#protect the remnants so you can use them to your advantage

[eggs-can-draw]

Hypothetical question that totally isn't at all related to the potential long term hospital stay discussed yesterday.

Makoto with a prosthetic leg

His left leg was amputated after a terrible accident that left it beyond recovery (even with his ultimate luck and hajime's ultimate doctor skills. Because let's be honest, Byakuya would drag him over from Jabberwock island and he probably made him stick around for Kyoko's hospital stay as well. The remnants were handsomely rewarded though for hajime's skills)

Makoto wakes up days later to find out that, not only has he lost a leg, but Byakuya has ordered enough of the best materials for him to switch prosthetics 3 times a day for a week and still have 7 unused prosthetics leftover.

Byakuya has also been in negotiations for the past 3 days to convince Hajime and kazuichi to make the prosthesis.

they're happy to make a main one and 1 or 2 spares out of gratitude for saving them, as well as do regular maintenance, however the negotiation is happening because they're not willing to make THAT MANY spares out of gratitude alone.

Byakuya is very willing to compensate them, they're just discussing how best to do that.

He's already agreed to finance any and all repairs and upgrades to the island. As well as a few other commitments. Kazuichi is fine with that much but Byakuya is insistent on compensating them more.

The problem is they're running out of ideas for ways Byakuya could compensate them more but he's insistent that what they're doing is worth more than what they've asked for and Makoto taught him to always pay people back equal to the service they've provided.

He's already funding the kids future schooling and regularly sending extra surprises in the rations as payment for Hajime saving Kyoko. (He also offered way more back then as well but Hajime refused)

Not much more to offer aside from just straight up cash which isn't even useful to them on an island where everything is shared.

Eventually he just decided to buy Jabberwock island, hire them all as caretakers/security of the island (so, instead of just living there rent free, they're actually being paid to live there) and just puts them all on near permanent paid vacation (so they can still leave the island whenever without asking permission) the only days They're officially working are the days Kyoko, Byakuya and Makoto visit the island every year (even then it's only for paperwork reasons and they don't really have any work requirements aside from 'don't destroy the place)

Their salary is regularly paid into a joint account for them to use when visiting the mainland.

Byakuya's purchase of the island also helps to prevent someone else from stealing it and trying to evict the remnants.

Hajime's name is also on the ownership documents of the island as a co-owner

The entire deal was signed and in writing so the Togami corp executives couldn't try anything funny

THE FIRST/j I've been thinking about the inciting incident for Leg Amputation and I have a little thought a little brain baby if you will. Naegi is in some pretty dangerous rubble trying to help some people evacuate their little survival group thing after a cave in between two fallen buildings. Something happens to cause the area he's in to start just. completely caving in and luckily he gets the people he was helping out, and right as a larger piece was gonna fall on them he pushed them out of the way and got his leg stuck. They went to get help but it was decided that the only way they could get him out without further endangering the people caved INSIDE was to amputate the leg and IMMEDIATELY send him to hq for treatment. He was lucky he made it to the FF hospital wing awake. also just AAAGH we love to see Togami go OVER OVER BOARD with taking care of the prosthesis, it's his love language (the secret universal love language, worry) Also also also the jabberwock gang being paid to live in their home is fucking hilarious to me. I could see the FF taking possession of the island after secretly protecting the remnants (As a way of making sure they can keep just about everything about it UNDER WRAPS) but I could definitely see Togami fighting to get Hajime atleast aprtial ownership of the island (would have given it to all of them if he could but Hajime is the Group Elected Leader)

[hanasnx]

MINORS DNI 18+

Showering with RAFE CAMERON always seems promising. The potential to be intensely romantic, stuck in a close and steamy location completely naked, washing and massaging each other, watching his dick physically fill out at the sight of your soapy tits. Instead, it’s cut and dry. Practically formal as he focuses on getting in and out. While he’s in the shower, he’s got a routine, a list of things he needs to complete and they have to be in order. The last thing he wants is a distraction, and he purely allows you in during his private shower time because “You’re like a dog, you know? You’ve got like… separation anxiety or something.”

Nevertheless you enjoy it. You listen to him when he directs you away from the faucet for his turn, you get a front row seat to how he scrubs shampoo into his hair and the suds run down his contracting muscles, sometimes he even lets you cling onto him. You wrap your arms around his waist as he rinses his conditioner, soapy bodies sliding against one another as you stamp your cheek onto his chest. Hot water runs down, warming the two of you as you share the faucet, and the remnants of slippery conditioner form a film on your skin.

What’s even rarer is when he’s in an uncharacteristically frisky mood during it. For the most part, showering is a utility, no room for fun. But a variation can be seen from time to time, taking advantage of his good mood. You can tell he wants it when he swats your little ass as you walk in, eyeing it up as it ripples from the impact, growling at the sight of it. He follows in right after you, keeping close behind you as you enter the stall, shutting the door behind him. He doesn’t go first, he lets you do as you please, dunking your head under the spray to wet your hair, and he rubs circles into your hips. Brain— usually running wild with his extensive to-do list— is now empty, save for the image of fucking you right now, bouncing your ass on his cock. All he’d have to do is bend you down with a splayed hand on your back, give his dick a few yanks, and tuck it inside, he knows you’re slick enough. And if you’re not, getting fucked like he owns you will certainly do the trick.

“Rafe?” you call, snapping him out of trance but not freeing him of his dirty thoughts, drawing his lower lip between his teeth as he keeps his eyes on the curves of your backside. He hums, and you nod to yourself, having to keep your eyes closed to protect them from the shampoo that trails down your forehead. “You wanna rinse?” you ask politely, realizing how long you’ve been under the faucet for.

“Nah, baby, do what you need to do. Y’look damn good doing it.” Another swat to your ass deepens the blush of his handprint from earlier, and you squeak. “Fuck.” You wet your hair again, washing the suds down so you can see, but he’s already decided what he’s going to do to you. Big hand slots in between your legs, stooping to reach as his fingertips scoop, and brush your clit. You jolt from the sensitivity, unconsciously lifting your leg with a tilt of your hips to accommodate him. His middle finger passes through your slit, witnessing the moisture that’s already accumulated there. A little feigned gasp sounds behind you. “Princess, you’re so wet.” he murmurs the observation, like you expected something like this to happen. You brace against the tile, and try to look over your shoulder at him. “Can’t be walkin’ around like this acting like I’m not going crazy over here.” He chases your cunt as you squirm, using your slick to rub circles into your bud. That hand clamped on your hip yanks you back, controlling your escape from him as he mercilessly swipes at your clit. It makes your legs shake.

Only when your overcompensating pussy drips pre-cum down your thighs does he let up with driving your clit insane, diving two fingers into your hole without hesitation. You cry out, clawing at wall as your tits press into that cold tile. To get a better angle, he wedges his wrist in the crook of your ass cheeks, watching them jiggle as he sets the pace, slamming his fingers in to the hilt. Even though the shower’s running, he can still hear your cunt make music for him as he fucks it with his fingers.

[quietlyimplode]

ignite your bones

After the fall of General Dreykov, and the remnants of the Red Room still at large, Natasha first year at SHIELD is anything but healing. Labeled a traitor and a turncoat, Natasha tries to find her footing in a strange new world.

Whumptober 2024: Day 3 - I warned you

Warnings: brief discussion of child trafficking/single line mentioning red room torture

Word Count: 1.7k (gif not mine)

Summary: Natasha is blindsided by a debrief, made to talk of her past and justify her actions.

Masterlist

Whumptober Masterlist

.

The debrief room is different.

Clint looks to her in an apology as he leads her left instead of right, and stops at the door instead of following her in.

She balks at the change, halting her movements when she sees three men inside.

Looking back at Clint, a question on her lips, he just mouths he’s sorry, and nudges her inside.

She feels sick as the door bangs shut and locks.

She knows what three men in a room can do, and the advantage is not on her side.

Looking around for any weapon, all she has is the handcuffs on her wrists and maybe the long table.

The chair is bolted to the floor so that gives nothing by way of help. Maybe the fact that there’s three can work to her advantage instead of against.

She should never have trusted Clint.

He said he’d be here through it all.

He lied.

Anger and fear wells in her chest but she remains passive at the door.

“Sit,” the tallest of the three commands.

The three men stand as she’s seated and the imbalance of power feels overwhelming.

She has ways to play this.

Fight, fawn, play dumb, stay mute, let them talk.

The options play out quick in front of her.

Like a chess game, she needs to think at least three moves ahead; it’s just hard when she doesn’t know what this is about, or why there’s been a change.

“We are going to start by introducing ourselves, and then we are going to ask you some questions. After this you will return to your normal debrief. Is that understood?”

Natasha nods.

The verbal schedule of events helps to dampen the anxiety that’s building.

“My name is Director Thompson, next to me is Agent Fury and Agent Coulson.”

She remembers the latter two from her debriefs but it feels good to know their names.

The Director is new. She suspects he’s always been behind the two way mirror, just never showing his face.

He pauses.

“State your name.”

Natasha looks at the three of them.

“Natasha Romanoff.”

He nods.

“Do you remember your charges?”

Natasha doesn’t answer as the charges are read again.

Espionage, murder; it’s nothing new.

She takes the time as he’s reading, to look at the three men.

Fury hasn’t stopped watching her.

Though he has one eye patched, it’s uncanny how scrutinized she feels by the other. Coulson looks up from his notepad every now and then, writing something before looking back at her.

Thompson, however, is the one that has black eyes, suspicion and anger alternating as he reads from his notepad.

“You’ve been brought here under the protection of laws that our country has for defectors. Do you plead guilty?”

Natasha frowns.

Not willing to answer, she doesn’t move.

“How do you plead?”

Natasha considers the question.

There’s no doubt that it’s not that simple. She could say the words they want, but in a moment of compulsion, she feels herself start talking in defense.

Frustration and anger at the last month of being interrogated, of her food having ground glass, and the water being contaminated with something she couldn’t pick, of the constant debrief, and fear that battered her psyche.

“I was born into the Red Room,” she starts, staring down Thompson.

“Every day of my life, we were told who the enemy was.”

“You.”

“This.”

“Here.”

“It was beaten into us, to know that western propaganda would poison us.”

“Do you know what that’s like?”

“Do you know, what’s it’s like to leave that behind and for every day to feel like you’re betraying everything and everyone you’ve ever known?”

“I’m under no delusion, Director Thompson, that what I have done under their regime falls under terrorism, espionage or whatever you want to call it. But do you want to know what they call it?”

She lets the words hang.

“Glory.”

“Do you want to know what that gets you in the Red Room?”

She looks to Fury and Coulson.

Thompson may not understand, but for some reason she thinks they might.

“Reprieve.”

Quieter now, she leans forward.

“You fail and the world falls out. Beaten, raped, tortured, for the failure of a mission. There’s a reason they traffic women. Girls.”

She feels anger and grief swell at the vulnerability of herself and those that came before; and pauses to catch a hold of herself.

“And you do anything to make it stop. Even become the best at something you hate, so that it never happens again.”

She underestimated how much this conversation would take and immediately regrets talking in the first place.

“I didn’t fail. I can’t fail, and yes; if that means that from your point of view I am guilty for doing the things you say. But from mine, it means that I didn’t die.”

Director Thompson shuffles his paper and stands.

The room is silent.

“I do not like you, or trust you,” he starts.

His voice is neutral but there’s a note of anger.

“I think you are a liability, and I very much hate the position Barton has put us in, by bringing you in. That being said, given the information you have already conceded, the information you have promised, and your statement will be taken under advisement. But I warn you Romanoff, I am warning you, that one step, one toe out of line, and the full wrath of SHIELD and the American government will rain down on you.”

His chair bangs as he stands to leave; giving her one last look.

Fury looks to Coulson, with a slight nod, he stands, moving behind Natasha at a strange angle where she can still see him, but obscured by the camera.

She eyes them suspiciously, her heart beating audibly in her ears.

Fury is first to talk.

“He’s an asshole, but he’s not wrong. He will put you into prison if there’s ever anything that they deem as a toe out of line. You’re never going to get a fair trial and this is probably as good as it’s going to be for a while.”

Natasha stares at her hands, hating that she gave up on her own freedom for this.

She feels so angry at Clint and his kind words.

She should have just run.

The allure of the protection of America, too great in her desperation.

“But that’s not to say it’s all it’s going to be. You are a great asset to us,” Coulson continues, softening the words, and giving a small smile.

“And we want this to work. That being said, the psychiatrist reports tell us that you haven’t been talking, and the debrief reports, well, we know you’ve been holding back.”

He leaves the statement hanging.

Natasha chooses to say nothing. What is it she can say? They’re not wrong.

“As it stands, we expect more from you. Engage with the psychiatrists, do better at debrief.”

Fury waits until she meets his eyes.

The warning is clear.

“If you do, we can start to think about moving you out of the glass box.”

Natasha sighs inwardly, wondering just how much more she can give without losing herself.

The two men stand, and wait for her to do the same.

They frog march her back to the glass dungeon, Fury standing at the door, taking the handcuffs off.

“I warned you when you first came in, to not make me regret this. Do better,” he says gruffly, “and we can do more.”

Taking two steps back as she does with Clint, she watches them leave and then sits on the floor, legs crossed and things to think about.

.

Clint stands at the glass and watches her.

He waits until she looks up at him, her face unreadable.

“I’m sorry,” he starts. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know they were going to do that. I got told as we entered that they were waiting. I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen again… not without warning at least.”

He pushes dinner under the latch and she looks at it.

Everything is packaged.

There’s no loose foods.

Natasha frowns at the food, and she wonders if he knows.

“It seemed safer?” he confesses. “Can I come in?”

Natasha shakes her head, just slightly, but the meaning and loss of trust clear.

She doesn’t expect him to stay there.

But he does.

It shouldn’t be a shock, but it does surprise her, to have her wants respected.

Clint nods, perhaps understanding that she’s not ready to forgive him just yet.

“I’ll leave it here then. They’ve told me debrief is tomorrow at 9am, I’ll be down here at 8.30 same as always. Maybe we can have breakfast together?”

Natasha looks to the food, the prepackaged safe foods that she doesn’t have to think about.

“Yeah,” she says quietly.

“Okay.”

There’s a smile on his face, one that feels genuine.

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

He stays for a second longer and then leaves.

She waits until she hears the second beep, and then lets her breath go.

It’s been a harrowing day and she places herself back to her position on the floor.

Sitting down, she closes her eyes, ignoring the pangs of hunger that bite at her.

.

Natasha thinks it’s around midnight when the second nightmare wakes her, and she looks to the food still on the floor.

Sighing, she drinks the bottled water and eats the packaged cheese and crackers.

He can’t know that the food’s been unsafe. Unless it was him, which she doubts. Nothing has been fatal, just warnings, she thinks.

The glass in breakfast foods, the slight taste of bleach in soup broths; it’s kids games compared to what she’s used to.

Before everything became what it was in the Red Room, the older girls used to bait the younger ones. Poisoning food with laxatives, sprinkling eggshells in rice, making the water undrinkable were all ways of weakening the others, keeping them hungry and dehydrated.

An easy way to get into your opponent's psyche.

She thinks about Clint and the small kindnesses he’s shown, and as she eats the sweet chocolate bar, then of Coulson and Fury, even Maria. The four people that she’s had most contact with, have not been unkind.

What she’s unsure of is the wider compound.

She’s not sure where her food comes from, who’s watching behind the camera and who has access to her psych reports. There are too many things she does not know and does not like.

She thinks of the warnings of the day, both spoken and not.

Natasha feels stupid.

If today is anything to go by, Natasha knows she needs an ally; she’s too vulnerable in the world here for her not to.

And Clint is about as close as she’s going to get.

.

<3

[bestworstcase]

…so THAT's why there was so much lingering whale left after the magenuke. Grimmcromancy. Though if Monstra was that hefty (and toothy) before Salem started renovating, I figure those kaiju grimm often wind up on the food chain's other end. And no goddamn wonder the kingdoms stick with airfleets.

i am a normal fan with normal headcanons come closer

aside from the relative lack of biomechanical constraints on body mass underwater compared to terrestrial organisms one of variables correlated with massive size in marine animals is temperature, suggesting that there may be thermoregulatory advantages to getting REALLY LARGE in the ocean or else (with filter-feeding cetaceans specifically) it may be that colder oceans yield indirect benefits e.g. a greater abundance of plankton. with TOOTHED WHALES like our dear friend the cachalot the hard upper limit on size is a function of availability of food; deep-diving whales like the cachalot must exist in a sweet spot between “huge enough to efficiently dive down to where the squid are” and “small enough to not starve to death.” your average adult cachalot needs to eat about 1.3 tons every day. for example.

FUN FACT #1: vale has snowy winters. vale sits ever so slightly north of the equator. it SNOWS in the TROPICS–

FUN FACT #2: argus—the northern province of mistral whose cold climate stymied the empire’s advance into the region until mantle extended a helping hand—is, eyeballing it, somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40N. cold san francisco. (literally. sanfran is 37N.)

bangs gavel. the first rule of headcanon is no doylist answers to watsonian questions! how come people living in the city-state north of the polar circle dress like this:

not huntsmen/huntresses whose auras protect them from the cold, but ordinary people. no aura training. no hat no gloves that reporter is wearing a PEA COAT.

remnant is cold! a lot colder than our own world. i imagine dust deposits interact with local climates in myriad ways that are well out of scope for This Post Which Is About Monster Whales but on average global temperatures on remnant are Cold. and people run around the polar north with their Bare Hands out because if you plonked them down in a balmy mediterranean summer they would overheat and die

(i am heroically restraining myself here but if you want the really HINGES OFF climate headcanon ask me about tdt!remnant <3) 

anyway whales.

abyssal gigantism—invertebrate organisms such as crustaceans and cephalopods that live in very deep water tending to be VERY LARGE in comparison to shallower-water relatives—is thought to be influenced by a combination of factors of which the one that interests us for the purpose of MONSTER WHALES is, of course, colder temperature. remnant is very cold—much colder than earth—and while this would have only a small impact in the very deepest parts of the ocean (the abyssal zone is 2-3 °C), the upper layers will be significantly colder. so we can imagine that marine lifeforms in the bathyal and middle pelagic zones in remnant’s oceans are subject to much harsher conditions than their equivalents in the real world, and extrapolate from this a phenomenon of pelagic gigantism.

with that in mind. the average adult male cachalot is about 16 meters long. they are known to eat colossal squid, which are estimated to grow between 10-14 meters in length, but the bulk of their diet is squid of more reasonable size, such as the clubhook squid (2m). and while this has never been observed, cachalots often have extensive scarring on their heads thought to be inflicted by colossal squids fighting to not be eaten.

consider a very cold ocean with a fairly low vertical temperature gradient—thus weak thermohaline circulation—and thus nutrient-poor and deoxygenated waters in the middle and upper layers—and thus marine lifeforms are sparser than in our world but tend to be VERY LARGE. in such an ocean, we can imagine that the colossal squid would not be an elusive deep-sea giant but rather a squid of normal size; the evolutionary pressures that exist in our abyssal zone to produce gigantism in this ocean extend into the pelagic zone.

in the real world, the colossal squid is difficult prey: living in deep waters, nearly as long as its hunter, armed with hooks all over its arms and tentacles. its great size makes it an important pillar of the cachalot’s diet, but data suggest these whales prefer to gorge themselves on much smaller animals. 

what does a cachalot look like in a world without an abundance of 1-2 meter long squid to feast on? plausibly… bigger. a lot bigger

perhaps even SO BIG that the colossal squid is as defenseless against the whale as the clubhook squid is to the cachalot. in fact for the sake of simplicity let’s say there’s a linear relationship between the size of the whale and the size of the squid such that the whale is always about eight times longer than its staple prey. and for maximum MONSTER WHALE let’s take the upper bound estimate for the colossal squid, 14m, and say that’s the average size of a squid in remnant’s oceans. the result is a whale 112 meters long.

which is a little bit less than FOUR TIMES the size of a blue whale

in war we can see that monstra’s teeth are about as long as salem. for simplicity let’s say that salem is exactly 180cm tall (5'11"). the teeth of a real cachalot is about 20cm long, and an adult male of average size is 16m; a single tooth is 1.25% the length of the body. 1.25% of 112m is 140cm, and 180cm is 1.25% of 144m. the largest adult males can grow as long as 19m, with the longest (verifiably) recorded specimen ever found measuring 20.7m. for our MONSTER WHALE, with an average length of 112m, that is equivalent to large male specimens in the neighborhood of 133m being fairly common and the largest known specimen in history being… 144.9 meters long :)

(rest in FUCKING pieces captain ahab)

now if monstra is 144 meters long that does

imply that atlas is pretty gods damned small, way smaller than makes sense in relation to the size of these buildings. but the scale of atlas is just sort of weird in general—like the urbanized area bisecting the farmland, those buildings are shown to be skyscrapers in closer shots and that should make the shield-generator pylons like kilometers tall but they

clearly aren’t because centinels are not That Big. meanwhile the size difference between monstra and a megoliath looks about right for “four times the size of a blue whale” so i’m inclined to just think atlas is supposed to be itty bitty and the proportional size of the buildings is off in the artwork in the long shots as a stylistic choice. because based on her proportions and interior scale i simply refuse to believe monstra is several kilometers long

about the grimm—their WOR episode implies that grimm Are In Fact obligate predators who will die if deprived of their prey: grimm are known to eat their kills and, contra popular belief that they “are not obligated to feed” but “choose to,” they cannot be kept in captivity for study because if they do not break free and slaughter their captors, they… die…

(this is my favorite fact about grimm and my favorite thing about that WOR; here’s the grimm lady outlining the modern-day scientific consensus about grimm with irony so thick you could cut it with a knife. here is a grimm eating! it lunges at a scavenger to drive the animal away from its kill! salem, deeply sarcastic: the common belief is that grimm don’t need to eat, they’re just evil and violent, also they die when you keep them in cages and don’t feed them, if you even CARE)

and in ‘before the dawn’ the characters make observations that lead them to theorize that grimm are actually after aura, not “negative emotions;” given a huge mass of people of whom a minority have supernaturally elevated aura, grimm swarm the ones with juiced aura and completely ignore everyone else.

so they need to consume aura to sustain themselves, and their (supposedly) exclusive preference for human prey is probably driven by humans having a lot more aura proportionate to their size than plants or animals. but aura isn’t restricted to humans and faunus; it’s a life force that flows through all living things on remnant, including animals. aura is a kind of spiritual energy rising from the soul and seems to be (based on what pyrrha tells jaune in v1) correlated to knowledge, both of the self and of the world. 

so it makes a certain amount of sense to conclude that intelligence and social complexity are positively correlated with aura levels; cetaceans are both of those things. i also imagine that a creature nearly four times the size of a blue whale would need aura to maintain the structural integrity of its body, even suspended in water. also whales can get the bends! so i imagine deep-diving animals on remnant like our MONSTER WHALES tend to have proportionally much higher levels of aura compared to most marine lifeforms, because the long-term damage done by repeated dives (<- osteonecrosis) would be offset by aura’s healing factor and thus there is selective pressure favoring whales with whatever combination of physical and cognitive traits strengthen aura. 

which means i think really large marine grimm like the leviathan would hunt the MONSTER WHALES :)—maybe with hunting strategies akin to orcas preying on cachalots, i.e. in pods targeting calves and injured adults, but also i think grimm are immune to pressure on the grounds that the liquid core of the planet is grimm and i like to imagine grimm crawling out of mid-ocean ridges. so even a lone grimm could probably kill a MONSTER WHALE by forcing it to surface from a dive fast enough. OR HAGFISH-STYLE–

anyway. on the one hand, who is going to get onto a boat to hunt something That Big. but on the other, think of the spermaceti! the blubber! the ambergris! the bones! and the MEAT! you kill one whale and you can feed an entire city for months. and really all you need is a big natural deposit of gravity dust—something like the floating islands of lake matsu would do—that you can carve up to make drogues. few dozen boats, each armed with a couple harpoons roped to huge chunks of gravity dust. you harpoon the whale, fire the dust, the drogues lift it partially out of the water and prevent it from diving, you let it exhaust itself struggling and move in to kill it once it stops moving. salem’s flying battleship whale is just a modification of the technique traditionally used to hunt these things. or if you live on the coast but don’t have grav dust, you harvest drift whales and eat like kings.

in conclusion argus is a whaling town thanks for coming to my tedtalk

[creampuffandcustard-universe]

Chapter 3:

Capitano stood at the edge of the battlefield, surveying the chaos that surrounded him. The air was thick with smoke, the sounds of clashing metal and distant shouts ringing in his ears. As the commander of the Fatui’s combat soldiers, he was used to the frenzy of battle, the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he led his troops with precision and authority. But today, something felt off.

Despite the chaos around him, his thoughts drifted elsewhere—specifically to Himari. It had been several days since he had last seen her, and the absence of her gentle presence left an uncharacteristic ache in his chest. He missed her calm demeanor, her reassuring smile, and the way her healing powers seemed to radiate warmth even in the coldest of moments.

“Captain!” a voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. It was Pantalone, the ever-ambitious second in command for this mission, striding toward him with a calculated confidence that always rubbed Capitano the wrong way. The man was a master of manipulation, always looking for an angle to exploit, and today was no different.

“What is it?” Capitano replied, his voice steady but edged with irritation.

“We’ve secured the perimeter, but there are still pockets of resistance,” Pantalone reported, a sly grin on his face. “I believe we can—”

“Himari, you take the left flank,” Capitano interrupted without thinking, his mind still lingering on thoughts of the Innamorata.

The moment the name slipped from his lips; silence fell between them. Pantalone’s eyes widened in confusion, his grin faltering. “Himari? You mean… me?”

Capitano’s expression hardened as he realized his mistake, the weight of awkwardness pressing down on him like the weight of his armor. He felt a rush of embarrassment, a rare crack in his stoic demeanor.

“No,” he corrected himself, the awkwardness thick in the air. “I meant… Pantalone. You. You take the left flank.”

Pantalone raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk creeping back onto his face. “Ah, so you do miss her, then? How sweet.”

Capitano shot him a glare, the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “Focus on the mission,” he snapped, trying to regain his composure.

Pantalone chuckled, clearly amused by the slip. “Of course, Captain. I’ll do my best to fill in for your beloved.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Capitano to grapple with the remnants of his blunder. The battle roared around him, but all he could think about was how he had allowed himself to be distracted by thoughts of her.

Himari was not just an Innamorata; she was a beacon of light in the darkness, and her absence felt heavier than he would ever admit. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he refocused on the battlefield, reminding himself of his duty. But the image of her smile lingered, a constant reminder of what he fought to protect.

The journey back to Fatui headquarters was uneventful for most, but Capitano felt the weight of his earlier mistake still hanging over him like a storm cloud. He had slipped up in front of Pantalone, and now the smooth-talking harbinger had an advantage—an advantage he would surely exploit the moment they returned. Capitano dreaded the inevitable teasing but refused to show any outward concern.

As expected, the moment they arrived, Pantalone wasted no time in executing his plan.

Bursting through the doors, he rushed to Himari, an exaggerated expression of hurt on his face. “Innamorata! Oh, my dear Innamorata!” he called dramatically, causing several Fatui members to glance his way in confusion.

Himari, who had been peacefully tending to some minor wounds, looked up in surprise as Pantalone approached her with arms wide open, his face full of faux heartbreak. “Did you know? On the battlefield, your Captain, the great and powerful Capitano, called me Himari!” His voice was filled with mock sorrow. “How could he confuse me with you, the lovely Innamorata?”

Before Himari could respond, Capitano strode in, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall. His dark eyes immediately locked onto Pantalone, who was now standing entirely too close to her for his liking.

Without a word, Capitano reached forward, grabbing Pantalone by the collar of his pristine coat, lifting him off the ground with one swift motion. It wasn’t exactly intentional, but Pantalone’s eyes widened in surprise as Capitano's grip tightened, the collar pressing uncomfortably against his throat.

“Enough,” Capitano growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Pantalone struggled for air, trying to keep his usual smirk in place but failing as he was slowly choked by Capitano's iron grip. “C-Captain, I—choke—I was only joking!” he sputtered, his face turning a light shade of red.

Himari, wide-eyed at first, quickly stifled a giggle. She had never seen Capitano so flustered, and the sight of him accidentally choking Pantalone over something so trivial was both shocking and amusing. A small smile crept onto her face, and despite her usual reserved nature, she couldn't help but tease him.

“Captain,” she said softly, amusement clear in her voice. “I didn’t realize you will miss me in the battlefield.”

Capitano froze, his grip on Pantalone loosening just enough for the man to gasp for air. Capitano turned his head toward Himari, and for a brief moment, there was a flash of something in his eyes—was it embarrassment? Annoyance? It was hard to tell, but Himari could see through his stoic demeanor.

Her teasing smile only grew wider, her eyes soft with playful mischief. “Did you really call him me on the battlefield?”

Capitano quickly released Pantalone, who staggered back, clutching his throat dramatically as he caught his breath. “I—I’ll be off now!” Pantalone managed, stumbling away, but not before shooting Capitano a knowing grin.

Capitano, his jaw tight, turned fully to face Himari. “It was a slip of the tongue,” he muttered, his deep voice firm yet somehow unconvincing.

Himari tilted her head slightly, still smiling at him. “A slip of the tongue?” she repeated, her tone light and teasing. “I’m honored, Captain. I didn’t know you thought about me so much.”

Capitano, clearly unused to this kind of playful teasing, shifted uncomfortably. “You’re reading too much into it,” he grumbled, crossing his arms, though his posture had softened slightly. “Focus on your work.”

But Himari only smiled wider, her soft laughter filling the space between them. “Of course, Captain,” she said sweetly, her eyes twinkling with humor. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

As she turned back to her duties, Capitano stood there for a moment, feeling an odd warmth settle in his chest. Despite the awkwardness and the teasing, he couldn’t help but feel a little… lighter.

Perhaps, he thought, there were worse things than having her on his mind.

Memento Mori 🌻

[shadowqueenjude]

Tamlin's villain origin story part 4

Beron has been gutted and posted as a warning to the Inner Circle. The remnants of the Inner Circle attempt to round up their allies in response.

“We need to go round up our allies,” Feyre said. “First let’s go to the Solar courts. Start with Helion. Before they get a chance to sway them.”

Azriel nodded. “Take Cassian with you.”

Feyre nodded assent.

Cassian was ready about 20 minutes later, hair tied back in a bun and decked in full Illyrian leathers. Standing next to Feyre, she suddenly remembered how tall he was. Not like she hadn’t seen her fair share of tall males. Rhysand had been tall; though he seemed short compared to other males she had seen; Tamlin, Lucien, and Azriel were all taller than him. Lucien and Tamlin were even taller than Azriel, Tamlin a smidge taller than Lucien. But Cassian had them all beat in height and bulk. Feyre wasn’t short by any means, but she certainly felt so before Cassian.

“You ready for this?” Feyre asked him. Cassian sighed. “I should be asking you that question. You’re the one who just lost your mate.”

“But you knew him for far longer than me. Plus, Helion is into you, not me.”

“Maybe we can use that to our advantage.”

Feyre tried not to imagine what he meant by that.

She took Cassian’s hand, callouses scraping, and winnowed away.

The guards at the Day court didn’t so much as blink as Feyre and Cassian approached the main entrance. Feyre didn’t pay them any heed, letting the cold mask on her face say it all.

She sat down in the little tearoom that was present at the front of the palace to wait. She had no doubt whatsoever servants of Helion’s would be telling him at this very moment that Feyre Cursebreaker, ruler of the Night Court, was here in his palace, along with the Illyrian commander Cassian.

Sure enough, Helion himself appeared in the room a few minutes later. He threw them his usual carefree grin, although something seemed off. Feyre couldn’t point her figure at what. “Feyre Cursebreaker, and Cassian. I’m assuming you’re not here for pleasure?” He winked at them, and Cassian rolled his eyes deliberately. Then Helion glanced between them and smirked. “Moved on quick from Rhysand, have you, Feyre? I don’t blame you. If I had to choose, I would’ve chosen Cassian too.”

Feyre flushed angrily. “That is NOT what is happening here. How dare you insinuate-“

“I’m just joking, relax,” Helion said, waving his hand in dismissal. His face was far more serious now. “I’m assuming you’re here to ask for my cavalry.”

Feyre let nothing show in her face, although she noticed Cassian’s face twitched. A less observant male may not have noticed, but Helion was a High Lord. He may act stupid sometimes, but there was no way he wasn’t picking apart every movement the two of them made.

“I came here,” Feyre said carefully, “to ensure the alliance between our courts held strong.”

Helion grimaced. Feyre suddenly felt her insides go cold. She had a very bad feeling about the next words coming out of Helion’s mouth. “I cannot side with you against Tamlin.”

“Why the hell not?” Cassian demanded before Feyre could stop him.

Helion’s eyes glowed. The epitome of the sun; yet those eyes were so cold. “How dare you challenge me in my home, Illyrian.”

There was a slight tang of magic and Cassian sat down, defeated. “I did have an alliance with the Night Court. But things have changed now.”

“What?” Feyre asked. “What happened in the past few days to change your mind?”

Helion took a deep breath. “Let me give you the full story.”

Tamlin’s POV- a few days ago

Tamlin was still reeling from the secret his best friend had told him.

He had always known Lucien had the makings of a High Lord. It was why he had taken great pains to conceal it from everyone at the Spring Court- not to protect Tamlin’s reign, but to protect Lucien’s life. His brothers had already hounded him and killed his lover and gotten him kicked out of his own court. Who knew what others would do. Lucien, apart from being the only true friend Tamlin ever had, was exceptionally well-connected; he knew all sorts of people from the Human Lands and in every court in Prythian. He possessed that ability to speak with people that Tamlin found difficult. Having never expected to take the throne, Tamlin had had a warrior’s training rather than a High Lord’s one; he had never quite got the hang of the whole thing. Lucien, on the other hand, had never expected to become a High Lord but had studied academics and had grown up in the Autumn Court and therefore had all the makings of a High Lord. Tamlin incredulously thought of how Lucien could perhaps be High King if he so wished, but Lucien had never sought power. Tamlin had no idea where he would be without Lucien as a friend and advisor to turn to.  He had been a shitty friend to him for the past few months, but he had done everything he could to make up for it. He would make up for it for eternity if it was what Lucien wished.

Lucien had told him of how he had taken control of Hybern. He had walked in and had found the place in total chaos. He had round up whatever reasonable people he could find and delegated tasks to break up the chaos, promising high up positions in his court in exchange for their service. By the time he was done dispersing the violence, the people of Hybern had been practically begging him to take over. He had found a despot replacing the King of Hybern, some old servant of his who wasn’t bothering to do anything to curb the violence. Lucien had defeated him and thrown him in jail and seized the throne. Nobody had even questioned Lucien’s position once they’d seen his magic.

Which apparently consisted not just of Autumn Court fire, but Day Court light.

Tamlin had not failed to notice that brief moment in Hybern where Lucien had been able to break the spell even Tamlin could not. He had not understood it until now though.

And now Tamlin sat before the High Lord of Day, baring his teeth.

He had not forgotten the way Helion had acted towards him at the High Lord meeting. He knew he had no reason to trust him, especially considering how lucrative war would be for the Day Court. But he had to take a gamble based on the information provided to him by Lucien.

“Tamlin,” Helion said. His voice was bored. “To what do I owe the pleasure? I’m surprised to see you here, after the stunt you pulled with Rhysand.”

Tamlin resisted the urge to snarl. “You didn’t actually expect me to revive him after what he and his mate did to my court. Beron only did it because Mor had a sword at his throat.”

Helion smirked ever so slightly. “But Rhysand was my friend; you must know that. So why would you risk coming here?”

Tamlin chuckled. “Because of him.”

Right on cue, Lucien strode through the door, just as planned. He looked immaculate as usual in white and gold robes fit for a member of the Day Court. He sketched a bow to Helion Spell-Cleaver, ever the gentleman. “Helion.”

Helion raised a brow as he appraised him. “You don’t mean to offer your best asset? I’d be happy to accept, but where the hell would that leave you?”

Even Helion knew of Lucien’s reputation. Such was his power. Not the High Lord powers in his veins, but the diplomatic power he earned on his own merit.

“I’m not giving him up,” Tamlin said. “I’m offering to share.”

Helion scoffed. “You don’t expect me to bargain with you over half a male. Even if that half is Lucien Vanserra.”

Tamlin smirked. “Lucien Spell-Cleaver, actually.”

Helion started for a moment, true shock clouding his face. Then it was obscured again by that cool, bored mask. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You don’t recognize your own son, Helion?” Lucien said mockingly.

[thenewfuture]

Oh, please. Ruruka didn't give two craps about the FF. She told us herself.

Audio clip downloading: [Friends? Teammates? Get real! I never cared about the Future Foundation. All I wanted was to survive this Tragedy ordeal and get people to eat my sweets. This job was just a means to an end. In fact, if I deliver your corpses to Kyosuke, I bet I could get a huge reward! I may even get the funds to run my own organization!]

So don't go gaslighting him into who Ruruka truly was a person.

(For reference, this quote was copy and pasted from when Ruruka trapped and tried to kill Makoto and pals)

Oh, I'm well aware of Ruruka's lack of faith to the Foundation. I suspected it for quite some time now.

But still, even I know how she would feel about this ordeal?

Huh?

What are you getting at?

.........

Sonosuke. Try to remember Ruruka's true feelings. What she was really like before she died! You of all people should remember.

......

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

*Flashback*

Ruruka: This killing game is totally ruining my vibes. Everyone's gone all crazy.

Ruruka: Kyosuke, Juzo, Makoto Naegi's crew, and now the Remnants are here too.

Ruruka: But hey, it's not all bad. I mean, you're here with me. And we can for sure use this situation to our advantage.

We'll get rid of everyone standing in our way in one fell swoop. The two of us will definitely survive this. You understand?

Of course. I'll stand with you, no matter what.

Ruruka: Heh. Good.

Ruruka: You know, honeybun... I'm really terrified. In a situation like this, you can't really know who to trust.

Ruruka: But...I can trust you. Right, Sonosuke?

Sonosuke: Of course. I'll move heaven, hell and earth just to protect you.

Ruruka: That's good. That makes me feel relieved.

Like I said. Anyone and everyone here doesn't matter. We'll betray anyone just as long as it's for you....and me.

Ruruka: As far as I'm concerned, this whole building is empty and we're the only ones in it. No one else matters here. Not Seiko, not Kyosuke, and especially not those Remnant freaks...

Ruruka: You got that....Cupcake?~

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

........

Surely you know where I'm getting at. Ruruka wouldn't want you to stand with them!

How dare you attempt to put words into a dead woman's mouth!

We did not kill Miss Ruruka Ando! And we'd agreed to this gentleman here to find the truth! He would not betray us for that! Right, sir?

.....

....Sir?

....Betraying....you....is not....a betrayal against Ruruka!

URRRGH! *SWIPE!*

*Sonsouke attempts to slice at Sonia...*

?!

*But Hajime grabs her shoulder, and pulls her back towards him*

[autumnfangirler]

👀 mindscapes u say ?

the minute i saw this ask this popped into my brain

insanity will go under the cut :)

step being step, and them being telepaths, i always thought they had ways to protect their mindscape just in case something happened, so those are going to be added along with the actual descriptions of the mindscape! ill add a bit of what their thoughts sound/feel like because it goes hand in hand for me

Caine- their mindscape is a mix of both the farm and the rangers HQ, because those two were the most fomative places in caine learning what to do and how to be. for a long time they werent anything but a vessel for what others wanted. his mindscape will shift depending on what caine associates the person with the most(fun fact, ortega is more or less at the midway point between the farm and the rangers. it makes for,,, an interesting look to his mindscape). the only thing that doesnt change, though, is that it always feels strangely impersonal, like hes viewing his own mind in a third person perspective. their mind is firm yet adaptable, and while his shields arent,,,,the greatest, they dont need to be. he keeps track of the mental feel of anybody in their brain, and arranges something accordingly. whatever seems to be a particular persons weakpoint, hell pick up on and project. its difficult to find anything in their brain (that sounds like an insult but i Swear its not) since its bare of more personal objects or revealing factors. they use their observations and skill to make sure nobody can do much to their brain– just like a fight, find his opponents weakness and take advantage of it to win.

i always saw his thoughts as a mix of ortega and chens, most of them being short and clipped, but restless. hell often get lost in them, though hes always aware of whats going on around him. their imagination is surprisingly active, and they also come with a healthy dose of overthinking :D

Cyrus- i was mentally shaking your hand when you talked about cyrus mindscape. the core of his mind is exactly what you described; its a blaze, with near welding-torch focus towards its victims. youll be burned if you try to get close. but hes making sure nobody reaches that far. the surrounding area is a icy and cold, giving anybody inside absolutely nothing. hes laid tricks, of course: fading tracks in the snow, an odd rustle of bushes here or there, but mostly speaking its entirely barren. its a test of endurance, and hes depending on people failing from the environment before they can do any real damage. only the people who know him or are observant enough can figure out which way to go. as a little bonus tidbit: prehb cyrus' mindscape was a forest in midday, where the heat was just intense enough to feel it beating on your back. there are still remnants of that in his current mindscape, though the trees are fallen over and theres no sun to be found.

his thoughts are very final, for lack of better word. theres hardly room for doubt in them, though often times he'll ruminate on an idea to make sure everything is up to his satisfaction. despite the outer shell of his mindscape, his thoughts Do feel warm, but its more like friction burn

Cecilia- her mind is surprisingly open, and it is showy. its a museum, and when you enter theres a velvet carpet with those massive marble stairs in the middle and a beautiful chandelier overhead. every floor has paintings of things shes done, with the first few floors consisting entirely of her proudest moments, including the sidestep ones. im sure theres at least one painting of the nanosurge in there, she didnt like the fact that nobody knew she stopped it. there are some more quieter, but still happy memories when people go up, ones with ortega, argent, herald, and more. theres an uneasy feeling at about this point, though. the farther up they go, the stronger that feeling grows, to the point where the mental pressure could crush them completely. ceci doesnt need tricks like the other two do; she exercises power as her means of defense. its coupled with more disturbing paintings too, ones that depict things like the farm and the void. the lights get dimmer, theres less exhibits, and the final floor is just. empty. empty, and utterly lonely. what are you doing up here? theres nothing for you.

shes in the same boat as ortega, aka her thoughts Never shut up. shes creative and excitable, and its easy to get wrapped up in her thought processes. there doesnt tend to be repetition or circling, she doesnt stay on the same thought for very long.

Cynthia- you know the "you... are... lost in memories" line in rebirth? thats what cynthias mindscape is like. its a house thats an amalgamation of every home shes visited before: tia elenas, anathemas, and of course ortegas. it invites nostalgia. every object sends a person into memories, using the same system that nightmare loops do, but kinder. the memories are wrong, though. faces can get blurred, voices are distorted, and touch is especially difficult to get right. it can be disorienting to experience these loops, and they become nauseating if you spend too long in them. the house itself is a maze, and it feels like it goes on forever. none of the rooms repeat itself, but they cant be used as a marker either, because it never seems like you can go back to the same room you were in before. thats how cynthia protects herself– nothing is the same, everything is a trap, and when a person falls for it, she can safely extract them from her mind.

her thoughts are long, slow, and careful, and she often goes back to earlier thoughts to consider them further. her thoughts are twitchy too, theyre easily affected by her environment. theyre warm though, and i imagine feels like somebody reading a story to you

[linuxgamenews]

Survive and Escape: Wastelander V1.0 - A Turn-Based Strategy

Wastelander V1.0 turn-based strategy game launches into the storm on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Thanks to the talented team at Appstronaut Studios for their creative genius. Available now on Steam with 93% Positive reviews. If you're into turn-based strategy and like a good survival challenge, you’re going to dig Wastelander V1.0. It’s just launched on Steam for Linux, and it’s all about surviving and escaping from a planet that’s been hit hard by brutal storms. Ready to build, explore, and fight for your life? Let's dive in. In Wastelander V1.0 you begin stranded on a desolate alien planet, and it’s not looking good. Since your ship gets pulled into the atmosphere by some mysterious force, and now you’re stuck. The planet’s constantly hammered by intense storms that also keep getting worse. If you don’t find a way to get out, those storms will eventually wipe you out. So, it’s time to get your survival gaming on.

Wastelander V1.0 - Official Trailer

You’ll start with nothing and have to build up your colony from scratch. Explore the planet to find unique buildings and unlock powerful relics that can help protect you. The clock’s ticking, so every turn counts. Expand your colony, explore the barren wasteland, and dig up the tech remnants of an ancient civilization to boost your chances of survival. The launch of V1.0 is all about surviving in Wastelander, but is also about planning and mastering the mechanics. Each building, item, and ability has its own strengths and weaknesses. Learning how to use them to your advantage is key. The title’s easy to get into but tough to master, so you’ll always be finding new ways to play and new strategies to try.

Features to Keep You Hooked:

Easy to Learn, Hard to Master: The gameplay is simple enough to pick up quickly, but deep enough to keep you coming back for more.

Infinite Replay Value: With randomly generated maps, every playthrough is a new adventure. You’ll never get the same game twice!

Multiple Play Modes: From various difficulty levels to Wastelander daily challenges, there’s always a new way to test your skills in V1.0. Compete against other players’ high scores and see how you stack up.

Tons of Tools and Resources: Find abandoned supply drops and other resources to help grow your colony and defend against storms.

Destructive Storms: The storms are no joke. They’ll test your defenses and force you to stay on your toes.

Mysterious Alien Tech: Discover alien ruins and technologies that can change the gameplay. Use them to explore more easily, alter the terrain, and learn the secrets of survival.

Wastelander V1.0 patch also contains a huge amount of polish and stability fixes. Due to blend the perfect blend of planning, exploration, and survival. It’s challenging but rewarding, and each game feels fresh thanks to the randomly generated maps. Whether you’re a seasoned turn-based strategy player or just looking for something new to try, this title certainly has something for everyone. So, what are you waiting for? Jump into Wastelander V1.0 on Steam now and see if you’ve got what it takes to survive and escape the deadly planet. Build your colony, fend off the storms, and uncover the secrets of the ancient civilization. Priced at $7.89 USD / £6.71 / 7,70€ with the 21% discount. Along with support for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

[ao3wasntenough]

one shot. Scenario Magic sam in AOE , meet and showing his magic to Cade , tessa and Shane.

*optimus with manage escape with Cade, Tessa and Shane. He arrive in destination where he meet other Autobots *

*when Cade out from optimus, he saw there's a few car but one he find interest that one care look like medic car and from it a men come out and hugging yellow bot with happy tears then all Autobots circling him and hug group with the men. That's definitely something . Then the men and other Autobots look at him ,his daughter and Shane they getting hostile except optimus*

Optimus: stop, they risk they life to save mine now they under my protection

*other Autobots put cannons away but Sam still raising his hand*

Optimus: Sam please, they are not danger for us

*same put down his hand *

Sam : fine, but if I see they doing something.. I will cut they head off

*Cade laughing nervously *

Cade: you kidding, right? He kidding right? *Autobots just silent *

*at night they briefing what to do next, Cade after Introducing himself and his human group to sama and Autobots and giving a chip that they got from one of cemetary wind crew that they kill. They seeing how cemetary very cruelly kill leadfoot while he begging to them, make everyone feel sad, grimace and angry*

Sam : you know optimus, I thought the worse things they can doing was that forcing you to leave earth... I was wrong. I already told you optimus human government will betray you

Optimus: sam-

Sam : I am right

*sam look at Cade like analysis him then look away*

Sam : I am sorry for your friend, he didn't deserve died by evil soldier

* Cade shock, because sam know about that. Cade look sam with anger and sad*

Cade : The He'll?! How you know that?! *look at optimus* did you tell him? * optimus just Shook his head , Cade look at sam * who are you?

*sam not answering he just move to bonfire and put a piece of a fabric and sand on fire while close his eyes and whispering latins words then the fire change into white fire and from that come out orbs, so many orbs. While three humans and Autobots look awe, sam look horror*

Bumblebee : sam what's wrong?

Sam : *look horror , sad and angry* those so called protect peoples... They kill innocent peoples for last four years.

*that news make everyone shock*

Tessa: how do you know?

Drift: what are those orbs-

Sam : yeah, soul or remnants of peoples or humans that cemetery wind kills. They not care about peoples despite claims what they did for peoples, they doing it for sinister reasons

Cade: wait.. It's that meant you are a... Wizard?

Sam : more accurate magic user but in official way yeah, a wizard

*Cade can't belive but again the younger men doing something outside logic*

Tessa : if you have magic then why not using it.. To stop it the hunt?

*sam snort at gessa*

Sam : yeah, right then why I don't using it for make universe become more peace?... Magic have limited and I have limitations

*Shane snort*

Shane : so that's meant you are useless now?

* that comments make all Autobots except optimus (but he still give glare) pointed their Cannon to Shane*

Ratchet: listen to me human, sam have limited yet he still trying to keep all of us save

Hound : without him we will end up only 5 Autobots

Ironhide: he more useful then you. He been with us for years

Crosshairs: I suggest you to shut your mouth about him

Oprimus: enough, stand down. *look at Shane* I suggest to keep I'll comments about sam for yourself Shane

* Shane nods immediately whispers at Shane *

Cade : listen one thing I know about surviving that when you see a guy and doing weird stuff better keep weird comments for yourself.

I think Sam would just mess with Shane in non magical ways and Shane would say he’s using magic as an unfair advantage and Sam’s just “HAHA WRONG I can just be that petty and annoying without magic! ”

[generalhomeblog]

The Installation of Laminate Wall Panels Offers Four Main Benefits

Wall laminate panels are a terrific option if you want to improve the aesthetics of your interior spaces while also adding an extra layer of protection. Laminated wall panels come in a wide variety of colors and designs that provide the perfect mix of style and functionality. Greenlam Clads, a part of surface solutions giant Greenlam Industries, offers a vast array of laminate wall panels. We've outlined the four main benefits of installing laminate wall panels below in order to give you a better understanding of them.

One excellent way to add individuality to your room is by using laminated wall panels. Because laminate comes in so many colors and patterns, you can alter the appearance of your area with a far more dramatic design than you could with paint. Maintenance is a joy with laminate wall panels since they are so simple to maintain. Installing laminate panels on your own may be finished in a single weekend. Keep reading.

Many options

Laminate wall panels come in a variety of colors, patterns, and designs and may be customized, unlike wood or glass panels. Laminate wall cladding is available in over 20 various decors, ranging from a rustic solid gray to a royal walnut wood hue. Because laminate wall panels come in so many different styles and colors, you may create stunning interior designs without breaking the bank. You may go to Jennings, a leading manufacturer of contemporary surface solutions, for all demanding clients in both residential and commercial settings. Since 1988, Jennings has concentrated on the production of high-pressure decorative laminates. To stay ahead of the competition, the firm blends unparalleled experience with ongoing innovation.

Dependable and long-lasting

Greenlam Clads laminate wall panels are composed of premium-grade high-pressure compact laminates, making them strong and long-lasting. Since laminate wall panels are resistant to high impact, corrosion, dampness, and fire, they are a wise investment for your buildings. Furthermore, decorative laminate wall cladding uses anti-microbial properties.

3. Easily Maintained

Compared to laminate wall cladding, painted walls and wallpaper may seem more appealing, but they require constant upkeep, which makes them difficult and expensive to maintain over time. However, laminate wall panels are easier and less expensive to maintain because they need less upkeep and are resistant to scuffs, abrasions, and other sorts of damage.

4. Easy to Set Up

Laminate wall panels are less complex, less time-consuming, and easier to install than other wall design solutions. Furthermore, it's easy to take down laminate wall panels so you can reinstall them elsewhere without harming the wall. The laminate wall cladding installation process is quick and easy because it leaves no ugly remnants, such as exposed adhesives or grout lines.

The Last Word

Look for laminate wall shop panels that can be used in both commercial and residential settings and that have a number of advantages like microbiological resistance, moisture resistance, fire retardancy, ease of installation, and low maintenance. If you wish to discuss your needs or have any questions, go to your preferred supplier.

[qiu-yan]

cannot believe that you're making me, a jiang cheng stan blog, say this, but i think you're being a bit unfair to lan wangji here....

like we both agree that jiang cheng could not politically afford to protect the wen remnants or to remain publicly tied to wei wuxian after wei wuxian attacked lanling jin's labor camp. could jiang cheng have encouraged wei wuxian to try and fix his shitty reputation himself? could jiang cheng have tried to visit more often in secret? maybe, maybe not. but the fact is that the postwar yunmeng jiang was still in the beginning stages of rebuilding from a near-complete annihilation, that it was the one great sect not included in the venerated triad's sworn brotherhood and therefore stood relatively alone, and that lanling jin by contrast was the strongest and richest sect in in the postwar period. standing by wei wuxian and in the process alienating lanling jin was not something yunmeng jiang could afford.

but now let's consider gusu lan's situation. while gusu lan did not suffer the same scale of near-complete massacre that yunmeng jiang suffered, the cloud recesses were still burned and a good portion of its priceless library lost. thus, we can conclude that postwar gusu lan also sorely needed funds, both to rebuild destroyed infrastructure and to try and replace/rewrite the books lost when the library burned. as your meme states, these funds most likely came primarily from lanling jin - due in no small part to the sworn brotherhood between gusu lan's sect leader, zewu-jun, and lianfang-zun of lanling jin. in fact, i think it's reasonable to conclude that lianfang-zun specifically played a major role in bankrolling the rebuilding of the cloud recesses.

now, how reliable is this financial support? can this financial support weather scandals - such as gusu lan's hanguang-jun publicly siding with someone who lanling jin considers to be an enemy? i don't know. on one hand, if jin guangshan is smart, he should know that having another one of the great sects owe lanling jin a tremendous and publicly known debt of gratitude is a tremendous political advantage and would help him seize the dominance over the jianghu he clearly wants. on the other hand, an ally who owes you yet will slap you in the face like this might not be worth spending that much money to support. furthermore, jin guangshan clearly thinks nothing of lianfang-zun: lianfang-zun's obvious personal investment in helping his sworn brother, then, might actually push jin guangshan away from supporting gusu lan, just to be a dick to his beloathed bastard son.

from this, i think we can conclude that gusu lan's leadership, at least, has a vested interest in keeping lanling jin happy. and keep in mind that this is not merely a "morally cowardly" position for them to take, no matter what the text of MDZS itself insists: after all, sects are not shiny baubles kept around for the enjoyment of their leaders, but rather organizations comprised of flesh-and-blood human beings who are capable of suffering and dying. gusu lan getting cut off from lanling jin's funds translates into gusu lan's infrastructure not being rebuilt, its disciples potentially not having enough housing to live in, enough clothing to wear, enough equipment to stay safe during night-hunts, or even enough food to eat. the first and foremost duty of gusu lan's leadership is towards ensuring the safety and happiness of its own people.

so where does lan wangji fall into all of this?

well, first let us consider what lan wangji is capable of doing for wei wuxian. lan wangji is not the sect leader of gusu lan; therefore, he has less power to enact change than a sect leader does. lan wangji cannot command the entire sect to take a certain course of action; he cannot directly command the funds, manpower, and other resources of gusu lan in the same way that lan xichen can. thus, if he stands with wei wuxian, it will be just him and not all of gusu lan.

but this does not rule out all possible actions lan wangji could have taken to help wei wuxian. for example, as he himself notes later on in the story, he could have chosen to stand with wei wuxian in the burial mounds. so let's consider why he did not do this.

it must be said here that lan wangji not being a sect leader means he also has more freedom to act, which is why it is more possible for him than it is for characters like lan xichen or jiang cheng to have joined wei wuxian in the burial mounds. a sect leader represents the will and intention of their sect. if someone like lan xichen takes a certain major course of action, the rest of the political world understands this to mean that said action was not just lan xichen's own will, but gusu lan's will as a whole. meanwhile, because lan wangji is not the sect leader of gusu lan, his actions do not represent the will of his sect in the same way lan xichen's actions do. lan wangji choosing a course of action entails him made a choice for himself only, not that he made a choice on the behalf of everyone in his sect. therefore, lan wangji does not have to worry as much about his actions dragging his entire sect down with him.

however, lan wangji at this point already has work he's obligated to do for his own sect. since gusu lan is actively rebuilding at this point, lan wangji has certainly been assigned a decent amount of important work essential to gusu lan's recovery. all of the work ranging from training new disciples and teaching classes to night-hunting so that gusu lan has enough of an income is necessary for gusu lan to rebuild; since lan wangji is a prominent and capable member of gusu lan, he (along with characters like lan xichen and lan qiren) is certainly responsible for a decent chunk of that work.

if lan wangji leaves gusu lan to stand in the burial mounds with wei wuxian, then he will no longer be available to do the work gusu lan has assigned him to do. this isn't even getting into the fact that if lan wangji actually did this, gusu lan would either try and force him to come home or cut him out of the sect eventually to avoid political backlash; the simple fact is that lan wangji cannot also do work for gusu lan if he is physically in the burial mounds. therefore, lan wangji going to stand with wei wuxian in the burial mounds entails lan wangji becoming unavailable to help gusu lan rebuild. and, given the fact that gusu lan raised, fed, clothed, trained, and still financially supports him, lan wangji abandoning his duties to gusu lan like this would in fact be a dereliction of duty.

therefore, lan wangji also has reasonable concerns explaining why he did not straight up leave gusu lan to go stand with wei wuxian in the burial mounds: he can't abandon his duties to his own sect.

however, these concerns do not preclude other courses of action lan wangji still could have undertaken to help wei wuxian. namely, lan wangji could have leveraged his own sterling reputation to speak for wei wuxian and help clear wei wuxian's name.

this one is honestly the hardest for me to be an apologist for....after all, lan wangji knows that wei wuxian is not raising a wen army in the burial mounds. he knows that the wen remnants are harmless, that wei wuxian does not want to hurt anyone, that wei wuxian only wants to live peacefully with the people he's protecting. lan wangji, therefore, knows that almost everything the public is saying about wei wuxian is wrong.

and lan wangji is actually someone people listen to. first of all, he's the highborn, highly capable, and quite famous member of one of the great cultivation sects. second, at this point in the story, people already hold lan wangji's honesty and moral character in high regard. the entire gusu lan sect is already viewed by the rest of the jianghu as a sect deeply concerned with righteousness and proper behavior; lan wangji specifically is respected as the honorable hanguang-jun even in comparison to the rest of gusu lan. all this goes to say that lan wangji should logically be someone whose words and opinions have weight. when he says something, especially something pertaining to morality, people should logically stop and listen in a way they would not do for many of the other characters.

since the majority of the publicly-voiced complaints against wei wuxian center around his perceived-to-be unethical behavior and his violation of social norms, if someone as heavily associated by the public with righteousness and honor as lan wangji were to speak for wei wuxian, then it is decently probably that his words might have some non-zero impact. that is not to say that wei wuxian's shitty reputation would reverse itself overnight, but it is still possible that people's thinking might change, even if only temporarily, as they struggle to understand why hanguang-jun is publicly defending the yiling patriarch. at the very least, people would talk about it.

and lan wangji doesn't have to leave gusu lan in order to do this. all he has to do is write a speech and then deliver it at the next public-enough social event; this does not entail cutting ties with gusu lan.

(i would go as far as to say that, after wei wuxian's expulsion from yunmeng jiang, lan wangji publicly defending wei wuxian would be more effective than jiang cheng publicly defending wei wuxian. for one, jiang cheng isn't held in high regard as a beacon of righteousness as lan wangji is; the fact that lan wangji gets a "-jun" title and jiang cheng doesn't already speaks volumes about how they're perceived by the public. for two, people just don't respect jiang cheng in general, while they still have some modicum of respect for lan wangji because lan wangji has gusu lan behind him. that's why lan wangji was present at the jin party wei wuxian crashed, while jiang cheng was not. for three, people are more likely to dismiss jiang cheng's hypothetical defense of wei wuxian as being unreliably biased, since jiang cheng is wei wuxian's (former) sect leader and therefore may personally benefit from defending wei wuxian; meanwhile, the fact that lan wangji is unaffiliated with wei wuxian would, in the eyes of the public, lend his defense a level of credibility born of its perceived objectivity.)

of course, none of this is guaranteed. it's entirely possible lan wangji writes a passionate op-ed in the jianghu newspaper defending wei wuxian's moral character, and everyone just assumes he's gone insane. but even if success isn't guaranteed, one might still expect someone with lan wangji's personality to try.

however, if lan wangji did in fact try to publicly speak for wei wuxian, or at the very least correct some of the misconceptions surrounding wei wuxian, we.....do not see it. in fact, if i'm recalling correctly, the only time we see lan wangji verbally defend wei wuxian in wei wuxian's first life is during that one meeting in which everyone grills jiang cheng about wei wuxian's attack on the qiongqi pass labor camp. when jin guangshan says that wei wuxian publicly disrespected jiang cheng, lan wangji spoke up to say that didn't happen; after that, lan wangji doesn't say anything else in the discussion. luo qingyang says more on wei wuxian's behalf.

(of course, it's possible that lan wangji did try to publicly speak for wei wuxian after his visit to yiling, and it all just happens offscreen because wei wuxian isn't around to see it....but i find that rather hard to believe.)

so lan wangji does not really publicly defend wei wuxian from criticism. nor do we really see him try to correct the misinformation surrounding wei wuxian, especially after he visited yiling. lan wangji has the righteous reputation but he doesn't really use it. but - is it fully reasonable to say that his silence was unambiguously wrong? should we not also consider that lan wangji probably also had decent reasons for his silence?

first, there's the fact that lan wangji is not good at public speaking. he already barely talks, which means he has next to no social skills; he also has zero experience in the political arena. he certainly does not strike me as someone with a lot of experience debating others, refuting the arguments of opponents, swaying people to his side with his words, and stopping people from turning his words against him.

therefore, it would be decently reasonable of lan wangji to fear that any potential defense of wei wuxian's character he mounts not only be ineffective, but also be turned against him.

second - and more importantly - i think that lan wangji has to consider how any potential words or actions reflect upon his entire sect. i said earlier that, because lan wangji is not the sect leader, he does not have to worry about directly dragging everyone in gusu lan down with him when he makes a decision. however, this is very much NOT to say that lan wangji doesn't have to worry about how his actions reflect upon his sect at all. though he isn't the sect leader, lan wangji is still THE hanguang-jun of gusu lan, one of gusu lan's treasured and very famous twin jades. he is also a direct member of gusu lan's main ruling line; in fact, if we go by typical male primogeniture rules, then until lan xichen marries and has a legitimate son, lan wangji is just straight-up the gusu lan sect heir.

which is all to say that, if lan wangji pulls something and the rest of the jianghu gets upset with him - if he gives an incendiary enough speech in wei wuxian's defense, for example - then there will be consequences for not just him but potentially all of gusu lan as well. as stated earlier, gusu lan on this point is dependent on financial support from lanling jin in order to rebuild. if lan wangji speaks too stridently in wei wuxian's defense and thus offends lanling jin, what will happen to that financial support? if lan wangji pisses off jin guangshan enough, lanling jin will at the very least demand that lan xichen punish lan wangji - what should lan wangji have his brother do then? and what if lanling jin instead levies more drastic consequences, such as lessening or fully cutting off their financial aid to gusu lan? what is gusu lan supposed to do then?

this is not to say that lanling jin will cut off all financial support the moment lan wangji dares say that wei wuxian doesn't eat children for dinner or something. however, lan wangji himself is someone with basically no political experience, who does not know what sorts of comments might fly and what sort of comments might not. fearing that his words might have negative consequences for his sect, therefore, is a reasonable concern for someone in his position to have. this does not necessarily justify his silence and inaction; however, it does provide an understandable reason for his choices.

thus, lan wangji also has political consequences for his entire sect to consider. though he is not the sect leader, he is still a high-profile direct-family-line member of his sect, so his words and actions still do reflect on his sect to a certain extent. and it is not "chicken" to be afraid of how one's actions or words might impact one's entire family and sect. rather, lan wangji - as someone gusu lan has raised from birth, fed, clothed, trained, and fully financially supports - has a moral obligation to consider how his actions might impact his sect.

moreover, regarding not just lan wangji's silence but also his actions in general, one must also consider the issue of filial piety. filial piety - the obligation to respect and care for one's elders, especially the people who raised you - is centrally important in chinese culture. it would be especially important in a sect as confucian as the gusu lan sect. therefore, we can expect that lan wangji was raised to hold filial piety as a key virtue to guide his behavior.

as stated above, gusu lan's leadership should logically have a vested interest in not alienating lanling jin; therefore, the elders of gusu lan, as well as lan xichen and lan qiren themselves, probably all do not want lan wangji to endanger the entire sect by publicly defending wei wuxian. if lan wangji brought up his concerns about the minsinformation surrounding wei wuxian and the wen remnants after his visit to yiling, it's highly likely that some of these leaders told him to keep his head down and mouth shut in order to avoid potentially alienating lanling jin.

therefore, it is highly plausible that lan wangji then weighed his opposing moral obligations - his duty to correct this misinformation about an innocent wei wuxian, versus his filial duty to mind the wishes of his elders and to heed their words - and decided that the latter was more important. and no matter how we as the audience feel about this choice, the fact that filial piety is something that exists and has moral weight cannot be ignored.

of course, we all know that lan wangji eventually did in fact epically yeet his filial obligations towards his elders, when he injured 33 of them after they tried to (and succeeded in) stop him from saving wei wuxian. evidently, by the time the situation had gotten that drastic, lan wangji had decided that his filial obligations were less important than saving wei wuxian. though how much of this was a moral decision versus how much of it was instead motivated by his own love for wei wuxian is debatable.

that lan wangji only acted after shit got really bad then leads me into my last point. moving away from the apologism, i also think that lan wangji......just did not expect the situation to get this bad? lan wangji is rather lacking in political sense in favor of idealism, so perhaps, when and after he visited wei wuxian in yiling, he legitimately thought that wei wuxian could just keep peacefully living in the burial mounds with the wen remnants until the jianghu forgot about them.

to explain what i mean, i think the lan wangji immediately after the sunshot campaign ended still believed in some version of the just world fallacy. sure, bad things happen to good people - the wen burned down his home and killed his father, for one - but those injustices are ultimately corrected. qishan wen attacked so many other sects and caused so much suffering, but then in return the other sects banded together and defeated the evil. now all the remaining sects are united through the wartime alliance, and there is hope for a better future.

romantic attraction towards wei wuxian aside, lan wangi probably could not initially fully condone wei wuxian's actions. wei wuxian's usage of heretical cultivation, abandonment of the proper path, and increasingly aggressive and belligerent behavior (ie. threatening to murder everyone at that one jin banquet he crashed) meant that lan wangji could not justify to himself fully supporting wei wuxian. however, when lan wangji visited wei wuxian in yiling, lan wangji then saw that wei wuxian was genuinely good: he wasn't raising an army but rather defending the innocent and downtrodden, and he relied so much on heretical cultivation because he needed it to protect the innocents depending on him. the rest of the world was wrong about wei wuxian.

but lan wangji at this point still had faith in the world. lan wangji at this point still had faith in his society. the public might make mistakes, but they're still by and large reasonable and kind; they wouldn't be led so far astray by false rumors as to actually tear apart someone only seeking to do the right thing. injustices may happen and good people may suffer, but the universe still tends towards justice: so long as one is good, one will not continue to suffer. the universe will not allow someone with purely heroic intentions to suffer and die. wei wuxian is good. society is fundamentally good. the universe is fundamentally good - therefore, lan wangji simply could not imagine that wei wuxian might actually be destroyed.

of course, he was wrong.

i think what died that day was not just lan wangji's love or his happiness, but also his fundamental faith in a just and fair universe.

anyways. this is all to say that, from my point of view, lan wangji also had decently defendable reasons as to why he did not do more to support wei wuxian the first time around, and it isn't entirely fair to criticize him for his failure. both jiang cheng and lan wangji had political concerns that the could not ignore - concerns involving other people to whom they bore a duty - and those concerns necessarily constrained their actions. there is no need to pit two bad bitches against each other.

note that all of the above is not directly stated in the text, but rather the conclusions i drew myself from the facts given in the text. of course, some people who really hate lan wangji might accuse me of "making up my own version of the story" and "ignoring canon." i, however, think that reading a work of fiction entails not just blindly accepting only the facts the author spoon-feeds you, but rather drawing your own conclusions from what the story tells you. i do not need there to be a direct quote from the book saying verbatim "lan wangji was concerned about his obligations to his sect and family" to come to those conclusions myself. in fact, if the book instead tried to tell me that "lan wangji had no political or filial concerns and simply didn't help wei wuxian because he didn't like wei wuxian's demonic cultivation," then i would reject that claim wholesale as illogical.

also, lan wangji himself clearly spent 13 years beating himself up over his choices, so let's cut the poor guy a break.

"why didn't lan wangji help wei wuxian during wei wuxian's first life? why didn't lan wangji use his own righteous reputation to help clear wei wuxian's name? why didn't lan wangji try to tell the world that wei wuxian wasn't raising a wen army?"

well.....

[stuartd744]

Winning the Battle Against Wasps: Effective Wasp Control in Walsall

Wasps can quickly become a nuisance when they invade your home or outdoor spaces. If you're dealing with a wasp problem in Walsall, it's essential to implement effective wasp control strategies to ensure the safety and comfort of your family and guests. In this article, we will provide you with expert tips and techniques to win the battle against wasps and achieve effective wasp control in Walsall.

Understanding Wasps

Before delving into effective wasp control methods, it's important to have a basic understanding of these stinging insects. Wasps are commonly mistaken for bees but have distinct characteristics. They have slender bodies, narrow waists, and are often brightly colored. Wasps can sting repeatedly, making them a potential threat, especially to individuals with allergies.

Tips for Effective Wasp Control

When it comes to controlling and preventing wasp infestations, here are some expert tips to help you win the battle:

1. Identify Wasp Nests

Locating and identifying wasp nests is crucial for effective control. Look for nests in eaves, roofs, trees, sheds, and other sheltered areas. Early detection allows for prompt action before the colony grows larger.

2. Maintain Cleanliness

Keep your outdoor spaces clean and free of food and drink residues. Wasps are attracted to sugary substances, so clean up spills promptly and secure trash bins with tight-fitting lids to discourage foraging wasps.

3. Seal Entry Points

Inspect your home for potential entry points and seal any gaps or openings. Pay attention to areas where utility lines, cables, or pipes enter the house. Use caulk or weatherstripping to block access points and prevent wasps from entering.

4. Avoid Sweet Scents

Wasps are attracted to sweet scents, so avoid wearing strong perfumes or using scented lotions when spending time outdoors. Additionally, consider using unscented cleaning products and personal care items to reduce the attractiveness of your surroundings to wasps.

5. Remove Attractive Food Sources

Keep your outdoor dining areas clean and promptly remove food and drink remnants. Cover or store food securely to prevent wasps from being attracted to the area. Consider using wasp traps or decoys as additional deterrents.

6. DIY Wasp Control

For small, accessible nests, you may attempt DIY wasp control using commercially available insecticides. Follow the product instructions carefully, wear appropriate protective clothing, and treat the nest during the late evening or early morning when wasps are less active.

7. Professional Wasp Control Services

When dealing with large nests or if you're uncomfortable handling wasps on your own, it's advisable to seek professional wasp control services. Expert technicians have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to safely and effectively remove wasp nests from your property.

The Importance of Professional Wasp Control

Professional wasp control services in Walsall offer several advantages over DIY methods:

1. Safety First

Professional technicians are trained in handling wasp nests safely, minimizing the risk of stings or injuries. They have the necessary protective gear and equipment to tackle wasp infestations effectively.

2. Thorough Nest Removal

Experts ensure thorough nest removal, eliminating the entire colony and minimizing the chances of reinfestation. They can also identify and treat hidden nests that may not be apparent to untrained eyes.

3. Expert Knowledge and Experience

Professional wasp control technicians possess extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with wasp infestations. They understand the behavior of wasps and employ effective strategies to control and prevent future infestations.

4. Peace of Mind

By entrusting your wasp control needs to professionals, you can have peace of mind knowing that the problem will be addressed effectively, allowing you to enjoy your surroundings without the constant presence of wasps.

Remember, safety should be a top priority. If you're unsure or uncomfortable dealing with wasps on your own, don't hesitate to contact professional wasp control services in Walsall. They have the expertise and resources to handle wasp infestations effectively, allowing you to reclaim your space.

Conclusion

In conclusion, winning the battle against wasps in Walsall requires the implementation of effective wasp control measures. Wasps can be a nuisance and pose risks to individuals, particularly those with allergies or sensitivities. This guide has provided valuable strategies and techniques to help you achieve successful wasp control.

[smartshredmobile]

Is Paper Shredding Better Than Burning?

Shredding waste paper has several advantages over burning documents. In many cases, paper shredding has also been proven safer and more accessible than burning. But are you still torn between your options? Here’s our take on what you should do to dispose of your confidential data safely.

Shredding vs. Burning

Indeed, when a paper is burnt, it is completely lost. You can use a metal cage or burning barrel for a better job. Besides, it’s a suitable method for smaller loads. 

But the toxic fumes produced by burning are passed into the atmosphere. Besides, it can be a safety hazard harming areas, items, and people around.

Burning larger quantities at once can leave many sections unburnt. If you are not being careful, it can leave many doors open for your confidential data to be exposed to risks. So, you must also check the ashes for any remnants and adequately dispose of them.

In addition, openly burning trash is illegal in several parts of the country. It’s also an incredibly unprofessional, far more expensive, and time-consuming job.

Shredding is a much better way to dispose of confidential documents and even devices. Electricity may be utilized in shredding processes; however, that is minimal. The shredded material can also be recycled several times, which makes the procedure far more reasonable. Look up “mobile shredding service near me,” and you’ll be able to find the best service provider for your needs.

Why Choose Shredding Over Burning Paper?

Information safety must be at the fore for both small and big businesses. For this, paper shredding is a reasonably easy yet efficient task that helps you streamline your tasks and resources. In addition, why smart companies use shredding over burning has many reasons, some of which are listed below:

Shredding protects the sensitive information of your business and customer data.

It is an efficient and time-saving process, and the data is destroyed with no chance of retrieval.

There are fewer safety hazards in the facility and much less material occupying the valuable floor space.

Automation of document disposal gets at the core.

It helps prioritize employee productivity and keeps them away from doing inefficient tasks.

Shredding documents guarantees compliance with information privacy laws.

You can responsibly recycle the shredded material and do your bit for the environment.

Obtaining the Certificate of Destruction verifies that your material is destroyed.

There’s improved document safety as your unwanted documents are dumped into the bins and destroyed by certified professionals.

When your processes are streamlined, you value data security, and work to preserve the environment, it ultimately builds trust among your clientele and adds to the business reputation.

Cutting corners on your data disposal duties can jeopardize your business reputation. This is especially true for businesses like financial institutions or IT companies that deal with a lot of sensitive data on a daily basis. Also, utilizing discounted shredding services providers can again have devastating results. So, it is best to partner with the best for a hassle-free experience.

Partner With Shredding Pros for Better Assistance

Identity theft in the United States continues to grow each day. Shredding documents and devices containing personally identifiable information is the only way to go. It appropriately protects you and your livelihood compared to other forms of data destruction. So if you see stacks of unwanted papers around or cabinets full of files, it is time to begin shredding. Not only does paper shredding clear the clutter, but it also is convenient, safe, and cost-effective. Partner with your nearby professionals to get started today.

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

Wei Wuxian and the nice, broad road: or, part two of why constantly self-sacrificial Wei Wuxian takes bother me so much (part one part three):

(Long post ahead)

Something that’s very prevalent in self-sacrificial Wei Wuxian takes, or self-sacrificial takes on any character, is that they’re not only self-sacrificial… they’re also an idiot. As in, they don’t think things through, the first impulse they have when they see anyone in danger is to throw themselves in front of them even if there’s a way that means neither have to get hurt, and even if that person’s not in any serious danger at all. And that combines with the common take of self-hatred and extremely low self-worth to form the image of someone who’ll throw themselves recklessly at any danger with no consideration for any consequences or alternate paths, and are almost seeking to throw their life away.

The thing with Wei Wuxian, though, is that he’s not seeking to throw his life away at any given moment. And, more importantly to this meta, he’s clever and he’s capable. If he can find another way out of it, and the majority of the time he probably can, he’ll choose that option. What I’m trying to say is that, if he sees someone being ambushed by a monster, he’ll distract it, fight it himself, and almost always win. He won’t throw himself in front of its claws. 

However, the problem that arises with the story of MDZS is that there is no other way out. The thing endangering those under his protection isn’t some monster he can fight, it’s the corrupt structure of the society itself. Those in power are only able to manipulate its threads by virtue of their birth and therefore status (almost everyone), or in rare cases by using that structure to your own advantage and engaging in very corrupt methods to clear your path to the top (Jin Guangyao). And neither of those are an option for Wei Wuxian, the ‘son of a servant’ who will never join in with that corruption. 

(And he isn’t the only person we see in this situation. We see the same thing with Mianmian, and she can’t oppose this either — the best thing she can do is walk away.)

Wei Wuxian actually summarised his situation very clearly, when talking to Lan Wangji at the Burial Mounds:

A moment later, Wei WuXian spoke up, “Lan Zhan, you asked me if I intended on staying like this from now on. To be honest, I’d like to ask something as well. What can I do apart from this?” He continued, “Give up the demonic path? Then what about the people on this mountain? “Give them up? I won’t be able to do it. I believe that if you were I, you wouldn’t be able to do it either.” He continued, “Nobody can give me a nice, broad road to walk on. A road where I could protect those I want to protect without having to cultivate the ghostly path.” Lan WangJi gazed at him. He didn’t reply, but both of them knew the answer in their hearts. There was no such road. No solution existed.

- Chapter 75, EXR translation 

This is in regard to Wei Wuxian’s demonic cultivation, but the same rings true for everything else he does at cost to himself in the story. Not sacrifice his Golden Core? Then Jiang Cheng, whose whole sense of self-worth was dependent on being a cultivator, would waste away with no spiritual power and no will to live*. Not save the Wen remnants? Then they’d stay in the labour camp and live and die in horrendous conditions. Not painting the spirit attraction mark on himself to save everyone else at the Second Siege? Then they’d die, because what else could be done? And it’s important to know that he didn’t do it alone here, he had Lan Wangji help defend him as well.

So he technically did have an option every time, yes. But that one option was letting others get hurt, and he’s not going to do that. There was no third path. There was no nice, broad road.

But we see that that broad road is very much one Wei Wuxian would like to walk on.

Wei WuXian smiled, “Why would I leave the nice, broad road, and walk on a single-plank bridge on a dark, narrow river instead? If it really is that easy, people would have already walked on it.”

- Chapter 14, EXR

Again, this refers to demonic cultivation. And again, this can be adapted to every other action he takes. Because there are plenty of situations when there is a third option. And in those cases, he finds the way around it! Wei Wuxian is incredibly smart, incredibly creative, and an incredibly quick thinker — none of us in the fandom should forget that.

And thankfully, there are examples of this in the text. Let’s take a closer look at one specifically: defending Mianmian in the Xuanwu’s cave**, and stopping her being used as bait.

(Long passage ahead)

Watching his subordinates fight with [Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan], Wen Chao looked as if his mood was much better. He spat, “Talking back to me—what did you think you are? People like you really do deserve to be killed.”

A grinning voice came from the side, “That’s right. All those who oppress others and do evil relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, they should be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware.” Hearing this, Wen Chao spun around, “What did you say?” Wei WuXian pretended to be surprised, “Do you need me to repeat it? Sure. All those who oppress others and do evil relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, they should be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware. You heard it this time?” Hearing this, Wen ZhuLiu seemed to ponder as he glanced at Wei WuXian. Wen Chao erupted, “How dare you say such absurd, outrageous, and pretentious words!” Wei WuXian first lifted the corners of his mouth with a ‘pfft’, then immediately burst into unbridled laughter. Under everyone’s shocked eyes, he laughed so hard that he was out of breath, clutching Jiang Cheng’s shoulder as he spoke, “Absurd? Outrageous? I’d say you’re the one who’s all of those! Wen Chao, do you know who was the one that said those words? I’m sure you don’t, do you? Let me tell you. This was said by the most, most, most famous cultivator of your sect, the one who founded the entire thing, Wen Mao. You dared say that one of your ancestor’s remarks are absurd and outrageous? Well said, very well said! Ahahahahaha…” Within the Quintessence of the Wen Sect that had been given out, even the most ordinary of smalltalk comments could be analyzed over and over, their deep meanings boasted with exceptional extravagance. Let alone memorizing it well, Wei WuXian felt disgusted after just flipping through its pages. However, he found this quote of Wen Mao’s quite ironic, which was why he could recall it with ease. Wen Chao’s complexion switched between red and white. Wei WuXian added, “Right, what was the accusation given to those who insult famous cultivators of the Wen Sect again? How should they be punished? I remember that it was execution, right? Yes, very well, you can go die now.” Wen Chao couldn’t hold himself back any longer, unsheathing his sword and lunging at Wei WuXian. With that, he lunged out of Wen ZhuLiu’s range of protection. Wen ZhuLiu had always been used to defending against the attacks of others. He had never expected Wen Chao to leave by his own will. Facing the sudden difficulty, he somehow couldn’t react in time. On the other hand, as Wei WuXian provoked Wen Chao, he was precisely waiting for the moment of uncontrollable rage. The smile by his lips didn’t falter at all as he attacked with the speed of lightning. In a split second, he had snatched the sword and reversed the situation, subduing Wen Chao with just one move! One hand gripping Wen Chao, he leaped a few times and landed on one of the islets above the pool, keeping his distance from Wen ZhuLiu. With his other hand he pressed the sword onto Wen Chao’s neck, warning, “Nobody move. If you’re not careful, I might just decide to let some blood out of your Young Master Wen!” Wen Chao screeched, “Stop moving! Stop moving!” The disciples surrounding Lan WangJi and Jin ZiXuan finally ceased their attacks. Wei WuXian shouted, “Core-melting Hand, you’re not moving either! You know how the temper of the Wen Sect’s leader is. Your master is in my hand. If he loses just one drop of blood, then not one of the people here should hope to live on, including you!” Wen ZhuLiu put his arms down as Wei WuXian had expected. Seeing that the situation was under control, Wei WuXian was about to speak when he suddenly felt that the entire ground below him had trembled.

- Chapter 52, EXR 

Important things to take away? Firstly, it’s Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan who are the ones standing in front of the metaphorical (and literal) blades here, risking their own well-being and health for someone else to protect them directly. That’s their first instinct. Wei Wuxian’s is not***. His thought process is this: taunt and enrage Wen Chao, the powerless person in charge, into leaving the protection of the actually powerful person everyone’s scared of, and then use the opportunity of him being undefended to use him as leverage to get Mianmian free****. And he succeeds in that! It wasn’t his fault he didn’t know about the Xuanwu’s presence, the Wen clan were very deliberately keeping that information a secret.

That is very well thought through, especially for such a short timespan, and especially considering the actions of the only other two people who tried to protect Mianmian — a protective stand-off that they very probably could not win, with the likes of Wen Zhuliu around. I repeat: they are the ones standing in the way of the blade here. Wei Wuxian is not. This is what Wei Wuxian does in situations like these, this is how he solves problems! He’s not unthinkingly reckless, he is not a self-sacrificial idiot.

…not that I’m saying Lan Wangji is one either, but he’s never portrayed as one anyway.

And just for the fun on it, let’s take a look at the branding scene too, to see if we can pick anything else up:

Just as he was about to let go, a cry suddenly came from behind him. The cry was full of fear. Turning around, Wei WuXian saw Wang LingJiao give orders to three servants. Two of them brutishly held MianMian in place, clenching her face, while the other raised the branding iron in his hand and thrusted it toward her face! The tip of the iron was so heated that it sizzled and shone with red light. Wei WuXian was some distance away from them. Seeing what was happening, he immediately shifted the direction of the arrows and let go of the string. The three arrows shot out at once and hit each of the three people. Without making a noise, they fell backward onto the ground. Yet, before the bowstring even ceased to vibrate, Wang LingJiao suddenly grabbed the iron that had fallen as well. Gripping MianMian’s hair, she again shoved it toward her face! Even though Wang LingJiao’s level of cultivation was extremely low, her move was both swift and cruel. If she really did it, even if MianMian could keep her eye, her face would be completely ruined. A woman like her, even under such dangerous circumstances where people were prepared to flee at a moment’s notice, still kept her persistent thoughts of harming others! All of the other disciples were setting up their arrows, handling the beast with all of their attention. Nobody was near these two. There were no more arrows on Wei WuXian and there wasn’t enough time to grab someone else’s. Under the urgency of these circumstances, he rushed over, one hand striking away the arm that Wang LingJiao grabbed MianMian’s hair with and the other landing forcefully at her chest. Having undertaken the strike, Wang LingJiao heaved up a mouthful of blood and flew backward. However, the tip of the iron had already pressed onto Wei WuXian’s chest.

- Chapter 53, EXR

…as you can see, there’s a lot more to this than blindly rushing in front of the branding iron. Again, what can we take from this?

One, Wei Wuxian’s first instinct, again, is not to take the strike directly. He shoots the three servants holding down and actively trying to brand Mianmian, eliminating the threat to her. Wang Lingjiao at the time was just giving orders, she wasn’t an active threat — everyone else was fighting the Xuanwu, there was nobody else to give orders to.

But, surprising him, Wang Lingjiao immediately picks up the branding iron. And, like the servant, she aims it at Mianmian’s face. As Wei Wuxian remarks later, that’s a mark she couldn’t hide — her face would be ruined forever, and considering the setting of this world where marriage is extremely important to women society-wise, it would have lasting consequences for Mianmian’s whole life. Marks to the chest, at least you can hide.

And nobody else is focusing on Mianmian, and there’s no time for Wei Wuxian to call for help from anyone else. Ranged attacks aren’t an option, since he’s out of arrows. And only then does he rush straight to Mianmian, to save her directly.

And even then his first thought isn’t to throw himself in front of the iron! His aim in that instance is to strike the iron away from Wang Lingjiao, and to strike Wang Lingjiao away from Mianmian. And during that time, because both hands were occupied, the iron strikes his chest, and he gets the brand mark. Taking it for Mianmian was not the main aim here — though he was willing to risk it.

So, what do we learn from this?

Wei Wuxian’s first instinct is not to put himself in danger to help others. It’s to get the danger away from the one in danger, and then deal with it himself — something fully within his capabilities.

He admits he’s talking “nonsense” when telling Lan Qiren about demonic cultivation for the first time, probably to get himself kicked out of class, but what he says is actually very true when it comes to how Wei Wuxian generally solves problems.

Wei WuXian replied, “There are some things that have no use after liberation, so why not find a way to make use of them? When Yu the Great tamed the flood, obstruction was the inferior method, and redirection was the superior.

- Chapter 14, EXR

He doesn’t stand right in front of it, he doesn’t directly obstruct it from reaching its target by standing in-between the two. He redirects it to somewhere else.

And this pattern rings true throughout the book. Dealing with the fierce corpse of Madam Mo? Use his own corpses to get her attention instead. Same rings for the Dancing Goddess of Dafan Mountain, who’s currently advancing on Jin Ling? Same thing, summoning corpses — he doesn’t attempt to place himself in its way. He’s someone who thinks around the issue, calculates a plan (in a very short time, may I add), and much more often than not, succeeds! He’s willing to risk his life, but that is not the primary aim. Of course, when there are only two options — directly protecting or letting others get hurt — he chooses to protect. And since that is the case with his two biggest decisions in the story, so many people see that as his default instinct when it comes to dangerous situations. But when there is a nice, broad road to walk on, where nobody at all gets hurt, he finds that, and follows it, gladly. 

Wei Wuxian is not a self-sacrificial idiot. He’s a clever, righteous person who’s willing to sacrifice his life for others, but who can and will take another option if one exists. The two are not in any way the same.

—

*I feel like this is an important part of the core transfer that’s overlooked, actually — it’s not just “your core is worth more than mine”, (although with the Jiang parents’ promise to protect Jiang Cheng at all costs, a similar mindset may have played a part in this one specific scenario), it’s “your self-worth and meaning of life derives entirely on your core and being a good cultivator, whereas I can live for and enjoy more than that, and won’t utterly lose my will to live if I can’t cultivate, unlike you”. And for all it hurts, he ends up being right (and even invents a whole new path of cultivation out of necessity). That isn’t saying the sacrifice isn’t emotionally painful for Wei Wuxian, though, it is a lot, and we saw that with his thoughts on it at the Guanyin Temple. 

**I also wanted to talk a bit about him defeating the Xuanwu with Lan Wangji, but I couldn’t find anywhere to fit it in. Similar to the Golden Core thing, him distracting it while Lan Wangji did the killing isn’t a “your life is worth more than mine” thing. Lan Wangji was the only one who knew the Chord Assassination technique, which was the only way either of them could think to kill the Xuanwu, as any weapons were useless. In addition to that, Lan Wanji’s leg was injured, so he couldn’t swim anyway. The only option left was for Wei Wuxian to distract it, and he was capable enough to survive! And yes, it was dangerous, but the mindset of both of them in that moment was that they had no way of knowing help would come for them, and that their only chance of escape by themselves was to kill the Xuanwu — and you might as well kill it before you die, anyway. For all they knew, both of them would have died if he hadn’t done that, and so whatever happened was worth it. This is not a mindless ‘your life before mine’ mindset, he thought this through. 

***He actually did instinctively twitch a little as if to move when Mianmian was being surrounded, but Jiang Cheng held him back. However, he's a much stronger cultivator than Jiang Cheng at this point, and could have easily broken out of his grasp to directly protect Mianmian had he wished to. But he didn't choose that option, and decided, very quickly, to instead do what we see here. As @/rynne pointed out (thank you very much!), that's a clear moment when he's faced with a choice to be self-sacrificial, or solve the problem another way. And he decidedly chooses the latter.

****Actually, Wei Wuxian taunts others into accomplishing his goals quite a lot. He’s not a long-game manipulator like Jin Guangyao or Nie Huaisang, but playing on their emotions to get the result you want in the short term? Look at Lan Wangji and the destruction of the porn book, look at Lan Qiren and getting kicked out of his the class in the Cloud Recesses (when talking about using resentful energy, his own thoughts tell us he’s talking “nonsense”, and clearly wanted to leave the class — this was likely a bid to to just that), look at taunting Xue Yang into talking so he reveals his location in the mists of Yi City. I hardly ever see him doing this in fanon, which is kind of sad, because it’s very interesting definitely something he uses to solve problems (and something people could very well use instead of throwing himself in front of everything!)… and if we have to go there, no, I don’t think that makes him ‘morally grey’ either.

[twilightarc-gm]

Disclaimer to JGY fans: I'm not sure of the tone of the replies happening on this post, y'all know better than I, but I just wanted to say I don't think JGY is evil even if crimes were involved 😓

@fathom-the-oblivion I think you're assuming I would expect/want JGY to speak up in defense of the Wens, which... no? Why would he do that? That's just balls-to-the-wall crazy, as you said, everyone wanted them dead.

I guess bringing up LXC's defense of WQ is the confusing part, for which I accept the mistake of my poor phrasing.

The intention of my question is, why did JGS or anyone else that wanted the Wen dead, not just ask JGY to confirm they were terrible, no good, very bad Wen? Then JC's defense of the Wen Siblings can look even worse because there's THE Lianfeng-zun, master of WRH's secrets, telling everyone definitively that they could have as much blood as they want.

Like maybe JGY himself didn't want to speak up and remind everyone how he got to his position, because he thinks they might as easily turn on him (though he ends up with an entire mural dedicated to how he got his title so I'm not convinced he couldn't use that to his advantage), and maybe like @thatswhatsushesaid no one from the crowd asks JGY because to them he's still a son of a whore—but JGS is there, and he definitely wants everyone decisively on his side and it benefits him greatly to have YMJ flounder in this moment.

Instead of relying on NMJ to come in with a "that clan killed your family, aren't you ashamed?" It would have been far more impactful if JGS motioned to JGY and said, "Tell everyone exactly what kind of people these Wen are and why it's OUR RIGHTEOUS DUTY to oversee their punishment?" etc.

What's the in-universe reason this doesn't happen?

And why wouldn't a turncoat take this opportunity to definitively show they're not like those other Wen? Show of loyalty etc.

Someone else gave me a reason that maybe JGS is just that petulant about pointing out JGY's individual accomplishments and doesn't want him seen as more than retainer, but that's still not convincing enough for me as he legitimized JGY for his accomplishments to make it LLJ's own. So easily he can phrase it as "We in LLJ know WQ and the remnant to be deserving of their fates because WE have direct reports of her crimes."

Just seems like a waste of a meeting and a potential moment for JGS to be even more of a cunt.

Could have been even crunchier after if JC, having JGY's testimony ringing in his head, had to go to the Burial Mounds over that and see that the Remnant are trying to be farmers. And then the YMSJ fall out can be even more devastating because WWX can't(won't) offer the reason why the Wen Siblings deserve his protection beyond "they're innocent" which he can't prove.

Doylist reasons aside, I'm looking for the Watsonian take on why would JGS or Wen turncoats not take advantage of the situation.

Why didn't they just ask Jin Guangyao??

At the meeting where they are discussing if Wen Qing and the remnant truly deserve the treatment they got at the prison camp, and whether Wen Qing has blood on her hands; Lan Xichen is the one to speak up that maybe she's not all bad.

But why does no one just ask JGY? He was THE Wen Spy, he would know??? She was the favored niece of WRH how would he NOT know???

And also there were some Wen turncoats sitting in at the LLJ banquet, how would they not know how much the favored niece of WRH was involved or not??

Theories, please.