#this con is known for their. organisational “skills”

[someone-always-cares]

chapter 5, page 65

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[image description: an sac webcomic page. lewis continues to scream, the borders of the comic page deteriorate as more tendrils emit from schmidts palm in the same pattern, now white in the form of the comic page's borders. the black edges turn pink when closer to her hand. lewis is overlayed by blue lineart similar to the last page, but this time instead of the same lineart but duplicated, its a rough sketch version with jagged lines and scribbled out hollow eyes and jagged maw. the bottom of the page is white where the panel-tendrils grow downwards, like cracks in the page. end id

i am. so stressed lately but still! gotta keep going at it.

anyway i was going to draw the lineart more scribbly like the one overlayed there but it felt like it might look lazy so i redrew it and used the old lineart as a fun voerlay.

also, got a convention this weekend in london so if you were planning on going to the london anime and gaming con, feel free to say hi! only on sat or sun though, the artist alley isn't open friday, a fact that *is not on the exhibitor signs ups or the activity page or literally anywhere on their website except for small text on their ticket sales section, to which you have to hover over a ? to find out. haha anyway

forgot to add

[id: lewis from this page but without the lineart overlay and a few or the lighting effects, so his face is much clearer. end id]

[ms-taurusvenus]

Saturn in Pisces Transit

What to expect and what may occur.

When spiritual leaders quit their platforms, don't be shocked. This could occur haphazardly or unexpectedly (appreciate them when you can or else).

Many people who are regarded as "spiritual" are abandoning their convictions. Most of these individuals employ spirituality and perceive its practitioners as part of a trend. This includes those who are spiritually inclined.

Saturn will teach and punish those who use spirituality to manifest other people, cast spells or other rituals to do something with another person's permission, or cast love spells without that person's permission.

Spiritual con artists and frauds, practitioners with dubious ethics, those who engage in shady business tactics, and those who have bad intents for both their clients and other people will come to light. As a result, people who are well-known, respectable, and skilled in their field will be questioned.

Tarot and astrology readers are being put to the test to see if they are truly cut out for the profession. Saturn will demonstrate that not everyone is suited for every task.

Water concerns are to be expected. Examples include the disappearance of sea life and agricultural products (1B crab), food sickness from seafood, a drop in fishing, the observation of events in the water, an increase in sea levels, severe storms, and other natural disasters caused by the water.

By the time everyone or the majority of people realise how damaged the earth is, it might be too late.

People will begin to ground themselves more, set boundaries, and have higher standards. You might expect a stern lesson from Saturn if you violate other people's limits.

Expect people to be establishing their boundaries on this for those in parasocial connections (particularly with celebrities).

There will be an increase in privacy. Many becoming a hermit and withdrawing from society. As Pluto moves into Aquarius, this will only get more intense. This may lead to an increase in people abandoning and deleting their social media accounts.

Additionally, there will be fewer large meetings and organisations.

There will be more lying as well. Governments and world leaders will also begin to hide and divert attention from the situation. Also possible is an increase in fake news and propaganda.

People who lack empathy will also experience some type of karma for their lack of empathy and other people's irresponsible behaviour.

Increased dental problems, foot swelling, sleep problems, mental health problems (perhaps more diagnoses), and past-due medical problems will all be on the rise.

[onepiecewantedposter]

Seras Victoria

Name: Seras Victoria

Japanese Name: セラス・ヴィクトリア

Romanized Name: Serasu Vikutoria

Epithet(s): Draculina, Police Girl

Codename: Ms. Police Girl

Race: Vampire

Occupations: Former Police Officer, Agent of the Hellsing Organisation

Family: Deceased (parents), Emotional Affiliation (Pip Bernadotte)

Affiliations: Hellsing Organisation, Alucard

Bounty Offered: 1,000,000,000 Berries

Capture: Dead or Alive

Age: 20 years old (apparent in 1999)

Birth Date: 1980

Height: 1.65 m (5' 5")

Blood Type: Unknown (due to vampiric nature)

Origin: New Zealand / England

Residence: Hellsing Mansion

Status: Active

Reasons for Capture:

Supernatural threat due to vampiric abilities.

Superhuman strength and regenerative ability.

Participation in the Hellsing Organization, confronting and eliminating supernatural entities.

Known for heroic actions and confrontations with hostile forces.

Exceptional intelligence and tactical skills.

Involvement in numerous high-risk battles and missions.

Nombre: Seras Victoria

Nombre japonés: セラス・ヴィクトリア

Nombre romanizado: Serasu Vikutoria

Epíteto(s): Draculina, Chica Policía

Nombre Clave: Ms. Police Girl

Raza: Vampiro

Ocupaciones: Ex-agente de policía, Agente de la Hellsing Organisation

Familia: Fallecidos (padres), Afiliación emocional (Pip Bernadotte)

Afiliaciones: Hellsing Organisation, Alucard

Recompensa Ofrecida: 1,000,000,000 Berries

Captura: Viva o muerta

Edad: 20 años (aparente en 1999)

Fecha de Nacimiento: 1980

Altura: 1.65 m (5' 5")

Grupo Sanguíneo: Desconocido (debido a su naturaleza vampírica)

Origen: Nueva Zelanda / Inglaterra

Residencia: Hellsing Mansion

Estado: Activa

Motivos de Captura:

Amenaza sobrenatural debido a habilidades vampíricas.

Fuerza sobrehumana y capacidad de regeneración.

Participación en la Hellsing Organisation, enfrentando y eliminando entidades sobrenaturales.

Conocida por sus acciones heroicas y enfrentamientos con fuerzas hostiles.

Inteligencia y destrezas tácticas excepcionales.

Involucramiento en numerosas batallas y misiones de alto riesgo.

[talenlee]

CoX: Cold Read

This is an explanatory writeup of one of my Original Characters (OCs). Nothing here is necessarily related to a meaningful fiction you should recognise and is shared because I think my OCs are cool and it’s cool to talk about OCs you make.

Just how many chances do you get at living your own life?

Cold Read went from a conman’s aid to a ward of the state to a Priori posterboy to a Longbow operative to finally, finally, an expatriate of Earth, all before he turned twenty-one. There’s a lot you miss when your life is a political football, and Read – ‘Reed’ on the birth certificate – hasn’t had a good take at it.

So now the lilting lying conman mutant is trying his hardest con yet: That he’s worth keeping around, and life is worth living. The mark? Himself.

Cold Read is a technically-a-hero from Paragon City, where he primarily works in environments where people have lived a long time. Known mostly as a ‘Dark’ character, his powers visibly present as trailing lines of black smoke around his fingers, his enemies and the world around him, a sort of suffusing fog. While there’s some degree of ‘combat’ ability to his powers, people who fight him usually describe it as a kind of exhaustion, of being worn down, confused and disoriented until they finally collapse, choking on the fog and black tentacles that follow him.

A just-under-average height man with red-brown hair, the Irish accent of someone born in Ireland, raised in the United States, and absolutely playing up his accent to get attention from people he considers rubes, Read specialises in looking like he’s harmless; where other heroes use a physical identity to set themselves apart, he explicitly tries to look like an ordinary civilian and even has infiltrated events as a hostage. It’s his ability to dupe people and play with perceptions – beyond his powers – that make him helpful to protecting people.

Cold Read has experience as a confidence trickster and stage magician. These skills play into how he approaches problems, knowing what things are and aren’t important to his opponents and also the best ways to play on people’s uncertainty.

His powers being so focused on people and how they feel is what makes him so comfortable operating in city environments. No matter how hard he blasts it, he can’t use his poisonous emotional effects to break windows or damage support beams, meaning that he doesn’t have the same kind of risks of collateral damage. As a teammate, he’s friendly and charming and more often than not, risks forgetting about you the second you’re not important to him. What makes this even more damning is that when he’s then called upon to be charming again, he can remember you – which means the forgetfulness is, itself, an act.

Oh and he may technically be a reformed child soldier working for a terrorist organisation, that point is uncertain.

Build

Read’s build is a little complicated to describe, because it’s a file from an earlier version of the game, found in a folder, along with some costumes. Normally, my builds integrate things like level 50 materials and the Incarnate system, and this is not a character who ever got to swim in those waters. What I can tell you about the build based on the information I have imported into the new readers is that he would have:

45% ranged defense

45% smashing and lethal defense

53% energy defense, which is 8 points of overkill

115% global recharge, which makes Hasten Permanent, which also makes Dark Servant permanent

Why I have this information though is notable, because I have the information that’s from records saved when I preserved his build because this build was capable of soloing a Pylon. For those unaware, this is like a world boss that’s designed for 32 people to kill together. They’re pretty unique as damage tests because they will absolutely kill a player in one or two hits very easily, which means surviving them is often a matter of never getting hit and recovering fully quickly.

Cold Read, a defender, solo’d pylons as a stress test.

I think that’s pretty cool.

History

Phew, well, this is an interesting but fairly deep personal cut, which is to say, Read owes his origin to the roleplay group known as Nation. And man, has a lot of stuff changed around that. The original conception of Nation was a high-concept supervillain group, which positioned itself as being above the hero-villain paradigm, modelled after the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Yes, I know Evil is right there in the name.

The idea, made by the players with the tools we had at the time, was that Nation was an idealistic group of mutants trying to create a unique living space, and then used the tools the game gave us to do our best to both make a faction that could care about and argue within themselves, but was also giving us a chance to use villainous archetypes (at the time, being region-locked), to play heroic characters and tell stories within the confines of Villain content as being morally good characters, while also considering the complexity of a group that probably was at least 50% bastards.

I wrote a lot of lore for Nation and part of what I wound up tabling was the idea of subfactions in the group; people who were doing international combat scenarios, intervening in other government spaces to ‘rescue’ Mutant children, that kinda thing. I also suggested that as a ‘legitimate’ faction, they would maintain a Hero side group, where the hook was that it was for grubby, dark and kinda villainous loser heroes who were more important for how they could be controlled as a public relation tool than any kind of support for the good they did in Paragon.

This was the canvas I had to work on, the space I was building in, when I made Cold Read. He had a good story that Americans love; he was Irish, so he had that accent, and he had a backstory about being ‘branded’ by Longbow to keep track of him with his superpowers. Now, I honestly think that’s pretty silly now — but there’s nothing that’s not got a bit of regret in this characters’ story, ruefully written. The core of what he is – a resentful hero-by-default who has a hard time building trust with strangers, and who treats heroism like a performative magic trick – I like a lot, but the way he got there is pretty rough and has a lot of hallmarks of some truly thoughtless nonsense I chose as a roleplayer. Even just now I’m already negotiating with the backstory — if they put a tattoo on Cold Read to track where he was, then that is a sign that he was probably already being incredibly recalcitrant to responding to things like regular court summons or tracks. It’s clearly a unique solution negotiated with an individual and Longbow wouldn’t do it because it’s terrible optics, so it’s probably done by one rich idiot with – oh yeah, probably Manticore.

Anyway.

Nation wound up going really sour, and I left it behind, pulling all my characters out but I liked the vibes and appearances. That meant that Cold Read hung around, saved in a folder somewhere, and when we got Homecoming, I had him again. Costume files, build files, and a tracker indicating how this build I’d afforded could do all this cool stuff, and a plan to one day try and solo the Imperius Task Force with him when he had incarnate stuff. That meant reflecting on him as a liar, a thief, a scoundrel and a manipulator, who spends his time pretending to be a hero, well enough that he can fool himself.

I like that.

I like that he has to con himself and I get to consider him more wholly, and as a better writer than when I was much younger.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

[trickstercaptain]

MASS EFFECT / SPACE PIRATE VERSE.

This verse is primarily tied to the Mass Effect universe, although I can generalise and tweak it for any other outer space based universes. Jack is a former Cerberus operative turned con artist and space pirate who operates in Terminus and primarily out of Omega. He's an experienced pilot and tech expert, having grown up as a scavenger on the planet Korlus, and is the closest to the infiltrator class in terms of his skillset ( he's good with firearms, but primarily sniper rifles, pistols and grenades ). While he would never join the crew of the Normandy as he's already a ship captain, he can be helped out and convinced to help out in return, even though he is sceptical of the Alliance and authority in general.

FULL BIO UNDER THE CUT.

Born 2150 in London, England. Aged seven when the First Contact War with the turians broke out and humanity first encountered sentient alien life for the first time. Teague joined up and served in the Alliance Navy purely for a means to explore the stars, but when the First Contact War broke out, it seemed clear that he'd be forced to fight in the show of force against the turians when they took Shanxi.

Teague and a group of fellow-minded rebel soldiers decided that, rather than involve themselves in an inter-galactic war with an alien race, they would defect and seek out greener pastures further away from Alliance-controlled colonies. Stealing an Alliance vessel, the group departed with their families from Earth in tow. News reached them halfway through the journey of the Citadel and Council's intervention to establish peace between humans and turians, but illness had also taken hold of several of the ship's passengers, Jack's mother included. She and several others passed away on the trip, sending Teague on a darker, more reckless path.

Turning to piracy, Teague and his crew had several successful raids of batarian colonies in Kite's Nest before finding themselves in the Terminus Systems. They then finally settled on the planet of Korlus in the Eagle Nebula, mixing with the krogan and other pirate colonies that were growing in size. Teague became instrumental in establishing law and order --- by criminal standards --- in their region of the planet, and Jack spent the rest of his childhood and adolescence caught between space-faring on Teague's ship and the salvaged starcraft and political machinations of what became colloquially known as the Brethren Court.

By the age of twenty, Jack was a skilled scavenger, able to rival any quarian in his ability to turn disused and salvaged parts into workable machinery, and had taught himself to pilot light spacecraft. He had also collected many 'useless' parts of abandoned spacecraft, such as datapads and other collectibles which, along with his omni-tool and the extranet, helped his informal education.

An unfortunate incident with a rival gang of pirates, led by a former friend, caused Jack to have to flee Korlus entirely for several years. With his skills not formally recognised by certification, Jack was unable to find work on any Alliance vessel, so he served on a few haulers in and out of Omega before his talents were identified by a Cerberus operative cell and he was referred directly to the Illusive Man for training to become an operative himself. Lacking any other financially viable options, and knowing he was vulnerable to retribution from both Korlus and the rival gang he'd left behind, Jack accepted the offer.

Jack developed his sharp-shooting and infiltration skills in this time and was granted more sophisticated equipment: light bending technology that gave him a tactical cloak, better armour and weapons (including his treasured M-6 Carnifex) and a frigate of his own.

He became an infiltrator for Cerberus, his directives primarily to intercept intel and artefacts ( many of Prothean origin ) to then be used and studied by scientists working for the organisation. Given his scavenger's upbringing, Jack was assumed to be a young man capable of being moulded to take on a prominent place within the organisation; they didn't account for Jack's strong-willed nature.

Becoming more and more suspicious to Cerberus' true, terrorist intentions, tensions between Jack and the organisation finally came to a head in 2175 over a classified incident. Jack stole the frigate he was given, christening it the Black Pearl, and headed back to Terminus space to take up piracy.

In terms of the ME timeline, Jack is most likely to be encountered during ME2 in Omega, where he can be helped to recover his ship from a rival pirate, and then again in ME3, where he can be linked to the Leviathan quest line:

Following Jack's time working for Cerberus and an assassination attempt by the Illusive Man to rid himself of a loose end, Jack is saved from near death by one of the last remaining Leviathans. This is not an act of mercy, however: unbeknownst to Jack, the experience makes him more susceptible to being enthralled by the Leviathans power of indoctrination, and ends up having no memory of the entire interaction ( how did he survive an attempt on his life by Cerberus? he lets the rumours fly, but in truth he has no idea and only remembers waking up on an unknown planet after a frighteningly huge fall from the spacecraft he'd been piloting ).

All those years later, following the start of Task Force Aurora by Admiral Hackett of the Alliance Navy, a group investigating the origins of the Reapers and links to the Leviathans, Jack unintentionally comes into contact with one of their many artefacts scattered around the Milky Way, and unconsciously becomes enthralled and tasked with finding the one in Dr Bryson's possession and stealing it.

Sneaking into the research lab, Jack takes the artefact and in doing so becomes embroiled in a conflict between the Alliance ( and potentially Shepard ), who need to annex the artefact's power and use it to locate the Leviathans, and Cerberus, who broker a deal with Jack to hand over the artefact and save his own skin.

If helped in ME2, the indoctrination can be broken and Jack can be convinced to turn the artefact back over to the Alliance, with his help also enlisted as a war asset.

[shash4057]

Best Business Analytics Courses in Hyderabad

The business environment is changing rather fast, and as a result, the need for professional business analysts is growing rapidly. Hyderabad, which is a fast-emerging hub for IT and business education, there are ample job openings for business analysts. This blog looks at Hyderabad's most popular business analytics courses and what they teach, the prospect of job offers after the course, and the guiding principle to note when choosing a course. 

Hyderabad: Why is it favoured for Business Analytics? 

Hyderabad is also known as Cyberabad and has become a hub for IT companies, start-ups as well as premier educational institutions. There is a strong industrial influence coupled with academic institutions therefore, the city is conducive for a business analytics course. Due to the increasing relevance of data analysis in organisations of all types, the employment of business analysts is continuously increasing.  

What business analysis concepts will be taught in Business Analyst Coaching in Hyderabad and which are the proven concepts? 

Some top business analytics courses in Hyderabad offer comprehensive information on data analysis, statistical procedures, and business intelligence tools. Here are some of the  core concepts covered:

Data Analysis and Visualization: Know techniques for handling large data sets and presenting results with the help of such applications as Tableau, Power BI, etc.  

Statistical Methods: Learn the basic probabilistic concepts and procedures like regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and ANOVA.  

Predictive Modelling: Learn how to create forecasting models using machine learning approaches.  

Data Mining: Discover best practices for filtering and analysing great volumes of information.  

Business Intelligence: Gain more knowledge and practical tips about how to analyse and display the information that will be useful at the strategic level.  

These courses usually involve group assignments, and by doing these projects, you can implement these concepts practically, closing the theory-practice gap. 

Analysing what are the Top Benefits Career Attached to the Top Institute for Business  Analyst Course in Hyderabad? 

Pursuing the best business analytics courses in Hyderabad can give wings to various job prospects. Here are some of the key benefits:

High Demand: Since business organisations have turned into data driven organisations, the need for business analysts is more than ever. 

Competitive Salaries: Similar to other professions that fall under the field of business, business analysts may be able to negotiate fair pay rates for their services and other related employment benefits. Being a business analyst may also allow one to move up the career ladder quickly.  

Diverse Opportunities: Business analyst professions are required in almost any area, ranging from finance to healthcare, technology, and selling.  

Skill Enhancement: Acquire skills considered modern in the job market, thus making job seekers attractive for having acquired those skills.  

Professional Networking: Event is where you can meet people from the same field, discuss with them, learn from them, and even get some advice or a good opportunity.   

Is Upskilling through a Business Analytics Course in Hyderabad Good Enough for the Career?  

Absolutely! Upskilling with a business analytics course in Hyderabad is a strategic move for  several reasons:

 Stay Relevant: In the business world, it is always changing, and this is a reason why upskilling puts you in a better position.  

 Career Advancement: Improve and equip oneself to obtain a new position in the career or change the course of the work within an organisation.  

 Increased Employability: If you hold specific skills in business analytics it gives employers the edge which attracts them to you.  

 Personal Growth: Gaining new knowledge is a very inspiring process that results in increased self-confidence and private satisfaction.  

People Considering Which Course to Take Should Ask the Following Questions to Deliberate on the Best Business Analyst Course in Hyderabad.  

Choosing the right course is very important in the path one will take in life. Here are some factors to consider:

Curriculum: Check that all important aspects are discussed in the course and that there are projects that you will complete.  

Faculty: Search for classes that are led by instructors who are actual workers in the field.  

Accreditation: Select a course from an institute that is recognized and accredited.  

Placement Support: Choose programs with good placement facilities and career services.  

Flexibility: The format and the schedule of the course should also be taken into account,  particularly if the learners are employed. 

In Hyderabad city you are prompted to watch out for top-tier careers related to business analytics up to 2024.  

In the area of business analysis, Hyderabad poses a good market for employment for business analysts. Below is a list of prime career opportunities for the year 2024:  

Data Analyst: The concentration should be placed on the ways the information gathered can be analysed and comprehended to assist the companies in decision making.  

Business Intelligence Analyst: The ability to analyse data, make insights and generate that should help in business growth.  

Data Scientist: Use probability and machine methods to analyse data and implement the results for future estimations.  

Financial Analyst: Apply business analytics about such aspects concerning financial data as, for instance, investing.  

Market Research Analyst: Forecast the market to estimate the probable sales of a product or a service.  

Build Front-age Skills with More than 30 Real-World

Business Analyst Projects in the Top  Business Analyst Course in Hyderabad  

Another aspect worth noting about selecting Hyderabad's best business analytics classes is the focus on practice. Engaging in over 30 practical projects allows you to:

Apply Theoretical Knowledge: Apply to the reality of all that has been lectured above.   

Build a Portfolio: Use the portfolios to sell your projects to employers.   

Gain Practical Experience: Build the problem-solving ability and acquire knowledge on issues to solve.  

Collaborate: Organise group projects to create an environment of professional relationships between the students.  

Details regarding Seven Competitors with a Business Analyst Course in Hyderabad:-  

Here are seven leading institutes in Hyderabad offering top-notch business analytics  courses: 

1-  Learnbay: Offers curriculum and common thread and has vast projects involving real-life  practices.  

2- Jigsaw Academy: Provides a combination of online classes with limited contact with the  students and satisfactory placement assistance.  

3- Institute of Management Technology (IMT): Offers industry-oriented programs with hands-on  experience.  

4- Great Learning: Stresses practical and business-related initiatives and projects.   

5- Simplilearn: This university is well known for its flexible provisions of classes as well as  certification.  

6- UpGrad: Currently it provides courses with its strategic partners in universities and industries  around the world.  

7- Indian School of Business (ISB): Well recognized for many courses offered and well experienced teaching staff.  

Closing Remarks  

Picking the appropriate business analytics course in Hyderabad can prove beneficial for you. When Acquiring skills in data analysis, modelling and business intelligence, one is in a good start to making oneself a vital cog in today’s business economy. These courses provide the necessary skills and knowledge for promotion within the current field and the transition to a new profession.  

Also, for aspirants focusing on data science, it would be beneficial to know that most of the business analytics courses in Hyderabad include key elements of data science course in Hyderabad and expand your access to job opportunities.  

Choose the best business analytics course in Hyderabad today and open up a huge opportunity in the constantly growing field of business analytics.

[medserg0929]

Why Choose Medserg for the Best Kidney Transplant Treatment in India: A Guide for International Patients

Kidney transplant surgery is a critical medical procedure that requires precision, expertise, and access to top-notch healthcare facilities. For international patients seeking the best medical treatment in India, Medserg emerges as a distinguished choice. Renowned for its commitment to excellence in healthcare, affordability, and collaboration with leading hospitals, here’s why Medserg should be your preferred destination for kidney transplant treatment:

1. Best Medical Treatment in India

Medserg partners with some of the finest hospitals in India known for their excellence in nephrology and kidney transplant procedures. These hospitals are equipped with advanced technology and staffed by highly skilled medical professionals who specialise in kidney care. Whether you require a living donor transplant, deceased donor transplant, or specialised post-operative care, Medserg ensures access to comprehensive and world-class treatment options.

2. Affordable Kidney Transplant Treatment in India

Cost-effectiveness is a significant advantage of choosing Medserg for kidney transplant treatment. India is globally recognized for offering medical services at a fraction of the cost compared to many Western countries, without compromising on quality. Medserg facilitates transparent pricing and ensures that international patients receive high-quality care at competitive rates, making it a financially feasible option for kidney transplant surgery.

3. Best Hospitals in India

Medserg collaborates with accredited hospitals that rank among the best in India for kidney transplant procedures. These hospitals adhere to international standards of patient care, infection control, and surgical protocols. They boast state-of-the-art infrastructure, including dedicated transplant units, advanced diagnostic facilities, and specialized intensive care units (ICUs), ensuring optimal outcomes for patients undergoing kidney transplant surgery.

4. Expertise in Nephrology

Nephrology and kidney transplantation demand specialised expertise. Medserg connects international patients with leading nephrologists and transplant surgeons who have extensive experience in managing kidney diseases and performing successful transplant surgeries. From pre-transplant evaluations to long-term post-operative care, Medserg ensures that patients receive personalised treatment plans tailored to their unique medical needs.

5. Patient-Centric Approach

At Medserg, patient care is paramount. The organisation prioritises a compassionate and supportive approach, recognizing the challenges and emotions associated with undergoing a kidney transplant in a foreign country. Medserg’s dedicated team coordinates every aspect of the patient’s journey, from initial consultations and medical evaluations to travel arrangements, accommodation, and follow-up care, ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience for international patients and their families.

6. Cultural Sensitivity and Hospitality

Medserg understands the importance of cultural sensitivity and provides personalized assistance to international patients throughout their stay in India. Language interpretation services, cultural guidance, and local support facilitate a smooth transition and enhance patient comfort. Medserg ensures that international patients feel welcomed and supported, alleviating any concerns about undergoing medical treatment abroad.

7. Safety and Quality Assurance

Medserg prioritizes patient safety and follows stringent quality assurance protocols. Hospitals partnered with Medserg maintain high standards of hygiene, infection control, and patient safety measures, minimizing the risk of complications and ensuring a safe environment for kidney transplant surgeons in India. Comprehensive medical support and 24/7 emergency care further enhance patient confidence and reassurance during their medical journey with Medserg.

Conclusion

Choosing Medserg for kidney transplant treatment in India offers international patients access to superior healthcare facilities, renowned medical expertise, and cost-effective treatment options. With a commitment to excellence, affordability, and patient-centric care, Medserg ensures that every patient receives personalized attention and the highest quality of medical treatment. Embark on your journey to kidney health with confidence and trust in Medserg’s comprehensive and compassionate approach to medical care in India.

[designacademy]

The Pros And Cons Of AutoCAD (2D & 3D) Institute In Delhi

AutoCAD is a powerful software that is widely recognised and used in various industries such as architecture, engineering, and construction. It allows designers to create precise and detailed 2D and 3D designs, making it an essential tool for professionals in these fields. One of the key advantages of AutoCAD is its user-friendly interface. The software is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced designers. This ease of use allows designers to quickly learn and master the software, saving time and increasing productivity.

AutoCAD also offers a wide range of features that enhance the design process. These features include tools for creating and editing geometric shapes, adding dimensions and annotations, and generating accurate measurements. The software also supports the use of layers, allowing designers to organise and manage complex designs more efficiently. And if you’re looking for an autocad institute, then DA Delhi Design Academy is one of the best answers if you’re stuck in the search bar typing the best interior design institute near me. It is highlighted and chosen by many students as they provide impeccable practical and theoretical knowledge all over.

Let’s Have A Look On Merits And Demerits

AutoCAD (2D & 3D) has become an essential software tool in many professions. This software allows professionals to create detailed and accurate technical drawings, creating a good demand to learn this software. This has led to good programs offered by an AutoCAD institute in Delhi.

When looking for an AutoCAD institute in Delhi, it is important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of different institutes. Here is an overview:

Pros:

Practical, hands-on training:

Many good institutes like DA Delhi Design Academy offer extensive opportunities to work on real-world AutoCAD projects. This practical training prepares students with skills directly applicable to professional work.

Certified trainers:

Reputed AutoCAD institutes often have certified trainers with years of industry experience training students. This ensures quality education.

Modern labs:

AutoCAD needs powerful computer systems and software licences to function properly. Good institutes invest in such infrastructure.

Job assistance:

The best AutoCAD institutes provide job assistance and have recruiter tie-ups due to good industry reputation and placement records.

Cons:

Substandard institutes:

Many substandard institutes have emerged to capitalise on AutoCAD’s popularity. Lack of regulation has led some institutes to compromise on quality and facilities. Extensive research is needed before joining an institute.

Can Be An Expensive Training Program: While the high costs of quality institutes can be prohibitive for some students, the skills gained make it worthwhile. But again, care should be taken regarding the deliverables promised. An institute like DA Delhi Design Academy is one such institute that brackets into the feasible mark category.

Course content:

Some institutes focus more on theory rather than practical training. Students should review course structure and content before enrolling.

While there are some cons to watch out for, joining a good quality AutoCAD (2D & 3D) institute like DA Delhi Design Academy ultimately opens up a range of job opportunities for students. Careful evaluation of different institutes can help find one that provides the right practical training, certified trainers and job assistance.

Epilogue To This Search

The introduction of CAD has revolutionised the field of interior design education. These tools have become essential in the design process, allowing designers to create realistic and detailed visualisations of their ideas. Prominent institutions in Delhi, known for their forward-thinking approach, have recognised the importance of these tools and have started incorporating them into their design programs. By embracing CAD, these institutions are providing their students with a competitive edge in the industry. Students are now able to develop their design skills using cutting-edge technology, allowing them to create more accurate and visually appealing designs. And now that the pros and cons of an autocad institute have been stated above, it is not surprising and reluctant that it is a great move to step ahead with.

Institutions like DA Delhi Design Academy are taking this transformation a step further by offering specialised courses in essential design software such as AutoCAD, Coreldraw and also known as outshining Google SketchUp institute. These courses provide students with in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in using these tools, making them proficient in the latest design software. This specialised training gives students an advantage when entering the job market, as employers increasingly seek candidates with proficiency in CAD and 3D modelling.

Source URL : https://dadelhi.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-autocad-2d-3d-institute-in-delhi

[nothingtherefornow]

"Marinette herself deserves a better villain than just her bully having bigger bully powers now with no interesting story, motivation or dynamics behind it."

This is a great summerize of why Lila being the next big bad of Miraculous could be a total failure story wise telling.

On one hand, Lila/Cerise can indeed become so much more dangerous and monstruous than Gabriel in the sense that she has no morals and that she is better than him at manipulating people and creating situations in her advantages, and the fact that she could hide her tracks better than he ever could with all her fakes identities.

On the other if Lila's villainous role is limited to her obsession in ruining Marinette's life, we'll get bored with her quickly., we won't even be able to appreciate her as a main antagonist like we did for Gabriel despite all aknowledging how abusive and monstruous he was. Because while Gabriel became more and more obsessed about destroying Ladybug and Marinette the more they were stopping him to get what he wanted, he still held onto his own ambitions to brink back his wife and use Kagami and Adrien as an icon couple to kinda rule on the world. But Lila ? What else does she has other than her jealousy and hatred toward Maribug and the need to be the center of everyone attention and admiration ?

A petty hatred against a protagonist is a better fit a secondary villain, like it was the case with Chloé. Somoene like Tomoe Tsurugi sounds like a more credible main villain/antagonist next to this.

The only very interresting thing about Chrysallis would then be the guenuine threat that she poses to the heroes of Paris. Every one of Marinette's circle probably think that Lila left them alone for good after confrontation, yet she can so easilly come back with a fake indentity and strike them when they expect it the less. No one would see her coming, and no one among Marinette's circle beside maybe Nathalie and Alix with her time travel powers could even supsect that the "Lila Rossi" that they know was the one to steal the butterfly miraculous (doesn't help that Lila did it while wearing a very convincing disguise).

"The logo on her laptop seems to point her out as a member of some dark web, or maybe even some sort of secret agent but she appears to work alone and solely for herself."

One more scary thing about Lila, on top of her numerous skills in lying, manipulating, observing, deducing, learning, charming, falsifying, disguising and infiltrating, she also seems to have hacker skills. And I fear the heavy damages she could do with those talents. And even though Cerise's lair is little and located in Paris, she has a lot she has a lot of material in this landmark, including everything that allows her to maintain false identities, with documents, wigs, disguises, and computer equipment, in short, the real landmark of a master scammer or con artist reinforcing the theory how Lila would be older than you think because it would have taken time to develop such a benchmark and such resources without her ever being discovered

By the way, such a thing couldn't be done in real life because there's people working to ensure that the underground quarries of the catacombs of Paris are well preserved and secured, and that people are not lost or installed in these underground quarries.

All of this seems to indicate that Lila/Cerise has access to more resources than we think, and that her funds most proably come from one of her wealthy unknown fake family. And while we could speculate or theorize that Lila is part of some obscure and mysterious group or organisation who provides her with all those means, I think that someone sufficiently psychotic, determined, and having known how to seize the right opportunities, is able to build such a mini benchmark of a super villain.

Lila being a self-sufficient villain would be very interresting, unlike Gabriel who had to rely on Tsurugi's technologies a lot.

"All in all, who Lila / Cerise / Whatever-Her-Name-Is is a mystery. She twists the perception of the truth. Is she even a teenager or a more ancient being?"

It's not hard to imagine that Lila/Cerise/Iris may be older that she pretend to be and prefers to pass herself as a teenager in order to better fool people and appeal to their sympathy since a teenager girl would seem more fragile and harmless to them. But because Miraculous is a family show and pulling an Orphan/Esther out of Lila sound too much +16 or +18 to me. So if she is indeed more aged than we think, I would say that's she 3 years older than Adrien maximum.

Or maybe the teenagers in the Miraculous world are fucking geniuses à la Phineas and Ferb for those who know the show (seriously those kids always have access to the material they want for their manufacture and inventions, and sometimes the Miraculous characters do this too)

"She lies in order to manipulate people and get what she wants. And if there are people who resists, she considers them to be an sobstacle to be deal with. And she adapts."

I once heard somoene mentionning that this is exactly how a sociopath they once met behaved, and that this person was also playing with different false identities because this was their definition of "fun".

That's the terrifying thing about Lila, she doesn't have to need a reason to become a villain, she can just be the kind of crazy or monstruous person who really enjoys harming others and who covets attention and admiration from everyone. And if being a supervillain is only a mean to an end for her.

This is exactly the type of villain that I started to see in some manhwas, the ones who want to be on top of everything, to be the most powerfull and admired woman among all , and they always hate the heroin of the story not just because they are is in their way, but amostly because those heroin are scapegoat and sufferer for those monstruous women (I'm not calling them villainess because this is an insult to my favorite villainesses T_T), one that they just enjoy to hurt and see suffer for nothing more than their own ego and sick entertainment. Chloé didn't need a reason to torment Marinette for years after all, yet she did with a lot of pleasure and Marinette only started to become a nuisance and a rival for her a lot later.

Example from the manhwa "Sister I'm the Queen in this life" : The older half-Sister of the heroin, spoiled and entitled, aiming to become the most highly exalted lady by means necessary,which mak includes making her sister miserable and killing her. She didn't even shed a tear when a younger sister of her died in front of her eyes.

I can easilly imagine Lila/Cerise be that kind of woman

Another example from the manhwa "The world without my sister who everyone loved" : The adoptive sister of the heroin , she pretended to cherish the heroin but in fact only took asvantage of her to get everything that she wants and came to hate the heroin and wish her dead for no reason but the fact that the heroin was born more powerfull than her. “I hate you enough to want to kill you, Sienna.” she even said to the heroin

I bet that even if Maribug had left Lila alone, the future butterfly villain would still have come to hate Marinette for the simple fact that she's the one Adrien fell for, and that Marinette doesn't need to lie to be popular in her class and school.

And one last example From the manhwa "Angelic Lady" : she believes that in order to rise in aristocratic society, she must drag someone else from there down, but even after accomplishing this, she went so far as to cause the heroine and her father to be sentenced to death despite the fact that they guenuinly welcomed her into their family.

Yeah I know I picked that last one in French because I am a french one ^^'. Traduction : heroin : "Was it necessary to do all that harm to us ? You would still have become the crown princess" - The psycho villain : "I know, but this wasn't enough for me. I wanted you to be miserable, because I hate you from the start"

Probably the worst out of the three examples I've mentionned (SPOILERS WARNINGS for Angelic Lady Manhwa readers) she literally assassinated the heroin's mother with poison when they were both little girls, and later went on her way to befriend the main character and even made her more helpfull and submissive to her with some magic potion, while ruining the heroin's reputation and relationships with her lies and manipulations.The worst is that she could have got the higher statut she wanted among the aristocraty without hurting anyone, but she went as far as ruining the heroin's life and make her and her father being sentenced to death on false accusations. And her motivations ? She hates that the heroin and her family were of higher social statut than her and deluded herself into thinking that the heroin was kind to her on their first meeting out of pity.

Basically those three example of psycho women characters above are like Lila but ten times worse, to the point that the heroins of those manhwas got killed but traveled back in time (thanks to some powerfull magic involved during the moment of their death or after) in order to finally stand against their tormentors and foil their plans (or just to try and live a better life free of torment for the second example).

They always managed to manipulate the people surrounding the main character of each story with false claims and rumors to turn everyone against the heroin and ruin her reputation. And for two of my examples, they even pretended to be the main character's friend in order to better take advantage of their kindness and isolate them while secretly planning their downfall without any remorse and consideration for the fact that the heroin liked them and was helpull to them.

Which is why I'm scared that Cerise/Lila may use the same tactics with Marinette as Iris Verdi in the next season.

But the thing about those type of psycho villainess that I just mentionned ? I grew bored of them after they lost too many times to the protagonist after they travelled back in time (which understandably gives a good advantage to the heroin, if Marinette were to travel back to the beginning of season 1 she sure would manage to take care of Lila's lies and manipulations more easilly) The only thing that Cerise/Lila have more than those exemples is her stock of false indentities that she can use efficiently to escape consequences and strike back again if one is ever compromised.

That's why I'm afraid that in order to make Lila a powerfull Villain more threatening to our heroes than Garbage Agreste ever was, in order to make her an antagonist that we won't grow tired with too quickly despite her shallow and petty motivations, the show is gonna make her win more than one round against Marinette.

I'm still confused about Lila. What IS her motivation at all now as Butterfly?

Yeah, she hates Marinette and Ladybug but WHY? What's the goal here? If she's after Marinette then there needs to be a reason for that besides meaningless pettiness. Marinette herself deserves a better villain than just her bully having bigger bully powers now with no interesting story, motivation or dynamics behind it.

Marinette already had nothing to do with the Agreste Story itself and her side of the story was mostly just dealing with the monsters of the week. She never even had much of a dynamic with Hawkmoth or Mayura either besides hero vs villain.

I hoped that they would do better with Lila but that requires more motivation for Lila than fucking with Marinette cause Muhahahaha. If there is no point of view for the villain one can at least follow to understand from their perspective why they think they are justified then half the narrative gets lost and the hero vs villain thing gets boring real fast.

Lila's true motivations are currently unknown. What is her deal with living different lives? What is her purpose joining different schools or pretending to be several women's daughter?

Heck, we don't even know Lila's real name. She is Chameleon without the need of being akumatized.

The logo on her laptop seems to point her out as a member of some dark web, or maybe even some sort of secret agent but she appears to work alone and solely for herself.

All in all, who Lila / Cerise / Whatever-Her-Name-Is is a mystery. She twists the perception of the truth. Is she even a teenager or a more ancient being?

She lies in order to manipulate people and get what she wants. And if there are people who resists, she considers them to be an obstacle to be deal with. And she adapts.

And what we have seen of her may only the tip of the iceberg. But I think it is safe to assume she too would want to Power of Reality and change the world how she sees fit.

As for the villain vs the good guys conflict, I don't think Miraculous will give you what you want in that department because on how the power of the Butterfly works. Like Hawkmoth, she could be hidden in her lair and avoid direct confrontations. It matches Lila's nature to use people around her to get what she wants. It adds several layers before the heroes can even get a change to take back her Miraculous. And as a civilian, we don't know what Lila has in mind, but I doubt she'll repeat the same mistakes.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Only the greatest artists are able to maintain the freshness of discovery with the depth of thoughtfulness. Martha Argerich is one of them.

- Daniel Barenboim on pianist Martha Argerich

For all her international renown, the Argentine-Swiss classical concert pianist does not appear to be a natural virtuoso: Martha Argerich comes on stage a little shyly, dressed in a simple black top and full patterned skirt, a thick mass of grey hair clouding her face, she bows as if to say “Oh, so you’d like me to play the piano?”, sits at the piano, shakes back her hair… And then she plays…

A formidable, legendary pianist, there is an air of mystery surrounding Martha Argerich, in part due to her reluctance to give interviews and the rarity of her concert appearances (her concert sell out in minutes). She has never sought to cultivate the image of the superstar virtuoso. A prodigious, ferocious talent, Argerich is blessed with a photographic memory, enabling her to reproduce music after a single hearing. Her bravura technique is beyond comparison: she has a “thing for octaves” and can make the rapid octave passages in Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto or Schumann’s Toccata, one of the most challenging works in the entire repertoire, look like child’s play. Behind that technical assuredness, is an artistry which makes you feel as if you are hearing familiar, well-known repertoire anew. That’s a remarkable skill in any pianist, but for someone in their late-70s who’s been performing for over half a century, it’s extraordinary.

In the 2012 film “Bloody Daughter” made by her youngest daughter, Stéphanie Argerich (Stephen Kovacevich’s daughter), the Argentine-born pianist Martha Argerich’s chaotic home life is revealed with honesty and affection. She likes to sleep beyond midday, spends time watching television or chatting to friends, and might practice the piano late in the evening. One senses a rebellion against the restrictive, highly-organised lifestyle of the international concert artist.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1941, she grew up learning the paino alongside another pianist prodigy and future maestro conductor, Daniel Barenboim. Both have maintained a life time friendship and have even played together.

Martha Argerich came to international attention when she won the International Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 24. Prior to that she had received support from Argentina’s President Peron who posted her diplomat father to Vienna so that she could study there. Despite her long and acclaimed career, she is prey to artistic insecurity, but sees this as an asset rather than a handicap, regarding it as a mark of a true artist who has not rested complacently on the laurels of their success. In the 1980s she decided to limit her solo work, stating that she found the on stage loneliness unbearable, and she much prefers to perform with others. Those ‘others’ being the world’s greatest orchestras and musicians, including her long-time friend Daniel Barenboim, cellist Mischa Maisky, Nelson Freire, violinist Gidon Kremer and conductor Claudio Abbado. Her repertoire is broad and varied; her performances and recordings of the concertos of Schumann, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev are especially wondrous.

And what of her playing? It’s quixotic, rhapsodic, exciting and mercurial. There’s something ineffable about her musical understanding and sensitivity, an acute awareness of pacing and rubato (which in other hands would sound contrived) and a glorious range of sound. Martha Argerich brings music to life with an unmatched colour and vibrancy, and an amazing naturalness which speaks of a life spent immersed in the repertoire. She combines power and grace, unafraid to take risks to the point that sometimes her playing seems on the verge of being slightly out of control, which makes it doubly thrilling, yet her playing is impressively precise. She also seems to genuinely enjoy herself when playing – you catch her smiling to herself, to the conductor. Her concerts are milestones, the experience forever etched into the memory to become the benchmark against which other performances are measured.

[oneoftheprettynerds]

Belle Of The Ball: Dark! King! Steve Rogers x Reader

A/N: So this my first ever proper dark fic and I’m so nervous. I finished it but my mind thinks it’s garbage. so I’m gonna post this now when I’m feeling a random spurt of courage and am confident in my work. So here’s my masterpiece, cookies.

This is for Dark!MCU  Festive Fic swap hosted by @darkficsyouneveraskedfor  and @darkmcuficswap

My giftee is @hermesmaximoff Hope you enjoy it love!

Thanking @firefly-graphics for the dividers: both personalised and general.

There is also an amateur somewhat okay shitty poster I decided to make which is included at the end.  

WARNING: THIS IS A DARK FIC CONTAINING DUBIOUS CONSENT BORDERING NON-CON AND EXPLICIT SMUT. YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. LOSS OF VIRGINITY, ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, BREEDING KINK ALSO PRESENT.

Summary: Invited to the Royal ball by the benevolent monarch, you could barely control your excitement to visit the Capital. While you were busy admiring his prosperous reign, King Steve was quite occupied getting enamoured by you. As you try to fulfil the King’s demands, secrets find their way out.

CHARACTERS + GENRE: DARK!STEVE ROGERS X READER, SUPERNATURAL STEVE ROGERS X READER (read to find out what), ROYAL AU, HALLOWEEN THEME (I tried for the request, hope you do like it)

King Steve Rogers invites the princes and the princesses of all Kingdoms, near and afar,

To celebrate his several years of reign.

He requests thy kind and noble presence

At the joyous regale

of his auspicious ball

On the thirty first of October,

after sundown, in His Majesty’s finest castle.

Challenging thy with the unique theme of

A Halloween Masquerade Ball,

The King expects exceptional indulgence from all.

 The Most Grandiose Halloween Celebration is being organised with the spookiest of events within.

Come here if you dare.

“We have been invited to a royal party! My day couldn’t have been better!” Your elder sister exclaimed, jumping quite unladylike in your chambers, as you went through the details of the venue. You chuckled at her antics, knowing rather well that she would be scolded if someone else was present. 

“Emma, Mother has to approve first. As Lady Ava always says, don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

“As if mother would really decline an invite from the King, dear sister.” She rolled her eyes at you, not letting her enthusiasm die as you pondered over her words.

Your sister had a point though, the King summoning your presence was not to be taken lightly. The invitation came up handwritten in a scroll with the King’s wax seal atop it. It was placed elegantly beside a golden mask in a rectangular black box, that bore the Majesty’s sigil on the front.  

The theme of the ball wasn’t that peculiar if you reflected over it, the renowned monarch was also recognised for his distinct interest in eerie, unearthly beings. He was known for adventuring into haunted lands, mysterious manors and sinister soils, meeting up with people rumoured to be sorcerers and occultists.

Of course, the reason for his encounters was sometimes rumoured to be because of his familial distress, how he couldn’t find a mate to procreate with and conceive his own heir no matter what. Three females, who were pregnant with a progeny of his blood, none his wife though, had died during the first two or tercet months, reason unspecified why.  

Coming to You, you and your sister weren’t actual princesses, rather the daughters of one of the esteemed Ministers in the King’s cabinet. The benevolent King, however referred to the daughters of the town, more exactly, the Kingdom, as noblewomen. He held high reverence for the females and was the sole creditor to the improved condition of the women in this era. No matter how troubled his own life was, the King was the most merciful royal to be crowned to date, his people prospering under him.

Your sister nodded eagerly to your mother, drinking in her words like the fine tea you all had in the afternoons, while you just smiled at her advice.

 When you both met your mother for dinner, you were surprised to find her already informed about the invitation. Her conformity to the celebration astonished you even more, but Emma’s zeal was starting to rub off on you too by the end of the meal. 

Your mother continued, “Your father mentioned The Majesty is looking for a wife, quite possibly. He has been insistent in trying to get a successor the correct way this time, by courting the lady who piques his interest. Even though this might be a rumour, or some gossip spun by the ladies of the Cabinet, you both should try your best to be graceful and presentable. Among the hundreds of guests, he’d be having over, on the off-chance, if Gods allow, that either of you manages to entice him, it will only promise you the most pleasant of all forthcomings. It would also do me and your father some good, if you managed to find some other suitable bachelor, from a nice background to engage with.”

Your sister had always been one with the more overactive imagination out of you two, while you had been the more serene and poised one. When she’d be out playing with the children in your town, you’d be talking to the younger toddlers, drawing with chalks on the side. For every kid she splashed with water in the nearby sapphire river, you made tots flower crowns. These were the values you both grew up with, and these will be the values you’d die with.

After days of shopping velvet fabrics and silk textiles, and bothering your seamster to make sophisticated and stylish dresses, you both neared your day of departure. After some instructions to you both to represent your father and town well, your mother bid you adieu. It was nerve wracking to not have your mother by your side, for an event as big as this was, but since you both had passed more than twenty name days, you were expected to be proper, independent ladies. 

With a heavy heart and some self, positive affirmations, you and your sister embarked on the voyage, which was filled with her chitchat.

You only hoped that the gala was as exciting as your family made it out to be. That it was just a King trying to celebrate his sovereign with some western festival integrated together. That the event would not be as unnerving and creepy as the last line of his invitation made it out to be. 

For some unknown cause, it did not sit well with you. Your apprehensive intuition made you wary of the invitation for some reason, but you let your sibling’s zest take you over. What benefit would fretting get you?

The ball was far more pompous than anything you’d have imagined in your little head. All the ideas that Emma had come up with during your journey, to anticipate the extent of extravagance for the ball, were all exceeded with tenfold finesse. You had travelled to faraway, distant lands with your parents, but the King’s mansion, with all the festivity happening, was truly a sight to behold.

Entering The Capital had been the highlight of your excursion, you were sure earlier, but well you were proved wrong. Your father greeted you both when you had arrived, eager to see his angels after almost six moons, and had ensured you both got the best of the accommodations in the well-built, enormous fort. He introduced you to several of his comrades as well as their brooding, young lads and then, left you both to rest for the main event next eve. With two maids at your every beck and call, courtesy of your father, your time went smoothly and now you found yourself at the said Halloween themed celebration, staring around in awe of every little detail that had been so meticulously handled to make the event as dazzling as it was.

The servants were dressed rather ridiculously as cats, wearing some bizarre structure resembling cat ears, horribly short black dresses barely past their thighs and some whiskers draw using either coal or makeup, you weren’t sure. It was a poor attempt to make them appear feline. However, the food was as immaculate as everything else, entirely themed like only blood red wine, candied apples, chicken pumpkins, cheesecake brain, mummy muffins, some appetizer with bell peppers as jack-o-lanterns; these were the few that met your sights.

The hall was so grand, almost the size of three jousting arenas and playing fields combined with pillars having detailed architecture supporting the place. The walls were covered in scarlet, golden and black velvet drapes, the royal colours, and beautiful masquerade masks were pinned atop them, along the walls. Almost hundred round, white clothed tables filled the ballroom, with gold plated candlesticks and utensils upon them. The entire place had entertainers progressing around, the essence of it being magicians, clowns, contortionists, palm and tarot card readers. 

In the centre of the hall, was an empty space, reserved for the soon to be ensuing dancing. An orchestra on the side had beautiful instruments, playing soft melodies for now, reserving the upscale beats for later.

You had only read a few books on Halloween to be prepared but nothing could have geared you up for this. Your small-town self was gaping at everything with a childlike wonder while somehow your sister was quite composed and calm, somehow your roles had been reversed. 

Emma was wearing a blue gown, having several layers of nets and cloth, each a different shade of azure. She tried to dress as the mythical creature called mermaid, with crystal heels and a beaded neckline. Her masquerade mask had scales like fish, made using shining sequins. She looked so gorgeous, truly managing to look captivating.

You on the other hand were dressed like an angel, which you were against, finding it too mainstream and typical and wanted to dress like an enchantress with violet and jade colours, which your mother immediately negated. On demand of your sister, she let you wear a fluffy white ball gown, and had you made wings with dove feathers, an apparatus which was astonishingly light to wear. Using her art and craft skills, Emma made you a headband with two wires attached to a metal ring, shaped like an angel’s halo. The loop at top made of some special metal that glowed golden in the dark, making it look like a real, floating halo. Your mask had a fur lining on it, and silver sparkles were sprinkled all over you, with pretty makeup on your face, courtesy of your sibling.

The change in music brought you out of your reverie, as trumpets and harps began to hum, signifying the arrival of the King on the grand staircase. He had a crimson red velvet cape descending his broad shoulders, his tuxedo underneath could hide neither his long legs nor his bulging, protruding biceps. His black, shining shoes cost more than your entire apparel, you were certain. 

As your gaze ascended his masculine form, you were mesmerised furthermore with his high cheekbones, full lips tainted cherry pink, a Grecian slanting nose, sleek eyebrows, luscious blonde hair, a thick beard and the best of all yet, cerulean blue eyes, the prettiest you’d ever seen in the entirety of your small life. The ladies beside you, Emma included, had the same reaction whether they had witnessed his Highness before or not. Every female’s gaze seemed to flicker between his azure eyes and the Golden crown resting atop his blonde locks, flooded with rubies and emeralds and gemstones you weren’t sure your books had.

For a moment you felt his eyes land on you, which surprised you even more so, that you questioned yourself about it, but his cheeky grin and wink confirmed it, make you shiver involuntarily as heat spread through your face while a titillating stir ran through you, a first for you. His impeccably white teeth were clearly visible now, showing two elongated canines, which finally gave you a sense of his attire, paired with his blush lips, A Vampire.

He spoke a few words, eyes unsteadily wavering, observing different members of the gathering. He let the dances commence, partnering with his most suitable match at the festivity, the daughter of the wealthiest lord. After the first song was over, other couples joined alongside him while you stood at the side, observing everything. Only mere moments ago had your sister been courted by a young man, the two of them shooting each other coy glances since they had entered. 

A tap on your shoulder had you puzzled, you turned around focus landing on warm, brown eyes. You recalled him to be Lord Stark’s son, Peter, having met him yesterday at dawn. His familiar brown eyes gave you sense of comfort, which you liked, not being alongside Emma now.

“Shall we?” He asked, his cheeks ruby like yours were, as he extended the palm of his hand towards you. You giggled, smiling like a little babe who got extra cookies for dessert, and accepted his hand. Sauntering to the dancing arena, you only prayed to The Heavens above that Lady Ava taught you enough to embarrass neither yourself nor your guild.

Tracing his steps and following his lead, you did manage to dance without falling, which was a surprise seeing how spread out your wings were. You and him made easy conversation, about your hometowns and interests.  You saw your Father proudly looking at you and Emma, dancing with lads, you guessed, he approved of.

As the song ended and the orchestra played a transitioning tune between the melodies, a cough sounded beside you as you and Peter stopped. Your eyes widened as you nervously curtsied beside Peter, A ‘Your Majesty” falling from both your lips.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I share a dance with the most stunning dame here?” 

Peter politely stepped back, letting go of your waist, as The King’s wide stature more than filled his place. Your heart was beating rather loudly, blood pumping to your ears as you tried to make sense of what was happening. In your peripheral vision you could see the prying eyes of others looking at you both, ready to criticize you for one wrong move. Your father watched intently, a slight warning in his eyes to not mess this opportunity up while your sister comfortingly smiled at you. You tried to even your breaths and make sense of what he was saying, to not just stand and gape like a fool in court.

As the harmony played out, he swayed you around, lifting you up and twirling you around. Compliments spewed out from his lips, making you crimson like freshly ripened apples. You couldn’t keep up with your expression of gratitude through your words as he admired your eyes, your elegance and your ensemble which just couldn’t make him shift his eyes from you. 

After two songs had played out, he left as suddenly as he had come, with a promise to meet you later. You watched him dance with other maidens, who approached him when you were dancing together, entertaining every approaching lady like an excellent host.

You made your way to the side, hoping to get some liquor, or at least some fluid in your veins and not faint right there this moment. Emma came up beside you while you were having wine, and rubbed your back in a parental way. Her eyes communicated her understanding of how overwhelmed you felt at the instant. Her date and Peter soon came and kept you both company for the rest of the night. As duos danced and people got intoxicated, you had to call it a night on behalf of your sister, her incessant giggling make you worried for her inebriated self. 

You slipped her out before your father caught her and gave her a stern talking to and tucked her in her bed keeping a glass of water and some fresh fruits for her on the bedside wooden bench. You concluded retiring for the night yourself but only after assuring your father of your whereabouts and well beings. Before returning to the hall, you took off your wings and the halo, also opting to leave the mask behind as the fur tickled your skin. Your makeup hadn’t ruined in the heat of the hall, it was a miracle. You made your way to the Hall, hoping to find your father, assumingly drunk with all his entourage.

Two hallways before the decorated ballroom were you pinned to the wall, one hand of your attacker covering your parted lips while the other held your face delicately, with a lover’s touch. A split second was all it took for you to be immobilised by this man and another by your wavering form to recognise the cobalt blue eyes and blonde curls. When The King was certain you wouldn’t scream, his hand left your mouth slid upwards, mirroring his other hand, with thumbs in front of your ears and palms resting on your cheeks.

“Your Majesty?” You mumbled back, your voice somehow even lower, afraid for yourself and even more so terrified to offend him.

“Say, would you come for a while to my chambers, the view of the creek from my balcony is splendid.”

His choice of words gave you an option, but his eyes, almost hypnotically told you there was only one correct answer.

“You are the one, I can feel it.” He whispered lowly but your heightened senses gladly picked it up.

You meekly nodded, your inner self surprised at your body moving of its accord alongside him, as your mind started voiding of thoughts like reporting to your father, checking up on Emma. You felt like you were trapped in someone else’s form and fought with an invisible force to take over the reins of your own body.

You did not fail to notice the lack of guards outside the King’s chamber and how every entrance managed to open itself. The King wasn’t lying about the picturesque scene though, as you stood in the balcony, hair getting ruffled by the strong breeze that seemingly came from nowhere.

Your body stiffened as King Steve came uncharacteristically close to you and slid his hands around your middle, his nose nestled in your locks, inhaling deeply.

His lips descended your neck, laying feathery kisses on his path as you stood there, unable to even move your hands or turn around. This out of body sensation was broken when you felt intense pain on piercing of your skin where your head met your torso. You suddenly gained all wits and enough strength to flail your limbs around but all your might wasn’t enough to even stir the man from his task. Your throat couldn’t gather enough energy to scream, though you doubted anyone would come. You started getting light headed and only then did he stop, carrying you in his arms to his widespread four poster bed, mattress as soft as sponge and sheets as silky as butter. Too weak to fight him off, you harvested all your energy in staying conscious as your gaze danced around, trying to make sense of every object present but not awake enough to notice too many details. The wine you drank did not make it any better.

As you laid on the stranger’s bed, you felt his body sit beside you, holding your neck; leaning down, his lips meeting yours for the first time. You did not reciprocate, neither did you have the strength nor the will, while his tongue slipped inside your mouth, roaming around like a traveller in foreign land.

As the kiss drew on, you felt some energy sidle inside you, enough for your mind to function again but not ample enough to fight off the brawny thief who robbed you of your first kiss. King Steve broke off the kiss and connected your foreheads together, his indigo eyes turning black in want, leaving you a frightening and gasping mess.

He backed away, sitting more straighter now as his hand drew back from around your neck and slid along your stomach, nearing the most intimate part of your body, even though there were still layers of cloth present. His hands did not stop there, however, and made their way downwards only stopping at the hem of your gown and slipping inside.

You shrieked out suddenly, becoming aware of his intentions quite late and grasped his wrist that rested now on your knee. 

“Your Majesty, I……I can’t-”

“Do you wish to refuse your King?”

You looked down, caught in the dilemma of wanting your safety and offending him once again. Your virtue had to be preserved till marriage, your mother had taught you, but on the other hand, the King’s words were the law.

“Answer Me.” The King’s cold voice broke through your thoughts, not a shout but still scarier than a yell.“

Your Majesty, I’ve never engaged in s-” You started tearing up, lower lip wobbling and body shaking at the thought of the future. You did not see this ending beneficial in any scenario. If you lost your virtue, you would never get wed but if you refused the King and he felt insulted, your family and your connections would be in the ruins, he held that much power over you.

Cradling your face with his other hand, he began again, “You think I’m not already aware, pretty one?” The man who was reprimanding you only few moments ago upon not answering him, had a smile on his face this time: not assuring or comforting, but malicious and sinister to its very core. “I could smell your untainted scent from my room, before even descending the stairs.”

“Your e-eyes..” You gaped again as colours morphed in his eyes, red now swirling around in the pools of darkness, his words lost on you as you felt your fear rising due to the inhumane action.

“For an intellectual, bibliophilic girl, you sure are oblivious, sweetheart.” He scoffed, looking unimpressed at you, “Come on, prove to me you aren’t heedless like the rest, draw the conclusion." His eyes held yours, again altering into hues of different colours, seemingly mocking you now. 

You don’t know how the thought jumped into your head, maybe because the two holes on your neck stung suddenly or because the automatically opening doors entered your mind, the contemplation that his fangs appeared so realistic and authentic the more you stared at them paired with the blood on his collar, not just the fresh red stain of your plasma but also the burgundy stain present there, giving his lips the cherry red shade you admired hours ago on his arrival at the event.

“This is not a co-costume, no-” You inhaled a quick breath, “you are a vampire.” Your face paled in realisation while he smirked proudly, tapping your knee in a weird, twisted form of appreciation.

“Tremendous, my dear. But only half, you see. My mother was one, yes, but my father, he gave me an even better ability, he was an Incubus.” You shuddered as the words sunk in, your only worry being staying alive now, when your life was in the hands of this sex demon, having the greatest of powers and strength. Your mind did not spend any time mulling over the existence of supernatural beings, only dwelling on possible escapes now.

“That is why even your untouched body couldn’t help but react to my form and it is also the very reason, that I can read what goes on in your mind, all your memories, your hobbies, every book you’ve read, your precious sister, Emma isn’t it? So please, do not even think about fleeing if you don’t want your family to suffer.”

The threat loomed in the air, nasty sobs wracking your body as his thumb came to wipe the tears off. His hands started undoing the lace on the front of your bodice as you sniffled. Managing to quieten down just a bit, you begged, “Please don’t do this, I’ll have nowhere to go if my family found about me partaking in this unholy deed before marriage.” You had little hope about him seeing reason but there was optimism nonetheless. 

“Darling, do not fuss that I’ll leave you unhinged and deserted after finding pleasure in your body, you are to be mine now. Essentially, you already are.” His lips claimed yours again as the front of your dress slackened, bundling around your waist.

You pulled back, surprised at his promise, “You mean that?” He nodded, coming to kiss you again. You turned so that his lips met your neck, tongue licking the salt residue of tears there. “In what sense?”

“In every sense you could think of and more. I’ll give you everything, make you my queen, would you like that?” He mumbled in your neck, tongue now soothing the two punctured cavities residing there.

You could feel yourself crossing your legs involuntarily, trying to caress the abrupt yearning in your intimate part, your underclothes dousing with wetness somehow. Steve smirked in your neck, sitting upright and playing his trump card.

“I’ll marry you and we’ll rule together with the plenty of successors you’ll give me. Won’t that make your parents proud? Isn’t that what your parents taught you? Catch the King’s eye?” You meekly nodded, his charisma of an Incubus winning you over. “I’ll make your father The King’s Hand and send your mother the finest of jewels and gems, satins and silks.” He looked over at your submissive form, looking at him with the innocence of a toddler, swayed by his promises.

“I’ll let your sister have a grand wedding with the man she dears. All you have to do is surrender yourself to me and be my Queen, rule alongside me. So I ask, will you?” You cut him off, your lips pressing against his as you tried to mimic his earlier movements. He held your waist, surprised but pleasantly so, crushing the layers of the rolled top half of your dress underneath his hands. You had very little idea about what bedding someone meant but you had this primal urge to not have any skin of yours covered or untouched by him.

Steve shed his cape and threw every cloth on his torso away, almost as eager as you to get skin to skin contact. Your hands tangled in his hair as he lifted you up and sat you in his broad lap, not before sliding your dress all the way down. As he broke the kiss and took in your body, parts of you hidden under the smallclothes, he let out a growl that frightened yet excited you with another shiver down your spine. 

He made quick work of his bottoms, his cock standing and reaching his muscled chest almost and you gaped. Your sister, Emma had informed you of men’s parts being far much smaller than what you had just witnessed. His member stood erect and proud, glistening as he pumped it with his fist. His eyes drank in your surprise and trepidation, getting amused and turned on even more. 

You still laid stretched across the bed, legs straight ahead of you while your torso rested on your elbows, eyes wary of his every next movement.  He eyed your scantily clad body, gaze filled with lust and nothing more and climbed between your legs, one hand coming down on your waist while the other grabbed the back of your head and pulled you into a possessive kiss, robbing you of your breath. Your mind was slowly registering the reality of it all, this was going to happen no matter what. You were going to sin by engaging in fornication. But is it really wrong if your benevolent king demands that of you?

His hand sliding from your face to your bosom distracted you from your chain of thoughts. He slid the cups of your garment revealing your nipples and took one in his mouth, swirling his tongue around it while his other pinched the abandoned one. You didn’t know if you should be more surprised at his actions or the rush of the feelings that ran through you.

He slowly released your nipple and trailed soft kisses down your stomach to your most intimate part yet, kissing it through the cloth there. His delicate touch was abruptly contrasted with him grabbing the fabric, tearing it into two and revealing you bare. 

You closed your legs out of instinct but his heavily muscled hand took them apart in a single push. He eyed you with a warning, to not obstruct him anyhow anymore.

“Let me taste that sweet nectar of yours, sweetheart. I really want to find out if it is as addictive as my senses picked it up, as sweet as the aura that surrounds you.”

And with that he dove into your pussy, his tongue roaming your wet cavern. Neither did you understand what he spoke of nor had you sister told you about the activity happening right now. But all you could do was focus on the astonishingly pleasant shivers running through you as you had an out of the body, more accurately an out of the world experience. You had no sense of the time that passed and how long you laid there clutching the silk sheets letting out mewls. But out of nowhere, something in you snapped and all your energy left you. 

As your blurry vision cleared and your eyes found his face, he licked his still glistening lips, his beard moist and wet but erotically so. He dove right into kiss again and you tasted your own sweet nectar for the first time ever. His hand roamed your body, grabbing your curves and caressing your soft flesh. 

One of his hands made its way down furthermore and spread your fluids along your folds, and then lined up himself along your hole. With a sudden push, you felt yourself being full like never before, and a sudden pain hit you as your face visibly flinched. Steve swallowed your grunts of pain with his kisses and started rubbing your bud above your linked bodies. 

The shudder that ran through you once again made you incapable of thinking, the ache slowly subsiding behind the pleasure you felt. When your moans filled the air, Steve kissed your collarbones and sucked leaving bruises there, and started thrusting again. As his movements became faster and consistent, and his callused hands rubbed you and pinched your intimate flesh, you ascended to another world. Each action of his introduced you to a new star in the wide galaxy. The same unknown descended upon you again as something snapped in your abdomen and you experienced pure bliss. 

“Going to make you the mother of my children, you will carry my seed and bring the Kingdom several heirs. This time I’ll succeed, you will be mine, my Queen in every sense.” His words made you clench around him and that was all it took for him to achieve ecstasy as well.

Your head lolled and your eyes met his sweating frame lying across the silk sheets as a sinister grin adorned his face again, “I need to fuck a successor into you tonight, you ready?”  

[aadesh98]

Online Webinars Change How You Run Your Business

Free online webinars are a great tool to utilise when you're unsure of how to go about certain obstacles and important decisions that unexpectedly come your way. Individuals who host these online webinars pass down their own business expertise and important unnoticed details that have helped them create success with many of the same roadblocks that you might encounter.

Online webinars are online video conferences, sometimes free, sometimes not, depending on who's hosting it and what subject it's on. You can find a multitude of options for free webinars, but if you're looking for something more specific or from a more well-known entrepreneur, they will most likely require payment and an RSVP months in advance. Now more than ever entrepreneurs are hosting online webinars since the world has had to switch over to online substitutions for learning and even their own business operations. Being able to learn on your own terms about behind the scenes business operations will give you ample knowledge and some extra experience in how to scale and run your own. There are different webinars for different stages in your business journey, and if you're just starting out, there's going to be someone out there who wants to help you succeed in that and become a mentor for you.

When sitting down and building the blueprint for your business, you often come across aspects of operations that you won't know how to go about from your own initial general knowledge. It's suggested that you take note of the small speed bumps you might encounter and take time to research and get as much information on that subject as you can so that you are well prepared. Becoming an expert in all of the different puzzle pieces that make up and run your new organisation will end up making the entire process of growth much smoother. Some of the issues and challenges you can look for online are cheap marketing strategies, how to create your own SEO, how to responsibly manage your cash flow, and numerous money saving strategies that will leave you with the ability to have a capital cushion when unexpected road blocks come your way.

How you can utilise the info you learned from a webinar for certain things in your business

After you've taken note of what you don't know and take the time to thoroughly learn the ins and outs of that subject or issue, you're able to make well-rounded decisions that will leave you feeling confident that you've made the right decision in that situation and that it will have the best impact on your business. You can still ask for advice, but on the back end you will also have your own knowledge and understanding of the subject in order to weigh the pros and cons of each path you can take. Not all businesses are the same, so specialising in all of the necessary information for your specific market and audience will only benefit you in the end.

We do the same for any entrepreneur who has the drive and passion to learn more. Teaching all business skills with tips and tricks so you have the best chance at success in every industry. All business industries are different and require different sets of knowledge, so having a diverse background in all of these fields is necessary to hand down the best information that's right for you.

Using online webinars is extremely beneficial to your growth and knowledge when first starting up a business, either in a new industry or simply in general. Even after you've had your business running for a few years, there is always more to know and learn in order to make your business operations run as smoothly as possible. Integrating additional upgrades over time always requires new knowledge and learning, so as a business owner and entrepreneur it is your job to be on top of specialising in what you really need and what you don't. 

In Conclusion

Remote work is no longer the new normal, as we all know. Even if you do business webinars from afar, they may help you grow your company. Business webinars have the potential to catapult your business, whether you're a freelancer, an entrepreneur, an affiliate marketer, or a blogger that runs a business blog.

What a successful business webinar may do is beyond your wildest dreams, but you won't be able to achieve such outcomes until you properly prepare for it. You must establish clear objectives, highlight the seminar's many aims, and then devote adequate time to each topic without losing the audience's interest.

[rotzaprachim]

If you feel so inclined I would LOVE to hear more about your thoughts on heist movies (my favourite genre too!). Do you have a favourite?

why thank you! long story short the heist is the BEST genre and has the potential for a lot of fun and also if the story decides to go there, social commentary, but the heist is also a trick to pull off and takes a certain degree of skill! 

on a craft level, a heist is interesting because it’s pure, contained narrative. i’m sure there are literary fiction type heists out there, but on the whole the heist is the genre that strips all pretensions bare and reveals the bare bones of the story. plotting is KEY. the heist pushes all the elements of techniquie- plot, timing, rising tension, information and its release- straight to the center, often in extremely practical ways I.E we’re all in this One Building together and need to get this One THings. we’ve all seen bad heist movies before, and we’ve enjoyed them, but we’ve also Known they were bad or at least unfeasible, because it was pushed right into the open. (doesn’t stop them from Fun)

leigh bardugo aka MASTER of this genre said in an interview once i think that a heist is all about the timed release of information, which. yes. heists are ALL ABOUT tension and reveals, and a good heist writer is good at tightly controlling the rise and fall of tension based on their manipulation of the situation 

i LOVE genre fiction and am a massive Genre Fiction Defender, because i think sometimes authors can do their best work within the conventions and general plot outlines that a genre can provide. and a heist is both a fairly set and adaptable genre that can be outwardly applied to others, as well. a heist too can sit anywhere on the goofy to grimdark, and is also often blended the crime movie or organised crime movie (often the Set Up/antagonist). finally i think there’s a bit of a distinction within a heist movie- between a Heist (aka an organised plan to steal something in secret, generally) and a Con (a plan specifically revolving around Playing people). arguably the best of the genre Combine the two to maximise different kinds of storytelling and tension. the problems facing the heist tend to be physical, scientific or practical - an uncrackable safe, guard dogs, lazer-eyed alligators, etc, whereas the problems of the COn are human- finding the mark, the mark’s soft spots, and of course, the internality of the grifter(s) trying to work the mark. the COn aspect can be a really fascinating insight into human psychology. 

there’s also just an endless amount you can do with having people pretending to be other people to Get Something DOne and how that can be used to explore themes like class and privilidge.... 

which segues into my next point that a heist DOESN’T have to be subversive or NECESSARILY interested in wealth redistrubution and rob-the-rich-give-to-the-poor (although some of the best written ones are the ones where this is the case IMHO). BUT. the writer has to be aware those tensions exist, even subliminally! they have to underpin the structure of the novel. arguably, along with the organised crime genre, a heist is interesting for the extreme economic cross section of society it often contains - characters who have been struggling or down on their luck their whole lives in some ways engaging with or pretending to be the nobility or wealthy. a good visual heist often exploits this visually. 

the final point is that a multi-person heist often needs a good sense of interpersonal dynamics between the heist crew who you know, like all human being under pressure ESPECIALLY human beings who might not know each other and have prison/lives on the line, may not get along all that well 

so. it’s a pile up here. good plotting. good timing. PRESSURe. class. human psychology. very few heists have ALL these elements, but i’d argue that to tick, a good heist needs at least some of them. 

a lot of my favorites aren’t movies at all! 

- six of crows duology leigh bardugo - this series really got popular on tumblr, and it’s very simple as to why- it’s fucking great. seriously. like the hunger games, it’s one of those ya series i reread this summer and was reminded how well it stands up. (i wouldn’t read the grisha trilogy it intersects with until after, it is not NEARLY as good.) SOC works due to how well bardugo understands her characters, both in terms of internality and the wider political/social/cultural trends of the early industrial fake!amsterdam world they life in and importantly how the external and internal interact, and manages five and then six distinctive POV’s of a heist team MASTERFULLY. (no one in it is like vaguely a teenager is my only serious criticism). takes a while to get going but a knockout of a series. 

(they’re making a tv series of it which mixes it in with a bunch of other content LOOSING the tight “nothing including but the plot-necessary and yet richly detailed” writing that made it in the first place. but. whatever 

- leverage 

the heartwarming series about a team of crooks becoming a Family and dealing with individual trauma while starting to To Good and rob the rich to give to the poor in the aftermath of the 2009 financial crisis! genuinely one of the best shows i’ve ever seen, the plot of the week was always really entertaining and fun but the show did an admirable job of running a good course and finishing in a good place with serious character development in a satisfying way! i especially love the female characters in this one (hats off to inej and nina of six of crows too tho!!! love them) including a very well-written woman in her 40′s and an autistic woman coming into herself while being a baddass thief. and alec hardison is just. the best EVER 

- “time heist” - season 8 of doctor who 

this is just one episode and it’s very classic goofy WHO BUT! i think it manages in 45 minutes to be both a goofy fun alien time and a genuine homage to the genre that has some good reveals 

- timeless is NOT a heist show blatantly but in the way they used time travel there was often examples of Good Heist Writing 

- arguably, though not as a WHOLE, parts Rogue One

the locke lamora series, by scott lynch- 

these are LONG but they are FUN 

ocean’s 8 is also FUN 

[mythgirlimagines]

Well, now that Tuesday is here, it’s time for a brand new talentswap! Give a soft hello to Myth, the Former Ultimate Essayist!

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BACKSTORY AND TALENT

Because of a combination of a weak body and her already existing scoliosis, this Myth spent most of her childhood bedridden and isolated from the world. With her frail body, Myth turned to reading and studying as her only two modes of entertainment. Myth was practically homeschooled, and from there Myth found her talent in writing. Although she is an expert in writing short stories, her true expertise lies in her essays that span a bunch of topics, ranging from science to history to even pop culture. Once her family raised enough money to get her scoliosis surgery, Myth was ready to attend Hope’s Peak and won’t let back pain stop her. When she graduated, Myth then was given the option to chaperone the Ultimates and Jr. Ultimates, and that is how our story begins!

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RELATIONSHIPS

Wyre Anon, Former Ultimate Romantic

A high-school celebrity thanks to their boyish charm and their lovable rogue personality, Wyre is well-known for being able to charm anyone, male or female, and Myth is most definitely is no exception to this rule. In fact, Myth has been Wyre‘s favorite flirting and teasing target ever since they first met in Hope‘s Peak, and Wyre has been Myth’s first-ever friend since. This hopeless bisexual just couldn’t handle the rugged muscles or the bad boy attitude of her  tomboyish charmer of a BFF. Myth is currently working on an essay to confess her feelings for Wyre. 

Outfit: Neatly-combed pixie cut, black blazer over a messily buttoned white shirt, tan pants, black loafers, glasses, necklace, and bracelet from original design.

Anon Scar, Ultimate Voice Actress

Famous for her wide range of voices and her typecasting into villainous or demonic characters, Anon Scar chose to embrace the archetype of her usual characters and put on her classic “Demon of Tounges” act that roped her tons of fans in the seiyuu fan community. When Myth first met Scar, she was scared off by the voice actress‘s deep voice and hammy performances. From there, Scar knew to tone down her theatrics around Myth and soon Myth saw Scar for who she truly is: a kindhearted and almost maternal teenager. 

Outfit: Shoulder-length hair, a black ski cap with a skull on the front, black headphones with a microphone on the right ear, a black and white striped sweater, black fingerless gloves, scarf, skirt, stockings, and boots from original design. 

Fusion Anon, Ultimate Personal Assistant

In order to support both his parents and his little brother, Fusion had to take several odd jobs, ranging from a waiter to a cashier to even a court stenographer, resulting in him gathering an entire arsenal of skills and the title of Ultimate Personal Assistant. Despite his frightening height, Fusion’s kindhearted, reliable, and paternal nature made Myth warm up to him very easily. If Myth is ever in pain and needs her medication and comfort items, Fusion always has what she needs stashed somewhere on his body. Myth is still wondering to this day, where exactly does Fusion keep those things?

Outfit: Afro tied into a long and puffy ponytail with a red hair tie, blue and yellow vest over a red dress shirt and a yellow bow tie, white gloves, glasses, pants, and shoes from original design. 

Fusion Anon II, Ultimate Procrastinator

Getting picked on at school for her bookish, nerdy personality and her natural genius, Fusion II reinvented herself with a flippant, bad-girl personality, who couldn’t care less about her studies. Despite not caring about academics, Fusion II’s grades are still the top of her school. While originally scared of Fusion II, due to her punk fashion and delinquent personality, Myth’s fear of Fusion II diminished when Myth caught her reading one of her essays in the library, proving that she is still a massive bookworm and a nerd, much to the procrastinator’s dismay.

Outfit: Blue streaks in her ruffled up hair, black spiked headband, dark blue denim jacket with golden spikes on the shoulder, black fingerless gloves, dark blue skirt with a tattered edge, tall spiky metal boots that add 4 inches onto her height, sunglasses, t-shirt and choker from original design.

Just Anon, Ultimate Poet

Despite what his adorable pastel fashion sense, innocent talent, and his calming hypnotic poetry would suggest, in reality, Janon has a foul mouth and an equally foul attitude and wants nothing more than to lie in bed all day without people bothering him. Myth can relate to that big time, alongside having a talent relating to writing, which makes Myth one of the few people who Janon is able to open up to. Sometimes, Myth and Janon organise ”nap nests“ (aka. piles and piles of blankets and pillows) and exchange what they have written together. 

Outfit: An oversized pink turtleneck sweater with a bunny on the front that covers his mouth and hands, formal wear from original design.

Sparkle Anon, Former Ultimate Speedreader

Despite Sparkle’s loud and dramatic personality being more suited towards a performance themed talent, Sparkle’s true expertise lies in reading at extremely high speeds. Sparkle and Myth’s shared interest in reading made them very close friends, despite their contrasting personalities. At some time in their friendship, Myth has been christened ”THE SPECTACULAR AND SPEEDY SPARKLE’S SIMULTANEOUSLY SPECTACULAR STOPWATCHKEEPER!”, for Myth regularly times Sparkle and gives Sparkle brand new material to read. 

Outfit: A blue vest over a white dress shirt, a red and orange tarten skirt, glasses, paldrons, cape, stockings, and boots from original design.

Egg Anon, Former Ultimate Conspiracy Theorist, and Wet Sock Anon, Former Ultimate Ornithologist

Two great, but cursed, scientific minds, this freakish duo have took the world by storm with their “Future Avian Overlords” conspiracy theories. No matter how improbable the theory, Egg manages to point out real life aspects about the world around us, thanks to their twin, that supports the theory. But ever since Egg spread the theory that birds were just drones to Wet Sock, their relationship hasn’t been the same since. The twins scare the ever-living stuffing out of Myth, every time one of them decides to open their mouth, and Wyre regularly has to discipline them with violence for scaring her friend. 

Outfits: Dark brown sleeveless parkas over tan t-shirts, brown pants and brown boots, Egg has an alien pin and Wet Sock has a feather pin, glasses from original design. 

Curious Anon, Jr. Ultimate Surgeon

Hailed by the medical world as a child prodigy, Curious’s steady and disciplined attitude made him a natural at surgery, despite their age and height. Having interacted with surgeons ever since she was little, Myth always felt at ease when around Curious. As a matter of fact, Myth met Curious before just before they attended Hope’s Peak Junior High, at one of the hospitals they volunteered at. Curious’s polite and charitable nature makes them a perfect companion for the timid Myth. In their off time, Myth likes to give Curious some of her short stories to read. 

Outfit: Hair in a small ponytail, mint green surgery scrubs and facemask, black pants, blue and white loafers.

Anon Nerd, Former Ultimate Ice Skater

Myth actually saw Nerd’s performances on TV a couple of times and he was absolutely graceful and stunning on the ice. She may have a bit of a celebrity crush on him. But when she attended the Kibo-Con along with him, Myth caught wind of Nerd’s true personality: vulgar, surly, and loud-mouthed. But ever since Nerd met this tiny and timid essayist, his protective instincts have just flared up. Wyre knows about Myth’s little celebrity crush and Nerd’s little thing for Myth and is constantly coming up with schemes to choose her over the rude ice skater. 

Outfit: Hair combed over his right eye, a black, white, red and blue hoodie, black pants and red and white sneakers.

Eldritch Anon, Ultimate VS Debater

Myth thought that she was the timidest person in the Kibo-Con roster. But ever since she met Eldritch, Myth may have some competition in the timidity category. Despite his confidence and boldness on the debate podium, when put in any other situation, Eldritch starts shaking in his boots and thinking up the worst possible scenario for every occasion. Despite Myth’s kindhearted and honest nature, Eldritch seems to think that Myth’s timidity is just a facade and that she will pull out a weapon from underneath her hoodie and assassinate him. 

Outfit: Neatly combed shoulder-length hair, red suit with a maroon tie, orange pants and black boots.

Dream Anon, Ultimate Astronomer

Despite her athletic, energetic, and childish demeanor, Dream is regarded as a veritable scientific genius in the study of the vast vacuum of space, to the point of having a star cluster named after her volleyball team. Needless to say, someone like Dream wasn’t what Myth had in mind when she heard she was going to be chaperoning the Ultimate Astronomer. At first, Myth wasn’t able to keep up with Dream’s energetic and outgoing attitude. But as time went on, Myth now looks forward to her relaxing weekly stargazing with Dream. 

Outfit: Star barettes, a galaxy-printed version of her original shirt, skirt, shorts and shoes from original design.

Iris Anon, Jr. Ultimate Paleontologist

Despite Iris’s klutziness and almost stupidly optimistic outlook on life, Iris is a verified genius when it comes to paleontology, often being cited in academic journals and discovering a couple of new paleontologic species. Iris claims that she studies paleontology because she wants to show people that the world is just awesome, no matter the time period. Myth admires Iris’s optimistic outlook on life, and wishes to learn all about Iris’s philosophy and way of life, and Iris is happy to teach Myth the ways of the Iris. Maybe Iris’s philosophy could be just the confidence boost that she needs. 

Outfit: Cracked glasses, a green dinosaur hoodie over a brown dress with fossil designs all over, brown steel-toed boots, bandages all over her body from various freak accidents at digs. 

Purple Anon, Ultimate Puzzle Solver

Ever since Purple solved a highly-difficult puzzle as a toddler, Purple managed to dominate every single puzzle that the high-tech research lab threw at her. With an unparalleled aptitude for solving all sorts of puzzles, Purple specializes in ciphers and word puzzles. Because of their intellectual yet timid natures, Purple and Myth get along very well. Because of Myth’s talent, she has no problem at all, when it comes to understanding Purple’s cryptic speech patterns and vocabulary. They regularly exchange mental stimulation with each other in the forms of scientific essays and puzzles. 

Outfit: A white sweater with a cipher puzzle of her name on the front, a skirt colored like a Rubix cube, stockings and shoes from original design.

This series will be a bisexual harem series centering around five Anons fighting for the affections of the timid essayist who just wants them all to get along.

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PERSONALITY

Because of her socially-isolated backstory, Essayist!Myth is supremely timid and often lets Wyre do the talking for her. Her time at Hope’s Peak raised her self-esteem and made her a bit more confident, but she is still painfully shy and socially-anxious. That being said, Essayist!Myth is really intelligent thanks to her hobby of reading and studying, and often finds solace with other intellectually minded Anons. Essayist!Myth isn’t at all skilled in the prospect of romance, which makes her a disaster bi, as opposed to the confident bi-ness of Romantic!Myth.

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APPEARANCE

Essayist!Myth has long brown hair with two pink barettes that goes over her right eye and reading glasses. She wears a pink hoodie with a bisexual pride badge yellow zipper and flowers on each pocket. Myth wears the purple skirt, black stockings and pink Mary Janes from her original design. 

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Let me know what you think of this series and this talentswap! If any of you have any headcanons for this AU, feel free to let me know!

-Fusion Anon

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I have been known to write an essay or two, especially one on Strawberry Shortcake lol

[straight-to-the-pain]

Our Guest

This is a continuation of the storyline where Sam accidentally kidnaps rescues a conditioned pet whumpee. I recommend reading Part 1 and Part 2 first so this makes a little more sense. TW: implied/referenced conditioning, torture and dehumanisation, very mildly implied/referenced non-con (but it’s really a lot more subtext than explicit, and I’m not planning to make it more so) 

Tag list (I’m just tagging the people who expressed an interest in seeing a continuation, but I’ll add or remove people as requested): @comfy-whumpee (thank you so much for helping me name Theo), @fallingstormphoenix, @theladyoffangorn, @haro-whumps, @comfortforthepain :) 

“So, what did Control say?” John asks, putting away his first aid kit. The boy is asleep now, and he’s glad that his guest is finally getting some much needed rest. Glad, too, that he gets a chance to discuss matters with Sam. 

“Just asked me if I got what they asked for,” comes the reply. “They didn’t mention the surprise captive at all, and I decided that it was best to not give more details than they asked for.” 

John agrees. It would do no good for the boy to be questioned, which is inevitably what their employers would want. He doubts that he could know anything truly useful. Best to just make him as comfortable as they can without pressing him with questions. Besides, John is all too familiar with the style of questioning their organisation would try to pursue, and they would not wish that upon anyone, especially not someone already as hurt as their new guest. 

“Alright, I think that’s for the best.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair in thought. “I think we have to get him checked out in a hospital. His wrist needs to be properly set if it is to have any chance of healing well.” He takes out a small notebook and flips through until he finds the number he’s looking for. “Here, call Leanne. She’s a friend of Alice. Works at the hospital. She’ll help us. Tell her we need her to take a look at someone and we’ll be with her soon. She won’t ask any questions.”

It would be so easy to just call the police and make them sort out this mess, but John knows better than that. They can’t risk exposing all the work they’ve done, the operation that they’re running. Whoever the man they’re looking into really is, he’s done a lot more than torture some innocent soul, and his criminal connections will lead them to even more valuable targets. They can’t sabotage that by involving some local cops in something that’s far above their pay grade. 

“Alright, I’ll do that then,” Sam replies, not quite able to meet their friend’s eye. There’s shame in their expression, the remorse of causing more damage without even meaning to. “I really am sorry. I wish I hadn’t…” It’s not John they should be apologising to, but maybe he’s the only one who can understand, who can absolve them of some of their guilt. 

“I wasn’t even thinking. It was just instinct.” The boy had reached up to them in such an intimate way, a gesture that had only ever meant danger, a threat to the very fibre of their being, and there was no room to think, only the pure panic of touch and a sharp twist of his wrist. 

“It happened. You can’t take that back, but you can work on making things better,” John replies, reasonable as ever, and Sam feels some of the tension gripping them melt away. “The first step is to pick up that phone and get our guest the care he needs.” That they can do, so they force all other thoughts out of their mind, shoving any memories that try to cloud their judgement away, and they dial the number. 

~

The boy wakes to pain and the weight of someone sitting next to them. He’s on a soft surface, and the first thought in his mind is that it’s his Master, back for more, but when he opens his eyes, he sees the face of the man who took him. John, he reminds himself. That’s what he was instructed to call him, and he’s careful not to forget. 

“Hey, how are you doing?” John’s voice is soft, and he looks concerned, though the boy can’t imagine why. After all, it was his colleague who had delivered punishment, and he had suffered the consequences as quietly and obediently as he could. He has learnt his lesson and he desperately wants it to be known that he won’t be making the same mistake again. 

“Good, John,” he replies, and he isn't lying. The pain has slowly crept back into his consciousness, and he feels the throbbing in his wrist, and the less insistent ache in his ankle, but he can cope with it. There’s a distant ache of bruises, some fresher, some fading, but he doesn’t remember a time without the background noise of pain. He’s comfortable though, and he’s been allowed to rest, and he wants John to know just how grateful he is. 

“Glad to hear it,” John smiles slightly, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “We’re going to take you to a doctor, a good friend of mine, just so she can set your wrist and check you over. You’re going to be okay, I promise.” 

“Thank you, John.” He can’t remember the last time he’s seen a proper doctor, but it makes sense that his new owners would want him to be checked out. He hopes they don’t find anything that would make him unwanted. He so desperately hopes that they keep him, but he fears that asking such a question will only anger them. 

John sighs slightly, shaking his head. “Please, there’s no need to call me John every time. There’s no need to call me anything special, alright? I’m not in charge of you. I’m just a friend.” 

‘If John’s not in charge, then who is?’ the boy wonders, but he doesn’t dare ask. He’s been introduced to his Master’s friends before, made to serve them and please them just as he was meant to please his Master, but John doesn’t seem to want anything of the sort from him. ‘Why was I taken if not to be used?’ he wonders. Maybe this isn’t about him at all. Maybe he is just a pawn, being used against his Master. 

“I understand,” he responds, cringing slightly at the lack of honorifics. He can’t help but expect a punishment for lack of respect, but John just smiles and nods, and he lets himself relax just a fraction. 

“So you know who I am, but I still have no idea what to call you,” John begins. “What’s your name?” 

His name… His Master didn’t like to use it, preferring to just refer to him as his toy or his pet, and he’s worked hard to shove it away into the darkest corners of his mind. After all, a wretched traitor like him didn’t deserve a proper name. But he couldn’t make himself forget it, a part of him holding onto the word like a last little fragment of who he used to be. 

“Theo,” he murmurs, almost too quietly to be heard, like he’s sharing a forbidden secret. “People used to call me Theo.” He can’t remember the last time he’s said it out loud. Flashes of memory invade his mind. ‘My name is Theo, and I’m not your goddamn pet,’ he had yelled once, a long time ago, and then there was pain, so much pain that it hurts to think of it. He never wants to feel so much pain again. 

“Theo. That’s a nice name.” John says his name like it’s a gift, and it’s been so long since Theo heard it spoken like that, so softly and with so much care that he worries he might start crying. But crying isn’t allowed, so he swallows the lump in his throat and blinks back the tears threatening to spill over. “Tell me, Theo, how did you end up in that place?” 

It’s such an earnest question, that Theo can’t help but answer, not even pausing to wonder if it’s a trick. He takes a deep breath and starts talking. “I… I was sixteen when I first joined the gang. I thought it would be fun, that I’d get to earn some money. My friends were already involved and they kept telling me how great it was. I guess I didn’t have much else to do. 

“I never… never really knew my parents but the people there, they felt like family.” He pauses a little, looking up at John, unsure if he should continue. His voice is scratchy from disuse and he’s hardly answering the question, but John looks interested, so he goes on. 

“They gave me so much and I�� I messed up so badly. It was just a little at first, just a few bags of coke, a few bills here and there, but nobody ever noticed and I guess I got brave.” He actually laughs slightly at that, at the vague notion of having ever possessed a thing like bravery. How stupid it was to think he could have got away with it. To think that he deserved to go unpunished. “I guess I got stupid too. Took too much and got caught.” 

“They told me that I had to… repay my debt and that I belong - belonged - to them now,” he corrects himself. “And then there was… well I was given to my Master. I did odd jobs for him sometimes, passed along messages, took care of his guests. He liked me to… please him. Said I was his stress relief.” He wants to say that he would offer that to John too, anything to be taken care of, to be protected. He doesn’t want to go back to the gang and it’s not like anyone else would want him. He doesn’t have any real skills, doesn’t have any real friends. 

“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about him, not unless you want to,” John cuts in gently, reaching out a hand to gently brush over Theo’s cropped hair. Theo leans into the touch, even though he’s not sure he’s deserved it, but he can’t help it. John’s hands are so soft and so tender, he thinks he would do anything for him to keep petting his hair like this. “Sometimes we make bad choices that lead us to bad places, but there’s always a way out.” 

“I deserved it,” he interjects. He knows he shouldn’t interrupt but he has to make sure John understands. He isn’t someone who should be given pity. He still hasn’t repaid his debt. “I made so many mistakes, I-” 

“No, you didn’t,” John cuts through his stream of panic. “Nobody deserves to be hurt like that.” He says it with so much conviction that a part of Theo really wants to believe it too. He wishes he could let it. 

“What… what do you want from me?” he finally blurts out. It’s the question he’s been thinking since Sam dragged him out that window. He has no idea what the answer will be, but however bad it is, he knows he would rather know now than find out later. It doesn’t matter what it is. He’ll do it. “I can do whatever you want,” he adds in a hurry. “I can do chores, I can please you however you’d like. You can hurt me, if it pleases you,” he continues, though he’s not sure John would get any enjoyment out of that. Sam maybe… “Please, let me stay. I’ll do anything. Please don’t… don’t sell me.” 

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. You can stay here as long as you want. You’re our guest and we don’t need anything in return, okay?” He continues to pet Theo’s hair as he tells him this, and it’s the most reassuring thing he’s heard in years. He wants to take a snapshot of the feeling, to treasure it forever in some hidden corner of his heart. 

“When you’re ready, we might need to ask you some questions about the people who kept you, so we can make sure they get what they deserve for what they’ve done to you,” he adds, but Theo knows it’s not a threat towards him. John seems to really hate his former Master, and if that’s how he feels, Theo can try to hate him too, for John. 

“But for now, we just want to get you checked out and make sure you’re okay. Will you let us take you to the hospital?” He tilts his head and Theo realises that he really could say no, and John would listen. Theo nods. 

[mnetruinedmylife]

Untitled Gang AU

This is just my need to write an AKB Gang AU combined with shameless Yuunaa. It’s written in mostly stream of consciousness writing, so the topic jumps to whatever connection my brain jumps to, it can get a little disorientating at times.  It’s also kind of unfinished, but I didn’t want it sitting in a file collecting dust, so here it is.

Warnings: this piece includes: mentions of violence, though nothing too graphic; traumatic flashbacks; mildly sexually charged scenes, though nothing truly nsfw.

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The town of Akihabara is a place of conflict and contradictions.

Located in the central ward of Tokyo, it has the highest rate of organised crime activity in all of Japan. The police will claim that there are no gangs in Akihabara – after all, the businesses are flourishing and the tourists come in droves, there is no safer place. Yet, every denizen knows that the infamous 48 Gangs originated in there, and it’s even a point of pride for a few.

If the press interviews a resident, they’ll swear up and down that they’ve never felt safer anywhere else. But more than once has a tourist revealed that they’ve been told by locals scuttling about to either stay on the nearby streets north and west of Akihabara train station after dark, or else not go wandering about at all.

The Akihabara sect of the 48 Gangs themselves are full of conflicting information too.

Sometimes, when the residents manage to acknowledge that they exist, one may hear them whisper in hushed tones about how they’re vigilantes, heroes who do the right thing when the police can’t or won’t. But in the same breath they’d tell you to stay away from one particular café in the Hanaokacho district, and the theatre near Taito station. The members of the AKB sect themselves would laugh themselves sick at the term, all the while shooting a defenceless man in the head without batting an eye, because they’re not heroes. They have their own goals, their own plans, most of which revolve around protecting their own, their members, their family, and if some things extend towards heroism, than that’s just a coincidence, and if some things stretch closer to the other side, well, that’s fine too.

Word on the street says it starts during the days when multiple factions ran rampant all over Tokyo. When kids were recruited right out of high school (and some still in it) into the Project gangs and prostitution rings. Some say a man rose up to create a force that could clean up the streets and keep the gang violence where it belongs – between gangs and not involving civilians.

Aki-P they called him, the man who swept up the capitol’s underbelly.

People say also he’s the same man who created the Sakamichi Syndicate and started the bloodiest turf war Tokyo has ever seen. Some say he did it because he gave up on the AKB sect, when they started losing their way and becoming more dangerous than the gangs they rose up against. Others say he did it after losing control of the 48 Gangs, that he was ousted from the inner circle and so created a rival faction as vengeance.

No matter how different the stories get, they all have one similarity. The 48 Gangs are dangerous, the sect in Akihabara doubly so, and anyone who gets in their way, or harms anyone in their sphere, or dares to challenge their grip over Tokyo, take heed and be on the lookout.

They’ll come for you.

__________________________________________________________)

Okada Nana is fifteen when she boards a train from Kanagawa to Tokyo and doesn’t look back.

Kojima Mako and Nishino Miki are similar ages, and in similar situations when they run into each other, having decided to pickpocket the same mark, and the three of them decide to run together. The streets are a little less intimidating with two sets of eyes to watch your back, and two bodies to keep you warm at night.

Mako’s the devious one, with her heart-melting gummy smiles and disarming laugh, she’s able to charm any passer-by and con them out of their hard earned money.

“Sorry sir, I’ve lost my parents, can I please borrow three hundred yen for the train fare?”

It works more often than not, there’s never a shortage of businessmen willing to play hero and help out a stranded school girl. And if she steals the rest of their wallet when they’re not looking, well they usually don’t notice until it’s too late.

Miki is bolder. She takes items right off of shelves when she walks by, and isn’t afraid to go after other street kids who wander into the space they’ve claimed as their own.

Sometimes she’s a little too bold, “Let’s get lunch from there.”

And that’s where Nana comes in. She’s the cautious one, the voice of reason, the brains behind the operations as small and simple as it is.

“We can’t go in there,” Nana hisses, grabbing the other two by the backs of their collars before they do something stupid.

“Why not? The foods cheaper in there than anywhere else in the city,” Miki points out, not unreasonably.

But Nana is adamant, “Yeah for good reason. That café belongs to AKB.”

The innocuous street side café about a minute’s walk from Akihabara station is something of a local legend in the area. Anyone above thirty avoids it like the plague because of the rumours of it being owned by the 48 Gangs, or perhaps it simply just serves the members of AKB. The little number 48 carved into the brickwork above the café doors is a symbol of that.

However, it is popular amongst the youth of the city for that very reason. With many hanging out there to bask in the rebellious feeling of danger, or on adventurous dares from friends. Whispers fly about AKB recruiting from the youth who flock there. A few yankees even claim to be initiates recruited from there. They’re all bald faced liars. No prospective recruit would be stupid enough to loiter in a known gang-owned establishment.  

A few have, however, been known to have been recruited around the station. Our little trio of street rats like to linger around the area, pickpocketing the stupid school kids, the otakus heading to the Gundam café across the street, and the rich folk visiting the golf club on the other side of the block.

They do that for months before they’re approached by a member of AKB.  

Okada Nana is sixteen when Minegishi Minami approaches her and her friends with an offer they can’t refuse.

Her first job is with Mako and two other recruits. They’re tasked with the simple job of delivering a package and Nana has to wonder what’s so important that there needs to be four of them for this. Or maybe it’s not so important, considering there are four barely trained, fresh faced initiates on the job.

They scuttle about the train line, Mako skipping along merrily, Hikari following behind quietly, with Nana and Ayana bickering the whole way. They deliver the package without any issues worth mentioning to one Itano Tomomi at an upscale bar in the heart of the city. It turns out to be cold hard cash, and Nana goes white at the thought of possibly losing that much money. Or rather, what the gang would do to them if they lost that much money.

The next few jobs follow in a similar manner. Nana gets to know the names and quirks of her fellow runners. Innocent, seemingly useless things like:

Iwatate Saho is stronger than she looks.

“Oh god he’s unconscious…are you planning on joining Team K?”

“No, too dangerous. I’m thinking Team B. You know, manning the cafes and the casinos and stuff.”

Mogi Shinobu doesn’t do so well under pressure.

“What the-!? Mogi-san why didn’t you just shoot him?”

“I panicked!”

“I can’t believe you want to join Team A, you’ll die in a week.”

Murayama Yuiri is stupidly pretty.

“Yuiri-chan…We’re half an hour in the wrong direction. You had the map upside down.”

“Sorry! I’m sorry, usually Naa-chan corrects me when I do this, I mean, I’m not blaming Naa-chan! It’s just she…Naa-chan what are you looking at?”

“Err nothing. Nothing, I got distracted.”

Takashima Yurina has somewhat of a crush on her.

“Naa-chan I bought drinks.”

“Where’s one for the rest of us?”

Uchiyama Natsuki knows a ridiculous amount about the law.

“Article 13: every individual has the liberty of protecting his or her own personal information from being disclosed to a third party or made public without good reason.”

“Somehow I doubt beating him up would fly as ‘taking the liberty to protect our property’.”

Apparently they do a somewhat of a good job, because Nana finds herself selected as part of a joint project between all the 48 Gangs. She, Mako and Miki are the representatives of the Akihabara sect and Nana wonders how the hell the upper echelons decided on that.  

“So, what are your specialties?” somehow it falls to Nana to lead this ragtag group.

The Namba sect representative Shibuya Nagisa is actually the oldest (by a few months) but she’s no more experienced than they are – Nana finds out later, the reason why all of the sects sent their freshest recruits. It’s all internal politics, and a mission too important to turn down, but not important enough to ensure successful. In short, they’re expendable and they weren’t even expected to make it home.

The job is in Tokyo, so Nana takes the reigns by default.

She finds that leadership suits her.

It feels like a natural extension of what she was already doing when they were just three idiots on the street, planning operations meticulously so that they come back in one piece, and utilising the skills of her teammates in the most efficient way possible. There are three more idiots to account for now, but she is familiarised with them soon enough.

Nagisa is the strongest in hand-to-hand combat amongst the seven of them, Sakae’s Ryoha the most accurate shot, Hakata’s Meru joins Miki in being the loud charismatic distraction, while Mako and Hakata’s Mio are swift and sneaky with their hands. It’s the perfect team for covert operations. Which makes sense, considering they’re being sent south of the Kanda river, into Sakamichi territory to gather intel on the new gang that’s popped up by the Roppongi hills.

It seems like a simple mission.

Get in, look around for suspicious activity, get out. There isn’t supposed to be confrontation or combat involved.

But no plan survives contact with the enemy, and no one cares about supposed to be’s when there are guns pointed at their heads.

When she’s desperately wrestling with a knife that wants nothing more than to dig into her flesh, when she’s slammed against the wall, breath knocked out of her, when a pair of hands wrap around her throat and squeeze, and her lungs scream as her legs thrash uselessly underneath, her vision blurs, and the terrifying realisation that she won’t actually get out of this situation alive sets in – oh god is that Miki screaming she hears in the background? – the air is rushing out her lungs and –

“Naa-chan. Naa-chan! Snap out of it, you’re not there anymore.”

Nana eyes fly open, as she dashes up, heart still thudding in her chest. She has to make sure everyone’s okay, what happened to Miki, and oh god Mio was stabbed, and where the hell is Mako, and they lost contact with Ryoha half an hour in, and Nagisa is unconscious, and no matter how deep a breath she takes, it doesn’t seem to be enough. Her chest burns, she can’t breathe and – a hand lands on her shoulder, the accompanying scent of hinoki pine only just barely manages to stamp down the instinct to lash out.

Yuiri’s concerned face drags her back to reality, “It’s okay. You’re home. You’re not there, you’re safe now,” to the little hole in the wall apartment she has (firmly on the AKB side of the Kanda river), to the bed she’s sharing with the pretty distraction on her team. Though, perhaps that would be unkind to say, even if she refuses to think of what they’re doing as anything more than just stress relief, blowing off steam.  

Belatedly Nana realises that she has a death grip on Yuiri’s upper arm, she loosens her grip but doesn’t let go, “S-sorry,” her hands are shaking, she’s trembling and she can’t get it to stop, and Yuiri’s murmuring nonsense things in her ear.

“Why are you sorry? I’m sorry, I’m such an idiot,” Yuiri apologises with a grimace. They’ve established early on that Nana does not like hands anywhere near her neck, that one horrendous mission spoiled that forever, but sometimes Yuiri forgets, and the resulting post-traumatic flashbacks are the most mood-killing thing possible in the bedroom, or sometimes out of it too.

The first time it happens is in a street by the AKB theatre of all places. It’s after a job with just the two of them, when they’re both high on adrenaline, breaths heavy, eyes glazed, still in the heat of violence, fresh from a near-death scuffle. Nana’s not sure who jumps whom first, but suddenly they’re in each other’s space, hands tangled in hair, and tongue against teeth. Yuiri tastes like citrus that night, some kind of lemon mixed, and the deeper she kisses her the more she can taste the metallic tang of blood and the salt of sweat mixed in.

Nana closes her eyes tightly, a low, throaty moan of approval rumbles deep in her throat as her back hits the wall with a light thud, the moan turning markedly louder as the elder girl’s fingers slip inside the waistband of her shorts and shoves them down over her hips. Strong, forceful fingers dig into her and pull her in even tighter as her mouth is once again claimed in a desperate, hungry kiss.

“Yuu-chan,” she moans, gasping at the feel of the other girl’s tongue against her throat.

“Yes?” Yuiri’s lips curls into a smile against Nana’s, she groans low and deep as Yuiri’s hips grinds into her own.

“Don’t stop.”

It’s easier with Yuiri, they understand each other in ways her other teammates simply don’t. Maybe it’s because the most of the others are like what Nana was at first, just street kids and lowly thieves dragged in way over their heads. When Nana and Mako come back from that FUBAR recon mission with their hands soaked in blood, the others look at them different. With wariness in their eyes, with guarded stances, with hints of fear in their faces.

Mako’s stupid grin thaws their hesitance soon enough. But Nana has never been that kind of charismatic. Not in the way that makes other at ease. She’s always been harder, more serious, and that only makes her look much more intimidating now.

“You’re still here?” Nana raises an eyebrow when she realises that Yuiri is still lingering about. These days, most of her team disappear faster than a blink of an eye the moment the job is done, not wanting to be around for longer than necessary.

But Yuiri only looks at Nana like she’s the one being unreasonable, “Don’t we usually go for kakigori after a job?”

“You want to have desserts with me? What, not afraid I’ll snap and kill you?” Nana asks, sadly only half sarcastically, because with the way the rest of the team treat her, it seems that’s exactly what they’re thinking.  

The other girl snorts and actually has the audacity to chuckle, “You’re going to have do a lot more than be traumatised to scare me. I’m sure I’ve killed more people than you.”

Yuiri wasn’t some street kid when she got recruited. She was born into this world, her family neck-deep in the underbelly of Japan, and she’s no stranger to violence. There’s only one other like that on their team, Nana would’ve overlooked Mion entirely if Yuiri hadn’t pointed her out.

“You can always tell when someone’s killed before,” Yuiri says, “It’s in the eyes.”

The months blur into years, and before Nana knows it most of her team have the same eyes, the ones who are still alive anyway. The ones who are left split off into the different teams of AKB eventually. Mako, Ayana, Mogi and Komiharu are sent to Team K, with their dangerous combat orientated jobs and Nana just hopes they keep coming home. Saho and Saki are off in the relatively safer B, the front jobs, manning the café and the casinos and the above-board stations. Yukari and Mion end up in A, and Nana hopes beyond hope that they don’t lose themselves in there.

Nana and Yuri themselves never leave 4. They’re the ones chosen to train up the newbies, and she has no idea who thought that is a good idea. She never actually does anything too important in the gang – up until the moment she accidentally founds an entirely new sect.

She’d been in Fukuoka visiting Mio and Meru, and it’s in Hiroshima, on her way back to Tokyo that Nana manages to get herself recognised and chased. She hated cults with a passion. Why did they have a problem with her anyway? It’s not like the 48 Gangs had territory claimed in Hiroshima –

Ow.

She falls off the fence the she’s attempting to climb over and lands on her back with a dull thud. The grass is soft at least. She spends a few moments just staring up at the night sky, it’s actually quite breathtaking when you’re far away enough from the city lights to appr—

“Are you okay?”

Oh, there’s a kid in pink and purple. A teenager really. Nana can’t tell ages anymore.

“…m’fine. Sorry didn’t mean to land in your backyard,” she says. An apartment complex’s backyard anyway, she realises when she sits up. It’s a rundown building that’s clearly not in official use. It appears there are kids squatting in it.

It’s difficult to tell in the dark, but when Nana squints she can make out maybe two more teens peeking out from behind a window.

“Wanna come inside?” the girl asks, and Nana really really shouldn’t.

A gunshot sounds in the air though, and Nana quickly scrambles to follow the kid inside. Being noble is all well and good, but it definitely doesn’t beat being alive.

When Nana awakens the next morning, she hears furious whisperings back and forth between the teens – and there’s clearly more of them this morning than there was last night.

“—it’s dangerous, she’s clearly a member of the 48 Gangs! You saw that tattoo!” an unknown voice hisses, and Nana wonders when and how they saw the little 48 tattoo on the back of her neck. That’s not usually visible and she’s usually a light enough sleeper to wake up if they touch her.

“Yeah, that means she can help us!” that’s Chiho, one of the girls she remembers half-heartedly greeting the night before. The one with the bruises on her face.

“We can’t trust a gang member!”

“So what else are we going to do? They took Yumirin, we’ll never get her back ourselves!”

Nana’s always had a soft spot for stupid kids. It’s probably why they never took her off Team 4, and how she finds herself hopping all over the setouchi region, rescuing girls from a fox worshipping cult.

Girls who somehow end up forming the Setouchi sect of the 48 Gangs – Sashihara-san comes down from Fukuoka to make it official and everything.

Mogi never lets her forget it.

“Hey Naa-chan, remember the time you went to visit Mio and Meru and ended up playing prince charming and rescuing ten damsels in distress?”  

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Might finish it later, might not. Who knows...