#do not talk to me about information security i'm going to start destroying things with hammers

[sentimental-boy]

at this point i would rather have all my money stolen than get a one-time access code sent to my phone every time i log into my bank account on my computer

[gofancyninjaworld]

Meta for the Ninja Arc (so far)

I thought about reviewing the chapters 195-202 (fan numbering), but summarising the action was annoying me, so let's just skip to the good stuff! This arc has been a grower: what it lacks in up-front showiness it makes up for in depth once you take the time to reread and think about it. I'm just going to pick up on a few things.

Recontextualisation

I have been thinking a lot about how much what we make of the information we receive depends on what we already understand [1]. I've written a bit about ONE's use of salience within the story. This arc though, I'm going to talk about recontextualisation and how important it is to be able to look back and understand events and even people anew in the light of new information.

This has been a huge thing for Flashy Flash. Many years ago, he and Sonic sneaked into a forbidden section of their village and saw many strange things that made no sense to them at the time. It's only very recently, after hearing about the enemy that is 'God' and Blast's efforts to counter him (chapter 173) that things started to make sense to him.

It's only after seeing Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame, not as monsters, but as the former security guards who had trounced them for trespassing that 'where' he'd seen the cube before came back to Flashy Flash, as did the significance of the sights they'd seen. And then it all started to fall into place, reinforced by his going back to the Village to find it destroyed in what he had now come to recognise as Blast's signature attack pattern.

Of course, Flashy Flash has terminal Main Character Syndrome, so he's tried to organise things so that he's the one who takes down Empty Void and reaps the accolades. It's kinda backfired but we'll come back to that in a bit.

There's another bit of recontextualisation that is not so explicit but I think is just as important. It's clear that the Tenninto were no match for Flash and that he could have killed them any time. It's also been established that Flash has never hesitated to kill anyone who came after him. It's been his policy after all. So what gives in his sudden rush to mercy?

As the chapters have gone on, it's become clear that Flashy Flash has come to see the Tenninto as fellow victims of Evil Void's dehumanising process intended to turn them into potential vessels for 'God'. Something else that Flashy Flash is probably responding to is that rehabilitating Village members was once Sonic's dream, and there's a part of him that would love nothing more than to help make it happen. Of course, if you point that out to him he'll tell you to stop being stupid.

It's amazing but Flash is outraged at the way he and his fellow victims are seen as things to be used, abused, and discarded as Void pleases, and he's looking to get justice for all of them.

Ah yes, Sonic. It's been clear that Sonic has been a much better friend to Flash than he has to Sonic, and yet, yet it would seem that Sonic is the one person he cares most deeply about: anything bad happening to Sonic would devastate him. He just has a funny way of showing it.

An irresistible vision. To think that in his heart, this is what Flashy Flash most wants.

We hope he comes to do better.

Insight

Let's talk about Sonic now. For many years now I have been hoping that something would happen to shock Sonic out of his futile rounds of attacking Saitama, being beaten by Saitama, training maniacally, attacking Saitama... his world has become very small and circular, like a round circle.

I had fantasised about maybe Genos grabbing him mid-attack and stuffing him into a narratively-convenient bin without so much as breaking stride. Something so outrageous that he could no longer ignore the need for him to change. The webcomic has sidestepped solving this problem by gifting Sonic some magic scrolls and a sword and just not having him cross paths with Saitama again. The manga is tackling the problem head-on.

Something I have loved, loved, loved about ONE is that he hasn't hesitated to give characters what they've earned. There's been enough morons bellyaching about the two not being neck-and-neck in skill like they were in the webcomic. Sonic's not weak in the manga -- Flashy Flash has experienced more battles and has had to struggle and learn more and so he's been able to progress to the point that he's left his friend in the dust.

Translation: The Back Of A Friend I Once Stood Shoulder-to-Shoulder With. There'd have been a lot less bellyaching if the translators had translated this bit.

That's the shock Sonic needed to open his eyes to the stupidity of his actions. More than that shock, seeing what Flashy Flash has been able to achieve has given Sonic the inspiration to strive for, achieve, and surpass what Flash has accomplished. His fire is back in a good way.

More than that though, the disrespectful way in which Sonic was offered more monster cells rather than a more interesting vision peaks to two things, external and internal.

Externally, it speaks to the way that we tend to think that people are only what they first show us while we understand ourselves to be complex creatures with many competing moods and wishes. Empty Void had heard that Sonic had once reached for a monster cell and assumed that he knew the sort of guy Sonic was: someone whose inferiority complex was such that he'd reach for any offer of power. But of course, that's not Sonic. Sonic has been the stubbornest person ever, who has been able to keep his sense of self despite the Village's best efforts. He reached for a monster cell because even the strongest person can despair, at least for a while.

Internally, man, the bleakness of Sonic's life is such that he doesn't have anyone to offer him a nice fresh monster cell and the monster cells must perforce cook themselves to offer themselves to him... he looks to no one and believes in none. That's painful to see.

When we think of how close he and Flash used to be, the bitterness of his mocking the prisoners for depending on each other grows sharper every time we learn a bit more about him. I don't know if he'll ever forgive Flash for betraying him.

Yes, there's a betrayal right on screen now: that of Blast by Empty Void. Blast thought they were in the business of putting God out of business but Void was using him to obtain cubes so as to raise an apostle of God.

Longer Blast: I'm not mad. I'm just very, very, very disappointed.

That said, I'm not going to let Blast off the hook entirely. He has some explaining to do!

Complicity

Blast has a lot of explaining to do. Sure, he's been refreshingly honest about what he's been doing with monster experiments, and his link to 'That Man'.

I have a feeling that Flash has been too quick to absolve Blast of blame.

We know that Blast and Empty Void went back at least 20 years. And yeah, we can just about buy that he didn't know his partner was fixing to betray him. However, given that we know that the Village takes young boys and that there were at least 43 graduating classes before Flashy Flash escaped years ago, that means that the Village had been a thing for at least 50 years. How long has Blast known about Empty Void's activities? Did he turn a blind eye to it? Or was it not a problem until it bit him in the ass? [2] What else is Blast permitting that shouldn't be?

We need answers.

I am very invested in seeing how this arc ends and what else it'll lead to.

Asides

[1] A very neat non-fictional example: this man escaping from his pursuers by lying down and thus changing their understanding of him to 'homeless guy'.

[2] A part of me notes that Blast falling out with Empty Void and beating the shit out of him coincides neatly with the time Blast's son was born. Maybe shit became a bit too real for him to ignore.

[humanoidalien27]

Ancient Magic and Parseltongue

The continuation of the "Pureblood Muggle". I hope you like it as much as the first one.

Content Warning: There is death in this chapter, I apologize.

....

Chapter One

Not Over Yet

      A soft laugh blew air over your ear as you gave a stretch of your paws. "I do like spending days like this," Ominis whispered, nudging against your head. "Me too," you admitted with sleep settling over your mind again. You had chosen an area not far from the castle, but secluded so no one would see a house cat lounging with a leopard. Though you both took the forms of cats, they were vastly different. "It's nice not having worries or years worth of homework to do." He chuckled. "I can imagine." You peaked out from under your lids, seeing him smelling the air as he tensed. "Sebastian's prowling again?" "He's nearby, but I think he's learned his lesson about scaring you while you sleep." You huffed as you moved your head to lay across his paw. "It's his own fault." "Was not. You shouldn't have clawed me that deeply!" His voice drifted your way, getting you to look over seeing the silver fox just before he was tackled by the red one. "You shouldn't have said anything," Anne teased, bouncing away from her brother and sat down next to Natty. "You lose. You owe us a butterbeer." "That's not fair, I was defending myself!" Sebastian looked towards you. "You're helping me buy them." "No, I'm not. I just wanted to relax in the sun. You wanted to play hunter/prey." Poppy raced over, breathing heavily. "Professor Fig," she started almost wheezing, but she said enough. You climbed up to your feet and shifted, getting her to sigh. "Is he hurt?" She shook her head as the Sallow twins, Natty and Ominis shifted. "He needs to talk to you." You didn't wait for more information, before you raced off towards the school, your friends trailing behind you. Your time as animals had given you opportunity to explore the area well and an agility to avoid tripping over vines and branches. Too many things could have gone wrong. The repository, your father, Ominis's parents. It was better to get the information quickly. Fig was waiting at the castle gates with an official looking man and Sharp. "Ah, here she is." You slowed to a walk, noticing their eyes turn to you. "What's this about?" The man you didn't know, clocked your friends, before speaking. "May we speak in private?" "Uh?" Fig gave you a smile, motioning for you to follow. "We can use my office." Sharp stopped your friends from following, which made you look back worriedly, seeing them mirroring it.

      For added security, the man you didn't know placed a spell on the room to prevent people from listening in. "Am I in trouble?" Fig shook his head, a small smile showing on his face. "This man is Richard Jordon, an auror," Sharp mentioned. The man taking it as his que to begin, he took a step towards you. "We're having a problem with a Hamlet, I'm sure you're familiar with, Feldcroft. Specifically in Rookwood castle." Confused, you glanced to Fig. "What does this have to do with me?" "We can't see the cause of the destruction, but I know you can see things others can't. We think you might be able to help us." "Destruction?" "Rookwood castle had been destroyed and sucked up completely. It's eating its way towards the town." Your eyes bugged. "I can definitely see how that's a problem." "I need you to go to that town and stop it if you can. It's protected by aurors right now and they have been able to slow it enough for us to evacuate the towns people." "When do you think it's best to leave?" "As soon as possible. So please, get ready quickly." "I'd like to go with her," Fig said quickly as you headed towards the door. "Very well." When you opened it, you saw three figures outside, hidden by the disillusionment charm. You hurriedly shut the door. "Such nosey friends I have," you teased as you headed down the stairs. "Are you in trouble?" Ominis asked, breaking his spell. "No, there's just an issue in one of the Hamlet's the aurors think I can help with," you answered quickly leading them from the room. "So, they came here to request your help?" Sebastian asked, earning a sharp shushing. "What? This has to be huge. What's really going on?" "I'm going to talk to the keepers. They may have more insight."

       They followed you down. Anne, who hadn't been down in the map chamber, looked around in awe. "I was wondering when we'd see you. Charles told us about the destruction of his castle." "What?!" Sebastian asked stepping closer to see your face. "Sebastian, please. I'm trying to find this out too. I will explain everything." His heckles soothed so you looked to the keepers. "Can our magic go unstable after long periods?" "Not as far as we know, but the magic at Rookwood castle had been tampered with by Ranrock. There's no way of knowing if he missed one and broke it's container," Percival answered. "If it is, I can't imagine the devastation it'll cause." "According to the auror, it's taken Rookwood castle and slowly heading towards Feldcroft," you said, with Sebastian trying to step forward again, but was held back by Anne. "They're taking me there once I'm ready." "What?" Ominis took your other side, his brows pinched. "It's too dangerous." "If I don't go, it'll take out Feldcroft. The aurors are slowing it and have evacuated the town." He made a small noise to let you know he didn't like this idea, but didn't press it. "It does seem ancient magic is the probable cause of the disruption, but we won't know for sure until you visit and tell us," Bakar replied, getting you to sigh and nod. "You're not going alone!" Ominis said, quickly catching your wrist. "This could be a trap as much as it could be ancient magic." "Ominis-" "You already told us where to go. We will go there and wait for you to show up. There's a floo network right outside," Sebastian said as Anne nodded. Grumbling, you nodded. "Fine, meet us in Feldcroft and don't let anyone see or hear you." Ominis squeezed your wrist, before following the twins out of the chamber. "Let's hope none of us get hurt." "Your friends are capable," Nimah replied, smiling at their retreating backs. "Besides, they could be what saves your life in the end. It's best to let these things run their course." You huffed as you turned to leave. "Good luck!" They called after you.

       Richard apperated you and Fig to Feldcroft, seeing a large dome of magic being held by many different aurors, but what was worse was the angry swirl of magic violently thrashing just inside it. "By your expression, I'm guessing they were on point?" Fig asked, grabbing Richard's attention. "Oh, yeah. It's not as bad as Isadora's, but its still substantial." You nearly jumped when you felt a hand slip into yours. "Let's go, but out of safety for the Hamlet, we can only keep the barrier open for a few seconds," Richard said as he led the way towards the large dome. "Do you want me to go with you?" Fig asked, glancing at you. "No. No one should follow me in. There's no guarantee it wouldn't hurt someone who did." Fig nodded, but the hold on your hand tightened, silently defiant. You moved closer, feeling the hand let go. "Alright, ready?" You nodded, taking a deep breath as Richard pointed his wand at the barrier, creating a hole large enough for you to fit through. You moved in, your hair immediately swirling due to the wind the magic was making. You looked back as the barrier closed, Fig's worry made you smile sadly. "I'll be okay." He gave a nod and smiled the best he could as you turned and began towards the crater. You slid down the side, trying to be careful, but you hit into something soft and warm. "Are you okay?" Ominis asked, the disillusionment charm falling, quickly followed by Sebastian and Anne's. "What are you doing in here? Didn't you hear what I said-" "Given what happened last time, I wasn't going to let you come in here alone," Ominis clarified, helping steady you when you slipped on rubble. "And we're just nosey," Sebastian teased, but the smile fell when he saw how terrified you were. "You're turning into a teacher. We can defend ourselves." "I wasn't-" "You came in here thinking you weren't going to survive this, didn't you?" Anne asked, getting both boys to look in your direction. "What?" Ominis asked softly, his voice trembling. "Did you-" "No, not die. But, you can't see the magic that's swirling around our heads. It's strong." Sebastian nodded. "Which is why having back up is important. We can protect you while you do your thing." You couldn't exactly expect the aurors to let them out, it would be devastating. "Fine, but just keep protego at the ready. Please?" Keeping a hold on your hand, Ominis followed you, ready to protect you if needed as the twins trailed behind. You found the mass of magic by a broken repository. With Ominis beside you, Anne on the other and Sebastian at your back, you began to force it back into a cage. The strain making Ominis's hand tighten. The moment you had it enclosing, it exploded, shooting hot air your group, which Anne and Ominis instantly protego-ed. The air became thick, almost painful to breath as Ominis tried to cover your body with his as much as he could. Dust and smoke obscured anything outside the shields. Finally, when everything settled, you saw the repository was gone, but you were in the side of a cave. "Uh? What happened?" Sebastian asked, looking back at you. You shrugged. "This hasn't happened before." "Well, it could have caused it when you sealed the magic. But, let's go tell everyone the good news," Anne said, glancing around. You wanted to point out the magic was gone, but decided to just follow the group out of the cave, seeing no aurors, no Fig and no Hamlet, just a large empty field. "The air smells different," Ominis whispered as he held up his wand. "We don't know either," you admitted once you seen fear replace shock.

       Everything had changed, none of the villages were there anymore as you walked towards Hogwarts. "I've got a bad feeling," Ominis said as you noticed the Quidditch pitch was gone. "You're not the only one," you whispered as you pushed open the door to Hogwarts, seeing it deserted. "Okay?" Sebastian said, drawing the word out. "Where is...everything?" You continued towards the great hall, Ominis freezing for a second. "What's wrong?" "I hear voices, but none I recognize." Taking a deep breath, you pulled the door open, the noise drawing everyone's eyes to your group. Your eyes saw four figures where you've only seen in pictures. "Good lord," you whispered, instinctively taking a step back. "What?" Ominis asked. "We're about to meet Godric, Helga, Rowena and Salazar," you answered softly, as they headed towards you, getting Ominis to tense as you moved back from the door. 

       The four of you stood in front of the four of them. They were watching you closely, taking in your clothes and the snake patches on your robes that were similar to the green on Salazar's. "From a different school?" Godric asked. You nodded, grateful to Natty for telling you so much about her school and hoped they wouldn't question the lie. "From Uganda. Our parents were from here originally and had us out there due to no school. When they heard this one was starting, they transferred us." Salazar looked at each of his companions. "And you just happened to be dressed in robes we haven't given out yet and don't recognize?" "These are the kind of clothes in Uganda. They told us about the patches, they picked the ones they thought we'd be in." "We'll be the judges of that," Salazar replied standing up. "First, I want to know your family status." As if rehearsed, Godric, Helga and Rowena sighed together. "We're all purebloods," Sebastian said quickly. He started hissing, his eyes darting between all of you, his eyes landing on Ominis when he hissed back. Parseltongue, huh? I guess he would want to know that. "Very well, I'll take you in my house." He said that with such a tone that it made you shiver. "Follow me, I'll lead the way."

          You knew where it was, but you were surprised when he walked into it with you. The students waiting wore older style wool robes covering their tunics. "We're way over dressed," Anne whispered as Salazar swooped over to the middle of the room. "Now, to make things clear for our new students and to know what's required of you," he said waving his hand seeing a girl stand up, her eyes glowing green. "The Imperious curse," Anne whispered, horror clearly heard, making you grateful you were too far from the other students for them to hear it. Ominis unconsciously took a step closer to you. "Tell us your name," Salazar said, his voice dripping in venom. "And your blood status." "Amara Apollo. I'm a half blood." Ominis was now pressed into your side. "In this school we only accept purebloods. Your parents will get the message," he said pressing the tip of his wand to the girl's chest, pulling a glittering mist from her. You inhaled, drawing Salazar's attention as your eyes remained glued to her magic now stuck to his wand. He pressed it to his chest, stealing it as his eyes flickered. "Avada Kadavra!" The room flashed green and the girl fell to the floor as the room cheered. Salazar looked around at all the shocked faces of the new students, his eyes landing on you after you had fixed a neutral expression. He smirked as he moved closer. "Clean up this mess." He stopped in front of your group. "You're certainly welcomed in my house. I look forward to watching you grow." He left the common room, making you let out the breath you had been holding, as everyone else moved to go to their dormitory. "Poor girl," Anne whispered once the room was empty. "Why did he say that stuff to you?" Sebastian asked. "Salazar has ancient magic. He stole her magic before killing her." "Great, supercharged psychopath."

......

Next

[historyhermann]

The erasure of records, digitization, and 1990s Hollywood films

Gif of one of the scenes from Hackers (1995)

In the past week, I've watched a number of 1990s Hollywood films, such as Sneakers (1992), Hackers (1995), The Net (1995), and My Fellow Americans (1996), where the "everything's on the computer" state of records, as stated in passing in The Andromeda Strain (1971), has been reached. All of these films share a similar theme: the erasure and change of records (mostly digital), which has an increased relevance as archival institutions continue to digitize more and more of their records, although not everything, as I noted in my post about challenges of archival digitization in late April.

Reprinted from post on my History Hermann WordPress blog and Wayback Machine. Originally posted on May 19, 2019.

Looking at the 1990s films

Let's start with The Net, since it was the first of these films that I watched, computer with bulky hand-held phones and dial-up computers. In this film, Sandra Bullock plays an isolated middle-age White woman (Angela Bassett) who is a "program systems analyst from Los Angeles" who lives most of her life online, talking on chat rooms and ordering pizza. That all changes when she takes a trip to Cessna (before which there is a computer malfunction which screws with flights), Mexico, meets a man who basically seduces her in order to get control of a virus which is on a floppy disk, of all things. This plan fails, however, as she realizes, after literally sleeping with him for some reason, that he wants to kill her, so she gets away in a dingy that crashes on rocks, knocking her unconscious. She wakes up three days later in a hospital and the disk has been destroyed. As she is about to go back into the country, after a record was changed that checked her out of the hotel, she is told to sign a temporary visa document which states that her name is Ruth Marx.

As the movie goes from here, she realizes that her identity has been stolen by an imposter, with the change of records by the villains who want to make profits off their security technology and gain access  to every system possible. With this, the movie is a bit of warning that it is very easy for someone to be digitally erased with so much of our lives online, with which you don't even have to spoil the ending. Clearly there are inept secondary characters (police officers, nurses, and jailers), many of whom, like sole archivist Madame Nu in Attack of the Clones think that records are inviolable and cannot be changed. The partially inept villains are even able to kill a few people, like the  Undersecretary of Defense by falsifying a report saying he has AIDS and a friend of Bullock's character. At one point, she says that "our whole lives are on the computer, and they knew that I could be vanished. They knew that nobody would care and it wouldn't matter." Later she adds to the inept court-appointed lawyer, who believes in the inviolability of the records in that they cannot be tampered with, to defend her from false charges:

Just think about it. Our whole world is sitting there on a computer. It's in the computer. Everything. Your DMV records, your Social Security... your credit cards, your medical history. It's all right there. Everyone is stored. And there's this little electronic shadow on each of us... just begging for somebody to screw with. They've done it to me, and they're gonna do it to you...I'm not Ruth Marx. They invented her. They put her on your computer with my thumbprint.

There were some similar themes in the 1992 film, Sneakers, which starred Robert Redford. The film focuses around attempts to create a black box which would crack American codes, allowing access to any American security system. In the process, a team tries to steal the box back and one of the characters purchases blueprints from the county recorders office for $50.00, leading the movie to be cited as an example of "the use and portrayal of records in film." [1] With the information from the county recorder's office, and their own observations, they are able to break-in to the company of the villain and get the box, but before it is handed to the NSA of the characters removes the main processing chip.

There is more than that. Redford's character is basically a hacker, as was his friend Cosmo (who is the film's villain) who was arrested and thrown into prison for computer crimes. The black box has a similar power to malicious code in The Net. Again, the focus is that records can easily be changed, or in the case of this movie, mimicked, to certain ends. Like the previously mentioned film, the cast is mostly White, but a bit more diverse in that they have a former Black CIA agent on the team of the "heroes."

There's one other film which has similar themes: Hackers, which features Angelina Jolie in a starring role. It focuses on a group of teen hackers who work to take down a villain who wants to sink a few oil tankers while getting wealthy in the process. In this "cult classic" film, as some places call it, there are computers running on dial-up (like in The Net), huge portable phones, people in some of the nerdiest clothes ever, and moving of information around on...floppy disks! In fact, the virus itself is on a floppy disk.

The altering of records is a key part of this film as well, as the villain alters criminal records of the male protagonist and his mother to list them as criminals, blackmailing him to give up the floppy disk. In the end, this group of hackers, all men except Angelina Jolie's character, and all White except one kid with dreadlocks, sets out to take down the servers of the villain's mega-corporation,  succeeding thanks to help from two Japanese hackers and their subsequent "electronic army" of hackers. Somehow they basically get off from their prison sentence thanks to a television broadcast from one of the hackers, which seems strange as he could be utterly lying. As with most movies of this nature, the plot doesn't always completely add up.

Finally, there is a bit of an outlier: the 1996 film, My Fellow Americans. This is perhaps the most hokey film of all, although archives is a main part of this film. Ex-Presidents, played by James Garner and Jack Lemmon, discover a scandal in the current administration. Lemmon discovers that conspirators have altered his official records, at his presidential library archival vault, in order to "erase traces of a meeting." At another time, Mark Lowethal's character goes to the National Archives, finding that the presidential appointment log does not show this meeting. [2] It turns out the culprit behind these changes is the current sitting present, the former vice-president, with his chief of staff being the one whom "doctored the Archives log and the log in Kramer's library."

In this case, the film does not involve the changing of a digital record but only the changing of a paper record. Still, this has a similar theme to the other three movies in that records can be doctored, manipulated, and changed to the benefit of certain individuals. Although, this can be, at times, easier to do with digital records than with paper records. I would also say the theme that records can be changed, erased, or rewritten follows through the Halt and Catch Fire series, along with shows like Mr. Robot, going into its last season this coming fall.

Why do these films matter?

"If  I  could take  all the  things  that  I  am, all the  feelings  I  have, all the  things  that  I  want,  and somehow  get  them  on a  computer  card, you would be  the  answer. I  don't  know  why  or  how  you've  come  along at this  particular  point  in my  life. See, that's  the  magic part. I'm  not  gonna  let  you  go."- Dr. Sidney Schaefer talks to his girlfriend (who ends up being one of the people who is spying on him) in The President's Analyst, a 1967 film

They matter because more and more of the records held by archival institutions are digital, specifically "born-digital" (like tweets, Facebook posts). Of course, they are a bit dated, as they came out between 1992 and 1996. However, the point that records can be changed and manipulated should be considered. There should be measures in place to make sure that the records, especially digital records, are not tampered with. Perhaps this would require fixity checks, but also could necessitate rules on the usage of records themselves.

At the same time, the archives themselves should not be like the dark and haunting Thatcher Memorial Library in Citizen Kane, which has what some have described as having one of the world's meanest archivists, played by Georgia Backus, with hair up in a bun "and an intimidating stare on her face, a real dragon lady at the gates of knowledge." This is not the type of archives you want to go to! This is not the image which should be projected. [3]

What I have said so far is only scratching the surface. These 1990s movies have standing importance because born-digital files which are entering archives across the world, like some in New Zealand, include "photos, radio broadcasts and documents," requiring appropriate workflows. Margot Note, a prolific writer in this field, described that as a former lone arranger who directed all archival management at an organization she launched a project to digitize a set of records, creating digital surrogates of 2,000 of the collection's best images, adding that such surrogates are superior to past formats like microfilm since they can be delivered through networks "offering enhanced access to simultaneous users around the world." In the same article she advocated the importance of digital collections, saying they grant "valuable remote access to the information contained within the original records" if they are created within the appropriate archival infrastructure, with metadata and search functionality, indexing. She adds that digital collections of archival records can not only provide for "multiple points of access and enhanced image details" but it can allow for more in-depth study than analog originals, increase interest in items which have often been ignored,and it can also act as "an advocacy tool for an archives." She also argues that different types of digital surrogates of records can be created, either for web display, storage, or print reproduction. She ends by saying that while "electronic copies suffer no degradation through the duplication process," a copy of a digital photograph is "indistinguishable from its source" meaning that the "original" loses its meaning, and that with digitized images, "researchers risk losing information that enables them to understand how the image was accessed and how its physicality changed over time." As such, there should be efforts to limit or eliminate such a loss.

But there is another aspect to archival records. Librarian Carrie Wade argued back in December 2018 that information is political with information loss affected by federal funding decisions of research repositories ruining the work of professionals. Similarly in the case of archivists, they should not be completely neutral not only because who "we elect impacts our ability to do our jobs well and the access that people have to information," as she argues, but they literally cannot be neutral as they are human beings with viewpoints, emotions, and thoughts of their own.  Building upon this, there are clear archival silences or "gaps in the archival record," with these silences "created and enforced within archives" as a result of practices that are  "central to the work of archivists." Digital records, whether born-digital, like social media posts, or digitized paper records, can help bridge this gap. After all, paper or analog records can be digitized in ways that allows access to them through online channels while originals are restricted.

All of this is relevant to the 1990s films I referenced in the first half of this post, as it requires having effective records management programs. The policies regarding records not only in Hackers and The Net, or even My Fellow Americans and Attack of the Clones were clearly outdated, and should be taken as a warning to have correct policies. This also requires taking into account challenges with capturing resources that are born-digital and making it available, effectively curating this information for the user. Furthermore this is important as a major trend in libraries is collection of data to prove their value even though this has its downsides especially when it comes to ethical concerns with data mining and big data, even though this can be useful. At the same time, how material is defined for easy access is a challenge "to every content owner," as is choosing the right metadata, with "important detail work" in this process. The same is the case for finding more "accessible ways for people to find and scan content" and ways to share these "images with your target audience." [4]

Concluding words

All of this ties back, of course, to the classic animated sitcom, Futurama, with its mentions of "technical support," CDs, CD players/CD racks, and floppy disks (some of which are 15-inch). In fact, in one episode, "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back" (season 2, episode 15), the last half of the episode is about going into the central bureaucracy to get back a disk with Bender's brain on it, which is floppy disk. Others mention existing government records, databases, a record vault (safe  box) and an arrest record. In one episode Fry even declares to Bender that "I'm not a robot like you! I don't like having disks crammed into me" while in another he downloads "a celebrity from the Internet" from a parody of Napster, which is kidnapping celebrities and illegally copying them, with the "backup disk" being a floppy disk. Others focus on big data and concentration of information, digital cameras and operating systems.

I mention all of this because it shows the relevance of record erasure, digital archives, digitization, and the changing digital environment. This requires of course that you don't have "unauthorized data access" like Fry accessing the computer connected to the brain spawn. In the end, while these 1990s Hollywood movies are dated in various ways and problematic in others, they still have relevance connected to present developments of archival institutions in response to new technologies and making records more accessible to online users.

© 2019-2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

Notes

[1] Kyle Neill, Senior Archivist of the Peel Art Gallery Museum & Archives also argues that there are archival themes in The Dark Knight (2008), The Avengers (1998), Chinatown (1974), and Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy (2011).

[2] This reminds me of a major plot point in Thrill Seekers, a 1999 TV movie, where the protagonist finds out that there are people who travel in time (from the future) to disasters and serve as tourists, disgustingly watching people die. In the process, the researcher on staff at a local newspaper, a bit like a records clerk, has databases of newspapers on her computer, which he searches to find information, which she lets him use even though she just met him (not good records management). Ultimately she says that she will go to the National Archives to find the original images, proving that he was not lying about the time travelers. Later, the protagonist goes back and time and saves her. But, I thought I'd just mention this, as the fact she is a bit of a records clerk brings in line with the records clerks in Erin Brocovitch (2000) and Chinatown (1974). The former has a clerk who flirts with a law firm filing clerk (Erin Brocovitch) who uncovers wrongdoings of a water utility company on her three visits to the records office of the Regional Water Board, letting her into "a records storage area, piled high with files, papers and binders, where she proceeds to copy water records," allowing her to complete her work. The latter has a sullen young man who does not like his job, grudgingly providing assistance, with Jack Nicholson's character "tearing out part of a page from a record book by covering the noise with a cough" after he is told he cannot check out the volume.This clerk, as one reviewer puts it, has "a well crafted scene presenting a stereotypical records keeper" with the clerk/archivist as "an impatient, unhelpful civil servant guarding over his records domain who treats the public as trespassers" while the "records are in long aisles in bound volumes." Some have compared Erin Brocovitch to another film with records as central, specifically A Civil Action (1998).

[3] The same goes for Hollywood images of old archivists like in Vampires (1998) where the church archivist is introduced, a "slight, bearded man with glasses" whom is sent along on a quest," in They Might Be Giants (1971) where a wealthy lawyer, who thinks he is Sherlock Holmes, teams up with a psychiatrist "to try to rid the world of evil" and in the process, one person plays an aged archivist who, despite his problems, "does come across as the sanest person in the movie and he finds clues to track down Moriarity," or in Amityville II: The Possession (1982) when a father uses a local archives to find out about a hosue causing trouble for his family, and in the process he is helped by an elderly archivist, a person who says "I've worked here for 25 years." There are other mentions of archives, but without archivists in Arlington Road (1998), Batman Begins (2005), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Broken Lullaby (1994), GoldenEye (1995), Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (aka Doppelganger) (1969), L.A. Confidential (1997), Message in a Bottle (1999), Ninth Gate (1999), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2017), Secret Nation (1991) [Canadian film], Shooting the Past (1999), Smila's Sense of Snow (1997), The Dark Knight (2008), The Name of the Rose (1986), The Phantom (1996), and The Shadow (1994). Also, there are said to be flirtatious archivists in Carolina Skeletons (1991) and Just Cause (1995), along with helpful ones (either initially or ultimately) in Cloud Atlas (2012), Deceived (1991), Quatermass and the Pitt (1967), The Fugitive (1993), and The Mask of Dimitrios (1944). There are also a number of films which have archivists in the background: Charlton-Brown of the F.O. (1959), Macaroni (1986), Red (2010), Ridicule (1996), Rollerball (1975), and The Age of Stupid (2009), and those that are said to have nasty or mean archivists: Blade (1998), In the Name of the Father (1993), Scream 3 (2000), The Nasty Girl [Das Schreckliche Madchen] (1990), and The Watermelon Woman (1996). Please, do not constitute this as an endorsement of any of these films, as likely they are mostly terrible.

[4] Also see articles about how libraries lead with digital skills and a cryptic finding aid.

[walkingstackofbooks]

DS9 3x13 Life Support thoughts (I'm re-watching, so there may be future spoilers)

Unlucky 13 indeed...

"In fact I was thinking of cancelling them." Jake's so sweet :3

What else do you eat in a Klingon restaurant apart from gagh? Clearly I am uneducated in Klingon cuisine

"Move! Move!" Is it always like this, living on a space station? Always interesting to see things happening from a civilian pov

Odo informing Kira <3

Her unhappy little pacing :( 💔

This is such a serious scene but I cannot take the doctors seriously ever in those red surgical costumes

Julian's face of bad news is just something so important to me

Wait Bareil's dead? I thought this episode was about keeping him alive?

"I did everything I could." "I know you did." My heart...

"I appreciate your concern but I'll grieve in my own way in my own time." The way her voice is cracking.. this scene just destroyed me

"We're ready to begin the autopsy, Doctor." ... the way he just stands there

"You say that so calmly, but it's not every doctor that can lose a patient and then has him back on his feet in a few weeks." Sisko sounds so proud and impressed <3

"Well, I and the Prophets, were lucky..." :3

"And I am grateful you were not yet taken from us, Vedek Bareil." YOU'LL FORCE HIM TO DIE SOON, WINN. SHUT UP.

"So, are we going to be playing springball next month?" Kira being so pleased to see him is breaking my heart. It's not fair.

Jake being so nervous to tell Nog he's skipping on their plans but Nog being immediately like nah dating is more important. He's a good friend :3

Ohhhh, nope, he just wants to have a date too, welp

"Just promise me you won't do anything to embarrass me." Oh no, it's this episode

Julian coming in looking grim and glaring daggers at Winn

Oh. Bad news.

"In your condition, it could even be fatal." "But it would allow me to function normally for the next few days?" Dammit, Bareil, don;t choose this

Ohhh, Julian. He has such a troubled face <3

"There are no Bajoran prisoners." HAH, a likely story

Detainees? What happened to swift Cardassian justice?

"What... sort of property?" (This space station for instance?) This is the right question to ask

I don't think the Cardassians are doing this in good faith...

"He's up to something." For once, Winn, I agree with you!

"If he dies, then peace with Cardassia dies with him." Sisko's eye roll at that was impressive

Ughhhh Nog is horrible

Pause pause pause. I can't watch this scene.

Nooooo. The second hand embarrassment for Jake is too real.

I know they eventually grow and get past this but this is so awful agggghgh

Okay. Let's go again.

Those girls did the right thing. Proud of them for standing up for themselves.

"His attention has been wandering. He's in pain. Give him more of the drug." You horrible, horrible woman. You don't care about him one whit.

"Now, you can either leave here willingly or I'll call security and have you thrown out." "You won't need to call them. I'll do it myself." KIRA <3 <3 <3 Please bodily throw this woman out of your station.

"Put yourself in the hands of the Prophets, Bareil. They will not forsake you." YOU MANIPULATIVE WOMAN I HATE YOU

I mean, it is very much Bareil's choice it seems and not just Winn forcing him herself, but she should have SOMEONE who is capable of doing the role Bareil was playing rather than having to run him to his death

"He should be awake within the hour. Oh, good. There are still several points I have to discuss with him before the next negotiating session." Your oh good should be followed with concern for his health not satisfaction you can keep politicking with him!

"I want you to tell him that you don't need him." Julian is just so good

"Now, if that's a lie, then so be it." "That doesn't sound like a Starfleet officer." "I'm a doctor first."

Sisko being a good dad <3 Telling Jake to talk this through and recognising how important Nog is to him.

"Do the surgery, Julian. Let him finish what he started." Oh Kira, I'm sorry you're in such a difficult position <3 You're doing great, sweetie <3

"I want to be arrested." XD Odo's face of confusion is marvellous

Odo is enjoying this way too much

"When you touch me it doesn't seem real." Oh Kira. how do you cope with something like this?

His out of touch acting is sure something

"I guess I just forgot you're a Ferengi." "You forgot? To most people, the lobes are a dead giveaway." XD This episode being saturated with these two's nonsense sure is something

I really like the moral of respecting each other's differences, and that humans aren't automatically right and better, but in this particular episode it's also kind of icky.... It's taken me a while to put my finger on it, but I don't think humans should have to respect the ferengi's misogyny, just because it's their culture. Your right to have your traditions respected ends when your traditions hurt or harm other beings.

"Great, so we both disgust each other." XD

"I don't want to lose you as s friend." awwww

"Now can we get out of here?" "Sure. Odo? Odo? He's just playing around. Odo!" Do you boys even know Odo? XD

I'm glad the treaty was signed at least. I've been so worried his death would be for nothing.

"I can't imagine what I've done deserves celebration." Oh, my love. you're too good.

Jadzia hugging him :3 He should get more hugs. Look at his lil face

"Kai Winn, allow me to introduce Kai Winn." "I don't understand." "In honour of the occasion, I've named my latest creation after you." I really can't guess how she'll feel about that.

"I won't remove whatever last shred of humanity Bareil has left." I wonder how close this hits with his own feelings of not being human due to his augmentations?

"Sure. You've got your peace treaty, your place in history. You don't need Bareil anymore." SAY IT, KIRA. GO FOR HER

"I share your pain." SHUT UP. The hell you do!

"Julian, you can't give up now. You have to keep going." "Nerys, if I remove the rest of his brain ... He'll be dead. And I'll be the one who killed him." This conversation is KILLING me. These two. Both of you having so many feelings. Oh my darlings <3

"But if we do nothing he'll die." "That's right, he will." I cannot. His voice is just too gentle. I love him

What I don't get is why didn't they ask Bareil while he was still conscious what he would want to do if the other half of his brain failed? I guess Julian probably wouldn't have wanted to risk hearing the request to replace the whole of his brain....

"I just wish we'd had more time for us." 💔 Oh, Kira.

" I realised you were just as confused as the rest of us. You just accepted your confusion better than anyone I've ever known. That's when I realised I loved you."

This episode is just. Feels. I'm crying. Nerys and Julian, my beloveds.

There are quite a few fics about this episode, but this one was just SO good, it read as a completely believable, canonical part 2, and I have to share it.

[the-firebird69]

There's a witness who knows what her son will look like and Dave and Carol knew it too and Mom and Ken and will and Bill but really Mom remembers it very well the others were not allowed near and we're on drugs afterwards they called it when they had children it was a secret weapon. And they came out like our son but he's not their son but Elton John chooses to call him their son because he's trying to help them and his wife he thinks it's from a different clan and doesn't know where that would be and he can't figure it out and does figure it out but the children of theirs would be gigantic like our son and they were they were not as big but pretty close and dangerous as hell and good to train with but they destroyed things quite easily and Mom can fill you in and she's the only one really and she's just become valuable and her name is Camilla she's the vice president of the United States of America and she's half in there or hole it's up to you to decide

Thor Freya

I've been happy to talk about it now I don't want to tell anybody what he looks like is like this guy in the picture and people try to imitate him which is good because it's something these guys like to do but really I don't like talking about it they're a huge their friends but didn't want to see me not too much some love me said we can't keep talking but we move on and said you're my grandma and we love you that was pretty big like 14 ft but they're always a little bigger okay

Camilla and I need to find my other half turns out that Chrissy was hit like me I felt bad and I tried helping her and she said I can't get help from you it's making it worse and it was

This sucks he's going to be gigantic we can't get that big and Brad says he knows how and that he helped him figure it out and that's one reason why I got so much bulk it's from bone marrow and our bone marrow has Prilosec and the rest of us is a security and he's been working on that so we're going to try and pay him for that information

Crissy

I need stuff and standard stuff is welcome these guys are starting making the light cycle and I'm nervous cuz they zoom around me no it's my guys and they're pretty big and they know how to do it and the Prilosec make some small this sucks so damn bad it's such a pain in the ass

Brad

Olympus

[summeroffice]

Latynina Day 541

1:43 Unfortunately, we, you know, have been playing this game for a long time, to believe in illusions, well, it starts from childhood when you believe in the legendary Santa Claus.

6:10 I'm just a supporter of what, I'm a supporter of two things in public discussion. Well, if we are talking about media. I'm a supporter of, first, quality work with non-anonymous sources, that is, you take a speaker, if he's ready to announce certain figures, say, we have analysed, I'm such and such general X, it doesn't matter which side, either United States or Ukraine, I will tell you the numbers, here they are calculated, here's a mathematical analysis, and so on. Then it suits me.

And the second part that I wanted is just the same discussion when you ask painful questions, well, difficult questions and the speaker answers them so that there is no censorship even during the war because today it is impossible to keep information under control taking into account social networks. This, by the way, is one of the key scourges of modern civilisation in my opinion, which will lead to dire consequences along with artificial intellect. Well, while we still have time. Therefore I would like--

Social networks? Mykhailo…

I think social networks are artificial intelligence. In this mixture it seems to me that--

You really almost sound like Putin's security site, they say the same thing.

No, no, no. Look--

I'm joking. I actually agree with you.

Putin's security site says that you can keep under control what is naturally natural. I understand that social networks will no longer be driven back. They will only scale, appear all the time and it would be good for them to compete, there would be some different platforms. It will be so in the end, but nevertheless, taking into account what a social network is, for me a social network is always, or rather, very often, a manifestation of incompetence raised to an aggresive tone.

I call this a place of manifestation of gyrostratic complexes, like typical complexes, right, but in this case a gyrostratic complex, a person who cannot competently functionally realise himself somewhere, he necessarily enters social networks. If he's at least a little passionate, that is, he has some kind of tendency to scale some topics and then he will be extremely negative and destructive and accordingly, there will always be some number of people supporting and scaling it, this desire to destroy something, because look, you are doing it wrong, you're generally bad, you are nobody at all and I don't even understand what you are at all, this is how you need to do it.

The most interesting thing is that when you later take these people and offer them, would you like to take responsibility, personally, under your last name and do this work: no, I don't want to, because you are wrong but I will look that you did it. This is what social networks are. But it's not for you and I to regulate it, this is an illusion, an illusion that authoritarian countries always try to implement, this concept of a Big Brother, right. But it's an illusion, even in 1930s, you remember, 1930s and 1940s authoritarian systems did not keep information under control all the time.

10:00 I was very intrigued by the phrase that you invited someone and offered to work. Can you be more specific?

No, I constantly always suggest many people to work, those people who decide for themselves to manifest their painful… By the way, I call social networks a place of manifestation of the painful I. You think that you are better than anyone, right, and you are absolutely right. By the way, I don't remember, in Stanford or where an experiment was conducted where they took a group of 10 people, 2 stripes were drawn on the board, one large and the other shorter, and in this experiment, you remember, if 9 people say they're the same size, then the tenth, 67 or 73 per cent of those people who were tested, I mean those who didn't understand what's going on, they adhered to the position of the majority, right. Although the eyes show them that the stripes are obviously different. Even eyes sometimes let people down.

Therefore, in social networks, about 5-6 per cent probably is real information that really requires a thorough analysis, and the rest is, I emphasise again, the manifestation of painful I, and unfortunately when a person has an overly exaggerated opinion of himself, that is, they don't look at themselves from the side, this is the main problem of modern humanity, it's hard to stand and look from the side, are you really what you think of yourself, according to the requirements of time, and as a rule, people do not want to take a look at themselves, it's easier for them to evaluate others.

And then weak people, you're absolutely right, it's such a circle, we even have a name for it, in Ukraine it's called jackal express, who come into any topic and start to hate a person as cruelly as possible. Basically, this is a feature of social networks.

52:41 People always listen half-heartedly, then begin to misinterpret.

[0aurelion-sol0]

SNK keeps on being amazing. ( A rant that is not really one. )

133.

Just this panel alone is able to confirm everything that I wanted from this manga.

Eren's condition has always been what I suspected.

Ever since he sided with his brother Zeke, who manipulated Marley in attacking Eldia to retrieve the founder and other titans. Something THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO, because they were being pressured by many other countries and were not as powerful as before due to their lack of powerful weapons like the ones in the Middle Eastern Alliance which were able to PIERCE through the fucking Armored Titan.

THIS resulted in the fucking festival and we know what happened then. Dozens of people died including children continuing the cycle of hate that has been started for god knows how long. And Eren WILLINGLY took a part in it because he wanted his actions to be a little easier while he was going to genocide the whole fucking world.

INCLUDING his own island because let's be honest when Eren is done with the Rumbling, destroying every ecosystems. EVERYTHING that keeps a planet alive, his little island won't live for long.

"The ground... It's crying." CHAPTER 131 said by one of the goddamn kids he fucking killed.

Marley is now sure, let's fucking kill all Eldians.

He did his attack on Liberio, he betrayed everyone. Crushing Hange's every possibilities of finding a peaceful way of settling things down after having been hidden MANY useful informations by Eren, Zeke and his group but also the Azumabitos.

Sparking a civil war inside Eldia, leading to an Eldian supremacist group cause let's be honest when Floch killed that Marleyan and than gave his little first king Fritz speech, it was like seeing Hitler all over again and the Klux Klux Klan.

I MEAN... FLOCH OF ALL PEOPLE! A guy who has PTSD after seing dozens of his comrades died, their faces exploded by fucking thrown rocks. He bastardized Erwin's ideologies and no matter how good willing he was, he was just a dead man walking acting like a fool.

He also betrays his own party now, the Jeagerist by allowing the very people they tried to stop the power to stop him. By activating the Rumbling, he also caused the death of Eldians inside the walls as we've been shown with Hitch.

AND THE WORST... destroy every connection he has with his friends. Hurting them, putting them in danger by the very group he created and the Titans.

Oh but that's not all...

He uses the titan the same way Marley did it, with oppression and violence. He is not stopping the cycle of hate, he is continuing it. And it will have repercussions inside the very group of people he tried to defend.

People killed each other inside the walls and they will kill each other without it. Mikasa as shown us that when her parents got murdered and she almost became a slave.

And he killed Hange with these same titans. I don't care if they sacrificed themself. He didn't live up to what he preached. They died and Hange was someone close to him and was concerned with his well being. Maybe it was too late but they also had many other priorities as Hange was commander. They also fell into depression because of their position. One of his mentors and friends, one who tried to talk with him while he was in that cell planning to destroy the world...

talking to himself...

At this point, you know where I'm going with this. We've all suspected it, we all know it. Let's not be blind about it.

Eren is influenced by the Attack Titan. Not Ymir (at least I hope so and I think so), not Kruger and certainly not Grisha.

It's pretty clear now.

I mean Eren's change happens off screen, every time we see him he is completely different from what we used to know of him.

He barely cares about his friend and don't give me the bullcrap of (hE dOeS tHiS fOr tHeM.) If he was he would have secured them and put them in a place where they wouldn't interfere, he would have tried to convince them. HE WOULD HAVE COMMANDED FLOCH NOT TO HURT THEM.

He would have not commited genocide after knowing what it led to with Reiner, Annie and Bertholt.

That's not Eren. And the stupid argument of "hE's aLwAyS bEeN vIoLeNt". That's just bullcrap and it just destroy every bit of beautiful empathy we have seen of him. With Mikasa, Armin and Historia. Levi who he respected a lot.

It just isn't coherent. Every action he does is not coherent since the timeskip.

NOW HE'S CHALLENGING HIS FRIEND ? WTF ?

I mean is no one questionning this, doesn't it seem off from what we've seen of him.

Eren is no strategist BUT... he isn't stupid. Every sane person would know that these actions will not benefit anybody.

But... they still happened.

If we look back again, here is Eren being positive trying to put Armin in a good mood.

The outside world... endless possibilities. It's a man who wonders.

Yet, AT THE RIGHT MOMENT... he has a flashback of Faye. And his face just change.

Isn't it just weird ? Like at the right moment where he can have a positive outlook on thing. NOPE.

And this has been going and going and going...

Here:

Chapter 130.

Eren arrives in Liberio what does he see.

A flashback of his mother's death

I mean it's pretty clear now.

_________________________________________

Eren has been influenced and convinced by the Attack Titan that there's no way out. He's been reliving past memories of his and others, past memories that were traumatic. It put him in a state of depression and dread through 5 FUCKING YEARS. On top of that, he is able to see the future and what he saw will happen and has happened hence his reaction to Sasha's death.

A fucking mental breakdown.

Jesus Christ, I don't know if I've ever cursed that much in my life.

It's impossible to stop what is going to happen, because what is going to happen, needs to happen.

But as we know Sasha is in the afterlife with Erwin, Hange and the others. And we have been confirmed that this is the afterlife. So we have time-travelling, afterlife, 13 years curse, people who can turn into titans, parallel dimensions and Eren who can see through birds.

But the fandom said, no, the prospect of him being manipulated by the Attack Titan is impossible even after knowing it has special abilities.

I MEAN...

Umm... This has happened before. And I saw no one complain.

So why this ?

Is impossible ?

Especially when Eren's whole arc is about questionning his perspective of the world and becoming in control of his violence and rage. Having an agency. HELLOOOO!!!????

What better way of having the main threat of that being the very thing that causes all of his problems and his powers.

Doesn't this remind anyone of anything ?

Yep. The Uprising Arc. And who ? Historia, the girl whose all life, she couldn't act as herself or have any real agency.

Yes, you know the girl whose pregnant and decided to live the rest of her life Little House On The Prairie style. ( I mean I don't think it's her but... that's what it's looking right now. )

And who is a descendent of Ymir Fritz. With too much uncanney similarities between the two.

They could have said the Founder, Eren Jeager or something else but no they said... "It's the Attack Titan."

And it's not Ymir, if she was the one to control Eren. Why wouldn't she free herself on her own if she's able to do that ?

And in 131, she was clearly in a position where she was questionning her choice.

And perhaps she probably tried to stop Eren but the Attack Titan took over him and her. Using her powers as she is the founder.

And now just like Eren, she has no eyes. She is still a slave. Why ? I thought Eren freed her. So ? This is the only logical explanation right now.

I mean when is the last time we saw Eren.

He was sleeping inside his titan in 131. Having a dream about seeing his "sight" of freedom as a kid. And also potentially watching things with birds.

It's just weird. If he was fully in control, the characters wouldn't have questionned it and none of this weird shit would be happening.

He clearly doesn't have a free will.

This requires too much energy and Eren is a normal Eldian, not one of Royal Blood. Being both in Paths, watching this " sight ", communicating, watching with birds, moving his titan which is enormous and the thousands of colossal titans is clearly hard and too dangerous for only one person to do.

Isayama has fooled us all and me in the process.

All this time, it was that goddamn thing pulling the strings. And with the help of Isayama since he is the goddamn author of this series

In chapter 88, we learn the true meaning of Shingeki No Kyojin.

The beauty of the japanese language, as confusing as it is, can be translated by Attack On Titan, at least for us american and western audiences.

( yes because as someone pointed out in the comments, it's a mistranslation but since I don't understand how to give credit by linking because I don't understand how it works, i can't credit. So you can find the person in the comments. DO NOT JUDGE ME, tumblr is not the best place to post sometimes. )

But it's not the Attack on Titan anymore.

It's the Attack Titan.

( piece of shit is it's surname. )

[cheekygreenty]

His Queen - The Darkling x Reader

bitch, I think I outdid myself on this one. I'm shocked I wrote this

He hated the Tsar. He hated himself, but he didn't hate you. How could he of let this happen, he's never been a slave to his emotions. You were married, no, scratch that, you were the Queen for Saint's Sake. The Tsar had made it common knowledge that you didn't belong anywhere but the Grand Palace, in a glittering gown and a jeweled crown upon your always perfect hair sitting in front of a fire sipping on your tea. He wanted you nowhere near the action or actual Palace life. You were merely an accessory to him.

The young and innocent girl raised in nobility, who caught the old bastard's eye by fluttering your eyelashes at him, longing for his person.

Bullshit.

Aleksander could see your repulsion whenever you were in your husband's presence. The longing eyes as you looked at the doors, the shiver that rattled your spine as his sweaty hand gripped yours, or the increasing sadness in your eyes as the months went on. The jewels around your neck glistened, but your eyes didn't. Not anymore.

He had done some digging in the months following the wedding, and rest assured you didn't belong anywhere near the palace. You were scrappy, ready for a fight at all times. There were numerous accounts of you running around villages, fighting your way through pubs and inns. Your parents, the Duke and Duchess, were downright ashamed of you before your big day. You were itching to drop everything and join the First Army the second you had the chance. You were skilled in ways no noble was; you had street smarts.

Then the late Queen died and you were presented on a silver platter to the King, donning all the family jewels that never sit quite right. The King couldn't help himself, the public blamed the grief for his hasty marriage, 'he needed a companion.' But in reality, he saw what he could have and grasped you up the second he had the chance. And now you were stuck here, in a cage with no way out.

Aleksander didn't take a liking to you at the start. All he saw was what the King wanted him to see and for that, he feels tremendous guilt. He thought you to be proper and uptight and spoiled, so when you approached him the first time, franticly asking for advice about a simple state matter that was dropped into your lap by the General himself, he couldn't help but snigger at you and convey news of the stupid Queen to his fellow Grisha.

He didn't know the King treated you like a child or that all of this was new to you. I should've seen it he cursed himself, for the weeks to follow you were the talk of both the Palaces and news spread to camps on the front.

The stupid, young, ditsy girl who couldn't put together a luncheon for Ravka's war heroes was the Queen. Ridiculous.

He believed it too until he had seen you out one night when he couldn't sleep. You were deep in the forest, tending to your black stallion and in what looked like peasant clothing. You had mud on your boots and your hair was messily braided. There was a tatted punching bad tied up on a tree and another person sitting against a log, breathing heavily and clutching his side. Aleksander never made himself known, just blended into the darkness as he did best but continued to watch you eagerly. Only then did he faintly make out your bruised knuckles and the tears in your breeches.

'Again?'

'Saints Y/N no, I've got a way to go and the way you just bruised my ribs, I've a painful journey ahead of me' mused the sitting man.

That night, Aleksander sent out his best Grisha to collect information and asked Genya to tend to you, but you denied yet again (only after asking her to fix up your hands).

Ever since then, Aleksander has been observing you and getting to know you when he could, telling his Grisha it was to gather information since Genya was no longer garnering the Queen's secrets, but he felt drawn to you for whatever reason. You were the best part of his day; whether it was a simple smile sent his way or you rambling about the ways you avoid being followed around the palace, he listened intently and set the shared memories into his brain.

The General was a mystery to you. With his extremely handsome face and confident stances, he mesmerized you to the point of a blank mind. Whenever your eyes met his, it could be in a room of 60 people, rest assured you were right by his side in an instant. You had sought out his presence wherever you went and clung to it while you could.

But the King had made his opinion of the Darkling obvious, and his hatred ran deep. 'He likes to think he rides a horse above everyone else.' 'He's most unnatural.' You didn't care though. As long as he kept himself away from you and just used his words and not actions, you were fine.

You had gathered a particular kindness for late evening walks before bed, silently slipping onto the grounds of his palace, awaiting his companionship. It might have only been 40 minutes out of your day, but it was always better than not seeing him.

Ivan had pointed out that you had an air of hostility around you every time you were in a room with your husband and your heart tended to beat dangerously fast as if you were panicking. So Aleksander attempted to pull you away from him and distract you from the horrid man, and it seemed to work. He grew to like you and would miss your witty humor when he went back to the Little Palace.

Months had passed and he never grew sick of your presence, ironically he craved more of it. He tried to tell himself that you were just a part of his plan, nothing more, but things got even more complicated. He had accidentally mentioned seeing you that night in the forest, and instead of being hostile about it, you told him you enjoyed a fight or two and invited him to join you. That night, after multiple rounds of sparring and hard hits, he kissed you fervently. And again and again, until you both got past the point of going back.

You acknowledged the risk only after it happened and started to panic. You had an affair with the General of the Second Army. He seemed to be in the same state as you. But before you went your separate ways, he held you in his arms and promised it would all be ok. You believed him.

He got back to his chambers that night and his demeanor changed behind the closed doors. He was so mad. He always swore to take what the King loved most and destroy it before his very eyes, but this was a sick joke the Saints played on him. He needed to protect you, get you out of the Tsar's grip, and hide you away from any harm. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep you out of danger's way and he knew it. Why did he let this happen? He knew that whatever your ending may be, you would get hurt, maybe not physically, but definitely emotionally.

You had told him of all the things the King did to you, how he treated you and paraded you around. You begged Aleksander to do something about it, to help you get out of that life and back to your old one, but there was nothing he could do and it broke his heart.

'I wish I could do something Y/N, I truly do, but I am not as powerful as you may think I am. The King is still the King' he had told you, guilt building in him.

He was sitting at his desk in his chambers now, looking out the window feeling fidgety. You were late for your evening walk, like really late. Sure it happened before, but Aleksander had a weird gut feeling that something happened. Maybe the King found out? or maybe you finally realized the magnitude of the situation and came to your senses?

He knew if the King whiffed out a sliver of what was going on with his wife and Aleksander, he would rain hellfire. He was a powerful man, the most powerful man in all of Ravka and there was nothing more dangerous than an embarrassed man's actions.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud noise he hadn't heard in a very long time, followed by the very loud thuds of falling books. The tunnel?

'ALEKSANDER?' your panicked voice reached him and triggered something primal in him. fight or flight. He and his shadows shot up and ran to you but stopped dead in his tracks, the black matter disappearing in on itself. You stood at the entrance to the tunnel, visibly shaking with anger, but that's wasn't the cause of his shock.

'Saints Y/N' He whispered, realization flooding over him like a nasty wave of ice-cold water. Your once ivory white nightgown was drenched in crimson but you were uninjured, it wasn't yours. The huge green Lanstov emerald sitting atop your left hand was smeared in red too, giving it a brown tinge.

'I need to get out of here right now.' You sounded solid and stern, the panic was long gone. The scrappy fighter was back.

Aleksander had always known what to say. But now, he didn't have a single word come to his mind and his body refused to move, he was rendered speechless and useless. This is a nightmare, surely, he prayed.

'Y/N I-I, What happ-'

'Aleksander, unless you want to see my head on a pike by dawn, I suggest you help me' You said as you moved across the room, after closing the tunnel door firmly shut. How does she even know about these tunnels?

'I once heard a drunkard speak of tunnels beneath the palaces, I tried my luck' You said answering his question without even being asked,

Your hands moved quick, shedding yourself of the nightgown and holding it in your hands as you moved to grab his black robe off a chair. Aleksander still stood there, his head whirling with so many thoughts, it debilitated him. He needed her to say it.

'Y/N did you do what I think you did'

'You know I did'

At that moment the doors burst open to reveal Ivan with an alarmed look on his face and his hands raised, ready to jump into action, most likely alerted by the falling books. But he faltered when he saw you, The Queen, covered in blood and holding a bloody nightgown in the most secure room of the Little Palace.

'Great another witness' You huffed and dumped the gown into the fireplace.

'Moi soverenyi, what is the meaning of this?'

'Ivan I wish I could tell you.'

'I killed the King. I have approximately 3 hours before somebody notices him laying in his own blood with his neck slit open' You sighed and sat down, head in your hands. This was the first moment you'd had to process it all, and it was overwhelming, to say the least.

A silence enveloped the room as the fire roared back to life, already having burnt the evidence to a crisp. Aleksander finally came to his senses, moved and grabbed a bowl of water and a cloth.

'Did anybody see you leave?' He asked as he handed you the items to wash your hands of the sticky blood.

'No. I made sure of it. I traveled through the tunnels.'

'And the King? There is no weapon near him?' Ivan interrupted.

Slowly you bent down and pulled a small dagger out of your shoe. Small but sharp.

'Give that to me' Aleksander took it out of your hands and walked out of the room while you continued to scrub the crimson off your hands.

You momentarily looked at Ivan, he didn't look mad or upset. He looked like a soldier.

'Are you not mad your King is dead?' You mused.

'He was not my King'

'That makes two of us' You were done cleaning your hands and moved to clean the ring. Should I burn this too?

'Leave it on. If things go sideways, you can buy your freedom' Aleksander returned. 'Ivan go get 2 horses and pack essentials. Get Genya too. I trust you to keep quiet.'

'Yes Moi soverenyi, Moya tsaritsa' He bowed his head quickly and waltzed out the room.

'Aleksander I'm scared now.....what have I done' You whispered. He took hold of your hand and pulled you into him. He held you tight, not wanting to let go.

'It's going to be ok. I promise. There's a small cottage down south I want you to go to. Ivan will take you. You will be safe. I will right this. I will protect you as I should've done earlier.' He kissed you deeply, letting all of the emotions flow through without the need for words.

'And what then?' You whispered against his lips.

'You be you. Perhaps go to Ketterdam. I feel you belong there... or come back to me when the time is right' He kissed you again, it was sweet and sad. A goodbye kiss. 'I love you, and even though you don't like it, you are my Queen. Forever'

'I love you too' Your hands fisted at his beautiful black kefta as tears dripped off your face.

****

That night you fled, your hair and appearance completely changed. The peasant clothes you felt comfortable in were on your back while the heartrenderer galloped beside you. Os Alta was still asleep as you sped down south, praying to the Saints that leaving Aleksander to deal with your mess was the right decision. That he would be ok too.

Ravka was shaken by the news of their dead King and the missing Queen. Some say she was dead, kidnapped by Fjerdans, and slaughtered mercilessly, others said Kerch merchants had her thrown in the Fold as she refused to give up information.

Either way, Aleksander had made sure you weren't regarded as a murderer and kept his promise to give you a chance to return to the Little Palace, to him.

Also if u can see this fic plz interact with it!! Idk if my tumblr is fixed yet and I need to make sure!!! If u were tagged and it didn’t notify you like last time, plz tell me!!!! 💓💓

Taglist (tell me if u want to be added)

@theonelittleone @searching-for-gallifrey @lostysworld @0-artemis @exo-1204 @staradorned @bookfrog242 @simp-for-ben-barners @keepdaydreamingbb @acciorudolphx

[rp-commandersignas]

Good morning, Commander... I am always happy to see that you're okay. I'm a little down and um, well...So, let me say that your recommendation for getting my friends involved in maintaining the website to support the Hunters worked great and we ended up getting a lot of supporters. It got to the point where we are all supporting the Hunters and educating our fellow humans on how to reduce Maverickism. With some research, we learned that humans provoke Reploids and we can do our part by making everything easier for not just the Hunters but for everybody. So, we started videos online talking about that, put up information and how we can help stuff on our website, you know--just branching out. Well, I'm down because...our website was hacked and thankfully I have a hacker friend but the damage has kind of already been done. Also, we were approached by a gang of angry people when we were giving out our "Reploids Are Friends!" buttons and they called us "traitors" and chased us out of the park.

Me and friends are feeling a little defeated but we won't give up. We're close to our donation goal so look forward to seeing that going to the Hunters, okay? We...*sigh* we will continue spreading peace, too. Thank you.

--female human sympathizer ☮️

Signas frowned a bit when he heard what had happened to her website. Even though her movement was small and peaceful, they were being met with hostility. This was far from the first time he'd seen this sort of scenario play out though. He hoped for her sake that it wouldn't get worse. Signas also wished he could support her website in return, but he had no idea where it was on the net. He would search for it himself when he had the time. For now, he felt the best thing he could do was offer more advice.

"I'm aware there's a stigma around reploids, but it's not often I see it this bad. Your city could have one or more anti-reploid fringe groups in it, but luckily, they don't hold any significant power. You can call the police if they start directly threatening you and your friends or destroying your property. I'm unaware of how reliable the police department of your city is though, or if this is even the case for you."

"You might have already found out about this in your research, but the Maverick Hunters have a public website that tracks the amount of reports we receive. It doesn't show any specifics - only the type of the maverick reported, the crime committed, and the demographics of the parties involved. You can get statistics directly from us and use the site as a source."

"Even though the majority of mavericks out there are infected with the Sigma virus, I still encourage you to help reduce violence between humans as reploids in whatever way you can. We'll be looking forward to receiving that donation as well. Every bit of support we get counts. Make sure the money is being held securely though. If there are people trying to compromise your website, they might try again if they're determined."

--

"...For anyone else listening, I also have a PSA to make." He said, his tone becoming more serious. "Do not intentionally provoke reploids. If you harass them to the point of physical retaliation, not only could you get seriously injured, the both of you will be in legal trouble - the reploid for assaulting a human, and yourself as the instigator. In other words: you will be held responsible for causing an otherwise law-abiding reploid to go maverick. In several states, the reploid can press charges if they chose not to fight back."

[allegra-writes]

"Bad Together"

Part I: Contact

Peter Parker x Reader

Teen and up

Warnings: language, UST.

"Baby, I'm preying on you tonight

Hunt you down, eat you alive

Just like animals"

Animals - Maroon 5

“Hey kid! Rough night? You look like shit…” 

You sighed, turning away from your door to face your neighbour. Had it been anyone else, you would just have given them the finger and gotten inside your apartment. But not her. Not when she could have information for you.

“Gee, thanks Jess! You do know how to sweet talk a girl.” 

The seemingly -deceptively- fragile brunette’s eyeroll could have rivaled your own signature one, as she kicked away from the wall and crossed the hallway in your direction.

“As if sweet talking would work on you…”

Despite your exhaustion and bad mood, you managed to munster a small sad smile as your mind wandered unbidden to another time, to what felt like another life. 

And to a boy with warm brown eyes and even warmer skin. 

"You'd be surprised…"

Jessica raised a questioning eyebrow, but you just shook your head.

"I have your payment, if that's what you're looking for…"

You said, changing the subject. Her face fell, causing your heart to drop to your stomach. You knew that look. The regret in her green eyes, the pity. You knew what she was going to say even before she opened her mouth. It wasn't really surprising after all: fourteen months without any clues, without any new developments or witnesses? She wanted to drop the case.

"Listen, kid-" 

"No" you cut her off, your voice breaking no arguments, "whatever you're going to say, I won't accept it. I pay you, and you keep on looking for my sister. That's how this works. Let's not fuck this beautiful friendship of ours up." 

You added, only partly sarcastic. You were perfectly aware that, as closed off and damaged as you both were, you were probably the closest thing to a friend either of you had. 

And, for her part, Jessica knew that, if she didn't do the dirty work for you, you would be the one crawling up vents and climbing up balconies, sliding your way into seedy bars and even seedier alleys. You were stubborn like that. And truth be told, she had grown a little protective of you.

She pursed her lips, the wheels turning inside her head. 

"Well then," she finally proposed, "What about you pay me when I actually find something worth paying for?"

It took your drowsy brain a moment to process her words. You were ashamed of the moisture that found its way to your eyes, the knot in your throat that didn't allow you to let out anything more than a weak "Jessica" as a reply. But you were too worn out to be able to keep the emotions at bay. It had been too long since anyone had shown you that type of kindness, gratefulness was not something you were used to feeling. 

"I'm not giving up on the case," she promised, "but I'm not taking your money anymore. At least not until I deserve it."

She was telling the truth, you knew her enough to be able to tell that. If anything, she was going to work even harder to try and get the investigation moving.

"Thank you." 

You really meant it.

"Don't mention it” she shrugged, downplaying it, like every good deed she made. "Now get inside and get some sleep. You look dead." 

You did roll your eyes at that, missing her affectionate smirk as you disappeared through the door, muttering a laconic. "Yes, mom."

The darkness and quiet that greeted you inside your apartment felt like a soothing balm to your over stimulated mind, a much needed respite after your long, adrenaline filled evening. That was why you didn't even bother to turn the lights on as you let your backpack fall anywhere on the tile floor, stepping out of your sneakers and pulling your shirt over your head. 

The cold early morning breeze sent goosebumps along your skin, bringing your attention to the open window. 

You froze. You were always very careful not to let any windows open, Hell's Kitchen was a tough neighbourhood for a spoiled cat like your Selina to be out and about. 

A flash of movement at the corner of your eye was all you needed before your senses went haywire again, instinct kicking in as you jumped high in the air to twirl and land a kick to the back of whoever was in your apartment. But the intruder was expecting it, dodging just in time and turning around to block your punch. Getting a hold of your wrist, the dark figure twisted and pulled you forwards until you fell, back flushed against his chest as he wrapped his arms around yours in a vice-like grip, effectively immobilizing you.

"Easy there, Smokey." A way too familiar voice breathed against your ear, "you're going to hurt yourself." 

You stopped struggling against his grasp. Right. Of course it was him.

"Peter?"

His grip grew tighter for a moment, before letting go.

"Hello, Y/N."

Just like that, it all came back to you: The memories you had tried to repress, the feelings you had tried so hard to bury, washing over you like a flood, a tsunami hitting you hard enough to knock the breath out of your lungs once again. As you took an unsteady step away from him, you prayed that Peter hadn't noticed. 

"What are you doing here?"

"Nice place," Peter ignored your question, choosing to casually pace your living room instead. "Bit of a downgrade from the upper west side, though…"

"Fine," you scoffed, turning to him, "you wanna do small talk? Let's do small talk: what’s with the edgelord look?" You pointed at his tar-black suit. 

"Biotech," the suit retracted from his face and head, reminding you of the nanobots suit he used to wear before Dr. Octopus destroyed it. "Do you like it?" 

You shrugged,

"Stark industries?"

He shook his head. 

"Horizon Lab."

Well, that was interesting. You knew the little, independent company owned by one of his ex-girlfriends had helped him manufacture a couple of special suits developed from his very own webs, after his emancipation from the Starks. But you had no idea they had reached such level of refinement, and you had a feeling neither did Fury. 

"You like it?"

"You look… taller," You noted. That wasn't the only difference; his hair was longer, wilder, his shoulders wider, his arms far bigger than you recalled.

"You look exactly the same," he countered, as open as he had always been. "Just as beautiful as I remembered…"

You sighed, tiredly. You didn't have the energy for that — for his charm, his candidness. What was more, you weren't prepared at all. 

No, you weren't prepared for this Peter. Your Peter. Not after what all that Fury had told you…

"What do you want, Peter?"

He leveled you with a look, his whole demeanor changing in the blink of an eye. 

"I could ask you the exact same thing…"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Y/N. Don't play dumb with me, it doesn't suit you." His sudden bluntness surprised you, but it was more along the lines of what Fury had warned you to expect so it didn't completely manage to throw you off. 

You crossed your arms, "I have no idea what you're talking about." 

"Really, now?" Peter took a step forward, towering over you. "You don't? Hanging out at my spots, patrolling my neighbourhood, taking down my thugs?" He enumerated.

"Your thugs?"

"The kingpin is mine," he growled.

"Since when?"

"You fucking know since when!" You tried to hide your flinch at his rising tone, but he must have noticed because a moment later, he was closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, visibly trying to get a hold of himself. 

"I thought Queens was your neighbourhood…" You spoke, trying to diffuse the tension after a couple beats had passed without him moving.

"Yeah, well," he shrugged, opening his eyes, "I relocated."

"So did I…" 

"You did," he smiled. And just like that, he was back at being your Peter. "And you mean to tell me all of this." He pressed a button in his wrist, "isn't to get my attention?" 

A hologram version of Jade's video started to play in front of your impassive eyes. And you might have thought your carefully constructed mask of indifference gave away nothing, but Peter could see right through it. You didn't seem surprised to see the video and that alone was enough proof for him to confirm his theory. 

"Please, Smokey, security footage?" He smirked, "this isn't like you. You aren't this sloppy."

Another click and the video was gone.

"Well, this might come as a surprise to you, but everything isn't always about you." 

"Then what's going on?"

"None of your fucking business!"

Before you could react, the floor disappeared from under your feet, and your back hitted the wall with enough force to rattle the windows. 

"Like hell it isn't," Peter hissed, his weight pinning you upright. "Now tell me, what the fuck did you get yourself into this time?"

As you stared into his stormy eyes, heart racing inside your chest, unsure if the adrenaline coursing through your veins was because of the obvious threat in front of you, or for another reason entirely, you wondered exactly the same. 

Your tongue came out to moist your lips, Peter's dark pupils following the movement.

"It's been over a year," you breathed out, all the fight leaving you. It was too much, his sweet breath fanning over your face, every inch of his hard body pressed up against yours, overpowering you, the slick texture of his new suit against your bare chest… it was intoxicating. You had overestimated yourself. "Why do you even care?"

"I will always care about you," he confessed softly, just as affected by the closeness as you. "I will always want you…"

You closed your eyes, trying to get your erratic heart under control.

"Maybe I don't want you anymore, Peter." 

He pushed you harder against the wall, his forearm against your collarbone to prevent you from moving. 

"Don't do that," he whispered, lips ghosting over yours. "Don't torture me."

"Peter…"

BAM.

You fell to your knees, hard, Peter's body suddenly no longer supporting your weight. 

"Touch her again, and I'll kill you!"

"J-Jess?" 

"Hey, kid. You alright?" Your neighbour barely even spared you a glance over her shoulder as she placed herself between you and a newly irate looking Peter, slowly getting up from the rumble of splinters of wood and shards of glass that used to be your coffee table.

"What are you doing here?" You asked in confusion.

"I heard a noise," she deadpanned, eyes never leaving the dark cladded vigilante. But to your surprise Peter merely raised his hands in surrender, the bulk of his rage vanishing the moment he understood the woman in front of him was only trying to protect you. 

"This isn't what it looks like…" He tried to explain, but Jessica would have none of it.

"Yeah, sure" she scoffed. "Big guy, totally dressed, pinning a half naked girl to the wall in the dark... totally not rapey."

Peter flinched. She was right, he wouldn't believe himself either. 

"Listen, you're Jessica Jones, right?" Recognizing the woman in front of him, suddenly your choice in real state made a lot more sense. "I am- I was," he quickly corrected himself, "Peter Parker. Your friend, Matt Murdock, he knows me… look, I'm not- I'm not a bad guy." 

Even to his ears, he sounded unconvincing.

"Really?" Jess pointed at his black costume, "Cause you definitely look like a bad guy." 

"I… Y/n, help me out here," he threw you a pleading look but Jess moved to the side, blocking you from view.

"Hey, fuckface!" She snapped, drawing Peter's attention back to her, "the only reason I'm not kicking your ass right now is because of Matt. But if I ever see you next to Y/N ever again, I'll break every single bone of your body. Twice. Now get the fuck out of here, before I run out of fucking patience."

"Y/N?"

You sighed, getting up. Away from him, and with Jess there as a boofer between the both of you, you were no longer under the influence and could clearly see exactly how fucked up the situation was.

"I think you should leave, Peter." 

There was a flash of hurt in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a mask of indolence as he squared his jaw and turned away, letting the bio-suit close over his head again.

"I looked for her too, you know?" He admitted, before making his exit through the same window he had come in from.

You had no time to dwell on his words or anything of what had just happened, before Jess was on your face. 

"That was Peter? Your sister's boyfriend, the one you told me I didn't need to investigate?"

You resisted the urge to shrink under her look,

"Yeah…"

"You told me he was harmless. That did not look harmless!"

You couldn't really argue with that, so you didn't. Instead you gestured at her to be quiet, as you reached past her to pick up your phone, your landline phone, the one you had never bothered connecting. 

The one you knew was bugged.

With voice as clear and steady as you were able to manage, you spoke into the mic,

"Contact made. Awaiting further instructions." 

To be continued...

[frecklef0x]

Mass Effect 1: Playthrough Masterpost

At last, I have finished Mass Effect 1!

I have heard some mutuals say they wish they could play it again for the first time, and you kind of can--through me! I’ve been posting little “episodes” of live-tweet-stream-of-consciousness as I play, and now I’ve compiled them into one post to make my life easier.

Anyway, here’s the first one, the rest are under the cut. :)

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode one

My ass looks great in this uniform, first of all

Impaled robo zombies, yikes

Cheap shot, Saren, smh. How will I pass my spectre test now?!

Why does he have robot eyes? Is he like, Geth-Turian? Why? Is he a robo zombie also? Was it the beacon???

Cool beacon nightmares, I'm sure this is fine

This Kaiden guy has implants? ORTEGA?!??!?

"Call me princess again and you'll be picking your teeth up off the floor" lol obliterated

The citadel elevators are very realistic, five minutes of tense silence huh

Ya girl got a PROMOTION and a DOPE SQUAD time to catch a TRAITOR

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode two

First things first, gotta go find the blue scientist to join the gang

This galaxy is HUGE! How many of these places will I actually be able to go?!

Only two friends at a time????? D:

Ah, a distress signal, let's see wha--A DESERT CENTIPEDE NOPE ABORT ABORT

Robo aliens? In MY Theronian mining facility? Its more likely than you think

Running over dudes in my Mako is extremely satisfying tbh

*runs over geth troopers* *runs over geth armature* *runs over geth colossus* ... *backs over geth colossus*

Working elevators in the ancient ruins ✔

Oooooooh man hope this nerd is gay

Wrex, a friend of yours? Nope, not a friend, too murdery

"ShAaaAame about the ruins Shep, sOooOo much collatoral damage, SHEP" stfu Council, "ruthless" was in the resume when you promoted us, 10/10 would shoot lasers through archeological digs again

When Kaiden calls us "ma'am" I am, uh, into it

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode three

Time to talk to the gang! Gotta meet the fam proper

Oh dear seems we got a shmee of racism on board, compatriots

Wow Raina, good foot-in-mouth moment with Wrex there huh...sorry about the eventual extinction of your race, lost this round of Pain Olympics

OH SHIT OH SHIT BLUE HOTTIE BIGENDER? THIS IS NOT A DRILL???

“hi I’m Kaiden wanna hear about my last crush ;)” “hi I’m Liara wanna hear about Asari mating rituals? ;)))” damn we really slidin right into the DMs no chill

Garrus: fuck rules and red tape amiright Raina: oh u right ;)

Guess I’ll actually do a mission now LETS GO LESBIANS LETS GO

Honestly rolling out with Tali and Liara is a mood, squad goals

Raina @ every corporation on Noveria: I would sell you to satan for one(1) corn chip

This reactivation puzzle is some shit

I see some Mistakes were made

We already killing moms at this stage damn BioWare

FUCK FUCK BENEZIA KILLED ME AND I LOST A FUCKTON OF PLAYTIME

THERES LIKE NO AUTOSAVE IN THIS BITCH FUUUUUUUUU

fuck fuck fuck god damn it gotta shoot a bunch of deranged baby bug people again god DAMN IT

Okay we killed Liara’s mom in front of her hope that’s fine

And we let mama bug go free because after talking to Wrex, Raina’s like “this galaxy is a little trigger happy with the genocide, good luck out there bug mama ❤️ be cool please”

I have literally watched the scientist in the hot labs get killed three times now

So far the debreifs with the council have not gone very well

“You let bug mama go?! How many generations until they take over everything???” “My money’s on two :D Place your bets now assholes or stfu :DDD”

Asked Liara if she was okay and she seems pretty Cool With It

I hope to one day return to Noveria and Death Star it into oblivion

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode four

Talked with Tali and this situation with the Geth and the Quarians is giving me an existential crisis

You “inspect” my beautiful ship? You got somethin’ to say about my crew??? Talk shit get hit, bitch I will kill you

Yoooo my old earth gang, yeah what the hell, I’ll help ou—oh nope nvm he’s a xenophobe, you hang him and I’ll shoot his friend in the face, thx for your time

Went to the citadel to finish some assignments, left tasked with twice as many

“dOn’T cUt CoRneRs” fear not dear Kaiden, I have a permit: this piece of paper that says I do what I want

Still with the elevators, I really cannot with this

“You make it all sound so...dangerous...” ;) ;))))))

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode five

Headin’ to Virmire to rendezvous with the Salarian team

A cure for the genophase?!?!?! :D

Oh wait oh no are we for real gonna talk about destroying the cure like Wrex isn’t standing right here omg

SHIT GUYS NO NOT LIKE THIS WREX PLEASE

Phew for a conversation that basically started with guns drawn, it went pretty well... “What Saren has isn’t even a proper cure, he’s just fucking with the Krogans at this point. Are we gonna stand for that? Or are we gonna murder?” “Damn Shep, you right, we gon’ murder”

Okay Ashley, go join the aliens, try not to die

Shadow Team!🎵 tearing through the base 🎶 disabling all the     defenses 🎵 (you gotta sing it to the tune of the Trogdor song)

We free the prisoners!!! :)

We shoot the prisoners??? :(

“Raina? How can you shoot them where they stand?” So it’s more merciful to let them explode? NAH FAM

This scientist is responsible for the mind control stuff? For Benezia? Fine     I’ll let her go but I hope she explodes

We did not learn our lesson concerning beacons I see

Wait if even Saren is worried about his mind control ship does that mean there are larger forces involved here?

Oh. Oh fuck

Ugh Ashley I EXPLICITLY TOLD YOU NOT TO DIE

(so we really never found any info about that genophase cure huh? disappointing)

Oh Seren, you dumb dumb. You absolute fool. Clown man.

When Raina slings Kaiden over her shoulder to carry him to the ship—mmmmmmmmwoooow I am very bisexual

Bruh Raina takes every council call and she disconnects pissed off every time

WAIT I literally just hung up with the council, ASHLEY is DEAD, and Kaiden needs a DTR RIGHT NOW?!?!? Boy, NO, READ THE ROOM

This has been a stressful day

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode six

Shepard will avoid her feelings and go to Faros instead

Seeing Ashley’s figure greyed out and her locker inaccessible makes me sad

Wrex and Garrus, let’s go shoot some geth 💪 

A mind controlling planet—of course!

Shep gets all her renegade points shooting capitalists

Saved, uh, about half the colonists

If I have one more bad acid trip I stg

Oh nope here’s another one

Shep needs a nap

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode seven

Ah, the council. Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.

At least Liara is good at pep talks ;)

Joker, you cockblock

Haha DUDE we airborne, you THOUGHT

Now that I am exiled from the Citadel, guess I’ll run some galactic errands:

o   Killed corporate scientists who though we would rescue them lol

o   Destroyed a bunch of geth camps helping Tali on her pilgrimage

o   Disabled a nuke and killed some pirates

o   Shut down some evil Cerberus experiments

o   And illegally traded information!

Okay time to get back on track

So we may or may not be flying to our doom

OH GOD LIARA LOVES ME!!! RAINA, YOU DISASTER, YOU DID IT AAAAAH ❤️❤️❤️

frecklef0x plays mass effect: (ME1) episode eight

You know what I love? Being murdered by geth armatures

All these Ilos ruins be looking the same

Security panel is only kinda helpful

Oh, luckily I know Prothean now!

“CANNOT BE STOPPED” wow very encouraging, thanks

After that super motivating message and disabling security, its time to go down, down to goblin town

Vigil? Oh word?

My girlfriend is GEEKING out

I knew something what wrong with that fucking Citadel

Vigil: information is power. Also Vigil: What does it matter why they do what they do? All that matters is you stop them

“non-essential” personnel die first, huh? GROSS, VIGIL (gotta be honest that hits different in 2020)

Garrus gets it, I knew we liked that guy

Okay, find conduit, save galaxy, break millennium-old genocide cyle, nbd

Ugh Mako you gotta do me dirty one last time I see, I hate this thing

THE CONDUIT STRAIGHT YEETED MAKO

The citadel robot says we’re doomed : )

This shootout is SO fun, seriously

Saren get it toGETHER

Renegade Raina can kill with a conversation apparently, well done then

Concentrate on the Sovereign—why am I gonna save a council that hates my guts, sorry, but I have a JOB to DO that you ACTIVELY HINDERED

Great, zombie husk Saren, just what I needed as I mull over the possible consequences of my galaxy-altering decision

GO JOKER GO

Humanity-only council seems…questionable. Raina didn’t love the council but this sits wrong. Couldn’t we just appoint a more diverse council, including a human?

Anderson seems like a good enough dude, so…we’ll see.

TIME FOR WAR BOYS, GODDAMN WHAT A GAME

[fangirlings-things]

The Border Control Project [Part. 1]

• ───━━━━─ ● ─━━━━─── •

Fandom: Extraction

Pairing: Tyler Rake x female reader

Summary: you're Tyler's next mission and turns out, you need him more than you want to

Word count: 1.4K

Warnings: curse words, mentions of violence and kidnapping

Based on this imagine

Gif credit: @thoresque

A/N: let me know if you guys want a part 2 or to be tagged like @posiemax asked to (it was sweet, thank youuu). I have many ideas to this series, so let me know what you think!!

Part. 2

Theme song: Shameless, Camila Cabello

Right now I'm shameless

Screaming my lungs out for you

Not afraid to face it

I need you more than I want to

• ───━━━━─ ● ─━━━━─── •

It had been what? Two, maybe three days?

You had lost track of time. After so much time in the dark, it happens. Your mind just washes away and it seems like you're floating in space, with nowhere to go and nothing to do. 

The blindfold in your eyes kept the light away and the restrains in your arms, made your whole body ache. The matress under you was actually soft, but even fluffy clouds could feel like a stone after being kept in the same position for so long. 

Your throat was dry and hurt because of how you had screamed. Screams that were muffled by the gag you had in your mouth. 

Every single spot those men had touched burned like a small fire and threatened to explode you. You were pretty sure you had marks all over. They hadn't been gentle when kidnapping you from the middle of the bloody street. 

You was tired, scared and wanted to leave. Go back to your life. But you knew you couldn't. There was no getting out of there. 

Taking a deep breath you tried to steady your heavy breathing, moving your hands against the restrains, to get maybe just a little more comfortable. Just a little. 

That, was all you could do.

• ───━━━━─ ● ─━━━━─── •

"Something new is up?"

That was the question Tyler had made when he got a call from Nik. It was unexpected, surprising. After what happened in Bangladesh many months ago, he had done a few other jobs, but none of them with her. Now, though, she seemed pretty determined to get him on board of whatever was happening. It intrigued him, made him frown while holding the phone against his left ear. 

He had been laying low since his last mission, the elimination of a target that he completed successfully in Greece. That mission had been fast, too easy. Since that, he had been wasting all the money he got in alcohol and cigarettes. Living each day with the usual boredom of loneliness and headache due to the all the booze. The opportunity to get into some action and do something useful, sounded really good. Truth was, the idea of being fired at excited him, as twisted as it was. 

That and all the cash that Nik said was at stake made him get into a plane two days later and land on Guadalajara, Mexico, where Nik had told them to meet. Now he found himself in the back of a rented apartment in a simple building, located in a poor part of the city. Description was a thing Nik valued a lot, and one of the things that made her so good at her job. The room was filled with people he didn't really know, although some of those faces were familiar from previous jobs. Over tables and armchairs ultimate technology they frequently used on missions had been gathered up, just waiting to be used when the operation began. 

"Listen up people, let's begin" Nik said out loud, bringing all the attention to herself as everyone instantly stopped talking by hearing her voice. She was a natural leader, no doubt about that. Pressing a single button on the control of the projector that had been installed hours before, she made a photo show up there for everyone to see. 

It was the image of a twenty year old girl. She was smiling to the camera as someone took a picture of her and the park she was in. She looked calm, happy. If her image was being shown there though, Tyler knew that something really bad had probably happened to that girl. 

"Her name is (Y/N) (Y/L/N)" Nik said, after taking a step to the side to give everyone on the room a good view of the girl's face. "Her father is a US senator who's been a big name on the Congress for almost ten years" someone whistled, and others nodded in agreement. With only that being said, they already knew it would be a great case to work on. "Four days ago, she was kidnapped here in Guadalajara" she pressed the button again on the control, and a video started playing on the projector. 

It was a security footage obviously, due to the black and white image and low resolution. In it the girl was walking on the street camly, carrying a backpack and wearing headphones. It was late at night, the corner of the footage marked 21:37. She was alone, and there was no one else on the street. That was the perfect opportunity for a kidnapping, Tyler thought to himself, and the response to that came seconds later. 

A van approached the girl suddenly, apparently coming out of nowhere. Stopped by her side and before she could even do anything, the back door was opened and three masked men stormed upon her. She tried to run, but they had no trouble in grabbing her violently by her arms and legs and throw her on the inside of the van, leaving behind only her now destroyed phone. The whole thing happened in less than twenty seconds. No one noticed a thing, no one saw anything. That had been extremely well planned. 

"Do we know who they are?" a guy with glasses Tyler had never seen before asked, analyzing with full attention the video that started playing again in replay. 

"Negative. We couldn't get anything from the security videos and the family doesn't know specifically who could be behind it, but five hours later the Senator recieved a call" as Nik pressed the button again, an audio file started to roll and filled everyone's ears. 

Senator (Y/L/N), we have your lovely daughter. If you don't drop the Border Control Project on the presentation day, she dies. 

And then the robotic adapted voice was gone. That was it. Short, harsh and objective.

"What's the Border Control Project?" Tyler was the one who made the question, before anyone else did the same. With his arms crossed over his chest, his mind was working fast in taking in all the information he was receiving. He knew he would need them in the future. 

"A project created by Senator (Y/L/N) to expand the police activity in the mexican-american border. If this project is approved on the mentioned presentation day, trafficking rotes will be affected, illegal transportations will be extremely lowered" Nik explained, dropping the control on the nearest table with a sight. "Dealers, politicians, traffickers, a lot of people could be behind it"

"So our only approach is to go after the girl herself" Tyler stated firmly, and the others agreed. 

"Yes, we rescue her. And possibly in the meantime, figure out who did this. Senator said he will pay three times more if we do" some of the team members started clapping and Nik rolled her eyes, but had a smile on her lips. They were mercenarys, money was their greatest worry and desire. 

"What was she doing in Mexico?" a middle aged woman with blond straight hair that was in the other end of the room across the australian, was the next one to make a question. 

"She got a six month transfer to the local University. Student exchange happens at least twice a year between Mexico and the United States" Nik answered and then crossed her own arms over her chest. "We start the operation within two days. Tyler will do the field work, were going to give him all the support he needs. Meanwhile, we prepare yourselves. Got it?"

Everyone agreed and started to go to work, opening computers and printing files. Tyler didn't move, just looked around in complete silence. Nik was the one who approached him. 

"You're good with this?" she asked, inspecting his features for any sign of denial. 

He nodded, averting his eyes back to the projector where someone had again projected the picture of the girl smiling. Looking deeply into her eyes, Tyler sighted. 

"I'm gonna need a whole file on her, anything you can find. When I get to her, I have to know or have something that will make her trust me"

He had no doubt. He would find her. 

[i-write-sometimes-blog]

Cold Eyes (Dark Rey x Reader) [Part 17]

Summary: It's time to end this war.

Words: 5K+ (this is long)

A/N: The final chapter it's finally here! It's long so brace yourself, I'll continue this author note at the end. Hope you enjoy it!!

Mustafar seemed more intimidating when viewed from afar, threatening. The bright lava of the always burning oceans and rivers seemed to shine even brighter compared with the dark emptiness of space and hotter than the closest sun. It was deadly place.

Outside the toxic athmopshire of Mustafar a fleet of at least five cruisers guarded the planet, forming on a line, ready to destroy anything that would try to pass through them. 

It was a tired work for some of the soldiers in the First Order ship just to wait around with nothing else to do than look at the vast space before them. Yet following Supreme Leader’s orders they waited, and waited.

And waited.

Until a mysterious ship jumped out of hyperspace. Soon the soldiers, pilots and commanders inside the cruisers recognized the legendary corellian ship that appeared in front of them, accompanied by a few rebel's ships that started blasting as soon and sudden as they appeared. 

"Blast them!" Commander Benndra yelled hearing a ‘Yes sir’ in response followed by the known sound of the big blasters of the ship. Walking fastly towards the console, Commander Benndra pushed a button activating an holo-communicator. Immediately a tiny blue figure formed and showed a woman whose face was hidden almost completely by the black robe. "Supreme Leader"

"What is it, Commander?" Rey hissed.

"You were right, they’re here." Benndra reported. "The ship known as The Millennium Falcon is leading a small fleet of Resistance ships."

The hologram of Rey seemed to smile thought it was rather a grin, a mischievously evil grin.

“They’re so predictable” Rey said. "I want every single one of those ships gone," she commanded "Except the Falcon, the controller must be there, so bring me that ship." 

"Yes, Supreme Leader" Benndra said and as soon as the blue hologram disappeared she turned to look at the captain of the ship. 

“Commander, they’re out of range for the cannons” the captain informed her. Through the big window she saw the rebel's ships retreating. “What do we do?”

"I want a full squad of TIE-fighters out there now!” she yelled with her eyes looking directly at the Falcon.”We can't let them escape."

The ships left the big cruisers at high-speed following the X-Wings that only leaded them more and more away. And while they were chasing them and blasting towards them nobody noticed the small ships that appeared away from the big ships that were already diving into the lava planet in complete silence.

The atmosphere was tensed and that tension only grew bigger as the suffocating heat of Mustafar surrounding you all inside the U-wing full of people. Everyone was nervous, this was a big deal and would meant the end of the galaxy if the plan go south. 

"Alright, here we go.” you heard Poe’s voice over the commlink once you were close to the landing place, he sounded concentrated and serious as he leaded the ships to the safe area you talked to him about. “Blue 7, prepare to land behind those burned trees. We'll cover you."

"Copy, Blue Leader." the young pilot of the ship said, for the corner of your eyes you looked at the cockpit a few feets away, you saw him pulling some levers, everything was ready to land, it was only matter of time until you would had to jump out of this ship.

As the U-wing started it's way down to land you shifted over your seat. There was a hurricane of thoughts inside your head, it was weird to be back on this planet that held so many memories. Memories as cold as the dungeons under the Fortress where you spent many rotations crying in pain. And yet, there were warm memories of a soft burning love that bloomed somehow in this dark place. But there was also the memory of an even warmer fury as dangerous as the boiling lava of Mustafar.

You were afraid this plan wouldn't work out, there were many things that could go wrong. However, your mind was more afraid to meet those yellow eyes again. Rey would be there, you knew face her was a possibility but you hoped not to see her, it would make things way harder than they already were.

And though you felt hurt by her actions you still hoped she'd find the light again, there was still good inside her but there was too much darkness as well, maybe it was too late to get her back after all.

Finn watched the way your body tensed more and more as you got closer to the place.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Y/N." he told you. "This plan will work, I'm sure" Finn assured you and you wished your friend was right.

"Okay, it's time." Poe spoke again and the pilots and the small team of soldiers listener carefully to your leader's words."This for sure it's gonna be hard, we don't even know if would work but this is our only chance," he paused for a moment "and we're definitely not gonna waste it." He chuckled and you couldn't help but smile.

Blaster in hand and the controller in the small bag, you adjusted your lightsaber secure in your hip one last time, Finn insisted you to carry it just in case. 

Sighing you got ready to get out of the ship and as soon as the ship was close to the dark surface the sliding door opened and the small team, formed of a handful rebels, jumped out of the U-wing and rushed to hide into the burned trees that were barely a cover but better than nothing. Only exchanging silently gazes and quiet gestures you moved closer to the Fortress.

Meanwhile, outside the planet the TIE-fighters kept chasing the small group of rebels. Commander Benndra smile grew bigger with every new fallen Resistance ship, there were a couple of them left and the Falcon it’d be just matter of time for her squad to blow it out, hopefully this target would win her a higher rank in the First Order. She was already savoring her victory when the rest of the Resistance fleet jumped out of hyperspace.

And so the battle of Mustafar begun.

"We're in." Finn informed Poe through the comlink once the whole team was safely inside the glossy halls of the First Order headquarters. "Moving to the main pane, now." After waiting for Poe to confirm he looked at you. "Y/N, lead the way."

Your eyes traveled from Finn to the rest of the team, even though they looked nervous they were ready to fight, ready to do whatever it'd take to bring this place to ashes. And as all the members of the Resistance, they had hope in their eyes.

"The controls are in one of the upper levels," you told them "they increased the security so it must be full of troopers. We have to be careful." The team nodded in response and after one last look at them you started your way through the labyrinth of halls you knew like the back of your hand.

The dark side was way stronger than before, you felt it and so did Finn. Something in the air around you just felt out of place, out of balance. The dark had risen consuming even the smallest sign of light in this big fortress.

Everything was going according to plan for both the fleet fighting against the First Order ships and your team getting closer to the target. Everything was going a little too good creating doubts in your mind, voices that seemed to whisper strange things to you. 

When you turned around the corner, the small team found a whole battalion of stormtroopers that started to blast as soon as they noticed the team.

"Y/N, go!" Finn commanded you between shots. "We'll cover you!"

"We'll hold them down, get to the main panel now!" A fierce woman told you.

You rushed down the hall.

"Y/N" Finn yelled making you look back "May the force be with you" and with a last smile you left them behind.

Your footsteps echoed down the dark, empty hallway as you ran, them more you got closer to the control room you felt just how much the dark side of the Force had conquered this place, it felts colder than ever, the voices you once heard sounded louder confusing your thoughts. ‘Concentrate!’ you reminded to yourself, one more hall and you’d be in the control room.

The hallway leaded to a big empty room adorned with big columns and a window that showed the dangerous lava burning outside the building. You stopped by the sound of a familiar voice, immediately searching for a place to hide.

“The rebels found a way in.” General Hux informed as he walked with his hands behind his hands as always. “A small group is fighting in level four, among them is the deserter trooper FN-2187.”

“I see we underestimated the Resistance” Rey’s voice came to your ears unexpected, forming goosebumps all over your skin. “Tell Commander Benndra to forget about the Falcon, she has permission to destroy the whole fleet. The controller is here, they’re trying to get it to the main panel.”

“What about the rebels in level four?” Hux asked.

“I’ll take care of it myself.” she said. From your hiding spot you saw Hux walking out of the big room leaving Rey alone for a quick moment concentrating on the rumour dancing in the air and the feeling of someone watching her.

"It can't be." she murmured turning to look over her shoulders making you flinch. She felt your presence in the Force, she knew you were there maybe since the moment you put a foot in the planet but couldn't believe it until now, so clear, so close.

There was no way you could hide anymore, and though facing her was the very last thing you needed right now, you didn't had much of an option. There was only one way to the control room and it was through her. Sighing you stepped outside your poor hiding spot behind one of the big columns.

Your name fell from her lips almost like gasp when she saw you, unable to believe her eyes, refusing to meet yours. 

"You’re alive.” she mumbled with confusion over her face, she was speechless, just like you standing in the other side of the room.

"Kill her now!" The voices screamed at Rey who couldn't do anything else than look at you. "She's a liar, she will only hurt you again. She's here to destroy everything you've worked for, she brought the enemy with her, she is the enemy." They whispered convincing her confused mind. "Kill her!"

Anger over took her features as her eyes seemed to become even darker, shading the yellow with red. Rey started to walk dangerously slow towards you.

“You were lucky your little friends were here to help you last time,” Rey growled as her hands reached the double sided lightsaber on her hips “but it's just us now.” she turned on her weapon that lighted her face with a bright red light.

Fear spreaded all over your body for a moment watching the saber that once hurt you and thought on escape before she could do it again. However that was a thing you couldn't do, no if you were planning on help the galaxy. This was beyond yourself, you had to do whatever it'd take to save them, even if that meant fighting the woman you loved.

"I don't want to do this, Rey." You spoke for the very first time since the incident in the bridge, searching for your own lightsaber. "But I have to, I can’t let you win and take the whole galaxy down with you.” you held the saber in your hands but didn't power it up. "Please, listen. You can stop this war now and prevent more people from dying. I know you don't want this, I know you, Rey." You told her.

She was the first to attack, forcing you to ignite your weapon to protect yourself from her own.

"You know nothing about me." She grumbled attacking again. "I'm going to finish what I started, I'm going to end with you once and for all." She said already rising her saber again.

Moving around you managed to dodge some of her mortal attacks you discovered how much she had changed from your last battle against her, Rey was stronger, faster, merciless. Guided by the darkest side of the force, too driven by her emotions. 

Panting you tried your very best to hold her accelerated rhythm, swinging your lightsaber desperately from side to side in a pitiful intend to survive while she thrusted over and over again and with a swift move she suddenly had her arms around you and her weapon holding your arms from moving and holding your back close to her chest.

"That's seriously all you got?" She whispered close to your ear, a grin over her features. "No doubt why I defeated you last time, always playing by the rules." 

She always told you to let your emotions give you, use them in your favor, so you gave in to the growing anger in you, you threw  your head back managing to hit her face and free yourself from her grip.

Rey backed off in pain for a moment, she took a hand to her face founding a small cut on her lips that left a trace of her own blood on her fingers.

“Not bad, I trained you well after all.” she said admiring the red liquid on her fingers before looking at you mischievous.  “But you’re gonna regret that.” 

Rey spinned the double sided weapon hitting against your saber aggressively. With all your strength you held her attack feeling the strong pull between the lightsabers close to each other. Rey's lips curved into a wicked smile, enjoying watching you struggling to hold the saber you meet her eyes then, painted with the colors of the wrath and yet there were not sentiments at all in her eyes, not emotions but a terrified coldness, even lifeless they were just empty shells, that was what she had become.

“I gave you too many chances to join me but you betrayed me, and betrayed me again… and again.” she hissed “It’s enough!” 

“You’re right” you growled “It’s enough, Rey” putting your whole strength in one powerful thrust you managed to make her step back, taking the chance you rushed to the other side of the room but not fast enough. The bare tip of one side of her lightsaber reached your back making you cry in pain as the burning weapon traced figures over your back, dreadfully cauterizing your skin. It was just a scratch, yet it was the most painful one you had ever got. It took you a moment to recover from it, whimpering in the cold floor of the fortress.

Her lightsaber also cut the bag that contained the reprogramated controller that fell to the dark floor with a thud.

From the corner of your eyes you caught Rey coming closer, taking her time to contemplate your agony, her features filling with anger and you could swear you heard voices telling her to end you. 

“Oh, Y/N” she started slowly circling around you“You really did hurt me, you hurt me more than anyone have had before” her face was consumed by the anger, she looked like the death herself in her black robes. “You lied to me.” she grumbled “You betrayed me!”

“I did. And I’m sorry.” you told her getting back on your feet “I did some mistakes, I know but I had to. I had to save them from you.” you said, attracting your lightsaber back to your hand with the Force, ready to fight again if it was necessary. “I have to save them.”

Rey’s features seemed to relax for an instant as her expression changed from anger to something close to sadness, hurt crossed her face when she met your eyes.

“You said you love me” she murmured barely audible. Her words took you by surprise for a moment. How could she doubt a thing like that, when you had loved her more than any other person. When you never stopping searching for her and when you stayed with her even when she had became a monster.

“I do” you told her, her eyes widen, it was not the answer she was expecting “I love you, Rey. Since the first day you came into my life, I love you” you added meaning every single word “And I’m tired of this, I’m tired of fighting and I’m sick of this war.”

Your gaze met hers for a moment wishing to see her smile at least one more time as your mind remembered the day you met her, the way she had hope in her eyes. She was still there somewhere inside this yellow eyed woman.

“I don’t want to hurt you, not  anymore.” you announced her turning your lightsaber off and throwing it aside “I’m not going to fight you, Rey. So if you’re gonna kill me do it now. I prefer dying than see the First Order ruling over the galaxy. Than seeing you like this, this is not you, Rey.”

“Stop it!” she growled pointing her weapon in your direction, but her words were meant for the voices in her head more than for you.

“She’s lying. You have to destroy her now. Kill her!”

Confusion invaded her head. The voices of the Sith kept telling her to destroy you, to end with you as they reminded her just how much you had hurt her… but the other side of her, the small beacon of light deep inside her told her not to, it told her to trust you assuring her you loved her just as much as she loved you. There was a chaos inside her that was turning her apart.

“Kill her!”

So she obeyed swinging her saber one more time and you closed your eyes already accepting this was the end.

But nothing happened.

Opening your eyes you found the blade of light inches away from your face and a conflicted Rey, with tears on her eyes, observing you. 

Rey scanned every small detail of your face, from your messy battle hair to your lips remembering the sweetness of them and back to your eyes, where she stopped hypnotized by the way they shined when you looked at her and suddenly she realized she almost extinguished the light in them, she almost killed you… again. She remembered the terrible emptiness she felt without you by her side. She didn’t want a life without you in it, she didn’t want to hurt you, she wanted to protect you, but she feared the grip of the darkness on her was too strong.

“It’s too late.” Rey mumbled with sorrow in her voice.“Soon the Resistance will be gone, your friends are in danger.”

“It’s never too late, Rey,” you said “Never.” she powered off her lightsaber letting you finally step closer to her. Doubting you placed your hand on the side of her face while she cried in silence.

“I’m sorry” Rey sobbed “I should have stop this mess before, I should have never trust in the dark side but it seemed so easy” she regretted “If I hadn’t left the Resistance none of this would have happened.”

She didn’t protest when you pulled her into a hug, she only held you tighter in her arms burying her face in the curve of your neck.

"I'm sorry, there was no other option.”

"There's always other option." You murmured. "It's up to you to have the courage to chose it."

She tilted her head up a little to gaze into your eyes.

"Then I want to end this war now." she said. "I lost you once, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I will keep my promise this time.

A soft smile formed over your lips but immediately faded away by the sound of your comlink.

"Y/N" you heard Finn's voice coming from the small devise in the bag laying on the floor. You let go of Rey to grab it. "Are you there?"

"Finn, what's going on?" You asked taking the comlink.

"Really bad, they're sending reinforcement soon, we don't know how much longer we can hold them" he said and you heard the endless rain of blasters in the back. "The fleet needs help, you gotta hurry." You exchanged gazes with Rey before answering.

"Go. Get out of here" you told him "Get Blue squadron to pick you up, I'll take it from here."

"No, we can't leave-"

"Finn, trust me." You told him and after a quiet moment he spoke again. "Go help the fleet they need you and Poe out there."

"Fine, but we'll get back for you." He said. "Good luck." Then he hanged the call.

Carefully picking up the datapad from the floor Rey handed it to you just as the call ended.

"Let's end this stupid war" she told you and with a last smile you both rushed down the hall, unaware of the eyes of the intruder spying in a dark corner of the room, the eyes of a man that would do anything to gain power, secretly commanding a much stronger kind of soldiers to prevent the rebel and the now traitor Supreme Leader from reaching the control room.

Rey and you stopped in front of a big metal door, the last one before the control room. You were so close to the victory, so close to be finally free, so close to be with her again. It seemed unbelievable how a few minutes you were willing to kill each other but now you were standing side by side waiting for the door to open, it seemed like the old times when you both were sent to small missions, way before she went to Ahch-to to train, before losing her, before all this war. The sight of her calmed you down, and though her was were still tainted with darkness you found tenderness on them, you found love on them.

The sound of heavy footsteps made you flinch and looking over your shoulder you saw a group of unexpected masked warriors coming your way. You recognized their helmets the moment you saw them, knew the group of shadows you had have only seen a few times around the Fortress, often serving as Rey's personal guards and other times in battle ending whatever came their way they were more than trained, knew exactly who they were.

The Knights of Ren.

"Y/N, behind me!" Rey yelled immediately turning her weapon on as the Knights were already sending their first attack that Rey fastly stopped.

The lightsaber in your hand illuminated the room as you got ready to fight again, this time with Rey by your side. Both of you observed how they got dangerously closer you but the scavenger had a different plan in mind.

As soon as  the big, heavy blast door finally opened she looked at you.

"Go to the control room" she told you concentrated. "I'll handle this."

“No way. They’re too many” you said "I’m not letting you alone”

“This is my fault, all of it." Rey said meaning her words "Now it’s time I pay for my actions” 

“No, I'm not gonna- “

She looked at you in the eye, begging you to let her do it. She had hope again on the eyes and light.

“Please, you have to let me make this right” she told you and before you had time to say a thing she used the Force pushing you backwards and closing the heavy metal doors as soon as you were in the other side.

"No!" You screamed hitting the heavy door. "Rey… " you mumbled feeling the lump forming in your throat. You had just got her back, you couldn't lose her again. However there was no time left, you had to get back to the plan otherwise the galaxy would died. So you forced yourself to keep going, trusting Rey would be alright.

Eventually you made it to the control room and rushed to connect the reprogrammed controller to the main panel. After tapping some buttons the codes inside the datapad started to work, just as Admiral Statura said it would. It would be a matter of time until you could properly deactivate the bombs hopefully forever.

"Well, I have to admit you're not as foolish as I thought." you heard a familiar voice saying.

"Hux" you murmured turning to meet his gaze, founding a blaster in the way. 

"And yet, you’ve made the most unintelligent decision by coming back here” he said with a satisfied grin over his face “I certainly have to thank you, Y/N. You brought the Resistance to us, after all.”

“You already lost.” you hissed. Hux chuckled taking a step closer.

“Naive girl, if someone it’s going to lose today, it’s not gonna be us” he told you. “You’re outnumbered, your pathetic fleet it’s going to fall any time now and with that the First Order will finally rule over the galaxy. Congratulations.”

You stared at him with hate, he was a man you disliked since the very first time you met him, someone who you couldn't trust. The real mind behind this whole plan.

You were about to turn on your lightsaber when he shot his blaster aiming to your arm making you drop the weapon in the instant. He rose his voice again, confident of his words.

“I wouldn’t do such stupid thing again.” he warned while you struggled with the pain spreading through your arm. “Now, stop that device.” he ordered threatening you with the blaster in his hand.

“I can’t.” you declared still looking at him in anger.

“You don’t know how to, do you?” he concluded with a smirk. “Then I’m afraid you’re not useful to me. Guess you are indeed foolish after all.” he savored his victory for a moment. “Goodbye, scum.”

General Hux’s eyes widen in surprise as the burning blade crossed his body, a red lightsaber that pierced his body from the back to his chest right across his heart. There was fear on Hux features before the saber turned off and he fell lifeless to the floor revealing the owner of the weapon, Rey was standing there.

“You alright?” she rushed to ask, her eyes focused on the wound of your arm.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” you assured her. “The knights-”

“They’re gone.” she told you. “It’s done?” she said pointing at the datapad on the control panel. You pulled a few levers and when you pressed the last button the little screen showed a message.

Phase Two. Deactivated. System shutted down.

Rey smiled at you reading the message over the screen. You took the comlink.

“It’s done.” you said through the communicator.

“About time.” you heard Poe’s voice. 

“We’re leaving now. Poe, get us a ship and blow this thing as soon as we’re outside.” you added already walking down the dark halls with Rey by your side.

“We?” Poe asked confused. 

“Yes, we. Now get ready!” you said as you kept running towards the exit.

The battle out planet wasn’t as well as planned, the Resistance ships were old compared with the ones of the First Order, however the rebel pilots knew how to use their ships. They were running out of options, that was when Poe came with the idea to use the last bomber to destroy the enemy’s fleet. He just hoped it would work now that you had deactivated the bombs in the planets.

You were a few feets away from the exit of the Fortress when you noticed Rey was not longer running with you, she was rather just standing there in the middle of the hall looking at the floor.

“Rey, come on! This thing’s gonna exploit” you advised her.

“I can’t go back to the Resistance ” Rey spilled full of guilt .“Not after what I’ve done.”

“Nonsense! Come on!” you said taking her wrist and trying to pull her towards the exit but she released from your grip.

“I abandoned the Resistance when they most needed help. I’ve done terrible things to them, I’ve killed many of them. And worst of all, I’ve hurt you, Y/N. ” her voice cracked filled with pain and regret, pure regret. “I can't just show up and pretend nothing ever happened.” you more than anyone knew that feeling, you had been in the same situation a few days ago. Sighing you rose your voice.

“There are going to be consequences,” you murmured “That’s something you can’t avoid, and sure it’s not gonna be easy” softly you placed a hand on the curve of her face, carefully tilting her face to make her look at you “but whatever it is we’ll face it together, I promise. I love you Rey, please come with me.” you pleaded.

Rey doubted for a moment, it was too much process, she had caused  much pain to the galaxy and yet all she wanted was to go with you, whatever place it was as long as it was with you she would follow. She had to keep her promise.

She nodded softly “Okay” she murmured.

With that last word she took your hand and both of you hurried to get out of that dark place that had witnessed the rise and fall of the dark side and after a long time was going to finally fall.

The Falcon was already waiting for you, on the ramp you saw a familiar face extending a friendly hand to help you get inside. Finn was surprised when she found Rey running with you and though he was confused he was glad to know you both were fine. Finn and Rey exchanged gazes, your friend gave her a soft understanding smile while softly nodding, if someone knew how it felt to leave behind the First Order it was him. Once the ramp was closed the Falcon speeded up.

“Poe, now!” Finn yelled through his communicator. From the ship you saw the Fortress explode, sinking into the burning lava that consumed it all turning it into a strange landscape of melted rock. As it melted you felt weightless, the big weight in your shoulders was finally gone, the tensed atmosphere faded away. The voices inside Rey’s head banished too. There was peace.

Balance.

Moving around the Falcon filled with people you felt their eyes staring at you, staring at Rey, they were no happy to see her here and yet nobody said anything.

Once the ship was off the toxic atmosphere of Mustafar you realized there were only remains of the defeated cruisers of the First Order. Poe's plan had worked.

“It’s over” you heard Dameron's voice sounding through the comlink in the ship. He chuckled. “My friends, we won!” he said enthusiastic “We won!” he repeated and you heard the rest of the pilots along with the people in the ship laughing, some of them crying.

It was over.

The war, the endless battles were finally over. All of them were finally safe, finally in peace. The galaxy was safe, ready to start over and so you were.

With all that had happened you couldn't contain the tears pooling in your eyes and the chills spreading over your body. You looked at Finn and wrapped your arms around him as a celebration. He was always there when you needed him most.

Then you turned to Rey all alone watching you from the distance. She gave you a shy smile that melted your heart, carefully pulling her into your embrace you held her close to your body and she held you being careful not to hurt you. The closeness of your body made her own eyes fill with tears that didn't take long to fall over her face.

You backed away just enough to look at her soft features, you found yourself thinking about your journey with Rey it was a long one. From meeting back in the Resistance, to found her in the dark side, to the memories of Mustafar.

Your heart raced when you looked into her eyes only then you noticed her eyes were hazel again, not yellow, softly shining brighter than ever finally free of the grasp of the dark, you were right all along, there was light in her. 'What now?' you asked yourself, sure there were going to be new challenges for both Rey and you but you didn’t worry about it, you had her and that was more than you could had ever ask for.

Leaning in you captured her lips into a soft kiss, you kissed her sweetly, lovingly, enjoying her every move. You were finally together again.

Just when the Falcon jumped into hyperspace you thought of the possibility of a future with Rey, it wouldn't be easy and you knew the darkness would try to come back but you would make sure to make it go away. You broke away and smiled at her, you were willing to take any future as long as you had Rey by your side and you hoped it would be the will of the Force. You hoped for a brighter life, a life full of love, full of life, full of her.

*******

A/N: Well, it's been a wild ride. This story has become an important part of me and it feels weird to know this is the end.

How can I possibly put in words how much this means to me? How much I thank you for taking the time to read my little story? I just want to thank you for all the love and support you gave to this story, I certainly enjoyed writing it and share it with you. I really appreciate you stayed until the end. 💕

I know it's a bit sad that it's over BUT don't worry guys, you're getting an epilogue. Until next time.

The Author.

Tagging: @cpt-bolter , @elvencantation , @jay-birf03 , @x-a-gay-disaster-x , @ridleysjazz , @hstoria , @iamafangirl-fightme , @leilei-draws , @hayley-the-comet , @snoot-snoot-toot , @1-800-depressedlesbian , @empresspalpatinee , @xgaygremlinx , @the-great-imagines-of-1812 , @cyshock

[ephemeralgalaxies]

Loki Ep4 Spoilers below (once more bc I just can't help myself, can I?)

It's been a while since I've had a character as interesting as Mobius to analyze and I have no chill. Spoilers start below:

Also some spoilers for WandaVision but it's been months so hopefully y'all have seen it

TL;DR Mobius really trying to connect back with Loki in order to try and bring the TVA down (and also bc "oops, Loki was right, guess I gotta own up to that bitterness") and it works but it hurts so much. Also see: I can't stop watching this scene over and over trying to understand Mobius' subtle actions bc his reaction here is so different than in all other scenes where he's usually calm or trying to delve deep into Loki's mind for information. Now he's just desperate.

Ok so I know I made a post talking about Mobius' jealousy in that interrogation scene but I also want to touch on when he comes back again after seeing the footage from C-20's interrogation scene bc man is so desperate here and I'm crying

(I'm sorry, I can't get gifs to work for me today so we just using images. But I got these from this post)

Mobius was so hurt last time we saw him, Loki being thrown back into the time cell with Lady Sif, hitting our dear agent with "out of all the liars in this place... you are the biggest... for the [lies] you tell yourself." Mobius has been pushing down all these doubts, hiding all his questions and curiosities of the TVA for a while. He's teased Ravonna, but could never really get anywhere. Then after speaking with Loki about Sylvie, about "you're all variants", Hunter B-15's suspicions, the oddness of C-20's "death" (M:"she was just fine before." R:"well, then she suddenly wasn't fine."). Mobius is finally allowing himself to realize things, to question truly what is going on. (R: "Is that what you wanted to hear?" M: "Yeah, if that's the truth." R: "You've been around Lokis too long.")

In this scene, when he comes back to the time cell for Loki, he's frustrated, he's angry, he's desperate. Everything is a lie. He can't pretend anymore. Loki has bonded with Sylvie (actually caring for another human being without the trauma of Thor: The Dark World and Thor: Ragnarok) ((I'm begging you, pls let him see a variant of Thor in this series and get to bond again, I miss them)). C-20 is likely pruned and gone forever with no answers. B-15 is getting anxious and unfocused. Ravonna is snapping at him and manipulating him with those long speeches (please, Mobius has heard enough from Loki's videos to know when he's being manipulated by fake sentimental words). He's tired, no longer patient enough for all the little quips-- he just need answers. For once in his "life" at the TVA, he just wants the truth. Something to safely hold to.

He's just put Loki through this timeloop of Lady Sif, of someone from home someone that could've been close to him under different circumstances, someone his brother cared about, kicking him/slapping him/ berating him with "you deserve to be alone, and you always will be." Loki's whole "Sacred Timeline Life" marks him to "always be alone", to finally get close to people before being torn away (whether in his own volition or by someone/something else). But with Loki caring for Sylvie, maybe even loving her, this changes everything for this Loki. He could finally care enough to save someone, to go out of his way in order to help others at his own cost. And Mobius knows this.

He asks again, desperate, pleading, hoping. Loki has to believe in himself, has to love himself enough to think to believe that he deserves a family, love, security from his greatest fear. He has to have changed because if not, then he'll either get pruned or wind up just like Mobius. Either way, gone from existence-- life erased, precious memories of "what if", "what once was", obliterated. He has to believe, or it'll happen again and again and again. To everyone, to the whole universe, unless something someone could do the impossible and shatter all reality.

With Wanda (specifically in WandaVision, final episode end credits), with her searching for her children and Vision, attempting the impossible and blending her realities in order to give them life because she needs them, she loves them. (M: "If you really care about [Sylvie]..."). This threat to the Sacred Timeline, pushing closer and closer to the MCU Multiverse, because they have to, because they want to.

(sorry again for bland picture, I love his expression in this gif but it wont load)

Mobius knows Loki is hurting-- from Lady Sif, from his past, from failing to protect Sylvie on his own, from Mobius not believing him and calling him "just a bad friend". He knows Loki could learn to believe, but he doesn't yet. Only Frigga ever told him she believed in him, he needs to hear it again. He needs to know he deserves love because he is loved. Mobius does, "believe, stupidly" (ep2) that Loki has this potential.

When I first saw this scene in the trailers, I was nervous it would be in the context of Mobius trying to get Loki on the TVA's side, "someone good". But here, this is so much better-- he knows the TVA is lying, is manipulating, is destroying lives. (L: "No one bad is every truly bad, and no one good is ever truly good" ep2 again lol). Loki knows he's not "truly good", that he's hurt people-- whether he planned to or not. But he can still be good. He can still choose to love, to care, to believe.

He can be what he's always wanted, what Frigga promised him, what he's always feared. He can be known, be loved, be safe-- Loki doesn't just fear being alone, he fears people choosing to leave him. That's why the memory of Lady Sif instead of Thor reaching for him on the Rainbow Bridge or Thanos threatening the Asgardian refugees or even Odin trying to explain why he "saved" Loki when he fought Loki's homeland. This memory was casual, simple, unnecessary. But it's always the smallest moments that truly impact us the most-- the slight changes.

When Mobius says this to Loki, he freezes-- he's confused, hesitant, scared. No one tells him this, why is someone telling him this, how can I believe this?

And then:

.And the little shrug Mobius gives here

It's so casual, so simple, so nonchalant. He just wants to reassure Loki that he still cares. He just spent a whole interrogation hounding on Loki for finding love with Sylvie, for changing with her (jealous boi be jealous), for lying to him and betraying him (M: "You don't do partners... unless ofc it benefits you and you intend to betray them at some point"). But now, now he's stopped lying to himself. He knows he cares, that Loki has a chance, that they have to burn this place down. Mobius wants stop this from ever happening again, from someone ever having to go through what Loki's gone through, being told they can never be loved because that's just how the Timeline goes. That a kid would be taken away from their family (probably because Sylvie presents feminine?? Idk, feel like MCU Odin wouldn't be so good with that). He has to reassure Loki, he wants to, because no one should ever feel that way again.

(and frick I really hate this, please look at the gifs from the linked post above, u gotta see his precious smile grow)

LOOK AT THIS SMILE, LOOK AT HIM HE'S HAPPY. And it was such a small, subtle apology from Mobius but it made all the difference bc he told Loki that he believes in him. And then they walk back out of the time cell, side-by-side, looking at each other. Content, safe, prepared to face the world together. He's no longer alone.

... And then ofc this happens...

*cue my heart shattering* (bless Hiddleston's acting).

The fact that you can even hear the hitch in Mobius' breath as he realizes this is the end of the line for him, that Ravonna knows and there's no going back--he's not making it out of this.

"One last desperate trick from the desperate trickster."

He talks about the jetski, about what his life might have been, he knows this hits Loki, being ripped from your timeline, losing all that potential. More importantly, it gives Loki a reason to fight. A silent, "Don't let this happen again. Don't let them get away with this. Please, remember me, don't let me disappear." But it doesn't work, because the one thing Mobius didn't account for, is that Loki cares about him. That now, the fight drains out of him. They pruned Mobius, ofc they'll get to Loki and Sylvie. They didn't even hesitate. Loki just lost, once again, the only other person who ever told him they believed in him. "You can be whoever, whatever..." "She told me I could do anything..."

Loki is less of a narcissist and more of a person desperate to fill that hole inside-- he's been neglected, cast aside, told he should want this and then never getting it. A "Glorious Purpose" to always hide in the shadows, to cause suffering, to give others a reason to unite against him. But for once, just once he hoped that he didn't have to do it alone-- that he could unite. And then they crushed those beautiful few seconds of hope like it was just another tedious, burdening purpose of the TVA.

(credits of images/gifs to the original posts linked, none were mine as I can't figure this out at all lol)

[the-firebird69]

There are other things happening but this is huge from today until the end of July 2nd Mars will be obscuring Venus and it will go on for that duration and people are going to try stuff the whole time because they're not very bright

-there's a lot of stuff going on and I'm up here alone and he's trying to make me feel better and sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn't and no that's not true I feel better I have a job and I have a job to stay alive because when I am they will be trying to get here and fighting each other and it trims them down from what I hear and I hear it going on and I use the term and I do understand it's good and it works for us.

And I'm hearing it does

-it does and don't let him bother you we are using it quite a bit right now and it's quite a lot of them that are attracted to it and they're getting harmed you know that because of attracted to it and it's a great large number and on the ground it's a huge number and it is a giant number that are going for whatever reason they use it as an excuse as well to try and find chips and tons of them go below in competition and not that many come back it's very true it is that way and it is used in that way and we do need it to happen we don't like using any of us as bait a bunch of if they're stuck in trouble like she and he are it happens to be valuable for instance right now huge armies are going below to try and secure ships and they are getting decimated and it's because of the are doing it and a lot of them use Hera as an excuse to go ahead and try. And yes our job is to keep her safe and people want her in tact yes information and skill, research as well she's a scientist and she is working on a lot of stuff with our son. And yes it's her husband. There's a lot that they do together and she says I want to say something

Thor Freya

I've heard a lot of stuff around and a lot of things coming from people of ours A lot of them say you're a good person and you're trying to keep me well and let's not let him down, and I appreciate that that you're doing a good job it helps me and takes energy and effort and you're putting in. Also here to see that they're bothering you a lot I am eating a lot and I sit here and listen to you and I can tell them he's pretty much bothered all the time and doing a good job still so keep up the good work and don't forget I'm up here so you can help me it's right now I don't feel too hot I got people bothering me and you say well you mentioned the fact that you're like bait or something and they get mad and they start saying things trying to feel bad but really they should not be able to say stuff to you unless you let them or they let them free allow them and I hear that the airways and I can hear them saying stuff it's mean but you're right we're talking about it and they're hearing stuff from us they don't like and then you have a strong reaction but they're saying it on the radio

Hera

They actually don't want to hear from you about what you're thinking so forth but really it was us talking that you're valuable and we're going to keep you around to come by and have to say something and they'll probably try to do it again my son says turn the radio off and don't let him get to you ours hear it all. I didn't see that and there's a lot of them saying stuff and really they're saying bad things.. Hera says that, and what we say is we are in route now and we are going to start hitting them and we see where and it's Tommy f. And is out on a flank. And we're hitting it's probably only 10% left of his fleet I'm going to take it all down shut them up. And our son says it's like this all day for me to come by and say things do things all day dinner threats and they have to clear them at you for some reason like it makes it better or work better does not. So I see that and the reaction is bad and they're getting destroyed and so they're saying stupid things it does make me feel better but I do see it and I understand it and I know it'll be over soon for them and then I'll feel better.

Hera says the past two sentences and yes we are experiencing a high volume of messages going between ships of theirs and they're talking about all sorts of things and it's very serious

We of course you're taking a very seriously and they're knocking them down and it's happening over and over and soon this fleet will be gone it's a giant fleet that came to stop him and his will be out and I'm getting word then it's down to about 1%. In a moment it will be zero and it's racing down the remnants but using fast ships. It should be a nice day today however it is going to be huge battles going on below ground over ships here in Florida there's no exception there's several big ones that they're fighting over and they're going to continue to do so and this one just at the mouth of the harbor

We're going to sign off for a moment and get to work and cleaves them off Hera

Thor Freya

Hey Joe nightmare I heard you had a nightmare and I'm okay I do realize what you're saying you're okay and it's over and it's strange and many people are having that very nightmare and they are Target getting together and hiding and fighting these clones mostly and they're a huge huge problem. I also took a nap and I feel a little better but we should get some rest because otherwise we won't be awake today and it's going to be a heck of a day and saying it too that there's going to be a lot of changes in town with personnel the government's changing and the sheriff is going to be 200 or less and for 500 minority and that's good but the whole thing is going to be shifting and then also say the local government is going to changing hands. What they mean is that the mayor and the mayor's office are going to be shut down temporarily of both cities and the people in them are going to be removed if they don't leave and that's councilman and selected city planners and people that they haven't let loose I'm going to be gone from there jobs it's a lot of people and they're hoity toity and nasty and so remaining 3,000 or 2000 and the try for the whole sheriff's department they want them out. And as if you want things that will be changing to watch out for fire department and hospitals and jobs like that they're going to be restricted from and pretty soon everything and also going to be let loose from the remainder of the private jobs in Florida all of them it's going to be a big change and it will affects what's going on here and the state that they're going to evict the two from either side of the apartment as well and that they're process should work since they're not here. Mostly the warlocks are being killed on the way down I hear I am told you're coming to Florida they are eliminated and they try to get here all the time and I love it is and because of that foreign minorities and mostly foreign warlock are able to come here and good situated because they're not hit like these idiots are and this is a big mouth and get into people's faces all the way down and get hit most of these stick to themselves and then come all the way down and they are doing jobs and preparing things and doing rules and building buildings I'm doing today the day jobs too and starting to work. Other areas to watch out for are the parks department people are getting fired and you're there quite a lot and they're going to go down there and try and break stuff. And people are fisherman's village are getting fired and at Walmart well the whole town and they're going to be picking them up all day and I know you don't have much to do today and so you might stay in a little bit and it's not a bad idea and didn't try to get some out of those trucks and away from here. There are several more agencies that are going to be heavily affected now what is the department of Justice of the State of Florida and I heard about this you're sick of these people being judges over them in any way and they're tired of them say they're powerful and they're not so they're moving half the judgeships in Florida and replacing them with minority warlock who love putting idiots in prison. And the other half will come on Monday and they're firing tons of move the weekends and down here, in large numbers they are coming down in the millions and several really more to Port Charlotte and punta Gorda each. And seriously there's a lot of people who are caught off guard by this and they are going to get in trouble.

-there is more and the sheriff and losing 200 warlock who are Macklemore lock and that's out of 300 still and they're hiring 200 with a minority warlock right now is about 300 minority more luck sheriff in Port Charlotte. But they want to bring in war and they want 200 out and it's going to happen today and they said no matter what and they can cuz they fill out the sheriff's department

-there's a huge group of minority morlock heading towards Florida and they're getting the green light and coming down here now it is a sizable Force I'm about 50 million no it's pretty big a few trillion and they're going to just place the rest of the Mac warlock who are evacuating today and they're evacuating rapidly and through Miami. Second group went up a big ships the first one came down it's only been one run for real and up the rivers with 5 Mile and 10 Mile and went up to the St Laurent with five mile 10 mi is too big and they tried 10 miles offshore in 20s and twenties are sitting in the Gulf it's moving fast and they're going to go up and back until it's empty and I'm trying to grab equipment too and we're not letting them

Hera more shortly