog.

Although our staff members are not medical professionals, they have been trained to recognize signs of temporal instability. If you are experiencing characteristic symptoms (faintness, disorientation, physical and/or mental age changes, etc.), a staff member can administer grounding agents until emergency services arrive.

The library has a robust inter-timeline loan system. If you’re looking for a book or article not published in this timeline, fill out our online form or ask at the circulation desk. The average wait time for an ITL request is five business days. That’s shortened to three if you’re requesting an item stored at the James Patterson Interdimensional Warehouse. (Note: This estimate may change as the warehouse continues to expand under its own power, or if our courier gets lost there.)

Our policies:

We do not accept returns before the publication date (month and year). Cataloging books paradoxically created through stable time loops gets too complicated. You can check a book’s month of publication in a review journal like Booklist, which we make available online and in our non-circulating magazine collection.

We’ve recently gone fine-free in this timeline, meaning we no longer charge fees for overdue books. This policy varies between consortium timelines depending on whether certain people on the board of directors have retired yet.

If a book is damaged beyond repair, lost in a Time Hole, or overwritten out of existence by timeline changes, you will be responsible for the replacement cost or a flat fee of $30, whichever is lower. We do not recommend attempting to rewrite time to avoid losing or damaging the book, as we would prefer to purchase a new copy rather than tear a hole in the fabric of reality.

Patrons may use our computers for two hours. You can extend this time if there are no other patrons waiting. Show respect to other library users and do not abuse time travel to circumvent the policy when there is high demand. We will notice if there are two of you at our computing stations. Yes, even if one of you is wearing a funny hat.

The library values your privacy. We will not disclose account information or the content of reference transactions to anyone, including alternate versions of the account holder. The library also does not keep a record of the materials you check out. However, some of our databases do track user data. If you need to conceal your presence in this timeline to avoid paradoxes, the Time Cops, or your ex, we keep a collection of electronic resource licenses at the reference desk so you can judge which products to avoid.

Holder vs. Holder found that copyright protections extend across timelines and prior to publication, and copyright is exclusive to the iteration who created the work. Patrons attempting to copy library materials and publish them under their own name will have their cards revoked, even if they created the material in another timeline. This policy was adopted after consultation with our legal team. Trans-timeline copyright enforcement is very aggressive.

The library respects the personhood and autonomy of patrons no matter their timeline of origin. However, this respect is not always universal. If you need to know what the laws are for time travelers/alternate selves/dimension-hoppers/“timeclones”/etc. in this dimension (or the terminology used to refer to them), stop by the reference desk.

Violence is against library policy. If you are about to battle your alternate self from another timeline because you ran into each other in the cookbook section, take it to the parking lot.

In conclusion:

Libraries are committed to free access to information, and with the resources of dozens of timelines available to us, our mission has only gotten bigger. In fact, we’re hiring! If you’re looking for somewhere new to apply your time travel certification, we’re looking for team members in our inter-timeline loan department. Entry-level courier positions do not require an MLIS. Familiarity with James Patterson is a plus.

We can’t wait to see you in our library. (Maybe we already have.)  

[usnatarchives]

Enjoy these registered patent labels for products created for and marketed to women.

All of the labels are from Record Group 241, Records of the Patent and Trademark Office. These patent labels have been digitized and will soon be available in the National Archives Catalog (archives.catalog.gov)

[divine-crows]

🎨✨️Art Magic✨️🎨

Uses, Forms of it, and Why I Think Everyone Should Try it at Least Once.

Foreword

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had been trying and failing to rekindle my flame for magic work. No matter what I tried to do I just couldn't get back into my studies and I was reaching a point where I was convinced I lost my spark and was doomed to live an empty life. Then it all changed when a YouTube Channel challenged how I thought about everything: Molly Roberts. That's when I was opened to the possibility of art magic, and I'll now share my love of it with anyone willing to read on.

What Is Art Magic?

A means to utilize art for spellwork, raising magical energy, or for exploring your magical subconscious. It encapsulates multiple different types of art and is generally not confined by conventional expectation (unless that's what you prefer).

You can utilize art magic by. . .

Using traditional art methods

Digital art methods

Collages

Music composition

Jewelry making

Embroidery

And much more!

How do I know if Art Magic is Suitable for Me?

There isn't a specific thing that'll indicate this form of magic is perfect for you, however I have some anecdotes from my personal experience as both a witch, and a regular artist that form a sort of idea on what could denote this being perfect for you!

First off, craving freedom from personal restraints was a big factor that pushed me towards blending my craft with my passion for art. If you want to run from the monotony of life, if you feel trapped by the social construction of boxes, or if you simply want to challenge your own mental restraints... then this idea might resonate with you.

Challenging yourself with a new form of magic, similarly, can also be a good enough reason to try. I'm the type of person who loves to constantly learn new things and I unfortunately get bored really quickly if I can't get new source materials. Using Art Magic has proven a fun challenge for me that allows me to explore a lot more topics you can't just open a book to find.

For those that may not be able to safely perform a lot of traditional style spells, this form of magic provides a discreet way to practice witchcraft. Most people wouldn't really question someone if they picked up the hobby of making art, and even if they did there's plenty of reasonable excuses out there.

How you prefer your spells to manifest themselves can also affect if this journey is a good idea or not. I find that Art Magic is really good when it comes to subtle spellwork that is more longform (though depending on how you construct them you can definitely create a spell that's the opposite).

Catalog aspects of your magical journey. Imagine a grimoire filled with pages of drawings, each one telling a story of something you experienced or learned as a witch. This especially may be more beneficial for visual learners.

You could use it as a means of meditation, sometimes art can be calming and it can open the door to your mind (so-to-speak). Especially if you're like me and struggle with staying completely still while trying to clear your mind, this may be helpful for you.

Trying to better understand archetypes, deities, types of entities, or even your own self can also be a big part of this. I've used art magic as a way to embody the "energy" of something before so I could better understand it. Especially when you're trying to seek knowledge that isn't often written on, it can provide a great way to explore more.

How Can I perform an Art Spell?

I have a step-by-step process that can give you some insight on how you may approach it:

1) Think of the intention you want. I like to close my eyes and meditate on it for about a minute then I write down if my mind wandered to any specific imagery or ideas.

2) Think of visual symbolism and colors that can help you capture the mood you want. Perhaps you need a warm color palette to invoke positive feelings, or maybe there are specific objects or animals you can include on the composition that represent something.

3) If you feel it fits your composition, you can include sigils, symbols of significance, and include shapes that have certain associations. It doesn't even have to be obvious either. You can use a circular composition to convey something endless for example, or a triangular composition to show priority over something.

4) In general follow what your heart tells you. This is a little cliche, but ultimately follow what seems best to you. Art isn't about boxing yourself in and my guidelines are just general ideas for anyone who's lost!

Why do I think that everyone should try it at least once?

From my experiences as a witch, I find that a lot of paths to be followed are quite rigid. By no means am I implying that a rigid structure is bad-- it creates a foundation from which we can work upon. I myself am exploring rigid, 'traditional' (for lack of a better term) ways of working magic. Art magic pushes you out of your comfort zone in a safe way. It makes you consider how you associate things. It makes you create new sigils and makes you research new symbols you previously wouldn't have used.

So next time you're lost on a spell, or you've lost your way in your Craft and you don't know what to do, think about maybe giving Art Magic a try. I hope my guide was a helpful starting point for anyone interested in the topic!

[blueskittlesart]

hey so i’m really wanting to make a book/field guide of my art and i was wondering what your process is from creating an art piece all the way to getting a zine-style physical copy of your work? i was inspired by your zines so i thought i’d ask you about it. what websites do you use? how do you like,,, talk to a business to get stuff from the digital illustration into a (relatively small) book?

also this is a personal project to fuel my hyperfixation so i’m not looking to like,,, produce in bulk or anything lol.

thanks :)

for my larger-quantity zines I used mixam.com! they're a print company that specializes in booklets and catalogs, and everything on the production side can be dealt with online. I've had very good experiences with their customer service (I was put through to a real person on their chat function almost instantly when i needed an answer to a more in-depth question) and their prices are really good imo, especially for bigger quantities! They also have pretty high customization options--you can choose the weight and type of your paper, multiple types of binding, etc.

if you go that route, though, all of the graphic design and layout is on you. I'd recommend getting indesign or a similar program to help you lay out your booklet, so you can keep all your pages in one easily-accessible, editable file. (and remember that in order to be printed as a booklet your page count MUST be a multiple of 4!) mixam (or whatever printer you use) will usually give you a template that lets you know exactly how much bleed and gutter space you're working with, and you can then input those numbers into indesign. (If you do this, make sure you export your final pdf WITHOUT CROP MARKS, because your printer will add their own crop marks later on.) once you've arranged your booklet the way you like in indesign, export it as a pdf (in single pages, not spreads, and make sure your pages are in sequential order rather than optimized for booklet printing; it's on your printer to do that step for you!) and upload that pdf to your printer. Mixam gives you a few days to check over your work and either confirm it's correct or cancel the order, and then once you've confirmed it goes into production. more pages and more complex printing will be more expensive, but i've had nothing but good experiences buying from mixam and if i ever selfpub again i'm definitely going to be using them!

[pinemountridges]

super quick tutorial on how to make the backdrops (aka as landmarks, those mountains, hills and stuff you see on the background of your sims world) buyable in Sims 4

I've used a mix of two tutorials I've found:

first

second

and here is my step-by-step process (each backdrop takes around 3 mins maximum to complete, so it is really fast):

Step 1.

Open up your Sims4Studio and use Objects category - Standalone recolor

Step 2.

Then you will see the objects from game to choose from. Make sure to check the "Debug items" checkbox and then start typing "matte" which persists in any backdrop name. You can limit the game expansion/pack you want to convert a backdrop from, so e.g. I was using the Snowy Escape one:

Step 3.

Click "Next" and name your package. Save it anywhere you will be able to easily find it, create a new folder or so. Then you will see the... IDK, panel? to edit your object. While you are in the "Studio" tab, you'd need to name your object as it will be named in game, and go to "Tags" sub-tab. First (I'm not sure it is really necessary, but I was doing that to make sure I'll see my object even without Live edit and Debug items turned on, so just remove the checkbox from "World objects" for that. Next scroll down a bit and apply a tag depending on in which category you'd like to see your object in game. I usually marked "Scrulpture" and "Misc" in the Decorations category. (just as on the 2 screenshots below)

Step 4.

This step is the most crucial part as otherwise you won't see the object in game even with those applied tags. Switch to "Warehouse" tab and there you need to find "Object Definition" and "Object catalog". See the screenshots below for more clarity.

Basically, in the "Object Definition" you need to find the "Tuning ID" on the right side. The author of the second tutorial explained "the why" more clear, but basically you need to state there a number of some other example object which is buyable and sellable in game. I used 14961, just as in his/her tutorial.

Next, in the Object Catalog you need to find "Dev Category flags" on the right side and change the last 3 digits to "080". Only the last 3 digits :)

And that's it :) Afterwards just click "Save" and move the created package to the game :) You'll see it if Custom Content is turned on :)

Ltm if any questions appears ;)

[jungkoode]

THE 25TH HOUR | O4

“𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒”

"You’ve never been trained physically past the basics. Yet your body seems to know exactly how to counter every single one of Taehyung’s movements. Jimin doesn’t like you. And everybody seems insistent on not answering any of your questions."

next | index

— chapter details

word count: 3,5k

content: waking up in a stranger's room (but is it?), Jimin choosing violence before coffee, training room shenanigans with TaeKook, ability reveals that definitely break several laws of physics, and Y/N's body remembering combat moves she shouldn't know.

— author’s note

Y'ALL. I've been DYING to write this training sequence since day one because holy shit, the ABILITIES. Remember when I said everyone had their own temporal powers? No? WELL.

Let's talk about Jungkook casually breaking physics because he can, Taehyung being done™️ with everyone's shit, and Y/N discovering she has powers while getting her ass handed to her. Also featuring: Jimin choosing violence before breakfast, mysterious golden sparks that definitely aren't supposed to happen, and Y/N's body remembering things her mind doesn't (again).

Also can we appreciate Jimin's "above my pay grade" energy while deliberately withholding information? And don't even get me started on Jungkook doing that thing where he copies other people's abilities just to be annoying. The CHAOS of this team, I swear.

Special shoutout to everyone who's been wondering about Y/N's room situation because BOY do I have some spicy implications for you. That empty space in the bed? The missing personal items? The way her body keeps remembering things her mind doesn't? Yeah, there's a reason for that 👀

Fun fact: I actually had to create a spreadsheet to keep track of everyone's abilities because they kept doing cool shit I wasn't planning. Looking at you, Jungkook, you weren't supposed to be able to do that yet but here we are.

Anyway, get ready for some quality action featuring: precise measurements of ass-kicking, clinical descriptions of supernatural abilities, and Y/N's analytical brain trying to science her way through literally impossible situations. Also temporal physics continues to be completely ignored in favor of plot convenience because I said so.

— read on

ao3

wattpad

The first thing you notice is wrong is the color of the walls. 

Navy blue instead of regulation black, the shade precisely 27.4% lighter than standard temporal housing requirements. 

Your analytical mind automatically begins cataloging the discrepancies: king-sized bed versus your assigned individual unit, missing digital chronometer from the nightstand, non-regulation bookshelf filled with texts you can't quite make out from this distance.

The sheets pool around your hips as you sit up, cotton instead of the standard-issue synthetic blend. 

Your Chrono-Sync Watch reads 09:00:13 AM—back in normal time flow. The device's presence is oddly reassuring, though something about that feels wrong. 

Weren't they against CHRONOS? Your memory of last night fragments when you try to access it.

Most concerning is the inexplicable sensation of absence beside you. The mattress holds a phantom warmth your body seems to expect, though you've never shared sleeping quarters with anyone. The feeling triggers a 2.3% increase in your heart rate.

The door opens without warning—no knock, no announcement. You're beginning to detect a pattern in their disregard for entry protocols.

Pink hair appears first, followed by tactical gear that wouldn't look out of place in a CHRONOS security unit. 

Jimin. Your mind supplies the name with surprising certainty.

"So you finally decided to wake up." His tone carries carefully crafted disinterest as he surveys the room. "Thought you'd sleep through training at this rate."

"This isn't my room." The statement comes out more observation than protest.

Jimin's eyebrow arches as he lets out a sound somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. “Technically, it is. You just don't remember." 

His fingers find a bobblehead on a nearby shelf, setting it in motion with deliberate precision. The object's presence feels simultaneously foreign and familiar.

"My assigned quarters have regulation black walls," you begin listing discrepancies, falling into analyst mode. "This bed is 76.2 centimeters wider than standard issue. The furniture arrangement violates temporal housing code 7.3 regarding—"

"You know what's interesting?" He cuts you off, voice filled with mock curiosity. "For someone supposedly waking up in a strange room, you're being remarkably calm about it." His eyes meet yours. "Don't you find that... odd?"

The observation washes over you like temporal feedback. 

He's right—your response pattern doesn't match standard protocols for displacement scenarios. Your heart rate should be elevated, stress hormones spiking. Instead, you feel an inexplicable comfort, marred only by that persistent sense of absence beside you.

You don't answer. Can't answer.

"Come on, up." Jimin picks up a book from your shelf—your shelf?—and drops into a bean bag by the dresser. "You've got training with Taehyung."

"I don't require training." The words come automatically, though you're not entirely sure what training he's referring to. "My temporal monitoring certification is complete."

"Trust me," he drawls, flipping pages without looking at you, "you do. But don't worry, you'll pick it up quick. You always do." Something in his tone makes your temporal readings fluctuate by 0.4%.

His eyes flick toward the dresser. "Training gear's in there."

You glance at the dresser, then back at him. "Changing attire in the presence of an unrelated male violates temporal conduct regulation 15.2."

The laugh that bursts from him carries genuine amusement. "Now that's ironic."

"I fail to see the irony in basic temporal compliance."

"Doesn't seem to bother you with Yoongi," he mutters, still pretending to read.

Your pulse jumps 7 beats per minute at the name. 

"I have no personal relationship with Agent Min." The words taste wrong on your tongue, like reciting equations in the wrong order.

"Sure you don't." Jimin rolls his eyes, standing with fluid grace. "Get dressed. You've got 5 minutes before Taehyung starts getting impatient." He replaces the book with suspicious familiarity, then pauses at the door. "And don't worry about modesty, Noma. I don't swing that way."

The door closes behind him with a soft click that somehow sounds amused.

You stare at your Chrono-Sync Watch: 09:03:47 AM. 

Time moving normally, yet nothing about this feels normal. Your fingers trace the empty space beside you in the bed, a gesture you don't consciously initiate.

You have 4 minutes and 13 seconds until Taehyung expects you.

You wonder why that knowledge feels like muscle memory.

The sheets slide from your hips as you rise, cool air brushing against your skin in a way that feels sharper than it should. 

Your Chrono-Sync Watch ticks forward—09:04:02 AM. 

You note the time automatically, as if logging it for a report you're no longer required to submit. The absence of your digital clock on the nightstand is disorienting, but not enough to stop you from crossing the room.

The dresser is unassuming—plain wood, slightly worn at the edges. You hesitate before opening it, fingers pausing on the handle. There's a strange weight to the moment, like you're performing an action you've done countless times before but can't consciously recall.

Inside, neatly folded, is tactical gear. 

The fabric is matte black, fitted with precision you recognize as military-grade. It's similar to what you've seen Jimin wear—what most of them wear here, except for Jin and Namjoon with their white lab coats. 

Your fingers trace the sleeve uncharacteristically, following the line of the material until it transitions seamlessly into a glove.

The design catches your attention. The ensemble covers everything—head to toe. Efficient, practical. Yet something about it feels... deliberate. A choice made with more than function in mind.

You pause, catching on an inconsistency. Skin coverage isn't unusual; in fact, it's standard. Public regulations discourage unnecessary exposure under the guise of "professionalism" and "efficiency." 

But this? This feels excessive even by CHRONOS standards.

Your thoughts shift to Protocol 47.3, the regulation governing physical contact during temporal operations. 

The directive is drilled into every trainee during certification: Direct skin-to-skin contact during active temporal anomalies is prohibited unless explicitly authorized by a superior officer. The reasoning is sound—skin contact can destabilize temporal signatures, increasing the risk of anomalies or detection by hostile forces. 

But here? They’ve mentioned Protocol 47.3 repeatedly since your arrival, almost obsessively. Yoongi's gloved hands, his careful avoidance of direct contact even through fabric barriers—it all aligns too perfectly with the regulation's stipulations.

And yet...

Your fingers linger on the glove's edge as you consider what Jimin said earlier: "Doesn't seem to stop you with Yoongi." The words echo in your mind like feedback from an unstable temporal loop.

Why would he say that? You've followed every protocol to the letter since arriving here—or at least since waking up here. Haven't you?

Your hand pulls back from the gear as if burned, though there's no logical reason for the reaction. The tactile memory of Yoongi's grip on your wrist surfaces unbidden—the precise pressure of his fingers over fabric, the way his thumb shifted against your pulse point like he was measuring something only he could perceive.

You shake off the thought and refocus on the gear in front of you. Practicality wins out over discomfort as you begin changing into it piece by piece. The material fits snugly but not uncomfortably, designed for optimal movement without excess fabric that could snag or slow you down.

The gloves slide on last, their reinforced seams pressing lightly against your fingertips. You flex your hands experimentally, noting how they feel both foreign and familiar at once.

Your Chrono-Sync Watch reads 09:07:16 AM when you're fully dressed. Three minutes and forty-four seconds since Jimin left—not quite within his five-minute deadline but close enough to avoid reprimand.

Still, as you glance at yourself in a mirror mounted above the dresser—a mirror that shouldn't be there according to housing regulations—you can't shake the feeling that this uniform means something more than just practicality or compliance.

It feels like armor.

And for reasons you can't yet explain, that thought unsettles you more than anything else about this place so far.

You gather your hair into a ponytail efficiently, the motion feeling oddly routine despite never wearing your hair this way for work. Something about the weight of the tactical gear suggests you'll need the visibility. 

Your fingers work through the strands with mechanical precision—exactly three loops of the hair tie, tight enough to secure but not so tight it would cause temporal pressure points.

09:08:49 AM. 

You exit the room to find Jimin examining what appears to be a modified Chrono-Sync Watch, his fingers tapping against its surface deliberately.

"That's more like you," he comments, eyes flicking up to your ponytail.

"I have never worn such attire," you state, the words feeling hollow even as you say them.

His lips twitch, something between amusement and irritation. Without further comment, he turns and starts walking, his stride purposeful. You follow, mind already cataloging questions that need answers.

"Where exactly are we?" It's the most logical place to start.

"Underground facility, Boston sector." His tone suggests he's answered this before. Many times.

"That's impossible. CHRONOS maintains detailed structural maps of all underground facilities in the Eastern Seaboard. This location doesn't exist in any database."

"Exactly." He doesn't even look back.

You frown, calculating possibilities. "The energy requirements to maintain a facility of this size off-grid would be—"

"Let me guess," he interrupts, "astronomical? Impossible with current technology? Breaking several laws of temporal physics?"

"Yes, actually."

"Fascinating observation. Any other obvious statements you'd like to make?"

Your jaw tightens at his tone. "Why haven't you removed my watch? If you're against CHRONOS, it seems inconsistent to let me keep it."

Jimin actually laughs at that, the sound sharp. "Remove it? You want Yoongi to be your personal temporal stabilizer 24/7? Because that's what would happen. Your signature's too unstable without it."

"My temporal signature is perfectly synchronized with the Network," you counter.

"Is it?" He glances at your wrist. "Check your variance readings."

You do. The numbers make your head hurt—0.7% off baseline. That shouldn't be possible with an active Chrono-Sync connection.

"What training could I possibly need?" you ask instead of dwelling on the implications. "I'm already certified in temporal monitoring."

"Oh honey," he drawls, "you're certified in what CHRONOS wanted you to know. Not what you need to know."

"That makes no logical sense. CHRONOS exists to maintain temporal stability and prevent—"

"Chrono-terrorism?" He cuts you off, voice mockingly sweet. "Tell me, what exactly do you know about these supposed temporal terrorists?"

You open your mouth to cite historical records, then pause. The data feels... rehearsed. Memorized rather than learned.

"And what about Protocol 47.3?" Jimin continues, his pace never slowing. "Ever wonder why skin contact affects temporal signatures so much?"

"It creates destabilization patterns that—"

"That what? That CHRONOS can't control?" His voice carries an edge. "Ever think maybe that's the point?"

Your mind catches on the way Yoongi avoided touching you, even through fabric. On this full-coverage uniform that leaves no skin of yours exposed. 

Jimin is not wearing gloves, you note.

“The memory integration yesterday,” you say, mind catching on the failed procedure. “It didn’t work. I still don’t remember anything.”

“Wow, really? Shocking. Absolutely unprecedented. Whatever shall we do?” Jimin’s voice drips sarcasm as he checks his watch again. “It’s not like this happens every single time or anything.”

“If you know it won’t work, why attempt it?”

“Because Yoongi insists.” His tone shifts slightly, almost tired. “And because sometimes hope trumps statistics. Even if those statistics are currently,” he pretends to calculate, “zero for seventeen?”

“Seventeen what?”

“Attempts. Resets. Take your pick.” He waves a dismissive hand. “Though I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually. You always do.”

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Many, many things." His tone shifts slightly, almost tired. "But that's not my call to make. Ask Min, if you're so curious."

"I don't know Agent Min well enough to ask such questions."

"Right," he sighs, continuing down the corridor. "Of course you don't."

You quicken your pace to match his stride, questions tumbling out faster than you can analyze them for logical sequence.

"The temporal dampening field in this facility—how is it maintained without detection?"

"Through the power of not telling you everything." He doesn't break stride.

"Your Chrono-sync watch. It’s modified. These modifications, they're not just cosmetic, are they?"

"What gave it away? The temporal stabilization or the fact that CHRONOS can't track them?"

"But that's impossible without access to the Master Clock's base frequency—"

"Lots of impossible things happening lately, aren't there?" His tone drips with false sweetness.

"How did I become an Outlier? My clearance allows me such information but I feel there is more to it—so what does the term actually mean?”

"It means you ask too many questions." He takes another turn.

His constant dismissals are becoming more and more frustrating.

"The 25th hour shouldn't be possible. The human circadian rhythm—"

"Is as manufactured as your temporal compliance programming."

"I'm not programmed."

"Said the robot, robotically."

Your jaw tightens. "The golden traces when Agent Min touches things—"

"Above my pay grade." 

"You keep referring to events I haven't experienced—"

"Haven't you though?"

"The temporal resistance patterns the doctor mentioned—"

“Technically not a doctor.”

“—are confusing, so I would like—”

"Still not my story to tell."

You press your lips together, not understanding why he’s so particularly snappy. But that only makes you want to ask further questions. 

"And why does everyone seem to know me—"

"Weird how that works, isn't it?"

Your frustration finally peaks. 

"You don't like me."

Jimin finally stops, turning to face you with surprising intensity. 

"No," he says simply, "I don't."

The words carry weight—history you can't access, grievances you can't remember. You open your mouth to ask why, but he's already pushing open a door you hadn't noticed.

"Training room," he announces, effectively ending the conversation. "Try not to die. Paperwork's a bitch."

The casual reference to your potential death should probably concern you more than it does.

Jimin gives Taehyung a curt nod before slipping out the door. "Hobi!" His voice echoes down the corridor as he leaves. "Your turn to make coffee, and don't you dare let Namjoon near the machine again!"

You walk further into the training room, the soft click of the door locking behind you making your temporal readings spike by 0.3%. 

"Who locked the—"

The lights dim without anyone touching the controls. You immediately begin calculating the probability of automated systems in a facility that supposedly doesn't exist.

Taehyung stands with his back to you, but something about his posture suggests he's been aware of your presence since before you entered. Your footsteps are silent against the mat, yet he looks over his shoulder with precise timing.

You remember him from yesterday—the quiet one who arrived with Jungkook. He hadn't spoken then either, just watched you with that same unreadable expression he wears now.

He motions to the mat with a slight tilt of his head. You nod, calculating that perhaps he'll be more forthcoming than Jimin.

"The temporal dampening field—is it connected to the facility's power grid or does it run on an independent system?"

He assumes a ready stance.

"The resistance mentioned multiple teams. How many sectors are you operating in?"

No response. Just a slight shift in his weight distribution.

"Your tactical gear appears to have modified temporal shielding. Is that standard issue for your organization or—"

He moves.

The attack comes without warning—a precise strike that should have connected. Your body reacts before your mind processes the movement, sliding into a defensive stance that feels impossible yet natural.

"What the hell?" The words come out sharp as you regain your balance. "A warning would be standard protocol for—"

Another strike. You deflect it automatically, muscle memory you shouldn't have taking over.

"This is highly irregular," you try again, analyzing his movement patterns. "Combat training wasn't part of my temporal monitoring certification—"

He drops low, leg sweeping out in a spinning kick that connects despite your inexplicable reflexes. Your back hits the mat with enough force to knock the air from your lungs.

"Are you insane?" You glare up at him, calculating the statistical probability of internal bruising.

"Terrible." His voice, when he finally uses it, carries no emotion. Just clinical assessment.

You stay down, anger mixing with confusion as you try to understand how you knew those defensive moves in the first place.

"Up." He steps back, ready stance never wavering. "Again."

"Fuck you."

The words leave your mouth before you can stop them. 

You freeze, horror washing over you as you realize what you’ve just said. Profanity violates temporal conduct regulation 23.1 regarding professional communication standards. The vulgarity alone could result in a citation from the Temporal Compliance Office—

Wait.

Your head throbs as you try to reconcile your automatic recitation of regulations with this new, inexplicable defiance.

Taehyung just watches, something almost like satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

"Up," Taehyung repeats, his voice flat, almost bored. 

He steps back, giving you space to rise, though his stance remains ready, as if expecting you to lunge at him—or maybe expecting himself to lunge at you.

Your Chrono-Sync Watch reads 09:23:47 AM. 

You push yourself up slowly, your muscles protesting from the impact of his earlier kick. The mat beneath your palms feels slightly uneven, or maybe that's just your frustration skewing your perception. Either way, you have a sinking feeling this is not going to be an easy feat.

The door creaks open behind you, and you barely turn your head to register the new figure entering the room. 

Jungkook. 

You recognize him from yesterday’s brief introduction—silent and watchful, standing beside Taehyung like a shadow. His tactical gear is identical to Taehyung's, though his presence feels lighter somehow, less weighted.

You don’t have time to fully process him before the floor beneath your feet shifts—not dramatically, but enough to send your balance spiraling. It’s as if the ground itself wavers for a split second, like a ripple through solid matter. Your body reacts instinctively, stumbling forward before Taehyung's hand shoots out to steady you.

The jarring gentleness of his grip catches you off guard. 

This is the same man who had been trying to knock you flat on your back ten seconds ago. You glance up at him, eyebrow raised in silent question.

"Not funny," Taehyung says sharply, his gaze snapping toward Jungkook.

Jungkook doesn’t respond verbally. He simply lifts the corners of his mouth in a faint smirk, his dark eyes glinting with something that feels both playful and calculated. The two lock eyes for exactly five seconds—long enough for you to notice the tension between them isn't hostile but... Familiarity? Understanding? 

You swear they’re communicating without speaking.

"How do you do that?" you ask, unable to keep the curiosity out of your voice.

Jungkook’s gaze flickers to you for the first time since entering the room. His expression doesn’t change—still quiet, still unreadable—but something shifts in the air around him. And then—

<Sup.>

The word isn’t spoken aloud. It’s not even whispered. It’s inside your head. A voice that isn’t yours but also doesn’t belong to anyone you've ever heard before.

You freeze, eyes widening as your brain struggles to reconcile what just happened. 

“What the heck is going on?" The words come out sharper than intended, but can anyone blame you?

Taehyung frowns, his grip on your arm tightening slightly before he lets go. His attention snaps back to Jungkook with an edge that wasn’t there before.

"Stop mimicking my abilities," he says coldly.

Jungkook shrugs one shoulder with infuriating nonchalance, as if he hasn’t just violated every known law of communication and physics. His smirk widens by a fraction—a silent admission of guilt—and he leans casually against the wall like he has all the time in the world.

Abilities? Mimicking? What are they’re talking about?

The floor shifting beneath you, Taehyung steadying you without hesitation, Jungkook’s voice somehow echoing inside your head—it all feels connected in ways that defy logic.

"You can interface?" The question slips out before you can stop it.

Jungkook simply smiles, the expression holding a hint of mischief that makes your temporal readings fluctuate. You've seen that same look on children testing boundaries.

"Focus." Taehyung's voice cuts through your analysis.

Your gaze snaps back to him just as he launches forward. His movements are precise—too precise, like he's done this exact sequence countless times before. You force yourself to concentrate on his approach rather than the questions burning in your mind:

How did Jungkook manipulate the floor's temporal stability?

Why can Taehyung interface with physical matter?

How did that voice end up in your head?

The analytical part of your brain wants to calculate the energy requirements for matter manipulation, to understand the quantum mechanics behind consciousness transfer. But Taehyung's fist is already moving toward your face, and somehow you know that theorizing about abilities right now will only end with you back on the mat.

So you focus.

Your Chrono-Sync Watch reads 09:24:13 AM.

Training has officially begun.

And the golden sparks erupting from your skin seem to know that too. 

taglist: @cannotalwaysbenight @livingformintyoongi @itstoastsworld @somehowukook @stuti2904 @chloepiccoliniii @kimnamjoonmiddletoe @ktownshizzle @yoongiiuu93 @billy-jeans23 @annyeongbitch7

© jungkoode 2025

no reposts, translations, or adaptations

[primus-why]

Okay okay just a real quick: MegOp Bodyguard Affair within an Arranged Marriage AU???

Imagine Orion Pax is very very very distantly related to one of the lineages of the Primes, and though he goes about his life practically a mid-caste, the fact remains that he is technically considered high-caste.

He maintains a job as an Archivist, living out a modest, unassuming life, and generally doesn't care for the pomp and circumstance of high-caste affairs. The flashiness just isn't in his nature, and there is something he can't quite place his digit on when he attended those soirees-- something unsettling and almost invisible.

The key word here being almost. He is not ignorant to the way higher-castes handle their lower-caste staff-- in his youth he'd overheard his fair share of unjust punishments over minuscule offenses or listened to someone brag about withholding payment as a means to pinch a few credits. Though Orion doesn't exist in that sphere any more, he can't shake the sense that things have just gotten worse. His friend Jazz is an upper mid-caste who has a knack for keeping an audial to the ground thanks to his security work, and has told him many times there is a growing unrest all over Cybertron-- that it's only a matter of time before it bursts into something ugly.

Orion already sees ugliness; as the slum areas continue to expand, as mechs and their homes fall into disrepair, the Senate and Council of Primes don't appear to care at all about the wellbeing of Cybertronian citizens. He sees what Jazz is referring to-- there is a looming darkness, and their people are disconnected. But what can Orion, a mere data clerk, possibly do about it?

He does what he's best at: cataloging whatever data he can find to educate himself of the stories he cannot see or fathom.

Through his research he discovered some of the gruesome ways mechs in castes below him have been treated, but even then he knew his findings were only scratching the surface. He wanted to learn more-- to speak with others who had direct experiences. He first began with Ratchet, a dear friend who was also high-caste, who used his vast medical knowledge to attend to anyone who came to him. In fact, Ratchet purposefully divides his time between high-caste hospitals and a clinic he created in Rodion in order to give lower-castes access to his skill. The lack of opportunities for maintenance and even basic medical care horrified Orion, and it only urged him to look deeper.

That was how he had eventually discovered the forums-- large, categorized, virtual assemblies of mechs from all walks of life, interacting anonymously under pseudonyms. He absorbed as much as he could-- even the uglier sides he couldn't stomach on the first read. It felt important that he saw these things, as it confirmed his suspicions that the high-castes who operated the Senate were willfully allowing people to suffer for their own benefit and comfort.

In time, he learned of the works of Megatronus-- a gladiator who fought in the Pits of Kaon, but who was also an impressive orator and author. He would publish transcribed speeches and essays under a pseudonym, though Orion quickly learned the mech's true identity from others who followed his work. His words spoke plainly of the inequalities and injustices present in society, shedding light on the lives of unnamed Disposables, and wove a dream of a world without a caste system, without Functionism. In short, it was revolutionary, and captured Orion so intensely that he became uncharacteristically emboldened one cycle and sent Megatronus a direct message.

Of course, while Orion had already been chatting with a few mechs here and there to learn of their accounts, something about reaching out to Megatronus felt... different. A much bigger step. Perhaps it was because he was something of a celebrity, being a public figure in the blood sport he championed as well as being a talented writer. Orion was nervous and excited all at once-- though he reminded himself he really ought not to be, seeing as Megatronus would be understandably far too busy to even read his message... surely he gets hundreds of those a cycle...

But then something miraculous happened-- Megatronus actually responded!!!

And thus began their fervent exchange of ideas. Megatronus was as captivating as Orion had suspected-- an enlightening philosopher wrapped within the charms of his quick wit and forward nature. Eventually-- though they had never even seen each other-- a deep mutual friendship bloomed, and Orion longed to visit Megatronus in Kaon... to meet and hear him speak in person...

(He longed for other things as well, but dare not voice them aloud for he knew how outlandish it was to want them. Orion knew he could not monopolize Megatronus' time in the selfish way he would like-- not when he was so important to the revolutionary movement he had started...)

However, everything changed when Orion's cousin Sentinel was named a Prime.

There hadn't been a new Prime in ages. Zeta and Vector had been serving for many vorns, while Alpha Trion came well before them and was by far the oldest; Sentinel would likely be replacing him on their Council of Primes. This, Orion knew, would be devastating news to Megatronus-- he knew the gladiator had hoped to one day ascend to the title of Prime as demonstration of overcoming the oppression of the caste system. Now, it seemed they would have to wait even longer for the next rare chance of a new Prime being named.

Secondary to all that, Orion was facing his own personal troubles. He, who was content to live an unassuming life, had been thrust into the spotlight for having an even closer lineage to the Primes. Now he had strangers sending him gifts, even showing up at his place of work, vying for his good graces so he might put in a word to Sentinel on their behalf. Or worse, they attempted to seduce him in a blatant attempt to ascend the social ladder through a conjux bond. It all made Orion deeply uncomfortable, and he thanked Alpha Trion profusely for letting him use a private workstation at the Archives, otherwise he would have lost his mind (or his temper.)

For folks desperate to recieve acknowledgment from the new Prime to boost their social standing, they were shockingly naive about Orion's relationship to Sentinel. They had been estranged for over half his function by now, in part because they existed in different circles, but also because Orion could hardly stand the mech. Sentinel had been pompous and cocky as a sparkling, and unfortunately it was a not a phase he grew out of. He was, quite frankly, a classic example of the type of leader people were growing to despise-- an arrogant and over-polished politician who made decisions to only benefit himself and crush the rest beneath his pedes.

That train of thought led him back to Megatronus; Orion hadn't heard from him in a while. At first he had been terrified that his dear friend had finally been overtaken in the Pit, killed by his fellow mech or by some massive beast stolen from a foreign planet. But after scanning the Kaon news for joors, he found no recounting of such an event-- surely the champion's defeat would have made a headline? Orion concluded he must be held up by something, and so after not receiving a response for quite some time, he ventured to ask another gladiator who worked closely with Megatronus-- Soundwave. He knew the silent mech didn't like to be bothered, but he had hoped to convey his concerns well enough that he could be forgiven just this once.

Orion: Hello, Soundwave. I am sorry to disturb you with the same question I'm sure countless others have been wondering, but do you know where Megatronus is?

Soundwave: ... Affirmative. Many have wondered. However, Orion Pax first to ask.

Orion: Oh! I would have assumed your inbox would be flooded by inquiries to his whereabouts...

Soundwave: Others afraid to ask.

Orion: ... Afraid to ask you or afraid to ask what has become of him? Did something bad happen?? Is he alright???

Soundwave: ... Inconclusive. Not good, not bad. Confirmed: Megatronus is unharmed.

Orion: That is such a relief to hear!! In that case, may I inquire further as to what situation prevents him from communicating? That is to say, I noticed he hasn't been posting to the forums as of late...

Soundwave: ... Megatronus: loaned to high-caste buyer. Unable to establish contact until further notice. Contract duration: one stellar cycle. Megatronus: will post as soon as able.

Orion: Oh... is that a common situation you find yourselves in?

Soundwave: Uncommon, but not rare.

Orion: I see... thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Soundwave. It was most illuminating. In the meantime, I will endeavor to be patient a while longer for Megatronus' return to the forums. Farewell for now, and please stay safe.

Soundwave abruptly exited their chat without a departing remark, not that Orion expected him to do anything else.

It had been hard as of late to see his friends in Iacon with all the new attention he had been attracting. Now, without even his dear online companion to talk to, Orion felt a bit isolated... lonely, even. But he knew the buzz around Sentinel's Primacy ceremony would die down eventually, so all he had to do was persevere.

Still, as much as he enjoyed the company of mechs like Ratchet and Jazz over a com channel, there was something about those text-based messages between himself and Megatronus that he craved. The gladiator provided intellectual stimulation that he found in no one else, and it was intoxicating...

Unfortunately the universe decided it would not let Orion Pax stew in isolation for long. No, it had other plans... which involved Sentinel suddenly deciding to send for him, so that they might meet at his grand estate and "become reacquainted".

Upon arriving, Orion was not impressed by the splendor as he now saw it as a terrible waste. He politely listened to all the history the estate manager waxed on about as they pointed to various highlights during their tour, even asking thoughtful questions along the way (which they seemed to appreciate.) Still, all he could think of is what these resources might've been able to do for literally anyone else on the planet aside from boosting his cousin's vanity.

Finally he is led to meet Sentinel in one of the drawing rooms. He greets Orion uncharacteristically warmly at first, throwing Orion off for a moment. But in a klik, Sentinel's facade slips away and he is back to his petty, backhanded remarks-- now there's the Sentinel Orion remembered.

As it turns out, Sentinel has pawned him off to be bonded to a Senator who was tantamount in securing the Prime seat for him. Orion is outraged!! How dare he make such a promise without consulting him!?!

"I refuse." Orion said, his voice cold, "The Senator may certainly try to court me, and I will honestly take their attempt into consideration-- as a courtesy to your arrangement-- but I will make no promise to be bonded by the end of it." Orion hoped the concession to at least let the mech have a fair go at courting would be enough.

But Sentinel just laughed-- laughed.

"Oh! You think you have a choice! Ha ha ha!" He wiped away some stray coolant from his optic before resetting his vocalizer, "As you may recall, tomorrow I will be named Prime. And as the highest living member of our lineage, I will oversee all of our clan's affairs. I suggest you learn your place this cycle, Orion... I may not be so forgiving henceforth."

"I don't care what you have to say on the matter, today or otherwise." Orion said, turning to leave, "I refuse to be a pawn in this game. Pick another estranged family member to entertain you, I'm going home."

"Oh, poor Orion. Didn't I mention? You are home."

"I... what?"

"I took the liberty of gathering all your things and relocated them here," Sentinel said with a dismissive wave, as though upending his entire life was as easy as ordering fuel, "and I've asked Alpha Trion place you on sabbatical from the Archives, starting immediately."

"Wh-- why?! When?!?"

"Shortly after my chauffeur picked you up." Sentinel regarded him smugly from over a shoulder pauldron, "I couldn't allow your betrothed to be seen visiting that hovel you called a home, so I graciously offered to house you until the conjux ritus was complete."

'This can't be happening.' Orion was too stunned to speak, panic creeping up as the reality of his situation sunk in. 'My job, my friends, my home... this is archaic!'

"The courting and subsequent ritus is expected to take approximately a stellar cycle," Sentinel continued, glancing at his digits and looking rather bored, "hence your sabbatical. And after that you will move into your bonded's estate. From there, I don't care what you do."

A knock on the door interrupted Sentinel's servo grooming and Orion's mental spiral. The estate manager had returned with a large silver mech following close behind, saying something about fuel being ready for them in another parlour.

"Ah! Excellent timing." Sentinel clapped his servos and turned to Orion. "Care to join me for a snack?"

Orion said nothing, still trying to calm his racing processor.

"No?" Sentinel began to approach him. "We could toast to a new chapter in our functions!"

Finally no longer on the verge of a glitch, Orion turned his helm away, deliberately not looking at Sentinel.

"No, thank you," he said sullenly, "My tanks are satisfactory."

Suddenly Sentinel cupped his chin with one servo and yanked so that their optics met.

"Are you sure? I am a very busy mech, and I might otherwise forget to feed you later." He leaned in even closer, "It would be unwise to make a habit of spurning my generosity, as I alone have the power to make your stay here more... comfortable."

"I will survive." Said Orion-- gaze firm and unwavering, a cold fire in his optics.

'I will survive this... I will survive you.'

Sentinel released him with a sneer and marched over to the door. "Come!" he barked at the silver mech, causing the estate manager to jolt. However the larger mech hardly stirred, save to plod towards the spot Sentinel had gestured to. Orion noticed his helm was bowed, red optics casts towards the floor... which meant he was almost certainly a low-caste and had to show deference to the higher-castes around him. The sight made Orion's spark twist.

Despite the submissive posture, the silver mech was large and imposing; he even had to duck and turn slightly to fit his helm and broad, spiked shoulders through the doorframe. When he was able to stand at his full height, Orion could see he wore a carefully blank expression. 'Reticence is a common self-preservation tactic for mechs in his position... I can plainly see why.'

"Meet your new bodyguard, Orion Pax!" Sentinel clapped the silver mech on the shoulder with vicious glee as red optics widened minutely before returning to their previous setting. "He'll be here to keep an optic on you at all times while you're being courted."

'Not so much for my safety as he is to deter me from running away, no doubt.' Orion speculated. Nothing he holds against the big mech personally, he knows it's just his job. Still, his presence will complicate any of Orion's future plans...

Sentinel started to walk away then, but seemed to think of something else. "Ah-- despite his frame size, he should blend into your periphery. You'll hardly notice he's there. But do let me or my estate manager know if he gets to be too chatty."

And with that, Sentinel and the estate manager finally left him alone with his new keeper. Orion let out a long, shaky sigh. He knew Sentinel could have a cruel and ruthless streak, but this was beyond the pale. 'Primus below, I shudder to imagine how will he act once he actually is a Prime...'

Shaking those disturbing thoughts for now he turned towards the other mech in the room, only to be met with red optics flicking up to look right at him. The silver mech's helm was still downcast, so it was difficult to see his expression, but Orion surmised he must be feeling wary of his new charge.

'Well, that won't do.' Orion gathered himself and strode over to make introductions.

"Hello. My designation is Orion Pax." As he spoke the silver mech's helm began to slowly rise, red optics still glued him. "Despite what Sentinel implied, I'd much prefer you speak as often as you'd like... at least in my company. It seems we will be spending a lot of time together, and it would be a shame to spend its entirety in silence."

He held out his servo as an offered greeting. Eventually, after a brief hesitation, the looming silver mech reached out with his own (clawed?!) servo and shook it, being even more gentle than Orion thought possible.

"... Orion Pax." The mech ventured, looking him up and down. "Would you happen to be from Iacon?"

'Oh my,' thought Orion, feeling his faceplates heat up a bit, 'I could certainly get used to hearing his voice...'

"Ah, yes! I am!" Orion said a bit too bright, which only increased his blush, "I work as an Archivist, doing anything clerical, really. My focus is generally on the origins and development of Cybertronian cultures and societies. Recently I've been reading more about philosophy, and how it's shaped-- Oh!" Orion's train of thought came to screeching halt. He was being rude!

"Please forgive me, but I have not even asked you for your designation! And Sentinel made no mention of it before... who might you be, my keeper? Are you part of the estate's sentry?"

The silver mech gave a low chuckle, visibly more relaxed than he had been earlier. The sound sent a tingle down Orion's struts.

"Only temporarily. I am a gladiator-- plucked fresh from the Pits to be your humble guardsmech." The mech grinned and did a mock bow. Orion was utterly charmed... but wait!

"... Do you by chance know the Champion of Kaon?" 'Could it be...?'

Another rumbling chuckle, and Orion found himself hanging on every word.

"I am the Champion, little Archivist. My designation is Megatronus."

[greenthena]

Metatron's Tie

**Update: check the reblogs. There's a clear picture that shows the tie pattern as flowers. So, there goes my theory. Whomp whomp. Easy come, easy go, as Freddie says. @archangelween @drconstellation

People, I have been trying to get a good look at the Metatron's ding dang neck tie since September to determine what those little blue symbols are. Because, like everything in the Good Omens universe, I believe it's been put there for a reason. I also believe that God has no idea what she's doing, which is why she hired Neil Gaiman to run things for a few decades.

Despite being a so-called agent of Heaven, the Metatron's costume is coded as demonic, from his dark topcoat to the black stripes on his white shirt. The item I find most fascinating, however, is his tie. And this is probably in large part because I've had so much difficulty seeing the subtle blue pattern upon it and that has made my brain itch and made me hyperfixate. As one does.

I think I may have figured out the design, and it complicates all my Metatron theories, but here we go. The Metatron's tie is black, featuring a repeated small bright blue symbol throughout. I've guessed it could be a star or a planet. A cryptic sigil or maybe something to do with the coffee (I'm not a coffee-theory person, though, for the record.) I don't know what it is (well, maybe I do now, and I promise we'll get there in time...I'm a demon of my word), but I do know that it's important.

All the angels have references to their angelic status concealed within their costumes.

Michael is the watcher. She is the one who, in Saturday Morning Funtime, delivers surveillance photos to Gabriel. To reflect this, Michael wears a gold ring featuring several small pearls that symbolize eyes. She is ever-vigilant (hyper-vigilant, ya might say), and even has a contact in Hell (Dagon) to broaden her scope of observation. The placement of the ring in the pinky is also significant. A good watcher mustn't themselves be observed, so Michael, in her role as observer must slip under the radar. This corresponds to the pinky finger being small and quite literally underhanded, as in at the bottom of the hand.

Uriel's ring is a silver star, worn on her/their index finger, the digit associated with authority. (We call it the index finger because we use it to sort and catalog, creating meaning and order.) Uriel certainly commands authority, both in their overall calm and assured demeanor, and also in their actions. It is she who physically confronts Aziraphale prior to the S1 No-pocalypse, easily inspiring fear in the Principality. As for the symbol of the star, I believe it is a reference to modern Angelography (I might have made up that word, but I think you know what I'm talking about) which usually describes Uriel as a sun, star, or the flame of the Almighty.

Sandalphon's symbology is two-fold: a thick gold pinky ring featuring a pair of circles (kind of looks like a lego brick, to be perfectly fair) and that small gold grill he wears on his front teeth. Both these items are the most elaborate pieces of angelic adornment that we see. Sandalphon's overall aesthetic is much warmer than the other angels', leaning toward caramel and tan rather than dove gray. He's a bit of an odd ball in the host of Archangels and stands out based on his wardrobe choices alone. He's also the only Archangel not to return in S2. I don't want to make too much of this, because there are many in-universe reasons why we may not see Sandalphon again. However, in Judeo-Christian scripture, Sandalphon is closely joined with...wait for it...the Metatron, with apocryphal texts describing him as Enoch's (the Metatron's pre-angelic human name) twin brother. I take this with a hefty spoon of salt, though, since Neil definitely plays loosey-goosey with these dogmas and even the scriptures themselves are a veritable soup of contradiction. (The Bible is not a static or universally canonical text, and Hebrew scriptures, outside the Tanakh are a web of activity and debate as to what is accurate. I'm not here for the arguments today; this is not my Bat Mitzvah.)

Finally, we have Gabriel, the only Archangel who doesn't wear a ring. He does, however, wear a watch. I have two thoughts about the watch. First, clocks are thematically relevant in the Good Omens universe. From the grandfather clock in the bookshop to Crowley's elaborate wristwatch (which he has in both show and book) to the opening sequence of S1, which has far too many clock faces to count. So there's that. But holding time in one's hand (or on one's wrist) is a powerful metaphor that illustrates control and higher power. To possess a clock is to command time and space which are essentially inseparable. As the Supreme Archangel, Gabriel is nearly the top-ranking being in the universe (for a time, at least...see what I did there? pathetic laughter) and his wristwatch demonstrates this point.

If you're still with me, you're doing great. Good job.

We've got to see how important the Archangels' symbology is to their characters, I think, to really understand why the sigils on the Metatron's tie matter. So, finally to the point. Dolphins. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

To move forward, we'll need to call upon my old friend, the Tarot deck. Cards, in general, and Tarot, in particular, play a marked role in the GO universe. The Almighty Herself addresses the viewer in the opening lines of the show, "God does not play dice with the universe; I play an ineffable game of my own devising. For everyone else, it's like playing poker in a pitch-dark room, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time." As God speaks, cards appear on screen, and some of those are from the Rider Waite Tarot deck. One specific card that caught my eye in this montage is "Judgement."

This card features an angel blasting a trumpet and waking the dead from their graves on the Day of Judgement. The angel on the card is not named, as such. It's usually assumed to be Raphael, as he is the angel who is prophesied to call and raise all souls on this day. However, I've found other references naming the angel as either Gabriel or the Metatron. Now, I don't want to get overly carried away here, but in the context of Good Omens, reading the Judgement card with the Metatron as the angel pictured may actually make a lot of sense, and clarify the sigils on the Metabutt's tie. The Metatron postures himself as the Voice of God--the Mouthpiece of the Almighty. Kinda like a trumpet, yes?

Now look at the flag on the angel's trumpet. That's called St. George's Cross and it's a very prevalent European Christian symbol dating back to the Middle Ages. Like many images in the Tarot, it's a heraldic emblem that has meaning outside the deck, often associated with bravery and military might. It continues to be used in military iconography into the present day. The Judgement that the angel heralds is not peaceful. It's a call to war. The righteous will be gathered to Heaven and the wicked will be destroyed--a repeat of the first Great War in which Satan and the demons were cast into Hell. In the narrative of Good Omens, this war will bring about the end of time, the end of the world, and the beginning of eternity (hope ya'll like The Sound of Music.)

Kids (human and goat, alike) I think those little blue sigils on the Metatron's tie are Saint George's Cross. (I'm so sorry this is so small and hard to see. Now you know my pain.)

In the Final Fifteen, the Metatron speaks briefly about the Second Coming, which is a reference to Saint John of Patmos' prophecies--you might know them as the Book of Revelation. Some Christians interpret Revelation as an upcoming final judgement for humanity. And it seems, based on in-universe exposition, certain characters view these prophecies in a similar light. In the reverse body-swap at the end of S1, Crowley suggests that the averted Apocalypse was not the end of the conflict. "If you ask me," he says, "Both sides are gonna' use this as breathing space before the Big One. [...] For my money, the really Big One is all of us against all of them." And with the Metatron acting as the Mouthpiece of God, that "Big One," that Day of Judgement, if you will, may well be nigh.

I think the Metatron sees himself as the angel who rings out the Final Judgement. He is the Voice of God, after all. But here is a worrying thought. How little he would need to shift perspective to view himself as the Word of God, as well. The Gospel of John opens, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God." The Word of God is an epithet for Jesus. The same Jesus whose Second Coming the angel of judgement is meant to announce. So what if the Metatron just plans to consolidate these roles for himself: the heralding angel and the Second Coming rolled into one. He would become Judgement Incarnate, supplanting the Almighty once and for all. And for my money, that sounds just like what a demon would like to do.

***I'm updating because several readers have pointed out that it seems like I'm saying Metatron=Demon because Demon=Bad. Thank you for bringing this to my attention--it makes me a better communicator. I can see where it's coming from. It's not my intention. Consider this meta sort of an extension of my "Metatron is the Murder Hornet" meta, which I'll link with the tags if you're interested.

Just wanted to clarify that I think at its heart, Good Omens is thematically about rejecting the dichotomy of good and evil and embracing the messy gray space that is reality.

When I call Metaboob a demon, it's not because I think demons are evil, it's because I think he's the hornet in the beehive and we've seen that demons need an angelic escort (Crowley and Muriel) to access Heaven.

TL;DR Angels are not the good guys. Demons are not the bad guys. Good Omens is NOT about that at all.

[tinyowlthoughts]

Been rewatching The Amazing Digital Circus and began to wonder, who helps Caine with all the assets and metadata? Well, wonder no longer! It's Biblia!

Small, loud, and possibly narcoleptic, this tiny owl is charge of the TADC Asset Library. It's her job to keep track of all the files Caine uses in his adventures, and to find them when needed. Of course, she and Caine have very different ideas of how the files should be organized...

No matter! She's the librarian, she'll just put it all back together after Caine messes it up again. No worries. It's not like she has a million other things to do, like upgrading and updating the files while they're dormant to make sure they're not degrading in storage. Speaking of, she pulled this one crocodile - alligator? - NPC for the fast food adventure, and something is a bit off with his code...

No need to worry. It's not like he can abstract, or spontaneously gain sentience and sapience, being an NPC, right? She'll just tuck him back in the card catalog and hopefully nothing will ever come of this little quirk! Besides, she has to make sure Jax hasn't made off with all the centipedes again...

Despite being a resident of the circus, Biblia wouldn't consider herself a 'friend' of the players. She's happy to assist them and speak with them when they come to her library (barring Jax, who has a permanent ban he ignores), but is far happier in her own company, or at her weekly tea with Bubble. As a program, she doesn't feel the same need for socializing the players do. (She's terribly fond of them, but refuses to admit getting attached. It just makes the abstractions harder...)

After first being created, she did question Caine about his choice of form - she is neither a toy nor a circus act. He waxed poetic about the long history in Western culture of owls being associate with wisdom, libraries and learning institutions. That made sense (in an odd-ball, Caine-like way). When asked about the size, Caine shrugged and called her travel-sized.

She didn't speak to him for a week.

Despite having access to her own metadata, thus the ability to change her form, Biblia has learned to be happy with her size, as it lets her be quick, quiet, and sneaky - all necessary things for the TADC Asset Librarian. Besides, Caine would be sad if she changed. And there are much more...educational things she can do with the metadata. Things that remind Jax why he needs to stay out of her library.

Maybe one day they'll get along, but I'm not holding my breath.

(My first time drawing the TADC cast - so much fun, and such a challenge! Loved figuring out Zooble for her picture.)

For my Master's in Library Science, in one class we had to create a classification for a specific collection (I did horror novels), as well as figure out parts of the metadata that would be used in an ILS (Integrated Library System). It was my favorite project, along with my metadata classes, so when I was thinking of what a TDAC OC would look like, the asset librarian came to mind! I hope you like her - or at least think her and Jax torturing each other is a little funny.

Cheers!

[agattthaa]

Not enough

Paring: Anna/Lane

Word count: 1.441

Rating: T

Summary: Because Anna's touch could never be enough.

Tagging: @rc-catalog

The way that Greg simply got up and left somehow made the entire situation even more complicated than it seemed to be before. The way he left as soon as Lane felt Anna’s breath on her neck with a way too knowing smile made Lane even more nervous and confused. 

Because if Greg had noticed anything related to her hidden feelings, then so could Anna. And because Greg left, now the entire room seemed to have been stuck in time. Anna didn’t move. She didn’t let go of Lane but she also didn’t move any closer, holding herself exactly where she was before. Lane didn’t move either, too scared that any sudden movement coming from her would end up as the end of the embrace, and now that she was in Anna’s arms, the last thing she wanted was to be forced to leave it. 

And still, despite the sudden awkwardness that came from the fact that they were both alone now, Anna still pressed against her body, softer, slower than before, but her breath still flew into the skin on Lane’s neck. 

She stood as still as possible until Anna rubbed her nose against Lane's ear. Suddenly, the touching, the closeness, it was too much and not enough at all. 

Her hands both flew to Anna’s waist, pressing her closer, squeezing tightly. 

Too tightly, too strongly, too forceful. As if the intention of that hold was not simply to keep Anna close. Like she wanted to leave a mark. Like she wanted the printing of her hand, her fingertips, her nails, her digitals, to all of her to be carved into Anna’s skin. 

To leave a mark so red and so deep that anyone who could dare to see it would be immediately forced to realize that Lane had already claimed Anna as hers.  

To leave a mark so red and so deep that Anna would realize that she was Lane’s. 

Her hands stayed struck in place as she could feel Anna trembling under her touch. 

For a second, she feared that she had gone too far, too fast, too much. But Anna only rubbed her nose against Lane’s skin once again. She was close, too close, not close enough. Her sweet, intoxicating, maddening scent was everything that Lane could ever feel besides Anna’s hands hugging her neck. 

Out of everything happening in the universe at that moment, the only thing that mattered was to get Anna closer to her. Lane wanted Anna to become the air that she breathed, the blood on her veins and the sole motive of her existence. She wanted to claim every bit of Anna’s skin with her own. 

She wanted to claim Anna. 

Totally and completely. Her mind, skin, body and soul. She wanted to possess her and to erase everything other than her from the other woman’s mind. She wanted Anna to want her so much that Lane would be the truth she could feel deep into her bones, so close and so personal that not even oxygen itself would matter that much.

Just like Anna had done to her. 

She pressed Anna’s waist closer, pulling the woman into her lap and allowing herself to hug her closer. Anna’s body was now stiff, as if she had created a trap and now was surprised to see that she fell on it alongside Lane, but her fingers slowly started to squeeze against the back of Lane’s neck and her head rested peacefully against Lane’s. She didn’t seem to be offended by the touch or by how strong it was, neither looked like she wanted the moment to end, so Lane became bolder. 

Her hands started to slowly go up and down on Anna’s back, waist and hip, touching, traveling, exploring and pressing. Reaching for and touching everything that she could reach, completely deprived of shame, as if she was a woman in the desert that had found a jar of cold water. As if somewhere in Anna’s clothed skin, her salvation was hidden.

-Greg was right. You did become quite affectionate. 

Anna's low whisper against her ear made Lane's entire body tremble, almost like there was a piece of ice going down her back. It only became worse when Anna pulled away to look into her eyes. 

There was something new in the sea that Anna carried in her. There was a different shine into them. Darker. Determined. Daring. As if she was only waiting for Lane to prove what she had always known. 

Lane didn't want her to look like that to anyone else. 

-He was clearly talking about you. 

-Oh, you don't like it then? Should I get up?

Her smile was nothing shorter than wicked when Lane held her tightly by the hips, securing her in place, looking at Anna with clear annoyance at that mere implication, almost as if she was offended that Anna suggested something that stupid. 

Anna smiled wider and placed both her hands on Lane’s shoulder, carefully watching the woman's face as if she was trying to memorize every single detail of it. She wasn't surprised and didn't pretend to be when she felt Lane's fingers on her face carefully removing her glasses and setting them aside. 

Her bare fingertips explored Anna's face like someone would explore a map or an ancient book. With curiosity. Like Lane did with anything she found interesting. With precision. Like a worshiper would touch the face of their God. With devotion. With faithfulness. With adoration. 

-This is not enough. 

Lane whispered. The confession more to herself than to Anna. But there was no need for whispers just as there was no need for words. Anna simply nodded to her, her smile turning into a soft one as her nose rubbed against Lane’s. 

-It is not. 

There was no way to determine who pulled closer first or who started the kiss. Nor was there a way to determine what sighs were Lane's or Anna's or where one started and the other ended. 

It was almost violent how close they held each other. All the carefulness left Anna's touch and all of Lane's hunger emerged into hers. All of her desire to touch, to mark and to claim were now clear and transparent but Anna didn’t fear or run from it as Lane once though she might. 

No, Anna had known it would be like that from the start, just as she had known there would be a start. Lane was now aware of what Anna had always had sure. That there would be a start. The Lane felt just as much as she did. That Lane felt exactly as she did. 

That only made Anna's lips taste sweeter and Lane's hunger to become almost unbearable. She wanted to devour Anna. All of her sweet sighs and careful touches on Lane’s waist. She wanted to claim what was rightfully hers as her hands traveled to under Anna's shirt and started to dig her nails into the soft skin of Anna's back. The way the woman's back arched under Lane's touch making her delirious. 

There's was only one thing on Lane's mind and it was Anna's name. 

The kisses turned sloppy when Anna took Lane's hands into hers and held them in place, slowly pulling herself away from the woman. It was like Lane had just woken up in a middle of a daze, like the oxygen was leaving her because she no longer could breathe the same air as Anna.

What even was the use of breathing if it was not Anna's scent? What breathe if not Anna?

-Too fast. We need to rest, we have a ton of work to do tomorrow. 

Anna's voice was lower. Deeper than it has ever been. Her hair was now a mess, even though Lane could not remember pulling or messing with it. The red on her kissed lips somehow made her even more maddening. Lane knew that hers should look just as red. She wanted to get out of the room and show everyone that she was and forever would be the only one capable of leaving Anna like that. 

She wanted to lift Anna by the waist and throw her in bed and tell the entire world to go to hell. She didn't want anyone else to see or touch Anna. She wanted to spend the rest of her life making Anna's lips red with her kisses. She wanted to mark and carve and claim and give and take. 

Instead, she hugged Anna again, slowly, resting her head on the crock of Anna’s neck. 

-Will you stay? 

And when Anna nodded, Lane breathed again. 

[usnatarchives]

Did Michael Jackson defy gravity, or was it due to the shoes? 🕺👞

Archives Specialist Netisha Currie shares the shoe patent invented by Michael Jackson to create an anti-gravity illusion.

The shoes enabled Jackson to execute one of his signature dance moves, allowing him to lean forward to an exaggerated angle while performing the song "Smooth Criminal" on stage.

The patent is digitized and available in the National Archives Catalog.

📸: Drawings illustrating the method and means for creating the anti-gravity illusion boots, June 28, 1993. National Archives Identifier 5742940

📸: Declaration of Michael J. Jackson in support of establishing status of Triumph International, Inc. as a small entity pursuant, page 2, August 25, 1992. National Archives Identifier 5742954

📸: United States Patent 4,762,019, August 9, 1988. National Archives Identifier 5742962

[ixhika-jsx]

Resources and study tips to get you in cyber forensics

Master post • Part1 • part2

let's get you prepped to be a cyber sleuth without spending any cash. Here’s the ultimate tips and resources.

Ps: you can't become one while doing these pointers but you can experience the vibe so you can finally find your career interest

### 1. **Digital Scavenger Hunts**

- **CTF Challenges (Capture The Flag)**: Dive into platforms like [CTFtime](https://ctftime.org/) where you can participate in cyber security challenges. It's like playing *Among Us* but with hackers—find the imposter in the code!

- **Hunt A Killer (Digitally)**: Create your own digital crime scenes. Ask friends to send you files (like images, PDFs) with hidden clues. Your job? Find the Easter eggs and solve the case.

### 2. **YouTube University**

- **Cyber Sleuth Tutorials**: Channels like *HackerSploit* and *The Cyber Mentor* have playlists covering digital forensics, cybersecurity, and more. Binge-watch them like your fave Netflix series, but here you're learning skills to catch bad guys.

- **Live Streams & Q&A**: Jump into live streams on platforms like Twitch where cybersecurity experts solve cases in real-time. Ask questions, get answers, and interact with the pros.

### 3. **Public Libraries & eBook Treasure Hunts**

- **Library eBooks**: Most libraries have eBooks or online resources on digital forensics. Check out titles like *"Hacking Exposed"* or *"Digital Forensics for Dummies"*. You might have to dig through the catalog, but think of it as your first case.

- **LinkedIn Learning via Library**: Some libraries offer free access to LinkedIn Learning. If you can snag that, you've got a goldmine of courses on cybersecurity and forensics.

### 4. **Virtual Study Groups**

- **Discord Servers**: Join cybersecurity and hacking communities on Discord. They often have study groups, challenges, and mentors ready to help out. It's like joining a digital Hogwarts for hackers.

- **Reddit Threads**: Subreddits like r/cybersecurity and r/hacking are packed with resources, advice, and study buddies. Post your questions, and you’ll get a whole thread of answers.

### 5. **DIY Labs at Home**

- **Build Your Own Lab**: Got an old PC or laptop? Turn it into a practice lab. Install virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox) and play around with different operating systems and security tools. It’s like Minecraft but for hacking.

- **Log Your Own Activity**: Turn on logging on your own devices and then try to trace your own steps later. You’re basically spying on yourself—no NSA required.

### 6. **Community College & University Open Courses**

- **Free Audit Courses**: Many universities offer free auditing of cybersecurity courses through platforms like Coursera, edX, and even YouTube. No grades, no stress, just pure learning.

- **MOOCs**: Massive Open Online Courses often have free tiers. Try courses like "Introduction to Cyber Security" on platforms like FutureLearn or edX.

### 7. **Scour GitHub**

- **Open-Source Tools**: GitHub is full of open-source forensic tools and scripts. Clone some repositories and start tinkering with them. You’re basically getting your hands on the tools real investigators use.

- **Follow the Code**: Find projects related to digital forensics, follow the code, and see how they work. Contribute if you can—bonus points for boosting your resume.

### 8. **Local Meetups & Online Conferences**

- **Free Virtual Conferences**: Many cybersecurity conferences are virtual and some offer free access. DEF CON has a lot of free content, and you can find tons of talks on YouTube.

- **Hackathons**: Look for free entry hackathons—often universities or tech companies sponsor them. Compete, learn, and maybe even win some gear.

### 9. **DIY Challenges**

- **Create Your Own Scenarios**: Get a friend to simulate a hack or data breach. You try to solve it using whatever tools and resources you have. It's like escape rooms, but digital.

- **Pen & Paper Simulation**: Before diving into digital, try solving forensic puzzles on paper. Map out scenarios and solutions to get your brain wired like a detective.

### 10. **Stay Updated**

- **Podcasts & Blogs**: Tune into cybersecurity podcasts like *Darknet Diaries* or follow blogs like *Krebs on Security*. It’s like getting the tea on what’s happening in the cyber world.

### 11. **Free Software & Tools**

- **Autopsy**: Free digital forensics software that helps you analyze hard drives and mobile devices. Think of it as your magnifying glass for digital clues.

- **Wireshark**: A free tool to see what's happening on your network. Catch all the data packets like you're a digital fisherman.

### 12. **Online Forensics Communities**

- **Free Webinars & Workshops**: Join communities like the *SANS Institute* for free webinars. It's like attending a masterclass but from the comfort of your gaming chair.

- **LinkedIn Groups**: Join groups like *Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR)*. Network with pros, get job tips, and stay in the loop with the latest trends.

### 13. **Practice Cases & Mock Trials**

- **Set Up Mock Trials**: Role-play with friends where one is the hacker, another the victim, and you’re the investigator. Recreate cases from famous cybercrimes to see how you'd solve them.

- **Case Studies**: Research and recreate famous digital forensic cases. What steps did the investigators take? How would you handle it differently?

There you have it—your roadmap to becoming a cyber sleuth without dropping a dime. You don't have time find your interest after paying pennies to different ppl and colleges. You can explore multiple things from comfort of your home only if you want to.