#valuabe

[hantii]

Fuckk dude

I love trans guys who become large, muscular, bearded men

I love trans guys who wear knitted cardigans and have stubble on their chins and callous on their fingers

I love trans guys who wear short shorts and accentuate their tiny waists

I love trans guys who look more manly than most cis men

I love trans guys who look more feminine than most women

I love trans guys who conform and don’t conform to masculinity, who are their own men, who define their manhood by who they are, not what people tell them that they are. I love trans guys who embrace masculinity and thrive with dramatic physical transformations. I love trans guys who love the femininity of their bodies.

Trans guys don’t conform to neat little categories and a gender framework made up by western culture. Trans guys are diverse and beautiful and wonderful and all of them should be celebrated as the men that they are.

[drawnfamiliarfaces]

benbenten

[medical-billing-service-0]

The Key to Sustainable Business Growth: How Consulting Services Can Boost Your Revenue

In today’s fast-paced and competitive marketplace, businesses are under constant pressure to innovate, grow, and streamline operations. However, the journey toward sustainable revenue growth is often complex and requires specialized expertise. Consulting services have become a valuable resource for organizations aiming to navigate these challenges and achieve their business goals. In this blog, we’ll explore how specialized consulting services can fuel business growth and provide strategic support in critical areas.

Driving Revenue Growth through Consulting

One of the most critical aspects of business success is finding ways to continually increase revenue while optimizing operations. Revenue growth consulting is a specialized service that helps businesses identify new opportunities and implement effective strategies to maximize earnings. By analyzing current revenue streams and assessing market trends, consultants provide tailored advice on how to expand sales channels, improve pricing models, and enhance product offerings. Businesses that invest in revenue growth consulting can achieve long-term stability and avoid stagnation in an ever-evolving economic environment.

Business Expansion Strategies for Success

Expanding a business involves much more than merely increasing operations; it requires strategic planning, market understanding, and resource management. Professional consultants offer in-depth business expansion strategies, helping companies identify new markets, assess the competitive landscape, and define clear growth goals. Whether a company is looking to expand domestically or internationally, consulting services ensure that businesses take calculated steps, avoid common pitfalls, and achieve scalable growth. An expert consultant can develop a roadmap that takes into account everything from market entry to supply chain management, providing a holistic approach to expansion.

The Importance of Market Research Services

Successful business decisions are built on a foundation of accurate and comprehensive information. Market research services are an integral part of the consulting process, providing businesses with critical insights into customer behavior, industry trends, and competitive dynamics. By leveraging market research, companies can develop products and services that align with customer needs and market demand. Consultants use various data collection methods, such as surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, to provide actionable insights. This empowers businesses to make informed decisions that lead to enhanced market positioning and better ROI.

Streamlining Operations with Production Management Consulting

In addition to identifying growth opportunities, businesses need to ensure that their operations run smoothly and efficiently. Production management consulting helps businesses optimize their production processes to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase efficiency. From supply chain optimization to workflow automation, consultants help companies refine their operational models to produce better results with fewer resources. This type of consulting is particularly valuable for manufacturing firms and businesses with complex operational processes, as it allows them to stay competitive while maintaining high standards of quality.

Strengthening Financial Health with Balance Sheet Maintenance Services

Financial health is the backbone of any successful business, and maintaining a solid balance sheet is essential for long-term stability. Balance sheet maintenance services, offered by financial consultants, ensure that a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity are well managed. These services involve evaluating financial statements, optimizing capital structure, and identifying potential risks. By working with consultants, businesses can ensure they have accurate financial reporting, enabling them to make sound financial decisions and avoid unnecessary liabilities. This strengthens a company’s financial foundation and prepares it for future growth and investment opportunities.

[marmorenshud]

I got a studio visit with the he'd of department who's super scary and I wanna ask her about my application which I lredy feel terrible bout but also she can't do it before I go home so we said to do it on zoom which I feel even more awkward about and I feel like I just really wanna back out of the whole thing even though one of the older students who sat in on the proces said I should talk to her but oh god do I really wanna back out

[leviathanleva]

Father

........................

Pairing: Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Fem Reader

........................

Request:

This is kind of a weird req and I want to write something for it eventually but-

Fem! Reader who was frozen but eventually escapes and falls for the Ghoul and they fuck a couple times and for some reason she has symptoms of pregnancy and they're like what the fuck but it just turns out that she was pregnant before she was frozen and the Ghoul's reactions and whatever. Angst or fluff I don't really mind :)

........................

[3.2k words]

[MDNI, Angst, Smut, Fluff]

[ I don't usually do requests, but I wanted to help out a friend who believed they wouldn't be able to do justice to this prompt. It's sloppy, not perfect, but time is limited and I have other projects that need my attention so I hope this suffices. ]

........................

Freedom.

Freedom was sweet.

Freedom was bitter.

Since the moment you’d awoken in that Gods-forsaken cryo pod in that wasting away vault you’d known there was no other path except the path of freedom. Stepping over mummified corpses, fellow vault dwellers you presumed, you’d lead wobbly legs and a pounding heart to the entrance of the vault. It felt like yesterday you’d first set foot in there. In reality, you had no idea how many years had passed, but from the looks of the rusting walls and thick blanket of dust, it had been a while.

You took what you could, stuffing a stray children’s backpack you’d found along your scavenging mission, anything and everything that would be necessary for a journey into a land you used to call home. A small pocket knife was the best you could get and it wasn’t the perfect self-defense tool, but with no other choice there wasn’t much you could do but stuff it in the pocket of your suit and hope for a miracle if you ran into trouble.

And trouble you found.

Since your first step into the bone-dry, scalding hot, merciless wasteland, you’d found trouble in the shape of a deranged group of people hammering at the vault door with makeshift weapons. You might have been able to fight off one of them, you doubted given how dizzy and out-of-touch with reality you were, but there was a slim chance. Three of them though, all large burly men with enough scars to put a military general to shame? No, that was impossible. You ended up a writhing mess on the ground, face pushed into the cracked soil and screaming and kicking as you were being taunted and tied up like a good catch after a successful hunt. Trafficking, cannibalism, organ harvesting, death. A slew of words so vile they made your stomach churn and your eyes bulge out of your skull because who in their right mind said such things to an outnumbered, weak woman who pleaded in a broken voice and had tears staining her cheeks?

Then he appeared, your guardian angel.

A man so grotesque on the outside, so vicious and bitter and terrifying, and yet he was the one who shot your captors down. He was the one who cut your wrists and ankles free and helped you sit up as you heaved and choked and sobbed. He was the one who checked you over despite the visible revulsion on his gaunt face at the sight of your vault suit. He’d dragged you to your feet, forced some sense into you, given you a stern reality check of the world he came from and never really shooed you away when you’d started following him around like a lost pup.

You loved him since that day.

And maybe it wasn’t the good kind of love because he’d used you as a distraction for his enemies more than once and never shared his water with you even if you were on the brink of passing out from dehydration. But he also let you sit close to the fire at night, told you stories of his bounty hunts, taught you how to handle a gun and always kept you in his sights lest someone thought you were up for grabs. He was a cruel man, but he was also a kind man.

You never overstepped. Always following his every order, whether it was to hide, to strip bleeding men of their valuables, or to get him another drink when his feet were kicked high and he couldn’t be bothered to do so himself. Always pliant, always willing, no questions asked because you wanted to live despite the hellhole reality you were thrust in. Maybe that’s why he grew fond of you over time, you didn’t rebel against him and took what he gave you with a whisper of gratitude. A good dog, that’s how he saw you. He slowly softened for you, split your rations evenly when you sat down to eat, thrust the canteen in your hands when he noticed your lips were dry, and smushed his hat over your head when the sun was too awful and you were too delicate to withstand it.

Cooper Howard, that was his name, a man made ghoul by the sheer toxicity of the surface, a man who gave you enough scraps to keep your love for him flourishing but never progressed things beyond a one-sided infatuation.

That is until he was left struggling on the floor of an old abandoned farmhouse, a feral ghoul looming above him and pinning him in place and snapping its jaws at him as foul-smelling, viscous drool dribbled down its chin. His hunting knife was gripped tightly, but between keeping himself from being bitten to shreds and holding one of the ghoul’s hands at bay before it could sink into his side and tear at his gut, he was stuck.

When the shot rang out and the ghoul slumped against him lifelessly, he saw you. Holding his gun as you shook violently, about ready to piss yourself because you’d never killed anything remotely resembling a human in your life, eyes wide and lips trembling and knees buckling. Smoke leisurely rose from the tip of the barrel and as he pushed the corpse off himself you sunk to your arse and burst into a fit of haggard breaths and disturbed whines.

You didn’t resist when he picked you up with alien tenderness, didn’t protest when he stuffed you in an old rickety couch and crushed you beneath his weight with a handful of sweet praises. You didn’t pull away in disgust when his tongue pushed past your lips in search of your own, twirling, dancing, letting words spill without ever being spoken. He wasn’t gentle, since the moment you heard his belt unbuckling he was all pawing hands and chopped curses, fiddling with your clothes until his need became too much to bear and he simply ripped them off. He threw a weak promise to get you new ones, but you couldn't care less at that moment. High-pitched mewls and desperate grunts bounced off the walls as he took you on that couch, rutting into you like a man possessed and gripping onto you so firmly as if you’d come to your senses any moment now and run away from him.

A radstorm raged outside, clashing against the boarded-up windows as the pitter-patter of acid rain poured against the tin roof. You never even noticed, too drunk on the sloppy sounds coming from the slick mess of your conjoined bodies, on the verge of a climax so raw it would surely knock you out. Blunt fingernails sank in your supple thighs, scarred hips slammed into yours as he fucked you dumb into the couch. His mouth never left yours, whether it was to keep himself quiet in case too many loving words escaped or because he craved your taste like a rabid dog did blood, you didn’t know. When your ankles locked around his waist he snarled, whatever self-control he’d managed to scrape by completely dissipating as he drove himself deeper. The tip of his cock snapped against the barrier of your squishy cervix so deliciously and you screamed his name in desperation and he couldn’t fucking take it anymore. He released one of your hips to slide a hand between your bodies and drag his rough thumb over your swollen clit. Your back arched, eyes rolled back and mouth agape as you bombarded him with barely coherent sentences that he didn’t deserve. He clutched at your hair when you clamped down on him, milking him for everything he had while he rocked out his release with face stuffed in the crook of your neck.

Something in him changed after that night.

It might have been the unfathomably long time without a caring touch or him finally succumbing to the little voices in his head telling him what he held for you wasn’t simply fondness. He took you every chance he got. In a guest house, against the wall of a bar after one too many drinks, bent over on a chewed-up fence after scavenging another farmhouse. He was relentless and you loved that about him. You loved everything about him. Always needy and ready and he couldn’t ask for more because this was the closest he could get to expressing himself when it came to you.

Life was good.

Everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

You wince as the needle prickles your skin before retracting back in the Pip-boy. The green screen whirls, loading up and analyzing your blood sample for a full body scan. You give the damn thing a few smacks when it freezes and stutters.

Now really wasn’t the time for technical difficulties.

“You okay?”

Apparently, no matter how hard you had tried to hide your bubbling panic, it was still evident enough for Cooper to notice. He’s looking at you with a hint of suspicion, attention averted from the steaming can of cram he’d been stuffing in his mouth.

“I’m good, no worries.” you muster up a weary smile and instinctively tuck the Pip-boy closer to your stomach.

When the Vault Boy pops up on the screen with all the information available regarding your condition, you tense up. Your fingers hesitate to turn the cog to the main body scan as doubts and confusion and raw, untamable fear chew at your sensitive stomach and tug you slowly towards the gates of insanity.

“Don’t look okay to me.” Cooper straightens from his slouched-over position over the measly fire and sets aside his food before clasping a hand over one of his thighs. “Was wrong? Was I too rough again?” there’s a teasing scowl brightening his usually stoic expression, he scoffs and shakes his head. “I told you t’ smack my shoulder when I get too loose, woman. You never listen.”

You want to cry and laugh, but you do neither.

“That’s not it, Cooper.”

“Then speak for fuck’s sake!” he grumbles and gestures to you with slight agitation.

You pay him no mind, having delved too deep in the premises of your mind on what you were supposed to do if you read that single life-changing word on the scan. With a huff and a mental pat on your back, you turned the cog and opened the main body scan.

“Pregnant.”

It made sense. It explained the morning sickness that you hid, being forced out of your sleep while Cooper snored lightly next to you, and carefully pulling away before rushing to a safe spot where you could empty your stomach without being seen. You never told him, just jammed RadAway after RadAway, hoping it was poisoning or maybe some sort of flu. When the cravings came, you started second-guessing. You never gave into them, throwing caps left and right for a slice of some nearly impossible-to-get delicacy was unthinkable, you had to survive and there was no room for luxury.

You failed to spot the rugged ghoul as he left his seat and crept closer, spurred by your awkward demeanor, until he was kneeling right next to you and silently sharing the sight of the green graph.

“What in the hell…”

You recoiled at his words, at his realization, and tried to cover the Pip-boy with your hand and hide the thunderous revelation of your condition.

He was having none of it.

He smacked your hand away and gripped your forearm so tight you shuddered, bringing it closer to his eyes as his face contorted.

“What the fuck does this mean?” he spits and looks at you with something vile in those whiskey-colored eyes you loved so much.

“I don’t – ” you swallow thickly, crumbling under his gaze and snuffing out the need to rip away from him and run. You meet his stare for a split second before turning away. “ – I haven’t…Not with anyone except you.”

Lightning strikes into his core and he pulls away like bitten by a snake.

“The hell you mean you haven’t fucked anyone ‘cept me?” he stands, intimidating and cold, berating you with just his visage and nothing more. “How the fuck did you get pregnant then?”

“I’ve been with you since the day I left the vault, you know this.” you reach out for him, desperate for some sort of comfort, desperate for him to calm down because you couldn’t mentally take on both him and the news. “Cooper, please.”

He shoots you down with a snarl and a spine-chilling glare.

“Don’t fucken’ touch me.”

He’s pacing, trotting around like a cornered animal, the spurs on his boots clinking, a sickening cacophony that roots you in place and keeps your mouth shut. You don’t know what to say, you’re not a liar, yet you wish this was some twisted joke and you could laugh it off and confirm it wasn’t real.

A hand is rubbing vigorously at his chin as he tries to think, but there’s nothing in his head except that one single word that means so much and makes absolutely no sense.

He knew you weren’t lying, he’d always kept you within arm’s length, there was no way for you to even sneak past him without being noticed.

It still hurt though, the image of you leaving because he was a rotten man who’d struck gold by finding you. He was no good for you, never would be, and it tore him to shreds because he knew all of this and still he kept you by his side and cocked his gun at anyone who tried to step too close.

Why wouldn’t you bed another man when he looked like a walking corpse and acted even worse? Why wouldn’t you ditch him to be with a nice bartender or a good-mannered farmboy who would treat you like a lady should be treated?

Why wouldn’t you cheat him out of the only happiness he had?

“Is not fucking possible, Sweetheart.” he finally speaks, faltering at your audible sobs. The idea of you slipping past his fingers to sleep with someone else is pushed to the side by the absolutely pathetic sight of you curled up on the floor and crying.

Ghouls were sterile, all of them, 100%, there was no way for him to knock you up even if he wanted to. But the Pip-boy said otherwise and now he was left questioning the very foundation of his existence.

“I know that.” you sputter through choppy hiccups. “But you’re the only man I’ve been with...It doesn’t make fucking sense.” you clutch at your sides, waterfalls streaming down your cheeks and pooling under your chin, eyes distant and jittery. “What if it’s deformed because of the radiation? Or if it’s not even alive? Or – What am I supposed to do…”

His body moves despite his protests.

He kneels in front of you, encasing you between his thighs, his fingers twitching and rising as he drowns in the long-forgotten feeling of being presented with such news. His hands are shaking and he rests them over your shoulders and pretends he can’t feel his pulse rampaging in his throat.

“What do you wanna do?”

It’s such a simple question, but coming from him under such a premise makes your head spin and your heart stop.

“I – ” you press your forehead against the center of his collarbones, arms protectively curling over your belly because despite not showing there was someone in there. Someone precious. “ – I don’t know…I’d like to – I don’t know.”

You stop and start, cutting off words that you weren’t ready to tell him yet and he wasn’t ready to hear either. But life didn’t care if you were ready or not, things happened, consent or not, and now you were both stuck in a mess you’d unwittingly made all by yourselves. There was always the easy route – find a settlement, get to the doc, have it removed, done deal, easy peasy.

But did you really want that?

It wasn’t just your kid, it was his too and him not saying a word, not even mentioning discarding it made things so much harder.

No, he gave you a choice, he put everything in your hands and he was holding you while you fought a silent battle that would dictate the entirety of your future.

“I think – ”

“ – I ain’t goin’ fucken’ nowhere.” he slices through your hesitation like butter, body rigid and jaw clenched because for once he was trying to be a man and not a monster.

Maybe even a father.

You shatter in his arms like glass and he presses one of his palms against the back of your head while the other circles your waist and brings you closer.

“You’d stay?” you ask with such horror and disbelief that it clutches at his chest and he struggles to breathe. You’re no coward, despite how heavy the air feels, you look up at him and you’re so vulnerable and angelic that he forgets every setback that would come his way. “If I kept it…you’d stay?”

He can’t answer, the words refuse to form, but he holds your gaze with calm stability, a good masquerade to hide a mind that was racing and a heart that was pounding so heavily he felt his entire body pulsing. Instead, he leaned in and pressed his chapped lips against your forehead in a voiceless promise.

You suck in a breath like it’s your first and cling to the collar of his coat, disappearing in his form, hiding from the world that was so cruel yet gifted you with something so precious.

The Pip-boy is still lit and waiting, the scan bright and piercing. You skim over it absentmindedly, a simple curious flick, then look again and squint your eyes at the tiny text printed under your pregnancy announcement.

“Four months.”

You’d only been out of cryo for three…

He followed your wide-eyed stare, he was no fool, he could do basic math.

You’d been pregnant before meeting him, before leaving the vault, before the bombs.

You want to puke. You want to rip your skin off and bury yourself alive because for the love of God it couldn’t be just perfect, there had to be some sick underlying thing to ruin everything. It wasn’t his, he was right, ghouls couldn’t have children.

It wasn’t his child.

You look disgusted and utterly pained because the realization makes you mourn at the idea of carrying his baby. You wanted to, you’d give anything for it to be his and not some random bloke you couldn’t even remember the face of. You wanted it to be his…

You search his face for anger or disappointment or anything that would prepare you for what was to come. Why would he stay if the damn thing wasn’t even his? He had his own problems, his mission. You were just an obstacle that had nearly made him believe he was going to be a father and maybe it was his second chance at doing it right.

There was nothing though.

He simply blinked at you, lips parted as he formed a sentence that had you pledge yourself to him for as long as you stood and breathed.

“That don’t change a damn thing.”

Masterlist

Tag list: @bountydroid @v3lv3tf0x @silverose365

[grasshopperdoingdogpaddle]

Meditate on this, Omi. Wait patiently. The answer will come. In time.

Yes, Master.

...Master Dashi? Dojo? Anybody?

???

I want you to have this, Omi. I have a feeling I will not be needing it anymore.

The spear of Guan! I could not accept something so valuab...

--Huh?

???

Teaching is the only true path to learning.

--Omi! There he is, I see him! We'll be right down, little dude!

???

Dashi's trio gives Omi some deep but vague advice, and then literally vanishes into thin air the moment Omi glances away to ponder on it. Just advise and dash. They each also have more unique methods with Omi too:

Dashi challenging him to that showdown just to get Omi to ask nicely for the rock when he realizes Dashi can't be overpowered, Chase more-or-less making Omi his official apprentice and giving him regular lessons on life and on combat, Guan's formal class with the monks.

But it's funny how this is a teaching technique they all share for the end of this first lesson with Omi.

It gives Omi this really cute dynamic with all of them; he's so adorably confused. And yet, he always manages to stew on the words long enough to figure out what it is they wanted him to learn.

I wonder if Chase and Guan and Dashi all used this ability to just disappear so quickly back in the day together, too. They must have been very good at avoiding follow-up questions.

[hotwaterandmilk]

I'm still not well so this isn't going to be articulate, but I wanted to say something anyway.

In the wake of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (amongst other titles) being purged from streaming I've seen countless posts saying "This is terrible, we need to stop this practice -- they might purge a good show next!" and yeah, for sure a lot of titles being impacted by streaming purges/lack of physical media/a decline in archiving right now aren't going to be remembered for changing the world.

However, I think it is vital that we fight to preserve these titles for their own sake not just because "What if next time it's something we actually like?!" There is value is preserving things widely regarded as "bad" not just because I have firm beliefs about the absurdity of taste, but because who gives a shit if something is deemed "good?" Actual human people put their time and energy into realising these artistic visions. Even if the results are arguably not "good" or "popular", should the efforts of these artists be lost to the sands of time? No, no they fucking shouldn't.

I share a lot of art on this blog from titles very few people consider culturally important or valuabe. However, I don't look at the things I collect & share like that. Even some of the most objectively absurd titles I own are still pieces of art that were developed, published, and consumed by humans in the real world. Whether they've turned out to be broadly memorable or not is irrelevant because they existed and that in itself makes them worthy of preservation so that others can choose to familiarise themselves with them long after the original creative team is gone.

So yes, we should all be trying to preserve the media that's important to us and not let corporations try to stamp out every trace of a financial (though not necessarily artistic) misstep. However, it shouldn't take the threat of something we, personally, like being taken away to stir us into giving a shit.

Even the demise of less admired works should concern us and make us start to burn copies of Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies because it might not mean anything to you or I right now, but to some kid in 20 years it could be a seminal experience that leads them to follow their dreams. Or it could become a cult classic that people reflect on at watch parties years in the future. Or it could continue to be a footnote in the history of television that nobody really cares about.

Ultimately I don't think it matters what level of value we arbitrarily assign to media now or in the future, we should be trying to preserve as much of it as possible so that generations from now people can enjoy the option of engaging with these titles should they so wish.

[d6b-onion]

"Why can't this river just be normal," Mystia complained, slowly overtaken by boredom at the edge of the pier, fishing rod in hand. Her legs slowly dangled just above the water, with some of the higher ripples tickling the bottom of her feet from time to time. "Catching lamprey's usually a piece of cake," she pouted.

"Hun, I told you the Sanzu was pretty unusual~!" Urumi said in a sing-song voice. The fisherwoman sat a bit further along the pier, alongside several fishing rods affixed to the ground, which both increased yield and meant she had nothing to do until something took the bait. Compared to Mystia's flimsy handheld setup, it was very clear which one of the two was a professional. Patience being part of her trade, she just lounged with all of her length on the wooden floor, using her long, red horns to idly scratch the surface from time to time.

"Yeah, yeah, in any case, the lampreys here just look plain weird."

"That's because they're not your usual lampreys. Rather, they're a close prehistoric relative thereof, which doesn't really have a name, but I call a Yanliao lamprey. In fact, the Outside World name for it is apparently Yanliomyzon-"

"Oh, save it with all the fancy talk!" Mystia interrupted, throwing her arms up in the air, before quickly realizing she had significantly shaken the bobber, scaring away any and everything that was remotely close. She slumped down slightly and sighed deeply.

"Tsk, hun, you're gonna scare away all of my fish," Urumi said.

Mystia turned back to look and stuck out her tongue defiantly. "All that means is that I'm going to catch my own." She paused, and leaned forwards a bit. "I do need it for this evening, after all…" she said, sounding very glum.

Urumi sighed even harder, but it didn't sound totally displeased. If anything, she almost sounded.. relieved? "Oh, what will I do with you…" She slowly (and rather quietly) got up, before walking over to right behind Mystia. "So. Need some help, hun?"

Mystia's pride almost had her snappily reply "no", but she held it in for just an instant to consider it. Fishing in the Sanzu was a lot harder than she'd bargained for, and she needed the lamprey to keep her stand running. Urumi knew the Sanzu's fish inside out, and her help would definitely be valuabe. But Mystia really didn't fancy the idea of getting outside help, and relinquishing her sweet sweet "self-made businesswoman" title (that nobody else ever used).

"…Fine," she said, almost resigned to her fate.

Urumi quietly giggled at the night sparrow's theatrics. The sound bothered Mystia, in some way.

"Well, in that case, let me show you, hun. Here on the Sanzu, the current is everything."

She knelt down, and extended an arm above Mystia's shoulder to point to the place where her bobber currently stayed.

"This spot's no good, there's too much current and the fish don't dwell here for very long, you need a quieter place, such as… here."

She moved her arm to point to a spot slightly closer to the shore, where the water looked more still. However, to point more precisely, she leaned forward a bit more, and pressed the rest of her body right against Mystia's back. She instantly tensed up, not expecting the sudden contact. As the sensation settled in, she felt that refusing to get help was perhaps a tad misguided. The fisherwoman was a lot bigger and taller than her, easily encompassing her small frame. Now she couldn't ignore the sizable chest pressing against her back, which turned out to be much more intense than the sight. Urumi's body, close and warm, wrapped around her own small body. The warmth soon spread to her own chest, her head and her cheeks, a blush slowly forming.

Now, now, Mystia thought, this isn't the time to be distracted by her body no matter how beautiful she is, just focus on the fishing. She pulled the bobber back, then the rod, then swung it forwards, taking great care to not hit Urumi (including her horns), aiming for the spot that had just been pointed out to her. When the bobber landed and resurfaced, it was almost right on the spot. Amazing what I can do when not distracted by-

"Very good, hun~" Urumi said in a mellow voice, so close to Mystia's ear that she could feel her breathing against the lobe. Her train of thought came to screeching halt. The voice, the tickling sensation, Urumi's voice was like honey, effortlessly seeping into her ears and brain. Her blush grew even stronger, her body and mind overtaken by Urumi's presence. She breathed out, trying to calm herself down, but realized partway through she was being very loud.

"Birdie? Everything okay?" Urumi asked with concern, oblivious to Mystia's turmoil.

Her embarassment quickly trumped the elation from the use of that nickname, and she scrambled to answer. "Y-Yeah! No problem with me, d-don't worry about it!" she said, very unconvincingly.

Though, it was true that she had zero qualms with their current situation, save for Urumi noticing how much of a mess the proximity was making of her.

"Are you sure, hun? You-"

"Y-Yes, it's okay, I swear! I'd rather just focus on the fishing, okay?" Mystia interrupted, desperate that it would make Urumi drop it.

"…Alright, if you say so," Urumi conceded, wondering what they could possibly be doing other than fishing.

Mystia's embarassment began to recede, but her blush didn't. She would enjoy this small moment of connection for as long as it lasted, just the two of them. She relished in the sensations, both completely unfamiliar and something she knew she'd needed forever.

Mystia reckoned that asking for help maybe wasn't always so bad.

[whyiseverynametakenpls]

First your heart, then your valuab- WHAT????

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

Genre : fluff

Tw : none

Pairing : Alban Knox x reader (romantic)

Characters : you and alban

Story : How did you do that???

"Are you (Username)?" a cheerful voice chimed from behind.

Startled, you pivot to face the speaker, coming face to face with a man who seems to straddle the line between childlike features and adult stature.

"Babyface?" you murmur to yourself, your stare not going unnoticed as faint blush colors the man's cheeks.

"Huh...?" he stammers, his expression a mix of surprise and mild embarrassment.

"Oh! No, I mean, I just saw your face, and then the thought kind of popped into my head..." Your explanation stumbles out in an attempt to clarify.

"Uh-huh..." he responds skeptically as if still processing your words.

"Wait a second... If you referred to me as (Username), you must be Xonk. A, right?" you ask, unsure.

"Yep! Nice to meet you, (Username)!" he replies, his hand extended for a handshake. "But you can just call me Alban," he adds, his gesture open and friendly.

"Ah, got it. Alban, then. You can call me (Name)," you say with a smile, shaking his hand firmly.

In a quick maneuver unnoticed by you, Alban discreetly slips his hands into your pocket, effortlessly extracting a necklace. A suppressed chuckle escapes him as he enjoys your unwitting innocence.

"What's so funny?" you inquire, catching his amusement.

"Nothing much, you’re just really pretty," he remarks, his grin hinting at mischief.

His compliment catches you off guard, prompting a widening of your eyes followed by a reciprocal smile.

"Well, I'd say the same about you, Mr. Alban," you retort playfully, a hint of amusement in your tone.

"Thank you~" he responds, his laughter barely contained.

Before you know it, both of you are caught in fits of laughter, taken aback by the hilarity of the situation.

"I can't believe you actually said that!" you manage to utter amidst giggles.

"Me neither! It was so weird and cringe!" he laughs heartily.

"Ha..." Alban exhales, trying to regain his composure

"Well, shall we get going, then?" you quip, extending your hand to him in jest.

"We shall, dear peasant," Alban replies, playing along and delicately resting his hand on your arm.

"You're quite the character," you mumble, a warm smile on your face.

-----------------✧------------------

"Hey, watch your step," Alban cautions as you gaze skyward, his voice carrying a note of concern. "I almost fell here last week because I wasn't paying attention."

"Ha?" You arch an eyebrow, your attention now redirected toward him.

"Hey, don't lump me in with you! Unlike you, I—" you start to retort, only to find yourself tumbling, panic overtaking your features.

"Whoa there!" Alban's swift reflexes come to your aid as he catches you mid-fall.

"See? I told you to be careful," Alban remarks matter-of-factly, his tone tinged with a hint of smugness.

Your spirits visibly deflate, his words affecting you more than you'd like to admit.

"Just be mindful of your steps, all right?" he advises once more.

"Okay, okay. But you'll be there to catch me, right?" you counter, puffing out your chest playfully.

"Who said I would every time? You've got to learn somehow, right?" Alban quips with a playful grin.

You react with an exaggerated gasp, dramatically placing your hand over your heart.

"What is this treachery?" you exclaim in mock outrage.

"Sure, sure," he responds nonchalantly as he moves ahead of you, concealing his face from your view to hide the reddening of his cheeks.

Unbeknownst to him, your reaction is quite similar. As he steps in front of you, you immediately avert your gaze, your heart racing uncontrollably.

-----------------✧------------------

"I had a great time today, thank you," you remark while giving a wave to Alban.

"Likewise!" he responds with a smile.

"Oh, by the way! I've got something to show you," he mentions, his hand reaching into his pocket.

"First your heart, then your valuab-" he stops abruptly, a hint of panic evident on his face.

"Searching for this?" you inquire, raising a necklace in your hand.

"What?? How did you figure it out??" he laments.

"Well, I actually realized a while ago. You should hone your skills more, my dear~" you tease, playfully pinching his cheek. You then turn around and begin to walk away.

"Thanks for today! Let's plan to meet again next week!" you call out, your gaze fixed ahead.

He stands there, mouth agape, clearly taken aback by your revelation.

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

<- MASTERLIST

-> if only this was real 😔😔

[karizard-ao3]

Would things have been different if Adri were a boy?

That is such a great question! For a lot of parents that could certainly be a factor! I never really thought about if Lara would be willing to make more of an effort for a son. She might have, mostly due to family pressure - I dont think it's a spoiler to say that her brother, Willy, is the family golden child and she probably perceives sons as more valuabe due to seeing that all her life - but I don't think it would have made a whole lot of difference in the end. Lara is simply not maternal and she may even have resented a son for the fact that she would have felt obligated by her parents to be more involved with him.

[criesinmultifandommess]

A Dragon's Greatest Treasure

sorry for disappearing! i got caught up in schoolwork and yeah :D i started writing this quite a while ago, maybe a couple months back? idk but the second paragraph was going to be followed by an in-depth description of all the parents seeing their kids start acting up, but im too sad about the current arc CUCURUCHO GIVE THE KIDS BACK YOU MONSTER!!!! anyway enjoy :)

There was no warning for what would happen. There was no announcement from the Federation, no appearance from the Binary Code or Cucurucho. It was just a normal day for the residents of Quesadilla Island. Until everyone’s kids started acting…strangely.

No one was prepared for dragon puberty.

In the group chat between all the parents, Cellbit messages them all to come to the adoption center, mentioning that he has information about the sudden changes to their children. A few moments later, the center is flooded with people. Everyone immediately begins crowding around Cellbit, concerned and anxious. 

“Quiet, please, everyone! Silêncio, por favor.” The Brazilian begins shouting over the commotion. As the residents begin to settle, Cellbit finally begins speaking. “Okay, thank you. I know that all of our kids have started doing some weird stuff lately. Mostre a eles, Richas.”

On cue, Richarlyson jumps and hovers in mid-air for several seconds. 

“Yeah! He accidentally jumped into a hole near the Copacabana, but he did not fall down right away.” Forever comments, Richarlyson nodding along.

“Really? Pomme hasn’t done that, but she has—”

Baghera is cut off when purple sparks begin appearing around Pomme, before she vanishes into thin air. Everyone but the French residents begin panicking, beginning to look around for the missing girl. She pops back into view a few feet away from where she disappeared, violet sparkles eventually fading away.

“She disappears like that.” Baghera lets out a tired sigh. “The first time it happened, we looked around for a few minutes, but she appeared right back where she disappeared.”

“When Baghera messaged us saying that she disappeared, I thought it was the Federation or the Code attacking.” Etoiles shakes his head, frowning. “I would have showed them my Code Breaker sword.”

“Oh, well, nothing that exciting has happened to Ramón. He’s just been really hyper, which isn’t like him at all. There he goes.”

Right as Fit finishes speaking, his son begins twitching and starts racing around the room with incredible speed. Eventually, everyone stops watching him once it becomes apparent he’s not going to stop for a while.

“Chayanne can apparently breathe fire now,” Phil laughs and gestures at his kid. In response, Chayanne lets out a little burst of flame, not enough to harm anyone, but it does cause those around him to jump away in surprise.

“Wait, that’s so cool! Leo, can you do that?” They shake their head, and Foolish’s shoulders drop slightly. “Oh, that’s fine. Well, Leo does this.”

Foolish pulls out a piece of gold from his backpack, but instead of just Leo, all of the kids lunge for the nugget immediately. The parents pull their respective child back, but not before the young dragons begin hissing and clawing at each other. 

“Oh my gosh, Dapper, stop it! He started hissing at me too!” Bad says while wrangling with his son. Once they’re all under control, he turns to Cellbit. “So, they all do some things, but some of the kids have special quirks? What’s going on?”

“Pare, Richas! Okay. I was looking around for some kind of explanation, and when I came here, I found this book called ‘The Early Stages of a Dragon’. I will read it.” Cellbit clears his throat. 

“During the early stages of a newly hatched dragon, they do not exhibit any traits of an adult dragon. However, when they reach the age of one, they begin to showcase these traits during a period called the first growth period. These traits include fire breathing, beginning to fly, small instances of dragon magic, bursts of random energy, a tendency to hoard valuables, and becoming physical through biting, scratching, and hissing. Young dragons will experience a week of showcasing these traits, before eventually regaining control and calming down.”

With that, Cellbit closes the book. “That’s it. There’s two other growth periods, but it says it won’t happen for a while, so we should be fine.”

“Does this mean all the eggs are going to start disappearing?”

“And breathing fire?” 

The adults start muttering worriedly, and Cellbit raises a hand to quiet everyone again. “They may, or they may not. But we should all be safe and start carrying around water buckets.”

“And maybe don’t take out shiny things.” Bad turns to Foolish and sighs. “You’re going to have to start covering yourself up, Foolish, I’m sorry.”

“What? That’s crazy.”

Slowly, the tension in the room fades away as they all start cracking jokes. Some break off into groups, but never stray too far to keep an eye on the kids. The children play with each other, parents making sure to keep their kids’ aggression levels low and stepping in if one starts growling. It’s a peaceful kind of chaos. Life on the island may never be the same again, but at least they have each other.

Right?

[stevenspector]

Welcome back to Moon Knight Saturday! We are already on episode 5! And that episode gave us

Moon Knight (1980) #1

And this issue shows us a very familiar backstory. In fact, it is part of what we learn about Moon Knights backstory in the show The story starts with Marc Spector in a desert- together with Bushman, a terrorist-for-hire slaughterin innocent people. Marc (and Frenchie) quickly discover they are standing on the wrong side and rebel against Bushman. In one of their first arguments/fights, a local man joins in, and gets killed. Leaving behind a daughter: Marlene (who we have already met in issue #3). This very much parallels the story of Marc, Layla and her father.

Another parallel to tv Moon Knight: Marc dies in the desert, being brought into the tomb of Pharao Seti....where he awakens again under the statue of Khonshu. Being brought back to life as The Moon Knight

Another fight with Bushman follows- that Marc eventually loses to save Marlene instead, resulting in Bushmans escape. The two of them leave, to start a new life. A life we have also already gotten to know in issue #3

He builds of the image of Moon Knight, becomes a vigilante. Until he finds clues of Bushman and goes after him, for one final fight. The fight is brutal and emotional, and he learns a valuabe lesson

The writing is really good and issue #1 gives us a backstory and emotional arc with character growth *all in one*! It is definitely worth checking out

[enkisstories]

As agreed upon with Princess Rey and Vi Moradi, Gavin fed the First Order misinformation about the Resistance's operations, first and foremost the location of their secret base.

Gavin: "Now where would we want a nice, big crater on Batuu...?"

Afterwards he faked a migraine that scored him an afternoon off.

At the waterfall by the cave he reported back to Rey, but that was the last time Gavin would talk face-to-face to a rebel and as close as he'd get to their real hideout for the time being.

Gavin had bought the Resistance valuabe time.

Gavin: "It's vexing, Greylock. I have everything I ever wanted now: Recognition of my work, force powers and the government and the military are fighting over which I get to make a career in. But at a moment's notice I might run back to the woods to live off roasted praying mantises, because it's "doing da right thing". If that's growing up, then now I understand why Hank always told us it would suck!"

[gyubby99]

Elias: Put everything valuable in this safe

Eve: I don’t think Julia would be comfortable in a safe

Me: huh? He said 'everything valuabe' Eve.

[hungrywriter]

Really excited to see Javon debuts. This is only bits of the story, to see more, this is the link:

[gec-engineering]

Project ROVER!

Project ROVER is a new robotic platform that is being developed in collaboration with Global Communication Services, GEC Engineering, WVLT, and Project ROVER for law enforcement and emergency use. ROVER is a small, four-wheeled robot that is equipped with a variety of sensors, devices, components and capabilities, including:

    BLE tracking: ROVER can follow officers into a building using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. This allows officers to enter a building without having to worry about losing track of their robot. This follow-behind technology allows an operator in a command center to see live video of officer movement and situational awareness.

    Live camera view: ROVER can provide an operator outside a building with a live camera view of the environment. This allows the operator to see what the robot is seeing and to give the robot commands.

    Software Defined RF Grid Mapping: ROVER can do RF Grid Mapping, which logs the RF signal strength against the LiDAR at points within the grid. This can be used to identify areas of poor RF coverage or to map out the location of radio-emitting devices.

   Software Defined Deployable bi-directional amplifier: ROVER can act as a deploy-able bi-directional amplifier for Land Mobile Radios in the 100MHZ to 3.2GHZ range. This can be used to improve the signal strength of radios in areas with poor reception.

   Software Defined Capabilities to stand up a ad-hoc cellular network for use to locate individuals during search and rescue missions.

ROVER is a versatile platform that can be used for a variety of law enforcement tasks, including:

    Search and rescue: ROVER can be used to search for missing persons or victims of natural disasters.

    Patroling: ROVER can be used to patrol areas that are difficult or dangerous for officers to access, such as high-crime areas or areas with hazardous materials.

    Evidence collection: ROVER can be used to collect evidence from crime scenes.

    Disaster response: ROVER can be used to help with disaster response efforts.

    Active Shooter Response: ROVER can be deployed to assist in active shooter response by providing live video, LiDAR mapping, and in-building radio coverage enhancement.

ROVER is still under development, but it has the potential to be a valuable tool for law enforcement. It is a versatile platform that can be used for a variety of tasks, and it can help to improve officer safety and effectiveness.

How ROVER Works

ROVER is powered by a lithium-ion battery and has a top speed of 5 mph. It is equipped with a variety of sensors, including a 360-degree camera, a LiDAR scanner, a BLE receiver, and a software-defined radio provided by WVLT..

The 360-degree camera allows ROVER to see its surroundings in all directions. The LiDAR scanner allows ROVER to create a 3D map of its environment. The BLE receiver allows ROVER to follow officers using BLE technology. The software-defined radio allows ROVER to do RF Grid Mapping and to act as a deploy-able bi-directional amplifier.

ROVER is controlled by an operator who uses a remote control. The operator can use the remote control to move ROVER around, to pan and tilt the camera, and to give ROVER commands.

Benefits of Using ROVER

There are a number of benefits to using ROVER, including:

    Increased officer safety: ROVER can help to increase officer safety by allowing officers to enter dangerous or hazardous environments without having to put themselves at risk.

    Improved situational awareness: ROVER can help to improve officer situational awareness by providing officers with a live camera view of the environment. This can help officers to identify potential threats and to make better decisions.

    Increased efficiency: ROVER can help to increase officer efficiency by allowing officers to focus on other tasks, such as investigating a crime scene or providing medical assistance.

Conclusion

Project ROVER is a new robotic platform that has the potential to be a valuable tool for law enforcement. It is a versatile platform that can be used for a variety of tasks, and it can help to improve officer safety and effectiveness.

· Official website of the project: https://www.roverrobot.org/

· The official website of the project on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-rover-inc/about/

· Leaders and members of the company:

· Brian Martin CEO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-martin--/

· Dhruv A. — director: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruv-a-72662166/

· Mike Matranga — President: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-matranga-23b59427/

· Anthony Ferguson — Secretary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-j-ferguson/

· Engineering Team CTO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-gridin-74563a226/

· Engineering team: https://gec-engineering.tech/about-us/