#i hate corporations more than the next guy but they do. still have to make money. to Function

[girlwiththegreenhat]

tell me you've never had to use skype without telling me you've never had to use skype: you complain about discord

[i2ycat]

two wrongs don’t make one right

pairing lee heeseung x fem!reader synopsis mistakes always happen, whether you mean to make them or not. but it’s not a question of ‘do you like heeseung?’ anymore, it’s more so: ‘why do you like heeseung?’. or in which, two wrongs just don’t make one right genre college!au, slight fluff, angst, established relationship word count 3k+ warnings cursing, crying, toxic relationship between heeseung and reader, implications of a professor x student relationship, heeseung is implied to have possibly cheated, reader cheats w sunghoon, everyone is of age, bitchy & manipulative characters, reader is insecure, small mention of smoking weed, lmk if i missed anything else lyn speaking it’s been 2 months since i last posted anything oh my…. erm! here’s a little fic before i disappear again lol <//3 i don’t condone anything that happens in this fic or any of their decisions!!!! main masterlist

reblogs and comments are very much appreciated!

The weekend had rolled by faster than you could blink. One second, you’re rotting away in your room and the next, you’re hopping on one foot in front of your mirror, hastily getting ready for the day because you’re running 30 minutes late to your 10am coding class. You’re usually the type to wake up earlier than your alarm, but you were staying up way later than you usually would’ve the night before— staying up late to talk to your boyfriend of 7 months, Lee Heeseung.

Known to be the academy’s most influential guy, Lee Heeseung was, and still is, quite the character. Simply calling him influential would be a grave understatement though, because he descended from a family of powerful politicians and businessmen, even having the biggest corporation in all of South Korea— Lee Tech— as part of his familial pedigree.

It’s no secret that he has the entire world at his fingertips, and at any given moment, he could burn it if he wanted to.

But like how everything else in this world is unfair, Lee Heeseung wasn’t just disgustingly rich, he also inherited his mother’s celebrity looks— evident in his sharp features and overly charming personality. He has girls constantly eyeing him left and right, up and down, even when you’re around.

You went into this relationship knowing full well the certain costs it had to your own happiness and well-being. In the 7 months you’ve been seeing each other, you’ve never felt so insecure in your entire life. And despite his constant reassurances, you know that he couldn’t even begin to imagine half of the battlefield you were facing.

No matter how much you try to deny it, you were subconsciously fighting for his attention against people who were born to be at the same status as he is— in terms of wealth, power, and looks. You always hated being born into a grassroots-level family, but you knew that being salty about your birth-given circumstances would change absolutely nothing. So you worked hard as fuck to be able to get into such a prestigious university. You threw the entirety of your youth away to be able to be the first in your family to go to college, and here you are, barely hanging onto your scholarship because of some boy you met at a party almost half a year earlier. 

They’re only admirers, he said. It was just you and him, he said. You just needed to trust him, he said, but that’s something easier said than done, especially for you.

“Running late again?” The security guard monotonously inquires. He’s seen this exact scene about a thousand times and more with other students before you, so he’s chopping the late slip and handing it back to you like clockwork, but this time with a small smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. It was as if he had a good day but not good enough to warrant the toiling of doing such a challenging task.

Not that it mattered to you anyways.

You ducked your head in an informal ‘thank you’ before hurriedly leaving the stale office and into the hallways.

The hallways always seemed unending whenever you were running late, the rows of windows you ran past would multiply tenfold and the clock’s hands would run faster than it usually would— it felt as if time was warping everything within its reach.

Finally, the running reached its stop. You bent on your knees to catch your breath, the late slip crumpling in between your fingers in the process.

One.

Two.

You counted.

There was no reason to panic. Just walk in, hand the slip and sit your ass down. The visual in your head was clear and it somewhat helped to calm down your nerves. So with one last deep breath, you turn the brass handle and walk in.

You’re so damn dramatic.

The doors creaking reverberates in the small auditorium, easily catching everyone’s attention. You gulp down the lump in your throat as you watch your professor pass you a look of disapproval. It made your heart drop, because you were his best student and you hate disappointing people who expect great things from you. Your let your gaze angle towards the carpeted floors, making your way to the seat closest to the door.

When you feel as if you’ve disappeared into your seat, it was as if you could breathe again. You were finally away from the spotlight and people’s unnervingly curious eyes ceased trailing your every move. You should really start sleeping earlier or you’d have to get used to this.

“Hey,” Erin, your seatmate, whispers. Her voice tried to be as discreet as it could in a whisper… it didn’t really work. The professor gave her a stern stare as a form of warning, though you could tell it had an entirely different undertone, even from a mile away. It left a bad taste in your mouth, having to bear witness to such unprofessional exchanges of looks in an academic setting of all places. Erin, who bites her lip, scribbles whatever she was going to say to you on a torn piece of paper.

“Wanna know a secret?” It read with two boxes just right underneath it: yes or no. You look at her with a dumbfounded look plastered all over your face. You knew she was childish to a certain extent, but was she really that childish? Nevertheless, you tick the box on the left and send it back to her.

Cause you know, curiosity killed the cat.

You should’ve seen the conniving smirk plastered on her lips but you were too focused on your thoughts to notice anything else around you. She scribbles once more then folds it, dropping it into your hands with the hastily written warning facing you: “read it when you get home. preferably alone lol ;)”.

Then, class is dismissed.

You watch her get up from her seat and blend in with everybody else rushing out of the room, not missing the heavy glance she passes at the professor. You didn’t even want to stay any longer to see what happened next, so you started haphazardly shoving things into your bag instead, remembering to pocket the small note into the depths of your jacket.

When you leave the room, Lee Heeseung is already standing there, in all his lazy-fitted glory— messy bed hair hiding under a hood, donning the black hoodie you both bought as a couple’s set for valentines last week and the black sweatpants you bought for him to match.

“Hello, beautiful.” He coos, engulfing you in a tight one-armed hug. It gave you the opportunity to take in his woody yet elegant-smelling perfume, the same Jo Malone one he wore everyday.

Your heart swelled in its place, appreciating how, without fail, Heeseung would wait for you outside your classes whenever he could, even if they ended really late— late enough that he should be at home resting, but instead, he would spend that time waiting for you like the good boyfriend he is.

“Hey,” you smile into his chest. “Ugh, I woke up late again today thanks to a certain someone.”

“Wonder who that is? Maybe I should give them a word or two about keeping my princess up so late.” He pulls you from his chest to cup your face, coaxing you to fall deeper with that sweet smile of his. It never fails to make you feel like you’re the only girl in his world, like he’s got your back no matter what.

It was dangerous for such a smile to have the ability to make you forget about all your problems, even ones pertaining to him.

“You’re such a dork,” you roll your eyes at him as you push him away.

“At least I’m your dork, so naturally… it cancels out.” A boyish grin spreads across his face so innocently that you can’t help but press a kiss on his nose, immediately prompting him to blush a crimson red at your sudden display of affection. “What was that for?”

“You looked cute,” you shrug.

At this, Heeseung turns an impossibly darker shade of red. “You can’t just say things like that so casually and expect me to be okay.” The way he attempts to cover the blush in his face behind his hands makes you laugh, completely and utterly endeared by him.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll give you a heads up, yeah?”

“You’re so mean.” He pouts.

When you got yourself entangled with the Lee Heeseung all those months ago, you didn’t think that he would have such a boyish and cute side to him. His public persona had always been this untouchable, charismatic guy who could get anything he wanted with a snap of his finger, so you could imagine the whiplash you experienced when the first time you ever kissed him, he blushed so deeply you thought he was drunk.

It made you feel special, being the only one to have ever brought out this side of him, like you had him wrapped around your finger.

“Yeah, but you can’t ever bring yourself to hate me.”

“That… is very true, I’m afraid.” Heeseung sighs, catching your hand in his. “I’m kinda hungry, right now. Sushi?”

“Sure.”

—

Over the course of your entire life, there’ve only been a handful of times where you’ve been betrayed by people you trusted: first when you were twelve, being wrongly accused of having cheated on a test by your then best friend; second when you were the only one to have been thrown under the bus by people you thought were your close group of friends for smoking weed in your highschool’s bathroom cubicle; and third when you found out that Heeseung had been with Erin during the one-week break in your relationship.

The note passed to you by Erin from earlier in the month stays ripped into pieces in the palm of your hand. You’d forgotten all about it until a few hours ago, and you wished it had stayed that way. But you know by now that things never go your way.

You and Heeseung were on break for about a week, citing that you were not in the mental headspace to be dealing with a relationship at that moment in time because of your slipping grades, and he understandably obliged, even kissing your forehead goodbye as you left his apartment.

Erin’s written confession, if you could even call it that, echoes in your mind like a blaring alarm.

from girlie to girlie, your boyfriend came onto me while you guys were on your little break. must say, your boyfriend is talented at making people cry ;).

All you needed was a week to heal and sort your shit out before you went back into his arms, and he couldn’t even wait that long?

You felt sick to your stomach and you wanted nothing more than to scream your aching heart away, to be left with nothing more than a void. At least then, you would no longer feel the hurt and betrayal Heeseung inflicted upon you with his actions, and the months of torment you’d endured just to seem worthy to stay by his side.

Did he even ever truly love you like he said he did?

The more you dwell on these thoughts, the more you could feel yourself physically slipping into a state of mental numbness as you stayed motionless on your spot on the carpeted floor.

It wouldn’t be until a few more hours later that Heeseung would enter your dorm, tired as ever from his basketball practice. It was routine for him to crash at your dorm on Tuesdays and Fridays—whenever he had basketball practices— because it was more convenient for him to get to his 9am class the next day from your in-campus dorm, compared to his condo that was 20 minutes away. Adding that you gave him the energy he needed for the days ahead, but now you’re contemplating whether that part was even true or not.

“Sweetheart,” he calls out to you from the entrance. “I’ve got to tell you about what happened to Jay at practice today-” he cuts himself short as he spots your leaning figure, head tucked into your knees, surrounded by torn pieces of paper.

“Y/n?” He quickly runs to your side.

“Seungie,” you meekly whisper as you lift your head, tear-stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes finally coming into clear view.

“Did something happen? What happened?” His hands make quick work to caress your face, tucking stray pieces of hair behind your ears and wiping tears away with his thumb.

Even after knowing what he had allegedly done behind your back, you couldn’t help but feel your heart pounding. This was the sweet, caring Heeseung you knew and loved. And so the thought that Erin could’ve been lying to you, flitters across your mind and nestles itself there.

“You wouldn’t lie to me, right?” Your voice sounds hoarse and quiet, yet the silent pleading rings deafeningly in your ears. You felt so pathetic crying in your living room about a boy who might’ve technically cheated on you, then finding yourself putty in his hands the moment he shows you the version of truth you’re familiar with.

Why are making up excuses for his behaviour?

Gosh, your roommate would kill you if she knew how much of a loser you’ve become in Heeseung’s presence.

“Of course not, baby,” he pulls you into an embrace. “There’s nothing I could ever lie to you about.” Did this ease your trust issues in any way? No. But it did assure you that Erin was still nothing but a serial liar, wanting nothing more than to see other people’s relationships fall apart for her own selfish entertainment… you think.

You hum into Heeseung’s tweed pullover.

It was always like this. You don’t know how many times you’ve gone through the same thing, and you don’t know how many more times you can go through without fully losing your sanity. But you can’t seem to find it in yourself to pull away, no matter how exhausted your heart and soul becomes.

—

“Can’t believe you stayed with him, even after knowing what he did behind your back.” Erin sneers from beside you, clearly amused by your course of actions these past few weeks.

“Whatever I do is none of your business,” you bite back through your teeth. You’ve never liked Erin, but even more so after the stunt she did that almost cost you your entire relationship with Heeseung. You should’ve known that she never had good intentions to begin with, constantly lying through her teeth. “I know you lied about it.”

She raises an eyebrow at this, “You think I’m lying? Oh baby, you’re really so fucking gullible.” Erin could practically see the cogs turning in your brain, if the furrowing of your brows were anything to go by. “I’m saying that Heeseung has you completely under his thumb, and you’re dumb enough to believe anything and everything he says,” she plays with her pen, swirling it around her finger as she eyes you. “It’s whatever though, Heeseung likes good girls anyways.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, I think we both know very well.” She smirks, tapping the pen on her temple once then twice, before shifting in her seat back towards the front of the lecture hall.

Just what was her fucking deal?

It leaves you with more questions than answers, as you watch her diligently jot down notes from beside you. After today, you were for sure going to switch seats because there was just no fucking way you could survive the rest of the year this way.

—

You don’t know how you ended up here. The first minute you were being dumped by Heeseung, and the next you’re waking up with a raging hangover in his best friend's bed.

Heeseung technically didn’t dump you, telling you that he wanted a break the same you did all those months before. And you technically didn't end up in his best friend’s bed by complete choice. You were drunk out of your mind at a party last night, one that your roommate had dragged you to after seeing you in your depressed state for the past week. But no matter the excuse you try to conjure, it still doesn’t excuse the fact that you cheated on your boyfriend.

Your heart beats sporadically at the sight of Sunghoon’s bare back facing you, not because you’re flustered but because you’re instantly hit with the gravity of your own drunken choices.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

With heavy feet, you stumble out of his bed and start navigating through the mess of discarded clothes, and soon after, Sunghoon eventually stirs awake from the ruckus you were unintentionally causing in his shared dorm room. “Y/n?” He groggily calls out to you.

Fuck.

It didn’t take Sunghoon very long to figure out why the fuck you were in his room half-naked, piecing together the clues that lay around the expanse of his dorm. He clearly didn’t need to be a genius like Einstein to figure out that you and him had a drunken one-night stand. You—Heeseung’s girlfriend—and him—Heeseung’s best friend—had spent the night together. Intimately.

Right around the three-second mark, the same level of anxiety sank into his stomach. 

Fuck, indeed.

“I made a mistake.” Your voice trembled, tears starting to blur your vision as hot panic courses through you.

“Hey, we were both drunk,” Sunghoon says, sitting up at the sight of you still half-dressed and starting to break down at the foot of his bed. “Heeseung doesn’t have to know about this. We both made a mistake, and don’t blame yourself because you weren’t the only one, okay?”

“But, fuck, it doesn’t change the fact that I cheated on my boyfriend. What the fuck was I thinking?” Your fingers fly to tousle with your hair, pulling at the roots to try and ease the pounding in your head.

You weren’t any better than all the people you were disgusted by, seeing as you’ve stopped as low. Memories from last night flash through your mind, as if to haunt you; the party, the flashing lights, the drinks, the kissing, the skin against skin. You felt so fucking sick to your stomach.

“We didn’t mean to sleep with each other. We were just drunk.” Sunghoon reasons, but no amount of gaslighting could change what’s already been done.

You were either going to live with this aching thorn by your side forever, or own up to your mistakes like a normal human being with a moral compass. With how deep you’ve fallen for Heeseung, you couldn’t bear losing him, yet both options entailed losing him one way or another.

It’s best not knowing what could potentially hurt, right?

Right.

© i2ycat 2024

[writerobscura]

The USA

Sorry for the radio silence; I'm still processing how 51% of my country thinks it's okay to elect a bigoted, misogynistic felon to the presidency.

This election is a reminder that half of this country is so fucking hateful that they're willing to elect someone that makes us a laughing stock around the globe while those who bought and paid for his campaign gut democracy.

Are you doing better than you were four years ago? Of course not. You were getting subsidy checks Biden pushed through a Republican congress post-pandemic.

Wages went up for essential workers, and that expense got passed on to you because corporations aren't going to short to their shareholders - and the President can do nothing about that without holding companies accountable to regulation - which our new president has no intention of doing.

The next two years:

My adult children will lose their healthcare when he and his Republican senate quash the Affordable Care Act - but hey, so long as you have a few extra bucks at the end of the month for cigs and beer, what do you care?

Some states will be able to seize the medical records of women and mothers and use those records to fine or put them in jail (abortion, IVF, getting your trans teen the care they need) - but hey, none of those things affect you personally, so fuck 'em and hey, women aren't even human, am I right you newly registered voting Gen Z fellas?

College debt, infrastructure repairs, social programs - kiss all that goodbye because fucking the planet up is a small price to pay so you can get gasoline for under $2.99. Oh, and that Latino spouse? All it takes is one call from a disgruntled 'Murican and our new INS will be there with 'post-citizenship deportation review' papers.

Wars? How easily everyone forgets that Ukraine is at war right now because your guy failed to help him when Russia flooded his country with separatists. You think he's going to stop arming Israel? Where's the money in that?

Xenophobia may have worked when the USA was 100% self-sufficient in the 1900s, but it cannot be done in this day and age - but hey, going back to the old days is what it's all about, right?

Living in a hurricane or natural disaster prone state? You better pray to whatever G*d you worship that nothing happens in the next 2 years because the Pubs have the Senate and the presidency - no more FEMA funds and 'emergency handouts.'

Tariffs instead of taxes on the rich? Zero-sum situation. Guess how many companies import basic things just to make the shit you eat and use daily? Monsanto is no longer an American company, most farmers in the USA 'import' their seed, though because lack of corporate regulation has allowed them to destroy all farms that don't use their seed. While we're on the subject of tariffs, any foreign company can say, "We just won't sell to you, America." What's the backup plan? Oh, right, he has none.

Prices will rise, wages will stagnate, tariffs won't work, so guess who gets billed for that deficit? Not the wealthy—they spent billions electing this assclown, and there's no way they're investing one damned penny in the rest of us.

But hey, they know you can take it because you voted to have all this...You voted for all of the above at the expense of literally half your fellow countrymen.

If Kamala won, you would've lost NOTHING. Your worst case scenario under her presidency is that you would've been running in place financially while those you consider morally or racially beneath you, might've been gotten ahead a few steps.

So yeah, 51% of my country would rather watch it all burn down than suffer anyone they consider less of a human being, be given an equal chance.

[jjnonken]

Been a while since I've posted. I've decided I hate Facebook again and for now I'm letting off steam here.

I said before that I'd deleted my long rant and just stuck to a mini-rant. Well, today I'm posting a long rant. Fair warning: This is a rant.

As far as I can tell, there's no good news about the Borderlands movie. They've changed Commander Knoxx's character to be Atlas's daughter instead of General Knoxx, so I guess she'll be Commander Atlas now. That... doesn't matter. Of all the issues I have with this movie, whose daughter she is is probably the least important. Actually, it's not an issue. Her EXISTENCE is an issue, but not which NPC is her parent. Atlas isn't even an NPC, it's just a gun manufacturer, presumably named after its founder. We never see the founder(s) nor, as far as I can remember, hear any backstory. I'm not sure which problem they were trying to solve by the rename.

First problem: We do have to rescue Lilith, Athena, and one other who I won't mention due to spoilers. I can only think of those three. Lilith tells you to kill her if you can't save her... "Better dead than a damsel." Athena engineers her own rescue; you're just the muscle. So there's kind of a dearth of damsels in this franchise. The movie's premise is that Commander uh... Atlas?... needs to be rescued. So, right. Damsel in distress. Kind of immediately contradicts the lore of Borderlands, who has strong women who generally don't need rescuing.

Second is: why General Knoxx's er, I mean, Atlas's daughter? She's a new character. It's like BORDERLANDS ISN'T CHARACTER-RICH ENOUGH, we have to add more just to get the plot started.

Edit: She still shows credited as Commander Knoxx in my web search, including on IMDB. I saw Atlas in the last article I saw on the movie. It's possible it was simply mistaken. I note parenthetically that Knoxx works for Atlas Corporation, and the DLC he's in is Atlas-heavy. Could just be a mistake. Edit to the edit: The Wikipedia article premise mentions her as Atlas's daughter. But she's named Knoxx. I'm fucking confused; which is she?

Next: They have Kevin Hart playing Roland. Kevin Hart is a comedian. Roland is a serious, somber, straightforward guy who never jokes and never laughs, or even smiles. Any humor that happens in relation to him works because it plays off his sober sincerity.

Roland: Oh good, you're not dead. Lilith: That's his way of saying "Hi". Roland: Sorry. Hi.

Why do they need a stand-up comedian to play Roland? Either Hart is trying to branch out and do some serious acting, or... they're making a comedy.

OK, Cate Blanchett is doing Lilith. I don't know if she's the best choice, but I don't know who else I'd recommend. I guess I'm OK with that.

As for Tannis... I love Jamie Lee Curtis, but she's a scream queen that also does comedies. Tannis isn't FUNNY, she's TRAGIC. Again, there's humor, but it plays off her personality, which is informed by her severe social awkwardness. (She's pretty much coded autistic. I don't know if it's canon.) No doubt the trauma she's suffered has exacerbated any existing personality deficits. Or caused new ones. Can Curtis do a sober Tannis? I mean, play her seriously, not deadpan. I don't know. Again, I don't think she's meant to -- this movie is looking more like a comedy every day. Could be worse, but I'm not sure I'd pick her.

Next, we have Claptrap, who is introduced as "The wise-cracking robot" and played by... Jack Black, a comedic voice actor. Thing is, Claptrap does not crack wise. He's hilarious, but that's because, similarly to Roland and Tannis, the game plays off his naive sincerity. He's funny because he's so serious, but clueless. I haven't memorized every line in the entire franchise enough to instantly recall everything that every claptrap robot has said, but as far as I can remember, Claptrap has told MAYBE three jokes on purpose. One is self-referential, spoken by a claptrap who is supposed to be programming the game: "Borderlands? More like Memelands, am I right?" One is spoken right after a hatch is automatically locked, trapping you in the first map: "I hear that getting eaten by bullymongs isn't such a bad way to go." Was that one a deliberate joke? Don't know, so that's my "maybe." And the third is from a side mission called The Iceman Cometh. It's a moderately silly pun that any 10-year-old would be proud of. When you (as a character) don't react, he then EXPLAINS THE JOKE. When you still don't react, he LECTURES YOU on the nature of humor. TWICE. Naive sincerity, not cracking wise. So again, this suggests the movie being a comedy.

So, we have two of the four vault hunters from the first game, Lilith and Roland. The roles of Mordecai and Brick are interesting, in that THEY AREN'T THERE. Why?

Tiny Tina is. She's a psychotic young teen with a penchant for explosives. She's got a connection to Brick, who -- for some reason -- isn't in the movie. She's not the kind of person who needs a bodyguard -- she's the kind of person against whom YOU need a bodyguard. I only bring this up because... ... Krieg is her bodyguard in the movie. Why? I already mentioned her connection to Brick. Krieg doesn't have a connection to Tina, he has a connection to Maya. I don't know when this movie is supposed to take place in the Borderlands timeline, but if Lilith is retired, it'll be between the first and second. Possibly around the time of the Pre-Sequel. We don't see Krieg until BL2, where he's added as the last playable character after the original four plus Gaige. So the timeline doesn't make sense and Krieg's connection to Tina doesn't make sense and Krieg being Tina's bodyguard doesn't make sense. I don't know anything about the actors, I may look them up and try to watch some of their stuff.

Tina doesn't show in the game until BL2, but there's no reason to think she hasn't been around since Borderlands, we just haven't seen her. (But only after the events of BL:PS, since it's Jack's slag experiments on Tina's parents that kill them and drive her into being a vengeful little psychopath.) But Krieg doesn't show up until he becomes a vault hunter? OTOH until then he was living as a psycho... probably on Pandora. So I suppose the timeline might be OK, technically. I'll give them that one. But I still object to the Tina/Krieg connection.

Gina Gershon as Mad Moxxi: Gina is an attractive woman, doesn't have Moxxi's curves, and she's 61. She's pretty hot-looking but I'm not sure she really fits the character, physically. Can she do Moxxi's va-va-voom? Don't know.

Charles Babalola: I don't know him. I try not to get upset at race lifts; I'm used to Sir Hammerlock being the "great white hunter" stereotype, but I suppose it doesn't hurt anything if he's black. At least he's British. This is a weak protestation at most. EDIT: Several people have pointed out that he's canonically black, which I never noticed. Well, OK then, that one's on me.

Bobby Lee plays Larry. He's another stand-up comedian. There sure are a lot of those for a serious film, eh? Also, who the fuck is Larry?

Ryann Redmond as Ellie: nobody's going to match Ellie's unrealistic proportions, but Ryann seems like a reasonable choice physically; basically, you just need a plus-sized woman who can act. I don't know anything about her acting but I presume she's competent, at least. Ellie is a smartass, so wise-cracking from her is welcome. So how come they cast a stand-up comedian as Roland but a serious actress as Ellie? The cognitive dissonance is making my brain cramp.

And Eli Roth has left the project and declared that he does not want credit for his writing. THAT bodes well.

This is supposed to be canon. Canon my ass. This is a TRAVESTY. EDIT: Somebody said it's not supposed to be canon. I read that it is. I'll try to dig up the reference when I get a minute. EDIT 2: Sorry it took me so long, I was busy procrastinating. Now, in my memory, when the first announced the movie they claimed it would be "true to Borderlands", but of course that's changed. I must have skimmed over the more recent "canon" phrasing, sorry. Apparently it's changed to "canon for the Borderlands Cinematic Universe", which is not the same as canon to the games. To me that's seems a bit disingenuous, considering that as far as I can tell, the Borderlands Cinematic Universe consists of one unfinished movie. (And calling it a "Borderlands Cinematic Universe" also seems a bit conceited since their first -- and so far only -- entry has been in Production Hell for 9 years and hasn't even finished.) So my apologies for getting the "canon" claims wrong, but I'm still unhappy and I think they're making excuses. They've taken an Action Movie script, grabbed some names from the Borderlands franchise, and pretended that the result is a Borderlands movie. They did that with Sly Stallone and the first Judge Dredd movie, remember? (Maybe you don't, but I was a fan of the comics. Fortunately the second movie was much, much better.) This makes me think of Stallone's Judge Dredd. (Also the anime version of the Lensman, but that one's pretty obscure.)

Anyway, I have more, but I think I've said what I need to. I may watch the movie out of morbid curiosity. I'm not going to dislike it out of spite, I'm not that hateful. I'll try to give it a chance. I just don't like the odds.

[theresnoturningback]

Year One - Friday - JojaCola

A/N: So I finally made some time to upload this chapter. I am very excited about this one because I could finally start playing with the ASS trio dinamic. Also I could write with Sam, who I find completely adorable. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I always try to make them short so it's an easy read. Please, please, if you do like it, consider reblogging it. This is just a hobby of mine, I don't take it very seriously but seeing some validation would do wonders for my self-esteem.

Word Count: 1374

Dahlia had been counting seconds for the weekend to come. Every day she thought about Abigail’s invitation to hang out with her and her friends. The thought of that moment gave her the motivation she needed to do her chores. She hesitated before the entrance to the Stardrop Saloon and made sure she was decent enough to present herself to society. She was usually very confident about her looks, but she hadn’t been the new girl in a long time. She inhaled and exhaled to let go of her apprehensions. When she was about to step in, a tall figure opened the door for her.

“Please, after you” A grinning blonde man winked at her.

“My, what a gentleman, thanks” She chuckled after she could compose herself from that first impression.

Once she entered the saloon, the young man that let her in nodded his head as he walked past her, leading her to a comfortable room beyond the booths.

“Aw…You guys met already?” Abigail jumped from the sofa to greet them

“Met who?” Dahlia blinked

“We haven’t met properly, Abby. We just ran into each other outside; I figured it was the new farmer you talked about” The blond guy explained.

“Uh… I’m still lost” Dahlia sighed

“I’m Sam. Good to meet you”

“Dahlia” She shook his hand, smiling along. He had a very contagious smile.

“Hey, you just moved in, right?” A man slightly taller than Abigail asked before walking closer to the group

“Yeah, just this week, actually”

“Cool…and out of all the places you chose Pelican Town?” The judgmental tone in his observation made her raise her eyebrows

“I guess it wasn’t much of a choice” She shrugged “I had nowhere else to go, what’s your excuse?”

“C’mon, Dahlia… you make it sound like you’re escaping your impending doom…” Abigail laughed “Please, excuse our friend Sebby, he comes off as rude at first, but he’s adorable once you get to know him”

“Can you not call me that in here?” Sebastian nudged Abigail while Sam laughed. Once more, Dahlia found herself laughing with him. Their eyes met, making her blush for a second. She looked down at her shoes and around the room.

“No way, you guys have Joja Cola in here? Sweet” She ran to a vending machine by the arcade games

Sebastian rolled his eyes and sat back down on the couch

“You really like that stuff?” Abigail grimaced

“Leave her, she has great taste” Sam leaned on Abigail’s shoulder

“I got addicted to these when I started working at JojaCorp. You’d think they would have other options in the building. In that floor it was just us and a bunch of JojaCola vending machines”

“You worked for JojaCorp?” Abigail crossed her arms, making Sam lose balance.

Dahlia nodded.

“Same here” he said

“You have a part-time job at the local JojaMart, Sam, it’s not the same” Sebastian argued

“Still, it’s the same evil mega-corporation”

“I hated every second of it. That’s why I moved here. I just couldn’t take it anymore, but I’d trade the farm in a heartbeat for a sip of JojaCola” Dahlia reached for her pocket to take out some coins for the machine “Anyone want one?”

“Yuck” Abigail sat down next to Sebastian

“I’d like one” Sam raised his hand

“Of course you would, you human trash can” Sebastian laughed

Dahlia bought two cans and gave one to Sam

“Thanks, I promise I’ll pay it back” he said, slightly touching her fingers as she passed him the can

“You don’t have to, it’s my pleasure” She winked

“Hey, you two” Abigail called “If you’re done eye-fucking, come sit with us”

“So, how do you like the Valley so far?” Sebastian asked Dahlia as she and Sam sat next to each other on a red couch

“It’s calm, I like that. I wanted to be as far away from the city as possible and my grandpa left me his farm. I don’t know the first thing about farming besides what I’ve learned when I started growing pot in my apartment” She laughed “But I’m sure I’ll learn in no time”

“Do you plan on growing weed in your farm?” He leaned forward

“You bet those were the first seeds I bought before moving the city. They’re already in the soil. I’ll let you know when they’re ready to harvest”

“Neat” Sebastian gave her an approving nod.

“I told you she was cool” Abigail nudged Sebastian.

“Ouch, Abby, not so hard!” He narrowed his eyes at her “Control your strength, woman”

Sam cleared his throat after a sip of his cola and turned to his new friend

“Say Dalhia, do you play pool?”

She glanced at the green table and nodded with confidence

“Do you guys gamble?” She asked

The three of them shook their heads.

“I told you she was too cool for us” Sebastian whispered to Abigail

“Maybe a quick game?” Sam insisted

“Sure, let’s sink some balls” Dahlia said excitedly before finishing her cola

The group stood up and started a quick game of cutthroat pool. Dahlia sank her rival’s balls in less than fifteen minutes.

“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t gamble. Stay in school” She laughed once she sank Sebastian’s last ball.

“Wow, you have to teach me how to do that” Abigail took Dahlia’s hands “Pretty please?” She insisted jumping up and down in place

“I will, but maybe some other time? I must wake up early tomorrow” She promised

“Wait, you’re going home already? Let me walk you home” Sam offered hastily

“I don’t know Sam, it’s a rather long walk, are you sure you can handle it?”

“Just go” Sebastian and Abigail said in unison

“Bye, Abby! It was nice meeting you, Sebby” Dahlia giggled. He immediately glared at Abigail

Sam and Dahlia left the Saloon and started walking together until the silence started to feel awkward.

“What…? Don’t tell me you turn shy when your friends aren’t around” Dahlia looked up at him, giggling. He had a serious expression on his face.

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking…”

“About what?”

“You know when you have so many thoughts in your head you can’t focus on a single one?”

“Oh”

“I was actually trying to remember if the girl that used to come during the summer and play with us really was you or someone else”

“I spent a couple of summers here when I was little” She nodded “Now I remember you”

“So, it was you!” Sam laughed “You used to be taller than me, what happened to you?”

“You were shorter because you’re younger than me, that’s all”

“What? No…” He frowned “I remember Abby and Seb were 5 and I was 6…How old were you then? You couldn’t be much older than that”

“I was 9. I’m turning 26 in a couple of weeks”

“Huh, time flies…”

“It sure does”

They continued walking a little slower

“You stopped coming that summer, Abby and I missed you the following year”

“My dad had just died, and my mom took me to another city, far away from here” Dahlia shrugged

“I’m sorry to hear that”

“It’s okay…it’s been a long time” She looked around, smiling “I missed this place, too”

“You know... I used to live in the city, and I have to admit, this place is much nicer in the summer. The city is so hot with all that concrete”

“I can get used to this” She caught him glancing at her and they let out a small laugh “I mean, I’m so done with the city. I just wanted to start a new life in here”

“If you need help with anything, we’re friends now”

“Thank you” She tried to focus on her own shoes as she walked to avoid that smile she was starting to find too adorable to ignore

“This is your place?” Sam asked when they got to the end of the trail

“Yeah, this is me” She turned to him and stood on her toes to give him a small peck on his cheek “Thank you for the walk down memory lane”

Dahlia ran back to her house, leaving Sam standing without a single thought left in his mind.

[silverwings22]

Song of the Sea: Chapter 16: Raising Hatchlings

Chapter Warnings: gambling, sexual implications, catastrophic overthinking Series warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a.

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 Hunter had wanted to let the team rest, but Shiani could sense the minute that they'd arrived on Ord Mantell that Cid wanted their services. It didn't matter that they were tired and aching, or that Tech had refused to get off the ship when everyone else did. She still hadn’t seen him since the argument in hyperspace, and she’d been hoping to try to reconcile when they’d landed. Cid was disrupting her planned apology. 

Selfish hearts.

“I've got a job for you boys. It's a big score, enough to start making a dent in what you owe me.” Cid met them at the door. 

Hunter rubbed the bridge of his nose. “... we need to lay low, Cid. Bounty hunters are still after the kid.”

“Let's not forget our mutually beneficial deal, Dark and Broody. Or how much I know about you all.”

Behind Hunter, Shiani started to pop up with blue rings again. She was less than impressed with Cid's threatening them, and still defensive about Omega being captured and raw from the fight. Her jaw trembled, teeth showing through the sides as she tried to keep herself from outright snarling at the trandoshan. “Not very nice, Cid.”

“Easy, Suckers. It's a rescue mission.” Cid frowned. “I thought you liked helping people.”

“My family is more important. Where are you sending us anyway?” She crossed her purple arms. “Who do you want rescued?”

“A senator on Raxus. It'll be worth plenty of credits.” Cid pointed a claw at her. 

Shiani frowned. “Raxus… Separatist senate is on Raxus.” Tech had mentioned to her long ago that most clones dreamed of fighting on Raxus one day, and winning the war for the Republic. He had been less gung-ho about it, but the idea of the war finally ending had appealed. He’d wanted to show her the galaxy then… that was how they were supposed to be. Not whatever was happening right now.

“I'm not taking Omega anywhere near Raxus.” Hunter said firmly. 

Echo nodded to the sergeant. “Raxus is no place for Shiani either. She’s a civilian.”

Cid shrugged. “Leave them here then. I'll keep an eye on Tiny and Suckers.”

Omega set up a loud protest. Shiani just looked at Echo with big eyes. “You’re leaving me here?”

“It’s better this way. Tech’s not on his game, and he’ll be worse with you around right now. It could be dangerous distraction.” The corporal patted her head fondly, brotherly affection she’d missed for a long time.

She headbutted his hand lightly. “You’ll make sure he comes back safe, right?” She didn’t like being left, but she had to admit that Echo had a point. If Tech was distracted, he could get hurt. She’d rather be by herself for a while than anything happen to him. Especially if the last conversation they had was them yelling at each other. 

Echo nodded. “You have my word. And I’ll see if I can talk to him for you, too.”

“We all will.” Wrecker ruffled Shiani’s head lightly, and Hunter gave her a nod.

They turned and walked out, leaving Omega and Shiani both looking deflated. They retreated to a booth in the corner. 

“I hate this.” Omega said sadly. “We're a part of the squad. We shouldn't be left behind.”

“You heard Echo. I’m a distraction, and you’re still a baby. They’re protecting you.” Shiani patted her hand. “If you were a siren, you’d still be too little to be allowed on hunts.”

“Well how do I learn if I'm not allowed to try?” Omega grumbled. 

The siren pondered thoughtfully. “When siren babies want to prove they’re ready to learn to hunt, they have to prove they can handle simpler problems at home. Prove they are responsible.”

Omega frowned. They had a lot of problems, but if the grown men couldn't figure them out how was she supposed to? She looked to Shiani, who’s loyalty and devotion Omega admired, as the siren's pale eyes moved around the bar. “What kind of problems can I solve? None of ours are simple right now.”

Shiani nodded. “You're right, none of the Batch's problems are simple. But the biggest one is debt. We can't make any credits if Cid takes them all, and then we can't pay for new things, so Cid gives things and considers it more debt. Cycle goes round and round like a jellyfish caught in a bubble ring.” 

“But how do we pay off the debt if we can't do our own missions?” Omega kicked her feet in the booth. 

Shiani pointed at the dejarik table. “I fixed that not long ago. People come in, play, and bet credits. Sometimes, they bet big credits. Can you play dejarik?”

“Yeah… I used to play with Nala Se sometimes. It's a good strategy game.” Omega nodded. 

Shaini reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of credits Tech had insisted she keep for emergencies. “Cid’s playing now, and she's losing. Go and offer advice first. Make her trust you. Then offer to play the next round, and bet this.” She handed the credits to Omega. “Once you win, people will come to try to beat you. Especially because you’re little, they think it’s easy to win and they’ll bet big credits. If you win enough, you can pay debt. Then your brothers will see you’re ready to learn to hunt.” She patted Omega's hair.

Omega smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Shiani. You're the best sister.” She hugged the siren firmly around the middle and skidding out of the booth to get to Cid. Shiani sat with the weight of her words.

Sister. Shiani hadn't been anyone's sister in such a long time. Her big brother hated her, her parents disowned her, her old friends had abandoned her. All of Acopit had orders to kill her on sight, because the bright lights of Tipoca City and the yellow-lensed eyes of a clone trooper were too powerful to resist. Omega loved so quickly, she'd only known Shiani for a few months…

If sirens loved like that, I would have loved to stay on Kamino. 

Omega deserved that kind of love returned, and she loved her brothers fiercely as a pod of purrgil. She had to do her part to raise this girl too… but what could she give Omega that the men couldn't? They were strong and knew more about the surface than she did… The only life she knew was survival between the Melody and Harmony, waiting forever for a man to answer her hearts’ call. A man who seemed very determined to ignore his own hearts, for that reason. 

After about a half hour, Cid walked over to her with a grin. “Tiny is good. She's racking up credits like it's going out of style.”

“Baby Mega is very clever.” Shiani said quietly, distrustful but polite as ever. 

“You don't seem to like me too much, Suckers.” Cid sat next to her. 

“You like to capitalize. I don’t have much to give you, so I know I’m not useful. The only thing I can do is fix machines and sing, really.” Shiani shrugged. There wasn’t any point in telling Cid she thought she was as shady as the bottom of an ocean trench and less trustworthy than a sea snake. It would just lead to another argument, and she was tired of yelling. What she really wanted was to find a nice quiet corner and huddle up, waiting hopefully for Tech to come back and forgive her for whatever it was about her that had pissed him off. 

“Sing, huh? Why don't you give us a show? We've got a karaoke machine around here. I'll put up a tip jar, and anything you make we'll put towards what the boys owe me.” Cid grinned. 

There was really no way out for the siren so she let herself be hauled to the bar. “You do realize I’m not talking about popular songs, right?”

“That's fine. Just give em what you got.”

Shiani sighed and sat on the bar with the mic, watching the barflies and betting. Cid wanted them to spend money, so they needed to be happy. 

She crossed her legs and brought the mic to her mouth, and out flowed a smooth and wordless melody that had everyone in the bar carefree and relaxed. Credits were changing hands, bets placed, and drinks were poured.

She sang her hearts out, but she wished she was back in the Havoc Marauder and the quiet of Tech's company. She'd never liked being the center of attention, even as a princess. That was why she’d become the Minister of Security, so she could work out in the city without an audience… 

I miss Tech…

Tech's ever racing thoughts had been distracted all day, since they’d left Omega and Shiani on Ord Mantell. At one point, Hunter had given orders that included Omega, and Tech had found himself turning to exchange a playfully judgmental glance with the siren that Hunter had made a mistake. Halfway through, he realized he had made the same error.

The mission had been messy, rescuing the Senator and his fussy droid assistant from the hostile Empire who seemed very determined to torture everyone into compliance. They were secure down in the belly of the ship, and he was flying them back to Ord Mantell. He wanted to comm Shiani and make sure she was alright… but he wasn’t sure he could make himself look her in the eye right now. He couldn’t this morning, when they’d landed and she’d stood at the cockpit doors and quietly asked him to come out and come to the Parlor. He’d just shrunk into the pilot’s chair and waited for Wrecker and Echo to walk her out. Hunter had just spoken through the door and told him he better have access back to the cockpit by the time he came back to the ship. Which was reasonable enough, seeing as he was their leader. But now that the mission was done and he was sitting by himself, Tech knew he was about to get the big brother treatment Hunter was so famous for. And he was not looking forward to it.

Sure enough, Hunter walked into the cockpit after a few hours of flight. “... I don't like thinking he's a good person. It makes me question everything we fought for. Echo’s even madder about it.”

Tech looked up and nodded. “It is somewhat uncomfortable, yes. He was more polite than I anticipated.”

Hunter dropped into the co-pilot’s seat, looking at Tech as he alternated between checking the ship’s indicators and typing furiously on his datapad. “You know we’ve gotta talk about what happened yesterday.”

“I anticipated as much. I am… less than thrilled.” Tech sighed. 

“Well too bad.” Wrecker and Echo both walked in, the corporal leaning in the doorframe while Wrecker lounged against the back of Hunter’s chair. 

Tech groaned. “This does not need to be a squad affair.”

“Yes it does. This affects the entire squad.” Hunter nodded. “If you’re going to yell at her across the whole ship where we can all hear, then you’re going to get everyone’s opinion.”

Tech put his head in his hands. “I do not appear to have a choice, it would seem. And I did not intend to yell at her…” He’d meant what he said, but the memory of the way he’d said it still burned his throat all over again. “How angry is she?”

“She’s not.” Wrecker sighed. “Just confused and sad about it. She loves you, Tech.”

“And you clearly feel the same.” Echo waved his scomp in the air. “We’ve had this discussion, vod. Why are you doing this to both of you?”

“Because it is the only way I do not lose her!” Tech snapped. “Why am I the only one who seems to understand that?”

“Looks to me like you’re doing the opposite.” Hunter said coolly.

“I am not designed for romantic entanglements. My nature is not… I cannot give her what she deserves.” Tech rubbed his temples, frustrated. “You all have told me hundreds of times I am abrasive, blunt, and obsessive with my work. These are not traits of an ideal partner. I cannot change who I am. The logical conclusion is I would fail her as a partner. I cannot make her the priority she deserves to be. Not and keep all of us alive and the ship maintained, and try to formulate an educational plan for Omega so that she might be able to protect herself in the event something else takes her away like what just happened on Bracca.” Tech’s shoulders were tense, spine threatening to snap as he laid out everything in his over-twisted mind. “You think I do not love Shiani? I would do anything not to lose her. That is why I cannot be anything more than her friend, because it is the only thing I know I can accomplish. If I disappoint her in something more than that, she will inevitably come to resent me and leave. I cannot stand that. I realized that after Salucemi, and have done everything since then to prevent it.” 

Wrecker made a face. “You already act like you’re dating. Tech, she’s the only person in the galaxy you’d ever willingly cuddle with. You don’t even let Omega snuggle with you like the rest of us do.”

Tech shook his head. “Shiani is biologically wired to prefer physical closeness…It is a siren trait. I have grown accustomed to it.”

“You’ve known me and Wrecker since you came out the tube.” Hunter huffed. “You literally put a proximity sensor around your bunk when we were cadets so no one could touch you unexpectedly.”

“She is… softer. More careful.” Tech’s face turned red. His brothers were rough, even when they tried not to be. But being close to Shiani was always comforting, and he never ended up with an accidental elbow in his rib or his goggles knocked half off in the shuffle. 

“And apparently not opposed to those cuddles going further than that.” Wrecker rolled his eyes. “She literally told me all you ever had to do was ask. But you’re gonna mess around and she’s gonna start looking for snuggles from somebody else cause you’ve turned her down enough times.”

Tech froze, a lump in his throat at the idea of watching Shiani with someone else. Who would she pick? One of his brothers, or a stranger? He’d had his share of shore-leave flings, but most clones had. The idea of her picking up a partner on Ord Mantell, even something not serious, made him want to rip his brain out of his head and run it under cold water to prevent a short circuit. “I..” 

Echo leaned in. “I couldn’t even blame her if she did. If I chose to live in exile to save somebody’s life and they slammed a door in my face like you did last night, I’d probably be trying to find a way to get over them. When I was in the 501st, my buddy Fives told me the best way to get over one person was get under another.”

Tech’s eye twitched for a moment at the idea, ready to say something defensive, when he spotted a flaw in the argument. “Your hypothesis is flawed. Shiani was exiled against her will; she did not choose it. Therefore it had nothing to do with me.”

Echo snorted. “Not what she told me. According to her, she could have avoided exile, but she would have had to drown you on Kamino. And she refused, in order to save your life.” 

Hunter winced. “Oof. If sirens have a biological impulse for closeness, and as busy as our training was… that must have been torture for her. I thought the living in garbage part was rough.”

Tech’s breath hitched. “She… did not tell me about that.”

“She probably didn’t want you to feel guilty.” Wrecker pointed out. “But it seems pretty clear that if she was willing to leave her people for you, she’s not gonna go anywhere. Even if you guys didn’t work out as a couple, you mean a lot to her.” 

Tech rubbed his temples. “I need to process this. Is… did she say anything else I should know?”

“She said nothing had to change that you didn’t want to change.” Wrecker said quietly. ‘But you know how you pick up your arm for her to cuddle under it? You both do it without even talking anymore.”

Tech nodded. It had turned into a reflexive action, how he indicated to her that he was okay with the contact. They’d been doing it since he’d graduated from Basic, when he’d come to understand she was totally on her own. “Yes.”

“She said when she’s there, she feels like she doesn’t belong.” Wrecker shook his head. “Even though it’s her favorite place to be.” 

Tech winced. “I am not trying to hurt her.”

“We know.” Hunter sighed. “But you are. And yourself. Look, I can’t give you orders on something like this. But I think you’re doing more harm than good if your goal is not to lose her. Just saying.” He got up, and waved the other three to follow him. “And Tech?”

“Yes?”

“For what it’s worth, I think she’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to you. She’s the only one that can get you out of your own head sometimes.”

Tech was left alone with his thoughts again, and they were more complicated than they had even been the night before. When Ord Mantell came into view, he moved my muscle memory alone to get them landed safely.

Tech was still thinking when they arrived back in the bar. There was a crowd, which was unusual, and Omega was at the dejarik table with Cid in the middle of it. Shiani was seated on a corner of the bar, a mic in hand, singing a tune that had half the bar throwing money or themselves at her, and the other half betting on Omega. 

Echo snickered. “So much for laying low.”

Omega glanced up and quickly won the match she was playing. Cid grinned, claws open to take in credits when the girl jumped up and ran over to them. Shiani perked up as well and hopped off the bar, leaving the mic on the bartop as she made her way through the crowd as well. 

Omega was grinning, eager to prove herself, when Hunter fixed her with a displeased look. “I thought I told you to keep a low profile, Omega. It’s dangerous to attract this much attention!”

The little girl’s expression fell and she backed up, bumping into Shiani. The siren wrapped her arms around Omega’s shoulders, cocking her head to the side. “You should be grateful to Baby Mega. She paid off all the debt to Cid.” 

Hunter blinked. “What?” 

Omega leaned back into Shiani’s snuggle, the siren moving one clawed hand to gently pet her hair. “I thought if I could win enough money to pay Cid back, you’d see I wasn’t useless….” 

Hunter froze, thinking back to the conversation they’d all had with Tech. No wonder Shiani looked like she wanted to bite him; Omega felt alone and Shiani knew all about that feeling. After a moment, he shook his head and knelt, waving Omega over to him. She glanced up at Shiani, who opened her arms and gave her a nod. “Hunter loves you, Baby Mega.” She said softly. “Go make up.”

Omega skidded over to Hunter, who put a hand on her shoulder and tried to explain he didn’t think she was useless and was grateful for her contributions. He ended up nodding to the dejarik table and cutting her a deal; if she beat him he wouldn’t make her stay behind on missions anymore. Wrecker and Echo moved over to watch, making their own wager on who was going to win. 

Shiani smiled nodded, content with things being as they should with Omega and Hunter. She glanced at Tech, who’s eyes were fixed on his boots, and sighed before slipping outside to head back to the ship. He probably didn’t want to take their usual walk around the city to look at the lights… maybe she’d walk on her own for a little while.

Wrecker elbowed him sharply and pointed as the siren’s tentacles vanished out the door. “Go talk to her.”

Tech caught up with Shiani outside, standing under a string of paper lanterns two blocks from the bar that she liked to look at. She had her arms folded behind her back and her tentacles wound around her waist, eyes lifted up. She’d always loved lights, and he wondered how often she sat under those camp lanterns he’d stolen from their supply kits and silently made the same face she was making now while in the cave on Kamino. Had she been thinking about the life she’d saved, the one who was unknowing and ungrateful for her sacrifice? Did she ever regret it when she was especially lonely? 

“Shiani?” He murmured, catching her attention. 

Her ear fins wiggled at the sound of his voice, and she turned around. The lights left almost cartoonishly adorable sparkles in her big eyes. “Tech.” She sounded a little guarded, worried he was still upset with her. “I’m glad you came back safe.”

“Your concern is appreciated.”  He stepped up even with her and looked up at the lights. “Would you still like to walk with me? I understand if you would prefer space…”

She looked surprised. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No. I owe you an apology.” He sighed. “I behaved badly. I was embarrassed, but that is no excuse to raise my voice to you, or storm off. I’m sorry for my behavior.” 

“I accept your apology.” She murmured. She wanted to try to pick up the conversation between them and see if there was any way to come to an understanding, but she didn’t want to risk the fight starting again. “And… yes. I’d like to walk.”

Tech hesitantly lifted his closest arm, and she slotted herself under it automatically. It still felt persistently like she was in someone else’s assigned seat, but she couldn’t make herself let go. They turned down the block, picking up the familiar track they always walked when they got back from a mission. Tech had charted it to pass the most street signs and city lights, for her to look at. 

Tech didn’t say much, glancing back at her face from time to time. Instead of looking at the lights like she usually did, she kept looking back at him too. He finally sighed. “You want to say something.”

“I don’t want to start another argument.” She shook her head. “I don’t like it when you’re mad at me.”

“I was not mad at you, Shiani. I was… that was an uncomfortable situation, out of my control. I became overwhelmed, and took that out on you unfairly. But you were not the problem. You have never been the problem.” Tech sighed again, slowing his steps until they’d stopped in a local courtyard. They were the only ones there, which he found somewhat comforting.

“Will you explain to me what the problem is?” She murmured, and she looked so tired when she looked up at him. He wondered if she’d slept at all the night before, before she got stuck performing for Cid’s patrons. 

Tech rubbed the bridge of his nose, giving himself a mental pep talk before looking at her. “Our lives are extremely uncertain right now. At any moment, we could end up back on the run again. I am the pilot, and the one responsible for major ship repairs, reviewing plans with Hunter, managing supply manifests, and developing a curriculum to teach Omega. In short, I am picking up my job and additional duties brought on by our situation and the absence of Crosshair. At any point, I may be busy for sixteen hours straight without pause, and that is not taking into consideration my personal projects I am well known to become obsessed with for days or weeks at a time.”

Shiani nodded. “I know. I help you with some of those things.” 

“And as it is, I already cannot give you the amount of attention you deserve. That is as your friend. As a romantic partner, I would be a dismal failure.” He shook his head with a wince. “It is only logical that you would eventually resent me, and want to leave. I have said repeatedly that I do not want to lose you. That is why I did not want to tell you… what was mentioned on Bracca.”

She blinked up at him, little dotted brow furrowed and the occasional pulse of blue light down her body. He was scared, and it made her genius stupid… after so many months of wondering what was wrong with her that hadn’t been wrong with the pretty little bar girls and dancers on Coruscant, the truth came out that he felt the same way she did and was being an idiot about it. After a few moments, her expression smoothed and she shook her head. “I don’t like you deciding things for me, Tech. I didn’t like it when you decided I should leave on Salucemi, and I don’t like it now that you’ve decided how I would feel about this.” 

“It is a perfectly logical progression of emotions-” He started, but she held up her hand and ducked out from under his arm so she could face him.

“It might be for a human, I guess. But not for me. When sirens love, we can feel every beat of the other’s hearts. Two become one. Does your right hand get jealous it doesn’t hold the left one?” 

He blinked, startled, as she took both of his hands in hers seriously. “Shiani…”

“I told you I didn’t expect anything from you, and I still don’t.” She murmured. “And that all I wanted was to be beside you. I waited for months between visits just to see you on Kamino, and years to see the stars with you. I made my decision, and it’s always going to be you. So please stop trying to make different ones for me?” She squeezed his hands in three quick bursts, then let them go. “You’ll make whatever choice you make. Please don’t make it based on your assumptions, okay? I’m going to go back to the ship, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

He blinked. “Are you angry with me now?”

“No. I just think you are the smartest moron the galaxy has ever produced.” She smiled faintly. “Lucky for you, you’re pretty.” She reached up and patted his cheek fondly, then turned on her heel and walked back towards the ship with her hands back behind her back. 

Tech was left standing in the middle of the street, entirely confused and with his heart thumping hard in his throat. For a split second when she’d reached for his face, he’d thought she was going to kiss him… and he’d decided he wasn’t going to stop her if she did.

[loverboy1717]

First, I have not seen it yet and if I end up being wrong I’ll eat my words and say so. So don’t come for me in the comments yeah?

Second, I’m sincerely wondering if the people who are saying Next Goal Wins is transphobic are saying it cus it actually is or because it was honest and portrayed transphobia in sport.

I’m wondering if these peeps have any understanding of how fucked up organized footie is? I wonder if they’ve ever seriously followed international soccer or know it well. Cus anybody who does would not expect there to be no conflict or shitty behavior towards an out queer player.

Im not saying it’s okay at all that it happens. Im just saying a world without gender identities being mishandled in soccer does not exist.The sport itself is beautiful. I started playing at four years old. I played competitively from ten all the way through senior year in high school and then quit when I came out and nobody wanted to change in front of me in the locker room anymore. (Being a cis white queer woman sucked. I can’t imagine how much worse it is/was for a player on the international stage as a gender non conforming person of color.) I found my way back in my mid twenties and still play in competative rec leagues at thirty one. This sport is something I could not live without. There are moments of sheer fucking joy and magic and catharsis and banter and shit housing and community. I truly feel kinship with other people who love this silly game as much as I do. But it can also be a trashcan fire of bullshit and hate. It isn’t fucking Ted Lasso my dudes.

And this movie is about FIFA qualifiers for a low af ranked team. It’s about a supremely underfunded and written off team made up of PoC. It follows a white head coach who is gonna come in and turn them around more for his own redemption than for the teams success. This was never gonna be a completely light hearted romp no matter how it was marketed. Fifa fucking sucks guys. The corporate side of soccer fucking sucks. The coaches trying to make names for themselves or don’t think they will have to pay for their actions fucking suck. That doesn’t mean there are not meaningful stories to tell about players.

What I’m trying to say is I’m curious to see if this is transphobia because it’s transphobia or if it is accurately depicting some transphobic bullshit that happened and people online are mad about that existing in a movie they wanted to be safe and gooey and silly. Basically, I remember when people said Jojo Rabit was antisemitic and it absolutely isn’t. So forgive me for taking some of the bad reviews with a grain of salt.

Like I said I’ll eat my words and own being wrong if I end up being wrong. I just don’t trust media literacy these days and am gonna wait to see for myself because I’ve been jazzed as fuck for this movie for months and months.

[hyenahunt]

Saga: Rivals - 6

Writer: Akira

Season: Winter

Characters: Jun, Hiyori

Proofreading: moricchiichan (JP) & hyenahunt (ENG)

Translation: kotofucius

Hiyori: Jun-kun... Can I give you a hug?

Jun: ... well, I do get what you’re saying. Nothing's gonna change if I just keep moping around.

Hiyori: Yes, yes. So wipe that gloomy look away — let’s move onto more enjoyable topics!

Have a look over here, Jun-kun! I dropped by the agency on my way home, you see —

And they gave me aaall these fan letters!

Regardless of where the winds of history will blow, or whatever tall tales of us are spoken, there are so many people who still love us!

If we were to ever let these people feel that cheering us on was a waste of time... why, that would be the end of us. So you see, we must continue to hold our heads high and lavish our brilliant love on them, all the while with radiant smiles on our faces ♪

Jun: Ooh... You brought heaps of 'em home again, huh~ And to think you won’t even carry shopping bags on your own, usually.

Hiyori: Well, I didn’t have anyone to carry them for me this time.

In the morning, I brought Hidaka-sensei to Yumenosaki Academy, and briefly dropped in to say hello to Eichi-kun and the others. Afterwards, I just had fun wandering about town.

Hehe, we’ve almost always been around each other since Eve's formation, so being all alone for once was in fact rather refreshing.

Jun: But aren'tcha the the type that gets lonely on your own? You could’ve called me up, y'know.

Hiyori: Oh no, you second years still have your normal class times, don't you? So I was just being considerate~ It was lonely, of course, but I endured it!

Jun: Well, yeah, but the higher-ups are all still busy ‘cause of SS, so even in class we just mostly did some self-studying.

Speaking of which, we got out of SS unharmed ‘cause we sided with Trickstar — in fact, the public now has an even better opinion of us thanks to that —

Hiyori: Yes. And now Ibara is taking full advantage of it to play his game of politics as he climbs the corporate ladder with incredible momentum.

With the rate he’s going at, he may already come to stand at the very top of CosPro by next term.

Jun: Hmph. Not that I get what's so great about ruling over this tattered wreck of an agency, but...

Well, I guess there’s some kinda worth in everything? Actually, we’re talking about Ibara here — he's gonna find some use for it, one way or the other.

But yeah, anyway, despite being part of CosPro we’re still profiting from the situation .

And all those other guys probably hate us for that, yeah? Dealing with their pointed glares and shittalking gossip is 'bout as pleasant as stepping on Legos, I swear.

Jun: Well, by now I'm pretty much immune to that kinda stuff. But in the end, I just can’t help feeling guilty about it... or like, I can’t help but wonder: why me?

I don’t wanna keep asking the same thing over and over, but I can’t just shake it off or figure it out... I mean, is it really okay for me and only me to be this happy?

Ever since I was a snot-nosed brat, I've grown up stuck between my shitty old man who's trapped in the past, and my mom who did nothing but cry...

So to me, the life I have right now is like something right outta a dream. And that's exactly why it scares me.

After all, there are people in this world out there living in the absolute dumps... I mean, I was one of 'em.

So y'see, I get what you mean and all, that if I’ve got more happiness than I know what to do with, I should share it with those who aren't as lucky.

But no matter what, I just can't stop dwelling on it. Why me? There wasn't any real reason for it, y'know? It was just a stroke of dumb luck... all thanks to you finding me.

I basically earned it by chance, without a lick of effort on my part — and that's exactly why it feels like I could lose it just as easily...

And it makes me so anxious. I want something to convince me that I’m someone who actually deserves the happiness that I have, just as I am.

But there's nothing I can do right now except train up my strength. I know, I know, all it'll actually do is add to my muscle...

But still, I need to grow stronger, even if just by a bit. I need to become a true idol I can be proud of.

Or else, Ohii-san... I just can't ever forgive myself for being happy.

Hiyori: Jun-kun... Can I give you a hug?

Jun: 'Scuse me? I'll pass, that's gross. Your replies just... never make any sense, do they?

Hiyori: Whenever you feel anxious, there's nothing like letting someone hold you tight while you listen to the sound of their heartbeat. See? Mary felt so safe and secure in my arms that she's fast asleep now ♪

Jun: Haha. You'd never have guessed she used to yelp all night in fear when we first brought her home.

Hiyori: Yes, the thought of the dorm head catching on and coming to tell us off certainly kept us on edge.

Hiyori: The poor girl was born frail... Perhaps that was the reason her owner so heartlessly abandoned her.

She could have died out there in the harsh outdoors, so perhaps she was truly blessed to have stayed alive.

She was scavenging a garbage dump that day, with a desperation to stay alive and her fur stained with blood.

Perhaps I ought to have left her alone. Touching her would stain my own clothes; and I had no reason to think she would have a better life under my care...

But before I knew it, she was already bundled in my arms, my cheek pressed to her fur.

I felt the warmth of her body, and the beat of her heart. And now that I'd found her, there was no way I could leave her alone.

She could stain my clothes for all I care...

If she had died only after there wasn't anything more I could've done to save her, I could still live the rest of my life with that feeling of helplessness and regret.

But if I were to simply abandon this precious life to die, then I could never love myself again. And if I were ever unable to love even myself, why, I wouldn’t be able to live on for even a second longer.

So you see, it was for myself that I picked her up and cared for her, cherished her, and fed her.

I may not be able to save every helpless life in existence, but I wish to protect at least those that are around me.

Then, those who I protected and raised may in turn grow up to be tall and strong and splendid... Perhaps they may even come to provide me with solace and happiness.

And so long as that cycle of love persists, I'll be able to believe that the world isn't all that bad.

Jun: ... and what're you tryna say with all that?

Hiyori: What I'm saying is that you don’t need to be anxious or afraid either, Jun-kun.

You may have asked “Why me?”... but does there truly need to be a reason? Why not just go with the thought that it was the wonderful destiny God always had in store for you, and leave it at that?

More importantly — we'll be getting busy soon enough, so you should go take a bath, change into your pajamas, and get enough sleep for tomorrow.

Jun: ... gotcha. We're gonna barge right into Yumenosaki tomorrow under the pretense of meeting up with Hidaka-sensei, right?

Hiyori: Yes. We'll say our hellos, first of all. Then, just like the typical rivals of a shounen manga, we'll defeat that group they call Ba-barrier.

"Ba-barrier defeated when even Project-Saga's fan-favourite Rain-bows struggled against them — just who are these victors!?"

... So shall be our headline as they welcome our debut with dramatic fanfare! ♪

Jun: Haha. With a dramatic entrance like that, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if we just ended up losing against those Ba-barrier guys?

Hiyori: Our possibility of losing is zero. Well, Ba-barrier does have Madara-kun, so they may not quite go down without a fight...

But no man or devil stands the slightest chance of victory against us... Not when we have the divine perfection of our ruthless angel of victory on our side.

✦✦✦✦✦

← prev ✦ all ✦ next →

[blazehedgehog]

Isn't Steam a paradox from an economic point of view? They have the first mover adventage, they have a de facto monopoly, but they are not at all greedy -- not to the point of being anti-consumer, at least. And the innovations they bring to the table are actually useful stuff (Proton above all). Valve is just.. there, operating their business, making good money with nobody really complaining.

It depends on what economic values you subscribe to. A lot of guys like EA want to take the shortcut to easy money. EA even tried to compete with Steam, remember. They had their "Origin" client. They gave away free games for over a year and still nobody would use it. The hope was to give them something comparable to Valve's firehose of money. An easy profit stream where they could get a cut of every game sold on PC just by the simple fact they existed.

Rather than just do good work, they hoped to pry people off of Steam with the promise of regular freebies... except it was a client nobody wanted to use and in a lot of cases actively hated. It lacked most of the features of Steam, was a little bloated, and came at a time where EA was starting to push increasingly aggressive DRM that limited how many "activations" you were allowed per-game. So, it struggled.

The same thing happened with Uplay. Ubisoft thought they could make their own Steam, but the greed was too evident and annoying. It was a hassle to work with, added nothing of real value, and nobody wanted to use it. So most people didn't, unless they were forced to use it.

That's the thing with these corporations, right? Nothing is ever enough. They can't just sell well on Steam, they have to make their own platform so they can have all the money. And the profit lines must not only always go up, it has to go up faster. More and faster and more and faster and more and faster until the wheels come off and everything breaks.

Then these board of director weirdos, now among the richest 5% of people on earth, pull the ripcord and parachute over to the next corporation and start over. All the money, more and faster and more and faster...

What separates Valve is that Valve never seems to have treated it like much of a race. Like, sure, they do things to boost sales (even recently had a really ugly "capitalism celebration" sale event) but they seem pretty comfortable being themselves and not cranking all the dials until they break off.

Some of that is arguably down to the fact that Valve never became a publicly traded company. Once you get listed on the stock market, investors enter the picture, and the whole dynamic of how a company exists changes. Publicly traded companies rely on investors for some amount of operating costs, and the highest ranking investors can even legally control some part of your company as if they were employed there.

But there's never any guarantee that an investor knows what is good for your company. They just gave you a lot of money and expect you to pay it back at some point (by increasing shareholder value). And its created this culture of people who race to maximize everything at the expense of the structural integrity of the company and its employees. It's like (spoilers for one of the most famous movie trilogies of all time) the end of Back to the Future 3, right, where they need to get this old 1800's locomotive up to 88mph.

Feeding it that much fuel, getting the heat up that high, it builds up extreme pressure in the boiler and the train will eventually explode. Except for a lot of these business types, exploding the boiler is the point. Exploding the boiler is a successful operation. Like I said: more and faster and more and faster, right?

Some companies need investor money to survive. But... not all do. Many of them still go public anyway, because the race to explode the boiler matters more than just being comfortable. We're still in the era of people starting companies just to sell them.

Valve got lucky. They established an emerging market, gave people exactly what they wanted, and became the defacto home for PC gaming. Steam was such a comfortable, welcoming platform that nobody even thought about competing with them until they had already gained too much momentum to ever be slowed down.

And the only reasons most people can come up with to compete with Valve is "We want more money." Valve wants 30% of my earnings? A whole 30%??? Unreasonable! I'll start my own storefront! With blackjack! And etc.!

As someone who works with Youtube and gets a 55/45 split, I guess I don't have perspective on how 30% is some kind of horrible offense. Only in my wildest dreams would Youtube give me 70/30.

But really, that's all this is. Valve did good work and got themselves into a position where they now can't really be out-spent into obsolescence. I mean, Epic Games is currently trying to do that, and they're burning something in the realm of $275,000,000 a year (according to this website I am unfamiliar with and have never read before today). By Epic's own statistics, most people registered to the EGS client spend less than a dollar on the platform (723m users apparently spent $820m).

Valve has so much momentum with Steam that they can (and often do) just coast, granting them a reputation for taking a very long time fine-tuning most of their products until they are perfect. Gabe Newell is so rich he owns and operates multiple fully-staffed private yachts. Not by more and faster, but by getting to the race track before anyone even knew it was open and just doing the job so consistently they are now ten laps ahead.

To compare with what happened with Netflix, which also established an emerging market: Netflix also didn't want to just coast. Movie disc rentals by mail became streaming movies. That turned into streaming TV. That turned into Netflix wanting to make their own original content so they wouldn't have to pay to license anyone else's movies. That turned into Netflix wanting to offer games. And lest we forget, the founder of Netflix specifically has a vendetta against theatrical movies and continues to deliberately erode that market.

There is no "coasting" for Netflix. There is only more and faster. Netflix put out 17 original films in 2016. Last year, 2023, Netflix put out 153 original films, 49 original documentaries, 11 TV specials, 11 short films, 28 stand-up comedy shows, and at least 26 new original TV shows. The aim is not to maintain a good platform, the aim is to dominate and make all the money there is to make in multiple industries. The line must always goes up until the boiler explodes.

Anyone could just do what Valve did, but nobody wants to because it's too slow and takes too much actual work (and luck) making genuinely good products. It also theoretically leads to a "dead end" where growth slows or even stops. That means the line doesn't go up anymore, it just levels out and stays there. Outrageous! You mean the man who owns a fleet of yachts doesn't want make infinitely more money forever? The nerve of some people.

It's easier to crack the whip on someone else and crank up the heat until the boiler explodes. Especially when that's what all the competition is doing, too.

[dreadfutures]

we are pissing away every chance to combat global warming and direct much needed federal funds to clean water and housing and food security for the most vulnerable in our country

for the fucking military industrial complex and anti Arab racism

I fucking hate this place and every old white guy in politics needs to GTFO. all of them. I would use stronger language except if the government ever links me to this, which could totally happen if the next person in charge decides to crack down on that and spy on employees, i don't want to go to jail lmaooooo

there was so much that got fucked over by trump and the GOP and so much that has been not only reversed but so vastly improved under this administration, such truly truly progressive fucking revolutionary uses of government to make real much needed progress for citizens. and it's all getting fucking pissed away by one stupid man's commitment to Israel. a majority of his own administration is against him on this and he is just torpedoing any chance of reelection, and the first thing Trump's gonna do is a) tell Israel to nuke whoever they want and b) replace the head of every government agency to do with energy, the environment, human support, and infrastructure, with embezzling cronies obsessed with oil and nothing else, just like last time, which fucking. ended up with literally an embezzlement scandal, and huge budget cuts that set back science and welfare decades.

pissed away.

trump is gonna win because no one wants to vote for the CURRENT genocide supporter and when we don't vote for a blue president we don't get a blue president. I so look forward to enjoying the 100fold increase in military spending and the next world war that Trump will start.

every person who will ever run for president is gonna be a murderer and an awful person, you don't get that much money behind you without it. We are always gonna be faced with the "lesser of two evils means you're still voting for evil" argument but genuinely, genuinely, I would still rather have an inch of progress than 4 steps backward.

the world gets better, the world gets less capable of mass awfulness, when we are able to build up structures and maintain them for good. Inch by inch. But the GOP has and will continue to fucking dismantle them and set up and reinforce the structures that allow the military industrial complex and big oil and other evils to thrive, and the more entrenched they are, the less progress the next "lesser of two evils" will be able to make.

I want to wave my wand and give us an entirely new form of government and governmental priorities and the way that government money is spent, but we can't do that before November. this is the awful hellscape we live in and sitting out en masse is an active torpedo.

I wish our primary system wasn't a joke I wish we had actual candidates I wish we had no lobbyists I wish we had no corporate money in politics but that's not the world we live in and it never will be if the GOP gets to have another chance and another chance and another chance and continues to dismantle what little democratic power we have lmaoooo

I hate this place I hate this choice.

can't convince anyone of that and the choice makes me want to throw up anyway. so we're fucked! we're fucked. didn't even get the senator I wanted. fuckers.

[philanthropicfeline]

"Another suitcase in another hall" - Andrew Lloyd Webber

*TW: I will be discussing adult scenarios and themes that have happened in my life so fair warning cuz this post is pretty dark and I'm tired of being in my body rn*

Look at me in that image. I'm asking for it. I'm begging as the drool, pools in my mouth. Ravish me till I turn blue...

I'm just flesh and bone

All I am is flesh and bone

Nothing more and nothing less

I'm only needed when I'm needed, never wanted, never more

Discarded when they're finished, scraped hollow, left alone

I was made to be used, all I am is flesh and bone

Not good enough for good things, just enough for temporary thrills

But that's okay, my purpose here is clear

I was meant for others, I was meant to be used

I'm surprisingly happy with being a mere object

Tossed around, only to be found by my next user

I will wear and tear, I will bend and fold,

I won't break, I'm already broken

She doesn't say hi, he doesn't say bye, they don't say hello

She's never said hi, he always waves bye, they don't speak at all

I'm so tired, but I can't be tired, all I am is flesh and bone

Flesh and bone, corrupted flesh, burnt bone

No such thing as pain, ash is my home

Why do I keep making mistakes? Why am I so mean?

I hate hating her, I love loving her, I'm tired of her and her moods

I'm not worth the time, I'm a waste of space;

I'm just flesh and bone...

Listening to this song doesn't seem to be a good idea in my current state of mind. It's clear as day that this song is about sex. I can't help but wonder...is sex all I'll ever be good at? Is that all I'll ever amount to? Is there more to me than sex? Maybe it's deeper than that.

I was in a situation once where 3 girls (myself included) were "sharing" the night with one guy. This chap so happened to take my virginity. I was still new at this "play thing" role, but I was certain that I wanted to gain more experience and have fun. I didn't have as much experience with this like the other 2 girls so I agreed that watching and giving pleasure was more suited for me that night. I watched as the three fell into a trance of love and lust and I was enchanted by the display before me. They had so much fun and I was watching from the side with a smile. What a night that was. But why did I feel so lonely?

The girls said goodnight while I was asked to stay behind and sleep over. "Did you have fun?" he asked. It was more than fun, it was like living a scene straight outta the erotica I've been reading for years. "I really did!" I wagged my tail in content, but something still felt off inside me. I wasn't jealous, seeing the passionate blush glazed over the girls faces was beyond beautiful, I just couldn't figure out if there was something else I wanted.

The lights went out, we went to bed and my eyes were almost shut until he turned around abruptly and gave me a fright.

"Omg I didn't make you cum!!" He said with a sad tone. The sad realization that I was somewhat ignored all night started settling in. He turned on the lights and apologized profusely. I didn't need any of that, I didn't feel any wrong doing but I couldn't tell him that something else was bothering me since I couldn't put my finger on it. Then he pet my head and told me I was a good person.

That was it. All I wanted was the affirmation of my humanity. No pet names, no demeaning terms of endearment. Someone said my name and told me that I was a good person. A person. I was a person, I am one.

Sometimes I lose myself and forget that I'm human. Sometimes I like to provoke others to objectify me up till my beaking point and I convince myself that I'm merely a doll made for people to use, abuse, mark, and ruin; why? Because I'm good at it. I have always been good at it. I was raised in a church and I was raised by corporal punishment. The sting of metal and sharp things are not a new concept.

Humiliation, degradation and insults were part of the package growing up, but being seen as a person was such a foreign idea. There are scars that my heart will never reveal to the world, and there are those who I will forgive, but never forget. People are always bad liars. I used to interpret hellos as "can you do me a favor?" That way of thinking isn't ideal but I was right 99% of the time. A hello would usually mean that someone needs something from you and then toss you aside when they're done. I usually play the game and pretend that I haven't a clue about their intentions but eventually I started timing things out and was disappointed by how short each hello became with every conversation...now I'm wary...

Oh to be on the cycle. My brain hurts. My c*@t is sore. Some of you might just read this and rub one out, whatever. It is what it is.

[damelucyjo]

I think I'm gonna come on here and spew my thoughts and feelings about each episode rather than on Twitter. I think I'll also say more about each episode here than over there...

Anyway! I'll keep everything under a cut just in case. Although it's been a while since the episode dropped, I just wanna be safe!

Episode 1 - Smells Like Mean Spirit

Here we go!

Oo scruffy Ted!! 😍

Why is she in his phone as 'Michelle Lasso'? I don't have anyone I really know in my phone with their full name. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILD!!!

Still with the 'Ted has feelings for his ex' thing I see...

Henry's cute

Henry's been in London for 6 weeks and we saw none of it?! RUDE!

He still talks to Sharon! I love that

LEGO NELSON ROAD!!

OMG these Lego characters are brilliant!! And Ted & Rebecca next to each other 👀

It looks like they had fun whilst he was there...

EXCUSE ME why the same shower scene from season 1?!

So this season is going to be about Ted thinking about where he belongs then?

BRENDAN HUNT'S PARTNER AND SON!!! He is one cute baby!!

Earl Greyhound Training Facility. Nice.

Sharon Fieldstone! You cheeky bitch!! I love her

YYEEEAAAAHHH!!!!

Angry Rebecca is back. I'm in love

Hannah, looking delicious as ever 🥵

Something's wrong because he didn't rhyme? So true haha

I'm so fucking excited to see more Rupert this season!!

Ooo she's struggling with this, huh

She swears ALL THE TIME! Why did that one shock Higgins so much!?

Howdy & Yo. And then she nearly walked into the door frame. Amazing.

I need Dani's optimism

And Jamie's confidence haha

Roy & Beard's friendship is my favourite

FIFA reference, of course

His tiny car with those super cars is a great visual

Hello West Ham's Higgins

KEELEY!!!

'Fuck you, Joe Rogan' Exactly.

'Angel, Mentor, Guru Rebecca' How fucking cute are they!! 🥰

It's Katy Wix!! Love her!

Keeley's office looks like a fun place... 🫣

Their friendship is gorgeous. I love this gossip dynamic

Rebecca's reaction to Keeley just throwing her coat 😂 Amazing.

Yikes?! Where did she pick that up, I wonder...

Don't cry Keeley!!

Aww, mumma Rebecca to the rescue 🥹 She's so maternal

We must protect Dani at all costs!!

I love spotting Will in the background, he's always doing something fun

Of course their driver was a cult leader

EVERYONE RUN EXCEPT ROY!!

'Like an orgasm for the soul' You sure have a way with words, Rebecca

Gotta let Ted be Ted. Too right!

I KNEW that 'legend' bit was edited in the preview clip!

Loving uncomfortable, awkward Rebecca

And of course Keeley sees no problem is spending £200 on flowers because they look and smell nice

SHE SEEMS FUN!! Great Beard call back! 😂

Corporate Flying Object. Please never change Keeley!

She's eating meat again...👀 Hmm, okay

I can't wait for more Keeley & Rebecca bonding. It's my favourite

Fucking dumb-dumb line. Nathan is vile. Nick is brillaint.

They named him Disco purely for that line. Tell me I'm wrong

RUPERT! In his cartoon villain lair! Complete contrast to Rebecca's office

I fucking LOVE Anthony Head. He plays slimy so well

We're getting to see how Rupert charms his way onto people, interesting.

'Roy Kent, that you?' 'Get fucked' I just love him, guys!

'Why are you dressed like an umlaut?' Why ask if you have a matching one, Leslie??

MY GOD does Hannah looking FUCKING FIT in this episode. Only thought in my head every time she's on screen

Field trip to a fucking sewer! Let's go, boys!

Of course Henry asked to tour the sewer system because he watched IT and got scared. It is fucking smart, well said Roy!

'Twat' Well said Rebecca

Rupert is going to keep saying 'Wonder Kid' isn't he, because he knows it gets to Nate 👀

West Ham's press room isn't as fun as Richmond's

Oooo a King & I reference... okay, okay

I really wish spitting wasn't his 'thing'. It's gross. I know it makes sense, I still hate it.

LESLIE HIGGINS IS EATING HER BISCUIT AND SHE'S SO FOCUSED SHE DIDN'T REALISE!!! wow

Of course Jamie says poopy and not shit

I love how these boys trust Ted so much that they just went into a sewer, then asked why when they were down there

She's gonna break that laptop one day

Jamie being the one to reiterate the lesson they just learnt? Boys growing up!! AND HE'S RHYMING!!

Oooo she's angry 🥵

Rupert is laughing at me, Ted 🥺 ouch

And I am begging you, please, fight back OMFG 😭😭

I love how they highlight how different the press rooms are. They're all friends at Richmond, press included

And the contrast between Nate saying vile stuff and Ted saying encouraging stuff. Beautiful.

I'm kinda surprised though that Rebecca looks worried and doesn't trust him

But of course she's the only one who catches his baseball reference

Did Brett get in a Twin Peaks reference? Good for him!!

They're really highlighting the fact that kindness & comedy win, huh?

Ooo Rupert buying Nathan fancy gifts... so it begins!

Roy & Keeley not saying the same thing is very telling, I think

Firstly, why did it take them 6 weeks to tell Phoebe? And secondly, did they not actually discuss it themselves?Nobody knows what's going on!

Phoebe is so grown up! Asking the important questions

'Can I say a bad word? I think you're being stupid' I love her

Another conversation about why he's still in London? This really is going to be the theme of this season, I guess

Is moving that Lego Nate foreshadowing him coming back???

'Mommy's friend' 👀 uh oh

And that's episode 1 done!! Yes, I probably will be watching it on repeat until next Wednesday, thanks for asking.

[quartetofstories]

I work for a company, let's call it smail vesort company. And I'm working f&b at a location that's doing really well. Only problem is they hired heavy on the J1s and now there's to many hands not enough to do, and they've been cutting f&b labor budget slowly since the season started. And look I've done everything I can to keep them from having any reason to come in my kitchen. We all take lunches, and I've been to spaceing out who I'm asking to go home early and taking half days myself so I don't have to send the crew home and it's not the same people getting cut all the time. But there's only so much I can do. Like weve been doing so well, they straight up closed three other locations, and cut hours at 4 before we got the written heads up to keep an eye on hours. Over the course of the last weeks they cut everyone down to 35 and the crew down to 20. Well, the ax is finally coming down and they're cutting breakfast service and closing an hour early to try to fit the labor cost. They're starting the new schedule during Presidents week one of our busiest time. And my Boss has been nice enough to give me the heads up. He's been keeping me updates on the situation thr entire time and I've been doing my best to keep my guys informed but like this really kind of sucks. Corporates hope is that in cutting hours people are willing to go home and then hours can be more evenly distributed. Wich I hate that it makes sense but it kills me that like this is the way they're doing it. They have made more money this season than any other, been the most well staffed they've ever been and like the cost isn't actually that much higher than normal compared to other seasons. But there is still more labor than things to do. I've never been on this side of it and I really hate this. And I'm not allowed to say anything to my guys until next week. I feel like I really should because this feels like entrapment. We're about to put them through one of our busiest weeks but still cutting staffing and hours for everyone. The company is about to make bank while the employees are about to loose they're rent. Like what the fuck

[youve-doomed-us-all-jerk]

ok after sleeping on it i think DAV is a good game, a fun game on its own, as a sequel to where the series was left previously i dont think it reaches great unfortunately, def is hard to separate it from the mythical perfect sequel that whether you try to or not ends up forming in your head after 10 yrs of waiting, even if you wanna be delusional about them working on it for all of those 10 yrs and ignore the multiple layoffs and restarts the game had to go through cuz corporate greed lmao

long as hell spoiler-ish ramblings:

gotta say i did genuinely like the combat system and wouldnt mind if they stuck with and refined it for any sequels (if we get any lmao🥴) helps that i wasnt super attached to the other 3 games combat, didnt dislike em didnt hate em either, but def enjoyed this one more they mentioned multiple times that they didnt wanna repeat of how little cory mattered to inky in inquisition and with this game id say they succeeded with solas and rook, def felt that relationship with rook which made me tricking him with my rogue and the fake dagger p satisfying for the finale, def gonna see what the other endings have in store did do a lil gasp when they actually answered the big question about where the blight comes from and im p satisfied with the answer, never would have seen it coming and felt great having dwarf lore take a front seat on that regard, especially since i was playing a dwarf lmao, still does kinda center elf lore though while making everyone elses feel a little second fiddle (like tevinter didnt have any gods apparently lmao, which i guess is alright since they enslaved the elves, still funny how they were still unwilling to touch andraste lore more on that later lmao)

also like i mentioned 3rd act was v cinematic and epic, the assigning everyone to roles was tuff as hell and gave me goosebumps, also helps define rook from just being "a guy" to the mortal who bested the dreadwolf

liked all the companions but, wouldnt say theyre frictionless, though lucanis seems to be in the thick of a lot of it (dav and lace warn/threaten him and emmerich treats him like a subject of study etc.) while taash and emmerich had a little problem that can get resolved p easily, but yeah theyre not frictionless but i think their a little less catty haha, some sexy drama wouldnt have been a problem of all the companions quests and development did think lace's was my fav, execution i think they could have pushed the idea a little harder, but the themes of being the "agreeable outsider" and learning to let the anger for your culture is valid was p good, i saw the vision and the sauce other quick thoughts on the others was, not sure what to make of lucanis other than family intrigue fun drama though, neve was v much batman coded lmao, davrin was every "i dont want to take care of a dog" dad who ends up taking care of the dog the most was sweet, felt emmerichs wholes "live forever or watch the next gen grow" probably will even more the older i get lmao, might need to replay it but bellaras whole thing connecting the memory and idea of her brother to how the memory and idea of cultures long lost is interesting but thought it was shaky considering one of the options was forget the culture all together lmao. think i mentioned b4 but yeah taashs was idk again dont have the unique relationship with multiple cultures and how the intersect with gender, seen one person say they werent a fan but thats just one, will say the qun has always had a weird space in DA and this is just another addition to that lmao, until we get a game that centers the protag and majority of the characters plot in the qun where we can see it redefined/upheld/broken/reformed by its multiple characters who reach different answers like they do with the maker stuff it might just always feel like the that scary veiled foreigner religion (though am interested in taashs story hinting at more to come for them so here we go again)

other stuff that i was meh about exploration def didnt hit like past games tbh, they said they didnt wanna do what they did with the hinterlands again but they may have streamlined too much, dont have the gamer knowledge to point out what it was but yeah wasnt too fun searching every nook n cranny for stuff, idk maybe felt like the puzzles were too few and side quests were to simple to encourage me too look around, still did though for loot ofc lmao yeah big 🤧for the fact so little of past games influence this one, i dont really want any cbm jangling keys cameos but id argue leaving your mark in previous games and seeing their outcomes in this one was a big part of the series identity, and even with the inquisition stuff felt like, why even ask which character other than solas did inky romance if it wasnt gonna be brought up at all lmao😂 another thing is just dropped plot points, like that the blight got pushed forward, but the fact we went to minrathous and didnt learn anything about the black divine? this one is a little weirder but they just dropped the mage/minority plot point, like tbh im a little softer on that one cuz its a bad allegory lmao like somehow the x-men one works this one doesnt lmao i genuinely couldnt see an answer for this plot point that isnt "veil come down now everyone has magic, cuz if everyones has a buke, no one is" cold war type shit lmao still it just disappearing definitely felt felt

also hero of ferelden should have appeared for the "blight to end all blights" idk let up spend another hour in the CC and also thought they was looking for a cure for the calling??? i mean they didnt cure the calling by the end i dont think but still, update maybe? yrs r uh getting up there lmao still enjoyed myself a lot but yeah some swings and scope just wasnt wide enough to make the game super great so for now 7/10 hope we get a dlc, every other DA game got one so this one too bls🙏🏽

[justabumatthepark]

WAIT FIVE MINUTES

AND HE'S GONNA WANNA TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE

BUT I DON'T

😈😈😈

SO THAT'S A NO ON THE WHOLE DAADAA SITUATION?

🤭🤭🤭

4:46PM 9/10/24

STILL NOTHING?

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS TUMBLR UNTIL YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DAADAA

AND OF COURSE HE'S JUST GONNA TALK OVER ME BECAUSE THAT'S EASIER THAN TALKING ABOUT DADDY APPARENTLY

SO WHAT'S UP PUTO FAG

WHEN DOES THE COUPON END

I MEAN IT ENDED LAST WEEK

BUT WHEN DOES IT END FOR YOU?

HUSHMOUTH?

AND FUCK NO I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND

IF THIS WAS A CORPORATION

YOU EITHER WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE CONTRACT

OR IT'S GETTING TERMINATED

"ALL MY FRIENDS ARE DEAD"

BUSINESS ONLY MY BOY

MONEY TALKS

BULLSHIT WALKS

PSYCHOLOGY CAN GATEWAY ME INTO ALL SORTS OF VENTURES

HOW Y'ALL WANNA MAKE MONEY

WORKING FOR PUTO FAG YOUR WHOLE LIFE

OR

TAKING IT FOR OURSELVES

MONOPOLY ACTIONS

KILL ME BITCH

BET YOU WON'T PUSSY

BUT DO IT RIGHT NOW BITCH

SHOW US YOU'RE RIGHTEOUS

"SHOOT THE BITCH IN THE HEAD WALK MYSELF TO THE COURT LIKE

YEAH I DID THAT"

"YOU KNOW IT'S SMOKE

CUSS WE AIN'T EVEN TAKE OFF HIS CHAIN" - 21 SAVAGE

OTHERWISE LET'S TALK ABOUT DADDY

I DON'T HAVE A DAD WHAT ABOUT YOU?

DID HE HIT YOU?

HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU SPENT ON THIS BOUNTY?

"300,000"

GOTDAMN NIGGA

SO THAT BANK ACCOUNT LOADED HUH?

OH SO YOU ONLY RESPOND WHEN YOU THINK IT MAKES YOU SOUND/LOOK COOL

🤭😂😂😂😂

"FUCK YOU"

I'M SORRY I DID MEAN TO LAUGH AT YOU

😂😂😂

SO LIKE WHY ME BIG DAWG WHAT HAPPENED?

Tap in!

DM ME

YOU KNOW I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU'RE BULLSHITTING ABOUT THAT NUMBER MY BOY

DONATIONS ARE OPEN

100% ✅ SECURED

THE ODDS ARE 1 TO 1

DON'T BELIEVE ME

FACT CHECK ME 🤷🏽

OPEN TO OFFERS

Tap in!

DM ME

I'LL WORK WITH ANYONE BUT PUTO FAG

TELLING YOU AGAIN BECAUSE I GUESS YOU LIKE THINGS TO BE REPEATED TO YOU AND I LOVE DOING IT

😈😈😈

YOU PUT NO FUCKING FEAR IN MY HEART

NO BITCH THE REASON YOU'RE ADDICTED IS BECAUSE I FIGURED IT OUT

YOUR OTHER LITTLE FAGGOTS GOT ACCEPTED

BUT I'M NOT PART OF YOUR FAGGOT ASS CREW

"DO YOU SEE A "BORN TO LOSE" TATTOO ON MY FOREHEAD?"

"WE ARE NOT NICE PEOPLE"

YEAH, ME NEITHER BITCH

IF YOU WANT SMOKE

THEN

BITCH

I WANT THE SAME THANG

THERE IS ONLY ONE NUMBER ONE

AND ONE NUMBER TWO

ANYONE BELOW US IS JUST AN IDIOT

AND WE ARE BOTH THINKING IT

BECAUSE I KNOW FOR SURE NUMBER 3 IS THINKING IT

REMOVABLE DISK DRIVE FOR YOU GAMESTOP BELIEVERS

BUT LET GAMESTOP'S LITTLE SHIT FAIL IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS

THEN NO DISC DRIVE ON THE PS6

NOT LIKE MANY PEOPLE USE IT ANYWAYS

AND IF THEY CAN INCREASE THE NOTORIETY OF THE PLAYSTATION NAME BY LEAVING THE RETRO CONSOLES OUT AT A LOSS

ONLY TO CAPITALIZE ON DIGITAL COLLECTIONS ALL THE BETTER FOR SONY

SONY ALSO PATCHED THE PS3 SO ALL CURRENT MODS WOULD STOP WORKING

SO THEY REALLY WANNA CAPITALIZE ON THE WHOLE DIGITAL LIBRARIES DEAL

AS FAR AS RETRO CONSOLES GO

WELL

DK OLDIES AND EBAY DO IT BETTER

SORRY NOT SORRY 🤷🏽🤷🏽🤷🏽

SONY TENDS TO FOCUS ON CURRENT GEN NOT PREVIOUS GENS AS FAR BACK AS TWO OR THREE GENERATIONS BACK

SO GAMESTOP NEEDS TO WORK MIRACLES TO TRY TO GET THIS OFF IT'S FEET

6:35PM 9/10

"THEY IGNORE THE MESSAGE BECAUSE THEY HATE THE MESSENGER"

SO MONEY RIGHT?

I COULD FIND A BETTER USE FOR 300,000 THOUSAND TBH

NO NOW THAT I HAVE YOU HERE

ANSWER THIS

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WHEN THEY TAKE CONTROL OF THE MACHINE?

"OH I DON'T KNOW I'LL PROBABLY JUST LET IT GO"

OKAY CAN WE PROVE IT TODAY

LIKE RIGHT NOW

LET IT GO RIGHT NOW

600,000

WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ALL THOSE EXCUSES EITHER

EITHER YOU CAN OR YOU CAN'T

"FUCK YOU"

GREAT ANSWER

100% ✅ SECURED

YOU FUCKING JUNKIE

SO YOU WOULD RATHER THROW AWAY ALL YOUR LIFE SAVINGS

INSTEAD OF GETTING RID OF SOME CHUMP CHANGE

YOUR WORDS NOT MINE

"YES, THAT'S HOW MUCH I FUCKING HATE YOU"

NEED ANY MORE PROOF MY GUYS?

FUCK CANCEL CULTURE 24' 🇺🇲

♾️

KISS MY RING

GODDAMN MY BOY

YOU DOIN' WAY TOO MUCH

TAKING MOVING A MOUNTAIN FOR SOMEBODY LITERALLY

YOU KILLIN MY VIBE

JUST SAY IT

YOU WANNA SUCK MY DICK AND MOVE ON WITH IT

HONESTLY NOW THAT WE ARE AT THE END

THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE WAS MID

YOU'RE PULLING OUT YOUR BEST

AND I'M BORED 🥱

SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PUSHED THIS FAR?

"FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU!!!"

SEE NOW I'M ENTERTAINED

😈😈😈

SHAKE MY HAND BITCH

IT'S CUSTOM HERE IN THE SOUTH

🤭🤭🤭

"BUT I STILL GOT YOU IN A CELL CAPTURED"

YEAH BUT IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDICTED

HONESTLY THE DOOR IS WIDE OPEN FOR YOU TO LEAVE

BUT YOU CHOOSE TO STAY HERE

SO I ASK MYSELF

HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD A JUNKIE SPEND ON HIS ADDICTION FOR TORCHER?

"NOT A CENT MORE"

GOOD THEN YOU CAN DO THE JOB YOURSELF

AND THE KID COMES WITH US

ALONG WITH YOUR LITTLE MACHINE

🙂🙂🙂

DONATIONS ARE OPEN

COLLECT 200 AT GO

-PROCEEDS TO BLUFF-

🤭🤭🤭 HORRIBLE POKER PLAYERS

HE WILL PROBABLY TRY TO GET AS CLOSE TO KILLING ME AS POSSIBLE

BUT HE AIN'T GONNA KILL ME

I 100% GUARANTEE IT

TOO MUCH OF A BITCH

😈😈😈

AN ADDICT

I SAY THE BITCH IS SOMEWHERE STUCK BETWEEN 3 AND 5

🤔🤔🤔

HUSHMOUTH?

[deeptrashwitch]

Sorry for the Google Translator russian. Not my mother language.

Part six, Corporal Elijah Wilson!

The Beggining (Part 6)

The next day Jackson and Alicia were ready so they went to Austin's airport, leaving Luke on charge while the women came back. Both of them were silent, but the blonde still alert as they aboard the plane. He felt a little more relaxed when they sat sepparatedly and passed the time re-reading the archive and the medical record.

It was a uncomfortable flight and he just tried to keep his mind out of it for the moment while listening to a podcast. Three hours and a half later the plane arrived to the JFK, where a car waited for them to take them to Fort Hamilton. Once again the trip was in a heavy silence, but this time Alicia looked the title of the podcasts and recognized it.

She took her pen and notebook where she wrote a short phrases. After that she gave it to Jackson, who was curious as he read. The blonde one was a bit surprised when learned that Alicia heard similar podcasts, but used his own pen to answer. And that way they started a little conversation via notes, sharing some opinions about the things they heard.

The SEAL was amused when she admitted to hear some medical podcasts, not that was her main interest but it was something. He told her about his interest on lawsuits cases and she told him some that she learnt about. And an hour later they were there, which gave them chills as both got near the barracks.

Blackwell saw the rage and hate in the eyes of Marchant before she covered them with the sunglasses. He was slightly relived as he knew that fury wasn't directed to him but also got a little nervous. Inside the barracks the women called some Privates, ordering them to bring Corporal Wilson ASAP.

-You're not gonna call the Sergeant too?-asked curious

-Not yet, let's have our boy here first for you to check him out

-And then?

-I'll have a...talk with the Sergeant and the Captain

-W-were more than one?

-They knew about it, did nothing, and I'll fuckin' make 'em see hell for it-growled almost hissing with hatred-the only one I can't reach is the Mayor

-So he'll be free

-Maybe from jail, but that bastard is not getting away with this shit

He nodded as he saw how the Corporal arrived and in that moment just said to himself, "God fuckin' forgive me". The way the guy moved gave him hints of what happened, also he couldn't tell if he had bruises or similar but he noticed the fear when he saw around before concentrate in them. He made the salute and rest once Alicia told him to and stood there for a second.

-Leave-said in the Privates direction

-Uhh, C-captain?-asked suddenly in fear

-Rest easy Corporal, not gonna do anything to you-told him with slightly softer voice-I might introduce myself, I'm Captain Alicia Marchant, he's my team's medic, Sergeant Jackson Blackwell

-Plesure to meet you Corporal-said him calmly

-We're here to talk with you for two things, the first one is about your habilities and performance but that can wait for now

-And the second thing?

-We'll make justice, as I told you, Sergeant Blackwell is a medic and if you are okay with it he'll check you up to gather evidence

-I don't know...

-Они заплатят за то, что сделали с тобой, Элайджа. (They'll pay for what they did to you, Elijah)-told him in russian, watching his surprise and the little hope inside

-Вы обещаете, что? (You promise?)

-да (Yes)

The soldier with heterochromatic eyes took a deep breath as his hands shaken, but nodded and Alicia smiled sadly.

-Didn't know you speak russian-said Jackson raising an eyebrow

-I speak six languages, useful in this kind of cases, don't you think?

-Yeah, but that sounded a bit of a showoff

After he said that he froze, oh shit, he fucked up, he fucked up. The memories made him get tense because of an instinct, waiting for...that. But Alicia just scoffed.

-Maybe I'm a bit of a showoff, anyway, I'll leave Corporal Wilson to you

-Yes Captain-said before looking at the Corporal-come with me

The brown-haired soldier nodded as he followed Jackson to the medic bay, where he asked for them to leave. Blackwell asked him to sit on a gurney and he took the medical record to take a seat in front of him.

-Corporal Elijah Wilson, 75th Ranger Regiment, you started in this team two years ago as a First Class Private. You were a lot of missions before today and yet, the bruises reported were during leave, is that correct?

-...Yes

-I see, listen, I need to take notes of your bruises, can you show me? If you don't want me to look at you while taking off your clothes it's alright, I'll look to the other side

The Corporal flinched but started to take off his clothes and at the same time Jackson looked away for a moment. Once Elijah gave him permission he looked at him, as he did, his blood run cold in his veins. Big and long bruises never done by human hands, whatever made them did it with grudge and fury, they were already purple except for some of them and also the guy had scratches going down that went behind his pants.

Even as a medic, Jackson felt nausea and knew that now he was pale but went back to his professional attitude. He started to take notes about them trying to identify what caused the bruises, then Elijah got tense when he got near the edge of his pants, so he took his hands back. Blackwell sighed and tried to calm the rage he felt before looking the Corporal with a little smile on an attempt to calm him down.

-Corporal, we are here to help you-said calmly with a sigh-for now we only can gather evidence, but my...Captain will found the way to take them to the justice

-How did you know about it?-asked Elijah surprisingly firm

-...Alicia has a lot of contacts everywhere, don't ask how many, I have no idea-said trying to lighten up the mood-but she learnt about your situation once adquired your archive, I'm not sure how she was so sure, but she was. Later she asked me to take a look on your medical record and the signs were there, and we came here to take care of them

-Why your Captain had my archive?

-She want you to be part of our team, an independent one, because you're really talented as a recon expert. So, if you want to came with us you'll be with us on Black Tomb, Texas

-How do I know you won't do the same?

-If it helps, our Lieutenant, Sergeant and Corporal were about to come with us to commit agression or maybe arson

-What?

-The Lieutenant was infuriated almost to the point of doing something illegal, he's really straight-edged when it comes to this

-He hates this kind of things? The Captain and Sergeant here?

-Yeah, but he doesn't know about the Captain or even the Mayor-explained with a sigh-we knew about it recently because of an old friend of yours

-A friend?

-Corporal Noah García, SEAL Team 5, rings a bell?

-Noah? You met Noah?

-He's our other Corporal now and he seems to remember you-Jackson told him calmly while doing the physical exam-he told the Captain about the last time, how they did nothing, he regrets that he couldn't help you

The brown-haired nodded slightly with a little smile.

-Noah shouldn't blame himself, we were just Privates

-Still, he feels that way

-What you're gonna do?

-Talk with my Captain, see if we can throw 'em in jail and offer you a place with us

-With you? Want me to be part of your team?

-As I told you, you're a good one and we just offer this to the best

-I'm...not what you think, not even near

-Trust me, our Captain has accurate instincts when come to talented soldiers, if she ask you this is for a reason

Elijah remained silent but Jackson excused himself before going out of the medic bay. He walked looking for the black-haired women and found her outside a conference room, absolutely pissed off and with her jaw painfully clenched. As well he let his own rage take over and he grabbed her arm, calling her attention.

-Sergeant?

-We need to take him out of here, it's worst that we thought-said with his eyes filled of fury giving her the record-Alicia, this is serious, it's not only assault, what did they said?

-I just talked with them, just denial

-SCUMBAGS!

-I know...you said we need to take him out?

-If we don't, I'm not sure he'll be alive the next time we came here

-Sergeant Blackwell, take Corporal Wilson with you to pack everything, he's coming with us to Black Tomb, you copy?-ordered her as she finished to read the new medical record-I'll talk with Wraith and a contact of mine

-Affirmative Captain

She nodded and then he went back to the medic bay finding Elijah already dressed up once again. He explained to him and accompany him to pack everything, vigilant in case any of the involved officials came even near him. After that they get reunited with Alicia outside as she looked at the others superiors like they were just trash.

She just excused the three of them with calm before they were scorted to JFK once more, and their flight was ready to go back to Austin. There they went to Black Tomb once again, where Luke and Wraith already were waiting for them.

-Mornin' Michaelis-greeted Alicia with a smile as she walked

-Mornin' Captain, how's Fort Hamilton?-asked the red-haired raising an eyebrow

-Shitty, those barracks almost gave me a stroke

-I can tell, what about you Jackson?

-Trust me, Luke, I wanna commit murder-answered the blonde one with a growl

-You're not the only one, tell me if you need some help, Edward can gave us a ride!

-Will do

-When did you trust Eager?-asked the Captain as she crossed her arms with a smile-last I can remember, you didn't trust him

-Meh, I ended up like him

-Captain, Sergeant-said Wraith with a nod, interrumpting the conversation-I'm guessing he's Corporal Wilson

-He is, just for now we need to talk Wraith, the both of us

-We will

-Good to know, for now, please Lieutenant, explain everything to Corporal Wilson-asked calmly-and Sergeant, prepare the medical record as detailed as possible

-Yes Captain-answered both of them

-And Corporal, please come to talk with me once you finish

-...Yes Captain