#special steel materials

[grandstarlightwonderland]

A Comprehensive Guide to Special Steel Materials: EN Materials, HR Plates, GP Sheets, and More

Introduction

In the world of steel and metal fabrication, selecting the right materials is crucial for ensuring the strength, durability, and performance of structures and products. This article provides an in-depth look at various special steel materials, including EN materials (flats, plates, and rounds), HR plates, GP sheets, seamless round pipes, alloy steels, and GP/GI pipes. It also covers the benefits of online purchasing for these products, offering insights into the most efficient and cost-effective ways to acquire them. EN Materials

EN Flats, Plates, and Rounds are high-quality steel products manufactured to European Norms (EN) standards, ensuring superior performance and reliability in a wide range of applications. EN Flats: These are flat steel bars with consistent width and thickness, used in various applications such as structural supports, fabrication of brackets, and machine components. EN flats offer excellent mechanical properties, making them suitable for precision engineering and heavy-duty applications. EN Plates: Available in various thicknesses and sizes, EN plates are used in heavy-duty construction, manufacturing, and pressure vessels. Their adherence to European standards ensures high strength, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. EN Rounds: These are circular steel bars that provide robust structural support and are commonly used in engineering and construction. EN rounds are valued for their uniformity and strength, making them ideal for applications that require precise dimensions and high load-bearing capacity. HR Plates

HR (Hot Rolled) Plates are produced through hot rolling processes, where the steel is heated above its recrystallization temperature and then rolled into desired shapes. HR plates are known for their excellent strength and ductility, making them suitable for structural and construction applications. They are often used in building frameworks, bridges, and machinery due to their ability to withstand significant stresses and impacts. GP Sheets

GP (Galvanized Plain) Sheets are steel sheets coated with a layer of zinc to provide enhanced corrosion resistance. This coating protects the steel from rust and deterioration, making GP sheets ideal for use in roofing, cladding, and other outdoor applications. They are commonly used in residential and industrial construction due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. Seamless Round Pipes

Seamless Round Pipes are manufactured without welding or seams, making them ideal for high-pressure applications. The absence of seams ensures uniform strength and durability, which is essential for transporting fluids and gases in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and construction. Seamless pipes are available in various sizes and specifications, offering flexibility and reliability for a wide range of applications. Alloy Steels - Round Rods

Alloy Steels - Round Rods are made from steel alloyed with elements such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum to enhance their mechanical properties. These rods offer superior strength, hardness, and resistance to wear and corrosion. They are commonly used in manufacturing high-performance components, machinery parts, and tools that require enhanced durability and reliability. GP/GI Pipes

GP (Galvanized Plain) and GI (Galvanized Iron) Pipes are used in a variety of applications, including construction and plumbing. They are available in different shapes and sizes: Square Pipes: Provide a uniform strength and are often used in structural applications where rigidity and stability are required. Rectangular Pipes: Offer versatility and are commonly used in frames, supports, and structural components. Round Pipes: Used in plumbing, construction, and various industrial applications for their ease of handling and adaptability.

Roofing Sheets

Roofing Sheets are essential components for building roofs, providing protection against the elements. They are available in various materials, including metal, plastic, and fiberglass. Metal roofing sheets, such as those made from galvanized steel, offer durability and longevity, making them suitable for both residential and commercial buildings. Their resistance to weather conditions and ease of installation make them a popular choice in modern construction. The Benefits of Online Purchasing

Purchasing special steel materials online offers several advantages, including: Convenience: Online platforms provide access to a wide range of steel products from the comfort of your home or office. You can easily compare prices, specifications, and brands. Competitive Pricing: Online suppliers often offer factory prices and discounts, helping you save on procurement costs. Comprehensive Product Information: Online retailers provide detailed product descriptions, including dimensions, weights, and quality certifications, ensuring you make informed decisions.

Fast Delivery: Many online suppliers offer quick delivery options, allowing you to receive your materials promptly and efficiently. Customer Support: Online platforms typically offer customer support to assist with queries, orders, and technical specifications. Conclusion Incorporating the right steel materials, whether EN flats, HR plates, GP sheets, seamless round pipes, alloy steels, or GP/GI pipes, is essential for the success of construction and manufacturing projects. Online purchasing provides a streamlined and efficient way to acquire these materials, offering convenience, competitive pricing, and access to detailed product information. By exploring online options, you can ensure that you obtain high-quality steel products that meet your project requirements while benefiting from cost savings and prompt delivery.

[lumpsbumpsandwhumps]

I would like ask malik where he got those dope fuckin boots please

Hot Topic

[midseo]

Through Bolt Anchors - TBA, Drop In Anchors - DIA, Manufacturer, India

We are Manufacturer, Supplier, Exporter of Mechanical Anchor Bolts, Wedge Anchor Bolts, Through Bolt Anchors - TBA, Drop In Anchors - DIA from Kolhapur. The through bolt anchor TBA can be installed through the work piece. The drop in anchor DIA creates a strong, permanent and reusable female thread in the base material.

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[steampunktendencies]

Tasmanian Artist Matt Sloane Crafted This Horse Sculpture Out Of Farm Metal Scraps

Matt Sloane, a Tasmanian artist based in Copping, specializes in creating unique metal sculptures using recycled materials such as scrap steel, old farm machinery, and garden tools. His work often features animals, showcasing his ability to transform discarded items into impressive pieces of art. Among his notable creations is a life-sized sculpture of a horse made entirely from scrap metal. Sloane's dedication to his craft is evident in the intricate details and the significant amount of time he invests in each piece, making his sculptures stand out in the field of recycled art.

[jorrated]

Redid my Maya Knux gijinka! Now with notes and sources on how I did the design (It's kinda long, around 2k words jsyk):

The hairstyle:

Knux has pretty long spikes, so I knew I wanted to give him long hair! Braids or dreadlocks look pretty fitting, so I tried looking for references of hairstyles to see if any fit what I was looking for:

Source: Mayavase.com (Photograph by Justin Kerr)

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=1092

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=1453

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=694

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=1340

While all the vases show a variety of interesting hairstyles, I particularly loved the look of the braids in K694 (the third picture). Being tied upwards wouldn’t really fit Knux however, so something like the man in K1340 (fourth pic) with his hair fully down, or the 5th man from left to right in K1092 (first pic) with a cloth holding the hair would be really nice!

I didn’t want to give him a headpiece, if only to not clutter his head, but also I didn’t think it’d fit Knux as a warrior. The ruler’s headpiece in K1453 (second pic) however allows the hair to come off it, and seems to have some dangly adornments on the end of the strands/braids/locks, which I found super pretty. Plus:

“Elite Mayan men and women styled their hair to show off their pointed heads, crafted through the careful head flattening they experienced as children. Women gathered their long hair on top of their heads in flowing ponytails. For special occasions they braided their ponytails and decorated them with ornaments and ribbons. Mayan men grew their hair long but burnt the hair off their foreheads to accentuate their elongated profiles. They would bind their hair into one or many ponytails or tie it in a bundle on top of their head. Mayan slaves had their hair cut short as one visible mark of their inferior status.” p.399

Source: Fashion, costume, and culture: clothing, headwear, body decorations, and footwear through the ages (Sarah Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, Sarah Hermsen as Project Editor), 2003.

https://archive.org/details/fashioncostumecu0000pend/page/n5/mode/2up

Taking all of that! I settled on tight braids with a few adornments made of jade and wood, with a red cloth to keep his hair from his eyes. Almost all of the braids are pulled together into a ponytails, but there are some smaller braids loose.

It’s somewhat of a mixture of styles, combining ornaments of special occasions, with the long hair of elites on a character like Knux. But I kept these ‘contradictory’ aspects of the design to remember that Knux kinda learns about his ancestors on the go, through murals, writings and technology, so I doubt he’d have a great grasp on what he should and shouldn’t wear. I think it adds character as someone who’s trying to figure out himself, his history and his place in the world.

Shoes and Accessories:

For footwear I kept it simple, just turned Knux’s existing shoes into sandals:

“Ancient Aztecs and Mayans of Central America adopted a thick-soled sandal with a protective legging attached at the heel, while the top of the foot and shin remained exposed.” p.135

Source: Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (Valerie Steele), 2005

Although my gut instinct was to cover Knuckles from head to toe in accessories, I also tried to keep it simple like the shoes. He’s a very mobile fellow so he can’t have too much weight or annoying bits flying everywhere and getting in his face. So I kept his moon necklace, like in Fleetway, just adjusted the shape to have a bit more of details:

“The jewelry worn by the Mayan, Aztec and Inca people was rich in variety and quite beautiful. Without metalworking skills, Mayans made jewelry from many materials. Mayan men wore nose ornaments, earplugs and lip plugs made from bone, wood, shells and stones, including jade, topaz, and obsidian. Necklaces, bracelets, anklets and headgear were made with jaguar and crocodile teeth, jaguar claws and feathers.” p.402

Source: Fashion, costume, and culture: clothing, headwear, body decorations, and footwear through the ages (Sarah Pendergast and Tom Pendergast, Sarah Hermsen as Project Editor), 2003.

https://archive.org/details/fashioncostumecu0000pend/page/n5/mode/2up

As stated here, Mayans didn’t have metalwork, so I imagine this is an artifact that his ancestors got from another group of people.

Just a page before they also mention how the Maya people used to file points into their teeth, to make their mouths more appealing. This includes shaping them into pointy teeth, (like the classic shark teeth), but they could also file them into other shapes, like in this picture:

Source: https://www.archaeologynow.org/blog-3/blog-post-title-two-txwxl (I’m pretty sure this isn’t the source of the image, but I couldn’t find an actual source that wasn’t an uncredited blog)

The Maya people are also notorious for their good dentistry, as seen the stone ornaments in the teeth above. I think the filling is something Knux could do on his own, but anything that would involve actual dentistry would be too much. But it’s still interesting to read about!

(Here’s an article named “Mayan Esthetic Dentistry: Using Modern Techniques and Digital Imaging Technologies to Link the Past to the Present” by Yassine Harichane if you want to learn more!)

While a non-permanent version of stones on teeth seemed cool, like Jade incisor-coverings, at the end of the day I don’t think Knuckles is too vain, so I didn’t add that to the design. Although I think he’d definitely try out a bunch of things like this, just to try to understand them.

For additional outfits I gave him a red layered cape and a green huipil! The red cape is just to bring back more red into the design, since I gave him a lot of green. And the huipil is a nod to his poncho in the comics! (Although huipiles are commonly associated with women and girls, I still wanted to give him one, not only to bring up his partial detachment to his ancestors, but also because Knux probably wouldn’t think much about gender in general let’s be honest)

Source: Mayavase.com (Photograph by Justin Kerr)

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=638

Somewhat based the red cape on the 4th man in this picture, from left to right, but I kept it simple, as maybe just some fabric Knux found around the island, nothing too fancy.

For the huipil I wanted to do something more detailed but was having a really hard time coming up with designs. And I didn’t want to straight up plagiarize someone’s else work, so I kept it vague, maybe some day I’ll sit down and give it a more detailed version. I did come across a very nice store/ catalog that sells traditional Maya textiles, and this one was very gorgeous! Highly recommend give this and the other textiles a look!

In the end I made the huipil look vaguely like the ones shown in page 128 of the following book:

“In the Museum collection, costumes that looked very much alike usually turned out to be from villages that shared a language. Among Cakchiquel villages, dialect differences were usually mirrored by costume differences. Working on this principle we were surprised by the striking similarity of style in the huipils of San Antonio Aguas Calientes (fig. 195) and San Martín Jilotepeque (fig. 196). These villages, while both Cakchiquel, spoke very different dialects and were separated geographically (map, below). The similarity of their huipil was so remarkable we felt the need to investigate these two villages more thoroughly and found that a multi-cultural history probably accounted for these unexpected similarities of style. Huipils from these villages may well illustrate the earliest examples of pan-Maya acculturation after the Conquest.”p. 127

Source: Threads of identity: Maya costume of the 1960s in highland Guatemala (Patricia B. Altman, Caroline D.West), 1992.

https://archive.org/details/threadsofidentit0000altm/page/n7/mode/2up

Lastly on accessories, which I don’t know if it counts as an accessory but I didn’t know where to put it: the body paint. Last time I gave Knux a human design I couldn't find a good resource on Maya people painting their bodies. Every source mentioned and was in consensus that some of the people did paint their bodies, but that was the extent of the info. I wasn’t able to find any patterns or meanings of the body paintings, or even good visual reference for it. But! This time I was able to get a bit more:

“Body painting was a common Maya practice. Classic Period murals and polychrome vases depict warriors covered with red or black paint; sometimes their bodies were striped with red paint. Paint was also used around the eyes and nose to give a fierce expression. In the 16th century, these practices continued. Women also applied red paint to their faces and bodies, but presumably to make themselves look beautiful, not fierce. Small paint jars of red hematite mixed with mica were found in the houses at Cerén, and these may have been for cosmetic use. Unmarried young men painted their bodies black, and so did those who were undergoing periods of ritual purification and fasting. Priests often wore blue body paint. “p. 338

Source: Handbook To Life In The Ancient Maya World Lynn (V. Foster), 2002.

Source: Mayavase.com (Photograph by Justin Kerr)

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=2800

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=2573

http://research.mayavase.com/kerrmaya_hires.php?vase=7996

I of course wanted to give him red paint, and I really liked this design of the red lining the cheeks on the face down to the neckline. However in most of these depictions the red on the body is accompanied by the white face, which I can’t actually tell if the face has white paint, or the body has black paint, like described in the quote before. Either way I chose to only use the red, to keep in line with Knux’s original design.

(It’s worth mentioning that these vases shown depict rulers, as you can see the intricate thrones and altars, which isn’t really fitting with Knux. But again, I want to keep some mismatched aspects into his design, not only warrior-related things.)

The main outfit:

Last but not least, the main outfit. Don’t have much notes on this I’m going to be honest, I just tried to keep in line with descriptions of warriors clothing:

“While some warriors may have been resplendent on the battlefield, the common Maya soldier fought with little clothing other than loincloth and body paint, based on battle scenes in the few Maya murals that remain (see figure 2.9, page 54).” p.147

Source: Handbook To Life In The Ancient Maya World Lynn (V. Foster), 2002.

I considered putting him in a loincloth for accuracy, but tbh I was scared people were going to be weird about it, and so I gave him a skirt with some fabric that emulates the look of a loincloth and some scrap fabric around his waist and limbs! He actually ended pulling up a lot from the dude I mentioned in vase K1092 (the very first ref pic in this post) lol!

And that´s all, hope y’all liked it :P

[mysumeow]

. . . ꒰ WITH HIM

Warnings: Reader has medium/large sized breasts. Reader gets called darling and pretty. Afab genitalia and is referred to with you/your. Piv unprotected sex, Boothill has a metal dick (there are dildos with this material so I guess it's safe lmao).

Word count: 600+

A/N: i HATE him. man ran through 190 tickets and only got me his e1??? unbelievable. he's sleeping outside with the dog.

₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ ♡ 🌷 . . KOFI | HSR MASTERLIST

Boothill loves to snuggle his face into your chest. He finds comfort in the intimacy of it, and he listens to your heartbeats. The warmth you radiate against his metal body is soothing, too. He can feel it, thanks to the touch receptors integrated into the expanse of the metal plates. Of course, it can’t compare to the skin-to-skin proximity, and so he relaxes further into the hug.

He palms your tits and squeezes them while he nips at your neck. He feels your body arching towards him while kissing you, his lips trail downwards. His index finger circles around your nipple until it hardens—teases you about how responsive your body is to him. He ducks his head closer to it, his sharp teeth grazing against it.

He grabs your tits and pushes them together; his mouth finally envelops your nipples. He avoids irritating the sensitive flesh with his special set of teeth, but the way he sucks is eager. He closes his eyes, listens to your sounds of pleasure, and relishes in your embrace, which tightens. He welcomes it all.

He pulls his head back a little, still not freeing your nipples. And when he does, it’s to make out with you again, sloppily. His tongue slides against yours while he holds your face steady in his grasp, disorienting your senses because he’s vehement.

“As much as I love it when you lock your legs around me, Imma need you to spread’em. Can you do that for me?” You know he wants to taunt you, and you want to strangle him when he licks his fingers while he sends you a lustful look.  

The moment you obey, he doesn’t waste time and pushes his hand beneath your underwear and teases your pussy with it. He pushes two wet fingers in while his thumb rubs your clit, you keen from the pleasure. Unlike anything you’ve felt before, the stainless steel of his hand gets drenched with your fluids the more he fingers and scissors your cunt. Those fingers are thick, and even if there are only two of them playing with your sex, they stretch you out good.

“God, you’re soppin’ wet down there…You’re doing so good, darlin’,” His other hand pinches your nipple, and Boothill grins when he senses you clench around him. “You like that, hm? Come on, my pretty, look at me.”

You swear your heart is about to burst, but you do meet his gaze. Boothill grins satisfied, perhaps in a sadist way, before he starts pumping his fingers in and out faster—you double over. He chuckles at your reaction and moves his hand from your sore nipple towards your hip to drag you closer, intent on making you cum on his fingers.

“Yeah, just like that. Give it to me, darlin’. Don’t hold it back.”

For the second time tonight, you comply. He doesn’t stop until you’ve ridden all the waves of your climax. You watch him take his fingers inside his mouth, engulfing them until they’re clean from your release.

While you are still coming down from your climax, Boothill grasps your arm and pulls you in closer until you straddle him. He notices your clumsy movements and guides you to rest against his shoulder. Despite your tiredness, when he slides his cock inside, you move your hips in tandem with his pace.

Boothill offers a reassuring smile before his heated gaze travels towards your chest. Unable to hold back, his lips return there; with the hungry way he ravishes you, it’s difficult for him to not leave some teeth marks, even if a little.

The pleasure’s too much, it turns your thoughts into incoherences, and you allow its rapture. Small whines escape you as you let Boothill jostle your body up and down, holding you. You’re about to cum again, and you can’t even dig your nails into his back to express how good you feel—instead, you grip on his long locks of hair and pull. The ranger lets out a hearty laugh, your action riles him up more. He pounds into you with hasty snaps of his hips, and he cums after you.

[hollyoongs]

THANK YOU, JAKE ✦ S.JY

pairing tasp!jake x news intern!fem reader

summary when you told your friend about the challenge that your boss put you on in order to work on the company, which was taking a picture of the amazing Spider Man, Jake makes it come true.

genre fluff

warnings both of them like each other, cameo of Jay and Ri-Ki, everything is NYC and I tried to make it short for the other one that I'm planning to make it in the future <3

a/n I can finally get this one up here, I'll do the second part with smut, but Jake's fluff is already needed in this profile. Shout out to the editor of THIS Jake Spider-Man, my jupi @glitterjay and also to my lovely moot @ja3yun, this is the spidey!jake I was preparing ;) [PART TWO: 🕸]

wc +3.0k

It was one of those days where everything seemed to conspire against you. As you trudged through the bustling streets of New York City, your camera bag heavy on your shoulder, you couldn't shake off the feeling of exhaustion that clung to you like a stubborn shadow. The sweltering heat of the summer sun only added to your irritation as you made your way to the Daily Bugle, where you were interning as a photographer.

Your future boss, Mr. Jameson, was notorious for his gruff demeanor and demanding nature. Today seemed to be no exception, as he barked orders at the staff, his voice reverberating through the newsroom like thunder. Your friend, Jay, was massaging his forehead, and you couldn't help but go there first. He looked up to see you and gave you a tired smile.

"Rough already?"

"And it's not even 9 a.m." Jay spat in anger, and you opened your bag to give him some of the jelly you always carry around. He took them slightly happier, opening as he started talking again. "He's putting stupid challenges on everyone here. Rumor has it that he's getting jealous of the other newspaper company since they took the #1 place from us."

"Well, wish me luck." You braced yourself for another onslaught of criticism as you approached his desk, hoping to avoid his wrath.

"Ah, there you are," Mr. Jameson said, his tone dripping with impatience. "I've got a special assignment for you."

You felt your heart sink at his words, knowing that whatever task he had in store would likely be arduous and thankless, just like Jay said. But you nodded, steeling yourself for whatever was to come.

"I want you to get me a picture of Spider-Man," he said bluntly, his eyes narrowing in a challenging glare.

Your jaw nearly hit the floor at his request. Spider-Man? The elusive vigilante who swung through the city was a hero to some and a menace to others. Getting a photo of him in action was no small feat, and you knew it.

"But how am I supposed to…" you began, but Mr. Jameson cut you off with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"I don't care how you do it; just get it done," he said firmly. "And make it front-page material, or you'll be out of your ear."

With that ominous warning hanging in the air, you felt a wave of panic wash over you. How were you supposed to capture a photo of Spider-Man when you could barely catch a break in your own life? Desperation clawed at your chest as you racked your brain for a solution. He looked at Jay, and he was with his mouth open. She was simply screwed.

The hours passed slowly, and 7 o'clock of the night finally reached, which made you fly to the only place you find comfort at the moment. Shim Jake's place. Feeling all the weight on your shoulders, you sigh as you knock on the door. His aunt opens before your knuckles can touch the door.

"Hey darling… Oh no, bad day?" like a button, your eyes got watery, and she hugged you. You hold your tears as she loses you in the warm hug. "I'm going to buy food. Jake and Ni-Ki are in the room. I know what you like."

"You are truly the best, May."

"I know, darling. Go." She left you, and you entered the house, going directly to the Australian boy's room. You knocked, and you heard things falling.

"Who's it?"

"Who else, Ni-Ki? Come on, I had a bad day, and I need you guys."

"Hold on a second!" A few seconds passed, and Jake was the one who opened the door, his messy hair, sweat pant and big white shirt and hsi big glasses that made him look more handsome than usual in front of you. "Hey lensgirl, what's wrong?"

You went for a hug, this time with tears going down and your crying getting noticeable.

Jake was taken aback by your sudden display of emotion, immediately wrapping his arms around you in a comforting embrace. "Hey, hey, it's okay," he murmured softly, rubbing your back soothingly. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

You sniffled, trying to compose yourself as you pulled away slightly. "It's just… work," you managed to choke out between sobs. "Mr. Jameson… He wants me to get a photo of Spider-Man for the front page, and I- I don't know how to do it. I'm so screwed, Jake."

Jake's expression softened with understanding, though you had no idea just how much he truly understood. "Hey, it's okay," he repeated, guiding you to sit on his bed. "We'll figure it out, okay? You're not alone in this."

Ni-Ki, hearing the commotion, poked his head out from behind the doorframe. "Jake can help," he said, and you could feel Jake getting tense. You looked up to Ni-Ki.

"What?"

"Jake knows Spider-Man. You could get the picture." You open your eyes as your eyes travel again to Jake's.

"Since when?!" You practically shouted at him, and he gave a shy smile, which you loved, but the thought of him being friends with the hero and not telling you was in your mind.

"I'll tell you right after you clean and calm yourself. You know what? Go to the bathroom." As you were protesting, Jake obligated you to go inside. The boys went straight to the room and locked it, Jake basically punching Ni-Ki for opening his mouth.

"Are you being serious?! Why did you say that?"

"You know I'm fond of her, and I can't stand her crying. And also, I'm doing you a favor; you've liked her since forever, and with this, you can make a move. And you know that she loves Spider-Man. I consider this a win."

Jake's heart raced as he processed Ni-Ki's words. He couldn't deny the truth about them. He had harbored feelings for you for what felt like forever, but he never found the courage to act on them, and because of the sudden powers he got after being bite by a spider, the dangers were too much to the point he would rather die with the secret in order to keep you save. That's how much he loved you.

But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. Keeping his identity as Spider-Man a secret was crucial, and now, with you unknowingly on the brink of discovering the truth, he felt the pressure mounting.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Jake turned to Ni-Ki. "Okay, okay," he muttered, running a hand through his hair in agitation. "But we have to be careful. She can't know about this, Ni-Ki. It's too risky."

Ni-Ki nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I won't say anything else, I promise. Only you have to stay cool, you get to nervous around her. I'm surprise you're not right now" he assured Jake.

"Because someone open his mouth"

"Stop crying and be grateful. I pulled a move that you couldn't make for the past 4 years."

It has already been two days since that weird conversation and the explanation of Jake being friends with Spider-Man. It was so odd to you, but the most odd thing was when he told you by text, "I will send you the address where he's going to be."

And here you were, going into the alley for him to arrive. It was getting late, and you could feel your heart beating fast when you saw a few guys in there, cigars in their hands, their auras as bad as how they looked.

"Hey, sweetheart," one of them said, which you ignored completely.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you ignored the leering comments from the men in the alley. You clutched your camera bag tightly, feeling a surge of unease as you realized just how vulnerable you were in this dimly lit space.

Just as panic threatened to overtake you, a familiar sound cut through the tension—a whoosh of air followed by the distinct thud of impact. Before you could even process what was happening, Spider-Man descended from the shadows, landing gracefully in front of you with his trademark agility.

"Hey there, fellas," Spider-Man said, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. "I don't think the lady appreciates your company."

The men scoffed, eyeing Spider-Man with a mixture of defiance and uncertainty. "And who are you supposed to be, huh?" One of them sneered, taking a step forward. You started taking your camera out of your bag, setting it up for a good shot, and to make it take as many photos as you could as both men focused on the hero.

Spider-Man's demeanor shifted subtly, his stance becoming more assertive as he addressed the group. "Let's just say I'm the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and I'm not too keen on seeing people hassle innocent bystanders, especially this pretty girl," he replied, his tone firm.

The men hesitated, sizing up the masked vigilante before them. But before they could make another move, Spider-Man sprang into action, his movements a blur of speed and precision. With calculated strikes and well-timed dodges, he swiftly incapacitated the would-be troublemakers, leaving them groaning on the ground in defeat.

You watched in awe as Spider-Man effortlessly dispatched the thugs, a surge of gratitude welling up inside you. Once the immediate threat had been neutralized, Spider-Man turned to you, his masked eyes meeting yours with a sense of warmth and reassurance. You took your camera and looked at the pictures, so many good enough to be front page material.

"Are you okay there?" he asked, his concern evident even behind the mask.

You nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over you in his presence. "Yeah, I'm okay," you stammered, still trying to process the whirlwind of events that had just unfolded before you. You felt some drops of water falling on your face, looking up at the sky and wondering if more drops were falling. "Damn it, it's raining."

"Then let me take you out of here." without a warning, his hand wrapped around your waist, both of your bodies covering the camera. "Hold on tight lensgirl," you frown at the nicknmae. There's only one person that could call you like that, but you couldn't think much of it as you held dear life to him as he swang you around places.

You ended up on your apartment building—in your balcony, to be more exact—and the roof kept both of you off the water, you went inside for a moment to leave the camera in your bed and return. He was hanging from the ceiling as you watched him, forcing you to believe that everything that happened in the past ten minutes was not a dream.

"Don't you want to stand up? So you don't get dizzy."

"I like it this way. Don't worry. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am. Thank you."

"No problem, that's my job."

"Because you're a hero," the masked guy sighs in front of you. making you feel slighty sad for it.

"Some people don't think so." and it was true, all the fake rumors to paint him as a bad guy made you think about how much free time all this people have to just tear the life of someone who really wants to help.

"But you are, at least I think that."

"It's nice to have a fan as pretty as you."

"Let me say thank you."

"But you already did."

"I meant the trip, not you saving me." You approached him more, and the sound of the rain at the back made the scene more lovely. Then slowly took the mask, only showing his lips. You were surprised by the familiar shape, making your mind go wild. No wonder Ni-Ki and Jake got nervous; no wonder Jake was the only one that could help you with the hero; and there's no wonder why he called you "Lensgirl."

Jake was Spider-Man.

Leaving your thoughts behind, you place your lips on his. The kiss was electrifying, a rush of emotions coursing through both of you as your lips met in a tender embrace. Raindrops fell softly around you, adding to the surreal moment as you shared this intimate connection with the masked hero who had just swept you off your feet—literally.

As the kiss deepened, you felt a sense of clarity wash over you. Everything suddenly made sense—the mysterious conversations, the unspoken tension between you and Jake, even the strange nickname he had given you. It was all because he was Spider-Man, the hero you had admired from afar, and now he was the man whose lips were pressed against yours.

Time seemed to stand still as you lost yourself in the kiss, the world fading away until it was just the two of you tangled together on that rooftop balcony.

"Thank you, Jake," you whispered, your voice barely audible over the sound of the rain.

"Wait… how?"

"You let out "Lensgirl," and I've stared at your lips too much to actually know the shape," he finally dropped himself, taking off his mask completely, revealing his red cheeks and normal shy demeanor.

He actually searched your face for any sign of rejection. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said softly, his thumb brushing against your cheek. "But I wanted to tell you, not in this way; I've got to learn to also shut my mouth up. I… I care about you more than you'll ever know."

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you reached up to cup his face in your hands, the weight of everything finally sinking in. "I care about you too, Jake," you admitted, your voice trembling with emotion. "I just… I never imagined…"

Before you could finish your sentence, Jake leaned in to capture your lips in another kiss, sealing the unspoken words between you with a promise of something more. 

With a smile on your lips and love in your heart, you leaned into Jake's embrace, letting the warmth of his touch chase away the chill of the night as you watched the city skyline glitter in the rain.

"Please write a good news about me."

"Trust me, you'll sure have it, Spidey."

"I just realized that I've to thank Ri-Ki, damn it."

[girls--complex]

BOOK ov SHAME

Handbound book made of found materials, cardboard, craft paper, collage elements and such, including an amulet tied into the binding which contains 2 bones, a crystal, some stainless steel charms, a D ring, a button, etc...

This is a confession of my sins before God (SERIOUS REACTS ONLY!!!) made as an observance of my first saturn return (SATURNIAN REACTS ONLY!!!!!!!!!) and as homework for my special class!!!

I'm going to reproduce the text of the book below:.

HAVING FUN IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE

THE ONLY HOPE

with great chagrin I confess before the LORD my Maker that I have attained to the first complete revolution of Saturn since my bloody birth into this Realm laboring Harshly under the Misapprehension that Additional Karmic Merit would be imputed those who scrupulously avoided having ANY FUN

In the intensive care unit -The bullet's out. And the kid could make it. -But he's given up. He has no will to live. That's terrible!

Only to discover that in my field of study, (namely, the Making of little Pictures,) when FUN is absent in the process,

SUCK reveals itself in the product.

Sometimes the best medicine isn't medicine at all.

standing on the brink of divinity, a poignant combination of vulnerability and toughness. the tremendous potential of this revolution could be overshadowed by fear.

A BRIGHTER HALO electric and never-ending biomass morphing into a protuberance

the same is true of sex, btw

in light of this reproach i have no choice but to admit that my DERELICTION of FUN is a sin against BEAUTY...

I AM A MESSENGER FROM THE DAMNED!

THE FATHER OF LIES HAS NOT ONLY WEAPONIZED MY CONSCIENCE AGAINST THE RESPONSIBLE CULTIVATION OF A GOOD TIME BUT THE FOLLOWING UNWORTHY-OF-RUINING-THE-FUN DESIRES:

THE DESIRE FOR SOCIAL APPROVAL THE DESIRE FOR INTELLECTUAL SUPERIORITY THE DESIRE TO BE SUPERSPECIAL TO PERFECT THE CRAFT TO DO NO WRONG AND THE WILL TO AVOID PUNISHMENT!!

-I've got a new best friend. -But what about ME? Her heart is broken... by the very ones who love her.

I praise THE LORD CHRIST for having already BEGUN To demote these diminishing desires

Making Monsters HUNGRY, THIRSTY,FRANTIC Not exactly conscious of real identity: pure soul, merged with the body sometimes understanding

What is my medicine?

I HEAR BYE REPENT OF MY LAUGHABLE HUMORLESSNESS

-Hi! Can I go with you? -Check him out! That's cute. -You're wearing a great costume! -Thanks! -Back off, Stinky. This is holy ground!

DANGER

I SEE NOW THAT HAVING FUN IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE

THE FOOL! But it's your endless passion for discovery that leads you there.

[another-lost-mc]

i am kinda in the mood for some angst~_~

if you are comfortable can i request the side characters reacting to their s/o (mc) was in a middle of a panic attack in front of them and fainted suddenly ?

thank you!

When MC Faints/Has a Panic Attack Scenarios | DIAVOLO, BARBATOS, SIMEON and SOLOMON 3.3k words | SFW | gn!Reader | Hurt/Comfort | Angst Content Warnings: Mentions of physical injury/illness and unspecified trauma, protective and possessive thoughts/behaviour, use of pet names.

DIAVOLO

Diavolo doesn’t get as many opportunities as he would like to explore the human world. He mentions wanting to visit there more often, and of course, he wants you to go with him. When you jokingly offer to join him as his tour guide (and his friend, and his lover), he has to balance his reckless sense of adventure with the responsibilities of being a prince.

With some gentle persuasion from both of you, Barbatos agrees that it's acceptable for his young master to indulge in a well-earned vacation. Occasionally.

(There may be extra paperwork waiting for Diavolo on his desk when he returns, but he reminds himself that it’s worth it to spend more time with you.)

Diavolo’s enthusiasm knows no bounds. You show him brochures for the amusement park you’re taking him to - the largest in your home country - and he’s already made a list of all the rides he wants to go on and the special attractions he wants to see.

You’ve been there before, and you brace yourself for a long, busy day.

You arrive together when the park gates open, and it’s an endless circuit of ride after ride after even more rides. It’s a sunny, humid summer day and by noon you’re dripping sweat and trying to reapply sunscreen with shaky hands. The concession stands make a fortune from the overpriced bottled water Diavolo buys for you, but it seems like your throat is parched beyond relief.

Diavolo’s current interest is the park's inverted upside-down roller coaster. You've been on this ride in the past and enjoyed it, but for some reason you feel a sense of dread while you wait for your turn in line. The scorching heat blazing on the back of your neck and shoulders does you no favours.

When it's your turn at the front of the line, Diavolo helps you into your seat before he sits next to you. He dangles his legs and kicks his feet happily when the floor lowers away.

As your seats slowly stutter up the steel track towards the first big hill, your eyes start to blur and you try to blink the sensation away. The ride has you twisting and rolling through the air at incredible speeds, but it feels like you’re still falling in an infinite drop.

When the ride comes to an abrupt stop, Diavolo laughs and offers you his hand when you stumble out of your seat. You follow him as best you can, but the world seems to tilt. He smiles when he feels you lean against him. He’s about to ask if you want to get in line and ride the roller coaster again, but you don’t answer - he catches you when you start to fall.

The amusement dies on his lips and he scoops you into his arms. He carries you through the crowd until he ducks behind a concession stall out of view of potential onlookers. He looks around discreetly before using teleportation magic to take you back to the Devildom.

As soon as you materialize in the Demon Lord’s castle, he shouts for Barbatos and kneels with you on the ground so he can examine you. He doesn't understand what's wrong. Your eyes are open but they’re unfocused. You’re talking, sort of - it’s more like incoherent mumbling under your breath, but he thinks you’re trying to say his name. He brushes his lips across your forehead and cheeks and it suddenly occurs to him that you feel so warm.

He thinks about all the times you mentioned that you disliked the summer heat in your home country, that you would get dizzy in the sweltering humidity. You didn’t like being in the sun for too long and he teased you about how often you were reapplying your "sun block."

Diavolo feels like a failure for not being more considerate of your needs. He watches helplessly as a royal healer kneels down and begins casting restorative magic on your weakened form. Diavolo promises himself he’s not going to let something like this happen to you again - not if he can help it.

(He won’t know until later that you saw a humidex warning pop up on your phone the morning of your trip, but you didn't want to cancel for his sake.)

After Barbatos consults Solomon and verifies that you simply need to rest and to stay cool and hydrated, Diavolo carries you to his room. He lays you on the bed you share and curls against your side protectively. He murmurs apologizes over and over again into your shoulder while he squeezes your hand in his. 

BARBATOS

Barbatos worries about you when his responsibilities to Diavolo take him far away from you. 

Sometimes you accompany him on trips that allow you to explore parts of the realm beyond the bustling metropolis you're used to. He likes seeing your giddy excitement when he can show you something new, something you might not have seen if it wasn’t for him.

Other times, he’s forced to leave you behind. Some of the destinations are simply too unwelcoming for a human with your sensitive disposition. This particular excursion is related to royal matters and lacks the fun sightseeing opportunities he wants to share with you.

After nearly a week, he’s restless with the anticipation of seeing you again. He’s not sure whether to be irritated that he’s been gone from you for so long, or excited that soon he’ll be by your side once more.

Diavolo delights in teasing his friend and insists it’s a bit of both.

Barbatos won't argue with his young master when he begrudgingly agrees.

You’ve had plenty of work to fill your spare time since Barbatos’s departure. It’s exam season once again at RAD and you’re being held to even higher standards than before because of your status as a sorcerer. When you’re not studying for exams, you’ve been helping Lucifer with student council affairs, or accompanying Solomon on human world excursions related to the Sorcerer’s Society.

Barbatos feels the first inklings of concern when you send him messages in the middle of the night, long past your usual bedtime.

“I’m catching up on these study materials Satan gave me then I’ll go to bed, promise!”

You wake up each morning with a greeting from him; Barbatos wishes you a pleasant day and he reminds you to eat something. He doesn’t like your bad habit of skipping breakfast. Since he’s been gone, he suspects that you’ve started skipping or delaying your other meals, too.

“I grabbed a snack in the cafeteria before class, I had a meeting at lunch time.”

“There’s a witches dispute Solomon would like help resolving, I’ll eat dinner when I get back.”

Barbatos is tempted to send Lucifer and Solomon thinly-veiled threats that their impositions on your time shouldn’t affect your well-being to this degree.

When he asks you one evening if they're putting too much pressure on you, you insist that things will go back to normal once exams are finished and he returns with Diavolo. You promise that you're eating and sleeping enough and he doesn't have to worry.

He decides not to involve himself directly unless you ask him to, and of course you don't.

When Lucifer calls him unexpectedly on the second-last night of his trip, he realizes that he should’ve gotten involved after all.

Barbatos is standing quietly at his young master's side while Diavolo mingles with guests at a dinner party. When his D.D.D. starts buzzing, Barbatos is surprised when he sees Lucifer's name flash across the screen. He excuses himself and heads to an empty balcony so he can take the call privately. 

Lucifer skips all pleasantries and small talk when he answers. “Before I say anything else, I would like to emphasize that they’re fine—“

Barbatos’s breath hitches and the heart you insist he has, the one that beats for only for you, cracks in his chest. “Tell me what’s happened.”

Lucifer explains that you had some sort of fainting episode - he mentions stress and lack of sleep and something Solomon called low blood sugar, but Barbatos can barely concentrate on what he says over the dull roar in his ears.

Barbatos senses his young master behind him, and he hopes his expression is perfectly neutral when they exchange glances. Lucifer must’ve sent Diavolo a message about your condition as well because he looks at Barbatos worriedly; his young master is fond of you, too.

Before Barbatos can ask more questions about how you’re doing now, and what they’re doing to take care of you, and how Lucifer and Solomon would like to be punished when he returns, Diavolo motions for him to pass over his phone.

“Barbatos will be arriving shortly to evaluate the situation on my behalf,” his young master informs Lucifer before wishing him a goodnight and hanging up the call.

“But my Lord, the meeting with the dignitaries—“

Diavolo shakes his head and smiles at his oldest friend. “The meeting isn’t until tomorrow afternoon. It gives you plenty of time to visit and make sure they’re alright. Stay with them tonight and return in the morning if you’re satisfied their condition has improved.”

Barbatos knows it’s a blatant disregard of his duties to the young Prince to leave him so suddenly because of his personal matters.

He also knows it’s the height of unprofessionalism to leave his master’s side so abruptly.

Barbatos knows he’s a hypocrite, but he barely waits a moment longer before he teleports himself to the House of Lamentation to be with you.

SIMEON

Simeon loves sharing perfect moments of domestic bliss with you.

It doesn’t matter when or where - Purgatory Hall, the Angel’s Halo café, the human world apartment he secretly keeps just for the two of you - he wants nothing more than to nourish your body and soul with simple, cozy gestures that prove his love for you.

His responsibilities to the Celestial Realm, the petty orders from Michael that have him travelling all over the three realms, have kept him busy lately. He misses you desperately and he’s frustrated when he wants to see you but he can’t.

You’ve tried to teach him how to use this D.D.D. for times like this, so you could send each other pictures or make video calls when the longing becomes too unbearable.

(His own technological skills are still a work in progress but he cherishes whatever you send him.)

But one day he asks you how you are, and you mention very casually that you don’t feel well, and he has to remind himself not to panic.

Lucifer would have contacted him right away if it were something serious - right?

Simeon calls Lucifer afterwards to check on your condition (knowing about your habit of downplaying your problems not to worry him), but Lucifer assures him that everything is under control.

That's not good enough. Not for you. Simeon calls in some favours with his fellow angels and manages to secure a couple days’ off from his responsibilities so he can come see you.

Simeon couldn’t be more thrilled when he arrives at the House of Lamentation the next morning. He gets to care for you personally while Lucifer and his brothers are at RAD all day. Any time he spends with you is special, but alone time together is the most precious to him - it's a luxury he greedily indulges in, when he has the chance.

When he arrived, he brewed you a cup of herbal tea before you laid down together for some much-needed snuggling. You insisted he didn't need to go to all this trouble for you, but he winked and insisted that he wanted to spoil you.

Your stomach growls and it seems like a good time to think about making something to eat. When you rise from your bed on shaky legs, Simeon wraps an arm around your waist to support you. He thinks you look a little pale, but you tell him you’re fine. He heads to the kitchen to start making food for both of you while you slip into your ensuite bathroom to shower before lunch is ready.

Simeon is chopping vegetables when he hears the first dull thud. He sets down his knife and frowns, walking closer to the shared wall that separates your room and the kitchen. After a moment, there’s another thud that’s even louder. And then another, the loudest noise yet.

He rushes out of the kitchen and heads to your bedroom. He can hear the quiet hiss of the water running through the door that leads to your private bathroom, but you don’t answer when he calls your name. He tests the doorknob - you left it unlocked, thankfully - and he steps inside. He waves the steam away from his face and he calls your name again. You don’t say anything, but your pained groan is just as worrisome as silence.

When Simeon pulls back the shower curtain, you’re sitting at the bottom of the tub and slumped against the side. The bottles of toiletries you dropped - or knocked over - are scattered around you. He fumbles with the faucet to turn off the water spraying at your back, and he tilts your head up so he can look at you properly. Your eyes are glazed over and unfocused, but your hand - your poor, trembling hand - reaches up and tugs weakly at his sleeve.

“M’dizzy,” you whisper. Your voice wavers and the words slur together.

He rests his forehead against yours. “I’m here, my love,” he murmurs quietly to comfort you - and himself.

Simeon reaches for one of your towels hanging on the wall behind him, and he wraps it around your shoulders. He maneuvers you as gently as he can so he can lift you out of the tub and cradle you against his chest. He tries to dry you off while he rocks you in his hold, humming under his breath to soothe you. He pauses every so often so he can kiss your cheeks, your nose, your forehead.

You’re too tired to be embarrassed by the way he carries you back to your bed, helping you put on warm pajamas and tucking you into the blankets like you’re the most precious thing in the world to him.

(You are.)

After you rest, Simeon tells you that it was a low grade fever that probably caused your dizziness. The feeling gradually fades and as evening approaches, you don’t feel lightheaded anymore. He’s reluctant to leave your side, and he cares for all of your needs personally: providing you with cool water and warm herbal teas; making healing potions to help with your headache and sore throat; and cooking soft but nourishing foods to keep you full.

When Lucifer and his brothers return from RAD and insist on seeing you, Simeon sends them away from your room with hushed suggestions to leave you alone and be quiet. His words are polite, but the dangerous glint in his eye promises pain for those that might disturb you.

No one can take care of you better than he can.

SOLOMON

Shopping with Solomon in the human world is always a fun adventure. You’re at a mall in your hometown (your home-away-from-the-Devildom) and giggling at Solomon’s baffled expression. He examines a vending machine full of large, colourful cake slices and other desserts. You shake your head when he points to the rainbow-coloured cake slice he offers to buy for you. He takes a picture of the display and sends it to Luke before he reaches for your hand.

Your goal today is to buy a birthday present for Asmodeus. You have a small list of makeup and body care to buy for him, all made with scents or ingredients that are unique to the human world. You probably could’ve used Akuzon to import the items you want to buy - but where’s the fun in that?

Solomon offers to carry your shopping bags for you, and you link your arms together while you stroll lazily through the mall. Every time he spots something in a store window he thinks you'd like - a shirt that compliments your eyes or complexion, or a lovely piece of jewelry - he has the urge to spoil you. He glances at you with half-lidded eyes and tries his best to convince you that yes, you would like your lover to buy that for you as a gift. Your usual response is to roll your eyes at him while he grins.

(He's adding all those items to a mental list of gifts to buy you later.)

He stops outside a large boutique when he spots something in the window he wants to pick up for Asmo. You nod your head towards the bubble tea shop next door and tell him you’re going to grab a drink while he picks up his shopping. He promises to come find you when he’s done and he steps inside while you head towards the line-up nearby.

It can’t be more than a minute or two when Solomon feels you next to him while he’s browsing a rack of colourful blouses, looking for one in Asmo’s size.

“Did you miss me that much?” Solomon glances at you with a teasing smirk, but he frowns when he sees the expression on your face. 

You’re not looking at him. Your wide, frightened eyes are staring where you came from, the entranceway that leads back to the mall. Your hand on his shirt clenches into a fist, and you’re trembling.

Solomon drops the bags on his arms and reaches for you. When he pulls you against him, he can feel your shallow, panicky breaths when you pant into his chest.

“What’s wrong?” he asks you imploringly. He cups your cheeks and forces you to look at him. Tears are welling in your eyes and when you blink, they start to trickle down your face. “Darling, what’s wrong?”

You shake your head and he doesn’t know what to do to comfort you. You wrap your arms around him and squeeze like you’re afraid he’s going to disappear. He can barely make out your gasping whisper: “I need to get out of here.”

He rubs his hand up and down your back soothingly. He walks both of you back towards the change rooms where there’s more privacy, and when he’s sure no one is looking, he disappears both of you back to his home in the human world.

Even in the comfort of his front hallway, you're still shivering and your breathing is quick, panicky and uneven. He encourages you to match his deep breaths, and he reminds you that you’re safe and that he’s here for you. The erratic beat of your heart eventually calms down, and you look up from where you were hiding your face in his chest.

“There’s my darling love,” he whispers when he cups your cheek. Both of you have red, tear-stained eyes now. He brushes his lips against your forehead.

“I’m sorry I ruined our shopping trip,” you whisper hoarsely.

But Solomon shakes his head and hugs you again. “You didn’t ruin anything.” He waits a moment before he asks quietly, “Do you want to talk about it?”

You tense in his arms and shake your head ‘no.’

Solomon doesn’t mention what happened at the mall, and he spends the rest of the night holding you close and taking care of you. When he offers to go back the next day to repurchase the items you left behind, he knows better than to ask if you want to go with him. The very mention of that place causes fear to creep into your eyes, and it nearly breaks his heart.

It's several days later, after you both return to the Devildom, and he notices that you're still incredibly anxious about something. You glance around nervously in public, and sometimes you stare off into space with a slightly haunted look in your eyes.

Solomon’s not sure who or what you saw that day, but for the first time since he met you, he feels utterly powerless.

[grandstarlightwonderland]

A Comprehensive Guide to Special Steel Materials: EN Materials, HR Plates, GP Sheets, and More

Introduction

In the world of steel and metal fabrication, selecting the right materials is crucial for ensuring the strength, durability, and performance of structures and products. This article provides an in-depth look at various special steel materials, including EN materials (flats, plates, and rounds), HR plates, GP sheets, seamless round pipes, alloy steels, and GP/GI pipes. It also covers the benefits of online purchasing for these products, offering insights into the most efficient and cost-effective ways to acquire them. EN Materials

EN Flats, Plates, and Rounds are high-quality steel products manufactured to European Norms (EN) standards, ensuring superior performance and reliability in a wide range of applications. EN Flats: These are flat steel bars with consistent width and thickness, used in various applications such as structural supports, fabrication of brackets, and machine components. EN flats offer excellent mechanical properties, making them suitable for precision engineering and heavy-duty applications. EN Plates: Available in various thicknesses and sizes, EN plates are used in heavy-duty construction, manufacturing, and pressure vessels. Their adherence to European standards ensures high strength, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. EN Rounds: These are circular steel bars that provide robust structural support and are commonly used in engineering and construction. EN rounds are valued for their uniformity and strength, making them ideal for applications that require precise dimensions and high load-bearing capacity. HR Plates

HR (Hot Rolled) Plates are produced through hot rolling processes, where the steel is heated above its recrystallization temperature and then rolled into desired shapes. HR plates are known for their excellent strength and ductility, making them suitable for structural and construction applications. They are often used in building frameworks, bridges, and machinery due to their ability to withstand significant stresses and impacts. GP Sheets

GP (Galvanized Plain) Sheets are steel sheets coated with a layer of zinc to provide enhanced corrosion resistance. This coating protects the steel from rust and deterioration, making GP sheets ideal for use in roofing, cladding, and other outdoor applications. They are commonly used in residential and industrial construction due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. Seamless Round Pipes

Seamless Round Pipes are manufactured without welding or seams, making them ideal for high-pressure applications. The absence of seams ensures uniform strength and durability, which is essential for transporting fluids and gases in industries such as oil and gas, chemical processing, and construction. Seamless pipes are available in various sizes and specifications, offering flexibility and reliability for a wide range of applications. Alloy Steels - Round Rods

Alloy Steels - Round Rods are made from steel alloyed with elements such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum to enhance their mechanical properties. These rods offer superior strength, hardness, and resistance to wear and corrosion. They are commonly used in manufacturing high-performance components, machinery parts, and tools that require enhanced durability and reliability. GP/GI Pipes

GP (Galvanized Plain) and GI (Galvanized Iron) Pipes are used in a variety of applications, including construction and plumbing. They are available in different shapes and sizes: Square Pipes: Provide a uniform strength and are often used in structural applications where rigidity and stability are required. Rectangular Pipes: Offer versatility and are commonly used in frames, supports, and structural components. Round Pipes: Used in plumbing, construction, and various industrial applications for their ease of handling and adaptability.

Roofing Sheets

Roofing Sheets are essential components for building roofs, providing protection against the elements. They are available in various materials, including metal, plastic, and fiberglass. Metal roofing sheets, such as those made from galvanized steel, offer durability and longevity, making them suitable for both residential and commercial buildings. Their resistance to weather conditions and ease of installation make them a popular choice in modern construction. The Benefits of Online Purchasing

Purchasing special steel materials online offers several advantages, including: Convenience: Online platforms provide access to a wide range of steel products from the comfort of your home or office. You can easily compare prices, specifications, and brands. Competitive Pricing: Online suppliers often offer factory prices and discounts, helping you save on procurement costs. Comprehensive Product Information: Online retailers provide detailed product descriptions, including dimensions, weights, and quality certifications, ensuring you make informed decisions.

Fast Delivery: Many online suppliers offer quick delivery options, allowing you to receive your materials promptly and efficiently. Customer Support: Online platforms typically offer customer support to assist with queries, orders, and technical specifications. Conclusion Incorporating the right steel materials, whether EN flats, HR plates, GP sheets, seamless round pipes, alloy steels, or GP/GI pipes, is essential for the success of construction and manufacturing projects. Online purchasing provides a streamlined and efficient way to acquire these materials, offering convenience, competitive pricing, and access to detailed product information. By exploring online options, you can ensure that you obtain high-quality steel products that meet your project requirements while benefiting from cost savings and prompt delivery

[reasonsforhope]

"The search has intensified for alternative energy-saving technologies for heating and cooling that don’t run on fossil fuels.

Now, by mimicking a desert-dwelling chameleon, Chinese scientists have developed a cheap energy-efficient, cost-effective coating on houses.

They say the new material could keep buildings cool in the summer or warm in the winter without using additional energy.

“Many desert creatures have specialized adaptations to allow them to survive in harsh environments with large daily temperature shifts,” said Dr. Fuqiang Wang, author on the paper describing the invention and researcher at the Harbin Institute of Technology. “For example, the Namaqua chameleon of southwestern Africa alters its color to regulate its body temperature as conditions change.”

Pictured: A Namaqua Chameleon

...Many systems, such as cooling paints or colored steel tiles, are only designed to keep buildings either cool or warm, and can’t switch between modes.

Inspired by the Namaqua chameleon, Dr. Wang and his colleagues wanted to create a color-shifting coating that adapts as outside temperatures fluctuate...

When heated to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the surface began to change from dark to light grey. Once it reached 86F, the light-colored film reflected up to 93% of solar radiation.

“Even when heated above 175 degrees Fahrenheit for an entire day, the material showed no signs of damage,” reported Dr. Wang.

The team then tested it alongside three conventional coatings—regular white paint, a passive radiative cooling paint, and blue steel tiles in outdoor tests on doghouse-sized buildings throughout all four seasons...

In summer, the new coating was significantly cooler than the white paint and steel tiles, according to the findings published in the journal Nano Letters.

“During spring and fall, the new coating was the only system that could adapt to the widely fluctuating temperature changes, switching from heating to cooling throughout the day,” Dr. Wang added.

The researchers say that the color-changing system could save a “considerable” amount of energy for regions that experience multiple seasons, while still being inexpensive and easy to manufacture."

-via Good News Network, September 21, 2023

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst

One of the great unknowns about the 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst is exactly how many cars were built. Estimates put the total as low as 485, and as high as 502 cars. Regardless of what the figure actually is, the car itself is a pretty special piece of machinery.

The 300 Hurst is a giant of a car at 19′ in length. All of the Hursts rolled off the production line finished in Spinnaker White. The cars were then shipped to the Hurst factory in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where a substantial transformation was performed. The first change to be made was the removal of the standard Chrysler steel hood skin, which was replaced with a fiberglass unit. This featured a decorative hood scoop and the obligatory set of recessed hood locks. The deck lid was also removed, and once again, a fiberglass replacement, complete with a spoiler integrated with the rear quarter panels, was also installed. The White paintwork was complimented by the addition of Satin Tan highlights and contrasting pinstripes, and the wheels were adorned with the same Satin Tan color in the centers. This Hurst is a clean car, with a small area of rust visible in the lower section of the driver’s side front fender, and surface corrosion present on the car’s underside. The Spinnaker White paint appears to be in good condition, but there has been some deterioration of the Satin Tan paint on both the hood and the deck lid. The exterior trim and chrome all look good, while the tinted glass is close to perfect.

The 300 Hurst was a premium car at a premium price, so naturally, it required a premium interior. In this case, seat upholstery was available in a single type and color. Continuing the exterior theme, the color is Saddle Tan, and the material is leather. The plush front seats are not standard 300 items but have been pilfered from the Imperial parts bin. While the original intention was for a Hurst shifter to be part of the interior features, this is something that never eventuated. The interior of this Hurst is close to perfect, with a single discolored spot on the dash pad being the most obvious fault. The rest of it presents in virtually as-new condition, and as befits a luxury car, it is loaded with luxury touches. These include air conditioning, power windows, six-way power seats, cruise control, a remote trunk release, and I think that there also might be an 8-track player hanging under the dash.

The 300 Hurst was the biggest of the muscle cars, and as such, it needed a big motor to get it moving. In this case, it is the TNT 440 engine, pumping out 375hp. The Hurst also features a 727 TorqueFlite transmission, a 3.23 rear end, power steering, power brakes, heavy-duty rear springs and front torsion bars, and sway bars. The exhaust was a full dual system, ending in quad tips. This Hurst hasn’t seen a lot of recent use, and documentation confirms that between 1986 and 2019, it managed to accumulate a grand total of 20 miles! Since being removed from its climate-controlled storage, it has undergone a meticulous mechanical check and recommissioning, and it is now said to run and drive perfectly. The owner does suggest that while the tires look good, they are pretty olds, and replacing them might be a good idea. He also says that the Hurst may need mufflers fairly soon. The car does come with a fair collection of documentation, including the original Build Sheet and Window Sticker, a pristine Certi-Card, Owner’s Manual, as well as dealer paperwork and other assorted items.

While there has always been some question surrounding the build totals for the 1970 300 Hurst, one thing is certain, and that is that there are less than 300 cars in existence today. Pristine examples can fetch sums in excess of $30,000, and even a rough example in need of restoration can still sell for anywhere around $13,000. This one doesn’t need a major restoration, but it does require some cosmetic work. I’m not sure where bidding is eventually going to go with this one, but I would suspect that it will be somewhere around the low to mid $20,000 mark. Even at that price, it probably wouldn’t be a bad buy.

[dark-frosted-heart]

Roger Barel Main Route - Chapter 20

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this. I’m doing this for archiving purposes and you can probably find a better translation out there.

We left the dark, stale underground jail cell and ran through the passageway.

Roger: I’ve been putting my thoughts together on what you heard… So the Privy Council stole my formulation documents for the drug to remove curses among other things. For two reasons. One, to make it look like I betrayed Crown and cause internal discourse. Two, use my stolen formula to synthesize a drug that’d remove curses and take Crown’s abilities away. 

Kate: When you rethink about it, it’s obvious that to force Crown’s dissolution no matter what.

Roger: Yeah. Not only that, the Privy Council brought my research materials to Gracefield Royal Hospital.

Kate: Yes. Vogel’s Nica told me about it.

Nica was investigating Roger—no, probably everything related to Crown.

I still didn’t understand why he went through the trouble of sharing all the information he had with me.

Kate: I still don’t trust Vogel. But I don’t think he’s lying. That aside, if the Privy Council can get their hands on a drug to remove curses…

Roger: The chances of that happening are close to zero.

Kate: Huh? Why?

Roger: I never said the formula was complete.

(Ah, so that means…)

Kate: …Your materials are incomplete?

Roger: That’s what I said.

Despite knowing that his materials couldn’t be used, Roger frowned.

Roger: If they tried to synthesize it, the worst-case scenario is that it’s dangerous. It requires a special process. When the substances are mixed, there’s a high probability that it’ll produce a poison. To prevent that, the limit—

Kate: Roger, stop! It’ll end up being morning if you keep going!

Roger: What, this is where it gets interesting.

Roger didn’t find the interruption funny and pouted like a child.

It was such an unexpected expression that tickled my chest and made it difficult for me.

Roger: So, Crown can’t make a move since they’ve been demanded to cease activities.

Kate: Yes. That’s why it’s just Ale and me.

Roger: Setting me free was a smart move. Nice job, Kate. As expected from my partner.

He ruffled my hair and my heart skipped a beat.

(I feel like I can relax when he spoils me)

Kate: Roger, just up ahead! Going up the stairs will lead to the courtroom.

I steeled myself as we headed up the path that led to outside.

Once out, I looked for Ale—

Ale: …Kuuun

Kate: Ale!

Hearing his cry, I was about to run over to him when I saw him being held by the security guard so I quickly hid behind a pillar.

Kate: What do I do? Ale’s… It’s thanks to Ale that I was able to find your jail cell.

Roger: …I can’t see well without my glasses, but…Who’s that with Ale?

His lenses and frames were so badly damaged that he couldn’t use his glasses, so Roger squinted.

(I have to be Roger’s eyes now)

Kate: That’s a courthouse security guard. And I hate to say it, but there’s more security guards than before. It’s going to be hard to get out of here…

Roger: If they caught Ale then that means they know there’s an intruder. Well, it can’t be helped. However, you’re stronger now. We’ll find a way to get through this together. Isn’t that right, partner?

We’ll get back to everyone.

Right now I feel likeI can do anything.

We’ll absolutely get through this! +4 +4

Kate: We’ll absolutely get through this together!

Roger: Alright! I’m getting pumped… Now, let’s start strategizing.

And so we huddled behind the pillar to discuss— 

Roger: Let’s do it!

Kate: Yeah!

I ran over to Ale while Roger ran to the front entrance of the courthouse where the security guards were.

Roger’s appearance caused confusion among the security guards and I took the chance to point my gun at the security guard holding Ale.

Kate: If you don’t want to die, hand him over.

Security guard: Eek…

With my gun still pointed at his head, I took Ale in my other hand and then called out to Roger who was beating up all the security guards with his bare hands.

Kate: Roger, our mission’s complete!

Roger: Yeah, got it—Kate, look out!

(Huh?)

The moment after Roger punched his opponent in the jaw, boxing style, and ran over to me…

Security guard: Intruders won’t escape!

I looked up and saw a raised baton that was clearer than the moon.

(...It’s going to hit me)

I hugged Ale close as I curled up. However, the impact I prepared for didn’t hit me—

Liam: I can’t let you attack my cutie. Go to sleep.

Liam hit the security guard on the back of his neck and collapsed on the spot.

Kate: Liam!

Harrison: A~ah, there he goes showing off again.

Roger: What are you doing here?

Harrison: We’ll talk later. There’ll be nothing to smile about if we get caught by the police. Let’s run.

--

Back at Crown castle, we were brought to an audience chamber—

Victor: Good work, Kate. Welcome back, Roger.

We were greeted by a bunch of smiles.

Roger: Hey now, all the members are here?

Kate: William, and everyone else too. How, when they’re activities were suspended.

William: We have ceased all activities. Under Her Majesty’s watch, we’re supposed to be “on standby”.

Kate: “Supposed to”? Then is Her Majesty over there?

Victor: Her Majesty has returned to her private chambers. She said, “Clear him of his false charges. If you can’t do that, then Crown should be disbanded.”

(That means…)

To me, that sounded like words of encouragement from Her Majesty.

Jude: She’s actin’ like a spectator. She really is nuts.

Kate: False charges means…

William: Yes, she knew Roger was innocent.

Alfons: It would be unusual for Roger, who prioritizes research, to demand authority. If he demanded for Crown to disband, it would make it difficult for Roger to obtain his abundant research funding and information on Cursed Ones. They really got it backwards.

William: And because Roger’s research materials were incomplete, him handing over something unfinished is unthinkable.

(...What a relief. Everyone in Crown believed in Roger after all)

But among them, Lord Elbert kept his clear, doll-like eyes down— 

Elbert: …

Alfons: What’s the matter, El? You look like a little child throwing a tantrum.

Elbert: Roger. I heard you were taken away without even resisting. You thought…that Crown came to the conclusion that you betrayed us, didn't you?

Roger: Yeah. Everyone here knows that my curse is “betrayal”.

Elbert: The trust you've built with Crown isn’t something so trivial.

Roger: …O_O

(Lord Elbert…)

Roger: Even though I was looking for a way to remove curses?

Victor: We all knew that. I allowed you to join Crown despite being aware of your ambitions. Suppose you did perfect a drug to remove curses, putting Crown’s status in danger. Still—No one should have their freedom to pursue their ambitions be opposed by anyone.

Roger: …That’s Crown. You’ve got guts.

Jude: Can ya take this pretend tear-jerkin’ friendship elsewhere.

Jude interrupted the heartwarming scene without leaving an effect—This sort of scene was a regular occurrence with Crown.

Kate: Oh right. I have a question!

William: What is it, Kate?

Kate: Everyone who believed in Roger worked behind the scenes to clear him of his false accusations. But when I entered the audience chamber, there were guards at the door.

Ellis: Yep. After our activities were suspended, we were banned from leaving here.

Kate: …Then how did they get out the door without being noticed.

(Even though Liam can disappear, he can’t easily slip through, can he?)

Then, the hidden door in Roger’s room and the courtroom came to mind.

(Ah!)

Kate: Don’t tell me there’s a hidden door here too?!

Victor: You got it! Since Her Majesty’s in a position where her life’s always in danger, escape routes have been prepared everywhere.

Ellis: Sorry, Kate. I honestly wanted to let you know our moves.

(But, at the time…)

Kate: I was caught by Nica… And there were a lot of people connected to the Privy Council, so no one could get in touch with me. Thank you, Ellis.

Alfons: We were worried about you, but we also thought, Since Roger has been training you, you’ll be fine. Don’t think you were alone. 

(Not only did they trust Roger, but they trusted me too…)

Victor: Roger’s research materials were stolen by one of Crown castle’s maids who was threatened. They threatened to harm her family in the countryside if she didn’t obey their orders.

Kate: …They held her family hostage.

William: And then they brought the stolen research materials to Gracefield Royal Hospital. Kate, what you heard from Nica Schwartz is correct.

(So Nica wasn’t lying to me after all)

William: It seemed that some of the doctors at the Royal Hospital have a close relationship with the Privy Council. I investigated and found several illicit exchanges. Kate had been attacked by funeral directors—the group’s employers were the doctors working of the Royal Research Fellowship 

Kate: …

William: They provided large sums of money and illegal cannabis in exchange for fresh specimens.

Kate: How could they do something like that while working at a hospital…

Roger: I can understand why. They were probably committing crimes to fulfill their ambitions.

Harrison: That ambition being?

Roger: Advancing this country’s medicine.

That in itself was an awfully noble idea. However—

William: Meaning a good cause can sometimes be a motive for doing evil. The doctors were given a large sum of money by the Privy Council to synthesize drug to remove curses.

Roger: Since my research is incomplete, if they actually tried to, then…

William: Yes—they’ve committed a grave mistake.

An hour ago— 

The Privy Council office that Crown stepped into was eerily silent.

William: In the middle of research, a poison was released into the air, and the doctors present as well as the Lord of the Privy Council, who came to observe, were— Yes, the ones responsible for setting you up were poisoned. By the time Victor and I arrived, their nerves had been affected. They crawled on the floor, groaning like beasts.

The scene William painted made me gasp.

Kate: Where are the people who were poisoned?

William: In the palace jail. I only have some degree of knowledge in medicine, but it’s obvious that only you can make the antidote.

Victor: Roger. I—Crown will never forgive the people who trampled on your hard work, who trivialized human life, and have committed countless sins. Having them be killed in prison can be easily done.

The Victor I usually knew is not present.

The voice he addressed Roger with was cold, as if tempt him.

Victor: But how to condemn their evil—I will leave that to you, Roger.

Roger: Me?

Victor: Do you want to keep them alive by making an antidote and then condemn them? Or—leave them to die?

Roger: Asking about condemnation or condemnation is fitting for the man known as the grim reaper of the palace.

Roger looked down for a moment before raising his head.

Roger: Sometimes, death is salvation. That’s why I’m not going to let them run away by dying.

Victor: Meaning.

Roger: I’ll make an antidote. I’ll provide salvation, keep them alive, and then condemn them. For the sin against life—And I should thank them for these bruises too.

Roger’s way of condemning them was decided and the rest of Crown had their own reactions as they listened.

Ellis: Ah…Roger, where are your glasses?

Roger: They broke when a guy from the Privy Council hit me. Sorry Victor.

Victor: Ah, those glasses were specially made! I’ll fetch a new pair at once.

Liam: Roger sure does break his glasses a lot. This one’s the—

Roger: 101’st pair.

Kate: You’ve broken that many pairs already?!

Roger: Haha, I guess.

After laughing it off, Roger suddenly got serious and looked at me.

Roger: Kate, I need to talk to you.

--

After doing such a fantastic job, Ale filled his belly with his reward meal and was now fast asleep—

Roger had brought me to his lab.

Roger: I’m gonna start on the antidote tonight. I want you to be my assistant. But…

Roger hesitated for a moment before continuing.

Roger: Helping would mean saving sinners, which is no different from taking part in evil. It’s your choice if you wanna help or not.

He’s asking me at this stage.

I wondered…maybe this egoist worried over me more than I thought.

Kate: It’s too late to ask me now. We already attacked security guards together earlier. I’ve infiltrated buildings, assisted an unlicensed Roger… Oh, huh? It’s…really too late for me now, isn’t it?

I couldn’t help but smile wryly at my list of legal violations.

Roger: Pfft, hahahaha! I guess you’re right.

Kate: Hehe, and whose fault is that? Since it’s too late for me now, let me help.

I couldn’t leave Roger’s side anyway, no matter how hard I tried.

These moments of laughing together became an important part of my daily life.

(When I first became Fairytale Keeper, I wanted to go back to my old life so badly…)

(Now I want to be by Roger’s side for his ambitions. I don’t think I can go back to my old life anymore)

(I’ll be by Roger’s side as his lover—)

(...Hm? Lover?)

(—Ah!)

Kate: My status hasn’t been promoted to Roger’s lover yet!

The robin growth map started off with choregirl.

From there, the next steps were pet dog, assistant, partner, and finally lover.

Roger: Yeah, you’re right.

Kate: What do you mean ‘you’re right’! W-we pretty much fell in love with each other. So—

Roger: Then I’ll give you one final trial on the robin growth map. If you can clear it, you’ll be my lover.

Kate: …Huh? One final trial? Why? You…like me, don’t you?

Roger: I do, but that’s unrelated. I’m the type to train my dogs properly. I don’t spoil them just ‘cause we’re family.

(T-this man~~!)

Roger: What, don’t think you’ll clear the final trial? Even though you’re the woman I fell for?

Kate: I’ll do it! I’ll clear it splendidly and become your lover!

--

—While Roger and Kate were having this sort of conversation.

Elbert: …Al.

Alfons: What is it?

Elbert: Earlier, you said I looked like a child throwing a tantrum. But why did you have such a grim face while looking at Roger?

Alfons: My relationship with Roger ended long ago. I don’t have enough tolerance in me to smile at someone like that.

He smiled broadly, but…

Elbert: …Al?

Realizing that his smile didn’t have an effect on Elbert, Alfons openly frowned.

Alfons: …You can be so persistent sometimes. …

The eyes that stared off into space had a hint of sorrow.

Alfons: I wonder if that man’s revealed something important to Kate.

[ollimus-prime]

Hey :) , Loved your jazz hands and might i say that im absolutely obsessed with it. Could i request more? Maybe day in the life / slice of life of being held captive by jazz. Gosh we are just so helpless with him and jazz is special ops lmao. Is it wrong to say id be cool with it? -🐞

Jazz Hands Pt. 2

A/N, not important: Sorry if the characterization is off, I'm still learning. I'm only like, 90 comics in. Any criticism is welcome, constructive or not. This is supposed to be a gender neutral reader, so if I screwed up somewhere, please tell me.

-Ollie

CW: kidnapped, you're basically a pet idk

Words: 1513

Summary: You're stuck with Jazz for now.

Pt. 1

The room was empty. You look around, glancing between the lone slab of metal your kidnapper, ‘Jazz’, slept on and the door. He was gone, really and truly gone. The desk you were left on gave you just enough of a view of the room to be certain, letting you slip nervously off of the pile of rags you now slept on. Hope bloomed in your chest before you angrily stamped it down, not letting yourself get too excited. This was possibly your only chance of leaving this horrid place, and you were not going to let something as pitiful as hope get in your way. No, you needed to be logical about this.

You carefully made your way to the edge of the desk, trying to judge the distance to the floor. The long way down made you feel dizzy, a pit forming in your stomach. The chair was slightly pushed out and, while a worrying distance still far down, was much more inviting than the floor. You try to steele your nerves to jump, working up the courage to take the fall. Sure, it was maybe 8 feet down, but the worst that could happen is you break something. You wince, starting to lose your nerve at the thought.

With carefully curated confidence and determination, you back away from the edge before bolting forwards and throwing yourself towards the chair, trying to keep your body loose as you fall. The fall is short but sickening, your mind reeling as the images of you broken on a chair for the robot who took you to find flashing through your head.

The landing is painful, your legs giving way under you and knocking you to your knees. You let yourself starfish out onto the chair and take deep breaths. Rushing getting up seemed more of a bad idea than the jump itself was. You carefully roll your ankles in a small circle as you lay there, making sure nothing was broken or damaged. Pleased with the results and your resolve growing once more, you push yourself up to inspect the next jump you had to make.

You sigh at the similar height down to the floor, internally wincing at the hard metal you’d be jumping down onto. While the chair was made of a similar material, the floor itself seemed all that more threatening. You steady yourself, getting ready to throw yourself off the next ledge and bolt to freedom. You change your tactic, lowering yourself down and hanging yourself off the edge of the chair instead of jumping straight down. With the height between your feet and the floor now much lower, you let go.

The impact on your legs is much easier to deal with. You smile wide as you merely wobble this time, almost laughing in joy at the realization you were now on the ground. You make your way over to the door, inspecting the gap between the floor. The gap was small, much smaller than anything you could squeeze through. Ideas float through your head as you inspect the door, trying to come up with some way to get out and get away.

The door wasn’t willing to budge no matter how much you tried, and the keypad was much too far above you. Not like you knew the passkey for it anyways. You grit your teeth, kicking the door in frustration. Upon making impact with the door, a loud thud sounds. You freeze, looking at the door in confusion before you hear another one, then another. Panic wells up in you as you try to scramble away from the door as you realize what that sound was. Footsteps. 

Jazz was back.

The door slides open before you’re even close to somewhere you could hide, the surprised rev of his engine your only warning before you’re scooped into his hands. The speed at which he picks you up causes your head to spin. With no time at all, you’re eye-to-visor with him and he looks none too pleased.

“What’re you doing on the floor like that? I could’ve stepped on you!” He scolds, the vibrato of his voice washing over you. The deep sound still scared you. It surprised you how something so completely foreign and inhumane could sound so close to your own native tongue.

You bite down on your cheek in hopes to prevent yourself from retorting. The robot’s engine rumbles in frustration at your silence, his hands shifting so you’re settled in one while the other holds you still. Large fingers start to tousle your hair in the manner of a human to a mouse. 

“Why won’t you just talk to me?” The Porsche mutters in resignation, more to himself than to you. You try to bat away his fingers that seemed to yearn to squeeze the air out of you, the robot’s face contorting into a frown. You refused to engage with the robot in any positive way since you’ve been here, causing his insistence that you’re happy with him to come into question. It’s been nearly a month since he’s had you, and nearly a week since you had refused to even speak to him. It was the only way so far you could ‘fight back’. Especially since he and the others freak out if you skip even a single bite of food.

The ‘bot sighs after a while of you still refusing to respond, his hands cupping under you once more before depositing you onto his shoulder. The temptation to try and jump from his shoulder was quickly squashed with a quick glance down reminding you that you couldn’t make it unscathed. The height from the desk to the ground seemed like child's play now. You ease your way into the small space between where the car’s hood ended and the cables of his neck began, taking careful consideration to stand somewhere you weren’t going to lose a limb if he moved weirdly. The first couple steps made your stomach lurch and your hands cling desperately to the thick cables in hopes you wouldn’t be launched off the shoulder of the metal beast. It was a hated compromise, to cling to the monster that kidnapped you and made you a glorified pet or be dropped from thirty feet, but a necessary one.

The Porsche walks through the halls of the ship he brought you on, greeting the other robots he sees with an easy smile. You weren’t particularly sure where he was going, the ‘bots sure steps tussling you each time. You hated when he carried you like this, yet you weren’t willing to be held in his hands either.

It was a short walk to the room he wanted. The tables were occupied by other bots you didn’t care to find out the names of, garbled speech washing over you. You didn’t usually care to hear what they were saying, their conversations of ‘Decepticons’ and whatever war they spoke of going completely over your head. Nothing here made sense anyways.

The ‘bot under you walks over to the dispenser of their fuel(Energon, as he’d explained one) and draws a cube. The glowing pink liquid was mesmerizing. You were drawn to it in a way, the soft glow easier on your eyes than the harsh lights the rest of the ship had. He starts to drink from his cube-shaped glass while moving away from the dispenser to let others access it too. You stumble slightly as he moves, tensing back up against his neck in hopes to stay upright.

“Jazz,” One of the more robotic voices sounds. You scowl as you look towards the call, hiding further behind Jazz’s neck. The cop-bot stares at your movement as he regards the Porsche, his metal face scrunching up. “Ah. You brought your organic. Of course.”

Jazz’s engine revs slightly at the dig, his hand coming back up to cup around your form. You shrink away in an attempt to escape the new prison, but fail miserably as your space gets noticeably tighter. “Uh-huh. I don’t see the problem.”

“It’s an organic,” Prowl says with heavy judgment in his voice. Jazz sighs, his optic flashing at the tactician.

“They’re called humans, Prowl.”

“Sure,” He dismisses, ignoring the Porsche’s statement. He hands Jazz one of the large tablets the robots used. You zone out of the rest of their conversation, their heavy voices deep enough to go in one ear and out the other. You settle down against Jazz’s neck cables as his hand starts to rub at your head and back again. You kick at his fingers to no avail in an attempt to fight him off. The ‘bot pays no attention to your wants, instead shifting his hand so you can't fight back.

You slump back, bitter and miserable in your new state of life. Daydreams of hopping down heroically from the monster’s shoulder and running to freedom fill your head as you sulk. Maybe you could come up with a plan to finally get you out of here and back home.

Maybe.

[self-winding]

Finally started reading Guns, Germs and Steel which is a book that has been on my list forever. Ironically, the recent (though not the first) backlash against it is what prompted me to pick it up.

Some of the criticisms of it might be valid; possibly geography is over-emphasized as a causal factor in the unequal outcomes of various societies, possibly there are other factors that don't get enough attention. But there's a particular brand of moral criticism that goes something like this quote from this article (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/08/03/guns-germs-and-steel-reconsidered):

"This is a punchline about race and history that many white people want desperately to hear," she writes. "Those dying black kids at the end of the special -- we know, because We Are Not Racist, that they don’t deserve what they are getting. They are not inferior. In fact, there but for the grace of god…. And it poisonously whispers: mope about colonialism, slavery, capitalism, racism, and predatory neo-imperialism all you want, but these were/are nobody’s fault. This is a wicked cop-out."

One has only to read a few chapters of the book to know that it does not in any way attempt to gloss over the reality of violent conquest and its role in establishing Western dominance. There's no shortage of rat bastard white conquerors in these pages (though there are cameos of other, not-white conquerors behaving in similar ways). Nor does the book in any way attempt to deny the existence of colonialism or of ideologies designed to justify and reinforce material inequalities. What it does do is attempt to explain why Western societies were in a position to violently conquer other peoples, and the explanations have to do with the titular viruses and geography and a bunch of other factors that do in fact boil down to luck. That doesn't mean it was "nobody's fault." It was the fault of many people, in the sense that the people who did violent things still did those things. How you want to judge them for that is up to you, but most people, myself included, do regard violent conquest as a not-good thing that we should try to have less of in the future.

I'm left wondering...for people who say that this is a work of apologia for inequality, how exactly could the book have handled its subject matter in a way that would have satisfied them? By including a "this is bad behavior and we should condemn these people" footnote on every page that describes one society conquering another?

The basic objection here seems to be to the very fact that this is a science book and not a moral instruction manual about how to be anti-racist. Which I guess is not surprising. The power of explanation inherently tends to kind of take the piss out of morality and deflate its mystical-feeling notions of good and evil and moral duty, which is why science and morality (whether it be religious or secular) have butted heads throughout most of history.

[girlkisser13]

hephaestus cabin headcanons

children of hephaestus

• OIL, SOOT, and GREASE STAINS EVERYWHERE.

• the have the most intense games of hide-and-seek in bunker 9.

• a lot of them lose limbs, become disabled in some way, or are born that way, and they often use it as a reason to build themselves cool robot prostheses and other tools to help them get around.

• along with the athena cabin, they come up with weapons and armory specifically for disabled demigods.

• they build advanced prosthetics for campers who have lost limbs in battle.

• they’re warmer than most demigods, even if they don’t have fire powers.

• they always know when someone is in need of a weapon and they just create it without thinking about it. like they just know when someone needs a weapon before they ask for it.

• they're the only ones who can pick out stuff from hephaestus's junkyard without getting hurt.

• everything, the cabin, the forge, the bunker, is 100% handicap accessible.

• they worked with the athena and hecate cabins to upgrade bunker 9 to allow better lighting, safer rooms, new areas to test weapons, etc. they wanted it to feel like an underground space station.

• they name each of their tools and inventions.

• on birthdays, they give each other personalized gadgets that solve everyday problems, like a self-tying shoelace or a self-stirring spoon.

• they design and wear fireproof clothing.

• they actually have numerous secret hideouts and mini-workshops hidden around camp half-blood (bunker 9 is the only one we know about).

• they keep detailed journals filled with sketches, ideas, and notes about their inventions, passing them down through generations of hephaestus kids.

• they build small, mechanical pets or companions that help them with tasks around the forge, each one with a unique personality programmed in.

• they all have a set of personalized tools that they've crafted themselves, often with special engravings or modifications to suit their style.

• they have made so many modifications to their cabin over the years that none of the original material is still there, and there’s a constant debate at camp as to weather it’s still the same cabin.

cabin exterior

• the cabin has an industrial look, with a mix of metals like iron, copper, and steel. rivets, bolts, and exposed beams are prominent features.

• life-sized metal automatons, resembling ancient greek warriors and mythical creatures, stand guard at the entrance.

• they have created intricate metal sculptures that decorate the cabin’s exterior. these range from small, detailed pieces to larger, more abstract art.

• the entrance has large, reinforced double doors, that are automated.

• these doors swing open smoothly despite their weight.

• they have a pulley system for lifting heavy materials, a retractable awning for shade, and a mechanical clock tower that chimes periodically.

cabin interior

• the floor is covered in spare parts and tools that never get picked up (unless somebody wants to use them for something).

• they have underground bunkers for bedrooms.

• the walls are adorned with gears, cogs, and blueprints of various inventions. some of the gears are part of intricate mechanisms that move or serve as storage spaces.

• their cabin has several fire extinguishers and a state-of-the-art ventilation system to manage the smoke and fumes from the forges.

• emergency buttons are strategically placed around the cabin to shut down all machinery in case of accidents.

cabin traditions

• every month they hold a competition to see who can make a device that fits a certain theme.

• they’re judged by a panel of five consisting of the head counselors of hephaestus, athena, hecate, and a volunteer counselor, as well as chiron.

• each judge judges something different on a scale of 1-5: safety and usefulness, ease of use and functionality, utilization of magic, presentation/looks, and on-theme-ness. chiron calculates and delivers the final score, which is the total points given by the counselors.

• the winner receives a medal and bragging rights (until the next competition), as well as first pick when it comes to tools each morning.

• anyone in camp is allowed to participate (though it’s mostly just the hephaestus and athena kids) and contestants have a week to create their contraptions, during which they have access to all the tools and spare materials in the hephaestus workshop (and later bunker 9) that nobody has yet claimed (whether for the competition or not).

• the event is taken very seriously by everyone involved, and even athena and hephaestus have been known to show up from time to time to watch from the shadows, but they always watch from olympus.

divider by @anitalenia