#unmountable boot

[real-fire-emblem-takes]

just promoted the renais twins and

i don't think either of them needed horses

now my team is overhorsed

marianne would be very happy with this team comp, which means it would die in the desert

fe8 is just mount emblem

[slightly-knot-insane]

Under Your Cold Fingertips

[ m!monster x fem!reader ]

a/n: bodyguard x protégée, fluff and smut, forbidden romance content: nsfw, oral (male and female receiving), p in v, pulling out

"I must rest here a moment, mistress."

The hollow sound of his voice under the helmet is very quiet. He's been walking next to your horse for a while, limping, but insisting he is fine. The snow gathered on his armor and his gray horns were decorated with little crystals.

"Of course!" You hastily unmount, sensing he is unwell.

His armor loudly clanks as he almost falls on the steps beneath the abandoned gate. You hear him breathe heavily and hot. As you look back the way you came, you see droplets of blood branding his every footstep.

"You are badly hurt!" you shout. "You fool, why didn't you tell me?"

He remains silent, his hot breath creating a fog around his head. Maybe you're imagining, but he looks like he's... shaking? Gods...

"Quickly, let's undress you," you order him and kneel in front of him.

"M-mistress..." his metal gauntlets clink as he jerks his arms upwards in shock. "What are you doing? You'll get dirty."

"Shut up," you retort. "I can wash my clothes and shoes. But I can't revive my most loyal bodyguard, can I?"

He doesn't say anything and let's you untie his boots. Meanwhile, he carefully releases buckles below his chin. He removes his helmet slowly but the metal still scrapes against his horns. He is a bit pale and has dark rings surround his eyes. If his sclera wasn't black, you're sure you would see how very bloodshot they are.

You suck air between your teeth. "Your bandages are soaked!" Trying not to harm him further, you carefully start unwrapping the bloodied material.

"Mistress, please! This is highly inappropriate."

You just shoot him a furious glance to shut him up. You barely know anything about wounds or treating them, but the gash is long and bleeding heavily. "This looks bad...", you utter.

"It's fine, I heal fast—" Without waiting him to finish, you quickly get all the necessary things and with his help clean his wound. He hisses as the disinfectant slides down his skin.

"I'm so sorry," you whisper while dabbing around his wound. "You don't deserve this."

A large calloused palm covers your fingers. He is surprisingly gentle. He... never touched you like this before. "Mistress, your hands are cold." Wrapped by his clawed fingers, he brings your hands closer to his mouth and blows onto them. Warm air as white as fog twirls around your heads.

"I—" You wanted to say something, something funny or friendly probably, maybe even witty, but your mind went blank. Or rather, every sensible thought got pushed back by that one idea.

You push yourself between his legs and kiss him. Too shocked to react, he keeps his mouth open like a fish until he grabs you by your shoulders and shakes you. "What are you doing? You can't... We..." He trails off looking at your lips. "We can't..."

"You're bleeding for me and I can't even kiss you?", you ask in an almost growling tone.

Still slightly shocked, he opens his mouth to speak, reconsiders and kisses you instead, tightly embracing you against his chest. And his hard and cold armor but you don't care. All you want are his warm lips and his tongue to shove itself down your throat. But not only that...

You slide down between his legs again, happy that doesn't have heavy plates on his lower body (even though that proved a wrong choice this morning). You quickly loosen his pants and push your hand inside. "This is wrong," he mutters over and over but does nothing to stop you taking his heavy and strange cock into your hands. You always wondered how it looks like. And tastes like.

You take it into your mouth, followed by his low and breathy fuck, and you hum around it as you use your tongue to explore every part of it. Listening to your guardian's moans makes you wet and your cunt clenches around nothing every time he jerks his hips up and thrusts into your mouth. You lick his phallus all over, sucking his tip and tracing his veins until he grabs your wrists and pulls you on him.

You stand above him, many layers of your dress stopping you to make the next step. You lift your skirts and chemise around your waist. "Forgive me," he says before he rips your undergarments and reaches your pussy. He leans forward and slides his tongue along your folds, his nose digging into your bush and soft tissue. He is growling like a hungry animal, devouring your nectar and you tremble above him, panting and gasping as his tongue finds all your secrets.

He pulls you down, onto his lap and you drop all your skirts onto you two. They hide everything that happens between you two and keep you warm at the same time.

There is a strange expression on his face. "Mistress..."

You kiss him before he says something stupid, and guide his cock inside you. Slight pang of pain causes you discomfort, but you can't help but roll your hips looking for pleasure. His arms are under your chemise and his claws dig into your hips. You moan into each others mouths, your breaths and bodies pushing the cold away. You ride his cock and with his help you feel the pulses of your peak building up.

"I'm close", you sob into his neck and he grabs your ass so that he could lift you and fuck you from below. You breath hitches from the force of his dick digging into your cunt and you quickly come undone. He kisses you, savoring your delight, and slides into your pussy slowly but deliberately, prolonging your orgasm as much as he can. He then pulls you onto his chest and positions himself so that he can push his whole cock into you easily. In and out, in and out, faster and faster.

Some outsider wouldn't see a thing happening hidden under those long and dirty skirts. But you could feel the tension of his muscles and his cock swelling inside you. He suddenly pulls out by lifting you like a child's toy and, with a long groan, he cums all over your thighs.

"I wish I saw your cock twitching and spilling," you say while you lay against his breastplate.

Still breathless, he chuckles, but also groans in discomfort. You finally remember. "Your leg!" You jump off his lap and see his leg bleeding again. "You fool! Why did you put me on your lap."

Completely ignoring your scolding, he pulls you down again and you sit like before, your naked cunt against his groin. "Because I don't care about that pain. I dreamed about this for a long time."

"You dreamed about fucking me outside in the cold?", you jab.

He chuckles. "Not exactly in the cold." He kisses your neck and jaw. "But outside, and inside, and in your bed, and in my bed, and against a wall, and on the table, and on the floor, and against a tree..."

As he names all the places he imagined, your pussy throbs against his muscles. "All that sounds lovely. But let's get your leg fixed first before you bleed to death."

He places his forehead against yours. "At least I would bleed for the most amazing woman in the world."

You hit him in the chest, blush overtaking your cheeks. "Shut up, you... fool."

[traumatrios]

the name of the game

pairing… dodge mason x fem!reader

wc… 2.3k

summary… you don’t talk to strangers— but there’s something different about dodge. was it his charm? his looks? or the way you couldn’t get him off of your mind?

warnings… ends in smut, face riding, drinking (not drunk sex), iconic red cowboy boots, brief pain pleasure, dodge is soooo delusional

josie’s notes! um i kinda don’t remember how panic ended for dodge (i finished it a week ago) so take the beginning plot with a grain of salt

otherwise enjoy my lovelies ❤️

Dodge didn’t have many friends to begin with, but with most of the kids his age out of Cape and attending college, he did feel quite lonely. 

He’s not a stranger to the fact that college wasn’t in the cards for him– he had too many responsibilities. He knew his sister could very much take care of herself, but lazy Sunday’s on the couch next to her was where his heart truly belonged. 

His mother needed help managing the restaurant, because as much as she prided herself for her hardworking motherhood and independence, he saw the breath of relief she had whenever he was there.

He was perfectly fine as a blue collar working adult. What did he need college for anyway? It was too expensive, especially after the necessary but monetarily disappointing ending to Panic. He was too old to apply now.

Dodge took his time off of working at his bar to nurse the foam of a beer from another in a neighboring town. 

Was this really what his future was? He was dangerously nearing a seat in the same boat as the men surrounding him in the ambience of the dive bar: old (21) with a family at home (he was unattached with a sister and a single mother 5 minutes away from his apartment). 

Dodge might as well accept it; this was his destiny.

But the glimmer of fate came to him through a vision he wasn’t sure whether he was imagining from the wild dreams in his head or the material of a Playboy magazine. 

The mechanical bull sitting in the middle of the recreational space of the bar with a pretty girl attached to its saddle.

Dodge couldn’t tell if you were a saddle bronc rider (like himself) or just intensely familiar with your hips. You rode the mechanical bull like it was a kids bicycle with training wheels.

But with how you grinded against the fur of the mechanical bull with the rhythm it was bucking, he landed on the latter.

It was entrancing to look at, he admitted. The winks you sent into the collecting audience only strengthened his hopes of getting one shot at him. 

The mechanics continued to whir and spin you around, pathetic attempts to throw you off of the attraction you were obviously very skilled at riding. Have you been here before? Has he just never noticed you?

How could he never notice you.

Before he knew it, Dodge was leaning against the inflatable rim of the attraction, eyes wide in awe of your performance. One hand gripped the braided rope attached to the nape of the bull’s neck whilst the other waved in the air freely to your girlfriends, who had been screaming your name in the same way Dodge heard it yelled by paparazzi during award shows his sister watched on the weekends through the television.

The moderator of the attraction seemed just as impressed as anyone else watching you, even holding the twinge of suspicion some kept in the quirk of their brow. A crowd eventually formed around your performance, whistling and cheering you on as the meat of your calves squeezed the sides of the bull’s stomach.

Dodge thinks he heard a “yee haw!” come from the intoxicated group of guys (no younger than 30) stuffed in a booth attached to the wall facing your ass.

Bright digits flashed on the screen beside the control booth, announcing the new high score of Big Star Bar. 2 minutes and 36 seconds.

As you unmounted the artificial bull, Dodge didn’t pull his eyes away from you like the rest of the crowd did. You weren’t a one hit wonder, he had to know your secrets. What was a girl with hips like yours doing in a random dive bar in Texas?

Dodge wasn’t sure how to approach you, especially after losing you in the crowd of girls in identical cowboy hats and guys in flannel. He was lucky enough to skin his eyes over the bar and spot your sparkling red boots tapping and gliding against the dingy dance floor.

The boy filed through the crowd until the heat in the air turned from heavy to sweaty dance floor heavy. 

Dodge scanned the horseshoe— painted? —on the back of your jean jacket and how it paired with your cowboy boots. It felt like something out of a movie, seeing your outfit.

“This your first rodeo?” he greeted, though from his stance behind your back, he wasn’t surprised by the small jump in your shoulders. But when you turned around, you were just as beautiful up close than you were on that damn bull. Dodge noticed the thick pieces of glitter scattered across your collarbone and how it seemed to match with the other girls in your party.

“Sorry. I don’t talk to strangers,” you shrugged, offering Dodge a friendly smile in apology.

Your gaze didn’t even falter or scan him, just unwaveringly looking him in the eye before you turned around again to chat with your friends. 

“Aren’t those the most fun to talk to though?” Dodge tried, and god did it form a pit in his stomach to feel like one of those guys that pushed for a girl's attention— a bad guy.

This got you to turn back around again.

Truthfully, his looks were hard to deny; especially with that ivory colored cowboy hat on his head. Otherwise, he wore a navy tee with a pair of dark jeans and black boots; the simplest thing ever. 

One hand was stuffed in the pocket of his jeans, the other tapping its digits against the sweaty glass of a bottle of beer. 

“Do you really wanna talk? Grandma taught me that boys like you never want to just talk.” 

Dodge couldn’t fight against that, not confidently at least. He knew he didn’t want to just talk, but he also didn’t know what else he’d want to do. Is this what being in limbo felt like?

You gave Dodge the grace of a second before pointing an eyebrow at him and turning again, only this time walking off with your friends to a different corner of the bar.

Dodge was too stubborn to talk growing up, and in this moment— and only this moment —did he curse himself for doing so.

In Cape, everyone was a regular. 

It didn’t matter where you went or with whom, you were known better than the alphabet.

When Dodge came into town, he became a regular. In most places, at least.

He knew you weren’t from Cape because you weren’t a regular here. Which is why he was surprised to see the same red heels he’s been dreaming about since the weekend stroll into the establishment he worked in.

You knew what you were doing, of course. You knew about Dodge Mason because Gina knew about Dodge Mason, and she knew about Dodge Mason from her boyfriend Daniel.

That’s how you got here, wasn’t it? But, Dodge didn’t need to know that.

He didn't need to know how your girlfriends teased you for playing hard to get or how you began sweating just from looking into his piercing eyes.

And when those piercing eyes caught the sight of the painted horseshoe on your back, he thought it must be my lucky day.

As you sat at the bar, Dodge couldn’t think of any other way to praise whatever god trailed you in here rather than repeating the same ‘thank you’s in his head.

“Evening, lucky,” he coined the nickname from the symbol. You fought a smile at his wit, instead rolling your tongue along the flesh of your lip. 

“I’m sorry, do I know you sir?”

Dodge chortled at your act, but your face stood unwavering. Your tits looked perfect while pressed against the bar, but Dodge managed to pull his eyes a little higher to see the small tick in your neck signaling your so-called ‘confusion’.

You must’ve not liked his silence, because you picked up the silence with a small sigh and your order.

“May I have a shirley temple with just a dash of lime juice, please?” you batted your eyelashes at the unconvinced boy, being met with the playful roll of his eyes. 

Despite himself, Dodge began to concoct your beverage. You were strange, he thought. Where did you come from? Were you visiting? Would he see you again if nothing came from this conversation? How would he be sure?

He had to make sure this one counted, not like that pathetic excuse of conversation at the bar. The clicking of your nails rippling against the waxed bar behind his back mimicked the ticking clock– he might as well shoot a shot. Perhaps it was an easy target, especially with his luck sprawled against your back. 

“Did your grandma also teach you these manners?” Dodge planted the highball in front of your impatient hands. You took a look at the glass, then him, then to the glass again, where your eyes stayed as you tasted the drink. The sugar spreads across your tongue, satisfying its parched state.

“I still don’t talk to strangers,” you said, but the smirk that played on your face told Dodge something different. Your game wouldn’t fool him, not when you drop it just as limp as that. Did you want him like he wanted you?

You two weren’t strangers, no, he knew you were meant for something more. 

“So you admit to it,” he turned his head from the focus on your drink, only to catch your face hot with guilt. He chuckled to himself at your game.

“We ain’t strangers. This is our second meeting, perhaps fate is sending a message?” God, when did Dodge Mason become so sappy? He was grasping at the ends of a rope he wasn’t sure you were on the other end of.

But then you smiled. You smiled and twirled the skinny black straw around the ice of your drink. “And what message would that be?” you challenged.

Dodge leaned his elbows on the dark oak of the bar. He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue before his proposal, or rather, ‘the message’. “You should come home with me tonight.” He kept it at that; simple and charming. 

You giggled like a schoolgirl at his confidence. By the looks of it, he had been a lustful young adult, admittedly like you, with maybe a studio apartment. Your mind could only think of one thing he planned to do if you accepted the invitation, and you knew it wasn’t puzzles and lemonade. 

Were you opposed? Not entirely. 

“And what would this night entail? What do I get from entering your home? You gon’ drive me home after?” You matched his stance, leaning forward on the folded elbows you stuck to the waxy countertop. Dodge felt a stream of intimidation flow through his veins at the way you pointed your eyebrow at him.

“Might have to come to find out,” he replied, swiping his tongue over the toothpick that hung from his mouth. You couldn’t restrain your eyes from flickering down to the pair of lips. 

You were sure the sharp metal of his handle left a burning mark when he pushed you against it in the barren hallway of his apartment building. But with the incessant kissing of his lips distracting your mouth– and eventually everything else –it didn’t matter much to you anymore.

Your frame had been stripped of all fabric, laying in addition to his in the ratty hamper dejected in the corner of his room. Soon enough, he was insisting on a third round to cure the burdens of his barren tongue.

“Wanna see how you ride up close, baby,” he reasoned through a hushed tone, kissing the clammy skin of your temple.

How could you refuse? Especially when his hands began to rub those soothing circles into your hips and the tip of his tongue licked the shell of your ear during the whisper.

When he was prodding his tongue into your entrance a few minutes later, you knew it was the right decision to follow him out of the door. With your tits bouncing underneath the warm light thrusting through the ceiling of the sauna he called his room, Dodge took it upon himself to bruise your skin of this (rather heated) interaction through two large grips of his hands on your ass whilst you fucked his face. 

Dodge’s curious tongue soon turned into a hungry one, accompanied by the brief scraping of his teeth against the puffy lips of your pussy. The small bumping of his skull against the wooden headboard spurred him on rather than slowed him down, and you hoped the string of moans and mewls coming from your mouth were enough gratitude to satisfy his desires.

Due to popular demand– a loose request that fell in pieces from Dodge’s dumbstruck position underneath you –you wore his cowboy hat, glaze sticking from your hairline onto the weaved material. Dodge didn’t mind, in fact, he reveled in the thought of that same sweat mixing with his own during a rodeo. Dripping down his face just like how the sudden flood of your sweet juices were coating the stubble on his chin and the point of his nose. 

Dodge lived up to his word the morning after, tapping the ends of his fingers against the leather of the steering wheel to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s voice singing “Glory Days” from the beaten up radio of Dodge’s Cadillac. Summers' heat wavered through the air of Cape even when Dodge drove past the speed limit on a lonely road. 

When you arrived at the doorstep of your grandmother's house, Dodge didn’t worry about the possibility of seeing you again, only admiring the way you swayed your hips and clicked your heels against the pavement during your strut. The corners of his lips pulled up into something that was not quite a smirk. 

He liked how your game was turning out.

traumatrios, 2024

divider by @saradika-graphics !

[coffee-4-dinner]

The Paladin and the Saint

Fandom: The Elder Scrolls - Oblivion

Scene: Lucien Lachance grieves Vicente Valtieri after the Purification

Lucien is drunk, has mixed feelings and trauma and daddy issues.

Snow was falling.

A dark hooded figure rode slow and silent through white fields, mounted upon a monstrously large midnight mare. He looked up, staring across the plains of ice. An old memory came to him, of his younger days in Skyrim; of red, beautiful and bold, flung and painted upon the canvas of frost.

The figure stopped at the steel gate, drawing the horse's reigns to halt his steed. He unmounted, black steel-toed leather boots hitting the snow softly. The man removed a glove, taking a moment to stroke the mare's long nose, who tossed her head, snow flying from her long mane. She nipped at him in affection, catching his sleeve. The ice crunched as he walked on, pushing the rusted gate open with a ear piecing screech. The man grit his teeth at such ugly intrusion upon sacred silence.

The hooded figure strode through long rows of grey headstones, ignoring their names. The occasional flower and candle decorated each grave, the only splash of color. Grave after grave, he walked past, some barely visible under years of growth, some rank with the scent of fresh, wet dirt.

Finally, the black boots came to a halt, the edge of his cape swishing around them. They turned to face a tall and slender headstone; sleek dark stone and old fashioned.

The figure lowered his hood.

"Vicente," Lucien said softly. 

"Master. Old friend. You tormentor. If I hadn't killed you, I would be begging your advice."

He sighed, flaring out his cloak before sitting down cross-legged before the grave. Withdrawing a bottle of wine from his pack and uncorking it skillfully with a dagger, the Speaker clinked the glass to the headstone before gulping it down. 

"Oh but for you my accursed friend, nothing but the finest will do."

A second, smaller bottle was produced, bearing a much thicker red liquid. Lucien poured it generously over the vampire's grave, crimson trickling down in rivulets over the carved grey headstone and over the mound of dirt, deep under which the coffin lay, bearing that ancient, unnatural corpse.

He watched it seep into the earth, at the worms writhing in the wetness, glistening and turning a brighter pink. 

"Drink up, creature. Go on, lap it up. How does it taste? Sweet? Bitter? I wonder, is your second death a deeper death? Is Sithis' grip colder?"

He stared at the headstone in aggression, as if awaiting a reply.

Lucien paused, thinking, albeit rather drunkenly. Turning away, he rubbed a hand over his face. Why had he come here? To this demon's second grave? He had wanted to drink with him, ask his advice, no... give him a piece of his mind, curse at him.

"I wouldn't be the man I am today if it weren't for you," he said aloud suddenly.  He hadn't meant to, it shocked him.

Crickets sang in the night.

"You devil. You demon. To think my new Silencer stole what was rightfully mine. Your death."

Lucien sneered at the headstone nastily, old resentments and rage brewing in a pit in his stomach.

"You always did love to deny me, didn't you? You took pleasure in it. You old bastard." His expression darkened. "Every vampire I slew was a special pleasure." The words burst abruptly from snarled lips, vicious. "The knowledge you kept from me, just knowing I could do it. And you," he broke out into laughter. "Wrapping their hearts in a box for you, bow and all, and seeing you having to smile and hide your rage? Thank me? A pleasure greater still."

He tipped his head back, taking long drinks. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he stared at the grave dully. Snow was gathering on his shoulders, and hair; he ignored it.

"Tell me it wasn't you."

Agony in his voice.

"And if so, why? Why?" A distressed hand to his face. "What else were you keeping from me?"

"Teinaava, Ocheeva... No. Never, surely," he whispered. "I must believe that. Tell me they died in honor."

Useless demands to a headstone.

Another gulp of drink. Lucien tilted back his head to the sky, watching the silent snow fall down towards him, touching his face, catching in dark eyelashes. The white fields were eerily silent.

"Things are not well in the Black Hand, Vicente. You know this, it hasn't been for some time. How quickly the petty politics of it all gets out of hand. What plan the Night Mother has for us, I cannot see."

The Speaker hesitated. "I don't know who I can trust," he said, as if in confession. He almost sounded like a boy. "I am suspicious of none of them and all of them at once! I fear for the Listener's life."

The assassin fell silent for a moment, gazing off into the night. What in Oblivion was he doing? 

"I'm speaking to a stone," Lucien muttered to himself, running a hand over his tired face. 

This was absurd.

But he touched Vicente Valtieri's carved name before he left, leaving fingerprints in red like rose petals.

[as-if-and-only-if]

hmm, parents’ iMac from almost 10 years ago is dying. Fusion drive; HDD seems fine but SSD seems, well, fucked. Kernel panics causing a boot loop—no Macintosh HD visible—etc.

But not completely fucked. Adventure!

Brought it into the Apple Store today: guy turned the computer on in target disk mode (where it behaves like an external hard drive), connected it to a laptop, and there everything is! all the data!

get home, do exactly the same thing—doesn’t work.

The Fusion Drive shows up in disk utility, but of the (adjacent) partitions under “Macintosh HD”, which are (another) “Macintosh HD” and “Macintosh HD - Data”, only the latter will mount. Can’t seem to read anything from it, though. (“Permission denied”—weird.)

Meanwhile, if you mount and open the parent Macintosh HD, you see four empty folders: Library, System, Applications, Users, iirc.

Trying to restore any of these to an external hard drive via disk utility fails because the “seal is broken”. `diskutil apfs list` shows that every disk is unsealed except for the unmountable leaf Macintosh HD, which has a broken seal. (No data/user is encrypted with FileVault or anything on this disk, fwiw. diskutil unlockVolume doesn’t do anything as a result.)

Ok. So, I try `ddrescue`; this is where “Fatal read error: permission denied” comes from. Then I try it on the physical disks. Works fine on the HDD for quite a while, copying away with no errors. Encounters loads of read errors on the SSD. Pretty regularly, too, which I found odd: one every 6-8 seconds without fail. But it’s apparently able to rescue some data in the meantime, so I figure this isn’t just some timeout.

But what use to me is a bunch of corrupted data? It bugs me that it was working in the Apple Store. Let’s just get there again! What was different?

The only things I can think of are:

it was turned off (but plugged in) overnight beforehand. I don’t know anything about SSD failures, but maaaaybe something electrical is afoot.

maybe there was something about the exact sequence of things he tried first in the Apple Store. What was it? Recovery mode, safe mode, PRAM reset, halfway through internet recovery, then shut it down and go for target disk mode…?

maybe the fact that he had it plugged into ethernet mattered for some wacky reason. maybe some of the relevant components are near each other. what if the wifi card is heating up and disrupting the SSD, or something? well, that probably wouldn’t be immediate, and so wouldn’t explain the kernel panic. but, who knows.

Maybe something just jostled back into place while carrying the computer into the store and jostled back out while carrying it out.

Favorite option so far is something electrical having a really long relaxation time of some sort. So we’ll see, I guess…!

[enarei]

okay here's my problem currently:

there's some bug in the official arch iso from 2022 I have installed in this USB drive. it does not recognize my sata SSD and freaks out when I try to partition it. I can't simply update the packages because there's not enough space on the live CD media.

I need to install a newer version of the archiso. I do not have a working computer with an operating system installed (reason I'm trying to install arch in the first place), and I can't flash a new image onto the USB drive without one.

I'm using ventoy to have two live CD media on the same USB drive, and it just so happens I have have another iso with kubuntu in a different partition. it occurs to me I can use the live kubuntu environment to download the newest archiso and flash it over the old one.

BUT. I can't mount the arch partition, because the device it is on is currently busy (running kubuntu). I can't unmount the USB without everything breaking because kubuntu has not been loaded to ram. I can't reboot and load it to ram because I can't access the grub boot options from the legacy/bios version of grub. I can't change to UEFI grub because I explicitly set up ventoy with the legacy/bios configuration. and I can't change the way ventoy is setup BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER

[clatterbane]

Oh yes. After that recent little booting clusterfuck while updating on the laptop? Since I really do want to get that sorted out, partly so I can actually boot into the Live USB system and resize some hard drive partitions while they're unmounted--I did finally suck it up and just ask for some advice on the MX forum.

And one of the devs did offer some, which sounded like just what I needed. I'm too wiped out tonight to do much besides watch videos. (Another procedure under the usual Migraine Potion, a.k.a. propofol, first thing this morning.) But, I may have to try at least making another USB with the right freaking ISO which plays better with Secure Boot this time, even if I do not need to actively try to get shit fixed tonight with a hospital dope hangover. And likely firing on even fewer cylinders than usual.

I really do not like asking anyone for help, much less when I do feel like it does involve one or more dumb questions. And/or in a situation where I go in at least halfway expecting to deal with people wanting to act like anyone asking questions must be abysmally stupid. But, nerds must and all that. And sometimes asking does work out OK.

[taterstories]

Princess Mercury By Tater

I Sir Vick a leader and protector of our village in the kingdom of King Orlando. I am a simple man and very single, being one of the very few single knights in the entire kingdom. I had not found a wife yet; no woman has struck my fancy yet. Being a leader in the village I not only protected the village but helped wherever I am needed. Whether its farming or training horses or building things. Today I am helping fix a roof for our blacksmith in our village. He is a great blacksmith and made my armor for me a long time ago when I was knighted. The blacksmith has offered me his eldest daughter for marriage. But I have told him and along with so many others I am looking for true love for me. I was working on the roof when I saw a royal caravan approaching the village. I got down to go meet them in the center of the village. It was not any of the royals but the Kings Majordomo. I greeted him and the other leaders came to greet him as well. The Majordomo handed me an official letter with the Royal seal on it. The letter was an invitation for me to come to the castle in two days.

After finishing the Blacksmiths roof, I went to my house to prepare to go to the castle to meet the Royal family. I needed to polish my armor and clean my saddle and pack everything I need for the trip. The next morning, I would set out on my steed to go to the castle. I rode all day till I was just on the outside of the capital city where the castle is. I stopped and set up a camp for the night next to a stream. I caught fish for my dinner and cooked it on a fire and lay under the stars wondering what the Royal family could want with me, I was nervous and excited to find out what was of my fate. The next morning, I woke with the sun was up and shining. I packed my things and put on my armor and shined my boots and wiped my saddle down and dressed my horse with his robe and hood. I mounted my steed, and I rode into the Capital City. There was a reception waiting for me it was the Majordomo and his soldiers. They lead the way in the Royal carriage as I followed them through the city to the castle. We entered the castle grounds going over a bridge that's over a mote. We stopped just inside, and I unmounted my steed and one of the many servants a stable boy came over and asked to take my horse and care for him for me.

The Majordomo led me into the castle into a lobby where I was greeted but several servants. Then I was led to the doors to the Throne Room. Then Majordomo asked me if I was ready, I nodded and the big doors open and we walked in and the Majordomo announced me to the court, "Ladies and Lords please to introduce Sir Vick Montana." Everyone inside the room turned and looked at me I walked down the red carpet in the center of the room to the throne where the King and Queen were sitting, it is King Orlando and Queen Venus. I then kneeled on one knee and bowed my head. The King addressed me, "Welcome Sir Vick you may stand." So, I stand up and take off my helmet and hold it in my right arm like a knight should. Then the King said, "Do you know why we summoned you here Sir Vick?" I replied, "No my Lord I am unaware of my purpose to being here." The King looked at his Queen and she spoke, "We brought you here for our daughter the Princess if she is pleased with you then you may court her." I thought that would be awesome but I really want to fall in love so we will see. I replied to the Queen, "That would be great my Lady I the opportunity to court the Princess would be an honor."

Then after a slight moment a door from my right opened and the Princess entered the court. She was beautiful and powerful looking. Then Queen announced her, "This is our daughter Princess Mercury, Mercury this a Sir Vick Montana." The Princess walked over to me and looked me over and walked around me. Then walked over to the Queen and whispered to her and they had a quiet conversation between the two of them at one point a giggle burst out between them. Then the Princess stood beside the Queen and the queen announced, " You Sir Vick may court our daughter, let it begin and servants take him to his chambers." I was led away out of the Throne Room and to one of the many wings of the castle. A door opened and I was pushed into the room which was a big bedroom with a big bed and all my things that I brought with me were in there already. There was a young man in there in the corner he came over to me and said, "Hello my Lord I am Scud, and I will be your servant during your stay here, I need to measure you for a hand custom suite to wear." I said, "Nice to meet you Scud." He helped me remove my armor and then he measured me all over writing down all the measurements for the tailor. Then he handed the note to another servant through the servant's door. Then announced, "My Lord you may rest I will bring your suit and escort you to dinner later." He bowed and I nodded back at him, and he walked out though the servant's door.

I was laying around this big room and but there was not much to do I was a little bored. I had been in there for a couple of hours before I heard the big door open, I looked in that direction and saw the beautiful Princes Mercury walking towards me and my bed. I jumped up and stood there as she approached me. She looked at me and said, "Well Sir Vick do you think you have what it takes to court me?" "Yes, I think I do I feel like I would be the perfect man to have your hand," I replied. "The Courting will not be easy so prepare you self to prove to me you are the one," she said. "Yes, my Lady Mercury you are all I will think about and will have all my attention," I declared. I bowed down and she turned to walk out of the room and said, "I will see you at my father's big dinner tonight." There I was left alone in that room and then yes all I could think about was this beautiful Princess that was starting to pull at my heart.

A few hours later the Scud came into the room and said, It is time to get ready for the dinner my liege." I climbed out of bed and looked at him as he started to fill a bath and light a fire under the tub. He told me to take off my clothes. I got undressed and shortly after the tub was full. I climbed into the tub, and he took a bar of soap and started to scrub me down head to toe. When he was done, I got out of the tub, and he dried me off. Then started to hand me articles of clothing to put on that were parts to the custom suit that was made for me. Before I knew it, I was fully dressed in the most handsome suit I have ever wore. Scud went over the whole thing to make sure everything is perfect. While primping everything she said, If I don't check everything and everything is not perfect the princess will have me tortured in the dungeon." That made me feel odd and that meant she is very strict. When everything was perfect Scud led me out the big door and down the corridor to the ball room where the dinner was held.

We entered the ball room; it is full of people. Scud announced me to the court, "Please let me have everyone's attention, let me introduce Sir Vick the suiter for Princess Mercury." I walk down the steps everyone looking at me I see several tables one at the far end of the room where the Royal family was sitting. I walk over to the table and say hello to them, "Your Majesty as I bowed to them." We got into a conversation about the castle and pleasantries. Then a servant came to me and told me my seat would be right across from the Princess. I stood behind my chair till they announced dinner, and the King welcomed everyone and me the guest of honor. Everyone sat down and the servants and kitchen staff brought out a giant feast. We all talked and dinned and enjoyed everyone's company. When we were all done eating the band started playing some songs to dance to, so I went over and asked the Princess to dance with me. I escorted her out to the middle of the room. We dance and tell each other little jokes and conversation. Then the next song started we were still dancing and gazing into each other's eyes. Which felt good and I really liked this she was amazing but had something about her that expressed power and control, I really liked that about her. Then next thing I know the Queen asked if she could cut it and she did and started dancing with me.

There I was dancing with the Queen, the most beautiful and powerful woman in all the kingdom. She started talking to me asking me questions, "Are you going to be subservient to my daughter?" "What do you mean my Queen?" I replied. She went on to tell me that the women of the royal family rule the house and the Kingdom and if I really want to marry her daughter then I need to submit to her. Then the Princess cut back in, and we danced some more for several more songs. Till I decided to ask her out for a walk around the castle grounds. We went out in the crisp night air we were talking about what we like to do and how we spent our free time. We were not entirely alone cause Jenavive her hand maiden and Scud were following us but not too closely. We were in a part of the castle grounds that was a little dark and she pushed me in to a really dark shadow kissing me passionately on the lips. All without me knowing pulling my pants down and her Jenavive getting down low and slipping a something on my genitals it was heavy and cold. Then we stepped back out into the light, and I looked down at and there was an iron cage around my cock and testicles. I looked at the Princess and she said, "You will where this till you are done courting me, ok Sir Vick." I pulled my pants back up and we kept walking along and we ended up at her chambers. She Kissed me and said, "Now you have a good night, Sir Vick because it is not over for you so enjoy it." Then she turned and went in her chambers and closed the door behind her with Jenavive close behind her.

Then Scud escorted me back to my chambers we went in, and he assisted me in disrobing me. I asked him where my night clothes were. He replied, "I am under strict orders to not give you night clothes so lay down on the bed." He put a pair of blinders on my eyes. Then I actually started to drift off to sleep. I then woke up because I could not move my legs and arms were tied to the four corners of the bed. I started calling for Scud I said, "Scud what did you do to me what is going on untie me." Then I felt someone close to me and in my ear say, "I am sorry Sir Vick, but I am under strict orders to do all this I do not want to but have to." It was Scud, he then went away. I heard another voice a woman's voice, and they walked close to me and whispered in my ear it is the Queen, "This is the beginning of your training, so you need to behave and do what is asked of you." They then took off the blinder of my eyes and I could see them in the dimly lit room with candles everywhere. Then with the Queen next to my head Scud got on top of me and he was naked he was a very small, framed guy and very skinny, but he was packing a long thick cock that was totally not proportionate to his frame. The Queen told me to open my mouth I did, and she had her hand wrapped around Scuds cock and stuffed it in my mouth. He started thrusting into my mouth and the Queen still assisting him in jerking off his cock with it in my mouth. It didn't take long, and he busted a huge load of cum in my mouth. I had never done this before I didn't know what to think.

I was still in my bed tied down and Scud finished and go off of me I did not know when this was going to end then the queen climbed on the bed and stood over me without any nickers on looking down at me. Then she got down on her knees straddling me and put her beautiful pussy in my face. Now this is amazing I loved this, her warm wet pussy on my face and started licking and sucking it and tasting it. Her juices started to flow more and more, and she started to moan and move up and down riding my face like a stallion. I am so turned on, but my cock is locked it this cage. It did not take long for the queen to cum with a heavy flow of her juices in my mouth. Then replaced the blind and I am guessing left the room. Then I fell asleep hard for the rest of the night.

The next morning, I Scud woke me up when he opened the curtains and the morning light hit me. He said, "You have a long day Sir Vick, the princess requests your presents on a horse ride." I was no longer tied town to the bed I do not remember being untied like it was all a dream. I sat up in bed looking around the room there was scud with a tray of food. He said, "Breakfast Sir you will need it for today." I took a biscuit and some bacon and the bowl of fruit. I looked at Scud and asked, "So what happened last night?" He looked away and said, "What are you talking about I you were asleep as soon as you got in bed you must have been dreaming." When I was done eating, I got out of bed and Scud had my clothes I was to wear for the day put out. He assisted me in getting ready, it was my white shirt and back riding pants and my knee-high boots. Scud escorted me out to the courtyard of the castle where Princess Mercury was waiting with my horse and her horse. I said, "Good morning, Princess." "Good morning, Sir Vick how was your night were you comfortable?" She asked. I Replied, "Yes Princess I was very comfortable, I thought about you all night." "Good" she replied. I mounted my horse, and her hand maiden helped her mount. She then said, "Try to keep up." Then she took off and I hurried up to get my big horse motivated so I could catch up and keep up with her.

We road all around the countryside by the castle I did have a hard time keeping up with her on her limber thoroughbred stallion. we went for a while all over then we came up on a wagon with Scud and Jenavive there with wine and a blanket the Princess dismounted, and I did as well, and Scud took the horses to get water. She sat down on the blanket and so did I. We had some good conversation and joke and teased. She was getting closer and closer I was holding her hand and running my hand though her beautiful strawberry blond hair. She then put her hand on the cage she had put on me. She said, "I hope you are comfortable in this because I does not come off till we are married and that is if you decide to propose to me." I was falling In love with her she was amazing. She then took my hand and put it on her beautiful perfect size breast. Then said, "This I what you get after we are married." Then took my left hand and put it in here pants and nickers on her pussy that was warm and slightly wet I put my middle finger tightly in her slit without penetrating her. Then she looked me in the eyes with her crystal blue eyes and said, "And this is what will control you. I felt myself turning red and I took a deep breath and my cock tried to get hard against the cage. I replied, "Yes my Princess."

We went to ride back, and Scud handed me something as I mounted my horse. I was a ring in a box he whispered, "This is for when you're ready to ask her to marry you, the sooner the better if you know what is good for you. Princess Mercury and I walked the horses back to the Castle still talking and teasing and joking about all kinds of thing that have happened in our lives. We get back to the castle and dismount and I bid the Princess farewell for now and Scud escorted me back to my chambers to change and relax. I asked Scud, "So can you give me any more advice on what I need to do and about the royal family?" He looked nervous and replied, "NO I can only give you the things I am told to give you and tell you what I am told to tell you, if I were caught doing any more than my orders, I could be put in the dungeon. Then someone knocked on the door and Scud went and talked to them. He came back to me and said, "The royal family requests your presents in the throne room. Scud escorted me to the throne room, and I walked up to the Thone by myself. Where the King and Queen and the Princess was sitting, I kneeled down with my head bowed. The Queen says, "Thankyou Sir Vick, Now do you have anything to ask our daughter?" "We have been hearing you have been getting along great and she has taken a liking to you." I replied, "Not yet your majesty I need more time to get to know her, she is wonderful I do like her too, but I do not know if I am ready yet." The Queens voice got louder she said, "Well if you are not ready then Sir Vick, I feel like you need to spend the night in my personal dungeon and see if we can get you; ready." I swallowed hard before I could move, she said, "Guards take him to my personal dungeon." Two very big Guards grabbed me and took me away. On the way out of the Thone room in the with me struggling to be free from their hands someone but a burlap bag on my head so everything when dark as I was helplessly taken away.

[sl33py-g4m3r]

Debian 12 xfce ~~~~ let's go~~~~~

I complained about debian not having wifi drivers upon live cd boot, apparently that was by design for the older versions as (i think?) device drivers like that might be proprietary and non-free. and debian ships usually free and open source packages....

so that was by design~~ they changed it I think in debian 12, which I'm late to finding lol.

I missed the transparency thing xfce does sometimes~~~ I like xfce's compositor~~ and for some reason I don't like KDE when I tried it before and hadn't tried it since~~

could've tried it but just jumped on xfce desktop with debian 12, especially cause I've come to like thunar file manager over dolphin (? was that kde's?)

just got it up and running~~ tho I forget (or don't know) how to update the system yet.... mint has an update manager, or it's a cinnamon desktop thing..... idk.... tho I'm guessing "sudo apt-get update"

I like the splash screen and grub menu~~~ and (not that linux mint debian was unstable cause it wasn't~~) I hope debian is really stable~~ ot that's what I read anyway~~

and my function keys still work, lol. unlike upon fresh windows install~~

and I can still access the other hard drive~~ but for some reason upon unmounting it it says that there's still something going on or data is being written to it, but then it seems to unmount fine anyway~~ so I hope nothing is going wrong already~~ lol

continually talking about linux cause I got nowhere else to~~ lol sorry for cluttering up the tags if they aren't correct at all~~

now to install vlc and stuff lol~~ and hopefully find more xfce-4 themes so I can get it looking like windows 95 lol

or what's a better desktop environment than xfce? I tried lxde and it's supposedly not getting updated anymore so better to try lxqt in that case? it's newer.... Cinnamon is nice but got bored of it w mint, kde I didn't like back when I tried it a decade ago and hadn't touched it since.... hadn't messed w GNOME either in a long while either tho, I miss the sidebar and quick access to workspaces but didn't like it for other reasons too... or maybe it wasn't as customizeable..... or I didn't know how.....

currently rocking debian 12 as the title suggests w xfce desktop environment~~~ but could maybe switch to lxqt ~~~ but idk how to wipe all components from xfce and install lxqt...

and I don't like having more than one desktop environment installed cause that leads to duplicate apps

*side glances at how many terminal emulators are here anyway*

which do I choose? there are so many~~~ but lately I like xfce~~~ and might give lxqt a shot~~~ idk.....

there are so many and I already have a hard time choosing anyway lol

also just realized that the installer didn't ask for a root password so i have to "sudo" every single time cause I can't run as root directly.

and for some reason my username didn't capitalize so I tried to log into the system and it said the password was incorrect, I knew the password was correct, I made the first letter of my username small and i was in~~~

wtf~~~ did it lowercase it in the installer and I didn't realize it? is this what happened before when I tried to install debian years ago? I just reinstalled mint like an idiot instead of trying things T_T;;

tho I still consider myself a newbie cause arch, opensuse, slackware and others like that scare me ~~~ but they'd get me to learn~~ I just don't know enough to use them yet.

which begs the question, should I be running debian anyway? or should I just go back to mint?p

second guessing myself after a SUCCESSFUL INSTALL~~~~~ rip. but I like what I got going..... and cinnamon was getting boring lol

tldr: I'm taking tumblr on the linux journey with me~~~ :) hopefully typing about it into the void will help me be less anxious about trying stuff and potentially breaking my system~~ lol cause ya can always install a system that you know works~~ if something breaks.

happy to be running the grandpa of a whole bunch of linux distributions :)

hopefully I'm smarter than I think and this'll be fine~~~ worry I'll break stuff constantly~~~~ and I really don't like not knowing what I'm doing cause I feel stupid but that's how you learn to begin with, isn't it?

[hatefueled]

@fightsem asked: an audible roar of the bike's engine served as an indication of the champion's arrival. an area neutral, only dust of sand and the rays of sun above their heads a witness to their scheduled meeting. The champion did not arrive empty handed however, a sizable package neatly strapped to the back of his motorcycle as he unmounted it with a swift swing of his leg. Armored boots hit the ground, knocking off dust as with each step, greeting the gunslinger with a small nod of acknowledgement.

“ Sorry I haven't told you why I needed to meet here, I got something for you from a remodeling store. ” it was probably confusing, moreso that Lighter didn't explain what was hiding inside the package. soon enough, he approached his bike again, unwrapping the cargo before putting it down. it was a knee-high box and it's contents hidden under a badly done paper wrap. truly, he wasn't the best at packing stuff.

“ i noticed you kept staring at joyride a lot. bangboos are pretty handy companions and i thought you could use a helping hand in your own journey. ” gloved hands tore through the wrap, only to soon reveal the long anticipated gift he had for boothill. a custom made bangboo, with it's body dark resembling the color palette of the gunslinger himself. a red poncho wrapped neatly around it's body and a matching cowboy hat gracing it's little head.

he couldn't help but crack a small smile at this, the mechanic that worked as a bangboo customizer truly outdid himself for a small pay the champion could afford. “ it's not yet powered, you can program it yourself. it's all yours, jericho. ”

Jericho had arrived some time ago, early, even. Not like he had anything planned immediately; if he did he'd of just told him no. Of course, it's when he's just lit himself a cigarette that he spots Chase pulling up ( finally ). The ranger doesn't move thought, just watches. A bit curious about the pack on his back, and the intent in his approach. Figures it might of been a lead, another job, another...

He shrugs at his apology. Not a big deal. There's a trust between them that Jericho hasn't found in anyone. Not in a long time anyway. Waiting for a bit didn't hurt, and it's not like the sun bothers him much.

Bangboos... yeah. Joyride was fun; little shit liked to talk big, and hurled insults like no one else. But he found the attitude to be almost endearing. Fighting with him over a seat on the couch, getting on him for leaving something somewhere. Interrupting the two of them at the worst times. Frustrating, sure. But he liked how much he could see Chase in him, like a smaller snarkier version.

" You... what? " speaking around the cigarette, watching as they rip apart the packaging and reveal... a... it's...

The details are perfect. The hat, the earring, even the poncho- which looks so much like the one he has now. He's never shared how much it means to him, the history there. And when he takes the bangboo in his hands, he turns it some to take it in more. Silent for a beat too long, as if he's trying to make sense of it. He didn't need to get him anything, let alone something so personalized. It shows how much attention Chase has paid to him- and the clear intent behind the gift. This wasn't a spur of the moment decision, this took time...

" Thanks. I've... never had anythin' like it before, " he hums, tucking it a bit closer to himself in one arm. Free hand raised to pull the smoke from his mouth, and gesture in his direction with it. " Lil fella come with an instruction manual too? Be a real shame if I fucked it up and made him as trigger happy as me huh? " a jest. As he considers what he ought to get him in return...

unprompted

[rukimakino-heirofheart]

REAL COOL OF YOU WINDOWS VERY NICE OF YOU TO CRASH SPONTANEOUSLY BECAUSE YOU UNMOUNTED YOUR OWN BOOT DISK

I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT I DID NOTHING TO PRECIPITATE THIS

I JUST RANDOMLY GOT A BLUESCREEN AND LO AND BEHOLD WHEN IT REBOOTED ITSELF IT SAID [NO BOOTABLE DRIVES]

GET ME OUT OF THIS HELLSCAPE

[qcs01]

Becoming a Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA): A Comprehensive Guide

In the world of Linux system administration, the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification stands as a prestigious and valuable credential. Whether you're looking to validate your skills or kickstart your career in IT, earning an RHCSA certification can open doors to numerous opportunities.

What is RHCSA?

The RHCSA certification is designed for IT professionals who have a solid understanding of core Linux system administration tasks. This includes managing users, installing and configuring software, maintaining system security, and troubleshooting issues. As one of the foundational certifications offered by Red Hat, RHCSA is recognized globally and is often a prerequisite for higher-level certifications like the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).

Why Pursue RHCSA Certification?

Industry Recognition: RHCSA is highly regarded in the IT industry, making it a valuable asset on your resume. Employers often seek out RHCSA-certified professionals for system administration roles.

Career Advancement: With RHCSA certification, you can qualify for various roles, including Linux system administrator, IT specialist, and network administrator. It can also pave the way for more advanced certifications and positions.

Hands-on Experience: The RHCSA exam tests practical skills, ensuring that certified professionals are well-prepared to handle real-world challenges. This hands-on experience is invaluable in today's IT landscape.

Competitive Edge: In a competitive job market, RHCSA certification can set you apart from other candidates by demonstrating your expertise and commitment to professional growth.

Who Should Pursue RHCSA?

Aspiring System Administrators: If you're new to Linux system administration and want to build a strong foundation, RHCSA is an excellent starting point.

Experienced IT Professionals: If you have experience in system administration but lack formal certification, RHCSA can validate your skills and knowledge.

Developers and Engineers: If you're a developer or engineer working in a Linux environment, RHCSA can enhance your understanding of the systems you're building and deploying on.

RHCSA Exam Overview

The RHCSA exam (EX200) is a hands-on, performance-based test that assesses your ability to perform essential Linux system administration tasks. The exam covers a range of topics, including:

Understanding and using essential tools: Candidates must demonstrate their ability to access a shell prompt, issue commands with correct syntax, and use input/output redirection.

Operating running systems: This includes booting systems into different run levels, rebooting and shutting down systems, and diagnosing and correcting boot failures.

Configuring local storage: You must be able to partition and format storage, as well as configure encrypted partitions.

Creating and configuring file systems: The exam tests your ability to create, mount, unmount, and configure file systems, including the use of quotas and permissions.

Deploying, configuring, and maintaining systems: Candidates need to install and update software packages from Red Hat Network (RHN) and configure systems to run a particular service.

Managing users and groups: You must demonstrate your ability to create, delete, and modify user accounts, as well as manage password policies and security.

Preparing for the RHCSA Exam

Training Courses: Red Hat offers official training courses, such as RH124 (Red Hat System Administration I) and RH134 (Red Hat System Administration II), which are designed to prepare candidates for the RHCSA exam. These courses provide in-depth coverage of the exam topics and include hands-on labs.

Practice Labs: Hands-on practice is crucial for success in the RHCSA exam. Setting up a lab environment where you can practice various tasks, such as managing users, configuring storage, and troubleshooting, will help reinforce your skills.

Study Resources: In addition to Red Hat’s official materials, there are numerous books, video tutorials, and online forums that can aid in your preparation. Engaging with the Linux community and discussing exam topics with fellow candidates can also be beneficial.

Exam Practice: Taking practice exams can help you gauge your readiness and identify areas that need improvement. Red Hat provides sample questions that simulate the exam environment.

Tips for Success

Understand the Exam Format: The RHCSA exam is performance-based, meaning you’ll need to complete tasks in a live environment rather than answer multiple-choice questions. Familiarize yourself with the exam interface and time constraints.

Focus on Hands-On Skills: The RHCSA exam emphasizes practical skills, so ensure you're comfortable performing tasks in a Linux environment without relying on external resources.

Time Management: During the exam, time management is crucial. Prioritize tasks based on your strengths, and don’t spend too much time on any single task.

Conclusion

Achieving RHCSA certification is a significant milestone in your IT career. Whether you're starting your journey in Linux administration or looking to validate your existing skills, the RHCSA certification can provide you with the knowledge and recognition needed to advance in the field. With proper preparation and hands-on practice, you'll be well on your way to becoming a certified Red Hat System Administrator.

Are you ready to take the next step in your Linux administration journey? Start your RHCSA preparation today and unlock new career opportunities in the world of IT!

For more details click www.hawkstack.com 

[arenaconspiracy]

update, fixed it with literally 1 command (# ntfsfix /dev/sda2)(from the ntfs-3g package on apt), currently booting into WIN7 and it's running a chkdsk, the issue was an inconsistent sector count which made the volume unreadable/unmountable. will report if there's any (significant) data loss

guess which idiot corrupted his main NTFS partition today :)

[clatterbane]

The right forum link, btw. Just as well that I decided not to fuck around with this last night, with the brainpower I did evidently have going.

But, we do indeed seem to have a functioning boot USB by following that dev's advice!

And now we can semi-safely adjust unmounted partitions.

I actually ended up needing to download the ISO again after I got dumped back into fucking Windows twice, and rewrite the USB there using my older version of Rufus. (Which is how I made the properly working live USB when I installed MX to begin with.) That is the one that would boot up properly this time too. Still not sure why MX's own utility is not wanting to do the job.

But, glad that did seem to get a good chunk of the problem fixed! Now, to hopefully get the installed system kernel booted without having to take another damned detour through Microsoft Land on the way. 🫠

Oh yes. After that recent little booting clusterfuck while updating on the laptop? Since I really do want to get that sorted out, partly so I can actually boot into the Live USB system and resize some hard drive partitions while they're unmounted--I did finally suck it up and just ask for some advice on the MX forum.

And one of the devs did offer some, which sounded like just what I needed. I'm too wiped out tonight to do much besides watch videos. (Another procedure under the usual Migraine Potion, a.k.a. propofol, first thing this morning.) But, I may have to try at least making another USB with the right freaking ISO which plays better with Secure Boot this time, even if I do not need to actively try to get shit fixed tonight with a hospital dope hangover. And likely firing on even fewer cylinders than usual.

I really do not like asking anyone for help, much less when I do feel like it does involve one or more dumb questions. And/or in a situation where I go in at least halfway expecting to deal with people wanting to act like anyone asking questions must be abysmally stupid. But, nerds must and all that. And sometimes asking does work out OK.