#top 10 electric car companies

[cybervehiclebuilding]

Pravaig DEFY SUV India: A Comprehensive Review of Design, Price, Range, Features, Specs & More

The Pravaig Defy SUV emerges as a pioneering creation in India’s automotive industry amidst the gradual global shift toward Electric Vehicles (EVs). Crafted meticulously to combine efficiency, reliability, and style, this innovative electric car beckons to those embracing the electric revolution while offering a compelling choice for both prospective EV buyers and the merely curious about this transformative mode of transportation.

Unveiled on November 25, 2022, in India, the Pravaig Defy EV epitomizes an efficient and dependable daily mode of transport that aligns with the safety standards of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles while significantly reducing carbon footprints. The SUV offers an impressive array of features, including sleek design elements, all-wheel drive, spacious interiors, comfortable seating, and an unwavering commitment to safety — all in a single variant, providing a streamlined choice for those venturing into the realm of electric driving.

The Defy’s exterior presents an angular and bold styling, blending rugged aesthetics with subtle crossover elements, creating what Pravaig aptly terms “brutal sophistication.” From the sharp front-end cuts to the panoramic fixed roof, this SUV exudes an aerodynamic design boasting a drag coefficient of 0.33. Additionally, its 18-inch alloy wheels and optional “aero covers” not only enhance its range but also contribute to the SUV’s highway driving efficiency.

Step inside, and sustainability takes the center stage within the Defy’s interior, showcasing sustainable fabrics crafted from recycled materials like PET and vegan leather upholstery. The cabin offers a seamless blend of technology and comfort with a 15.6-inch touchscreen display, onboard gaming capabilities, 3D sound from Devialet, and separate climate control zones for front and rear passengers. The SUV’s security measures, including a unique key card and a robust data privacy policy, reinforce the user’s peace of mind.

The Defy’s safety suite encompasses adaptive LED headlamps, a 360-degree camera system, and a 77GHz solid-state radar. Meanwhile, its dedicated skateboard platform, housing a 90.9kWh lithium-ion battery, positions the Pravaig Defy at the forefront of sustainable electric powertrains. The dual electric motor setup delivers an impressive 407 horsepower and 620 Nm of torque, offering an exhilarating driving experience comparable to established EV SUVs.

Charging options are versatile, allowing owners to opt for home charging using an optional 7.2kW home charger or rapid charging at 150kW DC stations. These charging solutions, coupled with a range of over 500 kilometers, cement the Defy’s practicality for daily usage.

Pravaig’s emphasis on user data security and a comprehensive service network spanning across 34,000 PIN codes in India complements the Defy’s overall offering, ensuring a reliable and customer-centric ownership experience.

In conclusion, the Pravaig Defy India spearheads India’s electric mobility sector, combining striking design, sustainability, robust powertrain, and user-centric features into a package that epitomizes the future of electric vehicles.

[top10trendslist]

Top 10 Longest-Range Electric Cars In 2024

Top 10 Longest-Range Electric Cars In 2024 | Highest-Range EV Cars:- Ready to hit the road without worries? Whether it's your daily commute or a fun adventure, having a car means freedom. But if you're thinking about getting an electric car, you might stress about

which car has the highest EV range?

But guess what? You're not alone!  In a recent survey by Cars.com lots of folks – like 68% of people thinking about buying an electric car and 63% of those who already have one – care a lot about how far it can go.  Read More

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #10

March 15-22 2024

The EPA announced new emission standards with the goal of having more than half of new cars and light trucks sold in the US be low/zero emission by 2032. One of the most significant climate regulations in the nation’s history, it'll eliminate 7 billion tons of CO2 emissions over the next 30 years. It's part of President Biden's goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 on the road to eliminating them totally by 2050.

President Biden canceled nearly 6 Billion dollars in student loan debt. 78,000 borrowers who work in public sector jobs, teachers, nurses, social workers, firefighters etc will have their debt totally forgiven. An additional 380,000 public service workers will be informed that they qualify to have their loans forgiven over the next 2 years. The Biden Administration has now forgiven $143.6 Billion in student loan debt for 4 million Americans since the Supreme Court struck down the original student loan forgiveness plan last year.

Under Pressure from the administration and Democrats in Congress Drugmaker AstraZeneca caps the price of its inhalers at $35. AstraZeneca joins rival Boehringer Ingelheim in capping the price of inhalers at $35, the price the Biden Admin capped the price of insulin for seniors. The move comes as the Federal Trade Commission challenges AstraZeneca’s patents, and Senator Bernie Sanders in his role as Democratic chair of the Senate Health Committee investigates drug pricing.

The Department of Justice sued Apple for being an illegal monopoly in smartphones. The DoJ is joined by 16 state attorneys general. The DoJ accuses Apple of illegally stifling competition with how its apps work and seeking to undermining technologies that compete with its own apps.

The EPA passed a rule banning the final type of asbestos still used in the United States. The banning of chrysotile asbestos (known as white asbestos) marks the first time since 1989 the EPA taken action on asbestos, when it passed a partial ban. 40,000 deaths a year in the US are linked to asbestos

President Biden announced $8.5 billion to help build advanced computer chips in America. Currently America only manufactures 10% of the world's chips and none of the most advanced next generation of chips. The deal with Intel will open 4 factories across 4 states (Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, and Oregon) and create 30,000 new jobs. The Administration hopes that by 2030 America will make 20% of the world's leading-edge chips.

President Biden signed an Executive Order prioritizing research into women's health. The order will direct $200 million into women's health across the government including comprehensive studies of menopause health by the Department of Defense and new outreach by the Indian Health Service to better meet the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native Women. This comes on top of $100 million secured by First Lady Jill Biden from ARPA-H.

Democratic Senators Bob Casey, Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown, and Jacky Rosen (all up for re-election) along with Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, and Sheldon Whitehouse, introduced the "Shrinkflation Prevention Act" The Bill seeks to stop the practice of companies charging the same amount for products that have been subtly shrunk so consumers pay more for less.

The Department of Transportation will invest $45 million in projects that improve Bicyclist and Pedestrian Connectivity and Safety

The EPA will spend $77 Million to put 180 electric school buses onto the streets of New York City This is part of New York's goal to transition its whole school bus fleet to electric by 2035.

The Senate confirmed President Biden's nomination of Nicole Berner to the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Berner has served as the general counsel for America's largest union, SEIU, since 2017 and worked in their legal department since 2006. On behalf of SEIU she's worked on cases supporting the Affordable Care Act, DACA, and against the Defense of Marriage act and was part of the Fight for 15. Before working at SEIU she was a staff attorney at Planned Parenthood. Berner's name was listed by the liberal group Demand Justice as someone they'd like to see on the Supreme Court. Berner becomes one of just 5 LGBT federal appeals court judges, 3 appointed by Biden. The Senate also confirmed Edward Kiel and Eumi Lee to be district judges in New Jersey and Northern California respectively, bring the number of federal judges appointed by Biden to 188.

[weareeternalnerds]

I don't have a big following and I don't expect this to go crazy viral but wanted to get this out there. I'm in western North carolina we are more than 300 miles from the coast above 2000 ft in elevation. Hurricanes don't devestate the mountains like this, The mountains usually get some rain maybe a small bit of flooding, maybe lose power for a day 2 at most. This is unprecedented. Not to mention we had a front go through that dropped between 8-15 inches of rain before Helene even got to us. Places were already flooding and then helene dropped another 8- 15 inches of rain. My local lake rose 14 feet that's 10 foot over max capacity. Evacuation orders came at 3 and 530am morning of, to late to be of use. When we say whole towns have been washed away we aren't exaggerating at all. Whole towns are just gone. So many people are without power, internet and cell reception we still don't know anything really. There are so many missing and dead and no one can give an accurate total because we still don't know the extent of the damage. The news says 166 dead but just 1 city still has over 600 missing. As people get cell service and internet the totals will rise rapidly. You can see bodies washing down the river *multiple rivers*, through parking lots and in tops of trees. They aren't reporting it. They've brought in mobile morgue and are filling them up and not trying to identify bodies at this time. Whole towns are completely gone and many others are completely cut-off due to landslides. Bridges, roads, and driveways are either washed away or damaged so badly they cannot be used. In some places the land where the road was is gone and cannot be rebuilt. Some are covered in trees and mud and just everything to the point it's going to take weeks to clear the road enough for a car to pass through. Driveways and roads are gone and people are stranded with no way to get help, no way to get to the supply drop offs. 911 was down for days. Private citizens and fema are trying to bring in helicopters to help but there is no where for them to land in the mountains. The terrain is just too difficult and unstable. Elevation changes too quickly and nowhere to land for emergency landings. I personally know people who have been told they likely won't get running water again for at least a year. The infrastructure is gone, the reservoir that supplies the area is gone, the pipes that carried water throughout the area have been washed down the mountain and are so damaged it can't be used even if it was recovered. The electric companies can't get out to fix the power because of impassable roads. So many lines and poles are down with trees covering the lines and roads. People are being told they won't get power back on until the end of October, beginning of November. Water treatment facilities are completely underwater and shut down so there is no water either and when it does come back it'll be unusable. Stores are either out of everything or about to be. Looting has started. People are out of medical supplies and can't keep their prescriptions cold even if they had them. People on life saving equipment and oxygen are just watching their batteries run out hopelessly. Fema and military are telling people who come to help to not come and to leave. We still need the help especially in our mountain communities. WE STILL NEED HELP.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (March 10-16, 2024)

"It looks as though its Japanese producers, assisted by a stray American—fellow named Terry Morse, who is an alumnus of Hollywood's Poverty Row—made a close study of the old film, "King Kong," then tried to do substantially the same thing with a miniature of a dinosaur made of gum-shoes and about $20 worth of toy buildings and electric trains." —Bosley Crowther, reviewing Godzilla, King of the Monsters! for The New York Times

"The special effects are hardly special, but hey, what do you expect in a Japanese monster movie?" —Tony Kiss, reviewing Godzilla 1985 for the Asheville Citizen-Times

"Sure it's bad filmmaking. Sure it's a guy—actor Tsutomu Kitagawa—clad in a nearly vintage latex Godzilla getup and stomping through Tokyo, knocking down cardboard mini-buildings and upending toy-sized cars with his gnarly feet. But that's the point." —Bob Longino, reviewing Godzilla 2000 for The Palm Beach Post

Godzilla Minus One won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards, sending a stunned Takashi Yamazaki (VFX supervisor), Kiyoko Shibuya (VFX director), Masaki Takahashi (3D CG director), and Tatsuji Nojima (VFX artist/compositor) to the Dolby Theatre stage. Said Yamazaki, reading from prepared comments in English, "To someone so far from Hollywood, the possibility of standing on this stage seemed out of reach." I could scarcely believe what I was watching myself, despite having given a presentation for a Wikizilla stream mere hours before on Minus One's very real chances of beating more expensive American contenders. Everything I said about its nomination goes triple for its victory; we'll be talking about this one forever. To those of us who remember when Godzilla was basically a joke in the American consciousness (including my Wikizilla colleague Darthlord1997, who had a speech of his own prepared), it's the ultimate vindication.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Takashi Yamazaki directed an ad for Ajinomoto about food waste which released this week. It features the unsubtly-named Foodlosslla attacking Tokyo and facing an Ultraman-esque defense team. As with Minus One, the ad's visuals are a clever combination of high-end (a detailed CG monster) and low-end (dropping plastic fruit on top of fleeing extras).

Last year, the 4Kids Flashback podcast interviewed Mike Pecoriello, producer and writer for the company's renditions of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Ultraman Tiga, and he delivered some major news about the latter. Although only 23 episodes of Tiga aired in the U.S., 4Kids dubbed the whole thing. At the time of the podcast's recording, he thought he made copies of all the episodes, but while that doesn't seem to be the case, he did provide 4Kids Flashback with the series finale. It's a good deal more serious than the episodes which aired, with the quips kept to a minimum. Let the hunt for the rest commence!

SciFi Japan has details on Kaiju Yarrow, a Japanese comedy doubling as a tourism ad for the city of Seki. The premise is very self-aware:

KAIJU YARROW! is set in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture. One day, 30 year old Ichiro Yamada, who works in the tourism department of a government office, is ordered by the mayor to produce a "local film.'' However, Yamada, didn't want to produce the typical "mediocre local movies'' that are everywhere nowadays, so he comes up with the idea of making a "monster movie'', which has been his life-long dream. However, his dreams develops into a major incident involving the city government...! Will Yamada be able to complete his life goal of making a monster movie??

Junichiro Yagi will direct; YouTuber Gunpee will star. Unknown quantities both when it comes to kaiju, so how this will turn out is anyone's guess.

Tickets for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have gone on sale in the U.S.—and as a reminder, the brief GKIDS theatrical release of The End of Evangelion wraps tomorrow.

[floridaboiler]

What Is The Main Ingredient of WD-40?

Before you read to the end, does anybody know what the main ingredient of WD-40?

No Cheating.....

WD-40 ~ Who knew!

I had a neighbour who bought a new pickup.

I got up very early one Sunday morning and saw that someone had spray

painted red all around the sides of this beige truck (for some unknown

reason).

I went over, woke him up, and told him the bad news.

He was very upset and was trying to figure out what to do ....

probably nothing until Monday morning, since nothing was open.

Another neighbour came out and told him to get his WD-40 and clean it off.

It removed the unwanted paint beautifully and did not harm his paint

job that was on the truck. I was impressed!

WD-40 who knew?

"Water Displacement #40".

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and

degreaser to protect missile parts.

WD-40 was created in 1953, by three technicians at the San Diego

Rocket Chemical Company.

Its name comes from the project that was to find a 'Water

Displacement' Compound.

They were finally successful for a formulation, with their fortieth

attempt, thus WD-40. The 'Convair Company' bought it in bulk to

protect their atlas missile parts.

Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40

that would hurt you.

When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing

that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door. If yours is plastic,

it works just as well as on glass. It's a miracle!

Then try it on your stove-top.

It's now shinier than it's ever been.

You'll be amazed.

WD-40 Uses:

1. Protects silver from tarnishing.

2. Removes road tar and grime from cars.

3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.

4. Gives floor that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery.

5. Keeps the flies off of Cows, Horses, and other Farm Critters.

6. Restores and cleans chalkboards.

7. Removes lipstick stains.

8. Loosens stubborn zippers.

9. Untangles jewellery chains.

10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.

11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.

12. Keeps ceramic/terracotta garden pots from oxidising.

13. Removes tomato stains from clothing.

14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.

15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.

16. Keeps scissors working smoothly.

17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on both home and vehicles doors.

18. It removes that nasty tar and scuff marks from the kitchen

flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to

scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some

windows if you have a lot of marks.

19. Remove those nasty bug guts that will eat away the finish

on your car if not removed quickly!

20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.

21. Lubricates gearshift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on

riding mowers.

22. Rids kids rocking chair and swings of squeaky noises.

23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.

24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close.

25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well

as vinyl bumpers.

26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.

27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.

28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for

easy handling.

29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly.

30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools.

31. Removes grease splatters from stove-tops.

32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging.

33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs.

34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).

35. Removes all traces of duct tape.

36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve

arthritis pain.

37. Florida 's favourite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from

grills and bumpers.'

38. The favourite use in the state of New York , it protects the Statue

of Liberty from the elements.

39. WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you

will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than

the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep

in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing

are not allowed in some states.

40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and

stops the itch.

41. It is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray it on the marks

and wipe with a clean rag.

42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed

and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the

lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone!

43. If you spray it inside a wet distributor cap, it will displace the

moisture, allowing the engine to start.

My discovery, Ants don't like it..................

P.S.

As for that Basic, Main Ingredient.......

Well.... it's FISH OIL....

Now This Is Definitely Worth SHARING!!

[diabolus1exmachina]

Aria FXE 

America is due for a legitimate competitor to the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren, and you’ve never heard of the company that says it is the one to take on those storied brands with an all-wheel drive hybrid-electric 1,150-horsepower. It is the Aria Group, an industrial supplier best known for the high quality of the carbon fiber bodywork it provides Singer for that company’s amazing Porsche 911 builds.Aria will take on the world with the FXE, which  use a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine  from the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Aria claims 720 horsepower for the engine, but that may have been an early estimate, because Chevrolet announced the ZR1 at 755 horsepower. The small block will drive the rear wheels through an 8-speed sequential transaxle, surely from one of the usual suspects in the racing/supercar community such as Xtrac, Hewland, or Graziano.The FXE enjoys another 540 horsepower from the twin electric motors driving the front wheels, which also provide all-wheel drive and regenerative braking to recapture energy. This is powered by a 10 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (about the same capacity as that in the upgraded BMW i8).

Together, they accelerate the FXE to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and to a top speed of 220 mph.

A less expensive FE model will use a naturally aspirated version of the gas engine driving the rear wheels, with no electric motors on the front axle.

In either configuration, Aria’s cars will be a technological tour de force, employing patented new techniques for fabricating its carbon fiber chassis and 3D printing to create various titanium and aluminum parts.

[hirocimacruiser]

This month's car review (from a Navi magazine)

difficult for men

Nissan March Cabriolet (CVT) 1.79 million yen

NISSAN MARCH CABRIOLET

The ``Cabriolet'' has been added to Nissan's ``cash cow'' March, with approximately 300,000 units sold each year around the world.

This model was originally exhibited as a reference at the 31st Tokyo Motor Show, but it was decided to go on sale this time because ``many customers requested that it be commercially available.'' However, it's already been two years since the last motor show, so I can't help but wonder, ``Why now?''

Regarding this, when the current March was announced in 1992, it was declared that there would be no model changes for 10 years. However, if we think about the next five years, we cannot rest on our laurels, so we announced the Cabriolet as the top grade of the March brand, creating a buzz and drawing attention to the March again. This seems to be a more realistic reason.It is produced by Takada Kogyo, a Nissan affiliate company that also produced the previous March-based Be-1 and Pao.

The exterior of the March Cabriolet is quite cute. In addition to simply removing the roof, a light notch was added to the rear end of the body to tighten the buttocks.

It somehow reminds me of the Peugeot 205 cabriolet.

The interior is basically the same as the March, but the seat fabric is modeled after a Milan city map and is exclusive to the Cabriolet. The chic sand beige hood is electric, so it doesn't take much time or effort to open or close it, and it only needs to be locked in two places at the top of the front window. The lowered top fits almost within the waistline of the body, but in order to secure that space, the interior length is about 10cm shorter than that of a hatchback. As a result, the rear seat has just enough space to accommodate two adults.

Unfortunately, the sky was cloudy that day, but it felt great to drive fully open on the highland roads around Risonare Kobuchizawa, which was the base for the test ride. Generally speaking, a 4-seater that opens up has a wide opening, which means that the wind is forced into the cabin, but in the case of the March, the high A-pillar of the tall boy style remains, so the side windows can be opened. Once you raise it up, the wind doesn't really bother you.

The closed-body March is available with two engines, 1ℓ and 1.3ℓ, but only the 1.3ℓ, which produces 79 ps, is available in the Cabriolet. However, due to the reinforcements added to the open body, the vehicle weighs 110kg more than before, so its power performance is on par with the liter version of a hatchback. When you step on the accelerator, the exhaust pipe emits a brave sound, but the speed does not increase as much as that sound. A roll bar (which guarantees safety in the event of a fall) is installed to ensure rigidity.

Although the roof rails (which Nissan calls them ``roof rails'') are still in place, the floor trembles when you go over a large step. Well, in any case, it's not so much that it's a hindrance to driving normally around town.

According to the person in charge of development, the keyword for the development of the March Cabriolet was ``a usable cabriolet.'' To achieve this, we focused on four points: (1) electric soft top, (2) heated glass rear window, (3) 4-seater seating, and (4) trunk-through mechanism. By the way, the Fiat Punto Cabrio, which is seen as a rival, does not have (2), and the Toyota・The Cynos Convertible does not have ① or ④. The price of the Punto is 2.45 million yen, and the advanced grade Cynos is 2.103 million yen. The March on the other hand costs 1.79 million yen for the NCVT specification, so it can be said that the March has the advantage in terms of equipment and price.

Regarding the March Cabriolet, I thought the styling was good and the construction of each part was okay, but to be honest, I felt like it was a little out of place. So, I thought, ``Why is that?'' But in the end, I thought that the March Cabriolet was too cute, or rather, it gave the impression that it was ``for girls.'' It was said to be strong. At least I can't imagine myself, a 30-year-old man, driving one, or rather, I don't really want to imagine it.

March Cabriolet, difficult for men. (Kawanishi)

PIC CAPTIONS

The March Cabriolet has a total length x width x width = 3720 x 1585 x 1430mm, and is 25mm longer and 5mm taller than the closed body. The body color is green, red, and silver as shown in the photo. Regardless of the body color, it is combined with a beige hood. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power steering, front seat double airbags, ABS, and seatbelt pretensioners. The price is 1.79 million yen for the CVT model and 1.69 million yen for the 5MT model.

Photo = Daijiro Gun

Photography cooperation = Quatre Karl 0266-66-2722

[beardedmrbean]

Big taxes will be imposed on imports of electric vehicles from China to the EU after the majority of member states backed the plans.

The move to introduce tariffs aims to protect the European car industry from being undermined by what EU politicians believe are unfair Chinese-state subsidies on its own cars.

Tariffs on electric cars made in China are set to rise from 10% to up to 45% for the next five years, but there have been concerns such a move could raise electric vehicle (EV) prices for buyers.

The decision, which split EU member states such as France and Germany, risks sparking a trade war between Brussels and Beijing, which has condemned the tariffs as protectionist.

China has been counting on high-tech products to help revive its flagging economy and the EU is the largest overseas market for the country's electric car industry.

Its domestic car industry has grown rapidly over the past two decades and its brands, such as BYD, have begun moving into international markets, prompting fears from the likes of the EU that its own companies will be unable to compete with the cheaper prices.

The EU imposed import tariffs of varying levels on different Chinese manufacturers in the summer, but Friday's vote was to decide if they were implemented for the next five years.

The charges were calculated based on estimates of how much Chinese state aid each manufacturer has received following an EU investigation. The European Commission set individual duties on three major Chinese EV brands - SAIC, BYD and Geely.

EU members were divided on tariffs. Germany, whose car manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on exports to China, was against them. Many EU members abstained in the vote.

German carmakers have been vocal in opposition. Volkswagen says tariffs are "the wrong approach".

However, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland were reported to have backed the import taxes. The tariffs proposal could only have been blocked if a qualified majority of 15 members voted against it.

Germany's top industry association, BDI, called on the European Union and China to continue trade talks over tariffs to avoid an "escalating trade conflict".

The European Commission, which held the vote, said the EU and China would "work hard to explore an alternative solution" to the import taxes to address what it called "injurious subsidisation" of Chinese electric vehicles.

China's Commerce Ministry called the decision to impose tariffs "unfair" and "unreasonable", but added the issue could be resolved through negotiations.

The dispute has raised fears among industry groups outside the car sector that they could face retaliatory tariffs from China.

A trade body for the French cognac industry said the French authorities "have abandoned us".

"We do not understand why our sector is being sacrificed in this way."

It said a negotiated solution needed to be found that would "prevent our products from facing a surtax that could exclude them from the Chinese market".

'Serious concerns' over UK sales

Figures show that in August this year, EU registrations of battery-electric cars fell by 43.9% from a year earlier.

In the UK, demand for new electric vehicles hit a new record in September, but orders were mostly driven by commercial deals and by big manufacturer discounts, according to the industry trade body.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said firms had "serious concerns as the market is not growing quickly enough to meet mandated targets".

The industry has warned that drivers need better incentives to buy electric to help manufacturers ahead of the planned ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles. Under the Conservative government the deadline for this ban was pushed back to 2035 from 2030, but Labour has pledged to bring it back to 2030.

Car makers are required to meet electric vehicle sales targets. Under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, at least 22% of vehicles sold this year must be zero-emission, with the target expected to hit 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

Manufacturers that fail to hit quotas could be fined £15,000 per car.

The bosses of several car companies, including BMW, Ford and Nissan, wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Friday saying the industry was likely to miss these targets.

They said economic factors such as higher energy and material costs and interest rates had meant electric cars remained "stubbornly more expensive and consumers are wary of investing". The average cost to buy an electric car in the UK is around £48,000.

They said a "lack of confidence" in the UK’s charging infrastructure was another barrier to encourage people to switch to electric.

[trashyswitch]

A Trade for Oriental Avenue

Michael and Henry are playing a game of Monopoly together. Things get heated when Henry, for some reason, buys Oriental Avenue, which prevents Michael from getting a monopoly. And things turn silly when Henry offers Michael a weird deal...

This fanfic was suggested by @fandom-glitch. I hope you enjoy!

Michael was sitting at the table, looking at Henry as he landed on a blue space. “Vermont Avenue. Guess who’s buying their first blue property?” He said with a smirk. 

Henry chuckled as Michael put two 50’s into the bank. “$100 mundo’s.” Michael said as he took the Vermont card from the deck. 

“What a waste.” Henry muttered with a smirk, looking at the cards he had. He had two brown cards, and a green card so far, and $1080 still. 

“What are you talking about?! You call Vermont Avenue a waste?! What about North Carolina Avenue?!” Michael reacted. “That was $300!” Michael reacted. 

“And it was worth the investment!” Henry reacted. 

“Was it now?” Michael asked. “Now shut up and roll.” Michael told him, giving him the dice. They only had 1 dice, so they were rolling the dice twice to make up for the lack of a second dice piece. “What happened to the second dice for this game, by the way?” Michael asked. 

Henry took the dice and rolled it in his hands. “It was taken out and used for another game, and I ended up giving it away without taking back the dice. So it’s forever missing.” Henry explained. He threw the dice onto the board, and watched as it landed. “Five…” He picked it up and rolled it again. “-and three. Eight.” Henry said as he grabbed his top hat piece. He moved it 8 pieces to the left, making him land on GO. “Yes! I get $200!” Henry declared, taking two $100 bills from the bank. 

Michael chuckled and rolled the dice next. “Three…” Michael picked it up and rolled it again. “and one. Four.” Michael said as he picked up the car piece. Michael moved the car 4 spaces up and over to the right, landing him on the Electric Company space. “Hmmm…” Michael thought for a moment, and looked at the amount of cash he had in his hand. “I think I’ll go for it.” Michael said as he pulled out a $50 bill, and a $100 bill from his hand. “$150 for the Electric Company.” Michael said. 

“What a shock…” Henry joked. 

Michael groaned and hung his head. “Goddammit.” Michael muttered. 

“Watt?” Henry asked with a smirk. 

Michael took out the Electric company card from the deck and showed him the card. “You’re not being very bright.” Michael told him. 

Henry laughed. “Woooow.” He said as he took the dice from Michael. He rolled the dice, surprisingly getting a two. “Is it two late to remind you who the pun master is?” Henry asked. 

Michael took the dice and rolled it. He got a four. “Fun fact: Puns happen to be my four-te.” Michael told him. 

Henry rolled his eyes and moved his top hat piece 6 times up. The spot he landed on, made him smirk widely. “How pissed would you be if I bought Oriental Avenue?” Henry asked, stopping the pun game for a moment. 

Michael widened his eyes. “Don’t.” He warned. 

Henry pulled out a $50 bill. 

“Don’t you dare!” Michael warned. 

He pulled out a $20 bill. 

“I will destroy you if you take my monopoly!” Michael warned. 

He pulled out another $20 bill. “Not if we just trade.” Henry told him. 

Michael gave Henry the biggest, most evil glare he could, trying his absolute best to convince him NOT to buy Oriental Avenue. 

Henry slowly grabbed the yellow $10 bill…

“UNCLE HENRY, I SWEAR TO-” 

Henry put the $10 bill in with the rest of the cash, and placed it into the bank. And just as fast, he grabbed the deck of properties and started shuffling through them. “It’s too late, Michael.” He pulled out the light blue card and slapped it onto the table. “I have Oriental Avenue.” Henry declared. 

Michael looked at Henry with defeat. How DARE he prevent him from getting a monopoly! That’s so unfair! What the hell! 

Michael growled and picked up the dice. “Gimme that, greedy bugger.” Michael muttered. 

Henry laughed, finding Michael’s British language to be both identical to his father’s, and also hilarious. “Ohoho my god you have no idea!” Henry laughed. 

Michael blew into his hand, and threw the dice. “Four.” Michael rolled the dice again, and threw it onto the table. “Three.” Michael said. He grabbed his car piece and started tapping his piece across the board seven spaces over. “New York Avenue.” Michael said. “How stupid would I be to take it?” Michael asked. 

Henry rolled his eyes. “I mean, you’ve wasted a lot of your money already. Minus well keep going.” Henry said. 

Michael gave Henry an annoyed glare. “Says the one who bought Oriental Avenue for NO REASON!” Michael yelled. 

“Do you wanna trade? Cause I’ll gladly trade you.” Henry asked. 

“YES.” Michael yelled back. 

“Alright! Alright, I’ll trade!” Henry grabbed the Oriental Avenue card and placed it in the middle. “But it’s irreversible.” Henry said. “And no counter offers.” Henry told him. 

“No counter offers?” Michael asked. 

“Noooo counter offers.” Henry clarified. “Done. What were you suggesting?” Michael asked, not even realizing what he was doing.

“I’ll give you Oriental Avenue, and $300 for…” Henry placed the $300 onto the table with the card. “5 minutes to tickle you.” Henry told him. 

Michael’s face went from focused, to shock in a matter of seconds. “...I’m sorry, what?” He asked. 

“Oriental Avenue and $300 for 5 minutes to tickle you.” Henry told him. 

Michael sat back. “...You have got to be kidding me.” Michael muttered. 

Henry laughed. “I’m not! I’m not kidding at all.” Henry said. 

Michael closed his eyes as he realized something horrifying: “...And I agreed to no counter offers.” Michael muttered, before rubbing his nose. “Dammit.” He muttered. 

Henry laughed a little more as he crossed his arms. “So:” Henry looked at him with a smirk. “Deal? Or no deal?” Henry asked. 

Michael looked at Oriental Avenue…and the $300. It was not a bad deal, honestly. It was actually more in his own favor than in Henry’s favor. He could’ve done only Oriental Avenue for the 5 minutes of tickles, but no! He threw in $300 more dollars. And that would be enough to put him back in the thousands again. Michael really needed both those things…but he didn’t want to have to be tickled for them…

But…it would seem he had no other choice. 

Michael finally gave in. “Deal.” Michael said. 

“Deal?!” Henry reacted, holding his fists up eagerly. 

“Deal.” Michael said. 

“YES!” Henry got up onto his feet and pushed Michael down onto the carpet. He pulled out his phone, and pulled up the timer. “Alright. 5 minutes starts…” Henry clicked the button. “NOW.” 

Henry put the phone down as quickly as he could, before digging his fingers into the ribs on Michael’s back. Michael widened his eyes and covered his mouth, squeezing his eyes shut as giggles filled his lungs. “aaAACK- Kkkk-” Michael shook his head, refusing to laugh at first. Henry rolled his eyes and sighed. “Well if you’re gonna cheat, I minus well just do my worst.” Henry said before blowing a raspberry onto the right side of his ribs. Michael squealed and squeaked, before losing control of his laughter. “BWAAAAAHAHAHAhahahahahaha! Hehehehenryhyhyhy WAHAIHIHIHIT!” Michael shouted. 

“Nope! No waiting. Just tickling and laughter.” Henry said somewhat quickly. “I only have 10 minutes, so I’d better make every second count.” Henry told himself out loud. “Now how ticklish is your whole rib cage?” Henry asked before skittering on both sides of Michael’s front, lower rib cage first. 

Michael squeaked and cackled helplessly, trying and failing to push Henry off. “THIHIHIS IHIS UNFAHAHAHAIRRRRR!” Michael yelled. 

Henry smirked. “Remember the deal? Oriental Avenue and $300?” Henry told him before moving his hands up to the middle of Michael’s ribcage, right on the abs area. 

Michael threw his head back and giggled a bit more higher-pitched. “EEEEEhehehehehehe! HAhahahahaha! *snort* Leheheheave myhyhy ahabs alohohohone!” Michael ordered. 

Henry chuckled and moved to the middle sides of Michael’s ribs. “But then I’d be wasting my 5 minutes!” Henry argued playfully. “Now: I wonder if I can still play a bit of piano on your ribs.” Henry told him. 

“WAHAIT- NAHAHAHAHA- NOHO PIAHAHANOOHOHOOO!” HAHAHAhahahaha!” Michael yelled. 

Henry laughed. “Didn’t your Mom used to do this?” Henry asked, starting to play chords with his left hand on Michael’s right rib cage, while playing a ‘melody’ with his right hand on Michael’s left rib cage. 

Michael squealed and snorted, clenching his fists as he tried not to hit Henry in the process. “aAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! AAAHEEEHEEEHEEHEEHEEHEHHEEE!” Michael giggled, dropping his head back onto the ground. 

“Oh yeah! I forgot certain spots make different sounds!” Henry reacted as he moved both his hands up to Michael’s upper ribcage, close to the armpits. 

Michael’s wiggles started right up again, as his laughter changed up completely. He was now snorting every 10 seconds, and cackling through his clenched teeth. “EEEHEHEHEHEHEE! HEHEHEHEHEHEHE- IHIHIT’S TOHOHOO MUHUCH- YOU’REKILLING MEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!” Michael shouted. 

“Too much, you say?” Henry asked. “Too much to handle?” Henry asked. “Too much to handle for another…” Henry looked at the time. “3 minutes and 7 seconds?” Henry asked. 

Wait, WHAT?! Michael thought. THAT’S HOW LONG IT’S BEEN?! Michael thought more. 

“YOHOHOU’RE BEHEEEING UHUHUNFAHAHAHAIR!” Michael yelled. 

“No I’m not! I’m making this 100% fair!” Henry reacted. “We agreed to Oriental Avenue and $300 so I could tickle you for 5 minutes.” Henry told him. “IHIHI REGREHEHET AGREEHEHEHEHEEING TOHO THIHIHIS!” Michael told him. 

“No no no. You regret agreeing to being tickled for 5 minutes.” Henry said. “And when you receive the money and the property, you’ll see how easy and painless this was.” Henry told him. 

“SHUHUHUHUT UUUUHUHUP!” Michael shouted. 

Henry giggled and moved down to the front, lower ribs, right near the belly button. “Let’s give this spot a few more tickles, shall we?” Henry asked as he played his lower ribs like a piano. 

Michael covered up his face, muffling his laughter in the process and covering up his bright red face. “YOHOHOU SUUUUHUCK!” Michael yelled at him. 

“I know, I know. But isn’t this fun?” Henry asked. 

“WHAHAHAHAHA?!” Michael quickly squeaked as he felt his belly button get poked. OH NO- 

Henry watched as Michael’s belly shrunk down to get away from Henry’s finger. He chuckled. “Belly button still ticklish?” Henry asked. 

Michael squeaked again and uncovered his mouth as deep, long fits of cackles left his mouth. “HAHAHAHAhahahahahahaaaa! EEEHEHEheheheEEEHEE! NOHO BEHEHELLY BUTTOHOHONNNN! PLEEEEHEHEHEHEHEASE!” Michael begged. 

“I will take that as a yes.” Henry replied with a smug grin. “Now, I’m curious:” Henry moved his hands to his hips. “Are your hips still ticklish like your Dad?” Henry asked. 

“WAHAIT- WAAAAHAHAHAHAIT!” Michael shouted. 

Henry dipped his thumbs into both sides of Michael’s hips. 

Michael SCREAMED and cackled wildly. He was an utter mess from all the laughter and tickles. It was exhausting! And yet, it was also…somewhat fun? But at the same time, not. His feelings on this offer were a lot more complicated now. Some parts of it were fun, and other parts of it (like the hips) were AWFUL! The only problem now was…How much time does he have before it’s over?

“Almost 30 seconds!” Henry told him. “You got this, kid!” Henry told him. 

“NOHOHO IHIHI DOHOHON’T!” Michael yelled at him. 

“Yes you do! It’s already been 8 seconds!” Henry reacted, looking at the time: 0:25 seconds left. 

Henry started scratching on the hips, causing Michael to throw his head back and cackle all over again. “Kitchy kitchy kitchy koo~” Henry teased. “Who’s super ticklish? Who’s de super ticklish boy in this room?” Henry teased. “I think it’s Mike!” 

Michael snorted and covered up his face again, hoping and praying that it would all be over soon. 

BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! 

“There goes the timer!” Henry reacted, removing his hands from Michael’s hips. Henry grabbed his phone, and stopped the notification. “Congrats, Michael!” Henry reacted. “You win Oriental Avenue, and $300!” Henry declared, placing it onto Michael’s side of the board. 

Michael was breathing somewhat heavily as he laid on the ground, utterly exhausted. Even though it had only been 5 minutes, it still felt like it had been longer. Much longer. But…He believed it was only 5 minutes. Henry would never lie to him. 

“Now: I think it’s time you decide if you’re taking New York Avenue, Michael.” Henry told him. 

Michael nodded and got up, sitting at the table again. He grabbed the $200 and put it into the bank, before grabbing the New York card from the deck. “It’s mine now.” Michael said. 

“Sounds good.” Henry replied. 

Michael put the orange card beside his 5 other cards, and smiled a bit. He was getting pretty far into the game already, and was getting properties left and right. He was determined to see what would happen throughout the game, and how long this game would end up going for. So, he held onto his $960, and prepared for a long game of properties, houses and pure luck. 

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

This fanfic...was very fun to write. For this fanfic, I actually set up a small game board, and grabbed game pieces from my own copy of Monopoly. It was really fun, and this whole fanfic was improv. It was written based entirely on the irl rolls I made against the board. I had to play the game, write it down on my laptop, go back to the game, write it down, and repeat. It was really cool, and it made writing a bit more fun! Here is the link for the picture of the Monopoly game I had set up

[iamrupalihere]

The Evolution of Automobiles: A Journey Through Time

Introduction

The history of automobiles is a fascinating tale of innovation, determination, and human ingenuity. From the earliest steam-powered contraptions to the sleek electric vehicles of today, cars have shaped our lives, economies, and landscapes. Let’s embark on a journey through time to explore the milestones, inventors, and revolutions that define the world of automobiles.

1. The Pioneers

a. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot and the Steam Carriage (1769)

In a small workshop in France, Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the first self-propelled vehicle. His steam-powered carriage, known as the “Fardier à vapeur,” could carry passengers and cargo. Although slow and cumbersome, it marked the birth of the automobile.

b. Karl Benz and the Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1886)

Fast-forward to the late 19th century. Karl Benz, a German engineer, unveiled the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. It was the first true automobile powered by an internal combustion engine running on gasoline. With three wheels, a single-cylinder engine, and a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph), the Motorwagen revolutionized transportation.

2. The Model T Era

a. Henry Ford and the Model T (1908)

Henry Ford’s vision was to make cars accessible to everyone. In 1908, he introduced the Model T, an affordable, mass-produced vehicle. The assembly line revolutionized manufacturing, and soon, millions of Model Ts rolled off the production line. The car became a symbol of progress and freedom.

3. The Roaring Twenties and Streamlined Designs

a. Art Deco and Streamlining

The 1920s witnessed a shift in car design. Art Deco influences brought elegance and symmetry to automobile aesthetics. Streamlining, inspired by aviation, emphasized sleek curves and aerodynamic shapes. Cars like the Chrysler Airflow and the Bugatti Type 57 exemplified this trend.

4. Post-War Boom and Muscle Cars

a. Post-World War II Boom

After World War II, car production soared. Families embraced sedans like the Chevrolet Bel Air and the Ford Fairlane. The 1950s saw tailfins, chrome, and optimism. Drive-in theaters and roadside diners became part of the American dream.

b. Muscle Cars and Horsepower Wars

The 1960s brought muscle cars—powerful, V8-engine beasts. The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Charger ruled the streets. The horsepower wars escalated, and drag racing became a cultural phenomenon.

5. Environmental Concerns and Innovations

a. Oil Crisis and Compact Cars

The 1970s oil crisis shifted priorities. Compact cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and Toyota Corolla gained popularity. Fuel efficiency and emissions control became critical.

b. Hybrid and Electric Cars

In the 21st century, environmental awareness led to hybrid and electric vehicles. The Toyota Prius pioneered hybrid technology, while Tesla’s electric cars redefined performance and sustainability.

6. The Road Ahead: Autonomous Vehicles and Beyond

a. Autonomous Driving

Self-driving cars are no longer science fiction. Companies like Waymo and Tesla are pushing the boundaries of autonomy. The future promises safer roads and shared mobility.

b. Sustainability and Beyond

As we move forward, sustainability remains paramount. Hydrogen fuel cells, solar-powered cars, and urban mobility solutions will shape the next chapters in automotive history.

Conclusion

From steam carriages to electric supercars, the automobile’s evolution mirrors our progress as a society. Each turn of the wheel brings new challenges, innovations, and dreams. So, fasten your seatbelt—we’re still on an exhilarating ride

[cybervehiclebuilding]

Embarking on the quest for the best electric bike under 1.5 lakh opens up an exciting realm of affordable yet high-performance two-wheelers that are redefining the commuting landscape. In this exploration, we’ll delve into five standout electric bikes, each offering a compelling blend of cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and cutting-edge technology. 

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Ford Shuts Down in Brazil, and China’s Top EV Maker Comes to the Rescue

President Lula, seeking an industrial revival, snubs the US and looks to its No. 1 rival.

On Brazil’s east coast, the vast parking lot off Avenida Henry Ford sits empty. Shift workers once packed these spaces, next to a Ford Motor Co. plant that covers 1.8 square miles—an area larger than New York’s Central Park. On a recent weekday, a lone security car patrols its perimeter, the only sign of life.

Allison Barreto Sousa, a Ford maintenance technician for almost two decades, remembers when the company decided two years ago to shut down the plant, along with its entire operations in Brazil. Ford had a final ask: Could Sousa join a crew of 10 to perform the industrial equivalent of the last rites? They’d dismantle, piece by piece, the same equipment they’d once installed and maintained, so it could be packed up and shipped away. Sousa started the work, but memories of colleagues flooded his mind. He just couldn’t do it. “When I got married, I was at Ford. When my children were born, I was at Ford—all my good memories are somehow connected to Ford,” says Sousa, now 39. But then, “out of nowhere, came the silence. I asked not to come back.”

Today, Sousa hopes he can, no thanks to Ford. The new economic power in town is China—and its largest ­electric-vehicle maker, BYD Co. Those initials stand for “Build Your Dreams,” a phrase that very much reflects the hopes of Sousa and hundreds of his idled former co-workers. BYD is wrapping up negotiations with Ford to buy the shut-down factory in Camaçari, about 30 miles north of Salvador, the state capital of Bahia. (Ford says talks are continuing.) When the plant opens as expected later this year, it will be BYD’s most extensive electric-vehicle operation outside Asia.

The resurrection of the former Ford plant represents the grand industrial ambitions of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, widely known as Lula. Much like US President Joe Biden, Lula dreams of spurring a manufacturing renaissance. Both leaders are eager to provide blue-collar jobs that can support middle-class lives, fulfilling campaign promises. But there’s an essential—and, for the US, vexing—difference: Biden aims to maintain an advantage over China in key technologies. Lula, a leftist who took office in January, is looking to China as the country’s benefactor.

Continue reading.

[ljfeed-spn-j2-bigbang]

2023 Artist Preview

Here are the story summaries for the artist preview! I've done my best, but if you see a typo or mistake in the coding, please email spnj2bigbang@gmail.com. Please be patient. On May 13 (at around 10 a.m. CST-ish), I will open the preview post for claiming. You can make ONLY ONE CLAIM. Also, please note that you must make your own claims. No one else can claim for you. Once claiming opens, artists may comment with their top two choices. Sound good? Any questions? Lemme know! Sam/Dean-1 Title: The Witch and the Wolfen Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: This is a post 15x20 AU (Not a heaven fic). Where Sam, unwilling to accept the death of his brother, embraces his magical abilities and travels through the multiverse to find another Dean. Weary and disappointed he lands on a post -apocalyptic world with no means of finding Dean. The world is a little like the old west, they ride horses, wear Stetsons, have no electricity, cars are rusted hulks littering the landscape and life revolves around each town's bar. He works as a witch, healing people. One day, a Wolfen in need of protection comes to him, it’s Dean. But a Dean that never knew or needed a Sam. But a Dean that is trying to stay out of the grasp of Lucifer who wants him as his new meatsuit. Images include: a Wraith storm, ghostly disembodied souls who are trapped on earth and haunt the living in vicious packs. They suck the life out of unfortunates caught outside during their passing. Dean as a Wolfen, a magnificent 300 lb timber wolf/shifter with white/grey fur and green eyes and grey freckles on his chest. The scene of Sam and Dean battling 8 foot ice monsters – like Wendigo who try and cage and drag Dean away. Sam, casting a storm spell to save Lawrence from burning down. Haymanville, a Mexican themed nearby town where every day is The Day of the Dead. Sam and Dean in a home made hot tub by a cabin and Sam’s eyes glowing white and his tattoos traveling to Dean’s body to embrace him as they make love. Sam battles a fire at a distance with magic. Epic end battle with Lucifer and bonus Gabriel. Various flashbacks and dreams of Sam’s as he remembers his Dean and his travels to other worlds both fair and foul. Warnings: M/M sex, AU Wincest ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-1 Title: Dreamhouse Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared and his cousin Chad inherited an old Manor. The house is a mess, but they need more space since the two have to raise two little kids. Jensen and Justin Ackles have a TV show in Garden and Home TV (GHTV) where they renovate houses. Thank God they are planning a special. But what about the rumors that the house is haunted and what is it with all the accidents that keep happening? Warnings: None ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-2 Title: TRAPPED IN AMBER Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: After his parents' unfortunate divorce, Jared moves with his mother and younger sister from Texas to Boston. It's a new beginning, a chance to start afresh, but the old family home in Beacon Hills hides deadly secrets that endanger their future and even their lives. Boston aesthetics; Beacon Hills aesthetics; haunted house; gothic horror; a sick and twisted tree in a cobblestone patio; an Ouija session in the basement; claws reaching out from a well; a ghostly girl staring through a garret’s window. Warnings: Mentions of past child abuse and past rape of OCs characters (nothing graphic). ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen/Jeff-1 Title: One Too Many Pairing: Jared/Jensen/Jeff Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jeff and Jensen have been a couple for several years. It’s not unheard of for an alpha to add a third to a mating. Jeff always thought it would be a beta until he meets Jared and he just knows that Jared is the one who will complete their family. He and Jared get along well despite both being alphas. They don’t fight, they like the same things, work well together, and enjoy each other’s company. The night they make it official, Jeff gives Jared a claiming bite and Jared does the same to Jeff. The only issue is that Jeff has never given Jensen a claiming bite, only a collar. And that night, neither Jared nor Jeff gives Jensen a claiming bite. Jensen sees this for what it is, that Jeff was just keeping him around as arm candy until he found his mate. Jensen is aware of how Jeff’s parents see him - as an empty-headed gold-digger who conned Jeff into a relationship and that they have always hated him, never thinking he was good enough for Jeff, especially since he’s infertile. They love Jared and make a show of pointing it out to Jensen - how perfect Jared is for Jeff. Jensen even compares himself to Jared who is educated, polished, and always does and says the right thing whereas Jensen is none of those things. Seeing as how neither claimed him but claimed the other, Jensen packs his things and leaves with only a goodbye note leaving Jeff and Jared to worry over his whereabouts, how to find him and if they can salvage their mating if and when they do find him. Warnings: Threesome, A/B/O, A/A, A/O, A/O/A, Knotting, Collars, Claiming Bites, Jealous Jared, Oblivious Jeff, Non-Con, Dinner, Dating, Alcohol, Mating, Mating Ceremony, Celebrations, Medical Examination, Separation, Infidelity, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Protective Jared, Protective Jeff, Scared Jensen, Upset Jensen, Angry Jeff, Angry Jared, Hurt Jensen, Dogs, Traveling, Hotels, Honeymoon, School, Online Classes, Volunteering, Cooking, Dancing, Infertility, Adoption, Alpha Jeff, Alpha Jared, Omega Jensen, Top Jared, Top Jeff, Bottom Jensen, Mental Illness, Medication ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-3 Title: Dare to Dream Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jensen is a successful omega, he owns and manages his own bookstore, Turn the Page. The past year of dating has been one disappointment after another, and he is losing hope that he will ever find his mate. With each successive heat, his heat sickness worsens, prompting his doctor to suggest an Alpha for Hire service. Jensen refuses to even entertain the idea of hiring an alpha, still dreaming of meeting his true mate. Jared is new to town and looking for a job. He’d broken up with his girlfriend to move for school and is striking out on his own for the first time. He dreamed of following in his alpha mother’s footsteps of being a teacher. Exploring his new home city while job hunting, he discovers more than a local bookshop that’s hiring. Jensen decides to hire Jared despite being wary of the alpha and takes another chance at securing the future he always wanted. Jared is determined to show Jensen that he is a kind and caring alpha. As they navigate the ups and downs of working together while learning more about one another, the tentative bond is severed when Jared’s ex makes an unexpected appearance, triggering Jensen’s rejection sickness. Finding Jensen near death, Jared takes him home and nurses him back to health. In the process, Jensen’s trust grows, and their relationship deepens. They begin to date, and after a couple of months, mate, starting a new chapter in their lives. Their first extended separation isn’t quite as hard as either imagined, but after a trip to study abroad, Jensen welcomes Jared home with a happy surprise. Warnings: A/B/O, true mates, heat/rejection sickness, miscommunication, past/present hurt Jensen, hurt/comfort, shared cycles, anal knotting, claiming bites, claiming bond, mpreg ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-4 Title: The Tending sen Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared the youngest High-Born heir of the Padalecki House. They specialize in making warm fabrics and cloth for breeches and tunics. A waterwheel and woolybeasts are essential for this. Jensen is Jared's valet/slave. His Tending sen. In this society the word sen is used for an enslaved one and their names reflect that status. Drone sen wear pendants around their neck with a number because their Masse (master) wouldn't know their names anyway. Warnings: slave fic (but no non-con or dub-con), hurt/comfort ---------------------------------- Gen-1 Title: Anyone Can Love a Pretty Little Mansion Rating: PG-13 Summary: The house had stood alone and unloved for many years. It stood just outside of Palo Alto, silent, slowly aging behind a copse of valley oak. As a house it was large, quaint, with the kind of rambling structure that was popular in the twenties. It had a circular tower at one side, topped with a cupola, and high, pointed gables. There had been shutters on the windows, and some still hung loose on their rusty hinges, waiting for a vagrant wind to break them free and send them spinning into the overgrown vegetation that surrounded it. Sam and Dean tackle the House from Hell! Warnings: Corpses and gross stuff galore. ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-2 Title: The Ties That Bind Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: The story of Sam and Dean Winchester doesn’t end that day in the barn. Sam keeps his promise to keep fighting, but with a Winchester twist – he uses the resources left to him by Rowena and his own determination and smarts to become a powerful witch. Powerful enough to live forever, but that’s not what he wants – what he wants is his brother. To Dean’s shock, he finds himself back on Earth thanks to Sam’s spell, but only for brief visits. He finds a Sam who’s changed with the great loss he’s endured and the dark power he’s using, and both Winchesters discover an attraction that they never acted on while Dean was alive. To complicate matters, Dean isn’t the only one who’s noticed Sam’s dark power, and the other witches are out to take him down - permanently. They’re unfortunately not the only ones – the Winchesters are breaking all the cosmic rules to be together, and forces even more powerful than Jack are out to stop them, putting Sam and his young son in grave danger (in the midst of a violent storm that almost rips them off the road). Witch Sam with wild hair and clothing, a wee bit obsessed and surrounded by spell books and potions; Dean and the Impala on the road in Heaven; soulmates reunion on the bridge; Dad Sam with Dean Jr. canon scenes; first Wincest kiss in the Impala at night; NSFW first time in a typical Winchesters-on-the-road motel. Warnings: Canon compliant for Dean’s death but he’s very much ‘alive’ in Heaven (and sometimes back on Earth) ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-5 Title: Fighting Gravity Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Valdora Prime—proclaimed as a scientist’s playground—is quickly becoming the foremost research facility in the galaxy. Funded by a guild more than a millennium old, Valdora Prime recruits the best minds in medicine, engineering, geology, botany, and quantum studies, regardless of species. For Jared, working there means being more than a concierge doctor to the wealthiest colonies. Here, he can make a difference. Here, he can hide. Three years in, Jared’s safe, comfortable life pretending to be human is turned upside down, starting with the arrival of the new head of security, a Kesalonian named Jensen Ackles whose incredible physical strength is matched only by his charm. As Jared and Jensen grow closer, secrets begin to unravel, his research attracts dangerous attention, and outside forces threaten to destroy everything Jared has built. Featuring alien species, traits, and features, unique space-gardens and moonscapes, a futuristic and beautiful research station with all the perks, heroic rescues, injury/comfort, and more! Warnings: Alien species (and sex between them), descriptions of injuries/violence and minor medical treatment, prior (only mentioned) het relationship, mentions of a virus/pandemic (non graphic), mentions of sex work (positive). ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-3 Title: He Told You He'd Wake You Up, When it Was Over Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: This is a non-linear story that jumps around through the Winchesters' early years up to Season 6. It has a lot of Greek mythological influence and includes a katabasis. There will be imagery of the underworld, Stanford scenes, and eventually I will do the greatest sin against Dean I ever have, make him fly in a plane. Dean is the narrator and he spends most of the story chasing Sam. There are a lot of re-visits of early cases but re-imagined with Dean chasing Sam instead of John. Warnings: This has a lot of dark, angsty moments. It contains sibling incest and some sexual scenes. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-6 Title: Origin Story Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Once upon a time, Jensen Ackles used to be the supervillain known as The Flame. Then he was overpowered and defeated by his former best friend, Jared, known as The Closer. Jensen might not be in prison anymore, but he’s still under house arrest—not to mention stripped of his powers. In the meantime, Jensen has had years to figure out how to deal with what he did and why he did it. He can't change the past, but he can accept it, and maybe live something like a life of his own. Then Jared knocks on his door, asking for help that Jensen can't refuse. And it turns out that while Jensen thought he'd come to terms with his past, he'd really just buried it. Helping Jared is bringing out things he's never fully dealt with, things he'd given up on a long time ago…like Jared himself. Warnings: none ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-7 Title: Maybe You Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Danneel and Chad are the ones in love. Jensen and Jared are just the best friends there to pick up the pieces when things fall apart. They don't like each other... until they do, but they're only friends. Jensen's a fashionable bitch with zero interest in dating or relationships, and Jared is a hot mess barista chasing after his happily ever after. A heartfelt attempt (or spin) on a rom-com with images like kissing after being caught out in the rain and sitting on a park bench at sunset. Warnings: Explicit sex, alcohol use ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-8 Title: Have You Ever Thrown Snowflakes In The Air? Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: After a stroke of fate, Jensen Ackles leaves his old life as a successful music composer behind and spends his time alone in a lonely cabin. Every few weeks he drives down to the town with its oddball inhabitants to stock up on food. On his last trip before the announced blizzard, someone hides under the tarp of his truck. Jared thinks Jensen can get him out of town, but instead he ends up with him in his cabin. What secret led Jared to crawl into Jensen's truck? Spoiler: Scenes that might be appealing to an artist. Jensen in front of his cabin in the snow. Jared hiding under the tarp of the truck. Jensen finds Jared hiding in the chicken coop.Jared and Jensen walking in the snow. Jensen running after a fox and breaking into the ice. While Jensen has a fever, he dreams of seeing his daughter again and flying a kite with her. Warnings: Minor Character Death, Mention of abuse, Mention of drug use ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-9 Title: Coward Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Loosely based on the movie The Last Samurai (with Tom Cruise). Contains steampunk elements and an unusual understanding of Omega dynamics. Jensen is an army captain at the bottom of a bottle and a prisoner of war. Jared is an omega who has lost everything fleeing his fate; however, he could also be a prince. Warnings: forced sterilization, discussion of castration, death of a child (mentioned), omega-phobia ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-4 Title: Did All the Thunder Bend Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: R Summary: Dean wakes thirteen-year-old Sam in the night to flee after “something bad” happens to John. They end up settling in a small, snowy town in Maine, where they start building some semblance of a normal life together (or as normal a life as you can live when you’re playing house with your brother). When John’s vengeful spirit begins haunting Sam’s dreams and the Impala, the truth about the circumstances surrounding his death must come out. Will that truth ruin everything when Sam realizes their happy partnership is predicated on a lie... and John’s death at Dean’s hands in defense of Sam? Warnings: Implied/Referenced Character Death (Not Sam or Dean), Underage (no sex) ---------------------------------- Sam/Dean-5 Title: The Price of Love Pairing: Sam/Dean Rating: NC-17 Summary: Dean Winchester runs a brothel called Iniquity. Sam Winchester is an Assistant D.A. under D.A. Crowley. The D.A. 's office is going after Dean, who's suspected of money laundering and perhaps using exotic drugs, aka vamp venom and djinn juice. (NGL: not 100% sure about the fluids thing quite yet.) ANYWAY while it looks like Dean is Bad and Sam is Good, twists and turns (and deaths) reveal that the legal system Sam works for is corrupt to the point of murder. Dean turns out to be the one who takes care of his people, does not exploit anyone, and is actually the moral superior. Interspersed flashbacks recall the boys' childhood/upbringing/eventual relationship, infusing the present with memories and unresolved feelings. Other characters: Jess (Sam's girlfriend for a while), Lisa (Dean's playmate for a bit), John Winchester as dad/con artist constantly on the move while the boys are growing up, Benny as Dean's second, Crowley as the D.A., Dick Roman as a judge, Bela as his wife, Bobby Singer as the police chief, Rowena as a local witch, the Banes twins as undercover agents, and Victor Henriksen as an F.B.I. agent. Settings: Sam's condo with Jess; the courthouse and various legal offices; and Iniquity, Dean's exclusive, high class brothel. Flashbacks include skeevy motels, the Impala. Warnings: murder, criminal behavior and acts ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-10 Title: You Belong to me Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jensen is a well-known mystery writer who meets Jared, the owner of a local cute and quirky bookstore. They quickly develop a fun, loving relationship. But Jared's controlling ex-boyfriend Jeffrey isn’t ready to let Jared go. Jensen feels Jeffrey is dangerous and stalking Jared but Jared keeps giving him chance after chance, refusing to see Jeffrey's dark side. After Jared and Jensen have a fight about Jeffrey, Jared disappears and Jensen finds himself under suspicion of kidnapping him. The situation climaxes when Jensen finally finds a badly injured Jared in the remote cabin where Jeffrey has stashed him. Jeffrey shows up and threatens them both, shooting Jensen. Both Jensen and Jared survive, but in turmoil, Jared pushes Jensen away. In the end, they reunite and decide to do whatever it takes in order to save the relationship. It ends with them living together, still trying to find their way but determined to do so together. Settings: Jared's charming, quirky bookstore and the cute coffee shop attached to it. Jared and Jensen vacationing in Las Vegas. Jared and Jensen in domestic situations. The remote, spooky cabin in the woods where Jeffrey kidnaps Jared to. Warnings: Jared is violently attacked, but it happens off-screen and is never described in any detail. Jared has trauma due to being attacked by Jeffrey that is discussed. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-11 Title: Rest & Restore Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: NC-17 Summary: Jared is a burned out romance writer. It’s tough to write about falling in love when he’s just fallen out of it—he’s one year post-divorce and still figuring out who he is after it. His publisher expects a new manuscript, but Jared needs a rest and a change of scenery. His ex’s grandmother suggests that he go stay at an old family estate in Peru, New York—a hamlet of seven thousand people—and see if he'd like to have a hand in restoring it. Jared thinks this is the perfect project to distract himself with while he decides which big city to move to next. Enter Jensen, a contractor in town, confident and capable of restoring the Whitney house to its former glory. Sparks fly between Jared and Jensen, but can either of them commit to the plot or will they move onto other books entirely? Set from spring to fall, this fic is filled with architectural details, ice cream, a dog named Maple, small town life, and Tina Turner tracks. Small town AU, Contractor Jensen, Writer Jared, slow burn, home improvement, post-divorce, small towns, exploration of sexuality, love confessions, light angst, slice of life, switch Jensen, switch Jared, explicit sexual content, oral sex, anal sex. Warnings: None ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-12 Title: (We are all of us in the gutter, But) Some of us are looking at the stars Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Jared is a professor of archeology on Earth, Jensen is the space captain he hires to take him to a distant planet, where he plans to retrieve an ancient artifact. From the beginning, the two men bicker and clash, but can’t deny the attraction they feel for each other. On the way to their destination, Jensen stops to take on some cargo, which results in a run-in with space sentries and a hide-out in an asteroid field, a visit to a desert planet where Jared meets some of Jensen’s old friends, and a rescue in space during which they take on new crew members. More (mis)adventures ensue, including a run-in with a bounty hunter who wants to sell Jensen back to a former customer at the brothel where Jensen worked as a young man. Following a daring rescue, the boys finally arrive at their original destination, only to face more challenges in their attempts to retrieve the stone Jared was assigned to bring back to Earth. This story is inspired by Indiana Jones, Star Wars (the first three movies), and Romancing the Stone. Warnings: prostitution, Jensen is a former sex worker who gets captured and enslaved by a former customer. Abuse is heavily implied, but not explicit. ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-13 Title: Hear the Songbird Sing Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: A siren's call can be a powerful thing and even such a powerful dragon like Jensen can fall under his spell. Jensen owns the city and when he comes across the siren Jared working at one of his club's he knows that he is meant to be his. Jared never thought that he would catch the attention of such a powerful being like Jensen. The two cannot deny the call between the two of them and fall into a relationship that some think they can use to gain what they want not realizing that a Siren is as possessive and protective over their mate as a Dragon is. Warnings: Mpreg, bottom Jared, top Jensen ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-14 Title: If You Give A Dragon Shelter Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: Alien Jared is awake from his coma and Jensen tries to understand him and teach him to communicate as he figures out how to get Jared home. Jared takes care of a dog (bernese mountain like) and a pony while Jensen goes to a swanky party to show off a large metal dragon sculpture. Dragons battling a truck with help from another and a motorcycle. Warnings: Some noncon body manipulation, mentions of noncon sex, alien sex, stalker behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies, mentions of past torture, kidnapping, heavy entitlement to another based on species-ism (very much like sex and class-ism) ---------------------------------- Jensen/Misha/Felicia-1 Title: The Crimson Tower Pairing: Jensen/Misha/Felicia Rating: NC-17 Summary: Four great houses stood ruling over a magical land, but an enemy from their distant past emerged hellbent on destroying them all, and they succeeded in killing one house, corrupting another, turning the third into isolationists, and leaving only the fourth to help the masses of refugees fleeing oppression. But now an ancient prophecy is on the threshold of being fulfilled. Will King Jensen, King Misha, and Queen Felicia together with their General, Jared, be able to turn the tide of war and restore freedom, or will the newly exposed enemy achieve a final victory over all magic in the land? This story provides artists opportunities to illustrate fantasy landscapes, depict magical combat, and all other aspects of a medieval fantasy milieu. Warnings: Graphic violence, swearing, sex, nudity, fantastic racism (in the sense of racism against fictional races--here magic users and magical creatures/species), reference to past genocide, body horror, vampire sex, blood drinking, harm to minors, major character death, slavery attempted genocide against magicals, think Game of Thrones, but with less incest ---------------------------------- Jared/Jensen-15 Title: The Kite And The Line Pairing: Jared/Jensen Rating: R Summary: When you fall in love, you get a tattoo. When you fall out of love, it turns black. Jared's got a couple to his name, almost all of them gone dark. Jensen's only ever had one and its colors have never faded. Warnings: Infidelity, Jared Padalecki/Stephen Amell as a side pairing, lots of angst and fluff, no trigger warnings ---------------------------------- from Supernatural and J-Squared Big Bang Challenge! https://ift.tt/mYfRAUO

[beetoo]

WENCLAIR :: catch me, if you can

links :: WATTPAD :: AO3 :: [CHAPTER 2 - '23:59']

a/n: i suck at english, it's not my first language, have mercy but not really--yell at me if a part doesn't make sense, i did not proof read because my wrist is injured :D

Chapter 1 - 00:00

“We got a tip. Lone Wolf’s next target is the Rav’n happening tonight, Nevermore’s biggest charity event.” Wednesday hears through her earpiece, as she’s going through her files in her office. “We’re unsure of who the target is, seeing as none of the guests tonight have been involved in recent illegal activity.” The woman in black picked up pictures and a handful of red yarn. She sticks one onto the board of photos and strings, creating a bigger picture of the case itself.

The Rav’n. We only have 3 suspected targets in mind, all very influential people in Jericho. It may be a small town in Vermont but it’s home to some of the most influential people of my generation at least. The first one being Bianca Barclay–CEO of MorningSong. Regarding Lone Wolf’s affixation towards killing large influential people, Barclay might just be at the top of their list. The only reason I doubt this notion is because that company recently improved due to her leadership. The illegal use of Siren song was immediately halted once she rose to power. If we’re taking that psychopath’s ego into consideration, Bianca’s the least likely target tonight.

Wednesday tacks another photo onto the wall, with a sigh. The next one could be Xavier Thrope. His dad might have put a hit on his head due to his recent publicity murals going against the ethics of his father’s company. The same idea with Barclay–it doesn’t match the killer’s intent. And Lone Wolf was never confirmed to be a hitman.

Then it only leads to one suspect left. Wednesday slowly sticks her own picture to the wall, tracing the red yarn to the case name “Lone Wolf”. Wednesday slowly steps back, taking in all the information, reminiscing on every incident and victim this murderer has produced in a span of six months. In her 26 years of life, Wednesday has never met a case that’s perplexed her. It’s like they’re teasing me. I might just fall in love. The detective couldn’t help but smile. Leaning onto the edge of her table, she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it all. Whoever this is might just be the greatest psychopath to ever live, next to my own uncle.

The Lone Wolf case is described to be the country’s most devastating homicide in history. Lapsing for six months straight, a murder popped up in different parts of the United States at perplexing distances. Within 10 hours of a murder in California, a 51-year-old electric car tycoon to another in Florida of a 76-year-old politician–Lone Wolf was deemed a patriot-murderer and a hero. The country has split in either support or suppression of this maniac’s actions. I’ve never considered ethical murder to be something that would interest me. Wednesday traced the red string from the state of Florida and added another politician to the ‘victims’. But somehow this is unfolding so well, it’s almost satisfying seeing how their work throws the country into shambles. 

The bounty on their head is the largest since the Hussein brothers in 2003. Theirs was $30 million. Lone Wolf’s is $45 million. With politicians, CEOs, and some random people getting caught in the crossfire of Lone Wolf’s wrath–people of power need them to be put to rest so they can maintain their power.

Of course, Wednesday has no interest in bounty money. Her family has accumulated lots over years and years for turning in their own kin and busting them out. The psychopathic gene passes on but for Wednesday her thirst for outwitting a mystery outweighs even her own being. Wednesday believes she’s dancing her own tango with the Lone Wolf. No one has yet to catch a glimpse of their face nor the sound of their voice and Wednesday sleeps miserably thinking about the enigma that is her suspect.

Wednesday inhales deeply, I simply cannot wait to see what this horrible fellow has planned next.

“Alpha, do you copy? Bravo is in position.”

“Alpha here arrived at point Echo. Any sights on the targets tonight?”

“Negative. Waiting on Charlie to check in.”

Wednesday gazes through the people among the crowd, upon entrance, everything is dawned white and themed with ice and snow. Tables were garnished with silver platters and icicle decor. But in Addams fashion, Wednesday had to come in well-dressed, for a funeral. Decorated in black, the woman kept on a formal yet dashing look that caught the eyes of every woman, man, or person in the audience. Whether the attention was good or bad, that was the least of Wednesday’s worries. Finding a moment to speak with her suspected victims, on the other hand, was.

Headquarters hacked into the Rav’n’s event coordinator’s computer just in time before seating was sent out to all who was invited. With Wednesday being a town celebrity due to her detective excellence and family name, her invitation was not hard to come by at all. But sitting with this city’s biggest influencers like her current suspected victims for the night? It was a job for the professionals.

Eugene was the man behind the earpiece, alongside her brother Pugsley as Bravo and Charlie being Tyler. Tyler was a trusted source in one of Wednesday’s cases, whom she decided to keep around since he always managed to make himself useful. But today, that did not seem to prove true.

“Charlie, do you copy?” Eugene states. “Bro come on, we need you in position ASAP, Barclay is about to make her entrance.”

Wednesday turns to her attention to the entrance, as everyone did. The woman was dressed in an alluring sequin dress that complimented her complexion and eyes very well. All it took was one look and people would simply fold over her sharp eyes and cunning intellect. Wednesday enjoyed the moments she shared with Barclay. The young entrepreneur always set the bar higher for other local CEO’s, Wednesday commends her merciless demeanor. They’ve worked together some time in her career. Wednesday caught the tax frauds in her company and even helped prevent Bianca from going to jail over being framed by her own mother’s business. Though Wednesday wouldn’t call it helping–the woman had the ulterior motive of simply being curious if Bianca actually did it.

Complimenting Bianca’s right hand was Xavier Thorpe, the second suspected victim. Recently painting a mural in protest of his father’s recent activity, Xavier became an online superstar overnight. Building a measly 10 million followers on TikTok, Xavier was almost as popular as Lone Wolf. His murals that his posts that gather awareness on certain topics like Outcast slavery, drug wars, Outcast trafficking, and other things made him quite a target. Online and in-person. I suppose I should have expected his weak self to come with a companion, seeing as he does value his life.

“Yo Tyler, what is going on man? The trio is about to sit down at the front! The charity auction is about to start!” Eugene yells, causing Wednesday to wince at the sudden increase in volume. Imbeciles. What are they doing? The detective thought as she nodded at the duo while sitting down at their table.

“--Mffsh–static–She–”

“Oh shit–Wednesday I think they got Tyler!” Pugsley utters while looking around in his hiding spot armed with bombs and other explosive assortments. Cramped in a tiny space, Pugsley’s job was to assure offense was available. The Addams weren’t sure what kind of outcast the Lone Wolf was going to be, as the rumors of them being an actual lone wolf were never confirmed. If it were true, they would have been a wolf who’s never wolf’d out–causing their hormonal imbalances to subvert into equilibrium by making the body compensate. Meaning they would have super strength and speed, along with very enhanced senses.

If that were the case, it would be problematic for Wednesday. Pugsley’s explosives are too wide-ranged. Over time, humans grew on Wednesday. To her, the biggest feat to feed her homicidal tendencies is to purge the bad fruits while leaving the good fruit for feasting. It’s much harder. That’s why Wednesday likes it better. That’s also why Wednesday likes her case so much. Almost obsessed with it or even the killer themself. How does one manage to find moral clarity to justly kill a person? Not just one, but multiple? How Wednesday yearns to be like them. Sometimes she finds herself amused by how they do things. Though her team for tonight was prepped for the worst, it seemed like those measures were displaced protecting the wrong person. Their enemy was much more reckless than they perceived them to be–More like a joyrider than a skilled race track driver.

Lost in thought, Wednesday found herself staring at the stage, unaware a new friend has joined their table.

“Enid Sinclair? In the flesh!” Bianca booms, standing up quickly and rushing to the blonde to give her a hug. “It’s been ages! How have you been?”

Wednesday paid no mind to the blonde until she heard something that piqued her interest. “I’ve been amazing Bianca! I’ve been all over the country getting the hottest scoops for CNN! They’re eating my articles up!” All over the country? Suspicious.

“I mean I would too! If I were brave enough to write so much about the Lone Wolf, I’d pay lots for that type of tea.” Bianca replies, chuckling into her hand. “It’s so good to see you here. Yoko’s been crying about how much she misses you if only tonight wasn’t a blood moon. Ugh, she’s going to gloat the moment I tell her you were here. OMG let’s take a selfie for her!”

Enid Sinclair. I did not see her on the guest list. And she’s a journalist following Lone Wolf? I have to take a mental note to look into her later—

“You must be THE Wednesday Addams! I’ve heard so much about you and your feats! One of my coworkers actually interviewed you for the scoop on your recent outcast trafficking bust! Your work is amazing.” Enid overly gushes, her colorful getup was giving Wednesday a headache. “Where’s your partner?” The other girl asks, eerie with a smile different from the one she presented to Bianca.

The question caught Wednesday off guard since she never mentioned coming with a partner and Tyler is nowhere to be found. “I didn’t come with one.” The detective answers frankly, eyeing the colorful girl from head to toe. “What about yours?”

“He never answered my calls or texts about it, so here I am. Alone. Want to be partners instead?” So this was her game. Wednesday thought, then replied curtly. “No thank you Ms. Sinclair, I’m quite comfortable doing things alone.”

“Oh come on Ms. Addams, it will be fun! Plus it’s not a Rav’n if you aren’t here with a partner to dance with!” The blonde eggs on, looking at Bianca and Xavier for backup–who were both just watching this moment unfold.

“I would pay good money to watch the Wednesday Addams kill the floor.” Xavier responds, with Bianca adding, “Baby don’t say that, knowing Wednesday she might literally kill the floor.”

“It’ll be fun Ms. Addams! It’s not like there’s anything holding you back! It’s just an innocent little dance.” The blonde continues, standing up and stretching a hand for the girl painted black. I would rather wear pink than dance with this walking rainbow vomit. But Wednesday felt something in her stomach. She wasn’t sure if that was the corset speaking or her gut feeling–the kind that usually leads her right into death’s cold comforting arms. Either way, her curiosity was piqued. This new shiny colorful character was suspicious to Wednesday.

Little did she know, she was right on the mark.

Enid lead the other girl to the middle of the dancing scene, hand in hand they tangoed to the music. In sync, their movements argued like a married couple and complimented the other like a newly wed. The music created a romantic scene between the two, surprising each other how well they knew the other’s next step. Others around them stopped their dance only to indulge in the bewitching conversation the two spoke with no words. Just glances and the swaying of their bodies.

Unaware, Wednesday didn’t catch that Enid found her supposed partner for the night comfortable in someone else’s arms. Out of embarrassment, she couldn’t help but cut her mission short and created a plan to flee the scene as soon as possible.

Nearing the end, Enid found herself behind Wednesday, looking at her pale nape, enthralled at how vulnerable her target was, on this full-blood moon. But instead of doing her justice the way she did her last victim, Ron DeSantis, she wanted to make Wednesday suffer a little more. The way she liked it. Leaning into Wednesday’s ear, she offered the shorter woman a warning.

“You’re quite an easy target, Addams.” Enid smiles, licking the side of Wednesday’s neck and bidding her prey farewell with a kiss on the nape. And tasty too. Enid thought, licking her lips as she parted ways from Wednesday–disappearing into the crowd. She said her goodbyes to Xavier and Bianca, running out of the building like Cinderella when the clock strikes 12.

The girl in black searched for her partner, swinging her head left and right looking pink-colored hair. But Wednesday didn’t react fast enough and the wolf had already vacated the scene.. She was still perplexed by the blonde’s words and stupefied by the feeling of her tongue gliding against the side of her neck. Disgusting. She thought, but in a way she would think gutting dead animals and examining dead bodies were disgusting. The girl in black would never admit it out loud but she was enchanted tonight. She was effectively charmed by the most colorful thing she’s ever met in her life, ironically, for someone who believed the only other tolerable color was red. A dangerous stranger. Just the way Wednesday Addams likes it.

When she gained her senses, she reunited with Bianca and Xavier, who shared their condolences for the painted girl in black to have lost her partner for the night a second time. Lost in thought, Wednesday loomed through the auction, buying an antique Chinese finger trap that was put into auction by the Addams’ family themselves–only to win it back for sheer flaunt of their wealth. Towards the end of the auction, Ajax, Enid’s supposed partner auctioned off sculptures created in collaboration with Xavier Thorpe. They pitched to the crowd that the sculptures were replicas of Lone Wolf’s victims and to be smashed during an event later into the week in protest against those who’ve put a bounty on the country’s favored vigilante.

Out of the victims lined up, one, in particular, seemed unfamiliar. This to Wednesday screamed red flags because not only did she know every victim of Lone Wolf’s by heart, she now understands how she murdered them too. By sheer, brute, force. Wednesday thought as she looked at the victims’ positions they were sculpted in. The statue in question, one of Ron DeSantis, a decrepit Floridian politician, was positioned on the ground, which his back seemingly resting on something and arms covering his face that was etched with fear and distraught. This is oddly similar to the other statues. 

As the night matured, Wednesday left the event and returned home with more than enough information to keep her awake for weeks. She spent that night compiling evidence against Ajax and his suspicious sculptures and found him to now be the prime suspect for all of these murders. One especially from Enid Sinclair as she generously provided by licking Wednesday’s neck.

  Usually, her melancholic and lackluster days suited her, but tonight she was accompanied by an ever-growing hunger to outwit the enemy. She doesn’t like it when people are steps ahead of her.Wednesday slept a miserable 2 hours before she was greeted in the morning by Chief Donovan himself that his son, who was also her partner, Tyler was found dead. Headed for the scene as fast as she could, she couldn’t help but get excited over the death of her former partner. New suspects, new clues, and more work. Wednesday let out a laugh at how messy things got so quickly. I’m just dying to see what kind of mess Miss Sinclair made of Tyler.

Arriving at the scene, Wednesday greeted Donovan with a nod and was caught up with the scene assessment. No DNA samples, no footprints, and no murder weapon. She made her way toward the scene of the murder; smelling the forest musk being overtaken by the iron smell of blood. Tyler was found on the scene with all limbs broken, two of which were pulled out. The cause of death was shock due to sudden blood loss, estimated around 8 hours ago, just 2 hours after Enid left the scene. After Wednesday examined the corpse, she felt a wonderful chill in her bones, realizing just how powerful and dangerous the enemy truly was. Keeping her smile to herself, Wednesday faced one of her co-workers and asked if anything else was on left on the scene. 

“There was a note left on Tyler’s left jacket pocket, we think it’s for you.” The man said. Wednesday quickly puts on gloves and took the note from the officer’s hand and it read: “I’ll leave my tastiest meal for last. Catch me if you can, detective.”

“Cara mia, I think I’ve found the love of my life.”

>> NEXT CHAPTER >>

a/n: updated to better suit the sequel. <3 happy reading! let me know what you think in the comments!

[bopinion]

2023 / 46

Aperçu of the Week:

"How do you get revenge for killing a child? By killing other people's children? Certainly not."

(Palestinian Bassam Aramin and Israeli Rami Elhanan. Both have lost a daughter in the Middle East conflict. And still strive for reconciliation).

Bad News of the Week:

I won't be alive in the year 2100. Maybe my children will. If they have children, they certainly will. And they will look back on their grandparents' generation. And probably curse them. Because they will have us to thank for the world they (have to) live in. It will be in a miserable state. And that is our fault.

My grandparents and parents created the German "economic miracle". Primarily with sweat, coal and steel. An industrialized nation like all developed (if you can call it that way) western countries. The environment was a resource and not a living habitat worth protecting. But these generations didn't know any better. At least not in society as a whole. That no longer applies to people my age. We know better. So we have no excuse for doing nothing.

In 2100, it will be almost 3 degrees warmer than it is today. That is the result of the so-called Emissions Gap Report presented by the UN Environment Program (UNEP). The world will look fundamentally different. Apart from a remnant of continental ice in the Antarctic, there can no longer be any glaciers at these temperatures. Ocean currents will be completely different due to the warming of the upper water layers. Or won't be at all. But with significantly less oxygen, i.e. with fewer sea creatures. Which will then not only be missing from the species balance, but also from the food chain. Etcetera.

The current German government with green participation has suffered a severe setback in its already modest plan to convert the economy to sustainability. This is because the Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that 60 billion from the "Transformation Fund" may not be used for this purpose. Because it is a reallocated budget that was actually intended to deal with the effects of the pandemic. Let's not misunderstand each other: the money is there, not some nebulous air booking in the future. It just unfortunately has the wrong label.

This frustrates me in many ways. Not that I want to question our supreme jurisdiction. But I do want to question the standards by which it is measured. Just as electric cars are given preference over petrol cars when it comes to parking spaces in the city, priority should be given to ecological and sustainable measures in budget planning. Quite simply because it must undoubtedly be the top priority. It is bad enough that the urgently needed reorientation of our society is being held back by laziness, convenience and ignorance. Then please don't add bureaucracy to the mix.

Good News of the Week:

The EU is finally getting serious about prosecuting environmental offenders. In future, serious crimes against the environment will be punishable by heavy prison sentences and fines. Representatives of the governments of the member states and the European Parliament agreed in Brussels on new rules to improve the prosecution of environmental crimes.

This includes a wide range of offenses, from illegal timber trading to violations of chemicals regulations. Environmental crime is one of the world's most profitable organized crime activities and has a considerable impact on the environment and human health, the Council of Member States said in response to the planned new directive.

The proposed penalties are severe. Individuals face up to 10 years in prison, companies at least 5% of their global turnover. Equally worth mentioning: offenders will be obliged to restore the environment to its previous state or provide compensation. A clear victory for the environment. Which ultimately belongs to all of us. Or actually to no one, because it is a greater good.

Personal happy moment of the week:

My work-life balance is currently very uneven. Because I'm extremely busy at work: several problematic and time-consuming projects are stupidly overlapping at the same time. That's why I'm almost exclusively in the office at the moment and not with my family. They are kind enough to understand that daddy and hubby have very little time - and are in a bad mood. Thank you very much for your understanding and patience!

I couldn't care less...

...that Vladimir Putin wants to take part in a virtual G20 summit. Sure, he can't be arrested there either - the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for war crimes against Ukraine. The worst joke, however, is his topic. According to Moscow's announcement, he wants to present "his view of a deeply unstable world situation". Suggestion: resign. That would make the world much more stable in one fell swoop.

As I write this...

...I discover the work of Karl Jenkins. The Welsh composer is responsible for countless contemporary hits in classical music, such as Adiamus and Palladio. I know his music - from advertising and from movies and television. But I never knew that it was one and the same mastermind who created it.

Post Scriptum

Anarchy reigns in Argentina. At least Javier Milei, the winner of Sunday's presidential election, calls himself an "anarcho-capitalist". The people's longing for change was extremely strong. After all, the record of the center-left alliances that have been in power for decades is anything but brilliant: over a third of the population officially falls below the poverty line, inflation recently reached 147% and any innovation is suffocating in an over-regulating state.

Many of Milei's plans sound very radical - at least by European standards: the introduction of the US dollar as the official national currency, the closure of public institutions such as the national broadcaster or the privatization of state-owned companies. However, the political novice has neither a majority in parliament, nor a functioning party apparatus or a solid network in the regions of his country. What he can actually implement is therefore more than questionable. But he is challenging the status quo and at least bringing a breath of fresh air. And that has never done any harm.