#wasted potential in GENERAL is! AGGRAVATING!!

[jrueships]

is that tags post about zach wilson or joe burrow I can't tell 😭

any! and all of them !

#disturbed man staring is how i picture my moots after i randomly start complaining abt smthing stupid #but YES anon! YES! #my exact point!! #u CANT tell!! #bcs it's a Bad generalization that strips people!! of being! the people they are! #it becomes less abt the nuances of ppl and more 'which fav of mine can i slot into the angel side #and which shithead can i input as the villain' #i dont WANT to focus on certain repeated attributes so much #but theyve been basically striped of any other identifying personal information BESIDES whatever can fit #the perceived notions of the PLACEMENTS! #oh of COURSE the pallid little posterboy can be the angel. the Good guy. media agrees! the World agrees! it makes SENSE #and the dark side gets. well. it's in the name. we dont have to do much thinking for that huh #a white person being confident is goofy. a poc? is telling of experience they can force onto the shy and the small #bcs the physical information matters more than the personal #apparently #IT'S SO!! ARGH! LIKE! #EVERYONE gets HURT! #IM NOT J U S T MAD ABT O N E WASTED POTENTIAL #wasted potential in GENERAL is! AGGRAVATING!! #i feel like shit trying to explain how i feel like shit sometimes #argh agrh argh whatever

[universitypenguin]

Chapter XIV

Summary: Lloyd sets his sights on orchestrating Holbrook’s downfall and uses skills from his former life to serve up his own brand of justice. Meanwhile, Princess interviews a witness who casts doubt on key information in the case. 

Masterlist

Word Count: 7,352

Warnings: Explicit discussion of murder and serial abductions. Mention of extortion, police corruption, drugs, and kidnapping. Spy/intelligence agency themes, general violence depiction of criminal behavior. Minor foul language. Only appropriate for 18+ readers. No minors. 

Chapter XIV

Lloyd scowled at the muddy road as he navigated around the section that had been washed out by last night’s thunderstorm. The damage to the ranch’s main road aggravated his simmering frustration. He would need to order a truckload of gravel first thing on Monday. 

He’d left the house at dawn and spent the day running around like a chicken with its head cut off, searching for Elliot. As light faded into the western sky, he had nothing to show for the effort. Every potential hiding spot he’d searched turned up empty. He’d spent the morning checking abandoned hunting cabins and old flop houses he remembered druggies frequenting. After lunch he expanded his search radius to the forest service cabins up in the Sawtooth mountains, then hunting blinds, and remote campgrounds. 

In the evening, he’d driven out to Redfish Lake, apprehension growing with each mile, and searched the boat shed. It was empty. The only residents he’d found were of the eight legged variety. After closing up the shed, he’d surveyed the lake’s perimeter, visiting the remote places with heavy foliage that could disguise the activity associated with disposing of a body. None of them appeared disturbed. Overall, the day had been a waste. 

The weight of failure settled over him as his eyes lit on an unfamiliar sight ahead. 

A strange pickup truck was parked in front of the ranch house. Lloyd’s gut tightened. He jerked the wheel and pulled off into the cover of a grove of trees. Holbrook wouldn’t drive the beat up ‘97 Ford parked in the yard if his life depended on it, but it would be just like him to send someone else to do his dirty work. Concealing his vehicle in the trees, Lloyd reached behind the seat for the PTR-91 rifle he’d stashed there and slung it over his shoulder. He secured it to his back and checked his ankle holster for Joe’s Sig Sauer. In the shoulder holster he wore a Glock17 - his weapon of choice in his previous life. 

The weight rested comfortably in his palm as he snuck through the trees and across the lawn. He kept his finger wrapped around the trigger guard, and the weapon hidden behind his thigh, as he climbed the steps to the porch. Every creak of the wood under his boots felt magnified as he approached the door. He scanned the shadows along the edge of the porch, searching for signs of movement. The front door was unlocked, and the knob turned easily. 

The scent of fresh coffee surprised him. Lloyd stepped inside, gun raised and took measured steps as he swept the living room. His guest hadn’t turned the lights on. He glanced around, seeking signs of the intruder, and spun to the kitchen. The brightness from the picture window stung his eyes, blurring his vision for a moment. When they refocused, his heart skipped a beat. 

Elliot Hansen sat at the kitchen table. He was slouched over a mug of coffee, which if the dark rings under his eyes were anything to go by, he desperately needed. 

“Lloyd. I’ve been waiting for you.” 

The tension drained away. He lowered the gun and studied his cousin for a moment before turning back to shut the front door. Lloyd laid the Glock on the table and sat down across from Elliot. A dozen questions filled his mind, but he hesitated to ask them. Elliot didn’t fill the silence. He just took a long drink from his coffee, looking ready to fall asleep at any moment. 

“Elliot?” Lloyd found his voice unexpectedly soft as relief shifted to concern. “What happened? Why did you come here?” 

“I need your help.” 

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

You picked your way through the crowd of shoppers, scanning ahead. The entrance to Zach’s office was between a hand-rolled ice cream shop and a Kate Spade store. If you weren’t paying attention, the discreetly placed entry was easy to miss. It was painted the same color as the wall and served as access to the outlet mall’s second floor, which had been converted to office space during the Great Recession. You found the door and unlocked it with the code he’d sent. 

The curving marble stairs led to a wide corridor brightened by tasteful chandeliers and intermittent skylights that invited in the natural light. In sharp contrast to the busy mall, this level was quiet. At the end of the hall you reached his office, pressed the button, and waited for the chime that announced the door had been unlocked. 

Zach was in his office with his feet propped up on his desk. The soles of his moc-toe Carhartt boots were so worn that you could hardly make out the original tread pattern. The deep worry lines in his forehead and the dark circles under his eyes immediately caught your attention. Before you could ask, his expression shifted into a smirk. 

“Morning, Princess. What brings you in so early on this lovely Saturday?” 

“Ha ha. You called me.” 

“And was shocked when you picked up the phone. I was going to leave a voicemail.” 

“I got up early to meal prep, then remembered Lloyd’s fridge is fully stocked.”

Zach made a face. “Be careful in there, he eats weird stuff.” 

“I can’t take that warning seriously from a man who ate fried rattlesnake and liked it.” 

“A man has to draw the line somewhere and I draw mine at blood pudding.” 

“Do I want to know?”

“If it looks like sausage and it’s in his fridge, don’t touch it.” 

“I’ll take your word for it. Now, why am I here?”

“With Lloyd in Idaho, we don’t have a Mandarin translator, so I called in a favor from an ex-teammate. Roth has cleared him to work on the case.” 

“What are we doing that requires a translator?” 

“An interview. I got in touch with the archivist in Julia’s home town. He asked to meet after work, so you have an hour to prepare.” 

You took the overflowing file he extended. 

“When did you put all this together?”

“Yesterday and last night.” 

“Have you slept?”

“No, which is why you’re doing the interview. I’m heading home to crash once your translator gets here. He’s apparently running late.”

“It’s Saturday, no one’s late on Saturday,” you said. 

“I like the way you think.” 

A deep voice behind you made you jump. You dropped the file and whirled, catching your heel on the threshold, and falling with an undignified squeak. A pair of strong arms stopped you from hitting the ground and pulled you upright. Gasping, you braced a hand on your rescuer’s shoulder and turned ninety degrees to look at him. He had dark brown hair and a short, trim beard that emphasized his high cheekbones. His eyes, an unusual blend of blue and green, were crinkled with amusement. A full, expressive mouth was drawn into a crooked half smile at your expense. 

“Sorry, darlin’, I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

The newcomers’ accent was crisper than Zach’s drawl, but not as familiar. 

You noticed he dropped the ‘r’ in darling, turning it into ‘dah-ling.’ Immediately, your mind went to New England, but the way he rolled his vowels was distinctly Southern. The vestiges of a southern accent, perhaps? 

“I’m fine. I didn’t realize you were behind me.”

“How’d you get in?” Zach asked, his voice edged with annoyance. 

“I slipped in behind her.” 

You raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“To see if I could.” 

He flashed a Cheshire Cat grin, full of mischief. Your disapproval melted at his boyish enjoyment. Wasn’t it better to find a weakness now, than when it really counted?

“I’m having Jake update the alarm system first thing when he’s back. Y/N, this is Marco Lattimer. He and I served together on the teams. Besides being a first class troublemaker, he’s fluent in five languages.”

Marco smirked. “Fluent in five, but I speak seven.” 

“Wow. That’s… impressive.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Marco will be your translator. I’ve already briefed him on the case.” 

Zach turned to Marco, eyes sharpening. “Lattimer, don’t even think about flirting with my colleague.”

“What if she doesn’t mind?” Marco said, winking at you. 

“She’s Lloyd’s research assistant and you’ll have to deal with him regarding the ‘what if’ part, but I’d advise against finding out. Princess, you’ve still got that taser I gave you? Marco’s harmless, but if he gets on your nerves, you have my permission to zap him.” 

You grinned at Marco’s disgruntled expression. 

“I’m sure we’ll get along fabulously,” you said. “Go home Zach, I can handle this.” 

Ten minutes later you were in the conference room with Marco, waiting for the Zoom call to start. 

“So, how’d you end up working with Lloyd?” Marco asked. 

“I interned at his law firm. He stole me from the paralegal department for my research skills.” 

“Sorry to hear that. It must be miserable to be around him all the time. I swear, he’s the reason lawyers get a bad rap. He could teach classes on how to be insufferable.” 

This was a sentiment you’d heard many times before. 

“Lloyd and I get on fine.” 

“Do you have the patience of a saint, an addiction to benzos, or just do a lot of meditation?” 

“It depends on the day. Most of the time meditation works, but a stash of benzos is always a good back up plan.” 

By the time the computer lit up with the incoming call, you and Marco were on friendly terms. He was charming, funny, and definitely flirting with you. The flirting didn’t concern you because you sensed his pursuit was less about genuine interest and more about target practice. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and folded his arms in a way that showcased his biceps. You would’ve thought it was deliberate but his posture was too nonchalant to be premeditated. 

You relied on Marco to make sure Mr. Liu was comfortable and let him engage Liu in small talk for a few minutes. Working with a translator always provided a great excuse to sit back and observe your subject’s mannerisms before starting the interview. Mr. Liu appeared to be in his sixties, with horn-rimmed glasses and neatly combed hair. He wore casual office attire and judging by the fit of his light blue button down, he starched his shirts. He fit the role of village archivist like he’d been sent straight from central casting. After he was settled, you turned the discussion toward pressing matters. 

“Did you have any personal connection to Julia or her family?”

Mr. Liu spoke and Marco translated. 

“Yes, I knew her family. Her parents were lovely people. Unfortunately, they passed away some years ago.” 

“I'm sorry to hear that. Are you familiar with the circumstances of Julia's death?” 

“Yes, we were all horrified by the tragedy. It was a shocking incident that saddened the entire community. The pain it caused her family was immeasurable.” 

“The investigation into Julia's death has been reopened based on fresh evidence. DNA tests have revealed a connection between her and another woman who was murdered in a similar manner. They’re believed to be full siblings. Does Julia have an older sister?” 

Mr. Lui’s brow furrowed, and he paused for a long moment. 

“That's impossible. Julia's parents were not together for long before she was born. Her father had left the island to serve in the army and spent three years stationed in Vietnam prior to her birth. There is no chance of an older sibling.” 

His certainty piqued your attention. 

“So, her father was away during that time. Do you have any records that could shed light on Julia's family or explain the existence of an older sibling?”

The archivist’s voice was firm as he responded. Even without Marco’s translation you would’ve understood the statement as a denial. 

“I assure you, there was no other child. Julia's parents were committed to each other and their daughter. The entire village would have known if there was another pregnancy or a sibling. It's simply not possible.” 

You leaned closer, eager to see his reaction to your next words. 

“Mr. Liu, we have evidence suggesting otherwise. We need to uncover the truth about Julia's past, no matter how unsettling it might be. Can you think of any reason they kept this information hidden?”

His head lowered, shoulders rising in symmetry as he frowned. 

Liu stumbled over his words as he answered. Translating like you’d asked him to, Marco repeated his statement verbatim. 

“I… I can't imagine why or… how such information would have been concealed. Our village is tight-knit, and secrets are rare. Not rare to be kept, but rare not to be noticed and revealed. If there's something hidden, it must have been for a grave reason and Julia’s parents weren’t that sort of people.” 

“Thank you for speaking with us, Mr. Liu. We appreciate your time. If anything further comes to mind, please contact us, or the Virginia State Police, directly.” 

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

Lloyd sat down across from Elliot. He didn’t totally disarm himself but rested the rifle on his thighs under the table. 

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Joe had a stash of drugs. A big one, according to Holbrook. He thinks I know where it is.” 

“Why?”

Elliot rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’ve been taking care of the ranch. Joe paid me for it. He could have hired a cowboy, but you know Joe. He didn’t trust people he didn’t know. The work brought me up here at least a couple times each week for the past three years. What conclusion do you think Holbrook drew from that pattern?” 

“And? Was he right?” 

“No! Damn it, Lloyd! It took me years to get clean, I wasn’t moving his drugs!” 

Lloyd knew, given Elliot’s history, Joe wouldn’t have trusted him around the product. All the same, he had to ask, because one good look at his cousin tipped off Lloyd’s intuition that Elliot wasn’t as clean as he claimed to be. 

“I don’t know about a stash of drugs. Joe never told me anything about his business and I didn’t ask. We barely talked, except for emails and text messages about the ranch. He always paid me on time and I appreciated the side income. That was it. But the Sheriff won’t let this thing go.”

Twenty kilos of coke, thirty of heroin, either would be worth more than a million on the street and small enough to hide in a carry-on case. 

Lloyd sighed. “Holbrook has to go.” 

“He’s untouchable.”

“If I learned anything in the past twenty years, it’s that no one is untouchable.” 

“This isn’t London, or Berlin, or some fancy place you’ve been. It’s southeastern Idaho and Holbrook is the King.” 

Lloyd grunted. “To be clear, you’re sure this stash actually exists? It wasn’t sold off years ago?” 

“I can’t be sure, but Joe always preferred to have a backup plan.” 

That rang true. A stash of drugs would’ve served as insurance against stock market fluctuations, housing crises, or whatever rattled the economy next year. 

“Alright. Tell me about Holbrook. What’s his weak point?” 

Elliot stared. “You’re serious?”

“Deadly. Who has a grudge against him? Are there any deputies on his payroll?”

“Aside from me, I don’t know of any grudges, but his department has a suspiciously high turnover rate.” 

“Ex-associates? A disgruntled secretary? Jilted lover?” 

“Uh… would a former drug dealer count?” Elliot asked.

“Does this drug dealer have a name?” 

“Carl Shepherd. The Sheriff gave him carte blanche to deal locally, then the feds came sniffing around. Holbrook cut him loose and they’re not on good terms, but Shepherd says he has Holbrook in his pocket.” 

If the dealer had two brain cells to rub together, he’d have exhorted Holbrook for protection. Lloyd begrudgingly approved of the plan. 

“But he’s too scared of the Sheriff to flip on him.” 

“Why bite the hand that feeds you?” Lloyd murmured. 

His mind moved quickly, considering the various options available. Elliot grimaced. 

“I’m never going to get out of this mess.” 

“How do you feel about pulling a kidnapping? Say, tonight?”

“Uh… given how that worked out for you last time… lukewarm.”

“Oh, come on. I’ve turned over a new leaf. Carl Shepherd doesn’t have any ex-spooks overly invested in his well-being, though, right?”

“Not that I know of,” Elliot said.

“Great, then let’s get this show on the road.” 

After some persuasion, Elliot agreed to the plan. He was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs as he drove them into town in his rattle trap pickup. In contrast, Lloyd was bubbling with excitement, a feeling that intensified as they navigated the narrow lanes of the Oxiana Trailer Park. It was akin to the anticipation before a rollercoaster dropped into free fall - an exhilaration he’d missed from his old life but only realized now. Elliot parked in a shadowy spot about a hundred yards from Shepherd’s house. 

He pointed to a gray trailer with peeling paint. “That’s his place. He drives a ‘68 Camaro.” 

“Nice car.” 

“Uh-huh. What’s your plan, again? You weren’t exactly clear about the how.” 

“We’ll see how it plays out. Kidnappings never quite go according to plan.” 

“You’d know.” 

Lloyd snorted. “Shut up. I’ve seen your rap sheet, you’ve got no room to talk.” 

“I was high for that stuff.”

“Yeah? Same.”

Elliot turned, resting an elbow on the steering wheel as he studied Lloyd. “Are you kidding? You were the quarterback, the golden boy. You never touched that shit.” 

“I took Adderall to cope with test anxiety and smoked weed.”

“That’s your drug of choice? Adderall? Dude, that’s pathetic.”

“It started with light stuff. Weed, then Adderall. Senior year I started popping Xanax to cope with anxiety. At first it was just when I was struggling, then it became a daily habit.” 

Elliot considered him. “I knew you were into weed, but not the rest.”

“Things didn’t get serious until I was at Harvard. I got hooked on pain pills after a football injury and when the team doctor wouldn’t give me more Vicodin, I bought Percocet on the street. From there I got into Ketamine, Valium, and Prozac. The market for drugs was thriving on campus, so I bought extras and re-sold it to the partiers. It didn’t take long before I was taking my own product.” 

“Joe would’ve skinned you alive.” 

“Beaten me to death is more likely.”

“What’d you get hooked on the most? Percocet?”

“Cocaine. I had a taste for Ecstasy, too. My main addiction was Coke, with a little Xanax in the mix. When I graduated and had the money for it, I got back on Vicodin.”

“Damn. You know what really shocks me?” Elliot asked.

“What?”

“You went for the cheap stuff. Coke? Back in the day, I could get a bag of Coke for like sixty, seventy bucks. Meth was like six times that much.” 

Lloyd chuckled. “I’d seen what meth and heroin did to a person. Cocaine felt less risky and more… fun. Until I was in prison, I didn’t think I was addicted.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I kept a lot of secrets before. Now I try not to. Also, if you think I don’t get what it’s like to have your past catch up with you, I want you to know that I do.” 

Elliot ducked his head, looking away. 

Lloyd turned back to the road. They sat in silence for the next twenty minutes while the sun dipped behind the horizon. A car pulled around the corner with no headlights on and Lloyd squinted, trying to make out the model. 

“Is that him?”

Elliot straightened up. “Yeah. That’s him.” 

They watched as Carl turned into the driveway and parked, then walked around to the trunk to unload grocery bags.

“What now?” Elliot asked.

“Wait here for thirty seconds, then go up to him. Get his attention. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Elliot nodded and wiped his palms on his jeans. He swallowed hard, Adam’s apple bobbing. Lloyd slid out of the truck and shut the door quietly. Keeping one eye on Carl as he took in the first load of groceries, he snuck through the neighbor’s lawn and around their house. Maneuvering through a hole in the chain-link fence he crossed into Carl’s backyard and used the cover of the peeling gray trailer to mask his approach. He listened to footfalls on wooden steps, then pavement, and gauged the distance. A truck door slammed and a moment later, Elliot’s voice rang out, calling a greeting to the drug dealer.

Lloyd burst from his hiding place and ran, aiming at Carl’s back. Electricity crackled as the taser found its mark. The volts sizzled in the air as Carl convulsed, then dropped to the pavement, unconscious. 

Elliot jerked back, his face leaching of color.

“Holy shit! What voltage is that thing?!” 

Lloyd smirked. “What’s wrong? Can’t handle a little excitement? Help me get him in the trunk.” 

“You don’t mean…”

“Leaving his car here will arouse suspicion. If we take it, the neighbors will assume he’s out of town.” 

“Maybe we should stop adding to our rap sheets while we’re still ahead,” Elliot suggested.

“I usually agree with the principle of only committing one felony at a time, but we’re on the clock here. Grab his feet, would you?”

Elliot groaned, but obliged, taking Carl’s feet while Lloyd guided his upper body into the trunk. He slammed it shut and grinned at his cousin’s pale face.

“There. Felony number six, complete. Although technically, in this state kidnapping isn’t a felony until you’re a hundred feet away from the property on which the abduction occurred. So, to be precise, we’re still in the act of felony number six.” 

“You’re insane.”

Lloyd smirked. “Not according to my doctor. And given the circumstances, I think this was the most appropriate course of action we could’ve taken. Now, go on ahead of me and make sure everything is set up. I can’t speed with a body in the trunk.”

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

You sat next to Marco, looking at the murder board.

Zach had set it up in the corner of the conference room and after the interview you’d migrated over here naturally. Your chairs were adjacent, facing the bulletin board like students in a classroom. Marco had ordered coffee and a late brunch for the both of you while you explained the details of the case. 

“And they found the sister’s corpse right next to the first victim?” Marco said. 

“Yeah. It’s mind-boggling.”

He shook his head. “What’s weirder is that these two are sisters, but the rest of the girls on this board are as different as night and day. Different hair colors, ethnic backgrounds, different kinds of jobs.” 

You turned your attention to the victim’s pictures. They were organized by date of disappearance and below them was a horizontal timeline that stretched from left to right across the width of the board. There was a topographical map of the Fairfax area in the lower right corner, with colored pins making locations. 

“There’s a variety in the women, but what’s mostly consistent is the age range, the manner of disappearance, and their social status.”

Marco leaned back, hooking his left ankle over his right knee. 

“How do you investigate a case with so many missing variables?”

“You’re referring to the other six corpses?”

“The lack of them, specifically.” 

His comment tickled a thread you’d been playing with since Singapore. Rather than answering, you stood up and crossed to the bulletin board. First, you untacked the sketch on the far left of the timeline. It was of the unknown victim - Julia’s supposed sister - and then took down the photo underneath her, representing her daughter. Then from the far right of the timeline, you untacked Julia’s photo. 

You sat down next to Marco and faced the board again.

“What about now? Does that make more sense?” 

His mouth tilted in a half smile. “I’m not the investigator here. How would I know?”

“Technically, Lloyd and Zach are the investigators and I’m their errand girl. You’re a fresh set of eyes. I’ve been trying to figure out how removing the sisters and the little girl changes things.” 

“Do you see a pattern here?” Marco said. 

“Maybe. If Lloyd were here, I’d bounce this off of him, but look…” 

You laid the photos you’d removed on the table and returned to the board, pointing to the photo of the first woman to go missing.

“The first victim, Stacey Moore was twenty-six. She worked at an indie publishing house in D.C. and had just graduated from G.W with her master’s. She disappeared in June of 1999.” 

You pointed to the next photo. 

“Maya Sutton. Twenty-four. Tax associate at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, recently hired off an internship program, master’s degree in accounting from William & Mary. Disappeared in August of 1999.” 

Marco listened as you ran down the list of victims, and reported their ages, jobs, and degrees. He was nodding along by the time you reached the last photo.

“The women were close in age. Twenty-three to twenty-seven, born and raised in the U.S. and focused on their careers. They were successful despite being young, and except for Lucy Lund, they all came from upper middle class backgrounds.”

“They’re all born in eastern Virginia, too,” Marco said.

You checked the notes and sure enough, all the victims had been born along the Virginia coast. The pattern was even closer than you’d realized. 

“Good catch.” 

You rehung the photos of Julia, her sister, and the niece, off to the side, separate from the serial killer victims. 

“They found these victims. That doesn’t feel like an accident. If he made six women disappear without a trace, why leave three corpses in the same spot? And Julia’s body wasn’t even properly disposed of.”

“That deviates significantly from the pattern,” Marco said. 

“And with the timeline laid out like this, it looks like Julia’s abduction occurs too early in the year. He’d abducted someone during the last week of May before, but Julia disappeared in April, which is a month before he usually began taking victims. There’s also a stopping period between the 1999 victims and the 2000 cases. In 1999 the last victim disappeared on September 3rd. In 2000 the last victim was August 15th.” 

“Seasonal employees might be a good suspect pool to explore.”

“Removing the discovered bodies gives us a pattern. But when you add these three cases, it muddies the waters. I think we’re looking at two different crimes. A serial killer and… this mess with Julia, whatever it is.” 

Marco crossed his arms, studying the altered layout of the board.

“You’re right. Julia really doesn’t fit his victim type.”

“She was too tall, not from the United States - and not from Virginia. She didn’t have a college degree, let alone a graduate degree, and didn’t work outside the home. The serial killer’s victims were ambitious, professional women. They were all under five foot five and didn’t weigh more than a hundred and sixty pounds, but none of them were exceptionally thin. The abductor seemed to pursue women of average build.”

“Julia was five-nine and weighed about one-thirty,” Marco said. 

“Going off victim type, that made her not only too tall, but too thin.” 

“What’s hard to understand is that he’d suddenly screw up a body dump after getting it right so many times. For his first victim, sure. He’s inexperienced. But doing it again with Julia, several years later… the only way it makes sense is if he put the sisters together.” 

Goosebumps raised on your arms. If he put the sisters together…

What if the sisters’ deaths were connected? Maybe even to the serial killer, but not as victims who he’d hunted. Had they gotten in the way? Or was there something else, completely unrelated to the disappearances, going on at the same time? Was that possible in a town as small as Harmony?

“What are you thinking?” Marco asked.

“I think it’s two different cases. Everyone was waiting for the pattern from ‘99 and 2000 to re-emerge. They were mentally preparing for the next victim and Julia was the next woman to disappear. In a small town riddled with disappearing women, why wouldn’t they think she was part of the spree?”

“That’s logical, but the way you’ve explained it makes better sense. What about the sister and the niece? They’re an even bigger deviation from pattern than Julia. How can they be identified when there’s nothing to go on?” 

“I’ll figure out something,” you said. “Lloyd won’t be back until Tuesday, so I’ve got time.” 

 “Where is he?” Marco asked. 

You noted his demeanor changed when Lloyd’s name came up. His arms crossed, creating a subtle barrier between you, and the paper cup in his hand crumpled in his grip. His attention was riveted on you, belying the casual tone he’d spoken in. 

“He’s out west, taking care of family matters.”

“Huh. So, Lloyd didn’t hatch from an egg?”

“You worked with him before, you’d probably know more than me.”

The comment slipped out, not entirely by accident. Meeting people who’d known Lloyd in the past alway stirred your curiosity. Lloyd’s life had been a series of transformations: a gifted law student turned cold-blooded intelligence officer, then a disgraced ex-spy who’d become a ruthless mercenary and landed himself in prison. You’d only known Lloyd after his metamorphosis into a law-abiding citizen. Discovering the previous version that had existed before was a constant source of entertainment. Gruesome entertainment, perhaps, but you couldn’t check your impulse to fish for information whenever the chance presented itself. 

“Do you enjoy working with Lloyd?” 

Marco’s question took you off guard. 

“Yes. He was a bit of a pill at first, but then I discovered he could be charming when he wanted to be. After that, I made sure he had reasons to be charming.”

“What makes him want to be charming?”

“Rewards. Lloyd responds best to positive reinforcement. It works wonders.” 

“Really?” 

“He’s like a border collie. If you don’t keep him occupied and engaged, he’ll start chasing squirrels and digging up the yard.”

Marco chuckled. You pressed him harder.

“What was working with Lloyd like for you?”

He pursed his lips. “I knew him when he was on Zach’s team. They were doing God-knows-what in the same area where I was deployed. He was obnoxious.” 

His fingers tightened on the paper cup, crushing it nearly in half, unaware of the action. 

“Yeah. But Special Forces attracts a lot of obnoxious people.” 

His lips twitched, and he inclined his head in acknowledgment. 

“One day Lloyd showed up with extras. Tag-a-longs from Langley, I think. They assigned my team as their support crew. We were waiting at a checkpoint to help them exfiltrate, which should have been simple, but things went sideways and we had to extract them. Everyone was accounted for - except Lloyd’s extras.” 

You watched Marco’s lips compress. His shoulders bunched and you read anger in the lines of his body and the set of his jaw. He’d crumpled the coffee cup flat. Silence stretched. You waited, knowing he’d eventually fill the silence. 

Marco’s eyes flickered, shifting to internal focus. You could tell he was picking his words carefully. 

“The most dangerous predators wear the most charming masks. Lloyd… Lloyd is a viper in Gucci loafers. He takes pleasure in manipulating people, especially emotionally. Lloyd comes across brash, but underneath it he’s malicious, with a ruthless streak ten miles wide. I’ve seen it in action. Trust me, his blood runs cold.”

You were silent, thinking of Lloyd’s revelations in Qatar. He’d cultivated a certain image in the intelligence community, and clearly, Marco had experienced it. Silence hung over the room as he continued to weigh his words. 

“We were behind enemy lines at that point, but I offered to turn back and try to save the tag-a-longs. Lloyd laughed. Straight up laughed, and told me everything had gone according to plan. The agents had been on a one way trip from the start and he’d risked the whole team’s lives to dispose of them.” 

“What did you do?”

His eyes flashed. 

“I went back for them. One was alive. They’d slit the other’s throat. I reported the incident to command and got transferred to a different continent the next day. Later I found out the guy I’d saved died in the hospital because of a medication error.” 

You nodded, studying his reactions. They were full of anger and distaste. Marco’s story was authentic and his emotions genuine. Defending Lloyd, explaining that he’d changed, wouldn’t help Marco. He’d known a different person than you did. That version of Lloyd had done terrible things without remorse and he was still capable of it, when pushed. 

“Lloyd is charming, but be careful. He’s not trustworthy.” 

“I appreciate the warning, and I’m familiar with his background. He’s changed a lot since prison. There are still rough edges, and the ruthless streak is still there, but the malice isn’t.” 

Marco raised an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting conclusion.”

“If you want to say ‘bullshit,’ just say it. There’s no need to take that tone.” 

“Noted. Why don’t we find something more pleasant to talk about than Lloyd? Say, over coffee? Or better yet, dinner?” 

You wanted to accept, so you could find out more about Lloyd, but the invitation was clearly romantic. 

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m seeing someone right now. Maybe another time.”

His lips curled into a rueful smile. Before he could speak, there was a loud buzz. Your heads turned toward the front door in unison.

“Where’s the video feed?” Marco asked.

“I think there’s one at the front desk.”

The buzzer sounded again. Who would visit Zach’s office on a Saturday? Anyone who had business being here on the weekend would’ve had a key. With Marco on your heels, you headed for the lobby. Behind the receptionist’s desk, you found a monitor discreetly mounted into the wall, displaying the feed from the hall. A man in a shirt and tie, with a gun holstered on his right hip, stood outside. 

He looked into the camera and you recognized Detective Roth. 

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

Carl Shepherd woke up with a headache. A second later, he realized someone had tied him to a chair with his hands cuffed behind him. There was duct tape securing the cuffs to prevent him from picking them. 

“What the fuck?!”

“Well, well, look who’s awake. Had a good nap, Sleeping Beauty?” 

His head swung, searching the darkness for the owner of the voice. A switch clicked and Carl hissed, whipping his head away from the 10,000 lumen work lamps that burned his eyes. His head throbbed in protest at the dazzling light and the quick movement. 

“Fuck! What are you doing? Are you trying to blind me?!” 

The beams from the industrial lamps were like looking at the sun. He squinted out of the corner of his right eye, trying to see his kidnapper. 

“You can’t do this! I’m untouchable, damn it! I make one call to Sheriff Holbrook and you’re running for the rest of your lives. What kind of psycho are you?!” 

“We’re the Canadians,” the voice said. “We’re here for a stockpile of drugs a former business associate of ours misplaced. Rumor has it you’d know something about it.”

He laughed. “Canadians? You don’t scare me.”

“I don’t need to scare you, but what should scare you is suffocation. Because guess where we are?”

Carl looked around, noticing the corrugated walls of the room.

“A shipping container.” 

“Bingo. We seal the vents and shut the door and you’re dead. It’s not the lack of oxygen that kills you, it’s the carbon dioxide poisoning from your own exhalations. First, you get a headache, then nausea sets in and your heart rate spikes. You pant for breath, but you can’t get any, so you start to feel dizzy. Then vomiting, seizures, and finally you pass out before officially suffocating to death.” 

Carl considered the threat. His kidnapper took this pause as defiance.

“I’ve run the numbers and given the volume of this container, the ratio of oxygen, the probable rate of consumption, and other variables, suffocation should take about 22 hours. Horrible way to go, trust me. I’ve seen it before.”

He could easily imagine the owner of the voice hovering in the shadows, wearing an oxygen mask as he watched his victim suffer. A long silence lingered as he waited for the kidnapper to continue.

“Alright, suffocation it is…” 

Clothing rustled and the lights illuminated the outline of a man as he stood from a chair on the other side of the work lamps.

“Hey! Wait, don’t!”

“You want to talk?” the kidnapper asked.

“I can’t give you the drugs. You’re looking for Joe Hansen’s stash, right? I don’t have them, it was Deputy Russell who took them!”  

- - - - - 

Elliot leaned against the Camaro, staring straight ahead. 

“We’re screwed. We’re totally screwed.”

Lloyd resisted the urge to point out that Elliot was screwed, not him. If push came to shove he’d kill Holbrook and slip out of town. That wasn’t something his cousin was hardened enough to consider. At the moment taking out the Sheriff might not be the worst plan. Elliot could serve as his alibi. After seeing how he’d handled the kidnapping, it was obvious he’d be a terrible accomplice, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t set Lloyd up for an acquittal based on reasonable doubt. 

“Holbrook will never believe his right-hand man crossed him,” Elliot said. 

“Deputy Russell is his second?”

“Yeah. Luke Russell.”

“Huh. I think I had a run in with Deputy Luke the other day. Is he partial to a pump-action rifle?”

Elliot’s eyes widened. “That’s him. How’s you get away?”

“Charm, wit, and of course, I’m too pretty to kill,” Lloyd said, and winked. “Listen, this is just a setback. We can work with this. The plan is the same as before - we get the Sheriff busted. Once he’s locked up, you’re in the clear.”

“How? We don’t have any drugs!” 

“Tell me about Deputy Russell.” 

“He’s careful. Paranoid. Kind of off-kilter, socially. When he tries to cover it up, he comes across as creepy. He’s almost as crazy as the Sheriff.” 

Lloyd considered the odds that Holbrook had found another psychopath to partner with. Someone less polished than him, so he’d never have to worry about competition for his elected position. Birds of a feather flocked together, especially the unstable personalities with criminal tendencies, like Joe and Holbrook. They had remained allies for fifteen years before their falling out. Perhaps history wasn’t exactly repeating itself here, but it seemed to rhyme. 

Joe and the Sheriff had gone from partners to enemies. Now, Holbrook and Russell’s alliance was approaching the same crossroads, and Elliot was caught in the middle. 

“He wouldn’t move the drugs? Or check on them?” 

“No,” Elliot said. “If he had the slightest idea we knew about the stash he’d destroy it. Russell is paranoid, in capital letters.” 

“Well, we can’t have that,” Lloyd mused. “Would he sell them?” 

Elliot frowned and scratched his jaw. “Maybe. He’s in this for the money and a quick sale would cover his tracks.”

“Alright,” Lloyd said. “Here’s the new plan.” 

- - - - - 

Carl watched the two men enter the shipping container. His eyes had adjusted to the brightness, but he still couldn’t see anything but shadows past the work lamps. To his surprise, the kidnapper in charge stepped into the light. Dread curled in Carl’s stomach. If he was seeing his kidnapper’s face, that only meant one thing.

“What? What do you want from me?”

“Call Deputy Russell and tell him you found a buyer for the drugs.”

“Are you out of your mind? He’ll kill me!” 

The mustached kidnapper sneered. He reached behind his back and pulled out a Glock. 

“Listen up, Carl. You have two choices. Get us a meeting with Russell, or say goodbye to your kneecaps.” 

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

Detective Roth hadn’t spoken for twenty minutes. He sat with his arms crossed in the waiting room, opposite from you and Marco. The clock ticked loudly, counting off the seconds as you waited for Zach. 

Marco shifted beside you, his leather jacket creaking. He’d refused to leave you alone with Roth. The protectiveness amused you, since you had no qualms about being alone with the detective, but Marco had taken an instant dislike to the man. It didn’t help that Roth had refused to explain the nature of his visit. He’d breezed in like he owned the place and immediately demanded you round up Zach, Bishop, and Lloyd. 

Your phone vibrated with a text from Zach.

On my way up. 

A moment later, the door opened, and Bishop entered, followed by Zach. 

You did a double take at the sight of Bishop’s outfit. He wore khaki slacks and a novelty golf shirt that made the patterns in Lloyd’s closet look tame. His black polo was decorated in neon-sign print. Hot pink flamingos, lime green palm leaves, turquoise margarita glasses, magenta watermelon slices, and chartreuse pineapples covered the material.

For a man who wore nothing but white or blue shirts and neutral ties to the office, he apparently swung to the opposite end of the spectrum on the weekend. Next time you needed a gift for Lloyd you’d ask Bishop where he bought his golf shirts. 

Zach pinned the detective with hard eyes.

“What brings you here, uninvited, on a Saturday afternoon, Roth?” 

“Which one of you contacted the press?”

“Excuse me?” Zach said, tilting his head. 

“Who leaked evidence to the media? If you speak up now, the punishment won’t be as bad. I’d recommend doing so quickly, because I’d rather not get angrier than I already am.”

“None of us would do that,” Bishop said. 

Roth grunted. “What about Lloyd Hansen? Why isn’t he here?”

You answered. “His father died. He’s in Idaho taking care of family matters.” 

You tried to speak neutrally, but despite your best efforts, anger sizzled in the words.

“The Rolling Stone ran a cover story on the unidentified victims of Shun Nguyen today. The highlight of the piece was that the recently discovered victim was found by the Xiarong crime scene, where she’d been lying undiscovered for the past twenty years.” 

He paused, letting the statement sink in, then continued.

“A podcaster was waiting for me in the parking lot this morning. Guess what he wanted? He wanted to know how we could miss a second victim only a few hundred feet away from the first. That was a fun question to field at six a.m.” 

Zach’s lips compressed and goosebumps rose on your arms as the shock settled in. 

“Do you have any idea how much harder my job just got?” Roth demanded. 

“Our job,” Zach said. 

The detective snorted. “Given the magnifying glass we’re about to be put under, go ahead. Call it your case, please. It’ll keep a few reporters off my back while they chase you around.” 

Zack and Bishop exchanged a glance. You wondered if you should mention what you’d learned from Mr. Liu this morning. Questioning the DNA test when Roth was already upset didn’t feel too smart, but you didn’t want him to think you were hiding information. One look at his tight-lipped expression decided your course of action. 

“We weren’t the ones who contacted the media,” you said.

“We’ve had limited hands on this case in the department and only a few people knew the details published today. I trust all of those people. By default, that puts you all at the top of my suspect list.” 

Roth looked around, studying each face. 

“The only explanation is that someone in this room compromised the investigation. You betrayed your responsibility, mishandled classified information, and screwed me over. As of right now our cooperation is over. Until you hear differently, stay the hell away from my department.”  

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

Next - Chapter XV

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

Masterlist

Tag List

@denisemarieangelina @before-we-get-started @buckysteveloki-me @patzammit @badassbaker @meetmeatyourworst @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @thiskindahotkindamusic @jesgisborne @charmingprincess @amiets2 @seitmai

@elle14-blog1 @chaoticsteverogers @kaleidoscopepov @fangirl-and-medstudent-help @terry2227 @jesevans @mjey12 @openup-yourmind @kandierteveilchen @adoreyouusugar @ultrasilentwhispers @awkwardgiraffe726 @pono-pura-vida @mysweetlittledesire @maylaysia109 @liecastillo @unluckyevans @marantha @literaturelove @babyevansblog @lizzzaaaaaaaaaaa @thegirlnextdoorssister@ladygrey03 @cynic-spirit @rosedpetal @roseeatta @pensieve-foryour-thoughts @jeremyrennermakesmesmile @bambamwolf87 @michalkasimp @namelesssav @yiiiikesmish @lavenderx0 @calwitch @peachiestevie @texmexdarling @here4thefanfics @rogersbarber

#the princess & the lawyer #the princess and the lawyer #series: the princess & the lawyer #lloyd hansen fanfic #lloyd hansen fic #lloyd hansen x reader #lloyd hansen x y/n #lloyd hansen x you #lloyd hansen x female reader #lloyd hansen x fem!reader #chris evans characters #chris evans characters x reader #no minors #minors dni #the gray man fanfic #the gray man fanfiction #the gray man fic #lloyd hansen #smut series

[slocumjoe]

Not to harken back to the Nick Valentine quest post but one point you made really struck home for me - that Eddie was effectively already dead. It made the whole quest feel dead as well. Whats the point? I understand the human aspect, still wanting someone dead out of rage even if theyre no longer doing harm, but, come on, the name of the series is fallout. The ongoing violent aftermath of tragedy, how the harm and damage lingers like (or sometimes literally being) radiation. How much more powerful a quest would it have been if Nick had thought there was no point to it at all - that Eddie was dead and the past was burried but part of him just couldnt let go, and would you mind indulging an old private dick in a dusty old mystery? And THEN they find out that Eddie (or his legacy or his wealth or weapons being passed on to the next asshole or something) WAS doing active harm to people 200 years later, and that examining the past wasnt pointless because the past shaped their future and we can never move on without holding ourselves accountable for it. I just. Idk. Theres a lot of potential all of it wasted

i've had this one in my inbox for so long and never really found the words to respond to it, but I'm posting it now as a followup to my last post because this is pretty much my problem with that quest in general. So much of fo4 is riffing on the past and history and its really aggravating once you notice how much of it is just "this thing happened x amount of years ago, and I'm real sad about it"

#the plot of the game was resolved sixty years ago. you never find your baby you find a grody old man #like. can anything happen CURRENTLY. that isnt blowing up a faction #you just blow them up over shit that happened years ago like come on man

[wordsandrobots]

OK, I have two overall things to say about Gundam SEED: Destiny (I’ve been sick, binging this nominally staved off extreme boredom; spoilers to follow).

Number 1: Arthur Trine is doing his best, damnit, and I hope he got a cup of tea and a sit down once everything was over.

Number 2: what an incredibly frustrating show.

In many ways it is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, freed from literally repeating the same set-pieces of the original Gundam to tell a story that, honestly, has something approaching a meaningful point. Chairman Durandal is a compelling antagonist and the way he and Teen!Le Cookset gradually break the series’ pseudo-protagonist to their perspective is narratively interesting. The underlying message in what he does -- about how those in power pick out enemies that will best serve their ends and present themselves as the reasonable ones -- is definitely worth exploring. And the show even manages to address the Gundam-overload issues from SEED, by more clearly delineating the point of each machine and staggering them a bit more competently.

However. It inherits the problem of its length exceeding its content, leading to more stock-footage abuse and, far less forgivably, *three* clips shows, only one of which (the last, focused on Meer) has any actual merit. It also continues SEED’s determination to screw over every single female character who isn’t Lacus. For the record, I *like* Lacus: she’s a nice execution of someone having a ‘typical’ presentation wrapped around a core of stainless steel conviction, which is something I always enjoy in fiction. However, Cagalli in particular is an utter waste of potential, not being allowed to mature, gain focus, or make a single bloody decision without Kira or Athrun’s input, to the point where it’s actively aggravating to watch.

This is where we hit the limits of the genre and demographic, of course, and once again makes me appreciate literally every female character in IBO because Gundam generally is so very *not good* at this. (Obviously G-Witch is ahead again on the score, thankfully, but IBO is probably the best-case scenario within the ‘fiction aimed at boys’ problems that plague its predecessors.)

Shinn is similarly annoying. It’s not a bad thing he’s abrasive and the endpoint was always going to be him winding up a broken, weeping wreck because he’s too stupid to recognise anything beyond his own feelings. But his trauma flashbacks hit parodic very early and he’s far too irritating to be worth sitting through his screen-time. Like Kira, only the problem is the presence of personality rather than its total fucking absence.

My biggest complaint, however, is reserved for the variety of ways SEED:Destiny buggers up its good ideas. I’d have liked it a lot more if ‘Logos’ hadn’t actually been a thing. ‘Shadowy conspiracy doing [bad thing] from the shadows in the name of profit’ is the kind of message that gets slung around a lot in real life with no justification whatsoever and it really doesn’t help counter the people who do that if you hinge your plot on ‘no the Illuminati actually do have a giant laser on the moon.’ The cleverer and more cutting twist would have been to reveal there was no actual group called Logos and while the people Durandal named might have had interests in common, he was really just lumping them together for his own convenience.

You know. As scapegoats. Like the way this goes in reality, with the matters that this show is sticking its oar in and trying to Say Something about.

But no, because once more, this is a story interested in emotional reactions and personal epiphanies over any sort of systemic question because, well . . . that’s typical, isn’t it? Frustrating but not unexpected. Eureka Seven does nearly everything SEED/SEED:Destiny attempts better and that is hardly the first case of that happening with a Gundam show. Possibly this is just galling me more than usual because there are so many [swerves around the obvious pun] traces of a more interesting story here.

Oh well. Mu steadily getting his memories back was fun and I shall be taking the final epilogue to mean he, Murrue and Andrew settled down to a life of coffee-fueled polyamory. Yzak yeeting himself on to the right side of the final battle through sheer indignation was actually kind of funny. And I will give it credit, this did feel like one of the more meaningful ‘final battles to destroy a giant super-weapon’ out of the many, many times Gundam has done that (including in SEED, for gods’ sake). If nothing else, I appreciate the chutzpah of having Durandal rock up in an off-brand Death Star, right down to a recoloured Emperor’s chair.

Whatdyouknow. I actually did have something to say about this one. I think that just leaves Victory for main series I haven’t watched (I finished G Fighter; it was joyfully ridiculous). That probably won’t be changing any time soon. Ranking wise . . . SEED:Destiny probably sits around equal with 00 for me.

#gundam seed #gundam seed destiny #more rambling #kind of a review? #mostly more snark #I didn't even rant about the combining suit did I? #it's daft #not so much the replacement parts aspect #but the combination dance #every time it heads out #JUST SHOOT IT WHILE IT'S COMING TOGETHER #even the one (1) attempt to justify its utility was stupid #since that cave was clearly big enough for a whole mobile suit despite the dialogue #anyway #look at me getting annoyed with fiction aimed a teenagers #again

[man-monsters-and-aliens]

Have you seen MVA specifically the tv series and what are your thoughts about it?

yes I have! like twice? or three times selectively? and that was like 2 years ago!

short answer; this show has all my love and hatred for its existence

long answer?

I like the concept of the monster agents having to "share" living space with the aliens, and I do like the idea of the different aliens sort of being foils or compliments to the monsters

the ongoing plots like coverton's relationships with the monsters and how he has redeeming qualities is really nice! and I appreciate some of the continuity like the teleportation bit. I am sad that didn't get resolved or that we got to see through with coverton's invasion plans

sqweep's relationship with link is especially sweet and I hold it so dear to my heart, and even small interactions for sta'abi with the others are also really nice

I adore and appreciate how the monsters interact with each other because they absolutely nailed the family vibe, and just how they behave with the aliens in general since there's that bit of speciescism in there

my favourite eps are;

‌The Toy From Another World

‌Frenemy Mine

‌Maximum B.O.B.

‌It Came... on a Field Trip

‌The Thing with One Brain

‌98 Pound Cockroach

‌Screaming Your Calls

‌It Came From Level Z

‌Driven to Madness

‌The Beast From 20,000 Gallons

‌It Spoke With Authority

‌This Ball Must Be Dodged

‌It Ruled With an Iron Fist

‌Race to the End...Zone!

‌That Which Cannot Be Unseen

(though I honestly don't remember what some of these were about haha)

now onto what I don't like

firstly, Butterflyosaurus isn't there, and secondly, Ginormica isn't ginormic all the time, but we'll touch on these later

the fact that nickelodeon produced it already had my expectations low, and the fact that it was in 3d made it worse. based on the style of the concept arts, I would've loved it better if it was animated that way in 2d.

the character designs for the aliens are so ugly and unappealing (except sqweep she's decent) but even the models are weirdly scaled and disproportionate for the humans. again, the concept arts for coverton, sta'abi, and vornicarn were so much better than the end result, it's a real shame honestly

the characterization for the monsters were awfully flanderised early on so it was very annoying how Bob was portrayed, and though it did improve a lot as the eps progressed there was always something better they could've done, which was frustrating and agonising to watch

I don't remember having any particular loathing towards any certain eps? because I kinda wanna stay positive about it, but my god were some of the writing just nauseating and aggravating I would get so frustrated and angry cause of how stupid it is

a major theme throughout monsters vs aliens is the use of camera angles and the sense of scale, and the other thing is accepting change since her entire life got flipped. that gets completely erased and the quantonium is replaced with hyperium in the pilot, so Susan can go big or small whenever she wants and the whole movie was a waste of time!! it might as well be a superpower instead of considering her a monster cause her whole thing was being abnormaly big!! and it's clear the show did this for convenience sake which really makes it unauthentic, hence why butterfly isn't there or mentioned at all. susan isn't even a main character most of the time it's bob, then doc, then link, and THEN..... coverton.

how poorly this show was mostly handled made me seethe so much that I have an idealised reboot in my head out of spite and love

it had the potential to be good, it just wasn't the best

#i usually forget some things but these are at the top of my head #thanks for asking! #monsters vs aliens #mva #yeah safe answers stuff

[hillsofuhhtennessee]

since that “least favorite attribute about each member” questions seems to be most popular on the kiss ask game I’ll just do it on it’s own.

Paul- His screechy 80s voice just SOUNDS painful ever since the first time I heard Lick It Up. I’m not endeared to him as a person much but I detach art from artist very readily with him.

Ace- He had so much wasted potential and seems like a nightmare to work with, he’s a great example of the handful of good things and TRUCKLOAD OF AWFUL that is ADHD in adults. A part of me really aches for him because I can see myself in him (albeit on a smaller scale) but god he’s a dumpster fire, at least things didn’t end as badly as they could have.

Gene- I genuinely hate his stupid asshole public persona and terrible 21st century offstage hair/wig/brillo pad situation, I don’t think much of anyone actually likes it. Between that and the downright boring to cringey banal sex crap, it’s sad that his stage persona had so many interesting visuals/concepts/symbolism going on that really never got used to their fullest potential (thus why I ran with it in fanfics in the past and made a very Gene-ish but barely sexual character as a spinoff OC). Ross Berg’s book on him gets to be too generous at times but damn if it doesn’t show how compelling he is outside of his two most obnoxious and visible traits.

Peter- … I really don’t have much major beef with Peter. I like his songs well enough and don’t pay heavy enough attention to him as a person and he seems to have mostly reformed these days.

Eric Carr- I generally like his tempo increases but it got a bit too ridiculous in the mid-80s. I also both feel for him in his issues with Paul towards the end and get why Paul would be aggravated with someone that insecure. Being dead means he never had a change to drag himself through the dirt like several other members, there would probably be something significantly worse here in the alternate timeline where he lives.

Vinnie- I just don’t like shredding. I don’t pay enough attention to him as a person because it’s such a shitshow so no comment there.

MSJ- Everyone knows what he did. I also just don’t like shredding so didn’t care about him even before that.

Bruce- His stage presence seems unimpressive but I really can’t take major issue with him.

Eric S- Nothing really objectionable about him, but generally being absent from social media probably has to do with that.

Tommy- I just find him boring. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him and he looks really good visually onstage, I just… really can’t care about him.

[8bitsupervillain]

8bit Reviews: Pathfinder Kingmaker

The first five or six hours I was having a grand time with it. Just loving it from top to bottom, sure the combat was a bit clunky, but aside from that I was having fun. Then I unlocked the kingdom management section of the game and my opinion dropped sharply. The lie that you can set kingdom management to auto-resolve itself is a massive lie because if you leave this bastard alone for too long you will get slapped with an inevitable failure message and have to redo potential HOURS of stuff just to get back to before you doomed yourself. Nevertheless I stuck with it, maybe it'll get better, I thought as I was very thoroughly not having a good time. Twenty hours passed, then thirty, at forty I decided enough's enough I'm done with Pathfinder. So it went for a couple of months I played other better games I became mesmerized and spellbound by other stories that respected my time.

But eventually the bastard thought wormed its way into my head to give it another shot why not? You had time away, surely now's the time it'll be fun! You tried and bounced off some other CRPGs, so who knows, maybe Kingmaker has that secret something to get you back in. Fifty hours passed, sixty, and once again I vowed I would never return to Kingmaker, I uninstalled it from my laptop and desktop. I even went so far as to delete the saves off of my laptop (where I'd been primarily playing Pathfinder). September rolls around, I fall deeply, madly in love with Baldur's Gate III, but eventually I have to go back to work, and my laptop isn't quite the youth it used to be, and storage space is at a premium. Back to Kingmaker, I guess. Reinstalling it I find that because I never deleted my saves off of my desktop the cloud storage for GOG Galaxy kept my saves up to date.

What fun, now I won't have to redo a whole bunch of stuff or start from the beginning. Has the combat always been this aggravating? Be fair, you might just be unfairly comparing it to Baldur's Gate III, the Pathfinder guys did this at least five years ago, and had a fraction of the budget. Comparing the combat to Pillars of Eternity or Tyranny was similarly disastrous because I recall feeling the combat in those was a lot smoother than Kingmaker. Then, disaster strikes, sixty-nine hours into my save file the game declares that I've lost, and I cannot continue the game. Sixty-nine fucking hours down the tubes, nearly three actual days. Literal months of time wasted for this? FOR THIS?! No, NO! Fuck that! Fuck this! I'm done! I'M ABSOLUTELY DONE. FUCK PATHFINDER KINGMAKER, FUCK OWLCAT, FUCK EVERYONE WHO SAYS THIS GAME WAS WORTH PLAYING! And so I uninstall it, again.

Bullshit game, I hate it. The combat, trash. The characters, generally unlikable garbage! At least in other games when there are villains they're well-written villains, you might not like them, but at least they provoke a feeling other than vague irritation. Fucking game, absolute waste of my time. Why did I try to respect the game for so long as I had? What did I gain from it? Our antagonistic relationship was clearly one-sided, Pathfinder was never going to try to meet me halfway and be something decent.

Time passes, it's October and I'm looking at nexus mods. You should see if there's mods for Kingmaker, sure none of them will magically make the game good, but you know, just for a lark. Sure enough, there they are, the whole spectrum. What's this? Cheat mod, well with this I could theoretically reach an ending in Pathfinder. Wouldn't that be something? Get revenge on the game that pissed you off so? I could, theoretically, do that. But why? Why should I shove my hand back in the bear trap? Hadn't I suffered enough? Shouldn't I just leave well enough alone and move on and put Kingmaker (and Wrath of the Righteous) firmly in the rearview of memory?

So, once again, for the last time let's reinstall Pathfinder. This time I'm done pretending to care about beating the game honestly. I want it to be over with. Weight limits? Gone. Barony rolls? Win them instantly. Sure "I'm robbing myself of the experience" of finishing the game "legit," but I am so far beyond caring at this point. You know what the hell of it is? The thing that makes this all so very much unbearable? It wasn't worth it. Eighty-nine hours and seventeen minutes later I finished the game, I got my unsatisfying conclusion, and… that's it.

Back when it first came out I got very very annoyed with Bloodborne. I could not for the life of me get past Vicar Amelia, it got to the point where I stopped playing the game for months because just the sight of it pissed me off. But eventually I powered my way through it, and I now regard Bloodborne as one of the finest games I have ever played.

The sense of satisfaction I got from triumphing over it was exhilarating. Pathfinder Kingmaker gave me no such feeling. Yes I'd finished the game, but there's nothing there. Just another game to add to the list of games I've beaten. For all the self-inflicted agony I've put myself through I got roughly the same satisfaction as when I beat something completely forgettable that I played for roughly a week. I feel more satisfaction finishing Little Nightmares 2 than I do Kingmaker, and I didn't particularly care about Little Nightmares 2.

I guess what I got out of Pathfinder Kingmaker is I really need to get over my absurd feelings that I'm somehow letting the developers down if I don't play a game I hate to completion. Blackguards is probably a better game than this, and I don't particularly like Blackguards.

#8bit reviews #pathfinder #kingmaker #pathfinder kingmaker #review

[wipro-light-blogs]

Green Buildings: The Imperative Shift for a Sustainable Future

What is the need of Green Buildings?

The massive growth of the construction and manufacturing industries in the 21st century has played an important role in favouring the country’s development. However, it has simultaneously raised a host of environmental concerns. Various researches assert that the rising population, industrialization, and high energy demands have mounted significant pressure on the country’s vital energy resources as they are now being used faster than they are made available by the nature.

Thus, impeding the risks on the environment and cutting back on energy utilization (acquired from non-renewable resources) is the need of the hour. Fortunately, people and concerned authorities have joined hands to raise awareness about the need of energy conservation and sustainability. The Indian commercial sector is gradually acknowledging the ethical idea of “Green Buildings” in an attempt to bring down the total energy consumption and save the environment from despair.

What are green buildings?

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) defines green building as a building structure that initiates positive impact on the climate and environment with its design, construction and operation. These buildings aid in preserving the precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.

What is the need of green buildings?

The massive increase in the global energy consumption has aggravated one of the biggest challenges in the world, climate change. This has also increased the level of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) like carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, India is the 5th largest producer of GHG and this has laid adverse impacts on India’s natural resources. Some of them include:

• Potential decline of rainwater, resulting in insufficient availability of fresh water. For instance, the country’s national capital Delhi is facing massive crisis with its groundwater close to running out.

• The increased demand has leveraged significant threat on the country’s agriculture sector. This can lead to food scarcity in future.

• Exploitation of the country’s biodiversity with adverse implications on the forest-dependent activities.

The above-mentioned factors indicate towards an immediate need of sustainable practices and eco-friendly approaches like green buildings in India. According to the leading commercial lighting manufacturers, a green building is typically designed to use less water and generate lesser waste. These buildings offer improved energy efficiency and contribute in conserving the natural resources. Furthermore, they offer numerous other benefits. Some of them include:

• Reduce pressure on the consumption of natural resources by shifting reliance on renewable energy sources.

• Minimize operating costs, optimize lifecycle economic performance, and increase the building’s valuation and RoI.

• Flourish an environment powered by eco-friendliness. This enhances the productivity, comfort and efficiency of the occupants.

Furthermore, the concept of green buildings serves as an ideal solution that addresses the booming construction industry and provides an opportunity to capitalize on tropical climates.

In addition, the leading LED lighting manufacturers in the country are now offering sustainable and environment-friendly commercial lighting solutions for uplifting the idea of green buildings. At Wipro Lighting, we are continuously promoting the development of sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure and are the only lighting company in India to have built more than 55% of the green buildings in India.

#green building #Green Building Concept

[sahilad]

Skip annoying ads with block youtube ad

In today's digital age, YouTube has become an integral part of our lives. It has revolutionized the way we consume media, showcasing a vast array of videos ranging from educational content to entertainment-filled moments. However, with this ever-increasing popularity, the presence of annoying and obstructive ads has also intensified, hindering the seamless viewing experience that we all crave. Fortunately, there is a solution: Block YouTube Ads.

Block YouTube Ads is a game-changing browser extension that empowers users to skip those pesky ads and take back control of their online experience. This innovative tool ensures that every moment spent on YouTube is focused on the content that matters most to you, without those intrusive interruptions. In this article, we will explore how this extension works, its benefits, and why it should be an essential addition to your digital toolkit.

With Block YouTube Ads, bidding farewell to those aggravating ads is as simple as a few clicks. This efficient browser extension generates an ad-free environment in which you can immerse yourself in the world of YouTube without any distractions. From pre-roll ads that play before your chosen video to the ads that pop up during playback, Block YouTube Ads effectively eliminates them all, allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted content consumption.

Not only does Block YouTube Ads offer a seamless viewing experience, but it also enables you to save precious time. In our fast-paced lives, every second counts, and the ability to skip ads in a single click adds up to a significant time saving. Whether you are a student trying to study efficiently or a professional looking to maximize productivity, this extension ensures that your time is not wasted on waiting for ads to end.

In addition to saving time, Block YouTube Ads also enhances your privacy and security. Ads can often track your browsing activity and collect personal information to display targeted advertisements. By blocking these ads, you reclaim your privacy and protect yourself from potentially intrusive tracking. extension also safeguards you from malicious ads that may contain harmful viruses or scams, contributing to a safer online experience.  youtube ad blocker chrome

Furthermore, Block YouTube Ads is compatible with various browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Its user-friendly interface ensures that installation and customization is a breeze for users of all technical backgrounds. By simply adding this handy extension to your browser, you gain the power to take control of your YouTube experience.

In a world where our attention spans are constantly bombarded with distractions, Block YouTube Ads champions the focus we crave. It revolutionizes the way we consume YouTube content, allowing us to concentrate solely on what we desire to watch, uninterrupted by ads. more, its ability to save time, protect privacy, and enhance security make it an indispensable tool for anyone seeking an enhanced digital experience.  youtube ad blocker chrome

In conclusion, Block YouTube Ads presents a solution to the growing frustration caused by intrusive ads on the platform. It offers a seamless viewing experience, saves time, enhances privacy and security, and empowers users to regain control of their online activities. By incorporation orating this user-friendly browser extension into your digital toolkit, you can embark on a YouTube journey free from annoying interruptions and experience a truly immersive viewing adventure. So, why settle for incessant ads when you can block them and unlock the full potential of YouTube? Try Block YouTube Ads today and take charge of your digital experience like never before.   youtube ad blocker chrome

[airconditioningductcleaning]

Just How Duct Cleaning Improves Indoor Air Quality

If your residence's ductwork is stuffed with dirt and also dirt, an expert cleansing might improve interior air high quality. Ducts can be polluted with a selection of unsafe compounds, including pet dog dander, microorganisms, mold spores and pollen. These contaminants are well-known bronchial asthma causes as well as can aggravate various other respiratory issues. Even if none of your family members struggle with allergic reactions or respiratory system problems, clean air is an excellent concept. Dusty duct can catch smells, which are after that consistently circulated throughout your home. Unclean air ducts are a breeding place for rats, which can spread out bacteria in the home. Some Air Duct Cleaning Near Me Columbia TN provide rodent elimination along with duct cleansing. This service can cost from $170-$520, relying on the dimension of your ductwork and also whether it calls for substantial rodent control steps.

If you choose to employ a specialist air duct cleaner, make sure the company remains in excellent standing with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, or NADCA. Furthermore, ask the company to give a checklist of consumers it has helped. Additionally, inquire whether the company's duct cleansing specialists are completely accredited in your state (as required in Arizona, Arkansas, The Golden State, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Texas and also possibly other states). A credible air duct cleaning up business will certainly cover any kind of signs up that continue to be uncovered with sticky covers to prevent dust from blowing back right into your home. Then the specialist will hook a huge vacuum cleaner collection gadget to one of your house's ducts, generally by cutting an access opening in the drywall behind an air vent.

Next off, the specialist will use brushes as well as vacuum devices to upset and also dislodge dirt, particles as well as various other contaminants. The tool's suction then attracts the contaminants into a collection container. The right Air Duct Cleaning Near Me Columbia TN company needs to evaluate the ductwork to determine its condition and approximate how much time it will require to cleanse it. It needs to also look for indications of rodent invasion and also, if needed, have an insect control expert treat your home. As soon as the air ducts are cleaned, the service technician will certainly seal each opening. Some duct cleansers may suggest applying chemical biocides or anti-microbial treatments to the inside surfaces of the ductwork and also equipment real estate. These items haven't been extensively tested as well as might cause even more damage than good, especially if they permeate into fiberglass insulation.

Watch out for firms that promise to remove duct contamination in just a couple of hrs. The EPA approximates it takes a minimum of a day to correctly clean the average home's ductwork. Be careful of business that tack on added charges, such as for cleaning air trainers, fans, coils, grilles, registers and also drip frying pans. Unless you have an extremely small residence, these added costs are unneeded and also might be expensive. Be sure the air duct cleansing company provides you with a created estimate of the entire price, consisting of any kind of service charges. Also, find out if the business will only vacuum the ducts in the spaces that are being cleansed as well as if it will bill you per vent or for the whole system.

Keep reading on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_(flow) and most importantly, convert your knowledge into action, otherwise it remains a source of untapped energy as well as wasted potential.

[himanshibeautyexp]

What Are the Steps in a Successful Skincare Routine?

We start learning the habits that will make up our days as soon as we are born, like when to eat, sleep, or take a shower. Indeed, because many of us are creatures of habit, we would be lost without that morning cup of coffee or your usual go to the gym. These routines are so embedded in our everyday lives.

Though it can be difficult to incorporate new routines into our lives, many of us find it difficult to incorporate a proper beauty skincare routine into our daily routines. But because our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, it is crucial that we take care of it, so you must start caring for your skin right away.

Many people don't realize how important regular skincare is. In addition to other external factors like pollution, your skin will exhibit the effects of a bad diet and stress. However, even if you pay attention to what you put into your body, there are still some ingredients in cosmetics and toiletries that have the potential to irritate or aggravate allergies.

 In the end, skin care is only a matter of personal preference.

Steps to a Skincare Routine for Morning

Morning skincare routines play a crucial role in achieving glowing, youthful skin. You can ensure that skin care products are working effectively and that you are not wasting your money by using them in the most efficient manner.

Depending on the season and the condition of your skin, the morning skin care routine changes. However, it is also crucial to think about the order in which you utilise the products.

When applying skin care products, start with the lightest and work your way up.

Step 1: CLEANSING

Clean up the dirt and product buildup from the previous day. Use a washing oil to soften your skin while also removing makeup and extra oil. The ideal cleanser cleans your skin without removing its vital oils. Your best bet for a healthy, radiant complexion is to start by keeping your face clean.

Step 2: TONER

Many people associate the word "toner" with astringents. The original was an alcohol-based treatment that dried out greasy skin and washed away any debris that remained. However, several businesses are now introducing organic toner for daily use. These delicate fluids balance your complexion while providing an extra boost of nourishment, facilitating greater absorption of the other products in your regimen.

Toners should be applied after cleansing and before finishing with other products. Your skin is refreshed by a toner. Apply your toner to a cotton pad, and then begin sweeping the pad outward from the centreof your face. Or maybe you want a product that sprays on quickly and leaves a fine mist. Before moving on, let the toner dry completely.

Step 3: SERUM

These potions, which contain concentrated dosages of active substances, can reduce creases and dark circles as well as other problems. Everyone needs a general antioxidant serum in the morning to protect against daily aggressors, even if they don't have any particular problems.

Try This Fabonaturals Face Whitening Serum

Step 4: MOISTURIZING

Moisturizers help to stop water loss via the skin's outer layers. A moisturizer's primary purpose is to nourish and soften the skin. According to doctors, all skin types should use this cream all year.Everyone requires hydration, but based on your skin type, your moisturiser will have a different texture.

Step 5: EYE CREAM

Because it is so sensitive and thin, the skin all around the eyes is more likely to irritate than other skin types. Dermatologists frequently recommend an eye cream that takes into account potential sensitivity and has more tolerable concentrations of active ingredients.

Step 6: SUNSCREEN

The most important skin care product is sunscreen. Use of sunscreen on a regular basis can help delay the onset of facial wrinkles, textural flaws, and differences in the way pores look. However, using sunscreen regularly can also aid in preventing the development of some skin cancers. Applying sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside is advised by the experts.

The order in which you can use each product is important, as is your skin type in determining which products you need in your skin care routine.Your morning regimen should differ slightly from your evening routine for the best outcomes.

Steps to a Nighttime Skincare Routine

Step 1: Remove Make Up and Cleansing

One of the worst skincare sins is to go to sleep with makeup on. It is not sufficient to simply wash your face with water and a cleaner. Because most of our cosmetics are waterproof and made to last longer, the majority of their formulas are difficult to remove.

Double cleansing your skin or face is one of the best ways to remove makeup and debris that has accumulated on the skin.It's important to remove all the dirt, extra oil, and makeup residue from your skin after removing your makeup.

Step 2: Use Toner

Toning should be a part of your skincare routine both during the day and at night. After the oils have been removed from your skin, it also minimises pores and removes any dirt that might have lingered after cleansing. Give the toner some time to absorb into the skin before moving on to the next step in your skincare routine. Toning should be a part of your skincare routine both during the day and at night. After the oils have been removed from your skin, it also minimises pores and removes any dirt that might have lingered after cleansing. Give the toner some time to absorb into the skin before moving on to the next step in your skincare routine.

Step 3: Serum

Concentrated solutions like skincare products and patch treatments are made to target one particular issue, like acne or wrinkles. Applying this immediately after toning is a good idea because it tackles a particular problem and is quickly absorbed. Use the serum or spot treatment indicated at this stage if you are using a dermatologist's skincare regimen. In order to guarantee better absorption, the best approach to applying serum to the skin is with gentle tapping motions.

Step 4: Moisturizer

Regardless of your skin type, your nighttime skincare routine should end with a moisturiser or night cream. Consider your neck area a part of your face when applying moisturiser to your face. Adding eye cream to your moisturising routine is a plus.

At night, when our skin is in a recovery stage, the products penetrate easier, and our skin can heal more quickly. Each portion of your body works very hard to do its job when you sleep. One of the most significant advantages of a nighttime skincare programme is that it speeds up skin cell regeneration. Consequently, you should take advantage of this chance to achieve the finest outcomes by adhering to a solid evening skincare regime for a radiant and youthful complexion.

#brightening serum online #skin brightening serum #Face brightening serum #Face Whitening Serum #fabonaturals

[infynity]

Commercial Cleaning Best Practices: 4 Ways to Boost Your Team’s Productivity

A clean environment is an essential part of a business's success. Whether your business has just opened its doors or is on its way to greatness, it is important to keep a clean and easy-to-maintain work environment to save time, money, and aggravation for your employees.

If you are like most business owners, you probably don't have a lot of money to spend on commercial cleaning. However, good commercial cleaning matters and is essential to keeping your office looking clean and professional. Here is what you need to know about best practices when it comes to industrial commercial cleaning services in Melbourne.

Communication is essential.

Clear and fluid communication keeps you up-to-date at all times. Even if you do not ask for it, you should be kept up to date on the status of your project. Similarly, if you have any complaints or concerns about the service, the commercial or industrial cleaning service in Melbourne should address them as soon as possible.

If you have an urgent situation or a COVID-19 case, you should be able to contact and receive prompt service from office cleaning services in Melbourne. Issues that arise and have the potential to affect results or due dates must be handled professionally and expeditiously.

Empty the trash and recycling cans regularly.

Emptying the trash and recycling bins regularly is a simple way to keep your facility tidy and organised. When things get out of hand, they can create hazardous situations that cause spills, falls, or careless disposal of other things. Make sure to incorporate bin emptying into your daily cleaning routine. Simple actions yield significant outcomes.

Make a schedule.

Even though it might not seem important, making a cleaning plan enables you to specify concrete steps and adhere to your objectives. Regular cleanings are much simpler than performing a thorough deep clean every few months. Be sure to sweep frequently, keep the floors free of clutter and dust, and look for spills or damage.

If you currently use janitorial services, you might want to think about handling the job internally and hiring a service instead. The expertise you need to make sure your facility is in the best condition is available from office cleaning services in Melbourne. Professionals offer thorough cleaning that will meet the demands of your industrial settings rather than just make things look nice. Maintaining a log will help you stay on top of tasks and prevent backlogs, which will improve your organisation.

For the best industrial cleaning practices, be sure to routinely clean the following things: equipment, high-touch areas, industrial carpet cleaning, windows, the loading dock, the exhaust system, general repairs and maintenance, trash removal, water pipe clearing, and elimination of any debris or hazardous waste. Make a professional appointment if this seems overwhelming.

Get automated devices for hygiene.

Manual soap dispensers need frequent attention from your staff because they are frequently empty or broken. Automated skincare dispensing systems can cut down on the amount of time your team spends maintaining dispensers or making sure they are in good working order.

The need for the occupants of your building to manually operate a pump or lever to release soap is eliminated by automated skincare dispensers. As a result, your staff will have fewer touchpoints to clean in the area.

Automated dispensers have a sensor that only releases product when a hand is nearby, increasing productivity and extending battery life. So that your team won't have to worry about frequent battery changes, some dispensers even have battery replacements on their refills. The battery must be changed every time the cartridge is

Establish cleaning zones.

Assign each employee a different area to maintain order and cleanliness throughout the working day. You can prevent the buildup of a significant mess by ensuring that your staff members are clearing as they go. Regular maintenance and the easy act of returning items to their proper places barely take any time out of their day and guarantee that your facility is secure throughout all shifts. Have them quickly sweep and clean the area before they clock out.

Expand Accessibility.

Your cleaning supplies will be used more frequently, the easier they are to get to. Instead of making employees walk to the back of the warehouse for a basic broom and dustpan, keep them close at hand. You will notice that spills are cleaned up faster, debris is picked up, and garbage is thrown away when items are placed strategically throughout your facility. Make sure you have the right cleaning supplies on hand and keep them close to the areas where they will be used to prevent issues with machinery.

Hire an expert.

While following the aforementioned advice will significantly increase your daily productivity and help you stay clear of significant messes, it is still important to deep clean frequently. Hire a professional who is trained in industrial cleaning best practices and is aware of what it takes to thoroughly clean and sanitise your facility instead of taking time away from your schedule and paying your employees to clean it. Finding a reliable commercial cleaning service in Melbourne will help you realise that the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks.

It may take some time and effort to choose an office or residential cleaning service in Melbourne, and simply going with the cheapest option may end up costing you more in the long run. The top cleaning companies' best practices guarantee dependable service and give you peace of mind, freeing up your time and resources for more important tasks.

#office cleaning service Melbourne #commercial cleaning service Melbourne #industrial cleaning services Melbourne

[deoffal-mp-adm7000-n-s1-2022]

Noumena - Volume 2′s Introduction Transcript.

“We have been trained so well to accept the “order” of an unreal world that we do not rebel against it. How could we? Where pain and pleasure form a corrupt alliance against us, paradise and hell are merely different divisions in the same monstruous bureaucracy. And between these two poles exists everything we know or can ever know. It is not even possible to imagine a utopia, earthly or otherwise, that can stand up under the mildest criticism. But one must take into account the shocking fact that we live on a world that spins. After considering this truth, nothing should come as a surprise. Still, on rare occasions we do overcome hopelessness or velleity and make mutinous demands to live in a real world, one that is at least episodically ordered to our advantage. But perhaps it is only a demon of some kind that moves us to such idle insubordination, the more to aggravate our condition in the unreal. After all, is it not wondrous that we are allowed to be both witnesses and victims of the sepulchral pomp of wasting tissue? And one thing we know is real: Horror. It is so real, in fact, that we cannot be sure it could exist without us. Yes, it needs our imagination and our consciousness, but it does not ask our consent to use them. Indeed, horror operates with complete autonomy. Generating ontological havoc, it is a mephitic foam upon which our lives merely float. And, ultimately, we must face up to it: Horror is more real than we are.”

Thomas Ligotti, The Conspiracy Against the Human Race, 2018

Deoffal Maldoror (b. 1999) is a dark surrealist, expressionist painter and illustrator, living and working in Birmingham, England. Maldoror has always been an avid scribbler long before they could even write and speak, and they have been in art education for close to two decades. As their Master’s in Fine Art comes to a close, this current project is the culmination of their work throughout the pandemic from 2020 to 2022. The devastation and paradigm shift of a post-Covid world revived Maldoror’s personal fascinations with transhumanism and the universal subjects of fear and nihilism within post-modernity, subjects made subsequently into portraiture through their signature aesthetic as a contemporary response to these issues.

Maldoror’s unorthodox portraits reimagine the human profile and face as a medium with the potential to grant greater flesh to dark and taboo subject matters, whilst still grounding the pieces in the egos and self-image concerns of our vanity-centric society. Their art intentionally uses a Rorschach-esque approach to interrogate the audience through its mesmerising detail, all illustrated through an automatic style that further emphasises its abhuman and unhinged disquietedness as post-modern iconography. Maldoror always endeavours to create pictorial philosophy, inspired by the quasi-philosophical literature of Thomas Ligotti, Algernon Blackwood and Arthur Machen, in tandem with actual philosophers such as Eugene Thacker, Georges Bataille, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Immanuel Kant. Their work is a melting pot of influences from all over the world, both in its philosophy and visual references. This intentionally reaction-inducing fusion of philosophy and portraiture uses horror as an allegory for social and psychosomatic commentary.

Maldoror’s primary examples are found in the contemporary horror manga masters Junji Ito and Suehiro Maruo, the disturbing works of post-romantic and surrealist Francisco de Goya, the satire and caricatures of William Hogarth, the ornate gothic works of Gustave Doré’s narrative-based collections, and the ultra-violence centric paintings of Francis Bacon.

The motifs of entropy, social evolution, achromatic aesthetic, the unknown in nothingness, body dysmorphia and existential dread are ever prevalent issues threaded through and living in the very lateral wrinkles and viscera of Maldoror’s creations.

The installation ‘Uzumaki’, consisting of the collection documented in volumes 1 and 2 of ‘Noumena’, is named in tribute to Junji Ito’s seminal work of the same name (1999). Centred on transforming the naturally hypnotic value of the spiral as a pattern symbolic of the cosmic implications of the noumenal world, Ito’s manga stresses a horrific potential in cumulative and therefore overwhelming detail, a process represented by the spiral as a shape that builds infinitely from an infinitesimal point.

Maldoror’s latest project ‘Noumena’ is based primarily on the Kantian subject of the same name, and it’s later adaptation by Antifoundationalist thinker Eugene Thacker to represent the Lovecraftian turn in both contemporary philosophical and horror media discourse. The noumenal world and cosmic pessimism share a symbiotic relationship that inspire Maldoror endlessly, as it represents experiences and horrific potential beyond our sensibilities, assumptions and conventions of what is true and fixed. Maldoror’s portraits exist as a response to the possibility of the noumenal world bleeding into ours, representing that which can exist between our understandings of reality and reality as it could be.

The portraits featured beyond this introduction are caricatures and surrealist fantasies of how humanity and all entities of light in the darkness of the universe are shaped by an achromatic reality beyond our perception. Maldoror’s mission is to elevate the horror genre within contemporary art by recontextualising these concepts as portraiture grounded by philosophical and speculative references.

This second volume of works is an extension of the themes of the first, with its continued blend of literary concepts as references and tributes to horror authors and body horror. However, these pieces differ from ‘The 57’ in that this volume focuses more on reimagining the numinous and the preternatural potential of the noumena as represented through horror portraiture.

These subjects are illustrated subtextually by post-humanism and speculative evolution, accelerationism, Hogarthian caricature, the Avant Garde, and alternative fashion references from such figures as Judy Blame, Rick Owens, and Leigh Bowery. The intention is to recontextualise the sublime and divine as it appears in occult works such as that of Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa.

This collection seeks to make pieces that experiment with abstract potential, breaking down portraiture further in order for Maldoror to share their image of post-modern iconography through dark surrealistic philosophy.

Though it could be assumed that these pessimistic works and ideas come from a corrupted soul, Maldoror instead finds immense comfort and inspiration in the bottomless and meaningless unknown. To them, it is both the failure and success of pessimism that meaninglessness is in of itself a positive advocate for the creation of new and exciting meaning and media. Despite this, the majority are too afraid to explore a pessimistic outlook due to their regressive sensibilities and societal conditionings.

As summarised by Mark Manson in ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck’ (2016):

“If there is no reason to do anything, then there is also no reason to not do anything; that in the face of the inevitability of death there is no reason to ever give into one’s fear or embarrassment or shame, since it’s all just a bunch of nothing.”

A subtler difference between this volume and the last is that Maldoror attempts to continually improve their line work, tonal variation, and the atmosphere of these pieces as a somewhat retroactive adaptation of their aesthetic as displayed in the seemingly rougher style of ‘The 57’. This shows that the current works are still a work in progress, both in concept and physicality,  and although Maldoror is just as prolific as they have always been when it comes to making work regardless of its reception, they are always looking to improve with every addition to their growing portfolio.

 This second volume documents the second set of pieces made for ‘Noumena’ (started in January and finished in September 2022), featuring ‘The 63’ series of pieces. The collection is named according to its quantity and housed in this particular volume so as to showcase it as the second stage of production for this project (started in January 2022 and finished in April 2022).

 The specifications of every piece are, 21 x 29.7cm, acrylic paint and ink markers on 200gsm paper.

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

Short Notes:

Though this and the final volume have the same intro, and this is done so that every time some reads any of the books they get the same context on my work as the person next to them, this and the next volume do have expanded on intros that go deeper into my work, so as not just justify the separate volumes and their individual works, but to give each set of contexts and references their own space so the intro isn’t exactly the same and so the different collections can be critiqued by myself as their own collections, rather than simply being apart of one continuous design loop, and without making the into double or triple the size that it is in each book, I would only consider this if I one day did a compendium of this collection, that would be the only time I could justify such a adaptation of the intro, yet the book would easily be over 400 pages long though due to all the featured works, works consulted and intros etc. This would only be a thing to consider if there was any major interest in my work generally speaking though, so maybe something to consider once I get more shows under my belt and attempt to work with more publishers and prominent figures in my future career etc. 

[windser]

Can you imagine Xiao as a fuckboy?

has potential as a alt verse for my college!xiao brain rot. he's definitely not a frat boy, god forbid, someone associate him with that chaotic mess. he's an independent soul that often prefers solitude over company, but everyone has some sort of needs. university is stressful, from an educational and social standpoint. and it helps that he's just so pretty. he attracts attention like a honey pot. by his second year he figured it was more of a waste not to utilize it.

call him a fuck boy, but he has tastes. he doesn't just accept anyone's bed. his libedo is purely determinant on his mood. by morning he might seem disinterested but it’s nearing the late hour and his eyes are wandering.

he doesn't limit himself to looks, he knows who to invite to his bed. avoiding the clingy types and those who'd ask more questions than he'd care to hear. all he wants tonight is your consent and tomorrow dismissal.

it would be more aggravating if he wasn't so good. his limitations are slim when it comes to achieving an orgasm. he'll have your hand or mouth, standing or bent over. beg or scream, it doesn't matter. his pace is the only setting and you're bound to get off either way so why complain?

fucks doggy style, half haphazardly stripped clothing muting the lewd smacks of hips meeting. palms braced against the counter top. thumb expertly turning circles against the most sensitive cores.

would absolutely return to old favorites. every now and again, he might misread someone and they just manage to ruin his drive. but he does know who can make his night right, a small but generous list of willing participants.

so what if he get around a bit?

its college.

he's here for a good run, not a long one.

#xiao smut #xiao x reader #xiao imagines #genshin impact xiao #genshin impact x reader

[sisterspooky1013]

Red-Handed, Chapter 16

Rated X | Read it here on AO3

This is a joint work with @xfmaweezy and we are taking prompts

They really shouldn’t be doing this.

Mulder usually forbids it. It’s his one rule: no sex on the clock. Imagine that, the man who habitually flaunts his disregard for authority has a rule. She suspects it’s to protect her more than anything else. Isn’t it always? But today she’s snippy and agitated, and he just knows her so well.

So well. He’s currently showing her just how well he knows her. He knows her inside and out. And he knows her right. fucking. there. “Don’t stop,” she commands as she fists her hand into his hair, holding him in place and ensuring that he won’t.

They’re here in some rural lake town in some backwoods mountain county in North Carolina, investigating a highly armed, somewhat regulated UFO cult that has made even the local authorities in Podunk, USA nervous. The suspected arsenal and explosives prompted the convergence of an interagency task force that comprises teams from the ATF and FBI, including Mulder and Scully from Domestic Terrorism. But it’s the mention of little green men that requires another FBI team on the task force, and it’s this presence of the X-Files division that has Scully on edge.

Their accommodations on the case have somewhat hindered the investigation. There’s no internet, no conference room. Most work requiring use of modern technology occurs in the city 45 minutes down the road. There is one rental car per four agents, and one room per two. With Scully being one of only two female agents on the case, there is no privacy for her and Mulder, no stolen moments, no way to ground herself through her partner’s touch. There’s just no getting away from Diana Fowley, not even while she sleeps.

The rooms themselves are rather nice in that rustic, simple kind of way, with small back patios overlooking a man-made lake and sandy shore. The floors are tiled rather than carpeted, which the manager said makes it easier to sweep the sand up.

Mulder shifts back and forth on his knees, surely cursing the sand as the tile presses taut patellar tendons into tibias and threatens to aggravate decade-long injuries. Injuries wrought by stamina, endurance compelled by a literal run away from demons and twisted minds and evil deeds.

Though no stamina would be necessary today. She is coiled so tightly he knows that only the barest of nudges will release her elastic potential energy, springing her free from the tension and irritation that have been steadily increasing since she arrived a week ago and learned who her roommate would be.

Today had been particularly rough. They’d made no headway in the case, and Agent Fowley’s perpetual use of Mulder’s first name, along with her determination to divert his focus to the supernatural, left Scully feeling prickly and combative and generally unpleasant. Diana had dumped them in the parking lot, the pair too caught up in their bickering to even acknowledge her hasty departure to pick up tonight’s dinner for the task force investigators.

As a sulking Scully opened the door to her room, Mulder knew exactly what she needed and he wasted no time gathering her in his arms and throwing her onto the closest soft surface.

Which is how she finds herself on her back, pulled to the edge of the bed nearest the front door. Her shoes and pantyhose are discarded in the corner alongside her no-show cotton bikini briefs, which Mulder seems to find sexier than her most expensive lace thongs. Her skirt is pushed up to her waist, her legs are over his shoulders, and he’s doing that thing to her clit with his tongue.

Her legs begin to quake and he knows she needs more before she even asks for it. He straightens, her ankles locked behind his neck, and plunges two fingers palm up deep into her cunt. With a thumb pressed firmly over her clit, he’s got a grip on her like a bowling ball. The cords and muscles of his forearm flex and extend as he works her into a frenzy.

The only sound in the room is the obscene, lubricious slick of her pussy, and the small grunts and whimpers that escape her clenched mouth. Her eyes are squeezed shut and her brows furrow as she tosses her head in some twisted parody of an exaggerated no.

She gasps in a sudden breath and her hips lift up off the bed. Her fingers grasp at the bedcovers, gathering handfuls, as her body stiffens. Her eyes shoot open in a combination of surprise, confusion and desperation. She groans an “oh, god” and then, “Mulder!” as fluid soaks his tie and dress shirt.

She lowers her hips back to the bed, and Mulder does not relent. He’s mesmerized and focused, and it is now he who chants the oh gods. His suited thighs are drenched, along with the front and back of her skirt and the bedding underneath her, and her cum puddles on the tile around his knees.

Her ankles unlock and slide down his arms to hang limp and exhausted over the side of the bed, and he slowly drags his fingers from her, making her legs twitch. A small crooked half smile breaks across her mouth and she sighs. She is spent and depleted and she’s never been sexier.

He places a kiss on the dewy bronze hair of her mons and gives her thighs a little squeeze. “Wow, Scully.” The awe in his voice thumps in her heart and the post-orgasmic rush of oxytocin fills her eyes with tears. She is overwhelmed by the love she has for this infuriating man, and too sated to be embarrassed. It’s simply another first shared between them.

“Guess I needed that,” she says.

He, too, is overwhelmed. “I guess you did,” he smiles.

He gives her hip a couple of taps and begins to stand. “Stay put. I’ll get a towel.”

She watches him dreamily as he rises. His clothes are saturated and the sight of it pulls her up to full awareness. She scrambles to sit up, her toes dipping into the wetness splashed over the tile. “God, Mulder, she could be back any second!”

He’s moving more quickly as he returns with a towel, gently blotting at his silk tie and mumbling something about never having it cleaned again. Scully is sitting where he left her, naked legs hanging to the floor and her skirt twisted and gathered around her waist. Her hair is mussed in the back, and her eye makeup is smeared. But her suit coat is still buttoned, her lipstick still applied flawlessly. The contrast between the indomitable office Scully and a throughly fucked Scully is adorable. His smile is beaming.

“What?” she asks shyly, looking up at him, as he takes a step back between her legs.

And disappears with a grunt.

Scully winces at the crack of his head hitting the ceramic flooring, but it’s the silence that spurs her into action. She nearly slips on the wet floor herself as she drops to Mulder’s side, relief washing over her when he rolls to his back and lets out a pained moan. He raises his free hand to cover the growing pumpknot purpling just inside the hairline above his temple.

“Open your eyes, Mulder, let me look at you,” she quietly directs as she tenderly combs her fingers through his hair, gently palpating his scalp while watching his pupils for any sign of concussion and concurrently soothing them both with her touch.

She helps him into a sitting position and removes his tie, tossing it into the corner. She takes the towel still clutched to his chest and begins nervously drying her legs, the floor, and the bottoms of his shoes before giving him the news he doesn’t want to hear: they’ll be paying a visit to the nearest hospital.

Hours later, her high heels dangling from two fingers, she lets herself back into the room. She is sticky, tired, and wrinkled, and not for the first time since she lowered Mulder into the back seat of a borrowed fleet car, she wishes she would have taken the time to put on some underwear. Her bare feet tiptoe through the door so as to not awaken her roommate and she is reminded of wild nights as an unruly teenager, sneaking in past curfew. As she pushes the door closed and turns around, she’s surprised to find the room awash in the dim light of a bedside lamp, and Diana curled up reading a book in her bed, the one nearer the balcony overlooking the lake.

“You’re out late,” Diana comments flatly without looking at her, then licks a finger before turning the page of her book.

Irritation boils in Scully’s chest at the absolutely unrestrained gall of this woman.

“That’s my bed,” Scully accuses, letting her navy blue pumps clatter to the floor.

Diana glances to the corner and then to the rumpled bed nearest Scully before settling her eyes on hers. “It appears you’ve taken my bed,” she retorts.

Scully follows Diana’s gaze. As she takes in the sight of her pantyhose intermingled with Mulder’s tie, and the wet, nearly unmade bed before her, her embarrassment is quickly eclipsed by satisfaction. Physically, emotionally, spiritually: she has everything she needs, and Diana holds no power over her anymore.

She lifts her chin haughtily, an almost-smile on her lips.

“That’s right, I have,” she responds before making a show of gathering her discarded undergarments and Mulder’s tie, carrying them to the bathroom where she takes a long, hot shower.

Diana has switched off the light and turned her back to the room by the time Scully slides under the sheets, exhausted but happy. For once, she doesn’t mind sleeping on the wet spot.

Tagging @today-in-fic

#the x files #txf #dana scully #fox mulder #x files fanfic #x files #xf fanfic #case fic

[that-blue-vault-dweller]

What about the companions realizing that they may never have heard the real name of sole even though they have been with her for a long time

Cait - Is a little angry when she realizes it, so she stomps right up to F!Sole and declares that she has been hiding something from her. F!Sole is completely surprised and protests, insisting that she would never hide anything from Cait. But when Cait tells her it is her name that she has hidden, F!Sole laughs before telling her the name. When Cait hears it, she is a little surprised at F!Sole's willingness to just tell her. She asks her why she hid it for so long, and F!Sole explains that no one really asks, so she does not usually think to tell.

Piper - Is somewhat upset and it is pretty early in their time together when she actually realizes it. Of course, she waits until she has travelled with her Blue for a longer time before finally asking her name, because she is worried that F!Sole is keeping her name to herself for a reason. Piper does not want to make her uncomfortable or bring back any potentially bad memories. When F!Sole tells her, Piper grins widely and offers her hand to shake, introducing herself once again, which naturally brings a laugh out of F!Sole.

Curie - Is disoriented and unhappy when she realizes that she does not know Madame's actual name. Therefore, she proceeds to ask and explain that she is very ashamed that she does not know this information. When F!Sole answers, Curie brightens considerably and gushes over what a beautiful name it is.

MacCready - When he realizes it, he is shocked and cannot believe that he has travelled with her so long without knowing something so important. He waits a little while before asking as casually as he can. As soon as he says it, he realizes that it sounds way more planned than he meant for it to. When she answers, he feels a lot better, but he still has a bit of awkwardness left behind from the way he asked, so he just sort of says that her name's cool and quiets for a while.

Deacon - When he realizes, he finds it terribly humorous, and he just laughs like crazy. Not too long after, F!Sole asks what is so funny. Then he tells her that somehow she has managed to keep something secret from the one person who knows pretty much every secret in the Commonwealth. When she asks what it is, he finally tells her that he does not know her actual name. She laughs a little in reply and starts to tell him what it is before he cuts her off quickly and tells her that he's going to figure it out on his own.

Codsworth - Knows her name, and is quite upset when he realizes most people in the Commonwealth have not called her by it. He therefore makes it his mission to introduce his mistress to everyone. That is, as long as she is alright with that.

Hancock - Is somewhere between finding it somewhat funny, being extremely curious, and feeling a little aggravated with the fact that he somehow does not know what her name is. So he asks as soon as possible, and when she answers, he smiles and tells her that she has a beautiful name.

Danse - Back when he recommended her to the Brotherhood, she introduced herself the higher-ups in private, so he missed her actual name. But he never really thought about it, because he always referred to her by her title. When he is out of the Brotherhood, he finally realizes that he does not actually know the name of the most important person in his life. He wastes no time in somewhat ashamedly and awkwardly questioning what her name is. When she tells him, he feels a warmth in his chest and he nods, at a loss for words as he thinks about the entire situation.

Preston - First realizes it when he proceeds to introduce her at an event for the Minutemen. He sort of pauses, and he looks at her with something akin to panic in his eyes before just deciding to say the General. As soon as she has finished her speech, then he pulls her over to the side, laughing somewhat nervously as he tells her that he does not actually know her real name. When she tells him, he nods in appreciation and grins, happy to finally have a real name to put with her.

Valentine - Is surprised at himself for never taking the time to actually think about that. He always calls her “kid” or “doll” but never really considered her true name. Therefore, he asks her the next time he sees her, and when she tells him, he makes sure to call her by that name, too. 

X6-88 - Knows her name, but has yet to hear it from anyone in the Commonwealth. He finds that to be quite strange, so he asks her why no one calls her by her name. He is even more confused when she explains that very few people have actually asked her what her name is.

Dogmeat - Does not care that he hasn't heard her name. He knows who she is, and to him, that's perfectly good enough. She smells amazing, sounds amazing, and treats him amazing, so he's happy no matter what her name is.

Strong - Is confused when he really thinks about it, so he wastes no time in just asking what her name is. When she responds, he is irritated and he informs her that she needs to change her name to something more tough. Like Spike or Gut-Head.

#fallout companion reacts #fallout companions react #fallout 4 #fallout #fo4 #fallout 4 companions react #fallout 4 companion reacts #fallout 4 companion #fallout companion #fallout companions #piper wright #x6-88 #dogmeat #strong #preston garvey #danse #paladin danse #hancock #john hancock #codsworth #maccready #robert maccready #deacon #cait #curie