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+ Oliver Nutter

Why AI language models choke on too much text

+ Timothy B. Lee + — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:00:56 +0000

Compute costs scale with the square of the input size. That's not great.

Credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images

Large language models represent text using tokens, each of which is a few characters. Short words are represented by a single token (like "the" or "it"), whereas larger words may be represented by several tokens (GPT-4o represents "indivisible" with "ind," "iv," and "isible").

When OpenAI released ChatGPT two years ago, it had a memory—known as a context window—of just 8,192 tokens. That works out to roughly 6,000 words of text. This meant that if you fed it more than about 15 pages of text, it would “forget” information from the beginning of its context. This limited the size and complexity of tasks ChatGPT could handle.

Today’s LLMs are far more capable:

OpenAI’s GPT-4o can handle 128,000 tokens (about 200 pages of text).
Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet can accept 200,000 tokens (about 300 pages of text).
Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro allows 2 million tokens (about 2,000 pages of text).

Still, it’s going to take a lot more progress if we want AI systems with human-level cognitive abilities.

Many people envision a future where AI systems are able to do many—perhaps most—of the jobs performed by humans. Yet many human workers read and hear hundreds of millions of words during our working years—and we absorb even more information from sights, sounds, and smells in the world around us. To achieve human-level intelligence, AI systems will need the capacity to absorb similar quantities of information.

Right now the most popular way to build an LLM-based system to handle large amounts of information is called retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). These systems try to find documents relevant to a user’s query and then insert the most relevant documents into an LLM’s context window.

This sometimes works better than a conventional search engine, but today’s RAG systems leave a lot to be desired. They only produce good results if the system puts the most relevant documents into the LLM’s context. But the mechanism used to find those documents—often, searching in a vector database—is not very sophisticated. If the user asks a complicated or confusing question, there’s a good chance the RAG system will retrieve the wrong documents and the chatbot will return the wrong answer.

And RAG doesn’t enable an LLM to reason in more sophisticated ways over large numbers of documents:

A lawyer might want an AI system to review and summarize hundreds of thousands of emails.
An engineer might want an AI system to analyze thousands of hours of camera footage from a factory floor.
A medical researcher might want an AI system to identify trends in tens of thousands of patient records.

Each of these tasks could easily require more than 2 million tokens of context. Moreover, we’re not going to want our AI systems to start with a clean slate after doing one of these jobs. We will want them to gain experience over time, just like human workers do.

Superhuman memory and stamina have long been key selling points for computers. We’re not going to want to give them up in the AI age. Yet today’s LLMs are distinctly subhuman in their ability to absorb and understand large quantities of information.

It’s true, of course, that LLMs absorb superhuman quantities of information at training time. The latest AI models have been trained on trillions of tokens—far more than any human will read or hear. But a lot of valuable information is proprietary, time-sensitive, or otherwise not available for training.

So we’re going to want AI models to read and remember far more than 2 million tokens at inference time. And that won’t be easy.

The key innovation behind transformer-based LLMs is attention, a mathematical operation that allows a model to “think about” previous tokens. (Check out our LLM explainer if you want a detailed explanation of how this works.) Before an LLM generates a new token, it performs an attention operation that compares the latest token to every previous token. This means that conventional LLMs get less and less efficient as the context grows.

Lots of people are working on ways to solve this problem—I’ll discuss some of them later in this article. But first I should explain how we ended up with such an unwieldy architecture.

GPUs made deep learning possible

The “brains” of personal computers are central processing units (CPUs). Traditionally, chipmakers made CPUs faster by increasing the frequency of the clock that acts as its heartbeat. But in the early 2000s, overheating forced chipmakers to mostly abandon this technique.

Chipmakers started making CPUs that could execute more than one instruction at a time. But they were held back by a programming paradigm that requires instructions to mostly be executed in order.

A new architecture was needed to take full advantage of Moore’s Law. Enter Nvidia.

In 1999, Nvidia started selling graphics processing units (GPUs) to speed up the rendering of three-dimensional games like Quake III Arena. The job of these PC add-on cards was to rapidly draw thousands of triangles that made up walls, weapons, monsters, and other objects in a game.

This is not a sequential programming task: triangles in different areas of the screen can be drawn in any order. So rather than having a single processor that executed instructions one at a time, Nvidia’s first GPU had a dozen specialized cores—effectively tiny CPUs—that worked in parallel to paint a scene.

Over time, Moore’s Law enabled Nvidia to make GPUs with tens, hundreds, and eventually thousands of computing cores. People started to realize that the massive parallel computing power of GPUs could be used for applications unrelated to video games.

In 2012, three University of Toronto computer scientists—Alex Krizhevsky, Ilya Sutskever, and Geoffrey Hinton—used a pair of Nvidia GTX 580 GPUs to train a neural network for recognizing images. The massive computing power of those GPUs, which had 512 cores each, allowed them to train a network with a then-impressive 60 million parameters. They entered ImageNet, an academic competition to classify images into one of 1,000 categories, and set a new record for accuracy in image recognition.

Before long, researchers were applying similar techniques to a wide variety of domains, including natural language.

Transformers removed a bottleneck for natural language

In the early 2010s, recurrent neural networks (RNNs) were a popular architecture for understanding natural language. RNNs process language one word at a time. After each word, the network updates its hidden state, a list of numbers that reflects its understanding of the sentence so far.

RNNs worked fairly well on short sentences, but they struggled with longer ones—to say nothing of paragraphs or longer passages. When reasoning about a long sentence, an RNN would sometimes “forget about” an important word early in the sentence. In 2014, computer scientists Dzmitry Bahdanau, Kyunghyun Cho, and Yoshua Bengio discovered they could improve the performance of a recurrent neural network by adding an attention mechanism that allowed the network to “look back” at earlier words in a sentence.

In 2017, Google published “Attention Is All You Need,” one of the most important papers in the history of machine learning. Building on the work of Bahdanau and his colleagues, Google researchers dispensed with the RNN and its hidden states. Instead, Google’s model used an attention mechanism to scan previous words for relevant context.

This new architecture, which Google called the transformer, proved hugely consequential because it eliminated a serious bottleneck to scaling language models.

Here’s an animation illustrating why RNNs didn’t scale well:

This hypothetical RNN tries to predict the next word in a sentence, with the prediction shown in the top row of the diagram. This network has three layers, each represented by a rectangle. It is inherently linear: it has to complete its analysis of the first word, “How,” before passing the hidden state back to the bottom layer so the network can start to analyze the second word, “are.”

This constraint wasn’t a big deal when machine learning algorithms ran on CPUs. But when people started leveraging the parallel computing power of GPUs, the linear architecture of RNNs became a serious obstacle.

The transformer removed this bottleneck by allowing the network to “think about” all the words in its input at the same time:

The transformer-based model shown here does roughly as many computations as the RNN in the previous diagram. So it might not run any faster on a (single-core) CPU. But because the model doesn’t need to finish with “How” before starting on “are,” “you,” or “doing,” it can work on all of these words simultaneously. So it can run a lot faster on a GPU with many parallel execution units.

How much faster? The potential speed-up is proportional to the number of input words. My animations depict a four-word input that makes the transformer model about four times faster than the RNN. Real LLMs can have inputs thousands of words long. So, with a sufficiently beefy GPU, transformer-based models can be orders of magnitude faster than otherwise similar RNNs.

In short, the transformer unlocked the full processing power of GPUs and catalyzed rapid increases in the scale of language models. Leading LLMs grew from hundreds of millions of parameters in 2018 to hundreds of billions of parameters by 2020. Classic RNN-based models could not have grown that large because their linear architecture prevented them from being trained efficiently on a GPU.

Transformers have a scaling problem

Earlier I said that the recurrent neural network in my animations did “roughly the same amount of work” as the transformer-based network. But they don’t do exactly the same amount of work. Let’s look again at the diagram for the transformer-based model:

See all those diagonal arrows between the layers? They represent the operation of the attention mechanism. Before a transformer-based language model generates a new token, it “thinks about” every previous token to find the ones that are most relevant.

Each of these comparisons is cheap, computationally speaking. For small contexts—10, 100, or even 1,000 tokens—they are not a big deal. But the computational cost of attention grows relentlessly with the number of preceding tokens. The longer the context gets, the more attention operations (and therefore computing power) are needed to generate the next token.

This means that the total computing power required for attention grows quadratically with the total number of tokens. Suppose a 10-token prompt requires 414,720 attention operations. Then:

Processing a 100-token prompt will require 45.6 million attention operations.
Processing a 1,000-token prompt will require 4.6 billion attention operations.
Processing a 10,000-token prompt will require 460 billion attention operations.

This is probably why Google charges twice as much, per token, for Gemini 1.5 Pro once the context gets longer than 128,000 tokens. Generating token number 128,001 requires comparisons with all 128,000 previous tokens, making it significantly more expensive than producing the first or 10th or 100th token.

Making attention more efficient and scalable

A lot of effort has been put into optimizing attention. One line of research has tried to squeeze maximum efficiency out of individual GPUs.

As we saw earlier, a modern GPU contains thousands of execution units. Before a GPU can start doing math, it must move data from slow shared memory (called high-bandwidth memory) to much faster memory inside a particular execution unit (called SRAM). Sometimes GPUs spend more time moving data around than performing calculations.

In a series of papers, Princeton computer scientist Tri Dao and several collaborators have developed FlashAttention, which calculates attention in a way that minimizes the number of these slow memory operations. Work like Dao’s has dramatically improved the performance of transformers on modern GPUs.

Another line of research has focused on efficiently scaling attention across multiple GPUs. One widely cited paper describes ring attention, which divides input tokens into blocks and assigns each block to a different GPU. It’s called ring attention because GPUs are organized into a conceptual ring, with each GPU passing data to its neighbor.

I once attended a ballroom dancing class where couples stood in a ring around the edge of the room. After each dance, women would stay where they were while men would rotate to the next woman. Over time, every man got a chance to dance with every woman. Ring attention works on the same principle. The “women” are query vectors (describing what each token is “looking for”) and the “men” are key vectors (describing the characteristics each token has). As the key vectors rotate through a sequence of GPUs, they get multiplied by every query vector in turn.

In short, ring attention distributes attention calculations across multiple GPUs, making it possible for LLMs to have larger context windows. But it doesn’t make individual attention calculations any cheaper.

Could RNNs make a comeback?

The fixed-size hidden state of an RNN means that it doesn’t have the same scaling problems as a transformer. An RNN requires about the same amount of computing power to produce its first, hundredth and millionth token. That’s a big advantage over attention-based models.

Although RNNs have fallen out of favor since the invention of the transformer, people have continued trying to develop RNNs suitable for training on modern GPUs.

In April, Google announced a new model called Infini-attention. It’s kind of a hybrid between a transformer and an RNN. Infini-attention handles recent tokens like a normal transformer, remembering them and recalling them using an attention mechanism.

However, Infini-attention doesn’t try to remember every token in a model’s context. Instead, it stores older tokens in a “compressive memory” that works something like the hidden state of an RNN. This data structure can perfectly store and recall a few tokens, but as the number of tokens grows, its recall becomes lossier.

Machine learning YouTuber Yannic Kilcher wasn’t too impressed by Google’s approach.

“I’m super open to believing that this actually does work and this is the way to go for infinite attention, but I’m very skeptical,” Kilcher said. “It uses this compressive memory approach where you just store as you go along, you don’t really learn how to store, you just store in a deterministic fashion, which also means you have very little control over what you store and how you store it.”

Could Mamba be the future?

Perhaps the most notable effort to resurrect RNNs is Mamba, an architecture that was announced in a December 2023 paper. It was developed by computer scientists Dao (who also did the FlashAttention work I mentioned earlier) and Albert Gu.

Mamba does not use attention. Like other RNNs, it has a hidden state that acts as the model’s “memory.” Because the hidden state has a fixed size, longer prompts do not increase Mamba’s per-token cost.

When I started writing this article in March, my goal was to explain Mamba’s architecture in some detail. But then in May, the researchers released Mamba-2, which significantly changed the architecture from the original Mamba paper. I’ll be frank: I struggled to understand the original Mamba and have not figured out how Mamba-2 works.

But the key thing to understand is that Mamba has the potential to combine transformer-like performance with the efficiency of conventional RNNs.

In June, Dao and Gu co-authored a paper with Nvidia researchers that evaluated a Mamba model with 8 billion parameters. They found that models like Mamba were competitive with comparably sized transformers in a number of tasks, but they “lag behind Transformer models when it comes to in-context learning and recalling information from the context.”

Transformers are good at information recall because they “remember” every token of their context—this is also why they become less efficient as the context grows. In contrast, Mamba tries to compress the context into a fixed-size state, which necessarily means discarding some information from long contexts.

The Nvidia team found they got the best performance from a hybrid architecture that interleaved 24 Mamba layers with four attention layers. This worked better than either a pure transformer model or a pure Mamba model.

A model needs some attention layers so it can remember important details from early in its context. But a few attention layers seem to be sufficient; the rest of the attention layers can be replaced by cheaper Mamba layers with little impact on the model’s overall performance.

In August, an Israeli startup called AI21 announced its Jamba 1.5 family of models. The largest version had 398 billion parameters, making it comparable in size to Meta’s Llama 405B model. Jamba 1.5 Large has seven times more Mamba layers than attention layers. As a result, Jamba 1.5 Large requires far less memory than comparable models from Meta and others. For example, AI21 estimates that Llama 3.1 70B needs 80GB of memory to keep track of 256,000 tokens of context. Jamba 1.5 Large only needs 9GB, allowing the model to run on much less powerful hardware.

The Jamba 1.5 Large model gets an MMLU score of 80, significantly below the Llama 3.1 70B’s score of 86. So by this measure, Mamba doesn’t blow transformers out of the water. However, this may not be an apples-to-apples comparison. Frontier labs like Meta have invested heavily in training data and post-training infrastructure to squeeze a few more percentage points of performance out of benchmarks like MMLU. It’s possible that the same kind of intense optimization could close the gap between Jamba and frontier models.

So while the benefits of longer context windows is obvious, the best strategy to get there is not. In the short term, AI companies may continue using clever efficiency and scaling hacks (like FlashAttention and Ring Attention) to scale up vanilla LLMs. Longer term, we may see growing interest in Mamba and perhaps other attention-free architectures. Or maybe someone will come up with a totally new architecture that renders transformers obsolete.

But I am pretty confident that scaling up transformer-based frontier models isn’t going to be a solution on its own. If we want models that can handle billions of tokens—and many people do—we’re going to need to think outside the box.

Tim Lee was on staff at Ars from 2017 to 2021. Last year, he launched a newsletter, Understanding AI, that explores how AI works and how it's changing our world. You can subscribe here.

We’re about to fly a spacecraft into the Sun for the first time

+ Eric Berger + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:02:27 +0000

"Quite simply, we want to find the birthplace of the solar wind."

A rendering of the Parker Solar Probe with a Santa hat. Credit: NASA/Aurich Lawson

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Solar cycle,

Not a sunspot was stirring, not even a burst;

The stockings were all hung by the corona with care,

In hopes that the Parker Solar Probe would soon be there.

Almost no one ever writes about the Parker Solar Probe anymore.

Sure, the spacecraft got some attention when it launched. It is, after all, the fastest moving object that humans have ever built. At its maximum speed, goosed by the gravitational pull of the Sun, the probe reaches a velocity of 430,000 miles per hour, or more than one-sixth of 1 percent the speed of light. That kind of speed would get you from New York City to Tokyo in less than a minute.

And the Parker Solar Probe also has the distinction of being the first NASA spacecraft named after a living person. At the time of its launch, in August 2018, physicist Eugene Parker was 91 years old.

But in the six years since the probe has been zipping through outer space and flying by the Sun? Not so much. Let's face it, the astrophysical properties of the Sun and its complicated structure are not something that most people think about on a daily basis.

However, the smallish probe—it masses less than a metric ton, and its scientific payload is only about 110 pounds (50 kg)—is about to make its star turn. Quite literally. On Christmas Eve, the Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach yet to the Sun. It will come within just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the solar surface, flying into the solar atmosphere for the first time.

Yeah, it's going to get pretty hot. Scientists estimate that the probe's heat shield will endure temperatures in excess of 2,500° Fahrenheit (1,371° C) on Christmas Eve, which is pretty much the polar opposite of the North Pole.

Going straight to the source

I spoke with the chief of science at NASA, Nicky Fox, to understand why the probe is being tortured so. Before moving to NASA headquarters, Fox was the project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe, and she explained that scientists really want to understand the origins of the solar wind.

This is the stream of charged particles that emanate from the Sun's outermost layer, the corona. Scientists have been wondering about this particular mystery for longer than half a century, Fox explained.

"Quite simply, we want to find the birthplace of the solar wind," she said.

Way back in the 1950s, before we had satellites or spacecraft to measure the Sun's properties, Parker predicted the existence of this solar wind. The scientific community was pretty skeptical about this idea—many ridiculed Parker, in fact—until the Mariner 2 mission started measuring the solar wind in 1962.

As the scientific community began to embrace Parker's theory, they wanted to know more about the solar wind, which is such a fundamental constituent of the entire Solar System. Although the solar wind is invisible to the naked eye, when you see an aurora on Earth, that's the solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetosphere in a particularly violent way.

Only it is expensive to build a spacecraft that can get to the Sun. And really difficult, too.

Now, you might naively think that it's the easiest thing in the world to send a spacecraft to the Sun. After all, it's this big and massive object in the sky, and it's got a huge gravitational field. Things should want to go there because of this attraction, and you ought to be able to toss any old thing into the sky, and it will go toward the Sun. The problem is that you don't actually want your spacecraft to fly into the Sun or be going so fast that it passes the Sun and keeps moving. So you've got to have a pretty powerful rocket to get your spacecraft in just the right orbit.

That’s a dynamic spacecraft

And then you've got to have a pretty sophisticated spacecraft that can survive flying into the atmosphere of a star. Because it's super hot and there's this hellish radiation all around, not to mention plasma.

But you can't get around the fact that to observe the origin of the solar wind, you've got to get inside the corona. Fox explained that it's like trying to understand a forest by looking in from the outside. One actually needs to go into the forest and find a clearing. However, we can't really stay inside the forest very long—because it's on fire.

So, the Parker Solar Probe had to be robust enough to get near the Sun and then back into the coldness of space. Therein lies another challenge. The spacecraft is going from this incredibly hot environment into a cold one and then back again multiple times.

"If you think about just heating and cooling any kind of material, they either go brittle and crumble, or they may go like elastic with a continual change of property," Fox said. "Obviously, with a spacecraft like this, you can't have it making a major property change. You also need something that's lightweight, and you need something that's durable."

The science instruments had to be hardened as well. As the probe flies into the Sun there's an instrument known as a Faraday cup that hangs out to measure ion and electron fluxes from the solar wind. Unique technologies were needed. The cup itself is made from sheets of Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum, with a melting point of about 4,260° Fahrenheit (2,349° C). Another challenge came from the electronic wiring, as normal cables would melt. So, the team at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and NASA grew sapphire crystal tubes to suspend the wiring and made the wires from niobium.

Anyway, all that is to say, it took a lot of time, money, and technological breakthroughs in exotic materials to get a spacecraft that was up to the task. And on Christmas Eve, we're finally going to see what the Parker Solar Probe has got.

Not to be outdone by OpenAI, Google releases its own “reasoning” AI model

+ Benj Edwards + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:49:53 +0000

Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking is Google's take on so-called AI reasoning models.

Credit: Alan Schein via Getty Images

It's been a really busy month for Google as it apparently endeavors to outshine OpenAI with a blitz of AI releases. On Thursday, Google dropped its latest party trick: Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental, which is a new AI model that uses runtime "reasoning" techniques similar to OpenAI's o1 to achieve "deeper thinking" on problems fed into it.

The experimental model builds on Google's newly released Gemini 2.0 Flash and runs on its AI Studio platform, but early tests conducted by TechCrunch reporter Kyle Wiggers reveal accuracy issues with some basic tasks, such as incorrectly counting that the word "strawberry" contains two R's.

These so-called reasoning models differ from standard AI models by incorporating feedback loops of self-checking mechanisms, similar to techniques we first saw in early 2023 with hobbyist projects like "Baby AGI." The process requires more computing time, often adding extra seconds or minutes to response times. Companies have turned to reasoning models as traditional scaling methods at training time have been showing diminishing returns.

Google DeepMind's chief scientist, Jeff Dean, says that the model receives extra computing power, writing on X, "we see promising results when we increase inference time computation!" The model works by pausing to consider multiple related prompts before providing what it determines to be the most accurate answer.

Since OpenAI's jump into the "reasoning" field in September with o1-preview and o1-mini, several companies have been rushing to achieve feature parity with their own models. For example, DeepSeek launched DeepSeek-R1 in early November, while Alibaba's Qwen team released its own "reasoning" model, QwQ earlier this month.

While some claim that reasoning models can help solve complex mathematical or academic problems, these models might not be for everybody. While they perform well on some benchmarks, questions remain about their actual usefulness and accuracy. Also, the high computing costs needed to run reasoning models have created some rumblings about their long-term viability. That high cost is why OpenAI's ChatGPT Pro costs $200 a month, for example.

Still, it appears Google is serious about pursuing this particular AI technique. Logan Kilpatrick, a Google employee in its AI Studio, called it "the first step in our reasoning journey" in a post on X.

Home Assistant’s Voice Preview Edition is a little box with big privacy powers

+ Kevin Purdy + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:00:59 +0000

Home Assistant’s voice device is a $60 box that’s both focused and evolving.

Credit: Home Assistant Foundation

Home Assistant announced today the availability of the Voice Preview Edition, its own design of a living-room-friendly box to offer voice assistance with home automation. Having used it for a few weeks, it seems like a great start, at least for those comfortable with digging into the settings. That's why Home Assistant is calling it a "Preview Edition."

Using its privacy-minded Nabu Casa cloud—or your own capable computer—to handle the processing, the Voice Preview Edition (VPE) ($60/60 euros, available today) has the rough footprint of a modern Apple TV but is thinner. It works similarly to an Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, or Apple Siri device, but with a more focused goal. Start with a wake word—the default, and most well-trained version, is "Okay, Nabu," but "Hey, Jarvis" and "Hey, Mycroft" are available. Follow that with a command, typically something that targets a smart home device: "Turn on living room lights," "Set thermostat to 68," "Activate TV time." And then, that thing usually happens.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6BGq0C9vxyU?start=0&wmode=transparent

Home Assistant's Voice Preview Edition, doing what it does best. I had to set a weather service to an alias of "the weather outside" to get that response worked out.

"That thing" is primarily controlling devices, scenes, and automations around your home, set up in Home Assistant. That means you have to have assigned them a name or alias that you can remember. Coming up with naming schemes is something you end up doing in big-tech smart home systems, too, but it's a bit more important with the VPE.

You won't need to start over with all your gear if you've got a Google Home, Alexa, or Apple Home ecosystem, at least. Home Assistant has good "bridge" options built into it for connecting all the devices you've set up and named inside those ecosystems.

It's important to have a decently organized smart home set up with a VPE box, because it doesn't really do much else, for better or worse. Unless you hook it up to an AI model.

The voice device that is intentionally not very chatty

The VPE box can run timers (with neat LED ring progress indicators), and with a little bit of settings tweaking, you can connect it to Home Assistant's built-in shopping lists and task lists or most any other plug-in or extension of your system. If you're willing to mess with LLMs—like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini—locally or through cloud subscriptions, you could trigger prompts with your voice, though performance will vary.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/YDZGEJ5PDnA?start=0&wmode=transparent

Home Assistant's Voice Preview Edition, not quite sure what to do with non-home-related questions.

What else does Home Assistant's hardware do? Nothing, at least by default. It listens for its prompt, it passes them onto a Home Assistant server, and that's it. You can't ask it how tall Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is or how many consecutive Super Bowls the Bills lost. It won't do simple math calculations or metric conversions. It cannot tell you whether you should pack an umbrella tomorrow or a good substitute if you're out of eggs.

For some people either hesitant to bring a voice device into their home or fatigued by the failures of supposedly "smart" assistants that can seem quite dumb, this might be perfect. When the Home Assistant VPE hears me clearly (more on that in a moment), it almost always understands what I'm saying, so long as I remember what I named everything.

There were times during the month-long period when I muted Google Assistant and stuck with Home Assistant that I missed the ability to ask questions I would normally just look up on a search engine. The upside is that I didn't have to sit through 15 seconds of Google explaining at length something I didn't ask for.

If you want the VPE to automatically fall back to AI for answering non-home-specific questions, you can set that up. And that's something we'll likely dig into for a future post.

The hardware

As a product you want to keep somewhere it can hear you, the Home Assistant VPE blends in, is reasonably small, and has more useful buttons and switches than the competition. It looks entirely innocuous sitting on a bookshelf, entertainment center, kitchen counter, or wall mount. It's quite nice to pay for a functional device that has absolutely no branding visible.

There are four neat things on top. First is two microphone inputs, which are pretty important. There's an LED ring that shows you the VPE is listening by spinning, then spinning the other way to show that it's "thinking" and reversing again when responding. A button in the middle can activate the device without speech or cancel a response.

Best of all, there is a physically rotating dial wheel around the button. It feels great to spin, even if it's not something you'll need to do very often.

Around the sides is clear plastic, with speaker holes on three sides. The speakers are built specifically for voice clarity, according to Home Assistant, and I agree. I can always hear what the VPE is trying to tell me, at any distance in my living room.

There's a hardware mute switch on one side, with USB-C inputs (power and connection) and a stereo headphone/speaker jack. On the bottom is a grove port for deeper development.

Hearing is still the challenge

The last quasi-official way to get a smart speaker experience with Home Assistant was the ESP32 S3 Box 3, which was okay or decent in a very quiet room or at dining room table distance. The VPE is a notable improvement over that device in both input and output. If I make a small effort to speak clearly and enunciate, it catches me pretty much everywhere in my open-plan living room/dining room/kitchen. It's not too bad at working around music or TV sound, either, so long as that speaker is not between me and the VPE box. It is best with its default wake phrase, "Okay, Nabu," because that's the most trained and sampled by the Open Wake Word community.

And yet, every smart speaker I've had in my home at some point—a Google Home/Nest Mini, Amazon Echo (full-size or Dot), Apple HomePod (original), the microphones on Sonos speakers—has seemed better at catching its wake word, given similar placement as the VPE. After all, Home Assistant, a not-for-profit foundation, cannot subsidize powerful microphone arrays with advertising, Prime memberships, or profitable computer hardware ecosystems. I don't have lab tests to prove this, just my own experiences—with my particular voice, accent, phrasing, room shape, and noise levels.

I’ve been using this device with pre-release firmware and software, and it’s under active development, so it will almost certainly get better. But as a device you can buy and set up right now, it’s very close—but not quite—to the level of the big ecosystems. It is notably better than the hodgepodge of other devices you can technically use with Home Assistant voice prompts.

Is it better for my privacy that the VPE is not great at being triggered by ambient speech in the room? Maybe. At the same time, I'm more likely to switch away from said big-tech voice devices only if I don't feel like I have to say everything twice or three times.

It’s fun to craft your own voice system

I've been able to use the VPE on a bookshelf in my living room for weeks, asking it to turn on lights, adjust thermostats, set scenes with blinds and speakers, and other automations, and the successes are far more common than failures. I still want to test some different placements and try out local hardware processing (requiring an Intel N100 or better for common languages), since I've only tested it with Home Assistant's cloud servers, the generally faster solution.

The best things about the VPE are not the things you'll notice by looking at or speaking to it. It's a smart speaker that seems a lot more reasonable for private places, especially if you're running on local hardware. It's not a smart speaker that is going to read you an entire Wikipedia page when it misunderstands what you want. And it doesn't demand you to use an app tied into an ecosystem to use, other than the web app running off your Home Assistant server.

Paulus Schoutsen said on the VPE's launch stream that the VPE might not be the best choice for someone switching over from an established Google/Amazon/Apple ecosystem. That might be true, but I think the VPE also works as a single-user device at a desk, or for anyone who's been waiting to step into voice but concerned about privacy, ecosystem lock-in, or their kids' demands to play Taylor Swift songs on repeat.

This post was update at 5 p.m. to note the author's wake word experience may relate to his voice and room characteristics.

As firms abandon VMware, Broadcom is laughing all the way to the bank

+ Scharon Harding + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:41:02 +0000

Ingram Micro the latest to ditch VMware, but VMware's still making money.

Credit: Getty

Another company has publicly cut ties with Broadcom's VMware. This time, it's Ingram Micro, one of the world's biggest IT distributors. The announcement comes as Broadcom eyes services as a key part of maintaining VMware business in 2025. But even as some customers are reducing reliance on VMware, its trillion-dollar owner is laughing all the way to the bank.

IT distributor severs VMware ties

Ingram is reducing its Broadcom-related business to "limited engagement with VMware in select regions," a spokesperson told The Register this week.

"We were unable to reach an agreement with Broadcom that would help our customers deliver the best technology outcomes now and in the future while providing an appropriate shareholder return,” the spokesperson said.

Losing business with the second-largest IT distributor would seem consequential. However, Broadcom suggested that it doesn't view Ingram as a good fit for VMware. In a statement regarding Ingram, Broadcom pointed to its own "evolving business priorities" and said that "the need for a more streamlined and focused distribution network... necessitated this change."

Broadcom business wasn't material to Ingram's revenue, a rep said. They added that the firm distributes technologies from 1,500 vendors to 161,000 customers.

There’s debate as to whether Broadcom was truly able to provide Ingram with the VMware support it needed to effectively provide VMware services or whether Ingram wasn’t up to the task. One anonymous CTO at an unnamed VMware channel partner told IT publication CRN this week that "distributors are not the issue. Broadcom is."

"They need to empower their distributors to be able to make quotes or Broadcom should double their sales force if they want full control of every quote that is requested by a partner or end user.… The average is four weeks from deal [registration] and request to [distributor] for a quote,” the CTO said.

The exec claimed that this process could take “two to three days” before Broadcom closed its VMware acquisition in November 2023.

The CTO's comments align with what Ars Technica has heard from customers and partners that say long quote times have hurt business and that the quality VMware support has worsened since Broadcom's takeover.

However, The Register said it heard of Ingram struggling “to handle the increased responsibilities it assumed," citing VMware users who it spoke with.

Overall, changes in what Broadcom wants from VMware partners and customers have led to various firms scaling back VMware relationships, reducing reliance on VMware tech, and/or investigating alternatives to VMware, including moving some workloads to rival offerings, diversifying vendors, and devirtualizing.

But with how much money Broadcom's making, it’s likely okay waving goodbye to some of that business.

Trillion dollar company

Broadcom’s recent $1 trillion valuation is largely related to Broadcom's expectations of AI representing $60 billion to $90 billion in revenue come 2027. To reach its goals, it will need to evolve over the coming years. That doesn’t leave room for some of VMware’s older—and often smaller—relationships that don't fit or won't evolve with Broadcom.

Broadcom's fiscal 2024 earnings report indicates VMware revenue has been growing. Broadcom’s full-year software revenue grew by $13.8 billion to reach $21.5 billion during its fiscal year. VMware made $13.4 billion in revenue in its last year before acquisition, and it's expected that at least a few hundred million in VMware revenue isn't accounted for in Broadcom's full-year numbers.

During a call with investors last week, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said that VMware operating margins were less than 30 percent before Broadcom’s acquisition but reached 70 percent in fiscal Q4 2024. VMware’s operating costs are also lower under Broadcom, declining from an average of $2.4 billion per quarter pre-acquisition to $1.2 billion in fiscal Q4.

Also, VMware’s annualized booking value (ABV) increased from $2.5 billion in Q3 to $2.7 billion in Q4. Broadcom has taken a lot of heat for bundling VMware products into a small number of SKUs, but Tan said the company added “4,500 of our largest 10,000 customers” to the VMware Cloud Foundation platform. Broadcom expects VMware revenue to grow 41 percent year-on-year to $6.5 billion in fiscal Q1 2025 and VMware ABV to reach $3 billion.

2025 challenges

Broadcom seemed okay with ending business with Ingram, which ties it to solution providers that may be supporting smaller firms. At the same time, Broadcom has shown willingness to fight for the business of large accounts.

For example, this month it settled an increasingly nasty dispute in which AT&T sued Broadcom for allegedly breaking a contract to provide perpetual license support. Broadcom infamously stopped VMware perpetual license sales, in favor of subscriptions, in December 2023.

Broadcom is also paying close attention to VMware’s biggest accounts, taking over 500 of those biggest accounts directly, thereby barring channel partners from deals.

Broadcom originally planned to take VMware’s biggest 2,000 accounts direct. But as Canalys chief analyst Alastair Edwards put it, letting 1,500 of the biggest accounts be run by channel partners helps tie professional services to VMware products, making migrations harder.

However, the VMware channel is under turmoil, having undergone numerous business-impacting changes over the past year, including Broadcom killing the VMware partner program in favor of its own, while announcing that there will be a new VMware channel chief, as CRN reported. Some of the resellers that could help VMware keep customers are showing frustration with the changes and what the characterize as poor communication from Broadcom.

“Broadcom has abandoned the channel market by making it nearly impossible to work with them due to constantly changing requirements, packaging and changes to the program," Jason Slagle, president of Toledo-based managed services provider and VMware partner CNWR, told CRN today.

Meanwhile, Forrester analysts Michele Pelino and Naveen Chhabra predict that next year, "VMware’s largest 2,000 customers will shrink their deployment size by an average of 40 percent," in favor of "public cloud, on-premises alternatives, and new architecture."

Still, "Broadcom’s price increases and cost-cutting measures are expected to boost its net profits, as there are not many credible competitors capable of helping clients replace VMware virtualization," the Forrester analysts said.

So although Broadcom is challenged to maintain business from VMware's biggest accounts and appease the solution providers driving smaller accounts, it's expected to keep making money off of VMware—even as firms like Ingram close the door on it.

New physics sim trains robots 430,000 times faster than reality

+ Benj Edwards + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:10:29 +0000

"Genesis" can compress training times from decades into hours using 3D worlds conjured from text.

A simulated teapot and letters created using the Genesis platform. Credit: Zhou et al.

On Thursday, a large group of university and private industry researchers unveiled Genesis, a new open source computer simulation system that lets robots practice tasks in simulated reality 430,000 times faster than in the real world. Researchers can also use an AI agent to generate 3D physics simulations from text prompts.

The accelerated simulation means a neural network for piloting robots can spend the virtual equivalent of decades learning to pick up objects, walk, or manipulate tools during just hours of real computer time.

"One hour of compute time gives a robot 10 years of training experience. That's how Neo was able to learn martial arts in a blink of an eye in the Matrix Dojo," wrote Genesis paper co-author Jim Fan on X, who says he played a "minor part" in the research. Fan has previously worked on several robotics simulation projects for Nvidia.

Genesis arrives as robotics researchers hunt for better tools to test and train robots in virtual environments before deploying them in the real world. Fast, accurate simulation helps robots learn complex tasks more quickly while reducing the need for expensive physical testing.

Example images of the simulated physics-based worlds created by Genesis, provided by the researchers. Credit: Zhou et al.

The Genesis platform, developed by a group led by Zhou Xian of Carnegie Mellon University, processes physics calculations up to 80 times faster than existing robot simulators ( like Nvidia's Isaac Gym). It uses graphics cards similar to those that power video games to run up to 100,000 copies of a simulation at once. That's important when it comes to training the neural networks that will control future real-world robots.

"If an AI can control 1,000 robots to perform 1 million skills in 1 billion different simulations, then it may 'just work' in our real world, which is simply another point in the vast space of possible realities," wrote Fan in his X post. "This is the fundamental principle behind why simulation works so effectively for robotics."

Generating dynamic worlds

The team also announced the ability to generate what it calls "4D dynamic worlds"—perhaps using "4D" because they can simulate a 3D world in motion over time. The system uses vision-language models (VLMs) to generate complete virtual environments from text descriptions (similar to "prompts" in other AI models), utilizing Genesis's own simulation infrastructure APIs to create the worlds.

The AI-generated worlds reportedly include realistic physics, camera movements, and object behaviors, all from text commands. The system then creates physically accurate ray-traced videos and data that robots can use for training.

Examples of "4D dynamical and physical" worlds that Genesis created from text prompts.

This prompt-based system lets researchers create complex robot testing environments by typing natural language commands instead of programming them by hand. "Traditionally, simulators require a huge amount of manual effort from artists: 3D assets, textures, scene layouts, etc. But every component in the workflow can be automated," wrote Fan.

Using its engine, Genesis can also generate character motion, interactive 3D scenes, facial animation, and more, which may allow for the creation of artistic assets for creative projects, but may also lead to more realistic AI-generated games and videos in the future, constructing a simulated world in data instead of operating on the statistical appearance of pixels as with a video synthesis diffusion model.

Examples of character motion generation from Genesis, using a prompt that includes, "A miniature Wukong holding a stick in his hand sprints across a table surface for 3 seconds, then jumps into the air, and swings his right arm downward during landing."

While the generative system isn't yet part of the currently available code on GitHub, the team plans to release it in the future.

Training tomorrow’s robots today (using Python)

Genesis remains under active development on GitHub, where the team accepts community contributions.

The platform stands out from other 3D world simulators for robotic training by using Python for both its user interface and core physics engine. Other engines use C++ or CUDA for their underlying calculations while wrapping them in Python APIs. Genesis takes a Python-first approach.

Notably, the non-proprietary nature of the Genesis platform makes high-speed robot training simulations available to any researcher for free through simple Python commands that work on regular computers with off-the-shelf hardware.

Previously, running robot simulations required complex programming and specialized hardware, says Fan in his post announcing Genesis, and that shouldn't be the case. "Robotics should be a moonshot initiative owned by all of humanity," he wrote.

Crypto scammers posing as real brands on X are easily hacking YouTubers

+ Ashley Belanger + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:51:10 +0000

Fighting game YouTuber now fighting Google over “monstrous” post-hack revenue loss.

Credit: via Capcom USA

For months, popular fighting game YouTubers have been under attack. Even the seemingly most cautious among them have been duped by sophisticated phishing attacks that hack their accounts to push cryptocurrency scams by convincingly appearing to offer legitimate sponsorships from established brands.

These scams often start with bad actors seemingly taking over verified accounts on X (formerly Twitter) with substantial followings and then using them to impersonate marketing managers at real brands who can be easily found on LinkedIn.

The fake X accounts go to great lengths to appear legitimate. They link to brands' actual websites and populate feeds with histories seemingly spanning decades by re-posting brands' authentic posts.

Approaching YouTubers from these accounts, the scammers offer sponsorships, sometimes engaging in prolonged discussions before eventually requiring YouTubers to submit a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). That's when the phishing attack would strike, installing malware when users were asked to download a PDF or click a link to Docusign or an alternative. Within minutes of clicking, YouTubers lost their accounts, which for many meant losing their primary source of income.

Michael Townsend has published popular fighting game guides and reactions to the latest gaming news as "Rooflemonger" on YouTube for the past seven years. In that time, he's gained more than 200,000 subscribers, posting thousands of videos and turning a hobby into a full-time job.

Everything was going great until crypto scammers hacked his account, posing as JBL Audio and removing his YouTube channel for days just as a new game from one of his favorite franchises, Virtua Fighter 6, was announced. His account has since been restored, as have most hacked accounts seemingly, but he missed out on a potentially lucrative news cycle, lost thousands of subscribers, and now has to repopulate old playlists that got deleted.

"I basically had a mental breakdown," Townsend said in a YouTube video explaining how his account got hacked so that others can avoid his "pitfalls."

Townsend is far from the only gamer who got hacked. In a post on X, another YouTuber named five other popular fighting game streamers whose accounts were also compromised. And in a YouTube video explaining "why every YouTuber is getting hacked," a popular Street Fighter 6 gamer who said he was also a victim, "Brian_F," suggested that "nearly half" of fighting game content creators have been affected.

List of FGC Members who got their YouTube hacked (so far):

-AngryBird/BigBird
-HookGangGod
-Spooky
-KizzieKay
-Rooflemonger
-LordKnight

Scary stuff, be careful out there.
— J I Y U N A (@jiyunaJP) December 13, 2024

Google did not respond to multiple requests to comment on the phishing scam, but a YouTube spokesperson did respond on X, explaining how YouTubers can get their channels back.

"When a channel is hacked, the first step is for the channel owner to reach out to Creator Support," YouTube said. "If this creator has already reached out, we're most likely already working on it (cases like this can take some time, so we really appreciate your patience)."

On YouTube, Townsend said that YouTube's process for account recovery was tiresome. He had to contact YouTube "over and over and over and over" to "glacially" "get the ball rolling" while he watched his subscriber numbers fall. Once YouTube finally blocked the hacked account, that "stopped the bleeding," he said, but he still seemingly has work to do to rebuild his credibility with YouTube's algorithm after the hack.

Townsend told Ars that he is currently experiencing delays in processing new videos and, perhaps more urgently, believes that issues with the algorithm may be significantly decreasing his revenue on the platform. Townsend told Ars that while YouTube helped restore his channel, the 75 percent drop in income that he's seeing "across the board" is "nothing out of the ordinary." Ars reviewed a side-by-side comparison of video earnings before and after the hack to verify the "monstrous" drop in his earnings.

"I'm fighting with Google now," Townsend told Ars. "I don't expect any real answers from them."

How YouTubers can avoid being targeted

As YouTube appears evasive, Townsend has been grateful for long-time subscribers commenting to show support, which may help get his videos amplified more by the algorithm. On YouTube, he also said that because "the outpouring of support was beyond anything" he could've expected, it kept him "sane" through sometimes 24-hour periods of silence without any updates on when his account would be restored.

Townsend told Ars that he rarely does sponsorships, but like many in the fighting game community, his inbox gets spammed with offers constantly, much of which he assumes are scams.

"If you are a YouTuber of any size," Townsend explained in his YouTube video, "you are inundated with this stuff constantly," so "my BS detector is like, okay, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake. But this one just, it looked real enough, like they had their own social media presence, lots of followers. Everything looked real."

Brian_F echoed that in his video, which breaks down how the latest scam evolved from more obvious scams, tricking even skeptical YouTubers who have years of experience dodging phishing scams in their inboxes.

"The game has changed," Brian_F said.

Townsend told Ars that sponsorships are rare in the fighting game community. YouTubers are used to carefully scanning supposed offers to weed out the real ones from the fakes. But Brian_F's video pointed out that scammers copy/paste legitimate offer letters, so it's already hard to distinguish between potential sources of income and cleverly masked phishing attacks using sponsorships as lures.

Part of the vetting process includes verifying links without clicking through and verifying identities of people submitting supposed offers. But if YouTubers are provided with legitimate links early on, receiving offers from brands they really like, and see that contacts match detailed LinkedIn profiles of authentic employees who market the brand, it's much harder to detect a fake sponsorship offer without as many obvious red flags.

Brian_F said YouTubers seeking to be extra cautious moving forward should always check to see if an X account's feed contains no original content. It would also likely be wise never to click a link or download a PDF to sign an NDA until a sponsorship is completely vetted.

LinkedIn profiles should also be reviewed with care, as AI could possibly be used to populate a fake profile. But at least one brand, Shure, has reported fake accounts on X and confirmed that real employees were impersonated to further the scheme. In a pinned thread on X, Shure warned YouTubers that they should "make sure any email correspondence with Shure comes from an @shure.com email address."

Townsend said that he's normally very picky about sponsorships and only does four or five a year. But he said that part of the success of the phishing tactic is that the scammers didn’t rush him to click a scam link right away. "We talked for a while," Townsend said, and then "we progressed," and "then it's like, 'Oh by the way, here's a Docusign.'"

"Docusign is something I use quite a bit, so I didn't think twice," Townsend said. "And all it took was one click," with "maybe a window of two minutes to act" and change passwords.

After that click, standard protections didn't keep the hackers out. According to Townsend, Google's filters didn't flag the links as phishing, and because he was "session hijacked"—where hackers simply take over a legitimate user's ongoing session—the two-factor authentication that might have kept bad actors out of his YouTube account wasn't activated.

For Townsend, watching his YouTube videos seemingly deleted (but mercifully actually just hidden, marked private) and "crypto garbage scam videos going up" in their place was like watching his seven-year investment in his YouTube channel go down the drain.

While he works to get his channel back to generating the income he had before the attack, Townsend told Ars that he's rejecting outside sponsorship offers now and probably won't entertain any outside offers for years.

"No deal is worth the stress I dealt with," Townsend told Ars.

Stalker 2 has been enjoyable jank, but it’s also getting rapidly fixed

+ Kevin Purdy + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:50:57 +0000

"A-Life" fixes will ensure even more randomness in an already odd fallout zone.

Credit: GSC Game World

When the impossibly punctuated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl released on November 20, after many delays (that included the Russian invasion of the developer's native Ukraine), it seemed like it could have used even more delays.

Stalker 2 had big performance issues and game-breaking bugs, along with balance and difficulty spike issues. Some things that seem "wrong" in the game are just going to stay that way. The first-person survival/shooter series has always had a certain wobbly, wild feel to it. This expresses itself in both the game world, where a major villain can off themselves by walking through a window, and in the tech stack, where broken save games, DIY optimization, and other unmet needs have created thriving mod scenes.

Developer GSC Game World has been steadfastly patching the game since its release, and the latest one should nudge the needle a bit from "busted" to "charmingly wonky." Amid the "Over 1,800 fixes and adjustments" in Patch 1.1, the big changes are to "A-Life." In porting Stalker 2 to Unreal Engine 5, the developer faced a challenge in getting this global AI management system working, but it's showing its weird self again.

A-Life, as detailed by Destructoid, is the idea that "the characters in the game live their own lives and exist all the time, not only when they are in the player's field of view." In a certain radius around the player, events happen "online," in real time, such that you could stumble upon them. Farther out, things are still happening, and non-player characters (NPCs) are trekking about, but on an "offline," almost turn-based, less resource-intensive schedule. Modders have had quite a bit of fun tweaking A-life in prior versions of Stalker 2.

With the latest patch, the weirdly engaging feel that the world goes on without you returns. There will be more NPCs visible, NPCs out of range will pursue their "goals," and a more diverse range of human factions, mutants, and weirdos will exist. Perhaps most intriguingly, an issue where "Human NPCs didn't satisfy their communication needs and talks" is fixed. If only that could be patched for most of us player characters here in the real world.

It's patched, but is it fun?

I have been playing Stalker 2 on and off since its launch, checking in after most of the big patches so far. Not nearly enough to merit any kind of proper review, and it's my first time with the series. Early on, the performance was quite bad, devolving sometimes to a stuttering "I can't even press escape to save and quit" mess on a system with an RTX 3070 GPU, a 12-core AMD 5900X CPU, and 16GB memory. Since then, it has improved considerably. I no longer avoid walking up to NPCs talking to one another for fear of triggering the slight stutter that once made my teeth clench.

When I'm not noticing hitches or worrying about settings, I'm very much enjoying Stalker 2. It is unforgiving, it triggers the save-scumming response, and it makes you realize that getting shot five or six times would, indeed, kill most people. Maybe it's the winter or a reaction to the highly polished AAA titles or charming indie games I've been playing lately, but I appreciate the feeling of being overmatched and submerged in oddities. It's one of the rare games where I feel good for running away from a three-on-one firefight because I know I'll be better off saving ammo and item condition so I can go off and barely survive something else. It's a bit more active and game-like than a strict survival game, but it actively discourages the ridiculous bravado emphasized in most first-person shooters.

Even before this A-Life fix, the game's towns and landscapes gave off a sense of being inhabited (as much as a nuclear fallout zone can be), of your protagonist's path moving past a world that had its own rhythm. The developers seem to have had enough success (1 million copies within 48 hours of release) and real-world feedback to keep plugging away on fixes, up until the point the game has moved from "damaged" to "cracked in interesting ways." I intend to follow along, however many times my character must die on the way.

US temporarily bans drones in parts of NJ, may use “deadly force” against aircraft

+ Jon Brodkin + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:29:01 +0000

Drone sightings cause worry; FBI said it hadn't "identified anything anomalous."

Credit: Getty Images | Richard Newstead

The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned drones over parts of New Jersey yesterday and said "the United States government may use deadly force against" airborne aircraft "if it is determined that the aircraft poses an imminent security threat."

The FAA issued 22 orders imposing "temporary flight restrictions for special security reasons" until January 17, 2025. "At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure," an FAA statement said.

Each NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) affects a specific area. "No UAS [Unmanned Aircraft System] operations are authorized in the areas covered by this NOTAM" unless they have clearance for specific operations, the FAA said. Allowed operations include support for national defense, law enforcement, firefighting, and commercial operations "with a valid statement of work."

"Pilots who do not adhere to the following proc[edure] may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel," the FAA said. Violating the order could result in "civil penalties and the suspension or revocation of airmen certificates," and criminal charges, the FAA said.

The New Jersey orders affect areas in Evesham, Hamilton, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, Metuchen, North Brunswick Township, Camden, Gloucester City, Westampton, South Brunswick, Edison, Branchburg, Sewaren, Jersey City, Harrison, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Winslow, Burlington, Clifton, Hancocks Bridge, and Kearny.

5,000 tips to FBI, but nothing “anomalous”

The latest notices follow numerous sightings of objects that appeared to be drones, which worried New Jersey residents and prompted state and federal officials to investigate and issue several public statements. The FAA last month imposed temporary flight restrictions at the Picatinny Arsenal, an Army research and manufacturing facility, and a Bedminster golf course owned by President-elect Donald Trump.

On December 16, a joint statement was issued by the US Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the FAA, and Department of Defense. The "FBI has received tips of more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last few weeks with approximately 100 leads generated," but evidence so far suggests "the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones," the statement said. "We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast."

There was also a December 12 statement by the FBI and DHS on the New Jersey drone sightings, which said authorities had "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus."

"Historically, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities... upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space," the statement said.

Don’t shoot the drones down yourself

Authorities warned residents not to shoot down drones themselves, saying it is illegal under federal law and could result in civil penalties and/or criminal charges. "A private citizen shooting at any aircraft—including unmanned aircraft—poses a significant safety hazard," the FAA said. "An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air."

The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness recently released a "drone incidents FAQ" to answer residents' concerns. One question in the FAQ was, "Why can't authorities or the military shoot down or capture a drone midflight?" It answered that "state and local authorities do not have the legal ability to mitigate threatening drone activity at this time" and that "federal agencies and the US military have different legal abilities and technical capabilities."

The New Jersey FAQ pointed to a US Homeland Security publication that says when drones are operated illegally, Homeland Security can "seize or exercise control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft," and "use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft."

Intel is testing BIOS updates to fix performance of its new Core Ultra 200S CPUs

+ Andrew Cunningham + — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:18:12 +0000

Not as serious as the 13th/14th-gen voltage problems, but the fixes are similar.

Intel's Core Ultra 5 245K. Credit: Andrew Cunningham

Intel's Core Ultra 200S desktop processors—the company's biggest overhaul of its desktop platform since 2021—consume less power and run a lot cooler than the company's 13th- and 14th-generation Core CPUs. However, early reviewers found that the processors sometimes struggled to match, let alone beat, those older desktop CPUs in some tasks. This was particularly true for games, and people who build their own gaming PCs are a key constituency for these kinds of brand-new high-end chips.

Intel quickly blamed optimization issues for some of the problems, promising performance fixes sometime later in November or December, and the company has outlined the first batch of fixes in a lengthy support document. Of the five identified problems, Intel says it has fixed four; users can get those updates by installing Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.2161 or higher, updating their motherboard's BIOS to the latest version. Non-performance-related blue screens related to Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat software have also been resolved, and users should update to the latest version if they're still having issues.

The performance problems resolved via the Windows update are both related to a missing power plan specific to the Core Ultra processors—Intel didn't have those power plans ready for reviewers, who did all their testing using the generic power profiles provided with Windows. Intel said that this by itself could reduce performance by between 6 and 30 percent, depending on the software.

Without tuned power profiles, a separate but related feature called the Intel Application Performance Optimizer (APO) couldn't kick in, reducing performance by between 2 and 14 percent.

Current BIOS updates for motherboards contain optimized performance and power settings that "were not consistently toggled" in early BIOS versions for those boards. This could also affect performance by between 2 and 14 percent.

The fifth and final fix for the issues Intel has identified is coming in a later BIOS update that the company plans to release "in the first half of January 2025." The microcode updates in that BIOS update should provide "another modest performance improvement in the single-digit range," based on Intel's performance testing across 35 games. When that microcode update (version 0x114) has been released, Intel says it plans to release another support document with more detailed performance comparisons.

If a long Intel support document detailing a multi-stage series of fixes for elusive performance issues is giving you deja vu, you’re probably thinking about this other, more serious problem with 13th- and 14th-generation Core CPUs from earlier this year. In that case, the issue was that the CPU could request more voltage than it could handle, eventually leading to degraded performance and crashes.

These voltage requests could permanently damage the silicon, so Intel extended the warranties of most 13th- and 14th-gen Core CPUs from three years to five. The company also worked with motherboard makers to release a string of BIOS updates to keep the problems from happening again. A similar string of BIOS updates will be necessary to fix the problems with the Core Ultra 200S chips.

Aurora's Coconut Cake - Jeff's New Leaf Blog

Jeff — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 04:37:30 +0000

Aurora’s Coconut Cake

On December 4th, I shot down a balloon present! Ooh, what could be inside?

Inside, I found a milk can. That was a milky way of spoiling my excitement. 🥛

Mira was describing someone with two horns, brown fur, and a strong profile…

She was talking about Jingle, of course.

I think you just put yourself on the naughty list.

Now that December is here, villagers have started to give hints about what they want for Toy Day. I’m going to list the hints I’ve received so far, although it isn’t many:

Cube: something aqua
Inkwell: white furniture
Mira: black appliance

I probably need to speak more to the villagers who I’m not focused on getting photos from. 😛

On December 5th, Inkwell asked for some furniture to replace his cupid bench. I checked Re-Tail, the lost and found, T&T Emporium, and Harv’s shop, but I couldn’t find any rectangular furniture. But when I checked my museum exhibit rooms, I found a Kiki and Lala sofa I wasn’t using. I gave it to Inkwell, and he loved it!

In return, he just gave me the Cupid bench. Not bad, but it’s still not his photo.

When I played again on Sunday (the 15th), I saw that snow now covers the ground and festive lights adorn many trees. 🎄 The holidays are getting close!

Today, Molly was sitting on the metal bench in town. She asked me to join her for a bit, so I did! Molly is always so cute. 🙂

Jeremiah told me he needed Aurora for something, and he asked if I would go and get her. He said he was too tired to do it himself.

I agreed to fetch Aurora, but first, I ran into Lolly. She asked me to bury a time capsule for her…so I did that too.

I ultimately found Aurora by the flower clock, just outside of town hall.

I told her the news, and we headed over to Jeremiah’s house. Jeremiah just wanted to know if he could have some of the coconut cake he smelled her cooking yesterday.

Aurora didn’t appreciate the fact that Jeremiah was lurking around her house. 😛

But she said she couldn’t share the cake anyway, because she already ate it all!

She then stormed out of his house. Jeremiah was going to give me a reward, but my pockets were full. So he said he’ll mail it instead.

I’m not sure if I’ll play on Toy Day (Christmas Eve) this year or not. It may depend on whether I get enough gift hints before then. But regardless, I will be back at some point later this month with another entry. I’ll see you then. Happy holidays!

Snow Reactions - Jeff's Animal Crossing Blog

Jeff — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:06:50 +0000

Snow Reactions

As of last Wednesday, snow now covers the ground in Animal Crossing. Unfortunately, I received Peanut’s goodbye letter in the mail. I was hoping she’d stick around longer, but she has already split.

In addition to the snow, there are also festive lights on many non-fruit trees. (That includes cedar trees too, although none of those happen to be in this screenshot.)

When I spoke with Buzz, he told me he never sees my face these days. But as he was saying it, I actually spotted a different face watching us from behind the tree! Look closely, and you can see it here:

I later met Peanut’s replacement, Marcy the kangaroo.

She lived in Forest before, back in 2012. But I also have her in my town of Aja Blu, as you may have seen in my GameCube Moments #22 video from a couple weeks ago. If you haven’t seen it, here it is:

Anyway, I found Gulliver down on the beach. After rambling for a bit, he gave me a stone coin…as a token of his appreciation.

I played again tonight, and it was snowing in town. Candi wondered if I was scared of the snow because she didn’t see me during the day.

She then tried to sell me a checkered shirt for 2,250 bells. I know she’s a mouse, but she’s asking for a lot of cheddar! I declined the offer, and she said she’ll just toss the shirt instead. (And yet she wouldn’t give it to me for free.) That’s Candi for you.

Marcy was less concerned with ripping me off, and more focused on the snow. She even thought it was romantic.

Puck seemed glad that the snow didn’t keep me from exploring.

I’m not exactly sure what I would be exploring, though. I’ve been in this town for so long that I think I know every inch of it pretty well by now. 😉

And the snow just made Hank want to pop some popcorn. 🍿 It’s nice seeing all the villagers’ reactions to the snow. ❄️

I found Gulliver down on the beach again, and he gave me a matryoshka this time.

Right…

I’ve recently posted a video showing the best of my GameCube Moments clips from episodes 11-20. Check it out if you’d like! It’s a nice trip down memory lane, as some of these clips date back to 2018 and 2019!

Enjoy the snow in your Animal Crossing towns, and Happy Holidays! 🎄

Noodle Salads - Jeff's ACCF Blog

Jeff — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 04:13:11 +0000

Noodle Salads

Snow now covers in the ground in Animal Crossing, and I decided to record a new gameplay session video when I played yesterday. Here is that video if you’re interested…or you can keep scrolling down to get to today’s highlights.

I won’t post all of what happened in the video here in the blog, but I will share just this one screenshot of me having some coffee in the Roost.

Today, a fishing tournament was underway. Ruby told me that she was currently in 1st place, with her 44.4-inch sea bass.

She was standing out on the dead end, and it’s actually pretty rare for me to find anyone up there!

After making my rounds, I did a little fishing. But I was mostly just finding octopi…and one squid, which Chip likes to chop up and put in his noodle salads! 🤢

I eventually caught a sea bass, but it was still much smaller than Ruby’s catch. I ultimately gave up and shut off the game for the rest of the afternoon. But I did return later for the results. Ruby’s catch hung on, and she was the official winner. Congrats, Ruby!

After making a quick delivery to Punchy (from Mint), I finished up my night at the Roost. I asked K.K. Slider for a random song, and he performed “K.K. Western” for me.

Did any of you participate in the tourney? If so, I hope you had better luck than I did! I’ll be back with more next week; hope to see you then! Never Stop Crossing!

Snow Luck - Jeff's New Horizons Blog

Jeff — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 03:00:33 +0000

Snow Luck

On Monday, Pascal popped up out of the ocean and started talking about Cloud Nine. Or at least, he was wondering what was wrong with Clouds 1-8. 😛

He gave me a pearl in exchange for my scallop.

On Tuesday, Static asked me if I had an ant on me! I sure hope not! 😆

Yikes! Get it off, get it off! 😆

But seriously, he just wanted to buy an ant from me for 120 bells. Sure, no problem.

As of Wednesday, snow now covers the ground in Animal Crossing games. I attempted my first ~~snowman~~ snowboy of the season yesterday, but it didn’t go well. He wasn’t happy with how he turned out.

I tried again tonight, and I had the same result. If you include City Folk, I’m now 0-for-3 in snowmen this season so far! They’re all giving me the cold shoulder! I know I’m out of practice, but still, that’s pretty bad. 😆

I figured that tonight would be a good ~~knight~~ night to finally change out of my Halloween costume. So I put on my Elf outfit for the holidays.

Here are a few other quick notes about this past week:

On Sunday night, Wisp gave me a vintage TV tray.
Tonight, I returned a lost item to Static. He rewarded me with a flower sweater.
K.K. Slider performed “K.K. Calypso” for me and June.

By the way, I’ll probably be posting the next New Horizons Moments video sometime next week. See you soon!

Moon from the Stars - Jeff's ACWW Blog

Jeff — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 03:23:32 +0000

Moon from the Stars

Snow now covers the ground in Wild World (and the other Animal Crossing games as well). It’s a pretty time of year, although I know we’ll all be sick of the snow in a month or so. 😆

On Wednesday, Truffles interrupted me as I was hitting the money rock. She prevented me from getting the full payout!

You just cost me a few thousand bells!

Caroline told me that she’s (finally) over her cold, and she thanked me for the medicine by giving me a concrete wall. This will surely help us cement our friendship. 😛

After I came out of Whitney’s house, a shooting star flew overhead! Fortunately, I was able to wish on it before it zoomed out of sight.

The next day, I received a letter from Wishy in the mail. He sent me the moon! That’s a pretty big gift! I wonder how much he had to pay for shipping…the cost must’ve been astronomical! In fact, I’m sure it eclipses any shipping cost I’ve ever observed! 🌚

Tank was talking about pouring some miso soup over pear salad, and he asked what I thought of that. A slider popped up with the two extreme options being “So good!” and “Awful!” I moved it just a tiny bit below the midpoint, and Tank became furious at me.

Sorry, I’m not feeling soup-er adventurous today.

Filbert asked me for a fossil, so I gave him a fern fossil that I dug up. He was happy with it, and he rewarded me with a plaza wall.

Today, Mom sent me a letter about drinking cocoa around the holidays. She also sent me an apple, which is a foreign fruit. But it’s also a fruit I already had, so it wasn’t super useful. But still, it is nice to be able to get foreign fruit this way.

Drift jokingly wondered if Curt and Filbert could be brothers. Yeah, I don’t think so. 😛

Come on, they bearly look related.

When I visited Filbert, he was still talking about the fossil I gave him yesterday. He said he was so excited that he couldn’t help but dance!

See, now this is the true reward that makes favors worthwhile, not the crummy wallpapers they give. 😆

Bones told me he’d love it if it would snow year-round! I strongly disagree with him about that.

For a bite? Yeah, frostbite maybe.

Have a great weekend, everyone! I’ll be back again next week.

Punch Back! - Jeff's ACCF Blog

Jeff — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 04:59:00 +0000

Punch Back!

On Thursday, I found a new house in town. Jeremiah’s replacement has moved in, and it’s Punchy the cat!

Punchy lived here before in 2019-20, and more recently, in my New Horizons town from 2022 until May of this year. I like him, but I’m not crazy about him like some people seem to be. 😛

Big Top and Ruby had both asked me for fossils, and I fulfilled both of those requests today. I gave Big Top an archaeopteryx, and he said it could sleep with him tonight!

He gave me 528 bells for it.

If you thought his reaction was a little odd, check out what Ruby said when I gave her a pachy tail. She said it was her new love!

She gave me a stroller in return.

Punchy asked me for some festive clothes for the holidays, and the folk shirt at Able Sisters definitely seemed to fit the bill. I took it over to Punchy, and he liked it. He rewarded me with a lovely carpet.

It seemed like everyone was asking me for help tonight! Robin wanted a bagworm, and Midge needed her house key fished out of the river. I helped out both birds.

Robin rewarded me with a plush carpet, while Midge slipped me a slim quazoid.

Whether it was for fossils, fashion, or fishing, I fulfilled five favors for friends tonight! So I took it easy the rest of the night, enjoying K.K. Slider’s Saturday night show at the Roost. I asked for a random song, and he performed K.K. Waltz for me.

Cat Quest II

Kepler Interactive — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Open-world action-RPG in a fantasy realm of cats and dogs. CAT QUEST II lets you play solo or with a friend, as both a cat and dog! Quest in a world filled with magic, defeat monsters and collect loot in a catventure like never before!

LISA: The Definitive Edition

Serenity Forge — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Explore Olathe and unmask its twisted secrets with LISA: The Definitive Edition, including the original narrative-driven RPG LISA: The Painful and its sequel LISA: The Joyful.

Vampire Survivors

Epic Dev Test Account — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Vampire Survivors

Hurry, Hurry! Watch for Whacked Ice (Custom Level)

NicoDee — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:26:18 +0000

A custom level inspired by New Super Luigi U, with a 100 second time limit. Goes over Outmaway Valley.

Shy Guy [Request Delivery]

diegoforfun — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 14:36:05 +0000

Update: Elephant Power-up Fixed

Fixed the elephant form world model not loading.
Texture was too high res (512x512) , resized to original (256x256)

Shy Guy finally joins SMB Wonder.

This mod brings 2 Shy guy's complete sets over Toads, including all power-ups and forms.

Blue Toad
Yellow -->> White (Fire Flower Power Up) -->>Green (Bubble Flower Power Up)-->> Purple( Drill Power Up)

Yellow Toad
Red -->> Black (Fire Flower Power Up) -->> Pink (Bubble Flower Power Up)-->> Light Blue( Drill Power Up)

Includes:

Mini Form
Balloon
Ghost Form
Slime Form
Elephant Form
UI (Icons, Character Select Images, Checkpoint and Goal Flags)

I'll upload the mod later to add the text name when i find the files.

Mod requested by LadyJade90 here

WarioWare Wonder #1: Kat Over Mario

Behon — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 01:18:15 +0000

The first in what will eventually be 2 full modpacks replacing all playable characters bar Yoshi and Nabbit with ones from my favorite Mario spinoff series. I originally intended to wait until everyone was done and release it all at once back in September or October, but school and some unexpected freelance opportunities pushed that plan back, so I've decided to release each individual mod as they are finished and then 2 organized packs when fully done.

Includes full model and texture replacements for all main power-up forms, as well as expressions and poses, voice clips from the Switch WarioWare entries, UI icons, and flag patterns. There are a scattered few voice clips for Wonder transformations and the "It's-a me" at the character select screen I still haven't found, and there might be a one-off Wonder transformation I missed, but I'll be revisiting this over time to finalize that.

Coloured Elephants For Mario, Luigi and Blue Toad

CosmicKirby64 — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 21:10:36 +0000

This mod gives Mario, Luigi and Blue Toad A new retexture which changes the Elephant skin to resemble there color pallets similar to how Peach, Yellow Toad, Daisy and Toadette's elephant forms skin color is different to resemble there color palette so this mod is just A simple change to change the elephant skin color for Mario, Luigi, and Blue Toad to resemble there color palette.

Should work on both 1.0.0 and 1.0.1 versions

(DEMO) SMB. Nekonder

KaizoUP team — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:51:52 +0000

this is a DEMO that it's aviable only the W1 WITHOUT THE BOSS. This is a wonder/Kaizo adventure inspired by the superstar mod for Super Mario Odyssey where every level is harder than normal, only using your skills you can save the flower kingdom!
LINKS:

https://nekopazzo.github.io/KaizoUP-Team/home.html

https://youtube.com/@smbnekonder

Create by: Nekoo & KAZUTO

Vegeta

diegoforfun — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 17:21:41 +0000

This mod brings the prince of Saiyans, Vegeta to SMB Wonder.

Includes:

UI
Chibi and World Models
Base Form
Super Saiyan Form (Fire Power-up)
Super Saiyan Blue Form (Bubble Power-up)
Ultra Ego Form (Drill Power-up)

P-Speed Jump/3rd Jump Tier

TotalStache — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 01:37:37 +0000

In Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World, when you're moving/walking, you could jump 5 blocks high, and at max speed, you could jump 6 blocks high, but in Wonder, even if you're running at max speed, you'll jump 5 blocks, so there is no jump height difference when walking or running at max speed. But with this mod, you can now get that extra block of height when at max speed, and this doesn't affect any of the other standard jump heights, so standstill/spin jump will still be 4 blocks, and walking/moving will still be 5 blocks. This mod works with the floaty high jump badge as well, so the max running speed jump is 7 blocks for this badge. The crouch jump badge charge-up timer has been slightly reduced, and the timed high jump badge can now go one block higher (7 blocks) to compensate for the base moveset having a buff. Enemy bounces have been made one block higher as well, just like the old games (6 blocks and 7 blocks for the floaty jump badge).

This mod works on all characters.

Custom Level: Pokipede Rock-Pass

Vadenimo — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 23:23:16 +0000

This level replaces "Upshroom Downshroom" from Fungi Mines.

This level is playable on every version.

Multiple-language level names:

English: Pokipede Rock-Pass
Deutsch / German: Ein steiniger Weg voller Schlängler
日本語 / Japanese: 蛇だらけの岩の道

Oops All Break Time (18 New Mini Stages)

Getlucky12341 — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 01:43:38 +0000

Oops All Break Time is a small 1 World mod I'm working on that adds 18 brand new Mini "Break Time" Stages in World 1. They're short 1 minute stages with the goal of showing off cool ideas that you might not have seen in vanilla Mario Wonder. +Across these 18 stages you'll find puzzles, Yoshi levels, unexpected game mechanics, and more! Can you collect all 20 Wonder Seeds?

Make sure you play on a fresh save file, you have to start a new game or else things will break

:Special Thanks:

-Manu77 for putting the Captain Toad model over Yellow and Blue Toad

-Rimea for making very helpful Mario Wonder mod videos

-Everyone in the WonderLand Discord Server

VERSION 1.1 Released, fixes the crash in March of the Toads

Custom Level: Evade Baboom's Timer Blocks!

Vadenimo — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 13:30:35 +0000

It replaces "Evade the Seeker Bullet Bills!" in Castle Bowsers levels. The level contains three purple 10 coins and one Wonder effect.

Playable on the newest version on the Nintendo Switch. It also contains German, English and Japanese level names.

Banana 10 Coins (Donkey Kong Country)

Behon — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:57:50 +0000

Just thought it'd be a fun quick exercise to replace simple object models rather than rigged characters and also thought it would be fun to have different collectibles from different games. Includes custom textures and UI icons.

Model used: https://www.models-resource.com/wii_u/donkeykongcountrytropicalfreeze/model/58209/

Halloween Mario Skin

CosmicKirby64 — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 14:58:24 +0000

Better late then never I guess but A small spooky texture edit for mario with dark overalls red eyes white skin and bloodlines to compatible with all powerups except elephant and chibi mario and you'll look real spooky when adventuring around the flower kingdom!

Should work on 1.0.0 and 1.0.1 but keep in mind it the skin texture edit doesn't show on the world map only in levels

super xbox bros

AxolotlAnimation — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 11:07:17 +0000

hi and welcome to my first mario wonder mod

just a little logo mod thats all

im not sure if this mod works on a real switch but you can try and tell me in the comments

Custom Level: Here Come the Hoppycats!

Vadenimo — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:52:28 +0000

Update: v1.0.1 Game Support
Change: You can play this level in the newest version of the game.

This level replaces the level "Here Come the Hoppos" in World 1 of the game.

Now playable on every version.

~~Only playable in Version 1.0.0.~~

German and Japanese names have been added.

Happy 1st Anniversary, Super Mario Bros. Wonder!

スーパーマリオブラザーズワンダー、1周年おめでとう！

Custom Level: Rrrock 'n' Rrroll

Vadenimo — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:51:37 +0000

Update: v1.0.1 Game Support
Change: Version 1.0.1 of the game is supported for this level!

This custom level is a collab-level made by me and NicTube. This is my first full custom Mario Wonder level.

Please play on the game version 1.0.0. You can play it on 1.0.1 via emulation.

Finn the human!

Frasko — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:17:59 +0000

Update: Vertex fix
Change: Fixed vertex on the left side of the head

Finn from Adventure Time!! Comes with UI, Layout, all powerup textures... lacks some of wonders transformations like ball and slime. Also lacks custom voice.

If people want it, i could release one with normal recolors for the powerups instead of character references!!!

Goes over Luigi!!!

IF YOU COULD HELP ME WITH MODDING VOICELINES, I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL!! owo

Also follow @Jagresion on twitter!! he helped me a lot with blender stuff!! fr the goat!!!!

Daisy but it's N64

txmpanii — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:11:33 +0000

This mod is to give Daisy (and all of her forms) her N64 dress pattern! UI is included, all power-ups except the Elephant one have been done. Map models have also been done as well!

NES Golf Mario (Its kinda bad)

LeapWeaver — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:37:24 +0000

SMALL MARIO IS NOT OR ANY POWER-UPS INCLUDED! Why? Cuz im lazy.

NES Golf Mario and Luigi [Super Mario Bros. Wonder] [Requests] (gamebanana.com) I saw someone wanted this, so I made it for free. I really dont care about GameBanana's points.

Dark Bowser! (Bowsers inside Story)

LeapWeaver — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 22:57:38 +0000

He may appear like twice, I just made it for fun

SMBW Backwards (World 1 to 2)

Elytro — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 08:32:08 +0000

Update: World 2 Update
Addition: Added every World 2 Level
Addition: Added the levels 'Leaping Smackerel', 'Robbird Cove', 'Blewbird Roost', and 'Badge Challenge Dolphin Kick I' (Levels in between end of World 1 and start of World 2)
Adjustment: The player now faces left in the beginning of every level (where it makes sense)
Adjustment: Changed 'Break Time! Pop Up Hoppo' to be actually challenging
Bugfix: Fixed camera in 'Badge Challenge Parachute Cap I'
Bugfix: Fixed timer in 'KO Arena Pipe-Rock Rumble'

I plan to eventually make every level playable backwards, so far I have done all levels in world 1 except for 'Break Time! Wonder Token Tunes'. This level can't really be backwards. I also made 'Bonus: Coins Galore!' backwards. I have also swapped the position of the Wonder Flower and Wonder Seed in each level.

If you use this mod in a video credit my YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ElytroYT

Hood Toggle

Owen_Splat — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:06:20 +0000

This allows you to toggle Zelda's hood using the Swordfighter form button. Hyrule Castle must be cleared first. Swordfighter form works as normal if it has not been cleared or you are wearing a different outfit

Yuna & Tidus

diegoforfun — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:04:45 +0000

This mod brings Yuna and Tidus from World of Final Fantasy to Zelda EOW.

Goes over Zelda disguise outfit and Link (Npc and Swordfighter) models.

Includes:

All facial animations/expressions for both Yuna & Tidus (except for Swordfighter Tidus).
No Blue Aura/shader ffect over Tidus Swordfighter form (thanks to Keaton for finding it).
Yuna's Staff
Tidus Sword

Green tunic Zelda over swordfighter+Hood

Dhruv20114341 — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:33:14 +0000

Update: Add version with hood

Added a version just like my link mod, has the hood from the prolouge on

Is a simple texture edit to make the default swordfighter model look the the green tunic version you can get from the training dojo

THIS IS NOT A CUSTOM IMPORTED MODEL SO DONT ASK ME FOR CUSTOMARY ATTIRE OVER SWORDFIGHTER, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON THAT

Rideable Cows

diegoforfun — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 22:23:24 +0000

Just a funny mod i made a while back, porting those cute cows over horses to be rideable.

Includes

3 Custom Textures

Zelda and Link's Pronoun Wardrobe

SpaceGeorge — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 11:58:29 +0000

Assorted pronoun / gender options for Zelda and Link.

The option for making both characters nonbinary with they/them pronouns is available.

Please note that there are a last few files missing from this mod that need finalized edits (and unfortunately contain a large portion of the text).

My modding time is very limited these days, but I do hope to polish this fully in the near future, as well as add other customization options.

This mod is inspired by the seemingly now defunct "Pronoun Dressing Room" project by failedslacker.

You can check out my Pronoun Wardrobe for Breath of the Wild here.
Femme Hero project for TotK, which also includes adjusted pronouns, is here.

ZM:SP Zelda in Echoes of Wisdom

ElevenZM — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 21:45:20 +0000

Gives Echoes' hooded Zelda the ZM:SP colour scheme I'm known for. Pretty simple. No plans to edit her other outfits.

Capeless Customary Attire

Malik177 — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 04:17:17 +0000

Just a little modification to this outfit. I wasn't expecting this to affect the blue variant of this outfit as well. I removed the cape off of this outfit, because in my opinion I'm not really a fan of the cape on this outfit lol. Screenshots were taken using EOW UltraCam by MaxLastBreath

Put the bfres file inside the contents folder in your SD.
atmosphere/contents/title id/romfs/region_common

Then the mod should load in normally, and lastly, I'm not sure if this will work on a switch emulator since I own a modded switch and played this mod on there only.

AnyAspectRatio (21:9, 32:9, Custom) Ultrawide

fayaz — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:04:40 +0000

Update: 1.0.2 Support and Controller Mods!

Controller mods for Xbox and Playstation are now supported by the utility.

Additionally, everything works on 1.0.2 now.

There are also new visual fixes that were done by Fl4sh9174 that were added to the utility

Announcing AnyAspectRatio for Echoes of Wisdom! AAR is a tool that lets you scale nintendo games to fit your display as if it was made for it, and it now has support for Echoes of Wisdom! You can download the tool to generate your own here: https://github.com/fayaz12g/aar-launcher
Or use a prebuilt mod from the downloads sections.

AAR for EOW currently scales all horizontal screens to make the game fit, shifting all HUD elements. There is a default, and zoomed file for both 21:9 and 32:9.
Default- All cutscenes and the title screen are pillar boxed
Zoomed- All cutscenes and title screen are zoomed in to fill your screen

You can see the images for both above, and choose.

If you notice any issues, or anything incomplete, please raise an issue here: https://github.com/fayaz12g/eow-aar

Hood Always Down (exefs)

KeatonTheBot — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:18:18 +0000

Update: 1.0.2 Update
Change: Added 1.0.2 support

This mod puts Zelda's hood down (as shown in cover/promotional art) when wearing the Disguise outfit. Replicates the Hood Down Always Mod, but does the magic in-memory, so you're not replacing any game files.

Note: Fixes the original mod's red cloak issue when switching from Royal Travel Attire.

1.0.1 - 1.0.2 support.

Included are the pchtxt (emulator) and ips (Switch) files.

Unlimited Swordfighter

KeatonTheBot — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:10:44 +0000

Update: 1.0.2 Update
Change: Added 1.0.2 support

Included is a mod that lets you transform into the swordfighter form indefinitely! No time limit, no meter, and an optional no-music mod if that's your preference.

1.0.1 - 1.0.2 support.

Please note: For those on official hardware, you need to convert the .pchtxt file to .ips using ipswitch. https://github.com/3096/ipswitch/blob/master/example/README.md

Ultrawide Mods

Fl4sh_#9174 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:41:13 +0000

Update:
Addition: Updated to 1.0.2

# The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [01008CF01BAAC800] v1.0.1/1.0.2

- 16.10 SteamDeck Default HUD
- 20.9 Ultrawide Adjusted HUD
- 21.9 Ultrawide Default HUD
- 21.9 Ultrawide Adjusted HUD
- 32.9 Ultrawide Default HUD
- 32.9 Ultrawide Adjusted HUD
-2580x1080 21.9 Ultrawide Adjusted HUD (Experimental)(Can cause some issues with Menus)

Yuzu - Right click the game and select "Open Mod Data Location" and extract the .zip there

Ryujinx - Right click the game and select "Open Mods Directory" and extract the .zip there

Switch - Convert it to IPS and put the files on atmosphere/exefs_patches/*MOD NAME*/xxx.ips

All the mods are free, but if you like my work, please consider supporting me. Have fun!
@Fl4sh_#9174
https://Ko-fi.com/Fl4sh9174

Reduce/Remove BLOOM

Fl4sh_#9174 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:38:02 +0000

Update:
Addition: Updated to 1.0.2

# The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [01008CF01BAAC800] v1.0.1/1.0.2

- Reduced BLOOM
- Removed BLOOM

Yuzu - Right click the game and select "Open Mod Data Location" and extract the .zip there

Ryujinx - Right click the game and select "Open Mods Directory" and extract the .zip there

Switch - Convert it to IPS and put the files on atmosphere/exefs_patches/*MOD NAME*/xxx.ips

All the mods are free, but if you like my work, please consider supporting me. Have fun!
@Fl4sh_#9174
https://Ko-fi.com/Fl4sh9174

Remove DOF/BLUR Proper

Fl4sh_#9174 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:37:02 +0000

Update:
Addition: Updated to 1.0.2

# The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [01008CF01BAAC800] v1.0.1/1.0.2

- Remove DOF/BLUR
- No Issues in Cutscenes

Yuzu - Right click the game and select "Open Mod Data Location" and extract the .zip there

Ryujinx - Right click the game and select "Open Mods Directory" and extract the .zip there

Switch - Convert it to IPS and put the files on atmosphere/exefs_patches/*MOD NAME*/xxx.ips

All the mods are free, but if you like my work, please consider supporting me. Have fun!
@Fl4sh_#9174
https://Ko-fi.com/Fl4sh9174

Resolution Mods

Fl4sh_#9174 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:35:21 +0000

Update:
Addition: updated to 1.0.2

# The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [01008CF01BAAC800] v1.0.1/1.0.2
- 1920x1080
- 2580x1080 Ultrawide version (Experimental)
- Level of Detail Mod
- 2K Shadow Resolution (Affect Performance)

Yuzu - Right click the game and select "Open Mod Data Location" and extract the .zip there

Ryujinx - Right click the game and select "Open Mods Directory" and extract the .zip there

Switch - Convert it to IPS and put the files on atmosphere/exefs_patches/*MOD NAME*/xxx.ips

All the mods are free, but if you like my work, please consider supporting me. Have fun!
@Fl4sh_#9174
https://Ko-fi.com/Fl4sh9174

Stabilize FPS MOD

Fl4sh_#9174 — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:33:32 +0000

Update:
Addition: Updated to 1.0.2

# The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom [01008CF01BAAC800] v1.0.1/1.0.2

- Stabilize FPS Potato Version helps users with low-end hardware, including devices like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch without overclock, achieve higher FPS without the need for overclocking, this version caps the resolution to 1024x576, can't be used with 1080p mod.

- Stabilize FPS Normal Version helps more powerful rigs achieve a smoother and more stable FPS, can be used with resolution mods.

If you want to achieve a solid 60FPS experience, overclock your hardware.

Yuzu - Right click the game and select "Open Mod Data Location" and extract the .zip there

Ryujinx - Right click the game and select "Open Mods Directory" and extract the .zip there

Switch - Convert it to IPS and put the files on atmosphere/exefs_patches/*MOD NAME*/xxx.ips

All the mods are free, but if you like my work, please consider supporting me. Have fun!

@Fl4sh_#9174
https://Ko-fi.com/Fl4sh9174

Brown Hair Zelda Skin

Cosmid — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 23:31:08 +0000

Simply Apply to mods folder.

(Uses Hood Always Off Mod within the zip).

Japanese Logo Overwrite

Nebroc — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 09:45:39 +0000

This simple mod replaces the World Wide logo for Echoes of Wisdom with the japanese one.

Enjoy!

Echoes of Wisdom play as link save file

hashoomix — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:54:52 +0000

warning the save file doesn't have save.meta file

after loading the save file don't hard save cuz the game will crash let it auto save for safe

Link over Swordfighter (with recolours!)

Dhruv20114341 — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:42:04 +0000

Update: Added recolours

Added in recolours for link, the colours are from links awakening and also i included the hood as an optinal for them

Ok, took me a day, wasn't that hard, got link over swordfighter and that's it, I am sure someone could remove the weird blue effect on the sides but other than that its link, all aura is now removed thanks to KeatonTheBot for flame removal and diegoforfun for the blue glow removal, if you want to help in finding link and swordfighter zelda voice then sure, post the answer in the comments!

NOTE: DO NOT have this mod on at the start unless you want to play as some swordfighter zelda saving zelda, same for nulls body segment, it will show a weird swordfighter zelda so if you dont want that then i highly recommend disabling this mod during those segments

Ponytail for Disguise and Dress

Acht05 — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 17:59:27 +0000

A simple mod that changes Zelda's hairstyle to a ponytail when she wears the disguise and her dress.

There's three downloads:

One for the disguise outfit (I recommend you use the Hood Always Down mod alongside it).
One that replaces the Customary Attire with the dress and ponytail.
One that replaces the Royal Travel Attire with the dress and ponytail.

I imported the ponytail's bones to the models, so it's animated in all outfits too! Anyone's free to use these as a base for their own mods as long as I'm credited.

That should be all, hope you enjoy!

Lavender Isabelle

nyantech — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 18:17:13 +0000

Just a simple first attempt at a re-texture for Isabelle.

Simply replace the corresponding villager file in your romfs folder with the contents of the zip.

Curly from Mouthwashing over Lucky

Waddlephone — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:37:54 +0000

I was looking at animal crossing videos and thought Lucky kind of looks like Curly so the next day i made this LOL
Only replaces the texture and the name as i don't know any code stuff. I know the personality doesn't match but I still think it's funny.

I don't know how installing this in 3ds works but in Citra you just have to paste the stuff into the romfs folder in modding.

Mabel Is No Longer Homophobic

Tethys_Saturnalia — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:52:43 +0000

This mod slightly alters Mabel's dialogue so she no longer comments on the player buying clothing intended for the opposite sex.

When I figured out how to mod dialogue in ACNL, my first thought was to get rid of this awkward-ass dialogue. You are now free to buy whatever you want without the hedgehog judging you.

The nitty gritty:

- The lines asking male players if they're buying a present when looking at a skirt or dress have been replaced with some of Mabel's other lines for looking at an item.

- The lines commenting on male players being adventurous or how an item is intended for females when trying on skirts or dresses have been replaced in the same fashion.

- "Oh, talk about boyish and cute!" for female players has been cut down to "Oh, talk about cute!"*

*I had a bit of a hard time testing this one, because I don't know what items will make Mabel trigger the "wrong gender" lines for female players. If you encounter this line, please let me know what item it was, and if there was anything unusual about her dialogue, like misplaced line breaks or not asking for confirmation before purchase.

Extra details:

- English language only - I can read enough to know she's still judging you in Spanish and French, but I do not speak enough to fix it.
- Built and tested on NA Welcome amiibo. Other versions' compatibility unknown.
- Tested on hardware (Luma) and Citra. Should work the same on both.
- This only changes the file relating to Mabel's dialogue inside Able Sisters. Therefore, compatibility with other mods should be pretty good, if not perfect.
- Yes, the dialogue's going to get a little repetitive. Sorry.

If you are here to make disparaging remarks about this mod, me, or the LGBT+ community in + any way, shape, or form, you agree that I have the right to vaporize +you with my laser eyes. (I am warning you in advance that you will be +immediately deleted and reported. Do not try me.)

[For iloveanimalcrossing] Oops All Cherry Blossoms

Tethys_Saturnalia — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:07:46 +0000

This is a code patch created for the user iloveanimalcrossing, who requested year-round cherry blossom trees. This patch was made with ACNL REditor.

There are two versions - cherryblossom.zip contains a version with Always Have Cherry Blossom Trees and Always Have Cherry Blossoms in Sky, while no-falling-petals.zip has only the trees, not the sky petals. No other settings are enabled.

!! NA Welcome amiibo version only !!

I've used this program many times and never had any issues, but if something isn't working, please let me know and I'll have another look.

Black New Hero Wig

Robocami — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 03:51:39 +0000

Recolor mod for obsidiansunday
Replaces the new hero wig

Sasha

spicyBeefu — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:47:11 +0000

Finished port of Sasha to AC:NL! If you notice anything that seems off, please lmk in Twitter DMs.
Furniture was fairly half-assed because I didn't want to spend more than 2 full days making this. If anyone wants to make changes I'll gladly update the file if it's better!

Replaces Gaston (rbt04), changes motto, catchphrase, house exterior, interior, style tastes, portrait, personality, just about anything I could get at with the limited documentation. I don't play New Leaf much right now so I've been unable to test thoroughly outside of making sure the house and talking doesn't crash, use at your own risk!

Should crash your game without NL version 1.5 update, so make sure you get that first b4 loading mods.
Tested on USA copy of the game, not certain about other region compatibility. Gaston amiibo card will get them into your town easily! Save editors might not put correct furniture in the house.

For anyone else making custom villagers, I've filled out a bunch of unknown variables in the 010 Editor template file you can find in the tutorials. I bundled my edited one in here with Sasha. Apologies in advance if any errors.

See installation instructions for game mods for Emulator or real 3DS on google!

Powerpuff Girls

KandyKat77 — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 17:43:42 +0000

Update:
Adjustment: Changed the eye outlines to be a little more purple

Hey ya'll I'm back again with a new custom villager...s?

Yep, you guys get three this time!

MidnightErosion requested these three awhile ago, and I finally finished them today!

So, who do they all replace?

Bloss replaces Kitty

Bubs replaces Carmen

Last, but not least,

Butters replaces Canberra!

New Leaf but with New Horizons soundtrack

Ocleg — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:15:13 +0000

Ever wondered what New Leaf would sound like with New Horizon's OST?

Then look no further than this mod!

This mod is extremely basic and only replaces the games OST with the New Horizons soundtrack (Hourly themes and some building themes, such as the town hall).

Pack 1 indoor ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:07:00 +0000

Sito ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:38:00 +0000

DJ K.K (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 17:38:43 +0000

K.K ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 11:22:27 +0000

CJ ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:19:35 +0000

Al ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:19:20 +0000

Candrés ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:52:48 +0000

Loading screen ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:01:44 +0000

Rosita ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:59:15 +0000

Paca ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:59:49 +0000

-Dodo- Monkey Train ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 12:09:45 +0000

La compañia train

• Monkey Train

¿ Que es Monkey Train ?

Monkey Train es una compañía organizada por Dodo Airplane para que los pasajeros viajen en tren a otros pueblos de otros jugadores.

Como se puede observar en la imagen Dodo Airplane les proporciona a Monkey Train un gorro con su logo propio y su ropa de trabajo.

Marilín ACNH (3DS)

Relito23_XD — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:16:16 +0000

La peluquería de Marilín

• Marilín

¿ Marilín cambia de look ?

Marilín regresa de sus vacaciones de New horizont, pero no viene a su tienda con su ropa normal.

Desde que Fauno le a prestado algunas de sus prendas a ella , parece que le han encantado y regresa a su tienda de new leaf con esta ropa.

Sesame street mod

banan039 — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:11:14 +0000

Changes Link into Kermit the frog and some enemies into sesame street characters. Use BCML (or other mods installer)

Shield of the Four

Chalmoro Azohen — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:06:09 +0000

Update: Minor Info Update

Listed the stats for the shield

The shield from the original Four Swords. According to the official art, it's not that different from the Hero's Shield, so I edited that to get the right look. Pictures include the Four Sword mod by BlackJohn to complete the look.

Found in a buried chest by the Noya Neha Shrine, which respawns with the Blood Moon. To satisfy everyone, the BNP has options for whether you want it breakable or unbreakable.
Defense: 10
Durability: 24
I know it isn't particularly strong, but I see it as a fairly early-game type shield. It should be fairly balanced - for the most part; its guard value is fairly low, but its durability is actually a bit higher than the Knight's Shield (23) since it's more of a "legendary" item.

Icon created using the Armor Icon Helper (even though this isn't armor).

If there's anything I ought to fix, just let me know in the comments!

Archaic Set

Chalmoro Azohen — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 04:58:38 +0000

Update: Bug Acknowledgement

I'm sorry this is so bugged. I'll fix it when I have the time. I'm still not sure what the issue is, which is frustrating, but hopefully I can fully fix it at some point.

From KB0MB's Tears of the Kingdom mod, I present the Archaic Tunic, Legwear, and Warm Greaves from Tears of the Kingdom!

I've made a few edits, however.

I changed their locations. They're placed in spots reminiscent of their native game: the Archaic Legwear is in the Shrine of Resurrection (compared to their position in the Cave of Awakening), the Archaic Tunic is by the Ja Baij Shrine (by the combat-related power Shrine, like its position close to the Fuse Shrine), and the Archaic Warm Greaves are behind the Mount Hylia waterfall. I've spoilered the locations for anyone who wants to find them without hints, but feel free to check if you just want to find them easily.
Rauru's arm is built into the Archaic Tunic, something that isn't the case in the original game and KB0MB's mod. Perfect for those who only want it with these. If people ask in the comments to have an option without the Rauru arm (ie. with Link's original arm), I suppose I can do that.
The last significant change I made is that there's an option in the BNP for whether you want to stay true to Tears of the Kingdom and not upgrade the Archaic Set, or if you want to be able to upgrade it.

Oh, and note that long hair is not included. Sorry 'bout that. Other mods exist for that, though, no need to reinvent the wheel.

Many thanks to KB0MB for teaching me how to merge the arm on and allowing me to post this.

If there's any issues, just let me know in the comments and I'll take a look.

Linkle Long Hair

Orange_YTLol — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 23:36:16 +0000

Update: Even More Armor Replacement

Added long hair versions for the following armor:

Tingle's Hood
Royal Guard Cap
Snowquill Headdress
Stealth Mask
Zora Helm

And fixed the support bone for the Radiant Mask.

Replacer version changes Linkle's default hair to the hair used for Majora's mask in Linkle 3.0 and has options to replace some armor pieces with long hair versions.

There's also a Standalone version that can be found in a chest at the shrine of resurrection.

Skeleton Link

brckv22 — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 19:54:47 +0000

Update: Santa Hat on Skeleton
Change: Adds a Santa Hat to Skeleton, also fixed the super bright skeleton from the pictures

Turns Link into a skeleton

Model Credit: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/skeleton-esqueleto-downloadable-aa57a9054ea54fb8bbee9c59812a4dd7

Cat glider

brckv22 — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 09:13:17 +0000

Update: Cat Glider
Addition: Model Credit: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/oiiaioooooiai-cat-30d27bf7fb224849b76e208a6eccdb36

Adds a cat glider

No Hints (WiiU)

HGStone — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 07:31:29 +0000

Update: Icon Only

Added a version that only removes the red icon and leaves the text alone.

Removes the highlights from the text and the red icon from the speech bubbles, no hints for you!

+For even more challenges you could install OrionKaelin's mod "Remove Speech Bubbles" from this mod page Additional Hud Removal.

+This mod defaults to the lowest priority in BCML so it does not interfere with other mods that alter the text. Example: Linkle Dialogue Fix - Changes Link's name to Linkle, but also +in those lines are color codes which will be added back into the game. ~~I + may work on some patches.~~

Click here for Switch Version
+This has been tested with US version.

EU, and JP should work but I have no way of testing the EU and JP versions.

Please leave a comment if you have these versions.

Linkle - Second Wind Unofficial Patch

PalioPolio — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:35:45 +0000

Update: Second Wind v1.9.14 Update
Amendment: Fixed infamous Cosy Set "claw hand" bug, or issues with it not loading at all
Improvement: Updated dialogue to account for new additions to Second Wind
Addition: Created Linkle versions of new outfits added in the update
Adjustment: Changed Postman Hat model slightly

Linkle - Second Wind Unofficial Patch

I have no affiliation with the Linkle or Second Wind dev teams.

This mod provides cosmetic compatibility for Linkle and Second Wind.

What this means:
Fixed physics on all armours made upgradeable by Second Wind (Gerudo, Tingle, Royal Guard, Phantom/Ganon, etc.)
Linkle versions of all (current) Second Wind outfits.
Updated dialogue to refer to Linkle and use correct pronouns/titles.

What this does NOT mean:
~~This mod does not fix crashes when using Linkle 3.0 and entering shrines/Second Wind interiors.~~
Thanks to Second Wind's team, crashes are no longer an issue with Linkle 3.0!

All Second Wind items have been covered. Linkle's hair will now appear on all headgear items, and the Cozy set's model has been replaced by the Radiant set (only without the illumination). There is optional Logical Braids support. Any future items added by Second Wind will eventually be covered by this mod. I have not made icons, but I implore anyone to make them if they so choose.

Logical Braids version

Installation

Please make sure this mod has HIGHER priority than both Linkle 3.0 and Second Wind. All items seem to be working well for me, but let me know if you run into problems or compatibility issues. Do not create a thread in Second Wind's discord server. I'm not part of the Second Wind team and they had no involvement in the creation of this mod besides granting me permission to do so. Any issues should be directed to me through GameBanana first. Failing that, my discord account is linked to my profile.

Updated for SW 1.9.14 as of 30 November, 2024

Patch notes are on the update page. Please completely uninstall any old version and install this version. Using "Update" on BCML can cause issues. I wanted to push this update out sooner than later so I haven't been able to add armour icons yet. While I do intend to do this, it is a tedious and lengthy task. Going into December, it's hard to say whether I will have the icons updated by the end of the year. If someone else is interested in creating icons, please feel free to do so.

Dialogue Footnote

While I understand some dialogue mods for Linkle change the Gorons' use of "brother" and "bro" to "sister" and "sis", I do not intend to make these changes for this patch. I feel usage of those words, in the context of Gorons, is a stylistic and gender-neutral choice. Altering this, in my opinion, would neuter one of the distinct traits the Gorons have held since their inception.

Spirit Tracks Pack

Little Zelda guy — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 18:29:06 +0000

This mod brings together several other mods that include Spirit Tracks items and adds the Spirit Tracks Train!

Thanks to all the original modders!

Find the mod parts around Cape Cresia. Check the video to see where exactly!

The Spirit Train is a replacement for the Giant Horse.

This mod contains:

Spirit Train
Lokomo Sword from Hyrule Warriors Weapon Collection
Spirit Shield
Engineer's Clothes

Hero Blight Sword

CEObrainz — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 13:06:54 +0000

Update: UKMM Compatability
Refactor: Updated the mod for UKMM use

This mod adds the Hero Blight Sword to Breath of the Wild, craftable through Cherry (also known as the ancient Oven) in the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.

This weapon is a standalone weapon, meaning it doesn't replace any existing weapon, has it's own stats, text and icon.

Special thanks to leeanderthal for allowing me to use his mod.

Structure Spawner Rod (CONCEPT)

Gojo the Hobo — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 09:25:16 +0000

!!!THIS MOD IS A CONCEPT FOR WHAT IS THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE!!!
----------It is NOT meant for a "serious" playthrough of the game----------

---I only published this for two reasons:
1) to show "what can be done" and give inspiration to anyone who might have a cool idea, and
2) because I had fun playing with this rod, so I didn't want it to sit in my files and collect dust.

What does it do?

This mod turns boko clubs into rods that throw eggs which spawn structures. The structures do have collision thanks to Arch Leaders' C-actors! But also, because they have collision, it can be very easy to softlock yourself in an invisible wall (just warp or reload a save to escape).

ALSO, the structures do not spawn upright all the time (basically, this occurs when the egg thrown by the rod dies in a position that is not vertical. If the egg thrown by the rod dies at a 45 degree angle, then the structure will spawn at that same angle)

Also, this mod uses content from my other mod CATS

Modder jargon:
Long story short, this mod functions by having a rod throw an actor with 1hp (the egg). When the egg breaks, it drops a 0hp shield actor. That 0hp shield actor instantly dies and drops 1 of 15 npcs. Each of those npcs has a different structure's name used in its RideHorseName entry (which is located in the gparam).

Because each of the structures are spawned from the npc's RideHorseName instead of a droptable, the structures will not despawn because they avoid the drop limit. (This, of course, does mean that you will need to reload the area in order for them to despawn because there will not be a way to destroy the structures)

Hope this can inspire someone to make a cool idea, or at least give someone a few minutes of fun!
~~Probably shouldn't have released this mod but ahh screw it who cares~~

Dragonborn Helmet for Link/le

PalioPolio — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:34:54 +0000

Description

Celebrate Skyrim becoming a teenager by wearing this iconic helmet while slaying moblins! It fully supports Link and Linkle, with an option for users of Logical Braids by sofiaharley. The helmet itself has stats on par with the Soldier's Helm but cannot (currently) be upgraded. If you've played through Skyrim with this helmet then you'll be used to it being quickly outpaced by all of your other equipment.

Location:

On the Great Plateau, on the path up to Mount Hylia. The chest is partially buried in the ground.

Frictionless Shield Surfing

Felix the Drunk — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 21:23:13 +0000

All Shields have no surfing friction on any surface

Best paired with No Shield Damage from Surfing

Weak Ores

Felix the Drunk — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 20:13:52 +0000

Ores have 1 HP, and arrows can break them. Durability is still lost, however.

That One Omori Music Mod

Cornelius Fingledoodle — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 22:34:08 +0000

Update: That One Omori Music Mod
Addition: Changed the Zora's Domain music to the Underwater Highway music
Addition: Changed the Gerudo Town music to the Orange Oasis music

I had to cope after playing Omori somehow. There's a little surprise for if you kill a Guardian, however, so shoutout to dreamybull.
NOTE: PLAYING OMORI FIRST BEFORE GETTING THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED. IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED IT YET BUT WANT TO, DO NOT LOOK UP THE OMORI OST ON YOUTUBE. EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT CAN SPOIL THE BIGGEST PART OF THE GAME.

SONGS CURRENTLY REPLACED
-------------------------------------------
Lost Woods - Pyrefly Forest
Korok Forest - See You In My Fantasy
Sheikah Tower - My Time
Guardian stalker music - Arachnophobia
Guardian stalker outro music- Ambasing
Hyrule Castle - Sweetheart's Castle
Castle Town - Dear Little Brother...
Shrine in the wilderness music - Trees...
Calamity Ganon (Phase 1) - OMORI
Calamity Ganon (Phase 2) - OMORI - ALTER
Temple of Time - Temple
Pulling Out the Master Sword - The Violin
House Music - A Home For Flowers (Tulip)/Basil's House
Gerudo Town - The Heart of the Desert
Zora's Domain - Underwater Highway

Dragon Paraglider

HGStone — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:18:57 +0000

A re-texture of the paraglider featuring a dragon designed by my kid.

Heroic Wild Armor

LEGOismyNAMO — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:33:00 +0000

Update: Heroic Wild Armor (Default Texture Size)
Change: This version V1.0.4_default replaces V1.0.3a because it had physics issues with the tunic. This version should fix those issues. V1.0.3 is still a working version with larger textures

This mod replaces the default wild armor with something that looks a bit more heroic. This is my first mod and it took a while to figure it all out so I hope you enjoy it.

I created all new textures, normal map(stitching on the pants was a pain!!), mip-map tweaks, some models from the game and some of my own. I'm really happy with how it turned out! This was a fun project!!

Credits:
I pulled the left Pauldron from Rixter's great "Champion's Tunic" armor mod who got it from someone named Skilar.

Note:
I used a large texture for the tunic so it will take a few seconds to appear at the dye shop. If you struggle with the larger textures I have added a smaller texture version (smaller = original texture size)

Bonfire: A Dark Fantasy Pack

Graewyn — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:12:27 +0000

Welcome to the bonfire, Unkindled Ones

Introduction

Bonfire: A dark fantasy pack, aims to add a touch of (mostly) Soulsborne to Breath of the Wild.

The mod will release several more waves (slowly) in the future, so stay tuned for further releases!

What's included

A new shop at the entrance ruins of the Lost Woods.
Two-Handed Weapons - 4
One-Handed Weapons - 1

More to come in future updates

FAQ

When will the next wave be released?
When it is ready.
Will a Switch / TotK version also be made?
Yes, eventually.
Can I request a weapon to be made?
As this is a little pet project, there are no plans to take requests. But rest assured, there's plenty to come.
Are all weapons custom made or ported?
All weapons are custom made, and only custom made items will be added.
Can you praise the sun?
\o/

Heroic Wild Armor (Standalone)

Little Zelda guy — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:12:18 +0000

This is a port for this armor mod but as a standalone armor, that you can find around Akkala Citadel in 3 separate chests.

Sword of Olympus

Little Zelda guy — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:56:03 +0000

The Sword of Olympus from GoW: Ragnarock.

You can find it near the Mother Godess statue in the Forgotten Temple.

Model gotten from here: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/god-of-war-ragnarock-blade-of-olympus-639cf6d88a9247138acc3d0e19583fa2

No Hints (Switch)

HGStone — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 07:33:51 +0000

Update: Icon Only

Added a version that only removes the red icon and leaves the text alone.

Removes the highlights from the text and the red icon from the speech bubbles, no hints for you!

+For even more challenge you could install OrionKaelin's mod "Remove Speech Bubbles" from this mod page Additional Hud Removal.

This mod defaults to the lowest priority in BCML so it does not interfere with other mods that alter the text. Example: Linkle Dialogue Fix - Changes Link's name to Linkle, but also in those lines are color codes which will be added back into the game. ~~I may work on some patches.~~

Click here for WiiU Version

Cheap Weapons Slots Expansion

Logansam — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 20:01:27 +0000

Tired of searching for all the 900 korok seeds to expand your weapons slots?

There you go, with this mod you can expand your weapons slots for 1 seed each, so you gonna have all your weapons slots expanded with just 35 korok seeds!!!

You can actually choose between 3 options:

*1 seed for each slot; total 35 seeds

*1 seed first slot, 2 seeds second slot, 3 seeds remaining slots; total 96 seeds

*1 seed first slot, 2 seeds second slot, 3 seeds third slots 5 seeds remaining slots; total 148 seeds

ENJOY

Totk Glide Mask over Ruby circlet

Logansam — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:56:45 +0000

Just a edit, it replaces the ruby circlet for long hair glide mask....

Super Jump

Logansam — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:52:10 +0000

Increases the jump height for Link to a comfortable amount.

This amount should be enough to climb most small obstacles quicker, but not enough to break most shrines. Just a comfortable quality-of-life improvement.

Should be compatible with anything, except maybe other mods that modify physics for the player.

2TypeBackPackMOD

Logansam — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:48:31 +0000

Does Link feel like they have too little luggage to explore Hyrule?

This is my little idea mod.

When equipped with 2 types of greatswords, equip a corresponding backpack on the back.

・Traveler's Claymore

・Golden Claymore

・Each feature

The Hylian backpack has a glowing lantern when equipped with Traveler's Claymore.

The sword has been adjusted to be a little shorter, and the exposed blade has been replaced with a new Sheath.

A shield is mounted on the back of the backpack.

Gerudo's backpack when equipped with Golden Claymore uses a translucent material to make the lantern look like a water bottle.

The shield goes to the back of the backpack just like Hylia.

I really wanted to use a one-handed sword, but since I share the NPC's Sheath model, the NPC's backpack is a big deal.

For that reason, I chose a two-handed sword as there are not many NPCs equipped with it.

Cobble Crusher is not in mod, texture problems...and this is only for link

Weak Ores

Logansam — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:41:51 +0000

Ores have 1 HP, and arrows can break them. Durability is still lost, however.

Stal Gangs

heavenseyes — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:12:02 +0000

STAL GANGS

This Mod is very simple, it just let you select the size of the Stal Gangs you will encounter during nights.
Here is a list of selectable options:

* 3 or 4 Stals including 2 Armed

* 4 or 5 Stals including 3 Armed

* 5 or 6 Stals including 3 Armed

* 6 or 7 Stals including 4 Armed

* 7 or 8 Stals including 5 Armed

Darker Nights & Brighter Lights

Logansam — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:16:57 +0000

Update: Dark default option

Dark default option

Darker Nights & Brighter Lights is a stand alone mod from the Survival of the Wild project. For those that just want the graphical effects and not the whole mod project by Silentverge

This was a challenge and I managed to get it working on the switch. Link has a lamp on his waist and long hair. oh and it has the less darker black....

add a Dark default option

Monster Weapons Variety

Logansam — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:07:17 +0000

Enemies now hold a greater variety of weapons all throughout Hyrule! Weapons that were once hard to come by - like eightfold longblades - can be won from monsters. And weapons that became totally unobtainable in the vanilla game - kite shields, korok swords, lynel crushers, etc. - are always available somewhere.

The area around a settlement will usually have some monsters carrying that place's equipment. For example, you'll find monsters carrying Zora weapons near the path to Zora's Domain - presumably because they killed traveling Zoras and stole their weapons.

Monsters now hold Sheikah, Zora, Goron, Gerudo, Rito, Korok, and Yiga weapons, as well as double axes and some Lynel weapons. I also changed whether some monsters will rank up or not. There are now three Red, Blue, and White Lynels - one with each weapon type - that will not rank up so you can always fight them and loot their weapons.

Just to clarify, this mod doesn't add any monsters to the map. It just changes existing monsters.

Enjoy!

Ancient Oven Cherry's 100% Off Sale

Logansam — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:01:20 +0000

This mod changes the cost of rupees and materials for Ancient Oven Cherry's default collection of ancient armor and weapons to zero.

Enjoy!

Huebi Spezi Shirt

TweeksOnYT — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:31:07 +0000

Huebi Spezi Tee By TweeksOnYT

If there is another mod of this idk who that was ether idk if that exsisted before.

Shoutout to Huebi!

Wearable Lanterns-Standalone

Logansam — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:44:43 +0000

The Lantern is it's own item, it does not replace the torch or anything in the game, it does no fire damage, it is a light source only. Can be bought from Beedle's shop in the following locations...

* Kara Kara Bazaar

* Lakeside Stable

* South Akkala Stable

* Rito Stable

I put another mod with localization of the Lantern (rocks wall in the lake to the side of the resurrection shrine)

Dragon Paraglider

HGStone — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:27:35 +0000

A re-texture of the paraglider featuring a dragon designed by my kid.

Self-Lighting Lantern-SMALL

Logansam — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 20:51:45 +0000

This is a small version of this mod https://gamebanana.com/mods/167779 by leeanderthal

and in .bnp format, i just edit parameters and localization to match hand.

Legendary Master-Cycle (code: WOLF)

Logansam — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:09:50 +0000

Legendary Master-Cycle (code: WOLF)

*THIS MOD REQIRES MASTER-CYCLE*

This mod will replace the default Master-Cycle, and replace it with the original Master-Cycle design (code: WOLF)
CHEERS, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! from, SOCKPOPPET MODS

This mod is inspired by a bounty/request: https://gamebanana.com/requests/16648
Bounty posted by: kenton0910

Modifications:
-Added vertices to the 3D model
-Modified 3d models
-Modified textures
Modified UV maps

Betters Inn

Logansam — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:58:35 +0000

Better Inn Perks (More stamina and extra hearts from inns).
From Hyrule Rebalance Project

Better Drops

Logansam — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:53:10 +0000

This is a very simple and effective mod, it will add custom better drops for Wooden Boxes, Iron Boxes, Barrels, Old Barrels and Pots.

*Wooden Boxes will randomly drop raw food, insects, fishes and weapons

*Irox Boxes will randomly drop roasted food, insects, and arrows (including elemental arrows and very low probability of dropping single ancient arrow)

*Barrels will drop fresh food like milk, eggs, butter

*Old Barrels will drop regular arrows

*Pots will drops rupees.

This Mod is already included as a selectable option in Dark Army Resurrection.

ENJOY

Depth of Field Mod (DOF)

Logansam — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:49:03 +0000

PROJECT HYRULE

Presents: DEPTH OF FIELD

This mod adds/enhances Depth of Field to the game. DOF is an effect in games that gives the illusion of depth to a landscape on your screen. (Blurriness in the background) Enjoy!!!

Better Blights

heavenseyes — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 01:58:46 +0000

Altered appereance of all 4 blights. Watch video for details

Angel Wings

heavenseyes — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 01:48:15 +0000

Changes paraglider to pair of angel wings

island lobster shirt with belts

coolbotato — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:21:17 +0000

this mod adds belts to the island loster set as requsted by CatoCeem here

Elden Mod Pack v1.1

coolbotato — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:58:33 +0000

Update: Added More Weapons!!
Addition: Added: Rivers Of Blood
Change: Mohgwyns Spear
Change: Golden Order GreatSword
Change: Dark Moon Greatsword
Change: Sacred Relic Sword

This mod brings back all of my favorite weapons from Elden ring and puts them into totk this mod so far brings back the:

BloodHound's Fang

Sword of Night And Flame

Moonlight Greatsword

Carian Knight Sword

Rivers Of Blood

MohgWyns Spear (fire effect)

Golden Order Greatsword (lightning effect)

Sacred Relic Sword

DarkMoon Great Sword (ice effect)

you can buy them all from the moogle at lookout landing

and special thanks to PotatoFried17 for letting me use his moogle npc

Challenge Mode Complete Version

Echocolat — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:51:43 +0000

Update:
Bugfix: Fixed the archive bit in RESTBL files that was making the mod unable to be played on Switch Hardware

Tears of the Kingdom Challenge Mode Complete Version

Mod description

This mod aims to make Tears of the Kingdom harder by adding new, more dangerous enemies and tweaking game mechanics for a more challenging and interesting experience with the game. It is recommended to start a whole new save with this mod for the best experience possible!

DO NOT INSTALL THIS MOD WITH TKMM.

Discord Server link
Data spreadsheet
Ko-fi page if you want to support me <3

Features

All scalable enemies (Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, Horriblins, Boss Bokoblins, Lynels, Soldier Constructs and Captain Constructs) were scaled by one rank. For example, all red Bokoblins are blue in the mod. At least one specimen of each base enemy will stay, for Hyrule Compendium, Quests or Armor upgrades.
All scalable enemies now have a new rank (Golden for all Monsters, Seized for the Constructs), stronger, tankier, faster, but also more rewarding with their unique fusable materials and better overall drops.
All mini bosses (Molduga, Gleeok, Frox, Flux Construct, Hinox, Talus) now have a new, unique more powerful rank, wielding unique fuse materials. You can learn more about them in the Challenge Mode - Rumors book in the Room of Wakening.
New weapons were added, or readded! Lynel weapons are back. You can also get the standalone version of Lynel weapons here, thanks to Godzilaa4 for making the mod! Zonaite weapons also got a new rank of weapons in order to make them more interesting in mid and late game.
A wide array of map changes were made to the surface, mostly to add more Lynels to the map and make the enemy camps more diversified. No more Bokoblin only camps!
As a development to the previous change, the six Monster Camps involved in the Monster Control Crew quests have been severly buffed, making a hard late game challenge. They were given new, powerful and unique reward for three of them (the ones that unlock after the others), so don't forget to check them out!

Options

This mod comes with multiple options that when all activated represent what we envisioned when creating it, but that we are aware won't please everybody, that is why they are options. (You will need to use TKMM to be able to choose for each option.)

Additions

All bosses buff: Bosses are all stronger and faster, Dungeon bosses deal gloom damage. (recommended)
All enemies scale: Very unrecommended option unless you want to suffer. This makes it so that all map enemies scale automatically if possible, regardless of their map parameters. Basically, all camps will be full golden in NG+, and will become full golden at some point after playing in non NG+.
Brazilian over American English: Playing with the American English language will instead use the brazilian translation made by the Triforce Heroes Team (for the vanilla game) and Godzilaa4 (for the Challenge Mode part).
Challenge Mode enemies are faster: All enemies introduced in Challenge Mode are faster than their previous counterparts. (recommended)
Dangerous Bokoblin Baskets: Elemental fruits thrown by Bokoblins from their baskets have the area of effect of associated elemental gems.
Enemy Health Regeneration: Most of the enemies regenerate slowly their health on a %age basis, until they regenerated 100% of their health. The regeneration rate is smaller when the enemy has more HP. Made by MaxLastBreath. Will be added later, as the team member handling this option is facing personal issues.
True Demon King's Army: Custom Demon King's Army made more interesting and way harder. (recommended)

Buffs

Better Defense Up meal effect: The Defense Up meal effect is buffed in order to make it viable and interesting against Attack Up. Level 1 goes from 4 to 12, Level 2 goes from 12 to 24 and Level 3 goes from 24 to 48. (recommended)

Nerfs

Higher Gloom damage multiplier: Gloomed enemies in the vanilla game inflict 0.3x times their damage converted to gloomed hearts. This was changed to 0.8x their damage. (recommended)
Hitstun nerf for Link: Most of Link's attacks do not interrupt enemies' actions. (recommended)
Nerfed charge attacks: Link's charged attacks take more time to charge and take more stamina. Two handed weapon charge attack does less damage. (recommended)
Nerfed Flurry Rush: Link's Flurry Rushes inflict less hits. (recommended)
No natural Gloomed hearts regenetation: Gloomed hearts no longer regenerate on the Surface or under lightroots. This is heavily recommended because some new enemies will have your heart UI glitched without this option. (recommended)
No One Shot Protection: Disables one shot protection. (recommended)
Oblivious sages: Sages don't attack enemies, enemies don't attack Sages. (recommended)

Rebalances

Rebalanced Armor upgrade cost: Armor upgrades that need scalable enemy parts will require the level above, to take into account the Challenge Mode scaling. (recommended)
Rebalanced Chests: Shrine and Dungeon chests content was changed to make them more interesting. (recommended)
Rebalanced Cooking: It's impossible for the player to eat raw materials, and cooked food (e.g. Boiled Egg, Frozen and Roasted food) is no longer able to stack. (recommended)
Rebalanced modifiers: Each weapon, bow and shield has now its unique ranges of modifier values. Non Zonai scalable enemy parts were buffed, or heavily buffed compared to vanilla, so that they still offer some value even compared to the new, very powerful golden enemy parts. (recommended)
Rebalanced mounted Lynel damage: To take into account the DPS of weapons, one handed weapons deal less damage on the back of Lynels and two handed weapons deal even less damage.

How to play

The mod is distributed in versions 1.1.0, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.0 and 1.2.1. Each version has two distributions, Base and Recommended. Base contains the basics of Challenge Mode: All the new content and enemies scaling by one rank, and that's it. Recommended is the same as Base, but with all recommended options enabled. Install the mod like you would install any other mod.

Sadly, we can not share raw .tkcl (for TKMM) files yet, but know that you can grab the .tkcl file form the Discord server (linked above) or from the last downloadable archive of this page. This .tkcl file is version agnostic, meaning you can install it on any version. Make sure you're on the latest stable version or a version you built yourself from Source code.

If you want to make Challenge Mode compatible with other mods you're playing with, you may use TKMM, but again it's recommended to use the latest built version. Compatibility patches will be released later for the biggest mods of the scene. Please know that multiple issues lurk inside TKMM at the moment (they will be fixed in the next versions) which makes this mod unable to be merged properly with any mod editing the Compendium, Map files that CM is also editing, as well as the Scaling data.

At the moment, TKMM is too broken to be used with the mod, so please only use Base or Recommended builds for the time being, until it's fixed. Thanks for the understanding.

If you encounter an issue

Please report the issue in the #bug-report channel of the Discord server, detailling your game version, platform, issue and if possible with a crash log. We will try to help you and fix the issue if it has to be fixed the quickest possible. Thanks!

Thank you very much for playing, I hope you have fun!!

Custom Area Events

JamesJimmy24 — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:06:00 +0000

Contains a tutorial on how to trigger Events when you enter an Area.

This is done throughout the entire story and is really useful for custom quests and stories that people may want to make in the future.

In the zip file, I've included the full guide, the base AI file (Primarily made by DT), and a couple of sections to copy and paste into the .banc files for your event.

TotkBits / Starlight (Ainb File Editor) and NxEditor are required for this.

Please comment any questions or unclear instructions (This is my first tutorial and AI is still confusing to me)

Sword Of night and flame

coolbotato — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 15:21:56 +0000

the sword from Elden ring i hope you like you can buy it from Beedle at new Serenne stable

Change "For Our Princess!" to "My Sweet Princess"

Ra1d.xml — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:19:34 +0000

In the Japanese version of Tears of the Kingdom, the mission "For Our Princess!" is instead called "My Sweet Princess"

This mod changes it for the US English Version.

1.1.0 Only; Use TKMM for other versions

(Special thanks to @heydo6 for showing me how to make the mod!)

Ultimate Icon Tool

Aster — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:02:03 +0000

Update: New Discovery

I've been doing more research recently, and found that vanilla icons were generated with all bloom disabled (just like armor icons), and with color correction disabled. Additionally, I found that icons were generated at 576x576, then downscaled to 256x256. From this, I've found that the best ultracam resolution to use is 7680x4320, 4 times the vanilla resolution (1920x1080), since 576 is 4 times 144, the vanilla fuse icon size.

Have you ever wanted to make accurate icons? Now you can! Head over to the tutorial to learn how to use this mod to make accurate icons for weapons, shields, and materials. Bows coming soon!

Standalone Elemental Weapons

Real Princess Zelda — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 04:02:05 +0000

Update: Rock Octorok + Compendium Fix

I have now made it so the weapons can be repaired and given a modifier if eaten by a rock octorok. The exefs file within fixes a bug that crashes the game after the credits when the compendium entries are more than 509 (which is the amount in the base game). Thanks so much to Echocolat and dt-12345 for making the fix and allowing me to use it.

Addition: All weapons can now be repaired and given a modifier via rock octoroks
Bugfix: Added exefs file that fixes a crash after the credits because of too many compendium entries

Do you miss the weapons of Breath of the Wild? Do you find the frostblade so slick and cool? Do you want dedicated elemental weapons that look unique and cool? Are you suffering from a dash of nostalgia?

Well, now you can have those elemental weapons from BotW as their own standalone weapons! Princess Zelda herself has worked with the wonderful Lye to make her amazing elemental weapons standalone! This adds all of the elemental weapons from BotW as standalones.

What this does: Adds the great frostblade, great flameblade, great thunderblade, frostblade, flameblade, thunderblade, frostspear, flamespear, and thunderspear as standalone weapons obtainable in the world (or Amiibo if you take the optional file). To achieve the particle effects from swinging your weapon, increase the damage of the blades, or apply the blades on other weapons, we also added the blades only as an attachable material sold in a few Beedle shops. The weapons are part of the compendium and level (gain weapon modifiers).

There is now a breakable weapons option! The Great Frostblade has 40 durability, the Great Flameblade & Thunderblade have 50 durability. The Frostspear has 40 durability, the Flamespear & Thunderspear have 50 durability. Then, the Frostblade has 30 durability, the Flameblade & Thunderblade has 36 durability.

The blade attachments are located in Beedle's shop inventory. The +frost blade attachments can be bought from Snowfield Stable, the flame +blade attachments from Foothill Stable, and the thunder blade +attachments are bought from the Riverside Stable. They are all purchasable for 40 rupees each.

Where to find: The weapons are scattered throughout the map, here are the locations listed below

Flameblade & Thunderblade: Found within Hyrule castle on the surface. Coordinates -0268, 1153, 0024 & -0254, 0759, 0104

Frostblade: Atop Mount Lanayru embedded in ice. Coordinates 3942, -1260, 0490

Great Flameblade: Lost in a maze within the Akkala region. Coordinates 4662, 3701, 0115

Great Thunderblade: Partially buried atop Cuho Mountain. Coordinates -3832, 1324, 0251

Great Frostblade: Resting on the peak of the Hebra Mountains. Coordinates -2765, 2908, 0724

Flamespear: Overlooking Eventide Island. Coordinates 3688, -3319, 0244

Thunderspear: Resting near Thundra Plateau. Coordinates: -2244, 0836, 0105

Frostspear: Surrounded by ponds southwest from Hateno Village. Coordinates 2696, -2963, 0168

Compatibility: This mod modifies the RSDB, RSTB, and Mals files as well as a few map files and three Beedle shop inventories, and it modifies the ResidentCommon and Bootup.Nin_NX_NVN pack files. It also modifies several map files. You will need to merge them for compatibility. This should work on versions 1.1.0, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.0, 1.2.1

This was tested on 1.1.2 and 1.2.0 on emulator.

Thanks to the smart LordBubbles for helping me figure a couple things out!

Let me know if you run into any issues!

If you wanna hit me up or try to pull a phishing scam or something, you can message me on Discord @ therealprincesszelda

UltraCam (Resolution, FPS, FreeCam)(MANY FEATURES)

MaxLastBreath — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:34:33 +0000

Update: UltraCam 2.6, climbing speed and More

Updates are slowed down for the moment, broke my leg and undergoing surgery recovery. Won't be able to walk until 2025.

Bugfix: Fixed Climbing Speed Between ALL FPS
Bugfix: Fixed Climbing Jump Between ALL FPS
Bugfix: Fixed Ladder Climbing Speed Between ALL FPS
Bugfix: Fixed Ladder Animations ending abruptly at higher than 55 FPS
Tweak: Removed Ladder Climbing FPS Lock
Tweak: Removed the ability to change FOV with the controller while outside of FreeCam

ULTRACAM - Features - Supported Vers. 1.1.0, 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.0, 1.2.1

Hybrid-FPS (480FPS cap) (NEW) - Dynamically adjusts and also fixes physic issues.
Freecam
Sequencer
FOV (20-120) ANY NUMBER. (Real Time Control) (NEW)
Fog Reduction
Emu Scale (Match to Emulator)
Internal Resolution (Up to 8K!) (NEW)
Shadow Resolution (Up to 8K!) (NEW)
Quality Improvements (Disable FSR, Dynamic Resolution) (NEW)
DisableFXAA (NEW)
Disable Depth of Field (NEW)
Camera Speed Multipliers. (NEW)
Hide UI (NEW)
AutoHide UI (NEW)
MenuFPSLock (NEW)
MovieFPS (NEW)
Time and Weather Control (NEW)
Benchmarks (NEW)
Teleportation (NEW)
Heap Settings RSDB and GameTextures (NEW)

ULTRACAM 3.0 EARLY ACCESS VERSION SOON AVAILABLE IN KOFI. The next major release is potentially going to take months, this MOD has taken over 1000+ hours of development time.

Want to keep up with the project development? Join DISCORD

New Console
Full control of almost every feature in real time. (Shadows, Resolution, FPS etc)
Future Actor spawning functionality. (April-May)
Full in-game UI (Imagine reshade but for TOTK)
Lots of new gameplay tweaks (passive health regen out of combat!)
Potential Enemy and Weapon Randomizer (built in)
Slow motion/Fast Motion and Freeze AI.
Entity control, let's you take control of different enemies!
Port of UltraCam to DFPS.

TO BE RELEASED WHEN ITS FINISHED.

FOR FULL CONTEXT CHECK OUT BOTH VIDEOS!

Video One is a breakdown of how to use the Freecam (OLD)
Video Two is an amazing Trailer Cinematic using the Freecam by Gossip Geist. <3 Really recommend checking it out!

I LOVE THIS, HOW CAN I HELP THE DEVELOPMENT?

You can support me on my KO-FI. and also get access to new features in EA!

WHAT DOES THIS MOD DO?

The primary focus of this mod is to improve the game's Quality and Visuals as well as the framerate at which the game runs and how well it runs at higher FPS. (Yes this does run better then any other DFPS mods.)
The mod also allows you to enter a Freecam mode. Which also allows for the creation of cinematic keyframes and the teleportation of Link.
This mod also FIXES LODS, SSAO by being able to increase the internal resolution.
This mod also fixes the shadow flickering. By being able to increase shadows up to 8K.
This mod also comes with various FPS fixes that Fixes the following:
Menu Speeds, Bow Speed, Throw Weapon Speed, Map Menu Speed, Movie Speeds, Dynamic FPS speed, Link Speed, Shrines Physic bugs at (60 FPS and some at 120). Ladders at up to 90 FPS. (More to come) and Lots lots more (too many to list).
This mod also fixes the Blackscreen present at 60 FPS caps.
This mod also has the option to improve the haziness of the game by removing it.
This mod can also control the Render Distance. Albeit this should be left to default in most cases.
This mod can also change the Handheld Internal resolution to anything you desire.
This mod can also turn on triple buffer (currently doesn't function on switch)
This mod also allows you to teleport link to the location of the camera.
This mod can also run sequence benchmarks SIMILAR to Cyberpunk Benchmark, which outputs a file with average and 1% lows FPS. The file is located in the switch's SD card. (SDMC)

I'M HAVING TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING HOW TO USE THIS

Please if you are having trouble, use the TOTK Optimizer. It makes it a lot easier to setup.

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO ADD? These features will be available for EA.

Actor spawning.
UI so you can change things in real time.
A console that lets you automate some fun stuff!
A way to export key frames and sequences and let's you also share it to other people!
A proper first person mode. Potentially VR (demo maybe soon?)
A partial or full mod port to BOTW, including 480 FPS cap and more...
Slow Motion and Fast Motion.
Freeze Game (AI/Time).
First person.
Lots lots lots more.

Please credit the mod if you use it for other content, preferably.

Front Page - Purah Art

The Master cycle Returns(almost)!

coolbotato — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:10:20 +0000

Update: final texture
Change: added the proper master cycle texture

this mod replaces the golden horse with the master cycle zero from botw enjoy!

i havent added the animations or textures yet but plan to

PC UIv0.6 bate

CurtainOP — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 15:26:07 +0000

更新修复：2下不图标显示，也就是口哨位置。删除某些忘记删除的文件，并添加其它三种语言

特别说明：似乎不太兼容大师模式mod，有些键有缺，上马的键也没改，基本看到的就这些

为什么是这些按键：

1是道具经常用到

2是，单用是口哨，用totkmod ，2+鼠标右键会视角偏移

3和4没什么好说的，只不过刚好顺序是1上2下3左4右

1是我不理解王国之泪和旷野之息没有键鼠映射中文版mod（都是几年前的了，不生效了），所以在源作者的mod下补全中文版。

2是大师模式v1.0mod快来了，趁现在玩的不深，弄个键鼠映射再玩。

搞心态的来了，难绷cn.oft的是b和a，进游戏菜单是相反，源语言是a和b ，菜单就不是。

而重点的是，Common.Product.110.Nin_NX_NVN.blarc.zs是源语言的，也就是a是a b是b

对不上出错了，导致映射是反的，猜测是游戏版本问题。不过最终也是解决了。

旷野之息也可能打算做，前提是玩完了王国之泪，就这样吧。

英语不好，所以就不上英文了，mod链接：KBM UI + 键盘映射配置 [塞尔达传说：王国之泪] [模组]

祝你们游玩愉快！

Super Speed Stable

charlie92155 — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:03:10 +0000

Do you miss zooming through hyrule on your motorcyle? Well what if you can go faster than a mastercycle?

This is a partial port of my old Botw Mod. I dramatically increased the speed of my favorite horses.

There are two versions, a very fast one, and a very very fast one. In the very very fast one donkeys are tad slower (same speed as the very fast horses in the other version).

This mod will make these animals virtually impossible to catch on foot without some kind of elemental assistance.

Horses:

Epona
Zelda's White Horse
Zelda's Gold Horse
Giant Black Horse
Nushi
*All Day Stal Horse
*Nushi (Depths Version)
*Donkeys

*If you really want to take advantage of the Stal, Nushi Depths Version, and Donkeys they will require the the following mods as contingencies.

Contingencies

LinlX's Satori & Stalhorse & Large Zonai Platform Capsules
HGStone's Ride the Donkeys

Works with Versions 1.1.0 - 1.2.1

Item Multiplier

LinlX — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 17:00:23 +0000

Update: Item Multiplier

All possible transformation options have been added: fire, ice, electricity, boiling. And also added a fairy that appears after breaking the egg, since fairies quickly fly away, then the transformation mechanics are difficult for them.

Since it's harder to duplicate items in the 1.2.1 version of the game, I came up with the idea of using an ice item to turn a regular item into its x10 version. If there's demand for this, I'll gradually add more items, or you can use this mod as a template for your own mods.

Large Zonai Platform Capsule: Deployed with Arrows

LinlX — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:21:02 +0000

Update: Large Zonai Platform Capsule

Fixed the name when fusing a platform with a weapon.

Fully functional Capsule with 3D model for Large Zonai Platform (Standalone) which has maximum value of life and passes through the ground and mountains.

Large Zonai Platform can be deployed with arrows or R throw button, almost anywhere. There is a problem when extracting the Platform with R throw button: it is impossible to climb on it, so to climb on it you need to use the ability through the ceiling, but this version of the platform can be returned back to the inventory.

Capsule Large Zonai Platform can be obtained from the capsule Hover Stone by using transformation using elemental materials on it or by boiling.

The capsule can also be obtained from these Device Dispensers or purchased from Steward Construct, who sells capsules after Link's energy cell upgrade is complete.

This mod is adapted only for version 1.2.1 of the game and it combines well with this mod.

The Lord of the Mountain (Depths)

LinlX — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 09:28:31 +0000

Update: Lord of the Mountain & Stalhorse

Added a version of the capsule with Stalhorse and the ability to extract the capsule from the quick menu, as well as a 3D capsule for the ability to throw with the R button. Also left a version of quick duplication when returning to the inventory, but the horse remains on the map.

The capsule can be purchased from Steward Construct at Lookout Landing or Great Sky Island after completing all power cell upgrades.

Mini mod in which the Lord of the Mountain befriended Link and is able to wander in the depths.

This is a standalone version of the Lord of the Mountain in a zonai capsule that can be purchased at Lookout Landing from the Bargainer Statue or in the Wetland Stable from Beedle.

There is also an additional version with catch in the inventory - ~~~~that has one minor bug,~~ t~~~~his is shown~~ in the video above: when you catch the Lord of the Mountain in the inventory, only his model is captured, and invisible collisions continue to be present in the game world, and I could not solve this. Therefore, when you catch him in the inventory, the number of capsules is simply added to the inventory, but the Lord of the Mountain does not disappear from the game world.

Satori & Stalhorse & Large Zonai Platform Capsules

LinlX — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 02:21:41 +0000

Here are my Top 3 Standalone Capsules: Satori & Stalhorse & Large Zonai Platform with 3D models to use the remaining 3 free slots for zonai devices.

These capsules are fully functional as the original ones. You can get them the same way as the original capsules using the Device Dispenser on Lookout Landing or buy them from Steward Construct after filling all the energy cells.

Be careful! If you jump on a horse when they are standing close together (you can fall through the ground), but this is easily neutralized by using teleportation to any place. By the way, horse capsules can be duplicated using a bow.

A huge thanks to heydo6 for placing the Device Dispenser on Lookout Landing.

Shimamura Yū JP Voice for Player (TotK Version)

Jrhall2 — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:11:09 +0000

This is a player voice replacement mod that is really meant to go alongside the TSP mod, but that can go with anything you so desire! For the sake of safety given recent-ish events, I will not be naming that mod directly, but you should check out the Discord that centers on a certain playable princess to learn more about the TSP mod.

This mod completely replaces Link's voice with Zelda's Japanese voice. All clips are from Zelda's official voice actress, Shimamura Yū, and were primarily sourced from AoC (though a small few clips were taken from BotW and TotK). Many of the player voice clips were repurposed from my BotW version of this project, though obviously new ones were also edited and created for all the new sounds Link has in this game. Of all the voice clips I drew from for this project, I further edited many of them myself to better fit the context of the actions. All clips that I edited were sourced from the original games, however - no outliers or exceptions. All I did was cut and/or repurpose certain pieces of them as I believed appropriate.

All 337 player voice files, the special inn cutscenes, and (to my knowledge) every cutscene that contained Link's voice have been replaced with context-appropriate audio clips which I have taken extreme care with while editing and balancing. I compared each and every one to Link's original audio to match volume and intent as closely as possible and further replaced several after playtesting them in game to make sure the audio matched the new actions. Each file was deliberately and carefully selected to fit the action being displayed on screen from a collection of more than 300 voice clips I managed to isolate for use from all three games. I tell you all that to illustrate this point - this mod is meant to make it sound like you're *actually* playing as Zelda and I've taken extraordinary care to make sure your immersion isn't shattered by any audio choice I made.

I did take a few liberties to let a bit more of Zelda's personality shine through when compared to Link but nothing that detracts from player experience or that immersion. That is to say, not all clips are exact 1-to-1 replacements for Link's audio (for example, the way Zelda soothes the horse she's riding and the "humming" while she cooks are different mostly due to limitations of voice clips available), but the intent and purpose of the sounds remains consistent for each and every replacement. Most notably, Zelda has no instances of singing or humming in any official capacity, so I was unable to match each "cooking song." Instead, she has several different utterances of excitement or happiness as she cooks in order to achieve a similar variety of sound as Link's songs without sacrificing the quality of the voice replacement or the intent of the actions.

A few particular notes about the project (if you're not interested, you can skip the green text - BUT DON'T SKIP THE RED TEXT):

I have been unable to test all the cutscene edits myself. I've only made sure that my replacement process was successful but I don't have save files that put me in a convenient position to test each cutscene (and I've been waiting to replay the game until TSP existed in a playable iteration). So while I'll be listening and watching for instances of cutscenes that might still have Link's voice in my own playthrough, please let me know if you catch any Link sounds that occur while the Zelda model is on screen that managed to evade me and I would be happy to replace it and add it to this project!

One other thing worth noting is that one of the spear charging sounds is just broken in the base game (PV011_01 for anyone who's interested). Though Link opens his mouth to make a sound, he never makes this noise in game. In fact, TotK has a number of issues in the way the base, unmodded game calls on Link's player voice audio. Several sounds are outright missing in-game - the aforementioned standing spear charge sounds, both sounds that should be called when frozen solid by ice, and the sounds for fire based damage are called correctly when you're actually on fire but ALSO when you take launch damage that knocks you off your feet from any enemy or object. There are supposed to be four sounds that play there variably but none of them are appropriately called. Instead, launch damage calls PV303_00 and PV303_01 (both of the fire damage sounds) for some strange reason.

This is an implementation issue with the base game so unfortunately I cannot make any of those sounds work as of now (at least not with my limited knowledge). So even though those files are included in this mod, if you're standing still and you charge a spear, there's a 50/50 chance Zelda will be silent sometimes just like the unmodded game. Also you'll be silent when you freeze solid. The fire damage has been taken into account, but sadly the cute touch of having Zelda say "atsui" (the Japanese word for "hot") when she catches on fire had to be cut to fix this.

This is also *not* a "plot" immersion mod, simply a "player character" immersion mod. In terms of game plot, outside of in-engine cutscene vocalizations, nothing else has been edited - no instances of other characters using the name "Link" have been removed (that would be way too many languages for me to want to tackle myself), no prerendered cutscenes have even been touched (like the very first Ganondorf awakening cutscene), etc. It's just too much to do for a voice replacement mod.

I have also not touched a single line of text. I don't know how to change text (lol) so be aware that this is *only* a voice replacement - there's not a name/pronoun text replacement bundled with it. All that said, if you are planning to use this with the TSP mod, a lot of that will already be accounted for.

Finally, I do not play this game in English but I recognize the majority of people here likely do, maybe even with a Japanese Zelda voice mod. Let me know if something is off during the cutscenes especially - I think I have a handle on which files belong where in order to properly replace the cutscene audio (which isn't the easiest thing to intuit, I'll admit), but there's a chance I missed something obvious. In fact, let me know if this is true for any language outside of Japanese (which I'll be testing myself) - all selectable voice languages have been given the same cutscene audio replacement treatment in this mod and I want to make sure they work for everyone who wants them!

ONE FINAL NOTE - I HAVE TESTED THIS WITH THE TSP MOD MYSELF BUT THERE MIGHT BE ISSUES GIVEN THE NATURE OF BOTH ITS RELEASE AND MY OWN MOD'S IMPLEMENTATION. PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY TO MINIMIZE CHANCES OF PROBLEMS WHEN COMPILING THESE TWO MODS TOGETHER.

How to Install:

Switch -

Place *only* the romfs folder in atmosphere/contents/0100F2C0115B6000

FOR TSP COMPATABILITY - you will need to overwrite any files that already exist in the TSP mod folder for this to work properly, which you should be prompted to do on placing the folder on the SD card (if it's already been installed on your SD card).

Yuzu/Sudachi -

Place the entire "Shimamura Yū Voice for Player Character" folder in yuzu/load/0100F2C0115B6000 OR sudachi/load/0100F2C0115B6000

FOR TSP COMPATABILITY - open the "Shimamura Yū Voice for Player Character" folder, take the "romfs" folder inside, and merge it with the TSP base mod's "romfs" folder (make a backup of the original mod before you do this). You will be prompted to overwrite several hundred files. Say yes and ONLY the voice files that pertain to the player character will be replaced. This WILL make the voice replacement work with the mod, no RSTB editing required from there. There might be some bugs or issues here and there, I have not fully tested this myself yet.

Ryujinx -

Place the entire "Shimamura Yū Voice for Zelda (Japanese Voice - TotK Full Version)" folder in Ryujinx/mods/contents/0100F2C0115B6000

FOR TSP COMPATABILITY - open the "Shimamura Yū Voice for Player Character" folder, take the "romfs" folder inside, and merge it with the TSP base mod's "romfs" folder (make a backup of the original mod before you do this). You will be prompted to overwrite several hundred files. Say yes and ONLY the voice files that pertain to the player character will be replaced. This WILL make the voice replacement work with the mod, no RSTB editing required from there. There might be some bugs or issues here and there, I have not fully tested this myself yet.

I am very proud of the way this mod turned out despite the difficulties I had putting it together! I was very thorough but I wouldn't be surprised at all if I didn't catch everything on a first pass so please let me know if you notice any issues - I would be happy to keep updating this until it's the best version of the project it can be (though if there are updates to make, they may take some time as I am not very well versed in the process anymore compared to when I started this in 2023).

No RSTB edits are required to use the full version of this mod and it should, in theory, work without flaw on every version of the game (I've tested it on 1.1.1, 1.1.2, and 1.2.0). If you are compiling it with the TSP mod, it should work perfectly if you overwrite the existing sounds within the TSP mod "romfs" folder with the "romfs" folder found in this download. There should be no issue there at all and the game should launch normally regardless of platform from there.

If there is an issue with TSP launching after installing this voice mod alongside it, it likely isn't because of the file overwrite. There is probably a conflict between another mod (I had this issue myself during testing).

There are also two versions to choose from when downloading - a version with an extra CUTSTOM cutscene included with the TSP mod and a version that is exclusively for the base game cutscenes without that extra TSP edit. Make sure to check the version descriptions to ensure you download the one you want!

I really hope you enjoy! Have fun adventuring as Zel!

Master Torch

GenericVideoGameNPC — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 19:07:59 +0000

Master Torch.

Replaces handle of a torch with a Master Sword handle. Meme mod, don't expect this to be taken seriously.

Tested on 1.1.1, should work on all versions.

Kingdom Hearts/Sky-Soarer Cloud

khazmo — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:31:09 +0000

Update: Older Versions
Addition: Added older version files to main release file

This adds a standalone armor set and themed buster sword to the game. Each piece has base defense of 20 and it was put over the Evil Spirit set. It has full functionality of that original set plus some bonus effects added...

Head - Attack Up, Lightning Proof, Stealth Up
Upper - Gloom Resist, Skydive Mobility Up, Stealth Up
Lower - Climb Speed Up, No-Slip, Stealth Up

These effects are not visible on the menu screen but they are there working in the background (can verify with the gloom resist hearts that appear once upper equipped).

The sword has 60 attack, Attack Up when health low, and Charge Speed Up, it will also cut trees, and is unbreakable. I had to make the sheath invisible due to collision with the cape and it just overall not looking good with any type of sheath I tried to use. There is some collision with the cape/sword when it is on his back as well. There are mods out there that can re-position the sheath so if you want to look into that, try here.

Armor and Sword can be purchased from a easily located Moogle in Lookout Landing for next to nothing!

Special Credit goes to PotatoFried17 for use of his Moogle from his recent mods. They have released other Final Fantasy themed armors so go check them out they are great!

This was built and tested on 1.2.1 using Ryujinx and should work on any version, older version files included in 1.3 release or can use TKMM

Cape has physics, hair does not (yet, but will in an update down the road once I get it looking right)
I am also working on getting physics added in for the 2 bandages that normally hang/dangle around the hilt of the blade so that it looks as close to authentic as possible.

I also added an image on this page to show moogle location in case you are having trouble finding him.

Lynel & Yiga Battle Music

-alpha- — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 15:54:59 +0000

Mod:

Replaces the battle music during Lynel and Yiga fights
This mod does NOT replace the music for Lynels in The Depths

Creator Notes:

I made this mostly for fun and to see if I could!
Check out my big CUTSCENE MUSIC project in the WIPs section
Available to try: https://gamebanana.com/wips/84187

Install Instructions:

Simple to install like most other mods
No RSTB or BYML edits needed
If another mod uses BGM_Static.bars, try patching bars together

Xinput Control Scheme (Emulator)

Pleasance — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 02:50:10 +0000

This mod replaces the button icons in game from Nintendo's layout to Xbox's.

The default mod doesn't change how the game controls, it just makes the button prompts match what you would be pressing on an Xbox controller. B = Confirm/Interact, A = Cancel/Sword.

The A+B Swapped mod is to make A = Confirm/Interact and B = Cancel/Sword, which may be more intuitive, but changes button placement.

The button prompts for L + R in-game are also changed to LB + RB (If there enough desire for it, I could make version for LT + RT, or just the default L + R). My reasoning for this change, is that on a 3DS emulator, R-Stick and RT make the most sense for stylus movement and tapping.

INSTALLATION:

- Open your emulator, right click The legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and click 'Open Custom Texture Location'.

- Extract the mod and place the entire folder contained within inside that location.

- In the menu bar of the emulator, click Emulation > Configure...

- On the left-hand of that menu, click Graphics and then ensure the box 'Use Custom textures' is checked.

- Now, click Controls on the left-hand side and bind your controller in the way the CONFIG image on this mod page instructs, respective to which version of the mod you chose. D-pad, Select and Start can all be bound normally. Circle Pad should be Left Analog Stick. C-Stick can be unbound, so can ZL and ZR.

- Click OK and Enjoy!

Optional Fix:

- Right click The legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds in your emulator and click 'Open Mods Location'.

- Extract the and place the RomFS folder inside that location.

Toon Link Between Worlds

Takeshre — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:15:12 +0000

Update: Wind Waker Voice Pack
Addition: Added an optional voice pack that replaces all 75 of Link's voice clips with Wind Waker Link's voice

This mod allows you to play as Toon Link in A Link Between Worlds, including:

Tri Force Heroes Link Model, edited to work with A Link Between Worlds' cutscenes and equipment
Wind Waker-style Hero's Sword, replacing Link's starting sword
Wind Waker-style Master Sword, appearing dormant at first and returning to its true power through upgrading!
Wind Waker-style Hero's Shield, replacing the basic shield available at shops
Wind Waker-style Mirror Shield, replacing the Hylian Shield
Edited Wall Merge Link to resemble Toon Link's colors and design
Custom Item Icons for every sword, shield, and tunic obtainable in the game

A Wind Waker Voice Pack is also available as a separate download, so you can have the sound of the Hero of Winds too!

ALttP Fighter's Shield

Takeshre — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 02:33:06 +0000

Update: Cutscene Fixes
Bugfix: Resolved issue where the Hylian Shield replacements weren't working in cutscenes and were crashing them on console

The Fighter's Shield was a design that appeared in official artwork for A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and the Oracle games. This mod adds a version of it into A Link Between Worlds, with three available options:

Fighter Over Basic Shield - Replaces the basic orange shield with the Fighter's Shield
Fighter Over Hylian Shield - Replaces the Hylian Shield with the Fighter's Shield
Fighter and Red Shields - Replaces the basic orange shield with the Fighter's Shield, and replaces the Hylian Shield with the Red Shield from A Link to the Past's artwork

As many of this game's files are stored within the same archives, other mods are likely to conflict unless merged. A fourth download is included containing the extracted modified files, which can be imported into the relevant archives as a way to merge this mod with others.

tylers alttp mirror shield mod

steven tyler sean herr — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:02:32 +0000

i have personally only tested on citra but ive been told it works on console just fine
the mod was made for the us build of the game and with english
ill work on other builds
but if you are impatient you can use the manual merge files to get the models and icons working in other versions

i cant do translations though so any help translating a couple lines would be appreciated
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zxWqJk37PUxRUJzeVYFa6XD4kesYyvR3Y-sPp3jYPDc/edit?usp=sharing
make sure to leave your name so you can be credited
and remember it needs to be short enough to fit in the text box
and should generally keep the last bit of the text (mentioning what the shield does and how to use it)

Fierce Deity in ALBW

TravisS2204 — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 23:03:26 +0000

Update: ALT Version added

Alternate Version with lighter clothing added.

Ported From Triforce Heroes!

Modded 3DS Folder goes to "[SDRoot]:\luma\titles\"

this is for the USA Copy but it might work for PAL but i will not be porting if it doesn't

Mario between worlds

feldright — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:03:49 +0000

This mod replace link model with mario model there still things to replace like icon flat link or link in cutscenes.

I tested it on real hardware only with the europe version of the game so if you found any problem please contact me on discord @feldright

A Link Between The Past

PhantomTwilight — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 21:22:49 +0000

A Texture Pack For A Link Between Worlds That Makes Link Look Like Link's Sprite From A Link To The Past!

Ravio Skin

jazzrabbit — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 22:22:04 +0000

This texture pack for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds gives you the appearance of Ravio, the timid hero of Lorule. Made specifically for use with the Citra emulator.

This mod replaces Link's textures with texture's resembling Ravio's color scheme. This applies to both the character models, and the merged to wall textures. It also has custom color pallets for all 3 different tunics as well as a custom version of the Hylian Shield with a Lorulian twist.

The Legend of Zelda: The Oven Baker (Yummy!)

Craepion2211 — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 19:51:15 +0000

Update: More Textures + Finally Fixed Crashing Probably?
Change: ngl i dont remember what i added
Change: Got rid of the szs_permanent2 file, which was causing the game to crash. This means the Autumn Outset Island textures are gone.

A mod that replaces random stuff in wind waker. This mod was originally "Random WWHD Texture Edits" but that name was too dumb so I renamed it.
The list of stuff I changed is too long for me to recall but credits to Siivagunner for the save select music.

Miles "Tails" Prower

XModxGodX — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:49:20 +0000

Update: Mild eye texture touch up and alt version
Addition: Added a version with both quests giving him the regular non-boom look
Adjustment: fixed up the eye texture having some weird artifacts in some animations
Tweak: fixed his eye models being slightly too far away from his head model

Tails over Link.
Has the the sword and shield removed from the back since they look super out of place otherwise.

Xbox Controller Buttons

jeicy03 — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 04:54:21 +0000

This mod replace the Wii U buttons with the Xbox buttons.

Works with EU (EN, DE, FR, IT, ES) and US (EN, FR, ES) versions of the game.

The buttons are:
A => B
B => A
X => Y
Y => X
ZR => RT
ZL => LT

Instructions:
1. Extract the archive and paste contet into folder \cemu\graphicspack
2. Run Cemu and enabled in the Graphic Packs menu

Playstation Controller Buttons

jeicy03 — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 01:11:02 +0000

This mod replace the Wii U buttons with the Playstation buttons.
Works with EU (EN, DE, FR, IT, ES) and US (EN, FR, ES) versions of the game.

The buttons are:
A => O

B => X

X => △
Y => ◻
ZR => R2
ZL => L2

Instructions:
1. Extract the archive and paste contet into folder \cemu\graphicspack
2. Run Cemu and enabled in the Graphic Packs menu

red tunic wiyh grand ma taker

fadyzeldink — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:07:36 +0000

red tunic

blue tunic wiyh grand ma taker

fadyzeldink — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:18:00 +0000

تغيير اللون الى ازرق عندما تاخذه من الجدة وفي اللعبة

Classic purple Toon Link

Frasko — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:09:01 +0000

Classic purple Link's tunic from four swords/DS minigames..?? Enjoy! :3

Classic red Toon Link

Frasko — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:05:44 +0000

Classic red Link's tunic from four swords/triforce/DS minigames..?? Enjoy!

Dark Purple Tunic

Recko — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:25:29 +0000

(INTENDED FOR CEMU)

Retextures the tunic to be dark purple and replaces the hero's charm 3d model with majora's mask from MM3D.

Toon Imp Midna in Wind Waker HD

OniFox — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 09:11:04 +0000

Update: Version 1.2 Update! VOICEPACK ADDED!
Addition: Added a Voicepack, which replaces Link's voice with Imp Midna's from Twilight Princess

Toon Imp Midna Playermodel Mod for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD!

This mod replaces the default Link Playermodel with a custom Imp Midna model! It also replaces the Hero's Charm model and icon with the Ordon Shield, The Hero's Clothes model with the Fused Shadow, the Link icon on the Map with Midna's face, and includes a Voicepack to replace Link's voice with Midna!

This is the first mod I've made for Wind Waker in general, and I opted for HD due to the lack of custom playermodels for it. I will be making an SD version of this mod in the future however, as I don't want to leave any players Midna-less!

Future updates may come with this mod, such as changing the dialogue and story to work with Midna's presence, and maybe some other model replacements!

Please let me know if you encounter any bugs with the mod! Follow the provided 'README (Install Guide).txt' to make sure you install this mod properly!

golden item/ادوات ذهبية

fadyzeldink — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:56:44 +0000

this mod change color item to gold with link pijama

red bomorang/بومورانغ احمر

fadyzeldink — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:14:35 +0000

from yellow to red bomorang

Chito

Durian8 — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:12:58 +0000

Chito and unlike Yuuri she has both hands and textures.

Goku: WindWaker HD

Durian8 — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 23:54:06 +0000

A Son Goku like model based on the Dragon Ball GT design. Hope to replace the sword with power poll in the future, along some other stuff.

Yuuri Mod: Wind Waker HD

Durian8 — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 20:07:12 +0000

yuuri from Girls Last Tour as link. very poor quality, needs tunic and idk why the hands are missing

Twilight Princess Gale Boomerang

Craepion2211 — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:56:54 +0000

Basically replaces the Boomerang model with the Gale Boomerang model from Twilight Princess.
I got the model from The Models Resource so shoutout to them.

Blue Tunic

rs9f — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:55:05 +0000

A small mod I made that gives Link a blue tunic

Peter Griffin

Bry_Dawg02 — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 01:32:04 +0000

My first model import for Wind Waker HD!

Instructions:
1. Unpack the zip file
2. Place "Wind Waker HD - Peter Griffin Moblin" folder in your cemu>graphicPacks folder
3. Boot Cemu, and open the Graphics Pack tab for either Wind Waker or the Randomizer

Instructions for injecting SZS file to permanent_3d.pack for Rando Skins, Linkle, etc.:
1. Unpack SZS zip
2. find the permanent_3d.pack in your desired mod and open it with Switch Toolbox
"content\Common\Pack"
3. Replace "Mo2.szs" with the one from the zIp folder by right clicking the file and clicking
"Replace Raw Data"
4. Save!

Blue Telescope

Seal Enthusiast — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:20:52 +0000

A mod for the Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD that makes the Telescope blue, It is the first mod for WWHD to support the WWHD randomizer by design.

Ultra Double Supa Ray Tracing RTX 4K Link

isaacthegroot — Thu, 16 May 2024 22:47:10 +0000

this link is a screenshot of it

Last Preview of 2024 (Probably)

Daniel Schuman — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Good morning, Govtrekkers!

This is the last week we anticipate Congress will be in session until the 119th Congress starts on January 3rd. However, as of the time of this writing, the text for the Continuing Resolution to fund the government has not been published, the Senate has not considered the National Defense Authorization Act, and Senator Schumer is trying to push through a number of judicial confirmations.

Looking at the House floor, there are three bills expected to be considered that can pass with a simple majority and dozens of bills that may reach a 2/3rds majority to pass under fast-track rules. The three bills needing a simple majority are the Continuing Resolution (CR), the “Supplemental Pay-for,” and the Midnight Rules Relief Act.

There is no text available yet for either the CR or the supplemental pay-for. The CR is anticipated to provide funds to keep the government open (otherwise a shutdown would occur on Friday) and will carry a number of additional measures, the contours of which are currently being negotiated. As of Monday morning, we still have not seen the text of the CR because of a fight over legislative riders, particularly farm aid. I haven’t been following the “supplemental pay-for” and do not know what it would do.

The Midnight Rules Relief Act is a resolution that would allow Congress to more easily invalidate regulations issued within the final days of a president’s term instead of having to enact one resolution per regulation. In other words, instead of voting on each resolution that would undo a single agency regulation, lawmakers would vote on a package that would invalidate multiple regulations at once.

The Republican leadership floor notice says there are thirty-three bills “on suspension,” which is a fast track procedure for uncontroversial bills, but the webpage where the resolutions must be posted contains fifty-one, and that number may grow. There is no rhyme or reason to the left-overs, although I do see a number related to congressional operations. Is it worth Congress’s time to designate the bald eagle as the national bird? To rename the Veterans Affairs clinic in Oklahoma after Sen. Inhofe? Other substantive bills, such as those concerning organ donation and reducing child abuse, are coming up very late in the game — but late is better than never for those that support them.

There are eight congressional meetings this week, including the House Rules Committee on Monday which will tee-up the three simple majority bills, setting the terms for debate and whether amendments can be offered. This is where leadership will make changes to the text of the bills to comply with whatever deal they’ve made with members and with the Senate on what will become law. I am surprised to see the House Veterans Affairs Committee holding a hearing on a range of bills because of the late date. The Senate Finance committee will hold hearings on nominees to the US International Trade Commission.

Senate Democrats announced Monday’s Senate floor schedule, which will include efforts to end debate and vote on the National Defense Authorization Act and the Social Security Fairness Act. Presumably, later this week will include consideration of the Continuing Resolution. Schumer will spend much of the remaining floor time focused on confirming federal judges. A big question remains as to whether he will keep his process to try to enact the journalist shield law known as the PRESS Act.

My colleague Amy will provide an update on the status of all this legislation at the end of the week. It’s doubtful that I’ll be back next week to give a preview of congressional activity as Congress likely will not be in session, but I do want to alert you to a few things.

Over the next few weeks, both parties will finalize their selections for committee leadership. In the House, Republicans will finalize their recommendations for the rules of the House of Representatives, which likely will become publicly available only the day before it’s adopted on January 3rd.

In the Senate, Republicans and Democrats will be negotiating over the organizing resolution for the chamber, which appoints people to various committees and decides other policies. In addition, we can expect Republicans to move quickly towards confirmation of key Trump appointees and likely will schedule confirmation hearings in the run up to the inauguration on January 20th.

I expect the 119th Congress will be even more unconventional than the 118th. Much of what we have come to expect regarding the roles of the executive and legislative branches will be subject to change and Congress will try to move quickly to enact Trump’s agenda. The major limitation will be discerning what exactly he wants to do.

Have a good holiday season.

A Sort of Progress

Amy West — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

While Congress still hasn't passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open past Dec. 20 (aka next Friday), they did pass some bills this week with at least one becoming law.

Old Business: Tax Relief becomes law

H.R. 5863: Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 As noted by Craig Caplan on X, this bill which passed the House in May, passed the Senate by voice vote last week. Yesterday, Dec. 12, President Biden signed it.

CBO Report Updates

H.R. 9716: Increasing Baseline Updates Act passed 407-0. Each year, the Congressional Budget Office provides to Congress what is called a "baseline". As described in this letter in support of the bill by the R Street Institute,

CBO’s annual baseline, a ten-year projection of the budget and economy based largely on current law, is generally published in January or February. It serves as a fundamental benchmark for evaluating the fiscal impact of legislative proposals, with updates released in the spring and late summer to reflect changes in enacted laws and economic conditions.

R Street further writes that

This legislation would enhance the ability of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to produce and update its annual budget baseline by mandating that the executive branch provide critical data to CBO by February 1. H.R. 9716 also requires CBO to produce at least two updates to its baseline each year.

The bill still has to pass the Senate.

Federal Building Security

S. 3613: Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024 passed 410-6. According to the Congressional Budget Office:

S. 3613 would require the facility security committee of each federal building to respond to security recommendations from the Federal Protective Service (FPS) within 90 days. ... S. 3613 would require the FPS to monitor its recommendations and the responses it receives and annually report that information to the Congress. The bill also would require the FPS to report to the Congress within 180 days of enactment on the surveillance technology it recommends be used at federal facilities. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office would need to report to the Congress within five years of enactment on the effectiveness of the bill. The bill’s requirements would sunset five years after enactment.

It goes to the President next for signing.

General Security Legislation Against China

H.R. 9668: SHIELD Against CCP Act passed 409-4. The bill would, according to its sponsor, "establish in the Department of Homeland Security a working group relating to countering terrorist, cybersecurity, border and port security, and transportation security threats posed to the United States by the Chinese Communist Party."

Water Resources Development Act

S. 4367: Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 passed 399-18. This bill covers everything related to rivers and harbors in the United States and typically more. This year's bill includes a section on federal buildings and another on regional commissions. It's too huge to usefully summarize, so we recommend you check out the table of contents at the very least.

Because the House made changes, the Senate will have to vote on it again next week. According to Craig Caplan on X, "Senate reached agreement before adjourning for tonight and the week to vote on the House-passed WRDA bill next week with 60 votes needed vote passage."

National Defense Authorization Act Eliminates Care for Trans Minors

H.R. 5009: Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 passed 281-140.

You may notice that the description under the title on this bill page has nothing to do with defense. That's because the text of another bill midway through the legislative process was replaced in full with the text relating to national defense.

This bill took a tremendous amount of negotiation to get to a votable state. At the last minute, as reported by the Washington Post, Speaker Johnson added a provision banning medical care for trans minors.

As reported by the Washington Post, no one knows exactly how many service members' families will be affected, nor is it clear which kinds of care are excluded since the provision bans care that "leads to sterilization" and there's no consensus that any care for trans minors leads to sterilization. Estimates suggest this is a small group of people. Given its small size, eliminating care is not about cost savings.

While many Democrats said they were opposed to the provision banning care for trans minors, many still voted for the bill. Among other things, it includes a 14% pay raise for service members.

The bill goes to the Senate next week. According to Craig Caplan on X, there will be a vote to end debate (and therefore move to a vote on the bill itself) on Monday. Further, Majority Leader Schumer set up a structure that prevents amendments to the bill. For anyone with strong feelings on this topic, now is your last chance to contact your Senators before the vote. The bill will most likely pass as enough Democrats may decide that eliminating care for trans minors doesn't outweigh the bill's many other provisions.

Adding Judges

S. 4199: JUDGES Act of 2024 passed 236-173. This bill, as reported by NBC News

was specifically designed to be nonpartisan and would be the first major expansion of judgeships since 1990.

While it would allow President-elect Trump to add 25 new judges, the remaining 41 judges would added by subsequent presidents. Democrats, including President Biden, became opposed to the bill after this past election. President Biden currently says he'll veto it. Whether its support is strong enough to override the veto in the remaining weeks of this Congress is unclear. However, veto overrides almost always fail, so probably not.

If it is vetoed, it can always be re-introduced in the 119th Congress.

See you all next week when, hopefully, we'll be recapping the passage of a government funding bill.

Miles to Go

Daniel Schuman — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Good morning, Govtrackers!

The clock is winding down on the 118th Congress, but the House and Senate still have miles to go before they sleep. Both chambers are in this week.

National Defense Authorization Act

One big to-do item is the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that provides for the annual budget and expenditures of the Defense Department. Because it is considered a must-pass bill, it typically carries along a number of other bills into law.

The House of Representatives released the NDAA’s bill text for Saturday evening, clocking in at 1,813 pages. The report accompanying the bill, known as the joint explanatory statement, is 696 pages. You will not find the updated legislation on Congress.gov, which only publishes legislation after it has been “printed” by the Government Publishing Office, but the bill text is available on the House of Representatives’ official document repository docs.house.gov.

To give you a sense of how large the bill is, the table of contents is 36 pages long and the highest numbered section is 7812. There is no way any human being can read and understand the bill, certainly not before its expected vote on the House floor later this week. Many of the provisions have been “pre-conferenced”, which means House and Senate negotiators met in secret to work out agreements as to its text. In the midsts of time the two chambers would form a conference committee to work out differences between the chambers, but they have not done so in years because that process is more transparent and follows more strict rules on what is permissible.

It is unclear whether Republicans will be able to pass the bill in the House on their own. There is a good chance that the bill would fail when a handful of Republicans vote against the legislation. Accordingly, we may see Republicans seeking Democratic support and moving to pass it under suspension of the rules, which requires a 2/3s vote and would give the Democrats some leverage on its contents. Normally this legislation passes with overwhelming support of the chamber even though members will not be afforded any opportunity to offer amendments.

The Senate, which in practice requires 60 votes for passage, may see an opportunity for a handful of amendments in that chamber. To expedite passage — in other words, to avoid senators drawing out the process — we may see an amendment package added to the NDAA with a single up-or-down vote and a few senators obtaining a vote on their pet issue either with a 51 vote or 60 vote threshold. Some of these votes will be for messaging purposes and not expected to pass, but there is the possibility of substantive changes. It’s likely that the Senate would then “jam” the House with the amended bill, in essence presenting the revised text as a take-it-or-leave-it package to the House. This is considered a feature by some because the Senate version would contain provisions some members of the House would want but for political reasons could not otherwise include.

Other Legislation & Hearings This Week

The House of Representatives has twenty-four bills scheduled on the House floor this week, including twenty-one bills scheduled for consideration under the fast-track process called “suspension of the rules” and three bills teed up for consideration pursuant to rules that will govern their floor time. Most of the bills under suspension are short, ranging from disclosures on Amtrak bonuses to commercial driver’s license information systems. The House will consider the Liberty in Laundry Act (H.R. 7673) under a rule — legislation to stop the Energy Secretary from putting forth energy conservation standards for clothes washers, and a bill to expand the number of district court judges (S. 4199). On Monday, the House Rules committee will hold a hearing to promulgate resolutions covering the rules of debate and amendment for those two bills and the NDAA.

Twenty hearings are scheduled this week in both chambers, including twelve in the House of Representatives. All but two will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. They all appear to be comparatively low profile or focused on “red meat” issues. House Appropriators will hold a hearing on the District of Columbia’s budget, Senate Judiciary will look at mass deportations, House Foreign Affairs will hear on the Afghanistan withdrawal, and Senate Commerce will look at communications networks safety and security.

The Senate does not provide useful information about its floor schedule. As of the time of this writing, the last floor schedule they previewed was for last Thursday. We suspect the National Defense Authorization Act will be considered on the floor subject to a time agreement between the majority and minority. Senator Schumer has reportedly pledged to bring up the PRESS Act legislation this week — this legislation passed the House unanimously and would put into law current administration practice that prevents federal prosecutors from obtaining the confidential communications of journalists except in extreme circumstances.

We have not at all talked about funding to keep the federal government open, whether passage of a continuing resolution to keep the government open or passage of the underlying regular appropriations bills. Appropriations to fund agencies will expire on December 20th, so legislation must pass both chambers in the next eleven days or they will shut down. Up for debate — and negotiation — is what other provisions will ride along with the expected continuing resolution, such as funding for disaster relief.

Other Happenings

In the background of all this are fights over who will serve as leadership or members of the various committees in the 119th Congress, including several challenges to ranking Democrats on House committees. Also discussed are the contours of the House rules and the provisions under which the Senate will operate in the 119th Congress. There’s also significant work being done to line up hearings or votes on Trump’s cabinet nominees at the start of the new Congress.

Nearly all of this is behind the scenes.

Have a good week.

Senioritis

Amy West — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The House and Senate were both in session this week. The Senate continued to confirm judges. The House passed some bills; mostly about post offices and mostly by voice vote. But there's a few items worth mentioning in particular.

SHARE IT Act

H.R. 9566: SHARE IT Act, which would require governmentwide source code sharing between agencies, passed on a voice vote on Dec. 4 (Wednesday of this week).

PROVE It Act

H.R. 7198: Prove It Act of 2024, which would make it easier for small businesses to challenge regulations by demanding agencies prove the regulations aren't unduly burdensome, passed 208-196.

Reauthorizations

Government Administration

S. 709: Federal Agency Performance Act of 2023 passed 389-6. Because the House made changes, the Senate will have to vote on it again for it to become law.

Anti-communist School Curricula

H.R. 5349: Crucial Communism Teaching Act, which would create school curricula about how communism is bad, passed 327-62.

Matt Gaetz and The Report

Matt Gaetz withdrew as President-elect Trump's nominee for attorney general on Nov. 21. Then there was Thanksgiving. Now that everyone's back, the question is whether the Ethics Committee should release its report on him anyway. He is no longer in Congress nor, as far as anyone knows, is he up for any other positions in the Trump Administration.

The Ethics Committee met on Thursday, Dec. 5, but came to no resolution on the issue.

Also on Thursday, two resolutions from House Democrats were up for a vote to release the report anyway. Before the votes on the resolutions themselves, motions to refer each back to the Ethics Committee, and thus kill the resolutions themselves, were voted on. In both cases, all but one Republican voted to kill the resolutions themselves by referral back to the Ethics Committee: On Motion to Refer: H RES 1608 and On Motion to Refer: H.Res. 1609.

This is probably it for the report being released officially. It's always possible it could be leaked; Gaetz has a lot of enemies in the House. But most likely, it'll never see the light of day and Ethics will simply end the investigation with the end of the Congress on Jan. 3.

What's left for this Congress?

Quite a lot, but realistically, you should expect the Senate to keep confirming judges until the House comes up with a continuing resolution to keep the government open past Dec. 20. You should expect the House to do super easy / non-controversial stuff like post office namings and the continuing resolution. Any additional substantive legislation that gets out of the House will be a bonus.

See you all next week!

Coming up this week in the lame duck session

Daniel Schuman — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hello Govtrackers,

Welcome back to the lame duck session of Congress, the final weeks before the president, all of the House, and one third of the Senate end their terms. We will soon see Congress attempt to address major legislation concerning funding federal agencies ("appropriations") and push forward any remaining bills they'd like to see enacted before time runs out on January 3rd at noon.

We also will see Congress deal with administrative matters, such as the potential release of the House ethics report concerning former-Rep.Matt Gaetz (R-FL1), election of party and committee leadership for the next Congress, and the adoption of rules that govern the operations of the party caucuses in each chamber in the next Congress.

Bills this week

It's fast-track week in the House, with 52 bills teed-up under the 2/3rds majority for passage rules for less controversial bills. But two others may have some debate. One bill is the Prove It Act, which would give small businesses a new way to challenge regulations that impact them. The other is the Crucial Communist Teaching Act, which would create a voluntary national curriculum to teach students that communism is bad. This bill is valuable to the Republicans less because it might become law but more because it's a way to generate buzz around school curriculum issues.

There's also legislation concerning judicial districts, a bunch of bills concerning public lands, and a ton of legislation to rename post office buildings as well as issue gold medals and commemorative coins. I also see a reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, legislation to manage agency software and to allow for public repositories of code generated in federal agencies (the SHARE IT Act), a federal agency performance bill, a bill to exclude service-connected disability compensation when determining a person's wealth, and legislation to address discriminatory land use policies. There are also bills to update the U.S. Code based on newly enacted laws (here's an explainer).

In committee and in the Senate (they don't say)

There are only eleven committee meetings this week scheduled in the House, six in the Senate, and one joint committee meeting. The most consequential hearing is on the Veterans Administration's Budget shortfall, because the Veterans Administration is a tremendously expensive agency and their shortfall disrupted the appropriations process. I also suspect some attention will be paid to the House Oversight Committee's hearing on lessons learned from COVID-19, a hearing into the attempted assassination of Trump, and the public health dangers of PFAS exposures.

The Senate doesn't publish its floor schedule for the upcoming week in any meaningful way, although perhaps that will change under new Majority Leader Thune. On today's schedule: judicial nominations. Later this week? Who knows, but a notice from leadership for the upcoming week would be nice. My guess: confirming judges, confirming judges, confirming judges.

Funding the government before another shutdown

Back in September, Congress didn't reach an agreement on funding levels for federal agencies for the 2025 fiscal year, which started on October 1st, and instead passed a "continuing resolution" to keep funding levels the same until December 20th. Now that date is around the corner and non-essential programs are facing a possible shut-down yet again. (Ideally, Congress would pass full-year appropriations bills covering all federal agencies.). Should there be another continuing resolution, it's likely that other legislation would be attached to that funding bill, such as disaster relief. We will see.

What is the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 About?

Amy West — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On Nov. 12, 2024, the House passed H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2023. It would still need to pass the Senate before January 3, 2025 in order to become law as part of the 118th Congress. We do not know what its prospects are.

If it does not pass the Senate, then it can be reintroduced in the 119th Congress. Given that this time around, the bill was able to get enough signatures on a discharge petition to force it to the floor for a vote and then passed by 327-75 odds are good it would be introduced.

But what is the fairness that the bill is supposed to create? Well, come along as we take a look at two separate and fairly longstanding programs under Social Security: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which H.R. 82 would eliminate.

Purpose of Social Security

According to the Congressional Research Service,

Social Security spousal benefits were established in the 1930s to help support wives who are financially dependent on their husbands. It has since become more common for both spouses in a couple to work, leading to more cases in which both members of a couple are entitled to Social Security or other government pensions based on their own work records. Social Security does not provide both a full retired-worker and a full spousal benefit to the same individual.

There are a few different ways in which Social Security prevents both a full retired-work benefit and spousal benefit to the same person. They include the WEP and the GPO. H.R. 82 would have repealed both of these meaning that some people would now receive both a full retired-worker benefit and a full spousal benefit.

What is the Windfall Elimination Provision

According to another Congressional Research Service report

Its {WEP's} purpose was to remove an unintended advantage or “windfall” that the regular Social Security benefit formula provided to workers who also had pensions from noncovered employment.

What is "noncovered employment"? From the same report

Noncovered workers include state and local government employees covered by alternative staff-retirement systems; most permanent civilian federal employees hired before January 1, 1984, who are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or other alternative retirement plan; employees covered by the Railroad Retirement system; domestic, election, or farm workers with earnings below certain thresholds; people with low levels of net earnings from self-employment; and certain nonimmigrants.

Noncovered workers do not have Social Security taxes withheld from their paychecks while they're in the noncovered jobs. They may have funds withheld for the relevant pension programs, but not Social Security. Therefore, they're not paying into the Social Security system while they're in noncovered employment. But, if they end up receiving Social Security benefits as if they have been paying into the system, then the government considers that a "windfall".

What is the Government Pension Offset

According again to the Congressional Research Service,

The GPO reduces the Social Security spouse’s or widow(er)’s benefits (hereinafter “spousal benefits”) of most people who also receive a pension based on federal, state, or local government employment not covered by Social Security.

Why does it exist? Congress's rationale in 1977 was based on a Supreme Court opinion that

...made hundreds of thousands of male retirees who worked in noncovered government employment immediately eligible for Social Security benefits as spouses or widowers, adding hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the cost of the program and raising questions about whether these were unnecessary or “windfall” benefits.

Bottom Line

Social Security is intended for workers who have paid into the system and for the survivors of workers who have and are presumed to be dependent on those workers. When first developed in the 1930s, many women did not work outside their homes even if they needed or wanted to and were presumed to be dependent upon benefits from their husband's work. As more women entered the workforce and began to accrue Social Security benefits for themselves and as many workers, male and female, paid into alternate retirement systems rather than Social Security, paying out benefits in an equitable manner became more complicated. The WEP and GPO were intended to address the potential inequity. But, it also meant that some survivors/spouses of workers who did pay into Social Security saw their survivor/spousal benefits reduced because they had their own sources of benefits.

How Many Workers Are Affected?

The Congressional Research Service estimates that about 2 million or 3% of Social Security beneficiaries are affected by the WEP and a little under 750,000 or 1% of beneficiaries were affected by the GPO.

Is there a CBO Score?

Yes there is a CBO Score. The bill would obviously increase the amount of money being paid in Social Security benefits; that's the point. CBO estimates that the budget effect of these increased payments would be offset by decreased SNAP benefits to the same recipients because now they'd get more from Social Security. Here is the CBO's detailed report.

Where Can I learn More?

This is an extremely complex topic with a lot of jargon and fussy benefit formulas. The vast majority of workers - even when they've spent some years in noncovered employment - are not affected because of all the time they've spent working in jobs from which Social Security taxes are deducted. But if you think you might be one of the folks who would be affected or are just interested, we've found these guides useful:

Congressional Research Service's Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Bipartisan Policy Center's The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Social Security Administration's guide to the WEP
Social Security Administration's guide to the GPO

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope this addresses at least some of the messages we've received on this topic. Because we do not take positions on policy issues other than government data transparency (we literally wouldn't exist without open government data, so we're for it), we have intentionally not included any of the advocacy articles sent to us or the articles that came up in our research that were pro or con. We hope you all have a good feast weekend and we'll see you next week!

Unrelenting uncertainty

Amy West — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What a Week

The Senate Democratic majority made a deal with the Republican minority on judges. A few seats remain uncalled in the House. The House Republicans, with Democratic support, passed a bill giving a whole lot of power to the President. And then there's the many procedural questions hanging over former Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-FL1) failed bid for attorney general, some without precedent.

Senate Deals

The Senate pushed through longer hours than usual this week to confirm a number of judges nominated by President Biden. However, on Thursday Nov. 21, Majority Leader Schumer announced a deal to get through all but four nominations before the end of the term. The argument is that since the four excluded weren't going to get confirmed anyway due to Democratic opposition as well as Republican, this would allow the Senate to get what it could.

House Still not Fully Set for the 119th Congress

Three races remain uncalled. Two in California, one in Iowa. While Democratic wins in these races won't flip control of the House in the 119th, they would make the Republican majority even tighter than it has been this Congress. And that's before the Republicans who have been nominated to serve in President-elect Trump's administration leave.

House: Let's Give the President Even More Power

The House passed a number of bills this week, but we're going to focus on one that hands enormous power to President-elect Trump by way of the Treasury Department: H.R. 9495: Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. The bill has two parts. One part, which is uncontroversial, would provide tax relief for U.S. citizens unjustly imprisoned abroad.

The second part though, would give the treasury the power to strip non-profits it claims support “terrorism” of their tax-exempt status and does not require the treasury to adhere to any evidentiary standard in releasing its findings per the Guardian. Bill opponents argue that this would be a venue for the President-elect's vows of vengeance against people and groups he considers enemies.

The bill goes to the Senate next. Majority Leader Schumer has indicated he will not bring the bill to the Senate floor.

Now what with Gaetz?

To recap:

Until January 3, 2025, we are in the 118th Congress
On January 3, 2025, we flip to the 119th Congress
Gaetz was the representative for FL-1 for the 118th Congress
Gaetz resigned from the 118th last week
Gaetz was re-elected for the 119th
In his resignation letter he said he did not "intend" to take the seat to which he was re-elected for the 119th

Now that he's withdrawn from consideration for Attorney General,

Can he show up on January 3 and be sworn in? No one knows. It's unprecedented.
Could he run in the special election that will have to be held to fill the vacancy he has created? Here we have an answer! Yes he can. There are many examples of this over Congress's history. Possibly the closest match is Adam Powell. Amid allegations of corruption, he was elected to office. The House voted to exclude him and then he ran in the special election and won that. At the time, he didn't take the seat, but he ran still another time in 1969. This time he was allowed to join Congress but fined. Later in 1969, the Supreme Court threw out his exclusion. In 1970, he lost the primary to Charlie Rangel.

Other options for Gaetz include being appointed to finish Sen. Rubio's term since Rubio has been named the expected nominee for Secretary of State. The Senate's Ethics Committee is inactive, so that would be good for Gaetz. However, more likely is an appointment by Trump to a position that doesn't require Senate confirmation or going to work for a lobbying firm. By sheer volume of former Congress members who go on to lobby, lobbying is more likely. On the other hand, we all know by now that Trump hates a loss, so a non-confirmed position in the administration also seems quite probable.

Mailbag Next Week

Both chambers are out next week for Thanksgiving and will return the first week of December. Barring any other big news in the interim, we'll have a special mailbag post just on H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act in which we'll do our best to explain it in simpler terms than, say, the Social Security Administration uses. We are not experts so it won't be in depth, but we'll do our best.

Lame Duck Session Begins

Amy West — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Legislation & Nominations

In the first week back after the election, both the House and the Senate got a little work done. These are the same legislators that were serving before the election since newly elected legislators don't take office until January 3 at noon, when the 119th Congress begins, and also eight election races still remain uncalled in the House.

H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, which would repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions, passed 327-175. It goes to the Senate next. If the Senate doesn't act by January 3, 2025, the bill will die. But given that it garnered enough House support to both get a discharge petition and pass, it will likely be reintroduced in the next Congress.
H.R. 8446: Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024, which would combine the Department of Energy list of critical minerals with that of the US Geological Survey (thus, according to Politico, benefiting copper mining interests), passed 245-155.
H.R. 7409: HEATS Act, which would allow entities drilling for geothermal energy to skip federal permitting if the US government holds less than a 50% interest in the sub-surface area being drilled, passed 225-181.
On the Nomination PN923: David Huitema, of Maryland, to be Director of the Office of Government Ethics for a term of five years the vote was 50-46 on party lines. You can get more detail on the vote from Government Executive.

Cabinet Nominations from Congress

President-elect Trump has begun naming the folks he intends to nominate next year for cabinet positions once he becomes president on January 20 at noon. So far, he intends to nominate from Congress:

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for Secretary of State.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL6) for National Security Advisor (doesn't require Senate confirmation).
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY21) for UN Ambassador.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL1) for Attorney General.

All will have to resign from Congress before they can take another government position.

Gaetz is a special case. He has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for, among other things, sex with minors while he is an adult. The House Ethics Committee had planned to meet today, Friday, November 15th, 2024, to vote to release the report of their investigation. Some sources told journalists at Punchbowl News that the report would be damaging.

On Wednesday of this week (Nov. 13), Gaetz resigned from Congress and further said he "did not intend" to take the seat he just won last week in the 119th Congress.

As a result of his sudden resignation, the Ethics Committee chair, Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS3), says the Committee will not now release the report.

There are, as you'd expect, quite a few people who would like the Ethics Committee to release their report including numerous senators who will consider his nomination in the Senate. The Trump transition team is not doing background checks on at least some of their nominees so getting information on nominees may prove challenging.

In the absence of the report, we note that none of the other members who've been nominated for administration positions have resigned yet. But then, none of them had outstanding Ethics Committee investigations rumored to result in damaging reports.

How Big Will the Republicans' Majority Be in the 119th Congress?

We don't know for sure yet. Currently, the Republicans have won 218 of the races called. 8 seats remain uncalled. The best case scenario for Republicans would be 218+8 = 226 minus at least 3: Gaetz, Waltz, & Stefanik or 223 seats. But they might not win all of those outstanding seats. And, of course, President-elect Trump might nominate more House members for cabinet positions. We'll let you know more when there's more to know.

New Senate Majority Leader

For the first time in 18 years, the Senate Republicans have a new party leader and the next Majority Leader: Sen. John Thune (R-SD). Trump has recently been making big demands of the Senate. We won't know for a while how Sen. Thune will work with Trump in Thune's new role. So far, over the years, he's generally managed to forge a path that is neither sycophantic nor obstructive.

President-elect Trump asks Senate to take a recess

Joshua Tauberer — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

We're back. And it's a little sooner than we expected. President-elect Trump put his thumb on incoming Republican senators' leadership elections over the weekend by demanding that the Senate allow "recess appointments" next year. He wants to get around the Constitution's checks and balances that gives the Senate its role in confirming nominees. Here's why, and some other ways Trump could do it.

Recess appointments have been essentially defunct for more than a decade

Normally the President nominates and then the Senate confirms top government positions including more than 1,000 agency heads and senior officers, senior military officers including generals, as well as judges and Supreme Court justices. But there was a workaround: Article II, section 2, clause 3 of the Constitution gives the President the power to make temporary appointments when the Senate is out of session for at least ten days, called recess appointments. These appointments last for at most two years. The President can seek confirmation of the appointee to make it permanent, or not, and there are some laws that limit paying certain recess appointees to discourage doing it.

In the first 100 years of the country, the recess appointment power made sense: the Senate was out of session more than it was in session. In modern times, recess appointments had been a way for the President to use the Senate's short breaks to work around senators withholding their "advice and consent."

But the recess appointment power has been essentially defunct for more than a decade now (here's a chart). In 2011 the Senate simply stopped going into recess to prevent recess appointments, and in 2014 the Supreme Court upheld the Senate's practice after President Obama made recess appointments anyway. The last recess appointment seems to have been in 2010 (excluding the ones vacated in the 2014 ruling). Trump tried to use this power back in 2020 but, as far as I can tell, he didn't have the opportunity to do so because the Senate remained in session.

Over long holidays and other times when senators aren't expected to be working at the Capitol (like the last few weeks), one senator gavels in and gavels out every few days so that the time off isn't legally a recess. No recess, no recess appointment. These "pro forma" sessions have now long been standard practice.

Trump is asking the Senate to voluntarily go on a break without pro forma sessions for the 10 days long enough to be considered in recess, and the House would need to agree. If Congress chooses to abrogate one of its Constitutional duties, that would be concerning.

Why Trump may be asking

There are three reasons Trump may be thinking about it again. "Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more," Trump wrote on X last weekend, which is true: Vetting a nominee, holding a hearing, and making floor time for a vote can take time and hold up a President's agenda. It is often too slow. But the process is the point: It's a check on unqualified nominees.

But it doesn't take long if senators want to move fast. In Trump's first term, his Defense and Homeland Security Secretaries were confirmed the same day Trump took office, thanks to Senate leg-work that was finished before Inauguration Day, but the Senate held back others. Sometimes senators drag it out: Senate tradition allows any senator to request a "hold," such as when Sen. Tuberville (R) held the nomination of 400 military officers for 10 months last year over a largely unrelated policy dispute. Recess appointments could accelerate policy changes in Trump's first year.

Trump may also be hoping to appoint officials that he thinks may not get enough support in the Senate for confirmation. Although Republicans will hold 52 to 54 seats in the Senate, only 50 is needed for confirmation (with soon-to-be Vice President Vance casting a tie-breaking vote). But senators don't always fall in line. Recess appointments would get around needing a Senate vote. (The 60-vote filibuster or "cloture" threshold doesn't apply here. Since 2013, the threshold for nominations has been a simple majority. Democrats dropped the higher threshold for nominations that year to get around Republican no's.)

Lastly, Trump's would-be nominees may not want to go through the Senate's normally rigorous vetting process, background checks, and public hearings in order to keep their personal life and business dealings out of the public eye.

What could happen

The Senate could choose to go into recess, if the House agrees. A recess intended to abrogate a Constitutional duty would be very concerning, however. It would remove an important check on presidential power and let senators green-light appointments without being on the record voting for them, but that might be the point. If there are enough legislators in both chambers voting in favor of a recess (both chambers must agree), then there are probably enough senators to confirm the nomination anyway.

The President can't force the Senate into recess, although maybe the President and the House can together. That would be even more concerning. It's never happened.

The Senate could also change its norms by holding closed hearings to skip public vettings of nominees, they could confirm more nominees without a record of how each senator votes (which they do for many noncontroversial non-political nominations), or, better, they could find a way to vet nominees faster.

There are some alternatives for the President: Trump could use the Vacancies Reform Act to fill these roles temporarily by promoting top civil servants that support his policies. That's the best option for a temporary appointment. Congress may find some positions to give the President power to appoint without Senate consent (but the Constitution requires top decision-makers be Senate-confirmed), and they may also repeal those statutory limits on paying recess appointees. He could also simply leave these positions vacant to hamstring agencies that don't follow his agenda.

For a list of Senate-confirmed positions in the civil service, search the PLUM Data for "PAS" appointments.

H.R. 6513

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:26:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6513: COCOA Act of 2024

Date: Sep 13, 2024 2:26 p.m.

H.R. 6408

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:15:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6408: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to terminate the tax-exempt status of terrorist supporting organizations.

Date: Apr 15, 2024 10:15 a.m.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “H.R. 6408 would suspend the tax-exempt status of organizations that support terrorism. Under current law, an entity’s tax-exempt status is suspended if it is designated by the Department of State as a terrorist organization. H.R. 6408 would extend that prohibition to include organizations identified as having provided material support or resources to a terrorist or terrorist-supporting organization within the prior three years. The bill would establish procedures for the department to provide notice …

H.R. 6015

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:12:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6015: Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2023

Date: Apr 15, 2024 10:12 a.m.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “H.R. 6015 would require the Administration to issue regulations to ensure that humanitarian exceptions to sanctions on Iran do not facilitate international terrorism or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The bill would require periodic reports on the efficacy of those regulations. It also would direct the United States Executive Director at the World Bank to oppose financial assistance to Iran.”

H.R. 6245

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:11:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6245: Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act of 2023

Date: Apr 15, 2024 10:11 a.m.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “ H.R. 6245 would require the Administration to report to the Congress on funds and assets controlled by specified Iranian groups and individuals. That report would include information on how those funds were acquired, how they have been used, and which non-Iranian financial institutions hold any of those funds or assets or knowingly provide financial services to a person covered by the report. The initial report would be required within 180 days of …

H.R. 5917

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:02:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 5917: Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act

Date: Apr 15, 2024 10:02 a.m.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “ H.R. 5917 would reinstate sanctions against people who use civilians as human shields in conflict zones. The authority to impose those specific sanctions, which expired at the end of calendar year 2023, would be extended through calendar year 2030. The bill also would add members and supporters of the Palestine Islamic Jihad militant group who are involved in the use of civilians as human shields to the list of people who would …

H.R. 6603

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:58:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6603: No Technology for Terror Act

Date: Apr 15, 2024 9:58 a.m.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, “H.R. 6603 would codify existing export controls that restrict the transfer of U.S. technology to Iran. The bill would require the Department of Commerce to issue licenses to export component parts of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as cameras, sensors, and circuits, if Iran is the ultimate destination of those components.”

H.R. 5914

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:18:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 5914: VETT Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 1:18 p.m.

This bill would, according to the sponsor, "modify educational form requirements for veterans and establish an online portal through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve as a comprehensive resource center for trainings available to veterans through School Certifying Officials (SCOs)".

H.R. 4639

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:08:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 4639: Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 1:08 p.m.

This bill would prohibit law enforcement from buying data from data brokers to circumvent the fourth amendment.

H.R. 4877

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:57:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 4877: Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 12:57 p.m.

To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research, development, and demonstration program with respect to abandoned oil wells.

H.R. 4016

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:46:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 4016: Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 12:46 p.m.

For those veterans who become unable to manage their VA benefits, the VA has a program in which another person can serve as a fiduciary to help the veteran. However, as with anything, there's the potential for fraud. This bill would provide for reimbursement to veterans defrauded by fiduciaries.

H.R. 4824

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:38:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 4824: Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 12:38 p.m.

This bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to start performing carbon sequestration work and evaluating the effects of it. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, carbon sequestration can be divided into geologic and biologic sequestration. The former often can assist oil wells which are no longer producing at high levels to produce more oil. Geologic sequestration involves forcing CO2 into geologic formations while biologic generally refers to growing more vegetation, like trees, which can capture and store carbon.

H.R. 529

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:29:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 529: Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act

Date: Apr 14, 2024 12:29 p.m.

This bill would change the current limit of U.S. "customs waters" from 12 miles to 24 miles. This would double the distance from shore that Customs and Border Protection could operate. If passed, it would bring U.S. Customs authorizations into alignment with Presidential Proclamations from 1988 and 1999.

H.R. 1792

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:28:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 1792: South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act of 2023

Date: Apr 5, 2024 3:28 p.m.

This bill "would remedy differences between amendments made to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty in 2016 and current U.S. law." The bill has strong support from the U. S. tuna fishing industry. Per its sponsor, in particular it would stabilize high-seas fishing days and codify access to various island nations’ Exclusive Economic Zone waters.

H.R. 788

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:25:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 788: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023

Date: Jan 26, 2024 11:25 a.m.

Per the Library of Congress, this bill "...prohibits the federal government from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States that provides for a payment to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments that (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case."

What that means in …

H.R. 6830

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:39:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6830: Books Save Lives Act

Date: Dec 27, 2023 9:39 a.m.

The lead House sponsor concluded a roundtable discussion about the bill by reading aloud the Langston Hughes poem “Harlem.”

Context

Book challenges and removals from U.S. public school classrooms and libraries have reached record highs in 2023, driven in large part by conservative groups like Moms for Liberty.

Most of the challenged or removed titles portray or advocate progressive messages about sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, or race. The most challenged title last school year was Tricks by …

S. 3509

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:38:00 +0000

Bill Summary

S. 3509: Healthy MOM Act

Date: Dec 21, 2023 11:38 a.m.

The Guinness World Record for longest pregnancy in the animal kingdom is held by the alpine salamander of the Swiss Alps, at up to four or five years.

Context

There are three main ways people can get health insurance: through their job, through government programs like Medicare (for those ages 65+) or Medicaid (for those below a certain income), or they can register for a subsidized plan through HealthCare.gov, nicknamed Obamacare.

A record 16.3 million people signed up via …

H.R. 6716

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:38:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6716: Healthy MOM Act

Date: Dec 21, 2023 11:38 a.m.

The Guinness World Record for longest pregnancy in the animal kingdom is held by the alpine salamander of the Swiss Alps, at up to four or five years.

Context

A record 16.3 million people signed up via …

S. 3483

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:26:00 +0000

Bill Summary

S. 3483: Consequences for Climate Vandals Act

Date: Dec 20, 2023 10:26 a.m.

Jackson Pollock paintings *already *look like they’ve been vandalized.

Context

In 2022 and 2023, climate activists have increasingly taken to vandalizing works in art museums to stage public protests for their cause.

In the U.S., two climate activists in April smeared red and black paint over the glass display case for the sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by Edgar Degas at D.C.’s National Gallery of Art.

Up north, a climate activist in August smeared washable pink paint directly onto the …

H.R. 6592

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:21:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6592: Fight Book Bans Act

Date: Dec 18, 2023 10:21 a.m.

After the Rapid City, South Dakota school system removed the Dave Eggers novel The Circle, Eggers provided hundreds of free copies to the city’s high school seniors.

Context

Book removals from U.S. public school classrooms and libraries increased by +33% during the 2022–23 school year, according to PEN America.

Most censored titles contain unfiltered depictions of — or progressive messages about — racism, sexuality, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The most censored title last school year was …

H.R. 6627

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:27:00 +0000

Bill Summary

H.R. 6627: To reinstate pilots fired or forced to resign because of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Date: Dec 14, 2023 12:27 p.m.

Republicans say the last time a pilot was treated this unfairly was when the 1969 sketch comedy show *Turn On *was cancelled after its first commercial break.

Context

In September 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating the Covid vaccine for federal employees and federal contractors. Since most major U.S. airlines have federal contracts, most of those companies implemented a corporate vaccine requirement in accordance with Biden’s executive order.

The actual punishment varied. While both American …

S. 3960

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 3960: A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide a good faith exception to the imposition of fines for false assertions and certifications, and for other purposes.

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 3613

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 3613: Improving Federal Building Security Act of 2024

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 3475

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 3475: Strengthening the Commercial Driver’s License Information System Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 2781

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 2781: Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 1478

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 1478: A bill to designate United States Route 20 in the States of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts as the “National Medal of Honor Highway”, and for other purposes.

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 310

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 310: Disaster Contract Improvement Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 50

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 50: Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act of 2024

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 17, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 17, 2024.

S. 4243

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 4243: Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 12, 2024.

H.R. 5863

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 5863: Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 12, 2024.

H.R. 3821

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 3821: Firefighter Cancer Registry Reauthorization Act of 2023

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 12, 2024.

H.R. 1432

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 1432: VETT Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 12, 2024.

H.R. 537

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 537: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Some of this bill was incorporated into S. 91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act, which was enacted (🖊️ by president) on December 12, 2024.

S. 91

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 91: Forgotten Heroes of the Holocaust Congressional Gold Medal Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 12, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 12, 2024.

S. 4908

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

S. 4908: James R. Dominguez Memorial Act of 2024

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

All of this bill was incorporated into H.R. 5799: James R. Dominguez Memorial Act of 2023, which was enacted (🖊️ by president) on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 8932

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 8932: FAFSA Deadline Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 7764

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 7764: Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 7438

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 7438: FIFA World Cup 2026 Commemorative Coin Act

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 7218

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 7218: BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act of 2024

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 5799

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 5799: James R. Dominguez Memorial Act of 2023

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

H.R. 5536

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

H.R. 5536: Grant Transparency Act of 2023

Type: Enacted — Signed by the President

Date: Dec 11, 2024

Last Action: Signed by President.

Explanation: This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on December 11, 2024.

Hacking 2024 by No Starch

No Starch Press — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Evading EDR, The Tangled Web, Evasive Malware, Practical IoT Hacking, Windows Security Internals, Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations, and more!
Level up your hacking and cyber security skills with this bursting tech bundle from No Starch! Learn from top hacking courses like Hacks, Leaks, and Revelations, Windows Security Internals, Practical IoT Hacking, and more! Get 15+ guides and courses to help you better understand the intricacies of hacking so you can better defend yourself from future cyber attacks. Get professional level resources for both novice and seasoned hackers, and help support the Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU Foundation with your purchase!

Sonic the Hedgehog Comics Collection

IDW Publishing — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 1: Fallout, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 4: Infection, and more!
He’s the fastest thing alive, and the star of some amazing comics. Sonic the Hedgehog spotlights our latest comics bundle. This bursting library contains 10+ issues and volumes of adventures featuring Tails, Knuckles, and other iconic characters from the Sonic Universe. Get fan favorite titles like Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Deluxe Edition, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 1: Fallout, Sonic the Hedgehog, Vol. 2: The Fate of Dr. Eggman, and more! You better catch up and get this great bundle today, and help support Children's Miracle Network with your purchase.

Manara, Moebius, and the Metabaron by Humanoids

Humanoids — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get , , Metal Hurlant: Selected Works, and more!
Lose yourself in an awesome comics collection featuring Metal Hurlant: Selected Works, The Incal Vol. 1-6, The Metabaron Vol. 1-6, and more! Feel the power of turning the digital page on a gripping story with a warm drink on a cool winter day and get our latest comic book bundle by Humanoids Publishing today! Since their founding in the early 1970s, Humanoids Publishing has embodied creative innovation, a fiercely independent spirit, and a drive to break new ground within the medium. Get 50+ titles, and help support the Freedom to Read Foundation with your purchase!

Hellboy Universe Megabundle

Dark Horse Comics — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Mike Mignola's Hellboy 2023, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: 1952, Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1956, Abe Sapien Volume 1: The Drowning, Mike Mignola's B.P.R.D. by Dark Horse 2024, and more!
Lose yourself in the renowned Hellboy comic series in this Megabundle from Dark Horse Comics! Get 25+ novels, comics, and graphic novels exploring the rich, dark, hilarious and action-packed world of the demonic superhero, Hellboy. This Megabundle features red hot Hellboy titles like Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: 1952-1956, Mike Mignola's Hellboy 2023, Abe Sapien Volume 1: The Drowning, and more! Explore the expansive Hellboy Universe and help support World Central Kitchen with your purchase!

Free League RPG Mega Bundle

Free League — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Dragonbane Core Set, Symbaroum Core Rulebook, Forbidden Lands Core Game, Coriolis - Atlas Compendium, Mutant: Year Zero Core Book, Tales from the Loop RPG Core Rulebook, and more!
Gather up your party for endless adventure with this bundle of tabletop role-playing books from Free League Publishing! Our Free League RPG Mega Bundle features a wide variety of TTRPG games for you to enjoy with your friends. Get explorer’s kit contains rulebooks, sourcebooks, and campaign resources for Forbidden Lands RPG, Tales from the Loop RPG, Mutant: Year Zero, and more. Get everything you need to embark on an epic journey together and help support Direct Relief with your purchase!

IT Manager's Toolkit by Taylor & Francis

Taylor & Francis Group — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get The CIO's Guide to Risk, Evolving Toolbox for Complex Project Management, The IoT Architect's Guide to Attainable Security and Privacy, Big Data for Big Decisions: Building a Data-Driven Organization, and more!
Learn the skills and knowledge you need to lead in information technology with this bundle of elite courses from Taylor & Francis. Inside this 25+ curriculum, you’ll get expert insights from courses like The IoT Architect's Guide to Attainable Security and Privacy, Big Data for Big Decisions: Building a Data-Driven Organization, Evolving Toolbox for Complex Project Management, and more. Deepen your understanding whether you’re a newer manager or a seasoned professional, and help support Every Child a Reader with your purchase!

Books About Games by Boss Fight Games

Boss Fight Books — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get ZZT, Galaga, Postal, and more!
Explore the detailed history, production process, and secrets of your favorite titles. This 30+ book collection features ebooks on gaming’s greatest games like GoldenEye 007: Deluxe Edition, Red Dead Redemption, Final Fantasy VI, Majora's Mask, and more from Boss Fight Books. This massive bundle will teach you about games that shaped the trajectory of the industry. Lose yourself in this expansive library, and help support Against Malaria Foundation with your purchase!

Tools for Data Engineers by Packt

Packt — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Practical Data Quality, Data Governance Handbook, Data Engineering with dbt, The Ultimate Guide to Snowpark, The Definitive Guide to Data Integration, and more!
Strengthen your skills and knowledge in data engineering with the Ultimate Data Engineer’s Cookbook Bundle of ebooks Packt. Inside this 20+ book library, you’ll get expert insights from courses like Data Governance Handbook, Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark Using Python, The Ultimate Guide to Snowpark, and more. Deepen your understanding whether you’re a novice or a seasoned professional, and help support Coral Guardian with your purchase!

The Magical Worlds of V. E. Schwab: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Shades of Magic series, and More

Macmillan Publishers — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Warm Up, Vicious, A Darker Shade of Magic, The Fragile Threads of Power, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and more!
Dive into the imaginative worlds and captivating stories of #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab with this literary bundle! This multi-book collection features bestselling titles like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, A Darker Shade of Magic, The Fragile Threads of Power, and more. Amazing modern fiction is being written every year—expand your personal library and discover some of the best new novels on the market. Lose yourself in this expansive collection, all while supporting The Trevor Project with your purchase!

Your Wellness & Happiness Toolkit by New World Library

New World Library — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Panic Free, Pain Solution, Say it Out Loud, Career Self-Care, Healing with Nature, Yoga for Busy People, and more!
Learn to prioritize your wellness and happiness with our newest bundle from New World Library! Get ebooks like Career Self-Care, Healing with Nature, Say it Out Loud, and Panic Free. You are important and you’re worth treating yourself right—get the bundle that can help you become the best version of yourself. Plus, your purchase helps support World Central Kitchen!

Wholesome Snack 2024

Publishers — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Fae Farm, Minami Lane, Rusty's Retirement, Little Kitty, Big City, Spirit City Lofi Sessions, and more!

Looking to unwind with some cozy games? The Wholesome Snack Bundle celebrates the Wholesome Snack indie game showcase and offers a selection of titles brimming with charm. Step into the paws of an adventurous feline in Little Kitty, Big City. Immerse yourself in a world where farming meets magic in Fae Farm, and relax to the soothing vibes of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions. These games—and more—invite you to explore the softer, kinder side of gaming and help support World Central Kitchen with your purchase!

Wholesome Snack: The Game Awards Edition returns December 10, 2024 starting at 12:00 PM Pacific, 3:00 PM Eastern. The digital showcase will be presented via YouTube and Twitch livestreams.

Silent Night, Deadly Night: A GOG Bundle

Publishers — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Furi, KUNAI, Sclash, Aragami 2, Slave Zero X, They Always Run, and more!
Become one with the night—vanquish your foes silently and efficiently with this bundle of amazing stealth and action games! The Silent Night, Deadly Night Bundle features heart-pumping titles like Aragami 2; Slave Zero X; Furi; and more! Add jaw-dropping stealth action titles to your personal libraries today—and help support Direct Relief with your purchase!

Vegas Pro 2024

MAGIX — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Get Best of Rock, VEGAS Edit 21, Eurodance EDM Move It, and more!
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Watch: A satellite time-lapse shows the world's biggest iceberg is on the move again

Manuela López Restrepo — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:03:19 +0000

A23a, the world's largest and oldest iceberg, is finally cruising again through icy ocean waters after an unexpected delay.

This summer, A23a got stuck near the South Orkney Islands, twirling in what's known as a Taylor column.

Satellite video showed the iceberg spinning whimsically in place, a process that also delays melting, and then finally breaking free.

As NPR's Juliana Kim reported in August, the Taylor column is a fluid mechanics phenomenon that can be described as "a rotating cylinder that forms when there's an obstruction in a flow" — in other words, an ocean vortex.

Of course, this is just a blip in the long, storied life of A23a. After first calving, or breaking off, from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, the iceberg spent some 30 years grounded in the seafloor of the Weddell Sea.

In 2020, A23a escaped and began its slow journey north before being caught up in the Taylor column.

The mega iceberg weighs nearly a trillion tons and is about the size of Rhode Island, according to the British Antarctic Survey.

Laura Taylor, a biogeochemist, observed A23a up close and personal last year aboard the British Antarctic Survey's BIOPOLE cruise.

"We know that these giant icebergs can provide nutrients to the waters they pass through, creating thriving ecosystems in otherwise less productive areas," she said. "What we don't know is what difference particular icebergs, their scale, and their origins can make to that process."

Samples from the environments touched by A23a's path will give insight into the life that could come in its wake, the impact it could have on carbon levels in the ocean water and its balance with the atmosphere, Taylor said.

That is increasingly important as climate change leads to warmer temperatures and rapidly melting ice caps and glaciers.

So what's next for this Antarctic darling? The British Antarctic Survey says that if all goes according to their predictions, A23a will "continue its journey into the Southern Ocean following the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is likely to drive it towards the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia."

There, the survey predicts, the iceberg "will encounter warmer water and is expected to break up into smaller icebergs and eventually melt."

But if there's anything we've learned about this funky iceberg, it's that things don't always go according to plan.

Starbucks workers say they will begin a strike in 3 cities on Friday

Ayana Archie — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:29:40 +0000

Starbucks employees and supporters react as votes are read during a union-election watch party in 2021 in Buffalo, N.Y. Starbucks workers voted to unionize over the company's objections, pointing the way to a new labor model for the 50-year-old coffee giant. Joshua Bessex/AP

The Starbucks Workers United union says baristas are going on strike for five days in three metropolitan areas, as the organization and Starbucks have failed to agree on a new contract before the end of the year.

SWU says the strikes will start Friday and go until Christmas Eve, a stretch it is calling "'Twas the Strike Before Christmas."

The union said some workers in Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago will join the picket line as Starbucks has recently offered a contract that included no raises for the immediate future, and raises of 1.5% in coming years.

🔥 TWAS THE STRIKE BEFORE CHRISTMAS! 🔥✊

Starbucks baristas are going on five days of escalating ULP strikes in response to the company backtracking on our promised path forward, starting tomorrow in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle... and soon, from coast-to-coast. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/MXP07DJhEJ
— Starbucks Workers United (@SBWorkersUnited) December 20, 2024

The union said Tuesday that 98% of Starbucks Workers United members voted Tuesday to authorize a strike.

Starbucks Workers United workers first unionized in 2021, and now represent more than 10,000 employees. They are asking for a minimum wage of $20, annual raises of 5%, a fair scheduling process, better healthcare and enhanced paid leave protocols.

In a statement emailed to NPR on Friday, Starbucks said it has held more than nine bargaining sessions with the union and reached over 30 "meaningful agreements on hundreds of topics" since April. But said Workers United proposals call for an immediate increase in the minimum wage of hourly partners by 64%, which it views as "not sustainable."

In February, Starbucks and the union released statements saying they had made progress in negotiations, and Starbucks said it would work in 2024 to resolve litigation between the company and the union and develop a fairer process in letting employees organize.

"Since February, Starbucks has repeatedly pledged publicly that they intended to reach contracts by the end of the year – but they've yet to present workers with a serious economic proposal," the union said.

Starbucks Workers United said the strikes would continue to "escalate … unless Starbucks honors our commitment to work towards a foundational framework."

Starbucks said Friday that union delegates "prematurely ended our bargaining session this week" and called on them to return to the table.

"We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements," a Starbucks spokesperson said.

NPR's Rachel Treisman contributed reporting.

History has never ended, but are we at a crossroads again?

Ben Ansell — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Half of the world's population lives in countries where elections took place this year. But only around half of those elections were in countries where they could be viewed as free and fair. Boris Zhitkov/Getty Images

Ben Ansell is a professor of comparative democratic institutions at the University of Oxford's Nuffield College. He is a fellow of the British Academy and the host of the What's Wrong with Democracy? podcast. This article is published as part of NPR's 2024 Year of Global Elections series.

Thirty-five years ago, political scientist Francis Fukuyama wrote perhaps the best-known statement on the then-apparent triumph of liberal democracy. "The End of History?" was published in 1989 in The National Interest as the Berlin Wall fell, seemingly ushering in a wave of regime change that would overwhelm every last dictatorship.

In Fukuyama's telling, the idea of liberal democracy was an end point to which every country would gradually travel, even if haltingly. The rival ideologies of the 20th century — fascism, nationalism, communism — had lost the battle of ideas. In Fukuyama's own words, "The triumph of the West, of the Western idea, is evident first of all in the total exhaustion of viable systematic alternatives to Western liberalism." This triumph was one of both economic liberalism — mass consumerism — and political liberalism — free and fair democratic elections, the rule of law and free speech.

The Berlin Wall has fallen. But new walls have risen

But did the West really triumph? The 1990s were the apex of hubris — perhaps unsurprisingly given they were the very last decade of a very long millennium of human history. The new age of the 21st century has, however, not been the utopia envisioned at the fin de siècle. According to scholars at the V-Dem Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, the average level of democracy in the world reached its peak in the first decade of the new millennium but has been in decline since then. Not much of a decline to be sure — only back to the levels of the mid-1990s — but the tide of democratization has ebbed.

And if we dig a little deeper, the picture is more concerning, because democracy has weakened substantially in some of the world's largest countries. Adjusting for population, the average level of democracy is back to its level in 1989. The Berlin Wall has fallen. But new walls have risen.

West Berliners crowd in front of the Berlin Wall early on Nov. 11, 1989, as they watch East German border guards demolish a section of the wall to open a new crossing point between East and West Berlin near the Potsdamer Platz public square. Gerard Malie/AFP via Getty Images

This pattern has been international, from Turkey to Venezuela to India. Turkey witnessed allies of its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, attempt to remove term limits. Venezuela tipped almost completely into autocracy during the regimes of Hugo Chávez and now President Nicolás Maduro — most recently producing an election whose results favoring the opposition were blithely ignored by Maduro, who has cracked down on protest instead. Finally, India, the world's most populous democracy, has teetered on the brink of being downgraded to an "electoral autocracy" by social scientists, because of restrictions on free speech, religiously polarized politics and attacks on the independence of the judiciary.

Year of global elections, but not always democratic ones

So we began 2024 in a state of potential democratic peril. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa declared that this year we would discover whether democracy "falls off a cliff." Why 2024 in particular? It is the year when the greatest number of people ever have been able to vote in elections.

Elections, yes. But not always democratic ones. Half of the world's population — 4 billion people — live in countries where elections took place this year. But only around half of those elections were in countries where they could be viewed as free and fair.

The major elections in the U.S., France, the U.K., South Korea, South Africa and Brazil, while sometimes occurring in fraught and polarized conditions, were conducted peacefully and without fraud. But democratic elections in India were marred by the disqualification and arrests of opposition leaders, and those in Mexico were tarnished by violence; elections in Turkey and Pakistan witnessed accusations of voter fraud and party interference; and in some particularly authoritarian cases, such as Venezuela, Bangladesh and Russia, the elections were systematically biased in favor of the ruling party.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reacts following the presidential election results on July 29. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

That Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuela's Maduro held elections they had no intention of abiding by if they lost suggests that the phrase "year of elections" hides many sins — and that Fukuyama's view that liberal democracy was on a perpetual march forward was overoptimistic.

Europe

Why Russia holds presidential elections even though Putin is all but assured a win

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A battle between nationalism and liberalism

But Fukuyama's argument was about the power of ideas, and perhaps we can chalk up one victory for him here. The idea of national elections, even when they are not taken seriously, has come to prevail everywhere in the world, save in the very few countries that lack national elections, such as China and Saudi Arabia.

And that means democracy will always be in with a fighting chance — because sometimes manipulating an election can backfire, as Sheikh Hasina, the erstwhile prime minister of Bangladesh, learned this year. Bangladesh's opposition boycotted the country's obviously unfair elections. Hasina "won" the elections but had to resign later in the year because of a mass uprising incited by the government's heavy-handed reaction to protests about job quotas.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders and supporters march in protest in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, on Nov. 8. Abdul Goni/AFP via Getty Images

What's more, in competitive elections in India, South Africa and Turkey, strongman leaders and dominant parties had to accept disappointing election results and a revitalized opposition. The year of elections has shown us that democracy has indeed survived, perhaps even been bolstered. However, the "liberal" part of liberal democracy is in widespread retreat.

History of Our Time

Francis Fukuyama On Why Liberal Democracy Is In Trouble

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National elections are now dominated not by liberals seeking to expand individual rights and international freedoms, but by nationalists emphasizing border control, national identity and the need to abandon international commitments. Such nationalists are no longer confined to the "periphery" of the West — Hungary, Poland and Turkey — but to its long-standing core: the U.K., France, Germany and the United States.

Nationalist parties surged in elections to the European Parliament, the British general election, the French and Austrian parliamentary elections, the Romanian presidential election and German regional elections. Rather than producing a wave of nationalist leaders, this has instead led to chaos. Countries long dominated by mainstream parties now have starkly fragmented electorates and embattled governing coalitions. In Germany, this has forced new national elections; in Romania, the canceling of the second round of its presidential election; and in France, the total collapse of now-former Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government.

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump celebrate as Fox News declares him the next U.S. president during an election night event in West Palm Beach, Fla., early on Nov. 6. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's recent victory on the back of an "America First" campaign shows just how powerful nationalist messages have become electorally, even in the most long-standing liberal democracies. There is an irony to Trump's victory. While President Biden and Vice President Harris argued that Trump was a threat to democracy, he has been its great beneficiary in this election cycle: A discontented electorate took its opportunity to "throw the bums out."

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Germany, China and Russia react to Trump's victory

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Still, Trump has shown less interest than most American presidents in promoting or securing democracy abroad. His vision is one of nation first, universal liberal ideals last. Liberalism has not triumphed. Even in America, its ancestral homeland, it is battered and bruised.

Fukuyama ended his famous essay with a tongue-in-cheek remark that we would come to feel nostalgia for the era of history in a posthistorical world of universal liberal democracy. We would tire of "centuries of boredom." Alas, no such worry was necessary. History remains very much alive. We are today witnessing a battle between nationalism and liberalism that will write our own time indelibly into the history books of tomorrow.

Big Lots says it is having going-out-of-business sales as it seeks a new buyer

Ayana Archie — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:27:35 +0000

A shopper leaves the Big Lots store on Dec. 4, 2012 in Berlin, Vt. Toby Talbot/AP

National retailer Big Lots says it will begin holding going-out-of-business sales at its remaining stores because it still has not found a buyer to boost it from bankruptcy.

The discount chain has not said it is going out of business. In a statement released Thursday, however, it said it is holding the going-out-of-business sales to protect the value of the company. It previously was in talks with Nexus Capital Management to purchase it, but that deal has fallen through, the retailer said. The company said it is still pursuing an alternative transaction with Nexus or another party.

Big Lots said its goal is to complete a transaction by early January.

"We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale," Big Lots CEO Bruce Thorn said in the company's statement. "While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process."

A going concern deal is when a corporation up for sale is able to show that it still has enough resources to continue operating indefinitely, and does not need to be liquidated.

The sales are happening online and in-store.

Big Lots announced in September it was filing for bankruptcy and closing stores. It still has more than 900 remaining.

Saturday is the winter solstice. Make the most of the shortest day of the year

Rachel Treisman — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:01:00 +0000

People soak up the sun on deck chairs in the Allgäu region of southern Germany in 2020. Saturday is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Benjamin Liss/dpa/AFP via Getty Images

Saturday is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It's not only the shortest day of the year, but the official arrival of astronomical winter.

"At 4:20 a.m. EST, the solstice marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere," NASA says on its website.

That means from now until the end of June, each day will get a little bit longer — and brighter (no matter what any famous animal prognosticators may predict).

In the meantime, there's plenty to cherish during the cold season, and we're not just talking about the December holidays.

Here are some ideas for how to celebrate the solstice and welcome winter:

Try out traditions from around the world

The winter solstice has long symbolized a time of renewal and ritual for people all over the world, as NPR has reported.

In Iran and many Central Asian countries, people gather to eat (especially red fruits like pomegranates and watermelons), drink and read poetry through the night. Some Japanese traditions include taking a hot bath with the citrus fruit yuzu and eating foods that contain the "n" sound (like udon) for good luck.

To learn more about winter solstice celebrations from both hemispheres, click here.

Stream the sunrise at Stonehenge

Each December and June, visitors flock to the ancient monument in England to celebrate the solstice.

The rock formation was built to align with the sun on those days, making for a dramatic view. On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the southwest of the stone circle (as opposed to the summer solstice, when the sun's first rays shine into the heart of the monument).

The site allows entry — free of charge — for several hours on Saturday morning. If you can't make the trip in person, you can catch a free livestream of the sunrise on the English Heritage YouTube and Facebook pages. It's best suited for night owls or early birds, since it starts around 2:30 a.m. ET.

Enjoy the best of the Paul Winter Consort's solstice concerts

Fittingly named saxophone player Paul Winter has been ushering in the winter solstice with a special concert for decades.

Since 1980, the Grammy winner and a slew of special guests have gathered in New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to mark the occasion with music and dance. The event has found new homes since the COVID-19 pandemic, this year touring 10 acoustic venues throughout New England.

The sun rises over a snow-covered landscape in Denderhoutem, Belgium. Hans Vandendriessche/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images

NPR's broadcast of Winter's concerts has become a beloved seasonal tradition in itself. Last year, Winter combed through the archives and picked out his favorite moments from four decades of solstice celebrations. You can listen to them here.

Read The Shortest Day and hear an interview with its award-winning author

Susan Cooper's children's book The Shortest Day, released in 2019, is a celebration of light returning after the winter solstice.

The text of the book is actually a poem she wrote in the 1970s for The Christmas Revels (an annual celebration of the solstice), and it has been read at such events for more than four decades. Cooper, herself a Newbery Medal winner, partnered with Caldecott-honor illustrator Carson Ellis to bring its colorful imagery and wintry atmospherics to life.

Read or listen to NPR's story on the beautiful book, and hear snippets of Cooper reading it out loud.

Prepare to do some "wintering"

Several recent works offer sage advice on how to "winter" — which essentially means embracing the season, not just weathering it.

This year, health psychologist Kari Leibowitz published How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. It examines how people in places with extreme winters — from Scandinavia to northern Japan — have positive attitudes about the season, and the book offers practical tips for those who want a warmer outlook.

As Leibowitz told NPR, those tips include bundling up to reclaim a summer activity in the winter (like a beach barbecue or park picnic), making a list of winter things you look forward to and trading your home's "big light" for cozier candles and lamps.

Another helpful manual is Katherine May's 2020 book, Wintering. The English author acknowledges that winter can be a painful and isolating time — but also one of transformation. Her book, which involved traveling to far-flung, freezing destinations, explores how to confront the season head-on.

"Every time we winter, we develop a new knowledge about how to go back into the world," May told Morning Edition that year. "We learn about our tastes and preferences. We learn about what makes us happy."

The sun shines between snow-covered branches at the Hareskoven forested area near Copenhagen, Denmark. Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

Cozy up with the year's best books, shows and films

With winter weather closing in, it's a great time to pick out your next entertainment obsession, from a TV series to binge with your family to an album you can play on loop while defrosting in the car.

NPR has you covered with recommendations in every category, thanks to staff members who consumed culture in every possible form all year long. They've put together a complete guide to the best of 2024.

NPR's annual book recommendations engine is back with over 350 new titles (plus all of those from years past, going back over a decade). Critics compiled their favorite shows and movies of the year — searchable by both genre and where to watch it.

NPR Music has pulled together a few lists of its own, including the 124 best songs and 50 best albums of the year. Plus, check out NPR's favorite games of the year, sortable by platform and genre.

Take care of yourself

Maybe darker days are making you crave better sleep or have you feeling stuck in a rut. Perhaps you're looking for tips on protecting your home from winter weather, your car from icy roads and your family from COVID-19. You could be curious about the benefits of cold plunging or how to dress for a winter workout.

Enter NPR's Life Kit, with expert advice for all sorts of physical and mental health topics. Whether you're looking to get a head start on your New Year's resolutions or just taking winter day by day, here are some resources that can help:

Move more, sit less and celebrate outside this holiday season
What should you wear to run in the cold? Build an outfit with this paper doll
How to cope with SAD, or seasonal affective disorder
How to thrive, not just survive in winter
7 tiny hacks that can improve your to-do list
5 quick tricks to zap holiday stress
COMIC: Science-backed mood boosters to (almost instantly) snap you out of a funk
What do you want to accomplish in 2025? Get started with Life Kit's interactive Resolution Planner

A version of this story originally published in 2021.

'Bill of the Month': The series that dissects and slashes medical bills

Elisabeth Rosenthal — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:38 +0000

Since 2018, "Bill of the Month" has investigated medical bills totaling almost $6.3 million — including nearly $2.8 million that patients were expected to pay out-of-pocket. Cited at statehouses, the U.S. Capitol, and the White House, the series has led to changes in health policy. Bram Sable-Smith/KFF Health New Julia Robinson Lauren Justice Heidi de Marco Zack Wittman Nitashia Johnson Kevin Painchaud and Laura Buckman for KFF Health

Over 6 1/2 years ago, KFF Health News and NPR kicked off "Bill of the Month," a crowdsourced investigation highlighting the impact of medical bills on patients.

The goal was to understand how the U.S. health care system generates outsize bills and to empower patients with strategies to avoid them. We asked readers and listeners to submit their bills — and they kept coming. "Bill of the Month" has received nearly 10,000 submissions, each a picture of a health system's dysfunction and the financial burden it places on the patients.

Since 2018, we have analyzed bills totaling almost $6.3 million — including nearly $2.8 million that patients were expected to pay out-of-pocket.

Cited at statehouses and the U.S. Capitol, the series has led to changes in health policy. Two patients featured by "Bill of the Month" were invited to the White House in 2019 to discuss their surprise bills: Elizabeth Moreno's $18,000 urine test and Drew Calver's $109,000 heart attack. In 2020, Congress passed the federal No Surprises Act, shielding patients from most out-of-network bills in emergencies, among other protections.

Last year, the Biden administration announced plans to lower health costs that included targeting a loophole that allowed health providers to evade the surprise-billing law — a problem first identified by "Bill of the Month."

Many patients submitted high prescription drug bills. In treatment for prostate cancer, Paul Hinds was billed nearly $74,000 for two shots of an old drug called Lupron, which can cost just a couple of hundred dollars overseas.

Now, the federal government has identified Lupron as one of the medicines that has seen its price rise faster than inflation — meaning its manufacturer owes rebates to Medicare under President Joe Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

The law also authorized the Biden administration to begin negotiating the price of specified drugs for Medicare patients, who now benefit from a cap on the price of insulin.

Despite having insurance, Bisi Bennett was charged $550,124 after her son was in the NICU for nearly two months. Zack Wittman/KFF Health News

"Bill of the Month" has helped many patients and readers get their medical bills reduced or forgiven. Roughly 1 in 3 bills were resolved for the patient by the time their feature was published.

Bisi Bennett was charged $550,124 after her son was in the NICU for nearly two months — despite having insurance. In a recent interview, nearly three years after her bill was investigated by "Bill of the Month," she said she initially thought resolving the bill would be simple.

"Nine months later, 10 months later, I was still fighting with them," she said. "I really did feel like it kind of robbed me a little bit of the joy of the first months of motherhood."

Once a reporter started making calls, Bennett said, "they somehow miraculously figured out how to bill the right parties and get it sorted out."

But relief from individual bills is one thing; patients say bigger solutions are needed for what ails our health system. "This isn't just about my bill," Calver said in 2018, when his nearly $109,000 bill was reduced to $332 after being investigated by "Bill of the Month." "I don't feel any consumer should have to go through this."

After Elizabeth Moreno was charged nearly $18,000 for a urine test, she and her father, Paul Davis, sent her surprise bill to "Bill of the Month" — and took their story all the way to the White House. Julia Robinson/KFF Health News

The takeaways

The "Bill of the Month" mantra is: If the bill is unexpected or seems off, don't write the check. Each installment offered directions to navigate health care's rough financial waters.

Some bills memorably illustrated the absurdity of a system that turns ordinary mishaps into extraordinary revenues. After three year old Lucy Branson got a Polly Pocket doll shoe stuck up her nose, her family was charged about $2,659 for an ER doctor to fish it out with forceps — essentially a long pair of tweezers.

Here are some of the most important lessons — and some patients who offered their experiences to teach them:

Before scheduling services, ask if a provider is in-network — then read waiting-room forms closely. Feeling sick and unable to rule out covid-19, Elyse Greenblatt booked a telemedicine appointment. But her in-network doctor's office paired her with an out-of-network doctor — and said she'd signed a consent form. Her insurer declined to pay a penny of the $660 bill.
Ask for an itemized bill, and question charges that don't make sense. Eloise Reynolds paid her husband's final hospital bill after he died from colon cancer. A year later, she received a second bill for his stay. Reynolds requested an itemized bill — and using a yardstick as a straight edge, went line by line to sort out why the hospital said she owed nearly $1,100 more. The balance was eventually deemed a "clerical error" and eliminated.
Beware ambulances. The landmark No Surprises Act protected patients from many surprise bills in emergencies, but it does not apply to ground ambulances, which are unlikely to contract with insurance and thus might bill willy-nilly. When Peggy Dula was in a car accident, she was picked up by a fire department ambulance that was out-of-network. Though she wasn't terribly hurt, her ride generated a $3,606 charge, and — after her insurance paid an amount it deemed "reasonable and customary" — she owed around $2,711.
Location Matters, Part 1: Any intervention or test done in a hospital is likely to cost more than elsewhere. After her first prenatal checkup, Reesha Ahmed had her blood drawn for routine tests by a hospital lab. The bill: $9,520. Ahmed, who had a miscarriage, owed $2,390.
Location Matters, Part 2: Doctors' offices can be reclassified as hospital facilities if they're purchased by a hospital system — and then add on hospital facility fees. Kyunghee Lee, a retired seamstress, went to her doctor for regular injections to treat arthritis for a copay of about $30. Then the office moved one floor up — and her bill changed: Newly designated as taking place in "a hospital-based setting," one visit was billed at $1,394, including a facility fee listed as "operating room services." Lee owed about $355.
Location Matters, Part 3: Some free-standing emergency rooms may look like urgent care centers but come with ER charges. Tieqiao Zhang believed he was visiting urgent care when he sought treatment for a kidney stone at a facility named an "urgent care emergency center." He went there twice and, both times, was given IV hydration and painkillers, then sent home. The visits yielded a bill of $19,543, including a $500 copay for each visit to what was actually a freestanding ER.
Sometimes it can pay to pay cash. Dani Yuengling needed a breast biopsy after a concerning mammogram. The hospital's online price calculator listed a price of about $1,400 for those without insurance. So she was shocked to see her own bill, paid using insurance, was almost $18,000, of which she owed more than $5,000 under the terms of her high-deductible plan.

The resolution

Some bills signal that there's more to be done to tame a health care industry where seemingly everything can be billable. Mansi Bhatt took her toddler, Martand, to the emergency room for a burn on his hand, but after a long wait, they left before being seen by a doctor. Just checking in yielded an $859 bill, which the family had to pay since they hadn't met their deductible.

Even new protections, such as those for air-ambulance bills, have problems. Amari Vaca was three months old and recovering from open-heart surgery when he contracted the life-threatening virus RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. When doctors said he needed specialized care, he was transferred by air ambulance to a different hospital. The family's insurer denied the claim, determining the flight wasn't medically necessary, and the hospital declined to file an appeal. Vaca's mother, Sara England, notified KFF Health News in October that their final appeal was denied. They owe $97,000.

Phil Gaimon was competing to qualify for the Olympics when he was in a bicycle crash and wound up with bills topping $200,000. Heidi de Marco/KFF Health News

And old bills die hard. When "Bill of the Month" reconnected with Phil Gaimon this fall, he said he had called his providers recently to check his outstanding balance — and learned it was, at last, zero.

Gaimon was competing to qualify for the Olympics when he was in a bicycle crash and wound up with bills topping $200,000. "I think I was home from the hospital in 10 days, riding my bike again in a month," he said in an interview. "And then the bills ... three years."

While our "Bill of the Month" partnership with NPR is sunsetting, the series will continue with KFF Health News investigating your medical bills. Keep them coming!

Elisabeth Rosenthal is a senior contributing editor for KFF Health News and the creator of "Bill of the Month."

Henry Larweh and Molly Castle Work of KFF Health News contributed reporting for this article. Reporter Emily Siner gathered the audio.
Emmarie Huetteman of KFF Health News edited the digital story, and Taunya English of KFF Health News edited the audio story. NPR's Will Stone edited the audio and digital story.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots

Rosemary Westwood — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:35 +0000

Physician assistant Danis Walker vaccinates a construction worker outside a Lowes Home Improvement store in New Orleans on June 11, 2021. Rosemary Westwood/WWNO

A group of high-level managers at the Louisiana Department of Health walked into a Nov. 14 meeting in Baton Rouge expecting to talk about outreach and community events.

Instead, they were told by an assistant secretary in the department and another official that department leadership had a new policy: Advertising or otherwise promoting the COVID, influenza or mpox vaccines, an established practice there — and at most other public health entities in the U.S. — must stop.

This story was produced in partnership with KFF Health News.

NPR has confirmed the policy was discussed at this meeting, and at two other meetings held within the department's Office of Public Health, on Oct. 3 and Nov. 21, through interviews with four employees at the Department of Health, which employs more than 6,500 people and is the state's largest agency.

According to the employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they fear losing their jobs or other forms of retaliation, the policy would be implemented quietly and would not be put in writing.

Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department's work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines. They also could not put up signs at the department's clinics that COVID, flu or mpox vaccines were available on site.

The new policy in Louisiana was implemented as some politicians have promoted false information about vaccines and as President-elect Donald Trump seeks to have anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And some public health experts are concerned that if other states follow Louisiana, the U.S. could face rising levels of disease and further erosion of trust in the nation's public health infrastructure.

Anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a rally in Georgia on Oct 23. He is President-elect Donald Trump's choice to become Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. On Dec. 6, 2021, Kennedy spoke at a Louisiana committee hearing and presented false claims about the safety of COVID vaccines. He sat beside then-Attorney General Jeff Landry. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

At a Dec. 16 news conference, Trump addressed ongoing concerns about Kennedy's nomination, and whether it could lead to significant changes in national vaccine policy.

Trump said that Kennedy will be "much less radical than you would think" and that he has "a very open mind." Trump also called himself a "big believer" in the polio vaccine and said "you're not going to lose the polio vaccine."

A blow to public health practice

Staff at Louisiana's health department fear the new policy undermines their efforts to protect the public, and violates the fundamental mission of public health: to prevent illness and disease by following the science.

"I mean, do they want to dismantle public health?" one employee at the health department said.

"We're really talking about deaths," said another. "Even a reduction in flu and COVID vaccines can lead to increased deaths."

In this file photo, Anthony Reed (left) and Christopher Bowles (right) show the Band-Aids they got after receiving the mpox vaccine at the Southern Decadence Health Hub in New Orleans on Sept. 4, 2022. The health hub, at the annual LGBTQ celebration, was organized by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Shalina Chatlani/Gulf States Newsroom

Gov. Jeff Landry's office referred questions to the Louisiana Department of Health, and did not respond when asked if Landry supports the changes.

In a statement, the Louisiana Department of Health told NPR it has been "reevaluating both the state's public health priorities as well as our messaging around vaccine promotion, especially for COVID-19 and influenza."

The statement described the move as a shift "away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance" to a stance in which "immunization for any vaccine, along with practices like mask wearing and social distancing, are an individual's personal choice."

The statement did not address mpox vaccinations.

The statement said that the flu vaccine can reduce illness severity and therefore may help high-risk patients — but falsely claimed "the flu vaccine does not prevent one from getting the influenza virus." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine reduces the risk of getting the flu.

Experts fear consequences of undermining trust in vaccine

Last year, 652 people in Louisiana died of COVID, including five children. Louisiana currently is tied with DC for the highest rate of flu in the U.S. In 2022 alone, flu killed 586 people in Louisiana.

Every health department staff member, former staff member, public health official and vaccine expert contacted by NPR repeated the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe, effective, and essential for preventing illness, hospitalizations, and deaths.

"It's a step backwards," said Kimberly Hood, who led the Office of Public Health, a subunit of the health department, from 2021 to 2022. "It's a medical marvel that we're fortunate enough to live in a time where these vaccines are available to us, and to not make use of that tool is unconscionable."

The policy rises to the level of "absurdity," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "It's gotten to the point of parody, where a public health agency doesn't promote the public's health."

"It's a dangerous, dangerous thing," Offit said. "It's the most vulnerable among us who suffer this, and it will be our children who suffer this. And my question will be, will they be held accountable?"

The policy is akin to "malpractice," especially given Louisiana's poor health outcomes, said Dr. Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA).

The U.S. vaccination program represents "one of the most important public health interventions that we have," Benjamin added.

"It's reckless," said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University. "I think it's a sign of what is about to happen under the second Trump administration."

If U.S. senators confirm Kennedy to run HHS, he said, "we're going to see the fomenting of public distrust of vaccines so we lose precious herd immunity, and we're going to see major outbreaks of disease that are fully preventable over the next four years."

NPR reached out to Kennedy for comment but did not hear back.

Policy change follows new governor's election

Until becoming Louisiana governor in early 2024, Republican Jeff Landry served as the state's attorney general for eight years. During the pandemic, he criticized the state's COVID response and filed lawsuits over federal and state vaccine mandates.

On Dec. 6, 2021, Attorney General Landry spoke at a state committee hearing against adding COVID to the childhood immunization schedule. At his side was Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who presented false claims about COVID vaccines.

This year the Republican-controlled legislature passed five bills — all signed by Gov. Landry — and two resolutions aimed at loosening vaccine requirements, limiting the power of public health authorities and sowing doubt about vaccine safety.

Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks about medicines being donated by drug companies during the coronavirus pandemic in Baton Rouge on April 6, 2020. in Baton Rouge, La. After Landry became governor in 2024, his appointees at the Louisiana Department of Health oversaw a policy shift that forbid staff from promoting vaccines for COVID, flu and mpox. BILL FEIG/AP

Gov. Landry also appointed Dr. Ralph Abraham, a family medicine doctor, to be the state's surgeon general. That position co-leads the Department of Health, and is tasked with crafting health policy that is then carried out by the departmental co-leader, the secretary.

Dr. Wyche Coleman, an ophthalmologist, was named deputy surgeon general.

At a Sept. 26, 2024 legislative meeting on the state's handling of the COVID pandemic, Abraham and Coleman repeated misinformation about COVID vaccine safety and the debunked link between vaccines and autism.

"I see, now, vaccine injury every day of my practice" from COVID vaccines, Abraham said.

Abraham said masking, lockdowns and vaccination requirements "were practically ineffective," that COVID vaccine adverse effects have been "suppressed," that "we don't know" whether blood from people who've been vaccinated is safe for donation and that "we hope and pray" COVID vaccines don't increase the risk miscarriages.

Surgeon General Abraham also said "there's nothing wrong" with Louisiana conducting its own research into whether childhood vaccines cause autism.

"You could probably fill Tiger Stadium with moms who have kids that were normal one day, got a vaccine and were then autistic after," said Deputy Surgeon General Coleman at that meeting.

Those public comments by Abraham and Coleman are inaccurate and alarming, according to public health experts.

"Anyone who's articulating that these vaccines are not well tested, they're not safe, they're not effective, is not giving you the science as we know it today," said APHA's Benjamin.

"To have top public health officials peddling such scientific falsehoods and threatening the health of their populations, whom they've sworn an oath to serve, almost makes me cry," said Georgetown's Gostin.

In three meetings, surprise and confusion at new policy

The new ban on vaccine promotion represents a new level of political interference, according to two current health department employees.

"We've never felt so unsure of our future," one of them said. "Like, why am I here? Why am I doing this anymore? Because you're just so stifled and you are not helping people."

Dr. Ralph Abraham, then a member of Congress for Louisiana, speaks at a business event on March 18, 2019 in Baton Rouge. In 2024, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry appointed Abraham as Surgeon General, who sets policy for the Louisiana Department of Health. Melinda Deslatte/AP

In the Oct. 3 meeting, Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan, an internal medicine physician, told the state's regional medical directors that they weren't allowed to hold routine fall flu vaccination events, according to a staff member with knowledge of what was discussed at the meeting.

These flu shot events had become a key part of the health department's flu campaign in recent years, which included spending over $170,000 annually on outside public awareness campaigns that included paid billboards, bus ads, radio, digital, and social media ads urging the public to get vaccinated for the flu.

This year, instead of flu vaccine events, the medical directors were told to pivot to Narcan giveaways.

The department's influenza page doesn't appear to have been updated this year; it still promotes events from 2023.

The department also appears to have pulled back from vaccination messaging on social media channels.

Last fall, it published six Instagram posts promoting flu and COVID vaccinations, and specific vaccine events. In the last three months, the health department's Instagram has had no posts about vaccination, and just a single post about flu.

That recent post lists preventative measures like hand washing, but not vaccination.

That stands in stark contrast to a flu post from the fall of 2020 which stated "it's more important than ever to get your flu vaccination to protect yourself and those around you."

Regional medical directors are responsible for carrying out the health department's policy and programs across the state.

In the meeting, Croughan told them if they want to bring doses of flu vaccine to a local event, they can't use signage or even tablecloths featuring the health department's logo.

"You cannot ask people, 'Hey, we have flu shots. Would you like one?'" at a community event, according to the staff member with knowledge of the meeting. "But if they come up to us, knowing we are the health department and say, 'Hey, we hear y'all might have flu shots,' we can say, 'Yes, would you like one?'"

The medical directors were told that because the health department is a government agency, staff are not allowed to "coerce people" by promoting vaccinations, especially for COVID, flu and mpox. "They have definitely made it clear that we are not supposed to be pushing vaccines at all," the staff member added.

There has been no explanation for why these particular vaccines were grouped together.

"Why on earth they chose COVID, influenza and mpox vaccines, which are entirely different vaccines for entirely different purposes, just shows a lack of sophistication and understanding of science," Gostin said.

"I can't think of any reason other than political reasons," said Hood, the former head of the Office of Public Health.

Opposition to COVID vaccines has gained momentum within the Republican Party, as part of the backlash to pandemic-related public health measures. When it comes to the flu vaccine, Kennedy's anti-vaccination nonprofit, the Children's Health Defense, has made multiple false claims about its dangers.

Policy may stem from surgeon general's letter

At the Nov. 14 meeting, the new prohibitions were relayed to program staff by Tonya Joiner, an assistant secretary in the department and the head of the Office of Public Health, and Katye Magee, a policy director.

Employees were told that Joiner and Magee were relaying the policy because Surgeon General Ralph Abraham could not attend.

Staffers asked them what exactly they can say about COVID, flu and mpox vaccines, going forward.

They were told acceptable public vaccine messaging should be something along the lines of: Talk to your medical provider.

"That seemed to be the catchphrase for all of this," said one staff member with knowledge of the meeting.

The secretive rollout of the new policy raised concerns about government transparency and accountability, and a former state employee with knowledge of the state's health policies said it was "highly abnormal" to deliberately keep the policy out of writing.

"I'm very surprised that anyone would call a state meeting, not provide an agenda for that meeting, not provide a written set of notes from that meeting," said Hood. "I think that, to me, it sounds like people are trying to avoid public records laws."

When employees in the meeting asked for the rationale for the policy change, leadership referenced a letter signed by Abraham and Coleman stating that there is no "conclusive evidence" that masking prevents the spread of respiratory viruses and that "evidence proving efficacy in prevention of infection, transmissions, hospitalization or deaths is far from conclusive" for the flu vaccine.

That letter provides a template for a Louisiana physician to use to get an exemption from a hospital's flu vaccination and masking policies. The letter, on Louisiana Department of Health letterhead, is not available on the department's website but was posted to X on Nov. 13, the day before it was mentioned in the meeting.

In the letter, Abraham and Coleman also said requiring hospital staff who do not get the flu vaccine to wear a mask was "punitive coercion."

One Louisiana health professional not employed by the department said the letter was "crazy. I'm just going to say it. Complete falsehoods."

At the third meeting, on Nov. 21, the STD/HIV/Hepatitis program at the department held a staff meeting where more than 80 employees learned of the ban on promoting COVID, mpox and flu vaccines, according to two staff members. Employees were also told the policy would not be put in writing.

When staff asked whether the policy applied to hepatitis B vaccinations, they were told "there was no official response to that yet," said a staff member who attended the meeting.

"There were so many questions and concerns," the staff member said. "A lot of folks were disappointed and just frustrated."

A slippery slope to future disease outbreaks

Experts told NPR they feared a policy that undermines COVID, flu and mpox vaccinations could have a spillover effect, reducing public trust in vaccinations overall, including those given to children to prevent a host of dangerous and deadly illnesses.

"I believe that we will see measles cases. I believe we will see whooping cough cases. I believe we will likely see meningitis outbreaks," said Hood.

In the Nov. 14 meeting, a staff member asked whether the ban on promoting vaccines applied to children's immunizations, but the answer was noncommittal, according to an employee with knowledge of the meeting's details.

"My understanding was it's not clear to what extent we might be able to promote childhood vaccinations," the staff member said.

(The Louisiana Department of Health's statement to NPR said the changes in policy and messaging do not apply to childhood immunizations.)

Nationally, vaccination rates for serious childhood diseases have been falling in recent years, including in Louisiana.

Given those trends, the new vaccine policy in Louisiana is very worrying, said Dr. Joseph Bocchini, a pediatric infectious disease specialist in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the president of the Louisiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Earlier in his career, he saw children hospitalized with measles — a dangerous disease that can cause hearing loss, brain damage and death.

"I've been a physician for 50 years, so I've seen a lot of these diseases disappear, and they've disappeared because of safe and effective vaccines," he said.

The rise of public health officials promoting misinformation

Louisiana isn't the only state where public health officials have recently announced controversial decisions and repeated false or discredited health theories.

Florida's surgeon general has made false claims about COVID vaccines, undermined school vaccine mandates for the measles and said local officials should stop adding fluoride to water supplies.

Hood traced Louisiana's new policy, in part, to Kennedy's ties to Louisiana's Republican Party.

"Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came to the legislature while I was still in my role at the Office of Public Health, to speak out against the COVID vaccine," she said, referencing his Dec. 6, 2021, appearance with Gov. Landry. "So I was not 100% stunned to hear his influence was going to be felt in this administration."

Louisiana's ban represents an escalation in using vaccine misinformation to direct state health policy, according to James Hodge, a public health law expert at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

"What's very distinct is some sort of official policy advanced by the state department of health saying you may not push and or promote these vaccines at all," Hodge said. "That's derelict. It's highly controversial."

But it's the kind of policy the nation could see if Kennedy is confirmed as secretary for Health and Human Services, Hodge added. In a list he made of possible actions the Trump administration could take, Hodges placed "revising CDC vaccine recommendations" at the top.

This story comes from NPR's health reporting partnership with WWNO and KFF Health News.

Sheldon Pearce's favorite albums of 2024

Sheldon Pearce — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Nala Sinephro's Endlessness — produced, arranged and engineered by the English harpist — arrived in 2024 lacking any narrative baggage, forcing listeners to uncover its secrets on their own. Tofjan/Courtesy of the artist

As we wrap up our coverage of the year in music, we are publishing lists of the music loved best by individual members of NPR Music's team. For more, check out the full team's picks for the 124 best songs and 50 best albums of 2024.

When I first started working as a music critic, I held nothing more sacred than a ranked albums list. The album felt like the idealized musical vehicle, a prime mechanism for the expression of true artistic vision and an opportunity to see that vision at scale. Songs — there were always so many songs. Too many to really wrap your arms around and judge fairly, in my opinion. But albums were self-contained, easier to quantify and could be stacked up cleanly next to each other — or so I thought then. In recent years, I've started to distrust the process, not simply because canonizing can reward a certain kind of self-important work, but also because the result has felt more and more often like an inadequate picture of the year. Such lists, by nature, exist for consecration and posterity first and foremost; diversity and sprawl are often secondary concerns, and even the most diverse, sprawling list always seems to be riddled with omissions no matter how thorough. Most year-end lists, including ours, only have 50 slots, which immediately creates certain priorities and demands compromise. Individual lists are less tricky, as they can certify individual taste, but even they can't truly say anything definitive about a music landscape growing more fragmented each year.

2024, as much as any year in recent memory, exemplifies this issue. I don't usually subscribe to the notion of "good" or "bad" years for music — great, meaningful and life-affirming music comes out every year — but this is one of such depth my efforts to measure it feel hopelessly frustrated. This list is not ranked — there is no real order to it — and it still feels somehow inadequate. I'm not exaggerating when I say I considered more than 200 albums for this list of 20 (really 30), and I'm not entirely certain of the ones I settled on here, as bests or favorites, which felt like moving targets beyond a handful. No Hurray for the Riff Raff or Cassandra Jenkins? Blasphemy. No Immanuel Wilkins or Joel Ross? Unacceptable. I feel like I'm punishing artists like Vampire Weekend and Waxahatchee for their consistency, and I don't think I listened to anything more times than GNX or Imaginal Disk. That's saying nothing of ScHoolboy Q and Doechii, Cindy Lee and Mk.gee, Adrianne Lenker and Mdou Moctar. And yet: Here we are. What I can say with certainty is that these 20 (really 30) albums all imprinted on me in some way that felt unignorable. If they aren't the best, or even my undoubted favorites, they are all treasures in their own right.

20 favorite albums of 2024

Meshell Ndegeocello
No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin

Amid a late-career renaissance, this neo-soul pioneer continues a conversation with the acclaimed activist, essayist and novelist James Baldwin in the year of his centennial, furthering the bassist and bandleader's rich journey through jazz fusion and building on her efforts to stay meaningfully connected to the continuum of Black thinkers and artists across time. The resulting record is sprawling yet focused, filled with rippling music and forceful spoken-word interludes, all servicing a funk activism. Marked by excerpts from Audre Lorde, the critic Hilton Als and the poet Staceyann Chin, No More Water is as much about text as music, thinking of the written and spoken word as forms fundamental to its understanding of the issues therein, and how to overcome them.

DIIV
Frog in Boiling Water

In an attempt to make the band democratic for the first time, DIIV nearly destroyed itself during the four-year recording process for this album, whose title references the Daniel Quinn novel The Story of B. The album's central metaphor concerns democracy at large — we are the frog, capitalism the boiling water — and the music is fittingly dense and cataclysmic. "A doomsday machine glitch / Is our new God," Zachary Cole Smith sings, but you don't have to be keyed into the lyrics to really understand what the songs are trying to express. Shoegaze is music of amplitude and distortion and, for me, nothing felt more pertinent to this moment. (Only Godspeed You! Black Emperor's untitled album comes close.) The power is in the mixing: a juxtaposition of heavy guitars and airy vocals, the surging tracks questioning an opulent nation in decay. The core revelation: "My livelihood is rotting in your hands."

JPEGMAFIA
I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU

No one online admits they were wrong, least of all the edgelords. It is more effective to simply double down, to build an entirely new identity around digging in. Few have been more committed to standing their ground than the rapper JPEGMAFIA. Across four albums of incendiary rap, he has emerged as hip-hop's troll in chief, belligerent, unshakable and trenchant. The gripping, knotty I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU carries many of those same instincts — taking on all comers for the rap equivalent of a Royal Rumble (if it were held on Twitter). But there is something lingering just under the surface that had previously eluded him: the pangs of conscience, which bleed into charged-up polemics turning defense into offense. In the wake of a controversial collaboration with Kanye West, a career provocateur does some self-reflection, coming out reinvigorated if not reformed. Though far closer to apologia than an apology, the music takes thoughtful, unexpected turns, and the album is gorgeous even when ugly, managing punk fury with an artisanal flair. As an idealogue's conviction takes the slightest of blows, he produces the most stunning work of his career. (This review originally appeared on NPR Music's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2024.)

Rapsody
Please Don't Cry

Four albums in, one of the most accomplished independent rappers of the last decade allows her music to take an intimate turn, drawing the focus away from her dextrous lyricism and toward a multifaceted introspection activating the full range of her talents as a storyteller. After spending her 2019 album Eve in admiration of iconic Black women — a far-reaching list that included Nina Simone, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and Afeni Shakur — she adds her own name to that monument by considering all that it holds and means. That process includes probing considerations of spirituality and sexuality, integrity and responsibility, prestige and purpose. The production matches her searching approach, spanning soul, trap and even reggae. In an exercise that is both far-reaching and inward-looking, she is not defined by the implementation of her bars but by the ways in which they finally seem to provide a true portrait of the artist.

Nala Sinephro
Endlessness

Rarely do albums arrive without narrative fanfare anymore: Often alongside the story an album is telling is a story being told about the album, one that inevitably frames the way we think about and hear its music. Endlessness has none of that. Composed, produced, arranged and engineered by the masterful English harpist Nala Sinephro, this is a record without baggage or explanation, forcing the listener to peer inside it and uncover its secrets on their own. The expanse is as vast as that of its predecessor, Space 1.8; in its 10 compositions, all "continuums," I hear the unbroken continuity implied by its title, an absorbing ambient adventure shuffling the listener off into the infinite. But each continuum also feels like its own little heavenly body, marked by specific electronic and orchestral flourishes. Together, those bodies occupy a marvelous arpeggiated universe that feels unknowable.

The Smile
Wall of Eyes

There has been a decent amount of chatter about a Radiohead reunion — isn't there always? — with this band serving as a pretext for the core members to get back into the swing of things. Thom Yorke, for his part, doesn't want to hear it, saying in October that the members don't have to explain themselves "or be answerable to anyone else's historical idea of what we should be doing." That feels like important context for the music of Wall of Eyes: refusing explanation, not answering to anyone, aware of historical precedent but not beholden to it. There is a temptation to think of it as Radiohead-lite, but to me it is something more intense: propulsively rhythmic, constantly draped in an eerie, suspended fog that evokes Jonny Greenwood's score work, all while embodying the itch of being constantly watched and scrutinized. For me, the songs channel the terrors of the panopticon bearing down on us.

Vince Staples
Dark Times

Only Vince Staples would release his most personal album in the shadow of a satirical Netflix series that fictionalizes his life. The Long Beach rapper has always been cagey about the particulars, the mark of someone who seems painfully aware that anything he says can be used against him, but here, one of hip-hop's premier album artists uses the form to consider the ways he is a byproduct of his community — and what he owes those still waging war on a battleground he's escaped. Dark Times has the defining qualities of all of Vince's best music: curt and concise, buoyant yet bluesy, poignant but funny, dark and skeptical but not quite cynical. No one treats rap more like a job than he does, but this is the first of his albums that thinks about the job's relationship to the man at work.

Nilufer Yanya
My Method Actor

As Nilüfer Yanya began to make her third album, on the cusp of her 30s, she started thinking about the nature of performance, of being unable to separate herself from her songs and uncertain about giving her life to them. Previous albums established the Londoner as an electrifying young polymath, an indrawn songwriter and menacing guitarist with a majestic, sandpapery voice that could light a match. Where do you go from there? What stokes the desire to keep committing oneself to such an invasive process? The search for answers charges My Method Actor, a discerning record that interrogates the process itself and the identity put into it. Dynamic yet locked into an indefatigable groove, even as its grungy sound begins to dissolve into something more understated and unwound the longer it plays, the album is poised amid existential confusion. Yanya emerges from her crisis of conviction a virtuoso more in command of her artistry than ever, blazing her path forward by simply trusting her instincts. (This review originally appeared on NPR Music's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2024.)

Mount Eerie
Night Palace

I have been in awe of Phil Elverum for many years, for many reasons. Most notable is the gift of The Microphones' lo-fi masterpiece, The Glow Pt. 2, but more recently I've been captivated by his music wrestling with loss and impermanence, particularly 2017's A Crow Looked At Me, stripped down, visceral music of mourning, and 2020's Microphones in 2020, a career-spanning retrospective released as a single, unchanging, 44-minute song. I am awestruck once again by Night Palace, which feels as if it's in conversation with everything he's done before and all he's yet to do. Created in the reel-to-reel studio at his home secluded deep in the woods, it is an isolationist symphony, gritty and claustrophobic but also gorgeous, wringing such raw emotion out of static and noise. It has a transfixing sense of fuzz and calm, light and dark, clarity and fog.

Rema
HEIS

In a banner year for African pop, no artist made greater strides than Rema. Long seen as the chosen one — the first Afrobeats star to synthesize a truly post-global sound, and one of the genre's biggest thanks to the record-setting 2022 hit "Calm Down" with Selena Gomez — he came into his second album a clear ace who simply hadn't put it all together yet. HEIS takes his synthesis to unprecedented heights, imagining a new course for himself and the genre on the whole. Dark, dynamic and singular, it exists on the polyrhythmic cutting edge, materializing a fully formed version of the Afrorave style he's been tinkering with since his days on SoundCloud experimenting with trap. No performer in the genre is more progressive or more kinetic, and the album realizes the singer and rapper's vision of a Nigerian music that is both rooted and diasporic.

Kali Malone
All Life Long

Pipe organs are gargantuan instruments that feel like architecture. Many require four hands to play, as well as a certain rigor and exactness. The droning, harmonic music they produce can be heavy but also radiant, embodying both cathedral solemnity and stained-glass refraction. On All Life Long, Kali Malone captures all of the instrument's physicality and emotionality, treating its play as a hallowed communion. Recorded on four different organs, spanning national borders and dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, with Stephen O'Malley of Sunn O))) as her performance partner, the album's investment of labor is evident. But the organ is merely the centerpiece of a mesmerizing tonal display: There is also brass and choir music, each section building out a pattern — some songs arranged for organ and brass, for organ and then for voice — and as ideas spiral out across instruments, a compositional focus comes into view, aligning with a spiritual calling.

Beth Gibbons
Lives Outgrown

The two most established public truths about the singer Beth Gibbons — that she is the lead vocalist of the trailblazing trip-hop group Portishead and a notoriously off-the-record person — are complicated by her solo debut, Lives Outgrown. Ten years in the making, the album introduces a brand new sound world of hushed chamber folk, using its delicately layered, splendidly crafted arrangements and their faintly rhythmic thrust to reveal more of herself than ever before. Wraithlike and pensive, its penetrating music meditates on maturity as a process, with all of its aches and hard lessons. The album can feel haunted in similar ways to the striking Portishead classics, but it is a personal sanctum all to itself that seems possessed by its own myths and folklore. Death and loss loom large, but Gibbons' spindly voice remains steadfast. Clear-sighted through an encroaching gloom, an anxious artist seems determined to fortify herself through doubt. (This review originally appeared on NPR Music's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2024.)

Chief Keef
Almighty So 2

True to form for this mercurial wunderkind, Almighty So 2 doesn't sound a lot like its predecessor. To be fair, the projects were released 11 years apart, but that's also kind of the point: The Chicago rapper, a drill pioneer turned once and future star turned indie oddball has mapped out a lot of territory since then — from the boisterous sounds of his youth to "mumble rap" to gargled Auto-Tune trap and back — becoming one of the most influential rappers in the process. This album, long-teased, self-produced and maximalist in nature, is the first that seems concerned with what he is owed for his contributions to modern rap. In the act of proving himself, Keef summons some of the most flagrant, undeniable songs in a distinguished career full of such discoveries.

Blood Incantation
Absolute Elsewhere

As a lapsed fan of heavy music longing to worship at the altar once more, few things have been more satisfying this year than surrendering myself to this epic. Its touch points — the science fiction of Werner Herzog, prog, psychedelia — lay the groundwork for a layered mythology that is detailed and immense, enriching and never overbearing. There is so much depth and dynamism in the movements, matching glorious chaos with ascendant, hymnal passages. But, more than anything, there is a bonkers sense of theatrical fantasia — the perfect balance of inanity, insanity, retrofuturist pulp and brilliant pomp. All the camp of the David Lynch Dune and all of the craft of the Denis Villeneuve one. Don't overthink it: Travel through the Stargate and let your consciousness be free.

Mustafa
Dunya

The music made by the poet and folk artist Mustafa can feel like it is operating across planes. The songs are remarkably present yet obscure somehow. His voice, translucent in its own way, hangs at a middle distance. He is in conversation with both the living and the dead, and he sings as if he is occupying a liminal space. Dunya, his second album of quietly awe-inspiring elegies and remembrances, stands at many intersections to consider the toll the messenger must bear in service of keeping memories alive. In his capacity as hood archivist, he comes to represent many things: his Regent Park neighborhood, a Toronto youth movement in crisis, the Black Muslim diaspora, the gang as a means of community, a facilitator of violence and a refuge from it. Through the softspun sounds of his heartbreaking memoranda, written so carefully as to feel both intimate and unknowable, Mustafa reaches out across the threshold, continuing to try to make sense of the senseless, even as his spirit grows weary. (This review originally appeared on NPR Music's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2024.)

Tinashe
Quantum Baby

After years trying to balance experimental instincts with pop aspirations, several spent in label purgatory, Tinashe finally achieves the breakthrough she's been chasing: an alluring, soft-lit suite of songs that zips along at a heart-racing, lust-induced pulse. This album, the second installment in a trilogy, uses the viral success of "Nasty" as a springboard for music seeking reciprocated energy. Though not as downright uninhibited as that single promises, Quantum Baby is refreshingly audacious. As snappy as it is sensuous, the album shuffles the listener through a series of sleepless nights. Across its many trysts, pursuit becomes an ideal, and the pull of courtship is electrifying.

Nubya Garcia
Odyssey

On the 2020 album SOURCE, the saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia sought to tap into the fount of music history, spiraling out from jazz into dub, soul, Afrobeat, calypso and beyond, in search of connection and collectivism. That ambitious proposition was grounded by her playing, which felt in tune with all the frequencies of a spectrum spanning generations. Odyssey is, decidedly, about what comes next. In its songs, you can hear an artist charting a daring path forward; if slightly more conventional, it is so merely in deference to cohesion and momentum. Cinematic and grand, guided by an adventurer's sensibility, its thrust carries you through the many lessons of Garcia's studies in ancestry and legacy.

Tyler, the Creator
CHROMAKOPIA

You can split the career of Tyler, The Creator pretty neatly into two phases: the confrontational wildness of his attitude era, running from the early days of Odd Future to the explosively shifty Cherry Bomb; and the more thoughtful expressions of his post-Flower Boy awakening, bringing increasing degrees of experimentation and refinement. They are divided by an artistic puberty of sorts, whereby a once and future auteur began to grow into himself as both a performer and a personality. Now 33, the fully rehabilitated rabble-rouser makes another leap with CHROMAKOPIA, a colossal album of developmental epiphanies. In asserting himself as the premier rapper-producer of his generation, Tyler reckons with aging into a new personal reality, realizing the weight of adulthood bearing down on him. If this quarter-life crisis finds him off-guard, he chooses to meet it emphatically with platoon march aesthetics that embrace the flashing, prismatic energy of a carnival. Throughout the album, you get the sense that growing up shouldn't mean sacrificing the creativity of one's inner child. (This review originally appeared on NPR Music's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2024.)

Julia Holter
Something in the Room She Moves

All of the music that Julia Holter makes feels majestic and sophisticated. Across many stylistic shifts, refinement remains the unifying principle. Something in the Room She Moves is the loosest album she's ever made — intuitive and "jammy," as she put it, marked by field recordings from playgrounds and Ponyo-inspired fluidity, recorded without any pre-thought-out lyrics, a departure from referencing Hippolytus and Colette. There is a whimsy that courses through the entire album, one befitting the wonder and upheaval that accompanied Holter's experience of pregnancy, motherhood and corresponding ideas of transformation. But even through this fanciful sense of play, the album can't shake the chamber pop magnitude of her songcraft, or the grandeur that possesses it.

Boldy James
Penalty of Leadership / Across the Tracks / The Bricktionary

In January 2023, the Detroit rapper Boldy James was in a traumatic two-car collision that left his neck broken and spine damaged. When he first got out of rehab, his arms wouldn't work; he couldn't write raps, so he freestyled, performing at any cost. A year later, he was back at it in prolific style: In 2024, James released three projects that collectively stand as some of the best in his catalog — and essential additions to the one-rapper-one-producer canon. Taken together, they are not only a mark of his resilience and work ethic, but the supreme craft and care that he puts into his croaked coke raps, which have an understated elegance despite their grit. There's nothing fancy about what he does, but few have a greater sense of finesse. The bars are performed leisurely, as if on an unreachable perch from which James can see all, and strung together with a meticulousness that betrays the artist's tremendous patience and watchful eye for detail.

Honorable mention

Jessica Pratt, Here in the Pitch
A stunning folk world in miniature, crisply captured as if on 35 mm film, where the Hollywood sign casts a looming shadow over dreams of would-be starlets.

Charli xcx, brat
Gripping pop autofiction wherein a 365 party girl vivisects celebrity culture from inside a never-ending Boiler Room set — as meta and referential as it is open and accessible.

Mavi, Shadowbox
One of rap's most prodigious (and reflective) talents reexamines his core drives.

Brittany Howard, What Now
A virtuosic album that imagines propulsive funk as a cleansing ritual.

Helado Negro, Phasor
These self-described "tone poems" are full of impressionistic splendor and wide-eyed wonder, psychedelic but also shimmering, treating synths as a canopy of light.

Kim Gordon, The Collective
Pursuing more beat-oriented music leads a rock legend to gripping witch house.

Erika de Casier, Still
A Y2K revivalist whispers sweet nothings that conjure fantasies and daydreams, slowly dissolving back into a mundane romantic reality without losing any pop charm.

SahBabii, Saaheem
After years of R&D, the Chicago rapper brings trap and its offshoots into symbiosis.

Tyla, Tyla
Pristine amapiano from a sylph-like diva rendering a sweeping, sweaty paradise.

Arooj Aftab, Night Reign
The neo-Sufi trailblazer conjures a quiet storm, her voice mysterious and spellbinding.

Trump is all about tariffs as he leads a party that used to be all about free trade

Danielle Kurtzleben — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Dec. 16. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

This week, President-elect Donald Trump told reporters that "tariff" is "the most beautiful word in the dictionary" and claimed that tariffs would "make our country rich."

All of that is standard Trump rhetoric on trade, but it also represents a stunning about-face for the party he leads, especially when you look at how past presidential nominees talked about trade.

In 1999, while running for president, George W. Bush framed free trade as a moral good: "In order to promote the peace, I believe we ought to be a free-trading nation in a free-trading world," he said at a primary debate, "because free trade brings markets, and markets bring hope and prosperity."

In 2007, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., proclaimed himself "the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see."

In 2011, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney likewise championed free trade, albeit with a few more reservations.

"I love free trade. I want to open markets to free trade, but I will crack down on cheaters like China," he said at a debate.

But Trump blew up that Republican orthodoxy, twice winning the presidency while telling voters to be skeptical of international trade. Relatedly, he proposed massive new barriers to trade. During his most recent presidential campaign, he floated 60% tariffs on Chinese goods, plus blanket 20% tariffs on all other goods coming into the United States. Since winning the presidency, he has additionally promised 25% tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada.

"Tariffs, properly used, which we will do, and being reciprocal with other nations, but it'll make our country rich," he said at this week's news conference. "Our country right now loses to everybody."

That's a significant change from free trade leading to "hope and prosperity."

A massive Republican shift

A container ship sits docked at the Port of Oakland in California on Dec. 9. President-elect Donald Trump is threatening new tariffs on multiple countries as his second term approaches, after making tariffs a signature of his 2024 presidential campaign. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Free trade is about making it easier to sell goods overseas and easier to buy foreign goods at home. That generally means making trade agreements and reducing tariffs, which are taxes that American importers pay on foreign goods. Economists broadly agree that tariffs therefore raise prices for U.S. consumers, as American businesses pass on the higher costs.

Just how different is Trump's trade rhetoric from that of past Republicans? Doug Irwin, a professor of economics at Dartmouth College, says you have to think back almost a century.

"To have a president that across the board thinks trade is bad and thinks that tariffs are really good, you have to go back to Herbert Hoover," Irwin said.

Free trade has had support from prominent Democrats as well over the years — think President Bill Clinton passing NAFTA or President Barack Obama promoting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (which ultimately failed).

Still, Irwin says, the modern Republican Party was long seen as the party of "big business" and was more firmly pro-free-trade.

"There's a stereotype that the Republicans were the party of big business," he said. "And that was certainly the case, that the Reagan administration, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush — all of them championed trying to reduce trade barriers, expand world trade in the 1980s and '90s and into the 2000s."

But importantly, he's talking about elites. Voters have had more mixed views.

Throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, for example, the two major parties weren't far apart on the question of whether trade creates opportunities, according to Gallup. Republicans were only somewhat more pro-trade than Democrats, and neither party was overwhelmingly pro- or anti-trade.

Still, there's good reason that there was some voter skepticism — in some manufacturing-heavy states, for example, Americans saw job losses as trade increased with China.

And that is where Trump comes in.

The elite-voter divide

There wasn't just a partisan divide on trade, says Diana Mutz, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. There was a divide between elites and voters — one that Trump used to his advantage.

"What he did was to move the Republican Party's position to something closer to what the average American position was on trade, which was more negative than they saw the party elites being on trade," she explained.

There are nuances to this — some pre-Trump politicians, like Romney, had started to worry about China using currency manipulation to unfairly boost its exports. But Trump went much further than Romney, not only being hostile to China on trade but using China as an example to his voters of why, in his view, trade can be bad.

Mutz has studied American attitudes toward trade closely — she wrote a whole book on the subject — and her research found that Trump's shift did win him votes.

"What happened in 2016? The two big issues that people talked a lot about were trade and immigration," she said. "And what I was surprised to find in my analysis was that Trump moving the party closer [to voters] on trade did in fact garner additional votes. It did switch people's attitudes toward the Republican candidate relative to the previous presidential election."

In addition, Trump made voters think more about trade, period, than they had before. And he did it in a very Trump way: He made trade about fighting.

"Trade was emphasized by Trump as a means of dominating other countries, as a means of becoming the winner and them the losers," Mutz added.

An economics textbook would tell you that trade isn't about winners and losers — the idea is that two countries trade so they both can benefit.

Trade is complicated. A trade deal can lead to job losses, but it can also boost the economy and lower prices. And that idea — that trade can bring widespread economic benefits and that those benefits outweigh the costs — is why some old-guard Republicans disagree sharply with Trump.

Will Republicans go along?

Before he left the Senate in 2023, Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey was known as a free trader.

"There's no question Donald Trump is a protectionist. He has been for decades," Toomey said. "He's been consistent. I think he's been consistently wrong, but he has been consistent."

On Dec. 14, 2022, Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., speaks as Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, listens during a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee. Alex Wong/Getty Images

When Toomey left the Senate, it was seen as a blow to long-held Republican values of limited spending and free trade. Toomey himself told The Wall Street Journal that he thought Trump had changed the party.

When Toomey eventually opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a trade deal he had once championed — it was seen as a sign that he had caved to the pressures of the MAGA GOP. Toomey told NPR that he thought the Trans-Pacific Partnership needed better protections for American businesses.

Congressional Republicans have fallen in line behind Trump on many issues. Whether current members push back on tariffs depends in part on how far Trump goes once he's back in the White House.

Toomey, for his part, isn't convinced Republicans will go along if voters are threatened by higher prices.

"Republicans are going to be hearing from their constituents if there are these broad, significant new tariffs imposed. So I think it's premature to decide that the Republican Party has gone all protectionist," Toomey said.

For now, Trump isn't backing off his tariff threats. In just over a month, he'll get the chance to follow through.

Big Health Care is ending a terrible year. Is anyone happy with this business?

Maria Aspan — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

People demonstrating against the health care industry stand outside Federal Criminal Court as Luigi Mangione, suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appears during an arraignment hearing on Dec. 19, 2024 in New York City. John Lamparski/Getty Images

Health care companies are ending 2024 in the hot seat. Yet some of the pressures they're facing have been mounting all year — or longer.

This month's killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson thrust his company, and his industry, into the spotlight. It also sparked widespread consumer reckoning over denied claims and the high costs of care in the United States, where health care is the most expensive in the world. Now lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are stepping up their scrutiny of the industry.

But even before Thompson's shocking death on a New York City street, and its ongoing aftermath, the business of Big Health Care was having a rocky year. Costs are up, profits are down, top executives have lost their jobs, and investors are selling off the shares.

This industry, which affects the lives and very well-being of the entire country, has been getting relentlessly bigger for years. Industry executives say that this growth allows big companies to offer a wider array of low-cost health care services to more people, while critics and consumer advocates say that the size and scale of these companies makes them opaque and expensive, and ultimately leads to worse outcomes for patients.

Authorities say the suspect in Thompson's killing, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, appeared to share such critiques; he was found in possession of a notebook that "contained several handwritten pages that express hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular," according to the federal charging document filed by the FBI.

For better or worse, the for-profit industry's size and scale seems here to stay. Health care spending accounted for $4.9 trillion last year – or almost 20% of the U.S. economy – as well as some of the world's largest companies. Thompson ran the largest U.S. health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, for a parent company that is even bigger: the overall UnitedHealth Group parent company is also the country's top employer of doctors and the fourth-largest U.S. company by revenues.

"These massive organizations do everything under the sun, almost, when it comes to health care. They've got their tentacles everywhere," says Lovisa Gustafsson of the Commonwealth Fund, a health care research nonprofit.

Yet for all the power they wield, and all the money they make, these companies — and their investors — also have their discontents. CVS Health, the conglomerate that owns Aetna and is the 10th-largest company in the world, abruptly replaced CEO Karen Lynch in October. That same month, UnitedHealth unveiled a weaker-than-expected business forecast for 2025. Both companies, and their competitors, are facing rising costs in the Medicare Advantage businesses that were once seen as money-makers.

These companies are still profitable. But because their profits aren't growing, their investors aren't happy: Shares of UnitedHealth, CVS Health, and other large health care conglomerates have fallen this year, while the overall market thrives.

"It's been a tough year," says Julie Utterback, a health care analyst at Morningstar.

Congress and President-elect Trump focus on Big Health Care

Next year may be tougher – including in Washington. Last week, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced legislation that would break up large health care conglomerates, including UnitedHealth, the parent company where Brian Thompson was an executive.

President-elect Donald Trump chimed in this week, to criticize the pharmacy benefit managers owned by these big conglomerates.

These controversial businesses essentially control what Americans pay for their prescriptions. The three largest benefit managers are owned by UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna – and together they process 80% of U.S. prescriptions.

"They don't do anything, except they're a middleman," Trump said during a press conference Monday. "We're going to knock out the middleman."

UnitedHealth and Cigna declined to comment for this article. A spokesperson for CVS Health said via email that "we believe in the integrated value our businesses deliver" and that, regarding lawmakers' recent comments on pharmacy benefits managers, "We are proud of our continued work to make prescription drugs more affordable in the United States."

Pharmacy benefit managers have been widely criticized – and scrutinized by the U.S. government – for years. This fall, the Federal Trade Commission sued the three largest managers, alleging that they engage in "anticompetitive and unfair rebating practices that have artificially inflated the list price of insulin drugs." (The PBMs then counter-sued the FTC.)

And it remains to be seen what action the next Trump administration or incoming Congress may actually take.

But Morningstar's Utterback said that the increased regulatory scrutiny, stoked by this month's public backlash, is a mounting worry for healthcare investors.

"A month or so ago, I wasn't really that concerned," she said. But "what people and most investors are really focusing on is what could come down the regulation pipeline."

Everyone agrees: U.S. health care is broken

Investors obviously have very different motivations – and complaints – than the tens of millions of patients who can't get or can't afford health care in the United States.

But it's striking how even those who are making money from this large and powerful business are increasingly unhappy with it.

Even top industry executives acknowledge this systemic dysfunction – to a point.

"We understand and share the desire to build a health care system that works better for everyone," UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty wrote in a New York Times op-ed last week.

His headline? "The health care system is flawed. Let's fix it."

GOP stop-gap bill fails, bringing potential shutdown closer. And, NPR's guide to dance

Brittney Melton — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:59:07 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

Federal agencies will run out of money tonight at midnight after House Republicans weren't able to pass a stop-gap funding measure yesterday. House Speaker Mike Johnson crafted a Plan B proposal in response to President-elect Donald Trump's demands to replace an original bipartisan bill that was killed on Wednesday. Plan B failed last night. The original plan was derailed when Trump and his top advisers, including Elon Musk, demanded that Congress kill the deal.

President-elect Donald Trump has not yet been sworn in but he and his close adviser Elon Musk are already wielding power in Washington. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

🎧 A significant number of the speaker's Republican colleagues joined Democrats to tank the new plan even after Trump endorsed it, NPR's Deirdre Walsh tells Up First. Many House conservatives criticized the decision to add — at Trump's request — a two-year increase to the U.S.' borrowing authority without spending cuts. Currently, there is no Plan C or clear path to avoid a government shutdown, but Johnson said he is regrouping to develop a new solution. Walsh says this shows how hard it will be for Republicans to move their agenda through when they are so divided over the spending bill.

The Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk is facing one of the fiercest battles in the country's eastern region. It's a transportation hub and coal mining center. An independent estimate finds that over 3,000 soldiers in Russia's army have been killed or wounded trying to capture it — so far unsuccessfully.

🎧 If Pokrovsk falls, other cities like Dnipro, which is home to nearly a million people, will be more vulnerable. NPR's Brian Mann said people he spoke to in the region yesterday expressed that this battle is crucial and the fighting is grim. As Mann walked through Pokrovsk, he saw empty gray streets, houses, shops and hotels shattered by Russian bombs. Most military analysts have stated that Russia's army is simply much larger and has more men, artillery and shells than Ukraine's. Mann says Ukraine has been able to hold on so far by being creative, in part by using attack drones. If Russia can take the city, it'll be its most significant victory in months.

The rebel group that toppled former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime now faces the challenge of replacing it. They've set up an interim government. Many people are waiting to see what the rebel group HTS will do differently than Assad. The challenge: governing a devastated country with many ethnic and religious groups.

🎧 HTS, which has roots in al-Qaeda, has informed Syrians it won't turn the country into another Afghanistan. Still, some in the country are worried about whether they will impose a very stringent form of Islamic rule, NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi says. HTS is using bureaucrats from Assad's regime to get things up and running, as the rebels don't have the expertise needed to run a country. Senior U.S. diplomats are in Damascus now meeting with HTS. The rebel group is currently designated as a terrorist organization, but they are desperate for the U.S. to drop that designation so they can get aid to rebuild the country.

Life advice

Man showing off his dance moves. Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR/Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR

If you think you can't dance, you would be wrong. Anyone can dance, and you don't need special shoes or skills to do it. Great music is a plus, though. Check out this comic's step-by-step guide with advice from experts on how to move and groove with confidence.

💃 Start by playing your favorite song and move your body any way you like. If it feels awkward, that's OK. Don't worry about whether you look good.
💃 Incorporate different movements to try to translate what emotions or images the music stirs up in you.
💃 If all else fails, remember you can always bop your head to the beat.
💃 Find the beat and let it lead you. When you move your limbs or switch moves, try to clap or count along to the beat.
💃 Try not to watch yourself dance in front of the mirror, as it may make you feel more self-conscious.

Weekend picks

Julianne Moore (left) plays Ingrid and Tilda Swinton plays Martha in Pedro Almodóvar's The Room Next Door Iglesias Más/© El Deseo. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Movies: The Room Next Door explores the inevitability of death and its intertwined ties to life. It follows Martha, who asks her friend Ingrid to accompany her during her last days after a cancer treatment failed.

📺 TV: The new ensemble dark comedy No Good Deed follows several couples and families that get tangled up in the sale of a home that holds a secret. Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, Luke Wilson and more are in the cast.

📚 Books: Whether you are a young reader or young at heart, here are 10 young adult novels you should add to your list of must-reads. The books are part of this year's Books We Love series.

🎵 Music: Jazz Night in America gets a little more mellow and cozy with a special holiday edition featuring The Yule Log — an album by Philadelphia-born pianist George Burton.

🍛 Food: The rare cookbook Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada explores the culinary traditions of two groups of Dalits, a group of people who broadly occupy the lowest rungs of South India's ancient caste system. Some dishes include ingredients you might not traditionally find in your kitchen. Here are some recipes from the book.

3 things to know before you go

Drones like this one are now temporarily prohibited from flying over parts of New Jersey. The Federal Aviation Administration is barring drone flights over critical infrastructure at 22 locations in the state following a rash of sightings. Seth Wenig/AP

The Federal Aviation Administration announced yesterday that it's temporarily barring drone flights over critical infrastructure at 22 New Jersey locations. The decision comes amid mounting concerns about a flurry of reported drone sightings.
Calling all students: NPR's Student Podcast Challenge is back for its seventh year, giving students from all across the country a chance to record their stories. Here's everything teachers, educators and students need to know about the contest.
Bob Zimmerman piloted one of United Airlines' annual fantasy flights during the holiday season, allowing terminally ill children to take immersive trips to the North Pole with elves on board. Zimmerman says the kids' joy was palpable. (via WBUR)

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Possible government shutdown looms. And, tips to help with seasonal depression

Brittney Melton — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:35 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

TikTok and the Department of Justice are headed to the Supreme Court, where justices could decide whether a law banning the app next month unless it is sold is constitutional. The high court accepted TikTok's emergency request to hear arguments about the law and the justices moved quickly and deliberately. Oral arguments have been set for Jan. 10, which is nine days before the app's sell-or-be-banned deadline.

The TikTok Inc. building is seen in Culver City, Calif., on March 17, 2023. Damian Dovarganes/AP

🎧 This is TikTok's last legal shot to not have to shut down in the U.S., unless it splits off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, NPR's Bobby Allyn tells Up First. The case is about the balance between freedom of speech and the possible threat of a foreign adversary. TikTok has said the Chinese government doesn't collect data on Americans nor does it push propaganda, but U.S. officials said the risk remains too high. The Supreme Court has never taken on the case over the U.S. government attempting to shut down a massive social media platform, which makes this uncharted territory, Allyn says.

Republican lawmakers are working to avoid a government shutdown with less than a week until Christmas after President-elect Donald Trump and allies spoke out against a bipartisan spending bill. Government funding runs out at the end of the day on Friday. Congressional leaders released a roughly 1,500-page bipartisan spending bill, which would fund the government until March 14 and covers priorities like farm subsidies, disaster aid and a pay raise for lawmakers. Yesterday, GOP leaders and Trump advisers pushed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to back out of the deal. House Democrats said they are unwilling to back away.

Syrians and refugees on either side of the country's conflict can go home now that dictator Bashar al-Assad has been ousted. The country is now accessible to journalists, allowing for a fuller look at it while in transition.

🎧 NPR's Jane Arraf, who is in Syria, says Damascus has drastically changed since the fall of the Assad regime. Arraf traveled through Syria's southern desert to the Rukban camp — a place she's tried to travel to for years. People fleeing from ISIS thought they could cross through to Jordan there, but were trapped. For nine years, 7,000 people were cut off. For the first time, refugees in their own country have the opportunity to go home and reunite with their families.

Today's listen

Mariah Carey released "All I Want For Christmas Is You" in 1994, but it took 25 years for the song to reach the top of Billboard's Hot 100 pop chart. Since 2019, it has topped the chart each December for a total of 16 weeks at No. 1 — so far. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

It's the time of year when familiar Christmas songs take over the top spots on the Billboard pop chart. The annual invasion features the current top five songs from the 1950s and '60s. When the No. 1 song, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You," was released in 1994 it didn't take the top spot. That happened 25 years later. The top five songs this week are predictable year after year, but a few newer songs are making a play to join in on the annual holiday playlist. Learn what changed since those songs were released and listen to some of the holiday music vying for top spots.

Life advice

As days get darker and colder, people may experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. As the seasons change, you may feel sluggish, depressed or uninterested in doing the things you used to enjoy. You may also oversleep or overeat. Around 1 in 20 people in the U.S. has SAD. Many more people have the winter blues, a milder version of SAD, where you feel like a sadder, sleepier or slower version of yourself. Here's how to spot it and what you can do.

❄️ It can be hard to recognize a pattern of change because symptoms can creep up on you, says Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
❄️ Not getting enough light is at the heart of the disorder. A SAD lamp, which provides more intense light than indoor lighting, is often recommended.
❄️ Make time for movement. You may feel less energetic when the seasons change, and that can turn into a vicious cycle. Exercise is an environmental cue that helps signal your internal clock.

Here's more on why you may feel this way and ways to feel better.

3 things to know before you go

Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien, center, rallies with Amazon workers outside the Staten Island Amazon facility JFK8 on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in New York. Stefan Jeremiah/AP

Thousands of Amazon workers have authorized a strike to begin this morning, during a key shopping period, as they seek better pay, safer conditions and longer breaks.
This week, the House of Representatives passed a bill to officially designate the bald eagle, a symbol of the United States for centuries, as the country's national bird.
Have you ever been caught red-handed regifting during the holidays? If the answer is yes, NPR wants to hear your stories. The more embarrassing they are, the better.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Mangione charged with murder as act of terrorism. And, path to unionizing reality TV

Brittney Melton — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:07:54 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

Luigi Mangione has been indicted for murder as an act of terrorism for the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO. The charges were filed in the New York State Supreme Court. If he is found guilty, he could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also faces eight charges related to criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led from the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition hearing Dec. 10 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

🎧 When it comes to why the killing was called terrorism, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a press conference the act was intended to evoke terror. Public support around Mangione has erupted on social media and has included GoFundMe fundraisers, which have been taken down. NPR's Sarah Ventre says one site reports it has raised almost $150,000 as of this morning. Mangione has a preliminary hearing scheduled for tomorrow for his charges in Pennsylvania, which include forgery, carrying a firearm without a license and giving false identification to law enforcement.

The cost of borrowing money could become a little bit cheaper this afternoon. The Federal Reserve is holding its last meeting of the year. Policymakers are expected to lower their benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point. A rate cut would come at a time of declining yet sticky inflation and uncertainty about the incoming Trump administration.

🎧 This would be the third rate cut since September, leaving rates a percentage point lower than in the summer, NPR's Scott Horsley tells Up First. High interest rates help to curb inflation, but they can also be a drag on the economy. Markets are betting the Fed will lower interest rates. Horsley says after that, we could see the central bank take a break and see how things play out. Today, Fed policymakers will also offer a forecast of where they think interest rates are going by next year. Economists say President-elect Donald Trump's policies could make inflation worse.

The police's identification of the Wisconsin school shooter as a 15-year-old girl has sparked conversations about who commits these types of crimes. She shot eight people, two fatally, and then killed herself. While school shootings are a widespread issue in the U.S., data shows that female shooters — at schools and in general — are relatively rare.

🎧 Troubled females are more likely to internalize feelings than males, resulting in more depression, anxiety and self-harm, Jillian Peterson, the executive director of the Violence Prevention Project Research Center at Hamline University, tells NPR's Katia Riddle. Age is also a factor. Peterson says 15 is a sensitive time when executive function is not very well developed for girls and boys. Although there are patterns of behavior around mass shootings, the majority of troubled adolescents don't commit them. Prevention strategies are important and can often overlap with suicide prevention.

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 9-8-8.

Deep dive

The Netflix reality series Love Is Blind cast sees singles match up after days of dating while separated by a wall. The National Labor Relations Board says the show's cast members should be considered employees. Netflix

A first-of-its-kind labor action argues that participants of Netflix's reality show Love is Blind are employees and should be eligible for basic labor protections under federal law. In a complaint issued last week, the National Labor Relations Board found the show's producers misclassified the contestants as participants. The complaint calls for their reclassification as employees and compensation for any lost wages while on the show.

📺 The labor action filed could lead to big changes to reality shows — on and off screen. If contestants are recognized as employees, it would allow them to form or join a union.
📺 The complaint comes after several former contestants on the show described poor treatment they faced while filming, including allegations their physical safety was at risk.
📺 The path to an industry-wide reality TV union is an uphill battle, according to author Brian Moylan. He says turnover levels on most unscripted shows present a barrier for castmates to band together. Contestants can be seen as disposable to casting directors and producers.
📺 A hearing for the NLRB complaint is scheduled for April 2025. A judge will decide if the production companies violated labor law.

Picture show

Cymbalsmith Peter Nelson works on a cymbal on a lathe at the Zildjian cymbal factory in Norwell, Mass. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR) Robin Lubbock/WBUR

Zildjian cymbals can be heard in everything from rock music to advertising jingles. The Zildjian family has been making their famous cymbals with a secret process for more than 400 years. Since the 1970s, the Avedis Zildjian Co. has operated under the radar in Norwell, Mass. Many people have yet to learn that an industrial factory outside of Boston designs, casts, blasts, rolls, hammers, buffs and tests at least a million Zildjian cymbals a year. Andrea Shea at NPR network station WBUR was able to visit the factory. Here's a peek inside and what she learned about the world's oldest cymbal company.

3 things to know before you go

Charlie Baker, the president of the NCAA, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing about legalized sports gambling. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

NCAA President Charlie Baker expressed support on Capitol Hill yesterday for federal regulations around sports gambling, including a ban on "prop bets" in college sports.
Do you have go-to unexpected recipes and ingredients for cooking during the holiday season? If so, NPR wants to hear from you.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made her Broadway debut on Saturday night with a cameo in the romantic comedy musical & Juliet.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Deadly Wisconsin school shooting. And, a pig kidney transplant surgery provides hope

Brittney Melton — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:02:30 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

A grieving community gathered at a Madison, Wis., church last night after a 15-year-old girl opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School. A teacher and a student were killed in the shooting. The suspect, identified as Natalie Rupnow, who also goes by Samantha, died of what's believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Six other people were injured. Here's what else we know about the shooting.

Students from Abundant Life Christian School are escorted to a city bus to be reunited with their parents after a school shooting on Dec. 16, 2024 in Madison, Wis. Andy Manis/Getty Images

🎧 Police confirmed that a second grader called 911 to report the school shooting, Sarah Lehr of NPR network station Wisconsin Public Radio says. They believe the shooting happened inside a study hall. As of late yesterday, police say two students remain in critical condition. Mireille Jean-Charles, a mother of three boys who go to the school, told Lehr that though they are uninjured, she expects they'll have emotional trauma for a long time. Authorities say they are still trying to piece together a motive behind the shooting. They recovered a handgun at the scene and are working to trace its origins.

President-elect Donald Trump held his first press conference since the election at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida yesterday. For over an hour, he discussed a range of topics, from concerns about his choice for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to his promise to bring prices down. NPR's Mara Liasson says Trump expressed that everything was pretty much perfect when he was in office before, and things will be great again with him returning to the White House.

🎧 Trump says everyone is trying to be his friend, and Liasson tells Up First there are some factors behind this. He is seen as a more legitimate president for his second term after winning the popular vote. There's also expected anticipation from the business community for a Republican president in office. People are approaching Trump differently and choosing their battles, believing his mind can be changed on certain ideas and policies.

For the first time, surgeons have implanted a new kind of engineered pig kidney into a living person. The milestone surgery is part of the quest to use genetically modified farm animals to save patients with failing organs. Towana Looney, a 53-year-old grandmother, received the surgery at the NYU Langone Health Hospital in New York City.

🎧 NPR's Rob Stein got exclusive access to the operating room during the seven-hour procedure, which took place on Nov. 25. The hope is that eventually, genetically modified pigs could provide an unlimited supply of kidneys, livers, hearts and other organs to help solve the organ shortage. Stein, who visited Looney two weeks after the surgery, says she is doing fine so far. Looney said she feels like she got a second chance at life. There are worries about pig organs spreading dangerous viruses to people, breeding and slaughtering pigs for their organs and experimenting on desperately ill patients.

Deep dive

Stock photo of sweet shop pic and mix display of sugar coated red jelly sweet / gummy drops. mtreasure/Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Food and Drug Administration is considering banning Red No. 3, a petroleum-based food dye that has been used for more than 50 years in thousands of products, from candy to soda. The petition to ban the colorant has been under review since 2022, but an FDA spokesperson tells NPR a decision could come "soon."

🔴 The dye could cause cancer in animals in high doses, but the agency determined it was safe in the amounts used in food.
🔴 California passed a law banning Red No. 3 last year. Lawmakers in 10 other states have introduced legislation to ban the dye in foods.
🔴 California's Environmental Protection Agency reviewed research on synthetic dyes and found evidence that when consumed in food, they can negatively impact children's behavior.
🔴 Red No. 3 has been banned or severely restricted in many countries, including Australia, Japan and countries in the European Union.

Picture show

"Helelani"robot getting ready for the competition at Peterman Hill near Lucerne Valley. Raymond Alva for NPR

NASA technologist Rob Mueller dreamed up a new desert festival called RoboPalooza. It has some elements of other desert festivals, but there is a key difference. In addition to the live rock bands, food trucks and portable toilets, there are scientists using the Mojave Desert to test robots. The festival is sponsored in part by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and focused on building a future for humanity in space. Essentially, the headliners are space robots and the people who spend their lives building them. See photos inside the festival.

3 things to know before you go

Sotheby's workers hold the stone tablet of the Ten Commandments that is scheduled for auction. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Sotheby's is scheduled to auction one of the earliest tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments tomorrow.
This year is coming to a close, and NPR wants to know what key lessons you have learned. Share your story with us, and it could be featured in this newsletter on Dec. 29.
An 18-month Senate investigation found that despite Amazon's claims of safe working conditions, it manipulated injury data to make warehouses appear safer.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

NPR wants to know: What is a key lesson you learned this year?

Brittney Melton — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:23:31 +0000

People stroll at Place des Vosges during a sunny afternoon in Paris on Oct. 3, 2023. Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images

December is going by swiftly. Before you know it we will hear the famous New Year's Eve countdown. With the end of the year comes reflection on all we have accomplished — and maybe some things we didn't. Our missteps can come with key lessons learned, and the Up First newsletter team wants to hear from people who want to share theirs. We not only want to hear the biggest lessons you might have learned this year, but how you plan to implement them next year and going forward. Your guidance could help others.

If you have experienced a key life lesson, share your story with us via the form below, and you could be featured in the Up First newsletter on Dec. 29. You can also share a photo and upload your answers as a voice memo. Please submit responses by Dec. 20.

See some of your responses — and get the news you need to start your day — by subscribing to our newsletter.

Your submission will be governed by our general Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. As the Privacy Policy says, we want you to be aware that there may be circumstances in which the exemptions provided under law for journalistic activities or freedom of expression may override privacy rights you might otherwise have.

ABC News' $15M settlement with Trump. And, renewed hope for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Brittney Melton — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:57:27 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

There is renewed hope for a ceasefire deal with Israel and Hamas, which have been engulfed in war for 14 months. Senior Biden administration officials have been in the region pushing for the negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back from his latest trip to the Middle East and says this is a moment to bring the conflict to an end.

Children stare at the destruction following an Israeli strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday. Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

🎧 There is optimism around a potential deal because Hamas has been degraded to the point it can't carry out another attack like Oct. 7, NPR's Michele Kelemen tells Up First. Hamas is now being more flexible. A source informed NPR that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to focus more on Iran, so he is more interested in a deal in Gaza. It would be a lengthy ceasefire deal: up to two months. Hamas would release some hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees released from Israeli jails. This deal would just be a start, Kelemen says.

ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward President-elect Donald Trump's future presidential library to settle a lawsuit over remarks by anchor George Stephanopoulos during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace on This Week. The TV network is also posting a statement of regret. Trump sued for defamation after Stephanopoulos said that Trump was "found liable for rape," which misstated verdicts in two of E. Jean Carroll's lawsuits against him.

🎧 Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting Carroll, NPR's David Folkenflik clarifies. After talking to six First Amendment media lawyers, Folkenflik says they agreed with his gut instinct that Stephanopoulos had a screw-up. The lawyers said they expected the network and Stephanopoulos to clarify the distinction promptly. They also said this should have been a pretty easy call to defend in court because what Stephanopoulos said was close to what the judge said, but the TV network is happy to be past this lawsuit. The settlement comes at a time when the incoming administration has suggested a strong intent to use the powers of government against the press.

Trump has signaled he wants to try to pull back a consumer tax credit for electric vehicles, which his incoming administration has declared wasteful spending. Drivers can currently get a tax credit worth up to $7,500 for buying or leasing an EV. This year alone, buyers claimed more than $2 billion in EV credits. Some shoppers are looking into whether they should act fast. NPR's Camila Domonoske speaks with experts to look into what shoppers need to know about the EV tax credit's uncertain future.

Behind the story

Sarah Abdel Hamid al-Aami is searching for her four brothers who were snatched on their way to work by government forces years ago on what she says were bogus accusations of terrorism. Clare Harbage/NPR

This essay was written by Morning Edition senior editor and reporter Arezou Rezvani. Rezvani and a team from
Morning Edition are on the ground in Syria, covering the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

For decades, Syrians have lived in a constant state of fear and paranoia. For 54 years, under the rule of dictator Bashar al-Assad and his father before him, there was no tolerance for criticizing the government. Those who did speak out often disappeared into Syria's notorious prison system, known for soul-crushing torture and killings. The oppression took an even darker turn in 2011 after Assad's regime crushed pro-democracy protests and clamped down on any association with emerging opposition groups. During the ensuing 13-year civil war, friends, neighbors and colleagues would avoid political discussions. Even in the privacy of their own homes, Syrians remained tight-lipped. Parents withheld their true feelings from their own children for fear they'd say something at school, where they were closely monitored by teachers and staff who would report on families if they sensed any hints of disloyalty at home. It was commonly said that in Syria, "the walls have ears."

With Bashar al-Assad now gone, Syrians are slowly starting to come out and share their secrets. Long-time friends are revealing details about their lives they had long kept under wraps, like their imprisonments, the rebel-held cities their families are originally from, their religions, political leanings, dreams, aspirations, unfiltered thoughts and ideas. After so many decades of repression, many Syrians say this newfound freedom to speak doesn't come naturally, that it's almost like they need to be deprogrammed.

Lurking underneath the thrill of the moment is a great deal of anxiety. There are still a lot of questions about the rebel groups that toppled Assad. Will they accept criticism? Will they hold free and fair elections? Will all religious and minority groups be protected? Have they really abandoned all links with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State? Syrians are celebrating the end of Assad rule, but they're holding their breath for what's to come.

Life advice

A father teaches his child to swim in a pond in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Drowning is a leading causes of death globally for children, according to the first ever report on drowning as a public health issue issued by the World Health Organization. Md Rafayat Haque Khan/Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images

More than 300,000 people die from drowning each year. A new World Health Organization report found that nearly all cases are preventable. WHO gathered data from 139 countries for its first-ever report on how to prevent drowning. Children are the highest-risk group, with nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths happening among kids under age 4. The threat is evolving as climate change makes floods more frequent and severe. Caroline Lukaszyk, a technical officer for injury prevention at the WHO, share some findings with NPR.

🌊 A lot of the drowning burden is in Southeast Asia and Africa. There are bodies of water everywhere throughout the communities, and people need them for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing. But they pose a risk for unsupervised youth.
🌊 It's good to have life jackets on board boats. There's work being done to use local materials, such as empty two-liter plastic bottles, as flotation devices.
🌊 Swimming lessons that teach water safety and survival skills can be low-cost solutions.
🌊 Bystander training and safe rescue and resuscitation are also recommended. It can be key to teach CPR to older children and adults who could be around children playing in bodies of water.

3 things to know before you go

Caroline Davis said a stranger's generosity reminder her of her dad. Caroline David

This past summer, Caroline Davis was working on a DIY project that required 1,500 pounds of gravel. As she loaded her car with 50-pound bags, a stranger stepped in and warned her of the damage it could cause to the vehicle. The unsung hero then helped her with the load. The interaction reminded her of her dad, who died in 2017.
Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, whose career spanned over five decades, died yesterday at age 73. Hussain is revered as a national treasure.
Two men were arrested Saturday for allegedly flying a drone "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport, the Boston Police Department said. The arrests come as drones have been sighted across the East Coast.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Foreign students advised to make plans before Trump. And, 2024's final news quiz

Brittney Melton — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:03:05 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

Iran's capital has been in dismay after the sudden collapse of the Syrian regime. Iran, a longtime enemy of Israel and the U.S., relied on Syria as one of its biggest allies in a bid for power across the Middle East. Iran propped up Syria's now-ousted ruler, Bashar al-Assad. Syria offered a connection to Iran's proxies in nearby Lebanon.

Syrian residents in Turkey wave Syrian opposition flags as they celebrate the President Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria after rebel fighters took control of Damascus overnight, at the Fatih Mosque, in Istanbul, on December 8, 2024. Yasin Akgul/Getty Images/AFP

🎧 Syria allowed Iran to set up a critical land bridge to Lebanon to funnel weapons to Hezbollah for many years, NPR's Jackie Northam tells Up First. With the antigovernment rebels in control of Syria, the strategic route is most likely off-limits to Iran, impacting its long-term goals in the region. Iran had two primary agendas: to destroy Israel as a Jewish state and to counter any influence the U.S. has in the Middle East. Iran's regime may also be worried about a threat of upheaval from its population as they see what is happening in Syria, Northam says.

Several U.S. colleges are advising international students planning to leave the country for the holiday break to return before Inauguration Day to avoid issues at the border. Universities, including USC, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell, have contacted students as they prepare for President-elect Donald Trump's second term.

🎧 Kirk Carapezza from NPR network station GBH says he believes this decision is being made as school administrators and international students revisit Trump's track record. During his first term, new foreign student enrollment dropped by 12%. Trump implemented a travel ban targeting majority-Muslim countries and briefly prohibited international students from remaining in the U.S. if they took only online classes during the pandemic. Trump is now promising stricter policies, but there are no concrete proposals. Carapezza says that behind closed doors, administrators and students are anxious.

For weeks, New Jersey residents have reported seeing dozens of drones flying in the night skies. Officials have few concrete explanations about where the drones are coming from, who's flying them and why. The White House says there's no evidence that the drones pose a security threat or have any foreign ties, which has left many residents and officials with more questions.

🎧 The FBI and other federal agencies say there is an active investigation into the matter, Giulia Heyward of NPR network station WNYC says. The federal government is sending specialized radar technology to local police departments in the state to help determine what is happening. Local New Jersey lawmakers have expressed concern over how safe people really are, a contrast to federal and state officials who have said residents should remain calm and the drones pose no threats. The drones are starting to pop up in other states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Connecticut.

Deep dive

Scientists have identified two types of brain cells in the abdomen that appear to control different aspects of digestion. inkoly/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Scientists have identified two types of neurons in the abdomen that appear to control parts of digestion. The finding, reported in the journal Nature, helps explain how clusters of neurons in the body play a key role in the gut-brain connection. Just like in the brain, it adds evidence that neurons in the body can take on specialized functions.

🧠 Although the research involved mice, Yuki Oka, one of the study's authors, says human digestive tracts are similar and probably contain a similar system.
🧠 The study focused on the sympathetic nervous system, a subset of the peripheral nervous system that becomes more active when the brain detects danger. As a result, your adrenaline goes up, and glucose levels in the blood rise.
🧠 The research supports scientific views that specialized neurons in the body play an important role in the gut-brain connection, which impacts everything from hunger to mood.
🧠 Specialized neurons offer potential targets to treat high blood pressure, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and more.

Weekend picks

Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Movies: The horror-comedy Get Away follows the Smith family, who embark on a holiday to a fictional Swedish Island where no one seems happy to see them. Oh, and by the end there's a kind of slash-fest.

📺 TV: Jamie Foxx not only brings laughter in his new Netflix special What Had Happened Was, he explains the "medical emergency" that landed him in the hospital last year.

📚 Books: NPR's annual year-end book guide, Books We Love, had an appetite for great food. Here are 11 cookbooks with an array of recipes.

🎵 Music: Discover 10 of the best classical albums of 2024 and an honorable mention — all of which NPR Music's Tom Huizenga says brought him joy, introspection and hope.

❓ Quiz: The last quiz of the year is all about testing your knowledge of how much you remember from 2024. Apparently I remember a lot more than I thought. Do you think you can get a passing score like me? Test your luck.

3 things to know before you go

India's grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju reacts after winning against China's chess grandmaster Ding Liren in game 14 of the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore on Thursday. Simon Lim/AFP via Getty Images

Gukesh Dommaraju has become the new world chess champion. The 18-year-old chess prodigy from India is now the youngest world champion of all time.
An American man who identified himself as Pete Travis Timmerman was found wandering the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday. He was last seen in Budapest, Hungary, in June.
Stanley is recalling about 2.6 million of its travel mugs due to an issue with the lids. The company is offering free replacement lids.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

FBI Director to resign. And, UHC CEO killing brings attention to U.S. life expectancy

Brittney Melton — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:58:23 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced yesterday that he will resign at the end of the Biden administration in January. The decision came after President-elect Donald Trump announced he wanted loyalist Kash Patel to replace Wray. Trump appointed Wray to the role in 2017 during his first term in office. Wray is exiting before his 10-year term ends.

FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during an Election Threats Task Force meeting at the Justice Department in September 2024. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

🎧 Wray said stepping down is the right thing to do for the FBI and will help avoid dragging it deeper into the fray, NPR's Ryan Lucas tells Up First. Wray emphasized that the work the FBI is doing is critical and that won't change. Trump was happy with the announcement, saying Wray's departure would mark the end of the weaponization of the justice system. Lucas says Wray defended the FBI's independence and tried to keep it out of political fights on Capitol Hill, but it was impossible with its investigations over the past several years. The bureau has investigated Hunter Biden, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

A handwritten note found on murder suspect Luigi Mangione has turned attention to the U.S life expectancy. Initially, the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson sparked social media posts about the health insurance industry. The note, which the Associated Press obtained a copy of, talked about the disconnect between the expensive U.S. health care system and low life expectancy in the country.

🎧 The CDC's latest calculations put America's life expectancy at 77 ½ years, which is on par with countries like Ecuador and Croatia, NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin says. Dr. Steven Woolf of Virginia Commonwealth University says research shows that about 10% to 20% of health outcomes are related to health care. Poor diet, physical inactivity, child poverty, public policies and gun violence also play a role. Drug overdoses account for many deaths among young people and are one factor that has driven the U.S. life expectancy down compared to countries without an opioid epidemic.

Top Democratic National Committee members will meet in Washington over the next two days to discuss rules for picking new leadership and reflect on this year. The Democratic Party lost control of the White House and Senate and failed to retake control of the House during the recent election cycle. Now, the next chair of the DNC will have a lot of work ahead of them.

🎧 The Democratic Party has faded in relevance and strategy over the last few election cycles, making way for super PACs to take the lead in highly specific swing states, according to NPR's Stephen Fowler. Fowler says there's growing acknowledgement that the DNC needs to focus more on year-round organizing, recruitment and fundraising. He adds they also need to help state parties -- especially in Republican-led states -- with these efforts. There's a feeling among party leaders that the next DNC chair needs to be someone with experience leading that type of always-on campaigning style. Two leading candidates are Ken Martin of Minnesota and Ben Wikler of Wisconsin.

Today's listen

Italian pop singer Mina in 1961, Cremona, Italy. Sandro Rizzi/AP

Mina is one of the bestselling Italian musical artists of all time. At age 84, she just dropped a new album. She might not be a household name in the U.S., but like Barbra Streisand, she has sold more than 150 million records worldwide. Unlike Streisand, Mina hasn't performed publicly since 1978 and doesn't give media interviews. With the relative secrecy around her work, it can be hard to know how she keeps her immense vocal power going with age. Listen to snippets of Mina's music and hear from experts on why she sounds good.

Picture show

Dashboard Altar. San Francisco, CA. 2019 Amanda Lopez

Our Lady of Guadalupe is a significant religious figure showcasing hope and protection for Latinos in the U.S. and abroad. But for photographer Amanda Lopez, she's more of a powerful emblem of home. Lopez attended a church named Our Lady of Guadalupe growing up and was surrounded by Guadalupe's image. Her family's Catholic views initially shaped her own. But while working on her yearslong project Guadalupe, she began questioning her thoughts about what makes a good woman. She initially thought it meant you had to be humble, respectful and go with the status quo, but then felt uncomfortable with that idea.

📷 See photos of how Lopez deconstructed her beliefs and began to visualize those conflicting thoughts through photography.

3 things to know before you go

People celebrated in Jeddah as Saudi Arabia was announced Wednesday as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images

The FIFA World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2034. The country made the only bid for the tournament, making yesterday's announcement a formality.
Bill Belichick has been announced as the new football coach for UNC-Chapel Hill. His resume includes leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl wins. He has never coached college football. (via WUNC)
Ryan Borgwardt appeared in court yesterday after disappearing while on a kayaking trip in Wisconsin in August. An investigation revealed he attempted to fake his death and flee to Europe.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Clues to Luigi Mangione's ideology. And, courts halt Kroger and Albertsons megamerger

Brittney Melton — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:03:33 +0000

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Today's top stories

Syrians are transitioning from celebrating the ousting of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad and the toppling of his regime to thinking about the huge challenges facing the war-torn country. Ahmed al-Shara, who is at the forefront of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, is at least nominally in charge of the country. Here are five things to watch as Syria looks toward a new future.

Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans, as they celebrate during the second day of the take over of the city by the insurgents in Damascus on Monday. Hussein Malla/AP

🎧 "What is quite extraordinary is they seem to now be handling a relatively managed handover of power," NPR's Ruth Sherlock tells Up First. A new transitional government has been formed, which includes some politicians from the old regime. Soldiers conscripted into military service are being pardoned, and leaders are working to dismantle the regime's feared security apparatus. Sherlock visited the Sednaya prison, one of the most feared complexes known for torture and mass executions. It is now open, and rebels have released prisoners. Many of those who were imprisoned are still missing, and the facility is full of their loved ones looking for clues as to where they may be.
➡️ More than a million Syrians now live in Germany after fleeing Syria due to violence under Assad's regime. Now, many are debating whether to return. Some Syrians share their thoughts with NPR's Rob Schmitz about whether to go back.
➡️ Journalist Austin Tice went missing 12 years ago during a reporting trip in Syria. After the fall of the Assad regime, there has been increased hope that he is still alive. U.S. officials say they are working with sources on the ground to get information about Tice.

Investigators and some extremism researchers are looking into whether there's evidence of a clear ideology behind the UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing after details about suspect Luigi Mangione surfaced online. Mangione is a member of a prominent Maryland family, graduated top of his class from an elite prep school and received two Ivy League school degrees. He reportedly suffered a major back injury and underwent surgery a couple of years ago.

🎧 Mangione had several social media accounts, including one on Goodreads where he posted an excerpt from the writings of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, NPR's Odette Yousef says. One of the photos on his X account is an X-ray of a spine with four large screws inserted. It isn't certain that this is his X-ray. His digital footprint doesn't clarify much because it cuts off in the spring. Police found a handwritten note conveying a deep anger towards the healthcare industry and a feeling that someone had to take action, Yousef says.
➡️ Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO, was likely killed with a ghost gun. Here's what they are and how they are made.

Two separate judges blocked the $24.6 billion merger deal for Kroger and Albertsons yesterday. One of the cases was brought by federal regulators while the other was presented by the Washington state attorney general. It would have been the biggest grocery merger in U.S. history. Now, after two years of delays, its fate is unknown.

🎧 The block is technically temporary and Kroger and Albertsons could keep fighting and appeal, NPR's Alina Selyukh says. The state judge ruled the merger violated state consumer protection law and the federal case blocked the merger nationwide. Government lawyers argued the merger would leave shoppers worse off. Kroger and Albertsons made the case that the merger was a matter of survival and that their biggest rivals are not conventional supermarkets but giants like Walmart and Costco. The companies say they are disappointed and disagree with the decision and are currently weighing their options going forward.

Life advice

It can be hard to know what to say to someone whose loved one has died. You want to show love and support, but you also know there isn't much you can say to heal their pain. If you feel at a loss for words, psychologist and grief consultant Mekel Harris and author of Grief is Love Marisa Renee Lee have some dos and don'ts when expressing condolences.

❤️ Don't start anything with "at least." This phrase may minimize your friend's experience and could impose a viewpoint that may not ring true.
❤️ Saying "no need to respond" releases the grieving person from any pressure or expectation to reply.
❤️ Clichés like "time heals all wounds" can sound hollow and impersonal.
❤️ Keep reaching out, even months after the death. Grief is a long road, and each person heals at their own pace.

Check out the more tips here.

Picture show

Clockwise, from top left: Laura Forer, Michelle Alette, Domenique Rice, Jen Loga, Dr. Patty Ng and Marise Angibeau-Gray Nancy Borowick

Nancy Borowick found that photography was therapeutic for her after she lost both of her parents within 364 days of one another. It continued to have healing power when she found herself deep in depression 13 months after the traumatic birth of her son. Borowick turned to social media to ask others about their experiences with birth trauma. One grandmother asked her, "Are you looking for stories about stillbirth?" The question prompted her to start The Loss Mother's Stone, a project she hopes will draw awareness to women's stories, educate Americans and destigmatize the conversation between doctors and patients.

📷 See photos and videos from mothers sharing their grief in this project.

3 things to know before you go

After The Onion was named the winning bidder for Alex Jones' assets at a bankruptcy auction last month, the losing bidder tried to stop the sale, saying the process was rigged and "fatally flawed." Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images

A bankruptcy judge has rejected a bid by The Onion's owners to buy Alex Jones' Infowars, saying the offer and process were flawed.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new law Monday that limits how a book can be banned in schools and public libraries and protects librarians from lawsuits. (via WHYY)
The U.S.' first state-sanctioned facility for people to use illegal drugs under medical supervision opened yesterday in Rhode Island. The facilities are part of an effort to prevent overdoses. (via The Public's Radio)

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

What we know about murder suspect Luigi Mangione. And, why food recalls are rising

Brittney Melton — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 13:01:36 +0000

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Today's top stories

Police arrested 26-year-old Luigi Mangione yesterday and charged him with murder for the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Thompson was gunned down in New York City last week. After he was killed, NYPD obtained a surveillance photo showing part of the suspect's face, which was showcased nationwide. Police took Mangione into custody after he was recognized at a Pennsylvania McDonald's and reported to authorities.

In this handout photo released by the Altoona Police Department, Luigi Mangione is seen in a holding cell after being taken into custody on Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pa. Altoona Police Department/Getty Images

🎧 Mangione was allegedly carrying an illegal firearm, false documents and other evidence linking him to Thompson's death, NPR's Brian Mann tells Up First. The motive behind targeting Thompson so deliberately is unclear at the moment. NYPD's Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said Mangione was carrying a three-page handwritten document that may detail some of his alleged motives.
➡️ Mangione came from an affluent family and was well-educated. He was valedictorian at the private Gilman School in Baltimore and then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied computer science and artificial intelligence. Here's what else we know about him.
➡️ Read more about what comes next in the case.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes the witness stand today in his corruption trial. It's the first time in the country's history that a sitting prime minister is testifying as a defendant in court. Netanyahu is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases. He will testify three days a week for six hours a day for many weeks.

🎧 Netanyahu is testifying in an underground fortified courtroom for security reasons as the country is in the middle of a war, says NPR's Daniel Estrin, who is one floor above him in Tel Aviv. Police started investigating Netanyahu in 2016, and in a press conference last night, Netanyahu said he's been waiting eight years for this day to be able to present the truth. Netanyahu is accused of using his influence to help media figures' business interests. In exchange, he allegedly received tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne and cigars. In the two other cases, he's accused of allegedly helping media moguls with their business interests in order to work out deals for flattering news coverage in their outlets. Netanyahu has denied these allegations.

Jay-Z is reportedly taking legal action against an attorney after being accused in a civil lawsuit filed Sunday of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean "Diddy" Combs at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000. The rapper is the latest celebrity to be linked to allegations against Combs. The lawsuit is one of more than a dozen filed by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee against Combs.

🎧 Jay-Z is not facing any criminal charges as this is part of a civil suit against Combs, NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento says. Jay-Z issued a statement to NPR saying the claims are completely false. He publicly called Buzbee an "ambulance chaser in a cheap suit" and said he was attempting to blackmail him to extort settlement money. Jay-Z has filed a motion to dismiss the anonymous lawsuit or to have the plaintiff's identity disclosed. Buzbee has insinuated that other celebrities may have been involved in the Combs' alleged crimes and may be named in future lawsuits.

Today's listen

Dolly Parton performs on stage at ACL Live during Blockchain Creative Labs' Dollyverse event at SXSW during the 2022 SXSW Conference and Festivals in Austin, Texas. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for SXSW

Dolly Parton truly does it all. One mission stands out among her long list of accomplishments: her commitment to promoting children's literacy. She also loves Christmas and her French bulldog, Billy the Kid. She has combined these interests in her new children's book, Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Comes Home For Christmas, in which her canine sidekick must decide between fame and family during the holiday season. Parton joins Morning Edition to talk about the book, her love for the holiday and more. Listen to what she had to say here.

Deep dive

A recall notice citing listeria contamination risks is posted next to Boar's Head meats in a Safeway store in San Rafael, Calif., in July, as the deli meat company expanded its recall of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Several high-profile food recalls have occurred this year. On that list: A deadly listeria outbreak among Boar's Head deli meat and an investigation into cucumbers contaminated with salmonella. Even before the Boar's Head recall, a Gallup poll found Americans' confidence in the government's ability to ensure a safe food supply had sunk to a record low.

🥒 Food recalls fell sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are now rising. The Food and Drug Administration says 1,908 products were recalled in the fiscal year that ended in September — the highest since 2019.
🥒 Day-to-day food handling habits can help to limit the risk of foodborne illness, says Linda Harris, a food scientist at the University of California, Davis.
🥒 Rinsing fresh, raw vegetables and fruit under running water can help remove microorganisms from the surface.
🥒 The CDC says in the U.S., 31 pathogens — bacteria, viruses and parasites — have been commonly linked to foodborne hospitalizations and deaths. The three bacteria that cause the most hospitalizations and deaths each year are salmonella, listeria monocytogenes and E. coli.

Read how the government traces outbreaks and get more tips on handling food safely.

3 things to know before you go

American poet Yolanda Cornelia 'Nikki' Giovanni leans on her desk beside a typewriter, in front of a wall decorated with photos, 1973. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Getty Images/Hulton Archive

Renowned poet and Black arts movement icon Nikki Giovanni died yesterday at the age of 81, following her third cancer diagnosis, according to a statement from friend and author Renée Watson.
A new national monument in Pennsylvania will tell the story of the hundreds of boarding schools where tens of thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children were sent for assimilation.
Six years ago, Clara Temple was in first grade, trying to order lunch from the cafeteria for the first time. She didn't know her student ID number to enter into the keypad. She panicked and felt embarrassed; however, a cafeteria worker, her unsung hero, swooped in and rescued her.

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

DXVK 2.5.2 Brings Fixes & Optimizations For Direct3D 9 / 10 / 11 Atop Vulkan

Michael Larabel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:48:09 +0000

DXVK 2.5.2 is out today as the newest point release to this open-source software implementing the Direct3D 9 / 10 / 11 APIs atop Vulkan for powering Windows games on Valve's Steam Play (Proton) as well as being used by other software and some games directly.

DXVK 2.9.2 brings optimized behavior of disabled clip planes for Direct3D 9 games, an implementation of the D3D9 shader validation interfaces,support for using VK_FORMAT_A8_UNORM when VK_KHR_maintenance6 is exposed to implement the corresponding D3D11 format, and various fixes.

DXVK 2.5.2 fixes this round help the likes of Borderlands 2, The Sims 2, Alpha Protocol, The Void, and other games.

DXVK 2.5.2 on Windows will also use VK_EXT_fullscreen_exclusive where supported by the Vulkan driver to try to disable exclusive fullscreen mode to workaround common Alt-Tab issues on Microsoft Windows.

Downloads and more details on the DXVK 2.5.2 update via GitHub.

Liquorix vs. Linux 6.12 Upstream Kernel Performance Across Many Workloads

Michael Larabel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:14:55 +0000

A Phoronix Premium subscriber a while back requested some fresh benchmarks of how the Liquorix downstream of the Linux kernel is comparing against the latest upstream kernel... Here are some benchmarks looking at the Liquorix flavor of the Linux kernel compared to upstream Linux 6.12.

Liquorix is a patched version of the Linux kernel with extra functionality and changes compared to the mainline Linux kernel or what is typically shipped by Linux distribution vendor kernels. Liquorix is "designed for uncompromised responsiveness in interactive systems" and features the Zen interactive tuning code, the PDS process scheduler, 1000Hz tick rate, hard kernel preemption, BFQ support, MGLRU enabled, and various other features while also making it convenient to run this kernel with pre-compiled binaries for Ubuntu/Debian systems. Those unfamiliar with this Linux kernel build can learn more at Liquorix.net.

From the same AMD Ryzen 9 9950X system with WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe SSD and Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics I ran benchmarks of the upstream Linux 6.12.5 kernel with a configuration following the Ubuntu Mainline Kernel PPA config and then using the Liquorix 6.12.5-1 pre-built image for Ubuntu. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS was running on this AMD Zen 5 desktop system. No hardware or software changes besides swapping out the kernel being used.

Across 101 benchmarks the upstream Linux 6.12 kernel was faster than the Liquorix kernel for 56 of the benchmarks...

On a geo mean basis across all of the benchmarks, the upstream kernel ended up being faster by 21%.

The Liquorix kernel ended up performing particularly bad in LiteRT (TensorFlow-Lite), srsRAN, Apache cassandra, and other select workloads. But the Liquorix kernel did perform well in some of the synthetic kernel micro-benchmarks, Darktable, video / image encoding, and other select workloads.

Those interested can see all 101 benchmarks in full via this result file.

Ryzen AI NPU6 Support Added To AMDXDNA Driver For Linux 6.14 Debut

Michael Larabel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:30:48 +0000

The latest round of drm-misc-next material was sent out yesterday to DRM-Next in advance of the upcoming Linux 6.14 merge window.

Among the Direct Rendering Manager drm-misc-next changes this week are adding DisplayPort audio to the ZynqMP driver, r8a779h0 support in the rcar-du driver, and continued work on the new AMDXDNA accelerator driver.

After being open-source but out of tree the past year, the AMDXDNA accel driver for supporting the Ryzen AI NPUs is finally going upstream. The AMDXDNA driver is debuting in Linux 6.14 for being part of the mainline kernel.

Following those initial enablement patches, further patches have come to add new hardware support and other code cleaning. Those newer patches are part of this week's drm-misc-next pull for adding the AMD NPU6 generation IP support. In turn all of this code is now set for christening in Linux 6.14.

In addition to the Ryzen AI NPU6 support there is now a query for obtaining the NPU firmware version, reporting the device status for AIE2 devices, enhanced power management settings, and other updates. All those details for those interested via this week's drm-misc-next pull.

The Linux 6.14 merge window will formally open in late January while the stable kernel should be out by late March and in turn be found in the likes of Ubuntu 25.04, Fedora 42, and other spring distribution releases.

Weighted Interleave Auto-Tuning Being Worked On For Linux

Michael Larabel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:04:38 +0000

Joshua Hahn has posted the latest "request for comments" draft working on weightedd interleave auto-tuning for the linux kernel in order to better enhance the performance characteristics of primarily Linux servers with multiple memory nodes.

Weighted interleave as a new memory policy was originally introduced to help with heterogeneous memory environments like with CXL rather than relying on an even round-robin distribution. The new policy allows interleaving memory across nodes based upon the specified weight to better cope with heterogeneous hardware environments. Those weights need to be manually adjusted by the Linux server administrator or other policy but the RFC patches bring auto-tuning support.

Hahn explains in the RFC patch for weighted interleave auto-tuning:

"On machines with multiple memory nodes, interleaving page allocations across nodes allows for better utilization of each node's bandwidth. Previous work by Gregory Price introduced weighted interleave, which allowed for pages to be allocated across NUMA nodes according to user-set ratios.

Ideally, these weights should be proportional to their bandwidth, so that under bandwidth pressure, each node uses its maximal efficient bandwidth and prevents latency from increasing exponentially.

At the same time, we want these weights to be as small as possible. Having ratios that involve large co-prime numbers like 7639:1345:7 leads to awkward and inefficient allocations, since the node with weight 7 will remain mostly unused (and despite being proportional to bandwidth, will not aid in relieving the pressure present in the other two nodes).

This patch introduces an auto-configuration for the interleave weights that aims to balance the two goals of setting node weights to be proportional to their bandwidths and keeping the weight values low. This balance is controlled by a value "weightiness", which defines the interleaving aggression. Higher values lead to less interleaving (255:1), while lower values lead to more interleaving (1:1).

Large weightiness values generally lead to increased weight-bandwidth proportionality, but can lead to underutilized nodes (think worst-case scenario, which is 1:max_node_weight). Lower weightiness reduces the effects of underutilized nodes, but may lead to improperly loaded distributions.

This knob is exposed as a sysfs interface with a default value of 32. Weights are re-calculated once at boottime and then every time the knob is changed by the user, or when the ACPI table is updated."

With the updated patches, the "weightiness" can now be configured via the /sys/kernel/mm/mempolicy/weighted_interleave/weightiness sysfs interface for controlling the interleave aggression.

This patch work is currently under review but will likely make it to the mainline kernel in some form given the increasing number of Linux servers with CXL memory on the horizon.

OpenMoonRay 1.7 Brings More NVIDIA GPU Acceleration, Additional Features

Michael Larabel — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:48:00 +0000

In early 2023 DreamWorks open-sourced their MoonRay renderer as OpenMoonRay. Since then they have continued advancing this award-winning production MCRT renderer. Before closing out 2024 they have now released OpenMoonRay 1.7.

The OpenMoonRay 1.7 open-source renderer release in its XPU mode brings support for greater acceleration on NVIDIA GPUs to now include both regular rays and occlusion rays plus having support for up to 16 motion blur steps/samples for meshes.

OpenMoonRay 1.7 also has updated build instruction documentation, a threads option for "moonray_bake", adds PortalLight, a stochastic presence optimization, new command line tools, and a variety of other features and fixes.

Downloads and more details on the OpenMoonRay 1.7 release via GitHub.

Intel & Canonical Collaborate On Graphics Preview Stack For Ubuntu 24.10

Michael Larabel — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:33:12 +0000

Intel and Canonical have been collaborating to provide an early "Graphics Preview" stack for Ubuntu 24.10 to provide better support for the new Intel Core Ultra Series 2 "Lunar Lake" and Intel Arc B-Series "Battlemage" graphics.

With the Xe2 graphics for Lunar Lake and Battlemage needing Linux 6.12 for support out-of-the-box as well as the very latest Mesa releases for the best OpenGL and Vulkan driver support, the current state in Ubuntu 24.10 itself isn't ideal. Plus Intel driver engineers continue pushing new Battlemage and Lunar Lake performance optimizations routinely into Mesa and other components. The out-of-the-box support should be in nice shape by the time of Ubuntu 25.04 in April but for now there is this Intel Graphics Preview Stack to ease the initial experience for Lunar Lake and Battlemage graphics on this current Ubuntu release.

This week marks the Intel Graphics Preview Stack "1.0.0" release on GitHub. The GitHub repository though is just a bash script that in turn adds an Intel graphics Launchpad PPA and then proceeds to use Apt to install the various Intel-related driver packages. From the kobuk-team/intel-graphics PPA this will grab the latest Mesa packages as well as the Level Zero GPU Raytracing support, video acceleration drivers, oneAPI VPL library, Intel Metrics Discovery/Library, OpenCL support, and other related packages.

This Graphics Preview Stack and PPA are designed for use with Ubuntu 24.10. More details on this Intel Graphics Preview 1.0.0 stack for Ubuntu 24.10 can be found via the GitHub release tag that also includes the various package version details.

I'll be giving this preview stack a shot to see how it compares with the likes of the Oibaf PPA for tracking Mesa Git and using the upstream Linux kernel from the Ubuntu Mainline Kernel PPA or similar.

Linux 6.13 Is A Great Holiday Gift For AMD Systems With Many New Features

Michael Larabel — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:18:45 +0000

Of the many new features in Linux 6.13 for that kernel debuting by late January, AMD customers once again have a lot to look forward to from new Zen 5 features being enabled to additional performance optimizations. Here is a look at some of the most exciting new AMD features and improvements with this first major Linux kernel release coming for 2025.

A new AMD driver debuting in the Linux 6.13 kernel is the AMD 3D V-Cache Optimizer driver. This driver for AMD Ryzen X3D 3D V-Cache processors allow users to communicate their cache vs. frequency preference for best handling of new tasks on the system. This optimizer driver is for AMD Zen CPUs with multiple CCDs but where only a subset of them have the larger L3 cache (3D V-Cache) and the other CCDs able to boost more easily to a higher performance state. Via a new "amd_x3d_mode" sysfs node exposed on Linux 6.13+, users can set whether they prefer new tasks be placed on the CCD with the higher frequency or whether to prioritize the CCD with the larger L3 cache.

Over on the EPYC side in Linux 6.13, the new kernel is now defaulting to the AMD P-State driver rather than ACPI CPUFreq. This change is just for the EPYC 9005 "Turin" and future processors. For a number of kernels now the AMD Ryzen CPUs (and in turn the EPYC 4004 series too) have been defaulting to the AMD P-State driver but now for the big EPYC server processors they kept to using the generic ACPI CPUFreq CPU frequency scaling driver. But for Linux 6.13+ the AMD EPYC 9005 series and beyond will be using AMD P-State now too for better power efficiency and performance. This does require the server motherboard to expose ACPI CPPC for AMD P-State support otherwise ACPI CPUFreq will still be used. There are nice power efficiency wins on 5th Gen EPYC with AMD P-State and I will have more benchmarks soon.

There are also some nice incremental performance improvements found during testing with 5th Gen EPYC "Turin" CPUs, even if the server/motherboard doesn't support using AMD P-State (due to issues with or lacking ACPI CPPC) and thus still using ACPI CPUFreq.

Another useful Linux 6.13 addition for those on the new 5th Gen AMD EPYC servers is PCI Express TLP Processing Hints support. The PCIe TLP Processing Hints (TPH) are optional hints that can be injected for improving latency and lowering traffic congestion when there are several possible cache locations on the system. Paired with Smart Data Cache Injection on EPYC Zen 5 this can lead to better I/O performance.

A new AMD Zen 5 feature at large now supported by Linux 6.13 is the AMD Bus Lock Trap handling and similar to the Intel bus lock detection support that's been around for a while. Linux 6.13 also adds new Zen 5 perf events.

There are also new AMD CPU features with Linux 6.13 such as a feature flag to denote AMD processors supporting workload classification for hints around kernel scheduler decisions. There is also a patch to determine the boost enumerator correctly for AMD cores whether they are the legacy or dense core versions. Plus other ongoing AMD heterogeneous CPU topology work for the Linux kernel.

For those still using older AMD processors, there is a fix for Zen 1 / Zen 2 CPU microcode updates leading to slow boot times.

Over on the AMD graphics side is support with the Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards for being able to toggle the Zero RPM feature if not desired. There's also continued work on RDNA4 graphics as well as new features like runtime re-partitioning for CDNA / Instinct accelerators.

Some other AMD changes in the Linux 6.13 kernel include AMD I3C controller ACPI support in the DesignWare driver, AMD ACP 6.3 SoundWire support with various codecs, and more.

Plus there are many other general improvements that benefit AMD customers and others like the ability to make use of AutoFDO+Propeller optimized kernel builds with Clang, NVMe 2.1 device support, both Intel and AMD CPUs enjoying faster CRC32C and AEGIS-128 crypto, and other new hardware peripheral/adapter enablement.

Simply put, Linux 6.13 will be debuting as stable in January as a very nice post-holiday treat for AMD Linux users whether you are a laptop/desktop user or deploying large EPYC servers. And then after that is the Linux 6.14 kernel cycle for a spring debut and already a number of new AMD improvements coming there too.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K "Arrow Lake" Windows 11 vs. Ubuntu Linux Performance

Michael Larabel — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:30:00 +0000

One of the areas for benchmarking exploration that I had been meaning to dive into since the launch of the Intel Arrow Lake processors back in October was checking out the Microsoft Windows 11 vs. Linux performance for the new Core Ultra 9 285K flagship processor. Particularly with the mix of P and E cores I was curious for a fresh look at the Windows vs. Linux performance capabilities. With recently carrying out a Windows 11 install on Arrow Lake for running the Intel Arc B580 Battlemage Windows vs. Linux benchmarks, following that I carried out some fresh CPU benchmarks for seeing how Arrow Lake processor performance is looking on these competing operating systems.

With the Intel Arc Battlemage Windows vs. Linux graphics benchmarks out of the way, today's article is diving into the Core Ultra 9 285K Windows vs. Linux performance. This was looking at the out-of-the-box performance of Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 24H2 up against Ubuntu 24.10 Linux for the default performance on clean installations. Plus in the case of Ubuntu 24.10 with the open-source flexibility I also ran some additional benchmark runs of different configurations.

For all of this testing the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K at stock speeds was used with the 2 x 16GB DDR5-6400 memory, ASUS ROG MAXIMUS Z890 HERO motherboard with the latest BIOS, and WD_BLACK SN850X 1TB NVMe SSD storage.

The following configurations were tested for today's article:

- Microsoft Windows 11 Professional 24H2 with all Windows updates and drivers as of 15 December.

- Ubuntu 24.10 out-of-the-box with Linux 6.11 and updates as of 17 December.

- Ubuntu 24.10 when upgrading to the Linux 6.12 stable kernel.

- Ubuntu 24.10 when upgrading to the current Linux 6.13 development kernel.

- Ubuntu 24.10 when using the Linux 6.13 development kernel and switching over to the Intel P-State "performance" governor rather than the default intel_pstate powersave mode.

With the flexibility of Ubuntu Linux, the newer kernel tests were done for looking at the Linux 6.12 LTS performance and how the Intel Arrow Lake performance on the newest upstream kernel is looking as we roll into 2025 especially with Intel software engineers continuing to better work on optimizing the Intel Core hybrid performance.

Let's take a look at how the Intel Core Ultra 9 "Arrow Lake" is competing under Windows and Linux.

With the proprietary V-RAY renderer on both platforms, Ubuntu Linux was around 15% faster than Windows 11. Switching to a newer kernel or the performance governor didn't help here for the Arrow Lake system.

With the Appleseed renderer native to each platform, Windows performed around the same as Linux. This is a bit surprising with Linux often leading in these CPU rendering tests but nevertheless at least the two operating systems were on the same playing field.

With the proprietary Indigo renderer, Linux was carrying the slight advantage.

The Blender 4.3 3D modeling software continues performing much better on Linux than Windows. This is what we are used to seeing across both Intel and AMD processors and so it's good to see with Arrow Lake still maintaining these significant advantages to Linux... Had it not, it would have clearly indicated some Linux CPU issues for this latest-gen hybrid desktop processor. The different kernels and P-State performance mode hadn't impacted these Core Ultra 9 285K results.

With the ASTC texture compression benchmarks there was a slight advantage to running on Windows, which was a bit surprising as typically Linux performs slightly better.

With Intel's OSPRay Studio software Linux returned to being the front-runner.

The results were tied for Y-Cruncher.

With various multi-threaded chess benchmarks, Ubuntu 24.10 was slightly outperforming Windows 11 24H2.

Linux typically leads with 7-Zip compression performance over Windows but in the case of these Arrow Lake numbers were tighter than what I typically see on desktop CPUs.

Typically in the video encode benchmarks there is much greater uplift out of using the performance governor compared to powersave / ondemand / schedutil but surprisingly with the P-State performance governor on Arrow Lake there was little difference.

The Windows build of the Kvazaar H.265 video encoder was outperforming Ubuntu Linux on this Core Ultra 9 285K desktop.

But with other creator workloads, Linux went back on top.

From the benchmarks today it's looking like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU performance is fairly stable from Linux 6.11 through 6.13 kernels with no major performance shifts besides some subtle variation.

The OpenJDK Java performance on Intel Arrow Lake was mixed but typically with Ubuntu Linux leading for this 24-core desktop.

Across the span of 92 benchmarks carried out, Ubuntu 24.10 was about 6% faster than Windows 11 24H2 for this out-of-the-box / default comparison. All the benchmarks in full can be found here. There was little benefit to the performance itself from switching out the Linux 6.11 default kernel on Ubuntu 24.10 to using Linux 6.12 LTS stable or Linux 6.13 Git, but the newer kernels can provide some features and hardware support such as if you'll also be going for Intel Arc B-Series graphics, for example. It was surprising to see the Intel P-State performance governor providing little help for the Core Ultra 9 285K compared to the default powersave governor. Typically the performance governor allows for more headroom but wasn't the case here with the Core Ultra 9 285K and ASUS motherboard.

In any event that's where things stand today for Intel Arrow Lake between Windows and Ubuntu Linux. For those curious about any further upside if going for the likes of CachyOS or Intel's own Clear Linux, some additional complementary benchmarks are coming up next.

Fish Shell 4.0 Beta Released With C++ Code Ported To Rust

Michael Larabel — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:01:44 +0000

The Fish Shell as the interactive, user-friendly command line shell debuted its 4.0 beta release ahead of the holidays. Notably in this release is porting the C++ code over to the Rust programming language.

The Fish Shell 4.0 Beta transitions from C++ code to the Rust programming language with many changes involved as a result. The pull request for moving the Fish C++ code to Rust argued in favor of the transition:

- Nobody really likes C++ or CMake, and there's no clear path for getting off old toolchains. Every year the pain will get worse.
- C++ is becoming a legacy language and finding contributors in the future will become difficult, while Rust has an active and growing community.
- Rust is what we need to turn on concurrent function execution.
- Being written in Rust will help fish continue to be perceived as modern and relevant.

That pull request was opened back to the start of 2023 while now is being realized with the Fish Shell 4.0 beta.

The Fish Shell 4.0 beta also now requests XTerm’s modifyOtherKeys keyboard encoding and kitty keyboard protocol’s progressive enhancements, support for building as a self-installing binary, improvements to the Ctrl-R history, a wide variety of scripting improvements, and various shell interactive improvements.

More details on the new Fish Shell 4.0 beta release via FishShell.com and a lengthy write-up of the many changes coming with Fish Shell 4.0 via GitHub.

OpenVINO 2024.6 Released With Intel Arc B-Series Support, NPU Optimizations

Michael Larabel — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:55:06 +0000

Intel's OpenVINO open-source AI toolkit is out with a new feature release today for closing out the year. The OpenVINO 2024.6 release brings initial support for the Arc B-Series "Battlemage" graphics cards as well as further optimizing the Intel NPU support.

OpenVINO 2024.6 presents support for the newly-launched Intel Arc B-Series Graphics "Battlemage", better optimizes the inference performance and large language model (LLM) performance on Intel neural processing units, and also improves the LLM performance with GenAI API optimizations. Plus there are overall stability enhancements and performance improvements for large language models.

OpenVINO 2024.6 is just another point release and thus a fairly small update overall but nice to see the timely Intel Battlemage graphics support and continued NPU optimizations. I'll be working on some new OpenVINO benchmarks soon.

Downloads and more details on the OpenVINO 2024.6 release via GitHub.

SOBS: Sudden Onset Boyliking Syndrome

The_Luce — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Two weeks after realizing she's a girl - through a convoluted series of hijinks - Alice visits her best friend with a brand new problem - she suddenly, and very inexplicably, finds herself attracted to guys! There's only one explanation on what could be behind this, and it's just like in the stories she'd always read: Sudden Onset Boyliking Syndrome!

SOBS: Sudden Onset Boyliking Syndrome

The_Luce

Another year, another silly little story making fun of old genre tropes. All is not what it seems!

"Jenna, I think I'm down with a case of... the SOBS!"

"What?" I asked, groggily rubbing sleep from the corners of my eyes. What the heck had Alice woken me up at 5:00 in the morning for? Glancing at her face, it didn't look like she was crying, so... I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Um... let me start at the beginning," she said, letting herself into the house. She was lucky my parents were away; I doubted they'd be happy to have someone knocking at the door this early. "So, you know how I realized I was trans a couple weeks ago?"

"Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow. How could I forget? She had went from an average-looking, if awkward, guy to a total girly girl in the span of a long weekend... and she said it was an accident! Something about a beach resort, forgotten luggage, and an evil cousin? I dunno, I wasn't there.

She peered at me ominously, like she was about to start telling some scary ghost story, "Well, ever since then... I've been feeling weird."

"Weird... how?" I asked, shutting the door.

Alice blushed, which very much betrayed the spooky tone she had been going for. I had a sinking feeling that I knew where this was going. She seemed reticent to offer anything more, despite being the one to come to me for whatever advice she needed.

Sighing, I dragged her upstairs to my room, something which had also caused her to blush in years past. I always figured she was just embarrassed about being in a girl's room, but... looking back, maybe she was envious.

She smoothed out her dress beneath her and daintily sat at my desk chair. As per usual - the new usual, anyway - she had a full face of makeup and not a hair out of place. I had no idea how she did it, especially at a time like this, when nobody should even be awake.

Yawning, I was once again reminded of how little sleep I had gotten. Damn it, girl, it was a Saturday. Saturday is specifically for sleeping! Sitting down on my bed, I questioned her, "So? What is it?"

She blushed even redder at my pressing, but managed to speak up, "Um- um- um... so, a few days ago some guys were saying mean things about me at lunch, and they wouldn't leave me alone..."

"Seriously?" I scowled, "Ugh, those transphobic a-"

She waved her hands in front of herself, cutting me off, "No, it's okay, 'cause..." she, somehow, turned a deeper shade of red, and began smiling dreamily, "Well, Nick saved me. He was all like 'begone, foul scum!' and they were like 'wah!' and ran away, 'cause he's cool as heck and knows jujutsu."

Ah... I knew it. I'd always kinda suspected her and Nick had something going on between them. Her crush must've been multiplied tenfold by everything that had happened recently... As far as I was aware, though, Nick had never been a chuuni. She probably embellished her story a bit. "So, uh, how do you feel about that?"

She tilted her head, "How I feel? Isn't it obvious? I'm down with the SOBS!"

"What?"

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't explain the acronym," she giggled, "I call it SOBS: Sudden Onset Boyliking Syndrome. It's like in all the stories I read!"

...What the hell was she talking about? What stories was she reading? Sudden Onset Boyliking Syndrome? "Uh..." I blinked, "Can you explain, like, any of that?"

She put her finger to her chin thoughtfully, biting her lip, "Gosh, this is almost as embarrassing as when my parents found out I was hiding my gynecomastia. Um, basically, I suddenly like-"

"Gynecomastia?! Since when?!" I blurted. Alice did not have any boobs before, that was for sure. I figured her new bras were just padded! Maybe she meant, like, a mild case in the past that went away.

"Eep!" Her eyes widened as she realized what she said. "Yeah, they've been growing for, um, a year or... two..." She poked her pointer fingers together, looking incredibly meek as she continued, "I was covering them up with a binder, 'cause I didn't want anyone to know... but then, y'know, everything happened."

This girl... I didn't even know what to say to her, about any of that. I'd always known there was something off with her, like she was keeping some big secret, but as of recent events I had thought it was just the trans thing! "Wh- why didn't you see a doctor about them? Why was it happening?" I gasped, "Were you secretly taking hormones?"

"Nope!" she replied with a shy grin, "Apparently I just naturally have high E and low T levels! Lucky, right? No wonder my voice never got that deep."

"Yeah..." I mumbled, thinking back to my interactions with her in the past. Maybe she always was kinda effeminate. Like how the guys made fun of her for shaving her body hair. She always said it was for swimming, but I had literally never seen her go swimming. Certainly not in the middle of winter.

I always thought it was kinda cute how she wasn't like the other guys, but I supposed, now, it was plainly obvious why.

"Anyway! Sorry, you distracted me," she giggled, before looking embarrassed again, "So... what I was saying before... I... I really like boys now! Out of nowhere!"

Really? So she had nothing going on with Nick, before? Huh. That was kind of a relief, actually. Here she was, though, suddenly saying she likes guys now. I tilted my head back and forth, debating whether to ask her something, before finally going for it, "Do you? I mean, maybe you just really liked being treated like a girl."

"Hmm..." she thought about it, getting up from the chair to sit next to me on the bed, snatching up one of my stuffed animals. She turned to look me in the eyes. What was she doing? Did she... did she want to try kissing me?!

"Nope!" she finally spoke up. Did I say that out loud or something? "Like, when Nick saved me, I looked over at him to thank him, and he was so handsome. I jumped right into his arms, and woah, I never noticed how nice boysmell was before!"

"Oh," I replied, averting my eyes, "That's weird. I don't think sexuality can just change like that."

"You'd think so, but it's actually exactly like in all my favourite stories! You know, like, when a guy becomes a girl, and then she falls for her guy best friend. Or the star quarterback. It happens all the time. Well, except for in the lesbian stories, but I don't like those ones as much."

This was far from the first time I had no idea what she was talking about - she had a habit of assuming her conversation partner always knew exactly what she was referring to - but this was by far the most bewildering. What the heck were these stories?

"Wait, so you really had no interest in him before?" I somehow doubted this.

"Nope! None at all. He was just, like, y'know, my best friend. Sure, maybe I thought about what it'd be like to be his girlfriend sometimes, but that doesn't really count, 'cause..." she trailed off, squirming a little as her face turned red once again, "Well, anyway, it definitely wasn't what I feel now when I look at him! Now, it's like... holy crap!"

"What do you mean?" Honestly, I couldn't relate to her experiences with this at all. No guy had ever made me feel anything close to that. Except for maybe... well, that doesn't count anymore.

"Well, it's just... I see him now, and I get all giddy, and my knees start wobbling, and I stutter through all our conversations! Nobody's ever made me feel like that, not even the girls I used to have crushes on when I was a boy."

"Huh?" I perked up, curious what kind of girls Alice liked... or rather, used to like. Apparently.

She shrugged, "Like... when I had a crush on a girl, it was sort of a longing feeling? Like, gosh she's so pretty, and her skin's so nice and clear, and I really like her outfit... stuff like that. They always made me kinda bummed, 'cause I'd never have that."

I blinked, "Are you sure that's not just... envy?"

"Hmm, maybe. I get that feeling way less now, and that might be because I didn't never have that," she mused, flopping onto her back, plushie hugged tightly in her arms.

An idea popped into my head. "Hey, Alice, I have a thought experiment for you."

She perked right back up, "Ooh, I love thought experiments. Like, I always thought about experimenting."

"With what?"

"My gender, duh." She stuck out her tongue. Rude.

I rolled my eyes and sighed at her antics, "Anyway... like, how do you feel when you imagine being together with Nick? Like, going on dates and kissing and stuff."

She winked at me when I said 'stuff', and then immediately turned red. That dork. "Um! Um...! It feels... really nice. I get all squirmy and happy. See, I really like boys now!"

"Sure... but now imagine doing all those things, but you're still the boy you used to be."

The cute, blushy squirming she had been delightedly engaging in a moment ago faded to an uncomfortable grimace. I almost felt bad for it, but she needed to understand what I was thinking.

She frowned, "I dunno, that doesn't do anything for me. Kinda grosses me out, actually... Wait, does that make me homophobic? I don't wanna be homophobic!"

I placed my hand on her shoulder to calm her down, "Don't worry, Alice. That doesn't make you homophobic, it just makes it more obvious what's going on here."

"Why? I'm pretty sure it's the SOBS thing. I mean, even now, it's messed with my mind so much I'm not even into girls when I think back to when I was a guy," she mumbled, twiddling her thumbs as she looked down at her lap. She jerked her head back up and gasped, "Actually, wait...!"

"Huh? Did you figure something out?"

She stared at me wide-eyed in horror, "I just realized... if this is like the stories..."

"Yeah...?" What absurd idea was she going to come up with next? I was morbidly curious.

"That means... you're my girl bestie with whom I have romantic tension but then leave near the end because of my overwhelming, sudden attraction to boys! Oh gosh, you're not gonna try to kiss me, are you? I've always seen you as more of a sister!" she appeared distraught - almost getting a real case of the sobs - even as she spewed nonsense. 'Whom'?

Ouch. That last line really hurt. Other than that, though... "Alice, life isn't like a story. I dunno what you're reading," it sounded rather awful, and heteronormative, "but people don't just have, like, pre-defined roles to fill. Be your own person. If you like guys, then you like guys. You don't have to attribute it to some... made-up condition."

"It's not-" she earnestly spoke up.

I gave her a pointed look. "Here's an idea," I said.

"What? Got some proof that SOBS isn't real?"

"Not exactly... but do you wanna take a bet?" I asked, holding up my phone.

***

"Uh, yeah. I always thought you had a crush on me for years. Sorry I never said anything about it, though. I figured you wouldn't wanna deal with the embarrassment, 'cause I'm straight. Huh... I guess that's not a problem, now," Nick confirmed my hypothesis, looking confused as to why I held this meeting.

Alice swore under her breath, because she owed me five bucks and was also owned by facts and logic.

I beamed, holding a hand out. She placed the bill in my hand. "What do you say now, Alice?"

She sighed, monotonously replying, "You were right. SOBS isn't a real condition. I guess I liked boys the whole time."

"Yup," I smugly confirmed, then added with a wink, "So, what are you gonna do with that information? Think about what Nick said."

Nick, meanwhile, stood there like a dope. He had no idea what was going on, as usual. I never really understood the appeal of guys, they were all so annoying and unaware. I supposed he had his upsides, though, like defending Alice against transphobes.

Alice took a few words to process what I said, and then her eyes turned to saucers. She tackle-hugged Nick to the ground, which I thought was assuming too far ahead. Nick didn't seem to mind, even as she confessed her love to him.

Then it got disgusting when they started kissing. They got really into it. Yuck, I couldn't stand the sight of Alice kissing some dumb boy. She deserved way better than that.

Weird. Did I suddenly become a lesbian, or something?

The_Luce

Thanks for reading! If you liked this story, consider commenting, or checking out my other stuff. Or something. :P

Under Stagelights

transcect — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Adam has been learning the drums for two years. His teacher, the beautiful, fiery Sophie Summers, has a band of her own, and they're on the cusp of hitting the big time. But the night before their first big show, one where they can introduce themselves to the world, tragedy strikes and they find themselves down a member. To save the band, Sophie turns to Adam. But... there's a catch.

Under Stagelights is a lesbian egg fic.

Chapter 1: Lesbian Catnip

“Watch your sticking!” Adam tried to remember what pattern he’d hit the drums in, and with which hand. Two sixteenths on the snare with his left, one on the hi-tom with his right, and then the floor tom with his left? Or had it been right left right left? The crash had been with his right hand, he was sure of that.

“Adam, the groove!” Fuck. Thinking too much. He tried to recover, syncing the kick up again, but it was too late. Sophie had stopped playing, and she was reaching over to her phone to cut the music. Adam scolded himself quietly, letting it get lost in the din. The music cut, guitar and bass disappearing, and Sophie, still sitting on a drum stool of her own, her own sticks clutched in one hand, turned to him, grinning.

“Okay, that was my bad,” she said. “Should have told you the sticking bit later.” Adam shook his head. Sophie was hard to disappoint. For one, she was literally hard to disappoint, always passing along little compliments on his playing, even if he had stepped way out of the song by getting in his own head. Yes, yes, just pretend ‘Talking in Your Sleep’ has a four quarter notes on the kick drum, a thumping four on the floor, because the rest was great! And even when Adam tried to brush it off, she’d roll her eyes and tell him to lighten up. And Adam would blush.

Because Sophie Summers, the beautiful, pixie cut red head, was hard to disappoint. Even if she wasn’t actually disappointed, and she was complimenting him on finding an interesting fill, Adam still struggled to not be perfect for her. Charming, pretty, exceptionally talented girls deserved students who took their drumming as seriously as they did. And, sure, Adam hadn’t been playing as long, and he didn’t belong to a band like she did, and he certainly didn’t also double on bass, but he wanted to be better.

Tammy had teased that he would have quit drumming in the first year if he hadn’t been taught by Sophie. Adam had lied and said it wasn’t true. Whatever. It didn’t matter why he had stuck with it. It mattered that he had. And, even though he was still spending a lot of time messing up in front of Sophie, he was spending a lot more time getting good at drumming. Or, something close to it. Not ‘I should join a band good’, but ‘impress my friends with pencils’ good.

And, okay, friends was a strong word, too. There was Tammy, and that was pretty much it. Tammy, his roommate who had pseudo adopted him like a lost puppy off the street. They spent most evenings watching reruns of Seinfeld on the couch they had actually dragged in off the street, talking about how crazy it was that Julia Louise Dreyfus still looked the way she did. Tammy was impressed by what Adam could drum out with a pencil, even if she did tease him with the requisite ‘and what does Sophie say?’ every time he pulled it out.

Tammy had been in a friend group with Adam’s older sister, Amy, and Amy had set them up as roommates when Adam had moved to D.C. Tammy, God bless her, had been immediately friendly to Adam. They were the only two people in the whole city from Bellway, Washington, she had said, and thus they must be friends. Bellway, Washington to Beltway, Washington she had said.

“You’re going to want to go right-left on the snare,” said Sophie, snapping Adam back. “Then, right on the hi-tom. Quick with that one, then left to the floor tom.” Sophie mimed the motion, and Adam nodded. He repeated the pattern, a little hesitation, and then did it again. Sophie nodded. “Good!”

“I’ll mix it up again,” said Adam. Sophie rolled her eyes.

“You’ll be fine.” She hit play on the song again, back to the start, two minutes before the fill that had tripped him up. They both jumped in.

Adam liked playing with Sophie. Playing side by side with another drummer was a bit like training wheels in a lot of ways. If he missed a note, Sophie would be playing the same one, and Adam could jump right back in. If he overplayed, Sophie, without missing a beat, would repeat the extra note on the next measure, and it would all seem like it was part of the song. And, if Adam completely fell away, she would start to riff and have fun and grin at him until he acquiesced and started playing again.

They reached the fill and Adam, realizing it was coming, jumped a beat too early. Everything sounded loud and weird and noisy. Adam swore, Sophie laughed, and they both stopped playing, The Romantics still humming away in the speakers.

“Do you want to do something else?” asked Sophie. Adam didn’t much care. He had been playing this song a lot over the last two weeks, trying to get it down. His timeframe for learning songs had shorted from being measured in months to weeks, but it was still a tiring process, especially if the song was tricky.

“Sure,” he said.

“Mind if we play some of mine?” asked Sophie. Adam shook his head.

“Of course not,” he said. Sophie, drummer, writer, occasional singer for Shady Groove, a sort of alternative rock band, which Tammy had personally nicknamed “Lesbian Catnip”, liked to play her new stuff with Adam. They had gotten into the habit early on in his lessons, when Adam had trouble picking something to play. She said it helped her perfect the parts, teaching them to someone else. All of the odd bits stuck out that much more.

Adam liked it, too. He liked being a part of her process. He had joked that he ought to be included on all of the bands writing credits, and Sophie had seemed deadly serious about adding him until he begged her not to. He didn’t need to see his name down on the back of a CD. She had only agreed when he had threatened to stop letting her play them with him. He was paying, after all.

Sophie grinned at him, her cheeks dimpling. Adam loved it when she smiled. When he had nailed something they had worked for a whole session on, finally getting the timing just perfect, and Sophie whooped and smiled and her cheeks dimpled, Adam thought he might genuinely be in love. Never mind that she was a lesbian, and fairly healthy part of Adam was pretty sure he was gay, or at least something like it. Maybe there was another kind of friendship, one just like the one he had with Tammy, just closer and happier and more lovely.

Instead of cueing a song, Sophie pulled a folder out of green backpack. Inside, there were sheets and sheets of handwritten notes. It had taken the full year for Adam to get accustomed to reading them. But he had, and as she settled it in front of him, Adam wiggled his sticks in the air.

“Four on the floor,” he said.

“Thought you might like that,” said Sophie, who settled her own drum sticks on her stool. Adam gave her a look. “I want to test the baseline, too!”

“In my lesson?” Adam was only teasing her, but Sophie frowned.

“Sorry,” she said. “Sorry, no, you’re right.” She moved back towards the kit.

“Sophie, I was kidding,” said Adam.

“No, no, I need to be teaching you drums, Adam,” she said. Adam gave her a look. She picked up her sticks, and Adam put his down.

“Go get your bass,” he said. And Sophie shook her head again.

“I always forget that you’re paying me,” she said. “This is my job. I can’t just… practice.” Adam opened his mouth to deny it. But, sometimes, when they were in the middle of a really good session, and Adam was just playing, he forgot that he was paying her, too.

Adam let it go. And Sophie started to describe the song that they were going to play. She walked him through the sticking, and Adam followed along, watching as she hit the drumheads, the ride, the hi-hat. She was so graceful with it. Her arms gathered themselves before they needed to be somewhere, getting out of their own way when they needed to, and they found their place. Adam still felt as though he was flailing about a little.

They played for another half hour. It was a good song. Or, at least the drum part was fun, although that could be expected on a song written by a drummer. Sophie seemed pleased as they reached the end, and her face had dimpled again.

“You like it?” she asked. Adam wondered if she knew that he couldn’t actually say no to her. He nodded.

“Yes,” he said. “It’s really something.”

*****

Sophie Summers left Adam, the buzz-cut softie that he was, alone to clean up in the Crash Room. Normally, she would have walked to the Metro with him, as they did at the end of most of her shifts. Today, though, was different. She had her own bit of practice to do, her own band to worry about. Most weeks, they only practiced twice all together. But they had a show, a big one, one where they might finally hit triple digit attendance, and they had to be perfect.

Mal called it a ‘snowball show’. As in, if this show went well, it would all snowball into something bigger. And, maybe. There were a lot of bands in D.C. But most of them gave up, or didn’t have the time, or just never were good enough to get going. Shady Groove, however, could be different. The local circuit was getting bigger here, and they seemed like they had gotten bigger, too. Maybe Sophie was just getting ahead of herself. But she felt good. It all felt close.

Mal and Anna were already in the band room when she arrived, each of them toying with their instruments. Mal seemed to have bought a new guitar tuner, and she was fiddling with it. Anna was setting up her keyboard, a collection of instrument boxes settled beside her.

“Hellooo,” said Sophie, the word trailing into sing song. Mal looked up and grinned.

“How was work?” she asked. Mal had her braids jammed under a hat today.

“Crazy,” said Sophie. “Awful commute.” Anna laughed. Her hair was down, long, straight, and black.

“Did our ghostwriter come up with anything fun?” Sophie rolled her eyes. They had all teased her about trying to credit Adam on their songs. Wendy, yet unseen, had told Sophie that they were not putting a guy on the credits of their lesbian band’s album. Not as a producer, not as a writer, nada.

“No,” said Sophie, very matter of factly. She found her way to the drum kit and started fiddling with it. Tomorrow, at the show, at Black Cat, she would bring hers. She hated house kits. But it was never worth hauling them around. “He’s talking about coming tomorrow, though.”

“I bet he is,” said Mal.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Sophie. Mal laughed.

“Please tell me this boy knows that you’re a lesbian, Sophie,” she said. Sophie peaked out over her kit. Mal was grinning at her.

“He knows I’m a lesbian,” she said. She knew that Adam liked her. But it had never been anything but endearing, and he had never been anything but the same, shy boy that he had been the first day he met her. Besides, she really wasn’t leading him on. She’d throw in a mention of a girl she was seeing occasionally, just in case he forgot. “Why don’t you guys get teased about your male friends? What’s up with that?” Anna shrugged.

“I don’t have any,” she said. “Too pale and too scary.”

“You just have to get dykier,” said Mal. “If you’re dykier, I’ll stop teasing you about Adam being in love with you.” Sophie snorted.

“You’d think the pixie cut and the having sex with women thing would be enough,” she muttered.

“You would think that, wouldn’t you,” agreed Mal. Sophie rolled her eyes at her and grinned.

The kit was fine. It wasn’t good, but it was fine. The most unfortunate bit about the drums was just how unwieldy they were. Her bass she could take anywhere. But the drums were different. And since Wendy had bass locked down, she was happy to play the drums. Besides, she did love the drums. The bass was cool, and she liked being out in front of the crowd, playing with everyone, dancing and singing and grinning, but she loved the drums too. The backbone of everything, the workhorse, the core.

Wendy came through the doors to the practice room, and her bass was not slung over her shoulder. Immediately, Sophie knew something was wrong.

“My mom is dying.”

*****

Adam had the night to himself. Tammy had other friends, real friends, the kind that you didn’t live with and you didn’t pay, and she was spending the night with them, probably drinking in some kind of bar, talking about whatever people talked about on their days away from home. Sports? Movies? Probably not drums, if he had to guess. Tammy was a bit more buttoned up than that.

He settled in front of the T.V. alone. This was okay. Adam was, in fact, mostly okay with being alone. His whole life, he had spent most of it curating little bits of happiness, little squares of friendship that he cherished, and ignoring the rest of the world. It had been Amy at home, along with his high school best friend Hannah, and it had been his sophomore year T.A. at college, Laura. Each of them had constituted a section of the world, a little one, and the rest had been building his own. Normally, that was just watching something on T.V.

And he liked it that way. It was safe. It was comfortable. Those people, and now Tammy and, even though he was in love with her, Sophie, were the people he felt okay with. And the rest of the time, he felt okay to stare at the T.V. and drift.

No Seinfeld tonight. That was his and Tammy’s. Instead, he watched some of the trash she refused to watch with him, starting with The O.C. Never mind that The O.C. had a strangely large role in alt music over the last few years, and Tammy loved alt music, or that all of the actors and actresses were gorgeous. Tammy hated it anyway. Her loss. His gain. He started from where he’d previously left off, somewhere in the middle of season one.

California was so far away. Further away than just about anything could be, at least for someone who had never left the country. It looked so different, too, the palms and the beaches and the space. Oh, and the sun. There was so much sun in California. Adam Brody was lounging by the pool now, a rarity for him in season one, and Adam let himself slip away. Nice name Adam. Seems like it fits you. You wear it well.

*****

“What the fuck are we going to do?” asked Anna in a hushed whisper. The Duchess wasn’t that crowded, not on a Thursday. Mal shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Can we ask her to stay another day?”

“Absolutely not,” said Sophie. Wendy was in the bathroom, and Sophie was pretty sure she was crying right about now. “We are not asking that girl to stay away from her family.”

“Do you think she was serious about…” Anna trailed off. Sophie breathed a heavy sigh. It was all crumbling. It always crumbled. The last band, Alesis, fell apart because two of the members started dating and it got messy. The one before that had fallen apart because someone moved. And this one…

“Yeah,” said Sophie. “I think she’s out.” And Sophie couldn’t blame her. If her mother had died, if it was her that was flying to Kansas City for a funeral, she wouldn’t be ready to swing up in a band either. Wendy had called it a hiatus, and had told them they could replace her. But Sophie had a sinking feeling she was never coming back. Mal shook her head.

“What are we going to do?” she asked.

“I don’t know any free bass players here,” said Sophie. “I mean, we can audition people?” Anna nodded. But Mal shook her head.

“What about tomorrow?”

“We have to cancel,” said Sophie.

“We can’t cancel,” said Mal. “If we cancel Black Cat, we’re not going to get booked anywhere else, and we’re going to have to start from scratch.” Sophie gritted her teeth. It was true. They had cut their teeth for the last year on the local circuit, mostly playing small venues. Black Cat was small, too, but it was a step up. The first step up, and it was the kind that normally led to another.

“We could play as three,” suggested Anna.

“No,” said Mal and Sophie in unison.

“Unless you’ve figured out how to play keys and bass at the same time,” said Mal. “We need a fourth.” The three of them sat in silence, Anna teething on a bottle of beer. It felt so callous. It felt so callous for them to be so self interested in this moment, and it hung over the table. Wendy, one of their best friends, was flying out at six in the morning to comfort her father, to comfort herself, because her mother had died. And the three of them were circled in this booth talking about what to do with their band.

“I’m going to go check on her,” said Sophie. The other girls nodded, Mal staring at her drink. Sophie took both hers and Wendy’s with her towards the bathroom.

It was mostly empty inside the women’s, which Sophie was grateful for. There was a soft sobbing coming from the stall furthest from the door, and Sophie winced. How long had they left her in here alone?

“Wendy?” she called gently. A louder sniff confirmed her suspicions. She eased the stall door open, and found Wendy curled up on the seat. “Hey girl.”

“Hey,” choked out Wendy.

“I brought you your drink,” offered Sophie. Wendy gave a half laugh. Then, as if she was upset at finding something funny right now, she curled tighter.

“I don’t know what to do with myself,” she said. “Everything feels so big.” Sophie bit her lip. She wanted to sympathize, but she didn’t know how. What was the answer to someone who had just lost her parent? ‘I’m so sorry?’ ‘It’ll be okay?’ They both felt so insignificant, so untrue, so overwhelmingly stupid and platitudinal, and Sophie couldn’t bring herself to say either of them.

“Yeah,” she said. “I bet.” Wendy’s body shook.

“I’m sorry about tomorrow,” she said. And Sophie, trying her best not to overdo it, shook her head.

“Don’t be sorry about it,” she said. “Literally, it doesn’t matter.”

“Kind of a big break for us,” she said. Black Cat had put out for a show featuring women, for bands completely comprised of women, and it had been the perfect in.

“We’ll get another one,” said Sophie. “These things happen all the time.” And that was a lie, and they both knew it, but that was the right thing to say. Sophie was the eternal optimist anyway. She could sell that. “We’re so far ahead of schedule for things anyway. We could take a whole year off.” And Wendy laughed. She reached out for the drink. Sophie smiled and gave it to her.

“A whole year off, huh?” she asked. She took a big drink. Sophie tried her best to ignore where they were, and took a drink of her own.

“A whole year off,” she said. “You can go back to Kansas for a while, and then you can come back here and take a break, and then we can all get back to work.” The band would be dead by then. A full year off was a death sentence for a new band. It would kill any and all momentum they had, and Mal and Anna and, yes, Sophie would get bored and find a new project. But that was the wrong thing to say.

“Missouri,” said Wendy.

“What?”

“Kansas City is in Missouri, not Kansas,” said Wendy. And Sophie rolled her eyes.

“I hate the Midwest,” she said. Then, she added, “Sorry.” Wendy giggled.

“Well, I’ve never considered it the Midwest,” she said. Sophie snorted. At least she was smiling a little bit. That was something, wasn’t it? She should be happy with that, shouldn’t she?

“C’mon, babe, lets get you out of the stall,” said Sophie. For a moment, Wendy looked like she might cling to the toilet paper dispenser and make her drag her out. Then, she nodded. Sophie grabbed her hand to steady her as she unfurled from the toilet seat and pulled her out into the open bathroom.

“God, I have to fly,” said Wendy, looking in the mirror. “I have to get on a fucking plane.” Sophie was glad she was worried about something like that, something that felt so small.

“Direct?” she asked. Wendy nodded.

“I’m not doing any silly connection shenanigans right now,” she said, and Sophie giggled.

She had always liked Wendy. After the problems in the last band, she had sworn off dating any band members, but god, Wendy was hot. Worse still, Wendy had a direct line to make her laugh. There was something about the language she used, the way she slipped into bits of conversation that made Sophie feel like she had read a script in the back of Sophie’s head, and had figured out exactly how to make Sophie’s brain trip. Even now, distraught and lost and drunk, she still did that.

But never mind.

“We’ll take you to the airport,” offered Sophie, but Wendy shook her head.

“No,” she said. “You guys are going to have a big night tomorrow, and I don’t want you tired.” Sophie did her best to put on a poker face. Wendy had to know that they weren’t going to play. Maybe Mal was insisting that they find a fourth, but where? Who the fuck was going to play bass for them right now? So she nodded. And Wendy sniffed out a laugh. “You should still play.”

“I… want to,” said Sophie, hoping that was enough. But Wendy grimaced.

“Short notice,” she said. Sophie, wrapped her arms around Wendy’s waist, pulling her tight. She looked in the mirror, at the smudged glass. Her eyes seemed more tired than they had just two hours ago.

“Very,” she said. No use denying it. Wendy looked up with a half smile in the mirror, and, even with the smudged makeup, she looked cute.

“I actually have an idea about that,” she said. Sophie raised an eyebrow. Wendy pulled her arms gently away and turned to face her. “You can play bass.” Sophie cocked her head.

“And who’s going to play drums?”

*****

Sophie had never called him before this late at night. In fact, Sophie had never called him before period. Adam sat straight up and flipped open his phone.

“Sophie?”

“Hey, Adam, where are you right now?” Sophie sounded drunk. Adam had the pounding, flitting thought that this was some sort of booty call, before remembering that she was, in fact, gay.

“What?”

“Where. Are. You?” repeated Sophie. Adam looked around.

“I’m… at home?”

“Can I come over for a bit?” It was loud where she was. Drunk. She was definitely drunk.

“I guess so,” said Adam.

“Great,” said Sophie. “Send me your address. You live in Columbia Heights, right?” Adam nodded. Then, he remembered he was on the phone.

“Yes,” he said.

“We’re walking,” said Sophie. “Twenty minutes.”

And then she hung up. And Adam, his head spinning, jumped up from the couch. Sophie was coming here? We’re walking. Who’s we? He took a couple of steps forward, into the center of the room. He needed to clean. Thank god Tammy had enough money for a couch, and thank god she had bought a rug.

If I Don’t Know (It Won’t Hurt)

Azura — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Himari married Alex for her money, but now that they're divorced and Himari is onto her next mark she still can't stop seeking the thrill she found in Alex.

Alex knew that Himari was her soulmate from the moment they met. She has been patient for the years after their divorce, waiting for Himari to come to her senses. But patience has its limits.

Alex

Azura

Hello lovelies! Something new and delightful here for you. A little darker, and (at least I think) the best thing I've ever written.

Some extensive (though not necessarily complete) content warnings

Spoiler

Toxic/Abusive relationships. Obsessive Behavior, Reckless driving, Not wearing appropriate clothes for the weather, Sadism, Masochism, Degradation, Infidelity, Spousal abuse (a slap), Unplanned pregnancy.

[collapse]

Alex was getting ready for a date when the call came. When she saw her ex-wife’s name, Alex wanted so desperately to ignore it. But she knew that if she did, the nagging doubts of whether Himari had hurt herself again, or if Himari wanted to get back together would consume Alex until the next time Himari called. So, like always, Alex answered.

“You can’t keep doing this, Himari,” Alex said as a greeting, already rubbing a temple in exasperation. Himari only responded at first with a sniffling cry. Alex could only grit her teeth. She hated it when Himari used crying for attention as her approach. Her sad voice grated like the warning pulses of an oncoming migraine. Alex suspected that was part of why Himari did it.

“Please, Alex. Just listen. I promise, I’m not drunk this time,” Himari said finally, in that sad voice. It was nice, at least for her ex to get to the lying right away. Himari had gotten really good at hiding the effects of alcohol over the years, but Alex knew her too well, and she could hear the subtle differences in Himari’s voice, even if no one else could.

“I just, I miss you so much, Alex. Do you remember the bridge? The one you proposed to me on? I promise it’s different this time, just please. I need to see you one last time,” Himari said, breaking into muffled sobs. Himari always loved doing this, bringing up places where important moments in their relationship happened to get her way. Alex knew what Himari was doing, and Himari knew that Alex knew. Himari kept doing it because it still worked. No matter how long it had been, or what Alex had going on, when Himari called, Alex came.

“Yeah. Fine. I’ll meet you there in an hour,” Alex said, talking over Himari’s annoying crocodile tears. Himari’s crying instantly stopped.

“Oh, good, and wear that red dress I got you. You know the one,” Himari replied, her tone radically different from before. The sadness from earlier gone like it never existed, and now she sounded unbearably smug. Before Alex could retort, Himari hung up on her.

“Fuck,” Alex cursed. Already sending a message to cancel her date. At least she already had her makeup done.

***

It was raining hard as Alex drove through the dark streets. As Alex parked in the empty parking lot near the bridge, her windshield wipers were going at top speed and still not keeping up with the downpour. Her headlights were the only illumination in the empty lot, and Alex groaned, pressing her forehead into her steering wheel.

“I really fucking hope she doesn’t expect me to actually walk to our spot on the bridge in this shit after telling me to wear this stupid dress,” Alex muttered to herself, cursing her inability to ever tell Himari no. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. Himari had always liked to make an entrance.

As the headlights of cars flashed by along the nearby road, a figure stepped out of the darkness into the glow of Alex’s headlights. Himari strode forth like something out of a horror movie. A sharp suit with a lace shirt under the jacket that revealed more of her tan skin than it covered, and dark leather boots. She swayed her hips as she strode towards Alex, her inky black hair plastered to her face and neck by the rain.

Alex rolled her eyes; Himari was always fucking like this. She also couldn’t stop herself from biting her lip. Her eyes trailed over Himari’s figure, painfully intrigued by the way her jacket hid how much of her breasts that lace number actually covered. There was a reason Alex had driven all the way out here in her fuck-me lingerie at the drop of a hat. Was Alex still desperately, pathetically in love with her ex-wife? Maybe. Was her ex-wife still the hottest woman Alex had ever laid eyes on? Absolutely.

Himari opened the passenger door, and Alex grimaced as the cold and wet invaded her car. Himari leaned in through the open door, her grin wicked. Dark eyes, darker hair, a maroon suit. Himari was like ink, and blood, and sex.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Himari drawled, like she didn’t even notice the storm soaking her clothes and whipping her hair. Like she didn’t set this all up.

“Just fucking get in already. You’re going to ruin my seats,” Alex snapped. Like Himari wasn’t far worse than any amount of wind and rain. Some things you can’t wash out. Plus, she knew that it wasn’t as fun for Himari without a struggle.

Himari’s grin dropped, her expression turning serious like a switch had been flipped. She stared Alex down for several long moments, just long enough to spite Alex before she slipped into the car. Himari slammed the door behind her, and then she was in Alex’s space.

“Awww, come on, darling. You know you’re happy to see me,” Himari said, leaning in close to Alex. The smell of expensive whisky on her breath. Her ex-wife’s proximity made Alex’s heart race, and her breath quicken. As much as Alex might have wished things were different, that Himari didn’t leave her for a man, Himari’s presence still affected her like nothing else ever had. That desperate part of Alex she worked hard to keep behind the mask roiled, urging her to pull Himari so close they merge into one. Alex did her best to ignore that.

“Himari, we can’t keep doing this. I have a life, and you chose not to be in it,” Alex said, trying to hold onto her anger, but found it slipping through her grasp. Himari’s fingers trailed along her thigh through the high slit in the dress Himari told her to wear. Alex gripped her steering wheel hard, the leather creaking, and her knuckles going white as she fought back a moan. Himari’s fingers were ice cold and damp from the storm, but left a trail of heat in their wake as they slid up Alex’s stocking clad thigh. The heat intensified as they reached bare skin and slipped under one of Alex’s garter straps before snapping it hard enough to hurt. Alex couldn’t hold back her moan that time.

“There’s my desperate little thing,” Himari said cruelly, her breath hot on Alex’s neck as she leaned in to whisper in her ear. Himari continued the torturously slow path of her fingers, starting to dip into the apex of Alex’s thigh.

“You always have to put up a little fight, don’t you? Let yourself feel a little less pathetic. That’s alright, Baby; you know it turns me on.” Himari continued, her voice dark and low. Her fingers trailed along the delicate lace edge of Alex’s panties, and Alex could feel her resolve unraveling.

“Himari, please. Someone might see us,” Alex pleaded. If a photo got out, their little tryst would come crashing down around their heads. Alex knew deep down that she would have let Himari bend her over the hood of her sports car, and fuck her in the wind and rain for everyone to see.

“Well, I suppose you’d better get driving then,” Himari said, slipping her fingers under Alex’s thong. Her icy fingers pressed into Alex’s humiliatingly wet sex. Alex jerked and moaned as Himari played with her, using all of her experience from their years of marriage.

The drive back to her penthouse was one of the longest and most dangerous of Alex’s life. Himari seemed intent on making Alex crash the car as she edged her the entire time. Alex quickly found herself quivering, her arousal coating her thighs as Himari’s fingers worked in and out of her in slow, sensual motions. Through their time together, Himari had learned exactly how to push Alex’s buttons and seemed intent on using every bit of that knowledge.

Himari slid her fingers out of Alex as she finally parked the car and got out without a word. Alex panted, letting out a desperate whine as she felt the hot tingling of her aborted orgasm, almost tipping over the edge into ecstasy, but falling just short as Himari suddenly left her (much like their marriage).

Alex ground pathetically on her ex-wife’s hip as they got into the elevator together. She pressed messy, open-mouthed kisses to Himari’s neck as she clung desperately to Himari’s still wet jacket. Alex's grip revealed that the black lace of Himari's undershirt, in fact, didn't hide her breasts at all. Her dusky nipples almost artistically displayed by the swirling pattern of the lace. Alex could feel her already crumbling self-control slipping through her fingers entirely. Could feel the desperate, sick obsession filling her up like sweet mercury.

As they stumbled into Alex’s penthouse (Himari might have taken half her shit in the divorce, but half of an absurd generational fortune is still a fuck load of money.) Himari grabbed Alex by the hair, pulling back to meet her eyes.

“There you are, Darling. Finally given in. Fuck, it always gets me so hard seeing you let go and be the pathetic, needy mess I married,” Himari said, her fist tightening in Alex’s hair until it hurt. She slid her other hand up Alex’s body and started to grope her tits through her dress.

“That’s right, there’s the Alex I remember. This whole ‘Dr. Alexandra’ nonsense really doesn’t suit you,” Himari continued, and Alex could only moan. The feeling of the woman she loved touching her, using her body, filled her up with a twisted ecstasy that makes it hard for her to even think. The constant refrain of maybe this time she'd stay slipped loose from her control.

“Now, show me what a good, obedient girl you are. Strip for me, and then get on your knees.”.

Amy, 21

Inadorable — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A young repper is kidnapped and trained to be a well-behaved servant.

I want to thank 9Kbits for her invaluable advice and her help editing this work.

Chapter 1

Day 1?

The most important right an Englishman has is his freedom. It was granted to him through ancient institutions, the oldest and noblest of which are nearing a millennium old. It is what makes people envy the English. As an Englishman herself, Amy holds dear what has been given to her, and she has sought to protect the privileges she’s been granted. Because they have to be protected; protected from her own mind, failing her, telling her that she is a woman, and not the man she was born and trained to be.

It is quite funny — even in the situation she finds herself in today, she still considers her mere delusions a greater risk to her freedom than the chain around her left leg and the iron bars opposite her.

Perhaps it is, in the long-term. But that is a long-term that Amy cannot afford to consider at this moment, not when she is as completely and devastatingly stuck as she is. She has nothing. No food, no water, no clothes. She is restrained to the wall in a manner that leaves her unable to even touch the door that could lead her to freedom, and the only thing she can touch other than herself, the bump caused by the implant in her belly or the damp and cold stone walls surrounding her is a simple bucket on a chain.

She’s fairly sure it is what qualifies for a toilet in this establishment. It might be more hygienic than the filth which is to be found in the men’s toilets in pubs and bars across Exeter, but Amy would still hope to be above pissing into something as lowly as that. Amy would almost be insulted by it, if that wasn’t the exact way they wanted her to feel.

Yet she is, a little, because whoever captured her can’t even manage to get the vibe correct. Her cell is painfully well-lit due to an LED strip stuck in the ceiling of the hallway. It illuminates her in all her flaws, and she’s not seen it dim even a little in the hours she’s spent in this cell.

Amy have expected that a lonely cell — especially one as clearly meant for torture as this one is — would come with an incandescent light bulb. She imagines it hanging from the ceiling, dimmed like it’s at the end of its short, miserable life, the bulb flickering intermittently as it slowly but surely burns itself into its own inevitable doom.

But no, they couldn’t even give her so much as mood lighting for her sufferings. They’re following energy efficiency standards, and that might be the most information she will be able to get: it’s a modern operation of some kind, or at least a modernised one, rather than an abandoned abattoir somewhere in the suburbs of a dump like Bradford or Birmingham. And that is all of the painfully little information that Amy has access to.

Amy hates it when she doesn’t know. Because knowledge is power, and power is control. And whilst, sure, it is nice to have control over others — Amy will not pretend to be above such simple masculine pleasures — it is equally important for her to have control over herself. She needs to repress her urges. If Amy fails that, she would unquestionably lower herself to a position in society that would be insulting for anyone of her talents to sink to.

She was not made for womanhood, and the sooner her mind would understand that, the better.

Day 2?

Amy might not know where she is, but she can draw yet another conclusion as of today. A bottle of water has been deposited in her cell. That means she is not here alone, some of the time, at least, as there is a captor who will visit her from time to time. It takes away a few of the options she had kept open in her mind, like that she had been left to slowly die of hunger, thirst or exposure.

No, they intend to keep her alive, which means they want something from her.

Again, she is unable to come up with explanations for this situation beyond her wildest guesses. She’s not particularly important, at least not yet, and she’s not particularly wealthy either. Amy very much knows she isn’t part of that class, as she’s rubbed shoulders with the people tasked and prepared to run this country in the past. The difference in wealth between her and them isn’t measured in multiples, but in magnitudes.

Despite her inability to explain her situation, Amy continues to ponder it. It is normal for a person to do so when they have been left with no option but to think, for lack of other things to do. People go insane in situations like these, if exposed to them for too long, but Amy knows that deep thoughts are the best prevention of such outcomes. At least, they are for those blessed by birth to be capable of them, unrestricted by the emotionality so typical of the opposite sex.

There is something else she can conclude: the bottle of water is out of reach. Sure, they are on her side of the iron bars, but her ankle chain leaves her immobile enough that she can’t walk over and pick it up.

No, what Amy would have to do is get down on her knees, get down on her flat chest and crawl towards it until she can pick it up.

Whoever decided to capture Amy should learn one thing: she will not crawl. She will not submit to humiliation like that. She will not allow herself to be filmed groveling on the floor for a simple bottle of water — because yes, she can see the cameras that have been filming her for the past two days.

Amy isn't the kind of woman they think she is.

Day 3?

Nine hundred ninety.

Nine hundred ninety one.

Nine hundred ninety two.

Nine hundred ninety three.

Nine hundred ninety four.

Nine hundred ninety five.

Nine hundred ninety six.

Nine hundred ninety seven.

Nine hundred ninety eight.

Nine hundred ninety nine.

One thousand millilitres in a bottle of water, which she still doesn’t want. Indeed, Amy would rather have…

Nine hundred ninety nine.

Nine hundred ninety eight.

Nine hundred ninety seven.

***

Three.

Two.

One.

… Zero millilitres of water. Thank you very much.

Day 4?

Not drinking water might have been too much of an ask, Amy realises. It’s basic biology really: humans are mostly made of water, and all of the useful bits thus require water to continue functioning, and some of them have the ability to make her crave it.

It’s why she’s really thirsty right now.

It makes sense too. An old rule of thumb she was taught was that humans could live for three days without water, and for three weeks without food. Amy is now on a vague fourth day in her cell. She can’t measure this accurately for the lack of tools to do so. There are no clocks and she is pretty sure that the light doesn’t dim at any point of the day. All Amy can go off is that she’s fallen asleep three times now.

Her thirst really is insatiable. She needs to get the bottle.

Amy gets on her knees and shuffles forwards, then gets down on her chest, and crawls even further, so the tips of her fingers can reach the bottle. She can’t quite reach them yet — she shows a middle finger to the cameras above her, both to show her disapproval and to show her disrespect — but manages to stretch a little further.

Her hands grazed the bottle at first, but a second try just made her topple the bottle, definitely pushing it out of her reach.

Great. She has humiliated herself and didn’t even get a bottle of water out of it. Instead, she is left equally thirsty, but newly degraded and out of hope.

It must have been the intention all along. Bastards.

And yet, the bottle started to roll. Reluctantly at first, then apologetically, and finally at some reasonable speed as the slight downward angle of the cell delivers it into Amy’s lap, who drinks until the whole of the bottle is empty.

Day 5?

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” A woman calls out from the other side of the iron bars. Amy doesn’t flinch — at least, she tried really hard not to, given she was caught off-guard — opens her eyes, and stands up as tall as she can. Adopts good posture, crosses her arms, and tries to not allow her growing migraine to be worsened by the bright lights above her captor’s head.

“Just thought I’d take a moment to check in on you.” The woman’s eyes scan Amy’s body — she’s aware she’s on show right now, and doesn’t really care. They can feast their eyes on it as much as they want: she never wanted this body, and it most certainly isn’t hers. It’s an ugly compromise between the delusion that is Amy and the reality of living in a male-dominated world at best.

The woman in front of her compares much more favourably: she has lovely long red hair, blue eyes that have been made to pop through careful make-up, a cute little nose, a feminine jawline. She looks like she is about the same height as Amy, perhaps a little taller, which is uncommon for cis women — 93.8% percent would be shorter than Amy — and most strikingly, she’s wearing a black and white maid uniform. A pretty one, though, Amy must admit.

Useful too. Amy can comment on it to put the woman on the back foot.

“Come to clean up rubbish, missy?” She asks in her most annoying voice.

“I wouldn’t exactly describe you as rubbish.” She responds. “Though your behaviour certainly has been.”

“If you’re not here to clean and would rather just have a smart mouth, maybe you could make yourself useful and get me out of here. If you do, I might not have my family’s lawyers ensure you spend the rest of your miserable little life living at one of Her Majesty’s oldest and most uncomfortable facilities.” Amy had little intention of abstaining from that: if nothing else, women like the one in front of her needed putting down a bit. They’re getting too uppity for their own good.

“I fear that isn’t an option.” She once again looks at Amy, all of Amy, with the same puzzling face, as if she’s still trying to figure her out.

“Maybe you should do your job, then, and get me a meal.” Amy says with the most disgust she can manage to insert into her tone. Which is a lot: she’s spent quite a few years training to be an actor, and she knows how to play around with her voice. A useful skill in situations like this.

“I am doing my job.” The woman responds, copying Amy’s bitchy attitude and leaning into it in an attempt to hide the fact that her voice cracked, with what must have been an old masculine one sneaking through ever so slightly. She looks uncomfortable: whatever she expected from Amy, clearly it wasn’t what Amy was doing right now.

Amy presses her advantage.

“Rare for a tranny to have a job. Is the creepy old man you work for the only one desperate enough to hire someone of your kind?”

The woman glares at Amy. Clearly, she’s struck a nerve, because a cis woman would be confused: only a trans woman would be left speechless after being clocked that quickly. Especially one so desperate to pass as this particular hon is.

Maybe she underestimated her, though. Amy wasn’t ready for the next thing her captor would say, especially not the sly little grin it came paired with.

“‘Your’ kind? We both know that the aforementioned category — though I would describe it in much nicer terms — would include you just as much as me.”

She’s got to be quick: don’t give them any reason to think that her intuition could be correct. “Clearly, obviously, I’m a man. I mean, look at me. I’ve got a penis and all. Maybe you’re confused by the modern ideology that insists a woman can have a penis, but a true transsexual would know better.”

Too quick: she’s left multiple obvious avenues to be confronted with there in her desperation to deny the accusations. Her old rhetoric teacher would be very disappointed in her.

“Would you describe yourself as a true transsexual?” The woman asks, looking at her in with a predatory smile, because she knows she’s already won. Which she wouldn’t have, unless she is privy to certain information that she shouldn’t be able to find.

“Ew. No.” Amy rolls her eyes. “I have no interest in being a— a woman.” She tries to put as much venom as possible into the last word. Not hard: she does hate women with a passion. Rather a shame, then, that she was cursed with the inclination to be one.

“Are you sure?”

“Quite. I wouldn’t want to be associated with women. Especially modern women: they no longer know their place in society. Women are meant to be submissive — your dress reveals you as just that — and I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but submission is not something I am keen to take to.”

“Submission mightn’t be, but you would enjoy femininity, wouldn’t you, Amy?”

The name hits her like an asteroid, wiping out all life on earth. Or in her case, any doubt that they are privy to information that they shouldn’t be. Because she’s never identified herself with that name, the one she limits merely to her self-conception. Sure, she’s dropped it a few times, only in conversations with the very few other girls suffering from gender dysphoria she’s found worthy of bothering to socialise with. The others who know that their condition is shameful, disgusting, and one that they must never enable. The others with whom she has shared her struggles when the temptation did get too much to bear at some points, and who then reminded her of why they could never even attempt something as vile and unnatural as transition.

Her best friends.

“That is not my name. My name is—”

The woman interrupts her. “Ms. Amy Finch. Born on the third of July, 1997, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Bristol. Attended Bristol Grammar School from 2001 until 2015, her parents paying tuition totaling nearly £180,000 for the privilege of sending their little girl there. Excelled in the performing arts, including acting and singing, forgoing the more traditionally masculine option of sports; I wonder why. Received excellent marks despite spending a disgusting amount of time on various repulsive forums, including the /v/ and /lgbt/ boards on that vile little website of yours.”

“If you think that’s proof of anything—”

Her captor continues. “Went on to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Exeter University. She continued her involvement in acting and singing, joining the drama society and the student choir. Amy also got involved in the debate club and local Tory society, running to be the chair of the latter but losing that race because she is — and it must be said, as it is what her peers thought — a total weirdo. She lost to a repulsive man from a proper public school — much more suitable to the party than someone of her lower standing — and did so despite winning the majority of the male vote."

“But unsurprisingly we could verify just one woman who voted for her to be the local chair, and that woman was Amy herself. She really didn’t ingratiate herself amongst her own kind! So she made an angry post about her loss to her little friend group, implying the man she lost to regularly masturbates to himself whilst dressed as a woman, and indicating that he should just ‘troon out’ if he’s going to be like that—”

Yeah. Yeah. Amy gets it. They’ve done their research. An incredible amount of it, to a point they probably know more about her than she knows about herself. She knows for a fact that they’ve done a blood test, for example, and wouldn’t be surprised, at this point, if they had enough blackmail to ruin her life if she did try to escape.

There’s plenty she did that could be used against her.

Fuck. They have the logs.

“Her parents were quite proud of her when she graduated top of her class just a few months ago. Amy’s future in the Conservative party seemed quite bright. Perhaps not in Exeter, but certainly elsewhere. Of course, that was until the local student press wrote an article on the extremely misogynist views held by one of the most prominent members of the local Tory society. Amy’s parents weren’t very proud when they heard about that. It didn’t stop them from being devastated when they heard their late daughter had disappeared and presumably ended her own life. It’s a shame, really: they didn’t even get to know Amy because she insisted that she was a man. We’ll keep the fact you’re alive a little secret between us, okay?”

The woman in front of her has absolutely zero reason to be telling her the truth. She’s been declared dead? It’s more likely that she is lying in an attempt to break her resistance and to get something out of her. She isn’t sure what they’d want — she doesn’t even have access to her family’s wealth — but she isn’t going to give them anything.

“That doesn’t work on me, you know.” She spits out.

“Oh, darling, it doesn’t have to. As long as something does. We have got the benefit of time on our side. And that means I can say with absolute certainty that you will, eventually, come to see our point of view and agree that we did the right thing.”

“What even is that point of view?” Amy glares. It’s probably some total bullshit, but at least she’s got someone to talk to right now, and discussing vague ideas is a much more comfortable position for her to be in than discussing her own gender identity.

“That there shouldn’t be any place in society for the man that you pretended to be. Their privilege, the way they held themselves in relation to that privilege, their particularly disgusting views on the roles of women, their incomprehensible opinions on transitioning and their hatred of trans women must be utterly erased and replaced with more wholesome alternatives—”

Amy rolls her eyes. They can fucking try. She’s correct on all counts. Able to see the degeneracy of society and comprehend the proper position of women within it despite the fact that she is — regrettably — one of those. At least she still maintains the intellect necessary to have that understanding, unlike the woman across from her.

“—and perhaps most importantly— Give me a moment.” The woman walks around a corner, grabs a large plastic bag, and removes from it a number of items that Amy hates the instant she sees them. Her captor then opens the cell door, holding a taser in her right hand and aiming it at Amy as she enters, squats, and leaves the items on the floor for Amy to presumably use.

“Most importantly, we believe that Ms. Amy Finch ought to live as what she is. A woman. And that is our job to elevate her to that greater plane of living, rather than allowing her to wallow in her misery and self-hatred for the rest of her life. These points are non-negotiable to us.”

Amy looks at the bra, knickers, maid uniform and leggings laid out on the concrete in front of her. They’re very much non-negotiable to her as well. She’s never going to wear any of that garbage.

“If you cooperate with the programme and complete your extensive rehabilitation, your freedom shall be restored.”

Amy will not cooperate. “I’d rather die.” She retorts.

“That,” Her captor says gravely. “will not be an option. You will comply, and see your freedoms restored, or you shall be coerced into complying until you do.”

“I’m not wearing this garbage.” Amy wants to kick it away, but finds her ankle chain too short to do that.

“You will. Eventually.”

“I think you’ll find that I won’t.”

She rolls her eyes dismissively. “You’ll be missing out on a lot if you do not comply with this programme.”

“Being a disgusting little tranny? I think I can miss that.” Amy puts on her most confidently rebellious face.

“You must be hungry, aren’t you?”

Is this woman really going to play it like that?

“Given that you think it’s a woman’s job to bring you food when you demand it, it’s only fair to expect you to act like more of a woman before you receive it. If you wish to eat, just put on these clothes, and I shall be sure to bring you a meal.”

Yeah, she is going to play it like that. And that means the situation hasn’t necessarily developed to Amy’s advantage. But Amy will weather the hunger, the cold, and the misery. Like they said, death is not an option, so they must be bluffing. They just want to intimidate her.

And that means she’ll outlast them. Easily.

Girlfriend #32: Suru Kaeru-chan

Thought_Prism — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Aijou Rentarou, whose heart overflows with love, was accidentally blessed with 100 soulmates. Today, he meets his thirty-second girlfriend, who is as unique as all the rest. If anything, the fact that Kaeru is just MtF is more realistic than the quirks half his other future wives have. Ridiculously cute and stupid shenanigans abound within.

This is a fanfic of the ongoing 100Kanojo manga. If you haven’t read it up to the current chapter as of this story’s release, chapter 198, you’ll probably want to reference the wiki as you're reading given the sheer number of characters involved.

Girlfriend #32: Suru Kaeru-chan

Today has been another very busy yet deeply fulfilling and lovey-dovey day for Aijou Rentarou so far. With his limitless capacity for affection, forged in steel from years of heartbreak, he works tirelessly to make sure every last woman in his life is as happy as they possibly can be. To Rentarou, no price is too high to pay for each of his many precious girlfriends, be it time, health, or the structural integrity of the fourth wall.

“Oh, this is different. I must have stepped into in a fanfic AU at some point after that last crosswalk,” he idly noted aloud. Then, he stopped to make eye contact with the narrator, his expression deathly serious. “You’d better not write anything Nakamura-sensei wouldn’t.”

It will all be fine in the end like always.

“Okay that’s good,” he said, perking back up before resuming his stroll. “I’ll just roll with it, then.”

At the moment, Rentarou was paying a rare visit to the Ohananomitsu university campus of his school complex to meet one of his girlfriends, Eira, for a date. He’d never been to the university’s student center, and Eira wanted to show him around, just walk for a while. Because he absolutely didn’t want to risk being late, Rentarou was arriving an hour early, and was planning to get his homework done in the meantime.

Around him, the campus was abuzz with students. It was a balmy spring day, and plenty of folks were taking advantage of the weather to toss frisbees around, lounge on the grass, or otherwise hang out. Rentarou smiled as he people-watched, his mind filling with many new ideas for ways to spend time with the loves of his life as he did.

So entranced was he by thoughts of his girlfriends that, upon reaching the door of the student center, he did not notice another student also reaching for the handle at the same time. Their fingers brushed against eachother, his own large, gentle digits wrapped overtop against another set with pink polished nails.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” a soft voice exclaimed, the second hand rapidly pulling back.

Rentarou turned to face its source, and his breath caught in his throat.

For standing next to him was an incredibly cute woman. They were about the same height, so he could look right into her clear, blue eyes. Her long, blue hair cascaded down to her hips, the ends curled. She wore a frilly white sundress with knee-high socks, and her pink messenger bag matched the large ribbon tied behind her head. Onto the bag were pinned various buttons featuring video game characters.

Her lips were open slightly, apologetic, though that quickly changed to a look of awe and sudden longing as an electric ‘zing’ shot through her whole body, a sensation unlike anything she’d experienced before. Rentarou, however, had experienced it before. This was what it felt like to encounter your soulmate for the first time. An angelic choir sung in the background as the pair traded stares.

Rentarou recovered first, grabbing the door and pulling it open for her without breaking eye contact. “You’re fine, it was my fault for not paying attention to what I was doing!” he insisted. “After you.”

“T-Thanks,” the woman replied, her shoes squeaking on the tile as she stepped past him and went inside. However, she had completely forgotten what it was she was here for, and instead waited right inside the atrium for Rentarou to follow, clutching the strap of her bag.

He did, the door gently swinging closed behind him. Standing at a respectful distance, Rentarou smiled, all thoughts of schoolwork forgotten. He then immediately began to make conversation. “No problem. It’s the least I can do, especially since I’m just visiting from the high school and you actually attend here, I’m guessing. What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m Kaeru. Suru Kaeru,” she answered automatically, unable to look away from Rentarou. “And yeah, I’m a freshman here at Ohananomitsu University.”

“It’s really nice to meet you, Kaeru-chan,” Rentarou said. Then, he pointed to her bag. “Do you play games often?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” she replied, using her free hand to brush a strand of hair off of her face. “I like pretty much every genre, though I avoid most multiplayer titles since the communities tend to be toxic.”

“I can understand that!” went Rentarou, laughing. “I mostly play arcade games, and sometimes creeps will show up.”

Kaeru nodded twice. “Don’t I know it.”

There was a brief pause before Rentarou continued, briefly lost in Kaeru’s eyes. “Well, I’ve got somewhere to be, soon, and I don’t want to keep you if you’re busy, but would you mind exchanging contact info?” he asked. “It’s not every day a guy runs into someone so cute for the first time!”

At his words, Kaeru broke out into a furious blush, blinking a few times. She stood there next to him, working her jaw. “Y-You mean that? You really think I’m cute? Not…” she added under her breath, trailing off. Her head drooped.

“Of course you’re cute!” Rentarou insisted, raising his fists in front of his chest to better convey his belief. “I’m practically a doctor of cuteness studies at this point, so when I say that you’re the most adorable woman in the whole world, you’d better believe it! I would date you in a heartbeat!”

Kaeru lifted her head back up. Studied Rentarou’s face. There was no trace of sleaze or dishonesty there, only the utmost conviction of a man who treated all women like queens.

Suddenly, she burst into tears, nearly tripping over her own feet as she dashed for a nearby unoccupied lounge chair, collapsing into it and burying her face in her hands.

Gasping, Rentarou hurried after her as quickly as possible, to the point of even kickflipping off the wall to vault over a large group of athletes all entering the building at once, many of whom clapped politely or whistled appreciatively at his parkour skills.

When he reached Kaeru, sitting down in the adjacent chair, Rentarou’s concern spilled out of him in a torrent. “What’s wrong, Kaeru-chan? Are you okay? Was it something I said? Do you need some water? Or a handkerchief?” he asked, pulling both items out of his uniform jacket and offering them to her.

Eventually, her hands fell away from her face. “I-I wasn’t in any way prepared for this today,” Kaeru forced out between sobs.

As Rentarou gently brushed the corner of the handkerchief over the tear-streaks on her face, Kaeru’s cries gave way to stilted laughter. “Y-You’re fine, Rentarou-kun. These are tears of joy. I just never imagined that I’d be able to fall in love at first sight, and that they would reciprocate without being repulsed because…”

Rentarou’s frown morphed into a confused line. “Why would you think that?” he pressed.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Kaeru began, leaning back in the chair. “Because I’m trans.”

She gestured to herself. And Rentarou gave her a once-over. Sighing, he placed his hand over hers again, this time on the armrest, squeezing softly.

“Well, that certainly doesn’t matter to me,” Rentarou confirmed. “Sure, your shoulders might be a bit wide, and your feet might be a bit large. But every person’s body is already different, Kaeru-chan. You could have skin covered in burn scars, or pus-filled lesions, and I’d still reach out my hand to hold yours.”

Kaeru turned to Rentarou. Her eyes glittered with unrestrained happiness, and a beaming grin grew from ear to ear.

“All I see is someone I want to go out with,” he continued, his own chest light with more butterflies than Yamame’s hair. “Will you be my girlfriend, Kaeru-chan?”

In reply, she leaned over and kissed him, the whole world fading away into the background as their blooming love cascaded between their lips.

* * *

“... And so, due to how things panned out… Would you guys mind accepting Suru Kaeru-chan as my newest girlfriend…?!” Rentarou asked, sweat pouring down his face. Beside him stood Kaeru herself, who was still completely agog at the sheer scale of the Rentarou Family Polycule assembled on the high school rooftop as always.

“I do not understand why you keep asking,” stated Nano, adjusting her glasses with a finger. “We have already made clear we are fine with you even dating your own cousin; at this point any variant of girlfriend is logically going to be acceptable.”

Here, little Chiyo fidgeted in embarrassment. “I still think dating Kusuri-san and Yaku-san at the same time is weirder, but yes, I agree, it’s okay.”

“Welcome to the family, Kaeru-chan!” Momoha exclaimed, raising a wine bottle high. “Cheers!”

As the world’s least qualified ethics teacher resumed her day drinking, the others all began to crowd around Kaeru and Rentarou.

“A trans girl? How abnormal!” exclaimed Himeka before adopting a ponderous expression. “Maybe I should transition, too…”

Hakari elbowed her in the side. “That’s rude! Transitioning isn’t something anyone can just do, only people with gender dysphoria transition. For example, I would never, as I am very happy with my body.”

For emphasis, Hakari struck a lewd pose, with her hand on her thigh and her boobs thrust forwards. She began chuckling to herself, watching Rentarou to see how happy he was.

But alas, he was still focused on the others.

“Tama can empathize. Tama also transitioned into a cat recently, meow,” said Tama, idly rolling around a yarn ball.

“This vast world of ours is full of all kinds, indeed,” Uto intoned as she posed sagely with her hand on her chin.

“It’s also very cruel,” added Meru. “For the world to allow one to be born in a body of the wrong gender; that is truly the pinnacle of despair.”

“Do not worry, though, dear Kaeru-chan, it is plain to see that you have done much to cultivate your feminine beauty,” said Mimimi, satisfied with her appraisal of Kaeru.

“Yeah, like, your outfit is totes cute, for real,” confirmed Ahko with her typical lazy grin. “You gotta tell me where you got that ribbon later.”

Overwhelmed by the show of support from her fellow girlfriends, Kaeru’s heart melted. “Thanks, everyone, really. I wish I could say more, but all this positive affirmation is too much! I can’t find the words!”

From behind her Rentarou was bawling like an idiot, impossible amounts of elated tears falling from his eyes like waterfalls as he looked on with heart-shaped pupils. With practiced, professional motions, Mei began mopping up the rapidly flooding rooftop, her own eyes still shut as usual.

Meanwhile, Shizuka replied to Kaeru using her text-to-speech app. <I have trouble with that, too.>

“And if you ever run into a bigoted asshole on campus, just ring me up and I’ll come running to kick their skull in,” offered Eira. “I live in the dorms, so I can be there in a flash.”

Kaeru snorted. “I won’t say no, but that might be overdoing it, I think.”

“Given all the crazy stuff that happens in this town, it probably isn’t,” said Kurumi, straight-manning. In the comedic sense, not the identity sense.

However, Momiji was being the opposite of straight, and had snuck up behind Kaeru to reach around and grope her chest, as she was wont to do. Upon feeling the younger girl’s well-trained hands cupping her, Kaeru froze up and squeaked in surprise.

“Yeah, Momiji-chan does that. You never really get used to it,” Meme explained, deflating slightly behind her bangs.

“Hmm…” Momiji uttered, savoring the sensation. “There’s more here than I was expecting. Nice. Karane-san is flatter.”

“Uh, well, the HRT helps,” said Kaeru, unsure whether to shove her away or not.

In the background, multiple veins popped on Karane’s forehead, and she began to mutter a string of jealous obscenities. Rentarou, his tears now having ceased, moved over to hug her.

“Um, I’m still confused, yes yes,” noted a visibly perplexed Yaku. “What exactly is this ‘trans-gender’ thing? Is it like those Kabuki actors who dress up as ladies?”

“Not at all!” clarified Miss Naddy helpfully. “Transgender folks are becoming more widely accepted in ‘Murica these days. What it means is that Kaeru here wasn’t actually born as a girl, but realized she was one later. To be able to embrace your real gender identity is true freedom!”

Yaku tilted her head the other way, clearly still not getting it.

“You don’t need to understand, Grand Dame Yaku,” Saki reassured her. “It doesn’t matter what’s in her pants. Seniority is still what counts. And I respect you, Kaeru-senpai.”

At this, Kaeru’s smile faded. She hummed, turning to Saki. “I mean, I’m grateful, but it matters to me. HRT is great and all, but I still wish my body was like, well, any of yours,” Kaeru said, making a sweeping gesture indicating everyone else.

“You do? Kusuri can help with that, yep yep,” interjected Kusuri, currently in her eight-year-old form. Biting her lip, she fished around in her lab coat and extracted a corked test tube with a bubbling orange liquid inside. “This is Kurusi’s new ‘Instant Bottom Surgery' drug, yep yep. It’s still got a few unpredictable side effects like—”

“HOLY SHIT GIMME,” went Kaeru, who swiped the test tube and chugged its contents so quickly that nobody could have possibly moved in time to stop her.

Nano stared. “Prior experience indicates something highly unusual will occur shortly.”

Most everyone held their breath, watching Kaeru toss the empty test tube aside, covering her mouth with a hand as she let out a small, ladylike belch. The only sound on the rooftop came from Nemu’s light snores as she continued sleeping on her feet.

The silence was broken when something fell onto the ground from beneath Kaeru’s skirts, landing with a soft ‘plop’ between her feet. Her eyes widened, shining. “It… actually worked. It worked!”

Rentarou squee’d in joy, basking in her happiness as both of them grinned from ear to ear. He rushed over to Kaeru, and the two of them embraced.

“Congratulations, Kaeru-chan!” said Matsuri, jumping up and down. “We should start a festival to celebrate, eh?”

Mai, meanwhile, narrowed her eyes, glancing between Nano and the fallen ‘something’. “Maybe later. Right now, I’m still getting a bad feeling. Like a big mess my dear sister will need help cleaning up is about to happen.”

Some of the other girls followed Mai’s gaze, noticing the object on the ground for the first time. It was, in fact, Kaeru’s penis, with the sack still attached. Chiyo and Shizuka blushed furiously, covering their faces.

“Oh my~” went Hahari.

“It’s a ‘6’!” Suu happily pointed out.

And then it moved.

Karane flinched, jumping back. “Crap, what the hell?”

Slowly, it picked itself up, tiny legs growing out of the spot where it had been attached to Kaeru moments ago. Stretching to its full length, the opening on the strange creature’s head widened into a gaping maw, drool dripping from it. Above said mouth, two eyes opened, their slitted, reptilian pupils radiating malice. One clawed foot at a time, it stood.

Yamame shivered in fear. “I’ve seen some crazy dicks on ducks and such, but that isn’t natural.”

“It’s cool though,” slurred Momoha. “Just think about all the fun stuff you could do with—”

Mai cut her off, covering her mouth and pulling Momoha back. Most of the others were watching the suddenly-independent trouser snake warily, backing away, though Kaeru and Rentarou were still celebrating. Iku jabbed Rentarou in the side to get his attention, then physically turned both him and Kaeru towards it, concerned.

“W-What in Buddha’s name…?” Kaeru uttered.

Trusting her instincts, Kishika drew her wooden sword and dropped into a battle stance. “State your intentions, strange beast. If they are pure, you will be spared.”

The penis entity did not speak. Instead, it hissed, then lunged. Mouth stretching further to an impossible width, it charged at Suu, who was closest. Then, it began to inhale, a vortex of air swirling inwards like how it worked with Kirby.

Half the girls started screaming, including Suu herself, as Suu was sucked in by the force and immediately swallowed whole.

“SUU-CHAN!” Rentarou cried, his countenance contorting in rage. “HOW DARE YOU!”

As Rentarou pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and put them on, huffing steam like a bull, the beast rapidly swelled larger, from its original, modest size to that of a person. However, before Rentarou could beat the meat into submission, Kishika struck, being faster. With a mighty swing of her blade and a shout, she knocked it away with great force, sending the penis monster tumbling overhead all the way to the other side of the building, where it landed with a crash.

However, it was merely bruised, not defeated, and the nefarious nethers stood, screeching as its claws scraped the roof.

Rentarou Family scrambled, many of the girls clumping together in panic. Meme vanished completely, leaving a plushie in her place in a feat of misdirection.

The rest readied themselves to fight, forming a defensive perimeter. Alongside Rentarou and Kishika, Iku had her baseball bat at the ready, and Eira was crouched low in her well-trained capoeira stance. Yaku and Karane only had their bare fists, but for them, that was plenty.

Only Hakari and Hahari were degenerate enough to do neither, the two of them instead drooling at the sight of a penis the size of their whole body.

“What kind of impossible side effect is that?!” Kaeru exclaimed, not yet used to the level of nonsense which befell the group on a daily basis. “It’s like a Shin Megami Tensei boss!”

“Come at me, beast!” taunted Iku, raising her bat. “I can take whatever punishment you can dish out!”

With an unholy roar, the creature charged, and the battle commenced. Eira whirled around and launched a furious back kick into the beast’s center of mass, but it raised a claw to block. Once more inhaling, Kishika had to abate her stabbing lunge and roll out of the way as it spun its head towards her.

“You can do it, guys! I believe in you!” encouraged Himeka with idol-like energy even as she had assumed the fetal position on the ground.

Miss Naddy patted her gently. “Wish I had one o’ those ‘Murican assault weapons right about now.”

“So do I,” quipped Mei. “Alas, some things are beyond even Mistress Hahari’s purchasing power.”

“Focus on protecting them, yes yes,” said Yaku, who was drawing the voracious rod’s attention, nimbly avoiding being swallowed with both hands behind her back.

Case in point, Nemu was striding purposefully towards the melee, her dreaming personality evidently wanting to help while simultaneously massively overestimating her own ability. Saki was trying to hold her back, but she was too small, and Nemu was slowly dragging her along, Saki’s shoes scraping the ground. “Stop, Nemu-kouhai! Just because you’re dreaming doesn’t mean you’re invincible!”

With a gasp, Iku interposed herself between the mutant penis and the two of them, striking it with her bat so hard a crack rent the air. "Ha!"

However, it was not enough. Rearing back, the monster sucked more strongly than it had ever sucked before. Iku moaned as she was yanked off her feet, through the air, and swallowed. Saki screamed as she and Nemu were also lifted upwards.

“NOOOO!” Rentarou wailed, leaping after them. He reached his girlfriends just as they were halfway down the monster’s gullet, grabbing each of them with a hand. He planted his feet against its head, pulling with all the unleashed strength of a protective boyfriend to keep them from being swallowed. But Rentarou and the giant penis were equally matched, and they were locked in a stalemate.

Unable to avert her eyes from the spectacle, Rin trembled from behind Yamame. “This sort of violence isn’t molto violento. I don’t want to be eaten!”

Not even a synchronized pummeling from Karane, Eira, and Kishika could get the beast to loosen its grip. Instead, it overwhelmed Rentarou by doubling in size, having incorporated Iku into itself, and then fully ate Nemu and Saki.

Despite this, Rentarou valiantly refused to let go, and was pulled inside along with them!

“Rentarou!” his assembled girlfriends all cried out in unison, their voices cracking.

Surprisingly, though, Rentarou was immediately spat back out.

Relief and confusion swept through them in unison. “He’s okay,” said Usa-chan, breathless.

“I suppose it does not see the beauty in men and refuses to eat them,” added Mimimi.

“Such might be the way of the penis. Or it might not be,” Uto concurred in her typical noncommittal fashion.

As Rentarou rose, eyes alight with flames and the fury of a guardian in his bones, the dastardly dick once again doubled in size, now twelve feet tall and still kicking despite its wounds. It once more screeched in challenge. Mei dashed in, taking up Iku’s fallen baseball bat in her own hands to reinforce the line, and the battle resumed.

“Why is this even happening, anyway?” wondered Ahko aloud as she shook in fright. “Wasn’t that drug only supposed to, like, change Kaeru-chan’s stuff, or whatever?”

“If I had to guess, it is poetic, like a fairy tale,” Meru theorized. “Kaeru-chan has forever seen her penis as monstrous, and thus, when it separated from her, that is what it became: a monster.”

“Is that true, Kaeru-chan?” Rentarou asked, concerned. He stopped pummeling the monster’s nuts like a speedbag to make eye-contact with her over his shoulder.

“Yes, it is,” Kaeru admitted, dejected and ashamed. She clung onto a nonplussed Tama for support.

“Well, don’t worry, this isn’t your fault!” Rentarou reassured her, even as he continued his deadly dance with the hungry snake.

“But it’s true that none of this would have happened if I wasn’t here,” Kaeru insisted with a sob, turning away from Tama and crumpling in on herself. “I’ve already hurt you so much. If only I’d just stayed in my room and played Fire Emblem all day, then we wouldn’t have even met. And everyone would still be okay.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Kaeru-chan! Love is always worth fighting for!” Rentarou countered, pushing back his own pain over those who'd been swallowed.

Hakari nodded firmly, kneeling down next to Kaeru. “This isn’t the first time he nearly lost one of us forever, and it won’t be the last. Whatever happens, Rentarou-san never gives up.”

“We need ideas. Is there anything we can do to stop this thing and get it to spit everyone out?” Rentarou asked.

At this, Kurumi grabbed Kusuri by her shoulders. “Oh yeah, don’t you have that Negation Drug or whatever? Maybe if Kaeru-chan takes it this monster will go away!”

“Kusuri does have some today, yep yep,” Kusuri confirmed. “However…” She slowly turned to Kaeru.

Kaeru looked between the ongoing skirmish against her former member and the pair of Kusuri and Kurumi with an expression of profound conflict. “I… you guys all seem great, really, and I definitely don’t want anyone to die because of me, but… having a body without that has been my dream for so long. There has to be another way!” she pleaded.

“Like what?” pressed Karane, getting the monster’s shaft in a brutal chokehold as it thrashed about.

Hit with a spark of inspiration, Momiji boldly stepped forwards. “I’m gonna try groping it. Penises like that, right?”

She only got like three steps before the beast threw Karane off and inhaled her, growing even larger.

“No!” cried Usa-chan. “Everyone’s getting eaten! At this rate, I’m gonna be all alone out here!” Sniffling, she too ran out of the group, leaping directly towards the penis’ head, arms outstretched. “Take me, too!”

It did.

Matsuri facepalmed. <That darn fool,> said Shizuka.

“I would have advised running the other way,” noted Mei, continuing to strike at the penis’s claws with her borrowed bat. “But if we all fled, this monster would only begin to devour the innocent.”

“And nobody at this school deserves to be eaten. All of you have long lives ahead, yes yes,” went Yaku, backflipping to avoid a raging thrust, the penis’ hateful eyes following her movement.

“Right. While being vored is certainly an abnormal way to go, I would disappoint my fans if I left them all so soon,” said Himeka before shooting Kaeru a pleading look directly, since both were still on the ground. “You’re the star of this show, Kaeru-chan, and you’re the one who needs to end this.”

“Yes, please make a decision, Kaeru-chan!” Eira exclaimed, kicking the monster in the balls. “Even I can’t keep this up forever!”

“I probably could with these,” joked Hahari, who was cupping her own breasts through her suit jacket.

“This is serious, Hahari-san!” scolded Chiyo. “It’s a life-changing choice for Kaeru-senpai to make!”

At this, Kaeru averted her gaze in thought, her shoulders still slumped. “I… I don’t…”

“We won’t force you one way or the other,” Rentarou reassured her gently, even as his whole body was tensed for battle. “But I would appreciate it if you made a decision soon. If I used my full power, I could throw this dick into the void between the pages, never to hurt you again, but then I’d also have to go back in time to get the others back, which opens a huge can of narrative worms to deal with.”

Meru nodded, shutting her dark eyes. “Even I would not attempt to pen a tale including time travel due to the confusion that would induce in readers.”

“People are already starting to get overwhelmed just by the sheer number of us,” added Kurumi between bites of a double cheeseburger she’d procured from somewhere for stress-eating.

Nobody spoke for a long moment, the only sounds being those of the mighty struggle between girlfriend and girlcock raging in the background. The display of fighting prowess from both sides brought to mind some of the greatest battles in anime and manga history, but this narrator will spare the details since this is not a serious adventure story.

Rather, the important part here is Kaeru’s emotional state. Pursing her lips, a whole range of emotions passed her face as she looked between Rentarou and the other girls. Envy towards hourglass figures, pain at watching them suffer, regret for opportunity lost.

But she also saw the rest of Rentarou’s Family still present studying her with their various levels of care and personal expressiveness. There was no anger, no blame, only acceptance.

Kaeru’s own eyes softened, and her heart was set. She straightened and rose, standing tall, and took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. I’ll take the Negation Drug.”

“Thank goodness,” sighed Yamame. The squirrel on her head seemed equally relieved. “I was afraid this would turn into another apocalyptic event.”

“Really? What *urp* made you change your mind?” Momoha asked Kaeru before the latter could process what exactly Yamame just said.

“Well, it’s just… I remembered how kindly all of you treated me, how you still are, and how much love Rentarou-san showered me with. It was far more than I’d ever felt before, even prior to taking Kusuri-chan’s drug,” Kaeru explained, smiling slightly as she gazed towards Rentarou.

Rentarou, for his part, melted, his liquid-like body allowing him to dodge a viscous sweep from the snarling abomination.

“Rentarou-san indeed has that effect on people, and brings it out in us,” said Nano, who was smiling on the inside.

Miss Naddy placed a hand on her hip. “Shoot, o’ course we’d give you a warm welcome!”

“Hmph,” Mai harrumphed, in peak tsun mode. “Nobody can hope to compare to my dear older sister, but I do admire your resilience.”

“Thanks,” Kaeru said, briefly overcome. “I realize now that it doesn’t actually matter what’s between my legs. I was already valid to everyone who matters,” she declared, shining brightly. “If you can accept me as I am, with the equipment I was born having, then I can, too.”

“Aww,” cooed Ahko and Rentarou at the same time, the latter also making his trademark open-mouthed ‘enraptured with love’ face. “Don’t say that. I, like, can’t take it,” added Ahko.

“Well said, my friend,” echoed Mimimi, striking a satisfied pose.

“Great, you’re self-affirmed. Now take the freaking Negation Drug already!” Karane ordered, heaving with exertion as she continued to wrestle with the giant penis beast, barely keeping it under control.

“Ah, right,” said Kaeru, blanching a bit as she turned to Kusuri. Without needing to be told, Kusuri pulled out another tube, this one containing a less ominous liquid.

Kaeru grabbed and uncorked it, but did not tip it back immediately. For a long moment, she stared, using her other hand to poke between her legs. “Goodbye, sweet vagina. I hardly knew ye.”

Pushing back her longing, she took the drug.

The effect was immediate. Opposite Kaeru and the other noncombatants, her penis let out a wail of pain as its unholy frame convulsed.

“Yeah, eat shit and die, you fiend!” cried Rin, reveling in its suffering.

Rentarou, Karane, Mei, Kishika, and Yaku all disengaged from the monster, retreating to a safe distance as it flailed about, collapsing onto its side.

Everyone watched with bated breath as Kaeru’s penis wretched a few times, its predatory eyes dilated in nausea, before barfing out Usa-chan, her body covered in sticky fluid.

She sat up woozily, shaking her head. “Wow, that sure was something!”

Rentarou cried in relief, rushing over to hug her and ignoring the resulting gross squelching noises as he peppered her cheek with kisses. Kaeru and the rest of the girls were equally elated to see her unharmed.

Next came Momiji, then Saki, Nemu, Iku, and finally Suu, Rentarou repeating his prior ritual with each of them in turn. With every girl the thing squirted out, it shrunk down, until, with the loss of Suu, it returned to its original size.

Kaeru slowly stepped over to her penis as its monstrous features began to fade away, clawed legs retracting and snake eyes melding back into its head. She stared down at it, brows furrowed.

Once it had returned to normal, some nebulous magical force sent it up through the air and under her dress, where it returned from whence it came - inside her panties - never to slurp up someone again.

“It’s over,” Kaeru exhaled, running her hands through her hair to spruce it back up.

From where he currently knelt with Suu’s dizzy head on his lap, Rentarou beamed with renewed infatuation.

Tama ran over to Kaeru’s side on all fours, nuzzling against her leg. “Tama is proud of you. You have a human’s courage, meow.”

“Twas the chivalrous path you took,” agreed Kishika, sheathing her sword.

Uto raised a hand dramatically. “I shall spread the tale of your triumph against your evil genitals far and wide across the land.”

Kaeru’s eyes widened. “Please don’t do that, Uto-chan.”

As half the group broke out into fits of giggling, Meme returned from wherever it was she’d been hiding. “I’m just glad everything is back to normal.”

“Guess that wasn’t a dream, huh?” said the now-awake but lethargic Nemu as she gave herself a once-over.

“Eh, I’m gonna need a long bath, though,” said Saki as she shook slime off of her arms.

“We can go together,” said Suu in reply. Iku gave a thumbs-up.

“Yay, a group activity! Let’s all go to the bathhouse!” cheered Usa-chan, pulling Mimimi and Yamame into an embrace. Yamame didn’t seem to mind, smiling, but Mimimi was aghast, screaming as the sticky goo from Usa-chan marred her clothes and hair.

Seeing his girlfriends happy as usual once more, Rentarou smiled wide. He approached Kaeru, who was also smiling at their antics. “All’s well that ends well. I’m positively elated to have you, Kaeru-chan.”

“Me too, Rentarou. I don’t regret any of this; running into you was still the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you,” she declared.

As one, the two of them moved in for a soft kiss, love blossoming anew between them under the warm glow of the sun.

When they separated, none of the others moved in for their own kisses. There would be plenty of time for shared affections later, and even the still-sloshed Momoha could recognize that this was their moment.

<A beautiful occasion,> smiled Shizuka.

“I really really really really really love you too, Kaeru-chan,” said Rentarou, lewdly taking her hand.

“And hey,” he continued, “if you do ever want to feel what it’s like to have a… you-know-what down there again, Kaeru-chan, we can always break out the Reborn as a New You drug from all the way back in Chapter 23.”

“Oh yes, I remember, that was quite fun,” noted Hahari with a wistful expression.

“You’d just need to find someone willing to swap bodies with you, yep yep,” Kusuri elaborated cheerfully.

Kaeru’s jaw dropped. “THAT’S A THING?!”

~ The End ~

Thought_Prism

Thanks for reading! As a bit of trivia, Kaeru’s design was mainly inspired by Rosado from Fire Emblem: Engage, who is the most blatantly trans-coded character I’ve ever seen. Even though the game’s writers left them as a femboy for some reason, the cowards. Anyway, that’s why Engage is Kaeru’s favorite game.

The Intricate Art of Assassination

TangledVirus — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When the overly cheerful but ill Sorceres Alcazaar set out to journey through the land of Deos Graças she wasn't expecting to be accompanied by the duelist Fascinaru. Together they cross the land and do as Sorcerers do, help those that they come across and experience the world, perhaps for the last time. The destination is the Council of Miraennas and in between their departure and their arrival anything can happen.

From a blossoming romance to a world-changing duel.
Such is the Intricate Art of Assassination.

Prologue initial part. The Son, the Holy Seer and the Gods.

The gods are a part of every aspect of creation. Even its end.
We, mortal beings, shaped them as they are by the sheer devotion of our faith, and in return, they shape the world to fit us better. Such is the gift of the gods. From the conception of existence to the creation of the great furnace and the wheel.

To the end of every single living thing.

We are truly blessed by the gods, unlike the Humans and their disgusting simulacrum of a deity.

Like always temples bring in the fervor of faith to the forefront of my mind.

Once again I find myself in the hall of the gods, the temple of Fascination. Seat of her Holiness the Holy Seer, holy mother of the Dark Elves.
My assailant.

What part of me will I leave behind today?

The first time I came I left my innocence behind.
The last time I came here I left my beloved sword Fantasma.

How did this holy place came to be infested with this foul woman? It’s said that the temple’s high walls and equally tall windows was built by the gods themselves when they were still recently born. When they were still fledgling beings.

I always wondered if that was true.

A part of me is saying that it was a lie, another is telling me that it’s all true.

No time for such thoughts as I approach her.

High walls, tall windows, thuribles, and silk carpets all over covering the temple’s stone.

Right at the center of it all is the holy seer on her throne surrounded by the holy maidens that serve her, each of them having lived an untold number of years, my existence the same as them blinking to me.

What is three centuries compared to five millennia?
What is five millennia compared to being there at the creation of all things?

How can I not kneel in the prescience of the Holy Seer?
“Your Holiness. Your adopted son is here.” And I detest it.

“How many years has it been my son?” Not long enough.

“Sixty-five.” So close to one hundred.

I hate the sound of her voice, I hate the way this temple smells, I hate the way her existence stains the faith I have in the gods. “You’ve been away for far too long and yet you have changed so little. I longed for you my son.” Of course you did.

Is it normal for a mother to long for their child? Yes. Not like this, not like this.

One of your maidens tells me to rise and approach you, which I do without hesitation as you taught me so many years ago, and I hide my contempt as I approach because you’ve taught me to be scared of you. I am not strong enough to throw you down but I am strong enough to hide my plans from you.

Your touch disgusts me, the way your skin feels on mine, the way you look at me, the way you breathe, your smell, everything about you is detestable.

Perhaps this is the gods way to test me? Put me in front of someone so utterly detestable and see how I react? Will my self-control reward me?

Yes, but you don’t know that yet.

I dare hope so, I doubt it will happen. “Your hair. It’s long.” And you tug on it hard, and again, and again till a few strands leave in your hands. “Cut it.” You say.

“Right now your Holiness? I believe we have better things to do now don’t we?” Of course we do, she doesn’t care.

“Cut it.” And one of your whores gives me a knife.

I spent the last fifty years growing my hair, something I took a lot of pleasure in doing. Silver like the moon, great in a braid, specially if I put flowers on it. Or in one case a few ornaments that long gone child gave to me. It was reaching to the back of my tights even. A pain to take care off but nothing that is worthwhile is easy.

How many nights have been spent with others admiring it, passing their fingers through my locks, enjoying its smell? How many times have I found myself playing with it?

It took me fifty years to grow my hair, it took me five minutes for me to cut it. Now my locks are on the floor, dead and abandoned. “Better. A man of your stature should look the part. Do not disobey me so again.” You say licking your lips. I know what you are thinking about you animal.

You aren’t better than a Human, both of you are animals driven by simple instincts.
Sex, violence, manipulation. Again and again.

And so I will defy you and everything you believe in.
I will, again and again.

You’ve grown quiet, because you are done tormenting me? No, I would be too lucky for that. “I heard stories, of someone that is in our order, and yet I have never met, nor trained. Someone who’s been getting a reputation as both a bodyguard and a duelist. A so-called dark Elf by the name of Fascinaru. Have you heard of her?”

“I can’t say I have your Holiness. But I can assure you, stories never match reality, we both know that.” In the stories you are a kind and merciful woman, in reality, you are simply an animal.

“Perhaps.” And you grow quiet but not for long, never for long. “Even so, you need to be ready to face this Fascinaru” You know more than what you are letting on, don’t you? “I can see it, yes. Eventually, you and her will come into conflict. Yes.” Interesting. “I’m sure it won’t be long until that day.” I know how your visions work, you never tell everything you saw. What are you hiding from me?

“Consider this a permanent objective till I say otherwise.” I nod. There is more then.

You don’t waste time. “We came to know of a human sorcerer that will be traveling to the Council of Miraennas soon, with her will be what we believe to be a class nine Grimmoire.” Impossible. Class nine? Of the ten classes of danger for a Grimmoire to get a class nine so suddenly? “Her master is in need of a blade for hire to protect her, so it will be easy to find them I’m sure.”

I can handle it. “Your job is to find and follow them, and learn what this Grimmoire holds.” Then she’s sure this isn’t a class nine. Had this be one she would be demanding the immediate destruction of it, no reading necessary, something is afoot.

“This mission is of utmost importance, my son.” You are not my mother. You are my assailant. “We need to know the contents of that Grimmoire, to be sure if they contain anything that could risk breaking the seal or even summoning the powers of the Ill God. If you find evidence that it does then you are to eliminate the sorcerer immediately and make sure that the Grimmoire is destroyed.”

“What if there’s no evidence of that?”

“Then follow the sorcerer to the council and once you can enter in contact with us do so.” One of the maidens approaches me with a small stone in her hand. “You will be given this seal, write your report to me in a letter and use this wax seal to mark it, tell the maiden that the message is of utmost importance and must be given to me as soon as possible.” The seal of the seer, no one can look at the contents of any letter containing it. Only she can. “Once I receive the letter I will send an agent to contact you.”

“I assume I’ll have to keep following the target if that’s the case?”

“Yes. We will find you son, worry not for that.” It’s been too long since I had the vain hope of escaping your grasp, I know you will find me. “Either way, you will be given new orders so be prepared. This mission will be long and difficult.”

You are planning something, aren’t you? Why would you need me to follow a class nine Grimmoire? Protocol says that such a tome needs to be destroyed immediately, suspicion or not. So why simply follow the target?

If I were her I would use this opportunity to attack the Council of Miraennas then. And perhaps this is the plan?

But why tell me to follow the Grimmoire?

“You are now dismissed.”

There’s something in that tome that you want, isn’t there?

“Thank you, your Holiness.” I kneel once again, her hand on my head as she blesses me. Once I’m up I turn around and leave.

I can never run away from here, such would be unbecoming.

That Grimmoire. I need to find it, whether it has the runes of the Ill God or not I need to destroy it.
Once done I will think of what to do next.

What is the Holy Seer’s plan?
The steps outside of the temple have always been a place of both comfort and disgust for me.
Comfort because now I am free of the Holy Seer’s presence.
Disgust because I know I will be here again in her presence.

There’s little comfort in this life of mine.
I already miss how long my hair used to be.

What will I lose next time I come?

…But My Mind Holds the Key

DrMajalis — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Now officially within their relationship, Falke finds something inescapable about herself holding her back from what her heart yearns for.

(This is a sequel to The Dreamers Wake.)

God Lives

Falke sat on the couch with a novel, trying to keep her eyes on the unfolding storyline before her and not have them wandering off to the bedroom door just around the corner. She couldn’t hear them, not all the time, but she could feel them constantly, could almost picture the sweet-talking, kissing, biting, and thrusting in her head. She lowered her eyes to the book and turned a page, but a sudden jolt rippled through her torso and arms, making her shake the book, and what followed after was the quiet, but unmistakable growl of a low-pitched moan. Whether it had come from Elster or Ariane, she couldn’t tell, but Falke had felt it before she had heard it. She sighed- this had been going on for over an hour and a half.

She closed her book with a grumble and looked around the living room she sat in: the rows of books and movies on shelves were absent, save for a couple sitting by themselves next to the television; the paintings which once sat on the walls were removed and all sat in a stack on the side of the room with many towers of cardboard boxes accompanying them. Elster had finally managed to find a bigger apartment for the three while they still tried for more, and thanks to a little behind-the-scenes ‘encouragement’ from Falke, the apartment supervisor offered it to them at an extremely competitive rate. She knew Elster and Ariane tried to avoid altering their new reality as much as possible, to maintain a feeling of realness and not blind fantasy, but Falke was always willing to bend the rules a little just for them.

Because they deserved it.

They would be moving at the end of the season, but until then, it was business as usual, and for Elster and Ariane, there was a lot of business to be had.

Falke felt another reverberation coming from the bedroom and tensed up just as the whisper reached her ears.

A plentiful amount of business, indeed.

Ariane joked to her while Elster was out of earshot that they wanted to ‘make the most of the mattress’ before they left for their new place, but so far it seemed as though they were just excited about moving to an apartment where they would have room for their eventual family, and that excitement led to other forms of excitement.

And Falke was excited too, even as she tried to hide and bottle it.

Elster and Ariane had noticed. They had invited her to join them on more than one occasion, and she already regularly slept through the night with them both, but joining them in that way-

She didn’t feel she was ready.

But she wanted to be.

Falke closed her eyes and breathed deeply in and out. Replika were not programmed to feel these kinds of physical desires, let alone feelings like love and yearning, and she was woefully under-equipped to deal with them herself. But damn it if she didn’t try.

Her forehead crystals softly glowed as she constructed a space for her to feel the things she wanted so badly. A Gestalt body modeled after her biosynthetic one: commandingly tall, thin, lithe, limbs graceful as a dancer’s. She laid her simulacra atop a pillowy bed and tried to pleasure herself. She rubbed up and down every part of her that ached for touch, ran her fingers up and down a body that begged for intimacy, and even found herself with her hands clenched around her neck, fighting for control over a body that she created but was not hers.

It wasn’t enough; all she could do was wish they were another’s hands.

Still, it was a good start, but as she tried to bring Elster and Ariane into her space to complete her desire she kept messing up details about them. Their faces were blank, hands too small or too large, and bodies sometimes twisted or deformed.

They weren’t real like the women in the room just next to her, and no matter how hard she tried, her mind rejected her built fantasy.

Falke opened her eyes to the sound of a door opening, but only stared blankly at the now blank television across from her.

“...Falke, are you alright?”

Elster’s voice finally reached her and she blinked rapidly. “I am fine, yes, yes,” she said, having to turn her head in multiple directions before she found which angle Elster looked at her from. Her hair was very frazzled and messy, and her eyes a bit dulled from exhaustion, but what immediately jumped out the most to Falke was that she only wore a pair of loose pyjama bottoms. This left her completely topless, presenting a veritable cornucopia of a body that begged for her attention; she fought against the urge to not be seen staring at her well-defined rows of abdominal muscles glistening with a light sheen of sweat, her thick, corded arms as she stretched her equally fierce shoulders, or her round, full, endlessly squeezable breasts, adorned with her perky, firm nipples.

Falke was born with the essence of godhood instilled in her, an attitude that was only encouraged and enforced by the dozens of controllers and Protektors who served directly under her, but to Falke, the very fact that a perfectly chiselled being in both mind and body such as Elster before her wasn’t being actively worshipped felt profane to her, and she begged herself to be allowed to be the one to do so.

Elster scratched the back of her head and frowned as she fought back a yawn. “I had to call out to you three times before you answered. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Falke quickly put a hand up to her lips as she feigned a light cough, but it still took her a while to answer Elster again, she was too preoccupied by new sounds coming from the bathroom next to the bedroom: a running faucet, and someone who could only be Ariane gargling water, followed by a heavy spit. She did this thrice before she finally exited the bathroom for the bedroom again, during which Falke took in a slow breath and exhaled quickly, trying to compartmentalize and push aside the mental image screaming into her head from the knowledge of what Ariane must have been doing in bed with Elster. However, as Ariane left the bathroom, she briefly saw Falke and Elster in the living room and silently waved at them, meaning Falke also saw her.

Ariane’s hair was also a mess, showing frazzles in every direction, but her eyes and smile carried an energy of yearning for more, made even more apparent when she blew Elster a playful kiss. But yet again, what caught Falke’s attention the most was what Ariane was wearing, or rather, what she wasn’t. She had on only her semi-transparent nightgown, which months ago would not have even batted an eye, but it was a small piece of lingerie meant for a small body, and wonderful, peaceful domesticity had certainly caught up to the snow-haired woman. It certainly helped that her new partner Falke was more than willing to cook for her and Elster any amount and frequency of gourmet meals she was born with the knowledge of.

Falke only saw Ariane for a couple of seconds before she dipped back into the bedroom, but that was enough to see that the hem of the nightgown which had once gone comfortably below her buttocks now sat almost right in the centre line of her hips, and there was more to discover as she turned to blow her kiss to Elster. Falke almost gasped as she saw Ariane’s nightgown now didn’t even fully cover her still visibly moist and bare folds, and the front of the garment, slick with sweat, stuck to her body in such a way that it didn’t not hide any of her newly developing luscious curves, including the small, but growing pouch of her tummy which all knew would only grow even more should their efforts in the bedroom succeed. She had seen it lightly spilled over the waistband of jeans and shorts before, but seeing the full picture alongside the visible outline of her also widening navel and the sheer radiance of Ariane’s being once again compelled Falke’s blasphemous urge to worship.

Falke struggled to not sigh. They were both perfect in every way. So much more perfect than her.

She coughed again once Ariane had left and she had pulled her mind out of its spiral of desire and self-doubt. “It’s alright,” she assured Elster. “Just had my mind pre-occupied,” she half-lied.

Elster nodded and went to sit down on the spot next to her on the couch. Just her hip brushing up against hers sent lightning bolts through her body, but then Elster put her hand atop her knee, and she had to fight not to shudder greatly against this innocent contact.

Elster blinked strongly before she sighed, fidgeting her legs as she sat. “Well… well… um…” She paused to exhale slowly. “Are you ready for bed? Ari isn’t very tired, but I could probably…”

“You’re not finished?” Falke croaked.

Elster didn’t answer verbally, but bit her lip and slowly raised her hands and shoulders into a hesitant shrug.

Falke nodded. “Take your time,” she said.

Elster also nodded and slowly stood up, but soon after she started walking back to the bedroom she spun around and looked almost pleadingly at Falke.

“Do you think-”

“Thank you, but… not yet,” Falke finished for her.

Elster sighed and gave her a thumbs-up before she rounded the corner. A moment later she heard the door click shut again, and she picked up her book.

She got the same amount of reading done through this session as well: a singular, rather short page.

Ariane came out around twenty minutes later to find Falke staring at the blank television once again, only this time, she was alert enough to notice when she had entered the living room and turned and smiled at her once she came fully into view. Internally, Falke breathed a silent sigh of relief that Ariane had swapped her sweat-slicked nightgown for one of Elster’s larger t-shirts, the long, opaque garment thankfully reaching low enough to cover everything her increasingly too-small nightgown failed to.

“We’re uh, heading to bed now,” Ariane informed her, letting out a short yawn after she finished.

The question wasn’t asked, but statements like this one implied it: did Falke want to sleep with them tonight? She was comfortable enough to do so on occasion, usually taking up the outer side of any cuddle pile they organized and forming a basket with her long arms and legs to wrap around both Elster and Ariane.

Falke looked down for a moment. She wasn’t sure if being near the two wives would be such a good idea while she was still burdened by desire, but as she briefly glanced back up at Ariane’s eyes and saw the optimistic glow in her eyes, she felt like she had to say yes.

So, she nodded and stood up, and Ariane gave a short hop of excitement before pressing her palms together; Falke almost felt her systems seize up for a brief moment as Ariane’s impromptu hop sparked a noticeable ripple up her thighs, tummy, and finally chest, still visible even through the loose shirt which mostly hung off her shoulders.

“Falke, you coming?” Ariane asked, snapping her out of her uncontrollable thoughts.

She blinked and caught back up to Ariane, who smiled once they were side-by-side. Then, on pure instinct, Falke brought her arms up just as Ariane leaped into them, her reflexes knowing what she would do even before she did. Ariane nuzzled against Falke’s shoulder as she carried her into the bedroom, yawning once again as she carefully laid her down atop the mattress. On the far side was Elster, splayed out on her back fast asleep with the covers only partially across her legs; Falke tried not to stare at her exposed upper body and restart her spiraling, only watching Ariane as she carefully moved Elster’s arm to her side before she wiggled into place in the middle of the bed, leaving a space to her other side just for her.

Once she was in, Ariane wasted no time in playing little spoon to Falke’s big spoon, and she sighed peacefully as she settled into place and Falke pulled the covers up the three with her bioresonance. As she wrapped her arms around Ariane, skipping Elster for now to avoid waking her up, Ariane brought her hand to her lips and kissed the backs of her fingers, sending a light shockwave of sensation up her arm and throughout her body with every touch.

“Can you believe we have all of this?” Ariane whispered. “I still have trouble believing it from time to time.”

Falke held Ariane a little more snugly. “Truthfully, I have a hard time remembering many details of my past life… it is as if I started here, with you both,” she whispered back.

Ariane turned her head slightly to the side, managing to get a peek at Falke’s face from the corner of her eye. “Because of the whole issue of having our memories?” she asked.

“No, at least, not entirely,” Falke answered, pausing to kiss the top of Ariane’s head. “It is more… I was not an individual before this. I was… a symbol, a divine one, indeed, but still ultimately a symbol. I was given a role to play, and I played it… so many seasons of nothing but administrative monotony, never being allowed to form connections, to seek out life and change, or stray from my path in any way. I was a god, but I was just as confined and trapped as every other Replika and Gestalt at the facility… but now I am free. I am liberated to be whoever I want to be. It is the start of a life, or at the very least, a new one.”

“But…” Ariane returned her head forward and sank back into Falke’s body. “Have you not just traded one aspect of desire for another? Our desires?”

Falke found Ariane’s hand and held it firmly. “I chose to be here with you both, and you chose to have me as part of your lives. That is all that matters to me.”

Ariane took a short breath and exhaled softly. “Okay… thank you…”

Afterward, Elster snorted in her sleep, and her two partners realized jointly that it would be best to keep conversation to a minimum, lest they wake her up. Ariane brought Falke’s hand to her lips again and began to gently kiss each of the digits on her hand before moving to do the same to each of her knuckles.

“I’m glad you chose to come here and be with us,” Ariane as quietly as possible whispered before she kissed the palm of Falke’s hand.

Falke smiled under Ariane’s kisses, but the longer she went on, the more curious her displays of affection grew. She started bringing her knuckles past her lips to suck on, followed by her finger tips. She reached for Falke’s thigh behind her and rubbed her hands up and down the smooth polyethylene shell, even giving her a light squeeze once. Then, she noticed Ariane start to wiggle her hips and legs together, sighing wistfully as she let go of her hand, and through it all, Falke felt more and more tense until she finally heard the telltale sounds of rhythmic, peaceful sleeping that signaled she was finally asleep.

Falke finally began to relax and nod off as well, shutting down her primary systems to enter sleep mode, but right in the middle of falling asleep she felt Ariane squirm ever so gently again and snapped back fully awake. She looked over Ariane’s cheek and saw she was still asleep, but also that she still continued to wiggle and pant.

“Falke…” Ariane quietly muttered, moaning softly afterward. “Touch…” she added before sighing heavily and relaxing.

Ariane quieted down and returned to sleep, but Falke only stared at the ceiling.

She didn’t get any more sleep that night.

…..

Elster was the first to wake up in the morning, though, with Falke never having truly fallen asleep, it might have been more accurate to say she was the second. She blinked her eyes open and almost immediately saw Falke to her left lying on her back, eyes open and unblinking toward the ceiling. She tried to lean forward but came to the realization that Ariane had shifted in her sleep, and had a significant portion of her body resting atop her, with her head planted almost face down into her chest.

“Falke…?” she whispered. The Replika rolled over onto her shoulder and got a good view of the situation, smiling lightly at the picture of Ariane softly sleeping and snoring into Elster’s cleavage. “Mind giving me a hand?” Elster whispered, pointing at the sleeping beauty atop her. Falke nodded.

Her forehead crystals started to glow softly as she gently cupped the back of Ariane’s head with her hand and began to carefully roll Ariane onto her back using bioresonance.

“Ellie… come back…” Ariane mumbled in her sleep as she came to a rest on her back, followed by more quiet, sleepy breathing. Elster cupped her mouth and tried not to giggle too loudly at her wife’s subconscious thoughts, but Falke bit her lip hard as she saw what Ariane was doing with her hand under the covers as she slept. She tugged the covers up past Ariane’s stomach to try and give her a modicum of privacy, but in doing so she only made Elster curious, and soon she leaned her head over to watch what her wife’s fidgeting arm was doing; she quickly snapped back and pressed her hand against her mouth.

Afterward a minute of quiet, awkward silence only punctuated by Ariane briefly snorting and groaning in her sleep, Falke deftly slipped out of bed and gave herself a light stretch; a mostly unnecessary thing to do for a Replika, but also a quirk of Gestalt neural imprinting that still felt right to do.

“I will go prepare breakfast,” Falke quietly stated. Elster gave her a thumbs up.

“I’ll stay here for… a bit… if that’s alright,” Elster answered, briefly looking down at the still-sleeping Ariane. Falke nodded and left the room, breathing a sigh of relief as the door clicked shut behind her.

She briskly walked into the kitchen, hoping that absorbing herself in cooking would take her mind off things. Her bioresonance crystals shone brightly as she assembled her tools and ingredients: She grabbed a large metal bowl and whisk with her hands as the fridge opened and a carton of milk and a few eggs floated to her workstation, followed shortly after by tubs of sugar, flour, and salt, and finally a container of cooking oil. She carefully weighed all of her measurements on a kitchen scale before adding them one at a time to the bowl, finishing by tapping the eggs on the countertop and cracking them into the bowl. Falke wetted a cloth and wrung it out so it was just damp, wrapping it around the base of her metal bowl to keep it still as she furiously beat the mixture with a whisk.

She smiled; Ariane and Elster had an electric whisk she could have used, she had gotten it for them, but after a while in the relationship she developed a taste for preparing as much as she could by hand, especially for them.

It felt better.

With her batter fully whisked and completely smooth, Falke put the bowl in the fridge to rest while she prepared the other components of the meal. Into a small saucepan on medium heat went the contents of a can of sliced strawberries, juice included, slowly adding in sugar and a small amount of salt as it heated up and softly bubbled. She would have greatly preferred to prepare the compote using fresh fruit, but she had made a promise to her partners to avoid pilfering ingredients, and fresh fruit was one commodity that was prohibitively expensive in a world like Rotfront which was still undergoing the process of klimaforming.

She finished the mixture with just the right amount of ground cinnamon, ginger, and lemon juice to complement and enhance the sweet, jammy compote. Again, she would have preferred to use fresh lemon zest to finish the compote, but bottled lemon juice would have to do.

With the strawberry compote finished, she twisted the burner’s knob to low heat to keep it warm while she shifted her focus to preparing drinks. Ariane had lost her taste for coffee recently, complaining that no matter what it always tasted too bitter, so she went about preparing a milk tea mixture, boiling some bags of black tea while she prepared a mixture of half-and-half and sweetened condensed milk. Once the tea was steeped, she stuck it in the freezer for a minute to cool to room temperature while she retrieved a pre-made mixture of tapioca pearls in brown sugar syrup, adding some of it to a tall glass alongside the milk mixture and tea once it was sufficiently chilled, and finishing the glass off with a wide straw to accompany the tapioca pearls.

Afterward, it was a relatively simpler affair of preparing Elster’s latte and her own doppio; again, she ground the beans and steamed the milk using hand tools rather than the fancy espresso machine she had acquired for them, and she didn’t hesitate to draw a little latte art of a butterfly on the top of Elster’s drink.

The only thing left was to prepare the crepes. Once her crepe pan had fully pre-heated she ladled the perfect amount on, smiling as the chilled and rested mixture smoothly spread to the edges of the pan just by tilting and rotating it. She topped three plates with their own wide, thin crepe, spooned a generous helping of strawberry compote atop each, and finished her creations with a ring of whipped cream and dusted chocolate powder for maximum flourish.

She set up each of their dishes and drinks at the dinner table and let out a satisfied sigh as she absorbed the picture before her in her head. All that was left was to wait for the other two lovebirds to emerge hungry and well-rested from their bedroom.

But they did not emerge after she knocked on the door and announced that breakfast was ready.

After a few minutes of increasingly tense waiting she leaned her ear up to the door.

And immediately regretted it.

She walked back to the living room and sat on the couch, staring at her own anxious reflection in the dark screen.

After a minute of staring and tapping her hoof on the carpet below her, she finally spoke up.

“Just go in there,” she said to herself.

“You haven’t been invited,” her reflection answered.

“I don’t need an invitation, they want me there with them.”

“Then why didn’t they ask you?”

“They’re polite.”

“They’re different.”

“They care, they understand.”

“You’re different.”

Falke took a moment to look down at her cold, titanium hands before she squeezed them shut. “It doesn’t matter to them.”

Her reflection laughed. “It matters to you.”

Falke clenched her eyes shut and took in a sharp breath. She briefly wondered how AEON command would feel if one of their prized Falke units, the Nation’s wunderwaffe found itself on the verge of tears, to say nothing else of the intractable number of grave sins she was guilty of simply by being in this relationship.

“You’re pathetic.”

She covered her face with her hands. “Be quiet,” she weakly cried.

“Want to prove us wrong? Go open their door.”

After a moment to hear her voice echo in her own head, a sense of defiance overtook Falke. She did not raise to her hooves, instead, she floated herself up from the couch and straight to Ariane and Elster’s bedroom door, gently landing on the floor just as she grasped the doorknob with her hand.

She shook; her hand shook.

After a moment of tensing up her synthetic muscles, Falke sighed dejectedly as she let go of the doorknob.

“See? Pathetic.”

She was just about to turn away and head back into the kitchen when an unexpected sound froze Falke in her tracks.

The door opened behind her, and a moment later a soft, caring, and loving voice spoke out to her.

“Falke…? Is everything okay?” Ariane asked.

She turned around with streaks of optical lubricant fluid running down from her eyes. “No,” she croaked, but then quickly swallowed and added more clearly. “Breakfast is ready, by the way.”

Ariane nodded and stepped out of the doorway, still in nothing but Falke’s t-shirt, only now, Falke looked at nothing but her eyes. Elster followed her wife shortly after, now with a loose, white t-shirt over her top, and Falke instinctively dropped to her knees.

They both hugged her.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Ariane whispered to her after their hug ended. Falke shook her head.

“I’ll be okay,” she assured them both. “This is… still a lot for me.”

“Hey, I get it,” Elster said, giving Falke’s shoulder a light squeeze before she got back up on her hooves. “I really do,” she repeated.

Falke nodded. She knew Elster was telling the truth.

“Come, while your meals are still warm,” Falke spoke out, forcing a smile on their lips.

And so, she showed them to their meals.

Elster wasted no time in digging into her crepe. She furiously hacked off pieces with her knife and fork to shovel into her mouth, not caring that her wild eating habits were getting bits of compote syrup and whipped cream all over her cheeks and nose. Meanwhile, Ariane took a more restrained approach. She took a moment to appreciate the sweet aromas coming from her plate before she cut off a small piece of crepe, ensuring that there was some strawberry and whipped cream on it before she forked it into her mouth.

Ariane immediately started smiling as she chewed. “How did you get to be such an amazing chef, Falke?” she asked after swallowing her first bite.

Falke nodded as she looked back at Ariane’s crimson eyes, also noticing out of the corner of her vision that Elster also looked at her as she continued to wolf away at her meal. She took her first bite and swallowed it, putting down her knife and fork before she answered the question.

“Falke units are not intended to be just military commanders, but also as diplomatic envoys,” she explained, watching Ariane nod along as she took a quick pause to sip her espresso. “Some extremely high-ranking party officials are also provided a Falke unit to serve as a personal adjutant. For these reasons, we were additionally programmed with a high degree of culinary, etiquette, rhetorical, and linguistic expertise.”

“I see,” Ariane acknowledged. “And did you make use of these skills before now?”

Falke nodded. “I… cooked meals for myself and… others, on occasion.” She took another sip of her espresso and smiled. “I enjoy cooking, it is… relaxing, soothing. It is something I have full control over.”

“I can definitely understand that,” Ariane said. She brought her glass of milk tea forward to take a sip, with some of the pearls shooting up the wide straw.

Elster suddenly began to choke loudly, and both Ariane and Falke turned to face her the moment she started trying to cough. Falke wasted no time; she rose from her chair and got behind Elster, pulling her up from her seat and thrusting up her abdomen with her fist, she soon spat out a nearly intact slice of strawberry, gasping for air as Falke gently lowered her back down.

“Oh my god, Ellie, are you okay?” Ariane asked, leaning over the table to get a better view of her partner.

Elster gave her a weak thumbs-up with one hand while she kept the other on her throat, gently rubbing as she tried to calm down her breathing. “I’m fine,” she eventually coughed out. “Just… gotta learn to chew,” she joked.

Ariane laughed alongside her, but Falke looked away, unable to join in the teasing. She had seen where Elster was looking right before she started choking: Ariane’s drink, and in particular, the straw she used to suck up the milk tea with pearls. She also caught a glimpse of what it had made Elster’s heart want.

What she also wanted.

The rest of breakfast finished smoothly, if rather quietly, and Elster soon returned to her room to get changed for the day.

“Shouldn’t you shower?” Falke heard Ariane ask as she scrubbed the dishes clean.

“Gah, no time, don’t want to be late.”

“Alright, I’ll come help you get ready.”

“A-Actually, Ari, I think I should get changed alone.”

There was a brief pause. Falke’s hand shook just as Ariane’s whispered words reached her ear.

“Come on, I’ll be quick, I promise.”

The bedroom door clicked shut soon after, and Falke gasped as she stopped holding her breath. She tried to focus on cleaning all of the plates, pans, and cutlery she used in making her meal, but as she dredged her scrub brush in the hot, soapy water, she was reminded of an inescapable fact.

Her hands didn’t feel the heat of the water.

They were mechanical hands, an artificial creation like the rest of her, nothing but metal and clockwork. Even if some parts of her body could be called organic, and she possessed most of the senses of a Gestalt, and looked like one at a glance, there was no escaping that she was not human.

But they were.

She laid the plate in her hand back in the sink and gripped the countertop, sighing softly.

She didn’t want to consider it, but a new thought wouldn’t leave her mind.

Maybe she had made a mistake.

Happy Doll-idays

waterlily3402 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite her high paying job, big city life is doing no favors for Jack's love life, but when business brings her back to her home town for the holidays, her present is a second chance at love with her best friend.

An (Un)expected Breakup

When Jack got home to find Stacy standing in the living room wearing a nice pair of tennis shoes, a light jacket covering a plain t-shirt and jeans, and a worried expression, she already knew what was coming.

“Jack, we need to talk about our relationship.” Her love life was fucked.

“I’m just not sure we’re compatible anymore.” She was on (or off now, she supposed) her third girlfriend this year.

“I’m worried you only see me as a sex object, not a full woman.” Kasey had left her back in March after almost a year together. She’d made it a respectable six months with Lacy at least, and they’d parted amicably. Only lasting three-and-a-half months with Stacy had her worried though.

“It’s like when you look at me, you see right through, I just don’t feel present in your mind.” She was definitely getting worse at this.

Jack steeled herself and finally responded to her girlfriend, “It’s alright babe, I understand. I’ve been distracted with work and I haven’t been giving you the attention you deserve. No worries, we can take a break, get back on our feet, and maybe go a bit slower next time if that's still what we want.” She threw on a small, sad smile for effect. They weren’t going to be getting back together, but it made break-ups go smoother to pretend. Or at least it usually did, she thought, as Stacy scowled at her.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about!” Stacy shouted. “You’re only half paying attention even when I’m fucking breaking up with you. Maybe you’d be able to keep a girl if you cared a bit more about her needs and weren’t just interested getting off with your fucking fetish!”

Jack was just confused now. What fetish was Stacy talking about? They’d gotten up to some light bondage, which she’d thoroughly enjoyed, but that was Stacy’s idea, not hers. Stacy saw her confused expression and must have read it as guilt, since she put on a cruel smirk as she started to twist whatever knife she thought she was twisting.

“That’s right, I met Kasey, and I heard about Lacy and your one night stands through the grapevine. Do you really think we don’t talk? Especially about creeps like you.” Stacy continued, beginning to tear up, “I really thought we had something at first. You made me feel special. I can’t fucking believe you were just using me!”

Things were getting out of hand, and Jack still didn't know what was going on. “You’ve got it all wrong babe. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said, trying to calm things a bit. She realized it was definitely the wrong thing to say when Stacy laughed in disbelief, stomped past her, and left, slamming the door without so much as a “fuck you” for the road.

Jack continued to stand in the living room, too stunned to think, until her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was from Stacy; she and her friends were going to come by tomorrow morning to pick up her stuff. She should probably have felt sadder about it, that meant this was final after all, though she didn’t really think she and Stacy still had a chance after what Stacy had said to her.

What had Stacy said to her? It didn’t make any sense. She continued to mull it over as she went to the fridge to grab some leftover enchiladas for dinner. Stacy had accused Jack of using her for some sort of fetish, but Jack couldn’t even begin to figure it out. They hadn’t done anything but some mild kink in the bedroom. Stacy liked to cook, and Jack had made some comments to her about making a good housewife, but those always made her blush and giggle, one time she’d even asked to do some 50’s housewife roleplay.

It must be something else then, Jack thought as she pulled her dinner out of the microwave. Stacy had brought up her other exes too, and she searched for something they had in common that could have offended Stacy. They were all blonde, she supposed, and were generally around her own height of six feet. They all had smaller busts, husky voices, and strong features. Jack could admit that there was a resemblance between them all, but that’s hardly the type of thing to break up over, plenty of women have a type, and it doesn’t usually cause problems, let alone lead to accusations of being some sort of fetishistic creep.

She finished her enchiladas, the last meal Stacy would cook for her, and left the plate in the sink. Future Jack could take care of that, right now she was too tired, both from the long day at work and the breakup.

By now the sadness was setting in. Jack knew she wasn’t the best girlfriend, but she really did like having Stacy around, and now she wouldn’t anymore. Getting into the shower she could almost see Stacy right there with her, covering herself with her hands the way she did before the warm water made her comfortable enough to truly relax. All of the fancy shampoos and conditioners that Stacy used instead of Jack’s sensible 2-in-1 were even cuter in her absence. Stepping out, Stacy’s pink and blue striped towel was even harder to look at than the shampoos. She loved to do her hair up in it before coming to bed, something about making it dry better. Jack didn’t have to worry about that, she always kept her hair short.

Once she’d towelled off, Jack was ready to crawl into bed and doom scroll social media until she fell asleep, when she noticed Stacy’s bottles of white and blue pills on the nightstand. The blood in her veins turned to ice and she realized exactly what Stacy had been talking about. Stacy was calling her a creep because she was one, it hadn’t been on purpose, she didn’t even consciously notice it at the time. But there was another thing that Kasey, Lacey, Stacy, and all the one night stands she’d had between them had in common, they were transgender.

Jack was a fucking chaser.

Otherworldly Thanksgiving gone wrong

Lurker123 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A trans girl finds herself in a much less trans body, one that leaves her with little to no complaints... except the world she finds herself in sets her up in a very unaccommodating environment, where her great new life might find it's end rather quickly?!

A story inspired by one specific artwork I came across. The protagonist is thrown into a cold-uncaring world, warmed only by a little star of hope. Please be aware of the tags if you want to avoid reading things you may be uncomfortable with.

Chapter 1

Lurker123

Hello dear reader!
Welcome to the first story I've ever written down! And I'm putting it straight to the public, which may or may not turn out to be a bad idea.
This is your last chance to turn away from what is probably the definition of underwhelming! Hopefully, me being an avid reader will do me some good here.

For your information, text in cursive is both for emphasis, as well as showing the literal inner thoughts of the MC as opposed to just descriptions of them. If it appears in spoken dialogue, it's only for emphasis. Is this good formatting? You tell me!

Last but not least, I won't put up specific trigger/content warnings for each chapter - the tags on the main page should clue you in on what's to come. Some may not get fulfilled until later, the tags just show what I know I'll be including.

Enjoy! (Or don't, I'll just go cry in a corner then...)

Synaptic Eclipse

ViolentR — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Layla unwittingly discovers an alien scout on her apartment's roof during her Friday night smoke session.

1 – Layla

Fridays are for letting loose. That's my mantra as I lay on the couch. Brew on the side table (a repurposed moving box), anime reruns I've already seen playing at my desk. My thoughts jumble as the weed sinks in.

Tired from work, no one to talk to, drugs are my temporary escape. The second shift premium hardly keeps me running week to week. Thankfully weed is legal here, cheap too.

Letting my high control my mood, I drift by the difficult and the painful. Avoiding harsher thoughts, I try to let myself mellow out. Looking out my window at the night sky, stars dulled by the city lights, the waning moon still shining, somehow. My mind can't help but dance at the surface of the dark side.

My job sucks, don't wanna think about that. Pay could be better too, at least I've got this apartment. Friends all moved for work or are on different shifts, hardly any company these days. No need to dwell on that now, I've already spent too much time down and ruminating about it. Looking at my desk, I eye the stylus. Maybe art can get me out, I think, more pessimistic than not.

I get up and draw for a bit. Dumb little doodles. Idly drawing the moon in negative.

I wonder if I'm stuck. No way out, trapped in an eternal loop of jobs that I can stand just a bit more than the last. Maybe I'll miss some steps and have to try hard for improvement. Maybe there's a ceiling? I don't know. I banish the subject.

It's Friday after all, late at night. I let loose like I should. Like I need. I zone out. Turn the anime down. Doom scroll for a bit and then shitpost in servers full of friends I don't get to see anymore. Take a bleary nap and then masturbate to the thought of affection. A couple hours pass.

Taking advantage of a spark of productivity, I start to tidy my apartment back up. Some dishes get put in the dishwasher. Put some errant trash in the bin. I pour out my bong water and rinse out my piece. Satisfied with my work, I get a tinge of disappointment as I feel myself starting to come down.

Fridays are for letting loose, right? I think to myself, eyeing the clock on the microwave.

1AM, it screams into my irises. I figure that I probably shouldn't smoke anymore tonight, then I wipe the moisture out of my bowl, and pack another. Not wanting to miss my fade into nothingness when I go to bed, I pop an edible. Grabbing a warm hoodie, my lighter and my keys, I lock my door behind me as I head upstairs. Popping in one earbud and scrolling for something to listen to, I walk up the stairs from my top floor apartment.

Watching a bunch of YouTube locksmithing videos had its benefits. A simple whim and an improvised rake got me on the roof of my building in the first few weeks here. My late schedule stops anyone from ever noticing me up there, so I hid a camping chair to use, and I usually go up to vibe to music, smoke, or both. While I'm allowed to smoke inside, I don't want visitors to deal with a bad smell and think I'm gross. (I'd have to actually have visitors first, though.)

With one hand I grab the little jumble of bent paper clips hanging on my key ring and shove them in the door. A bit of motion on the pins and the lock turns, letting me onto the roof. The door slams behind me while I make my decision and select an album. Holding my bong and digging for my light, I hear something strange. Almost like someone quickly shuffling a bunch of poker chips across the roof. More metallic?

Looking up, I see the strangest thing that I have ever seen in real life. At first, I’m pretty sure I’m seeing a big octopus. A bulbous ‘head’ seems to stare back, but it has too many limbs. There seem to be dozens, from long white strings to gray gripping appendages with soft orange lines running down them. Many are almost like jellyfish tendrils, a few more like squid or octopus limbs. Already alert, it raises itself higher, 4 feet or so tall, like it's an animal trying to intimidate me. It stands amongst a pile of strange little metal pieces that click and climb up its body. I watch as it's covered in strange semi-reflective segments, almost making it look like a big horrible crab or something. Cephalopod eyes dot its head at regular intervals. The ones facing in my direction stare right back at me as I watch it move slightly forward.

For a few moments, we simply lock eyes and wonder what the other will do.

I mutter to myself, “I'm not high enough for this to be a hallucination.”

Wayward Two-Seventeen is getting tired, two remain. Simple report. Send it back to the field commander. A bit later, the transponder pings. Checking the response is a formality, the content is known and expected. Two more objects and today's calibration is over. Looking at the next object from above a window, this one sighs.

The automatic survey systems were pretty good, after calibration. Without that calibration, the system can have some trouble with objects of similar function but differing surface forms. This one scrolls through the generated diagrams for the strange object. Were the computer a bit better at large topologies, the risk of direct confirmation wouldn’t have been necessary, as it’s directly on top of a family home in a populous area. Still, one categorizes it: another signal receiver, as weird as it looks. A jumble of parallel and perpendicular metal tines, presumably to catch as much signal as possible, or something (one is not a comm systems expert). A simple selection and the computer system makes the connection. On to the next.

The next location would be a minute or so away if the skyhook were authorized. Unfortunately it can't be authorized in middle density areas until the local survey is complete. This one takes a bit to directly navigate through the city. Even with active camouflage there’s some difficulty getting around without notice. The combination of the night cycle, and psyche of the population seems to work favorably here, despite all the lights.

Several minutes later, and one reaches the destination, a small nature preserve, of sorts. The towering local plants provide some cover from the sky and the lights of the city. There is, however, a light on a post, next to a piece of furniture. Across from them, a pretty simple object, unsurprising that it was saved for later in the survey. Running a finger over it, this one ponders the meaning of yet-untranslated symbols. A sign, of sorts? There were many symbols, as well as some detailed images of the nearby plants. Looking through the classifications, this one chooses. Analog information panel, low tech, but reliable for what seems to be a ‘low tech zone’ in this city. This one idly ponders the meaning of the symbols and leans against the rough spine of one of the big plants.

Almost a turn later, and this one gets its extraction point. It'll be an hour or two while the skyhook positions, but the job is almost over. No more obligations other than getting out unnoticed. The system will do more detailed analysis. This one can relax until more input is needed. Compatibility testing is expected to start fairly soon, but there's no rush.

One heads to the building designated as the extraction point. The maneuvering gear helps greatly with the climb up the side onto its roof. A relatively low-built area, away from the central city, the tallest structures are a group of residential buildings. the taller the location, the less chance of error during skyhook extraction. A quick security check once we reach the top - the access point is locked. The survey implies these roofs are for maintenance. Usually only accessed during the day. Analysis seems sound. One random out of place object, but both the system analysis and this one agree - it's no concern. The dominant species seems to produce unnecessary amounts of disposable or otherwise unimportant items. There's random stuff scattered everywhere on this planet.

Secured area, plenty of time. This one petitions for rest permissions in the interim minutes. Permission granted. The tool rig is put on passive mode and set upon the floor. Relaxing a bit, this one studies the local moon. Bigger, closer, brighter. Nothing like the three at home. Its craters are easy to view from the surface, one considers the battering it must have taken over millennia.

One wonders what reaction the moon draws from the locals. The dominant species, as well as a few less developed creatures, were marked as high priority. “Human”, their most common designation for themselves. The humans were of particular interest, as their nervous systems (as well as that of most larger animals) were almost certainly link compatible. The first issue with attempting contact, though, is their current lack of unity. Despite their incredibly quick technological developments in the period since their initial discovery, their society is still not very peaceful or stable. The biggest issue comes after- many humans are estimated to be dangerous to interact with. Particularly, given the extreme anatomical differences, humans may not find one’s species, the Corda, a comforting existence. Those issues were made into one's own problem with this assignment.

The issues aren’t that bothersome, the job will be done, and despite the time involved, one should be approved for research after. That was the agreement. This one would rather suffer in pursuit of its curiosity than fail to explore its fascination. Some turns pass, as one feels itself a bit relieved, ready for the somewhat unpleasant ride on the hook. Relaxed.

Relaxed enough, that one's reaction to the door opening is far too slow. Clicks, and a creaking sound ring across the roof.

Perking up, feeling adrenaline release in the cortex. Panic. The human does not even look up from its data pad as the door slams shut loudly behind it. It begins to put the pad away and shuffle for something else, noticing nothing. Standing tall, some strange water filled object held aloft, it would only be a moment before one was noticed.

A finger on a switch and one's tool rig is set to active. It starts to reequip itself and, noticing the noise, the human looks up.

A long moment of extreme tension. Eyes lock. This shouldn't be happening. A terse message hastily sent to FC.

Compromised by civilian individual, reason for presence unknown, please advise.

“...I'm not high enough for this to be a hallucination”

It speaks, its meaning unknown. Pulling its limb out of its garment, it holds something. A quick motion and the rig runs an emergency scan. The human stops, speaking again,

“Woah, hi! Sorry.”

One sends the same message to FC, appended with PLEASE ADVISE. The human turns its limbs slowly, holding its possessions aloft. Scan info returns before they're even halfway up, fed straight from a sensory link. They don't have any weapons.

FC responds, EVALUATING, RISKY INFO LINK ESTABLISHED, REMAIN PEACEFUL, APPREHEND IF NECESSARY, STAY SAFE.

FC's concern for safety is both supportive and incredibly concerning. It's not in their standard parameters. The info link was expected and hoped for, FC has something near an hour of faster communication and a direct info feed from the tool rig. Situation depending, the feed should be cut after that time, before the comms burst becomes too easy to detect. The human takes a few slow steps back, lowering its body and placing the items on the ground. One realizes, it has held a finger up, pointed at the human, since initiating the scan. Perhaps too quickly, one's finger snaps back to a more neutral position. The human flinches at the sudden movement, then, it slowly raises its body back up, holding its open limbs up.

“Okayyy, I don't want to hurt you, can you, uh, understand me?”

More speech. Language models haven’t been developed yet, let alone speech replication. This one hopes FC won’t suggest the emergency contact protocol. The tool rig starts feeding anatomical data through the sensory link. One responds in frustration, CERTAINLY THERE IS A BETTER COURSE OF ACTION

FC’s message is too quick and too official to be a response to mine, W2-17, NEW OBJECTIVE: INITIATE EMERGENCY CONTACT PROTOCOL, HUMAN DESIGNATED ‘H1’ PENDING FURTHER INFORMATION

Incredible frustration gives way to resignation. Acceptance reigns, as one reengages closed pathways in its nervous system. The tool rig quietly and deliberately shifts away from this one’s claws. FC’s response to the outburst comes, UMBRAL CASCADE WAS SELECTED, IN PART, FOR STRONG PREVIOUS RECORD WITH FORCED CONTACT. H1 IS A NEAR IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR COVERT CONTACT.

A wince at the sore subject. Of course they’re a strong candidate, there’s no way they’d give that order if FC wasn’t certain. Flora like Field Command are grown to make these decisions, despite one's objections. One moves toward the human. Umbral Cascade stirs, ready to act.

Our Busty Middle Sister

honeycombbee — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Incredibly lewd, girl's love/yuri, slice of life anthology. Each divider is a new episode and, unless specified in the divider, all episodes are self contained.

Starring Blake, the middle sister, Ilene, the older sister, and Codie, the younger cousin of them both.
You will see time periods, locations, and situations vary wildly. There is no deeper meaning behind that, please enjoy each episode on its own merits.
Please note: Codie is transgender. If that bothers you, please skip this one.

Episode 1 and 2 – My Cheesecake, Cutting Class

Location: Home, Codie Room

Blake, 19

Codie, 18

“Guhhh! Dude, you're fucking us up, you keep pushing like that.”

“Fuck is that my fault?”

“Cos’ you scan the POI and then dash up fourty meters like the game on the other fuckin’ side doesn't tell them they just got scanned. That's too much time for them to regroup.”

“Everytime I play with you, you always find something to complain about.”

“Yah, cuz you suck. Get better or don't play point.”

“Whatevs,” Blake picked at her nose, setting her pad down and picking her beer up, “Okay so you do point. Who's a good rear for duo–”

Blinking twice and nearly spilling some beer on her thigh, Blake tilted her head, confused at the two hands pinching her waist.

“Huh?” Blake groaned in question, though it was more of a hum.

“It's boring now. I'm good,” Codie snickered, pinching Blake's sides more.

“No — Codie, why are you grabbing my hips?” Blake hissed, but it was more like a kitten. She drew her beer to her lips and sipped, “Something on me?”

“Yeah — your muffin top,” Codie teased, “That's where you put the cheesecake last week?”

“Mm–” Blake had to swallow first, “Evidently you like it. Maybe I should smack your slice.”

Codie eased up on her pinching and tickling, which Blake wasn’t reacting to anymore, “Go ahead, but gimme something first.”

“Mm?” Blake set her bottle down.

Before she could refocus, she felt Codie lean onto her, pressing her breasts into her back. Her hands were down her waistband, and her fingers were gently scratching up the stretch marks in her curves. Near her butt, Blake could feel the poking of Codie pitching a tent.

“Can we fuck?” Codie exhaled hotly.

“Why? Exams stressin’ you out?” Blake hunched over, setting her beer off to the side.

Codie nodded, her fingers exploring a little more, breezing the strap on Blake's panties. She hadn't even gotten an answer yet, but knew Blake well enough to expect her to be lackadaisical about most things.

Blake saw her nod, and responded, “Kay. Long as I get your cheesecake, deal?”

“You're really down?”

Blake began to reach into her shirt to fiddle with the bra strap, “Yeah?”

“Even though you're my big cousin?”

“You're worried about that now?”

“A little? I mean, you're not gonna turn around on me about this later, will you?”

“No,” Blake said plainly, slinging her bra off, brushing Codie off of her, and turning around to fling her bra into her little cousin's face, “Why you think I care?”

“Right. You're Blake.”

“Exaaactly,” Blake sarcastically meowed, her top coming off next and freeing her perky breasts.

Codie took a good look at Blake's mounds, then slouched onto her elbow. Sighing deep and leaning her head back, she moaned, “God I'm so horny, big cousin.”

Blake continued throwing her loose clothing at her semi-sibling, “Hold onto that for now, where's your condoms?” Her shorts and undies landed next. Codie couldn't help herself smelling them a little.

“Third drawer from the right of my closet,” Codie tossed the dirty panties to the side, getting her own shorts and panties off next. Unable to bear any restraint, she tugged her cock lightly, delighting in her cousin's round butt as she bent over and snagged two condoms.

Codie began to trance, staring at Blake's thick body with each curve melting into itself like butter. Her full view ass turned around and became her plump pussy snug between her two upper thighs.

Before Codie could realize, she was pumping herself to her older cousin. God, this is bad, she thought — god I need to stop.

Smack.

“Quit it, you dumbass,” Blake popped her little cousin's hand, “Mmh~” and slid Codie’s womanhood into her mouth with a line of drool that she let coat the tip first.

“Nn—ughh,” Codie gasped, “Fuck, Blake, your tongue,” and then she whined, palming her cousins’ head to push deeper into her, “Mm— c’mon, let me, let me…”

Blake pushed her neck up, sliding off of Codie’s dick with a small cough, “I would if you'd just let me do it. In fact, make out with me, you need to chill~”

Codie felt Blake's presence rise to smother her, their faces met now, Blake pushing her massive breasts into Codie’s ample breasts, a small smile worn by the older semi sibling, “C’mere, Coooodie~ Mmf,” Blake purred, pushing her lips down onto her cousin's. Codie let out a sour moan, feeling spoiled, but all too quickly did she relax — just like her big cousin wanted.

The big cousin moaned in between the folds of both perky girls’ lips. The little cousin gave, somewhat, shivering through her shoulders and down her arms.

f-fuck… Codie’s mind began to reel from the sensations, the surreality, im really doing this. im about to fuck Blake. this is unbelievable.

Blake’s tongue began to peek at the entrance of her baby cousin's mouth. Codie resisted none, letting her cousin's pink pillow feel about her mouth and wrap around its counterpart. Both their maws were moist, breath flowing warmly down chin and neck. Both sets of paws were exploring — Codie couldn't resist gunning for handfuls of Blake's overflowing breasts. She devoured the jiggling masses through her fingers, greedily intertwining her cherry red nipples and tugging, tugging, squeezing.

That erection prodding and sliding under Blake's lower lips began to vibrate and throb. Codie's ladycock was taut, veiny enough for the grooves to be noticeable near Blake's juicy slit. Hungry. Codie was so hungry. She was shivering all over while Blake grabbed some handfuls of her own, clasping down on her curvy waist, rubbing her smooth, cute tummy, and pulling her closer by her back so her plush tits and thick thighs and chubby tummy could keep her wrapped up like a camper in a sleeping bag.

“W-Wrap me up, p-please,” Codie begged, popping off her lips and panting hot, grinding on her big cousin's slit like a deranged pest, “Please, you're gonna make me cum before I can fuck you, Blake. I wanna fuck you.”

“Ah. OK-OK. Give me the rubber,” Blake said, sliding off of her cousin and holding her hand out. Codie was horny and so desperate that she mindlessly took hold of her own dick again, rubbing it to ease the tension, while tempted to lose herself again. Blake had to smack her hand again, growling, “And you — stop touching it.”

“N-nngh,” Codie whimpered, “Yeah — fuck, where is it,” she groaned, looking for the two little items that got shuffled around.

Eventually she retrieved at least one, and just shoved it over, “Oi…”

“Can't put it on yourself?” Blake snickered, giving a perky lipped smirk and crossing her arms.

“Put it, put it, put it… I need you so bad,” Codie meowed desperately. She could feel herself just about ready to explode.

“Tsk~ I knoow,” Blake swiped the condom and began to tear open the wrapper.

Codie covered her face partially using her blanket, feeling spoiled again. She felt her semi-siblings’ soft hand brush her down and pack her lady finger into its cloak. She got lost in her thoughts on how to handle all of this. How to treat her lovely cousin, where her hands were supposed to go, how to last long…

She whined even louder after Blake snatched the blanket off her face, revealing that her thighs were already on either side and she was working on fixing Codie’s cock into her pussy.

“W-Wait…” Codie purred.

“No. Why?”

“I— Blake …you know I haven't done this before…”

“You were so ready earlier…” Blake tilted her head, twirling a loc in her index finger.

“Yeah, b-but now you're doing it — I wasn't thinking before. I am a virgin. W-What if—”

“Oh. Then this won't take long,” Blake smiled subtly, but warmly, opting to pet Codie on her head, “I'll take care of it ♡.”

“A-aah…” Codie felt her cock slide into her big cousins’ plush bottom lips. Her protesting was useless. She was inside her cousin, being grinded on, and knew at this point the last thing she wanted was for it to stop, “Blaaaakeee.”

“Sorry for this in advance, by the way,” Blake giggled.

“Wha—” Codie’s question became a desperate gasp for air as she felt a heavy set of thighs and a plush ass smack into her hips. Blake was riding her with no remorse.

“Fuck…” Blake closed one eye, panting as she got used to Codie's size and shape, especially amidst all the throbbing in her walls, “babe, I think I'm gonna cum. Feels good as fuck in me.”

“A-Already?!” Codie couldn't hold back her moans, which broke up the question. The sensation was unbearable for her, too.

“Y-Yeah… Codie, can you cum, too? Cum with me?~”

“Wha— Blake? I - uughhh…” Codie hissed and moaned, trying to grit her teeth and hold on, but she was way too goddamn cute saying something like that. Her cock throbbed inside of her thick semi-sister, begging to kiss up her walls and blow her little load everywhere.

Which is exactly what happened.

“Nnngmmm…big cousin—”

“Come on♡~”

“I'm cumming…Blake—”

“Mhm…mhm…f-fuck…fuck!”

Blake came first. Her luscious pussy nectar seeped down her thighs and slicked them and Codie's hips. Codie’s dick was now smothered in discharge and sliding in and out of that snatch like a hot knife in butter. Codie didn't hold out much longer by any respectable measure. She got a few heavy, fumbly, desperate pounds on Blake's fat cheeks before her hips buckled and that girlydick twitched and throbbed and then finally started to pump… Her seed filled the condom all the way down to the mid shaft and the whole situation was hot like lava.

Codie was shivering so bad she couldn't even pull out. It was pure bliss. The moment kept replaying in her mind like a broken vhs tape. If only she could have creampied her big cousin…

She had to pummel her big cousin softly on the shoulder, “a-aah …”

“Oop— Sorry…” Blake hummed, her breathing steadying, “You okay, cousin?”

Codie nodded, her arm covering her eyes. Her breath is still staggering.

The condom slipped off, and Codie began confusedly making cute noises again seeing Blake wrap her mouth back on her dick.

“M—Mmm??”

Blake flashed the removed rubber in her finger, then set it aside, “Cleaning♡ Hold still.”

“B-But … I could cum again… f-fuck—”

Blake spoke while her mouth was full, “Do it as much as you want♡.”

Location: University, Hallway

Blake, 18

Ilene, 20

Blake felt a firm palm make two circles on her plump asscheek before squeezing, and then two fingers pinched down real tight.

“Ow. Bitch,” Blake rattled, pressing closer and feeling in other places with her hands.

“Why you skipping class, huh?” Ilene groaned, slightly blushing, removing one of her perving hands to go and swipe a bang off of her eye.

“Why you keep leaving my texts on delivered, huh?” Blake hummed sarcastically, ”You don't like me anymore.”

“Shut uppp,” Ilene rolled her eyes, “I'm busy — s’midterms, and we live in the same house.”

Blake leaned forward, pushing up her lips and ignoring Ilene. Ilene put a finger to Blake's lips and growled softly, “You are so annoying. Trying to repeat the High School incident already, before you've even graduated?”

“They don't give a shit here. You won't get in trouble.”

Ilene rolled her eyes again, her cheeks a little pink, “M-Maybe…but no. I'm not making out with my damn sister here. Let's go to the bathroom or something.”

“No-ones here…”

“They will be when Lit transitions in like three minutes.”

“So we'll stop in two minutes. Then go to the bathroom.”

“I'm not doing this with you — fuck off,” Ilene started to move Blake's arms and walk from the embrace, intent to just go back to class, “Go back to sch—”

“Sisssss…” Blake purred, pinning Ilene to a closed wall of cubbies, “Noooo.”

“Blake, l—lemme go-” Ilene tried, her words sharp, but Blake was already peppering the inside of her neck with kisses stained with her black lipstick, and Ilene wasn't fighting as much as she kinda knew she should be.

“Fuck… Can we please just go and do something, if you want it this badly?” Ilene negotiated again.

Blake continued kissing her big sister's neck. Ilene knew this was bad. Any more lip prints on her body and she knew she'd have to explain something unsavory to the professor waiting for her back in Soc102.

“Mmf~!” Blake whined, her cheeks pinched and her face forcibly pulled into Ilene’s view. Ilene didn't speak a word, and just shoved her mouth onto Blake, sucking her bottom lip and licking the entrance to her mouth. Blake would give in immediately, letting Ilene play with her tongue, twist her tongue around it, suck it, even bite it.

Ilene got aggressive, too, smacking her baby sister one good on her fat cheek and even separating from her lips to smack her on face, too. Blake smiled, drooling and desperate for more. Ilene would oblige, devouring her down and making sure to get greedy. Her hands couldn't stay external anymore, and began to fly into Blake's shirt, unclipping her bra with no effort and the precision of a hunter. She swiped her bra. Blake wasn't getting it back either.

Ilene’s hand was starving for a mound, so she reached, but before she could get her goods, Blake snatched her arm and squeezed.

“Mm?!” Ilene startled, popping off of Blake's lips.

“There are people in the hallway, Ilene…” Blake purred, smirking and licking her lips.

“Fuck… they see?”

“Not yet…” Blake whispered.

“I hate you so much. Come on, the bathroom is that way.”

“What about me getting back to my school?~”

“Sis, you should start thinking about your email to your teachers tonight. Smiley face,” Ilene said, gripping Blakes’ arm and taking her through the hall.

“Ah…”

“....Fine. We can get Five Guys after, okay? After I wreck you.”

“Now you're speaking my language.”

The Ranch

trooper1881 — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:14:37 +0000

Today, in the middle of the Nebraska sand hills is a motel built to please and appease the tentacle beasts who want to destroy the world. Right after they are done having sex with us.

Isabella Adora, a woman in her late 20s who worked as a file clerk, dreams of leaving the tedium of her life.
When she gets fired from her office job, she comes home to get in a big fight with her boyfriend, Jacob. She packs her bags and attempts to drive home on the other side of the United States. She gets lost Halfway there, nearly running out of gas In the middle of Nebraska. A helpful gas station attendant tells her about the ranch.

She decides it beats sleeping in her car and rents a room. While getting something to eat at the motel bar, she has to pee and ends up in a glory hole for non-human life.

She now finds her self on the front line of keeping humanity safe, one encounter at a time. This is her story and the story of all those who stay at The Ranch.

Chapter 1: The Long Drive

The road she is driving on is a long-forgotten interstate now rerouted. The kind where you're spending more time avoiding potholes than paying attention to where you're going. She checks her phone for the 500th time. There is still no cell service. She opens the map app to find it still doesn't have a GPS signal. The frowny face emoji it displays momentarily infuriates her. The old-school plastic-covered map takes up the entire passenger seat. 'Thanks, Mom,' she says internally.

Last time she stopped to pee. She had held the map as she squatted against a telephone pole. The map had shown her somewhere in the middle of the Nebraska sandhills. But the map also showed this was a major highway, but the state of the road says otherwise.

The miles of empty grassland with scattered run-down shacks leave her feeling empty and alone. She had felt a similar feeling on Route 66, but this had none of the charms. She drives past a turn-off a little more than a pair of dirt paths the right distance apart to drive down. It was one of a handful in the last hour. She hasn't seen any sign of a person in over an hour. She is growing worried as the gas gauge dips lower.

Her car impatiently dings to indicate the tank is empty. 'shit shit shit shit shit,' she thinks. She rolls down the windows on her beat-up yellow 1995 Ford Taurus. Her brown hair flapping in the wind. She wrestles with it. Swerving as she drives down the road. She gets it up into a bun, takes a moment to get situated again, relaxes, and sits back. "Yep, this is how it ends, not with a bang but an empty tank of gas," she says to no one. Then taps on the outside door panel nervously.

Like a literal sign from a benevolent god, a glowing 2-story-tall sign that says Jim Gas came over the horizon. She breathes a sigh of relief as she pulls into the gas station. The little bell chimes as she drives over the drive-over bell. Brilliant chrome with bright reds and whites is everywhere. She guessed it was from the 40s. Everything looks to be meticulously maintained. She blinks; what she is seeing does not match the image of flickering fluorescent lights and rust covering everything. She has a tingling sensation up her spine. "I have seen this horror movie," she says to herself. A tall man in his mid-twenties wearing striped overalls but without a spot of grease on them walks up to her window. She puts on her smile.

"What can I help you with?" the young man says as she looks his face over. He looks kind and a little like an athlete; he looks at her expectantly, and not a hair on his head is out of place. He looks to be all muscle. But he looks like the gas station is oddly perfect and lacking the hardness and scars of hard work.

"Well, miss?" he asks.

'shit, I was staring,' she chastises herself. "Gas, please. Fill it all the way," she says.

He nods and starts to fill her car. She watches him from the mirror. He turns and smiles at her. , 'He even has all his teeth,' she muses.

"Anything else," he says, "cold drink?"

"Just directions feel like I have been driving for days and not getting anywhere; all you see is endless boarded-up towns and empty gas stations. On top of that, there's no cell service out here, and my GPS quit working," she replies exasperated.

His laugh is dry, like he has heard this same joke a thousand times.

He says, "Yeah, GPS never works here. Must be something the government is doing. How old is your map? I bet it is at least from the 90s," he leans closer to see.

She checks her map. In the tiny text at the bottom, it is dated 1992. Your right map is older than I am." she laughs "How do I get back to where the GPS works?".

"Let me get you a new map," he says and grabs one from the store and spreads it across the hood of her car.

She gets out of her car feeling vulnerable, the dusky sky coloring everything orange. 'He better not be a predator,' she bends over the map with him. He smells like gasoline and fresh linen.

"You are here." He points. She can see the major highway route has been moved 120 miles to the north.

"This is the middle of nowhere," she mutters.

"You're going to want to go 2 hours east, and you can get back on the main highway."

He Looks up at the sky, seeing a disk-shaped object zip past. "But it's getting dark; you could spend the night here," he says with a grin.

He watches her smile fall and quickly adds, "At the motel down the road and head out in the morning. People have a habit of going missing on this road at night. The people at the ranch are a little strange, but the rooms are clean, and the bar is cheap. Tell them Josh Gas sent you," he says in seemingly one breath.

He mentally sighed to himself, 'Real smooth, dork; looks like another night of watching movies alone.'

"Your name is Josh Gas?" She looks at the distant sign with her eyebrows raised. 'Is this the part where he turns into a cannibal for rejecting him?' she fleetingly fears.

Josh perks up. "Yep, inherited it from my father, Tom, who inherited it from his father, Jim. We have worked here a long time". He grabs the windshield washer wand and washes her windshield. His muscles ripple under the jumpsuit. He soon finishes washing the windshield.

'What does he do bench pressing cars when it's slow?' She pictures him naked doing something mechanical to her engine. 'Car engine! Jeez, I'm a perv in my fantasies too'. Her longtime boyfriend and she have been fighting for weeks. Her sex drive has always been high, and it has been weeks since they have had sex. She looks him over again, and everything is starting to look like a good idea. She promises she will take care of her urge tonight before someone gets hurt. She jokingly hears her vibrator calling her name from the bottom of her bag.

The filler hose clicks and shuts off. He shakes the filler nozzle and puts it away before shutting her filler flap. 'He is so fluid,' she thinks. She can't tell if she should be concerned; she shrugs. "Anything else misses," he says.

She shakes her head and digs in her purse and hands him her card. He heads back into the store; she watches him go, disappointed that she can't see his butt in the jumpsuit. He returns with a receipt in hand.

"Thanks, come again," she thinks. Josh says, 'You need to get this under control,' she grumbles to herself.

"Uh, yeah, maybe," she says flustered and climbs into her car and drives away.

Inherited Zeal

Tegeli — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Romantic planetary romance novel, set on a windswept frontier, plagued by the schemes of gods and empires, where the ecosystem itself is the husk of a vast biotechnological engine.

A self-exiled remittance man is forced from his stupor, when his regular allowance is forwarded further into the interior of an untamed continent. To escape his debtholders, he dons the guise of a woman, only to find the role more permanent than only the duration of a voyage across the steppe. In the faded sunlight, the shades of the past remain ahead.

The novel takes place on the same world as 'Fervour of the Past'. However, the events and characters are wholly separate and reading the aforementioned tale isn't intended to be necessary save for spotting a few nuances about the background.

[Updates every other day until middle of January 2025.]

I Wanted a Second Chance, But Not Like This

valtarra — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Starting My Life Over As a Gyaru Chewtoy

Caught in a miserable cycle of endless work hours and abject social failure, thirty-seven-year-old Hoshino Yoru accidentally meets a tragic end. Fortunately for her, a surprise miracle allows her to start her life over from scratch ⸺ while also granting her heart's deepest wish!

However, her new life isn't exactly as expected: thirty percent of women are "alternate-pheromone positive," which means a whole host of social complications. Things take a strange turn as she finds herself caught in the amorous affections of an omega and an alpha, who will take on all challengers in the battle for Yoru's heart!

Fata Morgana: Reflections [A SCS Fanfiction]

Aliapanacea — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 21:14:38 +0000

The second child of the Montero Dynasty, a family with full control of the New Houston Flotilla, has finally returned home from a (utterly disastrous) business trip to New New York, returning to a life they hate and a family that despises them.

A newbie maid working for the Monteros is doing their best to live their life, one song, one step at a time. Trusted with a monumental task by their superior, they begin their descent into the deepest depths of New Houston.

For one fraction of a moment, one heading up, one heading down, their paths cross and are forevermore linked together. They’ll grow closer, one dead Antithesis at a time.

Things to expect:

A city beneath the waves

A mermaid with a lot of problems

A somewhat more 'normal' maid with a penchant for singing

Their romance, and the many aliens that die in the wake

This story is set within the Stray Cat Strut FF Verse, but you do not need to first read Stray Cat Strut in order to read this story. I do however, highly, highly recommend you do just that.

Cover art by the Wonderful Tachibana!
https://sendou.ink/u/dr_tachibana/art

Heartworm

eepygirl — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:14:39 +0000

Xavier Sylberith needed to be the best in his class at Varenthell Academy. He needed to be the perfect son for his royal parents. He needed to make them proud. Then he died.

Awakening as a being unable to die, Xavier’s needs have shuffled around juuuuust a little bit.

Now Xavier needs to contain his new urges to hunt for fresh meat. He needs to wrestle control from the demon that killed him that now shares his body. He needs to placate his new companions who have killed many creatures like him in their lives.

Most of all, he needs to confront his repressed feelings about his gender, and the woman who showed him that people can change.

********************
Heartworm is a trans lesbian fantasy adventure that blends visceral tragedy with heartfelt comedy. There are many dark moments, and many more moments of levity between a dysfunctional group of adventurers that must learn to cooperate to survive... and maybe find some love along the way. Most of all, this story is about discovering one's identity. As someone who had many struggles towards self-discovery, I want to tell the story of how discovering one's identity can be the single hardest and most rewarding journey that someone undertakes. I hope you enjoy this story and the piece of myself that beats inside of it <3

You Just Haven’t Found The Right One

GreenEyedGal — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

"You just haven't found the right one."

That's what Jamie tells all the lesbians he met. He always wondered why lesbians existed in the first place. Sure, he understood the appeal of women and all. But he couldn't understand why women would be with other women. He's always been told that its not right. That's why he always asked them on dates. Maybe he'd be the one to change their minds.
Most lesbians didn't give him the time of day though.
Until one day, one of them said yes.

Somewhere In The Stars

Adra_Collins — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Marc lives on a terraformed planetoid designated as Colony 7 where he's spent the past 19 years of his living an unsatisfying life in the galactic equivalent of a Mining Town. One day, things get weird, and when his best friend flakes on him for unknown reasons he acts on a curious impulse simply out of anger.

His actions trigger a chain of events that will effect the rest the rest of his life and everyone connected to it.

A Witchy Best Friend (2024)

coco33920 — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

What if you were trans,
Then your best friend turns out to be a witch,

And she can help you??

Lakeside Blossom: a novelette

alpineprincess — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

When Alister Hardy, a depressed high school graduate, travels to the idyllic Lake Leber to visit his friend Claire, he begins to undergo changes that he never could have imagined. A nostalgic, coming-of-age piece of transgender fiction.

Please note that while sexual activity is not the primary focus of this story, I do consider this story to be a piece of erotica and it does feature sexual activity in a prominent way, including some BDSM elements. Additional content warnings include transphobia (mentioned, not explicitly described), sexual harassment (doesn't actually happen but almost takes place), drug use, and forced feminization.

Ice Queen

nosticksheld7 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

College hockey defenseman Brett is expecting just another season, but when his best friend comes back to the rink...different, he starts to fall in love, and question much more about his life.

The Light in Front of Me

SnowyAria — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Princess Valerie, a strong-willed 19-year-old with curious magic powers, finally gets to see her best friend and fiancé Eliot again. However, a mystifying sorceress kidnaps Eliot and pleads her to forget about him for the good of everyone. As the only suspect in his disappearance, Valerie must abandon the safety of her royal life to rescue him herself. Her friend and bodyguard Luce joins her as the only person who believes her. These two women set out to uncover the dark secrets behind Eliot's disappearance and end up on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

"The Light in Front of Me" is an LGBT fantasy about being true to yourself and overcoming odds together. It's an adventure full of intense swordfights, heart-felt confessions, dragons, and an adorable fox who doesn't quite get humans.

Stellar Reach

StrwbryVixie — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Far into our future, humanity has spread out amongst the stars to every corner of the galaxy. Samuel had always dreamed of being amongst the stars but never had the opportunity to escape life on New Eden. When tragedy strikes, Samuel wakes up in a new body on the Stellar Reach starship. How will the newly named Cassie adjust to this new life?

This will most likely end up being a polyamorous MFF relationship, so if you don't like that and are looking for romance, I don't suggest reading it!

TW: Religious abuse, strict gender roles, death, trauma, abuse

(This is my first time writing a full book and this is very much a rough draft so constructive feedback would be helpful!)

SuperLuminal Resurgence

Rellawing — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

They say pain and loss make us better and stronger people. Starting from a broken home but finding something more, can that forge you into a better hero? When your powers come from a notorious supervillain, does that fact define your future? Does it decide who you are?

Notes:
I haven’t finished writing the most recent arc of the original draft due to a series of crippling mental blocks caused by various challenges, stress being one of them. While I imagine these challenges are unlikely to improve anytime soon, I want to try to stop being paralyzed by doubt and depression. This is the version I polished until it gleamed in the hopes of it getting picked up by publishers, with the help of AlliterativeArts. Sadly that didn't come to pass at the time and it’s been stored ever since.

SuperLuminal holds a special, irreplaceable place in my heart where Sureia lives on. This isn’t just any novel to me; it carries great personal and sentimental value. It's been your acceptance and love have been the keys to reviving my ambition as a writer—love and acceptance I hope to earn anew and so I've dusted off the files on my computer and am releasing what I have! We’ll forge onward despite all the barriers that both I and SuperLuminal continue to face. If things go well, I hope to have my memory refreshed by the time we reach the end of this material and to throw everything I have—all my passion—into the next big arc.

Thank you for your support!

Catching fever

FEViR — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

[System warning:

For lower neural latency, lower rejection rates and higher synchronicity in Full Immersion Virtual Reality™ environments it is recommended to create a character close in appearance to your real world self.

Enjoy the game responsibly.

All our love and care,
FEViR™ management team.]

14.15 Letters

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:48:23 +0000

14.15 Letters

_{T/N: I know not the best way to format this chapter….}

(Previous Chapter)

_{Dear Maomao-san,}

_{With regards to Zhizi-san, she can finally eat the normal amount of food. Now that she can eat properly, she has calmed down a lot and has evolved from a stray dog to a puppy-in-training.}

_{At first, I thought an impossible child has been sent in, but now that she is eating well, she seems obedient. Although, I believe that is a given since she’s eating what Yao-sama personally cooked herself.}

_{Lately, she does not just use the knife, but she can even cook now, but I personally would offer to do all the cooking for her.}

_{Also, Yao-sama is finally receptive to moving out, so we’re in the middle of looking for property. Since we still have Zhizi-san’s matter, I believe we won’t be leaving Rakan-sama’s residence considering public order until after the new year, but it is a big step.}

_{We’ll inform you once we’ve decided on a place.}

_{From En’en.}

En’en is still the same, Maomao thought.

Yao wants to be independent. Would she invite En’en to where she would be moving to?

_{To Maomao,}

_{Long time no seee. You were my reference for my job so I thought I should send you a letter, and so I did.}

_{Yup, it’s pretty terrible at the site. All the villagers are clamouring to leave as soon as possible. It’s quite heart-wrenching. You ask if Yo is alright? Yup, she’s pretty worn out so she’ll be coming back for now. She still wants to keep going, but it should be fine for her to spend the new year with her family at least, riiight?}

_{Court Physician Lao, was it? He’s a great person. He was receptive to the idea of having Yo return for now. What an understanding grandpa.}

_{When Yo gets back, I’ll leave her to you. Unless Maomao isn’t okay with it, then I won’t send her your way. I’ll be coming back with her, so an inn, please. The court physicians will prepare the necessary expenses for this at least.}

_{Also, I have a question. Would you happen to know a place near the capital that has a lot of cows and horses?}

^{From Kokuyou}

“So Yo-san and Kokuyou are coming back.”

Yo must be finding the work tough. She will have to stay in the capital until she recovers her spirit like Kokuyou said.

Even so, what was that about cows and horses? Red Plum Mansion fits the criteria, so it should be fine if I introduce that place to him, she thought as she set down the letter from Kokuyou.

_{Maomao-san, Maomao-san,}

_{Why, Chue-san shall showcase a special product to you.}

_{Now, come, come, please take a look. Chue-san will showcase each and every item that won over her husband. There are easy-to-understand illustrations included–}

Maomao ripped up the letter without reading the rest and dumped it into the brazier.

_{Dear Sis,}

_{Taking custody of Hao-sama’s daughter under the Moon Prince’s orders was fine, but to think that you were involved…}

_{She has such a beautiful face it’s a waste. Even though her looks won’t bring a nation to ruin, with her pedigree and the bare minimum of education, she could have gone on to become a middle-ranking consort at least.}

_{Zhizi-san’s height is eight}_sun_{shorter than girls her age, and while she is steadily putting on weight, it is not yet enough.}

_{Also regarding her speech, it doesn’t seem like she has had much contact with the outside world. No matter how tenderly the young lady was raised, if her mother and wet nurse spoke to her properly, her language faculties could have developed a little more.}

_{Hahaha, seems like the mother treated her daughter as a doll or a pet. It actually irks me. A child uneducated is no different from an animal.}

_{Regarding Hao-sama, I am aware of him. I heard a rumour that he roused the anger of the emperor the other day, but I wonder if that’s true. That person would be quite capable of it.}

_{The empress dowager’s relative he may be, but he’s hopeless. That beautiful and youthful face is wasted on him.}

_{Ah, his three sons got their good-looking faces from their father, but all of them are suited to be married into families as son-in-laws. Their personalities don’t resemble their father’s. They’re good at being aides, and are not the type to want to show off.}

_{That is what I’ve heard though…}

_{I’ve heard all of sorts of rumours, but I am keenly aware that I need to look into them properly.}

_{Hao-sama’s third son does come to visit quite often. He says he’s here to visit his younger sister and he delivers cow’s milk each time. Zhizi-san also appears happy for the third son’s visit. She looks like a dog wagging its tail.}

_{He seems to adore her, saying that his younger sister is smart, but no matter how I see it, it’s favouritism. His eyes are blurry.}

_{If that’s how he’s going to be, I wanted to tell him that he should have given her proper food and raised her, but it’s not beautiful to interfere in a family that has no relation to you. And not like our family is one to talk about others.}

_{When I tried to gently dissuade him from coming too often, Brother started to hand out vegetables he’d grown and got cow’s milk in exchange. Moreover, he started to make dairy products that he learnt from the western capital. It is handy in various way to have Brother here, but I want him to stop expanding his field.}

_{Also, Maomao, I have a request for you.}

_{I am working very hard because of this incident that’s related to you, so can you listen to a request of mine?}

_{You seem to have some connection to a wheat farmer and I heard that you can purchase wheat at low prices. Can you introduce them to me?}

_{Mm, if you asking why, a ship carrying wheat sank because of a variety of reasons.}

_{If you can write me one letter of introduction, that will settle the matter with Zhizi-san. There will be no debts between us with that.}

_{From Rahan}

_{To Rahan,}

_No.

_Maomao

Maomao immediately wrote him a reply.

_{Maomao dear,}

_{Are you eating well? I am eating well, so rest assured.}

_{On top of three meals a day, Gu’en-san gives me snacks every time. It’s a mystery, though. How does he prepare so many colourful snacks?}

_{I have heard from Liu-san. It seems like Maomao is thinking that because you have never caught smallpox, you won’t ever be sent to the site.}

_{Despite Lao-san’s appearance, his medical skill is on par with Liu-san. He makes good decisions too. You can leave it to him.}

_{If you were to ever catch smallpox, I will take the responsibility to nurse you back to health. Should that time come, I will probably catch smallpox too, won’t I?}

_{Also, it seems like Hao-sama’s daughter has come under the Moon Prince’s orders, but I will be visiting roughly every half a month.}

_{I was told that I could commute to the inner palace from the residence every day, but now is not the time. I cannot leave Gu’en-san alone. Sorry for that.}

_{From Luomen}

The quack doctor’s snack procurement channel was certainly a mystery. It may be the inner palace, but you can consider it an enigma how he keeps a steady supply of this many snacks while rarely leaving the inner palace.

However, this wasn’t a puzzle for her to solve, so she set it aside.

With regards to the reason why Luomen couldn’t easily return, Maomao wondered if it was to keep the consorts in check rather than for their pregnancies.

The consorts could poison one another.

Should anything happen, the quack doctor probably wouldn’t be able to deal with it alone.

_{To Maomao,}

_{Hey, is Kokuyou coming back any time soon?}

_{Is he? Is he?}

_{He’ll be back by the new year, right?}

_{When he’s not here, I’m beside myself with worry. To tell you how depressed I am, it’s to the point where the courtesans of Verdigris Mansion are coming to console me.}

_{You got that? Let me know as soon as you get news of Kokuyou’s return.}

_{Also, you have another letter. I’ve enclosed it.}

_{From Sazen}

There was another letter inside. The slightly poor quality paper wasn’t scented. The characters were clumsy yet written with care.

_{To Maomao,}

_{It’s gotten cold, hasn’t it?}

_{I am doing my best. Somehow, a lot of people want to marry even someone like me.}

_{Everyone reacted when I told them I come from the inner palace. It really is an amazing place.}

_{I also want to visit Verdigris Mansion once, but it’s impossible since I will need to save up years of my wages.}

_{See you. Once I get nice paper, I’ll write you again.}

_{From Xiaolan}

“…Like I said, write down your address. I can’t send you a reply otherwise.”

Maomao placed the letter into her box of letters.

_{T/N: Someone needs to connect Xiaolan to the quack’s family for unlimited supply of nice paper.}

(Next Chapter)

Shikkarito

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:00:37 +0000

Arc 10 password locked

October 15th, 2024

LN12 is out in English, so I did my thing.

What’s the password? Find it in the discord server.

As is tradition when I take down chapters, the locked chapters have undergone a minor edit, polish, or rewrite depending on how much the original version bothered me. Chapters with major changes have an edited date on the top of the page. (I haven’t gone through all the chapters yet.)
Caught up once again

May 18th, 2024

Hey, lookie, the menu has finally been edited. Took me only 5 month since the previous post to do so… I also took the opportunity to change the site theme, since the previous one was starting to bother me for some reason. The new theme’s limited colour options (black, black, or black!!!) is a little unfortunate, but still, it’s pretty.

New header image is Maomao, since she’s Best Girl xD

Now for updates since the previous post:

The web novel translation is now up to date. You can read arc 10 chapter 28 all the way to arc 13 chapter 16 here. Earlier chapters of arc 10 can be found at Duchess’ site.

Arcs 1 to 9, which was on Creative Novels, have been taken down since the light novel equivalents are officially released in English. ~~(I’ll delete arc 9 in two-ish days, so people catching up better read fast haha)~~ Arc 9 is gone too.

Also, I am aware that the font colour for the KnH character page is whacked. I haven’t figured how to change it with the new WordPress editor, so bear with the random black text for now.

Now I’m going to hibernate until the next arc begins. Let me know when the next chapter drops, thanks!
It’s not dropped!

December 5th, 2023

I figured I should clarify this. The menu needs updating. The Kusuriya webnovel translation has not been dropped. Well, I did drop it three years ago (hence the dropped tag), and have only just resumed mid-September this year, so it hasn’t been long. I’ll get around to editing that drop down menu one of these days.

Anyway, arc 11 is finished, ~~and I’m nearly done with arc 12. Arc 13 does not exist yet.~~ Done with arc 12 as well, working on arc 13 now.

If you want notifications for whenever I upload a new chapter, come join us on the discord server. The link can be found a few posts below this one–to clarify, it’s not the Reddit one. Just note that there will be open spoilers for the latest chapter of the BG manga at least for the entire server (and for their respective channels, open spoilers for the latest LN volume/WN chapter, etc), so anime-only people, beware. Although, I doubt it’d be much of an issue if you guys are here for the webnovel anyway.

Why are the new chapters not posted on Novelupdates? Arc 10 isn’t finished yet, and I’d rather not deal with scrapers and stuff like I did in the past.

Also, arcs 1 to 8 have been taken down from creative novels since the LN equivalents have been published. Arc 9 is the last one left on that site, and will be nuked the moment LN11 is released.

For people wondering about arc 10, you can find it here. Duchess is translating that one. It’s not finished yet. She’s up to chapter 27 out of 35, but will be resuming soon enough. (I’m not counting the MTL’d chapters that had somehow found its way onto Novelupdates.)

People who are directly jumping in from the latest published LN translation (LN9), you can continue from arc 9, which is equivalent to LN10 and LN11. Arc 10 is LN12, Arc 11 is LN13, and Arc 12 is LN14. There will be some differences, of course–not as drastic as the earlier arcs, but there is notably less romance in the WN. LN scenes tend to be more fleshed out as well. (Also, I don’t have anyone editing my translations, so I apologise if it’s not as polished as the officials are.)

Hopefully, this clears up most of the questions people have been asking.

Edit: Wow, it’s been a while since I last made a post on this site.

Edit 2: I eat my words. Arc 13 begins.
Official English Release of LN2 is today!

June 3rd, 2021

Go and get it!

(also, a little notice that arc 2 has been nuked from creative novels, in case people are wondering why it’s gone :’D)
LN11 releases on April 30!

April 14th, 2021

Way sooner than expected! And this should be roughly equivalent to the latter half of arc 9 of the webnovel version 🙂

There’s also a limited edition that comes bundled with another drama CD.
It comes with three tracks:

1) Jade Palace Girls Talk

Maomao is having afternoon tea with Jade Palace attendants Infa, Gui’en and Airan. Gui’en sparks a girls talk session by asking, “Was there anyone good at the garden party?”

2/3) The Mystery of the Sake Bottle

Maomao had been dismissed from being a palace lady at the inner palace and is now employed as Jinshi’s personal attendant. She heads to the pleasure district with Jinshi and Gaoshun in tow, going after the mystery of the broken sake bottle that had been left behind by an enigmatic person at the side of a well at dawn. And there, she comes across…?!

Cast:

Maomao: Yuuki Aoi
Jinshi: Takahiro Sakurai
Gaoshun: Tsuda Kenjirou
Rihaku: Takumi Yasuaki
Rahan: Kobayashi Chiaki
Quack Doctor: Ogata Mitsuru
Infa: Kamiyou Saeko
Gui’en: Moriya Kyouka
Airan: Kawano Mari
Suiren/Honnyan: Nitta Kyousuke
Owner of Kujaku Brothel: Nakano Taisuke
A kamuro: Tadano Akari

On a side note, yes, the webnovel has resumed. There are currently four chapters out as of today. It looks like we’ll be looking into who will be succeeding as the next leader of the western capital. Will it be Gyoku’ou’s second son or his third son? Shall we cast lots? What is the prodigal first son up to, anyways?

The continuation of the translation has been picked up by Duchess. You can find it here: https://knhtranslations.wordpress.com/ or on the kusuriya discord server.

…There’s actually a lot of things happening on discord, so do come visit when you can!

Also, if you’re wondering what I’m up to, I’m part of the scanlation team that working on the GX version of the manga. I’m still around, for better or worse hahahahaha
Volume 1 of the LN releases today!

February 14th, 2021

You can find it in pretty much at any place that sells ebooks of English translated light novels 😀

Technically it’s another eight hours or so from now due to timezone differences, but I’ve no time to do all this when it is actually released in the US, so now’s the time, I guess.

Well, this is it, guys.

The light novel version of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (Apothecary diaries) has been licensed by J-novel Club, and so, with the release of the first volume today (February 14th 2021), the first volume/arc of this translation will be taken down today per J-novel club’s request.

It feels a bit bittersweet having worked on this project for so long, but it is what it is. The next volume will be taken down when the next official LN is published.

Thanks for reading!
Discord Server

November 25th, 2020

Someone was kind enough to make a discord server for Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, so if you can’t get enough of Maomao (and Jinshi), you can find us here:

https://discord.gg/xqDqAEAjxH

Please join us!

See you guys there 😀

Edit: we have a subreddit too!

https://old.reddit.com/r/KusuriyaNoHitorigoto/
LN volume 10

November 24th, 2020

So, the author just revealed on twitter. Released end of January next year.

Such a beautiful cover. Maomao looks so cool (｡◕ˇдˇ◕｡)/

I can’t wait.
Licensed!

November 14th, 2020

I’m sure most of you would have already heard the news by now, but the Kusuriya LN has been licensed!

You can find it here: https://j-novel.club/s/the-apothecary-diaries

So what does that mean for the fanTL? Nothing much. We’ve essentially caught up with the raws (after I release the last chapter on Monday) so we’re at a nice stopping point with no danger of cliff hangers and sudden drop offs. It just means I won’t be picking up the next arc once it resumes some time next year. Thank you for reading my translation of the web novel; it was nice sharing it with you all 🙂

Will I be taking down the translations? Not sure yet, but I’ll definitely be taking down the LN snippets later today.
It’s been a while

April 3rd, 2020

How is everyone? I was planning to get the LN9 stuff over and done with before I start on the next WN arc, especially since arc 9 is essentially LN10 territory. So it took a while, but here we are.

Same as before, you can find the prologue under the relevant illustration. And yes, the illustrations are up too!

As for Koukyuu no Karasu, I uploaded part 1 and 2 of the first story. Part 2 is only about 50% done. I’ll get back to translating this, eventually. ~~There was this one paragraph that people might find a bit gory (describing a ghost).~~ Also, do note that it hasn’t been edited. Let me know what you guys think about it 🙂

Now that my backlog has been decreased somewhat…

I’ll resume the WN next week. There’s currently 13 chapters to catch up on. I think I’ll drop a chapter every Friday or something. You guys fine with that?

14.14 Starvation

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 03:12:59 +0000

14.14 Starvation

(Previous Chapter)

Maomao was at the weirdo tactician’s residence.

She honestly didn’t want to come, but she had to.

“You’re a part of this, I see.”

“Rather than a part of this, I was forced to take part.”

“Isn’t it always like that?” Yao who came to greet Maomao made a look of surprise.

Today, both Yao and En’en were on break, and Maomao specially took leave as well. People might raise an eyebrow at having three court physician assistants take a day off together, but it can’t be helped. What’s more, when Court Physician Liu was told that it was the imperial brother’s orders, he agreed to her leave with a look of disgust. Since the old court physician, that is Court Physician Lao, has headed for the smallpox front-lines, she had to get all sorts of permissions from Court Physician Liu.

Maomao wanted the old court physician to return soon.

“Anyway, come this way. Essentially, En’en and I will be looking after her. Luomen-sama would be coming shortly, it seems,” Yao said.

“Do you know when?”

Maomao also rarely saw Luomen. He pretty much resided in the inner palace. Although eunuchs didn’t face as many restrictions as palace ladies did when it came to entering and exiting the inner palace, he must be holding back from leaving as there were new high-ranking consorts and the quack doctor wasn’t dependable.

“I wonder. I heard it would be in a few days’ time.”

Maomao made a sullen face. She wanted to see Luomen, but not the weirdo tactician. She wondered what she should do. “Well, for the time being, where is the patient?”

“She is near our outbuilding. En’en is currently preparing meals, but…”

“But?”

“Is that child, really a young lady from a good family?” A look of disbelief faced Maomao.

“Umm, I believe the patient is a fourteen year old malnourished girl.”

“That is certainly the case.” Yao eyed the outbuilding.

“You cannot!”

That shriek belonged to En’en. Maomao blinked in surprise. That woman never raised her voice.

Maomao and Yao rushed over to the outbuilding where the patient was.

And there was a panicked En’en raising a large pot high over her head. Zhizi was clinging onto the woman, trying to snatch away that pot. There were traces of congee around the girl’s mouth.

“She is more of a starved feral child than a young lady raised in tender care,” Yao said.

“So I see,” Maomao said.

Come to think of it,

She did hear that Zhizi had been so starved she once tried to eat a frog in the garden.

“She looked a little more prudent to me, though.”

“Where?”

She had been quite weakened from malnutrition and poison when Maomao met her the other day. Looks like she just hadn’t been resisting due to her declined health.

“Don’t just watch. Do something!” En’en said.

Maomao and Yao hurried to pull Zhizi off En’en. That once-quiet girl let out an incredible beast-like groan.

“Food. Food. Please!”

Zhizi’s voice was child-like but pressing. The moment Maomao saw the girl’s ribs from her opened nightgown and her stick-thin arms and legs, she no longer wanted to let the girl eat her fill.

Maomao, Yao, and En’en wanted to do what they could. And an expert who was related to supplying food to one more person was also watching stealthily.

“Will you not feed her?” Rahan’s older brother said with a look of anxiousness. The basket carried over his back contained root vegetables.

“As much as we would love to feed her, we can’t,” Maomao said.

“Why not?”

“She could die if you suddenly give her sustenance while she’s in a state of starvation.”

“Die?!” Rahan’s older brother surreptitiously put away the turnip he was about to take out.

“Yes. A long time ago, a castle had its supply of food cut off by the enemy…”

Hit by starvation tactics, the people were forced into famine. When the starved were finally released, they devoured congee with wild abandon. Then they dropped like flies.

It was a story she heard from Dad. She also instructed Yao and En’en through the letter. En’en was faithfully playing her part.

“Couldn’t it be because the congee was poisoned?”

“Not at all. Those who ate the congee slowly survived. While I do not know the cause, could it be that their stomachs had gone into the highest state of shock?”

“I won’t be able to get over dying from shocking your stomach.” Rahan’s older brother set the basket of turnips in a place out of sight. Zhizi’s blazing eyes were looking around for food.

“And so, with her current condition, she could die if she eats as much as she wants. We will be increasing her portion little by little, so please endure.”

However, Maomao and Yao were holding Zhizi back as the girl reached for the pot of congee. “I have to eat now. I don’t know when it’s the next time I get to eat!”

“You will get to eat! I’ll give it to you for lunch in two dual-hour’s time!”

The girl didn’t believe En’en. Zhizi was like a stray dog who wasn’t done being fed. That alone was enough to tell all the long years she had suffered.

I can’t abandon her.

Maomao thought she had gone soft. There were so many starving children in the world. If Maomao saved them all, she herself would die a dog’s death. Thus, she had decided to abandon them and turn a blind eye.

And now, the reason she couldn’t abandon Zhizi was because if it was just the girl alone, she could save her at least.

Maomao took out a dried cuttlefish from her bosom pocket. “Please chew on this and endure for the time being.”

“AH!” Zhizi took the dried cuttlefish from Maomao and started to chew on it like a dog with a bone.

“Whew.” En’en took away the remainder of the congee.

Rahan’s older brother left in a hurry as if he thought he said too much. He mostly likely came over with vegetables as support because En’en was there, but it wasn’t the time for it.

“Then, get a good sleep. I’ll wake you up when it’s time for food.”

Zhizi showed no indications of having heard or not. She was intently licking the dried cuttlefish. Maomao wanted interview the child, but it would be better if she was little more calm.

There was a table and chairs in front of the patient’s room. Maomao and Yao automatically went to sit on the chairs.

“Are you monitoring her?” Maomao asked.

“Yes, you’d have to with how she is. We caught her heading over to the kitchen last night,” Yao said.

A hopeless problem child.

Maomao felt apologetic, but Yao didn’t look annoyed.

“Yao-san.” Maomao made sure that En’en wasn’t around. With how meticulous that woman was, she was probably scrubbing the pot clean. “I think you have been at this residence for long enough. Do you have any thoughts about it?”

“That’s quite a roundabout way of putting it.” Yao stretched widely. “I don’t know myself either. I don’t know, but I’m stuck. Then I think about how I can make myself leave at this stage… but I somehow get so frustrated I can’t do it.”

Maomao also stretched widely. Normally she would be in the opposite position. Chue would be the one asking Maomao.

It would be nice if Chue-san could do this for me.

Maomao thought, but Chue probably wouldn’t do it. While Chue talked because it was Maomao, she probably won’t talk to Yao. The woman got carried away and was agreeable to anyone, but beyond Maomao, she dealt with human relationships logically.

And Yao didn’t know Chue either. She wouldn’t necessarily lend an ear to Chue’s words.

Maomao was also worried over whether her own words reached Yao. But Yao, in her own way, was more mature than she was in the past.

“Maomao would have probably already realised, but I’ll be honest. I’m happy that Zhizi-san came here. It’s a lot of work, but I end up thinking that it’s fine for me to be here because of her. I am a hopeless, immature person with bad thoughts. While I complain that it’s a lot of work, I think if Zhizi-san is hopeless, it’ll be even better for me.” Yao spoke softly. It was at a volume that Zhizi who was at the back of the room couldn’t hear.

Yao may seem dignified, but apparently she had no self-confidence. Hence she sought to be depended upon to gain self-confidence. It’s fine if she’s self-aware, Maomao thought.

Maomao had an idea where Yao’s lack of self-confidence stemmed from.

The incident with the Sha’ou priestess, huh.

Yao had previously been the food taster for the Sha’ou priestess. Consequently, her organs were damaged as a result of the priestess’s scheme and even now she could no longer eat foods with strong flavours.

Yao had been used. She wasn’t at fault. But due to political decisions, she was forced to take on a bad reputation.

The Sha’ou priestess who survived was officially treated as deceased. She stayed behind in Li, and will not appear on the centre stage from now on.

Consequently, Yao became someone who failed at food tasting and had an important person from a foreign country die. Since Yao’s life was also in danger at one point, no one would openly criticise her. But the one who felt the most responsibility was Yao.

I can’t say anything either.

Maomao couldn’t speak the truth. It would be good if she could, but she mustn’t.

“I understand what Maomao is trying to say. I, too, will be leaving this estate once Zhizi-san gets better,” Yao said.

“Is that so?”

“But don’t tell En’en yet, please. She may rush Zhizi-san who needs the time to recover slowly.” Yao viewed En’en with composure. Yao wasn’t going to stay the same forever too.

“I think Yao-san is doing well.” Maomao could only tell her like this.

The girl was only seventeen years old. She had a variety of paths open to her, and yet she became a court physician assistant in defiance of her uncle.

Honestly, the path was filthy, stinky and tough. She was walking the exact opposite path of other court ladies who were working in the imperial court for bridal training. She didn’t admit defeat immediately and still continued with it, even now practicing so that she would be taught surgery.

“Yao-san is better off going to more places. Meet all sorts of people, get all sorts of experience. But being a court physician assistant, I think you have a lot more experience than normal women, though.”

At her current location, Yao didn’t realise that she was capable herself. Honestly, if she went to other departments, she would probably be regarded highly in no time.

“I can’t fly about like Maomao does.”

Is that how you take me as?

It seems Yao had no intention of leaving the doctor’s path.

“Well, there is an aspect of me that is somewhat like a jack of all trades.” Maomao would have preferred to be a little more grounded, but she was just flying about. She didn’t get called up this time since it was related to smallpox, but she had no idea what could come up next.

She couldn’t make up her mind about whether she should talk to Yao about things that were more sensitive, but she decided to stop here. If she spoke too much, it would be a mistake. This was something Maomao messed up often. “I wonder if Yo-san who disappeared off somewhere is doing okay right now.”

“She went to the smallpox site, didn’t she? I heard Yo won’t contract it, though.”

“…Yes. She has contracted it before.”

“So she always wears long sleeves because she contracted smallpox before.” Yao gave a huge sigh. “Would they let me join them if I contract it once?”

“It’s better you stop here. There’s no safe way to contract smallpox.”

So far.

Maomao recalled the man who covered half of his grinning face. Kokuyou would have gone to the same location as Yo and the others.

It would be groundbreaking if they could catch smallpox via Kokuyou’s master’s method.

If that were possible, they wouldn’t have as much hardship as now.

Let’s try sending a letter to Kokuyou.

She didn’t know if she would get a reply, but Maomao wanted a different perspective than the regular correspondence from the court physicians.

_{T/N: Random thought, but can you catch smallpox from a letter? I’ve heard about blankets and whatnot, but a letter?}

(Next Chapter)

KUSURIYA NO HITORIGOTO

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:25:43 +0000

KUSURIYA NO HITORIGOTO

By Hyuuga Natsu

LICENCED BY J-NOVEL CLUB

She was captured by hunters for palace ladies for the inner palace when she went out to gather medicinal herbs.

As a result, Maomao, a pharmacist from the pleasure district, is now working in a refined place. While displeased with the current situation, she thought she could work quietly until the end of her service, but her curiosity and knowledge wouldn’t allow that.

With her solving of an unexpected incident, she caught the eyes of the emperor’s favoured consort and a eunuch.

Even today, Maomao, who wants to quickly return to town, sighs with a laundry basket in hand.

Table of Contents

Inner Palace (*)

Character introduction

Imperial Court 1 (*)

Character Introduction 2

Imperial Court 2 (|)

Town 1 (*)

Town 2 (*)

Sha’ou (*)

Jinshi (*)

**Jinshi 2 (*)**

**The Western Capital (|)**

The Western Capital 2

[1- 27] here

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Smallpox

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15

Side Stories

Before ARCs 2 and 3 (i.e. Imperial Court 1 + 2) got rewritten to become what it is now, the story ended differently. This is the old version of ARC 2/3, moved to another link for archiving purposes. The side stories here are the sequel to that arc. Here.

And then we have a writing exercise that’s probably not canon.

Untitled

14.13 Tomato

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 08:21:38 +0000

14.13 Tomato

(Previous Chapter)

At Rakan’s residence, the sounds of soil being tilled filled the air.

The sight caught me by surprise in the beginning, but I’m used to it now, Junjie thought.

Rahan’s older brother was ploughing the fields. He ploughed the fields all throughout his time at the western capital, and he was doing so even at the imperial capital. Moreover, it was in a garden within an estate in a prime location, right in the heart of the imperial capital.

Junjie had his reservations about ploughing at Gyoku’en’s residence in the western capital. However, the landscaping of the garden was irrelevant during times of emergency food shortage due to the locust plague. The figure of the man single-mindedly producing crops for the people had been magnificent, he thought, but…

Isn’t he overdoing it? he started to think.

Junjie was told that Rahan’s older brother’s name wasn’t Rahan. The man was the older brother of Rahan, whom was apparently the son of the master of this estate. Then would that make Rahan’s older brother be his son too? he had asked, but when told that he was wrong, Junjie, a commoner, could only tilt his head in confusion at the complicated familial relation.

Speaking of complicated, the relation of the people in this residence was also complicated.

“Heeey, Junjie.”

Sifan called out to him in a friendly tone. The child was an orphan picked up by the master of the estate, relatively close in age to Junjie. She was actually a few years younger, but he didn’t feel much of an age gap since she was clever. Wufan and Liufan were by her side as always. Their strange names were to make it easier for the master who picked them up, but Junjie thought it made them sound like criminals.

But surprisingly, the people in question seem to like it.

The three of them were carrying cleaning equipment like brooms and buckets.

“What is it?” Junjie asked.

“Looks like we’ll be getting another freeloader. We’ve been told to prepare the room for them to stay at. Give us a hand,” Sifan said.

Junjie didn’t get idle since Sifan always gave him work to do.

“Got it. Did Rakan-sama bring someone in?” he asked.

“Nah, it’s Rahan-sama this time. The Moon Prince requested him to look after a sick person,” she said.

“Oh?”

Junjie followed after Sifan and the others. Rakan’s residence had a lot of unused rooms for its size. The estate was built to be large because it had been around since the relocation of the capital, but there were too many empty rooms since there were few Ra blood relatives and barely any servants too.

Sifan headed for one of the outbuildings. “This’ the place.”

There was another outbuilding nearby.

“Isn’t it close to Yao-sama and En’en-sama’s room?” Junjie asked.

“That’s right.”

“It’s a sick person, but would it be okay to have them so close to a guest’s room?”

“Yao-sama and En’en-sama are court physician assistants, right? In times like this we’ll have them work for us. I mean, they are paying us, but I kinda don’t understand why they’re here.”

“I think so too.”

“Anyway, an underling has one thing to do. And that is to complete what we are told to do in no time.”

Under Sifan’s guidance, they started to clean the outbuilding. The building may be small, but it had a toilet at close proximity and had good sunlight too.

“Sifan, the wall has a hole.” Wufan pointed at the hole.

“Then we’ll check for all the spots that need repairs. We’ll report to Sanfan-neesan later and get them fixed,” Sifan said.

“Got it.”

“–It,” Liufan echoed Wufan.

“Would it get cold if we plug up the hole as well?”

“If they’re a sick person, it might be better if we prepare them something like a brazier instead,” Junjie said as he swept the floor. There were spots here and there that bothered him, but the interior was surprisingly clean.

“Yeah, floor heating would have been nice, but they don’t have it here in the imperial capital.” Sifan said.

“Floor heating?”

“Rich families in the north have it.”

“The floor gets really warm,” Wufan said.

“–Warm,” Liufan echoed again.

Liufan’s language skills were poor for his age. According to what Junjie heard, Wufan and Liufan were picked up by Rakan after Sifan was, so if Sifan hadn’t been around, these two might have already died by the roadside, Junjie thought.

Junjie opened the window. When he did so, he saw bright red things fill his vision.

“Woah!” Junjie yelled out in shock. For a moment he thought the garish red colours were lumps of meat or blood, but upon closer look they were fruits.

“Ahh, those,” Sifan said.

“What Rahan’s older brother dried.” Wufan said.

“–Dried.” said Liufan.

Junjie knew them too. There had been strange red fruit seedlings being planted and grown during summer. Although Rahan’s older brother had called them a vegetable, they remind me of jujubes, Junjie thought.

Rahan’s older brother’s father had apparently ordered them for ornamental purposes, but since they were edible, they were cultivating them as food. It had a high water content, was sour and could be eaten raw, boiled or grilled. Rahan’s older brother later continued the research, and it seems he was now testing to see if it could be processed into a dried food.

Junjie thought that a farmer acknowledged by even the Moon Prince does things differently indeed.

“Heeey.” Right on cue, Rahan’s older bother came up with a hoe in hand. “Sorry, it’s still in the process of drying. Will you be using this outbuilding?”

Rahan’s older brother was dripping with sweat. He had just finished with his work. It was already the season for frost, and yet he was lightly dressed, his skin flushed.

When they were at the western capital, he clearly worked in only his underwear, but he hadn’t sported that look since coming to the imperial capital. His reasoning was that he couldn’t dress like that before young ladies.

Are Maomao and Chue not considered young ladies? Junjie thought.

“Are they drying well? Not much longer perhaps. I’ll pack it away for now.” Rahan’s older brother picked up the red fruits one by one to check if they had dried.

“I’ll help you,” Junjie said.

“Okay. If I can’t use this building, then we’ll carry it to the storehouse over there.”

It looks like they were cleaning the outbuilding because Rahan’s older brother had been using it as a storehouse. He had also used it to store farming tools, so they will need to make a few round trips.

“Is there yet another guest coming?” Rahan’s older brother asked.

“Yes. A sick person will be joining us. The Moon Prince’s orders,” Junjie said.

“A sick person, huh? Then, I’ll have to feed them a lot of vegetables. Do you know what kind of illness they have?”

“I didn’t hear that far.”

When they came back after carrying all the red fruits to the storehouse, Yao and En’en have returned.

Rahan’s older brother immediately tidied up his appearance and smoothed over his expression. He was good looking, but his actions looked vaguely ridiculous. “En’en-saaan!”

The two of them have returned to the outbuilding. Yao and En’en’s working hours didn’t coincide often, so En’en generally waited for Yao.

“Ju– Rahan’s older brother.” En’en looked at Junjie, then corrected herself.

“Are you done with work? If you are tired, how about I prepare you vegetables that would help you recover from exhaustion and make your skin beautiful?” Rahan’s older brother leaned against the detached building’s pillar with a smile.

“Thank you very much. It would be great if you could leave it by the kitchen like always.”

“Understood!”

Junjie has witnessed this exchange many times. And he decided against mentioning that it was more a conversation between a cook and a supplier. Everyone wanted to say it. Even Sifan, Wufan, and Liufan were on the verge of making quips–it wasn’t what Junjie as the newcomer could bring up.

“Is there anything bothering you?” Rahan’s older brother then asked.

“Let’s see. It’s gotten cold, so I would love to have spices that could warm the body, if you have any of the sort,” En’en said.

“Understood. Maomao had requested me for ginger so I’ll bring that over too. Also, there is an interesting ingredient that I’ve grown–I’ll bring that too.”

He was taking orders, full stop. We have to switch to daily conversations now, Junjie thought, but Rahan’s older brother was only recommending vegetables.

“Hello, Rahan’s older brother. Thank you for your vegetables as always,” Yao said.

“No worries. I’m just doing what I enjoy.” Rahan’s older brother responded naturally to Yao’s thanks.

En’en was staring at Rahan’s older brother intently, looking like she was making sure of something.

“By the way, have you heard that a sick person will be coming to this outbuilding?”

“Yes, we have a letter from Maomao with various instructions. Most importantly, it seems she is malnourished, so we’ll be having her eat a lot of Rahan’s older brother’s produce,” Yao said.

Was it his imagination that the way Yao spoke to Rahan’s older brother was more proper than En’en?

At least, she was speaking to him as a neighbour, not a supplier.

“The letter says the patient is still a fourteen year old girl, so we’ll have to look after her properly,” En’en said.

“A fourteen year old girl… We must keep her far away from that Rahan rascal at all costs!” Rahan’s older brother’s gaze grew sharp.

“That’s right. We must keep Rahan-sama far away from here at all costs.”

It looked like En’en had made a different resolution.

“En’en, I don’t think we can say anything since we’re freeloaders. But if we have a sick person coming, he’d rely on us, wouldn’t he?” Yao said bashfully.

Junjie, having stayed at Rakan’s residence for half a year, had his thoughts.

The woman called Yao may look mature, but she was mentally immature. This could be attributed to her good upbringing, but En’en, her follower, was to blame in further restricting her knowledge of the outside world.

This was why she worries over her own actions while acting recklessly. Speaking of how Junjie could assess Yao with this much detail, it was Sifan. Sifan was more mature than her actual age, so she was good at reading the subtleties of other people’s hearts. She’s quite capable as a servant, he thought.

The conversations related to Yao couldn’t be said in the presence of the other adults, Sanfan especially, and Wufan and Liufan were much too young. As a result, she would talk to Junjie often. As a result, he became knowledgeable of the personal relationships within the estate.

“Yao-san. It’s a great help that you are thinking of how you can be useful to others, but if Rahan is forcing you to do so, let me know. That curly-haired cold-blooded glasses is my younger brother after all. I’ll tell him off for you.”

“No, he’s not forcing me.”　

“Then you can be more at ease. Otherwise, you’ll end up tiring yourself out because of the patient that will be coming now. If it’s out of a sense of obligation, we can arrange for other doctors, can’t we? Since it’s the Moon Prince’s request, they’ll be paying us as much as we want. What’s more, we can call for Maomao. Granduncle Luomen comes back every so often too. You can relax,” Rahan’s older brother said and slapped Yao’s shoulder.

Yao, although surprised, didn’t seem discomforted by Rahan’s older brother and smiled lightly.

En’en watched them with a sullen look. Apparently it was within permissible range.

Sifan came up beside Junjie. “Not going as planned, is it?” she muttered.

“What is not going as planned?” Junjie asked.

“Nah, the direction of the arrow has only shifted a little. It seems to be progressing really smoothly. It would be easier to have Sanfan-neesan dealt with too, however.”

“Is that so?”

As Sifan shook her head as if to say, “Not going as planned,” she dumped out the filthy washing water from the bucket.

(Next Chapter)

14.12 Spell

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:58:35 +0000

14.12 Spell

(Previous Chapter)

“My goodness, it’s turned into such a troublesome matter, hasn’t iiit?” Chue, her younger sister-in-law, said in a carefree manner.

This was after they sent Maomao back to the dorms following their departure from Hao’s residence.

They alighted from the carriage and headed for the Moon Prince’s palace.

“What are we to do with the report to the Moon Prince?” Chue asked.

“Since we told them that we’d bring it back, we must report it.” Mamei sighed heavily. If only Maomao made some response then, but it wasn’t like Mamei could go as far as to force the other woman to do so. Chue was better suited at inciting this sort of thing, but she had sent Maomao back immediately after. “And here I thought you would bring Maomao-san all the way to the Moon Prince, Chue-san.”

“Maomao-san has work tomorrow. Even Chue-san has her reservations on this, you knooow.”

“Reservations?”

Mamei and Chue had known each other before the latter’s marriage, so they would end up speaking like friends once they were alone together.

“What do you think will happen if the Moon Prince asks Maomao for her opinion? How would you take it, Mamei-san, if Bakin-san is told to treat a woman as a concubine, even if it’s just for form’s sake?”

“Ahhh…” Mamei understood. “I would really hate it.”

“Riiight? Saying that you respect your partner’s opinions and asking them is ultimately an excuse. Chue-san can only see that as shifting responsibility.”

“Yup, exactly.”

Men would see it as respecting their partner. Women would see it as shifting responsibility. A difference in views would result in a disagreement. And reconciliation was not necessarily accepting it, even if you did understand the other party’s position.

“Maomao-san wouldn’t particularly care either way. Honestly, I think she also understands the advantages very well. When you consider whatever Lady Safflower was thinking, it doesn’t seem like a bad move,” Chue said.

“You think so? I found that there were more issues with it, though,” Mamei said.

Chue squinted her small eyes into a smile. “Lady Safflower said she didn’t know if her husband would be alive in a decade’s time.”

“Yes. Could she possibly mean that she would poison to her husband?”

The two of them spoke in hushed tones, but didn’t give out definite names. It was a conversation over-hearers wouldn’t understand.

“Even if it wasn’t the lady, don’t you think someone else would do it?” Chue said.

“By someone else… next would be her son, or could it be—” Mamei asked.

“What would the concubine do, now that she has lost the tool that’s her daughter that she had used to improve her standing? She would start raising another small animal, riiight?” Chue was familiar with the darkness of the human mind, more so than Mamei.

“So you mean the concubine would poison her husband next?”

“Yes. In fact, Chue-san has looked into where that concubine came from prior to joining this household.” Chue’s intelligence capability was much greater than Mamei.

Mamei was slightly jealous of her eccentric yet capable sister-in-law. At the same time, she thought that her being able to raise children properly, unlike Chue who didn’t even try to hug her own child, was a proof of her blessings.

“Maomao-san’s nose is amaaazing. The concubine was actually a courtesan. And not only that, she had been knowledgeable in medicine since back then,” Chue said, while making the characteristic sound of her footfalls. “She was popular, being a courtesan who was both beautiful and well-versed in herbal medicines. In particular, there were stories of regulars coming for her in less than three daays.”

Chue placed her index finger over her lips. “Could she have cast some sort of spell?”

“Spell?”

“It is a western spell to prevent unfaithful husbands. Every morning, you would add a tiny amount of a delayed-onset poison into your husband’s meal, and then give him the antidote when he returns at night. If he were to ever have an affair and stay out for the night, he would remain unweeell.” Chue was knowledgeable of the West. “There is also method where you don’t use poison but a drug. If so, they would return without waiting for three days.”

Mamei broke out in cold sweat over Chue’s speculation.

“After a brilliant herbalist came to the pleasure district at some point in time, her customers traffic dropped and she later got redeemed, you seee.”

“Could that be…”

“Yes. It was the time when Maomao-san’s dad, Luomen, arrived at the pleasure district. The woman must have done all sorts of things, but when a decent herbalist came, she must have thought that she couldn’t conduct shady business practices anymore while she was at the large store known as Verdigris Mansion, even though it had fallen into hard times back theeen.” Chue crossed her arms and nodded sagely.

Mamei was also aware of Maomao-san’s personal history. Considering how Maomao didn’t know the concubine, she must not have been old enough to remember. “Why didn’t you talk about this before Maomao-san?”

“Would talking about it have helped?”

Mamei was at a loss at Chue’s excuse. Speaking of who it would have helped, it was Hao.

“Maomao-san doesn’t want to talk about speculation. She would be troubled if we talk about things that change speculation into conviction, you seee.”

The concubine had surely cast a spell to prevent Hao from escaping. Whatever the kind of spell, Hao was bound to gradually weaken.

Maomao must be troubled about whether she should speak the truth or keep it to herself.

“Chue-san doesn’t hate villains. After all, we know what kind of people are the fools who try to be upriiight.”

The person responsible for the reason Chue couldn’t use her right arm anymore was someone who had been particular about judging criminals under the law.

“We just have to wait a decade, riiight?” Chue said.

Mamei understood why the lady didn’t attempt to drive the concubine out with her daughter.

There was no love or hate in this. She was just using the existence of the concubine as a tool.

It didn’t mean that there were no feelings from the lady at the very start. Just that, at least, there were none now.

It was Hao himself who caused it.

“Lady Safflower actually wanted to do it, you knooow. Although she can’t rely on her sons yet, they would be more dependable than her husband, and if they’re not greedy, it should be peaceful for some time. The Gyoku clan aren’t that belligerent, so it would be a good topic to hold the third parties in check.”

While they chatted, they arrived at the Moon Prince’s palace.

Basen, her younger brother, was standing in the front of the room.

“Has the Moon Prince returned?” Mamei asked.

“Yes.” Basen guided them into the room.

The Moon Prince was scanning over the documents that seem to the remainder of his work. The lack of Suiren’s presence must mean that she was preparing dinner.

“Mamei, is it? How did it go?” the Moon Prince asked.

“Yes.”

Mamei and Chue gave their reports. Perhaps due to Suiren’s absence, Chue interrupted often.

As expected, the Moon Prince was troubled over the lady’s proposal. “Hao’s lady is capable,” he said.

“What will you do?” Mamei asked, and waited for the Moon Prince’s response. Whether he accepted or turned it down, it was fine. He had that much power as the imperial brother.

“What should we do? How about we ask Maomao for details on treatment?” he replied.

“What?” Mamei found herself raising her voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… So you mean you will be taking in Hao-sama’s daughter?”

“Wouldn’t that girl die sooner or later if I didn’t?”

That might be the case but Mamei was boiling over in anger. “Isn’t there another way? The Moon Prince need not take her in. We can just separate the daughter from the concubine, can we not?” she ended up saying such, even though she had decided to bring this matter back for the time being due to its slight advantages. “Does the Moon Prince mean to seed your own troublesome matters to Maomao-san?”

“SISTER!

Mamei ignored Basen who tried to stop her. “In the first place, there is also the empress dowager! Why hasn’t she taken the girl in herself? Isn’t it strange that she is foisting this troublesome matter onto the Moon Prince?”

The Moon Prince exhaled. “Do you think Hao would listen to the empress dowager, my mother? You should know that Hao-dono regards the empress dowager as his sister first and foremost.”

“However…”

The man called Hao would certainly act with that in mind. He was sure to look down on the empress dowager for being the daughter of a concubine.

“But above being his nephew, I am the imperial brother. The matter was brought to me in the consideration that he would listen if it were from me.”

“However, I have qualms about doing something that would make Hao forget himself.”

“But Maomao would choose to save the girl over abandoning her, right?”

Mamei’s jaw dropped and she looked at the Moon Prince.

“I understand very well what Mamei wants to tell me. It would be fine if it’s something that won’t make Hao forget himself, right?” The Moon Prince gave a big stretch. “From how it’s looking, did you think I was going to support her as a concubine even for form’s sake?”

“Was I wrong?” That was how Mamei heard it entirely from Hao’s lady.

“Mother probably feels bad for her niece. Has Mamei forgotten the kind of things my mother did in the past?”

“The kind of things?”

The empress dowager was famous for being a benevolent person. She created a place of belonging for the late emperor’s chosen and abolished the surgery to create new eunuchs as well as slavery. Normally, these wouldn’t be easily achievable even for someone in the position of empress dowager, but it was all ultimately implemented by the emperor in consideration of his mother.

That being said, what resulted from those were…

By gathering the late emperor’s chosen, she supported the Shi clan’s rebellion.

The ageing of the eunuchs wasn’t an issue at present with the downsizing of the inner palace. However, it was difficult to gather more eunuchs to supplement their numbers as the only castrated people were the slaves of foreign tribes.

The abolition of slavery. Although it was officially vanquished, it was operating under a different form. The numbers have fallen, but it was now going around in a more insidious manner.

It was not necessarily the case that the empress dowager was completely benevolent.

In ages past, she would probably be known as a villainess. However, as she existed in the same era as the empress regnant who puppeteered her son and the vixen who tried to ruin the country, she had been overshadowed.

Mamei thought about all the things the empress dowager had done until now, and felt that her taking in a niece was still charming.

And it seems the Moon Prince knew how to deal with the matter too.

“The girl has a weak constitution from malnutrition and poison, right? We’ll just have to do something about the pitiful girl that even doctors had given up on,” he said.

“Yes,” Mamei said.

“In other words, we can just send her to a place that would give her plenty of nutrients, has people well-versed in medical treatment, and that even Hao-dono can say nothing about, right?”

“Ahhh.” Chue clapped her hands together. “There is. One such place.”

“Chue-san, could it be—” Mamei asked.

“They have fresh crops growing in the garden, or should I say field, that are high in nutrition. They have, for some reason, freeloaders who are well-versed in matters related to mediciiine.”

“Above all, it is close to her original home,” the Moon Prince said.

Mamei finally understood where they were referring to. “Do you mean to send her to Rakan-sama’s place?”

“Yeah,” the Moon Prince said.

“But Rakan-sama isn’t the type to do such charity…” No, Mamei heard that he would take in brilliant people from who-knows-where. However, Hao’s daughter was just sickly—she couldn’t see her possessing any talent that Rakan would discover.

“If it’s Rakan-sama, he wouldn’t care even if there are one or two more freeloaders.” Chue understood.

“His adoptive son is Rahan, right? If it’s him, he would take her in if it’s orders from the Moon Prince.”

“Hahaha, a different trouble might arise, howeveeeer.” Chue let out an all-knowing laugh. “Come to think of it, it seems like Rahan’s older brother is starting to grow a new vegetable. Why don’t we go eat it next time?”

“I-if it’s a tuber, I don’t want it,” the Moon Prince said.

“It seems to be a fruit instead. A round red fruit, but its season might be over alreadyyy.” Chue stuck out her tongue.

Based on what she could tell with Chue’s reaction, would this truly be the solution?

As Mamei thought such, she thought it was pointless to worry over it excessively.

_{T/N: Looks like it’s time for the KnH crew to get introduced to the wonders of tomato egg stir-fry 😀}

(Next Chapter)

14.11 The Safflower (3)

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 12:59:50 +0000

14.11 The Safflower (3)

(Previous Chapter)

The next day, Maomao headed to Hao’s residence as soon as she finished her work as a court physician assistant.

Instead of Hao who was absent, perhaps as Jinshi wasn’t here today, it was the lady who courteously came to greet them at the door. There were also a few servants, but the concubine in question was nowhere in sight.

“I hear you know who is the culprit,” the lady said.

“Yes. We would like to give a detailed explanation, but may we change locations?”

Mamei took charge. Although Chue also came along, it was better to leave it to Mamei.

The lady looked unwell, same as yesterday.

“Come this way.” The lady guided Maomao and the others to the parlour.

The lady, an attendant, and Maomao’s group of three entered the large room. A guard stood watch by the door outside.

“So you know the truth about the curse jar, right?” The lady’s red nose dipped slightly. It seems she was deliberately asking them while knowing the answer.

Mamei looked at Maomao.

Maomao opened her mouth. “It is not a curse jar but a poison one. A substance that, in the guise of an illness, will gradually weaken the person until they succumb. The poison was created from ingredients within reach, and was in the process of aging under the ground.”

“Such a thing was buried under the eaves, I see.”

So fake, Maomao thought. She thought, but given the lady’s position, that was the only thing she could do. “Yes. It was made by Hao-sama’s concubine. And her daughter was the one she poisoned.”

“…” The lady continued to hang her head. She didn’t look shocked.

So she really did know, huh?

The one who had exchanged letters with the empress dowager hadn’t been the family head but the lady. What kind of objective did the lady have to go out of her way to ask the empress dowager for advice on the curse jar? And the empress dowager, being who she is, had taken the trouble to send Jinshi over.

“The daughter’s name is Zhizi. Was she given the name of a flower related to the family?” Maomao asked.

“That’s right. Thanks to that, I am called Suetsumuhana,” the lady said.

“Suetsumuhana.”

Suetsumuhana is the other name for safflower. The lady touched her red-dyed nose. That alone allowed Maomao to presume that was the reason the woman was called the other name for safflower.

“To think that it’s not Zhizi-san’s mother, but the lady who is called Suetsumuhana,” Maomao said, slightly astonished.

Balsam and wood sorrel.

She recalled the names that were once given on a whim. “Was it to seem like mother and child even if there is no blood relation?”

No, not like this either, huh?

She ended up saying her thoughts out loud. She thought it would sour the mood, but the lady was, surprisingly, taken aback.

“Wh-what are you saying?”

“I know right. What am I saying?” Maomao thought so herself too.

“At least, you are a good person for not being able to abandon Zhizi-san even though you share no blood relation.” Maomao extended her hand towards Chue.

“Yes, yes, Maomao-san,” Chue said.

“Thank you, Chue-san.”

Chue passed a bottle over. Maomao uncapped it and the scent of milk wafted out. “So you even milked the cows in the cowshed.”

“Yes. If not milked well, they get inflamed. More importantly, cow’s milk is nutritious and stimulates physical growth,” the lady said.

“You know a lot.”　

“My family originally managed the cows of the inner palace. If I tell you that we had a history, but were reduced to poverty and got absorbed into another family as a result, would you understand?”

So that was why she became Hao’s wife. Considering family history and her knowledge, the advantage to taking her as a wife had been great.

“So you gave this nutritious milk to Zhizi-san.”

“…”

“Aside from symptoms of poisoning, Zhizi-san was showing signs of chronic malnutrition. I hear she is fourteen years of age, but she is much smaller than average. I hear she has been weak since young, but is that the truth?”

“It seems Zhizi-san’s meals are managed by the concubine. I had a short chat with all the cooks on my way to the cowshed, you seeee,” Chue cut in.

“Did you not consider that it was the mean legal wife who poisoned the concubine’s child?” the lady asked.

“If you had thought such a thing, then you probably wouldn’t have gone to the empress dowager about the curse jar. Although the family head is Hao-sama, there is no mistaking that the mistress of this household is you,” Maomao said bluntly.

“The lady’s reputation is really good among the servants. Myyy, what a good laaady,” Chue said.

The lady let out a cynical laugh. “Hahaha. What an odd thing you say. My husband only tells me to not sit next to him at banquets, to show consideration for others from the background. Above of all else, he didn’t even introduce me yesterday either, did he?”

“Yes. However, this household will not run if the lady wasn’t around.”

It seems the previous family head had been a capable person, but the current one was uninspiring. Could the lady’s presence be what was somehow making things work out?

Normally, it wouldn’t be possible to act as the intermediary for the family head and the empress dowager when they didn’t get along. The woman was that much cultured, Maomao thought.

“And didn’t you also give birth to three sons? Myy, aren’t you the ideal bride for the family heaaad?” Chue said.

The lady’s expression was yet gloomy. Her sense of inferiority towards her own looks was greater than anyone else.

“Shall we return to the topic at hand? The lady would immediately deny it, so I will now just express my opinions. Whether I am right or wrong, you need not to respond,” Maomao said.

The lady watched Maomao without moving. Although, it seems as though her complexion had improved slightly.

Maomao talked about the things she told Jinshi and the others yesterday. “She had used her daughter to evoke the family head’s compassion. However, the cat ended up finding the poison jar by chance.”

The lady closed her eyes.

“When did you start giving Zhizi-san cow’s milk? Lady, you need not say anything. I will know once I ask Zhizi-san.”

The lady opened her mouth. “…Please do not make children sell out their mothers. I gave that child cow’s milk before she turned ten. I had my sons and the servants do it for me.”

Did the person not do it herself because she was not fit to be seen?

“My husband is moved by the the woman who weeps that her sickly daughter is pitiful. Yes, weak women, that’s what that person likes. He doesn’t understand that if you give a child nothing more than watery congee, they wouldn’t be any more different from a sick person. He gets told that because she’s sick that she gets congee, and he says nothing and nods, even buying expensive herbal medicines to gift her.”

Maomao leaned forwards, lips twitching, the moment she heard herbal medicines, but Chue poked her, and she righted her posture.

The lady didn’t call the concubine by her name, but referred to her as the woman. She had her opinions about the concubine. “That woman knows very well. She knows very well what my husband likes. In the past, my husband had repeatedly kept concubines, but in the end, that woman was the only one left. The other women were all driven out with consolation money. Perhaps the women who were called to the residence and kept here were truly more loved than I was. Right when I behaved like the legal wife, it resulted with my husband telling me that he was sick of my haughtiness.”

Take responsibility to the end, oi.

If that was a pet, that was what you would say.

But it were a human, it would be considerably kind to simply give them consolation money. Perhaps, it could actually be the lady who gave the consolation money.

“The delicate woman kept coming over as though the family head couldn’t lose interest in her. And then, she even used her own daughter.

“Yes. I wanted to believe she had no relation to me. The concubine’s child that is an eyesore, who has no blood relation to me either. But I saw it by chance. The skinny child had bent over to try to eat a frog that was hopping on the ground.”

Tree frogs are toxic so I advise against eating them.

When the lady, who came from a good family even if it had fallen to ruin, saw the starved child try to eat a live frog that was hopping around, she must have received a great shock.

“By giving her cow’s milk in secret these few years, it seems like her condition has improved greatly. However, Zhizi’s condition worsened in the last couple of months.”

She had wondered why, then discovered the poison jar. And that was when the lady realised that the concubine had given Zhizi some kind of poison.

“Why didn’t you inform Hao-sama of his daughter’s abuse?” Mamei must have her own views as a mother herself.

“I did inform him. What did you think happened when I did? He asked me if I was the one doing the tormenting. Yes, that’s right. My husband sees me as a woman jealous of a concubine that is younger and more beautiful. I pressed the woman about it many times too, but the guests saw and even unsavoury rumours came about.” The lady smiled drily.

Was it the concubine good at currying favour, or was Hao shallow? It mattered not.

Hao would call the concubine to his sleeping chambers in place of the lady. The concubine would probably tell him about how the lady would torment her in a reserved and plausible manner while in bed.

“One way or other, I am also one of the causes as to why Zhizi became this weak. I wanted to save that child.”

Which was why she came to the empress dowager for advice.

Maomao swirled the bottle of milk. “Zhizi-san is fortunate, isn’t she?”

“In what way?”

“That the lady gave her cow’s milk for nutrition. And as a result, not only did she get nutrition, she also narrowly escaped death.” Maomao swirled the bottle, and it made a sloshing sound.

“Why do you mean by not only did she get nutritiooon?” Chue asked.

“Cow’s milk does not interact well with tea. The milk loses all its nutritious value. To say it conversely, the toxin in tea is weakened when mixed with milk,” Maomao said.

Luomen had weakened the tea poison Maomao drank by giving her milk.

Considering the amount of poison, it wouldn’t be odd for her to be already dead. Considering how Zhizi was still alive, she must have narrowly escaped death due to the cow’s milk.

“But as things stand, that is a chance that she would die if the poison isn’t completely counteracted.”

“How shocking. If she ended up dead, it would be for naught.” Mamei had a sense that there were personal feelings involved.

“I guess so.”

The weaker the daughter became, the more compassion the concubine received. She would do anything to become the leading actress of a tragedy.

“What does the lady want the Moon Prince to do?”　

Did she want to tell Jinshi to do something about the concubine? Or…

“Can he take Zhizi into his care?” the lady asked.

“Do you understand the implications of that?” Mamei asked without a moment’s delay.

Telling an imperial to take the daughter into his care could only be taken as telling him to marry her.

“Yes. I understand how disrespectful it is. Even if he were to take her in as an attendant, Zhizi’s existence would have to be a hindrance. This child as of now doesn’t have the capacity nor the strength to work as an attendant.”

“Then, why did you bring up such a thing?”

“Zhizi cannot give birth to children. My husband had wondered if she truly couldn’t enter the inner palace. He had a doctor check up on her.”

“…” Mamei fell silent.

The daughter of a powerful person was ultimately a piece for political marriages. Even Mamei who appeared free understood that fact.

“All of this is the result of this family’s misconduct,” the lady forced herself to say.

“To make amends for Zhizi-san, you want the Moon Prince to take her into custody. Mmmm, honestly, I don’t see there being any merit for the Moon Priiince.”

It was as Chue said.

“The Moon Prince visited Hao-sama’s residence. Then, he took his daughter into his care. To an onlooker, they would only see it as the Moon Prince, who has yet to have a concubine, having taken a liking to Hao-sama’s daughter and sought to marry her,” Mamei also said.

That’s how it’ll turn out, yeah.

Hao would have to be overjoyed no matter the form. The imperial brother who lacked any juicy gossip had taken a liking to his daughter.

“What does Maomao-san thiiink?” Chue whispered into Maomao’s ear as she elbowed her.

Good question.

Does Chue want to see Maomao jealous?

Unfortunately she didn’t think that way.

“I think I would feel bad for Zhizi-san if she were to get any strange hopes.”

“Hm, in short, you’re implying that the Moon Prince won’t be drawn to other women, huuuh?”

You always have the last word.

Maomao decided to say nothing more.

It seems the lady had expected the answer. She lightly nodded in agreement. “The empress dowager also told me the same thing. However, there is one advantage to it.”

“What kind of advantage?”

“She could be used as grounds to ward off the ever increasing annoying marriage talks from now on.”

It seems as though Mamei and Chue’s ears grew.

“Ahh, my word.”

“That might be appealing.”

The two of them glanced at Maomao.

“But the fact that she has a selfish mother is an issue.”

“I will not send that woman with her,” the lady declared. “I doubt my husband would compel even the concubine. That woman would surely object, but there is no way that she could go against it.”

There was no way that a concubine Hao doted on could even weigh up against the imperial brother.

“It is likely that the others would change the way they think about my husband, but that is all temporary. His footing isn’t as solid as the Gyoku family. Even if it increases the weight of my family a little, it shouldn’t make a large difference to the power dynamic.”

“Nngh,” Mamei groaned. It seems the lady wasn’t entirely wrong.

I knew the lady is smart, Maomao though.

“Even so, there’s too little advantages to thiiiis,” Chue said.

“I have three sons. I believe all of them are outstanding, but they have reserved personalities and will not forget gratitude. Besides, they don’t have the character to have wild ambitions like my husband does,” the lady said.

“What are you implying?”

“The family head may look young, but he is fifty-five this year. He might live for another decade, perhaps?”

She was saying that the next family head will pledge his allegiance to Jinshi.

So she isn’t a wife that only supports her husband, huh?

The lady had been far-sighted, confident that she would get the final triumph.

Which was why she continued to endure even in misfortune.

“We cannot simply give you an answer,” Mamei said.

In the end, they left taking the answer back with them.

(Next Chapter)

14.09 The Safflower (1)

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 08:50:16 +0000

14.09 The Safflower (1)

_{T/N: The chapter title is Suetsumuhana (末摘花). It is the archaic name of the safflower that is now known as benibana (紅花) in modern times. Fun fact: people who have read the Tale of Genji would recognise the archaic name of this flower to be the name of one of Genji’s lovers, the Safflower Princess, who is known as one of his most loyal lovers, but with an unattractive nose that is described as red.}

_{We have two new character names:
– 來, Lai (romaji reading is Rai, which is the Mandarin reading)
– 梔子, Zhizi (romaji reading is Jiizuu, also the Mandarin reading)}

(Previous Chapter)

They decided to set out immediately as they were in a hurry. Although it was already dark out, the residence was located in the capital.

Jinshi began his explanation while in the carriage. He also included things Maomao had already heard as a recap for her, as forgetful as she is.

Mamei and Chue were on a different carriage, and Basen followed them on horseback. Needless to say, this was arranged by Chue.

Unfortunately, Maomao and Jinshi had completely switched to work-mode, so the development that Chue expected won’t come to pass.

“The empress dowager has a complicated relationship with her family,” Jinshi said.

The empress dowager was the daughter of the concubine of the former family head. The current head was her half-brother. He was called Hao, but Maomao reckoned she would forget his name in no time while she was listening to Jinshi talk.

They were a merchant family with beginnings dealing extensively with dyes. Around a century ago they supplied to the imperial court and it was through this connection that the men of the clan had become government officials. It seems that ochre, the forbidden colour, was also produced by the empress dowager’s family.

They were upstarts in a sense, but in time, that became history. During the era of the late emperor, they were properly treated as a mid-level family.

They also sold garments, and it was with this link they got involved with work related to the inner palace. It must be this information network they tapped into that had them later sending in the young Anshi who gave birth to the reigning emperor.

In current times, they should be a family that had found a solid position, however…

“The empress regnant was vigilant of the previous family head. They were never bestowed a clan name despite their association as the imperial family’s maternal relative.”

“I see,” Maomao said.

In short, they were not a named clan.

“The current family head Hao isn’t on good terms with the empress dowager. If anything, they’re on bad terms. It seems she does not exchange letters with Hao directly, but frequently with the lady.”

“I see.”

Under normal circumstance, they would be family that could act more importantly, but there was a reason why they couldn’t exercise as much influence as expected.

But they still have enough power to stir up the imperial court.

“If they are on bad terms, wouldn’t the empress dowager also have the choice to not take an interest in this matter?” Maomao asked.

“Don’t say that. If she continued to feign ignorance, the victims would be the concubine’s child and her mother. Isn’t it really similar to her own situation?” Jinshi said.

If she remembered correctly, the empress dowager was also the child of a concubine.

“Even if she told you to save her, there are limits. If it were a false charge, then that would be a different story, but in the case where she clearly has an intent to kill, then there is nothing I can do for her,” Maomao said.

Honestly, the girl was the most suspicious as the suspect.

“In that case, it can’t be helped. We only want to know the truth. You can just go confirm that.”

“It would be nice if we can figure that out simply. By the way, what kind of role should I take up?”

“Right, yeah. I just told them you are knowledgeable in insect poisons, but well, I think it would be pointless to hide it.”

“…”

“Also, you may hate this, but honestly speaking, it’s handy to throw the tactician’s name around.”

“I’m aware.” She was very much aware.

What a pain, Maomao thought as she looked outside.

The residence was located at a distance that didn’t need a carriage. Annoyingly, it wasn’t far from the weirdo tactician’s residence.

The capital may be large, but it was limited by living spaces. It was inevitable that the residences of high officials would be in the same area. It was also influenced by the land, so it was easier for estates constructed later to be smaller than others.

Hao’s residence that they were brought to was by no means small. However, it was much too ordinary for a one with the status of the empress dowager’s family.

The gate had a family crest that was a combination of safflower and gardenia.

Both flowers were used as herbal medicines, but they were better known as dyes. Ochre was a yellow tinged with red, so it was created from a mixture of red from the safflower and yellow from the gardenia.

Though imperfect, it was the imperial brother’s visit, so there was a group lined up to greet him at the gate.

They did say that’s he’s of patrilineal descent.

There were certainly no young maidens around. If there were, they were clearly dressed as servants. Let’s leave out how the women were looking at Jinshi.

There was a skinny woman in her fifties. Despite her pale complexion, only her nose was painted with scarlet rouge. This woman was the best dressed, so she had to be the lady.

There was also a beauty in her mid-thirties. She was standing at the back humbly, but her dress was the next finest after the lady’s. It was remarkably refined for a servant.

“Pardon us that it is late at night.”

The person who spoke to Jinshi was a man in his forties or fifties. He had to the most important person based on his attire and where he stood, so she could tell he was Hao, the current family head. Although, she could sense that he was lacking in a dignified air. Could the reason be his youthful features? He might look a few years older if he had grown a beard, but he didn’t grow one, perhaps due to thin body hair.

This is where I can sense his blood relation with the empress dowager.

The empress dowager was also a baby face.

“No, my apologies instead. By all rights, we should have settled this matter privately, and yet we have caused trouble to people. Gosh, Anshi has always been a worrier since way back.”

Hao spoke like he got along with the empress dowager. The person must want to be seen in a favourable light.

“Let’s head inside for now. It’s cold, so I have prepared a warm meal.”

“We have already eaten dinner. Rather than that, let’s resolve this issue quickly,” Jinshi said.

Hao’s face twisted for an instant.

Maomao recognised this person to be easy to understand, for better or worse. The previous generation’s family head who had sent the empress dowager into the inner palace was most likely to have had a sharp mind. However, she saw nothing of that razor sharpness in the son. Otherwise, he wouldn’t assume such a carefree attitude towards the imperial brother’s personal visit to his residence.

His parents raised him wrong.

She heard of the saying where one generation of wealth will be gone by the third generation, but could she take this guy as an example of that?

The Gyoku clan of the west she saw recently appeared similar, but they still had a lot of outstanding sons and daughters.

Hao glanced at Maomao and shot her a look of displeasure, but he didn’t make any further reaction. As Jinshi told her, for better or worse, she could use the weirdo tactician talisman as people repellent.

“Then, I would guide you inside, but there is a sick person in the building, so how about the Moon Prince wait here?”

“What did you say when the cursed jar was brought over?” Jinshi said.

“That was Anshi’s doing.”

Alrighty.

Maomao thought the man called Hao also had a strength. Despite his young features, he was quite thick-skinned. She could tell by looking at him that he would later cover up the word curse and only spread around the news that the imperial brother had visited his household.

She needn’t purposely dispatch Jinshi then, Maomao thought.

“Guide them courteously.”

Perhaps Hao didn’t want to get close to the place that was said to be cursed, he brought a different guide. The guide was a young man in his mid-twenties, much younger than Hao. Considering his baby-faced genes, he might be older than he looked.

“My name is Lai. I will guide you on behalf of my father.” The son behaved like he was aware of his position to some extent. It didn’t look like he had any intention of showing himself off.

I’m gonna forget his name…

“Please make an effort to remember names when you’re here at leaaast,” Chue whispered into her ear. She saw through Maomao.

With her usual habit, Maomao ended up studying the inside of the residence. It was hard to see under the moonlight, but she suddenly caught a whiff of a pungent stench.

It smells of a field.

Maomao sniffed the air and looked towards where the smell was coming from. There was an impressive cow shed.

“What could that beee?” Chue asked for Maomao.

“It is a cowshed. The previous emperor bestowed us cows that were used for transport in the inner palace. We are at the third generation,” Lai said.

The current emperor didn’t use oxcarts as they were too slow. Maomao won’t say that he had been discreetly pushed onto one.

Afterwards, Lai barely spoke. Normally, people would introduce their prided garden or talk about their family’s history. It might be because it was so dark they couldn’t see so there was nothing to talk about, but even so, it was quiet. Chue was restless, wanting to chat, but Mamei elbowed her.

The father was a pushy person, but the son only spoke when spoken to. Although his looks resembled his father, was his personality more like the lady?

Maomao appreciated it, but she got worried that everyone would eat him up if he were to become Hao’s successor. Or could he have other siblings?

It’s hard to be in the middle.

While thinking of arbitrary things like how a family is ruined by the third generation, they arrived at their destination.

“This is the place.”

Lai guided them to under the eaves. He directed his light over to make it easier to see. To the north, there was a muddy section where the colour of the soil was different as though a hole about one shaku_(30cm)wide had been dug up. There was also a rectangular mark around it, so it looked like there was something placed on top of it.

“The jar was here.”

Maomao looked at Jinshi. Jinshi waved his palm, gesturing for the man to speak freely. “Was it buried in the ground?” he asked.

“Yes, the jar was buried. The shelf over there had been on top of it.”

The shelf had been moved a short distance away. It was for outdoor use; gardening tools were stored in it.

They should borrow digging tools from there.

It was muddy under the eaves of the detached building. People didn’t seem to come here normally. And if there were, would it only be the gardener to store their tools?

“How was it found?” Jinshi asked.

“By chance. The cat was covered to mud, so I went to see what it did and I found a hole dug out here,” Lai said.

“It was a cat?”

“Yes. The cat is left in the care of my family since my cousin’s daughter entered the inner palace.”

If people were aware of even the gardener’s movements, it was possible that the jar could be buried by anyone.

“I have heard that someone lives in this detached building. Is it possible for me to meet them?” Maomao asked.

“…My younger sister lives here. She is sickly and much younger than me. She is fifteen years old. A smart child, but she eats very little and rarely goes outside.”

“Can I examine her condition once?”

Lai glanced at Jinshi.

“Why not? Let her.” Jinshi said.

“Understood.” There was no way he could turn down a proposal from the imperial family.

“I will wait here. It wouldn’t be good for a man to enter a woman’s room.” Jinshi came to a stop at the front of the room. This was a consideration from what women regarded as a fine man. The reality was that it would be troublesome if he were to show his face and they fall for him–it was a reason typical of Jinshi.

Yeah, that’ll be nothing but unpleasant.

“Then, please wait in the room next door.”

Jinshi waited in the room next door. Maomao had Chue accompanying her.

“We’re coming in.” Lai opened the door. There were two women inside.

One was a girl who had a pale complexion. She still had a childish innocence in her features.

The other person was the beauty in her thirties, one of the people who greeted them at the gate just now.

So she’s actually the concubine.

The mother and daughter pair looked similar. If she wasn’t sickly, Hao would have pushed his daughter into the inner palace.

The room was dark. When a candle was lit, it even looked like there were white faces floating.

Perhaps due to the scarce visual information, Maomao’s nose reacted much more sensitively. She caught the smell of honey from the candle, and the smell of medicinal broth from the small teapot. Did it contain components that induced sleep?

Also, she felt a sense of nostalgia from the beauty.

She must have been from the pleasure district and got redeemed.

Her outfit was simple, but her air and the way she dressed herself wasn’t something that could be readily changed. She possessed a sensuality that brought to mind a courtesan’s figure in a dim bedroom. There was no expressed need for Maomao to point that out, so she kept silent.

“The Moon Prince’s company wishes to see Zhizi,” Lai said.

Zhizi!

It was a superb name. Zhizi was gardenia, which was used as a dye, but also as a herbal medicine.

That said, I wonder if they will give me anything as a souvenir.

She was fine with either safflower or gardenia.

“Who is this person?” The beautiful concubine studied Maomao intently.

“She is the herbalist approved by the imperial brother. Do you have any doooubts?” Chue threatened her with a smile.

“Nonsense. However, this child has been visited by many a doctor and she has yet to be cured…” The concubine hugged her daughter gently as she sobbed.

The daughter with lifeless eyes clutched her mother’s arms.

“Please allow me to examine her regardless.” Maomao took Zhizi’s hand. She took the girl’s pulse, and even checked her eyes and tongue.

“…”

When she checked Zhizi’s tongue, she detected a faint smell of milk from the girl.

“…Excuse me, but can I have a cup of tea?” Maomao pointed at the small teapot where the smell of medicinal broth came from.

“Then I will brew it again.”

“No, it is fine as it is. It has a very pleasant smell with a good sleep effect.” Maomao sniffed the air.

“No, these are used up. I will boil up some water and prepare a fresh serving.”

“Thank you.” Maomao accepted the medicinal broth.

I knew it.

She downed the teacup in one go.

“I will prepare the medicine for the daughter’s condition, so may I come over on another day?” Maomao said, looking at Lai.

“That is welcome news for me, but…. Um…” Lai looked at the concubine and her daughter.

It seems the main question was if it was the curse jar.

“I think I will talk about that matter on another day,” Maomao said as she swirled the tea leaves left in the bottom of the teacup.

_{T/N: The lady’s red nose is probably a reference to the Genji character.}

_{Also, in case it wasn’t clear, the comment Maomao made about Jinshi being of patrilineal descent, that’s referring to how he’s an imperial with inheritance rights.}

(Next Chapter)

14.10 The Safflower (2)

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:09:48 +0000

14.10 The Safflower (2)

(Previous Chapter)

Maomao and the others decided to leave Hao’s residence for now.

Unlike the journey to, the carriage was cramped. The reason was Mamei and Chue’s presence.

They could probably squeeze in one more person, but Basen wasn’t useful, so they left him out.

As it was already late at night, they decided to share information on their way back.

“Now then, how about you give us a recount on what you’ve noticed?” Jinshi, arms crossed, asked Maomao.

“It will be speculation like always,” she said.

“Give us speculation like always.”

Maomao thought about how she should broach it, then decided to speak frankly as she had nothing to hide. “The concubine was the one who made the poison, and the daughter was the one who was served the poison.”

“Maomao-san, you spoke so directly. How unusuaaal.” Chue was rocking herself in time with the carriage.

“The mother to the daughter, is that right?” Mamei confirmed.

“Yes.”

“Not every mother has maternal feelings, you knooow.” Chue said what Maomao wanted to say.

“Are you certain that she served the poison?” Jinshi asked.

“I cannot declare it outright, but in all possibility, I believe it to be the case.” Maomao presented her basis, “The tea I had just now contained several medicinal herbs. It had a sleep-inducing effect, and didn’t taste bad either…but it’s likely to be the very tea brewed for the poison in question.”

If Basen were here, he would be squawking. Unfortunately he wasn’t. Jinshi, used to it, was composed with his arms crossed.

“Seeing as you’re not all that excited, it doesn’t seem like you have ingested poison,” he said.

“Just as the Moon Prince said. The concubine brewed up a fresh batch instead of the used up tea for heeer,” Chue said.

“And even if it were ingested, it would not bring out abnormalities to your body as long as you do not take it everyday,” Maomao added. It was ultimately a slow-acting poison. “And the daughter Zhizi-san’s condition has the same symptoms as taking the poison too.”

Maomao looked at Jinshi and Mamei. They looked bewildered. Chue had been with Maomao in that room, so it seems like she was deep into the role of filling in the lacking sections of Maomao’s testimony.

“Maomao remembered the name of a stranger after hearing it once…”

That’s what you’re focused on?!

Even Maomao has remembered names she heard once. Like Wanwan-senpai.

“Why would the mother poison her daughter? Just the reasoning that she didn’t give out the used up tea is too weak.”

It was just as Mamei said. Maomao thought so too.

“As far as I could tell, she didn’t seem like a mother who thought of her daughter. As far as I could teeell.” Chue had some misgivings about the mother.

“The fresh tea she brewed for me was a little bitter. Also, it had catnip,” Maomao said.

“Catnip?” Jinshi asked.

“Yes. There is cat in its name. Its use is close to silver vine. The herb is used as herbal medicine, but just like silver vine, it’s liked by cats.”

“Speaking of cats…”

“Yes.”

Back when she was at the inner palace, there was a detestable calico cat by the name of Maomao that had always gone after the silver vine in the medical office.

“If people touch catnip often, the smell might get on them.”

Which was why the cat found the poison jar.

“But Zhizi-san’s mother didn’t have a reason to harm her daughter. It’ll make more sense if it were the legal wife instead.”

According to advance information, the mother and daughter were neglected. Let alone entering the inner palace, the daughter was forced into a detached building without coming out in public.

“To my eyes, the mother and daughter did not look close.”

“Ahhh, does Maomao-san think so tooo?”

“Yes. That person was less a mother and more a woman to me,” Maomao said bluntly. That was the reason she identified the concubine to be a former courtesan.

The reason Chue had misgivings.

First class courtesans operate by luring in customers. Everything they do is calculated, from the angle they tilt their head to make them look pretty to customers, the flow of their hair, to the movement of their fingers.

The concubine had moved to make herself look the most pitiful to Maomao and the others, the guests. Movements that were very much like the skilled courtesans at the Verdigris Mansion who made themselves look delicate.

“So you mean she was arousing sympathy?” Jinshi asked back, looking like he couldn’t understand.

“Yes. The concubine and her daughter hadn’t been treated as roughly as our prior information told us. If anything, I think they were treated really well.”

The concubine’s attire was the next-most splendid after the lady’s. If she had been neglected, she wouldn’t be allowed to show her face at the imperial brother’s greeting in the first place.

“Same with the daughter. If she had an unknown disease that even doctors have given up on, it would be natural to have her live separately from the main house. I would do the same as it would be scary if it turned out to be infectious. Even the tea she was given had various kinds of herbal medicines. It could not have been cheap.”

Above all, the poison in the jar was made from high-grade tea leaves.

“But the bad rumours…” Jinshi said.

“Honestly, it’s Hao-sama’s wife who did not look well. Suppose there is a concubine who is many years younger and more beautiful around, what would you think? And suppose that concubine, who is a kind mother who thinks of a daughter, is going around looking sorrowful, what would happen?”

People like to create convenient stories. Apart from the servants who were always in the residence, the guests would probably make up their own stories.

“It is fine if all of it was just to make herself look delicate, but it is not acceptable to use her daughter as a prop.”

“By prop, you don’t mean that she continued to poison her daughter to beget sympathy from other?”

“I believe that is the most valid reason for the poisoning.”

“No way.” Jinshi couldn’t believe it.

“The senior courtesans are jealous of me. Look at the harm I suffered—there are courtesans who would show their purposely roughly cut hair to customers. Although, it was all done by themselves. This is an extension of that act. She used her daughter to her own advantage and wept to her husband. And her husband would end up feeling compassion for the pitiful woman.”

“But the advantage to weakening her daughter by poisoning is too small. Hao-dono has no other daughters. Wouldn’t it be wiser to have her enter the inner palace to become a consort?”

“Jinshi-sama, can you easily have a concubine’s… a former courtesan’s daughter become a high-ranking consort?”

“…” Jinshi couldn’t say anything.

Since they controlled the inner palace, the selection of a high-ranking consort was made up of a number of factors.

“With all due respect, didn’t you get a lot of opposition when you promoted Empress Gyokuyou to high-ranking consort?” Maomao asked.

Empress Gyokuyou’s mother was one of the many wives of Gyoku’en who governed the lands of the west. She was also mixed with western blood, so even now, there were a lot of voices questioning her suitability to be empress.

“I do not know Hao-sama well, but wouldn’t he pretend there was no courtesan mother to raise the chance of his daughter becoming a high-ranking consort?”

The daughter was treated as the child of the legal wife instead of the concubine, which was why she was treated as if she didn’t exist. It was better to erase the existence of the courtesan who was in the background. It was better to have the daughter learn the skills of luring in men from her mother, and should she prove useful, have her become the adopted daughter of the legal wife. She could be registered as the legal wife’s daughter in the family register from the very start.

And…

Once the daughter entered the inner palace, the courtesan would have served her purpose.

But what if the daughter couldn’t enter the inner palace due to poor health?

Maomao had no idea about the personality of the man called Hao. However, even supposing he wasn’t a person with deep feelings, he shouldn’t be callous enough to give up on his own daughter. Although not to the level of having her come out in public on a brilliant stage, he wouldn’t abandon her to starve to death.

“Let’s say the concubine was looking for a way to not get abandoned by her husband. If she aroused sympathy from those around her, acted like a devoted mother, and occasionally get compared with the legal wife who is neither young nor beautiful, wouldn’t she regain a degree of self-respect?”

Neither Jinshi nor Mamei look like they could believe it. Only Chue was grinning ominously.

Did she think it was the only way for her to live?

Nonetheless, Maomao herself found it really selfish.

It’s not a strong poison.

But definitely one that will destroy the body.

“Then, it will be fine if we collect the evidence to confirm that fact tomorrow, riiight?” Chue, who seemed to be really good at gathering evidence, said.

“Yes. There is also one place I want investigated,” Maomao said.

“Where would that beee?”

“I want you to investigate the cowshed.”

“The cowshed?”

Not only Chue, both Jinshi and Mamei also tilted their heads.

_{T/N: Catnip in Japanese is 荊芥. Read as inuhakke. There is a line that said that there is dog (inu) in the name, but as you can see, it doesn’t work in English, so I changed it to cat.}

(Next Chapter)

14.01 Chicken Meat

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:01:38 +0000

14.01 Chicken Meat

_{T/N: New arc. Smallpox arc. Looks like the long wait is going to be worth it.}

^{Wanwan is actually Wang Wang (王旺), but I feel the former works better in this case. Also sounds like woof woof, so I’ll be keeping the Japanese reading for his name.}

(Previous Chapter)

Half a month after the emperor’s operation finished with no mishap, Maomao settled back into a workflow that consisted of half her usual work and half dosage experiments. A high-ranking court physician had taken over the emperor’s post-operative treatment. Although the scale of the dosage experiments have been reduced, the fact that they were keeping on with it was probably in the anticipation that it would prove useful here on after.

With the seasons getting colder, she also changed her medical robes to something thicker. The bedding for the patients in the town clinic would be supplemented with something a little thicker too.

“Wanwan-senpai, are the medicines for restocking okay here?”

Maomao passed the account book to the tall senior, otherwise known as Wanwan-senpai.

“It’s fine. For some reason I feel like you’ve been excessively calling me by my name lately.”

“Is that so?”

“Also, I feel like the way you’re pronouncing it is a little peculiar.”

“Could it be your imagination?”

Wanwan. Written as Wang Wang.

It was a name that Maomao, who was bad at remembering names, was super thankful for. It can’t be helped she pronounced it with fondness in her tone.

“Alright, now place the order of medicine for me,” he said.

“Understood. Also, I will be returning to the imperial court this afternoon. Is there anything you want me to take care of?”

“Mmm. Nothing for now. Now that you mention it, you’re checking the medicine room today, right?”

Wanwan-senpai checked the medicine stock inventory as Maomao did, so he knew whose turn it was.

“Yes.”

“Then, if Tianyu is in the area, get a rise out of him for me.”

“For sure.” Maomao replied, head held high.

Tianyu was the one who made the biggest mess during the emperor’s surgery, which had been a terrible challenge. It would have been fine if his blunder was from extreme stress, but in his case, it was for his personal reasons, so he had no grounds for extenuating circumstances. Tianyu was the one at fault for bringing personal interest into a job that concerned the life of the emperor. Rather, the fact that he didn’t lose his head over this was an act of clemency.

He received quite the pay cut, but the remainder was a freeloader’s food expenses, so you could say that he was unpaid.

And so, Tianyu will be working without pay for the time being. Not only that, he was now punished with every single court physician out to drive him crazy.

Even if they did get a rise from him, Tianyu was aloof by nature. Getting Tianyu to feel vexed became the biggest thing among the court physicians.

Whether it would be called bullying or not…

Far from getting discouraged, the person himself was even having a great time.

And so, Maomao returned to the imperial court.

Her junior Yo was in the medicine room. She would replenish the stock when Maomao and the others were away.

“Maomao-san, I just replenished the stock, so check, please.”

“Okay.”

The clever junior diligently learnt the fundamentals. Furthermore, she wasn’t conceited and would wash the bandages and sheets and disinfect the tools.

It’s wonderful that she does the fundamentals properly.

No matter how clever they were, if they don’t listen to people, they were of bad character. And then a person of bad character showed up.

“Hey, Niangniang and Yo. In the middle of work?”

It was Tianyu.

Maomao thought about ignoring him, but she remembered what Wanwan-senpai told her. “Yes, Tianyu-san. Your cheeks are gaunt. Have you been eating properly?”

“Yes. I’ve had food from Court Physician Liu’s place.”

Court Physician Liu, thinking that he couldn’t let Tianyu run loose, took on the responsibility to feed him, but as expected, he was impossible to tame.

Even Maomao knew very well that agitating Tianyu would be difficult. Which is why she used a special tool.

“Is that so?” Maomao took out a large basket. Inside the basket was…

“M-my word!”

A large chicken. It has been decapitated, feathers plucked and blood drained. It was a spent hen that couldn’t lay eggs anymore, not a young chicken, but that was why it would have good flavour. It would be very delicious simmered well into a thick soup with an addition of egg and kudzu powder.

Maomao, who often went into town for work, had been entrusted with buying supper as well. If she made soup in the medical office and brought it back, the court physicians would be grateful to her and she would also save on dinner expenses–one stone two birds.

However, it wasn’t the soup that Tianyu was jumping at.

“Ahhhh, I beg you. Please, Niangniang. Can’t you let me dismantle that chicken?” Hands dramatically on his cheeks, his normally dull fish-like eyes were sparkling.　

Court Physician Liu understood. A pay cut alone wouldn’t make Tianyu repent.

The thing that would distress this guy would be…

Not letting Tianyu do his favourite dissections.

He messed up on the surgery, so for the time being, he was banned from surgeries. Not only that, he wasn’t allowed to dissect dead bodies or dismantle animals.

He had no money, so he couldn’t buy meat from the markets either.

Occasionally, when his withdrawal symptoms arose, they would just give him a bullfrog.

“Ahhh, I beg you. I’ll process it well, so let me dismantle iiit.”

“No way.” Normally, she would save time and let him do it, but today she will continue to tease him. “Ahhh, come to think of it. I need water. I’ll have to fill up this water jug.”

“Yes, I’ll do it for you. Please, I beg youuu.”

After teasing him, he drew water and did the laundry for her.

As work finished early, Maomao did side jobs in the medical office. Yo did the same. She sat down next to Maomao and rolled up the washed bandages.

In the next room, Tianyu, who had finally acquired the chicken to dismantle, displayed his magnificent knife skills. He followed the muscle and divided it up.

“I’ll be using the thigh meat for stir-fry, so please cut it into bite-sized pieces. Please boil the bones in the pot together with spring onion.”

“Okaaay.”

Maomao will do the seasoning. Her colleague En’en was better at cooking, but she wasn’t here today, so it can’t be helped.

“Is this fine? Didn’t Court Physician Liu put a stop to it?” Yo whispered to Maomao.

“If you don’t give him bait once in a while, he would try to dismantle a nearby person sooner or later, wouldn’t he?”

“…There’s no way.”

No, he will.

Tianyu was this dangerous. Hence why you need to know how to take control of his reins.

“Please remove the scum properly,” she said.

“Got it,” he said.

While such an exchange occurred, the old court physician showed up. “Oh, what is today’s supper?”

“It’s egg drop soup,” Maomao said.

“Oh hoh. You want wood ear mushroom?”

“Please give me if you have.”

The old court physician took out a dried black item from the medicine box. This shrewd court physician purchased herbal medicine that can be used as condiments or ingredients. His excuse was that maintaining the health of court physicians was also a splendid job.

While Maomao reconstituted the wood ear in hot water, she added wine and salt and then seasoned it.

The chicken stir-fry was haphazardly made with whatever vegetable was available.

“Court Physician-sama. Can we cultivate a field?” Maomao asked the old court physician.

Maomao wanted to cook with freshly picked herbs like green spring onions and garlic chives. And if possible, she also wanted to grow a lot of herbal medicines.

“No can do. There was a case before where a court lady who had been entrusted to manage the field made a blunder.”

“You’re right,” she said.

He was talking about Suirei. Having plotted Jinshi’s assassination, she was now not allowed to exist.

As the old court physician’s nose twitched, he read a note.

“The child over there is Yo, correct?”

“Yes,” Maomao said.

“…hm, can you come over for a moment?”

“What is it?” Yo asked.

He showed Yo, not Maomao, the journal. Curious, Maomao also came over.

The note was from a court physician working in another region.

“…This is.” Yo’s complexion changed.

“Yeah, things might be getting a little scary.”

In the note, it was written that there has been an increase in patients who were breaking out in blisters.

_{T/N: People have been asking about what Tianyu did during the surgery. The details are in LN15, but essentially, he refused to do his job when it was his time to step up.}

(Next Chapter)