#dealing with the aftermath of Helene

[breezingby]

"Information from towns and communities in Western North Carolina will be updated and added into this story through out the day. Please check back regularly as we continue to update.

Western North Carolina is littered with small communities and tourist towns that are usually high on the list of places to go for tourists this time of year. If you or anyone you know had a vacation planned for these areas, do not go.

Many communities are without water, power and the resources needed to sustain residents and roads are considered closed in Western North Carolina to non-emergency personnel at this time.

Recovery is a long road ahead.

Here's how towns around that region of the state are faring after the devastating effects of Helene hit the state on Friday and continue to linger as crews continue efforts to clear roads and connect these towns back to civilization."

[iridessence]

my heart goes out to the people dealing with the aftermath of Helene or evacuating from Milton

[jstor]

I just wanted to say thank you for having easy downloads-- I don't have to jump through any hoops to save my research. I'm currently in the south eastern united states and am on day 7 of no power after helene, but I was able to download articles for my thesis work so I can still work on my research

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're truly glad to hear that our platform has been helpful for your research, especially during such a challenging time.

We can't imagine how difficult it must be to deal with the aftermath of the storm while trying to continue your work. Please know that we're wishing you all the best as you navigate through this, and we hope power is restored soon. If there's anything else we can do to support you, don't hesitate to reach out.

[mariacallous]

Americans need to log off. Unplug. Shoot the TV. It seems impossible. Less than five days from Election Day in the US, most people can’t help but check the news—or TikTok or X—at least once a day. Swipe, refresh, repeat. By Tuesday, the connectedness will be constant. Mentally, political stress takes a huge toll. Given that anxiety can be exacerbated by uncertainty, the 2024 election feels worse than it has ever before. There’s a reason for that.

I don’t just mean the general sky-is-falling stuff—the militias on Facebook organizing ballot-box stakeouts, the conspiracy theory spreaders, the cybercriminals potentially waiting in the wings. Some version of those nerve-janglers has been around for years. Now, though, there’s a new factor upping users’ blood pressure as they doomscroll: AI misinformation.

Clearly US voters worry about how misinformation might impact who wins the election, but Sander van der Linden, author of Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity, notes that the anxiety around AI might be more existential. “If you look at the problem from a more indirect perspective, such as sowing doubt and chaos, confusion, undermining democratic discourse, lowering trust in the electoral process, and confusing swing voters,” he says. “I think we’re looking at a bigger risk”—one that fuels polarization and erodes the quality of debate.

According to an American Psychological Association survey released last week, 77 percent of US adults feel some level of stress over the future of the country. It gets worse. Sixty-nine percent of adults surveyed said the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump was a cause of “significant stress”—a figure that’s up from 52 percent in 2016, when Trump beat Hillary Clinton. Nearly three-quarters of respondents thought the election could spur violence; more than half worried it could be “the end of democracy in the US.”

Christ.

On top of all of this sits the threat of AI-generated falsehoods. For more than a year researchers have warned of election misinformation from artificial intelligence. Beyond the polls, such misinformation has played a role in the Israel-Hamas war and the war in Ukraine. 404 Media called the aftermath of Hurricane Helene “the ‘fuck it’ era of AI-generated slop.” (Actually) fake news lurks around every corner. Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum released a report claiming AI misinformation is one of the biggest short-term threats the world faces. Bad election information and fake images can also bring in serious money for X users, according to a BBC report this week.

This was the first year the APA asked about AI and election anxiety and one of the things the organization found was that seven in 10 people experienced stress over the fact that fake information can seem so believable. One-third of social media users said they don’t know what to believe on those platforms. “It extends beyond just information and social media,” says Vaile Wright, APA’s senior director of health care innovation. “A majority of Americans said they don't trust the US government. So there's sort of this whole lack of trust in what used to be very trusted institutions—the media, government—and that, I'm sure, is not helping with people's stress as it relates to this election this year.”

When the US election season ramped up there were AI-generated robocalls (the Federal Communications Commission outlawed them) and now election officials are preparing staff to deal with any number of deepfakes they may encounter. X’s AI model Grok is reportedly boosting conspiracy theories. (It’s also, according to Musk, working on its MRI-reading skills.)

After months of fretting about AI taking jobs, now everyone has to worry about it taking faith in the democratic process?

For nearly two decades, one social media platform or another has ended up dominating a US election. Back in 2008, it was a still-young Twitter. During most of the twenty-teens, it was Facebook (and a bit of Instagram) and Twitter. More recently, TikTok has become a news-spreading tool. In each election cycle, people have swiped to keep up—and also confronted new levels of toxicity. Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who got out of prison this week, once told reporter Michael Lewis Democrats didn’t matter, “the real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.” That shit went online.

Now, that shit doesn’t even have to come from political operatives. Machines can make it. When people scroll around on their smartphones for a flicker of hope about whether or not their candidate will win, whatever discouragement or reassurance they find may not even be real.

The APA’s survey found that 82 percent of US adults were worried people may base their values on inaccurate information, and more than one-fifth said they’d believed something they read online or on social media when it wasn’t true. Another poll conducted in early September found that only about a quarter of voters feel confident that they can tell the difference between real AI-generated visuals, like the fake images Trump shared claiming Taylor Swift fans are supporting him. “That’s not a good sign,” van der Linden says.

If your fears about the election seem even worse than they did in 2020, this may be why. Misinformation takes a mental toll. “Political anxiety” exists, and research indicates it can impact those who aren’t anxious otherwise. Couple that with a media landscape where newspapers are coming under fire for not endorsing a political candidate and the picture of a nervous electorate becomes very clear. Trust no one; just wait to see what happens—then decide if you believe it.

[rcmclachlan]

Comfort Fanfic Recs

Tagged by @liminalmemories21

Rules: What are your old school comfort fics? The ones from fandoms that haven't been active in yeeeaaars, but you've read so many times you can practically quote them.

I've been in fandom since 1999 and a lot of my old, old comfort fics have been lost to time (remember Kira and Shell's sprawling X/1999 fic "16:1"? No? Just me?). Here are the ones I can still access:

Sheppard's Law by cesperanza (SGA, John/Rodney)

"Weird? You don't know what weird is. Weird is being in a-- with the-- and the crazy alien--" He stopped, incoherent, hands flailing. "And then your best friend is twelve, and you're his piano teacher. That--now, you're talking weird!"

Aftermath, USA by traveller (Generation Kill, Brad/Nate)

The morning of the assassination, Patti Jankowski got up, took a long shower and towel dried her hair before braiding it into two long ropes that hung over her shoulders. She put on jeans, a t-shirt that showed Mickey Mouse saluting the American Flag, a light tan windbreaker and her comfortable blue SAS sneakers. In her shoulder bag she put a Smith and Wesson .22 caliber revolver, and an umbrella. The forecast was for a 62% chance of rain.

So Are They All, All Honourable Men by seperis (BBC Merlin, Arthur/Merlin)

Considering Arthur's future wife will be chosen less for compatibility than for her political value, Merlin may be the only marriage he'll have that won't end in bloodshed or a great deal of fortifying wine.

Alter Egos by Aishuu (Cardcaptor Sakura, gen-ish)

Yukito and Yue�� where does one end and the other begin? To maintain his happiness with Touya, Yuki goes to a counselor and drags her into his world on a dark odyssey that will strain the boundaries of the human psyche. (RC's note: Aishuu finished this fic in 2003. Isn't that wild?)

Beyond the Veil by Atalan/Helene (Harry Potter, Sirius/Remus)

Set after OotP. Trapped in a world where he can be neither seen nor heard, Sirius Black struggles to communicate to his friends that he may not be as dead as they think he is... and that something dreadful lurks beyond the veil.

How to File Form 39-B by thehoyden (Naruto, Kakashi/Iruka)

The first time Iruka met Hatake Kakashi, he was still on some pretty good painkillers.

Transcendental by astolat (SGA, John/Rodney)

tran·scen·den·tal (trăn'sĕn-dĕn'tl) adj. 1. Philosophy. Concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge as independent of experience. 2. Surpassing all others; superior. 3. Beyond common thought or experience. 4. Mathematics. Of or relating to a real or complex number that is not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients.

Blackbird by emungere (NBC Hannibal, Hannibal/Will)

Shortly after Will kills Garret Jacob Hobbs, he and Hannibal stumble into a D/s relationship. It's a relief to have Hannibal telling him what to do, but the closer they become, the closer he gets to realizing who and what Hannibal really is.

Static by nightanddaze (Generation Kill, Brad/Nate)

It starts on the first day of a war with broken radios.

Prayers for the Living by Fahye, littledust (XMFC, Charles/Erik)

AU from midway through the film, looking at what might have happened if Azazel had (sensibly) teleported to Russia and Emma had (sensibly) gone recruiting baby mutants. In which Moira is badass, actions have consequences, and Charles and Erik manage to have some feelings when they're not racing around the country.

Tagging @screamlet, @alchemistc, @geddyqueer, @firehose118, @beanarie

@waldorph, @ephieshine, @iphyslitterator, @theroseandthebeast,

[utilitycaster]

Hey all! I've done variants of this in the past, so it's time for encouraging voting and other active participation in living in a society with the greatest gift I can provide online, as a non-artist and a slow and mediocre fic-writer: not being a hater.

If you provide a (non-identifying) picture of your voting sticker or similar indication you voted, you may gush about your D&D/TTRPG/original character to me in a single part ask preferably in the vicinity of 500 words or less* and I will say a thing I really like about them (and no criticism unless you are like, horrifically bigoted in my inbox, which I suspect is unlikely to happen). If you do not play a TTRPG you can also just send me a character from Critical Role, or another thing I have said I've seen/listened to/read and demand I respond with only positivity about them.

If you are not a US Citizen, good news! feel free to also send a screenshot of a receipt redacted of any personal information that shows a donation to Anera (providing aid in Palestine and Lebanon), or to Second Harvest Food Bank NW North Carolina (currently dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene).

Please do this off anon; if you send this on anon I will not answer it. You get up to two chances - if you are an eligible voter and you vote and donate, or if you aren't able to vote but donate to both organizations, feel free to send two characters! I'll be doing this for anyone who sends something in by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 5th, though with any luck I'll be asleep before then.

*I'm not going to nickel and dime you if you're at like 510 words or something but don't press your luck

[makehydrafictionagain]

Public Relations (MCU x Reader)- Ch. 2. Pt. 1

Summary: Tensions run high in Stark Tower as the aftermath of recent events leaves everyone on edge, working tirelessly to regain control. You grapple with your place among the team, leading to a confrontation that forces you to make a difficult decision. As emotions boil over, the line between staying and leaving grows increasingly blurred.

Here is the link for the previous parts.

Sunday, May 3, 2015

The atmosphere in Stark Tower was tense, the weight of the previous night’s attack pressing heavily on everyone. In the common area on the forty-fifth floor, a room primarily used for intense deliberation, the Avengers gather- exhaustion evident in their expressions. They deliberate, intensely, with the limited information they’ve managed to scrape together.

Steve Rogers takes the lead, his voice steady but firm as he outlines the team’s immediate priorities. “We need to know where he’s gone and what he’s planning. Without that, we’re fighting blind.”

Tony Stark sits slouched in his chair, arms crossed, his face a mask of guilt and frustration. “I can’t track him yet. He’s better than I thought, smarter. But I’ll find him.” His words are sharp, defensive, as if daring anyone to question him further.

Bruce Banner, seated beside Tony, speaks up hesitantly. “Helen and I are running diagnostics on the systems he corrupted. It’ll take time, but we’re making progress.”

Across the room, Thor paces like a restless storm, his hammer swinging at his side. “Ultron is using the scepter’s power. We should focus on that- its magic leaves a trace. If we find the trace, we find him.”

Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton listen quietly, their eyes scanning the room. Natasha finally interjects, her tone pragmatic. “Tracing him is one thing. Stopping him is another. We need to prepare for whatever he’s planning, not just react to it.”

The room fell into a pensive silence, no one feeling the need to add anything more to the pile of stressors in the middle of the room. One by one, they went their separate ways, last of which being Steve, who leaned against the windowsill with his arms crossed and fist rested on his chin.

-

Up in the lab, the air is filled with urgency. Tony works furiously at one of his holographic interfaces, pulling up streams of code and data faster than Bruce or Helen can keep up. His usual quips are absent, replaced by curt, focused commands.

“Banner, cross-check this against the last known coordinates we have for the drones,” Tony says without looking up.

Bruce nods, his fingers flying across the keyboard. “I’m on it. But if Ultron’s using adaptive code, it’s going to take longer than we’d like.”

Helen Cho, standing at another station, frowns as she examines a corrupted data sample. “It’s not just the code,” She says, calm but firm. “Ultron is evolving. He’s not leaving the same traces he did before. This isn’t just artificial intelligence- it’s something more.”

Tony glances over toward her without looking at her directly. “Care to elaborate?”

Helen looked at him evenly. “The scepter’s power is still a factor. We’re not just dealing with science anymore. There’s a blend of technology and something… else. If we don’t account for that, we’ll keep falling behind.”

Tony’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he redirects his focus back to the data, his mind racing.

As the hours tick by, the three work nonstop, their determination matched only by their growing frustration. Each of them know time is running out- and Ultron isn’t waiting for them to catch up.

-

You wake with a start, your body aching from the night before. You're still in your dress, the fabric wrinkled and stained with soot, grime, and blood.

Your hair hangs and clings in wild disarray, and your makeup depicts the chaos of the night before. You don't bother with an attempt to fix yourself. Instead, you push yourself upright and manage to throw the curtains to cover the window, wobbling slightly as you navigate the unsteady world around you. The lingering champagne buzz and a splitting migraine courtesy of the attack make each step a challenge. You press your fingers to your temples, as though the pressure might bring some clarity, before rubbing your eyes- a move that only worsens the mess of mascara already smudged beneath them. The mirror in the bathroom offers a harsh reflection you don't acknowledge. After a splash of cool water that does little to revive you, you drag yourself back into the dimly lit room, the weight of exhaustion and the night's events settling heavily on your shoulders.

Sitting at your desk, you flip open your laptop. The screen illuminates your reflection, and you barely recognize the disheveled woman staring back. You don't allow yourself to wallow. You have a job to do. The clock says 1:28 p.m. Or is that a 4?

Subject: Update

Your fingers hover over the keyboard as you begin drafting an email to Ms. Potts.

Ms. Potts,

I wnted to infom youthat I am okay, te team is okay,nd we’re regrouping as we speak.I’ll handle things on the media front and ensure the fallout isaddressed apppriately.

You pause, fingers tightening slightly over the keys. Your chest feels heavy as you think about the night before. The press event had gone so well- better than you hoped. Steve and Bruce had delivered their speeches perfectly, and the media response had been overwhelmingly positive. It was a win- a real win, something the team desperately needed after Sokovia.

And then it was all destroyed.

Your jaw tightens as you think of Tony. He’d been dismissive, reckless, with his little AI project . Ultron had stolen the spotlight from their hard-earned victory and turned it into something unrecognizable. Something terrifying.

You shake your head, trying to focus. You type another line into the email:

I’ll have a preliminary strategyto you y thisfternoon. Letme know if there are any key points you’d like incded.

_____ _____

You review the email briefly, as well as you can through a tight squint, then hit send. As the message disappears from your screen, you feel a wisp of satisfaction. At least one thing is in motion.

You turn your attention to a blank document, ready to draft the PR strategy. You start outlining key points: acknowledging the attack, expressing regret for the harm caused, and emphasizing the Avengers’ commitment to preventing further destruction. None of it made anything better. Not even close.

Your mind keeps drifting back to the night before. The victory party had been the culmination of days and nights of non-stop effort- a chance to truly celebrate the team's accountability and transparency. You had even let yourself relax, something you often never allowed around clients. For one fleeting moment, it felt like the team was finally on stable ground.

All for nothing.

Your frustration simmers as you type, each keystroke a quiet release of your anger. Tony’s arrogance had derailed everything, and now the entire world was left to deal with the fallout. You weren't naïve- you knew what you were walking into when you took this job. But still, you hadn’t expected this. Clearly, no one had.

You leaned into your screen, hoping that your typing skills served you well enough to create legible notes through the aura of your migraine. You couldn't tell. With a deep inhale, and even deeper exhale, you decide that before you can move forward you need to be wearing something that doesn't smell like whiskey, sweat, or electrical smoke. 

Standing up, you use your arms to guide you to the bathroom and strip, leaving your dress on the tile beneath you. The hot water eases the tension in your shoulders some, but does nothing for the 3 giant bruises on your abdomen and thighs that are thrown on you like paint. 

Having only washed your body, neglecting your routine, you step out onto the dress you removed minutes earlier. You make your way to your dresser and pull on a sweater and leggings- completely disregarding your preference for business-casual attire, and step into your slippers. 

Coffee. 

With very cautious steps, you grabbed your notepad and tablet that were precariously placed on the corner of your desk, found the door to the hallway, and used the walls to guide you toward the kitchen. Navigation felt like walking through a fog, but the promise of coffee pushed you forward.

At the counter, you poured yourself a mug of black coffee, your movements slow and deliberate. You didn’t bother with sugar or cream- there wasn’t any point. The bitter aroma alone was comfort enough, its warmth cradling you as you held the mug close to your chest. The kitchen was quiet, the faint hum of Stark Tower’s systems the only sound accompanying you.

Your footsteps were soft as you crossed to the same seat at the table you had previously claimed, a place you’d sat to observe the team of heroes not even a week ago. Back then, you’d felt like an outsider peering into a world you could never fully understand. Now, sitting in the same spot, the distance between you and them felt even greater, like an invisible wall you couldn’t- didn’t- hope to scale.

You settled into the chair, setting your coffee down with a gentle clink before setting your notepad and tablet down. With a sharp exhale, you flipped to a fresh page and began jotting down ideas. Your handwriting was uncharacteristically messy, the jagged letters revealing on paper the strain in your vision and the tension in your thoughts.

The tablet beside your remained dark, untouched. You couldn’t bear to squint at the blurry screen again, its flickering light only adding to your frustration. 

There's no question what’s being said online.

Instead, you focused on the notepad, letting the rhythm of pen on paper guide you as you tried to piece together fragments, slivers, of a strategy. Your brow furrowed, the faint lines between your eyebrows deepening as you fought to concentrate.

But the quiet didn’t last. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through your thoughts, a steady, confident rhythm echoing through the kitchen. You froze, your pen hovering above the page as the noise grew louder.

You looked up, squinting toward the doorway. The figure that emerged was instantly recognizable- not by sight, but by the unjustified confidence and ego, paired with the faint scent of cologne and a whisper of alcohol- or, the other way around. 

Tony Stark.

For a moment, you remained still, gripping your pen tightly as your gaze followed him. There was something almost surreal about seeing him like this, the man responsible for both the Avengers’ triumphs and their current chaos. His presence filled the room like a storm cloud, impossible to ignore. It pissed you off.

Tony’s steps didn’t falter as he made his way to the coffee machine, his movements fluid and purposeful. The sound of the coffee pouring into his mug seemed louder than it should have been, punctuating the silence with every drop. You didn’t say a word, your stomach tightening as you braced yourself for whatever confrontation was about to come next. Whether he initiated it or you did, both of you could feel something brewing.

“Wow,” Tony said, his voice cutting through the quiet. “I thought you’d be gone by now.” He paused by the coffee machine. You couldn’t tell if he was looking at you, or looking at his cup. “Or was last night not enough of a reminder that your expertise is no longer needed here?”

You straightened, your grip tightening on your pen. “You mean the part where you caused a disaster so bad that Ms. Potts hasn’t even had a chance to return my emails yet?” Your tone matched his, sharp and biting. You leaned forward, your eyes narrowing. “No, Mr. Stark, that wasn’t a reminder. It was confirmation.” Tony, abandoning the mug he was preparing on the counter, came around to face you, turning his ear to you as if he had misheard.

“Give me a break. We’re a little beyond PR control at this point, don’t you think? Ultron doesn’t care about soundbites, and neither do I.” Tony took two more steps toward the table where you sat, encroaching on your personal space.

The way he loomed over you- standing while you sat- only made your anger flare. You pushed yourself to your feet, your vision sharpening enough to catch the irritation etched into his face. “Maybe not, but the world does. You’ve spent years building this company’s name- your name- and now you’ve tied it to a killer robot and another ruined city.” Tony’s jaw tightens as he steps even closer, yet you continue. “But sure, let's pretend none of that matters.”

“You’re right- it’s my company.” You can now clearly see the stress lines on his forehead and the bags under his eyes, and your heart rate quickens as he approaches. Despite standing tall, he still towers over you from the angle he's approaching.

Tony leaned closer, one hand gripping the table in front of you, his tone cold and sharp. “And frankly, I don’t see the point of keeping someone around who can’t even shoot a hunk of metal six feet in front of her.”

You freeze, your lips parting as though to respond, but the words don’t come. The room felt smaller, your blurry surroundings closing in as his words echoed in your head. 

Tony doesn’t wait for a reply. He turns sharply on his heel and strides out, the door clicking shut behind him. 

The silence that follows is deafening. You exhale sharply, your hands clenched into fists. Your mind races, replaying his words, your frustration mounting.

Finally, you snap your notepad shut, the sound breaking the stillness of the room. Shoving the dining chair back further, you leave the table, walking carelessly, intently to your room.

Your breath comes quick and shallow as your mind churns, emotions a storm of anger, hurt, and defiance. You don't pause, don't let yourself think. Instead, you pack your belongings quickly, tossing essentials into a small bag and hastily organizing the rest for shipment. After 45 minutes, your blood pressure has not lowered. You knew the rage-packing had something to do with that, but you take it as a sign that the decision you had already made was the right one. You pulled your hair into a bun, giving no care to your appearance, and sat on the edge of the bed with your hands gripping the mattress and your leg shaking angrily for a moment longer. 

Fuck this place.

You stood up and looked at your suitcases, packed up and set to the side.

They can ship it to me. Or not. I dont give a shit.

You slung the bag over your shoulder and headed for the door, your jaw tight, and straight down the hallway toward the elevator. Your chest felt tight, your thoughts spinning in an exhausting loop of frustration and self-doubt. 

I'm not doubting anything. I'm no help here.

Leaving Stark Tower was the only thing that made sense now. You weren't helping, you weren’t needed, and after Tony’s scathing words, staying felt unbearable. Impossible.

You were just a few steps away from the elevator when Natasha Romanoff stepped into your path, tablet in hand. At first, she didn’t even glance up, her focus seemingly on the screen, but she moved with deliberate intent, blocking your path with ease.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Natasha’s voice was calm but carried an edge, like a warning wrapped in silk.

You paused, gripping the strap of your bag, suddenly very aware that the room was now inhabited by multiple Avengers despite the silence before. Your tone came out sharper than intended. “I didn’t realize I needed clearance for the elevator.”

Natasha’s gaze flicked up then, sharp and assessing, pinning you in place. “You do when you’re planning to run. Especially now.”

Your fingers tightened around the strap of your bag. “I’m not running,” You said, your voice defensive. “I’m just… leaving. Tony’s right- this isn’t my fight.”

Natasha tilted her head slightly, her calm demeanor unnerving. She stepped closer, her voice lowering but firm. “You’re not just some bystander, _____. You’ve been in the room. You’ve seen the plans, heard the intel. You think Ultron’s going to forget that?”

The words made you falter, but only for a moment. “So what?” You snapped. “I stay here and keep being a liability? I’m not helping, Natasha. You don’t need me.”

Natasha crossed her arms, expression hardening. “You think this is about what we need? It’s about survival. You walk out of here, you’re making yourself an easy target. And the second Ultron decides to come after you, we’ll have to drop everything to save your ass.”

Heat rose in your cheeks. “I don’t need saving,�� You bit out, your voice rising.

Natasha’s eyes narrowed, her tone turning sharp as a blade. “Look, I get it- you’re scared, and you don’t belong here. But leaving right now isn’t just stupid, it’s selfish . Stay. Help us fix this. Or at the very least, stay alive so we don’t have to add your death to our conscience.

Their voices had risen by now, echoing down the hallway, sharp and cutting. In the common room nearby, Steve, Clint, and Thor had fallen silent, their conversation abandoned. The tension of the argument drew their attention like a magnet, and they exchanged uneasy glances. 

Your breath hitched, and you turned away, unable to hold Natasha’s piercing stare any longer. Your grip on your bag strap tightened as the words sank in, heavy and suffocating.

Steve stood, the weight of the moment compelling him to step in. He approached slowly, his expression calm but serious, his presence alone enough to add to the tension in the hallway. Natasha glanced at him briefly before turning back to you, her voice softening just enough to temper the moment.

“You don’t have to like being here,” She said. “But you can’t leave. Not yet.”

Your eyes darted between Natasha and Steve, who now stood silently nearby, his somber presence adding weight to the conversation. Trapped. That’s how you felt. Your frustration and helplessness boiled to the surface, and you let out a sharp, bitter laugh, shaking your head.

“Fine,” You spat out, spinning on your heel and storming back down the hallway toward your room.

Natasha watched you go, her expression unreadable. “She’s not going anywhere,” She said quietly, almost to herself.

“Good,” Steve replied softly, though his gaze lingered in the direction you had gone.

He turned to leave, but Natasha’s voice stopped him, her tone low and knowing. “Go easy on him,” she said.

Steve glanced back, catching the flicker of understanding in her eyes. She knew exactly where he was headed. With a small nod, he turned away, his jaw tightening as he disappeared down the hallway toward Tony’s lab. Natasha let out a slow exhale, attention returning to the tablet in her hands- though her thoughts remained firmly on you and the storm brewing within Stark Tower, and out there somewhere in the world. In the common room, Clint shook his head, muttering something under his breath. 

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of unspoken questions lingering between them.

-

You stormed into your room, the door clicking shut behind you with more force than you intended, more force than you thought was possible with these fancy hinges. You stood still for a moment, breathing uneven, hands clenched into fists at your sides. Your mind spun, replaying the argument with Natasha, the sharpness of her words, the unspoken truth beneath them.

Stupid. Selfish.

You crossed to your bed and sat down heavily, your gaze falling to your lap. The anger swirling inside you flared briefly, but it wasn’t just anger at Natasha- it was at yourself, at the impossible situation you had found yourself in. You thought you could handle this, thought you could help. But now?

Stupid.

Your eyes drifted to the suitcases thrown to the side of the door.

Selfish.

The others were overthinking this. Ultron had no reason to care about you. You’re a PR person, not a strategist or a fighter. What could you possibly offer? You weren't one of them. Tony had made that clear enough.

Stupid.

Your chest tightened at the memory of his words. They stung, not because they were harsh.

He’s right.

-

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Steve’s voice cut through the lab like a whip, followed by the slamming and swinging of the doors behind him.

Bruce flinched, his head snapping up in surprise, while Helen glanced over briefly before returning to her work. Tony didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look up, his focus seemingly unshaken as he continued swiping at the holograms.

“Saving the world,” Tony said flatly, the edge of snark in his tone. “You should try it sometime.”

Steve stepped closer, his presence towering, his voice hard. “You can’t just kick people out without consulting the team.”

“Oh, good, she finally left.” Tony mumbled, still not looking up from his work. 

“_____ left?” Bruce couldn't hesitate the words coming out, though he wanted to.

“Nat didn't let her leave.” Steve said, still focusing on Tony.

Tony straightened, any bit of a smirk fading as he circled around the workstation, his expression more guarded now. “She should have,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact. “She’s a liability, Rogers. She’s not a soldier, she’s not a scientist, and she sure as hell isn’t a hero. She’s in over her head, and she knows it.”

“She’s more of a liability out there,” Steve countered, his frustration rising. “Ultron will use anything he can against us. You really think he’s just going to let her walk away?”

Bruce shifted uncomfortably but nodded in agreement. “Steve’s got a point,” he said carefully. “Ultron’s not going to leave her alone. She’s already on his radar- we all are.”

Tony turned toward Bruce, his frustration snapping like a live wire. “And how’s that my fault? I didn’t tell her to show up here.”

“No,” Steve shot back, his voice rising, “but you told you to leave . You really think the right thing to do is send her out there- alone?”

Tony’s jaw tightened, and he turned back to Steve, his voice hardening. “And you think she’s safe here? Did last night not make an impression? This place isn’t safe for anyone, least of all someone like her.”

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Tony’s words hanging between them. Bruce looked down at his monitor, clearly uncomfortable, while Helen kept her focus on her work, stoic.

Steve took a breath, reining in his anger. “ Here is the safest place for her to be,” he said, his tone quieter but no less firm. “Here she has us .”

Tony’s expression flickered, his eyes narrowing as if he was considering another retort. But when he spoke, his voice was quieter, almost muttering, “I can’t keep everyone safe, Steve.”

“Then I will.” Steve stepped closer, his tone resolute. “She’s staying.”

They locked eyes, the tension crackling like electricity between them. Tony’s jaw worked as though he wanted to argue, but no words came. Instead, he broke the stare, turning back toward his workstation, his silence brimming with frustration and something deeper he wouldn’t admit.

Steve lingered for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle before turning and walking out of the lab.

Tony stood still, staring blankly at his holograms. After a beat, he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair as he stepped away from his workstation. Without a word, he left the lab, the glass door to the elevator lobby sliding shut behind him.

Bruce and Helen exchanged a look, Bruce’s face marked with unease.

“Well,” Bruce said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck, “that went well.”

Helen shook her head slightly, returning to her tablet.

-

For a moment, you sat still, staring at the empty space in front of you, your thoughts circling. Natasha and Steve thought Ultron would target you, but that didn’t make sense. He had bigger fish to fry: Tony, Bruce, the Avengers themselves. What value could you possibly hold in the grand scheme of things?

You forced yourself to stand, your movements deliberate as you pulled the suitcases from the ground and placed them on the bed. Slowly, you began to fix your messy packing. Clothes were refolded carefully, placed in neat stacks. Your framed photo of your family went into the wooden box along with a few other keepsakes you brought from home.

Each item you packed felt like a small admission of defeat, a quiet acknowledgement that this wasn’t where you were meant to be.

When you finished, the room was bare, stripped of any trace of your presence other than the suitcases and the wooden box that were lined up by the door, ready to go. You weren’t even sure you would see them again after today. 

I honestly, truly, don’t give a shit.

With that thought, you pulled the photos out of the box and placed them in your bag, wrapped in a shirt. Only your laptop remained on the desk, the last thing you’d need before leaving.

You sat down again, your hands numb and resting on your knees, thoughts heavy. The Avengers didn’t need you, and staying here wasn’t going to change that. It was time to go. That was the only thing that made sense anymore.

Your room, once carefully organized to make it feel like home, now felt sterile and impersonal, stripped of the touches you’d added during your brief stay.

You opened your laptop and began typing, movements methodical and precise. It wasn’t until the laptop screen shone on you that you realized how dark it was in “your room.” It’d been hours.

Subject: Thank you

Ms. Potts,

Thankou for the opportunity towork alongsidetark Industries and the Avengers. After carul consideration, I’ve determned thatmy role here is no longer beeficial to the team or themission. I belive it’sin everyone’s best interest if Istep aside during this criticaltime.

I’ve packed my bongings in the suitcasesnd wooden box theywere delivered in. Pleasehae them sent to 128 Briarwod Lane, Whie Plains, NY 10605, at your convenience. I will leave my access badge and keycard at t the front desk for collection. I trust this will nt cause any inconvenience.

I wish you and the tam the best in the days ahead.

_____ _____

You read over the email once, as best you could, ensuring its tone was professional and to the point. Then, with a deep breath, you hit send. The small chime of confirmation was like the closing of a chapter.

You shut your laptop and slid it into your bag, zipping it up with practiced efficiency. You glanced around the room one final time, your gaze lingering on the bare floor and the now neatly stacked cases. Your badge and keycard were held tight in your hand- not realizing how severely the anxiety had been accumulating until this very moment, with the sharp plastic edges of your identification pressing painfully into your palm.

Without hesitation, you hoisted your bag over your shoulder and stepped silently into the hallway. The Tower was quiet and dim at this hour, the hum of distant machinery the only sound accompanying your footsteps. You moved quickly, looking behind you often, keeping to the shadows and heading for the service stairwell. You stopped at the heavy door and readied your keycard, hoping to the heavens that it worked. You hovered it over the scanner and waited for a beep, either affirmative or negative. The light turned green and a chirp echoed through the halls, followed by the sound of the lock mechanism releasing. 

Thank you, Maria.

You were not prepared for a fight, so you hoped that was the case. Worst case scenario, though, would the team care enough to exert unnecessary energy into keeping you here? Part of you felt bad for using the trust Maria had placed in you to escape; she clearly felt that you didn’t require the typical security restrictions that most in your position would. To use that respect and run with it felt wrong, sure, but… 

I don’t know, I don’t care.

The descent, though you knew would be long, felt excruciating, every echo of your footsteps amplifying the tension in your chest. When you finally reached the ground floor, you paused at the door to the side lobby, your hand hovering over the handle.

There was no looking back. You pushed the door open and stepped into the dark room that led straight into the night. The city’s cool air hit you immediately, a sharp contrast to the stifling atmosphere of Stark Tower. The glowing logo loomed behind you, casting a faint light over the street.

You tightened your grip on your bag and walked away, steps steady and determined. You didn’t glance back, your focus entirely on the path ahead. For better or worse, you were on your own now. 

Thank god for Uber.

[juniorig0327]

My brain can’t stop thinking of AUs lol (Pt. 1)

An AU where Luke just has a feral group of Demigod kids when he’s found by Grover.

Thalia, Jason, Leo, and Annabeth are just chilling with Luke.

Luke being lets just say extremely most hesitant to join Kronos because he still has three insane kids to take care of.

But ultimately he does betray camp and it’s probably right around S.o.M when they find out it was Luke who poisoned Thalia’s tree.

Luke possibly trying to recruit them + Percy who has unofficially joined Luke’s band of kids (Jason joining??)

The titans curse with both Luke and Percy trying to get their hands on the Di Angelo kids (both of them getting one in the end? Luke getting Bianca and Percy getting Nico)

Bianca like, not dying lol.

Battle of the Labyrinth, Annabeth finally getting a quest, chasing a mysterious demigod through the labyrinth and in the end, the explosion of Mt. Helens, the demigod army invading camp, Jason becoming the host for Kronos, possibly trying to revive some other titans in the same way as well with Luke and Bianca preparing to become hosts for other titans. Bianca not feeling right about joining Luke anymore and leaving after seeing her brother nearly killed by Kronos and his army.

The Last Olympian with Percy having to fight Jason, one of his first friends at camp, a reminder of innocence and how easily Percy could’ve been Jason after his mother died.

Leo finally stepping up from the sidelines with newfound courage to fight Kronos, especially after the death of Beckendorf.

Luke and Annabeth finally coming face to face properly. Annabeth facing the Titan that’s inhabiting Luke’s body, and Luke’s death (which I imagine be very similar to canon especially because he’s not Kronos host).

Bianca and Ethan coming face to face (who probably have a very interesting history). Ethan’s revenge and Bianca just wanting to save her brother.

Having a way more deadly and bloody battle of manhattan than in canon.

The death(??) of Jason and the getting together of Percy and Annabeth after the final battle finally allowed them to push through their final obstacle in the way: themselves and their grief.

The Lost Hero when Percy goes missing after all they’ve been through and Annabeth doesn’t have anybody left except Leo (and Nico to an extent). When these mysterious demigods shows up and nobody knows why.

The Son of Neptune when Percy has been wandering for months only remembering a set of blonde hair. When he gets issued on a quest with nothing except two random demigods and his instinct.

Mark of Athena when the seven has finally formed (thinking Nico, Frank, Percy, Annabeth, Leo, and two other demigods). When wisdoms daughter finally has a prophecy on her shoulders when she walks to her death.

House of Hades when Percy falls alone because he doesn’t want Annabeth to die down there in the horrors of Tartarus because enough people have died already.

Blood of Olympus when Percy deals with the aftermath of his journey, when Gaea’s secret weapons: Hazel and Piper are finally revealed, when Gaea is hoping to get the true seventh wheel, the strongest demigod of the era on her side. When Percy takes on the prophecy himself because the Battle of Manhattan can’t happen again (he still has nightmares about everyone who died).

lol I dunno just a thought, those two other characters would probably be ocs because

1. Hazel probably would never be found by Nico because of when Bianca dies and how old Nico would be and how he understands.

2. Piper doesn’t have a reason to be loyal to the demigod world if/when she’s found. There’s no Leo or Jason for her. She’s alone and as far as she’s concerned she’s always been alone. Why not join Gaea and bring out the system that had a part in her staying alone.

As for the plot of HoO itself I wanna change it a little cuz ngl it’s kind of basic lol. One of the major problems is that Gaea doesn’t have a reason for her actions that really makes you think like Luke’s did imo. Could have her embrace the “mother” part of Mother Earth lol.

Maybe she’s mad because the children of the earth, her children have been disrespected and abused for too long, pawns of the gods, maybe on this timeline when Kronos tried to recruit her (which I think he did?? Not sure) she wasn’t able to reform fast enough and her actions are driven by the guilt of the grieving mother who wasn’t able to protect her children in time idk just SOMETHING to make her not one dimensional and boring lol.

I probably wouldn’t write this but it would be cool if someone did.

[sandwormrp]

My Word Above All

Irulan Corrino x Feyd Rautha x Paul Atreides 538 words

Summary: Alternate universe. Polycule Throne. After the death of her father, Irulan rises to claim the title of Empress, declaring a truce in the midst of a deadly conflict between Atreides and Harkonnen.

Her father’s lifeless body lay in her arms. Irulan held him. Unable to pull her eyes away. Fresh tears streamed down her face. He’d taken Paul’s father away, and so he had to take hers. The logical side would tell her she’d have done the same thing in his position. That’s the thing, wasn’t it? Rationale didn’t always make it to the foreground?

Around her, the room’s silence was cut through with a grunt or a strained breath as the two men continued their fight. Blades clattered together sharply. The thudding of a body landing somewhere. Feyd wasn’t fighting to avenge her father. He was fighting for himself.

“Enough!” Irulan bellowed out until all eyes were suddenly on her. Her eyes wildly bounced between Atreides and Harkonnen. Still with blades at one another throats. It was either they both lived, or neither did. Two paths and she was choosing for them. Gently nudging her father’s body back to the floor, Irulan pushed herself up to her feet. Standing straight and tall. Her father’s blood covered one of her hands. A smear of where he'd slumped back against her, staining her metal dress.

“Shaddam Corrino IV is no longer the Emperor, I am.” She let that sink in, a look of unfettered resolution on her face she pushed on, “and as Empress of the new Imperium, I am declaring a truce and for a draw to be agreed upon. Enough blood has been shed on this day. I will agree to marry both should my wishes be respected. I will deny either if they aren’t.”

There, she thought, let them mull on that.

The noise of shock reverberated throughout the room. A sharp “No! You mustn’t!” came whispered from Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Irulan turned back to her. “I shall. If they agree to this, then I will follow through on my word.” She gave her one last apologetic look before steeling herself to turn to both men, “Well? Sheath your weapons.”

She didn’t wait for them to make a decision. It was already decided for them whether they knew it or not. Irulan turned to Gurney, “Report back to the Great Houses. I want representatives from each here now.” Then to another person she’d picked out, “Take my father and prepare him for transport back to Kaitain.” Eyes darting to more people, “Get them cleaned up and treated for injuries. Send them to me once that’s done.” Finally, she turned to the last person, “I want you to start preparing this room for the ceremony. Make sure all the blood is gone.”

Turning on her heel she left them all to deal with the aftermath. Finding herself a quiet room to reside. Rubbing at her temples, finding the need for action came to her over tears. Irulan undressed and washed the bloodstains from the metal. Cleaning herself in the process. By the time one of the boys stepped into her quarters, she was already redressed and looking a lot better for it.

“Take a seat, get comfortable. We’ll discuss this more with you once the other one is here.” She approached him. Hand extending out expectantly towards him, wanting something from him. “Your knives. Hand them over.”

Continued on our jcink rp!

Fuel a writer’s fixation by liking & reblogging their work!

[xeawea]

watching northerners say that the south deserves the catastrophic aftermath that came with helene is horrible btw, if ur even joking about this shit it says a lot how you only look at things through a political lense. local businesses are in literal splinters, communities up in the MOUNTAINS of all places are dealing with FLOODING, people are DYING and some of you come on here and go "well that's one less red vote!" seriously go fuck yourself

dont look away from the destruction we have faced. we arent dogs just because our states are republican

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alicia Sadowski and Isabella Corrao at MMFA:

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, right-wing media falsely claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration are ignoring millions of Americans impacted by intense flooding. Media personalities and MAGA influencers have falsely and dishonestly claimed that victims are only entitled to $750 in aid, when in reality that is just the start of federal benefits.

FEMA can provide assistance for victims of Hurricane Helene, but chronic underfunding and climate change, not undocumented migrants, threaten future aid availability

In addition to FEMA providing residents of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia with “a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies,” victims can also qualify for “disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property.” After visiting the wreckage in Georgia, Harris reiterated that “FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel costs.” [The White House, 10/2/24, 10/2/24]

After President Joe Biden signed a stopgap spending bill in September, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA can properly respond to Helene recovery efforts. FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargués said that FEMA is in a “good position” to respond to Hurricane Helene relief efforts after the agency received $20.3 billion under the spending bill. Biden has suggested bringing lawmakers back to Washington to provide additional funding for disaster relief, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has claimed “there’s no necessity for Congress to come back”. [The New York Times, 9/26/24, 10/2/24; Roll Call, 10/3/24; FEMA, 10/3/24]

Future concerns for FEMA’s funding are attributable to chronic underfunding by Congress and increased costs associated with extreme weather disturbance as a result of climate change, not aid given to undocumented immigrants. Mayorkas warned that FEMA “does not have the funds to make it through the [hurricane] season.” A DHS spokesperson clarified, however, that aid provided to undocumented immigrants through the Shelter and Services Program is “a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams." [The Associated Press, 10/3/24; Axios, 7/14/23; Bipartisan Policy Center, 7/23/24; Newsweek, 10/3/24]

Right-wing media have pushed the cartoonishly false claim that Hurricane Helene survivors are only entitled to $750 in aid, when in fact that the $750 is the beginning.

The right-wing noise machine also dishonestly blamed undocumented immigrants by baselessly accusing them of plundering FEMA funding.

[defensive-tactics]

Praying for everyone who is dealing with the aftermath of Helene. Happy Sunday everyone.

[ausetkmt]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.

Trump’s sudden entrance into the debate and new demands sent Congress spiraling as lawmakers are trying to wrap up work and head home for the holidays. It left Johnson scrambling late into the night at the Capitol trying to engineer a new plan before Friday’s deadline to keep government open.

“Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance said in a statement.

The president-elect made an almost unrealistic proposal that combined some continuation of government funds along with a much more controversial provision to raise the nation’s debt limit — something his own party routinely rejects. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” they wrote.

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports President-elect Donald Trump has sunk a deal to keep the government funded days before a shutdown deadline.

Democrats decried the GOP revolt over the stopgap measure, which would have also provided some $100.4 billion in disaster aid to states hammered by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and other natural disasters.

“House Republicans have been ordered to shut down the government and hurt everyday Americans all across this country,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Jeffries said “an agreement is an agreement,” and by backing out of it “the House Republicans “will now own any harm that is visited upon the American people.”

Already, the massive 1,500-page bill was on the verge of collapse, as hard-right conservatives rejected the increased spending. They were egged on by Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk, who rejected the plan almost as soon as it was released.

Rank-and-file lawmakers complained about the extras, which included their first pay raises in more than a decade — a shock after one of the most unproductive, chaotic sessions in modern times.

Even the addition of much-needed disaster aid, some $100.4 billion in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural calamities that ravaged states this year, plus $10 billion in economic assistance for farmers failed to win over the budget-slashing GOP. A number of Republicans had been waiting for Trump to signal whether they should vote yes or no.

“This should not pass,” Musk posted on his social media site X in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

One lawmaker said office phone lines were flooded with calls from constituents

“My phone was ringing off the hook,” said Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

The outcome comes as no surprise for Johnson, who, like other Republican House speakers before him, has been unable to persuade his majority to go along with the routine needs of federal government operations, which they would prefer to slash.

He met behind closed doors late into the night at the Capitol with GOP lawmakers trying to figure out a way out of the bind. Vance joined them until nearly 10 p.m., his young son — in pajamas — in tow.

“We had a productive conversation,” Vance said as he and his son exited the speaker’s office, declining repeated questions about the details.

“We’re in the middle of these negotiations, but I think we’ll be able to solve some problems here.”

It all shows just how hard it will be for Republicans next year, as they seize control of the House, Senate and White House, to unify and lead the nation. And it underscores how much Johnson and the GOP leaders must depend on Trump’s blessing to see any legislative package over the finish line.

Musk, who is heading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, warned, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!”

It’s not an idle threat coming from Musk, the world’s richest man, who helped bankroll Trump’s victory and can easily use his America PAC to make or break political careers.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said this is the problem with “an oligarchy — a handful of wealthy people run everything and everyone is supposed to live in fear of them.”

Senators from both parties were watching from across the Capitol with dismay.

“Is this going to be the norm? Is this going to be how we operate?” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., putting the blame on Johnson.

Democrats, who negotiated the final product with Johnson and Senate GOP leadership, will be expected to provide enough support to help ensure passage, as is often the case on big, bipartisan bills.

“Republicans need to stop playing politics,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

However, Trump’s new demands on the debt limit pose a daunting test for Johnson, who has worked hard to stay close to the president-elect — even texting with Musk and DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy — only to have him turn against his hard-fought plan.

Trump posted later that he was insisting on raising the debt ceiling: “I will fight ’till the end.”

The nation’s debt limit expires 2025 and Trump appears to want the issue off the table before he returns to the White House, a reasonable idea but one that typically is tough to negotiate.

The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though they struck a bipartisan deal that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up costing McCarthy his job.

Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension some 48 hours before a partial government shutdown.

Meanwhile, the bipartisan package that Trump rejected extended existing government programs and services at their current operating levels for a few more months, through March 14, 2025.

The stopgap measure is needed because Congress has failed to pass its annual appropriations bills to fund all the various agencies in the federal government, from the Pentagon to health, welfare, transportation and other routine domestic services.

But the inches-thick bill goes beyond routine funding and tacks on several other measures, including federal funding to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed when struck by a cargo ship. Another provision would transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia, which could potentially lead to a new stadium for the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., called it essentially a junk sandwich, using a swear word.

And then there’s the pay raise.

The bill would have turned off a pay-freeze provision and that could allow a maximum adjustment of 3.8% or $6,600 in 2025, bringing lawmakers’ annual pay to $180,600, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Members of Congress last got a raise in 2009.

[sun-lit-roses]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you for the tags @curator-on-ao3 and @emonydeborah! I apologize for how long it's taken me to respond 💛

I'm so late to this, I have no idea who's already done it. If you haven't yet, please, please consider yourself tagged - and tag me in your response so that I can read your answers! (Actually if you have done it already, also link me so I can read your answers. These are fun questions with bonus fic recs so I'd like to see them all!)

Anyway, I got a little rambly, so I'll put in a cut to not murder anyone's dash 😁

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? 82.

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 397,560.

3. What fandoms do you write for? I've been primarily writing Star Trek (Strange New Worlds and Voyager) lately, with a dash of The Librarians and Leverage.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Fringe Benefits (SNW) - My beloved monument to ridiculousness where I approach the totally canon subject of Chris Pike's horse skills via Number One's hair.

October 2373 (Voyager)- My magnum opus! The one time I've managed to achieve completion of an October prompt list - five of them. In one coherent (ish) fic. Granted, it did take me until December... but the point is that I finished it! It follows a very eventful and occasionally random month aboard the Starship Voyager, where they have to deal with imprisonment, alien attacks, diplomatic meetings, and Kathryn's inability to talk about her feelings.

For the Captain Who Has Everything: A Prixin Story (Voyager) - Look. You can't just give me three delightful misfits for ONLY ONE EPISODE and not expect me to adopt them as my own. SO this is what happened next for the little Good Shepherd flock, where 'what happened next' is shenanigans to set up their Captain with her First Officer as a gesture of gratitude.

Growing Pains (SNW) - Aw, one of my early Chris and Una fics! This is one of the set I wrote while the first season was just airing weekly - hard to believe that was almost two years ago 😲 This one was the aftermath of Una 'I'm just fine-ing' her way into emergency surgery and Chris letting her know that there were things up with which he would not put - top of the list being losing his Number One.

Command Advice (SNW) - Another of the early SNW set! This was my 'spicier' take on the resulting conversation between Chris and Una after she learns about her Where Fun Goes to Die nickname. In one version, they have a very serious conversation about Starfleet principles. In *this* version, they're less serious. Also naked.

5. Do you respond to comments? Yes! Or at least I try. I love and cherish every comment, but I tend to run (very) behind on responding and have to play the game of 'is it weird to reply to a comment this late?'

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? My very first fic ever! Actually I think it might be my only fic with an angsty ending. I guess I got it all out of my system early. That one is Wednesday, a Sanctuary fic where Helen has a very sad day.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Literally everything else. I can't even pick out of my collection of sappiness.

8. Do you get hate on fics? Not really.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yes, there's very little I would not be willing to at least try writing! Up to now I think I've written at least mildly smutty M/F, F/F, and F/M/M sexcapades and/or BDSM. I'm working my way around to some F/F/M for SNW if I could get the three of them to cooperate.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? I think I've only written one crossover and it was for SNW/The Librarians, bringing about a meeting between Eve Baird and Una Chin-Riley, which we would have in a fair and just universe.

Wait, I take that back! I also had a little snippet on Tumblr where Hawkeye, BJ, Jonathan, and Ardeth meet up, because The Mummy/MASH is... certainly a combo. Actually, I think I also had a snippet of Gomez Addams meeting Hawkeye and BJ? What is it about MASH?

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? Also not that I know of.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Kind of? The Discord crowdsourced the plot to a ridiculously hilarious fic and I wrote a bit of it for fun, but I'm not sure if that counts? Co-writing does sound like a good time, though!

14. What’s your all time favorite ship? Voyager! The happiest little ship in the Delta Quadrant 🚀

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? I have a lot of bits and pieces on my hard drive that will never be finished and released into the Ao3 wilds - the plot didn't work out/was barely a plot, I've moved on from the fandom, I was trapped in a fever dream of my nieces playing Frozen on repeat, blacked out, and woke up to 3 chapters dealing with the socio-political ramifications of Elsa decamping and Anna appointing the prince of another land in charge rather than Arendelle's Privy Council. Anyway.

The WIPs I have posted, though, I fully intend to finish at some point! It may take a while and it might not be my original planned ending, but they haunt me. So one day I will have to put them to rest. Possibly with a 2x4, tarp, and shovel.

16. What are your writing strengths? I like to think I'm pretty good at getting into the character's voice. I hope so, at least; I spend a lot of time on it! Also, humor, although that one is objective, of course.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? Commas. Clearly.

Structurally, it varies per fic, but I have a habit of running thin on plot. I start strong at A, want to get to B, but the middle gets kind of wander-y. This also leads to me sometimes stalling mid-project if I get distracted or pulled away - hence my current three WIPs. Though it doesn't help that the past six months have sucked on letting me have much free time.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? If it was short, easy dialogue in Spanish or French I might be able to swing it. Otherwise, I would need to phone a friend.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Sanctuary!

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? This is a hard one. I love them all for different reasons, some of which have more to do with the time I was writing them than with the actual contents. Reluctance was my first multi-chapter fic ever back in the FFN days, so that seems like a pretty good candidate. I learned so much while writing that fic!

[littlesparklight]

Chapter title: The Consequences Chapter: 6/7 Ships: Apollo/Kassandra, Helen/Paris, Helen/Menelaos, Kassandra & Helenos (and others, more minor)

Summary: Helen now has to deal with the aftermath of what the embassy brought, and face what will be the reality for the foreseeable future.

But first, she will deal with Paris.

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

As Major Hurricane Approaches Florida, FEMA Faces Severe Staffing Shortage (NYT) The Federal Emergency Management Agency is running out of staff to deal with the potential devastation of Hurricane Milton as it barrels toward Tampa with wind speeds that have reached 175 miles per hour. As of Monday morning, just 9 percent of FEMA’s personnel, or 1,217 people, were available to respond to the hurricane or other disasters, according to the agency’s daily operations briefing. To put that into context: Over the previous five years, one-quarter of the agency’s staff was available for deployment at this point in the hurricane season. FEMA is stretched not just by the brutal aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people and destroyed sections of western North Carolina. Its staff is also responding to flooding and landslides in Vermont, tornadoes in Kansas, the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby in New York and Georgia and the Watch Fire in Arizona. And those are just the disasters that were declared in the past two weeks.

A Nation of Homebodies (NYT) A recent analysis of census data found that Americans are spending more time at home, and a large part of it alone. The analysis, based on responses to the American Time Use Survey, shows that time spent at home increased by 1 hour 39 minutes a day, or 10 percent, from 2003 through 2022. It’s a trend that rose sharply during the pandemic and had yet to return to more typical levels by 2022—a sign that the pandemic may have hastened a cultural shift already in progress. Years before the first stay-at-home orders were enacted, Americans were already beginning to spend more time at home. “It’s a dramatic shift in our daily lives,” said Patrick Sharkey, a professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton, and the author of the study. “Almost every part of our lives is more likely to take place at home.” As of 2022, time that Americans had once spent outside the home participating in activities like education, eating and drinking, had, to some extent, moved into the home. The largest shift occurred with religious activities: 59 percent occurred at home in 2022, up from 24 percent in 2003.

Dredging the World’s Biggest River (NYT) The world’s largest river is parched. The Amazon River, battered by back-to-back droughts fueled by climate change, is drying up, with some stretches of the mighty waterway dwindling to shallow pools only a few feet deep. Water levels along several sections of the Amazon River, which winds nearly 4,000 miles across South America, fell last month to their lowest level on record, according to figures from the Brazilian Geological Service. The crisis has gridlocked the Amazon, a vital watery superhighway that serves as practically the only way to connect forest communities and move commerce around some of the most remote stretches on the planet. Faced with a situation that shows no sign of abating, Brazil has resorted to an extraordinary measure that might have been unthinkable not too long ago: making the world’s largest river deeper by dredging strategic parts of it.

Ukraine strikes a Russian oil hub (AP) Ukraine’s military said it struck a major oil terminal Monday in Crimea that provides fuel for Russia’s war effort as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war has entered a key phase. Ukraine’s General Staff said on social media that the oil terminal in Feodosia, on the south coast of the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula, has been supplying the Russian army with fuel and that the strike was part of an ongoing effort to “undermine the military and economic potential of the Russian Federation.” Ukraine has increasingly targeted rear areas that are essential for Russia’s onslaught, now deep into its third year. It has developed long-range drones that have hit oil depots and refineries as well as armories.

Below the surface in a ‘new Kashmir,’ anger over repression by India (Washington Post) Shuttered movie theaters are now open, as are new cafes, market roads and sports facilities. Government schools have been renamed after police officers. A train line connecting the Kashmiri capital Srinagar and Delhi is almost ready to open. The Indian flag is everywhere. After decades of violent conflict between separatists and Indian authorities that killed thousands, the Indian government now speaks of a “new Kashmir.” But these snapshots mask a feeling of repression voiced by residents across Kashmir. Since the Indian government revoked the region’s special autonomy in 2019, Kashmiris deemed too vocal or too close to separatists have been fired, jailed or warned to stay silent. After a six-year delay, Kashmir is holding elections for the local legislature. About half of Kashmir’s eligible residents, according to official poll numbers, have cast their votes over the past few weeks. “The establishment interpretation is that they are coming out in such droves because democracy has been restored,” said Siddiq Wahid, a history professor at India’s Shiv Nadar University who is from Kashmir. “Nothing could be further from the truth. The voter turnout is a keen realization of the fact that enough is enough.”

Adoption lawsuit (Foreign Policy) A South Korean woman sued her government, an adoption agency, and an orphanage on Monday over her daughter’s wrongful adoption, saying her then-4-year-old child was sent to the United States in 1976 just months after being kidnapped. The prosecution is seeking $445,000 in damages from Seoul. Han Tae-soon, the mother, was part of an Associated Press investigation detailing how the South Korean government collaborated with adoption agencies and other child services to send around 200,000 children obtained via dubious means overseas. These methods included falsifying paperwork, kidnapping, and removing newborns from their birth parents. Han reunited with her daughter in 2019 through DNA testing.

Beirut airstrikes: collateral damage (BBC) Dr Taghrid Diab does not follow Colonel Avichae Adraee on social media, so she didn’t see the IDF’s spokesman warning when it was posted late on Saturday night. But her daughter did, and she forwarded it to her mother with an urgent question. “Is this your clinic?” Col Adraee sometimes posts evacuation warnings on social media ahead of an Israeli air strike in Lebanon. The posts contain an aerial image with the target building highlighted in red. Dr Diab, a gynaecologist who provides care to hundreds of women in the Beirut suburb of Dahieh, studied the image. She recognised the apartment building directly next door to her clinic, shaded by an ominous red square. She began to cry. “After 30 years of work, I knew my clinic was going be destroyed,” she said. “I felt like my heart was going to explode.” The southern suburb of Beirut has been heavily targeted by Israel, whose military said it had “conducted a series of targeted strikes on a number of weapons storage facilities” belonging to Hezbollah. Dr Diab’s clinic was also destroyed, just as she had feared.

Lebanon’s displaced search for refuge (Washington Post) As the manager at one of Beirut’s top nightclubs, Gaelle Irani is usually preoccupied with booking DJs and taking reservations. Now, she’s in charge of looking after 400 displaced people, converting a venue for revelry into a place of refuge. For her, and hundreds of thousands across Lebanon, life changed overnight last month when a long-simmering border conflict between Hezbollah and Israel exploded into full-on war. Some 1.2 million people—about 20 percent of the population—have been displaced by relentless Israeli airstrikes and an advancing ground invasion. With so many uprooted so rapidly, this fragile state is struggling to cope. The government has set up 973 shelters across the country, housing almost 180,000 people, but most are already at capacity. While some families have been able to afford hotel rooms or apartment rentals, many others have been reduced to squatting in vacant buildings or sleeping in cars and public parks. Skybar, in Beirut’s plush waterfront district, was never meant to be a shelter, but when people began parking nearby and camping out on the pavement, the owners felt obligated to help. “We started off with 70 people, and now we’re around 400,” Irani said.

‘Our whole life is displacement’ (BBC) The UN says 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced by Israel’s retaliation for the Hamas attacks. Foreign reporters are not allowed into the territory and the BBC relies on local journalists to cover the humanitarian crisis. We briefed them with questions for some of the Palestinians we have spoken to in Gaza over the past 12 months: Displacement means uncertainty. Constant fear. Will the child, sent for a bucket of water, come home? Or will they return to find their home flattened, and their family buried under the rubble? These are the questions that haunt Abed-Alrahman’s young widow, Nawara, every day. “There is always shelling and we are always afraid, terrified. I constantly hold my children close and hug them,” she says. The Israel Defense Forces tell people to move to “humanitarian zones”. People flee but often find no safety. In the words of Nawara, there is “no safe place in the Gaza Strip”. Nawara complains of the overflowing sewage in the street. The lack of medical supplies. Like so many in Gaza, with no income, she depends on what food her in-laws or charities can supply.

Sudan's warring sides target local aid volunteers fighting famine (Reuters) Local volunteers who have helped to feed Sudan's most destitute during 17 months of war say attacks against them by the opposing sides are making it difficult to provide life-saving aid amid the world's biggest hunger crisis. Many volunteers have fled under threat of arrest or violence, and communal kitchens they set up in a country where hundreds are estimated to be dying of starvation and hunger-related diseases each day have stopped serving meals for weeks at a time. International humanitarian agencies, which have been unable to get food aid to parts of Sudan at risk of famine, have ramped up support for volunteer aid groups. But that has made them more of a target for RSF looters, 10 of the volunteers told Reuters by phone. "We were safe when the RSF didn't know about the funding," said Gihad Salaheldin, a volunteer who left Khartoum city last year and spoke from Cairo. "They see our kitchens as a source of food." Both sides have also attacked or detained volunteers on suspicion of collaborating with their opponents, a dozen volunteers said.

Costco’s Gold Bars Fly Off Shelves (Bloomberg) Gold’s breathtaking surge this year to repeated record highs hasn’t stopped it from flying off shelves at Costco stores across the US. Costco’s one-stop shopping convenience is bringing gold buying to the masses by offering prices that undercut traditional precious metals dealers and extra rewards for its most loyal customers. A survey of stores across 46 states revealed how hard it is for the retailer to keep its gold products stocked even as prices for the metal continue to climb.

Dutch museum finds beer can artwork in bin (BBC) A Dutch museum had to pick artwork out of the bin after a member of staff thought that the display, which consisted of two empty beer cans, was leftover rubbish. All The Good Times We Spent Together by French artist Alexandre Lavet shows two dented beer cans on the floor. They were exhibited inside the museum’s lift as if left behind by construction workers. But a lift technician thought the art was simply the leftovers of lazy visitors and threw them in the bin. Once a curator spotted that the artwork was missing, staff searched for it and it was found in a bin bag.