#illegal salvage

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"HOME BREW IN SHOP COSTS WOMAN $25," Toronto Star. October 3, 1932. Page 2. --- Didn't Know "Home" Had to Have Separate Entrance Under L.C.A. --- A fine of $25 and costs was imposed in county police court to-day on Mrs. M. Mackay, Weston, on a charge of consuming liquor. Chief of Police Holley testified that in the dwelling premises at the rear of accused's shop he found home brew beer. The accused possessed a license to brew.

Crown Attorney Frank Moore pointed out that since the dwelling portion of the building was connected with the store. Mr. Mackay was "technically guilty" of "having." The charge was reduced to "consuming." when the accused informed the court that she was ignorant of the clause of the Liquor Control Act which stipulates that a residence in which homeb rew is made must have a separate entrance.

Ill-Treated Horses Thomas Shepherd, former, of North Gwillimbury, was fined $5 and costs on a charge of ill-treating three horses.

A portion of 300 pounds of brass fittings, alleged to have been stolen from the Canadian Bridge Company and the C.N.R., was exhibited in court when Lewis Malie was charged with theft. An official of one of the companies estimated the brass to be valued at from $1,000 to $1,500.

Morrington Goodwin swore Malle called him on the telephone and the two moved the brass in bags from Leaside yards to a junk-dealer's shop. A charge of theft against Goodwin was dismissed.

Malie pleaded guilty to two charges and was found guilty on the third charge. He was remanded a week for sentence.

Argued Over Cow Found guilty of aggravated assault on Nick Nossy, Mike Woodchuck was remanded a week for sentence. Nossy appeared in court with bandages about his head.

Woodchuck, through an interpreter, said he visited a home near Nossy's late in the afternoon and offered a $5 bill in payment for liquid refreshment. There was an argument concerning the pasturing of a, cow, it was brought out. Heated remarks were made, and when the argument was renewed outside a brawl осcurred. Woodchucq struck Nossy "with something," K. Boyiack swore.

After hearing evidence translated for more than an hour the bench registered a conviction.

[youvegotmoxie]

I can't believe I never posted these???? Super happy with how they turned out! Currently slowly but surely attaching them to their bag ❤️

Bag Design under cut ❤️

[swordluck]

⚘ @ofspvrta // cont.

Anri’s chest heaved, the chaos of the crowd still rolling in her ears like thunder over the sea. Her fingers, trembling slightly, clutched the strap of her bag tighter as she looked up at the woman who had intervened. There was something magnetic about her – a tangible weight to her presence that left Anri momentarily mute.

The bassline of the next song thudded through the venue, relentless and raw, but it felt distant compared to the clarity of Kassandra’s voice. Even as the crowd churned and bounced just beyond the small bubble of space the woman had carved out, Anri felt oddly safe. It wasn’t a sensation she expected to find here, amidst the storm of bodies and sound.

“Kassandra,” Anri repeated, her usually soft voice laced with just enough force to carry over the music. “I’m Anri. Hi.”

Oh hell, that was her second hi.

Anri fidgeted self-consciously at her damp sleeve, half-wishing she could vanish into the crowd. Yet Kassandra’s cocky smile wasn’t cruel and there was no ridicule in her gaze – only a glimmer of humour that seemed to soften the edges of her imposing demeanour. Even the casual clink of their plastic cups felt like a reassurance that Anri hadn’t entirely misplaced herself in this wild, energetic place.

“It’s my first show,” Anri admitted, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “I think I’ve already made every mistake possible. I lost my friend – Horace – somewhere in… all of that.” She gestured vaguely towards the pit, the motion betraying her unease. “He’ll be fine, of course. And I’m doing better now – thanks to you.”

A tentative smile played across her lips, though her heart still hammered in her chest. She glanced up at Kassandra again, studying the angles of her face, the faint scars, the strength and power in her stance. This was someone who had weathered far more than wild crowds and heavy riffs. There was a story there – dozens, maybe hundreds – but they were hidden behind a smile that was both inviting and enigmatic.

“Do you come to shows like this often?” Anri asked, seeking to fill the vibrating space between them, even though the answer seemed obvious. Her fingers twisted the strap of her bag absently in a small, grounding motion as she tried to focus on Kassandra instead of the noise and chaos that threatened to creep back in.

For reasons she couldn’t quite name, Anri hoped Kassandra would stay. There was something comforting about her presence, even if it was wrapped in leather, scars, and the scent of beer and fresh sweat. She seemed effortlessly cool, the kind of person who always knew where she belonged – and made her home there.

[blueiscoool]

$1 Million Worth of Gold Coins Stolen From 18th-Century Shipwrecks Found

After an extensive investigation, Florida officials recovered dozens of gold coins valued at more than $1 million that were stolen from a shipwreck recovery nine years ago.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced in a news release Tuesday it had recovered 37 gold coins that were stolen from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks.

The fleet of Spanish ships sailed from Havana, Cuba and headed to Seville, Spain on July 24, 1715. The journey was short-lived, as a hurricane wrecked the fleet just seven days later off the coast of Eastern Florida.

The first ship was discovered in 1928 by William Beach north of Fort Pierce, Florida, about 120 miles south of Orlando. Since then, gold and silver artifacts have been recovered offshore for decades following the first discovery.

In 2015, a group of contracted salvage operators found a treasure trove of 101 gold coins from the wrecks near Florida’s Treasure Coast, about 112 miles west of Orlando. However, only half of the coins were reported correctly. The other 50 coins were not disclosed and later stolen.

The years-long investigation by the state’s fish and wildlife conservation commission and FBI “into the theft and illegal trafficking of these priceless historical artifacts” came to a head when new evidence emerged in June, the news release said.

The evidence linked Eric Schmitt to the illegal sale of multiple stolen gold coins in 2023 and 2024, officials said. Schmitt’s family had been contracted to work as salvage operators for the US District Courts’ custodian and salvaging company for the fleet, 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC. The Schmitts had uncovered the 101 gold coins in 2015.

During their hunt for the coins, investigators executed multiple search warrants and recovered coins from private residences, safe deposit boxes and auctions, the news release said. Five stolen coins were retrieved from a Florida-based auctioneer, who unknowingly purchased them from Schmitt.

Investigators used advanced digital forensics to nail down Schmitt as a suspect in the case. In most cases, digital forensics can recover data stored electronically on devices such as a cell phone, computer system or memory module.

With the help of advanced digital forensics, investigators identified metadata and geolocation data that linked Schmitt to a photograph of the stolen coins taken at the Schmitt family condominium in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Authorities said Schmitt also took three of the stolen gold coins and put them on the ocean floor in 2016. The coins were later found by the new investors of the fleet’s court custodian and salvaging company.

Throughout the investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked closely with historical preservation experts to authenticate and appraise the recovered coins sold by Schmitt.

Schmitt is facing charges for dealing in stolen property, the release says.

The company commissioned to salvage the shipwreck said in a statement it “was shocked and disappointed by this theft and has worked closely with law enforcement and the state of Florida regarding this matter.”

“We take our responsibilities as custodian very seriously and will always seek to enforce the laws governing these wrecks,” the statement read.

Recovered artifacts will be returned to their rightful custodians, the news release said. But the investigation is far from over: 13 coins remain missing.

[cowboysanddragons23]

While the Van der Linde gang is an outlaw gang, it operates more as a cult:

-Zero tolerance for criticism and questions: Dutch can't stand when someone questions or doubts him (ex. When John starts questioning him at Clemens Point, Dutch tells him that doubting means the end, aka weakness and forces him to say "Yes, Dutch." or when Uncle calls him out in a humorous manner, he threatens to kill him under the guise of following the joke).

-A belief that former followers are always wrong for leaving and there is never a legitimate reason to leave: Javier and Bill call John and Arthur traitors for abandoning them and Dutch, even though it was clear that Dutch was losing his sanity, he was going to get them all killed and both of them were trying to salvage what's left of the gang, a train of thought that lasts even after the gang disbanded.

-Lack of meaningful financial disclosure regarding money: Dutch constantly prattles about the fact that they need more money and at one point, he hid a box of money in one of the gang's hideouts.

-Abuse of members: While Dutch is not physically abusive of members, he is an abuser of the psychological variant (ex. When Molly raises legitimate concerns about how he is ignoring her and not paying her attention, he always dismisses her as delusional, even outright saying "I never met a woman with so many needs.")

-Absolute authoritarianism without accountability: If there is one thing that Dutch shows the most is his inability to take responsibility for his actions (ex. When he blames John for being the reason why the Saint Denis Bank heist went wrong, accusing him of being a rat, even though the main reason it went wrong was because Dutch was too reckless with his robberies to the trolley station and the boat, along with his kidnapping and killing of Angelo Bronte, the most powerful man of Saint Denis).

-Unreasonable fears about the outside world that involve evil conspiracies and persecution: Dutch fears civilization because it represents everything he hates and instills very irrational fears amongst them (ex. When Dutch tells John the law chases them because the gang represents everything they fear, yet ironically, after the gang disbands, Tilly has a happy life married to a lawyer and John has a normal life as a member of society).

-Cult of personality: The most obvious one. Dutch is seen like a father and a messiah amongst the gang (ex. In Red Dead Redemption, John tells Reyes that Dutch saved him, Bill and Javier.)

-Illegal and dangerous behaviour: The van der Linde are a gang of outlaws at first, but they ended up becoming the Wild West equivalent of domestic terrorists, with their attacks on the Cornwall Train, the Saint Denis Bank, a US Army Train....

-Charismatic leader: Dutch oozes charisma anytime he speaks, albeit of the superficial kind that has an iron hand on the people of his gang, which Kieran lampshades.

-Us VS Them mentality: Dutch enforced a very black and white view about their enemies, even outright admits so when he killed Bronte ("It is us or him.").

-Isolation and love-bombing: Once again, Molly is the biggest victim of this, with Dutch charming her into going with him and making her feel isolated on the gang, in order for her to depend on him and him alone.

-Time and energy: In the camp, you are expected to upgrade Dutch's tent first before upgrading the rest of the camp. And Dutch demands that money is put on the box, yet he himself never contributes to the box.

[bonebrokebuddy]

@kodedgeekthings eyo you mentioned wanting a dpxdc prompt for Howard, Batman’s mechanic!

Harold misses fixing toys for kids and in his off hours has taken up the habit of answering questions on forums about machining, electrical, engineering, mechanics, and mechanical design that are often frequented by students.

One day, he comes across a request by a college student who is trying to assemble his own car out of scrap he bought from a local wrecking yard.

Ghostly_Boy states that he has previous experience in machining and can make replacements for broken or too-damaged parts if need be, but he doesn’t know where to start and what specific requirements he needs to reach to ensure it’s street legal.

Harold willing to help, he answers a few of Ghostly Boy’s clarifying questions:

- Great questions!

It’s good to note that if you’re not careful, fixing or making your own car from parts can be a moneysink and can cost you more than a brand new vehicle. - That being said, your first major step to ensuring you can drive the car is to get the title of the body/frame of the car you plan to build. It’ll have the VIN on a plate welded to the frame usually near the lower edge of the windshield wipers on the drivers side. It’s how the DMV identifies vehicles for licensing.

- Generally, you’ll at first get a “wreck out” title that shows the vehicle is listed as a total loss, but if you can assemble the parts for the car with that frame, the DMV can check if it’s properly running and road worthy & license for you to use it on public roads if you’ve done the proper paperwork.

- Once that is done, it’s largely a case of getting the right parts and assembling them. Depending on how much you have to repair, you could be taking on a task that could give a challenge to even a seasoned mechanic. There may be additional paperwork depending on what exactly you need to repair, like the breaks, lights, steering, etc.

- If you want to build the car entirely from scratch, chassis and all, that’s an entirely different story with a much more complicated list of requirements to make it street legal, so getting a frame from a junkyard is a great first step!

- Make sure to keep all bills of sale, junkyard receipts, invoices and manufacturers’ certificates on any major parts you used in building the vehicle to prove its road worthy to the DMV when it’s complete!

Harold doesn’t always answer first but over time he’s found the adventures of this kid amusing and keeps up with it.

Ghostly_Boy keeps the forum updated with his progress:

The kid spontaneously deciding to scrap the wiring system and make his own in a span of 3 days, leaving experienced mechanics on the forum practically screaming at the kid for his updates showing him using random wires he salvaged and pigtailing them together to get the length of wire he needed.

Mixing not only multiple types of wires but ones that didn’t have the protection needed for auto use. DIY-ing his own relay and fuses he didn’t have and connecting the wrong grounds and switches. And planning on leaving the wires unwrapped and loose.

Leaving Ghost to promptly redo the wiring, correctly this time, within 78 hours.

Making a repair of a massive rusted hole on the passenger side by the bumper and the front tire via cutting 1/2in past the rust, grinding it pretty and clean, tac & seam welding the vintage aluminum housing material of a toaster to cover the hole to the response of Harold and many others in the forum just going “… I guess that would work?”

Harold and many others telling the kid that this “ectoplasm” material wasn’t cleared through the EPA’s Clear Air Act and could be illegal to drive with it as it’s fuel source unless he got the emissions tested & the center of gravity of the car adjusted to have the center of gravity a gas car has, it wouldn’t pass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Nor would the previously untested on material make it easy or quick to get an Emissions testing certificate. Best to just stick with gas.

Removing what he thought was a “skid plate” that turned out to be another rusted out section on the frame on the bottom of his car and repairing it with steel he salvaged from an old medical table he had laying around. (To the multiple slightly confused commenters asking how Ghost had a spare medical table, he replied, “eh, my folks visit every so often and they’ve been giving me things they’re clearing out of the house so they can move closer to my older sister. I just so happened to get the ye olde medical table. They’re an odd couple of folks but that’s why I love them.”)

People just crying at the kid to go to rockauto.com and just buy the damn parts he needs for his car. (A good resource btw)

The kid kept cutting corners to save cash but through the badgering of Harold and many others that he actually would have to spend money to make this car be safe to drive in, he finally got it completed.

Ghost’s post of him leaving DMV waving the updated title to the car in its envelope in the air, titled, “THE DMV FINALLY SAID IT WASN’T A FIRE HAZARD! ONLY TOOK 2 YEARS! THANKS EVERYONE!” Got the most amount of responses he’d ever had with congratulations from lurkers and previous commenters.

Over the course of those two years, Danny learned how to draw his own wiring diagrams, properly solder and weld, and learning to actually plan out his projects so he got it right at least the fifth time instead of the 20th. Not bad for a kid that went straight from graduating high school with a 1.5GPA to construction jobs.

But after finally getting the car approved, Ghostly_Boy returns to the forum with a new problem. Lamenting that his parents keep coming over and “modifying” his car to no longer make it street legal.

At this point, about half of the answers to the submission think it’s either a joke project taken very, very seriously with a good chunk of money behind it, or a kid with parents that have narrowly avoided falling completely down the mad scientist rogue rabbit hole.

After all, what sort of parent would think that the DMV would approve to “anti-ghost missiles” being attached to the outer body of the car? Either way, the submissions always had video attached showing a demonstration, proving that Ghost wasn’t just completely yanking their chain. And a good amount of money would have to be sunken in to not only pay for the fines Ghostly continued to get from the additions to his car, but to actually manufacture and make a unique working product for each plea for help request.

Harold is not only taking notes on some of these defense measures but also decides to bring up the boy to Alfred. Intrigued, they together keep an eye on Ghostly_Boy. Bruce may be their employer, but they can handle a case or two on their own.

- I wanted Danny to try to make smth for himself now that he doesn’t have access to his parent’s lab anymore but he also doesn’t have access to ectoplasm so he’s fairly unfamiliar how to wire things Not for ectoplasmic standards.

Also I wanted to make a prompt where Danny had a good relationship with his parents & went into a fairly realistic job after high school with his fairly bad GPA so he’s saving up for a technical school via construction jobs as he doesn’t like the idea of working fast food for understandable reasons.

[cryptotheism]

what's the equivalent of technicals in AS?

Salvaged Arcadia Y series + removed governors + chunks of 3inch plate steel welded to the chassis + reinforced welding mask/hard hat combo

If you live in a rural area, youve modified a plow blade into a crushing weapon, and youve put some illegal handmade solid slug rounds into your hunting shotgun.

If you're in an urban area, you've either fabricated what is essentially a handheld 1750s 12-pound naval canon. or you've got a backpack full good old fashioned molotovs.

[kangaracha]

DAYBREAK; chapter 3

---

pairing lee know x reader

summary independant entertainment doesn't make money, everyone knows that - not dancing, not boxing. not without a company's name attached to it and the soul ripped out of it so that it can only sit on the stage bleeding. you knew you never should have agreed to get involved in his studio, that the bills would pile up and the income would run dry, that the government would come knocking telling you to shut up and sit down...but it makes him so happy, to be able to dance. it gives him a reason to stay. you don't know what you'd do without that.

taglist OPEN

previous | masterlist | next

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COMMUNITY NOTICES

SPIRITECH STRIKES REACH TWENTY DAY MARK RUNNING INTERFERENCE ON PHONE SURVEILLANCE IS ACTING AGAINST THE LAW! If you see conversation in lieu, report it! STAND WITH THE PEOPLE DON’T TAKE SPIRITECH JOBS WANTED: Work of any kind. Middle aged man, handy at everything. Call or text. REPORT THE DISCONNECTED Remember: it is illegal not to carry a Level 4 certified communications device, connected to the national network, at all times. Report all suspicions of peoples disconnected from the network to the Department of Security. Room for let in 2br apartment downtown TONIGHT AT THE BASILICA: STAR ENTERTAINMENT debuts new idol group FREEDOM

---

Eunchae finds you waiting by the noticeboard at her bus stop, idly scanning the flyers pinned across it and definitely not counting the minutes until you’d both be late for work.

“Don’t tell me you’re reading those adverts,” she says, appearing so suddenly from the crowd with a hand on your shoulder that it makes you jump.

“Only the government notices,” you answer dutifully and allow her to tug you out of the crowd gathered around the bus stop and towards the hospital that sits on the corner just down the street.

"Did you see the work lines this morning?" Eunchae asks as you walk, her arm looped loosely around yours.

The memory of what you’d seen flashes through your mind - crowds of desperate people outside the doors, clamouring to be seen or heard, to be picked from the masses to earn a wage for the day. It was bottom of the barrel work, back-breaking labour and breathing thick smoke from sunup to sundown, the last chance for a meal and a night off the streets for the most desperate - once you left the lines, only the chain gangs were left, the work camps for criminals and debtors that took them out of the city and away from trouble.

"No," you answer, swinging sideways to avoid running into a man that passes right through you as if you aren't there. 

"Don’t you walk past the factories every day?" she says in disbelief. "I heard Antel fired three people yesterday, and there were people camped outside overnight for those jobs."

"I didn't really look," you say honestly, and you don't include the rest of the sentence; it makes no difference anyway.

"Do you just glue your head to the ground while you walk?" Eunchae says. "I swear you never notice anything interesting."

"Is the job crisis interesting?" you question lightly, despite the heavy weight that settles on your chest - you'd only just forked over the money from your last fine, and this topic was straying far too close to-

"Yes," Eunchae's eyes roll towards the sky. "Maybe not to you, but you know I love to stickybeak. It's all that there is in life."

You can see it in her face the moment she realises she's made the mistake you were just stepping warily around, the clench of her jaw and the fade of that joviality that had lit up her eyes. "Except for work," you add quickly, trying to salvage the situation, "and community and the profit of the nation."

The old government line echoes hollow from Eunchae's mouth in return, the thin press of her lips never once curving back into that smile. "Work, community, profit, and gossip," she jokes weakly, and then you both pause as if you'll be given a score on your bullshit immediately - but of course, she'll only find out in a few days if the fine comes.

"You talk so much rubbish," you sigh on a deep breath that is supposed to relieve some tension. "We don't even have gossip to share. What have we got going on that's interesting?"

Eunchae looks at you incredulously, her worries immediately forgotten in the face of her outrage. "Excuse me?" she says. "You have a random guy living on your couch and you're trying to tell me we have nothing to talk about?"

You wince at the reminder. It had become so normal that you'd almost forgotten. "That’s been going on for over a year," you point out. "You haven't gotten anything new since then?"

"A year ago, and he's still here," Eunchae presses. "And you still haven't told me what goes on in that one bedroom apartment."

"Because nothing goes on."

"And I'm telling you again, that is a dismal situation. Only you would pick up the prettiest, loneliest man in the city off the streets and never lay a hand on him."

"And his cats," you add mutely, though you know you're only adding fuel to the fire. 

"And his cats!" Eunchae crows. "Honestly, I would have said 'give me his number' six months ago, but I don't know how you afford the cats."

We don't, you nearly say, but you refrain, still wary from the slip you'd had just moments before. "They’re my cats too," you remind her. "And he’s not random either. He was my friend before he moved in."

"Your friend that you paid to hang out with you," Eunchae says, waving you away. "I guess if you think about it, you were wasting money on him anyway."

"Whatever keeps you alive, right?" you quip back to avoid the ire that rises like a hot iron in your throat.

"I can think of something else you could do with him that'll keep you alive," she says relentlessly.

You shake your head, disgusted, and look up at the squat, rambling building that houses the hospital. "I'm just saying," she insists. "If you’re not going to get rid of the cats, you might as well go all in."

"I’m not getting rid of the cats," you say defensively, deliberately avoiding the conversation she really wants to have.

"Two for one deal, then," she suggests cheekily, and then turns to look at the road as a factory worker limps across between cars, held upright by two other men.

"That's about to be our problem," you sigh without moving to follow them. Your feet are tired, your legs rooted to the ground even though whatever the man is here for is clearly serious, if the factory has let him go. You see so much of it that sometimes it is hard to remember that you still care, over the lure of standing out in the sunshine for two more minutes, away from the unending chaos of that building.

What a horrible thing to say, you think, and you start the slow walk towards the main doors, compromising on a casual amble.

"I hate this place," Eunchae says, throwing the words carelessly to the wind. "I feel like I never leave."

"You could always get a job somewhere else," you suggest mildly. "Go join the factory lines or something. Or Spiritech."

"And get the shit beaten out of me by the picket lines?" she throws back. "Didn't you see that guy that came in yesterday? The Spiritech people aren't playing."

"I forgot about him," you admit. Not that there had been anything to remember, his face so beaten that there were no features left to recognise and his chest caving in on itself. He hadn't been your patient anyway, so you'd been too busy to pay much attention to him, and he was forgettable, just another in a long list of victims of street violence and the strike lines protecting what’s theirs. Striking for better conditions only worked, after all, if no one was willing to fill the positions they’d left vacant by standing out on the street day after day.

"I wish I could forget," Eunchae says. "He's on my ward today."

"I'm surprised he's still alive," you say mildly.

Eunchae shakes her head, her mouth opening and closing again like she doesn't want to talk about it. "There's got to be a better job than the factories," she says instead after a moment.

"You could finally come to the studio and learn how to dance," you suggest mildly, already bracing for the answer.

As expected, Eunchae snorts. "So I can audition for an entertainment company?" she questions. "At least being a slave here, I'm helping people."

Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous. Helping people run up unpayable debts, you go to reply - but that's dangerous too - you sew it to the back of your mouth, down in the shadows of your throat where no one will hear it. 

"You should audition," she continues, ignorant of the cold ice that crackles in your chest, the fear that creeps up your spine. "You'd love that life, wouldn't you? And you’d be able to see all those shows you can’t afford to go to."

"Maybe," you say, pushing the door open instead of answering.

The hospital lobby is quiet compared to the emergency room to the side, only a few scheduled visitors waiting their turns on the old plastic chairs. Helena sits behind the desk, her head buried in a computer screen to avoid the buzzing lights that flicker over her head. Her little radio plays on the shelf beside her, spouting out tinny music that becomes clearer the closer you walk, the end of a drum signalling the finale of a song.

Her head rises as your shadows pass her by, intending to walk straight on through. "Oh!" she says, with a wide-eyed kind of surprise that your presence wouldn't normally attract, one hand reaching out to dim the radio. "Hey! I didn't think you guys would be here yet."

"We saw someone coming in outside," Eunchae replies, pausing like she thinks Helena is being weird too. "Figured they would be paging."

"Page was cancelled," Helena says, and doesn't elaborate past the feeling of doom that pervades the air of the room. "Come here. I need someone to listen to this and tell me I'm not crazy."

Curiousity stops you in your tracks, despite the disregard for what she had been saying just a moment ago. It's not just the cryptic offer she makes that piques your interest - it's the adrenaline in the whites of her eyes, the way her heart nearly hammers through her chest and the jerky motions with which she reaches for her phone. Like she's gotten a fright, or she's excited about something; you can't decide which.

"Listen to this," she says, bringing up an audio recording that shows a timestamp for ten minutes ago. 

As soon as it starts, music from the radio playing directly into the phone's microphone, you have the crawling feeling down your spine that this is trouble, of the kind you cannot afford. 

---

RADIO TRANSCRIPT

JCRS1 LUNCHTIME HITS WITH SEUNGWON AND CHAEMIN

[CHORUS]

Let's runGo anywhere that isn't suffocating, run (Run, run, yeah)Hide all your immaturity, runRunning on the highwayI don't want to choose a destinationIs there a place on earth where I can rest?I just run with both feet aimlessly, keep running

CM - Welcome back! You're listening to Station One, and you just heard Midnight by Kim Hee, followed by-

SW - Followed by 'Run' by HAN, a new one that has been shooting up the charts! Up 97 places today to number 3, and expected to reach number 1 tomorrow.

CM - Yes, the fastest climb of a track on day one in history, it's quite impressive.

SW - We only just acquired the track ourselves! Chaemin, what was your first impression of the song?

CM - I thought it was...interesting. I'm just trying to bring up the name of the company involved-

SW - I believe HAN is an independent artist.

CM - That's very unusual, isn't it?

SW - Yes, it is - here we are. HAN is an independant artist with twenty six credits to his name, including songs such as 'Annihilation' and 'Alibi'. Of his twenty six records-

SW - Fifteen are prohibited content.

CM - Choosing to remain independant comes with those sorts of risks though, doesn't it?

SW - Yes, it does. That's what makes company-owned artists much more reliable sources of music, and the reason that companies are so large in the first place.

CM - I couldn't imagine going through all the cost and stress of getting your song made just to have it prohibited for unsanctioned lyrics.

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TAGLIST

@kokinu09 @rainfallingfromthesky @keepswingin @rylea08 @puppysmileseungmin

@thatonedemigodfromseoul @bokkiesplace @amyyscorner @dearly-somber @kayleefriedchicken

@realrintaro @estella-novella

[youvegotmoxie]

CRUST INSPIRED TOTE

This tote is coming sooooo painfully slowly, but we're taking shape!!! Fly and rear beads are still a WIP, but I'm so happy with how this is going so far!

Queer Art 🧶

[plagueddead]

Technoverse - A guide for interaction roleplay and insert wise.

This was EXTREMELY requested

This blog exceeds to help newcomers to my AU environment. This blog will be updated over time if I see fit to change how this works interacts with itself. This blogs images will be updated over time if I find more suitable matches.

Photos have been found through Pinterest and art station. I will try and credit the source if I can.

This is an AU inspired by Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is a free to join au. Major canon characters are prohibited from being claimed. Villains are up to discussion.

This is a isn't the backstory post of the turtles but the world they live in.

THIS AU CONTAINS TOPICS OF RACISM, ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES AND ACTIONS, AND VIOLENCE. Though I've done my best to try and make it as friendly as possible. This AU is a 16+ story due to these warnings.

Current AU time

25 years after the ROTTMNT movie.

AU Theme

Cyberpunk dystopia

Fantasy

Dark fantasy

Major city settings within AU

New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, London

City Summary

After the integration of Yokai as independent civilians and free citizens world wide, and with the collaboration of their technology as well as krang salvage, a new system of buildings and interlinks have been created to accommodate citizens. Buildings stacked overhead that pierce the clouds, the old world was left to turn into slums and poor living areas on ground zero. Due to permanent clouds caused by pollution and overhead cities, these major empires are in a permanent state of darkness. Neon signs often light these cities to create a spectacular aroura of lights and designs. Though with a permanent overcast comes with a cost, as rain clouds mix with polluted smog to create a toxic like rain that causes many illnesses. It's common among every citizen to keep an oxygen mask at all times in case of rain.

City main inspiration and reference: Altered Carbon

Major cities as listed above are unique as floating SSC (Solar System Cosmopolis) Cities cover most of the dense populated area. These floating cities serve as purpose as secured homing for politicians, celebrities, and mostly the rich. Though they are also engineered mega labs founded by Barron Draxum and Donatello Hamato. They serve to bring back and study extinct species, cultivate cures for major diseases, and help improve on already futuristic technology. They spin very slowly and resemble that of a solar system. Hense the nickname.

These cities are held afloat by a self sustainable gravity generator that uses the gravity of a man made miniature star; created by Donatello Hamato (age 20).

Main inspiration from CMD Studios recent project!!!

Hidden cities

These main cities are focused world points for another reason. They rest above other hidden cities in which they have their own theme and setting.

New Yorks hidden city belongs to Big Mama, a spider Yokai who deals in illegal gambling and the distribution of illegal mystic items. NY Hidden city remains as a hub for traveling species of Yokai from all around the world.

Hong Kongs hidden city belongs to [REDACTED TBA]- A Dragon Yokai who deals in illegal sales of mystic items and krang salvage from the old battle.

This hidden city is less developed than the others, as most accomodation plans have been denied to preserve its pristine buildings and history. This hidden city resembles deep mountain caverns with buildings built into the sides. Common mystical creatures from Chinese mythology live within this city and rarely travel. Humans are not allowed.

Main inspiration by David Noren!

London's hidden city belongs to [REDACTED TBA] A plant like fairy Yokai who often helps with creating forged ID's to help Yokai find a better place to live. She also is known to sell potions that aren't approved by the hidden cities overlords and FDA.

This hidden city has developed slowly over time, but due to quick overgrowth of plants and trees. Most buildings have been built into large glowing trees that hang over the city in beautiful rainbow colors. The ground is a great hub for growing fruits and herbs for medicines. The Yokai in this hidden city are spirits from English folklore. They have spread over different cities over time.

Main inspiration found on Thin blue line on Pinterest!

Seouls hidden city belongs to [REDACTED] a Polar Bear Yokai who deals in illegal weapon distribution and species trafficking.

This hidden city is up to date and mostly in an indoor environment due to this hidden city being within a freezing temperature climate. More artic themed Yokai live within, but this hidden city is popular as a summar retreat by humans and other Yokai looking to stay cool for the summer. But this hidden city isn't as welcoming to humans as the others.

Main inspiration by Annabale Siconolfi!

Tokyos hidden city belongs to Yeosobai. A jellyfish Yokai who deals with handles most black markets and distribution of illegal substances.

This hidden city is completely underwater. Surrounded on a deep voided ocean under Japan, pod cities have been added to accommodate air breathing citizens, though most buildings were air tight even before. This hidden city is also a large hub for tourists due to its underwater appeal. This city distributes most seafood around the county. Known for its large amount of attractions and adult clubs, it's also a very crime ridden city.

This is also where Current Donatello resides.

Main inspiration creator unknown

Human and Yokai stances

With the sudden booming population of mutants and Yokai integrating into human society, of course tensions and protests by humans were bound to happen. A world they were so used to was building into something unknown before their very eyes after all. And so, tensions between species rose.

Humans with a deep dislike towards other species either hide their hate, or become extremists. Often getting tag as cultists as over years hate crimes toward Yokai and mutants became a world wide situation. Yokai were often kidnapped from their homes to be found barley recognizable by their attackers. Yokai would retaliate, and after much tension, civil wars broke out. Protests for safer living for both species were in demand, and so most governments integrated an artificial intelligence police force that contained mostly droids to prevent race picking. Most countries have adapted this form of law enforcement.

Cultists are still a major problem though their numbers have thinned.

The term Mutant has become a word to target Yokai and mutants in a hateful way, and this word soon became outdated. All non humans are now under the identification of Yokai. This includes mixed races between the two.

It's common for Yokai and humans relationships! Often by now the first generations of Yokai and humans hybrid children are born!

There are even schools for these rare breeds as they are still being studied as a new species.

It is illegal for most countries to have discrimination between species. No Yokai only or human only living spaces, restaurants, or shops.

Though within most slums there is a secret rule to separate the species as mostly disgrunted humans and Yokai live here.

And now we're here!

I want my character to join the au, but I don't know what's allowed!

This part of the blog aims to help you adapt your character into this new universe.

What should my character wear?!

It's really up to you! Most humans and Yokai wear mostly cyberpunk themed clothing! Often I find Pinterest as a source of inspiration. I think your character would fit better if it comes from a certain part of the world. Armor and glowing clothes are welcome and encouraged! Get creative!

I want my character to have cool robotic limbs and mods in their body! Is this allowed?

Yep! And encouraged! This is a futuristic setting! So modifications to the body aren't uncommon!

Can my characters have cool unique weapons?

Of course! And I'd love to see them!! 🔥🔥🔥

Do I have to ask before joining this AU?

Nope! But I'd love to see/read your creation! Or see that you're inspired to join!

Does my character have to be human?

Nope! Any species welcome!

Can my character already know personally main characters?

That's up for discussion. Current time Donatello isn't open to being known nor talkative to strangers. I'd like it if you didnt. He's playing dead unlike the rest of his brothers. Leo's up for discussion but with Mikey and Raph, they are more social and I can see them having multiple friends. Leo's treated more as a police officer and doesn't have a lot of friends due to his work.

Can my character work for the main boss Yokai of the hidden city.

Yes! I'd like you to stay close to what they do in terms of how they run things!

Can I claim ships with these characters?

NO.

Claiming ships with only your characters and main cast is prohibited. That's why Y/N is created as a medium for all 18+ participants that want to ship their characters with main cast. Ships are fun and welcome! But you cannot claim it as a you only ship.

Thank you for reading what I have for now! More to be added!

[fromadistantstar]

A flimsy little pamphlet lies forgotten on a concrete floor, its cover missing. The title page is all block-print- the regulations for obtaining additional copies feature almost as prominently as the title. Big, black letters: MANUAL FOR SALVAGE AND DISPOSAL OF WITCHMADE DOLLS. Beneath, of course- FOR USE OF PERSONNEL ONLY, and further a neat little logo proclaiming it a product of the Imperial Scout Corps War Conduct Oversight Committee. The occasional gust of wind flutters its pages, revealing their contents. "In light of certain indiscretions on the part of members of the Imperial Scout Corps," the first page begins. The rest is illegibly ink-stained.

[tightwadspoonies]

Dumpster Diving and Salvage Shopping

If you asked me what my role in the ecosystem is, I'd say I'm a scavenger. I hate confrontation and I hate spending money when there are other options. I will gladly just take whatever you don't want in order to avoid such unsavory obligations.

So dumpster diving, salvage stores, and incidental meat registries and I get along pretty well save for the anxiety. This post, hopefully, takes some of that away for my fellow scavengers who would love to dumpster dive but just don't know how yet, or are afraid of getting in trouble.

Dumpster Diving:

First of all, dumpster diving is legal in all 50 states of the US, but check local ordinances because rich people get fussy about people digging through trash to the point of some cities condemning the practice. It's on a bunch of other posts but it's worth saying.

Cops, of course, will lie or imply otherwise on this. A good way around that is to look like someone who is "not breaking the law". AKA: look like a suburbanite: Wear some khakis and a polo shirt, carry a Starbucks cup, and act as white as you can possibly get away with. If approached, smile, call the cop "officer" or some such referential title, and explain that you thought it was legal. Not that you know it's legal- that you thought it was legal. If they tell you to scram, do so. No argument with law enforcement is worth what is in that dumpster.

Note that it is illegal in many places to put stuff into dumpsters that aren't yours, though, so if the cops are having a slow night, be careful about them asking you to put stuff back.

You also don't want to be the reason dumpster diving gets banned in your community. Do this primarily by never getting into a dumpster. I know the container of perfect strawberries is just out of reach, but if you fall or are unable to get out you are not only up a creek yourself but potentially causing an anti-dumpster-diving frenzy that your town's grocery stores will never recover from. Also, people have legitimately died from getting into a trash compactor.

Now, "legal" does not mean "pro-store-policy". One of the main reasons for this is that is dumpster diving can be somewhat dangerous and no store wants to be the store that's known for letting people break legs on their slippery dumpster juice or what have you.

Avoid too many store policy issues by waiting until the store closes, doing a pass-by to ensure no one is waiting to see if anyone is picking out of their dumpsters, and (again) looking like someone who wouldn't be diving in dumpsters.

Store management tends to worry that they will be sued for letting you eat expired or unsafe food. If you do get approached by a manager who isn't excited to see someone picking over their dumpster selections, it is a good idea to impress upon them how very many dumpsters you pick from and how you wouldn't possibly be able to prove it was their dumpster that gave you food poisoning. Also, if you're feeling particularly bold, let them know that you are saving their store money by decreasing the weight of their waste. Probably not by a lot, but hey, you're on their side here. If told to scram, once again, do so with haste.

On that note, there are safe and unsafe foods to pick:

Generally Safe:

Packaged shelf-stable foods even with damaged outer packaging

Milk if still cold

Cheese

Eggs

Bread (including frozen bread if still cold)

Whole Veggies and Fruits, even with bad spots

Fermented anything

Non-Food Items like dry pet food, hand sanitizer, soap, cleaning products (except bleach), etc...

Generally NOT Safe:

Sliced lunch meats

Cheese touching meat

Cut salads or veggie trays

Prepared hot foods (even if still hot)

Pre-cooked refrigerated meals

Frozen veggies (unless still mostly frozen)

You want to make sure you have some time the next day to process your haul. Everything needs to be carefully sorted, cleaned, peeled, and in the case of perishable food like eggs and veggies, cooked prior to eating.

One final thing:

Be considerate. Leave everything how you found it and make sure you're not making more work for employees. Also, if you know others in your area dive, leave some stuff there for the next person.

Salvage Shopping:

Perhaps you aren't completely up for dumpster diving but still like living your lil raccoon life? Thats fine!

Salvage groceries are a great option. Essentially, instead of throwing food away that they can't sell to traditional consumers, grocery stores sell near-dated or damaged products to salvage grocery stores for pennies on the dollar, and that savings is passed along to the consumer.

Most salvage stores are smaller than traditional grocery stores, and some are cash-only. Some have fresh or frozen sections, but the smaller ones are pretty much all packaged goods. If you are living exclusively on salvage stores, you may want to supplement with some dumpster diving, foraging, or gardening (or even maybe going to a grocery store, but that's hella expensive).

Salvage groceries are not necessarily going to be perfectly food safe. There will be expired goods (doesn't mean bad). That just means you will have to do some due diligence. For example:

Make sure that an item you want to purchase is still in a sealed container

If there are more than one of an item, make sure they are the same color

Prioritize un-dented cans

If you must buy a dented can, make sure the dent isn't on an edge or seam

Don't buy expired canned tomato products

If you open a food and it smells bad, looks like it thawed and re-froze, hisses or bubbles- THROW IT AWAY

Generally be more cautious than you would normally be at a grocery store.

In my area these are pretty much always run by the Amish and Mennonite communities, but check around in your area. They are becoming more and more common outside these communities.

Not all of them will be listed on google maps. Look for a shop called "Bend and Dent" or "Salvage Groceries" or a small store advertising "Discount Groceries". Once you find one, it's easy to find others by asking at the checkout, since they tend to cluster together.

A drawback is that, because they do tend to cluster, they may be farther away than other grocery options. If you are far away, I highly recommend getting a few friends together and making a day of it. I can't say this about most things, but the extra cost in gas is well worth the savings, even if you are driving over an hour.

[rayyanishere1]

A Day in the Life of a Loser: Loser Ford AU

Chapter 3: Notebook

3rd March 1970

The sketches and calculations I made for my perpetual motion machine are ruined!

I was in the cafeteria looking back at my plans when Micheal A. trips and sends orange juice flying in my direction! He didn't even apologize, he just laughed and walked away!

Stanley chased him away but it was already too late... I just hope I can salvage what's left and get everything sorted before the science fair.

Said science fair will be held in April, so I believe I'll have time to redo things. But still, my progress! All down the drain because of some orange juice!

Stanley suggested I use our mother's hairdryer to, you know, dry it, but I'm not sure if it's even worth it to salvage the notebook. It reeks of citrus and I'm not keen on having that as a reminder.

∆∆∆

Ford's notebook was partially stained with orange juice and smudged to illegibility.

A plethora of emotions filled his head—none of them being pleasant.

Leaning his head on his arm, he stared at the remnants of his plans. He took Stan's suggestion into consideration but only as a last resort. I mean, seriously, who wants an orange scented notebook?

The hairdryer roared to life as Ford reluctantly pointed it at his notebook.

"What has my life come to...?"

This was usually the part where Stan burst into the room and told Ford that everything was going to be okay.

Where was he, anyway?

Oh, right, he was hanging out with his friends tonight.

Friends.

Not Ford.

Was his notebook dry yet?

Setting the hairdryer aside, he felt the page. It wasn't just dry, it was hot! Probably a few degrees away from burning.

How long was he zoning out?

11:52P.M. Maybe Ford should just go to sleep and think about his lack of a life tomorrow.

[umbralreaver]

This Ritalin stuff sure is a doozy! I just spent all day imagining a Magic the Gathering set that returns to Kamigawa five or so years post-invasion.

Ahem...

KAMIGAWA: PHYREXIA'S WAKE

With the destruction of Boseiju into a lake of glistening oil and Phyrexian wreckage, life in Kamigawa has been hard. The kami once common have largely diminished and retreated to the merge gates. Much of the city of Towashi is still scarred both structurally and spiritually by the invasion. The strength of the Imperial Court is weakened and the more opportunistic factions such as the Futurists have taken power.

Norn is dead. Phyrexia is gone. Its legacy remains.

The oil, still spilling from the husk of the great tree of life, no longer holds that malevolent potency it was feared for. But that does not mean it is worthless. Whether by some quirk of the plane or directly due to its infection of Boseiju, the oil of Kamigawa still has one very active property:

It can meld flesh and machine.

Survivors of the war who were grievously wounded, especially those living amidst the most devastated ruins at the base of Boseiju, found they could mend their wounds with Phyrexian salvage and dose themselves with oil to will the machinery to join with them as if it were there own flesh. it could unite them with native Kamigawan technology as well, but such things were not easily had by the poor and rejected. The dross of invasion, however, was easy to acquire.

Soon others, the ignorant or intrepid, sought out the oil's miraculous properties to mend themselves or even just enact alterations, to become other than what they were and achieve long-impossible desires. An underground culture of mending, alteration and transfiguration sprang up amongst the broken roots of She Who Shelters All.

Even in death, she sheltered them still.

It was not long before the officials of the Imperial Court took action and sealed off access to the site of the tree. Collection and use of the oil was outlawed. Fear of a 'Third Phyrexia' bloomed in the population and the Imperials harnessed that emotion in the formation of a new anti-technology sentiment.

The Futurists did not take that idly. They found an opportunity in the Imperials being stretched thin, offering to use their superior capabilities to locate, secure and quarantine all artifacts and materials of Phyrexia. They promised nobody would be infected under their watch. Such things did still have to be studied and learned from, of course.

Meanwhile, the trickles of oil in the gutters of the undercity carried the glimmers of the great tree's vital essence to the most unlikely recipients.

The Phyrexians awoke from their torpor. Not many at first, and in such mangled and ruined states that it took them some time to regather themselves in the darkness beneath. They were different now, their minds unshackled from the will of the ancient dead god Yawgmoth and the pretender Elesh Norn. Even unbound from evil, this world would surely hate them for what they were. They had to find new ways to survive.

Kamigawa is changing. There wis no going back.

THE MAJOR FACTIONS OF KAMIGAWA: PHYREXIA'S WAKE

THE KAMIGAWA PRESERVATION AUTHORITY

( Primary White, Secondary Blue and Green )

Led by the Imperial Court, the Preservation Authority is a mandate to protect the citizens of Kamigawa from any remaining Phyrexian influence. Their goal is to secure peace in the city and ensure justice is brought against all who dabble in the illegal and corrupt. Fear is a strong component of the Preserver mentality, a fear of the new and the different and the unknown. Amongst their officials, many still wish they could cut down the Futurists and return Kamigawa to the good old days.

This will, of course, mean getting rid of all that have embraced the 'unnatural'.

THE BOSEIJU DISTRICT CONTAINMENT COMMISSION

( Primary Blue, Secondary White and Black )

The Saiba Futurists, in collaboration with other technologists and artificers, gained the right to establish the BDCC and to collect and lock away any trace of Phyrexian presence. After Otawara was crashed into the surface of the planet during the invasion, they have dug a new headquarters with countless layers of laboratories and vaults. Outwardly, the goal of the Commission is to sequester away every scrap of Phyrexia away in those vaults never to be seen again. Covertly, many of them desire the alien technology for study to fuel their own advancement and profits.

They are nominally working for the Preservers, at least until they are powerful enough to shuck off the need for their approval.

THE REMNANT ARMY OF PHYREXIA

( Primary Black, Secondary Blue and Red )

The oil of broken Boseiju found its way through the crevices and cracks in the city, pooling in the lowest places where the trash and refuse gathered. Amongst that detritus, the blasted and ruined husks of the warriors of the invasion. The oil woke them to free will, but for some that ancient loyalty runs deeper than mere phyresis. They are true believers. With otherworldly hatred they plot in the dark, gathering more wrecks and relics to revive and swell their numbers. Their goal is to undermine the city until they can take the site of Boseiju with violent force, and from there forge a Third Phyrexia.

No strangers to subterfuge, some Remnants collude with the Commission, trading artifacts and secret knowledge for the Commission's aid.

THE AUGMENTED

( Primary Red, Secondary Green and Black )

The oil no longer has an intelligence guiding it. It forever awaits a signal, and the great tree gave it that tiniest of sparks: A command of life. Nothing more. With that faint motivation reenabling some of the oil's functions, the Augmented use it to join themselves to whatever technology they can find in the ruins left by the invasion. Many of them are war veterans, missing limbs or wounded in ways that makes life difficult. With oil-based augmentation, they can find dignity again. Joining them is the growing transmog community, those that find expression and freedom in changing their forms, using the miracle of the oil to shape themselves as they desire. Above all, the Augmented wish for respect, to protect each other, and to live free.

Sometimes, even sadly often, that means violence against those that would oppress or exploit them.

THE FREE COMPLEATED

(Primary Green, Secondary White and Red )

Not all of the reawakened Phyrexians kept their loyalty to a failed invasion. Alive again and able to think their own thoughts, the Free Compleated want nothing to do with the loyalists. They are outcasts, hated for what they represent even though they had no choice. They were prisoners in bodies not their own. Now, they carry the last wish of Boseiju and just want to live. The Free Compleated struggle to survive in the same darkness as their cruel kin, competing over Phyrexian wrecks to revive with oil, wishing always to meet with a new friend and not an enemy.

The Free Compleated are veterans of a war they never asked to fight, indelibly marked as monsters and yet they still seek hope.

A note:

This work imagines a post-invasion world where the consequences are not so easily swept under the rug or handwaved with a brief interlude. A few things are core to the understanding of this idea. Here, being 'compleated' is a tragedy (if unwilling), the greatest tragedy being that it overrides a subject's mind with the lingering evil of Yawgmoth. When that override is removed, what remains? This time, there is no easy zappo and you're back to good old flesh and blood.

Furthermore, the oil itself is no longer evil. Nothing of its old malice remains. Indeed, to reinforce this point its directive is replaced by a last sliver of the will the great spirit tree. Boseiju, who shelters all, welcomes even those lost Phyrexians. The Augmented, too, despite the fearmongering, are not 'meddling in dark and forbidden arts'. Through the oil Boseiju's last wish passes to them as well, so they may live.

The oil can no longer cause phyresis. That power was lost with Phyrexia. All that remains is the power to give life to technology, whether it be the cold husks of invaders or new machinery melded to the stumps of amputees.

If I were to write a story based on this, it's pretty obvious at this point that it would be an allegory for the plight of war veterans, the disabled, transgender people and other marginalised groups under a society that either wants to either destroy them or twist them to its own malign purposes.

I wrote all this in something of a buzz. I'm new to these meds. Seems good though! That said, it's likely (perhaps even certain) that I've overlooked things I should really consider when planning this out (if I end up doing more).

Feel free to let me know!

[nightlyrequiem]

Be Still My Heart

Chapter 10- The Offer

Masterlist AO3 Next Previous

New Chapter Every Saturday

You're the best in the meth industry but a new product suddenly pops up. You and your boss, Valeria, must figure out who is making it so you can take back the market. All the while tension is building between the two of you.

A/N: When I was outlining chapters like four months ago, I thought each one would be 2k words, but I'm struggling to get them over 1100. SOS

Tags/Warnings: Illegal Substances, Boss Employee Relationship, Angst, Some Hurt/Comfort, Violence, Manipulation, Suggestive Themes, Smut (But Only in CH19.), Dual POV

Valeria's fist collides with the wall. The skin on her knuckles splits, and she lets out an aggravated breath. Stiff with rage and filled with indignation. The lab has been destroyed, nothing was salvageable. Which means no more product will be produced for a while. She places her face in her hands and rubs at her temple. Clutching at her hair until it hurts. Replacing everything is going to cost a fortune. All because of you. Maybe hiring you was a mistake. Meeting you was a mistake. No. That's too harsh, she thinks. She's been caught and arrested, nearly killed more times than she can count, betrayed, what is this but a small setback? Life has thrown as many obstacles as it could at her and like the cockroach that she is, she's survived all of it and came out stronger.

The image of her men dragging your limp, bleeding body from the flames is seared into her brain. You looked so still. Valeria thought you were dead, if only for a few moments. She thought she lost you before she ever got to have you. The grief she felt cut her to her core and that scared her more than anything. Valeria shakes her head and ignores the dull sting on her hand. She needs to start replacing all the equipment and materials lost to your stupidity. As Valeria pulls out her phone, intending to call up some contacts, it rings.

"What?" She answers. Her irritation bleeding into her voice.

"... Valeria." A man says. One of the people she sent to Pajaro Azul. "That meth? It's here, too."

Valeria simply grunts in response.

"But we can't locate the source. Everyone we speak to is just the dealer for the dealer." He continues. "The Pajaro Azul Cartel is starting to get testy about us being here. We nearly got into a shootout yesterday. They want us gone. I don't think it originated from here" He trails off, waiting for her to reply.

Valeria collects her scrambled thoughts.

"Stand your ground." she decides stubbornly, not caring that she's putting their lives in danger. Danger is what you sign up for when you join a cartel. "Don't come home until you find something that makes you know instead of think."

"But Patrona-" 

Valeria hangs up before he can finish. She sighs warily. All thirty-seven years of her life sit on her shoulders heavily. Applying bruising pressure to her collarbones. She needs to speak to you. Valeria said some harsh things to you, which she isn't sorry for. However, she is still... fond of you and knows that what she said has upset you. Valeria stalks over to her desk, grabbing the small vase of flowers she had purchased for you earlier. Soft, pale pink petals hang over short light green stalks. The botanist she visited had many other options. some with different flower arrangements. Valeria liked the single type arrangement best. It's uniform. She had considered roses but figured it would be too cliche.

You're asleep in bed. Lying on your back. The sight makes her uncomfortable. The same stillness that made her think you were dead. Valeria gently grabs your shoulder.

"Hey." She says, giving you a light shake. Your brows furrow with displeasure and you open your eyes groggily.

"What?" You mutter thickly, voice deepened from sleep. What an attractive sound. Valeria files it away for later use.

"I'm just checking up on you." Valeria murmurs. Setting down the flowers on the bedside table. Your eyes shift away from hers. Her hand twitches. Wanting to lay it atop yours. She sits herself down on the bed slowly. "How are you feeling?" 

"Fine." You reply.

"Just fine?" Valeria frowns. "Your leg is injured, you have first degree burns, and stitches."

"I know."

Valeria sighs. "I'm sorry for how I spoke to you." Even if she isn't sorry, she can at least pretend to be. "I was just angry and worried. you're not useless. Not even close."

Your frown deepens. "...Okay."

"I don't want you moving around though." She clears her throat. Patting your knee. 

"Why not?" You ask, sitting up and clearly not happy about Valeria's decision.

"You can't even walk on you own." She reminds you.

You shake your head in protest, sweat lightly glistening on your hairline.

"You're not going to keep me here for my entire healing process, are you?" 

Valeria picks up on the discomfort in your voice. "Well, I can't let you go home like this. You live alone, correct?" She already knows the answer, of course. A small apartment near downtown. Single bedroom and empty of all life when you aren't occupying the space.

"Yeah, but I can still take care of myself."

"You can't walk." She repeats herself. An idea pops into her head. An image of you in the spare bedroom in her own home. Just a few doors down from her room. Isolated and reliant her. Valeria really likes that image. She's also going to file that away for later use. "You can come stay with me."

She watches you closely. Your hands grip the edge of the thin, scratchy blanket that hasn't been washed since it was bought.

"That's... kind, but I don't think it's necessary." You reply carefully.

"I insist." Valeria says, leaning towards you without breaking eye contact. She knows you don't want to, but she also knows you can't do much to protest. There's a dubious satisfaction to be found in that fact. In the control she has over you. "Chemists are expensive and hard to come by, I want to make sure you're back to full health without any hiccups."

"That's really not... necessary, I'd hate to intrude."

"it's no problem, really."

"I'm sure you'd like to keep your privacy."

"Plenty of privacy at my place."

You look away, jaw tight.

Valeria cocks her head at you. She isn't pleased that you seem so... unwilling. she understands hesitance but it's like you can't think of anything worse than staying with her. She's not used to this feeling of rejection. But then again, she doesn't ever present people with the opportunity to do so. Like when she could feel her ex-girlfriend pulling away. Just the smallest gut feeling. Valeria shut herself off from her and left her first. Valeria will always have the last word, always.

"Sure, thank you, Valeria." You begrudgingly relent. 

"Good." Valeria smiles faintly. "Just make a list a list of some belongings you may need or want, and I'll send someone to your apartment." That person will be Valeria, of course. She's probably just as uncomfortable as you are at the idea of some stranger pawing through your belongings. Good thing Valeria isn't a stranger. Besides, she's never been inside your home and she's curious to see what your dwellings look like. 

[namakaeggs]

feelings/ pt 1

eren x reader, childhood friends to lovers, mutual pining, drunk confession

you knew eren before you knew him. his mom and your mom were the best of friends in highschool, and a friendship was fated from the start. from family barbecues to birthdays, you two were always together. “inseparable” is what carla describes us. eren always scoffed when mom would say we would get married one day. my eyes would brighten at the mention.

eren was always the outsider growing up, the rebel. he grew his hair to his shoulders, didn’t get along with the popular crowd, got an illegal tattoo at 16, and religiously wore band tees. as we got older, i noticed him more and more. we were around each other so often, so close. when his voice got deeper and his arms became toned, i couldn’t help fighting my feelings. to him, we were friends. to me, he was more. i knew he never saw me the way because he slept around. he smoked and wasn’t afraid to break a few laws. hes the personification of the boys your mom will tell you to watch out for, because their mystery is so alluring that you won’t be able to resist, and that in the end, they will break your heart. mom would never see eren in another light though. nothing other than her best friends adorable, sweet child.

as i’m about to fall asleep, my phone buzzes on my bedside table and reach for it quickly.

R u awake

it’s 2 in the morning and i know what he’s been doing.

what’s up eren?

i wait anxiously.

Im sorru it’s so latew but can u pick me up from Jean’s please?

i immediately get up and throw on a zip up hoodie. i grab my keys and hurry out of my window. god, the things i do for this boy.

the first time i felt something for him was 6th grade. for a while, he had been trying to slum it with the popular boys, reiner, jean, flock, and zeke, in our class. it didn’t work. he was a puzzle piece that didn’t fit, but he tried and i watched. i watched him try biking every day after-school with them when i knew he preferred to go skating with me. i watched him try to salvage his failing math grade from constantly attempting to meet the demands of these boys, their constant hangouts that eren didn’t really look forward too, telling me how unfunny he thought their jokes were. i watched eren and the popular boys talk to the popular girls. seeing eren laughing with historian reiss made me fume. who was she to even speak to him? she doesn’t know him like that? she doesn’t know him like i do!

it was all jealousy. historia was beautiful, popular, and i knew eren thought so too, because i would see them drinking slurpees at the quick zip every friday after school. i fumed even more. there were rumors that they had even kissed. stupid me thought and dreamed that maybe he secretly wanted me, and maybe he secretly wanted me to be his first kiss. hearing the rumor crushed me. i was heartbroken, but i could never be mad at eren over some dream that would never come true.

but suddenly eren withdrew. historia and him never hung out on fridays and the popular boys treated eren like he were a plague. jean still spoke to him though, even with their bitter rivalry that he would never tell me stemmed from what. me and him were already attached at the hip by that point, but he stuck by me like glue from then on. i didn’t question it. i didn’t care too because that he wanted to spend time with me, me.

we spent the rest of our middle school and high-school years together. always turning around to make sure the other one was behind. always picking the same classes to take so that we’d be together. always going back to my place after school, sitting on my bed to talk about everything the world has to offer over and over again. i would always help him with math, and he would always defend me against the popular guys that pursued me, warning me that he knew their motives. that they didn’t want me for the right reasons. i understood and i kept away. but they didn’t.

junior year, after our AP physics class, the ringleader of the group, zeke, cornered me in the stairwell and confessed how long he had been wanting me. how much he needed me, and that i should come over sometime with his friends. and from that, i already had an idea that this was what eren was talking about. i tried to get out, but he wouldn’t let me. eren pushed him to the wall and fought him. jean and armin had to pull eren off of him. eren got suspended because he broke zekes nose, and he had to get surgery to fix the damage.

during erens suspension, we spoke.

“i don’t like how the guys are,” he starts, fixing the pink pillow under his head,” they get me so fucking mad.” he’s been staying at my house ever since he got suspended. his parents are mad.

i look up from the book i was reading. “it was only zeke who really pushed it? why are you so pissed about the whole group?”

erens eyebrows furrow. “y/n, they’re guys. i’m a guy, and you’re not. i know how guys like them are!” he suddenly looks uncomfortable. “it’s disgusting.” he mutters, “and i don’t like that zeke wanted you to come over.”

“but still?” i argue, “just because you have something against zeke doesn’t mean you should hate the whole group with a passion. i know they’re obnoxious, but don’t let them get to you.”

“of course i have something against zeke and his friends! he forced you into the corner and told you how bad he wanted to fuck you!”

i cringe at the honesty. “i meant that you’ve hated him since middle school. like.. obsessively hate.”

eren lets out a laugh at the idiocracy. “first of all, i am not obsessed with zeke fritz.” he takes a deep breath like he’s preparing for the finale of a grand speech. “and second of all, he’s always pissed me off.”

“even when you hung out with him and his friends?” i tease.

eren grows silent. “i don’t want to talk about it.” and i dropped the conversation.

i pull into the round-about where jean lives. i’ve had to pick eren up a few times from here, but lately, the only reason he’s been here is to get drunk at jeans college parties. jeans parents are loaded, lawyers who travel for work, which leaves him at home with way too much freedom.

the music is vibrating the ground from here. i wonder when the police are gonna show up to shut down this party for the noise disturbance. i need to find eren, soon. i open the front door and see people leaning on the walls with drinks, talking, joking, some making out. i look away and try to find eren. i don’t see him anywhere.

after scanning the entire first floor, eren jeager is no where to be found. i head towards the stairs and start walking up, hoping to find him upstairs.

where are you? i text.

as i’m walking down the hallway, i hear a familiar voice.

“In here!”

i walk toward the sound of his voice, the last door of the hallway that has the name “jean” written in bright blue letters. i open the door and see the unexpected.

well, not fully unexpected. i see eren, his almost- shoulder length hair pulled back into a bun and his body adorning grey sweatpants and a navy hoodie, who i was expecting to see, laying down on jeans bed, smiling at the ceiling like a weirdo. yep, he’s one drink away from blacking out. but what i didn’t expect to see was historia reiss, sitting at the end of the bed, picking at her split ends and chewing her gum with her mouth open. my stomach turns at the scene, but i force down my feelings.

“hey!” i say. historia turns to me with a look of disappointment on her face and eren lifts his head and laughs drunkly when he sees me.

“uh,” i suddenly become uncomfortable under historias arrogant stare, “sorry i didn’t knock, i’m here to get eren.”

she looks at eren and then looks at me, saying, “okay..” condescendingly and walks into jeans bathroom. she wasn’t wearing any shoes. erens not wearing any either.

“heyyyy,” eren slurs as i walk over to him. “i didn’t know you partied!” he jokes before bursting out laughing

“you texted me. how much did you have to drink?”

he looks dumbfounded at the simple question “what?”

“i said, how much did you have to drink?” i repeat. i can barely hear my own voice over the booming music.

“uhhhhh-,” he replies after a few seconds, “i don’t know.”

“okay, cmon. get up eren. we’re going.”

“yes ma’am.” he says, giving a military salute. surprisingly, he can stand just fine despite how drunk he seems. i make sure he has everything

and we leave jeans house. we walk over to my parked car and i put eren in the backseat incase he pukes all over my dashboard again. i don’t want a repeat of the last time i picked him up.

“there’s a plastic bag in the right pocket if you need to puke, eren, just letting you know.” i mention as i pull out of the round-a- bout.

“okay, mom, thanks” he scoffs.

i pull unto the main road, stopping at the red light.

“so,” i start,” historia, huh?” my voice filling the silence.

“huh, what’re you talking about?” he says in a genuine, drunk confusion. “did something happen”

“i just didn’t know you guys were really friends.” i reply. and i murmur, “obviously more than that though.”

you’re eyes are fixed on the road, but erens eyes are dead fixed on you after that snide comment that he definitely heard.

“yeah,” he rolls his eyes, sarcasm and the presence of alcohol in his tone, “we had so much fun, y/n. you don’t even know.”

i look at him through the dash cam window and he’s staring at me with a smirk and an indepipherable look in his eyes, testing me. i grip the stealing wheel and drive faster. i know he’s joking, but i can’t tell if he’s hinting at the truth or just telling a lie to get a reaction out of me.i just want this conversation i started to be over with.

“uh, so, how’s jean?” i change the conversation.

“what, you like him or something?”

“what! no!” i deny. “i never said that, eren?”

eren leans back into the seat, head resting on the head rest as he looks up. “whatever.”

unlike eren, there’s no alcohol in my system, but i’m feeling bold today. “what do you mean whatever, eren? you think i like jean?”

“uhhh, haven’t you always?” he states like it’s the obvious. “i saw the way he looked at you in art class.”

“just because he looked at me once or twice doesn’t mean i want him to fuck me or something.”

erens eyes narrow and his brows furrow, lifting his head in interest. “what the fuck did you just say?”

“what the fuck are you saying?” i fight back. “i ask you how jean is and you act like i’m begging on my knees for him. god damn.”

now he’s fully attentive, elbows on his knees and leaning in as if he’ll learn more by his upright posture. “i don’t like the idea of you liking jean,” he states, the slurring of his words still audible , “aaand i don’t like the idea of jean liking you.”

my heart races. “why?”

“maybe it’s the same reason you don’t like seeing me with historia.” and suddenly, he sounds sober.

my heart stops. he heard the comment i made under my breath.

“eren, i don’t care who you see.” the lie is evident in my tone, but eren is so drunk that i don’t bother to hide it. “you can hook up with historia for all i care. have fun with mouth herpes.”

“see, this is what i don’t like,” he slurs out, “did it really not bother you when you saw me and historia in the same bed?”

“why would it bother me? we’re just friends.”

“is that what you want to believe?”

“is that what i shouldn’t believe, eren?”

eren sighs and leans back again. “you remember when i hung out with zeke, flock, reiner, and jean like way back?”

“yeah.”

“that entire time. all they talked about is who would get you first. who would be the first to- fuck. fuck!” he slurs “i never wanted to tell you that!”

my mouth is to the floor. “seriously? that is so- why woudlnt you tell me?”

he looks out the window, “because i was scared that if i told you they liked you, you’d like the attention and shit, and then you wouldn’t be mine.”

my heart is beating out of my chest. “my god, you’re so drunk. eren, you’re speaking nonesense.”

“i’ve been in love with you since the 6th grade.”

“eren, stop.” tears brim my eyes. in the morning, when he’s sober and remembers this, he’ll regret his drunken lies and i’ll have to pretend like this drunk, fake confession didn’t mean the world to me.

“i left the digusting group for that. i hated that me and those annoying dogs had something in common, wanting you.”

“you never wanted me, eren!” i snap, “ you would fake a gag every time our moms shipped us together! and what about historia, huh? don’t act like you two haven’t been sleeping together since highschool. oh, and what about mikasa? you and her-”

“i don’t care about them! all i want is you y/n! i thought you already knew how bad i had it for you” he cuts me off.

“fucking lies.”

he grows quiet for a while.

“i pretended they were you everytime,” he admits,” they didn’t turn me on. i had to pretend they were you, ” he leans in, “and honestly? i still do.”

his words send butteflies rushing to your stomach, but you know better. “eren. you’re drunk”

he pulls his hair out of his messy bun and puts his hood on. “drunken. words. are sober. thoughts!” he enunciates before laughing.

we pull into his house driveway.

“i’m sorry for teasing you about me and historia tonight.” he apologies, and i smell beer from his breath. “im really sorry.”

“i thought drunk words were sober thoughts?” you retaliate with hurt in your tone. you didn’t want to argue, but you didn’t want to not stand your ground.

“i just- wanted to make you jealous. im sorry, y/n” he hugs me, arms wrapping around me tightly as he fits his head into the crook of my neck and sniffs. “god, you smell so good..”

“eren.” you warn.

“your perfume. it drives me insane.” he whines and starts peppering kisses down your neck.

you blush and your heart stops before you push him off of you. he stumbles back, having to regain his balance due to the alchohal in his system. he’s drunk, he’s drunk and he’s so fucking drunk.

the look in his eyes are nothing short of hurt. “y/n..”

“we’ll talk in the morning” you breath out. “go sleep this off.”

“i’ve already tried,” he replies as he walks up the stairs to his room, “why do you think i get so drunk all the damn time. seeing historias face sober every weekend makes me remember that she isn’t you.” he gets to the top step and disappears behind the wall.