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wheneclipsefalls · 10 months ago

Note

Would you be willing to write a chapter where Neteyam gives Kxolo a lap dance? hehehe 😏😏😏👀👀👀

Pairing: Omega Aged Up Neteyam x Alpha Male OC

Masterlist AO3

Warnings: eplicit NSFW content, omegaverse, established relationship, power imbalance, aged up characters, anal, dom/sub dynamics, stockholm syndrome, not an exhaustive list. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

Important note: This drabble takes place in the future in the Ma Neteyam universe, after the first book.

A/N: Thank you for waiting so long! You'll have to be patient with my writing on this one. It felt like word choice and I were duking it out, but I had a lot of fun writing it. If you enjoy it, as always, comments reblogs and asks mean the world to me and motivates me to write more! Enjoy<3

Kxolo shifted the feathers laying across his shoulders again. Wearing the ceremonial clothing had always been an honor and one that the alpha never took lightly but right now it felt as if the material was going to suffocate him. Still, he couldn’t let the appearance of his annoyance shine through. Especially not on a day like today. His birthday.

A day where the entire clan had come together and decided to throw a festival lasting from mid afternoon until deep into the night. He knew he had Neteyam to thank for many of the details that went into such an occasion. His sweet omega had been running rampant for the past moon cycle, organizing every little surprise and delight in secret until the big day. More times than one he had found the boy huddled in the healer’s tent to speak with his cousin in hushed whispers.

Try as he might, Neteyam had been relentless in keeping every morsel of this day a surprise and truly he had to admit that it had been perfect. His favorite food, people, music and location all rolled in together in spectacular celebration.

Kxolo subconsciously ran his thumb over the new smooth leather of his knife sheath. The same one that Neteyam had woken him up with this morning as a gift. His little mate couldn’t wait another five minutes before nervously presenting the hand crafted gift. His old sheath had been completely thrown aside and forgotten in favor of this personalized one, something he knew would continue to be the case. However, before he had the chance to thank his mate properly, they were interrupted by friends already putting into play the first part of the day’s festivities

It had been a real strain to put on a wide smile and act like his closest friends weren’t being the worst cock block imaginable.

As much as he loved the effort and true love that had gone into the celebration it was also the main thing that had kept Neteyam busy and away from their hut for the majority of their days. The boy had been zipping back and forth across the village with only small kisses to give before slipping from his grip to do the next task.

The last time Neteyam had wiggled himself off of the alpha’s lap amid passionate kissing, Kxolo had been dangerously close to insisting on canceling the lavish events just so he could have his omega back for more than five minutes. However, he could never do that. Not when Neteyam looked up at him with those golden eyes that sparkled with excitement and mischief as he once again denied Kxolo’s request to be filled in on details. How was he supposed to take that away from his little love?

“Brother, I can tell that extra year has already aged you into an old man.” Pulo settled beside him on a stump, handing over another wineskin full of strong drink. The party continued forward with a blurry of crowded dancing and intoxicated youth slipping off to hide their drunkenness.

He considered going over to reprimand them, but resisted.

Let the boys have some fun. It’s a party after all.

“I fear it is this mysterious concoction from Epok that has brought me there.” Kxolo responded but took another swig regardless. Even with his experience drinking the alcoholic fermented fruit, he had to admit that this was the strongest batch Epok had made in years. He made a mental note to keep the substance away from Neteyam. No doubt the sweet boy would be toppled over within a few sips.

“Soft as a flower, you’ve become.” Pulo teased, earning him a playful jab to the ribs. “Your little omega is already running circles around you.”

Kxolo’s eyes shifted back over to where Neteyam was continuing to dance without a care. It was a good look on him. A rare sight to behold, the eldest Sully child letting himself go. So far it had been the Olo’eyktan’s favorite part of the night, especially when Neteyam rolled his hips sensually to the beat of the base drum. At some point however, the dancing had turned into such erotica that Kxolo became ever more conscious of any wandering gazes.

He knew pushing Neteyam to Vamai would come back to bite him.

“He’s been doing that for weeks.”

“Ah, I see.” Pulo mused. “Someone missing their one on one time?”

Kxolo’s eyes shot like daggers to his chuckling friend. Leave it to Pulo to tease him on his birthday without a hint of remorse. However, Kxolo couldn’t deny that he appreciated how easily Pulo could read his emotions. Many times they required little words to communicate with one another.

“Wait, does this mean you didn’t like our little surprise this morning?” Pulo let out an overdone gasp, hand placing over his heart with a feigned wounded expression. “Surely our mighty Olo’eyktan would never wish to be away from his People.”

Kxolo rolled his eyes before swinging them back to his dancing omega.

“Of course not.” Another swig of alcohol and it burned just as much as the first.

His internal pouting, however, was cut short when Neteyam stumbled over towards him. Not willing to let the opportunity, or rather omega, slip away, his arms reached out and snatched the boy onto his lap. Neteyam’s drunken giggle rang through the air as he allowed himself to be manhandled across the Olo’eyktan’s muscular thighs.

“There you are.” Kxolo drawled out along Neteyam’s ear. Pulo’s little snort was ignored as he continued to run his flat nose over the column of his mate’s throat.

“You stopped dancing.”

“I enjoyed watching.” Kxolo reviled in the way Neteyam still blushed at comments like that, even after all this time being mated. He nosed at the rising tint blossoming over his cheeks.

“You’ve liked your birthday then?” Neteyam attempted to turn his face and get a good look at the male but his alpha was already nuzzled into the crook of his neck.

“Mmm very much so. It’s perfect.” The feathers magically no longer itched as he was embraced with the sweet warm scent of his love. He basked in the swirled of essence that had been oh so missed over the last few weeks.

Neteyam on the other hand apparently had decided this distraction would be the chance to grasp at the wineskin in Kxolo’s hands. The alpha just barely managed to whip it away before those small fingers could clasp around it.

“Ah ah, this one’s not for you, baby boy.” Kxolo struggled to hold in the deep chuckle at the sight of Neteyam’s pouting, scrunched up expression. It was clear the boy was already tipsy from the watered down communal alcohol. One swig would be enough to swirl him into incoherency and for sure then their night would be over. “Trust me, you don’t want it.”

To prove his point further, the open bottle was brought under Neteyam’s nose. Instantly the omega scrunched up even more and turned away. Kxolo’s laughter rumbled against the boy’s back.

“I asked Epok to make the drinks but if you don’t like-”

“It is perfect. Mawey, sweet one.”

Neteyam visibly relaxed but a hint of that mischief still shined through.

“So perfect that you won’t let me try it?” Despite Neteyam’s batting lashes and lip bite Kxolo was compelled to once again deny his request. Instead he opted to playfully nip at that trapped bottom lip. Neteyam blushed a deeper red, pushing back at his alpha’s shoulders. He was not easily swayed, instead wrapping his arms around the boy's waist and pulling him closer until the omega couldn’t escape the persistent kissing.

Contrary to Neteyam’s outraged little squeak, his tails flickered with excitement.

“I suppose here is as good a place as any, but do let me know if I should herd the children away, brother.” Pulo smirked but it was short lived as a harsh yank pulled at his braids. Pulo’s mate did not back down from his responding hiss. Resaal flashed him a cunning smirk.

“Leave them be, won’t you? Olo’eyktan is not required to let your jesting slip by, no matter how long you have known him.” Resaal scolded but it only lit a fire in Pulo’s eyes.

“I too am neither required to put up with your bossy attitude, paskalin.”

“So you think.” Resaal purred, back away when Pulo reached for her hips. With confidence bursting from the seams she gracefully lured the other alpha away from the pair, a welcome intervention in Kxolo’s opinion. He made a mental note to think twice before sending Resaal away with a scavenging party for months on end. He loved his friend, but Pulo often became restless without his mate to challenge that fire out of him.

“Sweet peace.” Kxolo sighed before diving back in to leave kisses along Neteyam’s throat.

“Wait wait, I have a surprise for you.”

“So many surprises, baby boy. You have done enough.” Kxolo leveled his voice to sound sweet and endearing but he couldn’t deny that a part of him dreaded another celebratory surprise, especially with his omega already so sweetly perched in his lap. So close to the goal and yet his own birthday seemed to be getting in the way of what he wanted most.

“You will like this one. I promise.” It was the waver in Neteyam’s voice that caught his attention. Hesitation clearly spanned over the omega’s features and it made his own tail perk in alert. “Come.” Neteyam demanded, taking the alpha’s larger hand in his own to pull him away.

Finally realizing that his wishes were about to come true, Kxolo let himself be pulled along. Excitement ramped higher as the omega began leading them towards the outskirts of the party. He did, however, not miss the way Vamai and Neteyam exchanged a secret look, the other omega nodding in response before running off to speak with the musicians.

The only thing growing faster than his curiosity was Kxolo’s lust as he abashedly watched his mate’s hips side to side with each step. It had been too long, far too long and Kxolo suddenly remembered what it was like to be an insatiable teenager again. He hadn’t so desperately yearned for physical affection from Neteyam since the first few weeks he had stolen the boy away.

It was an experience he had no desire to repeat, every day feeling like a battle as he held himself back from acting on his most carnal yearnings.

Neteyam led them deeper into the forest until they were out of sight of any clan members but the music still rippled through the trees.

When Neteyam gently pushed his shoulders down until Kxolo was sitting on a stump the alpha wasted no time in pulling his mate onto his lap and connecting their lips once more. He allowed his hands to wander greedily over the omega’s soft skin, squeezing at the plump flesh of his exposed ass.

“You are right, I do enjoy this surprise, little one.” He breathed out, barely letting their lips disconnect for a second. Neteyam on the other hand was slowly starting reel back and fumble a sentence together.

“Wait, yawne. This is not-” He gasped when Kxolo teeth sunk down on the exposed hickey lining his throat. “N-not the surprise.”

The alpha simply hummed in response, already getting to work on bringing the bruise back to its full color.

“Wait w-wait wait.” Neteyam rambled before somehow wiggling out of the alpha’s possessive grasp. Kxolo went to stand up and follow but he was gently urged to stay seated.

“Neteyam,” Kxolo drawled, voice on the edge of a deep growl.

“Just stay for a second.” Neteyam pecked his lips but that nervous demeanor had returned. Curiosity once again took the reins so Kxolo reluctantly listened to his orders. It was rare to see the boy so demanding and he was not about to scare its appearance away.

Neteyam took a steadying breath, nerves already flashing over his angelic features but the omega’s hands told another story. They skated over Kxolo shoulders and along the vibrant feathers. He was ready to bask in the touch without the barrier so Kxolo rashly shrugged the traditional attire off. For a moment he swore he could hear his father's rough voice scolding him.

An Olo’eyktan must always remember his status.

An Olo’eyktan does not carelessly toss such symbols.

His fingers twitched, tempted to place it back over his shoulders but then there were Neteyam’s small hands tracing every vein along his neck and collarbones. His father’s brash voice floated away and there was only Neteyam.

Only Neteyam.

The one person that Kxolo could truly be himself with. The only person that was able to wash away the burdens of leadership simply with his soothing presence.

His father was not here, it was only them.

Kxolo’s hands did their own exploring, marveling at the boy’s tapered waist and curved hips. Each male petted with a reverence that sung out like a silent prayer of appreciation. Although he could already feel his member straining against his restricting loincloth, Kxolo allowed himself to sink into the slow build up of the movement.

Neteyam’s hips swayed, but this time not from simple walking. Instead they whipped to the beat of the drum. In perfect accordance with the music, that beautiful form curved and rolled sensually. He had seen Neteyam dance before, especially when under the influence of strong drink, but this was different.

It was unashamed.

It was erotic.

One leg swept backwards in a drawled semicircle along the ground before placing his foot on the other side of Kxolo's thigh. Now practically straddling the alpha’s leg, Neteyam dragged his inner thighs along him. It rippled a shiver up Kxolo’s spine and when he looked up to find Neteyam blushing profusely, it only tempered another flare in his heart.

His perfect omega.

It was undoubtedly new territory for both of them. The closest thing that the couple had participated in were a few forbidden sensual dances at celebrations. Although Neteyam's nerves were ever present, the boy continued to grind and roll to the rhythm perfectly.

His smooth transitions spoke volumes of the time that Neteyam had no doubt put into practicing this specific dance. Thinking of the omega practicing such an erotic dance Kxolo knew it had Vamai’s name written all over it.

He went to rise and join his mate in this explicit dance but Neteyam shook his head once more, making the male sit down with a huff again. A flurry of emotions raged through him and when Neteyam turned the other way so he had an obstructed view of his perky backside, Kxolo swore he was on the edge of ruin.

His sultry gaze couldn’t stay away from the beautiful display before him, not with his omega’s sweet scent now evermore present than before. It infiltrated the Olo’eyktan’s senses until there was nothing left but the throbbing of his loins.

Kxolo went to pull him back towards him but this time Neteyam required little persuasion as he bent to hover his backside over his pulsating erection. Instead of sitting fully, the omega swiped his tail and ass gently over the area, creating figure eight patterns. It was a soft type of torture, the smallest touches creating an ravenous rush through him.

As he gripped those hips and watched the way bioluminescent lights bounced off of Neteyam’s swerving body, Kxolo swore this was the longest song in existence. The harder Kxolo dug his fingers into Neteyam’s flesh the higher the omega’s confidence slowly grew. Gone was the blossoming blush, now replaced with a flushed countenance and blown out pupils.

Kxolo was sure his little mate would deny it but there was surely a part of him that enjoyed torturing his alpha. It was evident in the way his eyes sparkled every time he had to refuse Kxolo’s demands to sit down fully.

He was tempted to stamp that mischievous fire out, to show what happens when naughty omegas taunt their alphas, but he let him continue. No matter how impatient and downright desperate he was becoming, the Olo’eyktan did not want to associate retribution with Neteyam’s new attitude too quickly. There was something all too satisfying about the push and pull of such interactions; not that he could let Neteyam know that.

Kxolo swore he no longer had control over his hands as they wandered over his body incessantly. It was extremely rewarding however when a sharp tug to Neteyam’s nipple had that familiar gasp rising to the surface. The omega stuttered slightly in his movements but didn’t let it deter him for long.

He was starting to question whether or not this was a surprise or a punishment when Neteyam stood back up and slipped out of his reach. The hanging crystals making up his shall worked perfectly to glisten in the moonlight and bring attention to every movement.

A mental image of ripping those beads off with his teeth came to the forefront. Of course Neteyam would be upset. He would also be upset at Kxolo messing up the intricate designs painted across his chest and thigh, but he would recover. The Olo’eyktan was willing to take the consequences in any form that it came, as long as it meant having his way with the boy finally.

It began to grade at his nerves this game of ‘you can look but you can’t touch’. At one point he swiped out to catch Neteyam’s tail but the omega tripped slightly and glared back at him.

Kxolo was on the edge of pinning the boy down when Neteyam finally sashayed back over to him. Sitting backwards on his lap and circling those sinful hips once more, Kxolo did not wait to be invited to have a taste. He bit down harshly at the back of the omega’s left shoulder.

The responding small mewl was a greater symphony than the entire song combined. It laced the contours of the drums increasing build in a perfect masterpiece.

Neteyam struggled to continue the choreographed movements as his mate’s groping became strategically calculated. Those long fingers tickled and swirled along his most sensitive and private areas, ones that only his alpha knew by heart. When a warm palm slid over the front of his loincloth to cup him, Neteyam jerked back with a little shriek.

“That is not part of the show.” He managed to quip back.

Kxolo simply chuckled, hand now slipping underneath the waistband.

“Perhaps the encore then, little one”

“Let me finish.” Neteyam whined, hips already bucking upwards on the contrary.

Kxolo’s hot breath tickled at his ears until those soft lips were tracing his right ear’s shape.

“You will finish, omega. As many times as I decide.” That dark promise sealed his fate within a breath. It was endearing to watch the way Neteyam still squirmed and insisted on getting to the end of the song, even as his small cock twitched with each stroke against it.

He would make it up to the boy later, let him do the dance to his heart’s content, but Kxolo was tired of waiting.

Even an Olo’eyktan has a limit to his patience.

“You keep trying to run off, rude little thing.”

Neteyam whimpered, muscles in his legs finally giving out as the pleasure became too much.

“Just b-been busy.” He exhaled out an exaggerated breath, finally letting the alpha dispose of his loincloth and get to work. “Wanted to make it per…ah…perfect.”

“It is perfect and so are you. Now stop trying to steal my omega away from me. Otherwise I can’t promise to always play nice.”

Neteyam started to rut up against the male’s hand in rapid motion, but all that did was rub him back against Kxolo’s member tortuously.

“Or fair.” Neteyam gritted out between clenched teeth.

Kxolo chuckled darkly before tucking his chin over Neteyam’s right shoulder, giving him the perfect view of his mate’s twitching cock in his grasp. When Neteyam began to shudder and shake, eyes clenching shut with a cry, the Olo’eyktan simply cood out mocking praises and kissed his sweaty temple.

It became ever so clear that he was not the only one wound up after so much time apart.

Neteyam’s body had become familiar terrain for the alpha. Even a shift in his scent could trigger how close his omega was to finding sweet relief. It was a fact he took advantage of quite often because there was nothing more addicting than pulling out new sounds from his mate’s lips, that is besides the feeling of Neteyam’s tight heat milking him for all he is worth.

“P-please c-can I…hmm….need to….”

“Perhaps.” Kxolo mused, placing another kiss to his shoulder blade as he sped up the pace.

“Daddy please!”

A feral grin spread over his lips.

“Cum for me.”

Neteyam followed the order almost simultaneously and when he did Kxolo gave in to his intrusive thoughts. With sharp fangs he gathered a chunk of beads and strands and ripped them away violently. The beads went flying in every which direction but now there was a no layer of protection between Neteyam’s soft skin and Kxolo’s torment.

When his fangs sunk into the supple flesh, Neteyam shook uncontrollably.

He took his time nursing and sucking at the mark until his mate was whining and trying to pry Kxolo’s hand off of his overstimulated length.

The omega’s chest heaved up and down in a rapid pace but Neteyam’s wafting scent told him everything he needed to know. It spoke of that still ever rising desire, a flame that was easily recouping to match Kxolo’s own.

“Soaked for me already.” Kxolo whispered, rolling his own hips up until Neteyam’s arousal was staining the front of his loincloth.

“Alpha…” Neteyam reached back, fingers trying to grasp onto something; anything. They found a hold on the alpha’s waistband and that was all the encouragement Kxolo needed to rip off chuck the garment away.

Were this any other night the Olo’eyktan would watch that neediness grow, appreciate every shift in Neteyam��s demeanor until his omega was so fucked out that pleas bled from his lips uncontrollably.

Tonight, however, Kxolo found himself just as insatiable. Every minute without that tight hole wrapped around him was another of the alpha’s torment. Neteyam only made matters worse as he began to rub back against him, almost as if he could find a way to slip his alpha’s cock inside of him just from grinding.

Kxolo’s hand snatched the front of Neteyam’s throat so fast it expelled all the oxygen from his lungs in a burst. Eyes rolling backwards, he rolled his head backwards to rest against the alpha’s collarbones.

“Baby boy.” He growled. Using the other hand he reached beneath them and positioned the tip just barely at Neteyam’s slick entrance. “You’re going to take all of me, aren’t you?”

Eyes glistening with tears, Neteyam nodded hazily while pushing back.

Not good enough.

“Say it.”

His bulbous tip slipped just past the rim and Kxolo had to bite back a plethora of curses.

“Daddy I want to take all of your cock. Please!”

With one smooth thrust, Kxolo seated himself fully inside of the omega.

Who was he to deny such pretty pleas from his little mate?

“Great Mother, Neteyam! How did this little hole manage to get tighter?” His chest rumbled fervently and Kxolo once again felt another oral fixation coming on. The pretty marks covering Neteyam’s shoulder captivated him endlessly. Refreshing the color could never hurt.

“R-ready. Ready ready ready.” Neteyam babbled.

It was tempting to tease it out longer but Kxolo’s hips seemed to have another idea in mind as it took all of his concentration to not buck up into him. When he did, however, the result was electrifying. That clenching cavern fit him so perfectly, letting him carve out the space until there was not a doubt that this angel of a being was his.

No matter how many times they intertwined so intimately, nothing could ever erase the awe that washed over him every time Neteyam allowed him inside. The awe that they had finally made it, that they were mated and one before Eywa.

It was as if Neteyam could read his mind because he was quickly reaching back behind him to connect their neural queues hastily. As with every other time, warmth crashed through him boldly. It was the greatest satisfaction to feel his mate’s pleasure strumming through the bond, to know that he was pleasing the love of his life.

Their movements quickly became messy, spiraling out of control as Neteyam tried to rise up and down in tandem with Kxolo’s thrusts. When their lips found each other once more it was nothing but animalistic, a frenzy of urgency that neither was willing to live with. Had a clan member found them now, Kxolo was sure they would be shocked to see their naturally composed Olo’eyktan so untamed, unable to gather the slightest restraint.

That was the beauty of it.

Neteyam from the very beginning had brought out a side of him that he could express nowhere else.

Those special pieces of him belonged to his omega and his omega only.

Kxolo had to admire Neteyam’s rebounding sex drive. His fragrant essence was already tipping towards that natural burst of ecstasy quickly.

“Look at you. Already to the edge and ready for more.” Embarrassment was far from Neteyam’s mind, simply content to soak up the praise without objection. “What did I say?”

He plummeted to that special bundle of nerves and Neteyam couldn’t hold back his vibrant cry.

“As…..nahh….as many times as you decide.”

“Good boy.” Kxolo’s eyes shut on their own accord as his hips snapped upwards frantically. “Don’t hold back on me. Want that glimmering cum painting you inside and out.”

“Yes Daddy.”

If the trembling was any indication his mate was just as close to coming undone as he was. A new resolve sparked within him. The Olo’eyktan increased his efforts tenfold but then there was a small hand grasping his jaw. Neteyam’s tongues forcefully pushed its way past Kxolo’s lips and to the alpha’s surprise, claimed that area with ease. Their groans danced heatedly into the kiss until it was hard to recognize which taste was his own versus Neteyam’s.

The omega’s gummy walls squeezed around him just as Neteyam bit down on his lower lip. The pain rippled into a beautiful harmony with the height of his pleasure as they both reached peak together. Kxolo’s body took control, arms reaching out to make sure that not an inch of space could be formed between them.

Pelvis flush against the omega’s ass, warm seed painted those inner walls.

Through the bond he could track the moment Neteyam felt that primal claim. Even when Neteyam’s own release died down he was forced to ride out his alpha’s release through the bond. It shook him to the depth of his core.

Kxolo slumped forward against him, body shaking from the aftermath.

Several long moments passed with only heavy breathing to fill the silence. It was borderline painful to still be seated inside of such a tight channel but Kxolo didn’t dare to allow a gap between their bodies.

His stamina would ramp up again and once it did, he didn’t want the slightest chance of his omega teasing and running off again. Not that it would be possible in the first place. From the way Neteyam laid back against him completely limp, he figured it would be out of the question.

“I hope you aren’t too wrecked yet, baby boy.” He mocked, lips flickering up into a grin.

“As if.” Neteyam’s confidence wavered in its execution as his voice still trembled.

“Glad to hear because I know one last birthday gift you can give me.”

That perked Neteyam up, their eyes meeting finally.

“My omega all too myself.”

Neteyam’s lips parted.

“No more chores, no more late night tasks, baby boy.”

Neteyam giggled softly.

“I hope you don’t have any plans tonight or tomorrow because the only place I want to see you for the next day is in my bed.” Kxolo didn’t hold back the possessive growl lacing every word.

Their tails wrapped together until they were intertwined.

“Deal.” The omega whispered before connecting their lips in a soft kiss.

“Happy Birthday, Ma Kxolo.”

“Happy indeed.”

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gotinterest · 10 months ago

Text

I Want To Watch Kamen Rider, Which Season Do I Pick?

I'm going to focus on Heisei Era shows because those are the easiest to access and the ones most fans have watched so it's easy to find people to talk to about them. Every season of Kamen Rider is a different story with a different cast and vibe, so determining which season you should start on is largely dependent upon your personal taste. This list is based mostly on the shows I have watched or know a lot about, so it's not exhaustive. Some shows will be listed under more than one category, just depending upon what might be most important to you. Guide is located under the read more!

DO NOT START HERE: Kamen Rider Decade, Kamen Rider Zi-O, Kamen Rider Gaim. Decade and Zi-O are anniversary shows that lean HEAVILY upon Rider lore and referencing past seasons. You don't need to watch those seasons to understand the story, BUT you may get spoiled on key plot points from past seasons by watching them. Gaim is on here because it is almost universally hated and thought of as a terrible show.

WARNINGS FOR THE SHOWS RECOMMENDED HERE: Kamen Rider Blade is heavy in the flashing lights department and the opening in particular is known to bother photosensitive folks! All the seasons have flashing lights, but Blade is the one that people have straight up said they couldn't watch through because of how many flashing lights there are.

Kamen Rider Kuuga has a pretty gross transmisogynistic caricature in two of the episodes.

Kamen Rider OOO has a cafe that is nicknamed the "cultural appropriation cafe" by fans because the servers are frequently made to dress up in outfits from other cultures and it can be a bit offensive from time to time. It's not the worst I've seen in terms of "people dressing up as other cultures" and there isn't any black face or brown face but I still felt it worth mentioning since the cafe is a major part of the show.

Kamen Rider Faiz has a black character in it for a few episodes who is written in a way that gives "big dangerous strong black guy" stereotype. It's uncomfortable to watch.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I don't really like kid's shows and I'd prefer something a little more mature: Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Hibiki (eps. 1-29 only). If you are looking for a show that feels more mature, these are where you should start. The pacing of these shows is a bit slower and more thoughtful. Kuuga and Ryuki are both HIGHLY beloved. Kuuga is good if you really like monster of the week shows, Ryuki is more for you "overarching story driven" types. Ryuki is a bit more silly in places than Kuuga, but largely maintains a serious tone. Hibiki is very creative and experimental, but it doesn't really give you an accurate picture of what most Kamen Rider seasons are like because it is very different. BUT if you can't stand musicals do not watch Hibiki. ALSO stop watching Hibiki on ep. 29. After that there was a show runner change and the end of the show sucks. Ep.29 is largely considered a satisfying enough end to the show.

I like mature themes and concepts, but I'm fine with kids show silliness: Kamen Rider OOO, Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider W. If you constantly feel guilty for wanting things and taking up space, watch OOO. If you had a rough childhood and complicated feelings about your family watch W. If you want to watch a show about war, watch Build.

I love kid's shows give me silliness and fun!: Everything recommended in the second category + Kamen Rider Den-O, Kamen Rider Fourze. Den-O is a time travel story that is heavy on slapstick humor and has a lot of heart. You may have seen a a red horned guy named Momotaros dramatically swing his leg up to rest it on the bench of a booth- that's from this show. Fourze is a high school story about friendship and space!

I like to watch things that are bad but also good: Kamen Rider Blade. You can basically ignore almost the entire lore built up in the first half of the show. The writers certainly do. If you've seen people memeing on a guy named Tachibana... this is that show. This show is very easy to post about. Deeply funny but not on purpose in many places.

I want to watch one of the ones that are especially known for homoeroticism: Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Blade, Kamen Rider OOO, Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Faiz. Blade isn't initially very homoerotic until it very much is. Kuuga is for you if you want a more sweet and sincere vibe. OOO, Ryuki, and Build are more for if you like watching men bicker with each other homoerotically. Ryuki also contains a couple of side characters who read very much as a domestic couple (if you are big into the "loyal dog" type dynamic you will enjoy these two). Faiz is for you star-crossed lovers enjoyers that can also tolerate a stunning amount of heterosexual love drama (Blade is also a bit star-crossed). Watch Blade if you want to have a very personal grudge against a bench for the rest of your life. Kuuga and OOO are the most homoerotic.

I like weird shows where I don't know what the fuck is going on: Kamen Rider Kabuto, Kamen Rider Blade. If you watched Hannibal and were really into the way they talked and made a bunch of food, watch Kabuto.

I want something that leans more into horror: Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Agito. Kuuga can lean pretty hard into horror in places. Agito is a bit lighter, but still has more of a horror vibe to it.

I like mystery stories: Kamen Rider Kuuga, Kamen Rider Ryuki, Kamen Rider Agito, Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider W. There are other seasons with elements of mystery, but these are the ones where the mystery really takes more of a front seat. W in particular is actually a noir-inspired.

I want to watch the one with that blond curly haired Ankh guy that I keep seeing on my dash: Kamen Rider OOO

I want something that's a bit artsy and I also like or don't mind musical numbers: Kamen Rider Hibiki (eps. 1-29 only). The only Kamen Rider season where characters regularly break out into song. The sound track, editing style, and aesthetic of the show are so unique. Really strongly written. Do not watch past ep. 29 because of studio mandated changes ruining everything that made it worth watching.

I want to get a good intro to Kamen Rider: Kamen Rider W, Kamen Rider OOO, Kamen Rider Build, Kamen Rider Agito. Kamen Rider W and Kamen Rider OOO are considered great starter seasons. They give you a pretty good feel for Kamen Rider's formula while overall being pretty solid shows. Build gives you a good vibe for how Kamen Rider seasons with bigger casts feel while giving a good balance of serious and silly. It also gives you a bit of a better feel for what some more recent Kamen Rider seasons are like stylistically. Kamen Rider Agito is just a solid early Heisei show that gives you a feel for the tone of a lot of early Heisei shows WHILE also being a good starter show for you to dip your toes into the works of the infamous Toshiki Inoue. Inoue is a prolific writer of tokusatsu shows that most fans have a love/hate relationship with. He is the main writer for several Kamen Rider seasons, specials, and movies and has written several episodes even in shows that he wasn't the main writer for.

WHERE TO WATCH:

Legally: Ryuki and Kuuga (along with the original Kamen Rider from the 70's which is good cheesy fun) can be streamed on Tubi (at least in the US). If you understand Japanese and have a VPN (or are in Japan) I believe most of the seasons are on Hulu.

*I actually wouldn't recommend watching Kuuga FOR THE FIRST TIME on Tubi because the Grongi subtitles are baked in and you can't turn them off. I strongly believe that a key part of the first watch experience is not being able to understand the Grongi, as was the original intention of the show's creators. You can buy the blu-rays for Kuuga and toggle the Grongi subtitles if you really think its worth it to spend the money*

Alternative: You can watch them on most illegal streaming sites, lol. The only season I've seen where that has been an issue so far is Den-O, with the uploads being kinda wonky and partially missing.

There is... another source but I shan't link to it directly here (loose lips sink ships!) Please reach out to your nearest Kamen Rider blogger for the goods.

#Kamen Rider #I'll update this as I watch more shows

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multifandom-26 · 6 months ago

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Maybe an angry sprit isn’t so bad S.W

Sam Winchester x female reader s1/s2 era Sam. No warnings I don’t think besides normal supernatural stuff and kissing. Let me know if it’s bad lol. Archeology reader AU.

Sam, Dean, y/n

7:48 A.M 📍the impala

Are we almost there at least? Sure are Sammy welcome to college, he says looking ahead at the campus. So dad sent us to this location because?. Because jerk it’s some sort of artifact that apparently caused a spirit to be stuck and pissed off. So what were just walk around campus asking hey who’s got any ancient artifacts lying around? Sam laughs. Dean sighs no, and I thought you were the smart one, but they have one of the best archeological programs in the U.S so maybe we find an archeology major who’s been on a trip recently. Sam nods, yeah I guess but how do we know who’s even apart of the program. don’t worry I’ll handle that just wait here. As Dean goes inside Sam sits in the car looking around, he gets a sad feeling and reminisces on his college time. He won’t admit it but he does wish he could’ve just done both or not hunted at all. Soon enough Dean comes back out with a list of names and addresses. They go from one dorm to another to an apartment complex and then to another one when they see from the street in front of it that the lights are going on and off. Sam looks up this must be our one. Dean laughs yeah or the electrician did a terrible wiring job. They head inside and get to the room number on the paper they knock then hear a few things slam around inside before a girl opens it. The boys look down at the girl and go are you Y/N Y/L/N she nods and responds with and you are? Dean clears his throat um we’re museum curators, and we heard you’ve got a very interesting piece of pottery. The girl nods still confused they can tell. Sam takes the lead now, as Dean is thinking. “May we come in” Y/N looks up at them, tell me why your really here first and maybe, you know stranger danger and all that but lying to? They laugh Dean smiles, you wouldn’t believe us if we told you even. Y/N smirks try me, I’m an archeology major I’ve heard of every urban legend, detailed myths, and cruses you could think of. They exchange looks, Dean just shakes his head and goes fine but we can’t just exactly say this shit in a hallway. She sighs and invites them in. Whatever was in here calmed down a bit at least.

8:23 am 📍y/n apartment

So you’re an archeology major what’s that like Dean asks. Sam rolls his eyes at his brother , y/n laughs um it’s pretty cool I get to go on digs in the summer last place I went was Serbia then Guam. Really Sam asks now more interested, yeah she smiles it’s amazing, you get to travel, research, and learn about the past which is all I’ve ever wanted to do. Dean smiles we uh kind of do that too, well not to your level but same idea. Sam clear his throat, you said you know about urban legends, myths etc.. what do you think this is? Y/N laughs slow down first who are you guys really, and why are you so interested in whatever is going on with the cursed pottery. Sam looks over to Dean and they just nod, well I’m sam and this my older brother Dean we uh.. we hunt the supernatural. Y/N laughs covering her mouth, uh sorry I didn’t mean to laugh but I knew you weren’t museum curators. Dean looks at her, you’re not freaked out? Not really she smiles it’s interesting besides it’s not my first run in with an angry spirit and awakening something. The boys both now are staring at her, in sync they go this happened before. Y/N shrugs I mean yeah kind of apart of the job. Now I have some books about the pottery piece where and whose it’s associated with so maybe that will help. But we cannot destroy it.

10:36 AM 📍 on the way to diner.

I’m so exhausted, and hungry, I feel like I haven’t eaten in days. . You literally ate this morning and We’re on our way to a literal diner right now if you didn’t remember Sam reminds him. Y/N sits in the back seat quietly and looks out the window and says to turn here and there when they need. They arrive and sit in a booth, what made you want to bring that thing back with you anyways and how did you get it through airport security? Y/N laughs, well it was cool and I was doing a report on it and I am supposed to bring it back to New York for the head researches to do whatever with it but I hit a writing and research block, and for the airport security I have an archeological pass for certain items to be brought through. You do need to get a shit ton of stuff signed through saying all of the info and they’re allowing you to take it out of the country. Dean smiles makes sense, Sam clears his throat so uh, a writing block he says. The girl sighs, yeah I mean it’s been days and I just can’t seem to say what I wanna say and my researching has not been the best. Do you think it’s because of the object Sam asks. She sighs I mean maybe but, I’m also just under a lot of stress right now too with finals and everything and I have one more semester before I graduate so it’s a bit nerve wracking. The boys both shoot her a look of sympathy at her words. Throughout the rest of their meal and chat Dean notices Sam staring at the girl, smiling, and being more bubbly than usual. They leave and head back to y/n’s apartment.

1:07PM 📍y/n’s place

The three sit and stare at the vase, y/n explains the history on it and then tells them she thinks it’s associated with the spirit, As there sitting and reading and writing on post it’s, the piece falls to the floor out of nowhere but dosent break. They sit still almost waiting for another thing to happen just make it sure it wasn’t a weird mishap. Then the lights flicker, and piece goes flying across the room and she appears. A woman, and at that an angry looking one. The boys start grabbing their stuff they make a salt ring around the woman as she just stands there staring at y/n. It then speaks the word return. Y/n is directly behind Sam and at hearing the woman’s words she grabs onto his arm out of fear. Sam feels it and his face heats up, but he smiles, don’t worry we’re not gonna let her get you. Or us. Dean yells do not forget we’re also here and apart of this now Sammy.. obviously sam rolls his eyes. The woman tries to move closer to them but is stopped by the salt ring. Return she says again. Y/N steps out, you return the woman yells again. Y/n picks up the pottery holding it, was this yours? The woman nods. Y/n smiles it’s beautiful, really amazing work. What’s your name? Sofia the woman replies, well Sofia you must have worked hard on this. The woman nods, as y/n is distracting her Sam and Dean start chanting and the woman groans than shrieks a black cloud coming out of her mouth and then she is gone. They all stand staring at where she was, nice work guys y/n smiles. Kinda our thing Dean laughs.

5PM 📍 the apartment

So I wanted to thank you guys for everything today, so… I made steak. Steak! Dean asks excitedly. Yes Y/n smiles. Thank you really, for all of this for helping, the food, and talking to her. Sam smiles. Y/N looks down blushing a bit oh it was nothing. They sit down and eat mindlessly chatting away. Telling Y/N about where they’ll be going next probably and she tells them she can’t wait till next week when finals are done and the summers hers. She is sad though she’s gonna miss them especially Sam, the one she couldn’t keep her eyes off, ever since he appeared in her doorway, the one who thought about her safety, laughed at her jokes, thanked her for the help. Sam… she was going to miss him for sure. Dean noticed her eyeing him as well at points, like now she seemed lost in thought and staring at him. You guys done with your plates, Dean asks getting up. Yeah you and Sam reply hanging them to him. Y/N speaks first, so you guys leave tomorrow morning? Sam sighs yeah, you know always moving. She nods. Y/n laughs I wish I could come, it sounds kinda fun what you guys do, heroic. Sam smiles, yeah me to it would be a refreshing break from having just Dean around. Speaking of him you laugh, where did he go? I thought to put the plates in the kitchen he would’ve been back by now my apartment isn’t big. He could’ve snuck out and went to the bar. Oh okay well it’s just me and you I guess than, do you want anything to dri- y/n gets cut off when Sam kisses her, shocked at first she then kisses back, deepening the kiss she puts her hands around his neck and scoots even closer to him. He wraps his arms around her waist, they break apart after a bit. Sorry he smiles I just I’ve been wanting to do that the whole day but I was nervous that you didn’t like me and I actually still don’t know but- hey she smiles I like you I’ve liked you since you walked through that door this morning. He smiles well in that case, he leans in and kisses her again.

9pm📍the couch

Sitting on Sam’s lap leaning against him, you’re both watching tv you are slowly drifting to sleep. The door opens with the key Dean swiped, Dean steps in and smiles silently pumping his fist, he pulls out his phone and snaps a photo.

7am the next morning:

Come with us when you’re finished we’ll drive back and pick you up even Sam states. The girl smiles, I mean you know it’s my summer, and I’m gonna do this she smiles. Sam hugs her, I can’t wait to see you again. Me to she sighs, I’ll miss you. The pair kiss before he gets in the car and the boys head off. Maybe having an angry spirit in your house isn’t so bad after all.

#supernatural #sam winchester #fanfic #sam winchester x reader #supernatural fanfiction #dean winchester #fandom

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hellenhighwater · 2 years ago

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i'm sure you've probably been asked this before but i'm new here and very curious: how did you come into ownership of your house and how are you paying for it? i recently moved in with my boyfriend and the housing situation is... dismal. and we're eventually moving into another house with a friend but we barely make enough money combined to support ourselves. i'm just curious as to what it takes to be content because you are living in such a dream house to me and i would love to achieve that one day. ty and have a great day!

I'm not going to pretend that my homeownership is some kind of one-man bootstraps success story; it's not. I got lucky in a lot of ways. It's a combination of stuff.

I haven't owned my house for long--it'll be two years this August. When I started saving for a house, I was lucky enough to be able to live with family and basically eliminate the majority of my living expenses, which allowed me to save a much higher percentage of my salary than I would otherwise have been able to save. I was driving an hour and a half for my daily commute, but it was worth it to not be paying rent. Having a bunch of roommates prior to that also helped. I have almost no debt--I did law school on 100% scholarship, and picked a cheap undergrad university. (This actually backfired--my credit score simply did not exist until waaaay later in my life than is recommended if you want a mortgage. I struggled to find a lender that would work with me even though I was stably employed and had a cash down payment ready.)

I also bought a home in a non-urban area; I live in a fairly small town. My house is also not very expensive; it was between $150-$200K when I bought it. That's due, in part, to the location (small town), the tiny lot (less than a quarter acre), the age (120+ years), and the need for a lot of superficial updates and repairs. It's structurally sound for the most part, but it's dated.

I'm a lawyer. It's easy to miss, since I post like an idiot, but I am regularly reminded that sometimes even morons pass the Bar. I don't make the kind of crazy money most people assume lawyers make, but for a single-person household I'm okay. I was able to make a fairly sizeable down payment--more than was strictly necessary, actually--so my monthly mortgage is actually less than $1k, which is still mindboggling to me. It's good, because this house DOES need work.

But with all that said, it still wasn't easy. I got my first job when I was a freshman in high school and I have been continuously employed since then. Between the ages of 18-28 there was never a time that I held less than two jobs; most of the time I had three, and it...sucked. It was fun, a lot of the time, but mostly that kind of unpredictable schedule is just exhausting at a subconscious level. I remember the week before the Bar, still working two jobs, being in the library at 3 am, my brain melting out my ears, and cruising Zillow listings for bombed-out houses in Detroit being sold for pennies on the dollar, thinking that if nothing else, I could buy one of those and make it work one repair at a time. I went to law school because I wanted to be able to buy my own house. I moved out of the city so I could buy my own house. I shaped a lot of my life around the need and want to have my own space. I have spent years sitting up late at night and looking at real estate listings I couldn't dream of affording.

I don't know if that helps. I guess the only advice I could give is that if homeownership is a big priority for you, maybe look for areas where real estate is affordable(ish; I know what it's like these days) and see what it would take for you to be able to live there. A lot of the time, if there's good bones to work with, the rest is just what you make of it.

#i often tell people i'm live in ______#and it is not unusual for them to bring up various concerns about crime rates in areas like mine #and my fine friends: believe me i am aware of the crimes #its fine #what are they gonna do murder me??? only if i dont get em first #but the unfortunate reality is that for a lot of people under 35 its simply not possible to live in a major city without renting #which is insane #the system is broken but we still have to live in it.

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terriwriting · 2 months ago

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Possible locations for Gotham, Metropolis, & Smallville

A non-exhaustive list of places to put Gotham, Metropolis, or any other fictional city.

Notes:

Cities need reliable fresh water, transportation, and food.

Wonder Woman doesn't need a city. She already has Paradise Island.

Gotham

I'm more of a Superman fan, so my notes on Gotham are relatively short. Plus Metropolis comes in two variations, while Gotham just needs to be a city that is old enough to have old infrastructure and deep-rooted generational wealth.

Illinois/Indiana:

The Chicago-Gary area is the easiest place to put Gotham if you want to move it away from the East Coast. Hello Kitty Unpretty's Gotham is a Great Lakes city.

New Jersey:

The classic. There are two good places for a fictional city, but the one in the southern area of the state will be noticeably different from canon-Gotham.

The Camden-Rehoboth Bay corridor could be unified by an old canal system. Place Gotham one one end of the canal and Bluehaven (Bludhaven to cynical locals) on the other, according to your preference. Note that the Rehoboth Bay end is mostly mud and silt layered over more mud and silt, so you're probably better off placing Bludhaven here as a smaller city with few major towers. Either end will need extensive drainage (canals, storm drains, aqueducts, and reservoirs), so that's great for the crumbling infrastructure. Remember that if you place Gotham here, Batman's costume needs to be light, not armoured, or he'll be dead in a week from heat stroke.

The New Brunswick-Newark metropolitan area fits the climate we usually see in comics. Maybe throw in Staten Island as a little treat for New jersey.

In either case, the rest of the Justice League calls Batman Tony Soprano behind his back.

New York:

The NYC metro region with no city unification. Gotham is probably Manhattan, plus maybe Staten Island for rich people like Bruce.

Ohio:

A unified Cleveland-Akron-Canton metropolitan area with a higher population, maybe?

Rhode Island

My preferred headcanon: The Newport-Providence metropolitan area as a unified city. Bruce Wayne is old old money, some of the Wayne cousins were involved in the witch trials, and this fits the map published by Mayfair games.

Metropolis

Metropolis comes in two flavours: The more common one where Metropolis is a stand-in for an old East Coast US city, or; The Superman: TAS version where Metropolis is a new city, built under the influence of tech billionaire Lex Luthor. I like both.

If you like Clark and Lex as high school friends, that's not really compatible with a New Metro built by Lex Luthor. There's just not enough time for Lex to build anything more than a small suburb. But Lex could be manoeuvring to take control of Metropolis from his family, or from some other DCU billionaire like Simon Stagg.

Connecticut:

There are two good regions in Connecticut to place a fictional city: The Bridgeport-New Haven region, or; The area between the Connecticut River and Thames River.

The Bridgeport-New Haven version better fits the Old Metropolis version, but can also be used for the New Metro version. If you're going for Old Metro, in reality this area did industrialize before the NYC area (Which was dominated by shipping before it picked up light manufacturing), but the early industrialists didn't invest enough in the trade schools or financial institutions that would have let them keep that early advantage. Have a few mill owners and canal companies invest in engineering schools, have later industrial barons invest in office equipment manufacturing and chemical engineering, and you have your Old Metro. For your New Metro, genius tech billionaire Lex Luthor plants a few factories in the major population centres, buys up golf courses to turn them into company towns with inexpensive mid-density housing, and then uses his political and economic influence to pressure the municipalities to merge into his new Metropolis. This version of the New Metro will have more old architecture, but that's not a bad thing.

The Connecticut River-Thames River region fits either version. For an Old Metro, just have the area invest in trades and technical schools as with the Bridgeport-New Haven region. There are old whaling towns in this area so the region could move into shipbuilding, marine alloys engineering, and later railcars and elevators and escalators. This is an easy place to plant a fictional new city, with a low urban population and lots of farms, golf course, and camp/resort sites to buy out. An ambitious billionaire or group of wealthy investors could start a new urban centre with relative ease.

Delaware:

Most of the Delmarva region is mud. You're not going to build many skyscrapers here. But you could fit some in along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

A Metropolis on the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal would probably be smaller than Metropolis is usually shown as, with maybe two million inhabitants instead of six-eight million. But this is comic books, so go with what feels right to your heart.

This works equally well for New or Old Metro.

New Jersey:

Have Bayonne & Newark industrialize early, deliver Staten Island unto New Jersey, invest heavily in education and financial institutions, unify Bayonne-Newark-Staten Island, and bada-bing bada-boom Lois Lane sounds like Carmela Soprano.

Staten Island isn't necessary, but you gotta put the fancy houses and big parks somewhere.

Works best with the Old Metro approach, but you could also have investors take over the urban area and push a lot of redevelopment.

New York:

There are a couple of good places in New York state for Metropolis.

For a New Metro, try the Chaumont Bay-Guffin Bay region. Access to rail, road, air, and sea shipping, and lots of tradespeople and professionals in nearby cities who are desperate for inexpensive housing.

For an Old Metro, you can't go wrong with a thinly-disguised NYC. Just file off the serial numbers, maybe some new rims, and drive it like you stole it.

Smallville

Generic East Coast:

If you're like me and prefer the feel of Bronze Age Smallville, you might want to keep Smallville as an East Coast town. This is easy. There's no reason for Smallville to be in the same state as Metropolis, so it can be anywhere from Maryland to Massachusetts. Towards the end of the Bronze Age it was generally described as vaguely New Jersey or Pennsylvania. East Coasters can entertain themselves imagining Clark Kent, MetU freshman, trying to order a pork roll and water ice in the Metropolis version of Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop.

Kansas:

The Flint Hills region matches modern continuity and the look of both the Smallville series and Bronze Age comics. Lawrence is a good model.

Special Mention: Susquehanna River

BludBluehaven: Great place for Nightwing to relocate to, regardless of where your Gotham is.

Gotham: Replaces Baltimore and/or Philadelphia as a rail and sea hub.

Metropolis: Great for the New Metro.

Opal City: Gotta go somewhere, and this matches the map DC published.

Smallville: Depends on what version you prefer.

What About The Teen Titans?

Fuck Marv Wolfman, that's what.

#superman #batman #metropolis #gotham #smallville

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 2 months ago

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Sentinel-2C operators complete final rehearsals

A quiet atmosphere pervades ESOC's Main Control Room. The operations team is in the process of placing a satellite into orbit. We are one minute away from passing over one ground station and the tension is rising as we eagerly wait to receive the first telemetry from the satellite.

Then, suddenly, an alarm is triggered, the light changes color and crackling sounds can be heard. A fire has broken out in the room. The evacuation is ordered. The control room must be abandoned, and the satellite operations relocated to an adjoining room.

This was just a simulation of what could happen during a satellite's first and most critical moments in space. To ensure a smooth start to operations, the control team must consider every possible scenario, whether it happens in space or on the ground—such as a fire alarm.

This summer, as the launch of the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite approaches, the control team located at ESOC, ESA's operations center in Germany, has been performing a crucial phase of the launch preparation, reviewing and revising the satellite's and ground segment's plans and procedures to guarantee the success of the mission.

This "team of teams" effort involved more than 40 engineers and scientists—working on the ground segment, flight dynamics, software and networks—all ready to assume control of the satellite following lift off.

After weeks and weeks of simulations, the team has completed this phase and is now fully prepared for the launch and deployment of the European Commission's latest Earth observation mission, to be lifted into orbit by a Vega rocket from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 4 September at 03:50 CEST.

"This is not the first Sentinel mission we operate here at ESOC. Our experience has helped us standardize our approach so that we are able to test ourselves on the widest range of anomalies while still facing the most challenging situations," says Franco Marchese, Flight Operations Director for Sentinel-2C.

"One of our main challenges has been the knowledge transfer to the partially new team, as the previous models of Sentinel-2 were launched more than seven years ago," says Pete Collins, Deputy Flight Operations Director for Sentinel-2C.

"Our team has been flying Sentinel satellites and performing routine operations, including the A and B models of Sentinel-2, but putting a spacecraft into orbit is always a complex phase with its own unique challenges. We have prepared very well and have achieved this in a relatively short time."

'Like throwing monsters at the operators'

From a room in the basement, the true conductors of the simulation campaign, the simulation officers lead by aerospace engineer Gustavo Bardo Carvalho, are running the show and they always have more than one string to their bow.

"The role of this exercise is to test the team's capabilities to detect problems, adapt their timeline and, more generally, adapt to the scenario under stress and time pressure," explains Gustavo. "It feels like setting up a role-playing game. We confront the team with 'monsters'—in this case, anomalies of minor or major magnitude—and let them come up with solutions, think outside the box, have creative ideas, and learn from their mistakes."

From the simulations room, where flight data is simulated and fed to the control room, Gustavo and his team have been challenging the Sentinel-2C control team with an exhaustive list of issues to solve, from errors injected in the data, to the loss of ground stations, absence of team members (simulated sickness), and instrument and transmission failures.

Some are common and anticipated, others require the mission control team to brainstorm and exercise the communication between many multidisciplinary teams, such as the flight control team, industry partners, flight dynamics, the ESA space debris office, mission control system software and the ground stations.

"We made sure to not necessarily give a clear solution. Just like in real life, sometimes the best response is just to try to avoid the worst consequences, and we always remind them that reality can be much nastier than any simulation we may invent."

Some exceptional scenarios were also included to force the team to adapt without their usual equipment and deviate totally from the nominal timeline, such as space debris hazards, disruptions resulting from the solar wind or the evacuation of the control room.

"Recently, we simulated a space debris collision alert which required the team to make the satellite ready to engage in a collision avoidance maneuver. This meant skipping the usual steps and commissioning the satellite as early as possible."

On top of testing their technical knowledge, the simulation campaign plays a role in building the team.

"There are many events that can harm the team spirit: from people being sick to managers being rude or non-cooperative. We tried to simulate these moments to test the nerves of the team and make them more resilient."

Dress rehearsal

Lastly, teams at ESOC worked with the joint ESA, Arianespace and industry launch team in Kourou to complete the comprehensive final simulation of the countdown and launch sequence.

During the rehearsal, the mission control team received live signals from the satellite via an umbilical connection that will be disconnected shortly before launch. With this last step completed, the mission control team is now ready to launch the satellite.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics #esa #SENTINEL 2C

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hazard-and-friends · 1 year ago

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here are my two guidelines for feeling overwhelmed by how much there is to work on with your dog and/or major life changes where you need to overhaul your dog's routine anyway.

these are for dogs over 6 months, baby puppies are another kettle of fish and have their own concerns.

needs, wants, and wishes. - your dog NEEDS some things. maybe daily. maybe weekly. but they're essential. without these activities, the dog's quality of life rapidly degrades and behavior problems appear/get worse. - your dog WANTS other things. these things make noticeable improvements in the dog's quality of life or continue to reduce the appearance of behavior problems. a NEED takes the dog from -10 to 0, a WANT brings them to +5. - your dog WISHES for different things. these things are grand! they're things we both love doing! but if the dog doesn't get them, that's okay. there's no degrading in the dog's quality of life. OR they're super high effort for minimal return. take the NEEDS and make sure there's time for all of them. prioritize getting those done. then add in as many WANTS as are sustainable. any extra energy can go to WISHES.

make a big ol' list of Things To Train in big categories. "nosework" is a big category, "fix the alert behavior" is too specific. big lumps. then pick three. this is because, especially with behavior cases where there's a MASSIVE list of concerns, too many options gives us decision fatigue, while too few leaves us feeling trapped and reluctant to engage at all. 3 choices is enough to have some variety if you're in a particular mood, while not being overwhelming. these 3 are: 1. the thing which has the biggest negative impact in the dog's long term quality of life. this may or may not be a thing that's a regular problem, but it IS ongoing and it IS of concern. eg: a dog who needs to get sedated for vet visits a) is not necessarily going to get the best vet care anyway and b) now the human is disincentivized to go to the vet promptly because it's a Whole Thing and expensive, so any little niggling problems are unlikely to be seen. 2. the thing which causes the most problems day-to-day. is it a welfare issue? maybe! maybe not. mostly it's just irritating you the owner and your problems are valid problems to work on. 3. something fun. it can't all be doom and gloom all the time. tricks? sports? go wild. this is because if all we do with our dogs is stressful important shit, we are going to start subconsciously avoiding training because ouch, it's hard. include something silly.

there you go. that's it. Hazard needs some physical exercise (he can get by on 20 min/day for about a week, but consistently needs more like 30 min/day + something genuinely exhausting once a week), needs some mental work, needs to work for his food, and (this one is mechanical, he vomits otherwise) needs to be fed 3 times a day. he wants even more physical exercise, wants a chew a couple times a week, wants social interaction with other dogs, wants to go to group classes, and wants to push his limits (ie learn new things). he wishes for off leash time, novel locations, and a second daily walk.

so when I'm putting together his routine, it has to have a daily walk, 3 different ways to get fed (puzzle feeder, kong, slow feeder), and at least one round of training. when I'm physically fit, I add one or two weekly classes and a weekly outing where he can socialize, go off leash, and/or explore new places. most days now we're doing 2-3 rounds of training.

our 3 training topics: 1. separation anxiety is having the biggest negative impact in his (and my) life. once we get that back to a 2 hr separation under any circumstances, this will change to car-related separations. 2. nails. does it cause problems daily? not really, but it bugs me. it's not a welfare concern really because he can file them down enough to not see major problems, but I am worried about the long term as he gets older. 3. nosework! fun for everyone.

what I love about this framework is it's flexible, allows for the human to be busy/stressed/disabled/etc, and centers both of you. not just the dog, not just you, but the pair. I ask my clients to train something, once a day, 5 minutes at most. once that habit is well established, then you can get cocky and try 2 sessions a day ;)

#ethics in dog training #ethics in dog ownership #this doesn't talk about welfare needs explicitly but that's always underlying how i think about living with dogs

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raitrolling · 1 year ago

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Re-Animator, See You Later

[Easy reading version on Toyhou.se]

Lusien drifted in and out of consciousness for nights on end, only vaguely comprehending the scenes around him. He heard the beeping of the machines and muffled chatter between the doctor and their assistant, saw lights far too bright to make him want to keep his eyes open, and felt the frequent waves of pain and nausea between rounds of medication he could barely recall taking.

For the first time since that night he confronted Celise - however long that may have been, he had no idea - he found himself finally able to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.

He kept his eyes closed as he tried to sit up, grunting from the strain that any slight movement put on his back. His head felt like it was spinning, and putting a hand to his forehead confirmed the warmth of a developing headache. He was utterly exhausted, but also feeling a bit restless, like he needed to get up out of this hospital bed and do something.

He needed a cigarette.

Lusien cracked open one eyelid just enough to figure out where the bedside table was, then blindly reached over to try and locate his pack of smokes. He doesn’t know where the nurse took his coat - or his other clothes, for that matter - but if she emptied out his pockets then she must have left it-

He winced and recoiled as a clipboard smacked against his wrist.

“Absolutely not, Avalon.”

Lusien grunted and held his wrist, and then opened his eyes to see the incredibly disgruntled face of Chryso Haanda, Vernrot Harbour’s local doctor.

“I’ll need them later,” The blueblood mumbled, certain that the other troll is well-aware that no one enjoys going through nicotine withdrawal, especially someone who smokes as heavily as he does.

Chryso’s lips curled into a snarl, and they bopped Lusien on the head with the clipboard this time.

“In my clinic? You’re damned lucky I didn’t remove your lungs while I had you under my knife. It’d make no damn difference whether you have them or not, lord knows how you managed to make it here with that much tar rotting you from the inside out,” they scoffed.

Lusien pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers and closed his eyes again, which conveniently helped him fight the urge to roll them in response.

“And don’t even think of doing any strenuous exercise like that while you’re recovering, if you’re even capable of such a thing. No swimming, no climbing up flights of stairs, and no picking at the wound no matter how much it may itch. If I have to redo those stitches a second time I will be ensuring they leave the worst scar imaginable, do not test me.” The tealblood tapped the clipboard with their pen as they listed off their various health advice and threats.

Lusien could already feel himself struggling to concentrate, and while Chryso continued to list off all the dos and don’ts of recovering from getting stabbed in the back with an axe, their words were starting to blend together in a muddle of annoyed sounds. He decided it would be best to simply nod along and pretend to listen, as any sort of wound care was the last thing on his mind.

There was the question of who was managing the lighthouse at the moment, if anyone at all. He knew from his time travelling with Anirus that it can go unattended for some time without any major disasters occurring, but in his current condition… It could be a while before it could be back in operation.

Then, there was also…

“How is Celise?” Lusien asked when he was able to get a word in, looking up at the doctor.

Chryso gave him a deadpan look, as if he had just asked something utterly absurd.

“They’re dead.”

Lusien’s mouth fell open, and his head began to spin from the immediate rush of blood to the brain from a combination of anxiety and pure terror. D- Dead? But he- It was only-

Chryso did not react in the slightest, and continued.

“Fatal traumatic brain injury via a blow to the head, preliminary analysis points to blunt force trauma being the primary culprit-” They stop, noticing the blueblood’s expression of horror, and sigh loudly. “- Is what should be the most straightforward answer. The reality is far more absurd, and, quite frankly, not something any doctor should ever have the displeasure of dealing with.”

The lighthouse keeper pauses, snapped out of his spiralling by that strange declaration. He then squints at Chryso in confusion.

“Which is…?”

“Despite every single test I have conducted since you dragged a literal corpse into my clinic confirming that, yes, there is absolutely no signs of brain activity and all organs have catastrophically failed, they are still conscious and moving. I had to bind the damn frog to their bed after they tried to bite nurse Baliso.”

Chryso sighed a second time at the recollection, and briefly pushed up their glasses to rub the weariness out of their eyes. Lusien could not believe what he was hearing.

“I need to see them,” he said, suddenly urgent, and despite every part of his body protesting, he began to attempt to climb out of bed.

The tealblood grabbed him by his shoulders and tried to force him back down.

“You absolutely will not, Avalon. I warned you once, do not test me.”

Lusien stayed firm, and attempted to push back against Chryso’s own strength.

“No. I will be seeing them. It’s important.”

Chryso bared their teeth, but could tell by the resolve in Lusien’s tired eyes that this was a losing battle. If he wasn’t going to see the other patient now, then they’d be likely to find him on the floor hours later, having passed out from pushing himself too far from disobeying their orders.

“Fine. You get fifteen minutes and zero chances to complain about any pain. I will not be providing you with any further painkillers from any discomfort caused by walking around when you have been told repeatedly to stop,” they grumbled, and likely would have spat if they were not in such a sanitary environment.

Lusien nodded in acknowledgement, and as he started to haul himself out of the bed (with all sorts of winces and groans leaving his mouth as he did so), felt a tug against his wrist.

Huh. Oh, right, there’s still all the tubes from the IV drip and presumably a blood transfusion-

“Don’t touch those!” Chryso hissed, smacking Lusien’s hand away with the clipboard yet again, “Just- Just take the pole with you!”

Lusien paused, looking blankly at them, and then realised he would need to get off from the other side of the bed to accomplish that. Of course.

He was unsteady on his feet once he was finally standing, and kept an iron grip on the IV pole in order to stay upright. His head and back still hurt, the lights were still hurting his eyes, and he was still desperately craving a cigarette, but he tried his best to put that aside for now. The doctor did not approve of any complaints, and finding out Celise’s current condition was more important.

Chryso led him out the door and towards the room where the other patient was staying, but not without first rolling their eyes and mumbling ‘I told you so’ at the sight of Lusien’s painfully slow pace. They did not help him, but opted to walk alongside him and kept their hand on the IV pole, so that if he fell it would not be knocked over with him.

As the two approached the room, Lusien felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. It was that same feeling of wrongness once again, but this time… Different. Quieter. Hungrier. He glanced over at the doctor, but their expression had not changed. They could not sense it.

When Chryso opened the door and ushered the blueblood inside Celise’s room, he could only stop and stare.

Celise was sitting on the hospital bed, and as the doctor had mentioned before, had been restrained with medical-grade straps to prevent them from leaving their position. One wrapped around their chest and upper arms to bind them to the elevated half of the bed that allowed them to remain in an upright position, and presumably their legs were similarly bound underneath the bedsheets.

They appeared completely listless, eyes unfocused with teal-blue tinged sclera and pupils appearing slightly cloudy, and dark bags under each eye. The colour of their horns had dulled, darkening around the base, and their hair was greasier and more unkempt than usual. A sludge-like liquid dribbled out of their mouth, not unlike the ink he has personally experienced when under horrorterror influence, and there was a vague wetlands-y smell in the air. Under the bright lights, their skin had a slick sheen to it which Lusien first assumed was sweat, but upon closer inspection appeared to be more like a thin film of slime. Even the dark aura he could see with his psiionics had a lethargic air to it, less explicitly murderous but still highly dangerous.

As he had approached, however, Celise’s gaze suddenly fixated on him as they caught a whiff of his scent, and they emitted a noise that was a cross between a low growl and a croak. Between the slight curl of their lip, Lusien caught a glimpse of a pair of incredibly sharp teeth. They continued to drool, like an animal who has spotted a delicious piece of meat that is just out of their grasp, too transfixed on their own hunger to care about the liquid dripping onto their shirt.

It was incredibly obvious to him what they had become. A slight deviation from the norm for that kind of creature, but the signs were all there.

“Doctor,” he said, turning to face the tealblood. He spoke slowly and matter-of-factly, knowing what he was about to say would likely earn him a comment about whether he also suffered a head injury. But it needed to be done.

“Do you have any spare cadavers?”

#drabble #lusien avalon #chryso haanda #celise shoket #plot: spanner in the works #[looks at the title] oh jeez whats happening here #anyways :) fun times

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keydekyie · 2 years ago

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Any advice you might have for others who wanna publish but can’t seem to get their plots in order?

This turned into a lot o.o; sorry!

lol I'm not maybe the best to ask since it did take me more than 6 years to write a sequel to book I, but my advice would be to talk it through to someone else. Like verbally. Or maybe even to yourself! Explaining the plot (or something else important to the overarching story, like themes, motifs, or character arcs) can help me recognize things to work on. I talk to my partner a LOT!

Maybe the most important thing is to get things out of your head and onto paper (or a computer screen, as the case may be) so that you aren't trying to hold a lot of stuff in your brain that you don't need to be holding. Leaves room for the ideas and better organization. I'll expound on how I do that below.

I also like to zoom in and out of the story to help me keep perspective. When I feel like I need a closer emotional connection to it, I get real granular and write some dialogue, a dramatic scene or internal thoughts, or a description of some visceral physical thing, or maybe sketch some expressions or scene ideas. Might use it, might not. If I like something a lot, it may help me to know I need to move the story in that direction. When I feel too bogged down by stuff or directionless, I zoom waaaay out and write plot outlines or emotional arcs.

There are a few anchoring pieces that I build the story around. I take care not to forget them.

And of course I keep an outline of the story going, but I think it's important to keep things flexible. Why get hung up on putting things in a certain order or doing it a certain way when maybe it's better a completely different way? I've moved huge chunks of story all over the place. If it makes the story flow better or gives a scene a better emotional impact, then I do that! No rules, babey!

I think the thing that's hardest for me with this way of writing is not being able to share things as I write them, since I don't commit to anything. It makes it hard to stay motivated, because I'm not getting constant feedback and encouragement from people, but it makes the story easier to mold and form because I don't have to fit things to whatever I've already shared. If I write a big long chapter and two months later I want to completely scrap it in favor of something else, it's fine. There's no restrictions.

Oh btw my outlines are pretty loose and silly. I have a lot of stuff like this in them:

I also like to write out the various ideas I have to resolve conflicts so I can play around with them. I don't like to choose the easiest, cleanest options, I like to pick the options that balance sense with potential drama.

Example for the fight at the Motylek altar in book II chapter 9:

[MAJOR spoilers for book II below]

One other thing I found helps a lot is to have an exhaustive list of characters with their physical descriptions, ages, jobs, families, locations, basic personalities, and relevant beliefs in an easy to read format. I don't use all the characters I come up with, but it gives me things to springboard off of and helps me stay consistent. I made up and grouped dozens of Motylek villagers that I didn't end up using, but I had them ready just in case.

I've also found that drawing out the story in various visual forms helps me. For book II I drew all over a map where the characters were physically going and when.

[MAJOR spoilers for book II below]

I also like making visual aids for other aspects of the story. Below is a chart I made to figure out Ruyak and Kaelin's growing relationship in book II with its ups and downs. It roughly graphs Kaelin's confidence in Ruyak over time (it's not to scale, it's just based on significant factoring plot points)

This is just half the graph since the other half is book III stuff. You can see there are two horizontal lines I use for reference, the lower one is where Kaelin starts at the beginning of book II, the higher one is uh... something significant that happens later lol. You can see Kaelin's confidence actually started out higher before the start of book II and went down until Loske. This chart helps me keep track of where she's at while I'm writing so I can keep her behavior consistent even though I jump around a lot while I'm writing.

A thing of note: none of this stuff is set in stone when I make it! I changed things many times as I wrote, and added and removed things willy nilly.

I don't know if any of this is helpful or not! But it's what helps me, so... y'know.

#ask #herebegiants #tmatb #tmatb ii #advice

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milf-lover42 · 2 years ago

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Words/Phrases that instantly make me think about A Series of Unfortunate Events

Not an exhaustive list there are more, this is just ones that affect me emotionally.

Sugar/sugar bowl: I have genuinely wept over the fact that Esmé never gets the sugar bowl back, and have headcanoned that even after TPP she does not see it again because she gives up her search to keep Carmelita safe. I am an Esmé kinner through and through and have actually had moments where I am convinced I am holding the sugar bowl (it was a mug).

Location of: "Location of the sugar bowl" is a phrase so often said that any time I hear just the first word I am on high alert.

Inordinate: Release word for Klaus' hypnosis, but also intrinsically tied to Georgina and I always think of her when I hear it.

Department: This and "Volunteer" are kind of obvious ASOUE signal words to most people, but “department” specifically makes me think of Georgina saying it in TCC and she looks SO good in that scene, so it's ingrained into my brain.

Mycelium: Obviously Medusiod Mycelium only ties to ASOUE, but I have a lot of personal headcanons regarding it and Esmé, so just hearing mycelium out in the world sends my brain off.

"as well": I say "Eswell" so much in my day-to-day life that this phrase makes me think of them because it sounds so similar. I used to say “as well” all the time, but have started tailoring my vocabulary to avoid saying it by choosing other similar phrases. If I do say it, I hesitate and enunciate the shit out of it to make it clear to myself.

Aqueous: I'm a chemistry major. We say aqueous a lot. However, I live in the US where the vast majority of people pronounce it AY-queous. Not me though. Esmé fucking Squalor is so entrenched in my mind that I pronounce it AH-queous every single time. I get a lot of weird looks.

Miserable: TMM... Any words that are book/episode titles are going to be signal phrases to most people, but just the word “miserable” will send my brain off thinking about Georgina for HOURS.

Darling: I mean yeah this one is obvious with the frequency that Esmé says it and the way Lucy Punch pronounces it. I think of it very strongly in an Eswell context though, and the fact Georgina hypnotized Gustav and had him call her darling while under it?? No one else says darling, I know she and Esmé had broken up briefly and it was her way of coping with that loss.

Opera: The night of the opera is a really devastating scene on the whole, but as a sugar bowl enthusiast and Esmé apologist, it hurts so much for me to think about it. There's so much complexity to Esmé and Beatrice's relationship that all comes to a head that night. And also because of a fic written by lesbian-in-leather, Insistent, which says that Georgina was waiting to propose to Esmé at a restaurant but Esmé never shows (which is a headcanon I have adopted so strongly I forget it's not actually canon and have incorporated it into my Eswell WIP), I think of Georgina sitting alone at a restaurant and weep any time the word opera is said.

Elevate: In the show when Eleanor says "elevate our readership"... yeah well any time I hear elevate my brain loops that audio for hours and it gets frustrating because then I'm stuck thinking about TEE Esmé for a while.

Penultimate: TPP is one of my favorite parts in the series, and also has some really important pieces for my Eswell WIP along with a LOT of sugar bowl and Carmelita and Esmé feels. Every time I hear penultimate I think of the scene I have written for Esmé and Carmelita making it out of the Hotel and it's rough.

Bonus

Indeterminate: Can never go without thinking about the Henchperson of Indeterminate Gender. Ever. They always slay.

#a series of unfortunate events #asoue #asoue netflix #eswell #esme squalor #georgina orwell #esme gigi genevieve squalor #carmelita spats #milk talks

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mariacallous · 2 years ago

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Poland’s fight with the EU Commission over its reforms to the judiciary could cost it 110 billion euros in lost funds. BIRN puts that into context.

Poland’s judicial ‘reforms’, amounting to the politicisation of the justice system, mean that the country’s citizens are now at risk of losing two major sources of cash from the EU: 35 billion euros in grants and loans from the EU post-pandemic recovery fund and a further 75 billion euros from Cohesion Policy funds, which were supposed to flow into the country between 2021 and 2027.

110 billion euros would be an enormous sum of money to forego under any circumstances. But the absence of this money is made more painful by the fact that, like other countries in the region, Poland has been struggling with inflation and rising energy costs – with no respite in sight.

The Law and Justice (PiS) government has for years been engaged in a protracted battle with the European Commission over the rule of law. In May, the government agreed on a series of “milestones” to dismantle the reforms, though after talks last week the EU Commission would only say that Poland is moving “in the right direction” and still needs to meet Brussels’ demands “in full”.

There’s such a sense of fatigue surrounding this long-running issue in Poland that, with each passing day, for many ordinary citizens it has become more and more abstract. Yet time is passing and some countries already began receiving their slice of the recovery funds in 2021.

This is why BIRN has decided to put the funds into context to show what is really at stake for the Polish people if its government refuses to back down and guarantee judicial independence, as requested by the EU Commission.

A health boost to the nation

Some of the largest amounts due to Poland under Cohesion Policy funds include the following (not an exhaustive list):

It is not possible to say exactly how this money would be spent if it were available today: the way that EU funds are allocated depends on the projects submitted by various bodies. However, examining where such funds went in the previous EU budget period (2014-2020) provides an idea of how the money might be used.

For example, in the previous budget period, the EU paid 50 million euros towards the reconstruction and modernisation of the regional hospital in Torun, a town in central Poland (it is just one of many similar projects financed from the Social Development track). One can then calculate that 80 different hospitals could be built or modernised using the money from the current Social Development track. Considering the depth of the crisis that the national health system is in, it would be hard to argue the government can afford to lose this cash.

Similarly, the EU contributed 20 million euros towards a psychiatric hospital facility in Mazowsze, the region where Warsaw is located. At this cost, 200 psychiatric units could be paid for out of the Social Development track alone. Poland’s psychiatric care is particularly lacking, with help from the state system virtually impossible to access, especially for young people, even as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war and other crises fuels a mental health crisis.

In another example, the EU contributed a little over half a million euros towards the construction and equipping of a nursery in the town of Bydgoszcz, western Poland, which was used to create 80 extra places for kids under the age of three. Childcare, too, is in severe crisis in Poland, with parents – especially in the larger cities – facing waiting lists hundreds of places long if they want to put their children in state childcare and return to work. 8,000 such nursery units like the one in Bydgoszcz could be constructed with money from the Social Development track.

Keeping warm and mobile

In the previous budgetary period, the EU contributed 1 million euros towards the reconstruction of the district heating system in Bielsko-Biala, a town of 170,000 in the Silesia administrative region, southern Poland. Modern district heating is one of the major challenges for any government if it wants to move towards a less polluting energy system while at the same time reducing energy poverty. Over 20,000 similar district heating projects in small towns could be financed using the Infrastructure, Climate and Environment track from the current Cohesion Policy funds.

The EU provided 500 million euros in the previous budgetary period for energy efficiency improvements in a housing complex where 110 people live in the eastern city of Lublin. With the sharp rise in energy prices and heating source supply problems that Poland and countries across Europe are facing, saving energy by investing in insulation is one of the key means of building resilience in the system. Over 40,000 such projects to insulate housing complexes could be financed from the Infrastructure, Climate and Environment track from the current Cohesion Policy funds.

The EU also paid 100 million euros to modernise and purchase locomotives for the national rail carrier PKP Intercity. The money was used to upgrade 150 wagons, purchase 20 electric locomotives and modernise others. Over 200 similar investments in major rail projects could be financed out of the Infrastructure, Climate and Environment track from the current Cohesion Policy funds. With rail one of the cleanest modes of transport and enjoying a revival across Europe because of climate change concerns, continuing with improvements to the country’s rail network would be a worthwhile transport strategy for Poland.

If we assume a warm meal costs 20 zloty (5 euros) to prepare, the half a billion euros available from the EU precisely for this purpose could be used to feed 250,000 people every day for one year. Considering that food charities across Poland are reporting increasing lines for both warm food and food parcels, this dedicated chunk of the Cohesion Policy funds would certainly be warmly welcomed by hungry families across Poland.

Recovering from COVID

Unlike the Cohesion Policy funds, the 672-billion-euro Recovery and Resilience Facility is an unprecedented one-time injection of funds to support reforms and investments that can kick-start member states’ economies and build a more resilient, green and digital Europe.

The Recovery and Resilience Plan submitted by Poland for approval by the EU Commission, which details how it intends to spend the 23.9 billion euros in grants and 11.5 billion euros in loans, gives a sense of the targets that Warsaw could achieve were it to make proper use of this money.

As with the aforementioned Cohesion Policy funds, the following provides examples of how some of the recovery funds could be spent. Absent agreement with Brussels, Poland would have to use domestic sources of funding to complete these projects.

On the basis of the targets set out in Poland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, we know the money would suffice for:

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