TLDR: I cannot be the only person who sees this.... Biden is too old and frail, a bit shady, and his VP is clueless and completely unqualified.... Trump is a criminal and also too old and unfit for office and totally corrupt.... Can we please please please get a couple of reasonable candidates to vote for... literally any regular ass American would be better.
Let's start out with my intention. I would love for this post to get 69 million 420 thousand upvotes... but seriously, I want as many people as possible to see this because the media is starting to make me feel like I am the only person who sees that this election cycle is nuts.
This Presidential election is looking to be a choice between two terrible options... I will outline all of my demographics followed by my thoughts and I would really like to hear some alternative opinions because as a regular ass voter, I see nothing but terrible options from the two parties and I am starting to feel like I am the only one who sees that the current political landscape is a total shit show.
Demographics: Ethnicity: Caucasian Gender: Male Age: 35 Occupation: Military Officer Education: BS (it was a bullshit degree but also a bachelor of science) Relationship: Married (divorced once but I deserved it. I was a total shithead the first time) ... happy to provide any other demographics but at the end of the day I am a regular American with a regular salary, a regular job, a regular everything else.
Biden Let me start off by admitting that I was wrong about this guy. I voted for him in the last election because I felt like President Trump was unstable as fuck and presidential policy should not be posted on social media or be based on how one man is feeling that particular day. Biden promised a lot, I didn't expect much from him, to be honest, but I had hoped that we would at least get a president who was able to fill the role at a basic level. I was not looking for Teddy Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln. I was simply hoping for a President who would show up to work, have a reasonable foreign policy, who would put some pressure on the corporations and their CEOs making millions of dollars, and who would address the issues that the majority of Americans were dealing with like student loans, health care, unfair taxes, and loopholes that benefit the 1% and fuck the 99%. End of the day I was hoping that he would look out for the 99 and not the 1%. So far we have got some good and bad in terms of policy... he got us out of the war in the middle east even though that was completely fucked up... poor planning... total rush to failure. Thank God that more people were not killed or injured and God bless those service members who sacrificed all for this shitty plan, they were patriots and I am thankful every day that we have Americans like them willing to "stand the watch." He got some relief for parents who could use the help financially when times were tough during covid but he totally fucked it up when he fumbled the ball when it came to supporting the unions like the rail workers, amazon, etc, he fucked up student debt relief (we shouldn't ONLY forgive loans...we need to address the outrageous price tag on education in addition to the loans)... He appointed Mayer Pete who had one job as Transportation Secretary and totally fucked that up by prioritizing his image over actually dealing with airline travel (I am a pilot so a bit read in on this topic... he screwed the pooch on this one), trains, and the supply chain.... he also has been a bit short sided on Ukraine support.... (Ukraine deserves independence but there needs to be an explanation of what we are getting as taxpayers for our money... Please explain to me what the return on investment is for the billions we are spending. I do not have an issue with spending our tax dollars on helping make the world a better place but I need to know how my $50B+ is making a difference before you spend it.) Also his sons.... Beau was a naval officer who allegedly did a bunch of drugs.... should have been booted out of the military and Hunter absolutely took dirty money and it was all covered up. President Biden may not have been involved in any of that but at the end of the day, all of the sins of his sons were covered up for the benefit of their father.
Trump As a white male military officer, I thought I was definitely a Republican before this guy came into office. I mean come on, I was basically their prime demographic. At least that is what I was told my whole adult life. I was unsure when he was elected as I thought this was a publicity stunt. Then he put "Mad Dog" Mattis in office as the Sec Def and I thought "America, Fuck YEA!" he had a bunch of crazy ass tweets and I wrote most of them off because I trusted that General Mattis and the rest of the cabinet would keep the country on the right track. And then he fired Mattis. This was the point when I realized this dude is a sociopath who only cared about being "right". He gave no fucks about what the correct decision was... all he wanted was to be "right." The most respected military General since Colin Powel was fired/resigned from the office of Sec Def under President Trump.... This was shocking. But who knows what happened behind closed doors.... perhaps this was for the best. Then the election and Jan 06. And since then this dude has been the sorest loser I have ever seen. It has been 3 years and he is still talking about how the election was stolen and if you disagree with him he will blackmail you into agreeing with him or he will support your opposition candidate. Fuck this dude. That is not how democracy works..... I do not disagree with his foreign policy as a military officer... He made some solid decisions regarding China and his critique of NATO was not completely incorrect. He said things and made decisions that others were afraid to say and do and I was into it but he also said and did things that was I absolutely not into... if you want America's help then there has to be some benefit to the American taxpayer... if you want to fuck around and find out with OPEC and your pilot students shooting up an American Military Base... then enjoy fighting your wars with Iran on your own.... I full-heartedly believe that the American Tax Payer should see a return on investment for their taxes but President Trump seems to only actually give a shit about his own personal gain. Let's not be naive, his son-in-law totally got paid off by Mohammed bin Salman. He 100% had the support of the Putin regime. He gave himself and his buddies tax breaks that he did not afford the 99%. He said a lot of crazy shit. This guy is nuts and doesn't give two shits about the 99%. He will gladly give you a MAGA hat for your donation but when it comes to actual policy, he has shown that he will take your money, put some in his own pocket, some in the pockets of his friends, and then give you just a little bit back so that you feel like you got the good end of the deal.....The average American made much less than the 1%... he gave you some back in covid relief to make you forget that you were getting royally fucked.
I am not running for president but if I was this would be my platform... in other words, this would be the platform that I wish we could vote for!

• National policies
  • Politicians are public servants - Elected officials are elected to serve the American public, not themselves. Stop being greedy!
    • If you hold a political office, you are allowed to only buy the total US stock market index. -This would force politicians to be financially vested in the US economy and prevent them from insider trading with specific companies.... if you want to serve in public office you need to sacrifice some autonomy. No one should use political office to benefit themselves personally. You were elected to enrich the lives of your constituent, not your own personal net worth.
    • Term Limits - Congress and Senate should not be allowed to serve more than 10 years.
    • Lobbyists - Lobbyists serve a purpose or so am I told but they should not be allowed to contribute any money at all to any political agenda.... period. Nothing. They can voice their opinions like any other voter but that is it.
    • There should be a public fund to pay for political campaigns. That fund should be standard for each candidate. They all get the same amount. I am not certain what the right move here is but it is not currently an equal playing field. Someone from the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder against someone from the top run should have the same chance. The candidate with the policies that best represent the people they stand for should win.
  • Abortion
    • This is a state issue. Allow states to vote on their own policy..... if California wants to allow abortion then let them. If Georgia wants to ban abortion then let them... If you live in a state that does not share your personal beliefs on this then you are welcome to move and become a resident of another state that does share those same principles. There is no reason why every state needs to be the same. Some can be conservative, others can be liberal. Use your vote to voice your opinion in your individual state elections. This should not be a federal decision.
  • Taxes
    • Taxes should be fair - There is no logical reason why Warren Buffet or the rest of the 1% should pay less than 99%. - Close the tax loopholes that allow the wealthy to pay less taxes than the average American. A consumption tax is the most practical policy here although it does unfairly tax lower income until you begin to factor in luxury taxes. I am cognizant that there is not an easy solution to this issue but that does not mean it is impossible. Cap taxes for basic necessities like food, utilities, housing (Under $1M for 1st house), and vehicle (under $100k) at 0%. Elevate taxes for luxury items (houses over $1M, second homes, Vehicles over 100K, personal jets, restaurants, etc) to 25%, and everything else at a flat 10% sales tax. Adjust income taxes to reflect average incomes and tax the lowest 50% at 0-15%, tax the top 25% of income at 15-20%, and tax the top 25% at 20-25%. Capital gains tax remains the same as that is an equal playing field... you hold the stock for 365 days or more and only pay 15%....This may or may not be the best tax policy but at least it is considerate of those who need the tax relief most. The more you spend on nonessentials the more taxes you pay. I am definitely open to some conversation/deviation here but this is a hell of a lot more fair than what we currently have and a consumption tax also generates some tax income for travelers and illegal migrants who currently do not pay any taxes but often receive free or reduced healthcare over tax-paying Americans (looking at you California).
  • Immigration
    • This is a core tenant of our nation. We need an immigration policy that protects our citizens but also allows others to come to this country to contribute to our success. There is a tough balance here to navigate but not impossible. Let's fund the applicable departments and ensure they have highly qualified agents to sort those who would add value to our nation and those who would cause problems. We have the most robust intelligence apparatus in the world. I am sure that if we focus our attention on external threats instead of internal threats we could figure out who to recruit to our team and who to pass on, all while making our country more productive and safe.
  • Education
    • This is a big one... Our children are our future... and we are failing them! Parents get 4 years with their kids before they head off to start school. That is the last time that we get 100% of their attention before they start receiving input from other adults and peers. We are doing them a disservice by not recruiting the best and brightest to mold them into tomorrow's workforce. Teaching is like every other career field. If we paid teachers the same as we paid CEOs, athletes, celebrities, etc. We would get more applicants than we would know what to do with. We could then choose the best and brightest to spend 8 hours a day teaching our children to invent the next best thing.... Obviously, we cannot as a nation afford to pay every teacher $25M a year but you get the point. Let's make a starting salary for a teacher $100k and choose the best applicants to teach our children. Teachers should be the best of society and should be regarded as such.....
    • Now let's talk about college. A college degree is overrated as fuck currently. A bachelor's degree from a state school should not cost you more than what you make for the first 5 years of working. There needs to be a cap on what colleges can charge. It's great that we are looking into student loan repayment and I absolutely think that we need to help even the scales there but first, we need to stop the bleeding. A college degree from a state school receiving federal funding should not cost a student more than $50k for a 4-year degree. If you want to go to a private school then you are all on your own but let's give everyone an option to go to school for a reasonable price. We should not have to spend our lives repaying a loan for education. This is only going to discourage young men and women from attending these storied institutions. It is criminal what these schools are charging.
  • Healthcare
    • First, let me start out by saying fuck all of these people at the top. I am looking at the corporate fat cats, the insurance companies, the Sacklers. Healthcare is out of control even worse than education. We need to put limits on what they can charge, limits on what medications cost, and very strong quality assurance in the FDA to make sure that these drug companies are not poisoning us. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. We all deserve quality healthcare. Make it happen POTUS.
  • Equal Opportunity
    • Everyone deserves equality of opportunity... not equality of result. We all deserve the ability to succeed but success should not be given just because of our race/gendeethnicity/sexual orientation/economic resources. I personally do not care what color you are, what gender you are, or what you like to do with your free time. I only care about what you contribute. Black, Brown, White, or any other color of the rainbow, gay, straight, or anything in between, none of it matters. All that does actually matter is results and we should all have the same opportunity to succeed regardless of the details because, at the end of the day, we are all people striving for a "more perfect union"!
  • Defense
    • Completely UNSATISFACTORY that the Pentagon cannot pass an audit. We talk about our defense spending like it's a badge of honor but there is no mention of the efficiency of our tax dollars. If we give the DOD $2T then we should know what our return on investment is! The budget should not increase for defense spending until the DOD can pass an audit. This is Ludacris! I see fraud, waste, and abuse daily but there is nothing that can be done about it. We do not need to spend millions of dollars on a base right next to another base because they are "historic." We do not neet do complete training exercises spending thousands of dollars per hour just to say that we have done the thing that we will never actually do in war. There is absolutely no reason we need to pay millions of dollars for program overruns just because have already contributed so much to that project. We need to hold the DOD and the defense contractors accountable and to be honest we need to account for every penny that is spent.... With that said, Veterans have sacrificed a lot and we owe it to them as a country to compensate them and ensure that they are taken care off after they have sacrificed their future for the good of the republic. Many of our veterans will live much shorter lives than their civilian counterparts due to their service and the least we can do is ensure that their sacrifice is noticed and compensated for. How much is a year of your life worth? Ask yourself that next time you think veterans shouldn't receive healthcare or disability after their service is complete.
    • Conscription..... this one is going to be controversial so buckle up.... I think every VOTING American should be required to contribute to the nation as a whole. This does not necessarily mean military service although this is inside of my "defense" bullet. But think about it for just a moment. If you first two years out of high school you were required to contribute to the public good, either through military service or through social service. You could be a bus driver, firefighter, work for public parks, or for your county. There are infinite ways to serve your local community. You serve your community, draw a reasonable paycheck, learn a skill, and earn the right to vote. You are giving back to the society that you are a member of and getting a skill and a couple of years to mature before being sent off into the world on your own. We could tie education benefits to this in a similar fashion to the way the military does. If you give two years to public service then you get two years of state college paid for....If you decide that you absolutely do not want to contribute to your nation then that is fine, we will not arrest you or revoke your citizenship, you just will not be afforded the opportunity to have an opinion on policy as you have no skin in the game. You don't get to vote until you contribute.
• Foreign policy
  • Russia - They are bullies.... We have been the world police since the end of WW2 and this needs to change. Every country needs to take some ownership of its own sovereignty, however, like the comics say "With great power, comes great responsibility." We, as the dominant world power, have an obligation to balance the scales. Russia needs to stop picking on the weak and if the weak cannot defend themselves then it is our obligation to assist them but that does not mean that we need to fight the battle for them. Ukraine has done a great job of standing up for itself but the rest of Europe needs to continue to provide support in this war if they care about the outcome. End of the day, Russia is a dying country and we only really need to wait them out. We should not buy their exports, we should not sell them our exports, and we should make it very clear that we will evaluate our relationship with any country that does not feel the same way we do.
  • China - They WERE a rising power. China is doing its best to continue to the illusion that they are rising to the top but at the end of the day they do not have the internal infrastructure or resources to become the dominant world power. They would like the world to view them as pacifists but in reality, they are antagonists. Their actions within the "9-dash line" make it very clear what they want. They want security. Once they have that security then they want influence. But they cannot possibly hold that security or influence for very long if they continue to be opposed in their values to the USA and our allies. USA, Japan, and Australia alone pose a significant challenge to China's power for as long as we remain united. That does not even factor in the other allies that the US has in the region like the Philippines, or India who both pose significant defense challenges to CCP. Our policy towards China should be "Play nice or you don't get to play at all." This policy will be painful for us as we may have to pay more for some of our consumer goods but it will be even more painful for them if they do not play along. We hold all the cards for as long as we are willing to sacrifice just a little. The POTUS should just be honest with us and we will as a nation, will understand. "We will have to pay more for some things but in the long run the world will be better off because we held strong to our ideals and the world will be a more fair place."
  • Ukraine - Happy to send them aid but that aid should have an audit. Let's make sure that the money and equipment we are sending them is going to the place we intend for it to be sent. Seems pretty reasonable to me.
  • NATO - NATO is necessary until the remnants of the USSR are completely destroyed... but the other members of NATO need to hold up their end of the bargain and POTUS needs to hold Europe's feet to the fire until they pony up what they agreed to. End of the day the USA's sovereignty does not need NATO to exist to remain whole. We have all the resources we need and are well-defended. There is no need for us to defend them for the sake of trade anymore. NATO needs us more than we need them so if they would like to continue to receive the benefits of our alliance then they need to make it worth our while and it's POTUS's job to ensure that happens.

There are a lot of other policies that we can go through here and no POTUS is going to have all the answers (that's why he or she needs a strong cabinet). I hope that there is some discussion started here... but at the end of the day.... the two candidates that we are likely looking at are both unfit. We deserve some quality candidates and not the old crazy reality TV star and the Old washed-up politician with a terrible VP. Give me someone reasonable to vote for, please!

I'm selling off that pile of shame. Got a printer so can make what I want. The prices that are listed are MSRP for each model and I'm asking 75% of that for new items and less for other conditions. Willing to make deals for larger amounts.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-1v0ws6B-OHkHs8S6rlxmJRHbNVqYgNu?usp=share\_link
1x SM Tac Squad - 32mm bases, box open but otherwise NOS $60
1x SM Devastator Squad - NIB but box crushed $60
1x Logan on Stormrider - NIB but box is crushed $65
1x Deathwatch Kill Team - NIB but box is crushed $45
1x Deathwatch Librarian in Terminator Armor, plastic - NIB (BA Lib $35 and DW upgrade sprue $15)
1x FW Inquisition Rhino Rear Door NIB (OOP, make an offer)
1x FW Inquisition Rhino Doors and Frontplate NIB (OOP, make an offer)
1x FW Grey Knights Land Raider Door Set 1 - NIB (OOP, make an offer)
1x Deathwatch Veterans - Primed black, otherwise NOS (32mm bases not pictured but will be supplied) (Sternguard Veterans $60 and DW upgrade sprue $15)
1x Stormraven Gunship - Complete, primed red, wings are based red and have white wings painted on them. Otherwise NOS $115
1x Stormtalon Gunship - Primed red but otherwise NOS $60
1x Techmarine with Thunderfire Cannon, finecast - NIB with 25mm base. $70
1x Techmarine with Thunderfire Cannon, likely recast - New with 25mm base. $70
1x Techmarine with Thunderfire Cannon, metal - New but Marine looks stripped. 25 mm base not pictured but will be supplied. $70
1x Sammael on Jetbike - Metal, one stripped and one primed/painted. To be supplied with large flying base. (Make an offer)
3x Metal biker bits - New. It is a guy with a bare head and sword, a guy with a melta, and a guy with a plasma. Make an offer.
8x Bikers - Assembled but bare. Not sure they are complete but I can print anything that is missing. $15 each
Tau
1x Riptide - Primed white on sprue $115
Pathfinders, plastic - Primed white on sprue $60
Broadside, newer plastic - Primed white on sprue $60
CSM
Heldrake - NIB $80
10 minis, Raptors, newer plastic kit - NOS $45
5 minis, CSM Terminators - NOS $60
6 minis, CSM Bikers - NOS $45 for 3
Forgefiend/Maulerfiend - NIB. $80
Bloodthirster - On sprue. One axe is missing but the kit is still buildable. $160
Imperial Guard
1x Chimera - NIB $60
2x Valkyrie - NIB $90
Militarum Tempestus Scions - On Sprue. One gun is missing but the kit is still buildable. $45
Tyranids
3 minis, Raneners, metal - In bits but it looks complete. Make an offer.
1x Red Terror, metal - In bits but it looks complete. Make an offer.
Dark Eldar
10 minis, Wyches - Primed black on sprue $45 (the priming is a little heavy here, Asking $20)
Fantasy Stuff
5 minis, Chaos Knights - NOS $65

Happy June, davinciresolve! Have some Pride in your work! In the interest of consolidating hardware questions, we've introduced monthly threads dedicated exclusively to hardware. We've also rolled out a new post flair to direct you to these monthly threads. "Help Hardware Please use the megathread!"

Thread Info & Guidelines

This is the thread to ask if your computer meets the minimum requirements, ask what part to upgrade, and other general hardware questions. Future FAQ Fridays may still cover hardware & peripherals, depending on how frequently questions get asked.
In addition to subreddit rules, there is one additional thread guideline we're introducing:

• If you're asking for suggestions for a build, please include a budget/range.
  • If you don't include a budget/range, you may get suggestions above or below your budget range.

Official Minimum System Requirements for Resolve 18.1.4

Minimum system requirements for macOS

• macOS 11 Big Sur
• 8 GB of system memory. 16 GB when using Fusion
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video version 12.0 or later
• Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM.
• GPU which supports Metal or OpenCL 1.2.

Minimum system requirements for Windows

• Windows 10 Creators Update.
• 16 GB of system memory. 32 GB when using Fusion
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
• Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM
• GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
• NVIDIA/AMD/Intel GPU Driver version – As required by your GPU

Minimum system requirements for Linux

• CentOS 7.3*
• 32 GB of system memory
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
• Discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM
• GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
• NVIDIA/AMD Driver version – As required by your GPU**

Minimum system requirements for iPadOS

• M1 iPad Pro or later
• Earlier non-M1 iPads may be limited to HD and have performance limitations.

Official Minimum System Requirements for Resolve 18.5

Minimum system requirements for macOS

• Mac OS 12 Monterey
• 8 GB of system memory. 16 GB when using Fusion
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 12.0 or later
• Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM
• GPU which supports Metal or OpenCL 1.2

Minimum system requirements for Windows

• Windows 10 Creators Update
• 16 GB of system memory. 32 GB when using Fusion
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
• Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM
• GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
• NVIDIA/AMD/Intel GPU Driver version – as required by your GPU

Minimum system requirements for Linux

• Rocky Linux 8.6 or CentOS 7.3*
• 32 GB of system memory
• Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 10.4.1 or later
• Discrete GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM
• GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
• NVIDIA/AMD Driver version – as required by your GPU

*CentOS is the industry standard distro for numerous VFX/color correction programs; Rocky has been chosen as the follow-up distro. Resolve may run on other distros but is only officially supported on CentOS and Rocky.
**Mod Note: This must be the proprietary driver; open-source drivers may cause issues.

Mini FAQ:

Is there/will there be an Android version?
This is speculation, but it's likely that what makes the iPad version possible is the M1/M2 architecture and the pre-existing OS similarities to macOS. It seems unlikely that BMD would offer Android support in the near future, and it may have similar codec licensing limitations to the Linux version - no H.26x support without the Studio version, and no AAC audio.
Can I use Integrated Graphics on Linux if I don't have an NVIDIA or AMD GPU?
Nope, and BMD has no plans to support them.
How do I know if my GPU supports CUDA 11?
You can visit the Wikipedia page for CUDA, find the specific CUDA version you need and the corresponding compute capability, then find your GPU. CUDA 11 requires a compute capability of 3.5-8.0.
How low can my system specs go compared to these?
A while back, we did a series of FAQ Fridays on different levels of hardware setups. For the subreddit's bare minimum recommendations, check out the Consumer Hardware Setup FAQ Friday.
How much is a Speed EditoIs it a good deal to get the Speed EditoLicense combo?
Back in October 2021, Blackmagic Design announced that the Speed Editor's introductory bundle with a Studio license for $295 was being discontinued. The MSRP for a Speed Editor is now $395, and it still comes with a Studio license. Some retailers may have the introductory bundle in stock, but it's not a guarantee. More information about the price changes for the Speed Editor and other panels can be found in this press release from BMD.

Related FAQ Fridays

Hardware "Rewrap"
Peripherals & Control Surfaces, Macro Keyboards, and Peripherals
Consumer Hardware Setup
Prosumer Hardware Setup
Professional Hardware Setup
Licensing (Wiki page)
Resolve for iPad First Release Notes
Issues with AMD Drivers
Phishing Warning

Pride Month Parody
User Make a parady of Rebecca Black's song Friday about pride month.
ChatGPT (Verse 1) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah It's Pride Month, Pride Month Gonna celebrate, gonna make it fun Gettin' ready, puttin' on my colorful gear Gonna spread love, gotta make it clear
(Pre-Chorus) Checkin' my calendar, it's June now Gonna rock this month, no need to frown Livin' my truth, gonna let it show Proud and loud, watch the rainbow glow
(Chorus) It's Pride Month, Pride Month Gotta show our love, yeah, that's what we want Raise your flags high, let the colors fly Come on, come on, it's our time to shine
(Verse 2) Wakin' up in the morning, feelin' so free Sun's out, the sky is a beautiful scene Grabbin' my friends, we're gonna have a blast Spreading acceptance, breakin' down the past
(Pre-Chorus) Dancin' in the streets, love is in the air United we stand, no matter who we care Embracin' diversity, no room for hate Proud and strong, it's time to celebrate
(Chorus) It's Pride Month, Pride Month Gotta show our love, yeah, that's what we want Raise your flags high, let the colors fly Come on, come on, it's our time to shine
(Bridge) Together we're stronger, we're breaking the chains No matter the gender, love's the refrain Embracing all identities, we're standing tall Building a world where love conquers all
(Chorus) It's Pride Month, Pride Month Gotta show our love, yeah, that's what we want Raise your flags high, let the colors fly Come on, come on, it's our time to shine
(Outro) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah It's Pride Month, Pride Month Gonna celebrate, gonna make it fun Love is love, and it's here to stay Happy Pride, let's make every day a Friday!

I’m attempting to make stickers printed with inkjet that have holographic designs printed over top my image. But separate so I can then cover them with laminate. I am aware of the laser foiling method and while it is immensely popular, I don’t own a colored laser printer., I know inkjet prints images better than laser and that’s the printer I have. I have tried the cold Laminate process with the Holo printed lamination sheets and my results were ok but not what I was trying to do. As I have been researching I have come across name for machines that I’m not sure I need… Can I used hot roll lamination machine to fuse Holo foil and the image from an inkjet? If so which roller will be the most professional product? Can I actually achieve the results I want or do I have the process twisted around? If anyone can please help guide me I would deeply appreciate it.

Hi all! I'm currently battling my Brother HL-3170CDW color laser printer. Pages (color and black) have been faded and streaky for weeks, and I would greatly appreciate some help. (not sure if 'streaking' describes it right, but I don't know what else to call it).
The C,M,Y cartridges have plenty of toner left, but black is currently low (the problem existed before the cartridge was low). According to the printer, the drums and belt have over 80% of life left. I've pulled out the cartridges, cleaned the corona wire, and gently shaken the cartridges to re-distribute the toner. I removed and examined the belt and didn't see anything wrong (although I'm no expert). I opened the back panel and saw that the fuser had nothing stuck to it. There was no buildup of dust inside the printer. I've reset the unit to factory defaults and made sure its settings looked good (right paper thickness, no toner-saver features engaged, etc.).
The faded blacks may very well be the low black toner, but that doesn't explain the weeks of bad prints and streaking color. I've considered ordering replacement parts, but without knowing what's causing the issue, it could get VERY expensive just to find the problem.
I scanned one of the printed pages to share here. It's at https://tazlink.com/f/7yjxyE
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks very much for your time! :)

I am deprived of proper sleep, but after a long as night full of coffee and rain world miraheze, i managed to give some rain world plant and animal based objects an explanation! Woohoo!
Bluefruit: The blue coloration of this "fruit" is likely due to pigments called anthocyanins, which protect the pupa from ultraviolet radiation. The crunchy (i just presumed it would be crunchy due to it's sound and the fact it is a chrysalid) outer shell of the Bluefruit serves as a defense mechanism against possible predators, as it contains the precious pupa. The black vines from which the fruit hangs could be a symbiotic relationship with fungi or a plant, facilitating nutrient uptake and supporting the pupa's growth and survival. Alternatively, it could be a fiber created by the pupa's parents (likely batflies) in order to keep it away from predators.
Bubblenut/fruit (i prefer to call it nut): The Bubblenut possesses a unique adaptation that allows it to transform when submerged in water. The hard and practically inedible nature of the dry nut's shell can be attributed to its dense cell walls and high lignin content. Upon contact with water, osmotic changes occur within the nut, causing rapid water absorption and subsequent expansion. The nut's cellulosic framework undergoes a gelatinization process, resulting in the formation of a clear, gelatinous bubble that is edible.
Mushroom: Mushrooms are small, edible fungi that exhibits bioluminescence, likely caused by a chemical reaction involving luciferin and luciferase. The glow emitted by the fungi could serve as an attractant to nocturnal animals and potentially aids in spore dispersal. When consumed, the Mushroom interacts with the consumer's nervous system, triggering the release of neurotransmitters and stimulating the adrenal glands. This heightened state of awareness and increased physical performance can be attributed to the chemical constituents present in the fungus, possibly being similar to a natural steroid.
Karma Flower: Karma flowers possess yellow, glowing wheel-like "petal" with a distinct X-shaped pattern. The flowers' bioluminescence is likely a result of chemical reactions involving luciferin and luciferase. The hallucinogenic properties (as described by moon) of Karma Flowers can be attributed to specific alkaloids and secondary metabolites present within the plant. Although not much can be said about it, as it's effects on karma can be really difficult to explain in more scientific terms.
Popcorn: Popcorns are a unique organism with an explosive defensive mechanism. The red husks covering the edible cob serve as protection against herbivores. When subjected to mechanical shock or damage, the husks rapidly split open, causing a sudden release of built-up gas within the plant. The audible popping sound is attributed to the expulsion of pressurized gas from the kernels' popping, creating a spectacle that startles potential threats. The edible yellow kernels are rich in carbohydrates and nutrients, providing a valuable food source once the protective husks are breached.
Jellyfish: Jellyfish are floating saucer-shaped organisms with long, thin tentacles that possess an electric shock defense mechanism. The organism generates electricity through specialized cells called electrocytes, which create an electrical potential difference across their membranes. When threatened or aggravated, Jellyfish can discharge a powerful electric shock. The shock is delivered through the tentacles, which act as conductors, effectively immobilizing or stunning potential predators. The shock's intensity can be attributed to the electrocytes' arrangement and the strength of the electrical current produced.
Slime Mold: Slime Mold is a bioluminescent, pulsating plasmodium that could potentially feed on decaying organic matter, it could rapidly colonize decaying organic matter by secreting enzymes that break down complex compounds into simpler forms. The faint glow emitted by the Slime Mold is, once again, likely a result of biochemical reactions involving luciferin and luciferase. It is edible, however, the unappealing visual and textural characteristics of Slime Mold could discourage most creatures from consuming it.
Cherrybomb: Cherrybombs possess a unique adaptation for self-defense. The small red berries along the central black stem contain high concentrations of sulfur compounds. When the bush is vigorously shaken, the friction and impact trigger a chemical reaction within the berries, leading to a series of small explosions. These explosions result from the combustion of the sulfur compounds, producing bursts of heat and light. The loud detonations can cause auditory impairment, while the release of heat may cause mild burns upon close contact.
Flashbang: Flashbangs are blue glowing spheres that produce intense flashes of light when thrown. The bright flashes can be explained by the presence of bioluminescent compounds within the Flashbang (you guessed it: luciferin and luciferase), which undergo a rapid oxidation reaction upon impact. This reaction releases a burst of energy in the form of photons, resulting in the emission of bright light. The intensity of the light emitted can have detrimental effects on creatures, potentially causing temporary blindness or even death to some light-sensitive creatures.
Paincone: Paincones feature reddish-black bulbs surrounded by black insects and are equipped with a defense mechanism involving web-like strings. The insects associated with Paincones likely possess specialized silk-producing glands that enable them to secrete thin, adhesive threads. When aggravated, these insects release the silk, which quickly forms web-like strings. These strings entangle and immobilize nearby creatures, providing the Paincones with a means of defense against potential threats. The pacifying effect of Spore Puff on the insects can be attributed to the disruption of their sensory receptors.
Spore Puff: Spore Puffs are funguses that possess distinctive gray balls with green patches and a smoking fuse. On impact, the Spore Puff burst open, releasing spores. The burst is triggered by internal pressure buildup within the Spore Puff, generated through the accumulation of gases, primarily carbon dioxide, produced during the fungal growth and metabolic processes. The spores expelled can have various effects depending on the recipient. Creatures capable of digesting the spore puffs (namely Rain Deer) benefit from a nutrient-rich food source. However, the spores' damage-dealing properties to arthropod creatures can be attributed to their toxic compounds, enzymes, physical structure, or even nervous system disruption.
Batnip: Batnip is an orange fern-like plant that emits a scent resembling batfly pheromones. The plant likely evolved this distinctive smell to attract small flying mammals, such as batflies, which aid in its pollination. The specific chemicals responsible for the pheromone-like scent remain unknown, but they are likely similar to or mimic the volatile compounds produced by batflies.
And that's it, tell me your opinions in the comments, i would be happy to hear them :)

This seems like a good month to share one of those "I had absolutely no idea what it meant as a kid, but looking back on it as an adult makes me want to cringe and laugh at the same time" stories.
I went to Catholic school from K thru 4th grade. (I can't remember why I changed schools after that, but as a quiet, introverted, unattractive bookworm without a feminine bone in my body, I did have problems with bullies every day of every year of my compulsory school career.) Nothing too cringy -- had a perfectly normal curriculum except for a Religion class in-between the standard Math, Spelling, Reading, etc. classes and Mass every Friday. I remember Religion class being learning and analyzing Bible stories the way normal (and older!) classes do with mainstream literature. I remember reciting the rosary during Lent. The kindergarten teacher was the only one who hit kids (LIBERALLY!). My mom didn't approve and made that known, but if you believe the way my parents talked, all teachers in my dad's Catholic school and my mom's mainstream school in their childhoods spent all day beating kids black and blue, which I assume led to the widespread mentality that expected my generation to deal with it.
Anyway, like I said, I've been an introvert all my life, but I did have one Best Friend. We ate every lunch together, we always went to each other's birthdays, we had sleepovers, we sat next to each other and worked on projects together whenever we could... And, being young girls, we hugged freely and hard and often. All the stereotypes about girls and young women squealing and hugging a female they haven't seen in 5 minutes? Yeah, that was us. Okay, not every 5 minutes, but start of every recess? Yep, we'd run to each other and hug.
With few exceptions, we also spent literally every EVERY recess walking the perimeter of the playground, holding hands and talking. Yeah...
So I can't remember what year this happened. It wasn't my first open house or whatever the event is called, so I knew how they worked: the teachers sit you and your parent (always my mom, in my case) down and talk about your grades and performance (my grades were always high and praised, my social skills never satisfactory), and then they send you out of the room so they can "talk to your mom alone" about REALLY serious stuff. Well, one year, on the car ride home, my mom tells me how my Best Friend and I "need to quelch the hand holding thing" and how we shouldn't be "hugging and kissing." No explanation. I knew nothing about non-heterosexuality at the time; according to my childhood instruction, it didn't exist. Never came up. So I didn't feel ashamed or dirty or scared or anything. I truly only felt confused. What are they talking about? We never kiss. Just plain old confusion.
Same with my friend. She was told the same thing, and when we told each other how our meetings went, we were equally confused. Two girls who had no idea why adults were saying such ridiculous stuff or why they thought we kissed.
What effect did it have? Well, we complied at school, and the only emotion I recall it evoking was annoyance. School pretty much forbade anything fun, so I guess we just classified this as another fun thing we weren't allowed to do at school for no reason. We were both first borns and good students, so it was our standard practice to follow the rules, even while rolling our eyes and sighing if the rule was stupid. We thought it was stupid that we weren't allowed to hold hands or hug at school, but whatever.
Outside of school, nothing changed. I distinctly remember us sitting on her couch during a sleepover hugging and her saying, "It's okay to hug now because we're alone," blissfully innocent about why 2 girls hugging and holding hands freaked a bunch of Catholic adults out so much.
I can't remember when I first looked back on that as an adult and realized I'd had my first exposure to homophobia without realizing it, but I do remember finding it hilarious. Realizing I'm ace 2 years ago just makes it doubly hilarious. But it's also deeply tragic and sad that people waste so much energy trying to wreck perfectly good, healthy, happy things for kids out of fear of something completely harmless. Something that CAN'T be changed or suppressed or altered anyway, no matter what they do...
Happy Pride Month to all!

Looking to move a bit of the collection. Add $4 for shipping (from the pit that is Ohio) and prices can be somewhat negotiable though they are lower than Discogs prices. Would consider trades in Faces by Mac (I have a boot copy that I would trade for the real pressing plus cash), any Mac record I don't currently have, and any Cousin Stizz record. Listing my Discogs to check wantlist and anything around my collection. Thanks! Unreleased, Misc. Vol 3 by Frank Ocean on clear and peach colored vinyl $35 played once Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa 12” single $20 Sleeve VG / record NM SYRE by Jaden Smith $20 VG/NM Thank u, next by Ariana Grande 7” single $25 NM/NM Live at Third Man Records by Billie Eilish $40 VG+/NM The Incredible True Story by Logic NM/NM Would love to discuss trades with this as I'm not pressed to sell but would help someone out if the deal was right https://www.discogs.com/useFishman0634

Timestamp Artisans
Local to 92115
For Sale:

Item	Description	Price (Inclusive of PayPal fee, exclusive of Shipping fee)
Unfinished/Raw Norbauer Data Pad	Unfinished Aluminum Data Pad. Raw SS Backplate. No Norbauer box. Comes with Folio, extra parts, no internals https://imgur.com/a/xV4Om8Q	$280
1u Standard Black Slider	-	$0.35/ea
GMK Yuri R2 Base + Cyrillics + Cherry Picker	Display set, typed one for a few days at most. Not splitting. Ships in bags	$260
GMK Agent 01 Alt Alphas	BNIB	$65
GMK Redacted Novs + Add-on	Ships in bags	$60
GMK Metropolis R2 Novelties	BNIB	$40
GMK Metropolis 2.25u Enter RAMA	BNIB	$50

Various Artisans - If it's listed, it's available!:

Maker + Sculpt	Colorway	Price (Inclusive of PayPal fee, exclusive of Shipping fee)
Lividity Observer	Julius	$35
SodieCaps Crescent Cap v2	Ashes of Ariandel	$35
404artisans INKM	Pennywise	$20
Melonkeys Suika	Laser	$50
Melonkeys Sumo	Laser	$50
Archetype Logo	Retrowave Purple	$15
Hungry Hustlas Conchas	Tri-color	$20
Alpha Keycaps Salvador	Hollow	$50
Monsteracaps Masai	Dreamy	$30
Archetype Jinx	Seer	$60
GSK Bara	Pilgrim	$40

M107 - Only what's listed below is available:

All come with box/card/sticker	$80/each	Discounts for bulk (5+)
Aquaman	Robin	Puddin
Harley	Pat	Camping
Red Ryan	Superman	Spiderman
Iron Man	Captain America	Flash
Cyborg	Green Ryan	Ben
Carol	Nick	Wonder Woman (2x avail)

Please comment before PM and do not use Reddit Chat. If on Mobile, click here to send a PM.
Shipping turnaround time is usually next business day upon receipt of payment barring delays from couriers/work. Will only ship to address on PayPal. Please be sure it's correct!
Willing to ship international. Buyer responsible for any conversion & import/VAT fees. Items will be declared at full value for international sales. Feel free to send a PM if you have any questions/want more info or pictures. Be sure to check my most recent post for up-to-date availability on items!
Thank you for your interest

Just smoked a joint so f it.. I’ll tell my story. Around this time last year I had a lump sum of money (10k) and tried to be different and invest it in 2 used jeep wranglers (lifted with tires too) jeep 1 127k miles $29,000 -12% intrest Note $700 insurance $125…yes I know the miles where nice but it had the lift kit, nice wheels, super awesome aftermarket sound system with 2 subwoofers… so yeah I felt it was worth it. Jeep 2 - 97k miles $28,000 12% intrest note $500 a month(only had the lift kit and the wheels everything else was basic. Here’s where I really f’d up. The second jeep wasn’t doing to good so I took out a loan (10k originally 4k) for upgrades such as new rims, front & back bumper and sound system. I had 90 days to pay the 4K with 0 percent interest and silly me didn’t so the loan went from 4k to 10k and I was making $600 a month payments for that(yeah I don’t know wtf I was thinking). So all to have $700, $600, $500, $125, $125 = $2,050 I have to pay(not including my regular life bills) just in businesses overhead. But me trying to stick with something and be consistent told myself I’ll work through it. Any listed the cars and right of back jeep 1 starts getting book almost every other day bringing in $900 to $1300 a month and I’m like fuck this is cool and it’s actually working. Jeep 2 barleys does anything (I think color plays a very important part of how much your car gets rented out, jeep 1 was black and slick, jeep 2 was a ugly ass turquoise greenish blue that’s why I got the up grades thinking it’ll do even better then the other 1) that decision to get those upgrade was probably my biggest mistake I was already going to struggle with things that extra $600 a month kilt me and my wallet. Oh but back to the Turo story first 3 months goes super good for jeep 1, jeep 2 picks up a little ($500 a month)but not enough to cover cost. But without the upgrades I would’ve been just breaking even if I was able to make that $500 a month. Both jeeps were priced a $70 plus a day. Right before thanks giving weekend we’re I could’ve gotten at $125 a day someone steal the black jeep. A lady books the jeep and let’s this guy she barley knows drive it and he never returns. He told the lady he would pay her bills half off if she books a car for him and silly her went for it. She help me find his older brother and we get the car back a week later crashed up radio ripped out 8k worth of damage so the car sat for 3 months waiting for parts and repairs while 2k worth or bills kept coming. Now I’m down to 1 car that’s barley doing anything so all my work checks where going into this business shit felt like an impossible whole to get out of. Was lucky enough to get a few settlements that helped me stay above water but a few months later I was right back under water and the jeep tie rod comes the whole repair would be $900 to fix and I’m already behind on the car note that was the last straw for me I had to f the business because it wasn’t making sense. Maybe if I had guidance from someone who was already doing it I would’ve made better choices but now I’m filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy to get rid of both the cars and loan and on top of all this I had about 20k worth of Cc dept after filing and seeing the paper work that showed me I had 109k worth of debt and has $3400 a month worth of bills with nothing to show for it made me really want to get my shit together and do things 10 times smarter like save up a lump sum of money before financing anything. BUGETTING will be my biggest know exactly what u have coming in and what you can afford to go out. With just my work checks %90 of my money was going to bill I only had a extra $200 a month for myself. Now that I know this if I was to event get back into I would only do it with luxury vehicles just because your dealing with a different type of clientele any damage to your car will get fixed with no hassle I also think Turo takes way to much. I know for a fact they take more then what they tell you. If you’ve ever asked a customer how much they paid it’ll be very different from the receipt Turo shows you….. yes I know there’s probably some Grammer errors but I’m fried so you know wtf I’m tryna say!!!!!!! Any question ask away

Scorpio Horoscope Today June 2, 2023 (beautyaal.com)
You live a beautiful love story and your heart is in love with your lover, but unrealistic and impractical expectations do not help you. Some unexpected events will affect your life, but your good handling of these events may prevent many problems from occurring. Avoid talking to your lover, as he may be stubborn and make you lose your temper.

Scorpio Horoscope Today – Love

Tell your lover about your feelings towards him, because he needs you and understands the difficult circumstances you are going through

Scorpio Horoscope Today – Professional Life

Deal with your co-workers calmly and diplomatically rather than rushing in for any trivial reason and avoid getting into a deep discussion of matters that are not worth it.

Scorpio Horoscope Today – Health

Wherever you are, you draw attention, in addition to handsomeness, you enjoy a graceful body and wonderful health

• Lucky numbers: 2 and 6
• Lucky color: Black
  Scorpio Horoscope Today June 2, 2023 (beautyaal.com)
  

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This Nike Air Max Plus Gets Covered In Shades Of Blue
Various shades of blue come together on this clean color option of the Nike Air Max Plus which can easily be a staple in your summer lineup. Done in a color combination of University Blue, White, Deep Royal Blue, and Ice Blue, this Nike Air Max Plus features a familiar mesh gradient upper in different shades of blue with the same hues noted on the signature overlays, toe cap, mudguards, heels, and branding. For contrast we have White on the laces, inner liner, and midsole while a black rubber outsole caps off the look on this Nike Air Max Plus that you can cop online and at select retailers for $175.
For a complete guide including official photos, release dates, pricing and where to buy, visit: Nike Air Max Plus Ice Blue.
In release news, will you be going after the Air Jordan 1 High OG Washed Black on June 10th?
images: Nike

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UNC Vibes Hit This New Balance 550
This one is for all the fans of UNC-inspired kicks as New Balance is treating the ladies to this clean 550 colorway. Taking on the traditional and signature leather and mesh construction, this New Balance 550 features a white leather all over the upper with the signature perforations hitting the side panels. For some color we have the addition of that UNC blue on the “N” branding, overlays, and portions of the midsole/outsole. This New Balance 550 can be scooped up at select New Balance retailers as well as online now for $110.
In release news, will you be going after the Air Jordan 1 High OG Washed Black on June 10th?
images: New Balance

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The Nike Air Max Plus Joins The Icons Collection
Nike’s “Icons” Collection gets an addition with the inclusion of this Nike Air Max Plus. Taking on an official color palette of Black, Scream Green, White, and Deep Royal, this Nike Air Max Plus features a white and blue gradient mesh construction all through the upper with the signature TPU overlays, mudguards, toe caps, and heels all done in black. Additional details include Scream Green accents on the eyelets and branding, white rubber midsoles, and special “Nike Icons” branding on the insoles. Fans of the Nike Air Max Plus can find this “Icons” colorway online and at select retailers now for $180.
For a complete guide including official photos, release dates, pricing and where to buy, visit: Nike Air Max Plus Icons.
In release news, will you be going after the Air Jordan 1 High OG Washed Black on June 10th?
images: Nike

I have a question. A few years ago, I assembled a high-end PC with a Ryzen 7 3800X CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card, an ASUS X570 Hero VIII motherboard, and 64GB of DDR4 RAM running at default frequencies without any adjustments. Recently, I placed an order for an NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics card with 24GB of VRAM and a 1000W ATX 3.0 power supply. I don't plan to upgrade my CPU and motherboard, as they still serve my needs. The new graphics card is primarily intended for AI training, which requires the larger VRAM capacity. One reason I didn't consider an AMD graphics card is that there is no optimized option with 24GB VRAM available.
However, I've recently heard about a potential issue called "bottlenecking,"(CPU Bottleneck and High-End Graphics Card) and while I have a general understanding of what it means, I'm not sure if it will affect my regular computer usage. I use my PC not only as a workstation but also for gaming, so I would appreciate any advice or suggestions regarding this matter.
Regarding budget constraints, I prefer not to replace my CPU since I've heard that the latest AMD CPUs require a motherboard upgrade and may not support DDR4 memory. This would result in too many necessary changes. Even if I decide to upgrade, I might consider waiting until Black Friday for potential deals.

Hey everyone! I managed to finally do what I planned and alternate fics with each chapter xD. I don't know what it is, but I get hyper focused here and there and then I can get such writer's block with certain things while writing but then get in a zone after managing to get past certain sections. Anyway, this is the second of three planned Linked Souls Day chapters, the next one being the last and from there just hopefully one more chapter that serves as a prelude and transition into the canon events. But don't quote me fully on this as it MIGHT turn into two chapters depending on if I can fit everything in it. But I'm excited to get into the canon material as I've had plans for it since 2020 xD. Anyway, I'm going to likely swap back to my Helluva Boss fic to do a chapter than swap back to this as I want to try to prevent any burn out. Fair warning, I might get a lil hyper focused on the HB fic, but I will do my best to keep a good balance and get back to this as soon as possible.
As I've said before both of these fics are passion projects that I intend to finish no matter how long it takes as I love writing in both worlds. Also, I'm still sticking to this being set pretty much in Japan given everything in canon and sticking to those sensibilities and laws while not neglecting my own western ones and other westerners. I know I've put the disclaimer bout the Nazomi and Sebastian relationship on every prior chapter focusing on then, I just want to make it clear each time this is being handled with care and the maturity it demands. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and I might get the next chapter out maybe early next month or near the end of this one depending on how things go, but I WILL get it out.
Also, curious what everyone thinks about my introduction of a Valentines equivalent.
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​
After Shinoku and Vega left to meet up with Anya and Sheila, Sebastian took the time to finish getting ready for when he’d meet up with Nazomi. Just like his friends, Sebastian took his time to make sure that he looked good enough for their rendezvous, putting on some clothes he had that looked very similar to the Cherryton uniform aside from differing colors and other minor things. Also like Shinoku and Vega, he had gotten Nazomi a gift as well. After making sure he was good and ready for his meet up with Nazomi, Sebastian went back to reading to pass the time till he needed to head down the hill to meet up with her. As he waited, Sebastian heard his phone ring, quickly going to see who it was and answering it when he saw it was his mother.
“Hello Sebastian.” His mother said as he answered the phone. “I hope you’re well.”
“Hi mom.” he replied. “Yeah, I’m doing well.”
“That’s good to hear. How are your grades, I trust you’re keeping them high like you always do.” His mother inquired.
“I am.”
“That’s good to hear, you always do your best. Though, I’m not sure why you don’t do cram school like your brother did and your sister is doing. It’s nice that you work hard, don’t get me wrong, but I just want to make sure you’re living up to your full potential.” She said, her tone carrying that always subtle pressure of a proud lioness with high expectations.
And there it was; while she did care for him like any lion mother, she always wanted him to live up to the standards and the image of what a lion should be. Not that she was any different from any other lioness towards her kids, they all knew they had to make sure that the reputation of the king of beasts was maintained. It was an ever present driving force for lions; to stand apart, set the example, excel and push yourself to ever higher points and positions. It was both the greatest driving factor, and the most dangerous threat to a lion. While most would manage to get by and repress the toll it took or even thrive; for others, it would be far too much pressure. It was what lead to so many lions to go to the back alley, to form the likes of the shishigumi or join it.
Sebastian took a moment, the pressure of his mother’s expectations briefly showing before he quickly composed himself. “I understand mom, don’t worry, I have everything planned out.” he assured her. “I’m just tackling things in a way that allows me to give my full attention to my grades here. It’s not that I’m not interested in cram school, I just think it’s more logical to not have my focus split too much.”
“Always the analytical one my little Seby.” his mother commented. “But you only focus on your schoolwork and your reading, even your brother managed to handle doing cram school AND being on his school’s baseball team. He always did so well, even as a cub. Your sister’s also excelling in her gymnastics.” She added. His mother never overtly sounded disappointed, but the subtle nudges and constant reminding of his siblings’ achievements spoke volumes of her wanting him to be like them and every other lion. Why couldn’t she just understand that while he had the potential like every other lion, he just didn’t have the interest? Wasn’t it enough that they were bringing home trophies to show off?
Sebastian let the pressure he felt slip slightly once more before regaining his composure again. “That’s good to hear they’re doing so well…” he said in a cheerful voice. “You don’t need to worry though mom, I’ll make sure I get into a good college, plus all my teachers like me. Getting a recommendation good enough to be accepted won’t be hard to get.”
“True, your teachers always liked you.” His mother said. “But it’s just so rare for a lion not to do cram school. At least, in terms of the ones wanting to make a good life for themselves.” she commented in a veiled implication that a lot of the lions who chose not to were always trouble makers and bad seeds.
“I know mom.” Sebastian replied. “But I do have a career path set and I’m not going to stray from it.”
“And given the way you study and your grades I have no doubt. I can’t wait to hear what prestigious college you become the head over. But you might decide to be something equally important to society.” his mother commented. He never dared once to say he wanted to just teach, he didn’t even care where. All he ever said when what he wanted to be came up was something potentially in education and just smile and nod when his mother would suggest stuff. “By the way, have you found a nice lioness yet?”
“No, not yet mom.” Sebastian replied. He didn’t even dare to think about giving her a hint that he had found someone, knowing full well the questions that ensue about her and wanting to see a picture of or talk to her.
“That’s a shame, I hate to hear that you’re alone on Linked Souls Day. Are you looking?” his mother asked.
“Yes mom, I am.” Sebastian lied. “I’ll find someone, it just takes time for some.”
“But you’re so handsome, are you sure you’re looking or giving good impressions?”
“I am…” Sebastian replied as he held back a sigh.
“Alright. But just know that I have a few friends with very nice daughters, I could always introduce you to.”
Sebastian pinched his brow. “Thanks...but I’m sure I’ll find someone soon.”
“OK, just don’t get so caught up in your studies that you forget.” his mother commented. “Anyway, I need to get going, your father’s going to be taking me out for a romantic date. He says hi by the way.”
“I won’t.” Sebastian said as he composed himself once more. “And that sounds nice, tell him I say hello.”
“Sure. And Sebastian, keep working hard and making us proud.” his mother said before hanging up.
Sebastian let out a sigh as he hung up his phone, putting it back in his pocket. As he did so, Hassan looked at him. “I get the whole familial pressure, it’s not fun. I can only imagine what it’s like with being a lion.”
“She means well…” Sebastian replied.
“Clearly given the expressions you let slip.” Hassan pointed out. “I’m not trying to say your mother’s horrible, but her intentions aren’t exactly selfless.”
“It’s just how it is for us lions.”
“Well if you ask me it’s a bunch of bullshit.” Jax commented.
Hassan just shrugged. “Like Sebastian said, it’s just what it is. All we can do is just not let it get to us and forge our own paths the best we can when it comes to expectations.”
“Anyway, I better start heading out, it’s getting close to time for me to meet up with miss Nazomi.” Sebastian said as he stood up, walking over to get the flowers and gift for Nazomi.
“Sure you don’t need any help?” Hassan asked.
“I’ll be fine.”
Hassan nodded. “Alright.”
“Keep living the dream dude, maybe you’ll get to spend the night with her.” Jax said with a wide grin.
Sebastian just rolled his eyes at Jax before walking out to meet up with Nazomi, not even wanting to respond to the comment. As he headed down to the main floor of the dorm, Sebastian felt a combination of excitement and nervousness. It was his first time celebrating Linked Souls Day with anyone, not that he was ever really bothered about not being able to do so in the past. Sebastian also felt a bit guilty due to the fact that because he was a student and Nazomi a teacher, he couldn’t really do anything publicly with her let alone the fact that she was preparing the meal for them to eat.
Deep down he was a romantic at heart, much maligning the fact that he couldn’t be the one to treat her to a cooked meal. It didn’t really feel right that on Linked Souls Day she was doing most the work. It was just something that he would make sure to do in the future if things got that far with them. Although he still worried about being the potential cause of her losing her job. That, and exactly when and how he was going to introduce her to his parents when he was no longer a student. Hopefully he’d have it figured out when the time came.
Sebastian let out a sigh as he exited the boy’s dorm. Despite all the worries, he still deep down found himself hoping that this would work out. Even with the returning thought of this being just a potential rebellion against his parents and their expectations, he could not deny how he felt about the older feline. Especially with their first date still ever present in his mind. No matter what challenges or obstacles they might face, he was willing to face them, his resolve hardening all the more. Even if it ended up with them having to end things before something bad happened, he’d rather live knowing he tried his best than giving into the fear and not trying to fight for his own happiness.
It didn’t take long for Sebastian to leave the school and get down the hill to where Nazomi said she would be waiting for him, and as he got to their rendezvous spot he stopped. His eyes widened as he felt his heart about to beat out of his chest. Before him stood Nazomi next to her car, dressed in a rather nice satin button down green blouse and black business skirt with a slit on the left side that fit her perfectly. She looked beautiful, so much so that Sebastian felt his cheeks were on fire and his heart was about toleap out of his chest as he blushed, unable to really say anything for a few moments.
“W-wow…” he managed to say as he managed to walk over to Nazomi. “You look...amazing.”
Nazomi smiled a bit. “Thank you, I did try.” she said as she blushed ever so slightly. “I would have worn a dress, but I didn’t want to arouse any real suspicion…”
“It’s fine, there’s not a time I’ve seen you where you didn’t look beautiful.” Sebastian said as he continued to blush, rubbing the back of his head as he did so.
Nazomi blushed more. “You look quite handsome yourself, and just as professional as I do.” she commented. “At least it won’t look too suspicious...I hope.”
“I’m sure it won’t.” Sebastian commented before blinking. “Oh, right, I got you these.” Sebastian added as he handed her the bouquet.
“Awe, thank you love.” Nazomi almost cooed as she took the flowers. “They’re beautiful, I can’t remember the last time I got flowers...Thank you.”
Sebastian smiled as he then handed her a smallish wrapped box. “I also got you this.”
Nazomi blinked as she took the gift, opening it to see it was a bottle of perfume. Taking it out of the box she gave it a sniff. “It smells wonderful, I can’t imagine how much this was…”
“It’s nothing, I saw it one day and thought it’d suit you. So I saved up to make sure I could get you it for today.”
Nazomi smiled, tail flicking as a purr emitted from her throat. “You really are too sweet.” she said as she moved to put the gifts up and then hugged Sebastian. “Again, thanks.” she added as she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Shall we?”
“Yes.” Sebastian replied, giving Nazomi a nuzzle.
The two got in Nazomi’s car, Sebastian first asking if he should maybe hide out of site like in the trunk only for Nazomi to insist that he sit in the passenger seat. Despite his concerns she said if anyone asked, she was just helping him get to Linked Souls Day meet up. Which, in the most technical sense was not a lie. Sebastian nodded, getting in the passenger seat before Nazomi started her car up and drove.
As They drove through the city to Nazomi’s house something hit Sebastian that he could not believe he didn’t think about even when he had first seen the female cat. “Hey, Mrs. Nazomi?” he asked as he looked at her.
“Yes love?” she asked.
“I just realized...you’re a bit tall for an oriental shorthair. It’s something I should have realized sooner, are you…”
“A mixed species?” Nazomi finished asking for him with a slight smile. “Most don’t really take note until they hit their growth spurts and outgrow me by whatever their heights usually are depending on species. But yes, I am.” she answered. “I’m one third panther on my mother’s side.”
Sebastian blinked, that would explain why she was a bit more ebony in her fur color and why she was taller than the typical shorthair. In fact, her coming up to just under the mid point of his chest hadn’t come off as odd until he thought about it. With some growth still to come, odds are she’d likely be at his gut or just over his waist by the time he finished growing. Not that it was really a problem or he minded, it was just an observation he made.
His eyes glanced over at the scenery as they drove, taking in the buildings and noting that they were sticking to a fairly nice part of town. He then glanced over at Nazomi, taking in how beautiful she looked with a blush, she really was quite something. Sebastian found himself moving his hand closer to hers when they stopped at a red light. Nazomi smiled as she noticed, her hand moving towards his as they held hands for a moment before the light turned green. It did become a thing though with each stop they had to make, both of them enjoying the sign of affection.
It didn’t take too long until they had entered in a rather nice looking neighborhood, about the kind Sebastian assumed Nazomi might live in. It was nice and modest and the house that Nazomi pulled in to was just as nice looking. Thankfully, most of her neighbors were either out celebrating the holiday or doing so in their homes.“Here we are.” Nazomi said warmly.
“It’s a nice looking home.” Sebastian said as the two got out.
“Thanks. It’s really nothing all that special, but it’s nice and cozy and it’s really all I need.” Nazomi replied as she got the gifts Sebastian had gotten before heading to the door with the lion, both their tails flicking and even entwining a bit as they approached it. When they got to the door Nazomi fumbled a bit as she got her keys to unlock it.
“Allow me.” Sebastian offered as he helped her unlock the door, opening it for her.
“Thank you.” Nazomi smiled as she took a quick look around before pecking his cheek. “I’ll put these up while you make yourself at home. I haven’t quite started what I was going to fix, so it will be a bit longer before we eat.”
“You haven’t?” Sebastian inquired. “Then mind if I help? I feel bad that you’re doing a lot of the work and it’s only right that I do everything I can for you today.”
Nazomi smiled as she looked at him. “You’re such a kind, sweet, animal Sebastian. I don’t mind, really.”
“I insist.”
Nazomi chuckled slightly. “You really are a gentleman aren’t you?” she mused.
Sebastian blushed a bit as he rubbed the back of his head. “I just...I want to do whatever I can. You’re a wonderful woman and a great teacher. And, well, I want to take any and every opportunity I can get to treat you right because you deserve it.” the lion said as he blushed some more, conviction clear to see in his eyes.
Nazomi couldn’t help but blush, his words having touched her more than anything in her past relationships. “Alright, how about this? If you want to help me then let’s make it a thing and finish cooking it together?” she offered with a smile.
“I’d like that.” Sebastian agreed with his own smile.
“Alright, just give me a moment.”
Sebastian nodded as Nazomi went to go put up the gifts that Sebastian jad gotten her. As she headed off, Sebastian found his eyes wandering over her form, taking in her figure that was shown off by her attire as well as lower, noting her slightly swaying hips and…tail. Sebastian cursed himself as he moved his eyes to something else. Sure he was still a teenager, a boy, but he prided himself in being better than most. Sure he had his...moments, as Jax so brazenly pointed out. But the last thing he wanted was to be that inappropriate towards Nazomi, even if he did, at times, allow some indulgences here and there.
When Nazomi got back she smiled. “Alright, ready?”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes.”
“OK, should be done in half the time with both of us working on it.”
Nazomi lead Sebastian to the kitchen to show him that she was preparing, a fruit lasagna with the usual accompaniments. After Sebastian looked over the recipe she was using, one from the cooking show Happy Happy Cooking that was toted to be one of their more popular ones among carnivores. he set to work helping her, working side by side as they prepared the fruit, making sure that everything was layered properly. Like in the car, ever now and then Nazomi and Sebastian would briefly hold hands as they prepared the meal, satisfying their feline proclivity for touch contact. It wasn’t too long before they had the lasagna in the oven and the accompanying bread.
“Alright, shouldn’t be too long for it to fully cook, thanks for the help.” Nazomi said as she nuzzled Sebastian, giving him an affectionate hug as well. “In the meantime, we can go over some of my old notes and other things while we wait to help you out with your career path if you like.”
“Sure.” Sebastian smiled as he nuzzled and hugged her back, the two staying like that for a good minute.
“I’ll go get them then.” Nazomi said as she finally and somewhat hesitantly separated to go get her old college notes and study material, returning shortly after with them.
While the food cooked Nazomi went over various things she had to study and learn with Sebastian, covering things they hadn’t gone over from prior times and quizzing him on material they had. To Sebastian, this was like cram school in a sense, getting ready for what he’d need to know to excel in college, only with a more...personal and romantic one on one touch. While he never had issue with paying attention to any of his teachers, Sebastian always hung on every word Nazomi said. To him, her voice was just as beautiful as everything else about her. And just like all the times before, they shared affections with each other.
It seemed like no time at all when the food was done, the two of them chalking it up to them just enjoying each other’s company so much. As Nazomi got the lasagna and bread Sebastian set the table before helping her prepare their plates. As he finished helping her he noticed her take out some wine glasses and a bottle of wine and pouring some of the red liquid in each, although one was more of a sample serving compared to the other, before putting it up and placing them on the table.
“Wine?” Sebastian inquired.
“Just to help things feel a bit more normal.” Nazomi explained. “You don’t have to even drink it. But I was your age once, Rex it only feels like yesterday, and even back then sampling wine wasn’t wrong. That first date we had where you encouraged me to not deny myself any wine, where we acted like a teacher and student just having a meet up to discuss things, stayed on my mind for a while. It wasn’t right that there was some inequality, a full romantic atmosphere. So, I figured sense we’re in private I’d have us on an even level or give the feeling of it. But as I said, you don’t have to drink it.” she said before sitting down.
Sebastian blushed, smiling as he sat down. “Thank you, love.” he said with a fair bit of warmth in hid voice.
It never ceased to surprise the other that both worried about the other’s feelings and the challenges they had to face with their secretive relationship. Something that mad each grow more attached to the other was when a few days after their first date Nazomi had confessed to Sebastian that she was far more hesitant and worried than she let on. Revealing she had been hiding the anxiety of them being a thing and was actually on the verge of suggesting they just call the attempt off out of fear as well as the revelation of his uncle. But she had decided to go through with it because of how truly genuine and good a man he was among other things that made her want to try. Sebastian himself had also confided in her his own concerns and worries about it and her, which made her just feel all the stronger for him over time.
“By the way, how has your day been so far?” Sebastian asked as he began to eat, taking a bite of the lasagna. “Oh, this is delicious.”
“It is.” Nazomi agreed as she took a bite of it. “It’s all thanks to you though, doubt it would have been as good without a little help.” she said with a smile. “As for my day, it’s gone well so far, just the usual grading of papers and preparing for the coming weeks’ lessons. Same old, same old, really. So far the rest of the students I have are nice and do there best. Despite what issues some might cause outside of the classroom I don’t really have to deal with any troublemakers really. Maybe a few slackers or an unmotivated student, but that’s about it.”
“Well you’re a great teacher, I find it hard to believe that any pf my peers would want to cause any trouble in your class. Not only that, but you’re very nice and helpful too.” Sebastian commented.
A smile formed on Nazomi’s mouth as her ebony fur darkened. “Thank you, you’re always so sweet Sebastian.” she said as she purred a bit. “Honestly, I think you’re one of the best students at the school, you work hard and are always so polite. I know you’ll go far with being a teacher.”
Sebastian blushed heavily. “Thank you…” he said with a half smile. “Though I will admit, keeping it up can be a bit— stressful. Comes with being a lion, expectations and familial pressure.” he admitted
Nazomi blinked as she looked at him. “Is it that hard?”
“It’s, well…”
Nazomi moved her hand to rest on top of his. “You can tell me if this is something negatively effecting you Sebastian.”
The lion sighed a bit. “It is hard. Being a lion you’re seen as the king of beasts, someone who’ll go far and have high positioned jobs or in some form of leadership. That image both helps and hurts us, becoming a driving factor of pushing ourselves as much as possible to keep to a standard. It’s something that permeates every lion family, the mothers and fathers pushing their kids to do something worthy of being a lion. Cram school is seen as an expected and normal thing to do and those who don’t do it are mostly looked down on as they are often those that end up in gangs or didn’t try hard enough.”
Nazomi’s hand gripped his, squeezing gently. “Is your family pressuring you?”
“Not...entirely. My mother often brings up what my older brother and my sister are doing and keeps suggesting I try to do the same. She doesn’t seem disappointed, but there’s just something about her voice…” Sebastian admitted. “She is happy that I’m doing well, but I know she expects more. She thinks I’m planning to go into an education position that’s high up, or at a prestigious university when I don’t care where I teach so long as I do some good.”
Nazomi squeezed his hand again, feeling bad for the lion. “That’s not all that good Sebastian, have you thought about bringing it up to a councilor?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Somewhat. But as I said, this permeates lions as a whole, it’s far too ingrained to really be dealt with. Thankfully my situation isn’t too bad, it cab be far worse. Plus, I like learning so it’s not that big of a deal. I also have my friends and, well, you.” he smiled.
Nazomi blushed heavily. “I see…”
“I hope I didn’t make things awkward or anything…”
“No, no! You’re fine Sebastian.” Nazomi assured. “It’s good you have a support system and you don’t really let it get to you, you’re very strong for that. Will you tell your mother you’ll try to teach anywhere?”
“Eventually, yes, when I’m nearing the end of my higher education and am about to apply to various places.” Sebastian answered. “Just like how I’ll tell her about us when I’m a bit into my freshman year at college or before I get into college if we get that far, which I hope we do and keep doing. You are an amazing woman and to be honest, to me you are far more exceptional than any other.”
Nazomi blinked, her fur becoming more dark red than ebony black as her heart melted. He was the kindest, most genuine soul she had ever met and continued to prove he was mature beyond his years. “I— thank you Sebastian.” she said with a soft purr, falling a fair bit more for the lion.
From there the two continued to talk as they ate, taking their time and enjoying each other’s company as they swapped stories about their childhood. Nazomi found herself surprised as she learned that even as a young kid Sebastian was well mannered and somewhat bookish. She felt comfortable around him, able to share with him more embarrassing things like the time she was so nervous to do a presentation in high school that she messed up a word or two or when she practically face planted when she was looking at a crush. It just felt right and natural to be so open with him.
When they had finished eating, Sebastian even having drank the small bit of wine, he and Nazomi cleared the table. Sebastian even helped her with the dishes before they went back to going over some more of Nazomi’s old papers and work to help prepare him. It seemed like no time once more as they noticed the sun was start to set.
“Is it really that late already?” Nazomi asked as she looked at her clock, taking note of the time.
“Looks like it.” Sebastian commented.
“My how time flies, it seems to go so slow until well…” she blushed. “I’m around you.”
Sebastian blushed heavily. “Yeah…”
“Thank you for the lovely time, as well as the gifts and helping out, not many guys are as considerate as you.” Nazomi commented.
“Well, you’re worth any effort…” the lion blushed.
Nazomi smiled, blushing as well. How could this lion keep finding ways to make her heart feel like it was a puddle? She hadn’t really met many guys with the ability to do that over the years, more so not in recent years. It had gotten to the point where she just really stopped looking. But then Sebastian came around and made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a long time. His gentlemanly studious nature and willingness to be so considerate, among other things, just had her more enamored with each time they were together. The fact that he was willing to take things so slow, deny himself the most basic of typical teenage experiences that most his age were having just made him seem too good to be true. And yet, there he was proving to be just that good.
Then there was the fact that while she did do a fare share for the holiday he had not only helped out, but went out of his way to get her flowers and a rather nice gift, not expecting anything special in return and just wanting to treat her right. As the lion got up from where they had been sitting she stood. “Sebastian, before I take you back to Cherryton...I think you deserve another kiss.”
Sebastian blinked as he blushed. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to…”
“No, I want to.” Nazomi admitted with a smile. “The only true thing that’s tricky with our relationship is that you’re a student and I’m a teacher. You’ve proven time and again just how good a man you are and that you are someone I...have looked for.” she blushed. “So I don’t see us kissing, at least in private and while off school grounds as being an issue. I know you’d never take advantage of me and I want to reward you for such, and for treating me to one of the best times I’ve had in a while.”
Sebastian’s tail started to flick happily as he smiled. “Alright.”
The two approached each other, embracing as they leaned in to share a kiss. Just like with their first, it was utterly electrifying for Sebastian. The feel of Nazomi’s lips unlike anything he felt before as his heart beat out of his chest as he started to purr. Sebastian enjoyed every second that the kiss lasted, his hands starting to subconsciously roam along her back a bit, though he would catch and restrain himself before they went too low.
Nazomi for her part pressed a bit firmer than last time, what with it being a holiday for love. As they kissed she noticed that Sebastian’s hands roaming along her back, taking in her form and the feel of her body and causing her to purr a fair bit. She smiled as she noticed he restrained himself from doing anything inappropriate, knowing her trust in him would never be misplaced. Although she promised to herself one day when he was no longer a student, she’d allow him to no longer restrain himself.
As she finally broke the kiss Nazomi smiled. “That was a wonderful kiss, possibly better than the first.” she giggled.
“Y-yeah…” Sebastian agreed, his cheeks a dark red.
“Thank you for being such a gentleman and not taking advantage.” Nazomi commented as they stayed embraced.
“I’d never.”
“I know love.” she smiled. “And that is why I will make you this promise. If we manage to make it to when you are out of school, then you have permission to not restrain yourself anymore as we’ll be in the clear. Not that you’d need my permission at that point” Nazomi giggled. “Anyway, we best get going before it gets too dark.”
Sebastian’s blush deepened all the more. “Yeah…”
The two headed back out to Nazomi’s car, first checking for anyone that might notice before getting in and driving off. The ride back went much like the first, the two briefly holding hands here and there as they made their way through the city. It was something that both Sebastian and Nazomi seemed almost unable to resist doing. Hell, when they had walked back to Nazomi’s car their tails entwined again.
When they got back to the bottom of the hill that Cherryton rested on the moon had not been fully risen for too long. “Thanks again for the lovely Linked Souls Day, I haven’t really celebrated it in so long.” Nazomi said as she parked the car.
“No problem, hopefully our next date can be somewhat soon.” Sebastian replied with a smile. “I hope the rest of your weekend goes well.”
“Thank you Sebastian, you too, I’ll see you Monday.” Nazomi smiled.
Sebastian was about to get out when he stopped. “Nazomi?”
“Yes?”
“Mind if we...have one more kiss?” Sebastian asked as he blushed.
Nazomi smiled as a giggle escaped her lips. “I suppose not, it’s only right to have a goodnight kiss after a date.”
The two leaned in close, sharing in one more kiss as they rested a paw on the back of each other’s head, purring loudly as they did so. When the kiss broke a few moments later Sebastian smiled. “Good night.”
“Good night love.”
Sebastian got out of the car, walking back up the hill as Nazomi turned her car around and left. The lion smiled as his heart continued to race, he was as happy as he had ever felt and was all the happier that Nazomi felt the same way as he did. While it was true their relationship had a strong possibility of stopping if they were ever in great enough danger of being found out, it seemed that she was daring for it to work as much as he was. Whether it did or not, only the future knew.

Hawkeye

"Clint. You should not be here."
"Really? I retire for, what, five minutes and it all goes to shit."

Clint Barton worked as one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents for a number of years under the codename Hawkeye, being put on various assignments from keeping an eye on notable items like Mjolnir and the Tesseract to the mysterious Budapest mission where he recruit Natasha Romanov to S.H.I.E.L.D.. These experiences led to him becoming a founding member of the Avengers despite his own claims of just being a regular guy with a bow. Hawkeye worked with the Avengers for several years, from Ultron's attack to the superhero civil war that saw the group falling apart at the seams. However, his life as he knew it was snatched away after the invasion of Thanos, which saw 50% of all life in the universe being erased including Hawkeye's entire family. Hawkeye took up the alias of Ronin, a vigilante that roamed the globe in a vengeful rampage to kill the many criminals that had survived Thanos' snap. He eventually rejoined the Avengers after they discovered a way to bring back everyone that had been erased, but the guilt from what he had done as a result of his grief still weighed on him even after his family had been brought back. It wasn't until he met his future protégé Kate Bishop that Clint's faith in himself and his efforts as a superhero were restored.

Source Key

Movies

Av - The Avengers
AoU - The Avengers: Age of Ultron
CW - Captain America: Civil War
End - Avengers: Endgame

Other Sources

AI - The Avengers: The Avengers Initiative
OH - Avengers: Operation HYDRA
SM:HP - Spider-Man: Homecoming Prelude
H - Hawkeye (Disney+)

Strength

Striking

• Kicks a chitauri grunt off of a roof^Av
• Breaks his baton on Vision's head^CW
• Punches a man through a glass window^End
• Knocks a man out with a punch to the head^H

Piercing

• Stabs a chitauri with an arrow and later does it again^Av
• Embeds an arrow in the head of an Ultron drone which weren't visibly damaged by bullets^AoU
• Stabs an arrow through another Ultron drone^AoU
• Embeds arrows in pipes and the roof of a tunnel by throwing them^End
• Cuts an outrider in half with his blade^End

Other

• Snaps out of the ziptie that was holding him^H
• Throws a man off of him^H
• Suplexes a man and knocks him unconscious^H

Speed/Agility

Reaction

• Avoids a blast from Loki's scepter^Av
• Reacts to Wanda sneaking up on him, stunning her^AoU
• Ducks under the blast of an Ultron drone^AoU
• Avoids being blasted by Iron Man^CW
• Briefly scuffles with Black Panther^CW
• When a molotov is thrown at the second story window he was standing by, he breaks the window and catches it before throwing it back^H
• Dodges several strikes from Yelana Belova^H
• Sees a sniper laser on his chest and immediately uses a tray to block the bullet^H
• Reacts to both unarmed and bat strikes from a man that later caught one of his arrows^H
• Ducks out of the way when Yelena Belova attempts to shoot him^H

Mobility

• Jumps between rooftops^End
• Leaps between various shelves as goons try to attack him from below^H

Durability

Blunt

• Takes multiple blows from Black Widow^Av
• Gets punched by Quicksilver^AoU
• Knocked back by Vision^CW
• Kicked by Black Panther^CW
• Takes a bat to the leg^H
• Rolls through a wooden shelf and isn't noticeably affected^H
• Takes several blows from Echo over the course of their fight who later kicked a man a short distance down the street^H
• Is punched by Yelena Belova and continues to dodge afterwards^H
• Gets kicked in the knee and thrown into the front of a car by Echo^H
• Gets tackled onto an ice rink by Yelena Belova and in that same fight receives a kick to the chest^H
• Takes an extended beating from Yelena^H

Other

• Unaffected by a hard landing in a quinjet^Av
• Crashes through a window^Av
• Gets shoved through a window by Quicksilver^AoU
• Jumps from one story in the air^End
• Stunned by Black Widow's shock dark but quickly removes it^End
• Survives the Avengers base getting bombarded^End
• Gets shocked by Yelena Belova's widow's bite^H
• Falls a fair distance out of a building into the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree which then is knocked into the ice rink below^H

Skill

Accuracy

• While in a plane, shoots an arrow out the open back so that it loops back around and latches onto the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, hitting the perfect spot so that he can blow up one of its engines^Av
• Shoots a USB arrow directly into the port of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s computers to upload a virus^Av
• Takes out a flying chitauri transport while looking in the opposite direction^Av
• Hits the back of the head of a chitauri pilot from a great distance^Av
• Fires two arrows into the heads of Ultron drones at the same time^AoU
• Hits two bullseyes on a dartboard simultaneously^AoU
• Scores a bullseye on two targets at the same time^OH
• Shoots through the webbing that was binding Captain America's hands from a good distance away^CW
• Lands several non-lethal shots on some criminals, including one that he fires backwards^H
• Fires two arrows at once, pinning someone to a wall^H
• Flips over a banister, firing an arrow while midair that frees Kate her from her restraints^H
• After Kate shoots an arrow high into the air, he hits it with another shot^H
• Claims that he's split an arrow with another arrow which he later demonstrates^H
• Flicks a Christmas ornament so that it hits a button and turns off the tv (Clint claims that he could do a similar thing with a quarter to knock a guy out from twenty feet away)^H
• Fires an arrow out of a building into the window of a sniper sitting in the opposite building^H

Fighting/Close Quarters

• Fights on an equal level to Black Widow^Av
• Fends off a chitauri warrior^Av
• Temporarily gets the better of Black Widow^CW
• Is proficient in sword fighting, winning an exchange with the head of a yakuza organization^End
• Fights some members of the tracksuit mafia while unarmed^H
• Styles on some LARPers^H
• Mows through a group of criminals as Ronin^H
• Engages in an extended, unarmed fight with Echo (though he is admittedly on the backfoot for much of it)^H
• When he fights Echo again as Ronin he defeats her handily^H
• Temporarily gets the better of Yelena Belova though in the end he loses that confrontation^H
• Puts Yelena Belova into a headlock^H
• Will use his bow as a melee weapon if his opponents get in close^H

Other

• Brings a jet with one destroyed engine to ground level without crashing^Av

Gear

Bow
Mechanics

• It's collapsible for ease of transport and instantly snaps into shape when needed^Av
• Allows Clint to swap out for a specific trick arrowhead with the press of a button^Av
• He can remotely trigger his explosive arrows^Av
• The bow itself possesses a grappling hook that latches onto metal^H

Strength

• Blows up an Ultron drone with seemingly a regular arrow^AoU
• Shoots through multiple Ultron drones^AoU
• An arrow clashes with Vision's beam^SP:HP
• Echo is unable to pull the arrows out of a wall when Hawkeye uses them to pin her^H

Trick Arrows
Explosive

• Blows up one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier's engines^Av
• Blasts away S.H.I.E.L.D. agents^Av
• Detonates in Loki's hand, destroying the chitauri vehicle he was riding and sending him crashing into Stark Tower^Av
• Throws up a large amount of dust and snow^AoU
• Knocks back Iron Man^CW
• Knocks Black Widow aside^End
• Delayed explosives that blow up a tunnel behind him^End
• Blows up the front of a van and causes it to crash^H
• An explosive arrow that blasts away a group of men and craters an ice rink^H

Shock/Electrical

• Wanda is stunned when Clint slams one into her forehead^AoU
• Shoots two arrows which create an electric barrier than traps Vision^CW
• Covers Vision in electricity^CW
• An arrow that covers an opening in electric ropes^H
• An arrow that restrains and electrocutes a man into unconsciousness^H

Acid

• Acid arrows which quickly melt through stoplights^H
• Knocks over the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree^H

Transportation

• Grappling hook arrow that embeds into the side of a building for Clint to swing on^Av
• An arrow that shoots a grappling hook in either direction once fired, forming a zipline for Kate to ride^H

Disorientation

• One arrow releases some sort of noxious gas that fills a car and causes the driver to crash (Hawkeye later uses this to force a sniper out of his position)^H
• A concussive arrow that blasts people back and leaves its targets disoriented^H
• Another gas arrow that's a different color^H
• A flashbang arrow^H

Pym Particles (Size Changing)

• Grows an ordinary arrow as tall as a bridge^H
• Shrinks a van to the size of a toy^H

Other

• One which splits into two data drives which go into ports on a SHIELD helicarrier, infecting it with a virus which shuts down several computers and cuts off power to an engine^Av
• An arrow which fires in a circle around itself shortly after hitting a target^Av
• An arrow which rapidly heats the part of a Chitauri chariot it hits, causing it to break in half^Av
• A shockwave arrow which takes out the remaining goons in a warehouse^AoU
• A leg-mounted pack of retractable arrows, which seemingly allows him to fire all of them simultaneously^AoU
• An arrow that splits into multiple smaller arrows which proceed to loop around Iron Man, though its unclear if they would have actually hit him or if they were purely for distraction^CW
• Flashlight arrow^End
• An arrow that superheats a chitauri transport before causing it to explode^H
• Puddy arrows spread across a van's windshield (Hawkeye also suggests mucking up their wheels with it)^H
  • Kate later uses it to obscure some flashing lights^H
• An arrow that Kate fires into the front of a van shoots multiple cords in every direction, latching onto anything close and pulling them in (which in this instance was Christmas trees)^H
• The plunger arrow is able to support his and Kate's weight as they hang from the side of a train^H
• Tracer arrows which he can track the location of^H
• An arrow with a compartment for a message^H
• An arrow that turns a series of flagpoles magnetic so that some goons cannot use their weapons^H
• An arrow that releases an inflatable ball that instantly blows up and launches some men into the air^H
• An arrow that attaches to a man's leg and drags him into the air via miniature rockets^H
• Ice arrow that freezes a man's leg^H
• Tranquilizer arrow that releases a series of smaller tranquilizer darts in all directions once it hits its target^H
• An arrow that spins and releases what appears to be nails in all directions^H

Other

• Knife^Av
• Baton^CW
• Shurikens
• Sword^End
• Flashlight on his arm^End
• Wrist-launched grappling hook^End
• Small explosive disks that he can easily stick to flat surfaces and can remotely detonate with a button on his bow^H
• A wrist-mounted crossbow, which fires with enough force to embed the bolts in metal after being deflected^AI
• He seemingly uses this same crossbow to take out an outrider^End

Misc.

• Is unphased by Wanda throwing a knife at his head^CW
• Speaks Japanese^End
• Requires a hearing aid because of his time in the Avengers and he is nearly completely deaf without it^H
• Hawkeye jumpscare^H
• Stealthily takes out a group of criminals without any of them seeing him^H
• He makes most of his trick arrows himself^H

"Nice shot."
"Yeah, no shit."

Part 7
--------------------------------------------------------
It's been two weeks since we've escaped the sleep watchers. Ramirez's concoction worked, waking everyone up and soon enough, the outside of the carts were once again the pitch black void we've got accustomed too. Thankfully, the worst thing that the sleep watchers left us with was a feeling of tiredness. Otherwise, most of us were in perfectly fine health. At least, that's how it looked at the time.
After we evaded the sleep watchers, we couldn't sleep properly for several days. Everyone was scared about getting caught in another trap, one that might leave us in an inescapable encounter with the creatures of this world. It didn't help that the black mist that was present when I woke up began following us, always disappearing just as you turned your eyes to it. Sometimes however, you would be able to catch it in the corner of your eye. It never did anything, but at this point, we couldn't take any chances.
We ended up doubling our watch. Now, four people were awake at all times, paired in groups of two. Most of the times I paired with Marie, one of us being the lookout while the other carefully studied the journal. We would switch places when one of us needed a break. One night, I was standing at the door of the carts while Marie was reading.
"Hey, come back here," Marie yelled suddenly, scaring me half to death, "I think I found something!"
I rushed back and sat next to her.
"What is it? What did you find?"
"I think this is the thing that kept following us for the last few days."
"Let me have a look."
Marie's finger pointed at the title of the page. Written in black, bold letters, it read "Mistling". Normally, Ramirez's entries occupied at the minimum two to three pages, including the drawing. In this case however, the entry was only the drawing and a few phrases.
The drawing showed a small portion of the cart, as if you were looking straight at one of the cart doors. It was a very detailed sketch of a cart, drawn with thick lines, which contrasted with the Mistling, who was drawn with very thin lines, giving it an almost aetherial look.
"The Mistling," noted Ramirez, "as I've decided to name them, is a medium-sized floating black mist that can sometimes be found in the subway. It's appearance rate is random, given that it can take a few days to a few months between seeing one. What makes them important, at least important enough to note about them, are the following two constants:
​

1. They're almost always found near a body. Doesn't matter if the person died of natural causes or fell victim to one of the many dangers of the subway, it will be there. I can only assume that in the exceptionally rare cases one is found at random, there is a high likelihood that there was a body in that cart at some point.
2. They're always stationary. You could spend weeks in the same cart as them and the mist will always stay in the same area as you found them, the only movement being the constant swirling of the mistling.

​
Beyond this, neither I nor anyone I have met so far have no clue of what they're deal is. They don't seem dangerous, but I'd be a fool if I trusted any creature in this place. However, as far as other "residents" are concerned, the mistling is harmless enough."
"Well," she said, "seems we have an unusual fellow on our hands."
"Right..." I agreed. "And here I thought we had something..."
"It's still better than nothing." said Marie, putting her hand on my shoulder. I instinctively put my hand on hers.
"Besides," she continued , "not considering this thing's unusual energy, everything else seems to check out. Hopefully, it's still as harmless as Mr. Ramirez said."
"You may be right," I said, "but we'll still need to keep a watch on whatever this Mistling is."
"Obviously. After all, someone I know told me" said Marie in a slightly jokey way while poking my arm, ""you can never be too careful." Quite a few times actually."
I started blushing a little bit. "Come on now, don't make fun of me like that!"
"I'm just teasing you is all." she smiled at me, putting her head on my shoulder, "Besides, I like that careful side of yours. Don't be ashamed of it."
I kept silent while still blushing.
"Even still," she said while yawning and stretching her arms, "I'd take even more of these Mistlings over that green-skin thing any day. That one really gave me the heebie-jeebies. Ugh."
I paused for a second and I turned my head towards her.
"What green-skin thing?"
"Oh, just one of the previous entries in this thing." she said, in a half-asleep voice. "Was a disease if i remember correctly."
"Let me take a look." I said, taking the journal from her hands.
"Knock yourself out, dear..."
"And you should wake up," telling her as I nudged her a bit "we can't go sleep yet!"
"But I'm sitting so comfortable now... Five more minutes, pleaaase..."
"Fiine..." I sighed as I opened the journal, "but you better get up afterwards."
"Yeey."
"Now let's see here... Ah! There it is."
The entry was titled "Green-Skin Disease." The drawing was spread across the two pages of the journal, showing what appeared to be an evolution of a sick man. It started with a picture of a shoulder with a deep, bleeding cut across it, noted as "entry point". That was Stage 0. An arrow pointed to the next picture, Stage 1 written over it. The drawing zoomed out of the shoulder, showing the figure of a normal looking man, scratching his shoulder. The location of the wound had two new scribbles: "green" and "flakey". The next arrow pointed towards a drawing of the same man, Stage 2. This time however, the man looked sick, having sunken eyes and visible bones. The scribbles pointed towards the man's skin, reading "greenish skin" and "yellow veins". After that, the arrow showed the man, barely a skeleton. Stage 3. His skin was noted as "entirely green" with the addition of the word paralyzed next to him. The final arrow pointed to the man, deceased.
I found the imagery disturbing enough, but Ramirez went into detail.
"The Green-skin disease, named after the characteristic shade of green left on the body, is one of the few new bodily afflictions I have encountered as I ventured across the subway. Its deadliness is only matched by its rarity, having had encountered only a few unfortunate souls that suffered from this disease. Ten people I have met, of various age groups and ethnicity, with the only discriminatory factor between them being the age, revealing that the older someone is, the quicker it spreads. Of the ten, only one of them has survived, solely because the group I was in at the time reacted quick enough. All ten of the victims, including the people of the groups some of them were in, have told me what they have been through, providing me with a clear pattern to base my research on. The progression of the disease is as follows:
Infection: For the disease to take place, there needs to be at the very least a tiny amount of Green-Mushrooms present in the area, mature enough to release spores. The Green-Mushrooms look identical to regular mold, making the two indistinguishable. Luckily, the Green-Mushrooms take a while to be mature enough to release spores, dying quickly thereafter. Contributing to its rarity is the fact that the only way for the spores to infect the body is via an open wound in the skin, breathing or ingesting the spores not resulting in an infection. Nevertheless, if a person is unlucky enough to suffer an injury while there are green-spores in the air, the spores will take root on the skin, feeding upon it.
Stage 1: The spores have begun spreading. They have a very slow spreading rate, taking months or even years for it to advance to the next stage. Characteristic of this stage is the steadily growing green patch of skin, even after the closure of the wound. The green skin left by the spores is characterized as slightly itchy, resulting in the sufferer to often scratch themselves, leaving small amounts of green skin flakes that carry spores. This is the only stage where the person infected might still be saved. If you were lucky, the infection began at one of your limbs, making it possible to amputate the infected arm or leg. It is only necessary to amputate from above the infection area downwards, possibly remaining with more of your healthy limb. If you were unlucky and the infection began at a vital area, or you didn't have the tools or knowledge to amputate it on time, the disease will eventually progress to the stage.
Stage 2: The spores have gotten deep enough to reach your circulatory system. Once it's in the blood, the spores will travel all throughout the victim's body, coloring the veins in a sickly yellow and turning the skin to a light green. The person now begins to feel tired and moody, showing signs of fever. They will lose weight despite eating, the energy of the food being sent to the ever-increasing spores inside their body. If there are not enough nutrients for the spores, the disease will begin feeding on the body of the victim. Only after a day or two once stage two has been reached, the victim will enter stage three
Stage 3: This is the final stage of the disease. The spores begin attacking the nervous system, leaving it paralyzed from the neck down, a result of the spores eating the remainder of the victim's nerves and organs. The last organ to go is the brain, resulting in the death of the victim. This stage only lasts an hour.
I have yet to discover a cure for the Green-Skin Disease. The only sure fire way of escaping is to remove the infected area of the body before it reaches the bloodstream. If it reaches the bloodstream, the kindest thing to do for the victim is to kill them painlessly, before they reach the final stage."
My skin began to crawl after finishing the last sentence. I couldn't believe something this insidious could ever exist, but then again, a few months ago I couldn't believe any of this could possibly be real.
"Hey kid, found anything interesting?"
Matt's arrival had brought me back to reality.
"Oh, hey Matt, what are you doing here?"
"Your shift's ended. Me and Nick are taking over, so you and the miss can get some rest, though from the looks of it, she beat me to the punch eh?"
Marie was fully asleep, her head still on my shoulder.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks Matt." I replied.
"No problem kid... Heh," Matt chuckled a little bit, "If I think about it, I'll probably have to stop calling you kid soon."
"What do you mean?"
Matt began smiling. "John told me of your little plan with the rings."
"Shhhh, quiet." I said, as I turned my head to Marie, making sure she was still asleep.
"Don't worry, I've seen that girl. Doubt an earthquake would be able to wake her up."
"I suppose that's fair. Marie was always a heavy sleeper."
"Is that so? Well, better wake her up so she can sleep in a more comfortable place."
I woke Marie up and began leaving Matt and John to their watches.
"Hey Matt?" I asked, just before I exited the cart.
"What's up?" he asked as he sat down on one of the chairs.
"How's the leg?"
"Eh, it's fine. You don't have to worry about it."
"You're still limping though."
"Hey, if you were shot in the leg at my age, you'd probably limp too."
"I suppose that's fair. Are you sure everything's alright?"
"Very sure. Go on now, don't leave the girl waiting. Plus, I have a mighty itch to scratch, so I'd rather you not witness it."
I left as soon as he said that, not wanting to be part of something I thought it might be quite unsightly. As I made my way to Marie, my mind was lost in thought again, trying to remember everything I read today. Because of that, I tripped on one of those metal poles people used to hold onto when the subway was busy, though now without purpose in this endlessly empty place. What caught my eye however was something I saw when I looked on the floor of the cart.
Small, greenish-looking flakes.