#some unauthorized world-building

[dear-ao3]

well good day to all of you. i have a tale. a classified, certified absolute god tier disaster of a tale.

at the ripe hour of 6:45 am i was awoken from my slumber by a Noise. what sort of noise? you might be asking.

the sort of noise that usually accompanies my father getting up at the ass crack of dawn and trying not to turn on the tap loudly so that he doesnt wake us up.

for one blissful moment i thought that i was at home, in my bed, and all was right with the world.

and then i remembered that i live approximately four hours away from my parents and all is not right with the world.

so i did what any person would do. waited for the noise to go away.

but it did not.

so i investigated. in all my bleary eyed glory.

and found that my bathroom ceiling light was pissing.

not just a little either.

a severe, unauthorized amount of water was streaming out of my bathroom light fixture.

so after banging on katyas door and finding a bucket and throwing on a sweatshirt i dragged my tired ass down to the front desk and reported the tea as it were.

now one thing you need to know about our building is that it is old. the second thing you need to know about our building is that the maitenance guys (we call them the boys) are absolutely incredible, like tumblr funny guy posts but irl, however they take for fucking ever to respond to any situation.

this time though, nothing was in clear danger of exploding or lighting on fire. so we made some breakfast. drank some coffee. watched the bucket that we had put in the bathroom fill up with water. and we waited.

and waited.

and waited some more.

then i noticed that if you stepped on some of our kitchen floor tiles they started squelching.

so back downstairs i went and explained the tea as it were once again.

and let it be known, that i worked for two very solid and very miserable years as a resident assistant in college. i know all about the woes of people complaining to you to fix things that you cannot fix and you cannot tell them when it will be fixed because the person who needs to do the fixing is otherwise indisposed. so my general attitude towards this whole situation was "hey man you can't make this better for me and im really not pressed about it as long as someone eventually comes and sorts out my pissing ceiling." which is a great attitude to have in this general situation. and especially so because it was about to get even more strange.

at approximately 9:30am our apartment was graced by the presence of one of the boys. the maintenance man. we will call him james.

we have encountered james before. he delt with our fuse box nearly exploding. that situation was not nearly as chill as this one was.

hes also incredible.

so he comes in and he goes "hey how's it going" and i say "well you know things are just leaking!"

he proceeds to tell us that the fridge in the apartment above us had a connection pipe that froze and exploded some how and that managed to leak all into our apartment. not nearly what i was expecting but hey! at least they know what's going on!

we tell him about the squelching tiles and he says that he will bring us a dehumidifier after he turns off the water and deals with the mess of the fridge above us. we say ok great! this is wonderful!

and he goes to leave the apartment. out of habit i had locked the door when he entered. he goes "aw man did you lock me in?"

and i say

"oh sorry!"

and he pauses.

and he looks at our door in disbelief. perhaps even utter horror.

and this, my lovely audience, is what he was looking at:

surprisingly. he was not staring at the entertainment for man and horse plaque that katya and i found while thrifting. nay. he was staring at the unfortunate combination of the printed photo of lando norris and max verstappens face.

now why are lando norris and ax verstappen on the back of my door? you might be asking. you might even be asking who they are.

and if youve been following the lore of this blog, you might recognize them as formula 1 drivers. lando norris of course being a mclaren driver and max verstappen being the reigning world champion of team red bull.

and how did they wind up on my door? well at christmas katya thought it would be funny to put a picture of lando norris on top of our christmas tree and so we got one printed at cvs but when you get wallet sized photos printed they print you four of them so we ended up with four of the same photo of lando. one went on the tree, one went to my sister, one is in our bathroom and now one is on the back of our door.

as for max. well. katyas partner drinks red bull and he was on the red bull box so we cut him out and stuck him there. neither of us are particularly big max fans, it was just funny.

but anyway. i digress.

james is standing there staring at this array of perplexing stuff and goes.

"really? him??"

and i go

"yeah..." not knowing what else to say.

and james turns. and he looks at us. and he goes. and i shit you the absolute fuck not.

"now what's wrong with lewis hamilton???"

(sir lewis hamilton being the mercedes f1 driver, 7 time world champion and absolute icon)

and katya and i go

"oh no no! we love lewis hamilton! we just respect him too much to put him on the door!"

which is true

and james goes "now what did you think of him going to ferrari?"

and i say "i thought it was an interesting choice"

and katya says "i was surprised."

and james says "you and me both" and then he shuts the door behind him.

katya and i look at eachother. and we both fall to the floor in fits of laughter.

let it be known that james has come face to face with a giant tapestry of mr worldwide mr 305 pitbull himself that is in our bathroom, on several occasions, and yet, he chooses to comment on our choice of formula 1 driver that is taped to the back of our door.

im still in a state of disbelief. my ceiling is still pissing. my floor is still squelching. and my maintenance man felt the need to call our my choice of formula 1 driver at 9:30 on a saturday morning.

[madewithangst]

SEVENTEEN as TTPD1 songs

Welcome to the TTPD x SVT series! — Below is the table of contents along with the list of members who I believe fit best with the TTPD songs. The way I chose the songs for them doesn't describe the members but focuses solely on who fits best in the story. I hope you enjoy this angst-filled world featuring 13 dorks!

I don't have a set order for which member comes first. Updates might be irregular due to the author's real-life commitments (sadly) lol. If you want to stay in the loop, please reblog this post and tag me!

scoups

fresh out the slammer - "i know who my first call will be to..."

jeonghan

fortnight - "And for a fortnight there, we were forever"

joshua

florida!!! - "I need to forget, so take me to Florida, I've got some regrets, I'll bury them in Florida"

junhui

but daddy i love him - "I know he's crazy, but he's the one I want"

hoshi

down bad - "I'll build you a fort on some planet, where they can all understand it, how dare you think it's romantic, leaving me safe and stranded"

wonwoo

my boy only breaks his favorite toy - "I'm queen of sand castles he destroys"

woozi

i can fix him (no, really, i can) - "But your good Lord didn't need to lift a finger, I can fix him, no, really, I can (No, really, I can), Woah, maybe I can't"

the8

so long, london - "And you say I abandoned the ship, but I was going down with it, my white knuckle dying grip holding tight to your quiet resentment"

mingyu

the smallest man who ever lived - "You hung me on your wall, stabbed me with your push pins, In public, showed me off, then sank in stoned oblivion, 'cause once your queen had come, you'd treat her likе an also-ran"

dk

loml - "Still alive, killing time at the cemetery, never quite buried"

seungkwan

i can do it with a broken heart - "you know you're good when you can even do it with a broken heart"

vernon

the torture poets department -"At dinner you take my ring off my middle finger and put it on the one people put wedding rings on"

dino - [x]

guilty as sin? - "They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly, I choose you and me...religiously"

PSA: This is a work of pure fiction. Any names, events, times, or places mentioned are purely for entertainment and are entirely fictional (well, except for the names of the members).

© All copyrights for the title, lyrics, and concept of this work belong to Taylor Swift. The plot and dialogue of the story are entirely original and created by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this work may result in legal action.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia, a US-designated terrorist organization that has disrupted global shipping to display its support for Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, is now offering a place for students suspended from US universities after staging pro-Hamas, anti-Israeli protests.

For more than two weeks, university students have been amassing in the hundreds at a growing number of schools, taking over sections of campuses by setting up “Gaza Solidarity Encampments” and refusing to leave unless administrators condemn and boycott Israel. Footage of the protests has shown demonstrators chanting in support of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization that Israel is fighting in Gaza; calling for the destruction of Israel; and even threatening to harm members of the Jewish community on campus. In many cases, activists have also lambasted the US and Western civilization more broadly.

The protests initially erupted across the US but have since spread to university campuses around the world, primarily in the West.

Many of the schools, including Ivy League Columbia University in New York City, have called in police to quell the protests.

“We are serious about welcoming students that have been suspended from US universities for supporting Palestinians,” an official at Sanaa University, which is run by the Houthis, told Reuters. “We are fighting this battle with Palestine in every way we can.”

Sanaa University had issued a statement applauding the “humanitarian” position of the students in the United States and said they could continue their studies in Yemen.

“The board of the university condemns what academics and students of US and European universities are being subjected to, suppression of freedom of expression,” the board of the university said in a statement, which included an email address for any students wanting to take up their offer.

The US and Britain returned the Houthi militia to a list of terrorist groups this year as their attacks on vessels in and around the Red Sea hurt global economies. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Friday that the terrorist group will target ships heading to Israeli ports in any area that is within their range.

“We will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea in any area we are able to reach,” he said.

The rebel movement — whose slogan is “death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory to Islam” — has also claimed responsibility for attempted drone and missile strikes targeting Israel.

The Houthi’s offer of an education for US students sparked a wave of sarcasm by ordinary Yemenis on social media. One social media user posted a photograph of two Westerners chewing Yemen’s widely-used narcotic leaf Qat. He described the scene as American students during their fifth year at Sanaa University.

In a similar move to the Houthis earlier this week, the head of a major Iranian university reportedly offered scholarships to students expelled from US and European universities over the anti-Israel protests, which have involved students and faculty holding unauthorized demonstrations, occupying school buildings, and in some cases blocking Jews from entering parts of campus.

Mohammad Moazzeni, who runs Shiraz University in the Fars province, made the announcement to show “solidarity” with the anti-Israel agitators.

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Hey! How you doing Unicorn?

Can I have reactions to Poseidon finding out he has a demi-god child? One who just so happens to live in the My hero Academia world?

Now normally he wouldn't care for such a thing but after some persuasion from Zeus (he wants to see his niece/Nephew!)

He goes down to earth and finds his child's, who's an exact carbon copy of him, sitting in Class 1-A and listening to a lecture by Present Mic, looking bored out their mind.

He raises an eyebrow when he sees them sense his presence and look up in his direction, only to become shocked when they smirk at him and mouths out to him "Hi Dad"

-When Poseidon found out that he had a daughter he didn’t even know about, one in a different dimension, he was stunned and had so many questions running through his mind.

-The biggest one was how did you even get to the other dimension, something Zeus and Hades tried to look into, but were unable to find any answers on how you got there, but you and him, being connected to each other, could travel between the two dimensions.

-Poseidon was hesitant on seeking you out, as he had no idea that you even existed, feeling conflicted about meeting with you, not knowing if you wanted to meet with him or not.

-Hades and Zeus both encouraged him to do so, Hades more calmly, after finding out that you were a high school student in a school learning how to be a pro hero.

-Zeus on the other hand, threw a temper tantrum, throwing himself on the ground like a child, “I wanna see my cute little niece!! Go get her!!”

-He rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics but agreed to at least go and meet you and if you wanted to, you could come back to Valhalla with him, either for a visit or to actually move there.

-As a god, traveling between dimensions was a simple thing, and he could completely mask his presence to everyone in your world, appearing basically as a spirit, incorporeal, unless if he decided to take a physical form then all would be able to see him.

-He met with Brunnhilde first before going to your dimension, learning that people had powers and abilities, called quirks which was rather interesting to learn about, as he questioned what your quirk was.

-He stepped through the portal, finding himself in a massive stone building called UA, your high school and he could almost immediately sense you, as you were a demi-god, you had a different aura compared to the other students he saw around.

-You were in the middle of lecture at the moment, listening to Present Mic, rather bored as you knew the material he was going over, pretending to be taking notes.

-You felt a strange aura nearby, one that was familiar to you, despite having never felt it before, before a man entered the classroom, one that nobody else seemed to notice, a tall and handsome looking man with blond hair and blue eyes, a stoic look on his face.

-He looked just like you.

-Poseidon looked around the room and saw a female sitting near the back of the room, writing and his eyes widened, you were a mirror image of him, if he was a female, with bust length blond hair.

-He froze only for a moment when your eyes met, a soft smile appearing on your lips as you mouthed, ‘Hi papa’ to him.

-He remained silent, staying out of the way as you both waited for the lesson to end so he could speak freely with you.

-Once you were free, you went to the rooftop pool, guiding your father behind you, as he didn’t want anyone else to see him, and you knew that you could get in trouble if a non-student or faculty member was on campus unauthorized, god or not.

-Once at the pool and making sure everything was clear, that you two were alone, you set your bag down before removing your shoes and leggings, revealing bright blue mermaid scales running from your thighs to your ankles, and you turned to your father as he materialized, smiling softly, “Hi, papa!”

-A very soft smile appeared on his lips, lifting a hand to your head, patting you softly, “I-I didn’t… had I known, I-”

-You put a finger to his lips, giving a bigger smile, as you showed more emotions than he did, “It's cool, you didn’t know. So I’m not upset.”

-He was surprised at your words, but relaxed, the two of you sitting at the poolside, as you explained you grew up in this world as an orphan, after your mother, Amphitrite, threw you into a portal, as she didn’t want a weak child, and you were found and raised in this world by a hero funded orphanage.

-Poseidon was furious, hearing about this, had he had known he would have immediately sought you out and brought you home to Valhalla.

-You explained that you had always felt different, even with your own abilities in a quirk filled world, and you had gotten your answer when a person was able to see your memories from when you were a baby, with their own quirk, and told you that you did indeed come from a different world, being a demi-god, not a human with a quirk.

-Poseidon inquired if you wanted to come back with him to Valhalla and you did consider it before you spoke, asking him a question of your own, “Can I visit? I want to keep going to school, for now anyway. Is it possible for me to go visit you, like on weekends and school vacations until I finish?”

-He didn’t even hesitate in agreeing, okay with the arrangement, as he didn’t feel right just suddenly coming and taking you from the life you were raised in, unless if you wanted to do so.

-He gave you a cell phone from Valhalla, that was super advanced, telling you to keep it safe, and to call him when you wanted to come over and he would open a portal for you, at least until he could teach you how to do it.

-You were so happy to have a father figure in your life now and he wanted to be a part of your life, you both wanted to make up for lost time.

-You weren’t keen on seeing your mother again, but Poseidon was going to be dealing with that issue as soon as he got back to Valhalla.

-Right after he dealt with a whining Zeus who wanted to meet you, not wanting to be patient until the weekend.

[paradoxcase]

Chapter 18 of Nona the Ninth

After 18 chapters, something genuinely exciting is finally happening. You know, it's funny, I got pulled in by Gideon the Ninth because starting with Act 2 there were interesting and exciting things and weird mysteries happening like every chapter. Harrow the Ninth wasn't exactly action-packed, but there were like, interesting reveals and general world information coming out in most chapters, and it was also building towards something because there was the upcoming fight with Number Seven looming in the background at all times. This isn't a bad book or anything like that, but so far it's been: Nona goes to school and there are kid antics, everything sucks, it's hot, Nona refuses to eat food, it's dangerous to go anywhere because of the high concentration of people with guns, necromancy witch hunts, dead body burning, here's John monologuing about climate change and streaming necromancy on twitch. We get a little bit of Corona and brief glimpse of Judith, maybe we'll get to see Gideon/Gideon's body and Ianthe at some point, but so far it's just been the broadcast, and the most interesting stuff was all stuff that Nona didn't understand. I was ready for something to happen

I was promised I would find out what animal Nona drew, but I still don't know what animal Nona drew. Her saying that it started out living in a river and then got "cold" so it had to get large must mean it's a reptile of some kind, but I can't think of any reptile that has visible ears and a mouth that you might not draw at all. What does she mean by "large" here? Did she draw a dinosaur? The Angel mentions archaeology talks, but archaeology is the wrong field for studying dinosaurs, or any animals at all, really, it's the study of physical evidence of humans. (I mean, unless the "animal" that Nona drew was a human and it's now being revealed that everyone is actually a strange-looking alien...) It's also really hard to study Earth via archaeology when you are not actually on Earth, if you can't actually go dig up and date real artifacts it's just regular anthropology at that point. Or are BOE secretly sending teams of archaeologists to Earth now? That doesn't seem like it would be a high priority for them, but who knows, they did immortalize Eminem lyrics in their commanders' names, and we know they've been to Earth on unauthorized missions before, namely to abduct all of the non-Lyctor survivors of the first book

Presumably "cradle creature" means that it lived on Earth before John's apocalypse

Ok, so, I thought "Aim" must be like a nickname for Amy or some spelling thereof, but I see now that it's actually the first word of a BOE name. So, this bit requires that there is a word which means "Angel" in some language which sounds like "Aim" in (presumably) English, which also means something to the kids. But I guess we're meant to assume that "Angel" here is also in modern English, which again, doesn't make sense, since modern English should be long gone at this point. But maybe it's a translation convention thing

I'm curious what the implant is, why Palamedes is in a big hurry to find out what it is, and why the Angel doesn't want Nona to hear about it? Of course, she doesn't know who Nona is yet at this point. I'm guessing it's some kind of anti-necromancy device, given that "my dead body is designed to deny you answers"

It's true, he can't really swear on his own life, since that ended two books ago now

So I gather once the Angel accepted that Palamedes was not a Lyctor, she somehow gave whatever order to Merv Wing to kill Camilla and Nona, since she knows that regular necromancers can be killed like normal people? BOE's MO for necromancers is a sniper headshot per the last book. But I don't know how Palamedes survived this, I feel like we're about to find out that he and Camilla are a Lyctor now, or possibly some new and "improved" version of a Lyctor

Was this something that happened on screen that I should remember?

Is that what Nona's building is? I'm not sure exactly what that means, or if that tells me anything more about the building that I didn't already know. It didn't seem like it was specifically a BOE building, since there were cops and militia living there, too

Well, there's something important about that implant

This seems like a counter-productive rule to have if they want Pash to be her bodyguard, though. At some later point there is a mention of "electrics" and implication that Merv Wing is not going to fire any guns as long as Aim/the Angel is in the room, so possibly some other types of weapons are involved here. Nona misses the entire battle, but there were gunfire sounds, so I guess someone disregarded whatever rules there are about not shooting guns around the Angel

I guess Pash subscribes to the theory that Hot Sauce mentioned that necromancers have to be killed in a very particular way to stay dead?

For the first part of this I was like, that sounds a lot like Pash, but hasn't Nona heard her voice before? But then I remembered that Nona has only heard her speak through the voice modulator

It's also hilarious how Nona thinks Pash is just so cool throughout this chapter

Are we then to understand that Pash was driving the car the previous day when the Angel rescued Nona and Hot Sauce?

They again. Still unknown if this is a gender thing or a plural thing, because who knows what is going on with the implant

This is honestly straining my suspension of disbelief here, that someone actually read Nona's lips from the top of a building a block away. If they thought it was a radio call, there are easy ways of intercepting those if you can guess what frequencies might be being used, you don't have to guess what someone is saying by reading their lips

Pash gets all the best lines

Oh, this is a fun one!

There's a weird thing here where we first get this:

But then in the next paragraph it says:

So it's not actually clear exactly how munted Nona thinks the classroom is?

Yeah, this was obviously going to happen at some point from the point where Hot Sauce was introduced in the first place. Honestly, I feel so bad for Hot Sauce, she's 14 and she's already been traumatized several times over before this book even began, I think, and then she saw Nona die in front of her and actually got successfully gaslighted into thinking she didn't for about five minutes and from her perspective Nona is definitely some kind of evil eldritch creature. But how many time does Nona have to get shot today? This would also be a lot more of a cliffhanger if Nona wasn't immortal

[butterflydm]

wot rewatch 1x4: the dragon reborn

spoilers for s1 of the show plus the s2 teasers and trailers, plus through The Dragon Reborn ish in the books. And one casting spoiler for S3.

I really do love the cold opens. This one tells us so much! We're introduced to Logain but we're also introduced to the corruption on saidin, to how much power can be wielded by users of the One Power, and to how the corruption can both influence someone but Logain still has the choice of whether or not to listen to the voices talking to him.

We see the madness in Logain but also his own strength of character and ability to show mercy even when he's hearing whispers that he should just kill those opposed to him. Great preview of the future for Rand. Especially since Moiraine is going to later on believe that Logain hearing the voices of 'the previous Dragon' to be a sign that he isn't the Dragon Reborn, but it's another thing that she's got her wishful thinking goggles on for.

"There's a place for anyone at my side, even my enemies." ; "The last Dragon broke the world; I plan to bind it." I feel like we're seeing the seeds of some of the choices that Rand will also make in the future here, already being set up (the benefits of being able to tell the story knowing the ending). Logain understands the assignment... he's just not the actual rebirth of the last Dragon.

So we go from Logain at the height of his strength to Nynaeve looking over the camp where he's captured. Having the Greens join the Reds on this hunt makes a lot of sense -- we know that this specific one was requested for by the White Tower, and we can see the difference between this approved hunt to take down a false Dragon (where he gets shielded and put in a cage to stand trial back in Tar Valon) vs the Red-only "gentle ASAP" approach from the cold open of the first episode. Authorized vs unauthorized hunts.

It makes a ton of logistical sense for them to scale down the number of people required to hold the shield on Logain. Just from a 'how many characters we're going to have in this scene' standpoint. Jordan could have as many characters in a scene as he wanted, because he didn't need to have any actors playing them. Plus, this way, we can focus more on the characters that do exist and really get to know them better.

So we already have two factions set up -- Kerene supporting the Amyrlin and Tower Law, and Liandrin arguing that they have the right to administer 'field justice'. Will the fault line of the coup fall along similar lines? I also think it was a good idea to have the Vileness currently happening rather than having happened in the past.

I love all the insights we get in these episodes about Warders, and Warders having their own subculture within the White Tower. And the fun confirmation that Moiraine and Lan are Just Like That and are closed off even to other Aes Sedai and Warders.

Also love all the Lan & Nynaeve build-up that we get as well. <3 a lot of good bonding time and banter and I love that she just clicks with the Warders.

The time that Egwene and Perrin spend with Aram & co is very lovely and charming. Removing Elyas from the equation and putting the hesitation on Perrin was a good move, because it lets the Tuatha'an explain themselves rather than having them explained by an outsider who disapproves of their ways.

Everything about Rand and Mat's roadtrip with Thom is so great. 10/10 would have loved another episode of it but since Amazon didn't let them have one, I do think they did a great job of boiling the trip down to both the narrative and emotional essentials. It really does make me curious about how Thom will be weaved back into the story because he only has connections to three characters now (I'm assuming the backstory with Elayne is intact), rather than knowing the whole troupe, so it feels like it needs to be Rand or Mat that bring him back into the story, but we'll have passed the canon moments when that happens.

There is so much useful lore information in Alanna and Moiraine's convo that show haters just flat-out ignored because it didn't fit their narratives - Alanna straight-up talks about not being able to see Logain's weaves!

Protective!Rand really begins to peek out in this episode, even here at the start with the farmer but more and more as Mat gets worse. Also poor Rand and Mat are covered in mud.

13. Mat and bonding with little girls! If we do get Olver, I hope we get a young girl instead of a boy, to keep on theme. And Birgitte namedrop, still exciting to hear.

14. Last episode, Thom bonded with Mat and, this episode, he bonds with Rand (over concern about Mat). Thom also helpfully puts the idea into Rand's head that Mat has 'all the signs' of being a male channeler, accidentally enabling Rand's massive case of denial that lasts until Moiraine heals Mat and tells them it was the dagger causing his issues. Oh, Thom's story is so heartbreaking here. And Thom promises here to try to keep the two of them safe, and away from Aes Sedai. Really really curious how this setup will play out when Thom returns in s3.

15. Nynaeve getting through her moment of poly confusion now is a great little moment of setup for the viewers too -- showing that this can be acknowledged as a valid relationship in this world. And we will maybe get a hint about Aiel culture next season as well.

16. Poor Moiraine and her pangs of uncertainty over Logain. Uncertainty that will only grow once Nynaeve's power is revealed.

17. Last episode, it was Rand's turn to remind us about his relationship with Egwene -- this episode, it's Egwene's turn, during her private conversation with Aram. I do love Egwene falling into a new culture and immediately finding things about it to love and appreciate. And Perrin is taking the Tuatha'an more seriously than in the books, because it's so much more grounded in the reality and the faith of their world and culture.

18. Rand trying to comfort and reassure Mat, I'm fine. Totally fine. Not emotional at all. And even before they know that the Fade is there in the farmhouse, Thom and Rand are just wanting to get Mat out and safe. Thom is ride or die for these kids after knowing them for a handful of days.

19. Nynaeve is SO curious about Lan and so hesitant to admit to it. You are not intruding! He already has a big crush on you! It's such a lovely moment between them.

20. Moiraine taking advantage of the attack to interrogate Logain... Lirandrin taking advantage of the battle as a reason to justify gentling Logain... they get to be shadows and mirrors of each other too. (Did Liandrin let her part of the shield drop to try to manufacture an excuse, once she realized that his army was attacking or was it just her genuinely taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity once she's able? If Liandrin is being sincere then that lends weight to the speculation that she isn't Black Ajah yet and we'll see her wooed into it over the early parts of S2)

21. I do think it was, again, very smart of the show to actually show us the effects of an Aes Sedai and Warder's bond being severed before it happens to any main characters. And we actually get to see Greens being the Battle Ajah here too.

22. Nynaeve's power burst here really creates another point of uncertainty for Moiraine about the identity of the Dragon Reborn. If Nynaeve is stronger than Egwene, then Egwene cannot be the Dragon. But Nynaeve is too old to fit the prophecy. So now Moiraine has some thinking to do.

[maturemenoftvandfilms]

Sandy Berger (1945-2015) Physique: Stocky Build Height: 5′ 9″

Samuel Richard "Sandy" Berger was an attorney who served as the 18th US National Security Advisor for US President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001 after he had served as the Deputy National Security Advisor for the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1997. In 2005, he was fined and sentenced to two years of probation, plus community service, for the unauthorized removal of classified material from the National Archives. He gave up his license to practice law. Berger died of cancer in Washington, D.C., on December 2, 2015, at the age of 70.

A stocky, sometimes temperamental and frequently humorous political operative, who went by Sandy, was apparently major figure in shaping the nation’s role in the world in the years after the Cold War. But he didn't catch my attention until he pleaded guilty to removing documents from the National Archives and destroying some of them.

[davidson-eric]

🌟 NESARA / GESARA: The Dawn of a New World 🌟

"The End of Poverty, The End of Debt, The Beginning of a New Golden Age!"

Prepare for a world where poverty, hunger, and debt are relics of the past, replaced by global prosperity and lasting peace for all!

💥 NESARA Joins Forces with GESARA 💥

In a monumental shift, NESARA, a comprehensive economic reform plan for the United States, has united its destiny with GESARA, its global counterpart. This momentous announcement heralds a profound transformation that will impact not only the United States but also a coalition of 206 sovereign nations worldwide. The linchpin of this transformation is the new financial system enshrined within GESARA.

🌍 A Global Gold-Standard Monetary System 🌍

Once GESARA takes center stage, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will declare the inception of a "global gold-standard monetary system." In this new era, all remaining fiat currencies will be exchanged for gold-backed currency, a significant step away from paper money. The march toward digital currencies will gain momentum under this revitalized financial system.

📈 A Transition Rooted in Simplicity 📈

To ensure a seamless transition, meticulous preparations have been made. The new financial system has been operational for months, securely hosted on a quantum server impervious to hacking or unauthorized access. Crucially, wealth proliferation is a cornerstone of this transformation. Newly minted wealth holders are more inclined to contribute to humanitarian efforts, ultimately fostering wealth for all.

📊 Wealth-Building Mechanisms 📊

This transformation might witness a shortage of skilled workers, which, paradoxically, is a wealth-building catalyst. The resulting surge in wages and salaries counterbalances the price drop stemming from tax reductions, sometimes up to 80% of final product costs, thus ushering in deflation. Lower energy costs, thanks to free-energy technologies, further contribute to this financial renaissance.

🌄 The Future: A Glorious Reality 🌄

Our future is poised to be a grand tapestry of innovation and abundance. Technologies once suppressed by the cabal, some dating back centuries, are finally being unleashed. For instance, the pristine waters of Antarctica will revitalize arid regions and infuse life into all flora and fauna. A world with personalized credit cards, Replicators that produce everything, and newfound awareness of the power of the mind to manifest our desires awaits. Real healthcare capable of rejuvenating our bodies, regrowing limbs or organs, and even reversing the aging process by decades is on the horizon.

💰 Liberation from Financial Chains 💰

Money and traditional banking, tools historically employed by the cabal to manipulate and control us within a debt-based economy, are slated for obsolescence. Coinage, however, will endure. With the elimination of national debts globally, taxes will be lowered for individuals and corporations. Instead, a flat sales tax of approximately 15% on new items will be implemented.

🏰 The Dissolution of the Global Elite's Pyramid 🏰

The current pyramid structure dominated by the global elite, governments, and corporations has reached its limit. This structure perpetuates class divisions and scarcity. True spiritual evolution arises when one's identity transcends material attachments. With the advent of free energy, advanced transportation, and Replicators accessible to all, true equality emerges. No one will be enslaved, people will pursue their passions with ample free time for reflection and creativity. Hoarding becomes unnecessary.

🚀 A Vision of Advanced Civilization 🚀

In advanced civilizations, concerns about food, shelter, and transportation are relics of the past. As NESARA and GESARA unfurl, we stand on the brink of a world where prosperity, freedom, and innovation thrive, and the human spirit soars unburdened by material concerns.

#EyesOpenAmerica

[fights4users]

Implications on form and circuitry

I’ve talked about this briefly before but again, it’s so so funny that there’s actually a lot of lore and world building within a deleted intimate scene. Modern Disney could never, lmao. Anyways this is going to be a somewhat deeper discussion on some of the implications brought about by the scene in York’s quarters.

While it has been expressed in the novel that, at least on the game grid the color of circuitry is controlled. You are either Red or Blue. Us or them. Easy to divise who’s a prisoner and who isn’t. Later in the novel and in the cut scene itself it’s made all the more clear that on a broad level color of circuits are controlled— NOW, that is not to say that there’s not outliers like the one hot pink woman and the more wilder shaped programs. I think the control is more on the video warriors or the useful. The ones the MCP hasn’t assimilated but drained enough so that they’re mindless drones.

Second thing Yori does upon changing her apartment is change her looks, she’s pinks and oranges as opposed to the “standard” blue. This also brings up the implication of a “true form” or a more natural/customizable look for programs. And it’s immensely interesting as The novelization goes on to imply that the sparkles in her cape are sort of akin to her circuitry? Still attached/apart of her in some way (she still has several on her mind you)

This also goes back into funny territory as Yori is ready for the icecapades and Tron gets…. Streamers taped onto him? I don’t know what that’s about but apparently that’s his thing. Also his new wave hairstyle is actually everything… except the rat tail. Tron, baby, honey, I love you but put the helmet back on No one wants to see that. 😭

But back to the point, this is a restricted thing. Highly unauthorized and dangerous to look like this even for a little while- just like Yori lighting up her  apartment. I love the novelization as it goes onto say :

It’s a “this is not what I look like but what I have to” it’s fascinating as thr MCP sucked the light and energy out of the landscape as well as prevents (or takes away enough energy that it’s hard to appear this way) the more whimsical appearance some programs have. Someone gives you a work uniform and you aren’t allowed to change back to regular clothes at home.

I might be way overthinking all of this but it’s just? It’s a fascinating thing to think about and I love expanding world building and will probably use the information in at least my own works.

[kayzero]

Rhizomes, A Brief History (Part 2)

spoilers for zero escape: virtue’s last reward below the cut

……

The Rhizome Project was named for the shape that the facilities would take, twisted metal moon-bases that would burrow into the surface from their origin point in the center of a crater. The project was announced to the public mid-2027, with the shuttle serving as proof of concept, Rhizome-1, launching November that same year. In February of ‘28, it was announced that Rhizome-1 was fully constructed, and that going forward, each succeeding Rhizome would take even less time to build.

You remembered the memes going around about how astronauts could make an entire colony livable for five families plus the construction team on the moon in less time than it took a crew to put up a single building down on Earth; having been on the moon for just over a week, you just thought that there was nothing else for the astronauts to focus on.

Due to the success and apparent speed of the Rhizome’s construction, more shuttles carrying the wealthiest and most influential families of the world went up to colonize the moon—one every month from May to November. Naturally, when Radical-6 grew from a few isolated incidents into a full-blown global epidemic, a horde of reactionary upper-class families started clamoring for their turn to abandon Earth to its fate and colonize the moon. There were so many of them that the project leaders had to allocate more resources to both the spacefare from the planet to the moon and the actual construction of the Rhizomes, all so they could raise the number of families colonizing the moon in a single Rhizome from five to nine, not including the ship operators and facility’s construction crew.

You had no idea how Akane managed to secure this base. There were actually so many problems with it that it made your head hurt. First of all, the Rhizome Project was headed by the United Nations. The first eight shuttle launches all carried the families of a few ambassadors to protect them from kidnapping attempts for the purpose of extortion. And that was another thing, the naming convention would suggest that this base, Rhizome-9, was the base that was set to launch in December ‘28, which would explain the gap between Rhizome-8 and the Radical-6 panic launches, except it doesn’t make any sense!

You knew intellectually that Crash Keys had to have some great amount of monetary and political resources at their disposal—rocket launches weren’t exactly cheap, and unauthorized rocket launches sure were a great way to get shot down by literally any military organization paying attention, and rockets usually demanded a lot of attention. But you did manage to successfully launch, and on the very last day it was possible—the powderized debris polluting the atmosphere was thick enough that any spacecraft trying to fly through would get every one of their engines clogged, and every person on board would die in a horrible crash.

But you hadn’t put together that the unfinished Rhizome that your ship landed by was a Rhizome Rhizome. Nine upper-middle class families all pooling their money together couldn’t afford the seats for a single family on one of those ships at the prices your research had detailed.

……

[ogxfuturetech]

The Comprehensive Guide to Web Development, Data Management, and More 

Introduction 

Everything today is technology driven in this digital world. There's a lot happening behind the scenes when you use your favorite apps, go to websites, and do other things with all of those zeroes and ones — or binary data. In this blog, I will be explaining what all these terminologies really means and other basics of web development, data management etc. We will be discussing them in the simplest way so that this becomes easy to understand for beginners or people who are even remotely interested about technology.  JOIN US

What is Web Development? 

Web development refers to the work and process of developing a website or web application that can run in a web browser. From laying out individual web page designs before we ever start coding, to how the layout will be implemented through HTML/CSS. There are two major fields of web development — front-end and back-end. 

Front-End Development 

Front-end development, also known as client-side development, is the part of web development that deals with what users see and interact with on their screens. It involves using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the visual elements of a website, such as buttons, forms, and images. JOIN US

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): 

HTML is the foundation of all website, it helps one to organize their content on web platform. It provides the default style to basic elements such as headings, paragraphs and links. 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):  

styles and formats HTML elements. It makes an attractive and user-friendly look of webpage as it controls the colors, fonts, layout. 

JavaScript :  

A language for adding interactivity to a website Users interact with items, like clicking a button to send in a form or viewing images within the slideshow. JOIN US

Back-End Development 

The difference while front-end development is all about what the user sees, back end involves everything that happens behind. The back-end consists of a server, database and application logic that runs on the web. 

Server: 

A server is a computer that holds website files and provides them to the user browser when they request it. Server-Side: These are populated by back-end developers who build and maintain servers using languages like Python, PHP or Ruby. 

Database:  

The place where a website keeps its data, from user details to content and settings The database is maintained with services like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. JOIN US

Application Logic —  

the code that links front-end and back-end It takes user input, gets data from the database and returns right informations to front-end area. 

Why Proper Data Management is Absolutely Critical 

Data management — Besides web development this is the most important a part of our Digital World. What Is Data Management? It includes practices, policies and procedures that are used to collect store secure data in controlled way. 

Data Storage –  

data after being collected needs to be stored securely such data can be stored in relational databases or cloud storage solutions. The most important aspect here is that the data should never be accessed by an unauthorized source or breached. JOIN US

Data processing:  

Right from storing the data, with Big Data you further move on to process it in order to make sense out of hordes of raw information. This includes cleansing the data (removing errors or redundancies), finding patterns among it, and producing ideas that could be useful for decision-making. 

Data Security:  

Another important part of data management is the security of it. It refers to defending data against unauthorized access, breaches or other potential vulnerabilities. You can do this with some basic security methods, mostly encryption and access controls as well as regular auditing of your systems. 

Other Critical Tech Landmarks 

There are a lot of disciplines in the tech world that go beyond web development and data management. Here are a few of them: 

Cloud Computing 

Leading by example, AWS had established cloud computing as the on-demand delivery of IT resources and applications via web services/Internet over a decade considering all layers to make it easy from servers up to top most layer. This will enable organizations to consume technology resources in the form of pay-as-you-go model without having to purchase, own and feed that infrastructure. JOIN US

Cloud Computing Advantages:  

Main advantages are cost savings, scalability, flexibility and disaster recovery. Resources can be scaled based on usage, which means companies only pay for what they are using and have the data backed up in case of an emergency. 

Examples of Cloud Services: 

Few popular cloud services are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These provide a plethora of services that helps to Develop and Manage App, Store Data etc. 

Cybersecurity 

As the world continues to rely more heavily on digital technologies, cybersecurity has never been a bigger issue. Protecting computer systems, networks and data from cyber attacks is called Cyber security. 

Phishing attacks, Malware, Ransomware and Data breaches: 

This is common cybersecurity threats. These threats can bear substantial ramifications, from financial damages to reputation harm for any corporation. 

Cybersecurity Best Practices:  

In order to safeguard against cybersecurity threats, it is necessary to follow best-practices including using strong passwords and two-factor authorization, updating software as required, training employees on security risks. 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) represent the fastest-growing fields of creating systems that learn from data, identifying patterns in them. These are applied to several use-cases like self driving cars, personalization in Netflix. 

AI vs ML —  

AI is the broader concept of machines being able to carry out tasks in a way we would consider “smart”. Machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. JOIN US

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: some common applications include Image recognition, Speech to text, Natural language processing, Predictive analytics Robotics. 

Web Development meets Data Management etc. 

We need so many things like web development, data management and cloud computing plus cybersecurity etc.. but some of them are most important aspects i.e. AI/ML yet more fascinating is where these fields converge or play off each other. 

Web Development and Data Management 

Web Development and Data Management goes hand in hand. The large number of websites and web-based applications in the world generate enormous amounts of data — from user interactions, to transaction records. Being able to manage this data is key in providing a fantastic user experience and enabling you to make decisions based on the right kind of information. 

E.g. E-commerce Website, products data need to be saved on server also customers data should save in a database loosely coupled with orders and payments. This data is necessary for customization of the shopping experience as well as inventory management and fraud prevention. 

Cloud Computing and Web Development 

The development of the web has been revolutionized by cloud computing which gives developers a way to allocate, deploy and scale applications more or less without service friction. Developers now can host applications and data in cloud services instead of investing for physical servers. 

E.g. A start-up company can use cloud services to roll out the web application globally in order for all users worldwide could browse it without waiting due unavailability of geolocation prohibited access. 

The Future of Cybersecurity and Data Management 

Which makes Cybersecurity a very important part of the Data management. The more data collected and stored by an organization, the greater a target it becomes for cyber threats. It is important to secure this data using robust cybersecurity measures, so that sensitive information remains intact and customer trust does not weaken. JOIN US

Ex: A healthcare provider would have to protect patient data in order to be compliant with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that is also responsible for ensuring a degree of confidentiality between a provider and their patients. 

Conclusion 

Well, in a nutshell web-developer or Data manager etc are some of the integral parts for digital world.

As a Business Owner, Tech Enthusiast or even if you are just planning to make your Career in tech — it is important that you understand these. With the progress of technology never slowing down, these intersections are perhaps only going to come together more strongly and develop into cornerstones that define how we live in a digital world tomorrow. 

With the fundamental knowledge of web development, data management, automation and ML you will manage to catch up with digital movements. Whether you have a site to build, ideas data to manage or simply interested in what’s hot these days, skills and knowledge around the above will stand good for changing tech world. JOIN US

[ternfic]

Bluebird

Chapter Five: Obsession

Benny had been depressed to part ways with Ken and Lenny just several months later. They’d stuck around long enough to make sure he could handle a life on the run, and then returned to Cape Space. Bad Cop had finally given up on searching the realm for him by then, but not on searching for him, so he couldn’t stay with them. He didn’t think he could bear being the reason they got caught. It also would have been too tempting to stick around, when Director Kenning had declared him grounded indefinitely, due to medical reasons. So what if his brain didn’t quite work the way it used to? He was still perfectly capable!

But he stayed aboard the Sea Cow as requested, it being his best chance at evading Bad Cop and capture, and tried to settle into the life of a sailor. They’d picked up some new clothes for him during their brief stay in Cape Space to drop off his friends, something more suitable for heat and sun than his space suit. The pirates had laughed at his tropical tee shirts and khaki shorts, but he honestly liked the ridiculous eighties style too much to give it up so easily. (And at any rate, they later admitted, the look suited him.)

Time went on. Some of Metalbeard’s original crew left, annoyed with their captain’s persistent protection of the spaceman who didn’t quite fit in. Not for lack of trying, of course, but all Benny seemed able to talk about was space, and spaceships, and how much he wanted to be back among the stars. The skies had called to him all his life, and he had worked too hard to get himself up there to have to keep his feet on the ground. It wore on him in ways he couldn’t explain.

And finally, one day, he decided enough was enough. He was a Master Builder now, wasn’t he? There was nothing holding him back from just making his own spaceship and going for a flight. So he dug into the ship’s stores of parts, kept handy for when a Master Builder’s urge to create struck, and found the materials he would need. He hauled everything up onto the deck, and got to work.

He was maybe halfway through when he found himself being bodily hauled away. “Hey!” he protested. “Put me down!”

“Benny, what are ye doin’?” the captain asked. Benny glared up at him petulantly.

“Building a spaceship, what’s it look like?”

“Ye think Bad Cop isn’t watchin’ the skies for unauthorized aircraft?”

“It’s not an aircraft, it’s a spacecraft.”

“Either or. He’s still hellbent on catchin’ ye, lad, and I’m not willin’ to let ye risk yerself like that.”

“But…”

“Besides, it be yer Director’s orders, aye? Tis for yer own good.” Benny scowled up at him. So the captain had won this round, but he wasn’t going to just roll over and give up. He waited several weeks, giving Metalbeard a false sense of security, before trying again.

And getting caught again.

And again.

And again.

He screeched in frustration when Metalbeard pulled him away from a half-finished spaceship for the eleventh time.

“Look, I know what it be like, havin’ to give up the things ye love-”

“No, you don’t!” Benny shouted, thrashing to get free. “You still have your ship, and the seas! You still have what calls you, so why can’t I have the stars?!” The fight seemed to leave him then, and Metalbeard finally set him back down. He sat down hard, sniffling. ���Why won’t you let me have the stars…”

Metalbeard stared down at him for a bit, before lowering himself to the deck beside the spaceman. They sat in silence for a while. “I’ve a wife and three children,” the captain said at length. Benny wiped his eyes and glanced up at him. “I love them more than anything in the world, even the sea. And… it’s been more than a year since I’ve last seen them. I can’t go home, for fear Bad Cop and Business will take them, and use them against me. I don’t know when I will see them again. Not ‘til this nightmare ends, at least. If I survive it. This feather?” He tapped the decoration at his temple. “Me Pearl gave it to me. Her people don’t use wedding bands; they give a piece of themselves.” He chuckled at the bemused look on Benny’s face as he tried to figure that one out. “Maybe I’ll tell ye someday lad, but I can’t trust ye with that information just yet.”

Benny huffed at him, and glanced back down at his hands. “…I’m sorry,” he finally murmured after a while.

“I don’t blame ye for bein’ upset, lad. I’ve raged me fair share at how unfair everything be, these days. Have ye looked up?”

Benny gave him a puzzled look, then tilted his head back. “…Oh,” he gasped. “It’s so clear tonight…”

Metalbeard smirked. “Why don’t ye get up, take a peep over the railing.” Benny shoved himself to his feet, looking around, eyes wide. The waters were so still, they were almost a mirror, reflecting the pinpoints of light far above.

“You…”

Metalbeard stood, reaching over to gently squeeze his shoulder. “Ye still have yer stars, lad. Ye just had to look, is all.”

Benny sniffled again. “Thanks,” he murmured. “I think I’m going to stay here for a while…”

“Aye lad, just don’t be up too late.” Metalbeard smirked at him. “I’m still puttin’ ye to work in the morning.” Benny snickered.

The spaceship attempts continued after that, though without the desperation that previously accompanied them. It seemed more to be that Master Builder itch that was getting to Benny, giving him the urge to make something. Metalbeard was still vigilant though, just in case.

Crew members continued to come and go with alarming regularity. It wasn’t long before Skeeter was the only member of his original crew left. Loyalty apparently didn’t account for much in the face of a space-obsessed crewmate.

“Sometimes I’m surprised ye still be around,” Metalbeard told Skeeter one day.

“Pfft. Everyone’s got their own methods of coping with this madness, I’m hardly going to let his scare me off. Honestly, most times I wonder if they’re really that annoyed by him, and not just intimidated by all those big, fancy words he throws around.” Metalbeard threw his head back and laughed.

[unhinged-greed]

Dear, Mammon

In response to use of my (Lucifer) likeness and reproduction of copywrited works being used for monetary gain, I revoke any pass given authorization. Loo Loo land infringes on my rights to my (Lucifer) likeness, reproduction of unauthorized copywrited works, and Lu Lu world.

This is your official order to attend the case against your slights to my laws. Your presence is needed at Pride ring’s Sin Agency the next day after receiving this letter. I expect your immediate attention and presence to this serious matter.

Lucifer Morningstar

You'd think that receiving a letter from Lucifer would have made the Sin of Greed happy. Not this time. It had been so many years since he last saw his leader/best friend face to face, so this letter was literally a punch in the face with an iron glove and stab in the back with a knife. Sure he kinda wanted a reaction from Lucifer, but man the fact that the Sin of Pride decided NOT to show his face but a send such a petty letter had the most negative reaction from Mammon himself. Usually he would have been happy, this time he re-read the letter few times growing more and more angry each time which resulted him to have a 'mild' temper tantrum. His whole office was smashed into pieces, not the letter tho, for some reason Mammon kept it in one piece. Rip the people who had to clean this mess up.

Now Mammon was on his way to the Sin Agency, place he hasn't set his foot in so long it actually made him quite anxious to be here. Lucky for Mammon there was no set time for this 'super important meeting' which led Mammon be his usual petty self and show up after 6 pm, in a hope Lucifer had to wait for him to show up the whole day.

Slowly making his way inside of the building like he owned the place. No assistant could keep him waiting in lobby to be called in Lucifer's office. Mammon's plan was to play it cool like nothing was bothering him, like everything was fi-..

He kicked a door open and it was downhill from there. "The fuck is this blackmailing shit about, Luci?" was literally his first sentence he let out before slamming the letter on a desk. Nicely played it cool Mammon.

"Kinda rude if ya ask me"

[green-fifteen]

Day 2: unauthorized surveillance in the boys room

Prompt: Eavesdrop Fandom: X-Files (TV) Pairing: Scully & Mulder / Gen Summary: In a world where Scully and Mulder meet as Dana and Fox, two teenagers take on a high-stakes case. (I wrote a high school AU for some reason.) Word count: 2,889 read on AO3 instead

for @fluffyfebruary

Fox opens his locker and dumps his books inside. They land noisily in an uncomfortable-looking pile. He can hear the locker to his right opening as he shuffles through the mess of papers on his shelf. Where is his damn essay?

The girl next to him tucks a few strands of orange hair behind her ear and adjusts something neatly within her own locker, then closes and locks it. There's a tall boy standing at her side who looks like he was sculpted by the head coach to fill out a football jersey. Fox looks away from them when he bends his head to kiss her.

"Come to practice?" he hears.

"I can't today. There's a lab after school."

"Danaaaaa," he whines. Fox wrinkles his nose and his search starts to feels a little more desperate. He hates it when he has to listen to this guy. If he could just find that stupid essay! He knows it's here somewhere. He wrote it a whole week in advance, then put it in his locker for safe keeping until it was due. Which it is. Right now.

"Maybe you could come over for dinner tonight, when you're finished. Mom keeps asking me to invite you, even though I told her I have. Like seven times. She wants to meet you."

"I'll try. I'll be real tired after practice, though. How about I call you when I get home and let you know then?"

"Okay. I think my dad is making pasta, so there'll be plenty if you decide to come. I hope you do."

They're quiet after that while they lean in to kiss each other again, this time longer and more noisy. Fox scrambles through his mess one last time and finally spots what he's looking for. He nearly crows in triumph, but a glance at his watch shows him he doesn't have time to celebrate. He has to be on the other side of the building in one minute. He slams his locker shut and dashes down the hall, away from Dana and away from her lying boyfriend.

For Fox, school is (mostly) easy and very boring. As his report cards show, he doesn't have any trouble performing above the standard, academically (if you ignore his D+ in German). His extracurriculars are impressive, too; he's a cross country runner, and a whiz on the debate team.

The people at his school are also very boring. And, in a sense, they're also easy. There are lots of 'in-groups' that he's noticed: mean and pretty people, technology obsessives, artistic flunkies, just to name a few. Despite not caring about any of the things that bind these groups together, he's managed to become friendly with almost all of them. It's all surface level for him, though. It isn't that he doesn't care about people, or that he doesn't want to have real friends. It's just that everyone he goes to school with is too easy to read.

Take Dana's boyfriend as an example. He doesn't want to meet Dana's parents, likely because he doesn't take their relationship seriously. Despite this, he feeds her fake and obvious excuses to string her along, pretending he's as serious as she is. Once, Fox heard him say he "needs to clean the oven," after Dana invited him to her sister's birthday party.

And, unfortunately, Fox is never taken in by the little lies people tell to make and keep relationships. He hopes it will be easier when he's older, but at 17, he sometimes feels like he's the only genuine person he knows.

After he turns in his essay and manages to stay awake through the rest of class, he strides back to his locker. Dana is already there, bending to arrange her textbooks into some kind of order. When he opens his locker, she straightens and turns to face him.

"Hey, Fox," she says, voice friendly. It isn't hard to hear the nervous tension underneath it.

"Hi, Dana," he replies. He's pulling his folders from his backpack, tugging them out three or four at a time.

There's a moment of silence where he knows she's chewing on her lip. "You heard what Paul said today, right?"

Fox snorts and looks at her. Her face is a little pink and her eyes keep darting to him and away again. She holds her mouth in a straight line. He can't help but feel sorry for her.

"Yeah, I heard him."

"Do you think…" the words catch in her mouth, but she soldiers on. "He's not coming over for dinner, is he?"

He tries on a gentle smile, then says, as kindly as he can, "I don't think so."

She straightens her back and turns to lean on the front of her locker. Her entire posture signals determination to him all of a sudden, and he gets an uneasy feeling.

"Okay," she says. "I want proof."

"Proof?"

"Yes. No offense, but I'm not sure if I can totally trust your perspective on the situation. I don't know you that well." She shakes her head and the white light in the hallway glints gold off her glasses. "I want to break up with him. I think I need to. But I want to be sure."

He nods, slowly. "And you are going to do this… how, exactly?"

She faces him fully, arms crossed and gaze direct. "I need your help."

Fox feels his eyes go wide.

He's only spoken to Dana Scully twice since the beginning of the school year. The first time it happened, he'd been rushing to cross country and he was already late. He'd closed his locker and immediately lunged into her. Their books and homework pages had flown across the hallway and they'd worked together to sort everything. He didn't have much time for pleasantries, but when she'd said "I'm Dana," he'd said, "Fox," and "Nice to meet you," before sprinting away.

The second time was only five or six days before now. She'd been humming to herself, rummaging around in a bag of cosmetics. He'd been leaning against the locker on the other side of his, fiddling with an origami crane. He couldn't get the neck to fold correctly. Boyfriend Paul had come up and startled both of them, his huge hand slapping on metal.

"You look like a fish when you make that face," he'd said. "Like some deep sea thing with huge eyes."

She'd whacked him hard with a notebook and then they'd kissed. Their interaction after that had been almost identical to the one Fox saw today. Dana had asked him to come over, Paul had said "Sorry, Dana, I volunteered to babysit my nephew tonight," and then he'd gone away again.

And apparently, that was enough to push Fox over a line he didn't even know he'd been toeing.

"He's not going to come over," he'd said.

Dana had been surprised to hear him talk, at first. Then she'd been angry.

"Excuse me?"

"You have to know he's stringing you along."

"I don't--" she spluttered. "As a matter of fact, it is none of your business." She kept her voice low as she turned away from him, stuffing her backpack in an uncharacteristically haphazard fashion.

"Listen," he pressed. In for a penny, in for a pound. "I just wanna know why. Why are you still with that guy?"

She laughed like she was being forced to. "Oh, I see what this is. You're--"

"I'm not coming onto you." He ran a hand over his clammy forehead. "It's just been bothering me."

She slammed her locker shut and didn't meet his eyes. "Well, now you're bothering me." As she walked away, she looked like she'd like to turn back and say something else, something really biting. She appeared to think better of it and just marched away from him instead. Her orange ponytail swung in lockstep with her stride.

Now she's asking him for help.

"What?" he says, mouth hanging open a little.

She ignores him. "Football practice is tonight. Paul will be in the locker room in about," she checks her watch. "Fifteen minutes."

Fox just gapes at her.

"You're in cross country, right? I looked you up in the yearbook." He nods. "Good. And where are you going now?"

He looks at her with suspicious eyes. "Cross country."

"Perfect." She closes her locker with a bang like a striking gavel. "You'll take me with you."

"You can just go to the track yourself," he says. "You don't need me to take you there."

"No," she clarifies. "I want you to take me to the locker room."

Fox tries to argue, he really tries. He isn't nearly invested enough in this relationship to risk being punished when they get caught. He speaks at length to this point, at a rising volume. Unfortunately, Dana has a strategy of her own. She gives just as good as she gets while they argue, but then, when Fox has had enough and stomps away, she follows him. Realizing she'll just follow him all the way to the locker room, he takes an awkward minute to re-evaluate the situation, Dana standing fuming behind his back.

"You really think you're going to see or hear something about you?" he asks.

"Well, no, of course not. Not naturally, anyway."

He sighs. "You want me to bring it up." She nods. "But I don't even know Paul, I have never spoken to him!"

Dana gives him a hard look. "Fox, if it bothers you so much to listen to him lie, you should be happy to get him to tell the truth."

And she's right, he realizes.

That's how they find themselves in the empty locker room, mere minutes from being discovered, Dana's hands over her face while Fox changes faster than he ever has in his life.

"Okay, get in," he says, once he's crammed his school clothes into his backpack and placed everything on the hook. She's lucky the bottom of his locker in here is much emptier than his regular one.

She folds herself down into the cramped space and gives him a thumbs up. Before he closes it, he says, "You won't be able to say anything after I close this."

"I know." She looks annoyed.

"So do you want to say anything?"

"Yeah." She glares up at him, her eyes the only part of her that isn't in shadow. "Close the damn door, Fox."

He sits on the bench with his homework in his hands as the other athletes trickle in. The pages are just a prop-- he's listening for Paul, who comes in after a few minutes with a group of football players, laughing raucously. They're at a different group of lockers, somewhere behind him. His cross country teammates have already arrived and are making noise and chatting too loudly for Fox to make out what the footballers are saying, so he stands and pretends to stretch.

Then, his heart pounding, he sidles over to his teammate, Collins. "You know Dana Scully?"

Collins looks confused. "Yes? She's in my history class."

He makes himself fidget, like he's nervous to be asking, and says, "Does she have a boyfriend?"

"Why are you asking me? I hardly know her."

"Well, who might know? Could you ask around?"

He heaves a put-upon sigh, but walks over to another of their teammates and speaks to them. From there, it isn't long until one of them darts gleefully over to the football players.

Paul's voice cracks over their heads like a whip, halting all conversation.

"Who the hell is asking?"

And then he's coming around the corner, looking pissed off. His jersey hangs on his shoulders at a weird angle, like he just got it over his head before he came over.

"Mulder? You wanna date my girlfriend?"

Fox is a little afraid, he'll admit it. Some of the blood from his face seems to drain into his feet, pumping in and preparing him to run.

"Oh, uh." He looks around. Everyone is watching them, eyes darting from one to the other. The football players are leaning around the corner, wide grins on their faces. Even the swimmers have come around to see what's happening, padding over barefoot in their swimsuits.

"I was just asking if she was dating anybody. I didn't know she was your girlfriend. I don't even care about her that much." He's aware that this could be the fatal flaw of their entire plan-- that this innocent act depends on Paul being so blithely unobservant that he never noticed Fox listening to their conversations at Dana's locker.

"Well, now you know, idiot. Watch your mouth."

Well, there's that. Still, Fox knows he should to be very careful about what he says next. He's still not really sure how this is going to play out. What if he was wrong about him? He takes a deep breath.

"I will. I'm just curious, though-- how did you land a girl like that?"

Paul's eyes flash dangerously, but he laughs. "Oh man, Mulder. You did not just say that." The rest of the football team is laughing, too.

"No, I'm serious. Dana is great. How did you get her attention?"

Paul sobers and looks right into Mulder's eyes. "Dana is a redhead and boring as hell. I have never met a chick who talks more about her grades. On the other hand, I could date anyone I wanted in this school. Do you know why I'm still with her?"

Fox shakes his head.

"Because she's almost ready, man." At this, the footballers holler and make lewd gestures. Fox interprets them correctly.

"You think she'll have sex with you?"

One of the football players guffaws. "It's been two years! She'd better put out after two years!"

Another one says, "I wouldn't be surprised if she gives it up tonight."

Furrowing his brow, Fox asks, "What's tonight?"

Paul takes a menacing step closer. "What's it to you, dork? Why are you asking these questions? Researching how to make Dana fall in love with you?"

"Is she in love with you?" he asks, and it sounds like a challenge.

Paul's nostrils flare but he turns his head. "What do you think? She's been begging me to meet her family. Trying to take me tux shopping for prom. Of course she's in love with me." As he speaks, he's scanning the room just like Fox had, gauging the reactions from their classmates.

"And tonight," he says, almost grandly like he's making a royal announcement, "I'm gonna tie off the net."

"What does that mean?" he asks, honestly puzzled.

"I'm gonna come over for family dinner and convince her to go all the way." He says it like he thinks Fox is an idiot for needing an explanation.

After that, the locker room is a chorus of hooting and jabbering. Paul turns away from Fox to sneer something to his friends when a whistle suddenly cuts through the noise-- time to hit the field. Before he's tugged away, Paul looks at Mulder again.

"Maybe you can date her when I'm finished, jerk. Hope you like sloppy seconds."

And then he's gone, rushing away to football practice.

When everyone is gone and the locker room is empty again, Fox realizes he's smiling. He feels incredible. It had taken no time at all to get Paul to spill his guts to him, and he was right about everything! Well, Paul was planning to go to Dana's house for dinner tonight, but he really had been stringing her along the rest of the time! And what a confession it was-- not only the incriminating evidence he wanted, but even more besides! This proves Paul was operating with forethought, that he'd planned to use Dana in this way for a long time--

A thump comes from his locker and Fox spins the combination into the lock, feeling triumphant. He flings it open and grins at Dana.

She's still crouched in the same position, but now her face is hidden in her knees. The smile dies on his lips as he takes in the way her shoulders are shaking and the near-silent gasps of air he can hear despite her efforts to muffle them in her jeans.

"Dana?" He lowers himself on the bench on front of her. She doesn't respond.

"What do you think?" he asks, feeling helpless and a little lost. "Is that enough to break it off?"

She makes a wet sound that he realizes is supposed to be a laugh, then she lifts her head to blink up at him.

"Truthfully?"

Her eyes and nose are red and watery and her voice sounds choked and frail like she just woke up. He can't look away.

"Of course I want the truth."

She wipes her eyes with her sleeve. "I think Paul is getting single-er as we speak."

His mouth twitches and hers does too, and then they're laughing together.

He doesn't know why she decided to trust him with this, why she came to him for help even though she'd been angry at him for telling her the truth. In the end, it doesn't matter. When he listens to Dana laugh like this, he can honestly say he has never heard a more genuine sound in his entire life.

[theblogforuae]

Enhance Safety and Security with Reliable Barriers in UAE

Hey there! Have you noticed how cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are booming? With more people and cars around, safety becomes even more important. That's where clever folks in businesses, government, and building management come in. They're using some really neat tools called safety barriers and parking barriers to keep everyone safe and sound. These barriers are like invisible walls that help prevent accidents and keep pedestrians and drivers separated. They're also super helpful for managing parking spaces, making sure everyone gets a spot and there's no chaos! It's all about keeping our cities vibrant and safe, one barrier at a time!

Safety barrier:

Safety Barrier are adjustable solutions designed to protect pedestrians and property from potential hazards. They come in various materials and configurations, including:

Plastic barriers: Imagine you're throwing a block party and need to keep the bouncy castle safe for the little ones, or section off an area for games. This is where plastic barriers shine! Lightweight and easy to move around, they're ideal for temporary gigs. Plus, their bright colors grab attention and help everyone see where they shouldn't go. Think of them as the friendly cones of the barrier world, guiding people in the right direction.

Metal barriers: Now, let's say you're working on a construction site. Here, you need something a bit tougher. That's where metal barriers come in. These heavy-duty guys can handle bumps, scrapes, and even the occasional runaway toolbox. Metal barriers are the security guards of the barrier family, creating a strong and stable line to keep people safe.

Retractable barriers : Ever been to a fancy restaurant with a fancy rope separating the entrance ? . That's a type of retractable barrier! These clever gadgets have a belt or rope that extends from a post, letting you create a barrier that can be easily adjusted or removed as needed. Perfect for places where you need to control access but also want to add a touch of style. Think of them as the chameleons of the barrier world, adapting to any environment!

Parking barrier

Parking barrier, on the other hand, are specifically designed to manage parking spaces and prevent unauthorized access. They come in different styles, such as:

Automatic Bollards: Your Personal Parking Genie! Imagine pulling up to your spot and like magic, a short post rises from the ground, reserving it just for you. That's the magic of automatic bollards! These high-tech wonders stay hidden underground until you arrive. With a special key card (think secret handshake!), the bollard pops up, creating your own personal parking kingdom. Once you leave, the bollard disappears again, keeping unwanted vehicles at bay. Talk about convenience fit for a superhero!

Manual Bollards: Reliable and Budget-Friendly Looking for a more wallet-friendly option? Manual bollards are your answer! These sturdy posts are like the old-school knights of parking protection. They rely on a good old-fashioned key or padlock to raise and lower. Sure, they might not have the James Bond-style gizmos of automatic bollards, but they offer a reliable and cost-effective way to control access to your parking space. Plus, there's a certain satisfaction in using a good old key – a classic solution that gets the job done!

Wheel Stoppers: Simple But MightySometimes, you just need a straightforward solution. Wheel stoppers are low-profile blocks that act like parking spot bouncers. They prevent cars from going over a certain line, making sure no one accidentally (or intentionally!) steals your designated spot. These little guys are super easy to install and get the job done without any fuss. Perfect for marking designated parking areas or restricting access to specific zones, wheel stoppers are a simple but mighty way to keep your parking woes at bay.

Choosing the right barriers depends on your specific needs and the environment.

Strength and Visibility: Imagine a busy road versus a peaceful park. On the road, you need a strong barrier to handle potential impact. In the park, something bright and easy to spot keeps everyone aware of designated areas.

Easy Does It: Think about how often the barrier will be used. In high-traffic areas, you'll want something that's quick to set up and take down. No one wants to spend ages wrestling with a barrier when there's a constant flow of people or vehicles.

Budgeting for Beauty: Barriers come in all shapes, sizes, and, of course, prices. Consider how much you're willing to spend and choose something that fits your budget. But don't forget about looks! The right barrier can actually enhance the overall visual appeal of your space.

Conclusion : 

Busy cities in the UAE need special tools to keep people and places safe. Just like how fences keep animals in a zoo, safety barriers block off dangerous areas to protect people from getting hurt. Parking barriers are like special gatekeepers for cars, making sure only the right ones park in the right spots. This helps keep traffic flowing smoothly and finding a parking spot easier!

There are all sorts of barriers, just like there are all sorts of jobs they need to do. Lightweight barriers, like pool noodles you might use at a pool party, work well for short events. Strong metal barriers, like the ones you see around construction sites, are extra tough for big jobs.

The same goes for parking! You can pick automatic barriers that open and close by themselves, or simple wheel stoppers that keep cars from rolling away. By choosing the right barriers, the people who plan cities and events in the UAE are making sure everyone has a safe and fun time!

[guizh0ng]

Remember

Chapter 14: Old Maid

(Tw: swearing ig)

Viktoriya stride purposefully and resolutely through her well-equipped workshop, her mind focused on the task at hand.

Her hands gripped two fragment pieces of paper, holding them firmly as if containing secrets of great importance, because they did.

Viktoriya was acutely aware that including Sora on the mission posed a significant risk.

With her inclination towards taking risks and her current injury, the odds of mission success seemed uncertain at best.

These factors weighed heavily on Viktoriya's mind, that without a shadow of a doubt will lower the team's chances.

Despite the risks associated with Sora's inclusion, Viktoriya recognized the urgent need for the information inhand.

She had her reasons, which would be revealed in time.

Viktoriya recognized the inherent risks associated with Sora's involvement in the mission, particularly given her injury and tendencies.

However, Viktoriya had a distinct plan in mind.

By strategically pairing Sora with someone who could effectively utilize her skills while minimizing the need for physical confrontation, Viktoriya aimed to maximize Sora's potential contribution to the mission's success without compromising her well-being.

The mission's location in Las Vegas meant that they would be navigating an illegal gambling den.

Gambling in this setting wasn't just about winning money or reputation; it also offered a chance to gather crucial information.

In the world of illegal gambling dens, secrets often changed hands alongside wagers.

In the high-stakes world of gambling, wealth, influence, and physical strength held no sway.

It was about the ability to read your opponents and make strategic decisions.

Sora's psychological expertise made her a valuable asset.

Paired with Espen, whose strategic and intellectual prowess complemented Sora's skills, the duo was deemed perfect for the mission ahead.

Their different strengths would prove to be a powerful combination in the challenging environment they were about to navigate together.

And that's just what Viktoriya needed.

Viktoriya had confidence in Espen's ability to rein in Sora's reckless tendencies, given the careful assignment she had made.

Aware that Sora would not be actively undercover in the gambling den, Viktoriya had planned for her to serve as a tactical advisor to Espen through the earpiece, allowing her to provide valuable information and guidance, albeit from a hidden position within the building.

Thus, Sora would play a crucial support role, much like Yamir's hidden presence, while Espen took on the undercover assignment.

With a sigh of relief, Viktoriya mentally prepared herself, silently hoping that her careful planning and strategic decisions would pay off.

She had exerted considerable effort to devise the best course of action, and now it was time to put the plan into motion.

The success of the mission depended on its execution, and Viktoriya hoped her calculations would yield the desired outcome.

After some profound reflection, Viktoriya finally reached the door of her workshop.

She rummaged through her pocket, withdrew her key, and unlocked the door.

This room was among the few within the facility that was always kept locked, sharing that distinction only with Iris's office and the library.

Viktoriya was highly protective of her workspace and vehemently opposed any unauthorized visitors, cause no way in hell she'd let the others see her workshop.

With a swift movement, Viktoriya pushed open the door and immediately flipped the switch, flooding the room with a radiant glow.

As the lights buzzed to life, the room's various components and inventions gradually revealed themselves.

The workshop, a sanctuary of innovation and engineering marvel, emerged from the shadows, illuminated by the artificial luminescence.

Viktoriya's workroom boasted an impressive array of framed drawings that adorned the walls, each piece revealing intricate designs and meticulous detailing.

A bulletin board stood nearby, its surface adorned with colorful sticky notes and pinned messages, while a calendar hung beside it.

The combination of drawings and notes created a dynamic backdrop for Viktoriya's creative process and planning endeavors.

The scene was then marked by a touch of chaos: various crumpled papers littered the floor underfoot, accompanied by scattered pens that added to the clutter.

The trash bin sat nearby, overflowing, a testament to Viktoriya's relentless creative bursts.

She sighed at the sight, pondering when she had last tidied up her sanctuary.

The chaos was a creative whirlwind, yet it cried out for order.

Despite the urgent task at hand, Viktoriya paused to address the disarray in her workshop and began tidying the space.

She placed the papers in her hand on her desk and retrieved a trash bag from a drawer.

She proceeded to collect the scattered rubbish from the floor, transferring the excess from her overflowing bin to the bag.

After finishing, she tied a tight knot and set it aside for the time being.

Viktoriya took a moment to relish her quick yet efficient tidying up the endeavor, mopping the sweat off her brow in satisfaction.

With a sense of satisfaction, she settled down in front of her desk and focused her attention on the papers laid upon it.

Her keen mind began connecting the various sheets, piecing together the larger picture and grasping the unified context contained within the separate pieces of paper.

Although this specific piece of paper wasn't directly tied to the current mission at hand, it held significance within Viktoriya's broader plans.

In the ever-evolving world of intelligence gathering and covert operations, it was imperative to stay ahead of the curve.

The mafia posed a significant threat on their own, but their alliance with assassins added an extra layer of danger.

Viktoriya understood that the team's future assignments were likely to intersect with the mafia and its associates, making her planning all the more crucial for success and survival in the challenging landscape they navigated.

Viktoriya connected the pieces of paper before her, carefully studying the information contained within.

Despite having the necessary data, a puzzled expression crossed her face, prompting her to massage her forehead in frustration.

The mafia's actions typically had a clear motive, yet this particular case seemed devoid of reason.

Viktoriya felt compelled to unveil the rationale behind these cryptic moves and uncover the hidden objective driving the mafia's inexplicable actions.

____________________________________________

Espen casually sauntered through the bustling interior of the gambling den, meticulously scrutinizing every action and reaction within the room.

The spectrum of participants ranged from young adults to the elders, each exuding an air of wealth.

It was as if they had come to wager their money away without a second thought, all while a captivating woman serenaded the crowd on the elevated stage.

Espen discreetly glanced over at the woman on stage, taking in her distinct appearance.

Her fair skin contrasted with her ensemble; a hot pink tubed, strapless dress graced her curvy figure, adorned with a grey fading color to the side.

A long, frilly skirt complemented the dress, revealing her legs through a strategic cut.

Matching the vibrant theme, she wore dark grey high-heeled sandals secured with straps by her ankles, completing her striking onstage persona.

As Espen observed the woman on stage more closely, she noticed her impressive height, towering over her.

Adding to her already elegant appearance, the woman adorned herself with various accessories, including hot pink gloves accented with grey fades along the fingers.

Espen couldn't help but admire the woman's stylish and captivating look, appreciating the refined touch she brought to the gambling den.

As if the woman's elegant attire couldn't be more enchanting, she wore a silver princess necklace adorned with small spinel gemstones that cascaded down her neck.

The necklace sparkled beautifully under the gaming den's dim lights, adding a touch of regality to her already captivating presence on stage as she sang.

The singer held the microphone close as she began singing a mesmerizing tune, harmonized perfectly by the orchestra accompanying her.

Slowly lifting her gaze, her eyes unveiled a captivating shade of emerald green, framed by long, striking lashes.

She embodied a charming blend of natural and fashionable beauty, her features complemented by cascading raven black hair that was artfully curled and elegantly braided near her skull.

Cascading over one shoulder, the remaining lengths of her hair were carefully flipped to create a flattering asymmetrical style, enhancing her enchanting presence on stage.

Just as the singer's gaze landed on Espen, a mischievous flicker sparkled in her eyes, and a playful wink came her way.

Espen, caught off guard by the unexpected gesture, hastily looked away when she realized she had been staring a bit too intently.

Thinking she might have misread the situation, Espen promptly continued her exploration, hoping to shake off the momentary surprise brought about by the singer's flirtatious wink.

Just when she walked away, a new voice piqued her interest;

"Full House!" In the bustling crowd Espen encountered a scene unfolding at a card table.

There, she witnessed a man confidently laying down a full house of cards, each one carefully placed on the table in a display of triumph.

A defeated opponent sat opposite him, visibly shaken by the outcome.

"You owe me now, buddy. You lost, and it's time to pay up! Cash, check, or credit will do. But don't think of skippin' out on me, or we'll have ourselves a problem. I'll give you 'til the count of three to show me some green!" As the victorious man relished in his triumph, he reached into his suit pocket and withdrew a slender cigarette.

With a flick of his wrist, he ignited the lighter and lit the cigarette, its end glowing as he took a slow puff.

The smoke swirled through the air, adding a smoky ambiance to the scene of the winner basking in his success.

"P-please! I-I don't have that kind of money, please! Give me a month, I'll pay you off I swear!" The defeated man's plea, filled with desperation and the threat of tears, fell on deaf ears as the victorious man took another leisurely puff from his cigarette.

Ignoring the emotional display, he continued relishing in his victory, displaying a cool demeanor as if oblivious to the turmoil he had inflicted upon his opponent.

The man snapped his head, looking at the loser withhand "You expect me to wait a month for my money? No chance." He snaps his fingers and two burly goons approach the reluctant debtor, taking a firm hold of his arms.

"Wha- W-wait please, we can talk about this! I have a wife and three ki-!"

"Yo, fellas, we got a situation here. This wise guy thinks he can dodge me and not pay up. Take him to the back room and make sure he understands that ain't happening. Make sure he knows who he's dealing with." He ordered as the guards nod and move to apprehend the opponent, escorting him away to the back room for some more "persuasion."

The gathered crowd surrounding the scene erupted in mocking laughter, reveling in the spectacle of the pleading man's misfortune.

Meanwhile, the victorious man smirked smugly, reveling in the satisfaction of his victory and the attention he received.

Witnessing this display, Espen felt a pang of discomfort and moral offense, unable to comprehend how people could find amusement in such situations.

With a flourish, the man straightens up, striking a confident pose, "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, who's ready for round two? I can see some eager faces out there. Let's keep the action rolling! Come on, step up if you think you can take on the great Ace of Clubs!"

'Ace of Clubs..' Espen's eyes widened as realization dawned upon her.

She wasn't entirely surprised; it was inevitable that the mafia would be deeply entrenched within the gambling scene.

Yet the prospect of tangling with them right now was far from desirable.

She found herself questioning the government's negligence, pondering how they could have overlooked the pervasive influence of the mafia on this illegal gambling den.

Or maybe they didn't fail to tell them but instead purposely didn't tell them.

Espen was aware of the fact that their agency didn't really align well with the government..

If it weren't for the fact they have Viktoriya, they would've been shut down two years ago.

While moving through the crowd, Espen discreetly observed the man before her.

He donned a unique attire, featuring a rust-colored suit paired with black cuffs, adding an air of individuality to his style.

Additionally, the light blue undershirt beneath his suit stood out, with the collar intentionally raised and the top buttons undone, creating an intentionally nonchalant appearance that revealed just a hint of his chest.

The man's fashionable ensemble continued with coordinated attire.

His rust-colored suit extended to his trousers, seamlessly integrated into the overall look.

Completing the ensemble were a pair of meticulously shined black shoes that added a touch of refinement to the outfit.

It seemed that he took pride in presenting a harmonious style, with attention to even the smallest details to ensure a put-together appearance.

Espen then observed the man closely, she took note of his natural features, which included a subtle yet distinct physique, hinting at a certain level of fitness.

Moreover, his skin boasted a beautifully tanned complexion that served as the perfect backdrop for his piercing ocean blue eyes.

Topping it off, his black hair was styled in a charmingly untamed manner, adding character to his overall appearance.

"Fianchettó, what are you doing? Why aren't you moving?" Sora's voice broke through her earpiece, momentarily jolting Espen through the earpiece.

Startled, Espen momentarily forgot the purpose of her glasses, which doubled as a discreet camera.

She then remembered that Sora could view everything through the glasses, capturing the entirety of the gambling scene in real-time on the laptop.

Keeping her eye on the target, Espen subtly adjust my earpiece and respond quietly as possible, "WinterCrux, I've spotted an individual who appears to be affiliated with the Deck of Cards. Our focus should be on gathering intel without drawing suspicion. We need to tread carefully."

Bored with the monotony of the opponents surrounding him, the man grew restless and yearned for a genuine challenge.

As he scanned the crowd, his gaze finally landed on a woman with Ravenette hair, whose eyes seemed to pierce through him.

The unfamiliarity of her presence piqued his interest, and the desire to uncover her abilities filled his mind.

With a newfound curiosity, he fixated his attention solely on her, intrigued by the prospect of testing her skills through a bet.

He then approaches her with a confident swagger, "Well, well, well, looks like we have a contender. You've got fire in your eyes, I like that. Care to have a round of cards with me, bella?" He said, smirking mischievously.

Surprised by the unexpected invitation, Espen instinctively took a small step back, yet her composed expression betrayed none of her internal turmoil.

Rationally, the wise choice would be to decline and avoid any potential schemes that could lead to her downfall.

Considering the grave consequences faced by those who found themselves on the losing end, it'll be the death of her.

But then again, recognizing that accepting the challenge and winning meant she could obtain two benefits: valuable information and moving closer to uncovering the source.

Him, being the top player in the gambling den and a mafia member, stood in her way.

Accepting the wager now seemed like a necessary step toward her goals, despite the inherent risks involved.

A wry smile graces Espen's features as she regards the man's approach.

Her eyes gleam with a mixture of focus and calculation as she played on her cover, "Very well. I'll humour your request. But just so you know, my skills don't just extend to cards."

The man chuckles at Espen's subtle threat, the corner of his mouth twisting into a smirk "Ah, a woman of many talents, I see. Well, I'm Felìx, and I've been known to have a few tricks up my sleeve as well. Let's see who can outwit who, shall we?"

Espen's eyes flicker with a brief hint of acknowledgment at Felìx's introduction.

She then lowers her voice, keeping her tone laced with a hint of mystery, "Bishop. No need for last names. Let's just say I've seen enough games to know how this unfolds" Espen, adopting her undercover persona, prepared herself for the forthcoming betting match against Felìx.

Her gaze locked onto him, signaling her readiness to proceed.

Armed with a cool composure, she braced herself for what lay ahead, determined to outwit her opponent and emerge victorious.

Felìx quirks an eyebrow, intrigued by Espen's confidence and subtle air of secrecy, "Of course, Bishop just a first name will do. As for the game, pick your poison. Blackjack, poker, Go Fish, whatever floats your boat. Though I should warn ya, I've got a knack for these things. Think you can handle the heat?"

Espen's eyes gleam with a calculating intensity as she considers his challenge.

A subtle, almost imperceptible grin tugs at the corners of her mouth, "How about something a little more... sophisticated? A game of Old Maid, perhaps?" She crosses her arms, her gaze never leaving his face, waiting to see how he responds to her chosen game.

As Espen proposes Old Maid, Felìx raises an eyebrow once more, surprised by her selection.

"Old Maid it is. Now that's a game I haven't played since I was a kid. But for you, bella, I'll make an exception. Now deal the cards, and let's see who will be stuck with the Old Maid when this is all over" He winks at Espen, then nods to the dealer, signaling him to begin shuffling the deck and prepare the game.

"Are you gonna be alright, Fianchettó?" Sora's question came through the earpiece once again, prompting Espen to respond with a determined "Hn."

Though she didn't vocalize her thoughts, she trusted Sora to understand her role as a supportive operative.

Confidence in her abilities surged through her, and she stood ready to navigate the challenges that awaited.

Espen and Felìx took their seats at the gambling table, facing each other with their cards lying flat on the surface before them.

The surrounding crowd, intrigued by the unfolding game, watched intently, their expressions ranging from curiosity to sympathy for Espen.

Whispers of pity for what she was about to counter filled the air, but Espen remained undeterred, resolute in her determination to emerge victorious and prove them wrong.

She was hellbent on turning this mission into a resounding success.

The dealer positioned themselves between Espen and Felìx, standing beside the table.

"Old Maid. Each player gets 5 cards, discarding one each time, the objective is to not have the old maid card. Whoever gets the card at the end loses. You go first." The dealer stated in a smooth tone.

As the dealer explained the game's mechanics, Felìx leans back in his chair, a sly smile playing across his lips.

He regards Espen with a casual confidence, his eyes never leaving hers, "Ah, love your enthusiasm. But before we jump into the real game, how about a practice round? No bets, just a little warm-up, get back in the groove. That way, we can make sure we're both up for the real deal. What do you say, Bishop?"

Espen's gaze remains steady and unflinching as she considers his proposition, she nodded slightly "Very well. A quick practice round, then. Let's see if the rust has set in for you, Felìx."

Espen and Felìx retrieved their cards, revealing their contents.

Espen momentarily allowed herself a sigh of relief, grateful that the dreaded Old Maid card was not in her possession.

However, the realization swiftly hit her that Felìx must have it now, meaning she has to not pick the old maid from him.

"Ladies first" Felìx gestured for Espen to pick a card from his set of cards as her hand hovered over the available options.

With careful precision, she selected an 'Alto Annie', matching it with her own pair.

The game had begun, and the initial move belonged to Espen, setting the pace for what was to come.

Espen returned the courtesy, extending her set of cards to Felìx.

He swiftly sifted through her options, choosing a card with the nonchalance of someone who didn't give it a second thought.

His selection was a 'Ballet Betty', a natural fit for the existing four of the same rank.

The suspense grew with each passing exchange, as Espen was left to make a decision between two remaining cards from Felìx's deck.

The surrounding crowd watched intently, their anticipation hanging in the air as they collectively held their breath.

Espen's mind raced, weighing her options and considering the potential implications of her choice.

The cards lay before her, their identities obscured, leaving her to rely on her intuition and skill to predict which one held the Old Maid.

As the game progresses, Felìx takes notice of Espen's increasing tension.

She seems determined not to pick the Old Maid, her brows furrowed in concentration.

As he looks down at his two remaining cards, a smirk spreads across his face, he decided to tease her, "You're looking mighty intense there, Bishop. Hoping that Old Maid doesn't find her way into your hands, huh?"

Espen's eyes flick briefly to her cards, then up to meet his gaze and with a hint of amusement, she said "Ah, so you've noticed my little goal to avoid the Old Maid, have you? I suppose I'm a little desperate to keep my cards"

Without a moment's hesitation, Espen plucks a card from her hand, glancing at it briefly before tucking it into her hand.

She looks back up at Felìx, a small, cryptic smile playing on her lips.

Espen, having successfully avoided the Old Maid, exhaled a breath of relief.

Felìx, despite his defeat, maintained an easygoing demeanor and a smile, savoring the exchange.

He placed the last card in his hand on the table, revealing it to be the Old Maid.

The surrounding crowd gasped in surprise, their shock mingling with their anticipation.

Despite his initial advantage, Espen managed to steer clear of the old maid cards, turning the game into a nail-bitingly close encounter.

"Alright, fair play, Bishop. You dodged the Old Maid like a true master. But that just means we need to play again, right? I like a little challenge. Let's shuffle up and deal again. I'm curious to see how many rounds you can go without her finding you" Felìx smirked as he pressed the cigarette on his hands through the table, lighting it off.

"Very Well." Espen realized the importance of the next round.

She had proven herself as a formidable opponent in the previous round, and a victory in the upcoming round would be key to uncovering the information she needed.

With determination fueling her, she prepared to face Felìx once again, knowing that this next encounter would play a pivotal role in her undercover investigation.

Felìx confidently leans back in his chair, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

He props his feet up on the table, a confident smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, "Excellent. Let's make things interesting, shall we? To start off, I propose a modest bet of 1,000. If you manage to avoid the Old Maid for three rounds straight, I'll treat you to an evening of fine dining, complete with the best wine and company a lady could desire. Does that sound acceptable to you, Bishop?"

Espen, with a polite yet firm tone, "While your offer is certainly attractive, I have a different proposal in mind. If I manage to avoid the Old Maid for three rounds straight, you will share with me the information I require. A wager for information, if you will"

At Espen's counteroffer, Vito raises an eyebrow, interested by her proposition.

A hint of respect flickers in his intense gaze as he contemplates her words, "Well, now this is getting interesting. Information, hmm? You have my attention, Bishop. I accept your terms. If you manage to dodge the Old Maid three times in a row, I'll share with you the information you want. But if I come out on top.."

He leans closer, a smirk playing on his lips, "..you'll also have to share some of your own secrets" He smiled mischievously as he looked at her straight in the eyes.

The true high-stakes confrontation took center stage as the first round commenced, the dealer distributing a new, fresh deck of cards to both opponents.

The atmosphere crackled with suspense and anticipation as Espen and Felìx locked eyes, their gazes betraying the intensity of the moment.

With every card drawn, every decision made, the fate of the mission hung in the balance, and the outcome of this risky exchange would have far-reaching implications.

With a subtle nod, Espen encourages Felìx to make the initial move, "Please, the stage is yours. You may start the game"

Felìx chuckles, amused, "Let's see what luck the fates have in store for us today, shall we? Just remember, Bishop, the Old Maid is out there somewhere. Don't let her sneak up on you"

Espen couldn't help but flash a smile, albeit thinly veiled with sarcasm, as Felìx reached for a card from her deck.

His selection was a 'Greenthumb Gert,' a fitting pair to complement the card he already possessed.

Despite the lighthearted gesture, Espen's true intentions were carefully disguised beneath the surface, and her mind silently calculated the strategy for the game ahead.

With the tables now turned, Espen was compelled to reciprocate the exchange by picking a card from Felìx's deck.

His subtle smile revealed a flicker of satisfaction as he offered his selection of cards.

He knows he's gonna win.

He will.

Felìx's trap proved effective as Espen unwittingly fell into his hands, just like countless other rookies before her.

The crowd, nothing more than his lackeys, served as his eyes and ears, unknowingly providing valuable information on Espen's cards.

In the shadows of the game, Felìx reveled in the certainty of victory, confidently believing himself invulnerable to detection.

Within the murky confines of this high-stakes exchange, the lines between fairness and deceit blurred as Felìx navigated the treacherous terrain of deception.

Indeed, Felìx had allowed Espen to win the 'practice round' as a deliberate ploy to bait her into the insidious world of gambling.

By offering a taste of victory, he ensured that she remained enthralled, compelled to continue playing in hopes of uncovering the secret he held.

Yet, it was a double-edged sword, as the allure of potential success could lead Espen into the abyss of gambling, where the risks outweighed the rewards.

And she was just like any other.

As the first round neared its end, Felìx found himself holding two cards: Careless Carrie and the ever-dreaded Old Maid.

Raising his cards high, he offered them to Espen, his smirk widening with each passing moment.

The decision was hers to make, and the crowd eagerly awaited her response, knowing that her choice would ultimately determine the fate of this opening exchange.

Espen's emotions ran high as she carefully unveiled the card she had chosen, her eyes widened in shock at what she saw.

Felìx, meanwhile, couldn't hide his smirk, the mischievous delight evident on his face.

With a flourish, he tossed the remainder of his cards onto the table, revealing the Careless Carrie, meaning that Espen had indeed been saddled with the dreaded Old Maid.

The crowd erupted into a frenzy, their gasps and exclamations filling the air, as the game took an un(expected) turn.

He leans back in his chair, an expression of pure triumph on his face, "There she is! The sneaky little lady finally found her way into your hands, hm? Well, well, well, looks like the streak is over. Better luck next time, sweetheart"

As Felìx observed, Espen's confusion and disbelief deepened, her whispered words betraying the turmoil within.

He relished the sight as she struggled to reconcile her unexpected predicament, the realization dawning that she had involuntarily ventured into the perilous realms of gambling and her run to the never ending cycle of losses.

Espen, with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment in her tone said "Well, well… it seems the Old Maid has indeed found her way into my hand. But the game isn't over yet, if you recall. We agreed on three rounds, did we not?"

In the world of gambling, the illusion of second chances often lured individuals into a deceptive sense of false hope.

While they believed they had a shot at redemption, the truth remained that with each turn of the card, the odds invariably tilted further against them.

Felìx chuckles, a smirk on his face as he leans back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest.

He tilts his head slightly to the side, his eyes gleaming with amusement, "That we did, Bishop. Three rounds, and still one more to go. I admire your spirit, trying to turn this around. Go on, then. Let's see if Lady Luck has one last surprise in store for you"

The second round commenced, and Felìx observed Espen grow increasingly aggressive and agitated as the game unfolded before them.

Despite her best efforts, Espen found herself saddled with the Old Maid once again, her devastation palpable.

Felìx chuckled inwardly, savoring the sight of her despair as she grappled with defeat for the second time.

"Again." Espen's murmured words escaped her lips, loud enough for Felìx to overhear, her gaze averted from his sight as she stared down at the ground.

Felìx, unfazed by her demeanor, issued a command to the dealer, signaling for a new deck of cards to be shuffled, ready to continue the game without a moment's pause.

With the arrival of the final round, a fresh deck of cards graced the table, and Felìx found himself devoid of the Old Maid for the very first time.

The exchange was about to resume, and soon Felìx was now pretending to contemplating his options carefully as he reached for Espen's final set of two cards, ready to make the fateful decision.

His fingers hovered between the two cards, watching Espen's expression flicker between eagerness and fear with each subtle shift.

Felìx couldn't help but chuckle inwardly as he observed her desperate attempts to fool him, knowing all too well that he held the upper hand in the game.

As he glanced over at the crowd behind her, their signals confirming the card he sought, a smirk played at the corners of his lips.

With a swift move, Felìx swiftly switched positions and snatched the card from the left.

Felìx divulged in the sight of Espen's horror as she stared down at the ground, the weight of her defeat crashing upon her.

He found wicked satisfaction in her misery, relishing the way the realization of her ruin settled upon her.

The thrill of victory and the subsequent downfall of his opponents fueled his sadistic pleasure, a darker side he couldn't help but embrace.

Felìx unveiled the card he had selected, revealing the 'Fifi Fluff,' and his laughter filled the room, reverberating off the walls.

The crowd joined in, their chuckles merging with his, as they relished in Espen's expected misfortune.

Felìx's eyes gleamed with a blend of amusement and triumph, his sadistic pleasure manifesting in his gleeful reaction, "Oh, the cards just weren't in your favor today! You landed on the Old Maid again. I suppose lady luck has a cruel sense of humor after all!"

He snickers, as he stood up from his seat, "Three rounds, three times you were caught with her."

Felìx, filled with power over Espen, approached her from behind.

He firmly planted his hands on her shoulders, his grip tight and unyielding.

Espen remained fixated on the ground.

He pushed his face closer to Espen's side as he spoke near her ear, "Did you think I was letting you win the 'practice round'? Oh, darling, you've got quite the imagination there. I was just getting warmed up. I wanted to give you a little taste of my skills before truly taking you on"

Felìx let out another chuckle, his demeanor oozing confidence and arrogance as he moved to the other side of Espen and leaned closer to her other ear, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

He leans in, a smirk playing on his lips, and taunts her mercilessly, "Oh and how foolish you were to believe I would ever let you win. You're weak, naive, and easily led astray. No wonder you fell for my trap. You'll always be like this, stuck in your gullible little world, never seeing the bigger picture. Pitiful."

Felìx's laughter intensified, a sadistic edge to it as he leaned closer to Espen's ear, his voice dripping with mockery and cruelty.

The crowd joined in, their laughter growing louder and more uproarious, reveling in Espen's humiliation.

Espen kept her head down low.

The sounds of Felìx's scathing mockery, the boisterous laughter from the crowd, and the echoes of their collective mockery created a symphony of degradation.

The air was thick with a sense of triumph as everyone around reveled in her downfall.

It was all according to plan.