#Johnson's battery is in his pocket

[cupcakeshakesnake]

Portal 2 AU - miscellaneous.

-

AU tag

#portal 2 #portal 2 au #glados #cave johnson #chell #android glados #android cave johnson #cave cube #portal 2 chell #body horror tw #injury tw #portal 2 fanart #snake's art #They're humming Cara Mia Addio in the last one #albeit without much intention #They both have their potato batteries at all times but I'm just too lazy to draw it #Johnson's battery is in his pocket #Glados' is conveniently out of sight

[offender42085]

Post 0177

Thomas J Johnson, Florida inmate Q90390, born 2000, incarceration intake at age 19, sentenced to life.

Sexual Battery Victim under 12, Obstructing Crime Investigation, Introduction of Contraband into a Detention Facility

Johnson stood motionless — his hand in his pockets – as the Judge read his sentencing decision. In the back of the courtroom, his mother and sister quietly sobbed.

Earlier, Johnson asked to make a statement during the hearing. He turned to those gathered in the courtroom, including the child’s family, and apologized.

“I’m sorry to the (child’s) family for all the pain and misery that this impacted on your lives,” he said.

Since Johnson was 17 and a juvenile when the crime took place in April 2018, he didn’t face a mandatory life sentence for sexual battery on a child, as would have been imposed on an adult. Instead, the Judge had latitude in imposing sentence after Johnson pleaded no contest to that charge and tampering with evidence.

In sentencing Johnson, the judge said the nature of the crime called for Johnson to be sentenced as an adult.. He also designated Johnson as a sexual predator, which would restrict his access to the internet, where he could live and other factors if he’s released from prison.

After the sentencing hearing, the girl’s father said he was relieved Johnson was sentenced to life imprisonment instead of something less, but he didn’t think even a life sentence was enough.

“It isn’t justice enough for my daughter,” he said. “I honestly think the death penalty is the way to go on a lot of things like this, but, of course, there are laws against things and they don’t do that anymore.”

Her mother said she was glad Johnson won’t be free to hurt anyone else’s child.

“I don’t like the fact that 20 years down the road they can redo the sentencing again,” she said, “but if they do, I will be here for that, to fight it.”

Under Florida law, juvenile defendants who are sentenced to life imprisonment are automatically brought back before the sentencing judge after 20 years, at which time the court reviews any rehabilitation that’s taken place and determines whether prison is still appropriate. Should the judge decide the defendant needs to remain in custody, another automatic review is scheduled for 10 years later.

Johnson was arrested April 28, 2018, just hours after calling the girl’s father to say she had been hurt and he needed to come home. The father called 911, and Johnson told deputies a masked intruder dressed all in black came into the home while he was sleeping. Johnson said he had chased the man from the house, then realized the child – one of three that had been left in his care that night – had been hurt.

As the investigation continued the night of the attack, a deputy and a K-9 went outside the mobile home in the rural Alturas area to track the stranger’s movements. The track, however, led to a bloody sheet that Johnson later admitted to hiding in the woods behind the house.

In her closing argument to the Court, the Assistant State Attorney reminded the Judge that the child was bleeding and crying in pain after the attack, and Johnson waited to call for help.

“Instead of going and helping her,” she said, “even at that point, he chose himself. He chose ... to go through the backyard, through the pasture, to the orange grove, to the trees and into the trees to hide that sheet, while she was sitting there bleeding, in all that pain. That baby – who is still crying so loudly (deputies) could hear her when they got to the home. That is powerful, judge, and one of the most disturbing things about this case.”

The Defense lawyer, with the state Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, had presented testimony that Johnson’s immaturity, his history of sexual abuse involving relationships with older women, his addiction to pornography and masturbation and his impulsiveness caused by his attention deficit disorder ultimately led to the attack that April night. She was seeking a lighter sentence Friday that would have enabled Johnson to receive therapy for those problems.

2f

[lu-undy]

Chapter 18 - SBT

Here it is!

"Hey, M!"

"Eddy. Oh, sorry, is it your lunch break?" 

Mundy had opened the door to the hunting shop only to find his friend devouring a sandwich on the counter, a slice of tomato peeking out of it. 

"Y-mmh, yeah, it's alright though, pal.  C'mere and sit down."

Mundy pulled "his" stool and sat opposite his friend. 

"So, what's up? Got any news about Johnson's stuff?"

"I got a lead."

Eddy's eyes shone in excitement. 

"Oh man! Did you come to me 'cause you need a rifle?" Eddy dropped his sandwich on the counter.

"Eddy."

"I got exactly what you need? Look, I received those brand news models, they're super good-" 

"Eddy." 

The small man grabbed one of the rifles behind him and showed it to Mundy. 

"Now, they got this new system where basically-"

"Eddy!" Mundy's voice got louder to interrupt his friend. It startled him. 

"What?" 

Mundy sighed. 

"I said I wouldn't touch a rifle again and I intend to keep that promise. Get it out of my sight." 

"No harm in just looking…?" Eddy pushed the end of his sandwich away and laid the rifle on the counter. "Now, as I was sayin' - oh…" 

When he put the rifle on the counter, Mundy got off his stool and took a few steps back as if the gun was radiating death itself. 

"Take it away." Mundy calmly asked, but Eddy saw him gritting his teeth.

"A-Alright…" And he did as he was told. 

"I have a lead but it doesn't mean that I need a gun. No one ever needs a gun. No one, and especially not me." Mundy said, still a few feet away from the counter. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and got close to the counter again. 

"So what's your lead then?" 

"Not sure exactly but I don't need that filth." Mundy nodded at the row of rifles behind his friend. 

"Fair enough. What's the plan then?" Eddy asked. 

"Kill time until dinner time." 

Eddy watched as his friend fell deep in thought again, his gaze was empty. The little man knew what he had to do in that case and that was to ignore Mundy and get back to his normal life. He grabbed the end of his sandwich and turned the radio on. 

Unbeknownst to the shopkeeper, Mundy was trying to plan the evening. He would need some clothes, a shave, and nicer hair no doubt. He looked at the nearest display case and saw his reflection. His messy stumble and slightly long hair wouldn't do. But he didn't want to go to a barber. He didn't have the strength to go and interact with yet another human being. Mundy had already been back for a few weeks and he had depleted his social energy.

He would shave on his own and tie his hair in a ponytail. That would do. For his clothes, he had an old suit somewhere in his van. It was black, but it would do. Black was classy, right? Good, he had a plan now.

"Right…" He got up and collected his hat.

"Good luck, but I know you won't need it." 

"Thanks, mate." Mundy left and found his van again. He slipped in and fastened his seatbelt. A good nap somewhere calm would be nice, to charge his batteries and be efficient in the evening. 

She drove, the van, and he enjoyed the low purrs of the engine, the vibrations and the sound. He switched gears and was now out of town on a strip of asphalt that split the desert. Her constant rumble lulled him and he rolled the window down. He rested his elbow on the door and tilted his head in the hollow of his hand. 

After a long drive on a lonely road, she parked in front of the lake. Mundy hopped off and took a minute to take in the view and stretch, smell some fresh air too. He removed his boots and socks and walked to the shore barefoot. He let the cold water hug his feet and the coolness slapped some life into him.

"Ah…" 

He looked at the water lazily hugging his toes before withdrawing slowly, and coming back with the next gentle wave. Mundy had time to kill so he took his time and enjoyed the wet and cool sensation. He pulled his trousers legs up and took a step more. Now the water was at the level of his ankles. Ah, he needed a chair… 

He went to the back of the van and grabbed his foldable chair, placed it on the shore of the lake and sat down under the sun, the water coming and going to his feet. Mundy relaxed, leaned back on his chair and pulled his hat to cover his eyes from the very bright sun. The heat on his body and the rhythmic embrace of the water at his feet was like a lullaby to a baby and he fell asleep. 

Mundy woke up hours later, rested and warm. 

"Right, gotta get ready for this." 

He bathed in the lake and went to the back of his van, a towel around his waist. He then took his razor and everything he needed to make his face look decent again. He went back to the lake and sat on his chair, before starting shaving. The surface of the water acted like his mirror. He stared at a face that he thought hadn't changed in a decade. But of course it did. 

"Ouch!"

He cut himself. Mundy ignored it and finished shaving. When he was done, he went back to his van. He opened the cupboard that contained his clothes and pushed the polo shirts aside. There was one thing hung there.

"Here it is." 

The black suit. His only suit. It hadn't been touched in ten years. White shirt, black jacket, black trousers. No vest though, he couldn't stand it. Vests were always too tight, they suffocated him. The bowtie was efficient enough on its own to do that…! 

Mundy's fingers hovered to the suit. They were trembling. Last time he had put this suit on… 

"C'mon." 

He took it off the cupboard and put it on as fast as he could, to not let his mind think about it all too much. He then rummaged through his drawers to find something to tie his hair with. 

"Ah, bugger…"

Mundy only found some elastic bands or bits of fabrics. He used one of the elastic bands and added a black long piece of fabric like a ribbon, to cover the cheap rubber, before adding a touch of deodorant.

When he raised his head again, he saw his reflection on the window and barely recognised himself. His face was very…. visible now. There was no hair or hat to hide it. 

Mundy's eyes darted left and right before he found his glasses and put them on again. Now he felt better, not as naked as before. After taking a glance at his watch, he hopped at the front of his van and drove to town. It was high time he got his dinner. 

-- The Queen Victoria -- 

"That's a lot of people…" Mundy mumbled to himself. 

"Sir?" 

"Huh?" The Aussie landed back to reality. He had entered the restaurant and was looking left, right, up and down. Never had he set foot in a place that fancy before. His eyes took it all in and he pretended it was normal. The patrons dressed as if they were about to meet the Queen herself, the walls draped in dark blue, the massive chandeliers above his head and his own reflection on the tiled floor. 

"Did you book in advance, Sir?" 

The penguin-like waiter was addressing the hunter. 

"Yes… Name's Emme."

The waiter checked the lengthy register below his eyes.

"Ah, yes, I see. Pray follow the young man here." 

Mundy followed the other waiter and noticed he was wearing a dark blue and golden attire, just like the one his dear Antonio Sanchez did. But it wasn't him. The name embroidered on it wasn't the one he was looking for. 

"If you would be so kind as to take a seat here, Sir." The waiter pulled the chair for Mundy to sit. "Here is the menu, I shall be back shortly." 

The Aussie nodded and looked around him. Couples, business partners, friends,  all filthy rich people. And then there was this man with a pony tail and yellow tinted aviator glasses… He took the menu and glanced over it. 

"Bugger…" 

He couldn't afford much of what was there so he flipped the pages straight to the desserts. He would order the cheapest one and would take his longest to eat it. 

Mundy's eyes wandered left and right. Any time he saw a waiter, he would squint to read the name on their jacket, but didn't see Sanchez. One of them stopped at his table and he ordered whatever that chocolate thing was that only cost one single eyeball...

"Ladies and Gentlemen…"

Oh what now…? Mundy thought, before the lights in the dining area turned down low and his attention was drawn naturally to the stage. 

"Here is the man you have all been waiting for…" The conductor was talking in a microphone. "After a brilliant career in the heart of France where he sang for kings and queens, legends of the movies and famous celebrities known worldwide, here he is… Lulu!" 

A man in a black suit walked forward to the microphone on the stage. Mundy looked left and right. People seemed very eager to hear him. No wonder, the man had apparently sung for rich and famous people!

But that did mean that the attention of all the people around Mundy weren't on him. Perfect window to strike… 

The Aussie had noticed the CCTV cameras. There were enough to spot the moves of the tiniest mouse. His eyes scanned the crowd intensely. The waiters came and went. 

Mundy's dessert landed in front of him and he nodded in thanks. He saw a leaflet slip to the table. 

"Oh, you dropped that."

"No, Sir, it's for you."

Mundy looked down at the small piece of paper. It was a… an advert? Mundy flipped it and on the back was a coupon. Half price on a dessert for the next show with that overly fancy French singer. Mundy slipped it in his pocket and looked at the plate in front of him.

He had chosen a chocolate cake of some sort. God knew what it was but the smell made his mouth water instantly and his attention was drawn back to his plate. He took a spoonful of it and the sweet pastry melted on his tongue. Oh it was rich and the chocolate was dark and strong, powerful even. The chocolate powder that was sprinkled on top stuck to his palate and as his tongue wiped it away, he felt the exquisite bitterness of cocoa. 

Gosh, that's good… 

His eyes went back up to the orchestra. It was quite big in terms of the number of musicians. The brass section was complete, the woods too. Mundy's gaze stopped at the saxophones. He used to play it, the sax, and he loved it. Ah, but those were other days, days where he actually would make a bit of money out of it, playing in pubs and local festivals… Mundy sighed. Those events had happened in a whole other life.

His eyes got pulled back to the front of the scene, where the man with the elegant suit was singing. That bloke sure looked like a suit was comfortable to wear… His vest had white wavy patterns that shone but not too brightly. It must have been velvet or something. There were the same patterns on his trousers on the sides, but they were black on black, much more discreet. 

Ah… 

That man knew what he was doing with his voice and the posters around town didn't lie… Mundy looked at him intensely. There he was, singing as if it was his last song, his brow furrowed at times, under the intensity of his words, and he would close his eyes. Other times, he would relax, his shoulders would sink, his eyes open slowly, revealing in between the long black eyelashes some very light blue eyes. 

Hm. 

Yeah, right there, right now, Mundy wished he had someone he could hold hands with, on the table. Someone who would slide his fingers through his own, keep him warm inside, make his chest shrink and burn and burst. 

Hm… 

Mundy rubbed his eyes and took more of his dessert. He wished the singer could stop. Mundy's musical ear from his days with the sax taught him how to appreciate a voice and damn that man had a bloody good one! And the lyrics… 

"When you knew that it was over

Were you suddenly aware

That the autumn leaves were turning

To the colour of her hair…"

Mundy shivered and his shoulders wiggled as he tensed on his seat. He had stopped listening to music for that exact reason, even the radio on the van. Since the events ten years ago, music hurt him. Melodies sliced him on the inside but words, lyrics…? They were absolute agony. Not only did they hurt him, they stayed carved in his memory.

That was one of the multiple curses Mundy was afflicted with. He was a professional killer with a sensitive soul. It was a curse but also necessary for him, for his work. Without empathy, he wouldn't want to save those animals. Without empathy, he wouldn't care for those alligators. And without empathy, he wouldn't have put back this black suit. 

Mundy sighed. It didn't suffocate him as much as it did last time he had put it on. No, it's true.

"Round,

Like a circle in a spiral, 

Like a wheel within a wheel,

Never ending or beginning,

In a ever spinning reel"

Well said, mate, well said. Mundy thought that time had rolled exactly in that fashion for the past decade. Round and round. He raised his eyes and they met with the singer's. His hair betrayed his age and gave Mundy the impression he was a bit older than him. His temples and front tuft were more salt than pepper. There were a few lines on his slim face too. But for that, the Aussie was the same. The only difference was that it wasn't time who traced those lines on Mundy's face, but the Australian sun.

"As the images unwind,

Like the circles that you find,

In the windmills of your mind." 

Mundy blinked and that's when it dawned on him. He had been resting his head on his hand, his elbow on the table, looking up at the singer, drinking the poetry in the lyrics of the song. Ah he wished… He wished he had the luxury to dwell on it longer, to let the wave of bittersweetness invade him, wash him, flush him on the inside. 

But nah. He had to find that Sanchez man… 

Mundy managed to unstick his eyes from the show and put his spoon on the empty plate. 

"Everything was alright, Sir?" 

Mundy raised his eyes to the waiter.

"Yeah, very good, thanks." 

"Perfect." The waiter in the blue and golden uniform bowed slightly to take the plate and his name caught Mundy's eye. 

Antonio Sanchez

His eyes popped wide and went back to the young man's face. His skin was darker than Mundy. He had a short, black beard, neatly cut black hair and seemed only a bit younger than Mundy himself. Sanchez spun on his heels and went away. 

That was it! Mundy now had a visual! He knew what the guys looked like! He couldn't follow him in the restaurant but at least he knew his face.

Mundy waited for the singer to finish and the crowd to applaud. He rose from his seat and went back to the counter. He paid what he owed and left to his van.

When the cold night air hit his skin, Mundy took a deep breath and put his hand on his chest. Ooh, he had needed that air, where had it all gone?! 

He walked for quite a while. He didn't want the van to be spotted and noticed. And an old van in a parking lot surrounded by Italian cars just wouldn't do…! 

Mundy let the van drive him back to where he was himself again: the lake. When she braked and parked, he threw the bowtie on the passenger’s seat as well as the ribbon and elastic band from his hair, freeing his brown wavy locks. He sighed as he did so. He hadn’t realised that it was constricting him so tightly. 

He spent his night on his bed as lightly dressed as he could. The suit had been a nightmare to wear but the music had made it somewhat bearable.

#tf2 sniper #tf2 spy #sniperspy #SBT

[buncompass]

“Are you ready?”

I opened my backpack for one last check. 

“Flashlights, EMF reader, laser grid, night vision camera, backup batteries...Yeah I think I’m set!” I pulled my flashlight out and closed up my bag.

“Okay, let’s go.”

We stepped out of the car and looked around. Other than the solitary dome light from the car, the abandoned yard surrounding us was a void being carried on a breeze. The branches of low-hanging trees swayed and beckoned as they danced into the shallow pool of light around us, raising the hair on the back of my neck in an instant. Despite the full moon, the tall reaches of the pines blocked off almost all of the night sky. I glanced over at Adam. He pulled his own flashlight out and clicked it on before closing the door behind him. The beacon he produced got lost up the front walkway before landing squarely on a crooked, heavily-graffitied door. I turned my light on - the equivalent of an additional match in a coal mine.

“You should start filming before we even get in.” Adam suggested. He sent his flashlight across the yard to illuminate various odds and ends. “I don’t want anyone saying we faked anything.”

“You got it.” I stuffed my flashlight away, pulled my phone out of my pocket and attached my tripod and light. No more holding a flashlight and phone at the same time for us, no sir. We were professionals now. I opened the livestream and pointed my rig at Adam. “Five seconds,” I said. He hurriedly ran a hand through his hair as he turned. After a breath, he set his regular “I’m amped to be ghost hunting” grin to his face.

“What’s up, ghoulfriends?” He asked, his focus entirely on the camera. A few of our streamers began to respond immediately. The chat box along the bottom of the screen was awash in ghost emojis and greetings. One of my many jobs was to keep an eye on the chat for any hints or tips. There was nothing there for me yet.

“I’m Adam, the creature behind the camera is Carlie, and we are here at the Angel House for our Halloween spooktacular livestream event!”

I panned away from Adam and focused on the walkway leading up to the abandoned structure. With a jerk of my head, I directed Adam to get walking. The Angel House wasn’t close enough to be in focus yet. He fell into step next to me, out of view of the camera. 

“The Angel House, so named after its late owner, Maurice Angelo, has been recommended to us multiple times. We’ve read the reports you’ve tagged us in and decided that Halloween was the best option for our investigation.” I said, filling my role as historian. “For those not in the know, Maurice Angelo died under mysterious circumstances in the early 1880s. He had no known children, and evidently left his home and grounds to the town. Now, nearly 150 years later, the Angel House sits way in the back of a conservation land. It has been unoccupied this entire time.”

As I spoke, the house began to fill the frame of my phone. What had once been a handsome Victorian manor home was now a sagging, warped building. I paused to let the viewers get the full effect of its broken windows, peeling siding, and crooked front steps. A section of wall to the far left side of the house was broken open. The front porch had a collapsed roof and broken floorboards. It was like the house itself was discouraging entry.

The chat box continued to fill as more viewers signed in to the stream. I watched for a couple seconds and smiled when one viewer posted a gif of a small girl with black pigtails.  The gif was then repeated by others, all agreeing on what the house looked like.

“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky..” I sang softly into the phone. More emojis lit up my screen. Our viewers were thrilled.

“They’re all together ooky, the Addams family!” Adam picked up the tune as we marched up the steps to the front door. He leaned forward and pushed it open on shrieking hinges. Our lights filled a cavernous foyer. Adam stepped ahead of me and I held back, careful to keep both him and the room in frame. A double staircase faced us, leading into the two opposite wings of the house. A broken, dusty chandelier hung above us. We paused again in the middle of the room, scanning the area for both the benefit of our viewers and ourselves.

“Do do do doo,” 

Adam clapped.

“Do do do doo!”

He clapped again.

“Do do do do, do do do do, do do do do,”

Someone clapped directly behind my head. I yelped and whipped around. The camera was pointed directly where I heard the sound. Adam, wisely, stayed put. This was our first piece of evidence - we didn’t want viewers thinking we were messing with them.

“What did you hear, Carlie?”

“Someone beat you to the last clap for the song, Adam.” I said. There was nothing behind us. I was staring out the open front door. My camera light bled out onto the porch, illuminating only a few feet out. Two busts sat on either side of the door on the inside along the wall. There were no additional doorways on the front wall of the house.

“Okay ghoulfriends,” Adam said. I panned slowly back around to where Adam stood. “This right here is why we wanted to do our first ever livestream at the Angel House! It seems we have a kindred spirit in here with us.” He grinned at his own pun. I provided the obligatory groan, glad to hear my voice had evened out. It’s hard to take ghost hunters seriously as is, let alone one who shrieks at the first piece of evidence. 

“The Angel House has exactly two reported deaths. The first being Mr. Angelo himself. The official report stated that he died of an undisclosed illness in his bed. The second reported death took place in 2001, on Halloween night. Exactly 19 years ago today.” 

“October 31, 2001 had the happy happenstance of having a full moon on Halloween. In fact, today is the first Halloween full moon since that night.” I added. Adam gestured to the rooms on the first floor beyond the staircases. The investigation had begun.

“On that date, local urban explorer and photographer Shawn Johnson decided to do a walkthrough of the Angel House. Now, Johnson was not a paranormal investigator. He was just a guy who loved exploring. While researching the house, we discovered his blog. The link will be posted on our page after the livestream.” Adam’s voice grew softer as we passed the staircase and walked towards an open doorway to the next room. It was a common theme for him - he started each investigation big and boisterous. When it came time for the actual investigating, he softened his tone. Something about big, empty, derelict buildings gave the same feeling as being in  a church. As though simply by talking, we were being  disruptive.

“Johnson believed that it was the unknown that made people nervous, not spirits or ghouls. So he opted for a nighttime exploration of the Angel House to prove, without question, that there was no such thing as ghosts. He wrote a preliminary blog post about it and outlined his plan for the night.” I explained. My tone matched Adam’s. 

“Unfortunately, Shawn Johnson never posted his follow up entry. He never made it out of the Angel House. His roommate woke up and checked his bedroom the next morning and found it empty. The police found Johnson in a guest bedroom on the second floor of the house, where he had died from blunt force trauma to the head. To this day, no one has found his camera.”

The chat box on the livestream was nonstop. Our fans were suggesting their own theories, expressing hope that we would find Johnson’s camera, and recommending what rooms to look in. I glanced through the thread. Nothing of relevance to the moment. 

We tiptoed over the threshold and found ourselves in a large kitchen. A cast iron stove lined one wall. The kitchen table, which at one point must have been beautiful with its intricate carvings and detail, was missing a leg and slanted to one side. Dust covered everything around us. Each step filled the air with an additional cloud. We poked through closets, looked out the windows, and opened every cabinet door. Nothing stirred. After a few more minutes of exploring. Adam signaled me to focus on him.

“So the main reason Carlie and I decided to start livestreaming was for better accountability. Believe it or not, we do read every single one of your comments and it breaks my little ghost-loving heart that you guys think we fake evidence.” Adam laid both hands over his heart and looked off into the distance, an exaggerated look of betrayal on his face. The chat box pinged with assurances in response. I grinned. 

“Whenever we investigate, we really do come alone. We don’t scope out places ahead of time, we don’t set anything up ahead of time. We do as little editing as possible, we just trim down on time to fit our investigations into a reasonable length. And to prove to you that it really just is us here, I want to direct your attention to the floor.”

I aimed the tripod down to our feet. Both of us wore heavy combat boots laced up tight. It had taken exactly one step on a rusty nail wearing Converse back in our early days to encourage safe footwear. 

“As you all can see, the floors of the Angel House have a pretty thick layer of dust. No one else is here. Every touch, every footstep, is 100% us.” Adam continued. I recorded our last few footsteps. The heavy treads of two pairs of boots, one smaller than the other, marked our way across the dilapidated kitchen.

“No activity has been found here, so it’s time for us to move on!” Adam walked back into frame. I recorded his feet for good measure, so that the viewers could see the footprints he left on the 140-year-old floors, when he stopped.

“Carlie, what the hell.”

“What?” I asked. I panned up to his face. He was looking at the floor ahead of us. I walked forward, keeping him in frame until I scanned farther up to the entryway to the kitchen. 

A third set of footsteps was clearly imprinted in the dust. It looked as though a third person had peered into the kitchen before walking away.

“Oh my God,” I whispered. 

“Come on!” Adam walked briskly toward the doorway. The third set of prints had come up from the perimeter of the foyer beyond the room. They were large, clearly men’s, but the tread did not match Adam’s in the slightest. I aimed the camera up to Adam’s face.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“I think we should follow them back to their source. If there’s someone else here, that could be unsafe for us. I want to see where they came in, because we would’ve heard someone come in the front door.”

“Right.” I agreed. We left the kitchen and walked along the third set of tracks. The chat box continued to roll. A few people thought we were messing with them, because why else make a big deal of our footprints if not to set up a mysterious third set? One commenter suggested we were intentionally misdirecting them. 

“It looks like whoever this was came down from the second floor.” Adam pointed at the tracks on the side of one of the grand staircases. I aimed my camera light around the area behind us. Only our tracks followed the third. 

“I guess we should just follow it up.” I suggested. Adam nodded and took a breath. Me and our viewers watched him steel himself as he led me forward to the staircase. 

“Oh, hey, battery and service check.” I reminded him. “If it ends up being just some creepy rando I want to be able to call for help.” He pulled out his phone and checked. 

“87%, full service.” He showed his phone screen to the camera and held it as the lens adjusted to his screen’s brightness. Once the camera registered his home screen, he pulled it down and tucked his phone into his pocket. Immediately, the chat box exploded. I held up a hand to keep Adam where he was. The thread was filled with exclamations and questions.

“Adam, the viewers saw something behind you.”

“What?” He looked behind him and shouted. I rushed forward and looked where he was pointing. The third set of steps had circled back behind him and gone up the stairs. I scanned up the staircase. In my first shot of the footsteps, they had been leading down on the left side. Now there was another set of the same footprints going up the right.

“EMF, now!”

I turned away from Adam so that he could access my bag. I kept the camera level as he dug through the pockets, searching for the tiny, handheld device that read electromagnetic frequencies. In a previous video, we proved that it was not set off by either of our phones or equipment, so Adam bypassed the explanation and held it  up. The little range of lights flashed immediately from green to red.

Something was in there with us. 

“Okay ghoulfriends!” Adam said, his voice an excited whisper. “The mysterious third set of tracks starts down the staircase and it looks like they loop around the back of the foyer. Whoever is here with us must have peeked in on us in the kitchen before going around the far end and then up the stairs behind us.”

“It can’t be some random person!” I said. “Our prints are the only ones from the front door and these steps originate somewhere upstairs! Unless some homeless person floated up there we can rule that out entirely.”

“Okay, let’s go!” Adam led the way up the stairs. We walked up the middle, keeping the mysterious footprints clearly on either side of us. At the top of the stairs we looked around. The EMF reader remained staunchly red.

“If we follow the prints to our left, we’ll see where they came from. If we follow them to the right, we’ll see where they lead. What do you think, everyone? Which way should we go?”

The chats were evenly divided. The viewers erupted into an argument about what made the most sense for capturing evidence of a ghost. Some argued that seeing the source would debunk the possibility of a third person in the house with us. Many argued that if we followed to where they lead, we’d see if it was a person. Some pointed out that either way, we’d be able to figure something out through a real-life sighting or process of elimination.

“It seems like our ghouls can’t decide!” I said.

“Well, then it’s a good thing we live in the future! Extra tripod please!” Adam reached for my bag again and took out a smaller handheld tripod and light. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, set it up, and held it up. 

“If you go back to our main page, you will see that we now have two streams! Stick around with Carlie if you want to see the source, and bounce on over to me if you want to see where they’re going!” 

I watched as half of our viewers left the current chat. 

“Okay Team Carlie, are we ready?” I asked. The chat lit up. 

“And Team Adam, are we set?” Adam asked his own chat. He shot me a thumbs up.

“Then Let’s Ghoul!” we both chanted. With a little wave at each other, we both turned to our respective quests.

The left hallway was as dark and dusty as the foyer below. A few doors to my right hung open, and a few more seemed to not have doors at all. They were simply yawning expanses of darkness until my camera light passed over them. The loss of Adam’s massive presence heralded the return of the creeping feeling on the back of my neck. I felt my entire body stand at attention, took a breath, and walked into the darkness. I directed my camera down to the floor. The mysterious third set was still to my left.

“As you guys can see, the footprints are a pretty decent size.” I stomped my foot next to one of the steps. Even with my big boots on, the extra set was larger. “I’m not sure what shoes looked like in 1880, but I’m fairly certain they didn’t have running sneakers. I wonder if we’re looking at the footsteps of the late Shawn Johnson?”

Talking to the chat made me feel less alone. I read their responses and theories as I walked to the far end of the hallway. The trail led me to the last door on the left. 

It was closed.

“Now that’s weird. Look at this! The steps clearly walk out through the doorway, but the door isn’t open. Do you think whoever did this doesn’t have to worry about doors?”

I took a breath.

“I guess there’s no use delaying this, huh? Okay, ghoulfriends. Let’s do it.” 

I kept the camera focused on the doorknob as I reached forward, grasped the cold, tarnished brass, and turned. The door opened inward, dragging along the dusty floor and mussing up the footsteps. I quickly panned up and did a sweep of the room. Nothing stirred.

“It looks like we’re in a bedroom.” I whispered to the chat. “It doesn’t look grand enough to be old Mr Angelo’s bedroom. This must be a guest bedroom.” 

A section of the wall was broken open. A massive branch had long since crashed down into the bedroom, leaving its rotted corpse behind. The furniture, having been exposed to the elements for who knows how long, bowed out at odd angles after absorbing moisture from outside. An ancient broken mirror stood facing the gaping hole in the wall. The shards of glass had been scattered along the floor. 

With my scan of my surroundings complete, I panned back down to the footsteps on the floor. Debris from the broken mirror and furniture pieces obscured what had once been a clear path. I followed them around the derelict bed towards the broken section of wall, placing my steps carefully.

“I’m not sure how secure this section of the house is.” I said to the chat. A few well-wishers told me to be careful. “If I feel like there’s any chance that this floor is unstable, I’m going to go find Adam. I’m looking for ghosts, not construction projects.”

I picked my way over to the mysterious source of the footsteps. The soft, rotted branch covered it up. I placed my foot on the floor next to it and pressed.

“I’m slowly applying pressure to the floor here. I’m not hearing any creaks or groans or anything, so I think I should be good.” Confident that the floor would support me, I stepped over completely and pushed the branch with my foot. It barely moved. The footsteps were clearly coming from beneath it. I looked around and spied a dresser not far behind me. 

“Okay guys, I’m going to put you right here and see if I can move the log. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful!” 

The camera light was aimed directly where I needed to be. I carefully squatted down, placed my hands underneath the damp, rotted trunk, and heaved. The tree creaked against the remaining wall. 

“One more time, I think!” I called back to my camera. I pushed again, and with a crack, the branch broke over, exposing the floor below. 

The footsteps came from the broken wall.

“What the hell?” I looked at the section of wall. There, nestled between the interior and exterior walls, was a battered camera. 

“Oh my GOD you guys, I think I found Shawn Johnson’s missing camera! Hold on, this is insane!” I stuck my arm into the wall. The moment my fingertips met plastic, I heard a rush of footsteps behind me. 

“What the--” Something sharp hit the back of my head, and I went down.

***

The floor was cold and hard beneath me. The back of my head throbbed. I opened my eyes, but saw nothing. Terror flooded my lungs as I blinked. I waved my hand in front of my face. In the darkness, I saw the stirrings of movement. My vision was fine; it was the room that had gone dark. I groaned and pushed myself up. Nausea stabbed through me. I leaned back against the wall and waited for the feeling to pass. 

“Okay,” I whispered. “Someone else was here. They hit me. They took my phone and tripod rig.” I sat on the floor and stared around the room, willing my eyes to adjust to the blackness. Shapes gradually appeared around the room. There was the bed, the dresser that had held my camera, the broken mirror across the room. Once I was sure my eyes were as focused as they could be, I pushed myself up against the wall and eased myself up. 

Whoever hit me had done an excellent job. Standing made me aware of how out of proportion I felt - my arms and legs felt too long for my body. Could I have brain damage? Was this just leftover dizziness? I shook my hands in an attempt to change the way they felt. No luck.

“Shit.” I whispered again. I shook my head and made myself focus. I had to find Adam. We would call the police, wait in the car, and everything would be okay. A shaky plan, but a plan nonetheless. I left the room feeling asymmetrical. 

The darkness enveloped me in the hallway. I paused to listen but heard nothing. Adam’s voice was so distinct, so easy to pick out, that he couldn’t be up on the second floor anymore. I would’ve heard him even if he were doing his excited livestream whisper. I walked down the hallway, keeping my hand on the wall for support. The camera light had spoiled me; I had never known such intense darkness. If Angel House had been creepy with poor lighting, it was menacing in the dark. I kept my focus on one thing: finding Adam. Whoever blitzed me thought I was already down, so I had to assume they were otherwise preoccupied. I stared around me, hoping for a break in the darkness, when my hand left the wall and found the railing to the grand staircase.

Quickly and quietly, I stole down the staircase and looped back to the kitchen. Just before the doorway I paused and listened, hard. Not a single noise. I peered around the frame and looked in. The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was an expanse of darkness. I could make out the shapes of the lopsided table and stove, but not much else.  

“Adam?” 

No answer. I kept heading forward. We had only explored a small portion of Angel House, so the rest of the building was an unknown. I had no idea what else was on the first floor. My hand trailed along the wall next to me. The far corner of the room approached, a faded picture staring back at me. As I walked nearer, the face in the picture grew larger.  I stopped and stared. The face in the picture was hard to make out in the darkness. I took another step. The face in the picture grew larger still. Panic had finally started to settle in my ribcage. I strode forward, determined. The expression in the picture matched mine. 

He had a long face, a broad nose, and dark eyes. I turned my head to get a better look. He turned with me. I shook my head. He did the same. 

It was a mirror.

“What the hell. What the hell. What the hell??” I shouted. 

My voice, his voice, echoed across the empty foyer. It didn’t matter that there was someone else in the house. It didn’t matter that someone had tried to attack me. What mattered was that, somehow, I was staring out of someone else’s eyes into someone else’s face in a mirror. He was tall and thin, though somehow familiar. I leaned against the wall, bracing my considerably larger frame on a man’s hands and stared into the mirror. I took in the bold eyebrows and stubby facial hair. 

“Shawn Johnson,” I realized. Adam and I had studied his blog. There had been exactly one picture of the photographer. While he was exploring some old church somewhere he ran into another urban explorer. They had stood, arm in arm, grinning into their camera before exploring the church together. 

The camera!

Pieces began to fall into place. Shawn Johnson had died in a second floor guest bedroom. The report we read named blunt force trauma. That would explain the head pain. Had he been murdered? Did I have to relive his last few moments because I found his camera?  Or was the ghost of Shawn Johnson trying to get me to understand something else? I dropped my hands from the wall around the mirror. Of course. The tree. The trees surrounding Angel House had swayed so easily in the breeze when Adam and I had pulled up. The branch I moved had been huge. It must have fallen into the tree, hit Shawn in the head, and knocked him out. 

So why was he here? And why was I with him? I paced in front of the mirror. Shawn hadn’t been a paranormal investigator. He was an urban explorer and photographer. He had come here to disprove the paranormal. I snorted. Before I could even begin to think of the irony of that theory, a car door slammed in the distance. 

“Adam!” I called out. Had he gone out to the car to look for me? I ran along the side wall of the foyer and stopped in front of the window. There, down the front walkway, stood Adam. He was facing someone and gesticulating at the house. A bright light shone in my direction. Adam must have gone for the police. He obviously couldn’t expect to find out that I had been possessed by the ghost of the guy we were hoping to find. He had gone for help. I smiled. This was going to be an interesting conversation. But on the bright side, I’d be able to take Adam and the cops to Shawn Johnson’s camera. 

I watched Adam fall into step with his companion. They walked up the walkway together, and I heard their voices lilting back and forth. There was no hurry in their stride. Their conversation sounded formal, informative. I pressed my - Shawn’s - face against the glass. 

Adam was walking up the walkway with a young woman, carrying a tripod. He was walking up the walkway with me. 

I watched us trek across the front porch and heard my own voice begin to sing.

We were walking up the front walkway the way we had earlier in the evening. I was watching myself film Adam as he clapped in tune to the theme song. The front door shrieked open, just as it had when I had been the one operating the camera, Adam and the other Carlie walked into the foyer. I approached us, stunned. We were staring around the foyer, panning across for shots. I came to a stop directly behind what should have been me.

“Do do do doo,” 

Adam clapped.

“Do do do doo!”

He clapped again.

“Do do do do, do do do do, do do do do,”

I clapped.

#short story #halloween #the addams family #ghost story #haunted house #this was fun give me critiques

[orlaithcoralie-blog]

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Snow Sparkles Like Stars: Chapter 1 - Snowbound

Here it is, y’all!

View the (terrible) moodboard I made here

“Mom! Can you please stop talking for one fucking minute?!  I can’t seeing a goddamn thing!” Kylo screamed at the rental car’s dashboard where his phone was mounted and switched to speakerphone.  He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes trying to see the road through the snow.  All he could see was the glow of the car’s headlights against a wall of white.

“Language, Ben!  And what do you mean you can’t see anything?” Leia sharply scolded.

Oh my fucking God, really?  “Kylo, Mom.  It’s Kylo now.  And was I speaking fucking Chinese?  Or some language you don’t know?”  he snarled through gritted teeth.  Did Leia speak Chinese?  He couldn’t remember.

Leia heaved an exasperated sigh.  “I gave birth to you, Benjamin, Solo, and I will call you by the name I gave you, not whatever pseudonym you picked for yourself.  Is it snowing that hard there?”

“Jesus Christ! Yes, Mom!  Check your damn weather app!  Or the news!” Kylo shouted.

“Fine.  Stop shouting!” Leia snapped.  Kylo could hear her mumble something to Han on the other end, and he heard the muffled sound of the TV appear in the background.  God, this trip was a mistake.  Overcome the other day by an uncharacteristic wave of nostalgia, Kylo had agreed to travel to his parents’ home in Seattle for the holidays.  There were no flights available out of Boston, several having already been cancelled due to a strange bout of severe weather in the Pacific Northwest area, so Kylo decided to rent a car and drive, hoping the storm would clear by the time he reached Washington.  He was sincerely regretting his decision at the moment as innumerable fat flakes of streaking snow slammed into the car’s windshield creating a hypnotizing warp effect.    

“Oh shit,” Leia muttered through the speakerphone.

“Yeah.  ‘Oh shit,’” Kylo retorted.

“Honey, you gotta pull over.  The whole area is like, red.”

“I’m trying to find somewhere to do that,” Kylo snarked.

“Don’t sass me, Ben.  I mean it, you need to pull over right now.  You can’t wait until you find a Motel 6 or something.”

“I’ll freeze, Mom.”  Kylo rolled his eyes at Leia’s insistence.  It shouldn’t be too hard to find an exit since he was still on the highway.  Wait, is that a tree?!  “SHIT FUCK!” Kylo screamed as he jerked the wheel to the right to avoid the grouping of trees that had suddenly appeared.  The car swerved and careened off the road into a deep bank of snow, coming to a stop.

“BEN!” Leia hollered.

Kylo sat back in his seat, breathing heavily.  There was nothing in front of him except white and darkness.  When the fuck did I get off the highway?!

“I’m fine.  I’m fine, Mom.  Calm down.”  He put the car in reverse and pressed his foot gently on the gas.  He could hear the tires working and the engine revving, but the car didn’t move.  He pushed the pedal harder.  Nothing.

“Ben?”

Kylo banged his head on the steering wheel, realizing he was stuck in the snow bank.  “I think I’m gonna be a few days late, Mom,” he grumbled.

“Where are-” Leia was cut off.  Kylo grabbed the phone, poking and prodding it.  It was useless.  The battery had died.

“Well, shit,” Kylo mumbled to himself.  He unbuckled his seat belt and pulled his long black wool coat from the back seat, tugging it on and slipping his phone in the pocket.  He opened the glove compartment and grabbed the fitted black gloves he kept there.  He took a look at the gas gauge and groaned.  Almost empty.  Just as panic was about to set in, he heard a crunching next to the car.  It was faint underneath the wind, which was picking up speed.  He heard a low whine and a snuffling sound, and he froze.  Were there wolves out here?!  He wasn’t goddamn Liam Neeson!  A soft tap at the top of the driver’s side window caught his attention.  Kylo looked up and saw the tip of a green mitten waving at him.  He looked at both front doors, wondering how he was going to get out.  The front of the car was more or less buried in the deep snow.  The driver side back door also appeared to be buried, but the passenger side seemed manageable.  Kylo killed the engine and crawled over the console.  His large frame made it awkward and difficult in the small car, but he managed after a minute or two of grunting and cursing.

Grasping the handle, Kylo gave the door a shove and tumbled out into the deep snow.  As he stood, the wind whipped around him, cold and harsh.  The snow bit and stung, and Kylo held his gloved hands up to his ears, which were quickly starting to go numb.  He jumped when a large black shape appeared in front of him.  It was a massive wolf like dog with thick black fur, its head head down against the wind.  Kylo stared at the dog, and the dog stared at Kylo, neither making a move.  

“Fuck!” he cried when a mittened hand tapped his arm.  Kylo turned and saw a figure bundled tightly in heavy winter gear apparently looking at him.  Whoever it was was a good deal shorter, but that was all Kylo could tell.  They wore a heavy snowsuit, the green mittens, a large bulky knit hat and scarf, and goggles.  They tugged his arm and gestured to a spot off in the distance where Kylo could barely make out the warm glow of a light.  He nodded to the figure, and they started for the glow.  Kylo had to keep his head down against the blinding snow, so the figure held his arm with both hands, guiding him.  The massive black dog led the way through the deepening snow, looking back every so often to make sure they still followed.  Eventually, Kylo felt solid wood beneath his feet, and he looked up to see a solid front door of dark mahogany wood, a brightly lit porch light on either side.  The dog was sitting beside the door, waiting patiently for its master.  Now that he could see better, Kylo saw that the dog was indeed massive and wolf like.  It stared at him with one bright blue eye with an almost human intelligence.  Kylo blinked.  Where the other eye was supposed to be was a jagged pink scar.  It was half blind.  The person with him was brushing the snow from their clothes, somewhat protected now by the sloped roof’s large overhang.  They brushed the snow from Kylo’s back and shoulders as well.  Kylo gave a stomp to rid the snow from his legs and feet, the other person following suit before they reached for the door handle.

A blast of pleasant warm dry air hit Kylo as the door swung open into a tiled laundry room.  He followed the suited figure inside, the half blind dog bringing up the rear.  The dog gave a shake and padded quickly out of the room.  Kylo could hear several excited yelps and howls coming from a room nearby.  He gave himself a similar shake, ridding himself of more snow and water while heavy boots thudded against the floor as they were kicked off and mittens and a balled up scarf flew past his eyes into a nearby sink.  He stood frozen in place, not sure of the etiquette for this type of situation.  He turned towards his rescuer, opening his mouth to thank them, but nothing came out.  He watched long chestnut hair tumble from the hat and goggles and a slender form clad in thick wool socks, grey leggings, and an oversized Fair Isle knit turtleneck appear out of the heavy snow suit.  His rescuer, a young woman apparently, turned and smiled kindly up at him, her hazel eyes sparkling with warmth.  

Kylo cleared his throat a few times before he was sure he could speak.  “Umm, thanks for saving me,” he said, his voice scratchy.  He shuffled his feet nervously, suddenly feeling very awkward in the small laundry room.

Her pretty pink lips stretched into a broad amused smile.  “You’re just lucky my dogs noticed.  You’d still be out there if they didn’t,” she replied with a laugh.  Kylo cocked his head in surprise.  She spoke with an English accent.  Kylo understood now why people swooned over it.  He watched her as she began to leave the room, appreciating the sway of her hips even under the sweater when she turned around sharply.  Kylo blushed having been caught staring at her ass.

She raised a brow.  “You can come in you know.  My dogs don’t bite,” she said teasingly.

Yeah, but I do.  Whoa, down boy!  “Umm, thanks.  Again.  I promise I’m not an axe murderer or anything.  Name’s Kylo Ren,” he said lightly as he divested himself of his heavy coat, shoes, and gloves.

His comment was greeted with a peal of bright laughter.  “Rey Johnson, also not an axe murderer.  And you’d be dead on the floor right now if you were.”

Umm, what?  Yeah, the black dog was big, but not that big.  Kylo laughed lightly in bemusement at the young woman’s joke, until he rounded the corner into the kitchen and realized she probably wasn’t joking.  Fifteen eyes were staring at him, and he could feel every single one.  He felt warm damp breath on his numb fingers, and he looked down into one bright blue eye.  The black dog that had followed him inside was sitting next to him, and Kylo had to admire the beast.  Seated, the top of the dog’s head came up to his hip, and Kylo tentatively stretched out a couple fingers for the dog to sniff.

There was a moment of silence before the cacophony started.  It was a symphony of howls, yelps, and wails that built upon each other until the whole house was practically shaking with the noise.  Rey held up her hands and made a hissing sound.  The noises stopped almost immediately.

“This is Kylo,” she said sternly.  “He’ll be staying here until the storm passes.  Be nice.”  She lowered her arms and seven large furry bodies rushed him, wet noses glistening and almond shaped amber eyes inquisitive.  The black dog beside him gave a low rumble, and the others backed off a few inches and sat, tails swishing across the hickory floor.

“Whoa,” Kylo exclaimed, impressed.

“That’s Odin,” Rey explained.  “He’s in charge.  Well, technically, I’m in charge, but he’s in charge after me.”

Kylo gave Odin a tentative scratch behind the ears.  Odin closed his eye and pressed closer to Kylo’s side.

“What kinds of dogs are these?  And what are you?  A dog breeder or something?  Zookeeper?”

Rey laughed again and leaned against the black marble countertop.  “Zookeeper is pretty accurate.  They’re Alaskan Malamutes.  I’m a part time musher and dog trainer.”  

Rey rested her cheek in her hand and watched as the dogs approached Kylo one by one for sniffs and pets.  “They’re all rescues, actually.  Overzealous Game of Thrones fans wanting direwolves and getting an actual animal with a personality that requires training and not just an animated stuffed animal, that sort of thing.”  

“Why does Odin look so different?” Kylo asked curiously as an all white Mal led a seal and white Mal up to him.  The seal and white Mal had two milky colored eyes.  It was totally blind.  Kylo held his fingers out and watched as the white dog nudged the other one forward into Kylo’s hand.

“He’s a wolf hybrid.  I rescued him from an asshole who bought him from some other asshole breeding illegal hybrids for I don’t even want to think about it.  Guy shot Odin when authorities were called in,” Rey answered darkly.

Kylo hummed in sympathy as he stroked the blind dog’s head gently.  People are monsters.

“That’s Heimdall.  I found him wandering the side of the road.  Mjolnir is the all white one.  I call him MewMew.”

Kylo chuckled.  “Are they all named after a member of the Norse pantheon?”

“Yes, actually.  The agouti is Frigga.  The red is Freya.  The sable is Thor.  The silver is Sif.  The grey is Loki,” Rey stated, pointing at each dog in turn as she named it.

“Why’d you name them that way?”

Rey shrugged.  “I’m not sure.  I got Odin first, and the name just kind of came to me.  Wanted to stick to the pattern I guess.”  She got a crystal glass down from a cabinet.  “Come on guys!  Let the man in!” she commanded.

The dogs all reluctantly left Kylo’s side and scampered into the living room, allowing him to walk further into the kitchen.  It was a well appointed space, warm wood and high end appliances.  Delicate lights hung from long cords over a snack bar, casting a gentle glow.  A Wolf stainless double oven range and a Sub-Zero stainless fridge shined bright, proudly on display.  Rey followed her pack into the living room, Kylo following close behind.  What he saw took his breath away.  He wasn’t an architecture or design enthusiast, but he could appreciate the aesthetics all the same.  A fire blazed in a large fireplace, casting its gentle warmth into a high ceilinged living space.  The house was clearly an A-frame design, the ceiling coming to a clear point high above.  Wooden beams spanned the arch.  Kylo spied a spiral staircase in a shadowy corner that led up to a loft.  Near the kitchen was a large bathroom and a closed door.  Large panes of thick glass made up an entire wall overlooking what was probably a deck.  Kylo could hardly make out the blizzard in the dark, but the snow was clearly piled high.  Around the fireplace were two comfortable looking chairs with end tables and a large sectional covered in blankets.  Several of the dogs assumed various positions on the couch, Freya, Sif, and Loki on the actual seat cushions and Thor and Mjolnir on the back cushions like cats.  Kylo now saw the purpose of the several blankets.  Heimdall was curled in the seat of one of the chairs, staring blindly into the fire.  Frigga and Odin were resting together in front of the fireplace on a thick rug with a Southwest motif.  A tumbler of amber colored liquid sat on a coaster on a glass topped table beneath a lit floor lamp.  A knitting project sat on the seat of the other chair, needles and yarn waiting for nimble fingers to start back up.  Rey was at the wall under the loft where a sideboard stood.  A variety of crystal decanters stood on a tray beneath a spotlight.  

“Can I get you something?” Rey called over her shoulder.  

Kylo could only stare at her, unable to believe his luck at having landed in such a situation.  A comfortable house, fluffy dogs, a pretty girl?  What were the odds?

Rey turned and arched an eyebrow at him again.  “To drink?” she continued when he didn’t answer.

“Uhh, yeah.  Whiskey if you’ve got it.”

“You’ll have scotch,” she replied primly.  As she strode towards him, Kylo surreptitiously admired her gait.  She walked like a model.  Graceful, practiced, controlled.  When he reached out to take the glass from her, his fingers brushed hers lightly.  Warmth and electricity shot up his arm, and he blinked in surprise.  He almost dropped the glass when she gasped softly.  She feels it too.

Rey cleared her throat and went to her chair, folding her legs beneath her and taking up her knitting, her fingers flying nimbly.

“Just shoo Heimdall.  He won’t mind,” Rey urged.

Kylo felt bad about shooing a blind dog, so he simply sat on the floor in front of the chair.  Heimdall raised his head and sniffed Kylo’s dark hair with gentle puffs.  Kylo kept it longer than he probably should for an academic of his standing, but he liked it.  He scratched Heimdall’s chin, the dog leaning in eagerly.

“Suit yourself,” Rey said with a shrug.  They were quiet for a few minutes, and Kylo’s eyes drifted closed as he sipped his drink, the liquid a pleasant fire in his mouth, a warm balm for his chilled body.  Rey’s knitting needles clicked and clacked as the fire crackled.  The dogs chuffed and snored softly, their deep chests rising and falling with each breath.  Heimdall continued to stare at the fire as if he could see it, allowing Kylo to rest his head back on the soft chair cushion.  Damn, this is nice.  Like something out of a painting.

Rey’s voice drifted over to Kylo, a gentle inquisitive murmur.  “What do you do, Kylo?”

“Hmm?”  Kylo hummed, lolling his head in Rey’s direction.

Rey laughed quietly.  “What do you do for a living?”

“Oh.  I teach myth and cosmology.”  This scotch is really good.

“Really?  Where at?”

“Harvard.”

Rey put down her knitting and leaned on the arm of her chair towards him.  “What’s Boston like?  Is Harvard really as impressive as it sounds?”

Kylo laughed lowly.  People always asked him things like that when they found out where he taught.  “Boston’s great.  And short answer, no.”

Rey sighed and looked at the fire.  “I bet you’re pretty popular with the students.”

Kylo laughed loudly at that.  Several of the dogs raised their heads, but quickly dropped them back down.  “What makes you say that?”

“Your voice,” Rey murmured distractedly, her chin in her hand and her eyes on the flames.

Kylo sat up straight.  “What?”

“What?”  Rey shook her head as if coming out of a daze.

“What did you just say?”

Rey blushed and slipped her feet out from under her, resting them on the ottoman in front of her chair.  “Oh.  Umm, your voice.  You have a pleasant speaking voice,” she supplied at last.

Oh.  He supposed it was true.  Kylo had never really thought about his voice all that much.  It was true, his classes were pretty popular, but he had always attributed that to the subject matter, not necessarily anything to do with him.

“If you teach at Harvard, what are you doing here?”

“My parents live in Seattle.  I promised I’d visit for the holidays this year,” he muttered.

“That’s nice,” Rey replied cheerily.

Kylo scoffed.  “Speaking of which, do you have a phone charger?  I was on the phone with my mom when I crashed, and I should tell her I’m safe.”

“Oh that’s sweet!” Rey chirped as she handed him the small square device and cable.  “There’s an outlet under the chair.”

“Hardly,” Kylo snorted.  “She send out the National Guard if I don’t tell her I’m okay.”

Rey laughed until she saw that there was no lie in his statement.  “Surely you’re joking.”

“Okay, not the National Guard, but maybe the Washington State Police.”

“Who is your mother?”

“Leia Organa.”

“THE SENATOR?!”

Kylo rolled his eyes.  “Yes,” he replied exasperatedly.  “Oh, where am I, by the way?”

“Umm, just outside Spokane,” Rey offered as Kylo dialed.

“Ben?! Ben is that you?!” Leia shrieked into the phone.  Kylo had to hold the device away from his ear.  Heimdall’s ears twitched.

“Yes, Mom,” he answered with a groan.  “Just calling to tell you to call off the search.  I’m fine.”

Leia sighed loudly.  “Where are you?”

“Just outside Spokane.  Hit a snowbank in someone’s yard and they were kind enough to offer me a place to keep warm,” Kylo said, looking at Rey.

“Someone?  What kind of someone?  Is it a girl?!  Oh my God Ben please tell me it’s a single girl.”

“Okay. Bye, Mom.  Hanging up now.”

“Don’t you dare!  Ben!  Tell me about the girl!”

Beep.  Kylo flicked the switch on the side to silence the phone.  Four text notifications popped up before Kylo flipped it facedown on the table.  Kylo hoped she hadn’t heard too much of what his mother had said.

“Why does your mother call you Ben?”

“Shit, you heard that?”

“Your mother was...loud...on the phone.”

Kylo groaned.  So much for that.  Thanks, Leia.  “Ben Solo is my birth name.  I changed my name to Kylo Ren before I got my doctorate.”  He braced for the exclamation he was sure was coming.

“So, let me get this straight.  Your mother is SENATOR Leia Organa and your father is-”

“Yeeeees,” Kylo sighed.  “My dad is Han Solo.”

To his surprise, no outburst was forthcoming.  He glanced curiously at Rey, who was staring at him intently, almost with sympathy.  Her eyes sparkled in the dancing flames, and she was smiling kindly.  He might have a pleasant speaking voice, but her eyes were mesmerizing.  She was staring at him as if she could read him like a book.  Every childhood worry.  Every pain.  Every unmet expectation his parents placed on him or that he placed on himself.  She stared like it was all written on his face.

“What?”

“That must have been a lot to live up to,” Rey whispered gently.

Kylo looked away, uncomfortable under her kind but scrutinous gaze.  He looked over at the dogs on the couch.  Freya, the wooly red and white Mal, was looking at him intently.  Her expression was sweet and gentle, her honey colored eyes fixed on his dark brown ones.  She turned her head and stared pointedly at a record player near the sideboard, then back at Kylo.  He rose, with some difficulty, and meandered over to the player, perusing Rey’s records on the shelf nearby.  She had an eclectic mix of some new stuff Kylo had no clue about, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, blues, folk, classical.

“Did I say you could put your big hands all over my record collection?” Rey teased from her chair.

“I’m stranded with my car stuck in the snow, on the way to a very unpleasant holiday with my parents.  I’ll put my big hands on whatever I like,” Kylo retorted.

Rey was quiet.  Kylo looked over at Rey, who was staring at him, her lips slightly parted and cheeks bright red.  Kylo realized then exactly what had come out of his mouth.

Oh shit.  “Umm, joking.  That was a joke,” he reassured her.

Rey looked away, the corners of her mouth slightly downturned.  Was she...pouting?  “Right, of course,” she mumbled under her breath, but Kylo still heard her.

Kylo was starting to think maybe being stranded and snowbound for a few days wouldn’t be so bad after all.

#reylo #reylo fanfiction #fanfiction #my fic #reylo au #modern au #alternate universe #winter #snow #snowbound #doggos! #rey #ben solo/kylo ren #rey x kylo ren

[bleusarcellewrites]

Lifetime Supplies (1) of Fanny Packs

happy LATE something i think BEDAY @coralreefskim !!!!!!!! Rn u r on a trip but fuck it, here’s your gift <333 hope you liked it <3

So, fanny packs, right?

Except that no, it’s not, in fact, a ‘fanny pack’. No matter what Lance or Pidge keep teasing him about, his utility belt is not a fanny pack.

Keith got it first from his dad, after weeks and weeks of begging to let seven years old Keith to try it on. His dad strapped it a few times over, the belt being too heavy and wide for his small hips, but somehow he made it work.

His dad always seemed to make things work.

After that it had been almost impossible for Keith to be seen without the belt. He remembers always following his dad around with it, watching him work on an old hoverbike he found abandoned and sometimes even helping him with it, happily passing any tool needed.

The pockets of the belt were small but pretty useful. Keith used to fill them with anything he could find; batteries, candies, dusty rocks, tiny screws, big screws, some bolts here and there.

Did he use them at some point? No but the intention was there.

One time a lizard lived on his right pocket for four days without Keith knowing. He named it Johnson.

Then his dad left and the Garrison came. There had been little to almost nothing on his name but anything he could save for himself, he would somehow shove it on his belt pockets, desperate for them to fit.

Keith remembers the frustrated tears he had shed when he couldn’t fit some things, like his dad’s walkie talkie or the books he used to read him sometimes before bed. Some of the things that once had been precious for his dad stayed behind and Keith couldn’t help but feel he was somehow letting his dad down.

The Garrison’s uniform didn’t allow belts.

They were uptight and old fashioned like that.

He didn’t wear it for more than six months before Shiro, his assigned mentor who later, without his knowing, would become the closest thing he would have to a family in so long, took him out one day outside the academy's perimeter.

To say that Keith had been happily surprised when his mentor arrived to his dorm in casual clothes and yet with an black utility belt is an understatement.

‘Utility Team’ Shiro had joked back then as he had ruffled his head. Keith, despite his denying, had liked the name.

Then Shiro left and loneliness came.

Luckily, in Keith’s odd logic, once he dropped out (Read: got kicked out) the utility belt was back on his hips daily and it felt right.

He went back to his dad’s shack, barely remembering its location. Somehow, he found it and he was  little to not surprised to see it intact.

During his entire year on the desert, his belt pockets got filled with different stuff. He had one pocket especially for his small notebook for any new discovery he might had found in the desert’s caves. On another one, he got it filled with multiple chapsticks, different flavours; because going to town was exhausting, he decided to stock up every essential thing (Read: chapstick and instant noodles).

His third pocket had been filled once more with screws, bolts and a new pocket knife he managed to buy on his last trip to town plus the occasional bubble gum wrapper. His fourth pocket? It was Johnson The Second’s home.

Loneliness left and Voltron came.

The fact that Lance, insufferable and loud Lance, continued to call his utility belt a ‘fanny pack’ is still something beyond Keith’s understanding, especially when his best friend and leader wore one too.

But no. It’s just on Keith that looks like a fanny pack. It’s just on Keith that looks ridiculous.

Whatever.

Keith had managed to ignore the teasing, rolling his eyes when Pidge had joined in not much later. They were outnumbered, though, when three out of five paladins in Voltron did use said ‘fanny packs’.

Which, again, not fanny packs.

It’s not like Pidge nor Lance could deny how useful they were; not when it had been more than once when Pidge had cut herself with a sharp end of whatever technology she would be working on and Keith would be ready with a bandaid for her.

Nor when Lance would steal one of his chapstick he still had from earth. The little shit stealing his favorite strawberry flavoured one.

It was okay in the end, though, because it was later, way way later, when Keith managed to taste the strawberry once again on his lips, just not from the chapstick itself.

Once he began dating the hurricane that is Lance McClain, some of his pockets started to be filled up with tiny pretty rocks and crystals Lance would collect from every planet they would visit and another pocket would be filled with hair ties (“Goodbye mullet.” “It’s still there, though?” “Goodbye mullet I said.”) and even more bobby pins.

Not that Keith had minded. He liked it. Specially the pretty blue rock Lance gave to him the day they first kissed. Keith’s pretty sure that Lance doesn’t know he carries the damn rock with him everywhere.

But then Keith himself left and the Blade of Marmora came.

Somehow, Keith’s still unsure on how, but he managed to keep his fanny - utility belt once he joined the Blade.

Tiny explosives and tracers filled one of his pockets on his left side. On his other pocket next to it was the opposite of ‘filled’, it lacked of stuff except for those pills Kolivan has gave to him with a somberly from day one that Keith made it his personal mission to avoid at all costs.

The belt was light on his hips, making it easier to move during missions, and not needing much to work with when most of the missions were stealth ones. There wasn’t much point for him to carry it around.

He would make sure to always bring it with him anyways, every time, without fail. Because it’s on the fourth pocket, on the right side, where he would keep the team’s photos. Small polaroid photographs Lance had snuck in before he had left.

They helped. A lot.

Those small photos were his reason to keep fighting. Keith really owed Lance one. Maybe he will let him call his belt a fanny pack just once. After the war is done and he can be once again with the group of missfit people he calls now family.

Then the war ended and his kids came.

Nowadays, his utility belt is worn out and really patched up but he doesn’t have the heart to throw it away. It’s still useful as always though; he now carries different types of candies on his right pocket, right next to the one where he puts his pocket knife and bobby pins.

On his other remaining two he carries bandaids from different cartoon characters his children are currently obsessed with. He had just taken one of them recently, when Leah had whined about a tiny almost non existent cut on her forearm.

Keith’s pretty sure his daughter just liked having a lot of bandaids on her. Keith never called her out on it, it was adorable as it was.

In the last pocket, Keith keeps his house keys and wallet, in which it’s more filled with pictures of his family than anything else; pictures of Voltron on their days in space and nowadays in his and Lance’s backyard. Some are of his kids, with both Rey and Leah in the middle of him and Lance beaming brightly at the camera.

Keith managed to get one from his parents, an old picture Krolia gave to him a few months back on her last visit. He even has a picture of Johnson The Fourth, because Leah had declared he was family on their last trip to the desert.

In the end, his utility belt has been through a lifetime and Keith suspects it will go through another as he sees the way his oldest son picks it up from the couch and excitedly puts it around his hips, beaming happily.

Keith chuckles under his breath as he steps in and with a fond smile, he fixes the utility belt around his son’s hips, strapping it good and secure on him.

His son rambles excitedly at him, pride shining through his green eyes and Keith reaches out to ruffle his hair affectionately when the seven years old starts opening every single pocket on the belt.

“Keith! Is that our son wearing your old ragged fanny pack!?”

Keith winces playfully with a sheepish smile at the shout of his husband behind him, rolling his eyes at the childlike giggle that follows right after coming from their daughter.

Okay, so, his utility belt is now in danger, but Keith has managed to keep it safe from Lance for years now.

“Maybe.”

What is a lifetime more.

#bleu writes #klance #safeklance #softklance #background klance tho #more keith centric #but anyways #vld keith #vld lance #keith kogane #lance mcclain #klance fluff #vld keith dad #vld krolia #vld team as family

[voyagesalmon39]

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[ao3feed-klance]

Lifetime Supplies (1) of Fanny Packs

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/2F0OQ6J

by BleuSarcelle

Keith got it first from his dad at seven years old, after weeks and weeks of begging him to let him try it on. His dad strapped it a few times over, the belt being too heavy and wide for his small hips, but somehow he made it work.

After that it had been almost impossible for Keith to be seen without the belt. The pockets were small but pretty useful. Keith used to fill them with anything he could find; batteries, candies, dusty rocks, tiny screws, big screws, some bolts here and there.

One time a lizard lived on his right pocket for four days without Keith knowing. He named it Johnson.

[Or the one where an utility belt can go through an adventure despite it being labeled as a fanny pack.]

Words: 1491, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen, M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Background & Cameo Characters

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Keith (Voltron)-centric, Pre-Canon, Post-Canon, Fluff, Team as Family, Getting Together, Domestic Fluff, Adopted Children, Light Angst, Canon Compliant, Background Relationships, Established Relationship

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/2F0OQ6J

#ao3feed #ao3feed klance

[cupcakeshakesnake]

Uhm uh could you info dump about your Portal AU 👉👈 (I definitely do not have ulterior motives and I am definitely not thinking about inserting my OC into the AU hahahaha why would you think that)

I don't know what there is to infodump about so here is a sort of... timeline? Compendium?

Most of it is the same as canon Portal 2, except GLaDOS and Wheatley are androids.

The AU starts when GLaDOS - disconnected from the main chassis and connected instead to a potato battery - and Chell fall into old aperture. They discover Cave Johnson, not deceased as was widely believed but rather locked underground in android form along with an outdated maintenance system for Aperture. Inspired by this fic, to be specific. (I call him an android for convenience but technically he may count as a cyborg. Haven't really delved into that. He's not "alive" in the fully human sense, though.)

They need the data stored in Cave to get through some parts of Old Aperture, so they begrudgingly take him along. Most of the cables coming out of his neck and wrists used to be connected to a now obsolete surveillance/maintenance system, and are now haphazardly rolled up around him. His power cable is connected to another potato battery (which he usually keeps in his pocket).

Like other Aperture "personality constructs", Cave can "remain functional in apocalyptic, low power environments of as few as 1.1 volts", but it has its limitations - as is the case with GLaDOS, using too much energy can get him knocked out.

Cave's endgoal here is to end his own life, which he can't do on his own due to several failsafe measures built into him (such as being unable to unplug himself from the system in the first place, and as a result being stuck underground). He still keeps up his cheery, eccentric (and far from sane) attitude, but with an added hint of cynicism and roundabout self-deprecation. Decades of mulling over his life underground has led him to have some regrets about certain decisions, although he would never speak any of it out loud to anyone. Personality-wise, some inspirations were taken from the robot Cave in Aperture Desk Job.

In one possible ending for the story (which I haven't mentioned before but have had in mind for some time), they enter a newer part of Aperture where the emancipation grills do not have the data that lets Cave enter without being disintegrated. Here he acknowledges that Chell and GLaDOS have no more need of him and voluntarily walks into the emancipation grill.

Here's an excerpt from my notes.

"These emancipation grills were built in my time. They're not calibrated to accomodate-" GLaDOS gestures towards Johnson. "- him. We'll need to find a way to hack into the-" "Hey hey hey- don't bother. I'm gonna be level with you. You don't need me anymore." "Elaborate." "The stuff built here on out's brand new. I don't even have the code for it. Sure, you needed me to get through the old facility, but I think I'm gonna head out now." "…Is that so." "My time is up, I can feel it. I'm not going to heaven, no sir. Was never much of a religions guy anyway. But know this, lady," the former CEO turns to Chell. "I want to see you make it out alive. This facility I built, it swallows you up. Don't get me wrong, it's the best damn science facility on this earth and I couldn't be more proud of it, but you stay here too long and- well." He shrugs, cables dangling from and wrapped around him like ropes. "It's pretty much my destiny to die down here, but you, kid, you get out there. You go up to the surface and see the daylight. Caroline, take care of the facility. Oh, and her." "Yes sir Mr Johnson…" "Oh and beat that moron's ass for me." They go through the fizzler, leaving him behind - there is a sound that makes Chell turn back, only to see some particles evaporating. GLaDOS doesn't turn back. "Goodbye sir."

#snake got an ask #anonymous #writing #portal 2 #cave johnson #glados #android cave johnson #portal 2 au #snake's text post

[tongluculture]

27 best male sex toys of all time: the ultimate guide to male sex toys

Men don’t really talk about sex toys. Although women openly admit to possessing vibrators, men who talk about his pocket pubic area are usually considered a big no-no. If you are not familiar with male sex toys, you are not alone. But don't worry-our resident sex experts have independently selected 27 top sex toys for men. There is also a quick guide on different types of male sex toys in case you want to learn more. Looking for an automatic male masturbator? Tong Lu is your best choice. Many people have heard of Autoblow AI, but  Tong Lu is significantly better. This oral sex machine automatically strokes your penis at a rate of 230 times per minute. Use Fleshlight penis stroker to bring you pleasure. Tong lu can connect to VR (virtual reality) pornographic sites and stroke your penis in sync with the pornographic content on the screen. It can also be charged via USB, and the battery life is up to 2 hours. It is one of the best sex toys I have used in engineering. A slightly cheaper automatic male masturbator, this male sex toy uses Fleshlight's interchangeable "Quickshot" penis petting toy to automatically milk your penis. With up to 250 taps per minute, this is one of the fastest male automatic sex toys on the market. Okay, so when you think of Fleshlight, this might be what you think. This is the classic "pink vagina" Fleshlight-OG masturbation set before all other strange and wonderful changes. It may not be the strongest Fleshlight ever, but it is a classic. But it still provides an excellent experience. It's super tight, you can plow this plastic cat all night, it will make you satisfied, and it will be very easy to clean afterwards.

If you have never heard of Tenga Egg, these are unique penis strokers made by Japanese adult toy company Tenga. Designed to be disposable, each Tenga Egg comes with a small penis massager and a pack of water-based lubricant. When you are done, just throw it all away. Whether you use it alone or with a partner, the cock ring can be an important asset in the bedroom. Tong Lu 2 sends powerful vibrations to the base of your penis and your partner's clitoris-she will like it.   Show her a good time. When looking for the best sex toys for men, you will see Lovense Max 2 appear a lot, and this is for good reason. This masturbation device uses vibration and 360-degree contraction to delight your penis, providing a completely different experience for a typical high-tech male sex toy. Even better-you can connect this device to the Lovense Remote app, allowing you or your partner to control the device via a smartphone-including remote control via Wi-Fi. We really live in the future. Many people like the porn of the adult star "Stoya", but now you can feel sick with Fleshlight, which is taken directly from the mold of her real vagina. In addition to the realistic vulva opening, the internal texture of this masturbation set is also very strong, and it is often hailed as one of the best masturbation ever, with rubber fangs and lots of bulges. damn. If you want to try anal sex, but beads and dildos are not for you, maybe you should try this unique B Vibe butt plug, designed to replicate the feel of the vagina. There are seven modes to explore, equipped with a remote control and high-quality silicone structure. You can get rim plugs in various sizes, so if you are inexperienced, please feel free to start small! When stroking the penis, do you want to see it? Well, now you can! This short two-headed masturbator is completely transparent and will please your inner pleasure voyeur. Depending on your body type, it can be used for masturbation or masturbation/oral sex with your partner. Equipped with penis suction and multiple vibration modes, Tenga Flip Zero is one of the products that you need to see with your own eyes to believe. This weird Japanese toy only needs a little water-based lubricant and you are ready to go. 

Hitachi Magic Wand is a classic adult toy, usually considered to be the best vibrator for women. However, many people find it feels great when used on the penis, especially around the head of the penis, where there are sensitive nerve endings that can tick it. There is no doubt that this is one of the best masturbation sleeves on the market. Doc Johnson Good Head reminds us that simplicity can be very effective. This flexible male touch device is 2.25 inches long and is made of high-quality Ultraskin, perfect for solo masturbation or partner play. 14. Aneros Helix Syn Trident – Best for prostate beginners If playing with the prostate (aka "P point") is attractive to you, but you are not sure where to start, I always recommend Aneros Helix Syn Trident to people. This prostate massager is slim and only 4 inches long, making it perfect for novices and experienced prostate lovers-I still use mine often. Made of medical grade silicone, all you need to do is put this toy into your body with some water-based lubricant, relax and think about horny thoughts. It takes some time to get used to, but you can have the strongest orgasm in your life. I ejaculated without even touching my penis before. Yes really. Looking for a cock ring that is cheaper than Lelo Tor? We have already provided you with protection. The Bionic Bullet comes with a detachable bullet vibrator, providing you with a multi-function penis ring with two rings-one for your penis and one for your testicles. This ultra-tight Fleshlight sleeve is simple and effective, with an asshole and tight, simple internal texture. Anal Fleshlight is perfect for gay men and/or people who just want to plow someone on their ass, Anal Fleshlight will never disappoint. This vibrating prostate massager is equipped with a dedicated remote control equipped with SenseMotion technology, allowing you to control the vibration of point P with just a light wave of your hand or the press of a button! This prostate vibrator is also 100% waterproof, can be charged via USB, and 308 people who have tried it gave it a rating of 4.7/5.0. All kinds of not to love?

A 5.5-inch male touch device, this masturbation sleeve is actually reversible, so there are two different sides to explore, with a unique texture and feel. For cheap men's sex toys that you can't see in GQ or Men's Health, try this fun little penis toy! If you have some experience with prostate products, then Progasm is for you. This large and powerful prostate massager is one of the largest toys made by Aneros, measuring 4.2 inches long and 1.25 inches wide. This cool prostate massager is made of 100% ABS plastic. The design is similar to glass, but it is completely plastic. Honest. Another great Fleshlight masturbator, this pleasure device is completely transparent, allowing you to see your penis sliding over all those small rubber bumps and nodules inside, while your toes curl up in pleasure. If you and/or your partner enjoy watching masturbation, please consider adding fun to your sex life with Ms. Bing. The design of the Fleshlight Flight Pilot is ergonomic and aerodynamic. It uses a smooth, translucent masturbation sleeve with an opening of 0.5 inches, a depth of 6.5 inches, and a pile of nodules and bumps sliding across the head of the penis. It feels amazing. Made in Germany (like all Fun Factory products), this penis vibrator, male vibrator or "guybrator" is designed to stimulate the glans/head and frenulum of the penis-the sensitive part under the head. Insert your penis, apply a little lubricating oil, and cycle in vibration mode until Cobra Libre scratches your kimchi just right. When you are done, there is even a small room to catch your semen... how polite. NJoy Pure Wand is very suitable for P-spot (prostate) and G-spot stimulation, basically anyone of any gender can use it, making it the main product of the sex toy community for many years. It is essentially a long metal dildo with a ball on each end-a small 1-inch tip and a large 1.5-inch tip. This metal massage stick is made of 100% high-grade stainless steel and is one of the best prostate massagers you have used in your life. However, this toy is not suitable for beginners, so if you are new to prostate games, please stay away! Another excellent male vibrator toy from Fun Factory, Manta is equipped with a vibrating silicone flap, suitable for all kinds of games! Use them on the testicles, glans penis, nipples, assholes, clitoris of your partner...anywhere. If you are a fan of hooks, then you will love this hook kit from LoveHoney. Equipped with a strap-on safety belt and a curved 7-inch dildo, it is designed to hit the prostate just right, and when she plows you with this bad boy, you will scream during orgasm. If your partner is a little oversized, they may want you to try a penis extender. This condom makes your penis about 3 inches long and can be inserted into a total of 8.5 inches. This is bigger than most people dream of! The exterior has uneven and obvious texture, which makes the receiver feel happy. We think your partner will be very satisfied with this! It is very suitable for many people with ED or people who just want to try to have a bigger penis. If you want to enhance your erection and improve sexual performance, you should consider using a penis pump. EDGE is an excellent beginner penis pump with a grenade-style hand pump, quick release valve and soft rubber base for a comfortable experience. These products come in many different styles, such as vagina/anus/mouth openings, different textures inside the sleeves, different shells, and so on. Made of Superskin-a material designed to make the feel as realistic as possible-these products are the number one male sex toy for a reason! Sometimes referred to as male touchers, masturbators, or similar things, these products are essentially plastic vaginas that you can have sex with instead of with your partner. There are many different styles, such as realistic "pocket cat" and open strokes . Sometimes called "male vibrator" or "male vibrator", penile vibrators come in various designs, but the most famous is probably Fun Factory Cobra Libre II, which uses vibration to massage the head of the penis. Usually called automatic male masturbators, masturbation machines, or similar things... These high-tech devices use penis touchers and mechanics to stroke your penis for you, and automatically squeeze you dry.

Advanced products such as Tong Lu can also be integrated with smartphone apps and VR (virtual reality), allowing men to take masturbation games to a new level. If you have not tried a prostate massager, you have missed it. Sometimes called the "P point" or "male G point," the prostate is a walnut-sized gland located about 2-3 inches inside the male anus. This area can cause men to have multiple orgasms and even make you ejaculate without touching the penis. These sexual health devices are usually used when having sex with a partner because they are designed to restrict blood flow to the penis after you have an erection. C-rings are usually used by older men or young people who just want to last longer with a rock-solid erection! Read the full article

[mrji]

27 best male sex toys of all time: the ultimate guide to male sex toys

Men don’t really talk about sex toys. Although women openly admit to possessing vibrators, men who talk about his pocket pubic area are usually considered a big no-no. If you are not familiar with male sex toys, you are not alone. But don't worry-our resident sex experts have independently selected 27 top sex toys for men. There is also a quick guide on different types of male sex toys in case you want to learn more. Looking for an automatic male masturbator? Tong Lu is your best choice. Many people have heard of Autoblow AI, but  Tong Lu is significantly better. This oral sex machine automatically strokes your penis at a rate of 230 times per minute. Use Fleshlight penis stroker to bring you pleasure. Tong lu can connect to VR (virtual reality) pornographic sites and stroke your penis in sync with the pornographic content on the screen. It can also be charged via USB, and the battery life is up to 2 hours. It is one of the best sex toys I have used in engineering. A slightly cheaper automatic male masturbator, this male sex toy uses Fleshlight's interchangeable "Quickshot" penis petting toy to automatically milk your penis. With up to 250 taps per minute, this is one of the fastest male automatic sex toys on the market. Okay, so when you think of Fleshlight, this might be what you think. This is the classic "pink vagina" Fleshlight-OG masturbation set before all other strange and wonderful changes. It may not be the strongest Fleshlight ever, but it is a classic. But it still provides an excellent experience. It's super tight, you can plow this plastic cat all night, it will make you satisfied, and it will be very easy to clean afterwards.

If you have never heard of Tenga Egg, these are unique penis strokers made by Japanese adult toy company Tenga. Designed to be disposable, each Tenga Egg comes with a small penis massager and a pack of water-based lubricant. When you are done, just throw it all away. Whether you use it alone or with a partner, the cock ring can be an important asset in the bedroom. Tong Lu 2 sends powerful vibrations to the base of your penis and your partner's clitoris-she will like it.   Show her a good time. When looking for the best sex toys for men, you will see Lovense Max 2 appear a lot, and this is for good reason. This masturbation device uses vibration and 360-degree contraction to delight your penis, providing a completely different experience for a typical high-tech male sex toy. Even better-you can connect this device to the Lovense Remote app, allowing you or your partner to control the device via a smartphone-including remote control via Wi-Fi. We really live in the future. Many people like the porn of the adult star "Stoya", but now you can feel sick with Fleshlight, which is taken directly from the mold of her real vagina. In addition to the realistic vulva opening, the internal texture of this masturbation set is also very strong, and it is often hailed as one of the best masturbation ever, with rubber fangs and lots of bulges. damn. If you want to try anal sex, but beads and dildos are not for you, maybe you should try this unique B Vibe butt plug, designed to replicate the feel of the vagina. There are seven modes to explore, equipped with a remote control and high-quality silicone structure. You can get rim plugs in various sizes, so if you are inexperienced, please feel free to start small! When stroking the penis, do you want to see it? Well, now you can! This short two-headed masturbator is completely transparent and will please your inner pleasure voyeur. Depending on your body type, it can be used for masturbation or masturbation/oral sex with your partner. Equipped with penis suction and multiple vibration modes, Tenga Flip Zero is one of the products that you need to see with your own eyes to believe. This weird Japanese toy only needs a little water-based lubricant and you are ready to go. 

Hitachi Magic Wand is a classic adult toy, usually considered to be the best vibrator for women. However, many people find it feels great when used on the penis, especially around the head of the penis, where there are sensitive nerve endings that can tick it. There is no doubt that this is one of the best masturbation sleeves on the market. Doc Johnson Good Head reminds us that simplicity can be very effective. This flexible male touch device is 2.25 inches long and is made of high-quality Ultraskin, perfect for solo masturbation or partner play. 14. Aneros Helix Syn Trident – Best for prostate beginners If playing with the prostate (aka "P point") is attractive to you, but you are not sure where to start, I always recommend Aneros Helix Syn Trident to people. This prostate massager is slim and only 4 inches long, making it perfect for novices and experienced prostate lovers-I still use mine often. Made of medical grade silicone, all you need to do is put this toy into your body with some water-based lubricant, relax and think about horny thoughts. It takes some time to get used to, but you can have the strongest orgasm in your life. I ejaculated without even touching my penis before. Yes really. Looking for a cock ring that is cheaper than Lelo Tor? We have already provided you with protection. The Bionic Bullet comes with a detachable bullet vibrator, providing you with a multi-function penis ring with two rings-one for your penis and one for your testicles. This ultra-tight Fleshlight sleeve is simple and effective, with an asshole and tight, simple internal texture. Anal Fleshlight is perfect for gay men and/or people who just want to plow someone on their ass, Anal Fleshlight will never disappoint. This vibrating prostate massager is equipped with a dedicated remote control equipped with SenseMotion technology, allowing you to control the vibration of point P with just a light wave of your hand or the press of a button! This prostate vibrator is also 100% waterproof, can be charged via USB, and 308 people who have tried it gave it a rating of 4.7/5.0. All kinds of not to love?

A 5.5-inch male touch device, this masturbation sleeve is actually reversible, so there are two different sides to explore, with a unique texture and feel. For cheap men's sex toys that you can't see in GQ or Men's Health, try this fun little penis toy! If you have some experience with prostate products, then Progasm is for you. This large and powerful prostate massager is one of the largest toys made by Aneros, measuring 4.2 inches long and 1.25 inches wide. This cool prostate massager is made of 100% ABS plastic. The design is similar to glass, but it is completely plastic. Honest. Another great Fleshlight masturbator, this pleasure device is completely transparent, allowing you to see your penis sliding over all those small rubber bumps and nodules inside, while your toes curl up in pleasure. If you and/or your partner enjoy watching masturbation, please consider adding fun to your sex life with Ms. Bing. The design of the Fleshlight Flight Pilot is ergonomic and aerodynamic. It uses a smooth, translucent masturbation sleeve with an opening of 0.5 inches, a depth of 6.5 inches, and a pile of nodules and bumps sliding across the head of the penis. It feels amazing. Made in Germany (like all Fun Factory products), this penis vibrator, male vibrator or "guybrator" is designed to stimulate the glans/head and frenulum of the penis-the sensitive part under the head. Insert your penis, apply a little lubricating oil, and cycle in vibration mode until Cobra Libre scratches your kimchi just right. When you are done, there is even a small room to catch your semen... how polite. NJoy Pure Wand is very suitable for P-spot (prostate) and G-spot stimulation, basically anyone of any gender can use it, making it the main product of the sex toy community for many years. It is essentially a long metal dildo with a ball on each end-a small 1-inch tip and a large 1.5-inch tip. This metal massage stick is made of 100% high-grade stainless steel and is one of the best prostate massagers you have used in your life. However, this toy is not suitable for beginners, so if you are new to prostate games, please stay away! Another excellent male vibrator toy from Fun Factory, Manta is equipped with a vibrating silicone flap, suitable for all kinds of games! Use them on the testicles, glans penis, nipples, assholes, clitoris of your partner...anywhere. If you are a fan of hooks, then you will love this hook kit from LoveHoney. Equipped with a strap-on safety belt and a curved 7-inch dildo, it is designed to hit the prostate just right, and when she plows you with this bad boy, you will scream during orgasm. If your partner is a little oversized, they may want you to try a penis extender. This condom makes your penis about 3 inches long and can be inserted into a total of 8.5 inches. This is bigger than most people dream of! The exterior has uneven and obvious texture, which makes the receiver feel happy. We think your partner will be very satisfied with this! It is very suitable for many people with ED or people who just want to try to have a bigger penis. If you want to enhance your erection and improve sexual performance, you should consider using a penis pump. EDGE is an excellent beginner penis pump with a grenade-style hand pump, quick release valve and soft rubber base for a comfortable experience. These products come in many different styles, such as vagina/anus/mouth openings, different textures inside the sleeves, different shells, and so on. Made of Superskin-a material designed to make the feel as realistic as possible-these products are the number one male sex toy for a reason! Sometimes referred to as male touchers, masturbators, or similar things, these products are essentially plastic vaginas that you can have sex with instead of with your partner. There are many different styles, such as realistic "pocket cat" and open strokes . Sometimes called "male vibrator" or "male vibrator", penile vibrators come in various designs, but the most famous is probably Fun Factory Cobra Libre II, which uses vibration to massage the head of the penis. Usually called automatic male masturbators, masturbation machines, or similar things... These high-tech devices use penis touchers and mechanics to stroke your penis for you, and automatically squeeze you dry.

Advanced products such as Tong Lu can also be integrated with smartphone apps and VR (virtual reality), allowing men to take masturbation games to a new level. If you have not tried a prostate massager, you have missed it. Sometimes called the "P point" or "male G point," the prostate is a walnut-sized gland located about 2-3 inches inside the male anus. This area can cause men to have multiple orgasms and even make you ejaculate without touching the penis. These sexual health devices are usually used when having sex with a partner because they are designed to restrict blood flow to the penis after you have an erection. C-rings are usually used by older men or young people who just want to last longer with a rock-solid erection! Read the full article

[ao3feed-safeklance]

Lifetime Supplies (1) of Fanny Packs

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2F0OQ6J

by BleuSarcelle

Keith got it first from his dad at seven years old, after weeks and weeks of begging him to let him try it on. His dad strapped it a few times over, the belt being too heavy and wide for his small hips, but somehow he made it work.

After that it had been almost impossible for Keith to be seen without the belt. The pockets were small but pretty useful. Keith used to fill them with anything he could find; batteries, candies, dusty rocks, tiny screws, big screws, some bolts here and there.

One time a lizard lived on his right pocket for four days without Keith knowing. He named it Johnson.

[Or the one where an utility belt can go through an adventure despite it being labeled as a fanny pack.]

Words: 1491, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Voltron: Legendary Defender

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen, M/M

Characters: Keith (Voltron), Lance (Voltron), Background & Cameo Characters

Relationships: Keith/Lance (Voltron)

Additional Tags: Keith (Voltron)-centric, Pre-Canon, Post-Canon, Fluff, Team as Family, Getting Together, Domestic Fluff, Adopted Children, Light Angst, Canon Compliant, Background Relationships, Established Relationship

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2F0OQ6J

#ao3feed #fanfic #voltron #klance

[redditnosleep]

I Heard My Baby Crying Downstairs…But She’s Right Next To Me

by CSDouglas

I woke up to my daughter crying at 4 AM.

That’s a horror story in itself, right?

Unfortunately, it gets worse.

Let me start from the beginning. My husband, Michael, and I live in the rural town of H____, Michigan. We have a 5-week-old daughter named Riley. She’s doing well, but wakes up several times a night. Every. Single. Night.

Thankfully, on weekend nights, Michael takes baby duty. He’s amazing – he gives her a bath, reads her a story, rocks her, and puts her to sleep. And he sleeps right in the nursery with her. The only thing he’s bad at? Singing lullabies to her – he’s completely tone-deaf. (I usually shut the door when he gets to that part.)

So, last night – when I heard her crying at the ungodly hour of 4 AM – I assumed Michael was on it. I rolled over, and tried to fall back asleep.

But she continued wailing.

Waaaaah. Waaaaah.

I pulled the covers over my head.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah.

I turned up my white noise to full blast.

Waaa – aaaaaa – aaaaahhhh!

I jolted up. Dammit, Michael, are you even trying to calm her down?! I heaved myself out of bed, threw on my robe, and opened the door.

Waaaaah. Waaaaah.

I froze in the doorway.

The cries weren���t coming from her room.

They were coming from downstairs.

I peered down; dim, golden light shone across the floor, coming from the living room. “Michael?” I called.

No response, other than a blood-curdling waaaaaaaaaaaaah.

“Is everything okay?” I shouted, louder this time. The shadows shifted across the floor, but no answer. I took a step down –

Footsteps, coming from her room.

I froze.

The doorknob turned –

Michael walked out of the bedroom, rubbing his eyes, his mouth wide with a yawn.

“You left Riley downstairs alone?! What’s wrong with you?!” I began running down the stairs, my robe flying behind me –

He grabbed my arm.

“That isn’t Riley.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“Sssssshhh.” He pushed his door open. I turned, and my heart began to pound. In the dim light, I could see a little pink bundle, rising and falling with each breath.

I held my breath. Slowly, I backed up the stairs – careful to not make even the quietest creak.

He pulled me into the bedroom. Click – he shut the door. Click – he locked it, and dragged a chair in front.

“Maybe it’s just the baby next door,” I said, trying to calm myself.

“The Johnsons live a quarter mile away.”

I looked at him, my eyes wild. “Maybe it’s –”

“It was coming from downstairs, Catie. You and I both heard it.” He began pushing the dresser; it didn’t budge. “There’s someone down there.”

“But –”

“Ssshhh!” Michael held a finger to his lips.

The wailing continued.

“Hear that?” he whispered.

“Yes, I hear the screaming baby.”

“No. There’s a pattern. Two short cries, then a long cry, then a raspy cry.”

“So?”

He turned to me, his eyes wide, and said: “It’s a recording.”

I felt the breath catch in my throat.

“Someone’s down there, playing a recording of a baby crying?” I said, incredulously. “Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” With a grunt, he pushed the dresser; it wobbled, and shifted maybe half an inch across the carpet. “To lure us out there.”

Waaaaaah.

I jumped. But it was only Riley crying, woken by our loud whispers. Michael swooped her up, singing a terribly off-key rendition of Brahm’s lullaby in her ear.

“We need to call 911,” I said, feeling my pocket. “My phone. Where’s my phone?! I must have left it in the other bedroom –”

In the soft moonlight, Michael was pale as a ghost. “And mine’s out of battery…”

“Maybe we can get out the window,” I said. Shaking, I wrenched it open. The cool breeze blew in, and the forest was black as ever. Our only neighbors – the Johnsons – were too far away, and the drop… just looking down made my stomach turn. The lawn bench looked like it belonged to dolls; the barren garden beds were like tiles on a checkerboard. “What do we do?”

“I’ll get your phone.”

“What? You just said yourself – someone is out there!”

“Your door is five feet across the hallway. I’ll make it across before they can get upstairs.”

“Michael – no –”

“The dresser’s too heavy to move across the door. The chair isn’t good enough. Sooner or later, they’re going to come upstairs, kick down the door, and who knows what. I’m going.” He handed Riley to me. “Wish me luck.”

Before I could stop him, he opened the door.

And as soon as he did –

The cries stopped.

I froze, clinging to the crib. They know you’re out there! I screamed, internally. I rushed to the door and clicked the lock shut, ready for Michael to rush back inside –

Thump!

A footstep, at the base of the stairs.

Thump! Thump!

Slow, heavy footsteps, growing louder and faster – the unmistakable sound of someone running up the stairs –

Michael dashed back in. I slammed the door shut.

Thump.

The door rattled.

Thump. Thump.

The hinges groaned.

“Let me in!”

My eyes widened.

It was Michael’s voice.

“Hey! Leave us alone!” Michael shouted, holding me close.

“Catie! It’s me!” Thump, thump. “Let me in!”

I looked at Michael. “That sicko must’ve recorded my voice,” he whispered back, fear in his eyes.

“Whoever that is – it’s not me!” His voice cracked with desperation.

“Get out of our house!”

“Catie – please – it’s me!”

Michael grabbed the dresser. Groaning, he dragged it across the door. The cries became muffled, faint, barely understandable. I could only make out my name, yelled every so often, and the dulled thumps against the door.

When the sirens sounded faintly through the window, the voice stopped.

By the time the police arrived, he was gone. The evidence remained, though: a broken window, muddy footprints. “We’ll dust for fingerprints and run it through our database,” one of the officers told us. “But most people are smart enough to wear gloves, these days.” They gave us paperwork, phone numbers, and left.

After checking the locks for the hundredth time, we sat down on the bed. Riley, severely overtired like both of us, began to wail.

“Can you put her to sleep? I’m exhausted,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

“Of course.” He lay Riley across his chest, rocking her slowly. I stumbled across the hallway to my bedroom. The sun was just peaking over the pine trees; bright golden rays shone through the window, lighting up the room. Sighing in relief, I collapsed onto the bed, and closed my eyes.

Across the hall, I could hear Michael’s soft voice singing.

“Lullaby, and good night… go to sleep now, little Riley…”

Perfectly on key.

#creepy #horror story #author: CSDouglas

[expatimes]

Change is coming, and at an ever-accelerating pace

One of the great science and technology stories of 2020 is the development of COVID-19 vaccines, from start, through testing, to delivery, at a rate never seen before. Not just one vaccine. Three. (With more on the way and not counting the vaccine’s already in use in China and Russia.) All able to pass rigorous tests and examinations.

Two of them came from Big Pharma.

They threw lots of money and lots of researchers at the problem. We have been taught to expect that that is what they do for us. One of the reasons we think that – maybe the primary one – is that Big Pharma has thrown lots of money and employed lots of experts to tell us how very useful they are.

The throwing the money part seems to be true of Pfizer. But not for the others.

The US government put between $10bn and $18bn into Operation Warp Speed. Several of the programme’s main recipients  – Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, Sanofi with GlaxoSmithKline – have yet to deliver a successful vaccine. Moderna, which has, got about $2.5bn.

A headline from Scientific American stated cogently and concisely: “For Billion-Dollar COVID Vaccines, Basic Government-Funded Science Laid the Groundwork.” The subhead pointed out: Much of the pioneering work on mRNA vaccines was done with government money, though drugmakers could walk away with big profits.

The third vaccine came from Oxford University (In association with AstraZeneca – which is Big Pharma – and which received substantial sums from Operation Warp Speed). It appears to be much easier to use. It is going to market at about $6-8 for two doses. Compared with $40 for Pfizer and $50-74 for Moderna, per pair. (A fun fact is that these prices are about 25 percent higher in the US than in the European Union). This should remind us that much of the most important work in medicine has come out of universities and that contributing to health and making money are two separate things.

A far more obscure science and technology story appeared on the front page of the business section of the New York Times on December 29, 2019. It is about a guy named Mike Strizki.

Strizki’s story is a throwback to the days of individual tinkerer-inventors. People like that telegraph operator, Thomas Edison, those bicycle mechanics, the Wright Brothers, and a daughter of American aristocracy, Mary Phelps Jacob – who was later scandalously famous for her wild parties, drug use, open marriage, her whippet named Clytoris, and being the co-founder of the Black Sun Press, making her the “literary godmother to the Lost Generation of expatriate writers in Paris” – who invented the modern brassiere when she was nineteen.

Strizki is the only guy on the East Coast who drives a hydrogen car.

There are more on the West Coast, nearly 9,000, plus 48 buses. They have 42 stations where they can refuel. There are none on the East Coast. Therefore, Mike makes his own hydrogen fuel in his back yard using solar power. The only byproduct from the process is one atom of oxygen for every two atoms of hydrogen. When the hydrogen is put through fuel cells creating the electricity that drives the car, it recombines with oxygen and the only byproduct is water.  Such cars routinely go about 484 kilometres (300 miles) on a full tank. Hyperion claims they have a car that gets a bit over 1,609km (1,000 miles) on a single tank. Refilling them is quicker than refilling the gas tank on the old fashioned internal combustion vehicles most of us drive. They do not have to drag about 453 kilogrammes (1,000 pounds) of batteries like full electric vehicles. Yet, Elon Musk of Tesla, who is hugely invested in battery power cars, calls hydrogen fuel cell cars “staggeringly dumb”.

Mike has also “made the first house in the United States to be powered entirely by hydrogen produced on-site using solar power”. Keep in mind that Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook all could be in that category of tinkerer-inventor, at least at their start.

Right now, Elon Musk and his Teslas seem way out ahead of Strizki and his single hydrogen vehicle. But that contest is far from over. Watch for the HTWO, Hyundai’s new brand dedicated to hydrogen fuel cell power. Daimler Truck, Iveco, OMV, Shell and the Volvo Group are in an alliance named H2Accelerate to promote hydrogen powered trucks.

The point of both of these stories – the one about Big Pharma, Big Money, Big University and the other one about the home tinkerer – is that science and technology are moving faster and faster.

We are moving closer to actual fusion power. The best research for it seems to be coming out of South Korea. Water cell batteries may soon replace lithium-ion batteries. Check your phone, you’ve got a computer in your pocket. Quantum computing is on the way. The exponential increase in the amount of material travelling over the internet means we need much greater communication capacity. It is happening. We have gone from megahertz, one million cycles per second, to gigahertz, a billion, and we are on the way to terahertz frequencies, a trillion cycles per second. 3D metal printing is here. Babel earbuds – which translate as you go – are ready – though I must say if its translations are like the ones I get online, it may be like an illiterate babbling in your ear. An Alzheimer’s blood test may soon be on the market. We can now make artificial structures that mimic early embryos using only stem cells – no egg or sperm necessary.

Human history, for the most part, has been a long, flat line of subsistence economies. There were brilliant moments – with small brilliant elites – but they always rested on the agricultural labour of peons, serfs, slaves, or peasants – and fell back again. It was such from the beginning of time until about 1800 – with the “First” Industrial Revolution. Since then, the curve of productivity has been on an upward climb. The 19th and early 20th century is often called the Second Industrial Revolution. We are now in the third, or fourth, or even the fifth industrial revolution – or maybe it is the Post-Industrial Revolution or the Digital Age – depending on whose book you are reading. Whatever name you prefer to give to this current period, its defining feature remains the same: The changes are coming faster and faster. They are reaching more and more people. They are coming from more and more people.

Yes, of course, we know from the machine guns of WWI, the bombers and then the nuclear weapons of WWII, that technology can be used for destruction. The speed and almost zero cost of internet communication have freed us from the grip of media barons and governments, but then opened the way for exploitation and the spread of disinformation, the existence of alternative facts and tribal truths. Even the changes that would be rated as positive for the general good, are often negative for specific individuals.

We may have anti-science governments. Like the Trump administration has so obviously and obnoxiously been. Yet while they muddled the airwaves with disinformation about the pandemic, they were also the ones who threw billions to science to come up with a vaccine. Big Oil ran campaigns denying climate change, modelled on Big Tobacco’s past campaigns claiming cigarettes do not cause cancer,. Yet most of the major oil companies are investing in alternative energy technology.

Big Money invested in established business resists change. Speculative Money – and there’s lots of it – wants to bet on the next big thing – which usually has to be, by definition, based on new science and new technology.

This election cycle we’ve seen that the Internet and social media can do black magic, spreading disinformation, misinformation, and lots of outright lies. They also mean that real information – from grammar school to graduate school and beyond – is getting to be within reach of the whole world. It’s a two-way street. Information, ideas, and research can zip in an instant from a mountain village, a yurt in the desert, public housing, to Harvard, Tohoku, and Oxford.

It would be wonderful if politicians, public intellectuals (if they still exist), sociologists, and economists (should they wish to deal with realities rather than models), turned their thinking and their efforts into figuring out how we – as societies and as individuals – can best deal with all this change.

Whether they do or they do not, the changes will come, are coming, are here, at that ever-accelerating rate.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

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