#now they’re charging me a replacement fee

[permanentreverie]

my library charging me $16 for a book i returned on time is such bs lmao

[faeriekit]

Clark pushes open the shop door. The bell tinkles. 

Inside is a dark and gloomy shop– perfumed, almost too much so, by the incense stick in the corner. 

The open windows are covered by billowy black curtains. They’re not enough to keep the entirety of the day out, but are more than enough to keep the room in shadow that creeps across the space. The shelves are steel— Clark would almost bet that they’re hand built. The soldering on the joints is kind of shaky, but all they support are lightweight— cardboard boxes of stick incense, cone incense. Cheap resin statues of figures; some of them Clark can recognize from myth. Some of them Clark can’t name. Decks of cards piled atop each other in loose pyramids. Swathes of fabrics in deep, stained colors. Tumbled stones. Candles— so many candles of every size, shape, and color, seemingly strewn across every surface. Fat ones, skinny ones, short ones, long ones, candles in cups and bowls, shaped ones, and ones that were…shaped…

Clark flushes bright red, and clutches his bag closer to his body. Good heavens. He can never tell his Ma what he saw here today. 

Overall, he is very overwhelmed in both sight and smell by the time he gets to the back counter. At least the counter is…normal enough. The only oddity there are the piles of little seedling pots of herbs all stretching towards little grow lights, eager to make themselves into big strong potted plants with some time in the artificial sun. 

The girl at the counter pops her gum between lilac-painted lips. Her chin rests on her hand; her eyes rest on a book laid flat on the counter. Whether it’s a more typical novel or a spellbook, Clark can hardly tell. 

Clark…clears his throat. The girl doesn’t even look up. She silently flips a page in her book. 

“H-hello?” he tries. If he were human, his hands would be sweating. (He might also have gotten a headache from the incense.) “I’m looking for…”—he glances down at the newspaper scrap he’d snipped out from last week’s Sunday edition— “...Foley & Fenton tech repair…?”

The girl holds up a hand to silence him. Clark shuts up. After a few silent moment of reading, she lifts purple eyes off of the page to finally give him a passing glance. 

Her lips…do something. Clark isn’t sure what. “Show it to me.” 

He fumbles in his haste to comply with the demand, almost dropping his laptop in the process. “It’s— it’s fine most of the time! But, er, ever since I started working on some of the bigger stories, it keeps acting up on me— one moment it’ll be fine and then I’ll get really into it and then the whole computer will freeze up and shut down… It was a gift, and it’s supposed to work really well!” Pa had certainly paid enough that it should last him for a good ten years! “But I keep losing half of my work every time I try to sit down, and…!” 

The girl pops her gum again, barely interested. Finally she shuts her book. “Laptop!” she shouts into the back. 

A beret-topped young man with dark skin and glasses pops up out of the back. “What?”

“Laptop,” she repeats, and thumbs open her place in the book to continue reading. The young man squints, and then grins. 

“Laptop!” he echoes, excited. He swerves around the counter, puffs out his chest, and grins. “Good day to you, sir! I’ll have you know that I am the foremost technological expert on personal devices in the local tri-state area—” 

“No you’re not, Tuck,” the girl cuts in, eyes on her book.

“When it comes to curses and curse removal,” the boy continues, peeved. “Now look, now I’m in a mood. Anyway, it’s twenty bucks for us to take a look at it, and I charge additional fees based on parts that need replacing and hours of labor. Fine with that?” 

Clark— nods. The young man— Tucker?— grins, and Clark quickly has to let the boy shake his hand as he grabs at the limb. 

“Excellent! Your laptop is in excellent, if very spooky hands!”

Clark looks at the boy, who’s giving him a very confident thumbs up and a wink. Clark looks at the girl, who happens to be doing nothing more than what she was when he had originally walked into the shop. 

“I have nothing to do with this,” the girl says. 

“...How long should I wait, exactly?” Clark asks helplessly. 

“I dunno, a week max? We’re usually faster than that, though. We’ll call you when we know what’s up.”

*

“Huh,” says Tucker. 

“Huh,” says Danny. 

“U̴̲͍̜̬̚A̸̧̟̥͓̖̫̓��̅̌̊́͘͠Ŗ̷̺̜̲̘̣͉̲̉͝Ẹ̸̱̖̦͙̆͐͐̀͜Ǒ̵̥̦̍͆͗E̶̦̼̱̫̫͔̮͖̎̒W̴̡̮͉̤̅͘͝͝F̴̳̜́̎̎I̷̡̢̡̠̲̖͍͔̒̑͝O̶̲̝̾̌̑̈͒ͅG̴̝̪͎͙͔̩̅̀͗͑U̶͇̩̦̳͉̤̿̾S̸̢̛̰̱̻͎O̴͓̚H̵̻̝̗̼̣̪͖̀͑̄͗̆Ì̸̧͉͍̻͙̥̙͋̈́̐ͅR̴̭̥̞͒̾͌͗͛̚A̸̛̗̦̗̲͔̍͂͒G̶̨̓̀͂̍O̷͓̯͛͗͋H̷̥̮̭̊̉̂͗́̎̚I̸͉̦͇͚̤̝̅͝R̷̢̡͇̮̮͈̤̔̾ͅẢ̵̛̖̈̎̂̐͂͠Ǵ̸̛̤̜̳̝̮̤̣̊̒̍̋̀̕ͅH̴̢̱͔̹̰͔̭͑͒̓Ỉ̵͍̆̏̅̃̾̌̒O̶͉͎̻̳͗̏͂̅̓̈́̍̚,” screams the curse on the laptop. 

It slobbers rather admirably without either a tongue or salivary glands, or, you know…an orifice from which to slobber. 

“...He looked like he would blow away in a stiff breeze? Who would have cursed that poor guy?!” 

“I don’t know,” Sam adds curiously, admiring the heavy detail work done on what should have been a totally normal Lenovo Thinkpad. “But I would pay for that wizard’s coffee if they’d tell me what they did to make this happen.”

Danny slowly extinguishes the ball of light in his hand. “This might be out of my expertise,” Danny admits, “Because if I hit this thing normally, that laptop is getting crushed.” 

Tucker squints. “So just. I dunno. Ice it?” 

“...Oh, yeah.” The laptop gets encased in a sheet of ice that (thankfully) blocks the curse from lashing out when it gets pried open. 

It’s not the reason Tucker expected to have to grab gloves for this repair, but eh. Gloves, mittens. Same thing, probably. Now, if he could only hold onto the screwdriver without it slipping out of his mittened fingers…

Tucker's Computer Repair and Occult Solutions shop is a new tech repair set up in Metropolis. The shop only seemed to have a single teenager? It's weird, though, since the ad said there were at least two people on their tech team...

...and sometimes, while the named Tucker Foley was in the back, Clark would swear he heard laughter without breath in the other room. Ominous.

Meanwhile:

Tucker: so. Like. It's not the hardware?

Danny: nah.

Tucker: so his laptop is, like...literally cursed?

Danny: yeah.

Tucker: AGAIN?

Danny: *laughs* Someone really, REALLY hates this guy

Tucker: he looks like he would apologize to the stiff breeze that pushed him over!!

Danny: I mean. It's not a powerful curse. It's literally just like a random powering down every few hours.

Tucker:

Tucker: *sighs* I'll get the invocation.

Danny: I'll grab the frankincense lol

Tucker: you know I predicted a lot more playing around with tech when I opened a TECH REPAIR SHOP 🤦🏾‍♂️ in a MAJOR CITY

Danny: Sam is quite literally never going to let us live this down

Tucker:

Danny:

Tucker: was that a death joke—

Danny: *snickers*

[airslinger1]

Customer Success Stories: Why Pinellas County Residents Recommend Airslinger for HVAC Services

When it comes to keeping homes comfortable, especially in the sweltering Florida heat, residents of Pinellas County know the importance of a reliable HVAC system. But more than just the equipment itself, they rely on the expertise of a trusted service provider who ensures their air conditioning and heating units are running smoothly year-round. That’s where Airslinger comes in.

Time and again, homeowners in Pinellas County have turned to Airslinger for their HVAC needs, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. From timely repairs to expert installations, Airslinger has established a reputation as the go-to HVAC service provider in the region. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Pinellas County residents are so enthusiastic about Airslinger.

1. Fast and Reliable Service

One of the most frequent compliments Airslinger receives is the speed and reliability of their service. Florida's hot and humid climate demands quick solutions when an HVAC system breaks down. A resident from Clearwater, Susan B., shared her experience:

"I called Airslinger when my AC broke down during a heatwave. They had a technician out to my home within two hours, and he fixed the problem in under an hour. I’ve never experienced such fast service from any other HVAC company!"

2. Expert Technicians Who Go the Extra Mile

Airslinger’s technicians are more than just skilled — they’re dedicated to providing excellent customer service. This commitment to quality work and customer satisfaction is echoed by many Pinellas County residents. Tom P., a homeowner in St. Petersburg, praised Airslinger’s thoroughness:

"The technician didn’t just fix my AC; he took the time to explain how to maintain it properly and gave me tips to improve my system’s efficiency. I could tell he genuinely cared about the longevity of my unit."

It’s these small touches that make Airslinger stand out. Every service call is treated as an opportunity to help customers get the most out of their HVAC systems.

3. Affordable Pricing with No Surprises

Airslinger is known for its transparent pricing, ensuring that residents in Pinellas County are never hit with unexpected fees. Sarah K. from Largo shared how Airslinger helped her save money:

"I was dreading the cost of replacing my outdated air conditioner, but Airslinger gave me a detailed breakdown of costs and even helped me find a unit within my budget. The best part? There were no surprise charges, and the installation was seamless."

Customers appreciate that Airslinger provides upfront pricing, so they know exactly what they’re paying for, which eliminates the stress often associated with HVAC repairs and installations.

4. Long-Lasting Solutions, Not Just Quick Fixes

Many residents highlight the durability and effectiveness of Airslinger’s repairs. Unlike some companies that offer temporary solutions, Airslinger ensures that the root cause of the issue is addressed. This approach results in long-term peace of mind for homeowners, like David M. from Palm Harbor:

"After several failed attempts by other companies to fix my HVAC unit, I finally called Airslinger. Not only did they identify the real problem, but they also provided a long-lasting solution that’s kept my system running perfectly for over a year now."

5. Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Airslinger doesn’t just focus on repairs and replacements; they’re committed to helping Pinellas County residents make their homes more energy-efficient. This is a crucial aspect for many homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint and lower utility bills. Christine L., a customer in Dunedin, shared her experience:

"The technician recommended an energy-efficient HVAC system, and since then, my energy bills have decreased significantly. Plus, Airslinger helped me take advantage of local rebates, which made it even more affordable."

This dedication to sustainable solutions has earned Airslinger a loyal customer base among environmentally conscious residents.

6. Emergency Services You Can Count On

Florida weather can be unpredictable, and HVAC systems can sometimes fail at the worst possible times. Thankfully, Airslinger offers 24/7 emergency services, ensuring residents are never left without help. Mike R. from Seminole recounted his experience with their emergency response team:

"It was a weekend, and my AC stopped working in the middle of the night. I was afraid no one would be available to help, but Airslinger came to the rescue. Their technician arrived within an hour and had my system back up and running in no time. I’ll never use another HVAC company again!"

Why Pinellas County Trusts Airslinger

Airslinger has earned its reputation as the leading HVAC service provider in Pinellas County because of its commitment to excellence, affordability, and customer satisfaction. Residents know they can rely on Airslinger not only for fast and effective service but also for long-term HVAC solutions that keep their homes comfortable year-round.

Whether you’re facing a sudden AC breakdown, considering an energy-efficient upgrade, or simply need routine maintenance, Airslinger is the trusted choice for Pinellas County homeowners. These customer success stories are just a glimpse into why so many people recommend Airslinger for all their HVAC needs.

Call Airslinger today and experience the best in HVAC service — because when it comes to keeping your home comfortable, you deserve nothing less.

Air conditioning companies Pasco county Florida

contact@airslinger.com

Tel: (727) 815-3334

Tel: (866) 470-5541

[chaoticreation]

@sonofawinchester

I'm disabled and on a low income. Please help me save my feathered daughter. Linktree in bio #foryou #cockatiel #help #vetbill #emergency #birddad

♬ original sound - sonofawinchester

PLEASE READ AND MAKE THIS GO VIRAL. 

I know it's a long read, but it's so important, and I am LITERALLY BEGGING YOU FOR HELP! (And including the link to the original tiktok video because apparently tumblr doesn’t want to show it: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonofawinchester/video/7139692736252349739?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1)

I have had nothing but hardships since June, and am on the brink of losing everything. Our well pump died suddenly, and I went two weeks without water, begging the local gov't to help, to no avail. Instead, I was met with ableist remarks. I was forced to turn to restaurants to eat once a day, and the nearby gas station to use the bathroom. None of which were in walking distance, which took a toll on my wallet between food and gas. Finally, we had to use the money we reserved for this year's taxes to pay for the replacement pump. While we now have water, we can't afford the taxes. That means we can lose our home. Taxes are due in October and December. September's already halfway through, and combined, they're over $5,500.

In July, my feathered son, Tazmania, got sick. I took him to vets, and he seemed to be recovering with some antibiotic injections. I had to postpone his follow-up appointment due to fraudulent charges on my credit card totaling over $300, which not only maxed it out, but also meant a freeze on it. But he seemed to be doing better, so I didn't think a week would hurt. Until it did. Just 2 days before the rescheduled follow-up, he presented as extremely ill.

August 3rd, he was real bad. But no avian vets had availability, and he wasn't stable enough for the 2 and a half hour drive to ER vets. So we stuck it out. I stayed up with him all night, and he fought hard to stay with me. August 4th, the local vets stabilized him for transport, and we went to ER vets. He was hospitalized and stabilized, tests were run, and he was eating again, though he was still too weak to be his chatty self. He was discharged on August 6th, with nearly $1,800 in vet bills on my care credit, which had a limit of $2,200. 

The first charge made to my newly replaced credit card was a cremation fee of over $200. (If you don't have anything nice to say, bite your tongue off, lest this happens to you. This boy means more to me than your useless opinions, and I'm tired of having to justify this charge. My other option was to keep him in the freezer until further notice, and avoid food because seeing him in there killed my appetite. So the other option was death by starvation.) The house is too quiet without his singing, and I feel empty, but I'm still fighting for Syd.

To be safe, I took his sister, Sydney, for a checkup on August 9th. The vets gave her a clean bill of health, but as soon as we got home, she acted like she was regurgitating. Rather than be helpful, this local vet refused to run tests, that are much cheaper for them to run than an ER vet to run. A few weeks later, Syd started presenting as ill as well, so I sought help from other local vets. This, in turn, has maxed out my care credit limit. That's right, we're past the $2,200 now!

Furthermore, I found out recently from my mom, that we owe the fuel company $900 for propane. If we don't pay this, we will not get a refuel, even if we have HEAP credits. You know what that means? No heat or hot water. My mom's still in a nursing home, and there's no telling if or when she's coming home. She's in 4th stage kidney disease. Thankfully, no heat or hot water won't affect her, but it WILL affect Syd and I (if, in fact, Syd survives.) The cold will kill her, and as someone suffering with Raynaud's, the cold is excruciating for me, in just the matter of seconds. Yes, seconds. Holding a cold drink for less than a minute brings tears to my eyes. No, there's no cure, and gloves only go so far. Within minutes, with gloves on, it's unbearable. Washing in ice cold water? It would feel like frostbite, and could take me a long time just to get feeling back to my fingers once I'm done washing.

At this current point (9/15/2022) Syd has a follow-up with her vet tomorrow. I don't have money for further testing, and care credit is maxed, so I can't even charge it to that. This means I have to refuse further testing if she needs it, which she most likely will, since tests have come back inconclusive. Can I afford $14 for another antibiotic injection? If I starve myself, yes. So I will allow myself to go hypoglycemic in order to give her her medicine. But I won't be much use to her, or anyone. I've been sacrificing myself for years. She's my daughter and she's worth it. I haven't eaten in days already. At this point, I'm lucky if I eat once a week, and it's not even a full meal because I simply no longer have strength or energy to cook, which doctors love to write off or plain out ignore. 

Syd's 11th birthday is September 18th, while Taz will forever be 10 years old. I can't even give her healthcare for her birthday, and it's killing me.

So now that I've explained what's been going on, let me explain something else. I am disabled. Permanently. (I'm currently in the process of fighting to keep my SSI, which is another long story.) I was disabled before I ever stood a chance, so I didn't "earn" the "rights" that you get with SSDI. So what this means is that I make less than $900 a month. In NYS, minimum wage is $15/hr. That means the average full-time worker earns $2,400 a month before taxes. Before this, minimum wage was $7.25/hr, leaving the average full-time worker with $1,1600 a month before taxes. Think about that for five seconds. If you're disabled, you get less than what minimum wage was in **2009**. In fact, the math adds up to roughly $5.55 an hour. You're talking income from **2005.** It's 2022! You're talking less than $900 a month in a state where rents start at $1,500, and gas costs about $70 per fill-up. Where car insurance is like $300, and there's no public transit, so your only choice is to own and drive a vehicle.

I rely on commissions for these kinds of emergencies, but let's face it, I'd need a LOT more commissions than I can ever take on. My commissions ARE open, but I'm slow. I'm struggling with my own health, my mom's health, and my daughter's health. I'm mourning the loss of my son, and if I don't get some SERIOUS financial help, I'll be mourning the loss of my daughter. I have three pending commissions as it is, and that money has already gone to gas or food.

I am losing all hope in any chance of survival for either of us. I can't pay these debts. I can't afford food. I can't afford vet bills for Syd. I can't afford fuel for heat or hot water. I can't afford taxes and can end up homeless. I haven't had time to look after my own health. Not only am I being punished for being disabled, but my daughter is, too. I lose sleep over this. Every moment I'm not distracted, I spend crying. I'm crying right now. It feels like all I do anymore is cry.

Please restore some hope. Please donate if you have the means. But no matter what, PLEASE MAKE THIS VIRAL! Look at this sweet little girl! Don't let her light go out like her brother's!

Here's a link to the gofundme I made in June to replace the well pump. It clearly hasn't worked out, but I don't have the energy to start ANOTHER one. So just... donate to this one, and help Syd and I survive. Especially Syd. I don't even give a shit about me anymore. I just don't want my baby girl to die.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-disabled-mother-and-son-avoid-homelessness

[laryna6]

Hmm, Cha Hae-In... if she ran into Sung Jin-Woo at the sword school somehow and is ? that he smells good?

Sugar Mama Cha Hae-In + the Hunters’ Guild going ‘these two are adorable we are going to make this ship sail’

Also he’s adorable and her sword teacher tells her that he keeps getting injured but keeps going on hunts, people think he’s an idiot rich boy in it for the thrill but he doesn’t buy that, no defense and yet he gets wounded protecting their healer too.

Cha Hae-In using her vice guildmaster position to offer him a position on the resource gathering teams, and watching as he goes from shut down and dead inside to smiling and friendly and starting to actually talk to people. They’re like sure, he’s not the fastest/strongest worker, but he’s hard working and does his best and pays attention to instructions.

Meanwhile Sung Jin-Woo is ‘this job comes with medical insurance!’ and Jin-Ah is ‘I don’t have to worry about my brother dying anymore! The Hunter’s Guild would absolutely have like, whole guild social functions where you bring your family and Jin-Ah wanting to talk to Cha Hae-In and explaining the situation and being ‘thank you so much for saving the life of my last family.’

So Cha Hae-In is *manly tears* Such a wonderful big brother! So filial! So cute!

Sung Jin-Woo starts bringing her lunch to thank her and she’s ‘you don’t have to...’ (but it’s really good) ‘I am rich af let me pay you’ and Sung Jin-Woo is ‘sure’ because money.

... to skip ahead, shadow!Choi Jong-In continuing to do paperwork, corresponence and checking over payroll after death leaves him Not Impressed with Ashborn wanting to ditch Jin-Woo (especially after finding out Ashborn made Jin-Woo responsible for his army)

So like, the entire Hunter’s Guild is like, ‘Cha Hae-In has a boyfriend... but we already know him and he is a Good Kid not like, someone who wants to feel dominant over a powerful woman or any of that BS and oh hey this food is really good’ So Choi Jong-In goes ‘we’re going to have a cafeteria now and provide lunches for all the gate teams’ and puts Sung Jin-Woo in charge of it and people are like ‘this is why we call u a genius’

People are like ‘when are you going to ask him out’ and Cha Hae-In is ‘as vice guildmaster I’m his boss! I can’t hit on him!’ so Choi Jong-In is like ‘congratulations you own a restaurant in our guild building now with a lucrative contract with our guild’

Now it’s ‘i can’t hit on him at work! And he feels like he really owes me, I don’t want to make him feel like I was... expecting things’

They are like ah! She is such a good person for an s-rank! Ok, then they need Sung Jin-Woo to make a move! Plan 1: he seems to like watching her train even though he can’t follow a lot of her movements, so we’ll invite him along to watch a fight.

Next up is a double dungeon, but it appeared in a low rank dungeon and the measurements are still weak AF. So like, it’s a mission that the Hunter’s Guild can go on like, just to be sure! But almost certainly safe for an e-rank.

And then you have Choi Jong-In and Sung Jin-Woo scrambling to figure out the rules. Cha Hae-In carrying Sung Jin-Woo over her shoulder, someone else taking Choi Jong-In after he passes out burning up all his MP in the hopes of taking out the statue’s eye beams. 

So they’re around the altar with their unconscious boss and the e-rank up on it in the center to be safest, and they’re staring down the statues and debating ‘do we send Cha Hae-In out the door to carry the guildmaster and Sung Jin-Woo to safety, or does that door scream obvious trap because the rule is ‘prove your faith’ and wouldn’t leaving the temple be abandoning your faith?

And Cha Hae-In and Sung Jin-Woo are ‘that would leave you guys without any s-ranks against a very high a boss if not worse.’ and it’s the hunter guild’s duty to close gates first. This gate was counting down when it was reported as a double dungeon, they cannot let this boss gate breach.

The flames count down and, hmm, should the architect react like a thwarted bully or improv some new bullshit to act like everything is within his calculations? So he goes ‘to prove your faith you must now offer a sacrifice’ but instead of obviously giving up the weakling to keep the others alive they’re like yeah, fuck no (’if the porter/guest gets hurt the whole guild has failed’)

So he grabs Jin-Woo and unleashes the statues on the humans with orders to make it hurt but not finish them off, and tells him ‘get on that altar and you’ll be able to leave here with them.’

And Jin-Woo knew he was willing to die for Jin-Ah and Mom, but they’re safe now and he owes that to Cha Hae-In and everyone at the Hunter Guild’s kindness. so he’s ‘ok’ and they are ‘nonono’

He wakes up at the hospital, told he’s the only survivor and he’s been asleep for a month, which... he knew the boss was a lying bastard, monsters don’t spare humans, but he couldn’t just not even TRY/do anything.

...WTF is this? He thought seeing that screen before was some kind of pre-death brain screwery. Jin-Ah and the Hunter’s Guild b-team start coming in and he’s ?? are you guys seeing this? THey are ‘what did that thing do to poor helpless e-rank good boy?!’

Choi Jong-In measures him as an A rank, but instead of being happy Sung Jin-Woo is going through status screens on job class an abilities and...

And then he pales.

And summons the dead.

The boss said ‘he’d go home with them.’ Effing literal words... They can���t speak, but they touch his shoulder to say it’s okay.

...He...

Sung Jin-Woo ends up rejoining the Hunter’s Guild after leveling to S because without any S ranks it would have lost a lot of prestige and ability to take more valuable gates and pay for all the salary, benefits and expensive protective armor.

Doing the JeJu op and since he’s OP, replacing the Draw Sword guild as emergency call-in guild for southeast asia due to like ‘why would we charge you fees A rank gates are where the money’s at if anything we should be paying you for finding them for us’

But if Min Byong-Gyu does die and get turned into a shadow but talks to Baek Yoon-Ho re ‘hey I’m being forced to adore that guy his power is really creepy get me out of here’ and Baek is concerned about Choi Jong-In too...

Sung Jin-Woo’s reaction to the idea his friends are being FORCED to care about him/not be mad he was a useless e-rank and couldn’t save them...

Ashborn seeing Sung Jin-Woo with comrades that ~died with him, like he resurrected his fallen soldiers after did... even more ‘like me’ so earlier decision to not possess.

Ms. Selner going ‘there is great darkness in you’ and he’s ‘can you tell me anything else?’

Hunter’s Guild Shadow Squad wanting to powerlevel for Cartenon temple rematch and then they get sealed instead of getting to attack that bastard? FFFFFFFFFF

instead of ‘get necromancer class’ it’s ‘unlock a prestige class’ so he does get Igris.

He wants to get stronger so he can stop this from happening again, and making sure gates got cleared and people were safe is what they wanted... right?

More examination of using his power on humans/to preserve human souls since like, he can’t get valid consent NOW.

...Chairman Yoo going ‘those lizards killed my son, stole his equips, and made me pay them for being ‘kind’ enough to carry his body out, but I can’t do sh*t because the older brother’s an s-rank,’ and bowing his head.

So Sung Jin-Woo shadowing Jin-Ho, who gets adopted into squad happily. That way he can ask him to confirm ‘those guys did murder you, yes?’

Hunter’s Guild is guild conference rep for Korea OFC, people from guild helping Jin-Woo study up on who everyone is and the contacts they’ve got/are working on. Hwang Dong-Su kidnaps someone else.

During Ashborn meeting Choi Jong-In showing up to SHAME Ashborn for planning to sleep forever (suicide ideation) bc as a leader he should be more responsible than to ditch someone else to take care of the org he’s responsible for. If Choi Jong-In is doing paperwork from behind the grave, this guy isn’t going to get to lie around when humanity desperately needs more combatants at this level/Jin-Woo shouldn’t have to die alone.

[bigskydreaming]

Okay I’m sorry to have to do this one more time but hopefully this is the last time, because its like, final payment time. The prosthetic joint for my surgery is all done, all my pre-op exams and scans are done, literally all that’s left now is the surgery itself, but because of the pandemic and privatized health care seizing upon the pandemic as an excuse to do everything ass-backwards that they can get away with, and because even four years into this everyone and their mother is still trying to term this jaw joint replacement surgery a non-essential procedure (despite the chronic pain, migraines, vertigo, occasional vision whiteouts and other assorted nerve wtf-ery that stems from having a jaw only attached on one side of your face and flopping around all willy-nilly, lmao but sure nonessential, let’s go with that) AHEM, anyway....basically, they’re not letting me schedule the surgery until I’ve....paid for it. Which is...yeah. 

But long story short, my insurance is paying for my hospital fees since its happening at Cedars-Sinai which is in-network for me, as is the anesthesiologist, the post-recovery physical therapy, etc....all that’s left to pay is the fees for the actual surgery itself, the surgeons’ professional charges for the procedure basically. Which came to a whopping $21K out of pocket. I’ve covered as much of it as I possibly can via credit cards, personal loans, and every cent I’ve been able to save over the past four years that hasn’t been needed for eating, maintaining insurance and keeping a roof over my head, and so now I’m literally only $450 short. 

Anything anyone can do to help me get closer to that is nothing short of life-changing for me at the moment, lol, sorry to be melodramatic about it, but like. Yeah. Getting to this point has been the entirety of my existence for the past four years, I THOUGHT I was already to this point last summer only for that doctor to turn out to be shady, and like...yeah. I’m still working as best I’m able, open to commissions, literally anything and everything to try and make that amount myself still, but again cuz of the pandemic and how packed hospitals are, and the fact that I need it to be this SPECIFIC hospital in order to make the most of my insurance there and not be hit with several thousand more in facility fees.... even once I pay them in full, the surgery itself will still be about six weeks out. Once its on the books, I can at least finally relax somewhat and just focus on making it through until that happens, but that’s enough of a lag time that I’m just really really really trying to get it scheduled as soon as humanly possible. So I’m really hoping this is the absolute last time I’ll have to do this, I’ve gotten as close to it as I can right now and I’m still working to make the rest of it myself, but any and all help closing this final gap is incredibly appreciated and can change things for me so much, and hopefully, finally SOON. 

(I mean, relatively speaking. But like its been four years, six weeks is a drop in the bucket compared to that. I’m just really trying to not have it be MORE than six weeks. Especially since 2020 has made it its personal mission to level up in crisis-mode every couple of weeks anyway, and who knows what curveballs are still coming, y’know?) 

Anyway, thanks again, and for everyone who has already helped me get here, and please just know all of it has and continues to make a huge difference.

0/$450

https://paypal.me/bigskydreaming?locale.x=en_US

https://ko-fi.com/kalenp

[killian-whump]

Game Night! [Liveblog #4]

I’m gonna try to finish up the last game and the end of the video in this post, so we better get right to it!

The last game they’re going to play is called Quiplash. Okay, they’re going to be given a prompt... and whoever finishes the quip in the funniest way wins. Kat warns that she’s a master at this and that everybody’s going down. Colin seems impressed by her bravado, but incensed to win nonetheless. “Here we go,” says Sam unenthusiastically 😂

AND THE GAME IS ON!!!

...or it’s meant to be on. Sam’s not joined the game yet. Seems to be having some sort of technical difficulty. “You scared of losing, Sam?” Colin asks helpfully. “All the rest of us got in pretty easy...”

Sam has joined. His name is now Colonislosin 😂 It’s hard to see exactly how it’s spelled. I don’t think any of them can see it that clearly, either. Sam has to tell them what it says.

“We’ll see,” Colin says. “We’ll see.”

The game begins. “It’s more like Col-on is losin,” Sam says. “Col-on.”

The audio is breaking all up in this segment, and Josh even comments on “Low internet signal. We’re doing great.” Hmm. I paid $10 for this, you damn well better find a stronger internet signal.

ROUND 1! The first quip is: We can all agree that... The two answers are: “Covid sucks” and “Josh... is... hairy” “Covid sucks” wins ~ and Colin gets all the points.

The second quip is: A terrible name for a funeral parlor. The two answers are: “Happy Times Palace” and “We put the Fun in Funeral” “We put the Fun in Funeral” wins ~ and Kat gets all the points.

The third quip is: “Knock Knock” “Who’s There?” The two answers are: “Me DUH” and “Get the fuck away from my door” “Get the fuck away” wins and Josh gets most of the points. Colin gets some too, I think, for his answer, because Sam voted for it.

The fourth quip is: “Something that would make a creepy replacement for the horses on a merry-go-round.” The two answers are: “Mini Josh’s” and “Creepy Princes” AREN’T THOSE THE SAME THING?! 😂 “One and the same,” says Sammy. “You don’t want to sit on a mini Josh, do you?” Sam ponders. Josh forgets to even vote, and Sam gets points for “Mini Josh’s”

At the end of Round 1, Sam is in the lead, with Kat and Colin tied for second.

I wanna take this moment to apologize for how BORING this post is so far. During the games, all five people (the three stars, Josh, and Sammy the producer) are in these miniscule windows on the far right of the screen. You can barely even see them. And during this game, there’s little to no conversation going on between/during the quips. As much fun as this game might be to play, it’s not a lot of fun to watch. The last one was better, but even that tended to DRAG for the audience at home. Josh really needs to work on the games he’s having stars play if he plans to keep charging $10 a month to watch this stuff. Also, the audio keeps breaking up in this segment, so even when they talk, some of it’s hard to decipher.

“I respect that Colin is doing this instead of reading bedtime stories to his children tonight,” Josh says as everyone’s entering in their answers for Round 2. “[That’s] how committed I am,” Colin replies. Kat says something that is so broken up, I can’t even begin to figure out what it is. Something about bedtime stories and Colin’s kids. It’s probably funny. 🤷‍♀️ I’m getting mad about my $10 gift card being gone again.

Alright. Round 2.

Quip #1: It never ends well when you mix ___ and ___. Answers: “poo and oatmeal” and “Sam and Josh” Okay, that second one is gold. Who did that? Apparently Colin did “poo and oatmeal” and Kat did “Sam and Josh”. Bless her. Colin gets the points with more votes, though.

Quip #2: The worst car feature that ends with “holder” Answers: “penis” and “diaper” Sam is just blinking rapidly. Now he’s laughing. “How does that work?” he asks. No one answers. “But I wanna know,” he says. “How does it work?” Josh wins the points with his “penis” answer - which Colin voted for, by the way - but no one cares now. “Does it move?” Kat asks. “Or does it just-” “Don’t ask too many questions,” Josh says. “What kind of size is it?” Sam asks. “Is it stationary or is there a motor feature?” Kat asks. “Maybe it’s a good idea...” Sam concludes, as Josh laments the kind of dreams he’s going to have now.

The third quip is literally happening in the background now, as everyone talks about the penis holder. Colin is noticeably silent on the topic XD

Quip #3: Something upsetting you could say to the cable guy as he installs your television service. Answers: “you smell like fart” and “want to see my murder room?” I’m sitting here going, “don’t be Colin, don’t be Colin” while simultaneously knowing 100% that Colin absolutely typed “you smell like fart” into his phone and... Yeah. Yeah, I’m right. That was him 😂 And he got 0 points. “Oh, boooo,” says Colin. Honey... Honey, I’m sorry, but that was bad.

Quip #4: The name of the reindeer Santa did not pick to pull his sleigh. Answers: “ohdeer” and “tipsy” Neither of these are very good. I hate this game. Kat gets the points with “tipsy”.

OH WOW, YOU GUYS. The final points are tallied and...

WHAT IS THIS TOMFOOLERY?! Colin is LOSING?!?! I mean, I know “you smell like fart” was bad, but this is unbelievable! I call shenanigans!!!

Colin is literally sitting forward in his chair now, lmao. The determination is intense, you guys. I once again cannot handle him right now. I wish he wasn’t in the teeny tiny window so I could show you guys better, but look at him getting his fucking game face on:

This man is a peanut and I love him with every fiber of my being. Look at him being a competitive little somesuch in last place. I can’t, you guys. Bury me here, etc, etc, I’m just a goner for this ridiculous man.

O’DONOINTENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Round: Quip: Strange side effect to hear during a drug commercial. Answers: “cream cheese will come out of your butt” “seeing double horowitz” and “the screams of baboons” - there’s only three because Kat didn’t get her answer in before the time was up. Aaaaaaand the sound’s breaking all up again 😣 Josh is wondering what the point is of voting, if all you’re doing is giving points to your competitors. “Do you have to give all three votes?” Colin asks. “See,” Josh says. “Colin is thinking strategically, like me.” “Well, I’m not entirely sure the other two, I think, deserve any more than one point.” But it’s... it’s the WAY he says it, OH MY GOD, lol. Lemme... I gotta... Okay, I screen recorded it for you guys.

That O’Donosass is actually almost worth $10, you guys.

Which is good, because the audio is getting worse and worse on this and it’s starting to piss me off. Anyway! Everybody’s got a lot of points, because those were ALL good answers (Colin’s was “the screams of baboons” which I quite like). Let’s see the final tally...

Josh is the winner! But Colin managed a come-from-behind close second, so I’m really proud of him :D Sam mentions how Josh invited them all there to play games and then BEAT them. Josh is closing out the show, saying he hopes everyone enjoyed it... “I enjoyed it,” Josh says "But maybe that’s just 'cause I won at the very last second.” “No, well, you won ONE,” Colin cuts in. “You won ONE game.”

SERIOUSLY. BURY ME RIGHT THERE 😂😂😂

“Colin won the first round,” Josh says.

“...and then we have these two other people.”

Incidentally, I wish everyone’s webcams were as clear as Kat’s.

Anyway, now there’s some sweet summing up... and Josh hawking everyone’s current projects... (gee, it’s like this is promotional content or something) and the show closing down and-

“Can I win next time?” asks Sam Heughan.

~ The End ~

I hope you guys had fun reading this. I gotta say...  this one video isn’t worth $10. I can see if you’re a huge fan of Josh’s or really into celebrity culture, $10 a month might be a fine price to pay for a bunch of this kind of content... but for a one-time video when your fave happens to show up on his channel? Nah. He really should have a “one time access” fee available for individual videos that’s a LOT less. Like, I’m talking, like... $1 or 2. This is literally a zoom call... and as such, the quality’s only as good as his guests’ webcams and audio and everyone’s internet connections. Also, I found the game format enticing... but ultimately boring due to the games chosen. The Would You Rather was the most fun of the three, because we actually got to hear from the stars and get some banter going. The games relied too much on the stars interacting with their devices instead of each other or anyone really engaging the audience. Honestly, if it was any of my faves other than Colin in this video, I might not have even watched the whole thing. Colin’s adorable competitive streak and eagerness to win play games is what kept me watching. The idea is cute, but it needs some work. And the price is too high - especially with the audio issues in the last ten minutes or so. That’s my final verdict.

[fairfaxleasee]

"Since when do you have a vendetta against vases?" + any DA2 cast

For @dadrunkwriting

Despite the best efforts of my cat who didn't think I needed to actually finish this.

Pairings: Alistair/Amelia, Fenris/Cass Hawke

Rated: T (horror references)

(The DA2 cast is involved so it counts, right?)

"Since when do you have a vendetta against vases, my friend?" Zevran Arainai turned the current fundamental threat to Ferelden's existence in his hands as though it were actually a vase.

"That's not a vase!" Alistair wasn't allowed to carry his shield in the palace (something about it being 'unkingly') so he was hiding behind the sturdiest-looking piece of furniture in the room. "Now can you assassinate it or not?"

"I am not sure what to tell you, but I am fairly certain this is a vase. However, if you are so insistent on paying my rather exorbitant fees, I could be persuaded to assassinate it for you." Zevran tossed the thing up in the air and caught it a few times.

"Be careful! Just because there may not be poison on it doesn't mean there's not poison in it!"

"Come, Alistair. I believe the stresses of your life are starting to get to you. What could you possibly have to fear from a vase."

"For the last time it's not a vase! I don't know what it is but nothing that woman's involved in is what it seems to be!"

"Ah, so a woman is involved, is she? Does your piccola gazzia know?"

"Amelia? Of course Amelia knows. She doesn't believe me about it not being a vase either but she didn't meet Cassia Hawke!"

The smug grin finally slid off Zevran's face and he set the not-vase thing down. "Cassia Hawke? The Ice Queen of Kirkwall? The most wanted woman in Thedas and infamous poisoner - and I am saying this as an Antivan."

"Yes! That Cassia Hawke!"

"And the vase..."

"Her 'gift.'"

"Did I say my fee would be 'exorbitant'? I am afraid I must revise it to 'ludicrous.' The Ice Queen is hardly a standard hazard, after all..."

"...You know, Zevran, I can't help but feel you're exploiting me."

"I am not the one with a gift from the Ice Queen in my house I would rather have gone. Now, before we discuss just how ludicrous my fee will be, tell me: on a scale of 'she wanted to stab you with a blunt object' to 'she wanted to lower you feet-first into a vat of acid' how angry was she with you when she gave you this?"

"Uhh..." Alistair tried to remember. He was fairly sure they had moved beyond 'stabbing' but he wasn't sure just how close to acid he'd gotten.

"Very well, did she give this to you before or after you told her to smile?"

"I did not tell her to smile!"

"So perhaps only a slightly ludicrous fee then."

"...I may have sort of implied she should be nice."

"Incredibly ludicrous it is."

"I... FINE! Now will you get rid of it."

Zevran sighed dramatically and gripped the thing by the lip. He pulled some sort of black bag out of his armor (Alistair didn't want to think about what the bag was intended to be used for) and placed it inside. Then he tied it shut and walked over to the door out of the room.

He motioned for Alistair to come over to the door. Alistair shook his head. He may be an idiot, but he wasn't that big an idiot.

"All you have to do is close the door! It will be quicker if you do it than I."

With how nervous he sounded, Alistair doubted it was really as simple as the assassin was making it out to be, but he did want the door shut as quickly as possible. He reluctantly got out from behind the chair and crept over to the door.

"On my signal!" Zevran started spinning the bag, then on the signal tossed it into the hallway as Alistair slammed the door.

They heard a muffled crash, then nothing.

"So... what now?" Alistair wasn't quite sure what to expect. He'd never watched an assassination before (well, unless you counted the time Zevran had failed to assassinate him).

Zevran had an ear to the door. "Well, I do not hear anything, and I do not smell anything, so now I think you pay me for solving your vase problem."

"Oh no!" Alistair wasn't getting fooled. "I've already smashed the thing to pieces. It keeps coming back! I'm not paying you until I'm sure it's gone!"

"...you did not think this was perhaps information that would have been useful before now?"

"You're the assassin! Why didn't you ask before now?"

"...very well. We shall just go and bury it then."

"Done that before too..." Alistair muttered mostly to himself as he and Zevran left the room to collect the bag.

He could hear the shattered pieces in the bag clank as they took it outside to the royal garden to bury it.

"There, my friend? Are you satisfied?"

"Not yet! We're going to check and make sure it's not back."

"How can it be back when it is dead and buried?"

"I don't know, if I knew that I'd have been able to kill it myself!"

"...you are lucky I am not charging you extra for this." Zevran shook his head but did follow Alistair back inside.

Where the vase-looking thing was sitting where it had been before Zevran had smashed it looking just like new.

"See?" Alistair threw his arms out just to make sure Zevran would.

"I... do not understand. I put it in the bag, we smashed it in the bag, we buried the pieces. How is it back?"

"I don't know, but I'm not paying you until it's not back anymore! I thought I left the blighted thing in Kirkwall in pieces, but that didn't stop it following me back here!"

"Have you considered it may be easier to beg the Ice Queen's forgiveness and throw yourself at her mercy? I believe at the very least she would kill you faster."

"I... look, how am I supposed to do that when no one knows where she is? Also I don't want to be killed faster, I want to not be killed at all, and if you want to be paid, you'd better get rid of that vase."

"I... very well. As an independent assassin competing with far more famous guilds, I suppose I must protect my reputation for dependability." Zevran grabbed the thing and stuck it into another black bag. "Let us see if drowning will fare any better than breaking."

They checked the bag just to make sure the thing hadn't escaped somehow before they threw it into Denerim harbor.

"There? Now may I please get paid?"

"No! I told you not until I'm sure it's gone."

"Again, you are lucky I am not charging you for two assassinations..."

"If you'd done it right the first time, we wouldn't have needed this second time!"

They kept bickering about who was getting the better end of the deal back to the palace. When they arrived, they ran into Amelia carrying the same vase they'd broken and just dumped in the harbor.

"Amelia! Don't touch that! It's dangerous!" Alistair snatched the thing away from his very surprised wife.

"...Alistair, it's a vase. They're not exactly known hazards."

"It's not a vase, you know where it's from and it won't die!"

"It won't..." Amelia started looking surprised and started glaring at Alistair in a way that reminded him of her father. "Alistair Theirin! Have you been breaking these on purpose? You're just lucky that I counted wrong when my father brought these extras with him after you visited Kirkwall and there are still some left to replace them. It's odd, I could have sworn that last one you just broke was the last one, but when I went back downstairs to look after you broke it I found more."

Alistair leaned away from his wife and back to Zevran. "...they're reproducing now!"

"Yes, and I have decided that in that case they are entirely your problem."

"I... you don't want to get paid?" Alistair looked at the assassin in disbelief.

"Not if it means having to investigate how the Ice Queen has managed to make vases suddenly appear in your palace when she is annoyed at you. No, my friend, you are entirely on your own in this."

"I... but..."

"Perhaps next time you will not tell the woman to smile?"

"I didn't tell her to smile, I told her to be nice!"

"Eh, either way."

Alistair wasn't prepared to let Zevran off the hook quite that easily, "What about not breaking a contract?"

"The Crows do not break a contract. I, however, am not a Crow. I am a man who enjoys the pleasures of living. And speaking of those, I am going to find Avalonne before she becomes as mad at me as your wife currently is with you."

"I'm not mad at him, Zevran!" Amelia looked mad enough to Alistair, "I'm annoyed he's been breaking these things on purpose!"

Zevran had already started wandering off down the hallway. Alistair was obviously not getting rid of whatever the thing was that way, but maybe if he could explain to Amelia just how dangerous Cassia Hawke was, he'd get her to figure out a way to be rid of the souvenir. "Now, Love, I can explain."

Judging by his wife's reaction, he'd overused that line.

-------------------------------------------

"You know, Cass," Fenris shook his head slightly. "This was not what I had in mind when I suggested you needed a hobby.

Cass reached up for his hands to help her out of the cistern she'd used to get into Denerim without being seen. She grinned at her husband, "What? Pottery's not a hobby?"

He shook his head again but she could see him smiling, "Pottery is a hobby. Using the pottery you've made to torture someone who annoyed you isn't."

"I mean, it sounds kinda 'hobbyish' to me. How are you defining 'hobby' that it doesn't meet the definition?"

"Well, 'semantics games' are a safer hobby, but I'm serious Cass - sneaking into Denerim just for that was... it was..." He looked away from her.

She knew it was a stupid risk, but if she had been seen, letting the Ferelden authorities chase their tails to find her in an assassination plot against their King in Denerim should mean no one would be looking for her to slip through the Frostbacks into Orlais.

"I didn't go just for that." She untied the coin purse from her belt and threw it to him.

"...Cass did you steal this from the palace?"

"I don't steal Fenris. I sold my daggers. Wade didn't care who I was or where I came from, he just wanted to study Sandal's runes. He literally opened his safe for me and told me to take whatever I wanted as long as I promised to leave him the daggers."

"Cass!"

"We need the money, Fenris."

"You need to have some protection!"

"I sold my daggers Fenris. I still have the knives, poisons, and acids." She walked over and clasped the front of his armor. "And I have you."

He brushed some hair away from her face. "Always, Cassia."

[addicted2escapism]

Falling for You | JJ Maybank

Pairing: JJ x Reader

Summary: JJ can’t go to jail again, in fear of his father’s wrath. You take the fall for him.

When two cops walked into The Wreck, eyes sweeping the building suspiciously, you knew something was wrong. None of the Pogues seemed to pay too much attention to the officers, except for JJ, who was sinking in his chair. You eyed him, noticing the way he turned his face away from the front entrance where the cops stood. Kie’s dad popped out from behind the counter to greet them, realizing that they weren’t just here to eat.

“JJ.” You spoke lowly, leaning back in your chair to put your body between him and the officer’s line of sight. “You okay?”

“Yeah, of course!” JJ clears his throat, eyes flickering around to all of the possible exits. He anxiously adjusts his hat. The movement drew the attention of the Pogues, their conversation about what to do after they’d eaten was quickly forgotten.

“What’s wrong?” Kiara asks, looking around the restaurant to see what JJ was hiding from. When she spots her father conversing with the police, she frowns. “Please tell me those cops aren’t here for you.”

“Uhh, they might be?” JJ winces, unable to hold the other girl’s gaze. Pope’s expression grows increasingly more panicked, and John B looks like he’s concocting plans A through Z.

“Dude, what did you do?” Pope sighs, running a hand down his face. “If it’s not that bad then you just gotta take the fall, okay, because I can’t get involved with the cops!”

“Pope!” Kiara slaps his arm.

“No, no, I can’t get arrested man.” JJ shakes his head. “My dad will kill me.”

The cops nod, stepping away from Kiara’s dad to begin slowly strolling between tables, thoughtfully looking at each customer as they pass by. You discreetly put your arm around JJ’s shoulders and push his head down, trying anything to cover him up as much as possible. John B clears his throat and starts commenting on how well flavored the fries are. Kiara and Pope adamantly agree, jumping into conversation about the various flavors of their meals.

“Guys.” You hiss, squeezing JJ’s shoulder to an attempt in reassure him. He’s incredibly tense, and you subconsciously start massaging him. “They’re going to come over here. They know that we’re his friends.”

“Ok, you’re right, we just need to-“ John B rises from his chair, hurriedly pushing it politely back into the table. Pope says his name in warning, but when John B moves to turn towards the exit, he’s met with the cops beelining for your table. “Hey! Officers. Ah…”

“Hey, kids.” One officer greets, stopping just in front of the table with his hands on his hips. He’s fairly shorter than his partner, who was moving around to the other side of your table. Sandwiching you. His hard gaze falls upon the boy next to you. “Looking for your friend here.”

The taller officer’s hands clamp down atop the back of JJ’s metal chair, who abruptly stands and turns around, dislodging your arm that was around him. He’d been sitting quietly before, but now he was in defense mode, which meant uncontrollable talking. 

“Hey, guys! Wow, it is so good to see you, how you been, man?” The words are friendly and overexcited, and the stretched grin on JJ’s face is unnatural. He skirts away but the police officers step with him. The impending confrontation has you and the rest of the Pogues anxiously rising from your seats as well.

“Why are you guys looking for him, exactly?” Kiara inquires, scratching her head innocently. You hesitantly stand behind the officer closing in on JJ, unsure of if there was anything to do in this situation. John B looks like he’s ready to fight the second officer, but Pope grabs his arm before he gets himself arrested as well.  

“Theft.” The taller officer puts simply, snagging JJ by the wrist and twisting him around. JJ’s pushed against the table as his arms are cranked behind his back, and the officer latches handcuffs on him before he had a chance to fight him off.

“Theft of what?” You ask, stepping towards JJ, only to be held back by Pope. He shakes his head at you, expression screaming “don’t get involved”. Ignoring him, you push on. “What did he steal?”

“That’s none of your concern.” You’re brushed off without a second thought as the police lead JJ out of The Wreck, which had fallen silent in wake of the commotion. The eyes of the other patrons were glued to JJ as he was escorted from the building. You and the Pogues follow him out, but Kiara is stopped by her dad, who is spewing off something about how “this is what happens when you associate with lowlifes”.

The shorter officer makes deliberate attempts to block your view of JJ, but you consistently skip around his body as the cops move towards their cruiser. JJ’s head hung low, and his hat made it so you were unable to see his eyes or much of his expression. His mouth was pressed in a tight line, and his jaw kept clenching and unclenching as he walked. You noticed his hands were shaking behind his back.

“Theft of what?” You tried again, glaring at the shorter officer with determination. The taller cop that was handling JJ opens the backdoor of their cruiser. The man you were speaking to huffs, rolling his eyes with his hands on his belt. 

“He stole a power drill from his dad’s workplace, okay?” He admits, shaking his head at you. “Now go back to your lunch.”

“A power drill?” You confirm, glancing over your shoulder to see John B, Kiara, and Pope standing behind you, looking defeated. You look directly into the officer’s eyes. “It was me. Not him.”

You don’t even think about the words, or the consequences of them. JJ couldn’t get arrested again. You’d never been arrested before. 

“Are you crazy?” JJ chokes out, struggling against the officer that was forcing him into the back of the car. The other Pogues begin calling out to you, but you pay no attention to them. JJ couldn’t go to jail for something so simple. He couldn’t even get charged with a replacement fee without his father losing his temper. It could be you instead. The fine and any possible time probably wouldn’t even be that much. It was just a drill.

“Yeah, it was me. Don’t listen to him, I’m telling the truth. I convinced him to do it because he knew the place better than I did.” You sneak a glance at JJ’s pleading eyes. The cop had stopped shoving him into the backseat, and the one in front of you was shifting hesitantly. You hold your ground. “It was me.”

The shorter cop sighs, looking to his partner for advice, who shrugs. 

“If you say so, kid.” He retrieves his own set of handcuffs and fastens your arms behind your back, while the Pogues yell in protest. You watch as JJ is released and shoved back into his group of friends, looking overwhelmingly confused and concerned, but you saw the relief in his eyes as well.

It was worth it. 

The cops pushed you into the car and slammed the door, and you smiled reassuringly at your friends as they drove you away. 

- - - 

You got let off easy. You played the part of the apologetic poor kid, and the cops bought into it quite nicely. They gave you a monetary fine and a strict talking to about ruining your life. You took it in stride, and when they sent you back into the world, JJ was waiting for you. 

“Have you been standing there this whole time?” You tease, pulling the boy from his thoughts. He pushes off the side of the police station he’d been leaning on, rushing over to you and taking your hand. 

“Are you okay? Dude, your record-“

“Isn’t clean anymore, no. But it was worth it, JJ.” You squeeze his hand, wanting to console him. “And don’t you dare feel guilty. It was my choice.”

“Why did you do that for me?” He pulls you away from the doors and off to the side. He didn’t have his hat on anymore, and his hair was tousled, probably from worrying his hands through it so many times.

“Why wouldn’t I?” You reply. “You said yourself that you couldn’t get arrested again. I don’t like seeing you hurt, JJ. It was the right thing to do.”

“I know what I said, a-and I’m thankful, really. But you can’t do that again.” 

“Why not!?” You ask incredulously. 

“Because you can’t ruin your life for me!” 

You scoff and cross your arms in front of your chest.

“Funny, the cops just lectured me on something similar.”

“Then maybe they’re right!” JJ raises his voice, and in return your raise an eyebrow at him. 

“Wow, JJ, I am so sorry that I took the fall for you because I didn’t want you to get hurt! I am so sorry that I care about you! I guess next time, I’ll just stand around and-“ 

Your next words are smothered by his lips smashing against yours. A noise tears from the back of your throat in shock, but you manage to regain your senses and return the kiss. Your frustration deflated in an instant as you let yourself press against his warm chest.

When you pulled away, JJ was grinning like an idiot, an infectious smile that had you grinning as well. 

“Yeah,” You breathe out a disbelieving chuckle. “Taking the fall was well worth it.”

[musicallisto]

the most you could potentially pay for giving birth is the car parking fee tbh,,, as for actual treatments, your health insurance covers up to 80% of hospital costs and sometimes 100% of pharmacy costs for prescribed medications. Say you break an arm in France; the total cost of the ER + surgery + anesthesia + overnight stay + cast & sling + medication is around like 1500€, which is approx. $1600

hold up,,,,, this has to be a full on ask because !!!!!!!! i'm cRYING?????

we all know the E.R. is expensive as hell, but you're telling me an E.R. overnight stay, and a super deluxe pack of surgery with your essentials is only $1,600? did you forget a zero, clara? pLEASE tell me you forgot a zero,,,, 😭😭😭😭😭 i've never broken an arm, but i just phoned a friend who did, and the surgery alone cost ~$15,000. admittedly, they didn't have insurance at the time, so that jacks up the price, but i still weep for them. 😭😭😭😭😭 a typical overnight E.R. stay in my state (minus any kind of tests) is ~$1,400 (with insurance) alone. can you imagine with a surgery? and medication is hell, i tell you. my little sister has asthma and for one (1) of her required inhalers, it's around $250 a month after insurance. 😭😭😭😭

if you want, i could pull up my medical records and tell you what it was for my heart surgery after insurance (which was a valve repair, wayyy cheaper than a replacement), but i'm pretty sure you'd cry.

interestingly enough, though, dental is pretty much the same! my sister got her wisdom teeth out (only 3 tho) and it was about the same price. i'm not sure how good or bad our dental is, though. i want to say it's good, but idk.

sadly, though, i don't have optical insurance, so that's a lot™.

in conclusion: i'm crying.

✧˖°࿐ I am 100% serious and I did not forget a zero! I used to go to the hospital all. the. time when I was a kid because I had severe allergies, and the last time I went (I was around 6) and they ran a battery on tests on me, my parents did not pay a dime. Or like, a ridiculously low price that insurance didn't cover. How it works is the public healthcare system (called Sécu) pays for 80% of the price for everyone regardless of insurance, and then if you have an insurance they cover the remaining expenses. According to a 2012 study, the average cost of a surgery in France was $5300 for heavy surgeries, and $1500 for light ones (which rounds up to $1060 and a whopping $300) after the Sécu has worked its magic). I found another, more recent article that claims a day at the hospital costs approximately $1500, and a day in intensive care is $3500. But what you really pay if you don't have insurance is more around $300 and $700 for intensive care. In some cases the Sécu covers all of your hospital charges and you effectively pay a grand amount of $0 without insurance (but that's rare cases, like a prolonged hospital stay or reconstructive surgeries).

I'm baffled that a hospital stay could be so expensive in the US, like,,,, how do you guys live?? I understand now why Americans are so prone to smiling through the pain and going to the doctor only when they're on the brink of death because holy shit- another instance of you being so much tougher than us lol

I'm curious about your medical records, even if I don't want to breach your privacy of course! But I feel like we will both just weep. Also, I do not want to shatter you but I checked the price of an inhaler in France and it's... $4. (According to Google, because my asthmatic friend is telling me it's more) Tell that to your sister and see how she reacts because I'm honestly crying for her 😭 When I was highly allergic I had an Epipen on me at all times (a pleasure many know too, I'm sure!), and one of them cost my parents something like $28.

(Ok, I'm not saying I don't believe you but I HAD to do some research because there is no way that an inhaler is so expensive. Like you need it to BREATHE?? but alas...)

(there is no way that's real. There is NO WAY that's real.)

Funny to see that dentistry is the same though! I had the nightmare helmet machine that Katy Perry has in the TGIF video (or the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory thing) + braces so I know what it's like and it's a PAIN. And glasses are SO expensive too??? Like I just want to see,,, be a normal, functioning human being,,,, not run into every fucking lamppost on the street,,,,, I'm very short-sighted so my lenses are thick af and last time I changed them my glasses were like $800?????? bitch?????

no but also - you guys have different insurances for different things?? like you have one insurance for the dentist, one insurance for the ophtalmologist...??? i'm,,, i'm feeling anxious.

one last thing we need to discuss in the price of PHONE PLANS in the usa... i mean this is not a phone plans in the usa are overpriced thing, it's more so that phone plans are cheap as hell in France (because there's a lot of competition? idk shit about economics). i have nightmares on the daily when I think about your phone plans,,,

[gotmilk5101520]

Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Watch Episode 15 Mudslinging

“The term "mudslinging" means to direct unjust insults and accusations with the intention of damaging the reputation of an opponent” Ah, so it’s what Donald Trump does everyday.

Hey, isn’t this the place in the opening where Jim and the others were standing and posing all badass and Claire jumps on that crystal like she’s Super Mario? Or like she jumped J- Never mind.

“Gunmar the Vicious”

“Gunmar the Skullcrusher”

“Gunmar!” Couldn’t they make a silhouette of Gunmar instead of showing part of his face?”

“Ow!” Bedhead Jim.

Mood.

“Give me an A!’ “A!”

“Give me an R!” “R!”

“Give me a C!” “C!”

“This is taking way too long”

“Give me an adia!” “Eh”

“What’s that spell?”

That spells Arc-adia.

“And his eye is glowing”

“And then, the dream just keeps reminding me that i’m completely way out of my league”

“Right?”

“Tobes”

“Who is that masked mole? You ever wonder?”

“You didn’t hear a word i said just then, did you?”

“Sure, i did”

“You had no problems sneaking into the Darklands when it was to save Claire’s brother, but now that Kanjigar says you’ve got to face Gunmar, you’re having nightmares about him and are freaking out that’ you’re way out of your league”

“I can multi-task, Jimbo” I can multi-task too. I can multi-task between ships.

“It’s Bill Erinstein“

“Bill moved to Wisconsin. This is someone else’s artistry”

“Someone with feminine wiles”

“What? What feminine wiles?”

“How do you even know that it’s a girl under there?”

“Uh, trust me, dude. I know woman, and that is all woman under there”

Toby is a furry confirm.

Get someone, who would look lovingly at you from across the stands like they’re Marinette and Adrien, like how Jim and Claire look lovingly at each other from across the stands like they’re Marinette and Adrien.

“Eli Pepperjack!”

“I have friends!” “No you don’t!” Then why is he a nominee if doesn’t have friends?

“Now that the play’s over, you can focus on your training full time”

“And finally, Jim Lake Junior!”

“What?” Because we need to replace the Romeo and Juliet sub plot with something to make everything harder for you.

“Our nominees will compete in a series of challenges to win your vote”

“Each nominee will propose a theme for the dance”

“I like disco!”

“I’ve got to boogie!”

“That is all” And no one did disco.

“Besides, there’s no way to kill Gunmar”

“He’s invincible”

“No, he’s not!”

“So far as we know”

“What do you know?” Okay, Mulan’s Ghost Family.

“Jim”

“Did you see my father?”

“I did”

“Did he speak of me?”

“Yeah. He wished the Soothscryer could let you in”

“But, you know, the rules are the rules”

“It’s all right, Trollhunter”

“You don’t have to lie to protect my feelings” *Cries in Troll*

“How long’s he been like this?”

“Long time”

“Maybe you should switch to decaf” Can trolls drink coffee, and like it, like ghouls in Tokyo Ghoul?

“This is the last surviving copy of his work!”

“This is the key!”

“And i’m going to burn”

*Gasp in Troll*

“Burn, baby, burn!” Yep, Blinky is the crazy one.

It was too quiet.

“This village....”

“It’s called Arcadia Oaks” “It’s on fire?” Well, it is in California.

“In this town, there is a boy”

“And this boy fancies a girl”

“A girl whose brother is being held in the Darklands”

“If the boy saves the child from the changeling nursery, he’ll want to save them all”

“And it’s my job to watch over my half-breed brethren and not let that happen” And said half-breed brethren don’t care and payed the price for not caring.

“But how could a fleshbag even contemplate such a feat?”

“This boy is the Trollhunter”

“It’s a long story. Just watch the first 13 episodes to be caught up”

“You’re afraid of a fleshbag child”

“I am not. He just shows up in my dreams as of late. Then again, his mother also shows up in my dreams too. Which is when he shows up”

“I have my own fears” “Like what?” “I fear a girl taking my staff” “Why would you be afraid of a girl taking your staff? What could she do with it? And why a girl?”

“I’m back, bitches”

“Mom, could you-?”

“Claire, could you change your baby brother’s diaper, please?”

“He’s not a baby”

“And he’s not my brother” Claire’s just about this close to tossing his ass out the window.

“This isn’t fair”

“It’s no day at the beach for me either, love bug”

“I can’t believe i have to pretend you’re my brother”

“It’s... It’s cruel”

“What’s this? Don’t... Don’t do that, seriously. Please don’t cry”

“Forget the jo-jos. Just a plain burger”

“Enrique...”

“I get it. You miss your brother”

“But i assure you, he’s perfectly fine”

“He’s trapped in the Darklands”

”How can that be fine?”

“I’ll show ya”

That’s gross. And Claire’s seen The Last Airbender and Dragon Ball Evolution and Netflix’s Winx Club and every live action remakes of Disney movies.

“Your brother is what’s known as my familiar”

“Changelings share a certain bond with them. It’s good for this little trick”

“Enrique...”

“Mi hermanito”

“I suppose this arrangement has been rather hard on you”

“I’m going to get you back”

“I’m going to find you”

“And i’ll bring you home”

*Cries in Troll again*

“Ah, Mr. Strickler” Wait, isn’t that- Oh, no.

“I hear Coach Lawrence was having a tizzy of a time teaching my class”

“Your class? Look, you can’t just drop off the face of the Earth and expect your job back”

“Actually, it’s not my job i’m here for”

“What is this?”

“WH- AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!’ So, what happens when someone gets caught by the Antramonstrum? Is it messy?

“And now, for my next trick...”

“The vanishing sock!”

“Mm! Tasty trick” It disappeared in Aaarrrgghh’s mouth.

“Hey, Mom. I’m home”

“Where have you been?”

“Just studying at the library with Claire and Tobes”

“The library closed three hours ago. Where have you been?”

“I don’t know, Mom. We took the long way home”

“I have been worried sick, and that’s the best lie you can come up with?”

“Okay, sorry! Call off the search parties!”

“I’m obviously home!”

This part is really sad and painful to watch. And the fact we don’t go in the house to see, but instead, watch from the outside and see through the windows. That’s why there were scenes with Claire and NotEnrique, and with Toby and Aaarrrgghh. It showed how Toby and Aaarrrgghh are having fun with magic trick. While Claire and NotEnrique are starting to bond for real. But here? Jim and his mom? It shows how they are being torn apart cause of Jim’s secret.

“Jim, this is what you’re wearing?”

“I wear this every day, Tobes. What else would i be wearing?” See? Jim understands he’s in a cartoon, so he has to wear the same thing everyday.

Wait you can that with the Shadow Staff? Damn Claire, you’ve been holding back.

“Where am i supposed to find a costume?”

“And what am i suppose to be?”

“Ladybug? Chat Noir?”

“Why do i care about this so much?” Mood.

“Let’s take a blast to the past!”

“Back to ancient times!”

“The 1980s!” Just forget Ronald Reagan exists.

“Okay, if you’re gonna play dirty-” Good one Jimbo.

Goal!

“Oh, no! The costume!”

Oooh. Right in the mud.

“Okay, this is gonna work”

“Oh, my gosh! It worked!” Is Toby secretly a wizard that we don’t know about?

“Here to present his theme”

“Mole Mania!”

This is gonna be like that random girl from Drake and Josh that runs up to them giggling and runs off and Drake and Josh asks “Who is she?”

“There has been a sudden departure”

“I have heard word the Principal Levit has taken an indefinite leave of absence”

“We wish him well” Yeah. “Well” in a fart cloud’s stomach.

“But he sent an e-mail recommending an interim replacement”

“Which we all support”

“Please welcome Principal Strickler!”

“Yeah! Whoo-hoo!”

“What is he doing here?”

“I thought you said he would be a fool to ever come back”

“I’m very glad to be back and excited to get started”

“But let it be known”

“With me in charge, things are going to change. From here on out, teachers can date a students parent. So long as the parent is single” “Why that son of a-” “Steve! I’m going to be your new father!” “NO!”

This episode was done dirty! Right i’ll show myself out.

Roaming Fees are the results of capitalism.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Changes coming to UK's feudal "leaseholds"

When I first moved to the UK, I noticed all my friends who lived in flats were always complaining about "freeholders." The first few times I asked to have this explained, I assumed that I'd just misunderstood, because there was no way the system was that fucking terrible.

Nope. It's that terrible.

In the US and much of the rest of the world, if you own an apartment in a multi-unit dwelling, the whole building is structured as a condo, or maybe a co-op. You elect a board and they decide how to maintain the building and charge fees accordingly.

But not in the UK. There, the building is owned by a "freeholder" and when you buy a flat, you buy a "lease." The leases are typically very long - 99 or even 999 (!) years - and at that timescale, it's pretty similar to actually buying a place, but there are real differences.

The freeholder is not elected. They get to charge you "ground rent" - a sum defined in the lease - and they unilaterally decide how to maintain your building and what you will pay for it.

Periodically, you have to renew your lease (which is expensive!)  and if you forget to or can't afford to, you lose your home. Lease renewals have some statutory controls, but they're weak.

And since lease renewals are the kind of thing you might do every 25 years, it's certainly possible that it will slip your mind. "OK Google. Remind me in 25 years to renew my lease."

Eventually, I became a leaseholder, and worse, I was a leaseholder in a building that was 75% commercial, which meant that we "tenants" were not able to force our freeholder to sell to us.

Our freeholder was - and is - a fucking bastard. This was true when our freeholder was a random plute, a literal rentier in desperate need of a guillotine.

But it remained true when our freehold was bought by a charitable social housing association as a revenue generator for their subsidized housing blocks. If anything, they were even bigger bastards.

Of course, you don't actually ever deal with your freeholder. Like every shitty feudal grift, the freeholder is insulated from the tenants by several layers of indirection.

Even freeholder's agents - shiny-suited scumbags who ignored, abused or sidelined us - hired subcontractors to deal with us. These were giant companies like Tuckerman who did such shoddy work that it would have been hilarious if it wasn't terrible.

Just for an example: they took 10 MONTHS to replace the light in the stairwell leading up to the flats.

But as bad as that was, the fees were the most brutal and farcical element.

They're not merely sky high and terrible value for money - they sometimes came with NASTY surprises.

Like the morning that a builder knocked on our door and told us that the freeholder had unilaterally decided to "upgrade" the block with new doors, windows and cladding.

That very (winter) morning - with no notice - the builders REMOVED ALL OUR WINDOWS AND DOORS and left us without for several days.

When it was done, we had a bill for £10k for our share of the "upgrades," and if we didn't pay it straightaway, we would lose our home.

The thing about the leaseholder/freeholder split is that it preys on affluent people like us (the rental market preys on poor people in much more ghastly ways, of course). Preying on affluent people, even in the plutelicking Kingdom of Great Britain, is a fraught business.

That's why, this week, the Law Commission published a landmark report that affects every one of the UK's 4.3m leaseholders, laying out dramatic reforms to the system:

https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/millions-of-leaseholders-to-benefit-from-law-commission-reforms/

The Commission had already made improvements to the "enfranchisement" process for buying out or extending your lease, reducing the cost of either by about a third  (but they didn't create a simple formula to give leaseholders badly needy surety).

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/jul/23/england-leasehold-freeholders-homeowners

The new report recommends automatic, free extensions of leases to 990 years, with no ground rent and makes "dramatic" reductions to the cost of buying out your lease altogether.

It creates a simple path to taking over the maintenance of your building, cutting out the fucking Tuckermans of the world.

It mandates all new housing be "commonhold" (more like condos or co-ops), which is bad news for greedy developers, 90% of whose flats are leaseholds.

The Commission's report isn't law, it's recommendation that the housing minister, the despicable Tory Luke Hall must now act upon. He yawned to The Guardian, "We will carefully consider the recommendations, which are a significant milestone."

Meanwhile, Hall is busily giving the guillotinable landlords of Britain some handsome gifts, like the right to add two storeys to any block without planning permission, a £20b to freeholders for doing nothing.

These freeholders will be able to use the phantom two stories to extract higher sums from leaseholders seeking to buy out their freeholds.

[airjordan4lightning]

air jordan 4 lightning their version 'Harpastum'

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[mintdrop]

[untitled] | [1,202 words] | [x’rina]

Tick, tock, tick, tock. The clock on the wall above the door to her current office marches on as X'rina idly pulls at stray strands of her hair that litter her face, her legs hoisted up onto the couch; if someone didn't know any better, they'd assume she was just an adventurer with poor manners. Across from her sits a timid Lalafell, a young woman who is clearly uncomfortable being there - or perhaps, uncomfortable being outside at all. Unable to handle the silence much longer, X'rina speaks first. "So, you're lookin' for info, yeah? On what?" 

The Lalafell is startled at the sudden question and jumps, glasses nearly falling from her freckled face. "Y-yes, uh.. well.." She sits there, hands fumbling around in her lap and she looks for words. "My.. my manuscripts were stolen. An "a-assistant" to my editor took them from my home."

An eyebrow is raised at the request - most people come looking for info on shady politicians and nobles, or are seeking out someone who doesn't mind blood on their hands. A domestic scenario like this was definitely out of the ordinary to her. "A robbery? Not something I'd be expectin' to hear. Yer sure you wanna be payin' my fee for this? Can't 'cha just rewrite 'em?" She’d barely finished speaking before the woman shook her head.

“It’s, well.. It’s very big. N-near 900 pages, something I’ve been writing since I was a c-child. There’s too much to replace. Besides..” the Lalafell raises her head to look X’rina in the eyes. “I can’t imagine what will happen if he publishes it under his name. I n-need to find him.” There’s a spark of determination in her eyes now, which lit a fire in X’rina’s stomach. Maybe there was something more to this.

“Alright then. You got a description?” She stands up, making her way over to a bookshelf that looks like it’ll fall over at the slightest movement of its contents. Her client lists off some descriptors - Au Ra male, blonde hair that was tied in a ponytail. Disappeared out of her home in the Lavender Beds around 5 days ago. As details are listed off, X’rina moves to the side of the bookshelf before giving it a firm kick; one strong enough to send the entire bookshelf flying to the far side of the room, revealing a doorway leading into a dark hallway. “Follow me.”

Visibly surprised, the Lalafell follows. The hallway is long, with nearly no light to it outside of flickering candles that seem ready to extinguish themselves. X’rina hums a tune as she walks, her fingers dragging against the stone walls. After a small journey and some twists and turns, the hallway finally ends, signified by a closed iron door. X’rina pulls out a key from the starting point of her ponytail, unlocking the door and pushing it open.

The room inside could only be described as an extremely organized mess, one that would belong to a cult of some sort. Portraits of various skill were drawn on parchment, pinned up along the walls with several smaller pieces of parchment pinned atop them; names, ages, relatives, the latest place they’d been seen - things that shouldn’t be known to someone who’d never met them. The Miqo’te continues to hum as she walks to the lone desk that sits in the middle of the room, leaving the Lalafell to gawk around the room. She opens the center drawer, pulling out a small piece of paper and what looks like a long, thin piece of charcoal. From there, she walks over to a wall, scanning portraits and notes until she stops at one spot in particular.

The image she focuses on sits near the ceiling. Giving her boot one good kick against the floor to loosen any dirt that might’ve stuck to her heel, she holds the paper and charcoal in one hand as she scans the wall for an out-of-place stone. When she finds it, she lifts herself up, scaling the wall with speed until she is at eye-level with the portrait of an Au Ra man. Using the wall as a table, she calls out what she writes to the Lalafell down below, who can only stare with amazement.

“Sakyo Nasae, 37 years old. Born to Keiho and Anzu Nasae in Kugane. Left home at 19 years after an argument with his dad. He’s been working as “assistants” to artists, takin’ their works and sellin’ them under his own name.” As she scribbles down the info, she looks towards another pinned paper on the top right hand corner of the parchment, scribbling it down quickly before leaping to the floor. She walks over to the Lalafell, holding over everything she had written. “Last seen travelin’ towards Ishgard. Somethin’ tells me he’s lookin to make a quick buck with your work.”

The Lalafell takes the paper, staring at it; every detail is written down, including what seems to be possible locations he’d be seen at when reaching Ishgard. She looks up to the Miqo’te, whose smile has never once left her face since she had arrived at her office. “T-thank you.” She pulls her bag to her front, placing the paper in a pocket that sits against her body, and pulls out a well-sized bag of gil from the larger compartment to hand over. “I-I’ll be sure to send gratuity after I get my manuscript back.”

X’rina shakes her head as she takes the bag. “Don’t need no tip. I’ve done my job, so there’s no reason t’ be givin’ me more gil. Though.. Yer sure you don’t want any protective services? There’s no tellin’ what this guy might do.” The light in her eyes suddenly dim, and her face darkens. “Can do it m’self if you prefer.”

The Lalafell shakes her head, masking her slight fear at the sudden change in her expression. “N-no, it’s alright. I have a partner who will c-cover that.” She shuffles to move her bag back to its original position, and by time she looks back at X’rina, her face looks as though it had never changed - save for a smile that looks much kinder than before. She watches as the Miqo’te walks back to her desk, pulling out another drawer and grabbing something small. She returns to the Lalafell, holding out a linkpearl.

“Free of charge. If y’need more information on this thief or decide y’need a little help subduin’ him, ring me. I’ll have an associate watch yer back til I get there.” She hands over the linkshell before giving the Lalafell a firm handshake. “It’s a pleasure doin’ business with ya, miss…”

“Amira. And t-thank you as well. I’ll be sure to u-update you.” The lalafell gives a small bow before turning to the door, scurrying through the dark hallway. In the back room, X’rina thinks to herself, her face void of any emotion. 

“T’steal from someone’s home while they’re there.. These scumsuckers are gettin’ bolder. Maybe I should pay him a visit after she’s gotten her things back.” Mumbling to herself, she gives the portrait of the Au Ra one last look before heading towards the door herself, closing it behind her with a loud bang.

[delicioussshame]

I can’t finish anything so have some more wips.

______________________________________________________________

Luo Binghe isn’t sure how he feels about Shizun picking up a new disciple. He’s been the youngest for so long. How could he be a decent shixiong to this newcomer when he could barely cultivate? He’s always so busy ruining errands and dealing with Ming Fan too. Surely that’s why Shizun didn’t take him along.

But Luo Binghe takes one look at tiny Shen Yuan holding his shimei’s sleeve, staring wildly around, and feels his heart twist.

“Shen-shidi, that’s your shixiong, Luo Binghe.”

Luo Binghe swears Shen Yuan lit up when he turned toward him, and yet, his answer is very mature. “Luo-shixiong. This Shen Yuan will be in your care. I will do his best not to shame my shimei and shixiong.”

He’s so cute, standing there with a too serious face, that it takes all Luo Binghe has not to hug his new brother.

He’s always worked hard, but he’s going to have to work even harder now. He can’t disappoint Shen Yuan.

___________________

Luo Binghe cannot afford to fail here. He promised Shen Yuan he’d come back with the first place.

Shen Yuan had been so worried. He’d always been pushing books at him, trying to teach him about monsters Luo Binghe kept telling him he wouldn’t see at the Conference.

Nothing he could do would calm him.

Luo Binghe had found his reaction both endearing and heartbreaking.

Endearing, because how could he not when Shen Yuan was so obvious about his attachment to him? It only made his resolve to protect his dear shidi from everything stronger.

Heartbreaking, because Luo Binghe recognised himself in his fear. He remembers how he was after his mother’s death.

Shen Yuan receives no letter and never visits family. He never mentions anyone that’s not from the sect. He came with nothing but the clothes on his back.

Luo Binghe understands how a fellow orphan would be disturbed by the idea of losing his family all over again. He won’t let it happen. He won’t leave Shen Yuan to deal with their shizun’s mercurial temperament by himself.

He has to come back home.

___________________

He doesn’t manage it.

___________________

Shen Yuan has no idea what the fuck is happening.

He is pretty sure he did well on the “not getting slaughtered by Luo Binghe with the rest of the sect” front. Luo Binghe likes him! He always took care of him like a good older brother would. Shen Yuan made for a good, obedient younger sibling, diligent with his studies and polite to his elders.

He did not think that would translate to him being kidnapped out of the sect.

One second he was cultivating by himself, the next a portal opens, Luo Binghe steps out of it (way too early!) and pulls him inside his demonic palace, hello Luo Binghe’s domain.

Then he gets a hug. “Shixiong!”

Luo Binghe doesn’t let go. “Let your shixiong indulges a bit. He hasn’t seen his favorite shidi in so long.”

Shen Yuan sighs. “I’m your only shidi.”

“You’re still my favorite.”

______________________________________________________________

Luo Binghe immediately recognises the man dressed in cultivator garb as Yingying’s shizun.

Beautiful and serene, she said. The perfect image of an untouchable immortal, dressed in white and pale greens. Always holding a fan of exquisite manufacture.

But more than her vivid descriptions of her shizun’s loveliness, he remembers what she said next.

She’d been laying on her side, her long cascading hair not managing to hide her luscious curves.

Luo Binghe had known she wouldn’t be ready for another round just yet, and so had been pleased to listen to her lighthearted pillow talk.

Today’s topic had been her exasperation with her shizun’s lack of sex life.

“Sometimes I can’t believe how obtuse he is. Liu-shishu has been courting him for years, and I don’t think he ever noticed. And don’t get me started on the sect master! All Shizun would have to do is bat his eyelashes and the sect master would drop everything to worship him! But no, he never takes him on it. For a while I thought maybe Shizun just preferred women, but more than one female disciple has tried her hand at him, all to no avail.”

Luo Binghe could imagine the type. Cultivators could be lofty. They think they’re above the needs of the flesh.

He always enjoys teaching them how wrong they are.

If the demonic part of his heritage revels in desecrating those pompous righteous cultivators, no one else could tell. Luo Binghe was too good at his chosen hobby to let his personal feelings interfere.

“I love and respect Shizun more than anyone. Without him, I would never have become the kind of cultivator who can afford A-Luo’s company. So I am motivated by filial piety and nothing else when I say that I have never met anyone who needs to get laid more than Shen Qingqiu.”

Luo Binghe had laughed. “Oh? Is Yingying going to replace me with her old teacher?”

Her scandalised look had sent him into another bout of laughter. “A-Luo! I would never!”

“Then why is she telling me this? Does she want me to take care of him?”

Ning Yingying had stared at him, a glint in her eyes. Luo Binghe could see the plans form in her head as she spoke. “Actually, that wouldn’t be a bad idea. It would do wonders for Shizun, and I know A-Luo loves breaking people like him.”

Luo Binghe had blinked, inwardly caught off-guard. He wasn’t blind. He knew Ning Yingying was a lot more observant than she appeared. It wasn’t the first time she had made that kind of comment. “Yingying knows me so well. Should I be worried?”

She had swapped at him. He could have easily evaded the blow, but he didn’t bother. “A-Luo doesn’t have anything to fear from me. But honestly, if I sent Shizun your way, would you take care of him? I really think he could benefit from it. And Shizun is very beautiful! Many will definitely be jealous if they ever find out.”

Luo Binghe had nothing against the idea of taking a peak lord to bed. He bet Xin Mo would love to feed on such high-quality cultivation. “I would be honored to entertain your teacher.”

He could tell from the way she had brightened he was about to be thoroughly thanked.

She had payed him too, both for herself and for her shizun’s future visit. Generously enough that Luo Binghe had wondered if he should praise her filial piety to her shizun.

She didn’t lie. Shen Qingqiu really is exquisite.

Not as handsome as Luo Binghe himself, but nobody is. “You must be Shen Qingqiu.”

“Luo Binghe, I presume.” Luo Binghe cannot quite decipher the look he’s being given, which is rare enough to catch his attention. He’s pretty certain there’s some attraction there, but the rest? Trepidation? Outright fear? Disdain? Excitement?

He’s sure he’s going to find out. He gestures for Shen Qingqiu to sit down as he moves to prepare tea. He could have one of his servants take care of it, but Luo Binghe has always preferred taking care of things himself. That personal touch has seduced more than one client, if they didn’t visit him only for his food.

Shen Qingqiu drinks the offered tea in silence before he starts talking. “If you would please tell me your fee, I will be refunding Ning Yingying. I am sorry for wasting your time, but I have no interest in procuring your services.”

Ooh, that’s cute. If Luo Binghe wasn’t an expert at perceiving the signs of physical attraction, he might even believe him. Shen Qingqiu is interested, he’s sure of it. He’s just a prude, like Yingying said. “Yingying won’t accept it. Why refuse her most thoughtful gift?”

______________________________________________________________

What if he really intended to kill me?

It’s the thought that can’t quite leave his mind, no matter how implausible it seems. There is no way Shizun would have failed to eliminate him if that was what he wanted. For most people, it’s easy to forget how deadly easygoing, charming Shen Yuan could be, but Luo Binghe had always known better. Shen Yuan was never unarmed. He delighted in wearing ridiculously anachronistic poison rings and hiding slim daggers in his sleeves. He had taught Luo Binghe how to be ready for attack at any time. Luo Binghe had taken this lesson to heart, like everyone he ever received from Shen Yuan.

It isn’t hard for him to reach Shen Yuan’s room unnoticed. Having spent years living in the casino as his protégé, Luo Binghe knew all the employees-only passageways, the hidden entrances, the unused hallways. Two employees recognise him, but it’s not an issue. Shen Yuan would be ashamed of him if he tried something as daring as confronting him in his own domain without having done the proper research beforehand. He knows Shen Yuan buried the truth about his heritage. His shizun told everyone his charge had died in a tragic accident. Everyone figured he meant a job gone wrong and haven’t asked further questions. Those who recognise him seem pleased to see him, and giddy at the idea of him meeting Shen Yuan again.

Surely Shizun must still care, if everyone thinks he does?

He tries to calm his nerve as he enters the security code to Shizun’s room. For all of Shizun’s careful preparations when attacking others, he was downright careless with his own security, recklessly confident in the casino’s personal. In all of the years Luo Binghe had stayed with him, he had not once changed the combination.

The door unlocks soundlessly.

Luo Binghe breathes again. If it hadn’t worked, he would have charmed one of his old acquaintances into letting him “surprise his shizun with his unexpected survival”, but he much preferred not having to count in an interloper.

His first thought is that Shen Yuan is even more beautiful than he remembers.

There were countless nights ending like this, with Shen Yuan drinking tea from a dainty cup, still dressed in layers of fine clothes Luo Binghe always dreamt of removing with his teeth.

______________________________________________________________

Shen Qingqiu would say that Luo Binghe is a morning person, but in this particular case it would be a lie. Luo Binghe is just an anytime kind of person. As long as his husband is on the menu, when doesn’t matter. Shen Qingqiu is convinced that if he himself didn’t enjoy sleeping, Luo Binghe would forgo it altogether in favor of having sex all night long, every night.

Shen Qingqiu would die, but he thinks his stallion of a husband would just feel more energised.

So he’s not exactly a stranger to being awakened by intimate caresses. As long as it’s not too early, he’s usually amenable to it. He has to rise anyway, so why not make it pleasant?

He is somewhat less familiar with the current number of hands and mouth trying to wake him up. He’s pretty certain the teeth worrying at his chest and the hand sliding between his thighs are Luo Binghe’s, so the mouth on his nape and the other hand grasping his left hip must be Mobei-Jun’s.

He’s also pretty sure the erection rubbing against the back of his thighs is also Mobei-Jun’s, unless Shen Qingqiu is terribly wrong and he’s in a very, very bad situation. That is very unlikely, considering anyone trying to get frisky with him who isn’t those two must not only have a death wish, but the kind of death wish where they hate life so badly they want to spend their last year in pain and misery. His status as Luo Binghe’s husband is very, very well known, to his continued embarrassment. The occasional hopelessly stupid demon has tried to kidnap him. It had always, famously, ended very badly for them.

He could just open his eyes and look to check, but he can’t be bothered. He’s still tired, damn it. Last night’s play ended up lasting for quite a while. If they want to have fun, they can work for it.

______________________________________________________________

Shizun’s control over his smell was legendary on Qing Jing Peak.

Shen Qingqiu had always had complete mastery over his facial expression, but that this extended to even his scent was almost too impressive to be believed. And yet, even when he angered, it never spiked. He would still emit the same weak, almost chemical smell he was known for.

Not bad, no one on Qing Jing Peak would dare to speak a word against Shen Qingqiu’s scent, but not pleasant either. Only the faintest notes of plum blossoms could be detected under the medicinal smell.

When he had still lived with Shizun, Luo Binghe had wondered if Shen Qingqiu was hiding a partner on Qian Cao. Maybe it was their smell that lingered on his master.

He’d ruled it out after a while. Shen Qingqiu did not sneak out for mysterious meetings, and spent his heat by himself, seemingly unbothered. Luo Binghe had admired this too. His master was truly exceptional, to govern himself so thoroughly even when no one would have expected him to. Luo Binghe could only dream of having that kind of control. He’d shamed himself thoroughly during his heat, unable to hide how much he longed for Shizun to follow him to bed. Unable to stop himself from moaning his name and imagining him filling him up as he fucked himself on his own, unsatisfying, fingers.

After, Shizun had acted like he always did. He was used to mending omegas still overwhelmed by the aftereffects of their heat. He stayed perfectly appropriate, handling the matter with compassion but no effusiveness. If he heard Luo Binghe calling for him, he never let it show. His disciple could only envy his utter mastery of himself, and be a little bit bitter that it didn’t break even for him.

He only found out why, exactly, Shen Qingqiu’s scent was immune to fluctuations when he started tending to his lifeless body. It wouldn’t do for Shizun to get dirty, so Luo Binghe washed him, as chastely as he could.

At first, he had thought the change of smell was due to his condition. Shen Qingqiu’s body wasn’t able to produce more aroma. Maybe whatever caused it was deteriorating as everything else did?

But no. The scent emerging under wasn’t anything like the faint notes of medicine and plum blossoms Luo Binghe associated with Shizun. Luo Binghe detected something muskier, touches of sandalwood and hints of citrus. Not an omega’s scent. Nothing like Luo Binghe’s smell, which reminded most people of jasmine.

His first reaction had been incredulity. Surely Shizun couldn’t have been an alpha? There was no way he could life on Qing Jing Peak, surrounded only by omegas, and support them through their heats completely unaffected?

It became obvious Shen Qingqiu was just that extraordinary. His true scent couldn’t lie.

It made Luo Binghe giddy. If Shen Qingqiu was an alpha, once he returned there was nothing stopping them from having the family Luo Binghe always guiltily dreamt of! What could be more normal than an alpha and an omega getting married?

[friendlylocalwhumper]

interviews

colby | colby released | desmond and kip | desmond and kip released | sonia | sonia released | major | major meets nona | state of affairs 1

Interview 1: Remy

“What’s your name?”

Long black curls frame an elegant face. Kind eyes are shadowed by thick eyebrows and circles underneath from exhaustion. Bruising spans across the cheekbone catching the light from offscreen, blue and green and yellow. He cradles his left elbow like a single wrong twitch will get him writhing in pain.

“Remy,” He whispers to the person behind the camera.

“Remy. What happened to you?”

His eyes flick to something the camera isn’t pointed at. His fingers flex slightly with nerves. “I… got caught sneaking in someplace.”

“Why were you sneaking?”

The shirt that he’s wearing, heather grey and wrinkled, has blood on it. There’s a smear of brown by his nose: dried blood. Remy lifts his good arm, leaving the injured one alone, to tuck his nose into the crook of his elbow and inhale. It appears to calm him down.

“Is there something special about that shirt, Remy?”

He glances up and nods, talking into his sleeve, speaking above a whisper now but it makes no difference, his voice is muffled. “Yeah. It’s… I borrowed it. I was sneaking in, to see… his parents wouldn’t approve. They were never going to. A warlock, a boy… I just wanted to see him. Not even do anything. We’ve only kissed.”

“I’m not judging you, Remy.”

Nervous tapping fingers still. He offers a jerking nod. “I know. It’s just… this is all I have, his shirt. My shirt. He gave it to me, said it’s mine now. It still smells like him. It won’t forever. And I won’t see him again. I promised I’d keep coming back, even if it wasn’t safe for me. As long as it was safe for him.” Remy falls silent, haunted. “...He said it was safe.”

The interviewer allows him a moment to collect himself. Then, they ask, “Was he wrong?”

Tanned fingers scratch idly at a scabbed-over cut on his cheek. “...He was really wrong. I got… we got caught. I never used magic in that house, I swear. Never even talked about it. I just wanted to be with him. His brother came in. Tried to kill me.”

“What exactly happened? What made you think he was trying to kill you, not just scare you off?”

Remy snorts. “Grabbed me by the neck, tried to shove me out the window I climbed in. I almost fell. M-... my… the guy I was with, he defended me. Got into it with his brother so I could run. I tried to grab my shirt off the floor, but I got his instead. He might be dead. He might hate me.” Remy is staring at the floor, shoulder scrunched up to his cheek like the pressure can replace a warm hand cupped there in support.

“What happened to your arm?”

A twinge of pain rolls through the limb as Remy’s reminded of it. “Oh. The brother, he pulled on it. Messed something up, inside, I think. I don’t know any healers.”

“And what’s it mean for a magic user, if you can’t find a healer?”

Dark lips angled into a frown, Remy looks into the camera for the first time. “You find a place to hole up and you hope it heals on its own.”

“No hospitals means you’ve gotta make do with what you can find. Can you always find supplies when you need them?”

He snorts, eyes back on the interviewer. “Barely ever. Mostly you can find the basic stuff, or trade for it. Wrappings, uh, rubbing alcohol, bandaids. But the painkillers, the suture kits, the, uh, splints and slings, that stuff is impossible to get. I’ve seen…” Curls ranging from pitch black to a deep warm mahogany, depending on how much light they catch, get thrown dense and wild as he shakes his head. “That’s dark stuff, though.”

“Go on. Just the truth, that’s all I’m looking for. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Remy scrunches up his nose, itching at the blood clinging to the skin there. “Um. Yeah, okay. I was saying… I’ve seen people die from not being able to get bandages, using hoodies and stuff instead. Infection. Seen kids… there’s just, a lot of bad stuff happening, that doesn’t have to happen, just ‘cause we can’t get what we need.”

“So your arm? What are you going to do about it?”

With his good shoulder, he shrugs. “I don’t know. Get drunk and find someone to shove at it until it pops back into place, I guess. Or just try not to move it, for a couple weeks, and hope it’ll fix itself. Even if I do find a healer, I don’t have anything to trade. So, um… I guess I’m kind of screwed.”

The interviewer doesn’t answer. Remy’s eyes find the camera again, brown twinkling with the same light that illuminates the colors of pain at his cheek. The image freezes, the video finished playing, lingering on the face of the warlock who was resigned to pain and little hope of finding any help, even from his own kind.

Interview 2: Nona

The video starts with a blur of movement. Brown carpet that’s been crushed into a grimy, stale, solid mass. Stained walls, a torn beanbag chair, limp hands with split knuckles.

“Tell me about the safehouse.”

The witch tips her head, eyes narrowed. The camera is aimed at her, and she looks like she wants to fight it. “Why.”

“Because it matters. You matter. Someone, someday, is gonna ask how we survived. You’re part of the answer.”

The interviewer’s explanation doesn’t flatter her. Lilac hair goes flying as the witch tosses her head back, clearing the straight strands from her face.

“I’m Nona,” She starts, mouth hanging open on the last vowel. She tests the camera’s patience for a handful of seconds before continuing. “I’m a witch. I run this safehouse. It’s a grimy shithole but ask anyone who comes through, they know I’m in charge.”

“So I’ve heard. Does it matter, that they know?”

“That I’m in charge? Fuck yeah. You’ve gotta make it clear. No one’s in charge, anyone can throw their jacked-up muscle around, then people are getting the shit beat out of them all over power struggles. One guy wants the living room to himself, the other’s decided he rules the kitchen and if you want food, you gotta pay an entry fee. Stresses everyone out. Gets people more hurt than they already are. That’s why I kick people out, lay down a couple rules, show my face every now and then.”

“You’ve got to remind everyone that there’s someone keeping the place running.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. It doesn’t work, otherwise. And they could take over anytime. I think about it all the time. But they know I keep the fridge stocked. They know I forgive shitty mistakes and let the worst ones come back when they’ve been fucked up by cops, or something. I found this place and I built it up myself. Boarded up the windows, got the electricity going, sewed up the shitty cushions so you can sit down without fluff shooting out of the seams. And you know how long it took me?”

“No. How long?”

“One motherfucking day. I did it in one day. You know why I busted my ass for sixteen hours?”

“Why?”

“Because if I didn’t finish, if I didn’t get a lock on that front door to keep the dumbest non-magic criminal fucks out, I wouldn’t have a place to sleep that night. I put the lock in last, because if I couldn’t manage the rest in time, I didn’t deserve to fucking sleep. I wanted to make this a place that people could sleep, at least. And I did it. People know that. Ask me why they don’t do it themselves, make a new place, get to be in charge.”

“Why?”

“Because they hurt. They’ve been sleeping on floors, and getting beat up, and they’ve been walking in shoes that don’t fit them. Because they’re angry, and paranoid, and tired all the time, and they can’t pick a lock without their hands shaking, so they sure as shit can’t fix up a whole house. And they’re so focused on fighting each other, watching their own back, making sure their stuff isn’t stolen, that they can’t stop to pick up a project and see it through.”

“Are all magic users like that?”

“Mmh…” Nona taps her chin. “Most of them. It’s the easier way to be. You get stuck in a loop of getting hurt, running, hiding, going out again to get something you need, and getting hurt again. It’s hard to get out of that. The only ones who can really try to do more are, like, witches who get tired of the loop. The guys, they don’t get out of it as much. But we don’t live long, anyway, so it’s not like anybody gets much of a chance to change through the years. There’s no plans, just trying to live through the day to get to sleep again.”

Nona cracks her knuckles and stretches, lounging in the beanbag chair a moment before sitting upright again and scuffing the heel of her boot against the floor.

“Does anyone ever challenge you? Try to take over?”

The witch nods, hair falling forward over her shoulders to brush her cheeks. “Sometimes. I knock ‘em on their ass with magic, though, so they never get far.”

“Get far?”

“They never do much. I don’t let ‘em.”

“Never do much? What is it they try to do?”

Eyes dark with makeup glint with anger. “They try shit. You’re not stupid. This talk’s over.”

“What do they-”

“You get that camera out of my face,” Nona growls, knocking it off whatever held it, sending the picture flying with blurry smeared colors, “Or I’ll-”

The audio cuts off, and the video stops on a blur of brown and grey, the chaos of escalating fury falling into silence.

Interview 3: Lux

“Okay.” The camera shifts, settles, shifts again. Someone breathes heavily from beyond its line of sight. “Okay. It’s safe here. Can you talk? We got away. Can you talk now?”

The camera turns, finally set up securely against some steady surface, to focus on a shaking warlock with a hand pressed to his stomach. Blood seeps between his fingers.

“Ye-eah, I can - th-this is important, you said?”

The interviewer gasps a few more harsh breaths. It sounds like they’ve been running hard, and can only now catch their breath. “Yes. Yes, it’s important. Tell me - tell the story of what, just happened.”

Blue eyes flick up to the camera, then the off-screen interviewer, then back to the camera. “Um. O-okay. I can… I can, talk about it, just, hnn - I-I, what’re you gonna use this for? What can I… is it safe, to t-talk about…? Anything?”

“Lux.”

“Mnh?”

“We already talked about this.”

A shudder runs through him, a wince twisting his features. “Oh. S-sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. It’s just that I explained all that, like, twenty minutes ago. Do you have trouble with your memory?”

Tense shoulders tilt inward. “I th-thought, thought you wanted to hear ‘bout, what happened.”

“I do. I also want to hear about you. Why can’t you remember things?”

His breaths, jagged and quick from running, too, don’t even out. “...What happens if I don’t want to talk?”

It’s silent for a moment. He looks like he’s prepared to get hit.

“That would be disappointing. But I’d leave you alone. I don’t interrogate people, I just try to collect their stories. You don’t have to do anything, Lux.”

An uncertain hum slips out of him and he lifts his head from where it fell, his body uncurling from the defensive position it settled into. “Really?”

“Really. Can I ask you something?”

A shoulder scrunches up toward a dirt-streaked cheek in a half-shrug.

“Did you really think I would hurt you, if you didn’t want to talk?”

There’s no audible guilt in the interviewer’s voice, but sadness flickers across the warlock’s face. “Oh, it’s - it’s okay. You didn’t do anything, to, to scare me. I don’t think. It’s just… I’m just like that.”

“Why are you like that?”

The fingers of his free hand twist a loose thread of his ripped sleeve. Lux stares at the floor.

“Lux?”

“Hmm? So-orry. Um. What did you ask?”

“Why are you like that? Why do you get scared? I’ve done a lot of these interviews, and most people are angry, or tired, or sarcastic. Most don’t let it show that they’re scared. You seem very open about it.”

It’s hard to tell, in the poor lighting of the video recorded at the first snatched moment after some escape from danger, but Lux is paling from his wound. He glances down at it, curls hanging. When he looks back up, he blinks, searching for words to answer with. “Um, I… got made that way. I was, I was… do you know who the Hunter is?”

“The Hunter? He made you open? I thought he killed everyone he took. Did he kill someone you knew?”

“Mnh - uh - ye-eah, but - that was just part of it. He-e, he used to kill, everyone. Mostly. Then he… he took me. I was there, he had me, for… for a year.”

“A year? How did you survive a year with the Hunter?”

“He… I don’t know. He just liked me. It was a l-lot, a lot of pain. And… mind magic.”

Lux glances up, as he mentions the taboo magic, and cringes. He must’ve seen a reaction in the interviewer.

“So your time with him wore you down, took way your defenses. He… did that, to you, and now… what is your mind like now?”

Sweat beads across the warlock’s brow. He doesn’t ask for the interview to stop. “It’s, it’s a mess. It’s just all mixed up, and I forget things, and… everything is hard. M-my… my magic, ‘specially, it, it doesn’t like to work anymore.”

“Do you think that was part of his tactics? He kills a lot of magic users, it seems like he’s trying to cripple the community. Did he mix you up so that your magic wouldn’t work, so you wouldn’t be a threat?”

His frown draws lines into his face. “No. He just, he just liked it. Scaring me. Changing me. It’s not about… he doesn’t do it for, like, society. Going after magic users, it’s just because they’re already hurting, no one cares about us. We’re just easy to target. He’s not like the feds.”

“You sound like you know him pretty well.”

Lux takes a breath, holds it, then nods. His head is heavy on his shoulders. “Better tha-an anyone, I guess.”

“Better than Quinn Mae?”

He blinks. “Quinn - you mean, Quinn, who, who let the Hunter take them, to try and… make a difference?”

“Yes. They sacrificed themself to learn about the Hunter. And it seems that they were successful. But do you know more about him than they do, even after that mission?”

Emotion gets Lux fidgeting. “Th-they - they did a good job. I think they probably learned really important stuff. It wasn’t… I don’t think it was a good idea, but I, I’m proud of them, for trying. I just - I was there for so long. I know more than the facts, I know how he feels about stuff. The Hunter loves, loved me, I… was close to him, for a long time. And I, I haven’t been much help, even though I know all that. Just knowing about him doesn’t make him that much easier to take on. It, um - it actually makes him angrier.”

“Angry enough to start torturing his way through every witch and warlock alive?”

“That’s - you’re out of line.” The assertion is quick and anxious. “It’s not Quinn’s fault. It’s no one’s fault. The Hunter likes to hurt people, he likes to punish people for being brave. Quinn did the, the bravest thing in the world, and that - it just, I guess it set him off. But it’s not their fault.”

“Sounds like cause and effect, Lux.”

“No. I - if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine, he - he wanted me back, he wanted to hurt me, and I said no. I said no to him. He’s punishing me.”

“How did you say no? Did he ask? Why didn’t he just take you anyway?”

The trembling has gotten worse in Lux again, and it jars his hand against his wound, adding tension to the way he sits. “He-e, he called me. On my phone. I said no. I said - he could take me, but I wouldn’t make it easy. I wa-as trying to be b-brave. I was - healing. But… but I guess, he’s been frustrated, and, and I… set him off. I don’t know. He’s hurting so many people, and I’m trying to, to find them all, to make sure they don’t die, to help them process it all. I know what it feels like.”

“So you’re trying to help with the spree, on this end, after they get hurt.”

“Ye-eah. Trying.”

“There’s no way you can save them before they get hurt? You can’t stop him?”

The warlock’s brows twitch. “I-I… no. I’ve thought about it. I’ve… I tried to offer myself up, instead. He loves me, I thought maybe he just wanted me to, to break, to take their place… but he doesn’t want me. He said, said maybe some other time. He just wants to… he’s having fun.”

“I see. Alright, Lux. I’m sorry for bringing up a painful topic. I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything. It’s not your fault. I try not to step in with how I feel, but I wanted to say that. It’s not your fault.”

Lux’s head is dipped down, leaden with guilt. “Yeah, well… you don’t know him like I do.”