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rafesapologist · 10 months

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the set up — rafe cameron; part seven

𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: you've been one of the pogues since childhood, and your loyalty has always lied within your friend group, who is practically your family. when a threat by the name of rafe cameron begins to threaten the pogue's plans, they assign you to gain the trust of the dubious kook and keep an eye on what he's up to. however, now it's been six months since your friends set you up to spy on the kook prince himself, but what you didn't anticipate was to fall head over heels for the boy. your relationship had soon become inviolable shortly after your guys' first exchanges, much to your friends' dismay, and you two became practically inseperable. that was, until rafe discovers the truth.

warnings: swearing as usual, fighting, angst, jj being a dick

author's note: so sorry for the slight delay in uploading this chapter. a bunch of stuff occurred in my personal life and tbh i didn't have the energy to do much after. however i will make up the delay and rushing this chapter a bit to you all in the next one, promise. love u

Sunlight pierced through the panels of the spacious, unaccustomed room as the sounds of a dawn chorus filled the tranquil silence that had filled the air amongst the pair of sleeping bodies that occupied the queen sized bed, belonging to you and Rafe. You found annoyance in the intensity of the sun's lurid rays of light that burned through your shut eyelids, acknowledging them with a small groan that escaped your lips as you turned your back to face the window instead.

Your heart nearly stopped when you felt the mattress move besides you as the broad figure lying behind you shifted, only to make the beating inside your chest pick up when you began to feel a brawny arm drape itself over your side and across your stomach steadily. Your body had unconsciously laid in place at the feeling of the sudden embrace, an act of intimacy you had rarely experienced in your life before that rendered you slightly uncomfy with the gesture, as physical touch was not your highest on the list of love languages that existed.

You remained a recumbent statue in the arms of the Cameron's son as you contemplated within your internal dialogue on how to remove yourself from the position you were in all while taking in the final moments of serenity as you basked in the comfort of the cozy bed, a contrast to the one you usually found yourself sleeping in at the chateau.

Eventually, you brought yourself to speak after regaining your voice from the prolonged period of time you went without using your vocal cords. "Rafe?" You whispered sheepishly as you gently turned to face the slumbering boy, poking his bicep lightly in hopes that he was a light-sleeper and that it would be useful in waking him, but much to your despair, it didn't.

"Rafe." You muttered once again, this time your voice had taken a greater, harsher resonance.

"Hmm?" Rafe hummed, a husky low-vibrato tone strumming from the back of his throat that was shamefully music to your ears.

"I gotta get going. Jay and John B want me to go boating with them today and I promised them I'd go." You explained meekly.

Rafe seemed to take interest in your statement, judging by the way he peeked a single eye open to look at you. "Tell them something came up." He carped, scooting his body closer to you once more as his hold became tighter around your figure, one that was much more petite in comparison to his broadness.

"Rafe," you groaned as you rolled your eyes at his stubborn nature, "you know I can't do that."

"I know," he groaned to himself, "you've got your Pogue duties to uphold."

You swatted his arm in response which quickly brought him out of his comatose-like state, his eyes flashing open as he looked directly at you with an appearance of bafflement written across his face. You giggled quietly to yourself at his comical reaction, taking amusement in the way that he was in shock by your comeback. Your body began to shift and wiggle underneath Rafe's arm in an attempt to free yourself from his grip, but unfortunately, he was much stronger than you had imagined.

"Wait," Rafe stated as he held your feeble body in place, "I wanted to ask you something before you leave."

"Ask me what?" You furrowed your brows at him.

"It's probably a little soon to even ask this, but there's nobody else I really want to take besides you," he began, watching your expression closely as his eyes flickered between your lips and irises as he traced gentle lines along the exposed part of your hip, "and since it's coming up I don't think there's a better time to ask.." He trailed off, breaking eye contact before he could finish.

"Would you go to Midsummers with me?" It was almost too perfect of a scenario when you heard those words come out of Rafe's mouth, unaware to what situation he had just got himself into. You practically screamed internally once the realization finally hit you that you were going in the right direction with the unsuspecting Kook, just as you and your friends had planned for. You felt a subtle smirk tug at the corners of your mouth as you basked in the bliss of knowing that Rafe Cameron was beginning to unshield himself to you, an accomplishment that you knew the Pogues would feel joyous to hear. You knew right then that you had to take full advantage of the opportunity basically handed right to you on a silver platter, and run with it.

"Of course I will."

"Wai-What? You will?" Rafe's azure pigmented eyes widened in shock, failing to grasp your willing compliance that had come so easily.

"Yes," you chuckled with an attitude full of gaiety, "of course I will." You figured you'd add to the moment of sentiment by leaning forward to press a light kiss to the apple of Rafe's cheek, which soon become painted over with a rosy tint as evidence of the heat that rose to the skin as the aftermath of experiencing your touch.

"Okay awesome," the elated Kook grinned as he patted your hip softly, "Sarah is going too, and I know you guys are friends or whatever, so if you want you can always go dress shopping with her."

"What color is your suit?" You asked.

"Baby blue, which I'm sure you'll look hot in as you always do. Gonna be hard to keep my hands off you when I see you in a dress." Rafe teased, his thumb had began easing its way underneath the hem of your t-shirt, rubbing against the warm skin of your hipbone slowly.

"You're gonna have to control yourself then, Cameron. I don't want your dad thinking I'm some whore you picked up at the Cut." You bantered back at him, removing his hand off of your bare skin and causing him to pout in response.

"Well, my dad knows I wouldn't step foot in that shit hole. So I think you'd be safe from those allegations." Rafe smirked just before he reached over behind you to smack your ass playfully, removing himself off the bed before you could even begin, let alone attempt, to retaliate.

"Lets go, princess. I'll drive you where you need to go."

"Didn't you just say you wouldn't step foot in the Cut?" You retorted with your arms folded across your chest, glaring over at the boy with your brows furrowed in judgement.

"I guess doing it for you would suffice."

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Rafe kept his word by dropping you off at the boating dock as you waited for your friends arrival, taking you in by surprise when he peppered an array of small kisses to the top of your shoulder before you got out of the car. The affectionate, soft side of him came as a shock to you considering he was so austere and gelid with others from what you had seen of him since the day you two met. You wondered to yourself if it was his way of buttering girls up to get something out of them, or that he truly had taken a liking to you. Either ways it didn't matter, because you were only playing along for one reason.

The Pogues.

"John B! JJ!" You shouted as the sight of a familiar-looking boat came into your view and approached the dock. You were pleased as the faces of the two boys on it became clearer to you, confirming that it actually was your two friends.

"Y/n, hey!" John B yelled back as he waved in your direction, a welcoming smile plastered on his face.

"Well look at that, you actually showed up!" JJ called from beside your brunette friend, his affable demeanor causing you to feel giddy and your heart flutter. You shook your head at the blond's foolishness, giggling as you hopped onto the boat and greeted the two who you had missed dearly, despite seeing them within the 48 hours prior.

"You think I would rather spend my time with some Kook than you guys? That's hilarious, Jay."

"I dunno, you've been spending a lot more time with him lately. Have you two fallen in love yet?" John B added, egging on for your attitude to make its presence shown.

"First of all, never. Second of all, if you forgot this was your guys' idea in the first place. I wouldn't have even looked at him twice if it wasn't for you all." You sighed, crouching down to reach for one of the beer cans that the boys usually kept in the cooler.

"That's my girl." JJ replied as he approached you from behind, wrapping an arm over your shoulder once you stood up from the cooler. You found yourself smiling at his words of endearment, partially basking in the way that he praised you like no other. If there was one thing JJ was good at, it was hyping you up and making you feel special, something he took pride in doing whenever he was around you. Your mutual friends found it strange, the way that you two were so seemingly affectionate with one another yet never once brought up the idea of formally dating. You'd be lying if you had said you never pondered on the thought of what it would be like to be with JJ Maybank, your best friend since childhood and the first boy you kissed back in elementary school. You imagined that it would be easy if it were him who you ended up with. You pictured a future of you coming home from a long day at work and being lavished in his soft kisses and warm embrace that would feel like home in itself. But you knew that it was also risky, the idea of two Pogues getting involved in some romantic entanglement that would likely only shake up the state of your friend group.

But you still wondered nevertheless, even if you knew you wouldn't dare act on it.

"You guys will be proud of what I did, though." You announced, quickly capturing the attention of the Pogue boys with a muddled look on their faces.

"What did you do?" JJ eagerly asked as he stared down at you while he awaited your next statement.

"Rafe asked me to go to midsummers with him and I said yes." You answered, a smug smile forming across your chapstick-glazed lips as you tilted your head back to take a sip of the rather distasteful beer.

"You're kidding. Are you being serious, y/n? Holy shit." John B promulgated his shock shamelessly, impenitent on his excitement towards the success of the Pogues' plan on exploiting Rafe Cameron through his desires and urges in order to gain the necessary information from him. Everyone had figured you would be the best decoy in order to reach the Kook Prince himself, but they had never expected her would crumble so fast and effortlessly.

You took notice of the way that JJ's energy had faltered all of the sudden, him practically becoming mute in a matter of seconds after you had announced your victory. You frowned at his silence, expecting for him to be the one to celebrate the matter with you, but instead it seemed as though he was tangled up in a deep thought.

"Jay, what's wrong?" You whispered to the blond in a hushed tone that was barely audibly to surrounding individuals, such as John B.

"Yeah I'm okay." JJ vacillated.

"Don't lie, I can tell them something is wrong." You asked, insistant that there was more to it than JJ was letting out.

"Just drop it, y/n. I'm alright. Can you just live with that?" His austerity took you by surprise, a stark contrast to JJ's normally frivolous attitude. You peered up at him as you surveyed the look on his face, trying to draw a conclusion about whatever it was that he was feeling in that moment. You were left with little to no answers as to where his head was at, seeming as though he was masking his emotions as he tended to do when he was feeling vulnerable. However, you did catch a glimpse of the way he winced momentarily, his face washing over in subtle agony for a brief second before returning back to its previous state.

"Are you.. hurt? You observed the cue that suggested JJ was in some state of discomfort.

JJ responded rather satirically with a dry laugh, disconnecting his gaze from yours as he began to advert his view towards the floor of the boat.

"Don't know," he shrugged, "ask Rafe and his Kook friends."

"Is that what this is about, JJ?" You furrowed your brows in discontent, sending daggers at the blond whose bitterness exhibited within his mannerisms as though it was on display in a glass case right in front of your face.

"What are you talking about?"

"You got all pissy with me the second I mentioned going to midsummers with Rafe, now you're making snide comments about him as if we're actually together." You scoffed.

JJ shook his head, "It wouldn't surprise me if you were dating him. I mean, you were supposed to be in this for us and now you spend every day with him. You've probably already slept with him too."

Your arms fell to your sides as the tension in your body released all at once, taken over by an affliction in your chest that rendered you nearly speechless. The irritation written on your face dropped into an expression full of chagrin and detriment as JJ's perfervid locution incinerated your pride. You stood before your so called 'friend' with your mouth slightly agape while the reality of his words settled in painfully.

"I did this for you, asshole! How else am I supposed to gain his trust without seeing him and spending time with him, JJ? What good does that do for us, or even for me, if I keep my distance just because it makes you uncomfortable? I can't believe you would say that to me, considering what I'm trying to do for you right now. Just for you to throw it back in my face." You spat, throwing your hands up in the air in an act of defense.

"Y/n... You know that's not what I meant, I-"

"I should go." You cut him off, gathering your tote bag quickly as you began to avoid JJ's burning stare. "John B, can you drop me off at the closet dock? I'm leaving."

"Y/n wait, please." JJ pleaded, urgency oozing from the whine in his tone. However you didn't care, the only thing you could think about was getting as far as hell away from him as possible before you said or did something that would permanently damage your friendship.

You kept your back turned to him, acting as though he simply wasn't there, standing behind you with a pitiful look on his face.

"John B, please." You whispered to your brunette companion, barely audible so that only he could hear your plea.

"I got you." He spoke quietly back at you, providing you a sense of reassurance with a subtle wink.

John B had kept his word, thankfully. Lucky for you, there was a boat dock barely five minutes away and with Routledge's driving, you were sure to get there fast. He stopped as promised upon the first dock that appeared, sending you on your way after you hugged him briefly and exchanged some see you later's. JJ, of course, continued begging for you to hear him out within those painfully long five minutes, to which you ignored for both of your guys' sake. You basically got off that boat as soon as you possibly could, wanting to flee as fast as you could as anger and resentment laid heavy in your mind. You knew that you'd speak to JJ eventually, but not right then. Not with so many emotions boiling up at the pit of your stomach.

You power-walked to the other end of the dock before your feet quickly hit the sand. You sighed a breath of relief, feeling as though a weight had partially been lifted since you had removed yourself from the conflict that had occurred. You looked around for a brief moment, bitterness still heavy in your heart, before reaching into your tote and pulling out your phone as you scanned through your contacts urgently.

"Rafe? Yeah, hi. I hate to bother you right now, but do you care to come and get me right now?"

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nebmia · 2 months

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Reviewing every rpg book on my shelf: 5, Flying Circus

Flying Circus is a a game by Erika Chappell where you fly planes, have messy dramatic relationships, and find out who you are. Sometimes all at the same time. More specifically you fly *rickety planes from the dawn of aviation* and have messy, dramatic relationships, and find out who you are *in an essentially queer way*.

The first thing I love about Flying Circus is it's sheer audacity in taking pbta (usually deployed for low crunch storygame-y titles) and twisting it into a highly detailed and technical system for running dogfights. I think its really clever how Erika has taken the idea of a detailed combat system are re-appraised it from the ground up in the context of dogfighting.

There is no grid based movement here, it simply is not useful in the three dimensional world that planes inhabit. Instead your positioning is modelled through altitude and air speed, with each being tradeable for the other and spend able to perform maneuvers.

Honestly the whole system is rather intimidating (a fact the book freely admits). Each plane requires a little personal instrument panel sheet (and a few extra side sheets) that resemble somthing you would expect in a euro-game boardgame more than an rpg. The system goes as far as modelling how your plane performs as you use up your modelling fuel and with varying altitude. There are also a lot of fairly involved moves that it feels would be a little tricky to keep aware of while running a dogfight. However, from what I hear, the system works well and, once you understand it, isn't /that/ tricky to run. I think this isn't actually that crunchy when compared to your standard tactical battlers, it's just completely new (and working in a zone most people have less of an intuitive understanding of [although its worth noting that most peoples intuitive understanding of medieval style combat is dead wrong]) so we are unably to draw upon our preexisting assumptions.

You will notice I have to fall back on reports and intiitions here because I am yet to be able to play the game, which is honestly my biggest problem with it: it carves such a specific niche that I think I will really struggle to ever bring it to the table. Anyone I have talked to about the game has always responded to the effect of 'I don't think I'm into planes enough for this'.

I am also not half as into planes specifically as Erika Chappell is. But what I am into is getting deep into things in general, and this whole system excels at letting you get incredibly technical and nerdy about your plane (as far as things like exactly what radiator fluid it has, if you use the advanced rules) and making those choices actually matter in play.

ok, that's probably enough about planes (a phrase I anticipate has never once been uttered by the author of this book), what are you doing when you get out of the planes?

The game follows a cycle of mission and downtime, which you spend relieving stress (in healthy or unhealthy ways) and running upkeep on your company. This is where you do a lot of the character work and bring into focus the 'coming of age' narrative that the game intends.

Which seems a good lead in to talking about the playbooks. Each playbook is focused around a particular thematic idea or experience, which is helpfully spelled out directly in a 'themes' section for each one. This isn't a game where you play as a fighter because you want to solve problems by hitting them but rather one where you play as a Fisher because you want to engage with "a queer reclamation of the monstous", or a scion because you want to engage with "privilege and power, and what obligations come with it", or a believer because you want to engage with "a mindset that thrives on radicalism", or a survivor because you want to engage with "a metaphor for what it feels like to be a transgender person escaping an unwelcome or abusive situation".

Obviously, alongside themes you do also get a load of cool abilities to use.

Of the many games that claim to be ghibli-esque but I think Flying Circus hews closest on account of two things: understanding miyazaki's perspective on war and also due to being absolutely unhinged about planes.

#ttrpg #my stuff #Reviewing every rpg book on my shelf #Flying Circus #pbta

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missamyrisa2 · 7 months

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Miss Amy is in a tickle machine that gives tickle jobs. When the gigglecum goes everywhere, the tickle sponges come out and scrup Miss Amy clean with giggly delight

Don't worry this tickle machine is made for Amy. It knows to tap on a belt and tickle your wonderful feet right under the toes l. Purple feathers and silky ribbons to teases all your ticklish muscles and chest buttons

Another round in the domed pleasure paradise ~ I can't help but notice how some of the watchers prefer to look at me directly through the opaque purple dome while others are glued to the live feeds on smaller displays outside the unit or gathered on the giant TV in the center of the break room which is currently showing the sponges being lathered up in preparation. Apparently I'm about to blow again ~ well, shoot dang~ The data-oriented team members are always congregated in the stats corner where the analytics on my body and reactions pile up like they usually do~ apparently I'm on track to break a record here. But I'm not going to make it easy for this stupid machine. The lotioned up puce hand is wiggling its digits in anticipation. I know this hand well, it has more technique than all the others and could probably deliver untold pleasures to anyone ~ were it not employed to use that unbelievable talent for evil.

I push back in the restraints. The machine squeals as it redoubles its positioning of my body ~ perfectly held and bent slightly so the whirling teasing fluffy furry wheels of feathery doom can make contact with my pinkened tush and backs of my inner thighs. This is it ~ the hand opens its fingers in anticipation. I just have to hoooollllddd tightttt ~ the employees in the break room who have placed their wagers start cheering. If I can stay taut I can stave off the handjob a little longer ~ anddddd fffffffff ~ not todayyy, not todayy ~ I'm squealing squeaking madly as those impossibly soft fluffs tease at my sensitive backside ~ my thighs quiver and my hips struggle and twisttttt and thennnn I'm flung forward, cackling out my giggles and blushing furiously as I see my aroused princess part bouncing and flopping right to the waiting villainous hand making a 'come hither' motion~

I try to focus on the large display showing my princess part as it lands into that waiting wicked machine hand. Silly I know, but sometimes imagining it's a faraway giggle girl and not me helps~ but only slightly, because now I'm definitely most definitely gigglemoaning in all my desperation. Ghhh~ I want it sooo bad. I can't help itttt ~ and weirdlyyy I just can't help but want to give them the show they came to the breakroom for. I know Brooke will be reviewing my performance later, probably having me bound to her flower bed while she evaluates and teases me and makes me watch as she re-calibrates her machinery. Always going on about being the inventor of my flower belt and me owing her all my "research material" blah blahhhh unnnhhh I guess that was me gigglecrying out her name again. So many giggledrops ~ the hand won't stop milking, the tickly brushes wheel about my body making me push further and give everything I've got. I suppose being wrapped in the purple dome with all these ribbons across my arms and legs is somewhat artful as I'm made to ticklegasm yet again~

Those sponges emerge and the squeaky sounds start. I swear they are piped in from unseen speakers ~ cleaning tools shouldn't make those sounds right? It's so silly and guh. Now I'm screaming giggling again. The hand was not intending to give me a clean gigglecum by any means and now those stupid sponges are having a field day on my wiggling spent body. And it looks like I get no reprieve today ~ maybe I shouldn't have sassed them so badly when I was being put into the dome today ~ the panels under my toes are already open again and the toe ticklers are rearing back to snare each one and fill the gaps with those evil little conveyors of soft material. Annnndddd mmmh~ the beltttt wellll shhheeet~ the machine is bringing the flower out and an array of tuning forks ~ I guesss today they really are going to kill meee because the toe tickles already have my queen part getting worked up again and nowww those forks are going to strike every petal until I'm dead~ what a way to spend my lunch break <3

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wild-karrde · 1 year

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Karrde!! Congratulations on 400 babes!! 🥳🥳 I kept forgetting to send this, so sorry it’s a bit late.

May I request my favorite boy Fox with the quote “as you wish” please?? I’d love to see how you write him ❤️❤️

THANK YOU ERIN!!!!! It's completely fine. I know this line maybe should have been something sweet based on where it comes from, but I had a thot thought that wormed its way into my brain, and I could NOT shake it loose, so ummmm, here you go. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

Pairings: Fox x F!Reader

Rating: E (18+ MINORS SKEEDADDLE - finger, PiV sex)

22:30.

You push back from your desk, smoothing your skirts with shaking hands, anticipation causing the tremors rather than nerves. It’s been a rotation since you’ve returned from your diplomatic mission, but you’ve been counting the seconds to this moment since then.

But you must be quick. Fox never wastes a moment on his rounds. You’ve got to be sure he sees.

Your office door hisses shut behind you, and you key in the lock code.

Twenty-three paces to the end of the hall and then a left. First camera is on the left.

Your pace is unrushed but not leisurely, as if you have somewhere to be.

It must be 22:32 by now. It normally takes him a minute to make it down to the command center to check in on his men watching the feeds. Two if he takes his time.

You turn the corner, striding past the floor-to-ceiling windows that cover the left side of this corridor. You always loved the view on your side of the Senate building. Normally, you’d linger and watch the late night speeder traffic flow by in its almost hypnotic river of lights, but tonight, you’re in a hurry, even if you’re trying not to look like it.

Around fifty paces to the fork and then turn right, in full view of the camera that covers the atrium.

You cross the dimly-lit atrium, eyes already on the set of lifts on the other side of the room that are almost beckoning you with their bright buttons that glow brightly in the dark. Your heels against the polished flooring are the only sound in the room. Well, that and the sound of your blood rushing in your ears.

Your finger finds the summon button, and you press it, trying not to appear nervous as the lift hums to life. After what feels like an eternity, the doors hiss open and you step inside.

The light inside the lift is much brighter, and you feel yourself involuntarily squinting as you move towards the control panel, selecting one of the lower levels of the Senate building. The chrono next to the buttons displays the time.

22:35. If he’s still there, he’ll only linger for a few more minutes before moving on.

You can’t stop yourself from glancing directly into the camera that’s affixed to one of the corners of the ceiling.

Come and find me, Commander.

To anyone else that might be watching the feeds now or in the future, you look like a Senate aid visiting the records room on the twelfth level. At least, you hope that’s how it looks. No one has any reason to suspect otherwise.

You’re not ashamed of your relationship with Commander Fox, but you understand how much danger your relationship puts him in. The Senator you serve doesn’t have an unfavorable opinion of clones, but many of her counterparts do, and the last thing you want is you and Fox’s relationship being put on display for some sort of political maneuvering.

You also understand that he has a reputation to uphold, one that he’s worked very hard for, and you’d never wish to jeopardize that and put his leadership into question.

The agreement to keep things a secret had been mutual, and if you’re honest, the thrill of your clandestine meetings was something unexpected, but it made you eagerly anticipate them even more somehow. Even now, as the lift doors open, you wonder if he’s watching you, understanding where you’re headed and that you’ll be waiting for him. You’d arranged this system early on, knowing his rotation schedule and when he made the rounds to check on his men. If he saw you on camera, passing through the right displays to indicate you were headed to what had become your favorite place, then he knew to follow. It had worked flawlessly thus far, and you hoped for another repeat success tonight. You can almost feel him watching, his eyes burning into you as you exit the lift. You resist the urge to look straight into the lens again and wink on your way out.

Thirty-three paces to the corner. Then no more cameras after that.

You check that your keycard is in your pocket. You do need to visit the records room at some point. But for now, that can wait.

As you turn the corner, you hear the echo of a stairwell door banging open in a different hallway, and you resist the urge to break into a run. You’ll beat him with plenty of time to spare if he took his usual route, but now your heart is about to leap out of your chest.

You hadn’t seen him for several weeks, having been forced to travel with your Senator on a diplomatic mission. Fortunately, the negotiations had wrapped up amicably and sooner than anticipated, so you’d made it home a week sooner than planned.

You hadn’t told Fox, hoping to surprise him. He was so rarely surprised. Another thrill. You couldn’t even imagine what a surprised expression might look like on his ruggedly handsome features.

Your steps carry your right past the records room and to your favored supply closet. It was well off the beaten path, mostly housing ceremonial robes that were only broken out on the most special occasions, their thick and stuffy fabrics making for excellent sound-proofing. No one had any reason to be in it at this time of night.

Well, no one besides you and a very particular clone commander.

The door hisses shut behind you, and you smooth your hand through your hair one more time, trying to take deep breaths. You begin to count the seconds in your head, and after you get to a full minute, you wonder if perhaps you were wrong, that someone else was actually just working late on this level. Or maybe you’d imagined the noise completely.

I was certain he was on tonight. He normally is. Maybe he just didn’t see me on the feeds. He wouldn’t have known to look.

Perhaps this was a terrible idea.

Just as you’re about to talk yourself into giving up and going to the records room, you hear footsteps pause outside the door to the supply closet. You hold your breath.

The door hisses open, and there he stands in his red and white armor, hands behind his back as he observes you from behind his visor. Heat rushes to your face as you lean back against a crate, letting him drink you in. After a few seconds, he nods, apparently finding your presence satisfactory.

You’ve never said it aloud, but you hate that helmet. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do; it makes Fox an unreadable fixture and an intimidating presence, but that’s not the man you know, and you hate that the helmet affects you in that way. You want to see his eyes, the greying hair at his temples, the smile that he seems to save only for you.

The door shuts behind him, and he strides forward, his armor rustling the ceremonial robes as he brushes past. He comes to a stop just in front of you.

“I thought you had another week.” His voice buzzes slightly from the modulator, and you can’t tell what he’s thinking.

You shrug. “Negotiations went well. Turns out, the Banking Clan was more open-minded on this particular treaty than they have been in the past.”

The helmet is growing more frustrating, so you turn your back to him.

If he wants to be unreadable, then so will I.

“Senator Korrrvan was quite complimentary of my work,” you continue. “Claims that the research I did and the brief I put together was most thorough. I appear to have anticipated most of the sticking points, and the alternatives I recommended were found to be favorable. In fact-” you turn back to face him, but before you can utter another word, he slams into you, and you grunt in surprise. The helmet is gone, as are his gloves, and his lips are warm and frantic against yours. He weaves his fingers into your hair, his other hand already working at bunching up your skirts as he walks you backwards, pinning you against the crate you were previously leaning against. His other hand finds your thigh, gripping you hard enough to bruise as your fingers frantically work at the clasp on his codpiece. The armor clatters to the floor unceremoniously just as he lifts you onto the crate, leaning you back. The fingers of one hand find their way under your undergarments as his other hand works at the collar on your dress, trying to undo just enough buttons to get to the skin of your neck so that his teeth can leave marks only you can see.

Fox is nothing if not efficient with his time.

Your fingernails dig into the back of his neck as his fingers slip inside of you, and he groans against your neck as you gasp. clenching around him.

“Missed you so much,” he mumbles against the skin of your throat. “Fisted my cock thinking about you last night. Would have saved myself if I’d known you’d be here tonight.”

“But then I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of surprising you,” you joke, your voice breathy as Fox adds a second finger. You’re soaked and ready, and both of you know it.

“If it’s pleasure you want, then I’ll give you that,” he rasps, and you feel his fingers leave you, replaced with the hot, blunt head of his cock. He drags the tip through your folds, soaking himself before notching at your entrance. “I should make you wait for teasing me like this, but I don’t think I can. Now how do you want it?”

You don’t even have to think about it. “There’ll be time for softness later. I need you, Fox.” Your voice is a needy whimper, and you wrap your arms around his neck, digging your fingers into the black fabric of his undersuit, preparing to hang on for dear life. “Take me hard. I want to feel you tomorrow.”

He smirks, pressing his forehead against yours as he enters you, sheathing himself to the hilt in one sharp thrust, already brushing against that place inside you that has you moaning his name. He chuckles.

“As you wish.”

Thanks for participating in my 400 Follower Celebration!

Tag List: @seriowan @partoftheeternalsoul @rosmariner @misogirl828 @ellichonkasaurusrex @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @staycalmandhugaclone @redheadgirl @fordo-kixed-rex @wizardofrozz @ariadnes-red-thread @extrahotpixels @justanothersadperson93 @leftealeaf @dnxgma @meekaielmyerhs99 @kaminocasey @teletraan-meets-jarvis @rain-on-kamino @ladykatakuri @sleepingsun501 @arctrooper69

#karrde writes #karrde's 400 #400 follower celebration #star wars #the clone wars #tcw #commander fox #marshal commander fox #fox x reader #fox x you #lemon #lemony lemon #nsft #commander fox x reader #commander fox x you #corrie guard #coruscant guard #established relationship #secret relationship

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the-heart-of-a-monster · 1 year

Note

Hello! I saw in your reply to an ask that you weren't sure where the info on Chaos being a mutated chao came from. It has been stated in the Sonic Adventure Navigation Guide all the way back in the day when the game first came out. So, not directly in the game itself, but material related to it. But it seems this still carries forward to present, with the Eggmemos in Frontiers and Ian's consistent response in regards to that one detail in said Eggmemos.

I don't think you have to change anything in HC and you can do what you want with it, but if relative Canon lore is important to you, the Navigation Guide was the initial source.

To not make this message completely unrelated to THOAM, I want to express how much I appreciate the comic and your growth as an artist. The panels really pop with color and detail now (that background panel of the city looks so good!) I hope Chip gets back with the group soon before Sonic completely loses himself in the darkness; I don't think Shadow and Sonic alone will be able to handle whatever is coming next (nervous laughter of anticipation)

wait i dont get how him being a chao ties into the eggmemo oh no aaaaahhh tho frontiers did ruin a lot of my worldbuilding anyways so im just blissfully ignoring All Of That for now

also thank you!!!!!!! i try my best to balance detail with shortcuts, as i need to let go of my habbit to turn every panel into an illustration

#fan lore

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100-yardstare · 1 year

Text

Fandom: Super Smash Bros

Summary: Many years of kingdom conquests lead King Bowser to a deal that he couldn’t refuse. The deal, long and forgotten, is now buried under his new life with Princess Ari. A pleasant day with his newly beloved goes haywire when he gets a visit from his creditor – Ridley, leader of the Space Pirates – whose hellbent on taking back the equivalent on what is owed: the Koopa Kingdom.

Authors Notes: This is an AU that @trashyourash and I came up with, where our inserts meet, Super Smash Bros fashion. This Metroid and Super Mario Bros crossover has the potential to expand into multiple chapters.

Rating: T

Word Count: 2,213

The paced clip clap of Princess Ari’s heels sent echoes from the royal floors of Bowser’s castle as she made her way to the dining hall. There was an odd smell of the typical volcanic fumes that made its way through the many windows and panels above her that clashed with the growing smell of a delicious dinner; it was truly only a scent that could be experienced in King Bowsers domain.

Ari’s stomach rumbled in anticipation of what was on the menu. Bowser’s henchmen never let her down before, and this dinner date was no exception, especially if Bowser himself had anything to say about it: “Only the best for my Ar-Ar, or I’ll smash your skull in!” she heard him say once.

Two small Koopa took notice of Ari’s arrival at the dining hall, and immediately took a respectful bow before working together to open the large doors. The opening of the entrance doors to the dining hall sent a slight draft to blow over her, with it carrying the delicious smells with it. Her eyes immediately landed on the elaborately decorated dining table, among it a red tablecloth adorned with a variety of foods for the occasion, and flowers freshly picked from what looked like the Gusty Garden’s Galaxy.

“Oh, Bowser, this is lovely!” Princess Ari exclaimed, her arms outstretched as she gestured towards the table.

Just as quickly as Ari’s excited expression of gratitude left her lips, a series of thumps rumbled from a door adjacent to Ari. Soon after, the doors burst open, as none other than Bowser himself entered the room.

“Babe!” He cried, a large smile plastered onto his expression. “You are here just in time; Kamek will be bringing out the Starbit cake shortly, and we’ll be ready to feast!”

Bowser quickly made his way towards the table itself, lifting a chair—directly beside his of course—outwards, and set it down, specifically for Ari. He gestured towards it, inviting his beloved to take a seat.

As Ari made her way over, the commotion had caused the other Koopa and henchmen to begin arriving in the hall, including Kamek, who lead a handful of henchmen carrying the Starbit cake to be planted on the table with the rest of the feast. Like a timely queue, once Ari had taken as seat at the table, everything was set, and the henchmen took a step back, bowing before Bowser and Ari.

“Your dinner, Sire… Princess…” Kamek said.

“It looks perfect, just as I told ya.” Bowser replied. He placed his large claw gently on Ari’s shoulder, and asked her, “Do you like it, Babe?”

“Bowser, you know I do,” Ari responded. Yes, it was over the top, and a bit unnecessary, but she loved being doted on by Bowser.

“I’m glad…” Bowser replied; his muzzle reached her ear as he gave her a smooch before taking a seat at his chair next to her. Once seated, he began to fill his plate, and help Ari set hers up as well before they both jointly began to partake in their dinner.

“I heard it’s gonna be a beautiful week at the Isle,” Bowser mumbled through bites. “Next time we oughta have dinner at your place.”

Ari lifted her napkin, patting her lips before responding, “You bet! The crowds aren’t supposed to come for another few months, so the season is ripe for fresh cuisine and space. We could hold the dinner outside wherever you want: Sirena Beach, Bianco Hills, you name it, Hon.”

“Ah, too many decisions,” Bowser grumbled. “Kamek, maybe you should flip a coin.”

“Yes, Sire…” Kamek noted. “What are your conditions?”

“Heads say we reserve the entirety of Pinna Park! Tails Sirena Beach and reserve the whole hotel!”

“Bowser, don’t you think that’s a bit much?” Ari said, although the instant she said it she knew better: she loved the idea. There was so much they could do besides dinner with all that space.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Kamek nodded. With a twist of his wand in the air before him, a series of blue and green sparks would erupt before a single golden coin appeared and levitated within reach for him to grab. Kamek would take a second, putting away his wand, before he tossed the coin into the air.

As the gold spun round and round, a violent rumble overtook the castle. This startled everyone in the room as the eyes of all took their gaze away from the golden coin and around the ceilings. The coin would hit the floor, sending a high-pitched echo of its drop throughout the hall, but practically going unnoticed, just before a second violent rumble overtook the castle.

“Where is Bowser Junior?!” Bowser yelled, assuming his son was up to trouble.

“Your Majesty, your son has been visiting the Yoshi Isles, don’t you remember?” Kamek responded. “He’s has not returned yet.”

A third violent rumble escalated everyone’s alertness, causing Bowser to stand up. “Well then go and investigate, Kamek! What do I even pay you for?!”

Kamek sighed, “You don’t pay me at all,” before twirling his wand around himself, disappearing from his seat at the table.

“Hmmm, it’s probably nothing, just another earthquake is all,” Bowser justified aloud.

“Bowsie… I don’t think that was an earthquake,” Ari responded, contemplating to herself that as long as she had been visiting, intermittent quakes quite like this were not the norm.

A fourth quake erupted suddenly, this time accompanying it the sound of an explosion.

“Sire!” Kamek yelled, his return just as sudden as the eruption outside. “We are being invaded!”

“What!? By who?” Bowser replied aggressively, his sharp teeth appearing as he grimaced. “Who would possibly—not only invade me—but try and ruin my dinner!?”

“It appears to be the Space Pirates… if I recall, didn’t you work with them some years ago before your conquest for the Power Stars?”

Bowser’s grimace disappeared, his eyes dilated, and he seemed to go silent for quite some time. It was as if he was remembering something important… something he hadn’t even considered for quite a long time. “Oh… shit,” Bowser finally mustered. “Oh, SHIT!”

“Bowser, what is going on!?” Ari fussed, sitting up from her chair now and slamming her hands on the table. “Who are the Space Pirates? And you never told me you worked with anybody like that before!”

“Babe, it was a long time ago when I was doing my kingdom conquest,” Bowser said. “I don’t have time to talk about it right now, but you… you gotta hide.”

“No, I demand an answer right now!” Ari screamed, but Bowser was set in his ways, and his muzzle was sealed.

Quickly, Bowser would pick up Ari, and jot across the dining hall to the door he had arrived through, setting her down just on the other side of the door, before closing it shut and locking it. “There is an escape corridor down the hall to the left,” he said through the door. “Take one of the airships and get out of here!”

He was met with the response of Ari pounding on the door, frantically screaming at him, “You tell me right now what’s going on!”

Another blast hit at that moment, this time, in the castle itself. Only a few seconds later did the dining hall doors burst open in a bright eruption, emerging from it a woman, a _human _woman, in modified Space Pirate armor, and with her a flood Space Pirate henchmen.

Bowser turned from the door, prepared to put up a fight as he stared down his unexpected guests, walking forward to face them before he stood bravely just a few yards before the invaders.

During the stare down, and the continued sound of explosions outside, the woman lifted her hand to the side of her face, pressing a device in her ear. “He’s here,” was all that she stated, before her arm lowered again.

Those brief few moments of silent confrontation gave Princess Ari enough time to drop kick the door down, inviting herself back into the picture as she witnessed the woman and Space Pirates now present in the room.

“Who is she!?” Ari fussed, her finger pointing at the stranger in aggression as she barred her teeth.

“Ari… I told you to get out of here,” Bowser responded, this time his tone softer, but with it a cautious air that she had not seen in some time.

A loud screech then filled all the halls of the castle, causing Ari to cover her ears. A swoop and a _thud _foretold the Koopa King and Princess that this woman and these… monsters, were not the only invaders that had arrived.

Ari could see just behind the woman, in the now darkened hallway, a set of glowing orange eyes in the abyssal darkness. As the huge figure grew closer, she could finally see an intimidating creature—a dragon—as his wings spread over the woman and Space Pirate henchmen before them.

“Bowser… we finally have a chance to chat,” the dragon spoke. “You are lucky I didn’t just decide to kill you just now.”

“I’ll kill you first!” Bowser replied in anger. “How dare you come on this special day!”

“How dare I?” Ridley replied, mockingly. “After all these years… you had so much time to repay your debt to me, and yet I have seen nothing. I’ve decided to take back what is rightfully mine, and since you obviously don’t have any means of paying me back, I’ll just take what is owed….”

“Get lost, I don’t have nothing for you!” Bowser yelled.

“Tell me who these monsters are, Bowser,” Ari whispered from behind him. “I swear, if you don’t tell me right now, I am breaking up with you.”

“Ari, please, not now,” Bowser tried to convince her.

“Oh, how sweet, I see you’ve finally found a ‘princess’ you’ve so much desired,” Ridley mocked. “I’ll tell her for you, if it wasn’t already clear to everyone in the room: I am Ridley, commander of the Space Pirates. Your King, here, owes me a debt that has yet to be repaid from his days of kingdom conquests. Since he so obviously has and will never have any intention of paying me back, I will simply take his kingdom. It’ll be a great place of operations… as a matter of fact, it is reminiscent of Lower Norfair, which I particularly prefer.”

“You can’t do that!” Ari yelled. “Bowser, tell him to fuck off and go somewhere else!”

“You will die, soon enough,” Ridley said maliciously, taking joy in the confrontation. “Lieutenant Kat, I give you my command… tell the troops to kill, and to have fun.”

The woman who had arrived, now obvious to Ari and Bowser, was the Lieutenant in question. Kat raised her hand once again to the comm-link in her ear, and said, “Ridley commands you to kill as you wish and take the kingdom.” She paused, only for a moment, as she processed her command. “And troops… have fun, and report back to high command once your task is complete.”

Ari screamed as she ran forward, her bravery outmatching her caution, as she pulled a knife from her clothing, having taken it from the table just before Bowser had tried escorting her out. Before she could even get close to the Lieutenant, Kat raised her right arm, shooting a single shot of a laser beam from a gun-like weapon mounted on her forearm, that hit the knife out of Ari’s hand, and sent it flying across the room.

Ari grabbed hold of the hand that had been holding the knife and hissed in pain.

“You know what they say: ‘don’t bring a knife to a gun fight’,” Kat said.

“Very well played,” Ridley commented towards Kat. “Bowser, your pet can play another time. Or not at all, actually… unless you can escape my army’s wrath.” He paused, continually amused with the situation. “I’ll give you five minutes for your princess to escape. If she escapes, she will be spared from my wrath. If not… I’ll kill her myself.”

“Ari, for the millionth time, I need you to leave, now!” Bowser ordered.

“As if,” Ari responded, blowing a tuff of her blue of hair away from her face. “What’s the point of going back to Delfino without you? You know you’re the only guy that has stuck with me.”

“Ari…” Bowser muttered.

“How sweet, two lovebirds, sticking it out to the end,” Ridley said sarcastically. “It’ll be fun to squish you both!”

Ridley’s wings raised as he sent a gust at Bowser and Ari before he opened his jaws and blew a hot wave of plasma upon them that engulfed the entire room. His troops before him scattered, heading for the other Koopa to begin the takeover, as the Lieutenant stood still in her spot, watching the flames, bright and eerie, burn before her.

Once Ridley’s flame ceased, Ridley and Kat watched as smoke and ember replaced the fire. The dinner table was destroyed, the food ash, and the room filled with soot, and crumbling.

Yet remaining was Bowser, covering his beloved with his body, and having withstood the attack.

Bowser wasn’t going down without a fight.

#super smash bros #metroid #super mario bros #bowser #ridley #self insert #oc x canon #kailey writes #trashyourash

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peach-the-owl · 1 year

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Good grief that last post! So cute! I NEED more Matt interacting with the child reader that dynamic seemed so cute and wholesome. So if your comfortable I'd like to ask please, please for a Matt x child reader. Maybe just little kiddo being a regular crew member, attending comic con and being asked who their favorite cast member is and almost everyone at the panel responding with Matt. When Matt's like um?¿? They remind him of cute moments that support their claim. Like a clip show. Just an idea, really I'd be happy with anything. Thanks! Love your writing.

I had fun with this one 😊 Now is this an older ask? Yes. Is this cheating because Matt is a real person and not an npc? Well, Matt’s the DM which by extension means that he plays every npc so therefore I’m saying it counts.

Who’s Your Favourite?

Crit Role Cast & Child!Reader

(Mostly Matt & Child!Reader but you get the idea)

Disclaimer: I do not speak on behalf of any of the actual cast. This is just a fictional scenario meant to be for fun

You loved Comic Con, the sights, the cosplays, the merch, the panels, just everything. You skip around the con taking everything in.

“Hey, don’t be wandering off too far without me.” You hear Matt chuckle as he walks over to your beaming face.

“I can’t help it! Look at all the cool stuff.” You gesture to everything around you.

“I know, believe me I know, and we’ll have plenty of time to look around but we need to set up for our panel.” Matt reminds you.

“Oh yeah! Let’s go! Let’s go!” You bounce in place. Matt let’s out another chuckle as Marisha finally joins the two of you.

“Whhaaat, are you two having all the fun without me.” She teases.

“No, never… maybe a little.” Matt teases back. The three of you finally making your way to where you’ll be holding your panel. You sat and watched while everyone scrambled around preparing the last few touches for your panel, being joined by Matt who sits next to you acting over exhausted.

“Whew! Boy am I beat!” He sighs, you giggle at his antics.

“No you’re not, the staff did most of the work.” You point out matter-of-factly.

“And it was exhausting watching them.” He jokes. You give him a light shove, the both of you laughing before having to be called back while they open the theatre for fans to be seated. You wait in impatient anticipation to start, and finally, once the audience was seated you all took your seats at the table to start the panel.

The panel had be going really well and it was now time for any audience members to ask you guys any questions they had, you listened to fans questions and answered any as best as possible.

“Uhh hi, I have a question for (y/n).” You perk up and look to the dark auditorium. “So I was wondering, who is your favourite member of the cast.” You hesitate, genuinely trying to think of how to answer, you liked everyone and being put on the spot like this made it extra hard.

“It’s Matt!” Everyone says in near unison, except for you and Matt himself.

“Ummm… what?” He looks to everyone confused.

“Don’t act like it isn’t true. (Y/n) follows you everywhere around the studio.” Liam starts.

“Not to mention that time when they came running to you first during a blackout. (Y/n) could’ve gone to anyone else but they specifically sot you out.” Taliesin adds.

“And I haven’t forgotten when they shared their snack with you and not me.” Travis ‘accuses’, some people in the audience giving a soft laugh at the memory.

“This goes both ways just so you guys know.” Laura jumps in, talking directly to the audience.

“Yeah, don’t think we didn’t notice the rolls you’ve fudged for (y/n)’s sake. There have been plenty of times you gave them a free win.” Marisha gives Matt a smug side eye.

“You mean those cool moments weren’t real?” You speak up confused and everyone quickly goes a into a little bit of awkward silence.

“Of course they were kiddo, they’re all just jealous they couldn’t be you in that moment.” Matt encourages, giving a small but playful glare to the rest of the cast. A few more fans got to ask some questions before the panel officially came to a close and you were free to roam the con again, getting some food to re-energize yourself before going around and admiring the different cosplays people had.

After a few more scheduled panels and meet and greets with fans the day was coming to a close and you were exhausted. You try and fail to fight back a yawn rubbing your eyes in an attempt to shake the feeling away.

“Someone tired?” Marisha asks, you shake your head stubbornly. “Awww, I think you are.” She crouches down to meet your eye level, seeing the obvious exhaustion in you eyes. You look away from her with a small pout, you didn’t want the day to be over just yet and you certainly didn’t want to miss any fun activities that could take place. Marisha gives Matt a side look.

“What?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Well you are the favourite, so do something.” He gives her a playful eye roll followed by a chuckle.

“Am I really your favourite?” He asks you. You don’t respond, instead lifting your arms up to him and making grabby hands, he lets out a content hum. “Alright, alright. Come here.” He lifts you up and adjusts you so your head is resting on his should, instantly you pass out. The two adults almost laugh at how fast you gave up trying to stay awake.

“Told ya so.” Marisha lightly teases.

“Yeah yeah.” Matt waves off. “You head over to restaurant with the others, I’ll drop them off at the hotel and meet you all there.”

“Sure thing.” With that the two head in separate direction.

You’re placed in bed and handed your favourite plushie you unconsciously snuggle into, Matt whispers a quick goodnight to you before heading out leaving you to dream away in wonderland.

#critical role #critical role & reader #vox machina #vox machina & reader #the mighty nein #mighty nein #mighty nein & reader #bells hells #bells hells & reader #nothing romantic here #npc appreciation month

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2n2n · 2 years

Text

lie and lie

wanna ramble about one of my favorite scenes... one of the ultimate lying snake Hanako--!!! This scene is just so fun post-reveals!

I adore how awed Hanako becomes, listening to Yashiro’s observations and conclusions.... this girl has come so far, from the ignorant girl he introduced to this world of his. She’s listening, remembering, comparing, seeking to solve... understanding the shape of things, completely on her own, without any help or guidance from him! .... he’s not been giving it too freely, anyway....

So, so impressive.... Hanako is amazed.

unfortunately her knowledge has a limit....

....the ‘alternate way of fixing things’ she is hoping to seek here.... are the very mysteries Hanako has been de-throning. Using her. Nene thinks they must find a new solution to the sacrifices... but the solution is already ruined!!

sorry, Yashiro. You’re right.... there was another answer. Not anymore, though. No. 6 has been forced into this circumstance by Hanako.

the funniest panels in the entire manga. Oh..... Hanako. I think he anticipated being able to ‘get through this’ without having to.... so directly, lie to Yashiro. Lying by omission is much easier and cleaner... but, her having laid out all of this so bluntly, before him, he has no choice. He has to start lying very bluntly.

you sure haven’t! Because.. you’ve had the mysteries! Good work Hanako-- what you’re saying is technically true, but you still can’t meet her face to say it, can you? Unfortunately as expected of Hanako, his candor changes to his rather capricious one as he ‘checks out’.

it’s.... kind of condescending, isn’t it? Like... “ohhh *claps*! good girl, wow...! really thinking aren’t you?”

(isn’t agreeing with this placidly, so funny of him? He knows what it means for Sumire to be Hakubo’s yorishiro, and the power dynamic that implicates.... that he could destroy her. That they are precious to one another, too. Extremely hand-waving so much to just agree.)

mmmm... completely tuning it out, completely emotionally closed to the conversation. Not even going to respond to this with sass or negging about how absurd it is... uh-huh, sure. whatever you say...! wooow, good plan, Yashiro...

the Severance is immediately after this.... the entire action of ‘graciously’ allowing Sumire to join them in the school, is only something Hanako lets proceed because Sumire will imminently be booted right back to the other side in a moment.

It’s not a meaningful concession. Nene earnestly believes she is saving Sumire from her hell, and Hanako knows they are not (though I wonder if wandering the Far Shore is better or worse?). He’s only allowing Yashiro to get her way, because of the event he awaits. It’s.. a bit of a joke, for him to go to all the trouble of putting Sumire in his elevator. It’s a joke to placate and praise Nene for being so observant and thoughtful, too. Which is unfortunate, because she really, really did impress him, and really is thinking so hard, all on her own. It’s a shame that for all her efforts, she’s still leagues behind Hanako’s wealth of knowledge about the entire system. Always at his calculated disadvantage.

It’s just such a perfect circumstance to observe Hanako’s capabilities towards lying.

Nene was so very smart this arc... it makes me excited for her as she learns more and more and has a better foothold, for herself. Early series, she’s hinging her every bit of knowledge on Hanako, and what Tsukasa, thank goodness, lays out for her to experience....

if it’s only up to him, Hanako will tell her very little, to leverage advantage for himself. He controls the flow of information and the spin he puts on what he does talk about (suchas merely describing Yorishiro as batteries, not as failsafes to blackmail mysteries into behaving)..... he plays everything close to his chest. He’s careful what he says, and how he says it.

As a small example, I love that up until Picture Perfect, Hanako has never revealed his sleeper-move-capability he shares with Tsukasa. That was smart of him... because she can do nothing to avoid what she doesn’t know to avoid. What other tricks might Hanako keep secret, to deploy only when he needs them? Woo......!

Ah, it’s all so fun and exciting. He’s such a mystery. Such a talented liar.

#avvy's JSHK

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clay-cuttlefish · 9 months

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Finally I've reached the thing I've been avoiding: deciding how much of No Man's Land counts as directly relevant context. It's almost a hundred issues, and most of the arcs in it are fairly standalone. I think I'm just going to include her appearances and only add context issues for arcs where she's important.

DC Universe Legacies #5

Okay actually first I had to move some post-2000 flashback issues. This one's a flashback to Crisis on Infinite Earths, except Vic and the other Charltons show up beforehand, which. Not what happened.

Two Down

IT'S TIME (for real now)

Actually I think I have to move this out of NML to before Random Encounters since I don't care about the other stories in this issue. So on the spreadsheet proper there's a pretty big gap after this.

Her putting herself between Harvey and Batman makes me want to fucking explode.

This was the first story Greg Rucka wrote for DC. In interviews he says he knew Renee was a lesbian before he even came on board and her previous writers just hadn't noticed. Iconic.

Claim Jumping

Harvey's evil again. That didn't take long.

Helena's abs are ridiculous here. She's usually buff but she's getting the dehydrated bodybuilder Batman treatment.

Fruit of the Earth

It feels like Gordon should have anticipated that breaking the alliance would go badly, or at least that Harvey would betray him at some point. Harvey's not known for being reliable, dude.

The first sign that Harvey's far too attached, with "I really like Renee. She and I share an understanding."

It's months before Renee is followed up on, both in and out of universe, which is wild.

Jurisprudence

AAAAAAAA

Okay normal again.

I wish Renee had more agency here, but given that this was an attempt to fit her into a Gordon plot beat, it's a hell of a way to do that.

Harvey's a creep, but he seems to still be trying not to go full Phantom of the Opera about it? He doesn't use her parents as leverage until it's time for his revenge plot, he doesn't kidnap her until Jim pisses him off, it's a mix of collateral damage and manipulation instead of the complete targeted life-ruining it becomes in Half a Life.

I wish the multiple months jump hit harder, because as it is it kind of undercuts the tension by not really feeling like time has passed.

Holy shit the trial is such a good scene.

The panelling in Part II is SO good. I'm not a huge fan of the art style in a lot of it, but just the way it's set up is fantastic.

#clayposts #clayreads #the question #renee montoya

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meritatem · 10 months

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For everybody else, this day was buzzing with the expectation and energy of a new era. For Damian it was just a Wednesday.

He followed his usual routine while pointedly ignoring how the atmosphere in the penthouse was different, how everybody was preparing in some way or another for the night. Damian didn't share the concerns that seemed to hang over the others, he knew Grayson will do well and despite how much it hurt his pride in the past to admit it, Drake was a highly competent Robin. They'll be fine, they had nothing to worry about.

With this being such an important happening for them, Damian decided to get out of their way to let them sort things out; he still wanted to voice his approval without directly say it and with that in mind, he decided the best place for that would be the kitchen.

Compared to cooking, baking was a breeze.

After so many humiliations with this food, Damian finally found something he was good at, if only because baking recipes were a precise science, which was something more aligned with his expertise. Even Pennyworth, who was always harsh in his honesty when giving criticism, felt satisfied with the results from his first attempts. It made sense then, that he used his recently discovered aptitude with the oven to show his support and make something celebratory... to the New Dynamic Duo! May at least his favorite of the two stay whole at the end of this ordeal.

He made sure to have everything he'll need with anticipation to make shortbread cookies, including a ridiculous cookie cutter with the form of Batman's symbol, something he was almost disappointed they didn't own already, seeing how many other mundane things with the bat sign they possessed.

So, the most important thing in this day for Damian was to get an acceptable icing on his cookies. That was it, amazing accomplishments for one just Damian, no Wayne, no al Ghul.

“I must say, you have a very steady grip, sir.”

Not jumping when Alfred appeared out of nowhere in the most pure style of his father should count as a feat, with bonus points for not messing up the icing he was doing at the moment.

“This is a good opportunity to inform you that I can perform surgeries.”

“Surgery, engineering and overcooked pasta. The wonders never cease.”

“Hysterical, Pennyworth.” But he actually stopped himself from smiling. “I prefer tales from your youth better than your jokes, I'm especially interested in your training.”

“Sadly my days at the Royal Butler Academy are not as riveting as you're imagining.”

“If that's all the training you have done, then I'm a well-adjusted average child.”

“Heartwarming to see we share the same point of view.”

Damian chose not to dignify that with an answer, so Alfred focused his attention on inspecting the undecorated cookies that were on the sheet pan.

“If I knew you were planning on using this shape, I would've brought the batcookie cutter from the manor.”

“Are you talking about an actual gadget?”

“I'll let you take a guess.”

Before Damian could decide on an answer, his phone made a sound alert and just like that everything else ceased to matter. He rushed to take the phone that was near him on the counter; he didn't need confirmation as to what the alert he just received was about, but Damian still unlocked the phone to see.

“Apologies, Pennyworth, this is very important.”

Damian immediately jumped from the step stool he was on and ran straight to his room without looking back. Finding himself alone, Alfred merely arched an unimpressed eyebrow at the abandoned cookies and picked up the piping bag, proceeding to continue with the task left behind.

When Damian reached his room he hurried to his closet, setting aside a couple of boxes so he could move a fake portion of the wall to reveal behind it a handprint scanner, he placed his right hand over it and waited until a panel in the floor, that was in one of the corners of the room, opened.

Shortly after his arrival in Gotham, Pennyworth provided him with a phone and a laptop, so normal and simple that they were nothing more than toys for him. However at some point, possibly after he passed some kind of undeclared test from Alfred, he granted him heavy duty Batman-like technology. Damian was grateful to have a proper laptop he could work with, away from the unwanted eyes monitoring the Batcomputer; given the things he was up to, he had to be careful with its storage, because he had not doubt Tim would do something stupid if he knew of its existence.

After retrieving it from its hidden spot, Damian sat on the floor, not bothering to at least go to his bed. He spent the next ten minutes reviewing different fragments of footage, just enough to be sure this was exactly what he thought it was and once he was absolutely certain, he hurried now to leave everything exactly as it was before he entered his room, with the difference that he put the laptop in a canvas bag a brought it with him back to the kitchen.

When Alfred saw him, he made the attempt to saw something but Damian didn't give him the chance. “I'm leaving, I believe this is the start of Operation B.B.W.”

Whatever Alfred wanted to say before, died right there. “Oh.” Was the only thing he could say before he recovered his impeccable composure. “Not the best timing, I'm afraid.”

“Not the worst either, all considered. Don't wish me luck, Pennyworth, that's for amateurs.”

“Never, Master Damian, but I...” He glanced at the plate where four perfectly decorated bat-shaped cookies rested. With resolve, he walked towards Damian and placed a gentle but firm hand on his small shoulder. “There's nothing I want more that for you to succeed, my boy.”

These horrible people, making Damian feel so weak at the slightest show of affection. “Keep the sentimentality for Grayson, he's going to need it later.”

“In these uncertain times, we can all use a little sentiment.”

“And yet, I've never been this certain in years.”

Alfred knew that Damian wouldn't appreciate the comparison with Bruce, but it was true that at moments like this one, he was undoubtedly his father's son. The resemblance, of course, wasn't in the words being said but in their unwavering determination, so assured in their own competency while also planning for ten different ways to fail. It was a small comfort for him in the middle of the nightmare that was losing Bruce.

While Damian liked the bunker better than the cave, it was easier to slip away unnoticed in the cave thanks to its size. Now, if he really wanted, he could just go without saying anything and let Pennyworth deal with Grayson once he saw Damian was missing.

One of the biggest drawbacks of establishing healthy social routines like eating together, was that absences were hard not to notice, but in his defense, Grayson invited himself to Damian's shared meals with Pennyworth, not the other way around. Leaving without a word will work against everything Damian was trying to build, so even if time was of the essence, he needed to do this in the best way possible.

“Where's Drake?” Was the first thing he asked once in the bunker.

Grayson was there, sitting behind the computer, still in civilian clothes, which made sense because it was early for patrol. “Inspecting the Batmobile or something.”

If it weren't for the fact that this worked in his favor, Damian would've rolled his eyes. “Here, one is for you.” He offered Dick the plate he brought from the kitchen, that had two bat cookies on it. “It's a token of my well-wishes, may you conquer this night and the many more to come.”

Dick took the plate automatically, looking at the pair of cookies almost mesmerized. “Aww, Damian,” he cooed. “That's so nice of you.”

“Pennyworth helped, feel free to eat the other one when Drake rejects it.” For a moment Damian wished this was all, that he didn't have other more upsetting things to do, so he could bask, just this once, in Grayson's pleasantly surprised smile. “I also want to serve notice, I'm going to be away for a few days starting today.”

“What? Days?” Dick's posture changed completely, any hint of relaxation gone. “Why?”

“I'm investigating a drug ring, I have a lead so I'm going to stage a stakeout. If you need more information ask Pennyworth.”

“You can't do a stakeout alone, are you crazy?”

“I spent the past year doing missions around the world on my own. You have no idea of the things I've achieved without help.”

Grayson didn't know either about all the atrocities he committed because if he knew, he'd have denounced Damian, seeing him as the monster he truly was.

“Gordon told you about my accounts, that money wasn't a gift, it was payment. I know you think it's funny when I call myself a professional, but it was never a joke.”

The weakest part of Damian wanted to take back everything he said when Dick covered his face with both hands, but as remorseful as he was from parts of his past, he wasn't going to pretend they never happened.

“I know you weren't joking,” Grayson finally said soberly after uncovering his face. “But I can't let you do this without backup, why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?”

“As the next Batman you have more important things to worry about than some insignificant goons and their narcotics, leave the busy-work to the rest of us.”

“I get what you're trying to say but I don't like the idea of you being alone out there for days. Anything could happen.”

“I'm not an idiot, I know how to conduct myself in these situations,” Damian was trying, really, but it didn't matter his age, frustration always came easily to him. “I won't engage and I promise if I see the need to, I'll ask for assistance and wait. Grayson, please, trust me with this, I won't make you regret it.”

The universe had such a bad sense of humor, because Dick understood Damian well. He had been there once, asking Bruce to have faith in him and what he was able to do, only to be met with refusals and orders. Unsurprisingly, those negatives didn't stop him and he couldn't even remember now how many times he decided to act on his own.

At this point, disobeying Batman and going behind his back was an infamous Robin tradition; Dick never wanted to be on the other side of that and still, that's what was happening right now. While Damian was younger than Dick when he joined Bruce, he was also more skilled than any Robin had been at the start.

When he saw him patrol for the first time, Dick knew he didn't have to worry about him going on his own under Alfred's watch, however after actually spending a night working with him, Dick couldn't help but think how satisfied Bruce would've been with his son. If Dick didn't know any better, he would say Damian was a natural, taking to their methods like a fish to the water, despite how opposed they were to the League's style. He could only imagine how much effort Damian was putting into exceling like this.

Bruce would've told him no.

And maybe Dick should too, as experienced as he was, Damian was still a child, a small one, with a button nose, that talked like Alfred, took cooking too seriously and was so lively as he was somber. But Dick promised himself he wasn't going to repeat the mistakes Bruce did, he wanted Damian to know he could trust his reasoning, that he wasn't unapproachable or controlling; that even if they disagree, they could reach compromises and work together, not next to the other.

“You'll observe only, call for help at the first sight of trouble and if things get out of hand, you'll flee, your safety is the priority. I also want updates, hourly.”

“...” Grayson didn't know how lucky he was that Damian wasn't as quick to irk like he once had been. “I agree to your terms but you must know that I'm holding back some very impolite words.”

Dick's following laughter almost made worth all the hassle Damian will have to deal with. Almost.

Despite losing more time than he'd have liked coming to an agreement with Grayson, when Damian finally arrived to the hideout he shared with Colin, he was free to properly review the footage, like he couldn't in the penthouse and also make sure his target hasn't moved from where he last saw him.

Through the years, diverse circumstances made Damian analyze Gotham's infrastructure, not only because criminals liked to attack one building or another, but he also sought to know where his father's resources were... and his brothers'. He could pinpoint, even now, some of Grayson's safe houses all the way back to Blüdhaven.

It seemed that in the future Damian took that to new extremes, because in his efforts to be the Batman the city needed it, he tried to know every structure possible in Gotham to use that to his benefit. During his stay at that hellish place, he memorized all the information he could, places of interest in the city included. That was the reason behind the recent search that led him to find his current base, something he was grateful for, because he needed to work away for prying eyes.

Damian used to have a war table in the League, a military one. He never told anyone, not even Jon, but he always wanted a fantasy inspired one, with imaginary maps and troops, free of the burden of reality. Using games of chess as symbolism when one was planning something was a cliché, usually from people fancying themselves as masterminds, so it'd suit better losers like Nygma; Damian was fighting a war and before coming to Gotham, he decided on a campaign and made the first move in his little fictional table. And today, today may be the day he make the last for it.

Getting set for the challenge ahead was easy, because he had been gradually preparing in advance and did it so well, that he was even familiar with the place he had to go. So he got ready the equipment he was going to need, left Colin a message in the communicator he gave him and then departed to his destination, to one of the many run-down areas of the city. Once there, he quickly located the building he identified from the recordings: an old warehouse. He surveyed its surroundings before selecting the side of the roof he speculated had a good blind spot, according to his vague memories of the site, still, he made sure to carefully look inside before finally entering. Damian tested the closest ceiling joist to him, getting on it when it was clear that the rust damage was only superficial.

When he found a good position, one that had a perfect view of a very specific area in the floor, he just stayed there, motionless, waiting, while the sky above him started to stain with the colors of the twilight.

In accordance with Grayson's ridiculous rules, he put together a last minute program to signal Pennyworth, so for now it shouldn't be a problem, at least until Dick started to feel suspicious and tried to talk with him directly, but most likely he was going to be too busy with his debut as Batman; hopefully Drake will be busy too, because even if Grayson agreed it was best not to tell him about his solo mission for the moment, Damian knew how problematic things could get if Drake decided to try and look for him. Damian covered his tracks, but Drake was, well, Drake, favorite of both his father and grandfather, all for justifiable reasons.

And so, Damian waited, and waited, until it got dark. Fortunately for him - or very unfortunate, if the truth had to be told -, he was well accustomed to waiting for long periods of time. His mother used to say it was part of a good hunt.

It was close to midnight when his communicator flared to life with a well-known voice. “Hi, No One, it's Abuse, reporting? I mean, I'm at the place you told me so I'm just going to wait until new instructions?... I know you said you can't talk, I just wanted you to know I'm here, so don't worry, I got your back. By the way, thanks for the cookie, it was so rad. Roger.” Clearly it was imperative that Grayson and Colin never met, otherwise Damian wouldn't be able to survive the embarrassment those two could bring to his life together.

Just to make sure Colin knew Damian was there and their plans still on track, he send him a quick text message.

Finally, after almost an hour later, the pair of doors on the floor that he had been watching so closely, opened. If Damian had lacked the proper training, surely his heart would be racing with excitement - elation and anxiety alike - at the sight of the figure that emerged climbing the uncovered stairs behind the doors. He couldn't help it, he smiled in that way Alfred found unnerving.

He waited while his target closed the doors again, using that time to take aim with the gun he brought, letting the night vision of his mask's lenses do all the work, not that he really needed the aid but he had to made sure this only took one try. Damian let his mark walk away, just long enough so he couldn't immediately get back behind the doors he just closed. He fired then, aiming right at his target's neck with a perfect shot.

His mark didn't immediately fell, instead he screamed a curse, taking in an instant the tranquilizer dart from his neck and turning around, gun in hand, pointing it in the direction where Damian was, but by then he already took cover. Ignoring the aggravation of accepting how convenient his small frame was, Damian kept watching carefully his target's movements, getting a little worried for a second when he saw he almost made it back to his den, so as a distraction he decided to throw a batarang to disarm him, only to be surprised when, even as uncoordinated as the other was getting, he managed to evade it, probably because he identified it just by the sound. Now this was so much better than catching unsuspecting tamaraneans out of guard.

As interesting as this was, his target didn't really stand a chance against the sedatives; there was no shame in being beaten by them, Damian and even his father had fallen against that too. His mark knew this inevitability, because as soon as he started to wobble, he tried to shield himself behind the closest industrial barrel. It was that moment when Damian decided to go down, moving silently, with his cloak making more noise than his steps.

He stopped right in from of his target, who was sitting on the ground, leaning against the barrel and fighting to stay awake. Even in that state, he still tried to shoot, but he was too drugged to aim properly or be fast enough, because Damian kicked the gun from his right hand with plenty of time to snatch the second one from his left.

“Hello, Todd.”

Although the place was almost in darkness - with only little light from the moon - and Damian was covered in black, with the hood of his cloak over his head and the domino mask hiding half of his face, Jason's dropping eyes sparkled with recognition. “You-”

Damian, ironically, crouched down to be on his level. “Consider this an intervention.”

Maybe it was the adrenaline leaving him at knowing he wasn't at the mercy of some terrible enemy, or maybe it was just the drugs doing their job, but when Todd finally lost consciousness, Damian caught him before he hit the floor, letting him down gently. He made a quick checkup and then proceeded to tie him, just in case some miracle occurred and Jason immediately regained consciousness again.

When he finished, he stood up and pressed his communicator. “The cargo is ready, meet me at the warehouse.”

On the other side of the line Colin perkily answered. “Roger.”

With Todd secured and out of commission, surrounded only by shadows and silence, Damian put his hands closed in fists on his hips and let himself just... revel in this small moment in time. It wasn't the culmination of his plans or a defining victory, but it was a step, an important one, regardless of the end result.

He had earned the right to feel proud.

“Alas, I'm not Robin,” he said to no one in particular. “Nonetheless, I remain the best one.”

⪻Chapter 8

Chapter 10⪼

#f.r.w.#chap9

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crimechannels · 8 months

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By • Olalekan Fagbade CBN Investigation: Emefiele’s driver, 19 other apex baBnk officials quizzed In the ongoing intensified probe of the Central Bank and the drastic financial policies carried out by its suspended governor, Godwin Emefiele, no fewer than 20 persons allegedly linked with several suspicious operations in the apex bank are currently being questioned by the special investigators appointed by President Bola Tinubu. The Nation reported that among those interrogated were the four deputy governors of the apex bank, some directors and some drivers including those of Emefiele. Sources told the newspaper that the drivers were interviewed because “they were the ones who carried the big men around.” The sources added: “Many directors, especially the ones directly under the deputy governors, were interviewed. “They have also invited officials of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) and those in charge of all those intervention programmes were also invited.” Some officials of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), were similarly summoned. The special investigators paid a quiet visit to the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) on Friday in furtherance of their assignment. But no arrest was made on that occasion, it was gathered. Sources also said Shuaib Ahmed, the Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), and his deputy, Iheanyi Anyahara, were invited to appear before the panel in connection with the preparation of the CBN audited financial statements from 2016 to 2022. One source said: “Some of those summoned are detained till the following day if their interrogation takes longer than anticipated or if they need some documents from their office and they did not bring them along. They will be detained while they send for the documents. “Also if they are interrogating someone and he is being linked with someone else, the person is kept there till they invite the other person, and they will be interrogated separately. “We can’t put a number to those invited yet. Let’s just say close to 20 have been invited. The special investigator’s invitation may also be extended to retired directors. “Any director who has retired and has anything to do with the case will be invited. Even board members who have retired can be invited,” the source added. A parallel investigation of the CBN is being carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS) under the inter-agency committee. It was the inter-agency committee that detained deputy governors Aisha Ahmad and Kingsley Obiora. Continuing, the source said: “The DSS investigative team is different from Obaze’s team. “What I don’t understand is where they submit their own report. Or do they just want to keep it for their own (inter agency) information since it is not stated anywhere who ordered them to do that. “Everybody knows Obaze’s team gets its directives from the President.” President Tinubu, in a July 28, 2023 letter, appointed Obaze, the founding Executive Secretary of the FRC, to probe the activities of the apex bank and its related entities. He is looking into the books of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other government business entities, which the President, in the letter he personally signed, said was in continuation of government’s anti-corruption fight. The letter reads: “In accordance with the fundamental objectives set forth in section 15(5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and related entities. “This appointment shall be with immediate effect and you are to report directly to my office.”

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forbesjobs · 9 months

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So many times in my career I wish someone would have told me the real truth. I have, of course, had wonderful mentors and coaches throughout the years, but no one really broke down the unspoken rules, the real facts about ascending in your career and leadership.

I recently participated on a Phoenix Business Journal leadership panel and was asked to offer advise for the emerging leaders in the audience, and while I already had this column in mind before the event, it helped validate a notion I’ve been mulling over for awhile: Young professionals hunger for insight and feedback on how to advance or level-up in their careers.

That in mind, I would like to share five perhaps controversial leadership lessons every aspiring professional should know, taken from my personal experience and through conversations with a diverse set of leaders nationwide.

Your actual job (and No. 1 priority) should be making your manager’s job easier Individuals who are quickly promoted understand that if they make their manager look good, they will themselves reap the benefits. Now, this isn’t a nod to participate in anything superficial or borderline abusive but rather encouragement to anticipate the needs of your boss and company and deliver accordingly. Deeply understanding the overall roadmap no matter what your position in the company will give you a mindset to drive outcomes even if they don’t seem directly tied to you, allowing you to be open to the concept of being fiercely committed to moving your boss’ agenda forward.

You are going to receive many requests from your supervisor to do something that may seem like a waste of time, but they are asking for a reason. Understand that reason and then do it well. Think about things before your manager does, and if you figure things out with their minimal input, you can free up time for them to go farther, faster. And so will you. That’s true leadership. If there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: if your manager doesn’t feel like you are adding value and directly helping them achieve company goals and initiatives, you are eventually mapping out your own exit plan.

#chief marketing officer jobs USA #CMO Jobs USA #cmo jobs near me #remote cmo jobs #cmo hospital jobs

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timptoe · 1 year

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Here at the End of Everything, Ch. 2

Part two of my “fix my brain by writing about Joker” fic starts the process of looking at why Joker is the way he is, and how what’s happened to him affects the decisions he makes when the Crucible is being triggered. This is the “Joker Can Do It” chapter, inspired by this scene from the first game. It gave me an excuse to write a flashback to how Joker got into Alliance Flight School in the first place, and whoo boy do I apparently like writing about entrance exams and spaceflight because this chapter clocked in at ten-thousand words. First part of it’s below, the rest is up on Ao3.

Chapter 2: You Set Sail Alone

You set sail alone, there is no crew No one on the deck who can help you This is all your own battle to win This is your ship, and you are the captain - Fin Argus, “Ship in a Bottle”

——

Sol System, Earth, SSV Normandy SR-2 Forty-eight minutes before Hackett’s order

It’s a few seconds before Joker figures out what’s wrong.

As has become customary, he’s got the comm feeds for the ground team open, listening in while he harries the Reaper fleet above Earth. It’s a practice he and Pressly started right after Eden Prime; turns out it’s easier to anticipate a ground team’s needs if you’re listening to their chatter, rather than waiting for them to call you with a problem. He likes to think it’s saved the day more than a couple of times. At Virmire. Over Ilos. Past the Omega 4 relay. As long as the ground team’s talking to each other, they’re talking to Joker.

Pressly called it “babysitting.” Joker thinks of it more as “information gathering.” The more info he has, the better he can help. Not that he wants to be down on the ground with them—far from it, being planetside sounds like a pain in the ass—but they’re a team, his team, and damned if he’s not going to be there when they need him.

He’d been listening in when Cortez crashed the Kodiak about half an hour ago, Shepard’s anguished cry giving way to instant relief when Cortez radioed back that only the shuttle was out of commission, not its pilot. Joker had listened in as Shepard took control of the AA guns, allowing the rest of the Hammer team to land, including the remainder of the Normandy ground team. And he’d been listening in while Shepard split the team, taking Alenko and Vakarian to rendezvous with Anderson at the beam and ordering the rest to act as diversions for the Reaper forces.

All vital information. And all carefully tracked, on separate glowing haptic panels in the cockpit—one showing the hardsuit feeds and relative positions for Shepard’s team, a different one for the rest of the crew—because Joker is very good at his job.

Not to mention, he’s defending the Crucible by harassing Reaper ships into making mistakes through judicious use of the Normandy’s stealth drive. He is still the Alliance’s premier helmsman, after all, even if it’s also his job to watch out for his team.

Somebody has to, because they keep doing stupid things.

The comm is a cacophony of chatter, shouts and shots and explosions blending together into impenetrable noise. Occasionally one voice will break through, like Cortez shouting, “Tali, now!”, or Vega yelling, “Liara!” Seems like the plan to blow up a portion of the London Underground went sideways immediately, and now his comm feed is less information and more confusion. He disables the passive feed for a moment, turning instead to his secondary source for on-the-ground information.

“EDI, talk to me, what’s happening down there? Did the plan work?” Joker asks, venting the ship’s heat sinks directly in front of a Reaper destroyer as he does.

“One moment, Jeff, I am currently unable to gather useful data,” EDI responds—over the in-ship comm, rather than through her mobile platform’s tightbeam transmitter. One of the perks of having a girlfriend whose consciousness can be in two places at once, managing the functions of their ship while controlling her mech on the ground, is that she can help him navigate the Reaper fleet and give him useful on-the-ground info. Best of both—

Wait. What?

“EDI, what’s going on? Why can’t you gather data?” Joker keeps the note of panic out of his voice. She’s fine, she’s here, she’s talking to me. She’s fine. The destroyer fires its beam weapon at the cloud of heated particles Joker just dumped, missing the Normandy and instead hitting one of the larger Reaper dreadnoughts. Joker barely clocks the success.

“My mobile platform is currently buried under an unknown quantity of rubble.”

“What?” There’s the note of panic.

“I cannot risk moving at this time, as I am bracing the rubble from crushing Dr. T’Soni, therefore I am unable to—“

“Shit!” Joker pulls the ship into a tight turn, corkscrewing towards the planet below. He re-enables the passive comm feed just in time to hear Vega shout, “Lift on three! One, two…three!”

“Jeff, the Normandy is ill-equipped to assist my platform at this time. There is no need to divert from the ship’s primary mission.” EDI’s voice is inhumanly calm, like she’s not trapped under a mountain of fucking rubble right now.

Deep breath. She’s not human. She’s not trapped. She’s right here.

“Fuck that, it’s time to get you out of there. I’m betting someone’s about to call for an extraction anyway, and—“ Joker quickly checks the primary team’s location “—Shepard’s almost at the beam.”

Like clockwork, Vega chooses this moment to yell into the comm, “Yo, Joker! I can’t raise any of the other teams, but we need an extraction! Get us a shuttle, a transport, anything!”

“Right on time, Lieutenant,” Joker mutters. He feels a pulse flutter along his back through the haptic nodes in his chair—EDI’s silent way of expressing both frustration and amusement. He toggles the comm to Vega. “We’re already on the way. ETA, two minutes.”

“Jeff, given the debris in the air and the number of Harvesters sighted in the immediate area, it is inadvisable to bring the Normandy in.”

“Well, it’s not up to you because I’m pulling rank,” Joker responds, pushing the drive faster. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d faced impossible odds.

He can do this.

——

Alliance Recruitment Office, Arcturus Station 13 years before Hackett’s order

The first lesson that Jeff Moreau learns in the Alliance Navy is that there’s no way he belongs there.

The sympathetic face on the recruiter sitting across the desk from him says as much, as do the spread of her hands and the way her eyes keep flicking to the crutches leaning on the back of his chair. Also, her words.

“I appreciate your interest in the Alliance Navy, Mr. Moreau, but I just don’t think you meet the physical fitness requirements for enlisting,” Sergeant Draven says with a sickly sweet smile.

It’s annoying, but nothing he isn’t used to. Eighteen years of awkward glances and carefully worded sentences have prepared him for this moment.

“Well, shows how good you are at thinking, then.”

Just because he’s prepared for it doesn’t mean he’s good at responding to it.

“Look, Mr. Moreau—“

“No, you look, Sergeant,” he says, exasperation heavy in his voice. “I get that I’m not exactly your normal recruit, but I don’t want to run around on some random planet with a shotgun and a hardsuit. I’m not here to be a marine. I’m here to be a pilot. Surely I don’t need to, what, bench press a krogan and outrun a turian to fly a ship, right?”

“It’s not that simple.“

“Why not?” He wills his voice to lose the note of pleading. “I guarantee you I’m one of the best pilots out there. Just let me take the entrance exam, I can prove it to you. I’ve been flying since I was 14, mostly transport shuttles between the station and some of the smaller colonies. But one time I actually got to co-pilot a frigate while—“

The recruiter holds her hand up, and he stops talking. It’s not the hand that does it, though. It’s the pity in her eyes.

Jeff hates pity.

“Your interest in the Alliance Navy is commendable, Mr. Moreau, and we appreciate you wanting to serve humanity and the galaxy in this way.”

Jeff blows out a breath, recognizing the canned response for what it is. “But you don’t think I can do it.”

She gives him another smile. “Tell you what. Let me talk it over with my commanding officer. If he thinks there’s a way to accommodate your…unique circumstances, I’ll let you know. Alright?”

Jeff’s shoulders sag slightly. He knows a rejection when he hears one. He’s certainly heard enough over the years. So he gives her his best we both know you’re fucking me over but I’m being the bigger person smile and says, “Alright.”

Read the rest on Ao3.

#mass effect #jeff 'joker' moreau #my writing #seriously I just started writing the exam part and then woke up a few hours later with this #also I really like Vas and Belle and Trawley and even if they're not real they're super fun to write #also also I had 90% of this written six weeks ago and it took me until yesterday to figure out the ending soooo #gotta love the writing process sometimes

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flameanime6 · 2 years

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The Ultimate Guide To What is the right light level for landscape lighting?

How Many Lumens Do I Need to have for Outdoor Lighting? When chatting regarding how lots of lumens you can obtain from a vendor, I favor to refer to how a lot is due within the hr. If you've bought sufficient, you'll observe that most vendors are not asking for for outdoor lighting so I find myself encouraging purchasing something much less expensive, such as a $9.10 lumens package. In the final 4 full weeks, I've viewed additional seller's charge even more than $20.00. In the past, illumination was gauged in watts, which directly evaluates the amount of power electrical power a lightweight light bulb consumes. Since the illumination is controlled via power cost, a lightweight light bulb is capable to release light by taking in just a section of the lightweight signal. The real stream flowing by means of the light bulb can easilynot be changed a lot, and the productivity of the present varies considerably, therefore increasing its life expectancy. However, an over-sized light light bulb could only create 50 per-cent performance due to bad charge. Consequently, people utilized to anticipate lightweight intensity to be a function of how a lot energy a light required—higher watts imply brighter lighting as properly as a higher electricity bill. But it isn't regularly feasible to recognize whether those were accurate. Researchers often talk to how much energy a provided tissue requirements to provide at various electrical power to power a solitary illumination bulb. Design to establish the strength of these evaluations counts on measuring power required to produce lighting. Today nonetheless, a lumen is a popular size for illumination. The lumen of the lighting is identified by the temp of the atmosphere, which the warmth material of a lamp produces in the course of its lifetime. The distinction in the temperature of the three elements can easily be determined as a percentage of the total volume of the setting. It adheres to that a common light light bulb in a room would send out 12 litres of lighting, a handful of thousand of which would go into the ceiling of your area. A lumen is a device that defines the strength of light . Light has both ultraviolet illumination and infrared lighting. UV is the toughest, and infrared is the weakest. In purchase for lumens to journey with the body, they have to come from some source, such as an electron or light source. Hence if the laser is not straight focused on an electron that is on the edge of the range, then its photons would not travel in to a laser device beam that is within it. This system can be straight related to the volume of lightweight energy that is being released coming from a particular light source. It is additionally strongly beneficial for building sun panels that are not shielded coming from photovoltaic radiation and that are not straight creating warm. This system produces the observing output: Solar Panel Light Energy Result + - - + - + - The next area shows how you may modify the value on a device by editing its market values. You can find the specifications for how many lumens a certain bulb emits coming from its packing. A lot of LEDs produce between 0.03 and 1.05 lumens by nonpayment. This is the small worth for a specific lumens of lumens. When a bulb is transformed on, there is merely the suggested worth of the genuine lumens, not for the light bulb's electricity intake or outcome. Since its result is limited in a given direction, it only has an effect on the magnitude of the light it radiates on. In quick, the difference between watts and lumens is as follows: power level assesses the quantity of electrical electrical power a lightweight light bulb eats; lumens assess the actual illumination, regardless of how much energy is needed. The distinction in watts and lumens is in watts/meter, or watts/moment, which is commonly referred to as dimension of electrical energy usage. That's the difference that you're telling your body. When opting for outside lighting, lumens are a much more important size than watts. Lightweight pollution are going to usually be mirrored back by means of an area because of obvious lighting and additionally may help make it past a slim aperture. A a lot more reliable method to check it is to clear away the colour spectrum and look at the whole entire field. As viewed in this representation, low light beam light takes a trip at much less than 1 kV, suggesting that it may merely be had an effect on through extremely reduced comparison.

Lumen Requirements for Outdoor Lights We've created a table that presents specific lumen amount requirements for particular applications. A singular lamp at all amounts of zoom may fulfill all requirements for all lights that utilize outdoor illumination. Some of our high lumen lamps make use of higher-lumen-intensity Top displays which are also the very most trustworthy. The table also presents your common degree requirements for usage at property and at work. Find out more regarding lumen specs for exterior lamp holders. This integrates research and individual responses. It shows how the application may be carried out to create it extra efficient for your workflows, through lowering your opportunity out of your schedule. What's next for Google's Glass? The provider is presently working on implementing more advanced synthetic intellect (AI) in its cloud-based products, with a focus on cloud structure, as properly as brand-new IoT jobs. With brilliant glasses, you can easily see and communicate along with your timepiece without being interrupted. If you're intending on cultivating a lighting venture, really feel free to reference it: Types of Lighting Lumens Requirement Lumens have substituted watts to come to be the brand new lightweight dimension because a bulb along with higher power level doesn’t mean it are going to create a brighter illumination. For more info on light bulbs that create a much more correct glow, observe the Lighting Luminance FAQ on Lighting Lumens. There are various lumens modes that can easily be utilized, but merely two of these methods are suitable and for various apps.

#How many outdoor lights do i need #HOW MANY LUMENS DO I NEED FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING?#How many lumens for outdoor security light

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lipsyncforyourlife · 2 years

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Welcome To The RuPaul's Drag Race Official Newsletter (Issue #1)

The RuPaul's Drag Race Official Newsletter

Happy 2022 to all and a big, warm welcome to the brand-new RuPaul’s Drag Race newsletter, a rundown of the latest from the world’s fiercest drag competition, delivered directly to your inboxes every week. My name’s Cameron Scheetz, and it’s my absolute pleasure to be your guide through the 14th season of RPDR, original recipe! Every Monday, we’ll look back at the latest episodes of Drag Race and Untucked, highlight the gag-worthy moments the fans have been talking about all weekend, and ponder what’s in store for the weeks ahead. As the season goes on, we’ve got more fun and surprises planned, so stay tuned!

Let’s take this newsletter for a spin, shall we?

First Impressions: The Queens Of 14

It’s so nice to kick off the year with a fresh batch of queens to stan, and the first half of this season’s split premiere—titled “Big Opening #1"—was perfectly structured to give seven of these gorgeous, gorgeous girls the space to prove why they’re worthy of our adoration. Between their highly anticipated Werk Room entrances, a mini challenge designed to show us how they think on their feet (or, off of them, rather), an anything-goes talent show, and a Signature Showstopping Drag runway, we’re given a full body-ody-odied look at who’s vying for the crown this time around. Already these queens are showing us the exciting elasticity of drag as an art form, each bringing something very different to the competition, promising a dynamic season ahead.

As the Judge’s Panel (featuring a welcome return from Lizzo, looking positively beyond in Thunderdome regalia) plainly stated, this first week was all about first impressions, and—even moreso than performances or looks—their critiques were focused on how clear and consistent each queen’s brand was across the episode. With that in mind, let’s recap by breaking down how the newest RuGirls left their mark on the competition this week…

Alyssa Hunter

“I just want to show that I can be a pageant queen, but at the same time, I can be a fierce queen.”

Our first entrance of the season, this Puerto Rican pageant beauty filled the empty Werk Room with an infectious spirit, serving Kraven The Huntress realness. It’s one of three polished but vastly different looks she delivers this episode, hoping to showcase herself as a “very versatile” queen. But, as Kornbread warned her, it’s the queens who boast they can do it all that often come up short! In the talent show, her rocker chick lip sync might not have had the judges on their feet, but her amber-hued My Fair Lady runway deserves a standing ovation. Arguments could be made that it was the look of the week, and it may have been what saved her from the being in the Bottom Two.

Bosco

“I’m very competitive, and I’m saving room in my carry-on to bring the crown back with me to Seattle.”

The “Demon Queen Of Seattle” struts into Drag Race with a wicked sense of style and humor, which immediately marks her as one to watch. You can sense that coming up in her eclectic hometown drag scene has both helped Bosco refine her personal aesthetic and prepared her for a little friendly competition. It’s all in the details for this devil, a savvy queen who knows exactly when the spotlight’s on her, especially in the petal-plucking burlesque number which strikes the perfect combination of sexy and stupid (in Bosco’s words). Not bad for a piece of peeled string cheese, not bad at all.

Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté

“I am thrilled and I am very excited. There’s a few butterflies in my stomach—no tea, no Asia O’Hara”

Winner, winner, chicken necklace! Kornbread had one hell of a premiere, snatching the first win of the season thanks in large part to her highly entertaining original song in the talent show (even if Michelle Visage couldn’t follow along), which showcased some eyeball choreography that could rival Mayhem Miller’s. In addition to her default frontrunner status, Ms. The Snack also makes an early claim at “Narrator Of The Season,” peppering the entire episode with hysterical soundbites, like her refusal to let Willow Pill off the hook for her beach-y footwear. But there’s a big heart behind all of that talk, and it’s such treat to watch Kornbread’s season 14 sisters fall for her just as quickly as the audience at home has.

Willow Pill

“Where am I???”

Not since the time Yvie Oddly drove a remote control car into the Werk Room has an entrance perplexed the other queens as much as Willow Pill’s (it’s no coincidence she happens to be Yvie’s drag sister!). But that Paris Hilton-esque get-up was all part of the master plan for this sweet little “angle,” who seemed to relish every opportunity this episode to subvert expectations. During the one-on-one chat with Ru, Willow shared a bit about living with chronic illness and the darkness that fuels her cutesy yet off-kilter style of drag. By the time she was throwing toast in the tub as part of her riotous Enya-backed talent show performance, it was clear that this queen came ready to surprise us all.

Kerri Colby

“I definitely feel eyes on me. They seem to be eating up that Kerri fantasy. I mean, stare some more if you want!”

The minute Kerri Colby walked on set in a striking ode to the Trans Pride flag, she had her fellow queens’ jaws on the floor. She’s a stunner, no doubt, and, hailing from the legendary House Of Colby, comes into Drag Race with quite the reputation. Throughout the episode, Kerri proved she’s got the talent to back it up, even snagging the first mini challenge win of the season while twirling on The Spinning Grand Finale Lip Sync Smackdown For The Crown Wheel. That, coupled with her professional-grade jumprope routine set to “Anaconda” (Barbz take note!), prove she’s a well-rounded competitor with a serious shot at the crown.

June Jambalaya

“I can’t have a name like Jambalaya and come out there giving the people white rice. That just ain’t gonna happen.”

As revealed in a recent Instagram caption, June entered the Werk Room in a Pucci jumpsuit just in case—after season 13’s premiere episode twist, you never know when you’re going to be asked to perform! You have to respect a queen who comes prepared and, baby, June Jambalaya was ready! This brainy beauty was trained in the performing arts, and there’s a focused ferocity in how she presents her drag. That studied approach really came across in her African dance number for the talent show—headband be damned—and then again in the Lip Sync to “Water Me,” in which she expertly channeled the song’s raw emotions. With the dance moves to back it up, do we have a future Lip Sync Assassin on our hands?

Orion Story

“I really just want to give the judges a full sexy, weird, cartoon fantasy.”

As the competition’s first-ever Michigan queen, Orion Story saw a chance to carve out her own niche in the premiere, and she deserves major credit for letting her freak flag fly, from that whistle-tone entrance to “The Horndog Corndog.” Most impressive was her fantastical final runway, something of a Mushroom-Martian Mash-Up (with heavy inspiration from Mars Attacks!, as well as Total Recall) channelled through her signature DIY throwback style. Unfortunately, her comedy/aerobics routine left the judges wanting more—and made Lizzo a bit uncomfortable—so she wound up in the Bottom Two. Though Orion pulled out some impressive moves in the Lip Sync, she was ultimately asked to sashay away. But is Orion’s story really over just as it was getting started?

Burning Questions

Oh, Y’all Wanted A Twist, Eh?

Speaking of Orion’s early departure: Certainly the episode’s biggest shock came when Ru announced to the queens that one of them would be going home before the end of the week. Not since season 11 has someone been asked to sashay away in the premiere (for American, regular competition seasons, at least), and we’ve yet to see that happen with a split premiere. Is this all another ruse from Ru? Could some iteration of the Pork Chop Loading Dock be back in operation? Did we really just watch Orion Story pack her bags and ride off into the sunset in the production van???

I promise I’m not keeping any secrets here—I’m just a humble newsletter writer, after all. What I do know is that this is season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, so we should expect the unexpected! And keep in mind: We’ve yet to hear mention of those one-of-a-kind candy bars Ru touted in the Queen RuVeal video, so, surely, twists and turns await us!

Aunties Anonymous

While we’re not yet seeing any official clique-making along the lines of the formidable Rolaskatox, it’s worth noting that three of our first seven queens hail from Los Angeles. Kornbread and June have some friendly history, as do Kornbread and Kerri Colby, with the latter duo hilariously dubbing themselves Aunties Anonymous. The Aunties seem to be pretty close—a “spirit ho” connection forged, in part, because of their pasts in the church scene. It’s a delight to watch them kiki with one another, and that positive energy appears to have helped this entire group fall into an easy chemistry. Will these early friendships take them far?

Hit'Em With Your Catwalk

Before the Charisma, Nerve & Talent Show, Ru sets the tempo with a surprise performance of her thumping single, “Catwalk"—from her brand new album, Mamaru—which also soundtracks the Signature Showstopping Drag runway this episode. Does this mean more Mamaru tracks are going to pop up throughout the season? And, if so, does that mean we’ll get a RuMix to the TikTok meme’d ”Blame It On The Edit?“ I sure hope so!

Next Week: More Queens!

But wait, there’s more! Next episode we’ll receive proper introductions to the remaining seven queens of season 14: Angeria Paris VanMicheals, Daya Betty, DeJa Skye, Jasmine Kennedie, Jorgeous, Lady Camden, and Maddy Morphosis. Who will rock the talent show? Who will stun us on the runway? And which queen’s name will Ru intentionally mispronounce for the entire episode (a la Willow Pill)? Stay tuned to find out!

The Other Half Of The Story

You know the drill: If you’re not watching, Untucked, well, you’re missing out, babe! Here’s a designated space to shout out a few of the most surprising/harrowing/hilarious/emotional/notable moments from Untucked each week:

Listen closely to the opening soundbite montage and you’ll now hear the dulcet tones of Kandy “The Producer” Muse shouting, “If you don’t have star quality, get the f*ck out of here!” I had a hunch that a clip from Kandy’s unforgettable verbal smackdown with Tamisha Iman would make it into the mix, and I’m delighted it’s here. It was simply an iconic moment, and now it’s cemented its place in Untucked her-story.

A handful of the queens confess to judging Willow Pill a little too harshly for her unique style. The whole group gets pretty candid here, and it’s sweet to hear them share how, over the course of one episode, she’s already expanded their ideas of what drag can be. It’s clear this validation from her new sisters is huge for Willow, and should be a boost for her moving forward in the competition.

Bosco is deservedly riding high after her positive feedback—especially in the shadow of Seattle legends like Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme. When she later reminds Kornbread she didn’t receive any critiques from the judges, the moment is underscored by Drag Race’s infamous “shade” sound effect. It all breezes by quickly, but could this be a hint about some drama to come?

June gets vulnerable when she shares why she opted to wear tights beneath her runway look (the very tights that Michelle called out in critiques): She wants to be judged for her barrel turns, not her thighs. Kerri responds, “I love your thighs, bitch!” Amen. It’s another sweet moment where we get to see how these queens are already lifting one another up in the competition.

Orion admits her talent show routine came together pretty last minute. Between a move, her cat’s health issues, and packing for the season, she knows she didn’t manage her time properly to prepare for the challenge. The Inner Saboteur strikes again! (We hope your cat’s doing okay, Orion!)

Gagatrondra! It's The Tweets Of The Week

We’ll wrap up every newsletter with a rundown of some of our favorite reaction tweets of the week, so use #DragRace and you may find yourself here!

Joey Nolfi

@joeynolfi

You celebrate the birth of Christ, I celebrate June Jambalaya birthing Symone #DragRace https://t.co/vGG9kqQ9it

8:23 PM - 7 Jan 2022

JushForFans

@jush_for_fun

Me watching Willow Pill’s talent performance #DragRace https://t.co/uBAXf6wd8H

9:06 PM - 7 Jan 2022

✨

@realitytvbb

On my way to buy a jump rope because Kerri Colby used a jump rope #DragRace https://t.co/fYleNYu0Md

9:07 PM - 7 Jan 2022

Hoe Cotoure

@morningmoon430

Imagine having to talk about something traumatic while looking like this #DragRace https://t.co/jo5vby7cGT

8:45 PM - 7 Jan 2022

Jaida Essence “Deck the HALLs”

@jaidaehall

I am on the mutha-f*cking, oops, Mothertucking floor! 😍🥰🥵 https://t.co/okfdiE4lR4

8:47 PM - 7 Jan 2022

Want More?

For more expert Drag Race analysis, check out the latest episode of the official recap show The Pit Stop with your brand new host: Monét X Change! This week the radiant queen’s joined by her All Stars 4 “twinner,” Trinity The Tuck, so don’t miss out.

The Pit Stop S14 E01 | Monét X Change & Trinity The Tuck Roll The Dice | RuPaul’s Drag Race

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#Newsletter #Big Opening 1

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