#lethal weapon fan fiction

[diejager]

Hello this would be the very first time id make a request if you still take them. Omegaverse taskforce 141 with an isekai reader who could pass as a bèta with a twist, if you heard about the pheromone perfume then yeah. Reader as a beta but snells like an omega🙂

🐼anon

Cw: pheromone perfume, omegaverse, spy, inaccurate facts, tell me if I missed any.

For something you’d once thought fictional, an imaginary creation to spend one’s time on and lose themselves when they wanted to escape the hardships of their world, it was scarily realistic. You were a fan, someone who’d followed the franchises from it’s earliest days to the most recent - and unsightingly disappointing - installment of a remake of a remastered version of a game you played as a kid. You’d even dreamed of it being a reality, living the lives and adventures besides the men and women in Modern Warfare and even Ghosts and Black Ops despite knowing that their universe was a mirror of your own, simply built and reconstructed differently than the one you were born in. 

It was a fantasy, even your strange interest in works tagged with omegaverse. To see a big man like Ghost shudder and kneel for another, to see Gaz being tenderly dominating and affectionate, to see Price reluctantly soft and grumpy, and to see Soap teasingly sly and mischievously headstrong. Sometimes, they would draw one as an omega and the other as an alpha, or as an beta and alpha couple. It was a whole roller coaster of emotions and intrigue, but a fantasy all the same.

And yet… and yet, here you were, in a body that was and wasn’t your own. It was a carbon copy of yours, but you weren’t you in it, like wearing a mask or another’s skin. That’s how you felt, especially with the scars that painted your skin like a stray sky and tense muscles that felt too hard to be fake. Perhaps it was the sudden sensitivity of your nose, the cloying in your mind and annoyance that suddenly filled you. Or perhaps it was the clean and elegant clothes you wore, a harsh dichotomy to the dark gear the others beside you wore, vests and padded body suits, weapons latched to their hips, chests, thighs and even in their hands, and the hard and cold gleam in their eyes, hidden under the darkness of the vehicle you rode. 

Any confusion you once had was washed away when time seemed to stall, the world blurring as clear and loud words were spoken in your mind. Instructions, you understood, guidance towards your goal and advice to complete it. It was a ball, you were sent to conclude a transaction under… Kate Laswell’s order, a favour you had agreed to do for her as someone who worked in intelligence and assasinations rather than brawn and breaches. She’d called you a silent killer, neither a mercenary nor an employee, you were a panther in stalk, an owl in flight, deathly silent and tenaciously lethal.

It seemed like an out-of-body experience. You were somehow a spectator to your body, and somehow the master of it. Every act was practiced, ever word spoken with a charming smile and every smile particularly persuasive. It was so simple —so easy. With their emotions flashing in your face through smell alone, your nose twitching at the scent of arousal and pleasure, the flattered and the excited. They were so - too - easy to read and control, to have them curled around your finger like fine silk. You chalked their attraction towards you to your charms and the smell that clung to your skin, a sweetness that made both men and women turn their heads to gaze at you for a lick f your scent. Pheromones. An omega’s pheromones mixed with sweet perfume. 

It helped, truly, making your work vastly easier than you’d once thought. It eased the nerve and anxiety that brewed inside of you, having done nothing but speak out loud the words that popped in your head and act out the motions that were advised to you. Your brain - mind or conscience - was a machine, a computer giving out orders and guiding you through this without any trouble. That, you were thankful for, you would have been a mess of tears and panic if not for it. It made you work quick and efficient.

And you were out within the hour, striding across the street and down the corner, walking as if you weren’t in a hurry or on a mission, nothing better than hiding in plain sight —the best of hiding spots. Within the minutes, down a few streets, turning left and right, walking circles to make sure you weren’t followed, you crossed the threshold of a textile shop, nodding at the lady working at the counter and headed to the back rooms, the employees only rooms. There, you met four men huddled around a table with Laswell at the head, all familiar figures you once fantasied about. 

“An omega?” Price sounded much deeper in person, his done low and somehow soft despite the rasp that smoking caused. 

“Beta,” you corrected, your name following as a greeting, a beast greeting another beast, head bowed in respect and acknowledgment that they returned. 

“You don’t smell it.”

It was curt and to the point, nothing you hadn’t expected from Ghost.

“Pheromone perfume,” you grinned, patting your pocket, “Neat trick, hmm?”

Taglist: @sae1kie @yeoldedumbslut @bvxygriimes @distracteddragoness @konigsblog @im-making-an-effort @daisychainsinknots @h0n3y-l3m0n05 @danielle143 @tuttifuckinfruttifriday @notspiders @brokenpieces-72 @petwifed @randominstake @hayleybarnesx @shironasumi @sparky--bunny @bloobewy @cod-z @sweetnanah @aldis-nuts @evolutionarry @kaoyamamegami @cassiecasluciluce

[acquired-stardust]

Game Spotlight #15: Policenauts (1996)

Ash finds herself firmly back in the Kojimaverse as she talks about the 1996 Sega Saturn version of Policenauts for Acquired-Stardust's first spotlight of our second year. Disappointing followup or misunderstood masterpiece? And just what is a "sexy adventure" anyway? Come read along as we answer all these questions and more!

Oh, Hideo Kojima. When last we covered his work in written form on the blog it was almost a year ago in the form of a spotlight on 1994's Sega CD port of Snatcher (which you can read by clicking here). If it wasn't already abundantly clear let me state the obvious: I'm a huge fan of the man and his work. I think he's one of gaming's top creative geniuses alongside the likes of Yasumi Matsuno, Fumito Ueda and Yoko Taro. But you could be forgiven for not sharing that feeling when looking at Policenauts on a surface level or by taking common talking points about it at face value.

Policenauts is something of a black sheep in the Kojima portfolio that is often maligned by people for being 'Snatcher but worse'. It has a similar fish out of water setup taking place in a near-future science fiction world. Its lead character, the womanizing Jonathan Ingram, has a similar relationship with a former lover to Snatcher's Gillian Seed and even looks a bit like him, a point that is alluded to in the game itself as part of a meta cameo (one of several callbacks and references to Snatcher). The sexuality and its use for attempts at comedy can be obnoxious and over the top. Some of the themes of Policenauts are also retreads of themes Snatcher deals with, which can certainly dip into feeling like they were less effective this time around. What's more, the game is far more linear and on-rails than Snatcher, presenting far fewer opportunities to tinker with it and discover much in the way of hidden easter eggs or cleverly placed extras. Some of its later developments feel a little bit like 'a hat on a hat' and not entirely necessary. Its featured romance is very forced and odd (though ultimately executed extremely well). These things are all true.

Be that as it may, make no mistake about it: Policenauts is a fantastic experience that is, like its lead character, a fascinating time capsule from a long gone era. Following a similar blueprint to Snatcher's usage of various sci-fi media (most notably Blade Runner), Policenauts is heavily patterned after the Lethal Weapon franchise, and uses the familiarity one may have with its buddy cop formula to get its foot in the door before subverting your expectations as it deviates into its own original work rather quickly.

Opening after an accident in combination policeman-astronaut (the titular Policenauts) Jonathan Ingram's testing of a high tech mech suit during a spacewalk outside of the space colony Beyond Coast that sends him adrift in space for 25 years while cryogenically frozen, Jonathan picks up where he left off by becoming a private investigator of meager success in Earth's Old LA. Finding himself a stranger in a world he is 25 years removed from and stricken with severe cosmophobia from his ordeal. Jonathan's former wife has moved on and remarried. His four fellow policenauts have settled into comfortable lives on space colony Beyond Coast as something of heroes and celebrities. Forced to overcome his cosmophobia when a very personal case sends him once more to Beyond Coast, Jonathan reunites with his best friend and former fellow policenaut Ed Brown (himself still a cop on the aforementioned space colony) to unravel a conspiracy.

It's often said that Jonathan is a very unlikable character, but I find the opposite to be true. There is a solemness, sadness and resilience to him that comes across very well, being inherently at odds with a time that did not stop and life that moved on without him. Much is also made, as previously noted, of his womanizing, and I'd like to address that talking point by first pointing out that much like Snatcher, the vast majority (in fact all but one or two instances) of the sexuality of the game is entirely optional and serves as a bit of meta humor. Jonathan's inability to control himself is a direct result of his literal inability to control himself as he is at the complete mercy of the player, who can decide to pester multiple female characters to with zero benefit. Just as well, Policenauts lands firmly in the genre of something I like to call 'Sexy Adventure', a term borrowed from a song featured in the iconic Lupin III franchise that contains works you might be familiar with such as Space Dandy, City Hunter, Dirty Pair and indeed Lupin III.

Several tropes of the genre include a strong sense of Japanese sensuality and horniness, action sequences involving guns and cars, romance, large scale conspiracies and characters who are masters of their particular fields to an absurd degree. Jonathan's womanizing, something almost exclusively indulged in as optional behavior by the player, is certainly less than Arsene Lupin III for example, but coming to terms with the horniness of this micro-genre is imperative if you hope to enjoy anything it has to offer. Just as well, Policenauts' original release platform before being ported to the Sega Saturn was the PC98 which (along with the earlier PC88) was known for a frankly overwhelming amount of pornographic hentai games. To a large extent this was very much the norm for games on the platform and the time, and while nothing in Policenauts borders on pornographic, the sexuality of it is to be expected.

Policenauts doubles down on a distinguishing feature of Snatcher in its thorough worldbuilding, and is perhaps the key area that the game shines in most especially when compared to Snatcher. Containing an in-game encyclopedia that is always accessible at the touch of a button, it is dauntingly dense and features countless clickable entries detailing many aspects of life, culture and science in the Policenauts universe, often dipping into heavy doses of hard science with surprisingly detailed explanations behind even mundane parts of everyday life on Beyond Coast, such as biodegradable plastics, a problem which Kojima envisioned solved by 2040. I was a bit taken aback by given the foresight of the plastics issue given our own real-world news cycles being dominated by topics like microplastics in recent years.

The level of real science involved in the encyclopedia is rewarding for those of us who like to devour every bit of information we can get our hands on and can pick out the real from the fictional and it helps make Beyond Coast feel all the more real. The sci-fi Japanifornia that is Beyond Coast is almost a character unto itself to an even further extent than Snatcher's setting of Neo Kobe and remains in my book one of the most fleshed out and believable settings in all of gaming. Furthermore the knowledge Hideo Kojima has in a time before the level of availability and access to information we have in the current internet age is hugely impressive.

Overwhelming density is a recurring aspect of the game which may make or break your enjoyment of it. For a game that is less interactive than Snatcher it is somehow more dense, intimidatingly so if you are willing to indulge in its encyclopedia and really study the universe that Kojima created. The player is also able to examine a shocking number of elements of backgrounds and get multiple optional lines of dialogue about them, although as previously noted Policenauts offers much less in the way of diversion and distraction, and is significantly more linear.

Some of the core themes and strengths of Policenauts are similar to Snatcher, and while not all of them are as well executed this time around, a number of them exceed Snatcher. The importance of family, as well as different utilizations of it, is highlighted through the game. For Jonathan it is a trauma. A source of obligation and a constant reminder of not belonging in the world. Fellow former policenauts Ed Brown and Joseph Sadaoki Tokugawa are also used to explore these themes, with Ed's family keeping him grounded after personal and professional tragedy leaves him similarly traumatized and Tokugawa's lineage is a guiding beacon, instilling in him an ambition that sees his rise to the head of the Tokugawa Corporation, which has become large enough in the 25 years Jonathan spent in cryo sleep that it's said to quite literally own outer space. Ed's scenes with his family are perhaps the emotional core of the game and are shockingly well done for a game that features slapping a woman's breasts in an attempt to swat a mosquito.

Further themes explored are the way that the past becomes the future, and how easily it is manipulated by bad actors with agendas when few people who lived through it are around to contradict those agendas and narratives. Policenauts also plays into real history in its utilization of time as a story theme with its character names, often referencing real Sengoku-era Japanese family clans.

It is a fascinating predictor for some of the subjects explored through some of Kojima's later works. The toll that time takes on individuals is is also a constant fixture of the story. Pioneering heroes become broken down and traumatized. Corruption will slowly trickle in if you allow it to in ways that a past self would've stood against. One's life can always change in the future for both better and worse in ways that the present self could never have foreseen.

Jonathan contrasts Snatcher's Gillian Seed masterfully in this particular regard as a man who is a literal manifestation of the past, confronting his former comrades and the state of the world head-on as a reminder of the bright ideals that guided mankind to space to begin with. Also of particular note, without delving too much into spoiler territory, is the remarkable way that Jonathan trusts the corrupting factor of time to help Ed's son Marc given all the damage Jon has seen it do to those around him as well as the world itself.

Although there is a genuine tension to the game as well as a real feeling of both being and interacting with important in-universe figures, the conclusion of the game is a bit lackluster and sudden. Policenauts' plot is largely intentionally predictable, only containing a few twists you might not expect. The game's romance, previously noted as being a bit inexplicable, is ultimately resolved very satisfyingly and in a way that reinforces some prominent themes of the game.

Just as well the game takes criticism of Snatcher (and adventure games as well as visual novels as a whole) a little unevenly. It is far more linear than Snatcher, but features significantly more combat sections that see the player shoot an ungodly number of bullets and drop a frankly impossibly comedic amount of enemies by the end of the game. They are unnecessary and detract from the experience a bit, but understandable over-correctons to criticism of the traditional Japanese adventure game genre as well as Snatcher in particular.

As an aside, Policenauts features one of the most clever inclusions of a sound test mode that allows you to listen to various tracks from the game including its haunting opening theme "End of the Dark" as well as the fantastic "One Night in Neo Kobe" that was featured in the opening of Snatcher.

Policenauts is an uneven experience that in some ways reflects common trappings of its time while also looking forward to humanity's future. It asks some very pertinent questions about humanity's ability to conquer big issues if we are so unable to conquer the worst aspects of ourselves. Its usage of time and the trauma it can inflict on even the best of us can be rather sobering to see, and Jonathan's hope for Ed's son in the face of that is rather inspiring.

In some ways it reacts too strongly to criticism of adventure games as whole as well as Snatcher in particular by creating a lighter, more predictable and linear experience with more lightgun gameplay segments that detract from the overall package. Its sexuality and hamfisted comedy that comes part and parcel with the sexy adventure micro-genre can be a pain point, and it can be off putting in its density if you allow it to be. In some ways it is inferior to Snatcher, which makes an incredible case for the necessity of actually playing a good adventure game rather than just watching it that Policenauts sadly does not live up to.

But despite it all Policenauts is every bit as clever as Snatcher and in some ways it is just as strong, if not even stronger, a predictor of Hideo Kojima's future runaway success with Metal Gear Solid. Its highs may often not reach the peaks that Snatcher does, but even its valleys remain far higher than most games you could spend your time on and it remains a constant influence on some of the most popular indie game standouts like VA-11 Hall-A, 2064: Read Only Memories and Mullet Mad Jack.

If you have an interest in the works of Hideo Kojima, traditional Japanese style adventure games or the sexy adventure micro-genre, a vacation to Beyond Coast might be just the thing for you.

A gem hidden among the stones, Policenauts is undoubtedly stardust.

-- Ash

[archangeldyke-all]

okay, here goes! One BSAA agent Sevika request as promised - I'm sorry if its too long and not very good, I'm still getting back into the flow of regular writing but thank you for showcasing on your blog, as a big fan of yours it means a lot! - Starlight

(I'm rubbish at tagging, but there are mentions of bioterrorism, outbreaks of fictional infection, creatures, death and loss of family members, loss of a pet, please add more if I've forgotten any)

Sevika was a gym rat before the outbreak, worked as a personal trainer at her local gym.

Pointedly ignored her father’s demands she join Raccoon City PD, just like him and her younger brother.

She knew she probably would eventually join up; thought she had all the time in the world to make her mind up.

Then the T-Virus happened.

Her father and brother were killed trying to battle the infected in the streets. Sevika lost everything during those awful days, even her dog.

She made it out during the evacuation, moving from place to place, joining up with any anti-bioterrorism group who will have her.

She never talks about Raccoon City, and people know better than to ask her about it.

By the time she meets one Chris Redfield, she’s lethal. Her hand-to-hand combat and weapons training have been meticulously honed.

Chris likes her immediately. Watching Sevika go toe-to-toe with a Hunter, and winning, he knew this woman had to join his squad.

During a mission gone bad, she loses an arm to a Licker. Chris sees to it personally through his BSAA connections that she’s fitted with a state of the art prosthetic.

She meets you in the floating city of Terragrigia and for the first time in a long time, the world suddenly doesn’t feel so grim.

She’s a typical BSAA agent, striding around in her combat gear like she owns the place, always on the lookout for danger. Her not so typical prosthetic is a glossy black, and she keeps it immaculate so it’s always glinting in the sun.

You’re a no nonsense bartender who knows her whiskey, with a piercing stare that quashes any trouble and a dazzling smile that nearly has her missing her mouth and spilling whiskey down her front.

She frequents the bar you work in, many BSAA agents do. One night, when you slide her usual whiskey over to her, she smirks, writes down her number on the little napkin then saunters over to her BSAA buddies as you gape after her.

Your first few dates are casual, she takes you out for coffee, to the cinema. She holds your hands, kisses you gently after each date. By date number four or five, it seems her patience has finally worn thin when she grabs you after dinner and presses you against the door of your apartment. The kiss is intense, too much and not enough, filled with the sultry promise of what’s to come. That night, she breaks your bedframe and apologises profusely, but she’s not sorry really, not when she smirks as she watches you walk shakily around your apartment the morning after.

After 5 months, you find yourself moving into her apartment.

She takes the same breakfast every day, oatmeal and black coffee. She’s pleasantly surprised when you start adding some ‘pizzazz’ to her oatmeal, some blueberries here, a sprinkle of cinnamon, even caramelised apples. She rolls her eyes and grumbles that ‘plain oatmeal does the job just fine’ but she’s getting worse and worse at hiding her smile.

She has terrible nightmares. She never seems to wake from them, calling for her father, her brother, her dog Finn. All you can do is wrap your arms around her, soothing her by speaking softly in her ear, stroking her hair. She relaxes now when she feels you, but her arms always tighten around you, the only person she isn’t willing to fathom losing.

When the Terragrigia Panic starts, and hundreds of Hunters are released into the city in the worst act of bioterrorism the world has seen, Sevika has only one goal: find you.

She fights her way out of the BSAA HQ, races to your apartment just to find it empty. She sinks to her knees, she thinks ‘not again’ but then she hears your frightened whimpers coming from the bedroom closet.

When she tears open that closet door to find you curled up inside, one of her handguns clutched in your trembling hand, she almost breaks down crying. But she stays strong, for you. She gathers you up in her arms, kisses you so fiercely you stop thinking and then she gets you out of there.

An armoured BSAA escort is awaiting, and yet again Sevika manages to escape the chaos with her life, and something far more precious to her.

A Hunter tries to attack while everyone’s getting loaded into the vehicles and you watch with equal amounts horror, morbid fascination, pride and let’s be real, horny as Sevika roars and punches the creature square in the face.

Chris shakes his head, grinning and you can’t seem to pick your jaw up off the floor. Sevika quirks an eyebrow at the both of you as the convoy pulls away from the carnage unfolding, the BSAA having been ordered to withdraw. “What? Nobody comes at me or my girl without catching hands, Hunter or not!”

Chris says nothing, and all you can mumble through your daze as Sevika wraps you in her warm arms is “I think I need to come with you on some missions…for science.”

THIS IS AMAZING omg i've never played this game before but this fic is making me want to holy shit. i'm so excited to see what else you come up with in the future!!!!! woah. this was so good!!!!

taglist!

@lesbeaniegreenie @fyeahnix @sapphicsgirl @half-of-a-gay @ellabslut @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner @shimtarofstupidity @love-sugarr @chuucanchuucan @222danielaa @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther @gr0ssz0mbi3 @ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @leomatsuzaki

[halofanfiction]

Halo Fan Fiction:

Halo: The Battle of Blood Gorge

The valley was a crucible of dust and jagged rock, hemmed in by towering cliffs that loomed like silent sentinels. On the fractured surface of a Halo ring, the UNSC's forward operating base lay exposed, a patchwork of hastily erected barricades and prefabricated structures. Beyond it stretched the Gorge—a narrow, winding defile that separated the survivors from their objective: an ancient Forerunner installation holding vital data they needed to stop the Covenant.

Master Chief stood at the edge of the command center, his armor streaked with soot and plasma burns, scanning the horizon with his HUD. The sun above cast long shadows, painting the jagged landscape in stark contrasts. Around him, marines scrambled to reinforce defenses, their faces etched with exhaustion and dread.

“Chief,” Commander Shepard called out over the comms, his voice steady despite the chaos, “intel confirms Covenant forces are mobilizing on the other side of the Gorge. Elites, Brutes... even a Scarab. They’re not just here to stop us; they want to wipe us out.”

“Let them come,” Chief replied. “We hold here. No retreat.”

Cortana’s voice chimed in, cutting through the tension with a sharp clarity. “That’s a bold plan, Chief, but holding the Gorge with this many troops? We’re stretched thin already.”

“We don’t need to hold it forever,” Chief said, loading a fresh magazine into his battle rifle. “Just long enough for you to get what we came for.”

The first wave came with the fury of a storm.

Phantoms descended like hawks, disgorging streams of Covenant infantry into the mouth of the Gorge. The marines fired from elevated positions, their weapons lighting up the rocky defile. Plasma bolts tore through the air, searing past the defenders and scorching the ground. The sound was deafening—rifles barking, grenades detonating, and the guttural war cries of Elites echoing off the canyon walls.

Master Chief moved like a force of nature, directing fire teams while returning devastating volleys of his own. He downed a charging Brute with a burst to its chest, then lobbed a grenade into a cluster of Jackals advancing behind energy shields.

“Chief, right flank is collapsing!” a marine shouted over the comms.

“I’m on it,” Chief replied, bounding toward the breach.

A Hunter pair emerged from the smoke, their fuel rod cannons glowing with lethal intent. Chief slid into cover, narrowly avoiding a blast that turned the ground behind him into a smoking crater. As the marines scattered, he fired a well-placed shot into the exposed orange flesh of one Hunter, sending it reeling. He grabbed a fallen rocket launcher, aiming at the second Hunter just as it charged. The missile struck true, and the massive beast crumbled, its shield clattering to the ground.

Hours stretched into a brutal stalemate.

The Gorge became a killing ground, littered with the bodies of Covenant and UNSC alike. The air grew thick with smoke and the acrid smell of plasma burns. The marines fought valiantly, but the Covenant’s relentless waves took their toll.

Cortana’s voice broke through the cacophony. “Chief, they’ve deployed the Scarab. It’s coming straight for the Gorge.”

Chief turned to see the towering war machine lumbering into view, its massive legs crushing rock and debris beneath it. Plasma turrets swiveled, raking the UNSC defenses with blistering fire.

“Fall back to secondary positions!” Chief ordered, rallying the surviving marines. “We need heavy ordnance!”

As the defenders scrambled, the Scarab advanced, its beam cannon carving a swath of destruction through the gorge. Chief sprinted toward a Warthog mounted with a Gauss cannon. Climbing aboard, he opened fire, the magnetic slugs punching into the Scarab’s armor.

“Chief, there’s a weak spot on the undercarriage,” Cortana advised.

“I see it.”

Driving the Warthog with one hand, Chief steered toward the Scarab’s flank, narrowly dodging incoming fire. He leaped onto the machine’s leg, climbing with precision as its massive body shuddered beneath him. Covenant troops poured out, trying to dislodge him, but he dispatched them with ruthless efficiency.

Reaching the core, Chief planted a series of explosives, then dropped down just as the Scarab erupted in a fireball that lit up the Gorge.

The victory was short-lived.

The Covenant regrouped, their numbers swelling. Phantoms brought fresh reinforcements, and a squadron of Banshees screamed overhead, strafing the UNSC lines. Commander Shepard’s voice came through, grim and clipped.

“Chief, we’ve done all we can. The Gorge is lost. Fall back to the base—now.”

Chief hesitated, watching as marines fought and died to hold the line. But the Covenant was unrelenting, and staying would mean total annihilation.

“Understood,” he said at last. “Initiate the retreat.”

The UNSC forces pulled back, their retreat covered by sporadic artillery fire. As the base loomed in the distance, Chief turned to see the Covenant overtaking the Gorge, their banners rising where the UNSC once held firm.

At the base, Cortana appeared on Chief’s HUD, her expression somber. “It’s not a total loss, Chief. We delayed them long enough for me to retrieve the data. We can still finish the mission.”

Chief nodded, but his gaze lingered on the Gorge, now shrouded in smoke and silence. The cost had been high, and the battle was far from over.

“We’ll finish it,” he said, his voice resolute. “For them.”

As the dropships lifted off, carrying the survivors to the next battlefield, the Spartan stood at the ramp, his armor streaked with the scars of battle. The war for the forerunner installation was just beginning, and though the Covenant had claimed the Gorge, the fight for the ring would go on.

The Chief would see to it.

[maskedemerald]

WIP List (Tag Game!)

I was tagged ages ago by @the-down-upside-finch thank you so much! Sadly I was in deadline and life drama time so catching up on the tagged stuff now.

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Warning: This is going to get long, like seriously I have too many even if I discount the Fan Fic ideas... which I am doing because some of them might get used for future challenges that need them not to be talked about.

Feel free to send me an ask about any of these!

Book Writing Stuff

A Curiosity Piqued Series

Medallion Heist

Message in a Bottle

Wards

Rivals

The Vanished Researcher

The Shadow Master

The Transfigured Corpse

Framed

The Traveler

The Queen of Stone

Lapis Feather (Previously Frost Amber)

Vigdis' Revenge

The Shadow Master Returns

The Bleeding Tree

Sentience

NecRomance

Doppelganger

A Brother's Return

Null Beast

Ruins of Crystal Spires

Loops

Ari vs Arnvaldr

A Focus of Time

Haunting Memories

Lost Brother

The Queen of Stone's Revenge

Uneasy Aliance

And that's just the A Curiosity Piqued WIPs!

Magic Act

Vampire Saga

Queen's Conmen

Apprenticeships in Sorcery

A Kind of Freedom

Biological Component

Blood Book

Caged Phoenix

Captain's Shoes

Curse of the Sands

Dragon Egg

Dreaming Weapon

Sands in the Hourglass

Frozen Dragon

Hatchling

In the Ashes of the Bookshop

Kayla Rising

Last Breath

Last Man on Earth

Odd

Prince Pendant

Prince's Secret

Rebirth

Should Have Been Born a Fish

Stolen Breath

Taking up the Chase

White Raven

Wish You were Here

Glaesier

Astral Projection thing

Book Boy

Wynn equivalent

Lethal Lyra

Anastriana

Garnet

Spark the Fires

Space Druid

Talisman Warlock

Forget me not

Game Writing Stuff

Light of the Oubliette

Willow

New Khronos

Fenrir

Aether Shards

Comics Writing Stuff

Better Luck

Searching Prince

Dragon Cursed

Bottle Pirates

Phantom Circus

Not Under the Mountain

Now for the Tags:

It would be crazy for me to try and tag 1 person for everything listed here, seriously that would be 67 just counting the book writing things! So I'm just going to tag all my current writers tag list and throw it open to anyone else. (Shout at me if you want to be added to the writers list for tag games, whatever you write be it original stuff or fan fiction!)

No pressure tagging @scribe-of-stories, @allie-and-the-words, @card-queen, @sm-writes-chaos, @the-real-lyra-vale, @squarebracket-trick, @jasperygrace, @pb-dot, @wmlittlemore-is-writing, @akiwitch, @aalinaaaaaa, @cat-esper, @chayscribbles, @thetwentiethdisaster, @i-rove-rock-n-roll, @ashwithapen, @vaultofqueenorion, @sparrow-orion-writes, @thetruearchmagos, @taveren-writing, @alnaperera, @amaiguri, @guessillcallitart, @stesierra, @sam-glade, @thebearthatreads, @dogmomwrites, @callahanscorner

I apologize if some of you were already tagged for this game while I was gone with IRL chaos throw a link at me and I'll take a look if you did!

[mysteriousboo]

Boop!

What do you think would be your characteristic fantasy weapon?

I think I would like something that can be used to defend myself and others, and maybe reach long distances. I usually choose a bow or some kind of magic object in video games and such, but I really like those weapons that look like fans. I think they’re called war fans if I’m correct. They’re really elegant in my opinion, and can be used non-lethally if you have the skills to do so. I also like to dance so I could also use them for fun!

Boop!!

I love this question omg!!

I personally would like to be an axe thrower cause axe throwers are jacked up, and i wanna be jacked up!! but in one of my favorite fiction novels, there is the concept of using instruments to fight!! the main character uses a flute to summon dead people(necromancy win /j) to fight!! Other characters usually just use their spiritual energy on their chosen instruments to fight or talk to dead people!! I would like the latter option a lot more than the former one!! If I had to choose an instrument, it would prolly be a violin!! Firstly, because I have always wanted to play a violin and lastly because it's easy to carry around!!

[myblackcamera]

Pilot Blog: Hot Manhwa Semes That Will Make You Ignore Red Flags!

Category: Yaoi Title: Hot Manhwa Semes That Will Make You Ignore Red Flags! Meta-Description: Is your fictional man a red flag? I've listed all the hot manhwa semes that will make you go colorblind for them! _______

Toxic Yaoi often gets a lot of hate. But if we’re being real, they’re pretty solid reads.

Some people read it for the plot. But the cultured fujoshi? They read it for the plot.

The plot in question:



[Alt Text: Ahn Jiwon from BJ Alex Volume 1 Manhwa Cover]

That’s right - we’re talking about a manhwa semes with a lethal face card and a weapon that can kill - if you know what I mean. 

Manhwa semes who say “I’ll be gentle” or “Just one more round” even though we all know it’s a lie!

But with a lot of manhwas out there, it can be difficult to find a well-written and well-drawn seme. And by that, we mean someone toxic but HOT!

Here are the most toxic but hot semes of the season! (Spoilers ahead!)

1. Joo Jaekyung from Jinx manhwa



[Alt Text: Joo Jaekyung Jinx Birthday Art]

Coming from the left corner wearing the biggest red flag, the most toxic seme Mother Mingwa has created so far - Joo Jaekyung! 

Some people dislike Jaekyung for very valid reasons, and many of them concern our adorable uke, Kim Dan. 

The most memorable scene has to be when he throws away the Hermes keychain Dan bought for his birthday.

Now, Hermes is by no means cheap. But Dan thought he’d show some appreciation to his employee by buying him something nice and useful for his birthday. He even worked part-time jobs and skipped sleep because of it!

But for all his faults, Jaekyung is one hell of a man. He’s hot, he’s rich, and he’s well endowed. Who wouldn’t fall for a guy like him? (Well, if we ignore his personality)

When Jaekyung does the bare minimum, the entire fandom cheers. Yes - that’s how down bad his simps are for him.

And the smut scenes? Absolute art. Whenever he and Kim Dan smash, every panel is filled with their love juice. And when we see Jaekyung naked? That's the moment the spirit of feminism leaves a fujoshi’s body. 

Jaekyung isn’t nearly as bad as the other semes out there, but he certainly can do better. Season one just ended, and almost everyone is looking forward to his redemption arc when the next season comes. 

You can read Jinx on Lezhin.

 2. Kang Woojin from Love Jinx

 [Kang Woojin Love Jinx Lezhin]

If this is your man right here… Let me just tell you, you are BRAVE.

Now, there’s no shame in admitting that you love this man. Because Woojin is the type to sacrifice the world to save you - and that’s no exaggeration. 

He’s obsessive and possessive, but he will never lay hands on you. He will stalk you and invade your privacy, but he will also cut off everyone in his life to be with you.

Will he go that far? Yes. Yes, he will. He burned down the mountain his grandfather was buried in as an act of love and revenge. After all, he was the reason Haekyung (the uke) avoided him like the plague!

There’s just something about Woojin that makes us love him despite being such a huge red flag. You can call everyone who loves him crazy - there’s no changing the fact that this man will do anything for your love.

Read Love Jinx on Lezhin.

3. Cain from Yours to Claim



[Cain Yours to Claim Official Art Royal]

You might be surprised to see Cain here instead of Yahwi. 

Cain treated Jooin with so much love and respect from start to end. He accepted whatever he was given and stepped in for him whenever Yawhi would do him wrong. 

He did all that only for Yawhi to be the endgame. Imagine what Team Cain fans felt.  

Given it was a bit predictable, almost everyone felt it was a bit unfair, and Cain deserved better.

Cain also felt the same because he turned into a red flag from being a green one just so he could have Jooin. But even though he was controlling and possessive over Jooin, he always had his best interest in mind. If we compare him to Yawhi, you can clearly tell he was the better option. 

As frustrating as this manhwa was, at the very least, Cain had his happy ending. But Team Cain will forever stand for the fact that Jooin lost a good man.

Read Yours to Claim on Lezhin. 

4. Jaehyuk from Can’t Think Straight

 

[Yoon Jaehyuk Can't Think Straight Lezhin]

Jaehyuk is an a-hole. But he is a funny a-hole. And this ironically made him an icon in the BL community. 

Women don’t lie when we say we love someone who is funny. Why else are we turning a blind eye towards Jaehyuk, a homophobic playboy?

If we’re being honest, his only red flag is being homophobic. What's really ironic is the fact that he eventually turns gay. He turns so gay that he can no longer get it up with a woman. At least, not after tasting sweet Garam’s (the uke) butt. 

If you’re reading the current updates, you (and all the other fujoshi) must love how he’s become an absolute puppy for Garam. Cleaning the dorm for him, bringing him food, and, most especially, selling his stuff to buy a home for him. 

He’s not even boasting to Garam about it like he usually does!

The latest chapters made him even more lovable in our eyes. His redemption arc is ongoing, but we cannot wait to see how his character grows even more!

Read Can’t Think Straight on Lezhin.

5. Seungho from Painter of the Night



[Yoon Seungho in a bath from Painter of the Night - Byeonduck]

We all have a good reason to fear Seungho. Nakyum (the uke) does too. But if evil, why hot?

Seungho is a well-known sodomizer, and he kills whomever he feels like killing. Talk back to him? You die. Refuse his commands? You die. Well, you get the point. 

This is why Nakyum, despite being a painter, allowed Seungho to make advances towards him. And thank god he did. If not, we wouldn’t have found out how big Seungho's you know what��was.

Now Seungho had a very valid reason for being who he was: daddy issues. That’s right, folks - he’s just like the rest of us.

Most people think Seungho’s backstory is a cop-out for the way he’s treated his bed partners (including Nakyum) in the past. After all, this is a common trope BL writers pull out whenever they have an irredeemable seme. 

But in Seungho’s case, this was well executed. It did not feel forced. Rather, it gave us a different perspective of his character. He was homicidal but also loving towards Nakyum. 

It’s no wonder why the “I can fix him!” girlies love this man. Not only was he willing to change for love, but he was also willing to sacrifice his life for Nakyum. 

Read Painter of the Night on Lezhin.

6. Ilay Riegrow from Passion



[Ilay Riegrow wearing a uniform]

If you like semes that will literally chase you to the ends of the earth, look no further. Ilay will find you no matter where you go. 

It’s as scary as it is arousing. It’s 'scarousing'. 

Taeui (uke) and the other Passion characters have called him a psychopath multiple times. With his track record of “accidentally” killing his subordinates? The claim isn’t too far-fetched.

By no means is Ilay excused for all his crimes. In fact, everyone acknowledges it. But a fujoshi is a lot simpler than you think. You see hot yandere, you simp. Crimes and all forgiven. 

With that attitude of his, it’s no wonder Taeui took revenge on him and ran away. He even changed his name and went as far as living in his future brother-in-law’s house.

But Ilay had a very logical plan in mind. He burns down an entire mountain. That’s right, people - we have another mountain-burning psychopath in our hands. Isn’t that hot? No pun intended. 

Read Passion on TappyToon.

7. Zhenya from Codename Anastasia



[Zhenya eating an orange — from Codename Anastasia Official Art]

If there’s any word that best describes Zhenya, it’s that he’s an absolute menace. 

This blondie looks like an angel but is actually the devil in disguise. (And if you haven’t read the novel and the manhwa, I suggest you skip reading this section.)

Still here? Well, here it goes:

He has assaulted him, kidnapped him, left him to die, and attempted to add his name to St. Peter's book. The worst part? He was behind Taekjoo's mom's death. 

So why are people still rooting for him despite all this? It’s because he has what we call pretty privilege. 

Look at the Tiktok edits. This man has over 359.3 million views! Almost all of these are thirst traps, and I'm not gonna lie; they’re mesmerizing. 

Does this man deserve the worst coming to him for what he did to Taekjoo? Yes. But is he also pretty? Definitely. 

But just as a friendly reminder to all the colorblind ladies: always keep these red flag acceptance in fiction only. After all, our preferences in fictional men do not necessarily reflect our taste in real life.

It's kind of like how we read Game of Thrones. Sure, we may root for the villains sometimes, but does that mean we condone their behavior in real life? Absolutely not. 

Read Codename Anastasia on TappyToon.

Did we miss out on your favorite manhwa seme? You can share more about who deserves to be on this list at the Otaku Community! Get to meet your fellow fujoshis and share your manhwa recommendations!

[oldfangirl81]

Pride Prompt Day 3 : Early signs

Not fiction today. Just my memories as a fortysomething queer woman of early signs I wasn't straight.

Looking back to preschool I remember a crush on a boy. I named my first guinea pig after him. But I also remember really liking this teen volunteer from the temple (I went to a preschool that was connected to a synagogue). I remember seeking her out to push me on the swings.

I loved the baby-sitters club books. Stacey McGill was my favorite. She had type 1 diabetes so while not mine disease it was still something that made her different like me. But in my brain she was the coolest, prettiest, most sophisticated girl. I wanted to be like her. But it was also one of my first fictional crushes.

I adored Disney's Robin Hood (still do). I thought both Robin and Marian were the best. He was handsome. She was beautiful.

I remember thinking one of the woman student doctors was the prettiest. There was a teenager on the peds floor who I was convinced was the real life Stacey McGill, even if diabetes wasn't her issue.

I was teased about being boy crazy with celeb crushes. Tom Cruise and Patrick Swayze were the big ones in the late 80s/very early 90s for me. I watched Top Gun so many times.

I had to look up the dates on these two because time is weird.

My parents didn't really censor what movies I could watch. I was allowed to see Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) when it came out. Rene Russo was everything in that movie to me. And I've mentioned before that comparing scars to sex is embedded in my brain as peak sexy. And Riggs/Cole was ship before I knew what a ship was. The scene where he watches her kickass while reassuring Murtaugh that she didn't need help with an almost swoony sigh also embedded in my brain.

1993 brought the infamous episode of Batman The Animated Series "Harley and Ivy". I still didn't know what shipping was but I immediately shipped those too. I was upset that Harley didn't stay with Poison Ivy. And yes decades later I cried when they went canon.

I also had an equal crush on Cristian Slater and Samantha Mathis. But I knew it was socially acceptable for me to only talk about the crush on one of them. Meanwhile I'd rent The Thing Called Love (1993) over and over again. Same when Broken Arrow came out.

It wasn't until years later that I'd figure out what I called a crush was typically very different from what my friends meant.

Hackers was another movie where I had a different reaction than most of my friends. I really was confused if I wanted to be Angelina in that movie or date her.

After I came out to my folks Mom said she had suspicion because of my obsession with Angelina and Eliza Dushku. For someone who isn't a fan of cheerleading I rented Bring It On (2000) a lot.

In high school when I started to get hints that maybe I was slightly different than my peers my labels became "strong ally" "open minded" "never say never" and "heteroflexible".

[tokiro07]

Sigh, why do keep saying I finished with the Negation ideas when I keep coming up with more? Just gonna send them wherever I got them or remenber them since I forgot about these ones:

Unpermanent: Any sort of physical change the user do their surroundings will be reversed to it's previous state the moment they aren't touching it. Things they broken will be repaired, things they moved will come back to their place and even lethal wounds will instantly heal. (This is not based off Kumagawa All Fiction, I thought of it before reading medaka).

Unreliable: Any and all statements say by the user will be accepted by everyone who hear them as false, no matter all the evidence of the contrary.

Unblunt: The user can make anything turn incredibly sharp even if it shouldn't be possible with the materials. (Kinda simple I know, but my creativity has limits).

Unreachable: Anyone who tries to approach the user will experience a spatial distortion that greatly increases the distance between them making it impossible to get closer even if the actual space doesn't seem to be changed. (I fell like I couldn't explain this one very well).

Undistorted: The user is not affected by any and all forms of disguising or hide the truth. They can hear the true under lies, see clearly through disguises and illusions and any ability that change ones perception of the world has no effect.

Unorganic: The user can turn parts of their body artificial like that of a robot or cyborg, once this done that part can't be changed back. With enough engineering knowledge, the artificial parts can be replicated if lost or even augmented.

Untamed: The user can make animals turn into stronger and more aggressive version of themselves, works better on domestic ones. Can work on people if the user think of humans as just more advanced animals.

Unforgivable: Damage caused to the user by someone else will be mirroed on their own bodies. The damage will be amplified based on how much the user likes their attacker.

Uncruelty: When the user sees an injury in another person, it will inmeadiatly heal and they will receive it in their own body. (Probably there is a better name for this one but couldn't think of it).

I don't think you're doing your mental health any favors by berating yourself every time you come up with a new batch. You may want to consider just sending them to me without context, I'll understand just fine I think

Unpermanent: I see the logic behind this one, negating what would be a permanent change to an object, but I'm not sure that's the best term to get across the idea of returning to a previous state. Perhaps Unalter to negate an alteration, like a retroactive Unchange. I also struggle a lot with negation words that normally start with "in" or "im", so I see the desire to use them, it just feels weird to me to actually do so

Unreliable: I've been trying to think of an idea for Unreliable for a while that makes objects, attacks, etc. fail in critical moments, sort of like an Unluck for non-living things (i.e. a gun misfires or jams at point blank range, a sword shatters, a car won't start, etc.) but I couldn't think of a scenario to use it in during my Negator Casting. When used for a person, though, I would think that Unreliable would imply more of a Cassandra Truth situation where the target is temporarily rendered "unreliable" to others, no matter how well-trusted they are or how obvious the truth they're telling is. For your idea, I would say Undoubt works more accurately, negating the feeling of doubt in others who hear the user lie

Unblunt: I like it, I just wish I could think of a better word for it. However, I've resorted to "Unsick" and other definitive not-words myself, so I'm not going to complain. It also brings to mind its counterpart, Unsharpen, which causes anything sharp to become dull

Unreachable: I think you explained it fine, it's a weaponized Zeno's Paradox, like the Green Baby in Jojo or Gojo's Limitless in JJK. Always a fan of that one, amazed I didn't think of it first

Undistorted: love it, it's super practical for pretty much any non-combat interaction. Sounds useless for combat at first, but when everyone else is caught in the dream eater and being shown their own horrid deaths at the hands of their loved ones or whatever personal hell they fear most, they'll WISH they had the ability to be sober no matter how much booze they down

Unorganic: another "in" example, I went with Unnatural for the same basic idea in my Dangan Ronpa post. On that note, I really don't think that was the best choice for Soda's Rule, but it was getting late and I really had nothing, so I went with that because he made the mini Nidai robot and really no other reason. Back on topic, I like it

Untamed: I used a self-targeting version of this for Yamato in one of my One Piece posts, but mostly in an attempt to find another way to turn a Zoan Devil Fruit into a Negator ability. Man, those did NOT make it easy on me: Unhuman, Untamed, Unevolved...I really don't think I could come up with any more that would allow the user to become animalistic

Unforgivable: I see the correlation between damage sharing and unforgiveness, it gives the impression of this being a vengeful ability, but I'm having some trouble seeing how it's negating forgiveness specifically. I guess in the sense that the attacker isn't getting away scot-free, negating the opportunity to be forgiven? It's a bit heady, perhaps Unsafe would get across the idea a bit better? Hurting the holder of Unsafe will always incur damage, so it's better not to attack them at all

Uncruelty: a reverse of your Unforgivable idea, huh? Not only that, but it's a healing technique with an explicit drawback, so it's a lot more interesting than just letting other characters get away with grievous wounds. I do think that kind of makes it not a true "Negation" though as the wounds aren't being erased, they're being transferred elsewhere, which isn't usually how Negator abilities work. Still, it's fun, I'd have fun seeing how such a Negator would work around and evolve this ability. I would shorten it to Uncruel personally, but it doesn't feel like it matters too much. Alternative, Unwound (as in removing wounds not like unwinding a cord), or reversing Unharm to be a healing technique instead of a defensive technique

[jujupepi]

A Pre-History of Fanfiction V: Fandom Drama, More Zines, and Conclusion

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Sources

Chapter 5: Other Zines 

Zines existed out of the K/S bubble, of course. Our old friend Sherlock Holmes laid claim to many staple pages often crossing over with the Doctor, Lovecraft’s monsters, and Count Dracula like in the pages of the SH-SF Fanthology edited by Ruth Berman. Zines like the Holmesian Federation edited by Signe Landon and written by Dana Martin Batory, Ruth Berman, John C. Bunnel, and Tina Rhea explored Holmes’ world in both fiction and non-fiction. When Lord of the Rings was republished in paperback in the 60s, zines like Bernie Zuber’s Mytholore explored Tolkein and other fantasy works. 

Duh duh duh DUN DA DUN DUN DA DUN. The premier of Star Wars in 1977 inspired many zines. B. Clark published the first Star Wars fanzine, Skywalker in 1978. Others included Empire Stars by JJ Adamson and the Mos Eisley Chronicle by Doborah Rubin. The first sexual SW content appeared in the pages of Guardian #3 edited by Linda Deneroff and Cynthia Levine. Han/Luke slash filled the pages of zine to the point where the director of the Official Star Wars Fan Club sent Guardian and other publications a letter that demanded that they stop publishing porn along with a series of guidelines for zines. 

Another fandom that comes up quite a lot in zine culture is Blake’s 7, a British SF tv show that shared many producers, writers, editors, and actors with Doctor Who (I guess that’s true of most British shows). The fandom was huge, especially for one that is not super active today. The creator, writers, and actors were uniquely involved in the fandom. The creator, Terry Nation, told zine editor Carl Hiles that he didn’t want Blakes 7 fanworks to appear in any zine that weren’t solely dedicated to Blakes. It wasn’t all negative, Nation also supplied a very kind introduction to a fanfiction titled Reflections in a Shattered Glass by Joe Nazzaro. Actor Gareth Thomas read a fan poem by Mary G T Weber out loud at a con, embracing her after. 

Blake’s 7 was not without its troubles though. The fandom split in the late 80s when a fan revealed to Blake actor Paul Darrow the names of three fans slash producing fans, a writer, editor, and artist, who were operating under pseudonyms. Darrow sent a letter to these fans demanding them to stop publishing anything involving ‘his character or his likeness’. This caused a rift in the fandom between those who supported Darrow and those supporting the three targeted fans. (Fanlore - The Blake’s 7 War) It is speculated that Darrow was using slash as a scapegoat to obfuscate criticism he was receiving for participating in for-profit cons. This is a common theme in fandom, the disconnect between fans and those that make the show. For example, Jensen Ackles of Supernatural fame has made it clear that he does not like to answer questions about shipping his character with Castiel. 

Slash became such a huge part of fandom that zine dedicated entirely to slash without a home fandom appeared in the 80s. One such zine was Dyad edited by Divya Blacque. Dyad used a far reaching amount of derivative works including Man from Uncle, Simon and Simon, Quantum Leap, Startsky and Hutch, Lethal Weapon 2, and China Beach. Slash developed its own genre conventions and language. In this case, not only is the author decentralized but the derivative work is as well. This marks another evolution of fandom from where organizing around a particular work or works is most important to where engaging in fannish behaviors is central. 

Conclusions and Findings 

For a time in the 80s and 90s, zines coexisted with online fan forums like alt.tv.x files.creative and The Aquiter Files for Blake’s 7. However, the ease, accessibility, and ubiquity of the internet won out and have pushed zines to the fringes of fandom. That is not to say that zines do not exist but they are most certainly not the main medium of fanfiction today. 

So much has changed since the days of Gulliver and Pamela. 

Fanfiction now exists on online archives like AO3 and fandom discourse lurks on Tumblr, available to a wider amount of people than a zine would ever be able to service. Fanfiction has increased in popularity and visibility in the past two decades. Fic has even transformed into multi-media franchises like EL James’ 50 Shades of Gray and Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments. The increasing acceptance of LQBTQ+ people has made the secrecy around slash all but obsolete. 

Though there are endless problems within fandom and fandom behavior, I want to encourage you all to keep engaging with communities you love whether that be centered around a fictional work, a hobby, or anything else that piques your fancy. Keep putting your art and your words out there, you don’t need a middleman or a gatekeeper or a publisher to give you permission. Your little tumblr blog might set a precedence if you let it. 

This is not an overarching explanation of fandom and is limited to a few works, places, and time periods. If you want to know more, I’ll link my sources in other post

I would like to give a very special thank you to Fanlore, a spectacular and far-reaching wiki with thousands of pages of amazing rabbit holes. I would also like to thank those fans that wrote their own histories like Mickela Ecks and Writer’s University, Jenna Sinclair, Alec Nevala-Lee, and Gloria Comandini. Though I used academic journals, these personal histories were the most elucidating.  

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Blowback by Cameron Curtis

A Breed Thriller #10

Action-packed chase that leads Breed and Stein on a multi-country chase as they seek to find a stolen nuclear missile and make sure it is not used maliciously ~ Couldn’t put it down

What I liked: * Breed: intriguing, strong, lethal, intelligent, ex-military, sniper, excellent and varied skills, independent contractor, battle-scarred, survivor, attractive to women, someone I would like to have as a friend and definitely would want in my corner if in trouble

* Anya Stein: assistant CIA Director, intelligent, experience in field work, strategic thinker, capable, dedicated, intriguing, wealthy, good communicator, diplomatic

* Ellie: teenager, on her own, survivor, lives in underground New York, helpful, intelligent, independent, capable, protective, someone I would like to see again

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That the story is current politically and worth contemplating – brings enough fact into fiction to give me pause

* That though focused on an invasion in the country I live in and there were triggers in this story that made it difficult to read, I found that once I got past my situation, I couldn’t put it down

* The slow-burn of what may or may not eventually happen between Breed and Stein

* Wondering what will happen in the next book

* All of it except…

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about wars and how much damage they do with lives lost, land damaged, mental & physical trauma, and the fact that both sides in a war are usually fighting for what they believe is right…

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author, Inkubator, Booksprout, and NetGalley for this ARC ~ This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

One man can destroy a city. One man can save it. Antonovka-15 is a Russian nuclear weapons storage facility 15 miles from the Ukraine border. When an Alt-Right Ukrainian Special Forces unit – the Vampir Brigade - breaks in and steals an H-Bomb, Breed is tasked with finding it before it can be detonated. Breed and the CIA’s Anya Stein follow the bomb on a journey through war-torn Ukraine and on to Brussels. Are the Vampirs planning to destroy NATO HQ and the European Commission? Negative on that – their real plan is even more horrifying. After surviving multiple attacks by the Vampirs, Breed and Stein find the bomb has been shipped to New York. The Vampirs threaten to incinerate the city if the United States does not commit ground troops to fight Russia. With the help of Ellie, a young homeless girl, Breed and Stein fight the Vampirs through black 19th century tunnels 30 stories below the streets of modern Manhattan. Ellie leads Breed to the bomb - and a terrifying climax with the lives of eight million innocents hanging in the balance. Blowback — Book Ten in the stunning Breed action thriller series. Perfect for fans of Jason Kasper, Jack Carr, and Lee Child.

[battlingblades24532]

Epic Blades of Fantasy Worlds: Game of Thrones vs. Lord of the Rings

In epic fantasy, two iconic franchises stand tall regarding swords and weaponry - Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings Swords. These two beloved series have captivated audiences with their intricate storytelling and memorable characters but left a lasting mark on the world of fantasy weaponry. Let's take a closer look at the remarkable swords from both worlds.

Game of Thrones Swords:

Valyrian Steel Swords: Game of Thrones introduced the concept of Valyrian steel, a rare and magical metal renowned for its strength and sharpness. Swords forged from Valyrian steel are prized possessions often handed down through noble families. Notable blades like "Ice" and "Longclaw" are prominent examples, each with its unique history and significance.

Needle: Arya Stark's Needle is a small yet lethal sword that perfectly complements her agile fighting style. This sword extends Arya's character, and its simplicity and practicality make it a fan favourite.

Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail: These swords were forged from the great sword "Ice" and are associated with House Lannister. Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail carry immense symbolism, reflecting the Lannister family's complex and sometimes ruthless nature.

Lord of the Rings Swords:

Andúril: Andúril, also known as the Flame of the West, is the reforged sword of King Aragorn. This blade carries a rich history and a powerful presence, symbolizing Aragorn's destiny to reclaim his throne.

Sting: Frodo Baggins wields Sting, a small, glowing sword that becomes his loyal companion on his quest to destroy the One Ring. Its ability to detect the presence of orcs makes it invaluable throughout the journey.

Glamdring: Gandalf's sword, Glamdring, is a majestic weapon that radiates power and wisdom. Its presence in the story adds to the enigmatic aura surrounding the character of Gandalf the Grey.

Game of Thrones vs Lord of the Rings Swords: While Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings feature remarkable swords, their aesthetics and cultural influences differ. Game of Thrones swords often carry a more realistic and gritty design, reflecting the harsh world of Westeros. In contrast, Lord of the Rings swords possess a more mythical and otherworldly quality, befitting the epic nature of Middle-earth.

Conclusion:

In fantasy, swords play a significant role, representing power, honour, and destiny. Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings have given us some of the most iconic swords in the world of fiction, each with unique charm and significance. If you're a fan of these epic blades and want to explore a wide range of fantasy weaponry, visit BattlingBlades.com, where you can discover an array of collectable swords inspired by your favourite fantasy worlds.

[mybookplacenet]

Featured Post: Cut From Stone by Brendan O'Meara

About Cut From Stone: The world is fresh from humanity splitting in half – the BlankZone in the East and the Federation in the West. As an inevitable attack from the BlankZone looms, the Federation makes swift, mysterious, and unexpected moves to prepare. James, a 17-year-old living in the Federation, is drafted by the military. He learns he has been selected to join a group of skilled teens who will be transformed into elite human weapons. Follow James and his friends as they mature from teenagers to lethal warriors. Together, they will face life altering events navigating a new existence dedicated to protecting their friends, families, and humanity at all costs. Targeted Age Group: 16+ Written by: Brendan O'Meara Buy the ebook: Buy the Book On Amazon Link to Series Buy the Print Book: Buy the Book On Amazon Author Bio: Raised in White Plains, New York, Brendan O’Meara formed a love of stories and books from a young age. He has spent his free time over the last decade crafting his debut novel, Cut From Stone, book one in the Crafting Humanity series. It began in Philadelphia where he attended college daydreaming about a dystopian reality. With a vivid imagination (as described by his middle school teachers) and a passion for adventure, Brendan’s novels will transport you to a different life and capture you from cover to cover. Brendan lives in Washington, DC with his daughter, wife, and two dogs. You will find him on the weekends drinking a beer watching the Packers and Notre Dame football games. He is an avid reader with a specific interest in sci-fi, anything dystopian, fantasy, history, and all levels of fiction. Brendan would love to hear from you, feel free to contact him any time at brendan.omeara@craftinghumanity.com. Finally, visit craftinghumanity.com and sign up for our email lists for news, updates, and information on the rest of the Crafting Humanity series. We will not spam you! Follow the author on social media: Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website Facebook Fan Page Twitter Instagram Read the full article

[myfeed-network]

GA Officers Combat Armor

Hey there, fellow wanderers of the neon-drenched underbelly! Today, we're delving into the realm of the Galactic Authority (GA) officers and their flashy getup – the Combat Ballistic Armor System. Now, before you start accusing me of singing their praises, let's get one thing straight – I might not be the GA's number one fan, but I'm all about spilling the beans on what they're strapping onto themselves as they patrol our concrete jungles.

First things first, let's talk about this armor system that's got more layers than the shady deals that go down in the back alleys. The Combat Ballistic Armor System is like a mishmash of the latest tech and fancy materials, all carefully woven together to create an armor that's supposed to keep these GA officers safe, mobile, and ready to pounce. Yeah, I know what you're thinking – what's the deal with all the fancy words? Trust me, I'm right there with you.

So, this armor system is supposed to be the shining star of the show, the one that makes these officers look like they just stepped out of some high-tech comic book. It's supposed to be the embodiment of GA's dedication to their crew. Well, color me skeptical, but let's break this thing down.

The centerpiece of this armor is the Silicon Carbon Laminate Vest. Now, don't let the name fool you – it's not about fashion statements. It's about projecting authority through style, or at least that's what they want us to believe. This thick vest armor covers everything from chest to groin. It's like a high-tech security blanket, designed to withstand everything from bullets to nosy questions. The armor while looking thick is lightweight and gives these officers high maneuverability but still protects from most small-arms fire. I've got to get my hands on some of this stuff someday.

But wait, there's more – the Nanoflex Uniform Fabric. It's like someone took a pair of denim jeans and gave them an upgrade, but not the kind of upgrade I'd willingly trade my credits for. Supposedly, it's a mix of strength and comfort, allowing officers to move like they're auditioning for a cyber dance-off while staying ready for whatever chaos this city throws their way.

And then we've got the Polymer Composite Limb Deflectors – the high-tech equivalent of medieval armor for our futuristic knights in uniform. These things supposedly protect limbs while letting officers do some serious acrobatics as if they're trying to outdo the acrobats at the circus. If only we could get a ticket to that show, I've seen an officer get a laser shot to one of these things and keep going. Anyone got a full idea of what this stuff is made of. If you do please hit me and let me know.

But hold on, things start to get even wilder. Those Sentinel Gloves are like something straight out of a science fiction flick. Conductive polymers and graphene nanofibers? Yeah, they might sound impressive, but all I see is a bunch of jargon. What's the real deal? Hidden Tasers – that's the kicker. These gloves pack a surprise punch, like an extra dose of "zap" to go with your handshake. These gloves also allow their armor to communicate to their fire arms feeding them data from everything from how much ammo they currently have to exactly where they are aiming and even lets them control the weapon to fire lethal or nonlethal ammo...yet and still I don't see them ever use the nonlethal stuff.

And of course, we can't forget the VN Biomonitor, It's like having a tech babysitter for your vitals, keeping a watchful eye and sending updates to your friends and bosses. It's like they've got an AI nanny that won't let them get too banged up on the job.

Now this is a mouth full of words The Hyper-Resonant Footwear Matrix, or as I like to call it, the fancy boots, is all about making officers run faster and climb higher. It's like someone combined sneakers with rocket boosters. Yeah, it sounds cool, but is it really necessary? I mean, what's wrong with a good old-fashioned pair of kicks?

But the pièce de résistance is the Neuro-Syntonic Strength Amplification Weave. Now, I'm no tech genius, but apparently, the armor has some kind of muscle-enhancing weave inside that can help amplify an officer's strength. It's like they've got a secret power-up hidden in their armor. It's all very sci-fi and stuff, but I can't help but wonder if it's all just smoke and mirrors.

And finally, we've got the Integrated Comms and the Trifocal Sight Display. Mesh communication and augmented reality, all wrapped up in a neat little package. It's like they're living in a world of their own, completely connected and in the know.

So, there you have it – the Combat Ballistic Armor System. It's a tech wonderland that's supposed to make these GA officers look like the coolest cats on the block. And while I might not be raising my glass to the GA anytime soon, I can't deny that this armor is a head-turner. Is it all a facade? A high-tech illusion? Well, that's for you to decide. Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for the neon glow and the high-tech show, and let's see where this cyberpunk saga takes us. ✌️🌆

MyFeed Post By The Neon Writer

[halofanfiction]

Fan Fiction:

Halo: The Verdant Legion

The jungle air was thick with the scent of decay and damp earth, as Master Chief and his team of marines moved through the dense underbrush. The mission had started like many others, but something about this planet felt different. The Covenant forces they were supposed to neutralize had been more elusive than usual, retreating deeper into the wilderness, and their numbers were growing.

"Watch the trees," Master Chief muttered, his voice low and clipped through the comms. "Something's off."

"Nothing moves this quietly," one of the marines, Corporal Ellis, replied, his rifle held at the ready. "Feels like we’re being watched."

Just then, the ground beneath them shifted. Vines erupted from the earth, thick, green tendrils snaking around their legs, pulling them down into the mud. The marines struggled, but the vines were unrelenting, tightening like iron bands. In an instant, the ground itself seemed to come alive, restraining them with an unnatural strength.

“Chief!” Ellis shouted, trying to draw his sidearm, but his arm was pinned, his fingers slipping off the grip.

Master Chief tore at the vines with his armored hands, but it was no use. They lashed at him, wrapping around his limbs, dragging him to the ground. His HUD flickered, the vines cutting through the system’s visual feeds, distorting everything around him.

"Watch out!" Another marine, Private Hernandez, called out as he was pulled off his feet. "They're everywhere!"

Master Chief’s comm buzzed with static as he heard the familiar hum of energy swords, their blue glow piercing the green darkness of the jungle. A shimmer moved through the trees—something different, something familiar. It was fast, almost invisible against the backdrop of leaves.

Then, the Arbiter emerged from the shadows, his energy sword crackling as he slashed through the vines with lethal precision. One swipe severed a thick tendril that was coiling around Master Chief’s leg, and with a swift motion, he cut down two more Verdant Legion warriors who had come to investigate the noise.

The marines, still struggling against the vines, looked up in disbelief. "The Arbiter?" Hernandez gasped, wide-eyed.

“Stay down!” Master Chief ordered, already pushing himself back onto his feet. He glanced at the Arbiter, who gave a silent nod, his sword still glowing with residual energy. The Arbiter moved with calculated precision, his form blending with the jungle as he sliced through the plant-like enemies, vines snapping and creatures falling in a heap.

"Not bad for a former Covenant," Chief muttered, lifting his rifle and opening fire on the advancing Legion.

"They don't know who they're dealing with," the Arbiter growled, slashing through another vine that had tried to ensnare him. "But they will learn."

These plant warriors were unlike any enemy they had faced before. They had an almost primal intelligence. Their vines extended from the earth like living roots, grabbing at the marines' limbs, pulling them to the ground with inhuman strength. Each strike from their tendrils was like a whip—sharp, barbed, and painful.

Master Chief didn’t hesitate. He shot a burst of plasma into a nearby vine, severing it, and then sprinted towards the Arbiter as he cleared the area around them. "Let's move," he said.

The Arbiter glanced back, his energy sword still glowing. "We cannot stay here long. Their numbers are growing."

"Understood," Chief replied, already scanning the surroundings. "We need to find a way out of this jungle, fast."

Hernandez, now free, helped Ellis to his feet. "We’re not out of this yet," he said, panting. "Those things—those plant-creatures—came from nowhere. I’ve never seen anything like it."

The Arbiter's eyes gleamed. "They're not just creatures. They're the Verdant Legion. They were bred, grown from the soil of ancient Covenant worlds. They are a weapon—one that the Covenant has been hiding, waiting to unleash."

Master Chief nodded grimly. "We need to destroy them before this planet becomes a battleground no one survives."

As they moved deeper into the jungle, the Verdant Legion’s vines lashed out again, but this time they were ready. Master Chief and the Arbiter fought side by side, cutting down the advancing forces. The tension in the air was palpable—the Verdant Legion had one purpose: to capture and subdue. And yet, it was the Arbiter who had come to their aid, an unexpected ally in a time of need.

"We can’t fight this war alone," Master Chief said, glancing at the Arbiter as they moved through the dense undergrowth. "These new Covenant's forces are more dangerous than we thought."

The Arbiter’s voice was low, but firm. "This is not the first time the Covenant has used such weapons. We will stop them, together."

The marines fell into line behind the Arbiter and Master Chief, weapons raised and ready. They had been captured, but now they had a chance to fight back. And with the Arbiter at their side, they had hope.

[cole-winchester-masterlist]

Masterlist

Hit me up @cole-winchester for any tag requests.

_______________________

SUPERNATURAL:

Fallen Angel / Chapter One 

Unsuspecting Father 

Pieces / Chapter One

I Will Fail You / Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three

Hellhound

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THE WALKING DEAD:

Without You / Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four

18 Miles Out ... No Going Back / Shane Walsh x Reader

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LETHAL WEAPON:

I Won’t Run Away / Part One

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SONS OF ANARCHY:

Dear Agony 

Hidden Secrets / Part One / Part Two

Juice x Reader One Shot

Protective Brothers 

Kitten On The Loose 

Don’t Mess With Tig’s Girl 

Should’ve Taken A Prospect

Why Do You Have Blood On You?

Writing Prompt Challenge Entries

***All of the following fics are submissions from my followers.  All credit goes to them as stated, none were written by me...This list will be updated as they are received.  If you submitted one and do not see it here, please message me with the link as I may not have gotten the tag notification***

Sons of Anarchy:

Let’s Ride ‘til We Die by @spnhollis

Tell It To Me Straight by @charmingoutlaws

Nothing Changes by @hismissharley13

Of Coffee Shops And Smart-Asses by @allaboutmysamcroboys

Supernatural:

Just a Little Patience by @coffee-obsessed-writer (Dean x Reader)