#rnd next ^_^ maybe.

[starrytapes]

[lovelyflora21]

Strangers

Summary: She was still herself, he was still him. In the same place. Yet, isn't it strange how people can change?

Pairing: Leon S Kennedy x Fem!Reader

Tags: Angst, hurt, no happy endings (?) 

A/n: A rather lengthy continuation to my previous fic, inspired by Celeste - Strange. Would recommend listening to the song whilst reading this to really get the feel of it ;)

Wc: 1,8k

P.s. Let me know if anyone wants to be added to the tag list! <3

Tag list: @lysa1201 @lysol1201

I tried for you. 

What Leon said that night, the way he looked at her with complete utter disdain; mixed with a cacophony of heavy breathing and slurred speech of spiteful, venomous words spewed her way–safe to say, it was enough to turn that tiny little voice inside her head louder. Ten times louder than the conscience, the soft spot she’s always held for him. 

That maybe everything she did for him was, in fact, all in vain. That it was a complete waste. She was wasting her precious, precious time and energy; her life, on a drunkard. An asshole of an alcoholic, once applauded for his bravery and prowess as an agent–akin to that of America’s very own zombie-killing, man-made Superman. 

God, mama was right! I should’ve dumped him. What was I thinking?!

Were what had crossed her mind as she skipped down the stairs of his apartment’s fifth floor’s stairwell. She clung onto her bag and pride, more on her pride (what was left of it anyways) than her bag really, as she rummaged through the tote bag for her car keys. She had tears welling up in her eyes, her throat burning and constricting in a measly effort of holding herself together. From sobbing her poor heart out. From breaking down on the stairs and pitying herself.

Tried to see through all the smoke and dirt. It wouldn't move.

Everything else was a blur then. The drive back home. The whole thought process on deciding to finally and completely vanishing from his life. All that in a span of minutes. Most would criticize her for being too overboard with her impulsivity, for making a big deal out of nothing! 

Oh spare me the theatrics! She could still hear Leon’s voice; nagging in the back of her mind, it would have been his reaction, if he had known of what she was about to do to him or saw an ounce more of her true reaction in response to his cruelty. 

But as she drove through the traffic and streets of DC’s avenues, her heavy-with-tears eyes dropped to see his name popping up on her phone; his number texting and calling her numerous times–his picture flashing, showing off his stupid fucking cocky grin–it silenced the other voices that were doubting her decision. And suddenly what she was about to do was justified and she saw nothing wrong with it. 

So when it turned red, she reached for her phone; looked at his number and picture one last time before she blocked it–blocked him, and shoved the phone back inside the bag. 

The first night, she couldn’t cry at all. She tossed and turned in bed then eventually fell asleep. But the next few days? Oh they were torture. Hardly sleeping, hardly eating; the blunt of the impact finally hitting her head on. Her feelings, emotions and sound mind were colliding against one another. Everything was everywhere all at once. Anger, disappointment, hurt, sadness, grief and shame. Surging all at once then fading away just as quick into numbness and denial. Then she’d crash out again, and again, and again. Rinse and repeat. 

So she did what Leon S Kennedy would’ve done. Drown herself in work, overtime after overtime. Back to back meetings, projects, RnDs. Anything to get her mind off of him and that night. One thing for sure though, she was done. 

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Before she knew it, she earned herself a promotion, alongside an offer to relocate somewhere else; she was given the liberty to pick the spot. To pick which branch of her office she would be relocating to. 

Without doubt and further, deeper questioning; she said yes. Again, some would have considered her impulsivity a major flaw but to be fair, this was the opportunity she had been looking for. Especially after that night and after Leon. 

Albeit the suffering and grief it brought upon her; that night brought her an epiphany. A revelation, that her whole life had revolved around him and him alone. She was never the center of her own universe, no–it had been Leon. 

It was a mistake. 

So now, with Leon gone and out of the picture; she had nothing to revolve around. There was nothing left for her here anyways…

She was never one for spirituality but it got her thinking– that the opportunity presented itself just in time. It was perfectly aligned with her, as if the universe had given her its blessings to move forward. Even without him.

As if it was a way for the universe to tell her.

He’s very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are.

So when it was all said and done, when everything’s packed into the back of a moving truck and she’d bid farewell to friends and colleagues; she moved. Out of DC and to Francisco. 

And things were okay again. Late nights weren’t so heavy and she wasn’t so burdened with all-consuming thoughts of him. Mornings came by easier for her. She began liking the way coffee smelt, the way the flowers bloomed and the plants flourish, she began liking the taste of sourdough bread with runny eggs on top.

Casual dates were a thing for her now. Enjoying herself and her time as an individual rather than a thing attached to him. 

And before she knew it, a year had passed. 

Life was great. She was flourishing, bright and blooming. 

The sun was high above, her locks cascaded like waters down her neck. She wore a white dress, the patterns were small flowers in the color of muted salem. She had the day off, needed to pick up on groceries and flowers for her vase in the living room and kitchen island. She’d grown to fall for flowers ever since she’d moved to Francisco. 

As she was looking at the arrangement of fruits set before her, smiling at the older lady; she couldn’t help but to notice a man staring at her then approaching her. 

Hey there.

So when her eyes found him, clad in blue instead of black; they widened for a second. Taking in the phantom of what once was the man she’d loved and devoted herself to. 

They stood there, just…staring…

Then there was silence. 

Say, isn't it strange? I am still me You are still you.

—

So they sat there, across one another. This was their second meeting. In a cafe, her favorite. She’d suggested the place. They opted for the outdoor seating instead, feeling as though the walls around them were too overwhelming for her. Too suffocating, especially when she would be near him. 

Her white shirt was slightly crumpled, tucked inside her blue denim jeans that clung to her perfectly. Her bag was set by her ankle, under the table.

She crossed one leg over the other, her eyes never leaving Leon’s. Who had his own ocean blue eyes on her.

Leon had begged her for this chance. Said he wanted to talk to her, needed to talk to her. And she gave him the same grace she would’ve wanted people to give him. Less of a second chance and more towards the urge for a proper closure, really. 

Leon Scott Kennedy was never one to be curious. He’d learnt from his line of work that curiosity can and will kill the cat. And yet when it came to her, he was as curious as ever. So many things he wanted to say, to ask, to question, to find out, to know and last but never should be the least; to understand. Why did she disappear on him like that? Where has she been?Why San Francisco? How did she end up here? Is she with someone else? Is that why she was here now? Was she now a happily-married woman living the white picket fence dream?

But only one thing came out of his now slightly chapped-lips and dry mouth.

I am so sorry. 

Back to our roots What did we lose? What did we lose?

He began, stammering as he leant forward across the table that barred him from feeling her warmth. From feeling her kindness, her love, her tenderness and the familiarity of her.

It’s in the past.

Her voice was…soft. But it lacked the love and gentleness she once held for him. Her eyes were distant…as if staring at a far away dream instead of him.

I shouldn’t have said what I said, I was an alcoholic and an asshole and I didn’t deserve you.

You really didn’t. 

Then there was silence again. Leon’s breath caught as he heard her utter those simple words with such indifference it sent shivers down his spine. 

There was no malice, no anger, no bitterness lacing her words yet all the same it wounded him so. In ways he never thought nor imagined possible. 

Isn’t it strange? How people can change. 

Give me one more chance, let me make things right. 

His pleading was met with silence. Then there was a soft tapping noise against the table, Leon’s blue orbs flitted to her manicured nails for a second before coming back to her face. They were painted beige.

If I could, I’d pull your strings for one more dance.

I…I’ve changed. I’m not drinking anymore and I’ve been going to therapy and I’m not missing out on them anymore. I swear.

It was pitiful how he dragged on and on about how he was a changed man. But seeing she was not budging at all, made Leon’s stomach twist and turn. 

I can’t.

Tell me what I need to do to make this work, to make things right.

She simply shook her head, a defeated and reserved smile graced her lips. God, those same lips Leon had missed so much. How he wished he hadn’t taken her for granted. 

It’s for the best.

And with that, she gathered her bag and herself. She mustered up enough courage and willpower to heave herself up to her feet. Even outside with the wind breezing past them and the world still revolving around them, she felt just as suffocated and as still as ever. She refused to look him in the eyes, refused to study the way his face fell and his eyes glazed with tears. 

I look at you, with nothing to say.

Leaning down for one last kiss, she placed a chaste and small peck on his cheek. Feeling the stubble caress her skin and mouth. She dared not bid him farewell, nor did he. Neither lovers dared to lift their faces to meet one another’s gaze, afraid it might shatter whatever defense they had left.

Isn’t it strange? How people can change From strangers to friends Friends into lovers

So she walked away, never looking back. 

And strangers again.

[xxxnightcorequeenxxxv3]

AU Batboys as Cyberlife Androids

I have 100% a bit more than I can chew with this. As I mostly know these fandoms from fanfiction. And I haven't even played the game. But that doesn't stop me from going of the deep end and make a AU in my head featuring the bat boys as cyberlife androids. And of course, Bruce is the but of the jokes too. So how does this work? Let me tell you what I came up with at work doing busy work that requires low brain power, and I pretty much autopilot and AU craft. So the idea is that Dick, Jay, Tim, and Dami have all ended up deviating. And due to damage taken, has either managed to cram themselves altogether in child model Android (or some sort of USB system storage). Anyway, that's how we get Robin, who managed to sneak away using a circus as a cover, and they end up in Gotham. (I think Dick might have been a police android before the transfer to the Robin collective, and Jay maybe was modified by the past owner for crime, no idea about Tim and Dami yet, though.) So, even if they are at risk of getting hurt, they still try to do good in the world. They some how run into Batman. With a lot of back and forth, Bruce managed to convince Robin to come with him. What they don't tell Bruce at first is that there are more of them. So, after some time, Robin asks Bruce if he could get an adult frame, please. Brucie managed to convince the public that he got the child boot secondhand. And there has been a lot of speculation as to why of the not-so-savory variety. So when Bruce requests a blank model with no programming to be sent to Wayne Tech for the transfer. The only reason Cyberlife agrees to it is that someone in Wayne tech RND convinces them Wayne is probably just gonna .... the bot. and yeah, that's how Dick gets the cake. As the others were like no, you've been in charge of Robin for so long now, you go first. So Dick agrees to transfer to the new custom model, which can change to Mr. Wayne's preference. To Bruce's surprise, Robin is operational, just different as Jay is in charge of the collective now as the next experienced model in the line. This is where Dick and the others come clear that Robin is more of a Matryoshka situation. It takes some time for Bruce to get to terms with that situation. But after some time has gone by, they come up with a plan to get another clean slate android body. Brucie is now gonna be in to role play, for his second android. He manages to get one of them beefy security bots. So yeah, he leaves Wayne RND with the forwarding request for a new blank bot from Cyberlife. And some techs are thoroughly amused by the goings on that the requests go through. And That's how we get a big beefy boy for Jay to jump to. Making it Tim's turn to be in primary control of Robin for a time. Bruce asks Robin just how many there are in there now, as it seems like the supply is never-ending. Tim calms Bruce down by saying that if they get one more android body, they'll have one each. more time elapse. And Brucie has to make yet another request, this time for a android secretary. Lucky for Bruce, the same guys as the last time are still changing and approving his request again, sending what they laughingly call "an Androgynous Twink for Mr Wayne" this time. And That's how we get Tim and Dami separated again.

And that's what I got so far, as I have no clue what more to do than possibly draw stuff. ---- So I posted on Discord to and the oh so wonderful @bucketorandomness

Added this; yes, I asked if it was okay to do the edit with credit

Option for more after-market additions for the boys:

Damian was originally a security model who was changed into an assassin by unsavory folks

Timothy was still a Drake, purchased as a kind of “test run for a real child” which they think is going great when it really wasn’t. Extra learning modules and some advanced reasoning in his base programming were mandatory for purchase

Cassandra, like Dami, was repurposed into a stealth-based assassin from a dancer base. Language programming was removed to make more room for the modifications. She follows one of the others home after recognizing a fellow android

Duke gets adopted into the Robin Collective temporarily while they drag his model back to Bruce and demand he fix it

Stephanie isn’t an android, but she did jokingly offer to join the Robin Collective once science figures out how to download a consciousness. Whether or not that already exists is up for debate.

Barbara can be a secretary model for the GPD or she can be another human like Steph if you want. If she is an android, I suggest Jim Gordon notices her deviancy and decides to adopt this new person and teach her how to people like a daughter. Also maybe self-installed body mods. I feel like she’d get a tattoo without supervision so why not upgrade her own RAM and other abilities?

[laurelnose]

@heartoferebor OOF okay so I technically started with PawPaw Studio’s pattern because it nails the square little face, but it doesn’t include any ventral fins and the body shaping is weird, so ... well, the pattern definitely inspired me, we’ll leave it at that. I didn’t anticipate ever wanting to replicate my own hubris so I uhhhh didn’t take notes. fortunately (?) for you I finished a lot of the details Yesterday so I have written up my mods from memory. I think what’s under the cut is everything I changed. Maybe. Good luck?

I used a super bulky chenille and an 8mm hook. Use whatever you need to get an appropriate stuffie gauge. I did everything FLO except working into the sl st stripes which I also did BLO.

Worked the mouth insert about 15-20 rounds longer, with final round being blue/white before starting increases (this is not structurally critical, make yours however deep you want)

I approximately doubled the number of rounds in the head section. Just keep adding rows of dots until you feel the head is sufficiently long.

Work two sections after the head straight w/o decreasing, then work eleven following sections with decreases. For decrease rows work [sc1 blue, dec, work to last 3 blue scs, dec, sc1], rep in white for belly. The second and sixth rounds of each section (sl st rounds not counted) are decrease rounds (dec by 8 sts total each section).

Work the fourteenth section with decrease rows on the second, fourth, and sixth rows.

Final section: Work no spots. Work two dec rows immediately after sl sts. Work two rows dec’ing every st around, then close up hole.

Sections 10-12 I worked flat (cutting yarn and restarting from right side every row to preserve in-the-round texture) and rejoined to work in round on the following sl st round; this let me install an invisible zipper so when he’s five years old and his stuffing’s gone flat he can be restuffed. This also helped make final stuffing easier.

I offset the 2×2 spots from section to section rather than lining them up. The repeat is [4 blue, 2 white], so on the next section it’d be [1 blue, 2 white, 3 blue].

Work all fins with joined rounds, NOT spiral rounds. At this scale the row offset produced by spiral rounds is almost half an inch and 100% matters.

Upper caudal fin lobe: Rounds 25-26 should be worked including spots following established pattern; work 8 additional rounds after r26 increasing as established: three solid, two spot, three solid.

Lower caudal fin lobe: Rounds 20-21 should be worked with spots; work 3 solid rnds after this, increasing as established.

Anal fin is exactly like second dorsal fin but all in white.

Pelvic fins:

MR 6

[Inc, sc 2] x2 (8 sts)

Inc 8 times (16)

Sc 6, inc 4, sc 6 (20)

Sc around

Do not cut working yarn. Sk 7 sts, join new length of yarn w/ sl st in next sc, inc 2, sl st, f/o new length of yarn.

Continuing with original working yarn and working over top of added sts in r6, inc, sc 8, inc 2, sc 8, inc (36)

Sc 11, inc 2, sc 11 (38)

Inc, sc 11, inc 2, sc 11, inc (42)

Sl st 6, sc 8, inc 2, sc 9, sk remaining scs and join to first sc of this row

Sl st 3, sc 15, sl st. F/O

Fold the fin in half and seam the lower section of the fin together. Leave rows 10-11 unseamed. Stuff gently.

Claspers (optional):

Make fsc row with a smaller hook if necessary to avoid flaring.

Fsc 14.

Sc 14.

Sc 14.

Make turning chain, sk first sc, sc 9, turn.

Sc 8, sl st. F/O.

Fold short part of claspers over and seam into a tube, stitching final row to base of fsc and closing the tip. Jam the ends inside the tube but leave unstuffed otherwise.

Anal fin should be attached to belly directly underneath second dorsal fin. Posterior tips of the pelvic fins should be level with or slightly past the end of the first dorsal fin. Seam only the open parts of the pelvic fins to the body, leaving the tips free. Once pelvic fins are attached, take the claspers and flatten the single-layered portion against the base of the pelvic fins, towards the center of the belly. The opening to the folded part of the claspers should be up against rws 10-11 of the pelvic fins. Seam the single-layered portion to the pelvic fins as flatly as possible so it blends in, closing up the opening of the tube as you go.

[heroesofchroma]

Ch.4 - Rampart

(PREV / ALL \ NEXT)

Every time Gwen stood in front of Chroma, it never seemed to get less imposing. The trio of towers, arranged in a triangular pattern, the tallest facing her, connected across each other by glass bridges and massive concrete halls, seemed like an impossibility of engineering. Yet, here it stood. Reminding the city who was protecting them. A single beacon out of four in the country, trying to assure the people they were safe. The pit in Gwen’s stomach was less fear that she might be working for the bad guys, and far more that she might screw up working with the good guys.

Gwen walked through the main lobby up to the main desk. She flashed her ID and said, “In for RnD and turning in an application.”

The receptionist, a kindly looking middle-aged woman smiled. “Another recruit from Sister herself, alright…” she muttered, taking the ID for a moment before nodding and quickly handing Gwen the card back along with a Contractor-level security badge. “First elevator, fourteenth floor for your Research escort. I’ll take the application and get it to the proper channels.”

Gwen nodded and handed over the application. “Tell ‘em to call me if anything needs clarifying. He doesn’t have a phone right now.”

Without skipping another beat, she followed the instructions to the letter, finding the elevator, flashing her badge to unlock it, and meeting with the escort on the fourteenth floor. She followed the security officer through stark, sterile halls until they reached a lab that… Was considerably grungier. Concrete and tread steel made up the majority of the room, testing chambers of glass and a multitude of miscellaneous wires decorated the room, thankfully devoid of dust. At least, as clean as it can be despite the weapons testing.

Greeting Gwen was a man built like a pickup truck, sporting the mechanic jumpsuit to match. He dressed sensibly, though his nature was betrayed by the harness of electrically motorized arms  hanging from his back. He smiled bright at the entrance of the prodigy. “Well, hello there! Took your sweet time getting in!” he exclaimed, his deep, husky voice rattling her bones, his Indian cheeks flushing with an amount of pride and joy in equal measure from behind a short beard.

“It isn’t my fault I still gotta go through bureaucracy just to get in,” Gwen joked, extending her hand for a shake. “What’s on the agenda, Ishaan?”

Ishaan nodded. “Business, right. I’ve managed to integrate your tech into the armor, but it’s bulky…” he explains, leading Gwen to the main project in the room, at least for the moment. He taps the bolted on vents on either shoulder blade. “The issue becomes I’m not sure how to really get them wired in such a way that they’ll both give enough output to be useful AND give reasonable flexibility to the pilot.”

Taking in the armor, Gwen looked over the oversized mass of cobalt and steel colored plating. It was obvious half-complete, only having a full skeleton while much of the suit remained uninstalled. “Boot her up, let’s see what we’re working with in practice so far.”

“She’s not quite attached to any mechanisms at the moment, I’m still in the assembly phase. I don’t even have a basic wire setup as every one I seem to come up with has some kind of pinch threat that’d block the particle throw in practice,” Ishaan explains. “The best I have come with is…”

Ishaan pulls up a touchpad and taps a command into it. Over the armor shines a hologram projected from overhead lamps. Microtubing from the vent structures on either side of the armor show in bright green contrast to the darker blues and greys of the main plating.

Gwen thinks for a moment. She gauntlets didn’t have this issue, the vents only needing to travel from the forearm to the palms. But they also gathered fewer particles for fewer throwable projectiles. The scale-up of the collectors didn’t really allow them to be placed anywhere else reasonably… Unless…

“Maybe instead of trying to wire them from the back…” Gwen moves closer to Ishaan, motioning her explanation. “There’s some way to get them situated on the shoulders?”

Ishaan nods along. “I thought so as well, but the issue becomes weight.”

“Is there no way to augment the frame to carry it for the pilot?” Gwen asks.

Ishaan thinks along for a moment. He taps away at the pad, one of this motor arms handing his normal one a stylus as he quickly draws up an idea. The hologram overlay shits, adding in one of the condensers onto the shoulder, shifting the design and frame of the power armor to accommodate. “I… Suppose it’s possible? I’m not sure how well it will all still function… The particle output may still not be enough.”

Gwen nods, thinking along. “Maybe instead of moving condensers, then… Maybe we make them tanks.”

Ishaan tilts his head. “Tanks? You mean some kind of particle battery system?”

Gwen shrugged. “We’re two genius idiots, I’m sure we can figure something out. Something like an auto-filling magazine to hold ammo while not firing. That way, while in travel, the armor can generate shots and give the armor more consistent fire-time.”

Ishaan thought hard about the suggestion. His face contorted over and over again, mulling over ideas on how to make it happen moreso than other solutions. “I… Hmm… I think that could work, yes.”

Gwen nodded. “Then I’ll get started figuring that out, you can work out the tubing from there, yeah?”

Ishaan nodded firmly. “I’ll meet you at the bench when I’ve got it!” he assured with a hearty thumbs up.

The two worked diligently for about an hour before a presence in the lab interrupted them. A clear, smooth voice echoed against the concrete walls. “What’s the news, doc.” The voice had no ideas of nonsense or hesitation in the simple words.

Attached to the voice, a tightly-suited form walked in, a helmet masking their face. The coloration of their suit mimicked the armor the scientists were working on, the curved T-visor showing a faint orange tint to it. The suit was simple, and came with anchor points that locked into the armor.

“Rampart! Good to see you, we’re working on modifying the armor a bit still, we aren’t quite in a functioning state just yet,” Ishaan explained. Starting, he moved next to Gwen. “Ah, this is Gwen. She is the one who is going to make ballistics irrelevant in your new armor!”

Gwen chuckled a little nervously. “Dang, Ishaan, you’re really setting a high bar for me, here,” she joked, reaching out a hand. “It’s good to meet the pilot, though.”

“Rampart. Ram is acceptable,” the soldier replied, clasping Gwen’s hand in a firm shake. “What exactly do you two plan on strapping me with, then, if ballistics are out of the question?”

Gwen took over the conversation, heading towards the workbench she’d been on. “The easy answer is the closest thing to a laser blaster that we can make practical. You’ll be gathering particles from the atmosphere, condensing them with a dense electromagnetic array,” Gwen pauses, looking to Rampart almost expecting to get cut off. Taking the hand of the armor and showing off the palm, or where the palm of the armor WILL be when it’s installed properly, at least, she continues, “As they run through the tubing, they’ll be condensed and heated further. From there, it’s a matter of building the launcher that’ll fire them, which, Ishaan?”

Passing the conversation, Ishaan takes over with enthusiasm. “The launcher, for now, will act more or less like your average air-gun,” Ishaan heads over to a so-far untended workbench and picks up a gauntlet that looks large enough to fit onto the bulking frame centerpieced in the lab. Showing it off, he starts with the undercarriage of the gauntlet. “You’ll have one on each hand, and here is where your propulsion of the projectile comes from. I still need to calibrate it so you aren’t using too much weight behind each shot to be fired properly, but the weapon will be nonlethal as long as you are avoiding headshots-”

Rampart finally seemed to have something to see. “NON-lethal or LESS THAN lethal?” they asked, emphasizing the need for clarification.

Ishaan stammered a bit. “W-Well, the projectiles would likely be classed as ‘less than’ no matter what I do, but I already have a calibration setting that SHOULD keep the only threat of being a lethal shot to a particularly bad headshot. The only damage we’re aiming for is akin to, as I mentioned before, what would be called an airsoft gun.”

Rampart nodded, folding their arms and thinking things over. “When’s a field test likely going to happen?” they asked, skepticism still thick in their voice.

“As soon as we confirm the calibrations I’ve set the gauntlets to are correct,” Ishaan assured with a bright, beaming smile. “We’re expecting full installation of all systems within just 3 days.”

Rampart nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. “And what are the other systems going into this thing?”

Gwen chimed in with an answer of, “Total of 3 weapons systems, including the new particle launchers. A small-battery rocket system, standard issue for non-lethal crowd control, low impact, as well as your emergency option; A set of kinetic knuckles. You’ll have 3 settings, off, low, and high, low being your standard knock-back, and high able to crack any low-grade wall you come across.”

Rampart kept nodding along, putting their fingers to the chin of their helmet, almost like it were a second skin to them. “And I take it normal operating systems?”

Ishaan nodded. “For travel, you’ll be equipped with standard motor-boots for the time being. Otherwise, all Chroma standard systems. Don’t want to overload with too many experimentals, after all!” he assured again, seemingly trying to make Rampart more comfortable.

The enigmatic pilot nodded again, turning to leave for now it seemed. “Keep me up to date,” they said before turning. “Oh, and… Gwen? Right? We gotta talk more about those particle launchers. Sound fascinating.”

Gwen seemed to perk up a little at that, beaming a little with pride at the interest. Once the pilot was gone, she turned back to Ishaan. “Well? Let’s get this done.”

Rampart marched down the halls towards the hangar bay, intent on taking a patrol flight, mostly to clear their nerves. This was cut off when they heard on the intercom chime a short tune overhead, saying, “Pilot ER-37, callsign Rampart. Please report to Conference Room 7. Rampart, please report to conference 7.”

Once the intercom chimed to sign off, Rampart sighed, catching their helmet fog for a moment. Without hesitation, they diverted their course towards the nearest elevator, hitting the 2nd floor button and heading down.

It took them only about 5 minutes to reach the conference room, expecting to see their immediate superior… And instead seeing a doctor, a distressed looking man, and one of the magi. “Well this is an interesting line-up,” they commented from the doorway before entering. “I’m starting to wonder why I got brought in.”

The doctor spoke up first, his older tone serious. “Rampart, this is Mr. Kierson. He’s in a bit of a bind, as he’s only in-country for another couple of days. His daughter, however, has to stay for medical reasons.”

Rampart nodded to Mr. Kierson, offering a hand to shake which the father took tentatively. “And I’m guessing there’s somewhere I fit into this plan of helping him out, right?”

“Please, miss, I-” Mr. Kierson began before Rampart cut them off.

“Sir, please. And if I can help, I’m going to,” they explained comfortingly.

Mr. Kierson nodded, falling silent for the moment.

The magi spoke up next, her fingers drumming the table. “It will be temporary arrangements, but we noticed you were currently labeled as living alone. Is this true?” she asked in a thick Bostonian accent.

Rampart nodded. “Not exactly, but I do have spare space regardless. I take it I’ll essentially be a sponsor until better living’s available?”

The magi nodded. “That will be the long and short of it. Though, there is one thing you should know, which is why I am involved.” Extending her hand, the magi explained, “My name is Scholar Elise Lecroux, mystic division, 3rd class, ambassador to the Astral Light organization. The Astral Light has agreed to take on the job of getting the young Ms. Kierson free of a curse plaguing her. The important part is that the curse is possession, which we’ve managed to stave off with a counter-possession.”

Rampart blinked under their helmet. “So… There’s essentially three mouths I’d be feeding? That’s… A little more than my budget can handle…” they mused, suddenly a little more tentative about shaking any more hands.

Elise shook her head. “Not quite the situation. There are three souls you’re takin’ in, but you only need to concern yourself with Ms. Kierson’s needs. The two possessions won’t need any support beyond what the Astral Light is giving.”

Rampart nodded, clearly not fully understanding and being out of their depth massively, but the hand running up and down her own bicep gave away that their heart bled for this kid they just now learned existed. After a moment of silent contemplation, the only question left on their mind was, “Anything else I should prepare for?”

Elise shook her head. “Not unless there is some special need Mr. Kierson hasn’t told us.”

“N-No, m- Sir! Sir… No, sir. Nothing else,” Mr. Kierson stammered out, a thick Swedish accent making him need to enunciate more than usual, it seemed. He smiled and offered his hand again. “Thank you so much for taking care of my little girl. I know it was a difficult choice…”

Rampart took off their helmet and smiled, taking the father’s hand firmly and giving it a good shake. “No need to worry, Mr. Kierson. If I couldn’t have, we’d have found someone able to take care of your daughter. And you have my total assurance I’ll make sure she’s well taken care of.”

The doctor smiled. “In that case, let’s get information all settled in before we let you go and get you introduced, shall we?” He slid a paper across the table for Rampart to fill out, along with the pen to do so.

It wasn’t until dinner that Gwen managed to break away from the project. In fairness, it was an impressively productive day at least, but she was starving by the time she climbed into the seat with Batu.

“You okay?” he brother asked.

Gwen rubbed her slightly-pulsing headache. “Yeah… Kinda… Not really. I think I worked too hard… But at least we’re already almost done. We’ll probably be ready for a first test pilot by mid-week.”

Batu smiled as he turned on some soft music for his sister. “That’s good, at least. Here,” he said, handing her a water bottle. Not his first rodeo with his sister’s work life.

Gwen took the bottle and drank long and hard as Batu began heading towards the usual seafood restaurant. “I already called the order in, at least…” she growled out through her relieved throat. “You were going with your usual, I hope.”

“I was,” Batu admitted casually. “Haven’t been home, either, so I admit I dunno if the place burned down.”

Gwen shrugged. “It’s probably fine… Doc’s orders were for the big guy to keep it cool, and I doubt the normal tennants did anything terrible.”

Batu shrugged in kind. “Guess we’ll see.”

The rest of the ride was mostly quiet, aside from the music. They picked up food, collected the groceries Batu bought on his way to pick up Gwen, and made it home in one piece…

And almost on queue, as they walked inside, one of their tenants was rushing downstairs. The middle-aged woman who lived right above on the first floor.

“What’s going on, Lettie?” Batu asked, casual but concerned.

“I dunno, I just heard a thud and came to check,” she said. “Sounded REAL heavy which is why I’m worried about the new guy, kinda.”

Gwen and Batu shared a look before they split up, dumping the bags in their hands on the front desk without a second thought. Batu made way for their room, while Gwen ducked into the basement.

Gwen found him first. “Travis!” she screamed as she saw him trying to roll onto his back at the bottom of the basement stairs. “Lettie, call 911!”

(PREV / ALL \ NEXT)

[sheep-lover]

Never in my life i thought i should see a multi fandom fic that included slender man x zalgo anyway chat have u ever played style savvy? Its like so good. And the switch one sucks like its just a sandbox basically and like i thought oh maybe if i recreate all the clothes of style savvy into fashion dreamer it should be super fun cuz like it should be the same but better! But the system is so confusing and theres so many elements like why the fuck is there a bingo machine? Why is there a gacha? At least the characters are cute like the customization and like those npcs that stay next to the mirror are like so pretty and my fave my girl Talulah but the man are god awful ugly theres like five exceptions

Anyway i wonder if oh father will return cuz the author of the fic has heart problems and the author of the source is a pedo so i guess i am left to eat old food and god knows i will devour. I have to stop referring to god so much its annoying good thing theres no one here to annoy i just entertain myself mom wants me to have friends but i think its too late for me

Its ok ok wow letters i remenber when i wrote letters to god bit he never replied so i stopped sending some of them ieven have blood sacrifice non im not kidding i was bored ok jesus ikm so hungry why did i not make an ommelette so hungry belly hurts ok i tried putting acrylic nails yestenderb bit i took them off like after half an jour cuz i felt ridiculous why can i be pretty or handsome why do i have to be weird and. Awkward my plushie pait brush is not selling and the price whent down and i cant findhrhhrhryrhrvrhrhrhrhrhrbrbrhrhr the petpet rock and treinging is so confusing i dont understand nothing im so dimb adn astupid im tuured of all tpf of this waaaa waaaa waaaaaaa easaaaa wwaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaááá waaaáaaáaaáaaaáaaáaaaaaaaáaaaaáaaaáaaaáaaaaaaaáaaabaaaaaabaaaaabaabbabbaabaaaaáaaaaaaaaaásssajfhfbfnfhrjfnrbrhrjrbrbrhrjrbrhrhrhrhrhrjrhrghrnrrhrjrnrgrurrgrrnrgrrbrdndhf me rhdjrbfhrnrhdjrhr6rbrrbr him rjuf um dnrjhzhzdndhdhjshzdndbdbdbbshsbsbzdbbzbs hj um rnd um jr um jrrjd um jr in jdrurdjrhrrduddyrr7rrhurjryrrryurrhrjryrnsjhudorahhejejejegrhrhrhrururururururrururudjhfhfbdhdjdhhdr think high ehr junk jrrrrrrr buying jrrrrrrrrr4rrrrfrjrrrrr hinting rhrrrr Johndoeassaasssßsssßssssssgsssssssaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabáabáaabaabaáaabaaabaáaaabáaahahsaãgvh ok ok

[danpuff-ao3]

Where do I start joining the fandom? I've been a HP lurker for a while now (I read fics daily and check a few pro-Snape blogs bec I love him) and I really want to join the fandom, discord servers, meet new people, and even join writing events like the blackcestfest you recently did. Any suggestions?

Hey, anon! I'm so glad you reached out!!

Being more active in fandom can be such a good experience! seeing as the HP fandom is so large, though, properly getting your foot in can seem a bit daunting. There is so much out there! Where to start??

Do you comment on fic? Do you follow creators' social medias? Do you interact with them there? Are you a creator? Do you share your creations here or on Twitter or anywhere else? Do you listen to fandom podcasts? Do those podcasts or creators have their own Discord servers, or servers they promote? Do you have areas of interest? Snape, I presume. Any specific ships?

Putting yourself out there any way you can is a great step!

The best place to get started, in my opinion, would be the Magical Shippers RnD server. It has everything. Spaces to chat about all sorts of characters, ships, tropes, kinks, etc. There are spaces to chat about writing, and they're always sharing new writing events going on. There is even a channel with links to other Discord servers, so you can hopefully find more specific spaces to your liking, too. It's a really open-minded space with plenty of friendly, helpful people. You have to be 18+ and if you are and that sounds good to you, you can click here for the invite link!

And you are of course welcome to DM me here or on Discord (danpuff#4958) and if you tell me what all you like and are looking for I can maybe direct you to more specific spaces, too!

As for writing events, you can follow @hpfests. They promote all sorts of writing events that you can peruse and see what you're interested in. @hp-flowers is starting next month and that's one event I'm really excited about! Oh, and several fests have their own Discord servers, so that's another option for you!

Really, once you get started you'll find more and more cool people and spaces, so keep an eye out and take the opportunities that come your way!

I hope that was a little bit helpful! I more or less stumbled around until I found my groove! And now I'm more or less all over the place LOL!

Hope to see you around, anon!!

[following-the-drum]

How to Make Your Very Own Plush Strahd!

A Multi-part Pattern by Following-the-Drum

Difficulty: (Not gonna lie there will be blood and tears it's Strahd we are talking about) Medium to Advanced if only for the techniques involved.

Go Easy on me I have never made a pattern for Crochet in my life but I have crocheted for twenty plus years!!! If you have any questions feel free to send me an ask! Without Further ado:

Part One: The Head

Head Yarn: (I used the Red Heart Super Saver Acrylic Worsted Weight Yarn in the Color Aran)

Hair yarn: is same weight but from an old Black cotton Yarn I had lying around with a soft texture.

The Safety Eye size is 8mm

Yarn & sewing needles, black thread, fiberfill/polyfill, sewing pins, something for measuring, possibly caffine and patience are needed for this project. (Maybe a blood sacrifice???)

Hook: G size or 4.25mm hook

Pattern Stitch Shorthand:

sc = Single Crochet

inc = Increase

dec = Decrease

st = Stitches

Start!

For each row join stitches and make a chain...

Rnd 1: Make a Magic Ring with 6 sc (6)

Rnd 2: Make an Inc in the 6 st (12)

Rnd 3: sc in the next st, then inc in the next st 6x around (18)

Rnd 4: sc in the next two st, then inc in the next st 6x around (24)

Rnd 5: sc in the next three st, then inc in the next st 6x around (30)

Rnd 6: sc in the next four st, inc in the next st 6x around (42)

Rnd 7: sc in the next five st, inc in the next st 6x around (48)

Rnd 9-13: sc in the stitches around (48)

Rnd 14: sc in next twenty-four st (Put a marker in the twenty-fourth st this is the center of the face) sc in the next twenty-four. (48)

Rnd 15: sc in the next ten st, inc in the next, sc in the next five st, inc in next st, sc in the next two st, inc in next st, sc in next three st, inc in the next st, sc in the next three st, inc in the next st, sc in the next two st, inc in next st, sc in next five st, inc in next st, sc in next ten, inc in next st (56)

Rnd 16-18: sc in all fifty-six st (56)

Place the safety eyes between rounds fourteen and fifteen, with eight stitches between, four on either side of the stitch marker.

Rnd 19: sc in next five st, dec, (sc in next four st, dec) 3x, sc in next six st, dec, (sc in next four st, dec) 3x, sc in the next five st (48)

Rnd 20: sc in the fourty-eight st (48)

Rnd 21: (sc in next six st, dec) 6x (42)

Rnd 22: (sc in next five st, dec) 6x (36)

Rnd 23: (sc in next four st, dec) 6x (30)

Begin stuffing the head at this point with the fiberfill and continue filling as you go.

Rnd 24: (sc in next three st, dec) 6x (24)

Rnd 25: (sc in next two st, dec) 6x (18)

Rnd 26: (sc in next st, dec) 6x (12)

Rnd 27: dec six times, fasten off leaving a tail use a needle to weave in the front loops of the stitches and pull tight to be close. Sew a nose width of two stitches, between rounds fifteen and sixteen.

Ears x2:

For each row join stitches and chain one

(Same yarn same hook as the head)

Rnd 1: make a magic ring with six st (6)

Rnd 2: (sc in next two and inc in the next st) 2x (8)

Rnd 3: (sc in next three and inc in the next st) 2x (10)

Rnd 4: (sc in the next four and inc in the next st) 2x (12)

Fasten off with a long tail for sewing into head.

Assemble your Strahd-mallow looking head:

Attach the ears using two pins on each side to hold in place while sewing. Count eight stitches from the bottom of the eye to the side and pin in place. on each side.

Now make him angy! Or make him smirk! Whatever eyebrow placement you choose is up to you he is your Barovian Darklord of the Dread Plush planes!!!

Hair: (this is a complicated process so lots of pictures to follow)

Each length of hair is going to vary depending on where on the head it will go, the longest ones being twenty five inches or sixty-three point five inches this is going to get folded in half to become half in length.

Take the Hook and insert it into the front loop three rows above the middle between the eyebrows. Pull the loop made from the length cut of black yarn through and loop the ends through it making a knot repeat once more to form the bottom of the widows peak.

Take a sewing needle and black thread and sew the knots together on the loop so they are bound and stationary. This is important as it helps keep the shape of his notorious widows peak. Add two more knots in the loop behind and two knots to each side sewing each down and in place add a knot to each loop of the rows above and across at varying points till you have the shape of his forehead mapped out.

The highest point being four rows above and six loops out before descending into the sideburns. If it is feeling sparse add an additional knot on a loop and sew in place. Once you have completed both sides begin outlining the edge of his hair around his head to form the space to fill in by looping each strand. The bottom outline should be the same level as his lower ear. Keep adding hair strands across and up till you have reached two rows above the top of his ear. Leave the top of his head bald. Add four strands behind his widows peak and four on either side of the widows peak atop.

Using black thread sew the hair strands down to the tops of the knots concealing them. I found it easier to sew through the middle of a few strands at the point where they meet the knots then sew them down as a clump. Continue across till his top of his head is covered.

Adjust length of hair as you make your way to the lower points starting from the middle of the widows peak which is twenty-one inches folded in half, the rest of the widows peak and framing should be twenty inches, with the sides and back at seventeen. You want to have some variety because once it is cut it will look natural when you give him a trim. We will trim the hair up once we have the head attached to the rest of the body. I personally found adding the rest of the hair after finishing the outline easier once the head was secure to the body.

Once you have completed the hair congratulations you are one step closer to a plush Strahdy boi!

[hoardcloneheadcanons]

Rhack Story P 4- Nisha and Spite

That was the part that Rhys was desperately trying to leave out when talking to Moxxie. Hitting on Jack may have been one of the dumbest things that Rhys did out of pure unbridled spite. 

 When Rhys first started working for Handsome Jack, he’d had hope. Yes, Jack’s P. A. was a disposable list job, but it was given to idiots, people who were nearly fired anyway. Rhys was only there on a fluke. He could make something out of the position. It was still working with the CEO. If he did his job right, he could still get power, and then rub sweet irony in Vasquez’s face.

 All he had to do was do his job correctly, and then pick up jobs as they came along until he was too useful to kill. For the first three weeks he let himself believe this delusion. At the time his job consisted of: 

 1. Cleaning up the remains of the earlier P.A. from the spike pit of Jack’s office. Rhys still remembered the smell.

2. Filling out order forms for new shipments of weapon parts. 

3.Taking notes during board meetings. 

4. Making fancy presentations for the board meetings using the notes on new developments Jack gave him. 

5. Picking up Jack from a bar one time when Jack didn’t feel like getting a shuttle service or teleporting 

6. Talking to the freaks in RnD for Jack so that Jack didn’t have to get near them. He was mostly avoiding a scientist named Nakayama who, to be fair, was unsettling, and obsessive when it came to Jack. 

7. Looking over code Jack had written to find where Jack had missed a bracket. 

 All of which Rhys had done to the best of his ability, and the best of his ability was pretty damn good. His robotic enhancements helped him look through code and record meetings.  Rhys made sure to be on time and attentive for every random task he was called for. He didn’t even bother Jack with the fact that Nakayama had (pathetically and unsuccessfully) tried to kill Rhys.

 But then three weeks passed, and Rhys got to meet Nisha. 

 It was a hunting trip. A date. Jack and Nisha wanted to go to a hunting reservation on Eden-5 and kill drifters with some high-tech slag rocket launchers. Rhys was brought to take pictures and carry equipment. 

Nisha was curvy, had muscles, and could shoot a rocket launcher with frightening precision. Rhys had heard of Jack's outlaw, vault-hunting girlfriend before, but reality was more frightening than concept. She was different then Jack. Jack killed people, put he was also a wise-cracking, nerd with a cheese puffs addiction. Up close, you could forget his aggression, but Nisha wore hers like a high-fashion cloak.

Despite all that, it went well-ish. Jack and Nisha killed three drifters with relative ease and had a good time. 

Mid-way through the day their luck ran out and the area seemed to be empty of creatures. So, after consulting with Nisha a bit, Jack sent him to go find a drifter's egg and bring it back to camp to attract more monsters. After all, Rhys hadn’t been hunting. He still had energy, and none of the creatures would be scared of Rhys and hide their nests from him. 

The order sounded stupid when it was given.  But he couldn’t say that to Jack. Not when he was so desperate to prove he was useful and competent. 

 So Rhys did it. 

He had to bribe a local with a third of his week’s paycheck to get a location of an egg, and then wit another third to tell him how to hide from a drifter. He’d climbed into a cave in the center of a mountain, scratching his body and tearing his clothes. The bugs around had smelled his blood and bit at him. Then, with a tiny flashlight, he’d found drifter’s nest in the darkest corner of the cave and picked up a bowling-ball sized egg.

He heard an adult drifter scream from somewhere in the dark when he touched the egg. He’d run out the cave with it and dove into a mud-pit. The local he’d bribed told him that drifters sensed prey through smell and motion. Staying still in the muck was the only way to hide.  So he lay still hours watching the giant spider-looking creature hunt for him, memorizing every detail of its form as he hugged its egg to his chest.

But then the drifter meandered away, lost, and Rhys went back to the car he’d parked at the foot of the mountain, drifter’s egg under his arm.

When Rhys got back to the camp he found Jack and Nisha napping together under a tree with disheveled clothes and hair.

When they realized he’d come back they laughed with shock and amazement.

They hadn’t expected him to come back at all. They didn’t even hide it.

Nisha had said something about  Jack’s current stooge being more rugged than the last one.

They spent the next 15 minutes poking at his bug-bites and asking about the drifter’s reaction as he’d stolen the egg. He described it half heartedly as his eyes drifted over to where the rocket launchers were completely put away.

He remembered thinking, “They aren’t even going to continue the hunt, are they? I did all of that for nothing.”

And sure enough, before he could even finish his story, Jack started loading the equipment into the transporter dock for them to go. Jack briefly considered turning the egg into an omelet before deciding it would be gross and throwing it into the air for Nisha to shoot.

And Rhys’s hope shattered with the egg.

He’d done everything right, and  he was still as disposable as he ever was. They would have thrown his life away for a joke. They’d wanted to have a romp in the grass together, and instead of sending him away like a normal person, they sent him on a death-near-guaranteed task because they thought it was funnier.

He hated them both for it, but he always associated that revelation with the meeting of Nisha.

_______________________________________________________________

It didn’t get better between them after that.

Nisha sometimes came up to the Hyperion offices to visit Jack and it did not make Rhys like her more.

For one, she ordered him around as much as Jack did, but wasn’t paying him, which got under his skin.

For two, she just didn’t remember his name. She didn’t pretend to forget to belittle him, she actively did not know. To her, Rhys was another Hyperion cog indistinct from all the rest and wasn’t worth remembering. She barely looked at him. It was worse.

Then there was the little issue of the intercom.

Nisha sometimes visited Jack in his office for… conjugal visits. Rhys was all for this. It distracted Jack so that Rhys had free time. It’s just that there was an intercom between Jack’s desk and Rhys’s that Jack used to quickly give his P.A. orders. It turned on and off on Jack’s side, there was a button he’d hold down while speaking, but it couldn’t be controlled from Rhys’s side.

Sometimes when they were together it would accidentally get pushed.

He remembered politely telling Nisha that it would be great if she could just avoid the little green button with INT on it.

Every successive time after he asked the button was constantly on whenever Nisha and Jack were visiting. She must have been sitting on it. She couldn’t remember his name but she could remember his pet peeves.

_______________________________________________________________

So maybe, just maybe, Jack’s attraction to Rhys, wasn’t completely caused by Rhys torturing people. Maybe, Rhys had actively hit on Jack after Jack started showing interest because he’d wanted Nisha to feel every bit as replaceable and disposable as he always did.

He should have been afraid when Jack had started paying attention to him. People who had Jack’s attention died.

But all he could think about was that he’d taken something from Nisha and how after it all was over, Jack would be the one suffering the fall-out from having replaced her with a no-name Hyperion cog.

Rhys would be dead. But he was going to die anyway, so he was going to go out petty.

[aces-to-apples]

how about...Flirting Under Fire with Rex and Cody

[and] married to the job 

For the Fanfiction Trope Mash-Up ask meme

Flirting Under Fire [69] and Married To The Job [84], Rex/Cody in the war stories ‘verse

-

[Image: Commander Cody, of the 212th Attack Battalion, and Captain Rex, of the 501st Legion, crouched together in a foxhole, their helmets tilted towards each other in clear discussion.]

Caption: h8 it wn they gt lyk ths, u no sm sht s bout 2 go dwn

-

[Image: Captain Rex in the middle of smacking Commander Cody upside the helmet.]

Caption: o sht o sht we r FUKKED

-

[Image: camera in selfie-mode to show ARC Trooper Fives tracing a tear down one cheek.]

Caption: they sed we gon chrge th enmy nd hopflly not die, gr8 pln lads

-

[The camera shakes almost imperceptibly as it zooms in on Commander Cody and Captain Rex, now standing upright in a dirt field surrounded by battle detritus and both with several more scorch marks on their armor than before. Their body language is loose even though they appear to be shouting at each other in a mix of Galactic Basic, Mando’a, and Shyriiwook that [CT-7560, “Lingo”] refuses to translate so stop asking.]

Caption: we srvivd no thx 2 ths mfmlkrs

-

“—attle was going pretty well until your lot showed up, Commander.”

“Well, ol’ boy, maybe next time I should just leave your lot to it, then, if you’re not going to be properly grateful for the save.”

“Oh, I think I can show plenty of gratitude when we get back to the Resolute. Sir.”

Caption: pls sirs ur trng ths rmy aprt

-

“—f you don’t take that back within the next four seconds, Captain, I am going to—”

[A crackle of static interrupts the heated(?) conversation.]

“This is Obi-Wan Kenobi aboard Republic flagship Negotiator, please respond?”

[Both captain and commander immediately straighten to parade rest as Commander Cody begins to report.]

Caption: uhoh spaghettio thr hsbnd shwd p nd rnd thr fn :(((((( hw sd

-

My AO3

[aroace413]

Aspec Initiative RnD and Policy Request

Many battle tactics have been lost to the wreckage of the decimation. I suggest that we create new standard procedures, such as the equipping battle kits that are separate from the armoury filled with a few emergency tools.

To start it off, I suggest we make cake pops as handy power boosters that can be accessed easily. One small ball is enough for a quick boost in a tough spot.

Recently, we had a case of shadow attack where an agent was trapped without escape. In a situation where multiple agents are available for rescue, a standard team procedure might be beneficial. For example. Agents would meet up prior to entering the danger zone and have a relay ready to report in case they go missing so that the next team doesn’t go in blind.

Development of the signal jammer tech is currently underway at aspec initiative headquarters. I reccomend the next step (once stabilised) be portable jammers which can help mask rescue groups, as large groups may draw attention faster.

For unprompted attacks on Safe Houses, having an encrypted signal sent between the safe house and initiative centre much like those for the Cold War nuclear weapons might help give earlier warning to the centre when agents are unable to request help due to tampering or ambush. Of course, the security of the centre should not be compromised; maybe a separate monitoring station?

@aspecinitiativecenter I’ll put these ideas up to you for review. Hopefully we can implement some soon.

[thelostsmiles]

Gosh I hope B puts weight back on soon. I know everyone is fawning over the rednoses pix but its obv there's a reason all the pix are just the shoulders up. Going by how defined his collar bone is now I'm sure u can probably see his ribs.I know he said he'd be healthy about it but it's still a bit concerning. Of course its great to be committed to a role and to jump in freezing water for charity but Ive seen noone really mentioning concern about him possibly getting sick. Am I over thinking it?

Dear Anon. The fact that you are considering this suggests you care - which is, of course, a good thing. I am not in any way a health expert, nutritionist, or Dr. This is all my own opinion. I wouldn’t want to encourage anything that would promote being underweight and unhealthily thin. Having said that, I don’t think these recent pics show us that at all.

I think we’re all just use to seeing him at a different weight and body type. Since STiD and then on to DS, he’s been thicker. Now we see him back closer to his Sherlock s1 years and this throws people off with a visceral reaction. Maybe because he’s older.We can see his lean and toned clavicles as well as the shoulder muscles. But a lean body does not equate a damaging one. We haven’t seen a full body pic from RND and this is also a good thing. It’s unnecessary. It’s possible we’ll see an emaciated Wynne in Ironbark but we shouldn’t let movie magic fool us either.

Something people need to remember is that this is for a role. He is an actor and he’s brilliant at it. He gives 100% and more of himself to really inhabit each role. Things like his hair color/length and weight will fluctuate. Going by his past artistic choices, I highly doubt he could be forced into anything. He is not the first nor will he be the last actor to do this. The reason I mention this is because it means that celebrities are important people to the business execs. and they protect their investment. (That’s ultimately what they are to them  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ). Therefore, he has professionals guiding him. He’s also not an idiot. We all wish him good health always. Keep caring and loving, anon. Giving him some credit is nice too :)

During The Grinch promo, he was asked specifically about Ironbark and how hard it was for him experiencing the extreme changes. He said he deals with it “very, very carefully”. He also bulked up for the first part of it so the difference would be greater without having to lose too much. 

** Besides, this is going to be as short as his mustache days. He will likely gain weight for Rio and definitely more for DS next year ;)

[rndyounghowze]

9 Truths And A Lie: An Analysis of One Easy Lie by Martin Dockery

@martindockery is one tricky SOG.

By RnD

Cincy Fringe

Review 257

If you had told me two years ago that one of the biggest revolutions in live theatre was that you could watch it without pants on your couch I would have thought you were joking. A year ago if you had told me that there would be a chance to evolve past that and use the platform to make it even weirder I would also not believe you. I found this little truth out by watching a storyteller I had been watching all year openly confess to cheating on his wife, hiding evidence from the police, and killing a man. Oh wait, that was a lie. No,I really saw it, what I mean was that this one thrilling performance of “One Easy Lie” by Martin Dockery at Cincinnati Fringe was the one time among all the other times he’s performed this month that he was creating an absolute piece of fiction. The revolution comes from the different textures of stories digital theatre makers can create when the truth is online forever and the lie gone the minute the show is over.

Dockery’s staging is significant mainly because of the lack of it. On the surface it seems he is sitting in his Montauk basement in a place where he can’t be overheard by his wife. However there also isn’t much to look at. In the entirety of the piece Dockery will not move and there will be nothing for you to look at other than his face. That is in itself a very strong artistic choice because in storytelling the show isn’t going on on the stage. The real show is going on in your head.

More than ever while listening to Martin Dockery’s performance I was watching this vivid movie that was playing on the back of my eyelids. I could see the deer laying there, I could see this strange affair playing out, I could even see this bag of money in his arms. Dockery chose each word as a single stroke of a brush painting a vivid picture of this story. There was an understanding that we didn’t have to look at him. Actually I believe if you had told him that you didn’t see anything when he spoke he would be insulted. The words are the precious currency of a storytelling piece. This piece could have been coming to us over the radio for all we cared and it would have been just as powerful.

However this little yarn that Dockery was spinning is a next evolution to digital storytelling. For a year Dockery has been chronicling his family’s life in Montauk, NY as they left the city during the pandemic. Monthly he has been telling the real life ups and downs of being a displaced artist and raising his daughter. They are there forever on YouTube. Then there is this live-streamed performance where he builds on all of this backstory and weaves a fictional account of a trauma, a deceit, an affair, and a flat out murder. What is astonishing is not the thrilling nature of the story but how absolutely believable it is based on this year-long backstory he has created. For those of us who have been watching for a year it is a freaky gift. Dana and I were looking at each other and saying “I hope his wife doesn’t find out” or “why would you confess this live on the air to a Cincy audience?” Then we had to remind ourselves that this was the one time where he was lying to us. I can only wonder what it looks like to see this show first and then find Right Now on YouTube. I’m sure Dockery has and is laughing like hell.

Using a technique like this digital theatre makers can create textures to their narratives just by choosing what is up online forever and what only people can see by tuning in. Maybe you can use competing lies, alternative storylines. Maybe the public can only find the lies online and have to tune in to get the truth. What can this mean for your storytelling? What possibilities can this have for the future. Where do we go from here? That's up for you to decide.

Check Them Out Here

Similar Posts

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https://rndyounghowze.tumblr.com/post/650323979652956160/right-now-year-two-review-creates-an-ever-growing

https://rndyounghowze.tumblr.com/post/620660303914467328/forbidden-city-by-martin-dockery-at-cincy-fringe

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[secondfuckingguessing]

Oh my.

It was one of those moments when the right thing pops up at the right time. I saw a youtube live about the girl turning into woman. Watched the whole thing without much surprise. Nothing new here. At the rnd, however, we were guided through a meditation, in which we were supposed to meet our inner child.

My inner child was playing happily in the school court. It was that game we used to play, where circles were drawn on the ground with chalk. Maybe it had something to do with bunnies? I'm not sure anymore. Anyways, I was standing in one of the circles, the one next to the metallic doors of the pool system. I wore the characteristic uniform, green shorts, white tshirt, and my also characteristic white boots, with orthopedic insoles for my flat feet. I had long dark blonde hair. And i didn't give a fuck to my adult version. From then on, everything we were meant to do didn't work. I couldn't look into my own eyes. I was sobbing at this point, inunded with a deep feeling of shame. I kept apologizing to the kid. She was great. I was the one to ruin it all. She'd be ashamed of where we turned out to be, how we turned out to be. Truth is, I can't quite feel the love either. It feels weird being affectionate to the child, as much as the child doesn't seem to care about it either. Two unrelated beings.

I remember feeling small and insignificant as a kid, in a hurry to grow and be seen as someone who deserved attention. I think I left my kid behind. Never being vulnerable. Pretending i was too good to care for things I lacked. Emotional needs were for weak people. I don't even like kids. I despise them. I don't get the attention they get, for nothing. Meanwhile, I'm a 26 year old who constantly tries to recreate a childhood in order to feel something, and keeps trapped not being able to act or feel her age.

[delta-airlines]

I pulled this off a blog post and saved it in my notes but I don’t remember where I found it (so if anyone knows the source, please add on)

How to Knit Socks: Basic Recipe

Step 1: ESTABLISH GAUGE
No matter what yarn you’re working with, or size sock — from baby to grown man — you’re knitting the basic model for making on is GENERALLY the same. The difference is really only in the numbers. To that end, you’ll first need to knit a swatch with chosen yarn, needles, and stitch pattern to establish stitch and row gauge. You’ll need this info for the next step.

For the purposes of this tutorial, let’s say we’re using size U.S. 6/4 mm needles and sport-weight yarn, when knit in Stockinette Stitch, gives us a gauge of 4 stitches and 6 1/2 rows per inch.

Step 2: CALCULATE CAST ON (CO) NUMBER

To get started, you have a couple of choices: either measure the foot circumference of the person you’re going to knit for or use the average sizing provided by Yarn Standards. I prefer the latter.

Since the genesis of this post was the WWII patriotic knitting for soldiers effort, let’s go with the numbers correlating to a men’s medium size sock for our pattern. To calculate a cast on number, you’ll just need to multiply the foot circumference and stitch gauge numbers. Using our results from Step 1, and the chart above that will look like this:

9 in. x 4 sts = 36 

That’s it! Keeping in mind that we may need to adjust the number one way or another to accommodate a stitch pattern, we know that 36 stitches is a good amount to cast on for our socks! Bonus: If we want to work in 2×2 ribbing, we’ll need a multiple of 4. If we want to work in 1×1 ribbing, we’ll need a multiple of 2. Either way, 36 means we’re golden. High-five!

How to Knit Socks: Let’s get knittinng!

Step 3: THE LEG

CO stitches to dpns (double-pointed needles). Divide evenly between needles; join, taking care not to twist.

Knit stitches in desired stitch pattern, maybe ribbed for a cuff, then stockinette for the leg, rib for the whole let, seed stitch; you do you! The length is really a preference; ankle, calf, or knee-high are all worked the same except for how long. Using the chart and our calculations, however, our numbers will look like this:

8 in (height) x 6 1/2 rows = 52 

This means we’ll work 52 rounds of leg stitches in our desired stitch pattern.

 

Step 4: THE HEEL FLAP (Square heel method)

The heel flap is the only part of this sock that won’t be knit in-the-round. For this step, you’ll place half (the front/instep) stitches on waste yarn or spare needles, and the other half (the heel) on 1 needle. For our example, that means 18 heel stitches. I like a thick heel, so recommend knitting in the following manner, but you can technically use any stitch pattern that makes you happy.

Row 1: *Slip (Sl)1, knit (k) 1; repeat from * to end.

Row 2: Sl 1, purl (p) to end.

Repeat those two rows until your heel flap is a square. If math makes your whole hear sing, then, by all means, do the multiplication to determine exactly how many rows that will be. If not though, do what I do, which is to just fold the heel from corner to corner. Once it’s even, you’ll know you have a square and your heel is complete!

 

Step 5: TURNING THE HEEL

Since we’re not two-dimensional beings (no offense to Flat Stanley), we need some shaping to cup our heel. This is created with a series of simple, short rows. Here’s how:

To turn a heel, you’re going work 2/3 of the RIGHT SIDE heel stitches, decrease, and turn. Then you’ll work  1/3 of the WRONG SIDE heel flap, decrease and turn, work to gap, decrease and turn, etc. For our example using 18 heel stitches, that looks like this:

Row 1: Sl 1, k11, ssk (slip, slip, knit together through the back loop). Turn.

Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog. Turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk. Turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog. Turn. 

Repeat Rows 3-4 until all heel stitches are worked.

Step 6: THE GUSSET

For this part of the sock, you’ll revert to working in rounds.

Rnd 1: Place half of the heel stitches on free dpn (Needle 1), with the same dpn pick up stitches evenly along the first side of heel; place instep stitches on Needle 2; use Needle 3 to pick up stitches along the second side of heel and work remaining heel stitches.

Rnd 2: Work in straight pattern stitch. (i.e. Knit all stitches, if working in Stockinette Stitch)

Rnd 3: Needle 1, work to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; Needle 2, work straight (i.e. knit); Needle 3, k1, ssk, work to end.

Rnd 4: Work in straight pattern stitch.

Repeat Rnds 3-4 until you get back to your original, CO number of stitches. For our purposes, that would be 36 sts.

Step 7: THE FOOT

Work every round in straight pattern stitch until foot is 2 1/2″ shorter than the desired length. Using the chart above, we want our foot to be 11″, so that means we’ll work rounds until the foot measures 8 1/2″.

Step 8: THE TOE

Arrange stitches so 1/2 (top) are on Needle 2, and 1/4 are on Needles 1 & 3. For us that means, Needles 1 & 3 have 9 stitches each, and Needle 1 has 18. Shape as follows:

Rnd 1: Needle 1, k to last 3 sts, k2 tog, k1; Needle 2, k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1; Needle 3, k1, ssk, k to end.

Rnd 2:  Knit. (I’m making the assumption here that regardless of foot stitch pattern that the stitcher will work the toe in Stockinette as is necessary for the next step to look right.)

Repeat Rnds 1-2 until about 1/3 of the stitches, rounded to an even number, remain. For us, let’s say 12 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for grafting.

Step 9: GRAFTING TOE 

We’ll seamlessly graft stitches together using Kitchener Stitch. To do so, you’ll need to divide the stitches evenly over 2 needles and hold parallel. Thread tail into tapestry needle and work as follows:

Set up:

* Insert tapestry needle purlwise into the first stitch on FRONT needle. Pull tail through, but don’t let the stitch fall off.

* Insert tapestry needle knitwise into the first stitch on the BACK needle. Pull tail through, but don’t let the stitch fall off.

Begin Grafting:

* Insert tapestry needle knitwise into the first stitch on the FRONT needle and pull tail through, letting it fall off the knitting needle;

* Insert tapestry needle purlwise into the next stitch on the FRONT needle and pull the tail through, WITHOUT letting the stitch fall off knitting needle.

* Insert tapestry needle purlwise into the first stitch on the BACK needle and pull tail through, letting it fall off the knitting needle;

* Insert tapestry needle knitwise into the next stitch on the FRONT needle and pull the tail through, WITHOUT letting the stitch fall off knitting needle.

Repeat those 4 steps until all stitches are grafted. Weave in ends.

Started some socks for christmas gifting but it's been a year since i made one and i feel like it's coming out all wrong..

And they are way too big.. Might need to start over 😢

Does someone have a simple sock pattern to help me?

[carpostnet]

Hero Electric wants subsidies on low speed electric scooters

  Hero Electric – For those that observe our content material, All of them. They are India’s largest promoting electric scooter model within the Country. Mr Naveen Munjal, managing director at Hero Electric, launched a press statement with a headline “Hero Electric Puts On Hold Investment Of Up To Rs 700 Crore For A Year”. You can learn the article here. Essentially Hero Electric is blaming the FAME 2 authorities subsidy scheme on poor gross sales of his product.

                                                                                        Video : Hero Electric wants subsidies on low speed electric scooters | Musings #10

Mr Munjal’s FAME 2 Blame Game ​ So let’s see what Mr Munjal says “FAME II has not delivered for certain. The coverage needs to be fully modified. What we now have been saying is that it needs to be the low-speed autos, which should be focused for lots. If you must actually make this business work, you must focus on the base of the pyramid and the bottom is the low-speed. Everything else can experience on high of it. When we take a look at electric two-wheeler mobility around the globe, it’s all low-speed, High-speed EVs are costly, thereby making it unsuitable for a “worth delicate” market like India.”

​Wow. So Mr Naveen Munjal has definitely come to the media with all weapons blazing in regards to the poor gross sales of Hero Electric Scooters and the way his firm has worn out a 12 months from his steadiness sheets. He cites FAME 2 scheme as the foremost motive for this. Interesting.

Just a refresher for individuals who dont know,  FAME 2 incentives might be offered if 2 wheeler OEMs meet the next important criterias

Scooters must have share of localisation in India

Obtain certificates kind testing companies – ARAI/ICAT

Offer three 12 months guarantee on battery and automobile

    So in our perspective, FAME 2 is a implausible incentive for these corporations to make in India and get them licensed in India, as an alternative of simply importing from overseas and dumping inferior merchandise that don’t work for India.

Let’s take a look at the FAME 2 numbers on the Department of Heavy Industry website. As you possibly can see there are round 9000 FAME 2 compliant EV’s bought from – this contains vehicles, three wheelers and a pair of wheelers. What we all know is the quantity is near 5000 for 2 wheelers.

An attention-grabbing facet observe is that solely in Karnataka and TN state, you have got L2 class for two wheelers the place you have got 1642 and 249 gross sales respectively which point out Ather 450 numbers as they’re the one ones working from Bengaluru and Chennai. No different state has L2 class aside from AP which has L2 class with one 2 wheeler bought – Maybe Avera Retrosa? You guys inform me.

White – 2015 Hero Photon

OEM’s are subsidy center males ​Anyway again to the subject in hand, Hero Electric at the moment has a portfolio of three scooters that meet FAME 2 necessities – these are Photon LP, Optima HS and NYX HS. The on street costs have been fluctuating ever since they had been launched. Few months again the Photon LP costed Rs 78,000 onroad and now its Rs 82,000.

Hero Electric even have low speed autos that do not qualify for FAME 2 subsidy like – Flash, Optima, and the newly launched Dash – which go upto 30 kmph and promote for round 55,000 to 60,000.

Now naturally a big a part of the market will favor spending much less on a scooter and thus Hero Electric will promote extra low speed scooters than excessive speed scooters. So technically, if you concentrate on it, Mr Munjal is correct – we have to assist individuals shopping for low speed EV’s. So a Dash prices Rs 60,000 Dash and if subsidies are supplied even for low speed scooters, then Hero Electric can promote it for Rs 45,000, making it extra enticing for extra individuals to ditch their air pollution scooters for an electric. Imagine having a Lithium battery based mostly scooter that prices Rs 45,000, they’ll use the battery for five years, thats really fairly enticing proper?  In a means Mr Munjal is correct, getting these sticker costs low, would profit extra individuals to consider getting EV’s.

But right here’s the factor, many of those OEM’s attempt to minimize corners to extend their margins in typical  company method – for example not adhering to the subsidy course of or taking it significantly. You have to be considering – ‘Hang on Kamlesh, you are just speculating. OEM’s will not try this’ Okay…what if I present you this discover from the Department of Heavy Industries.

This was a discover on December 23rd 2019. To all of the FAME 2 registered OEM’s.  It has been reported to this division by many sellers that OEM’s should not passing subsidy to sellers and switch the identical solely after receipt of reimbursement of incentive from the Department of Heavy Industries.  It has been noticed that OEMs/Dealers should not strictly following the above tips. This quantities to violation of tips/directions issued by the Department.

So sellers should not getting the inducement, they don’t seem to be passing it to the customers. The shopper has no clue. They assume that the worth talked about by the vendor is the worth after subsidy. This is a matter, the place the OEM’s should not taking the subsidy course of significantly.

And that’s the reason the Department of Heavy Industries wants OEMs to signal an endeavor, each OEM has to signal this. Something like an oath. I nonetheless really feel incentives should go instantly from DHI to the patron. That can be ideally suited. We might bypass the intermediary out of the subsidy system. But okay, atleast the Department of Heavy Industries got here up with this discover. Thats good. ​

Are Hero Electric Serious So as you possibly can see passing on subsidy to the patron is just not the best precedence for these OEMs.  And when gross sales are underneath performing, the very best factor to do is to go to the media and complain.  EV’s should not promoting, we can’t be investing in EV’s, it is the federal government’s fault and so on and so on

And the mainstream media fuelled by BIG ICE and BIG OIL like it. They will take any alternative they’ll to thrash EV’s.

So listed below are some questions I want to ask Hero Electric Hey, Hero Electric

Have you accomplished some essential considering on why your FAME 2 merchandise should not promoting aside from blaming subsidies or authorities?  

How about having a holistic imaginative and prescient on the place Hero Electric wants to be? 

How bout focussing on merchandise that may compete and out carry out ICE scooters? 

How bout investing in battery manufacturing that means you possibly can present higher service? Many Indian startups are doing it, you, together with your assets can do it

How about organising an RnD lab to create subsequent technology merchandise with high quality BMS, controllers, connectivity – the sort of options that the brand new technology expects?

I dont know man, I do not assume these questions will ever be answered by Hero Electric

Remember this is similar Hero Electric that 

Had low speed CKD merchandise for 10+ years with out exhibiting any inclination to vary or enhance their merchandise

Only when FAME 2 was introduced the Hero Electric workforce scrambled round looking for native companions for his or her scooter physique, batteries, charger and electronics.

Also you get a sense that the FAME 2 merchandise just like the NYX, Optima HS have barely glad the minimal necessities. Essentially launching compliance merchandise.

If FAME 2 didn’t implement localisation and different necessities, do you assume Hero Electric would have cared to vary? We really feel, it might have been enterprise as traditional.

So PluginIndia viewers, we now have a ballot on our dwelling web page of the web site asking you if low speed scooters want subsidies. Do go and forged your vote.  Also remark under on your ideas on what Mr Munjal mentioned and likewise your solutions to Hero Electric. We would love to listen to from you!

Until subsequent time. Signing off.

Black – 2019 Hero Photon

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