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KMU 03 March 2006, 07:00 UTC
No stopping fight vs dictatorship of Arroyo PP 1017 too hot to handle
"Vigilance must be maintained". This was the advice of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) as Arroyo withdrew PP 1017 this morning. "The revocation was done merely in words not in deeds. The attack on people's rights will continue to intensify."
According to Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU, "The rescinding of PP 1017 shall be used as a veil to obfuscate the intensifying suppression of the people's democratic, civil and political rights. By labeling the dissenters as 'destabilizers', it's a go signal for attack. Even though Arroyo declared the revocation of PP 1017, warrantless arrest and summary executions of activists remains."
Labog said Arroyo's lifting of the State of National Emergency was done because "it was too hot to handle" as militants, media, lawyers, lawmakers and the rest of the nation bonded versus the Marcosian tactics.
Labog noted the report on DZMM that Arroyo use funds of the GSIS to infuse money on the stock market to make it bullish and create a positive outlook of the market on the PP 1017. "Another clear manipulation to perpetuate her stay in the Palace," said Labog.
The Department of Justice made it clear that crackdown on political opposition will continue, as Rep. Crispin Beltran remained in detention on trumped up charges of rebellion and inciting to sedition. "How can service to the people, as exemplified by KMU Chairman Emeritus Ka Bel, and recognized by Congress by making him Congressman of the year for four consecutive years, be labeled as rebellious," opined Labog.
One-party rule in the making
Meanwhile, Labog noted the start of a one-party rule under Arroyo. "Atienza's coup on the Liberal Party was clearly orchestrated by Arroyo and Mike Defensor. Arroyo's wants to maintain her grip on power by attacking the political parties opposed to her. Arroyo's is already consolidating power as election season is in the air," said Labog.
Labog said that Arroyo will do everything to remain seated in Malacañang. "Like a rabid dog, she will attack anyone who will express dissent to her rule. Even Ka Bel who is already 73 years old and suffering from hypertension will not be spared," stated Labog.
Yesterday, Ka Bel was rushed to the hospital due to hypertension, affirming the fear of the family and supporters of the Anakpawis Partylist Representative. "We are reiterating our demand that Ka Bel be removed from Camp Crame and be brought to the Philippine Heart Center before his medical condition becomes even worse," ended Labog. ###

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Metropolitan Volodymyr: UOC Vs being hypocritical, systematic struggle
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Metropolitan Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel, Vladimir
The clergy of the UOC are trying to tarnish due to the information of slander, said Metropolitan Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Kovel, Vladimir.
Under the guise of a "welcome gift" Thomas in the Ukraine actually materialize hypocritical the plan of those who thinks about the welfare of the Church, which, unfortunately, overshadows the joy of the Baptism of the Lord. This was stated in his address to the faithful children of the Vladimir-Volyn eparchy, Metropolitan Volodymyr, reports the press service of the diocese.
According to the Hierarch, today's joyful and salvific days of the Baptism of the Lord overshadowed by a great disaster, after the increase in attacks on UOC.
"We see that confrontation the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and anti-Christian forces is becoming more obvious and acute, he said.– Lately everywhere and only discussions about autocephaly, the newly formed structure of the PCU, the main actors of this process and other things… Under the guise of good deeds, great achievements and long-awaited gift offered to believers "Tomos". In fact it is a hypocritical concept, cleverly and insidiously planned and played out by those who have no intention to care about the welfare of the Church."
Metropolitan Vladimir said a special amplification attacks going on in this campaign period of the election campaign, pointing out their political implications.
"Are cruel, unconstitutional methods of struggle, systemic discreditation activity against the clergy. The clergy are under close surveillance of the provocateurs, looking for the slightest clue, to distort facts to denigrate, creating dirty information resonance", – said the Hierarch.
READ Held a meeting of the Church-public Council for the commemoration of new martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church
Metropolitan Volodymyr called on the faithful to preserve unanimity, not to succumb to the lies and provocations, learn to accept dubious information critical of the Church, and strengthen their prayers.
Earlier, the Metropolitan of Zaporizhia and Melitopol Luka, addressed to the administration of Nikolaev, in which he said that the coercion and intimidation of the clergy of the UOC for the purpose of tax in a split contradict the Constitution of Ukraine.
THE CHURCH IN THESSALONIKI TO SERVE THE MIGRANTS BY TAKING HELP FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
The water is ours, not yours: Chapter Braila tried to disrupt the prayer of the clergy of the UOC
Patriarch Kirill meets with delegation of Ecumenical Patriarchate
The clergy of the diocese of Chernivtsi reported pressure from the authorities
Extramarital sex – the path to degradation?
The TV channel "Spas" will show a film of Metropolitan Hilarion "assumption"
His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa Theodore: the Church does not worship politicians


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Йосипа Римаць (; при народженні — Йосипа Чуліна ();  , Лукар, Хорватія) — хорватська політична діячка, яка тричі обіймала посаду мера Книна у проміжку з 2005 по 2015 рік. Член головної правоцентристської партії Хорватський демократичний союз (ХДС). Уперше обрана міським головою у червні 2005 р. у віці 25 років, ставши таким чином наймолодшим мером у державі. На виборах у парламент Хорватії 2015 р. була головою виборчого штабу ХДС.

Життєпис
Народилася у Лукарі, що в громаді Промина, і перші чотири класи школи навчалася в Книні, який покинула 1990 року, коли спалахнула війна Хорватії за незалежність. До вересня 1991 р. продовжувала освіту в Оклаї. Потім ходила до школи в Рієці і Спліті, а до Книна повернулася тільки в жовтні 1995 р., коли припинилися бойові дії. Навчалася у вищій школі економіки за фахом «спеціаліст туристичного менеджменту». Там же вивчила і англійську мову. Також присвятила багато часу волонтерській діяльності у місцевому Червоному Хресті Книна, а 2000 року була призначена директоркою Червоного Хреста міста Книн — наймолодшим директором країни. 2005 р. отримала посаду директорки Червоного Хреста Шибеницько-Книнської жупанії. Усе це було волонтерською роботою.

Політикою займалася ще зі школи. Свого часу вступивши в ХДС, нині входить до складу Шибеницько-Книнського окружного комітету цієї партії.

10 червня 2005 р. обрана міською головою Книна. У вересні 2015 р. подала у відставку з посади мера, щоб мати змогу «взяти участь у виборчій кампанії ХДС на парламентських виборах 2015».

25 вересня 2015 р. парламент Хорватії одноголосно і без обговорень зняв з неї депутатську недоторканність, тим самим дозволивши Прокуратурі Хорватії продовжити розслідування проти неї за підозрою у незаконному придбанні квартири та заподіянні шкоди державному бюджету на понад 500 000 кун за час її перебування на посаді міської голови.

У березні 2018 р. призначена головою робочої групи з розроблення проєкту нового закону про запобігання конфлікту інтересів.

Одрежена, виховує дочку Катю 2002 р. н.

Примітки

Посилання
 Josipa Rimac

Хорватські жінки-політики
Мери міст Хорватії
Члени парламенту Хорватії
Члени Хорватської демократичної співдружності

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Chemical Use Program started in 2006, adjacent to the outpatient behavioral health program for the purpose of serving adolescents and families who have struggles with addiction, chemical use and substances.
They're able to come into our clinic and receive services surrounding addressing that area.
The age group that we serve is adolescents as well as adults. Our adolescent program is for 13 to 19 years of age. Our adult program starts at 19 and above.
We have two levels of care. We have an Outpatient Treatment Program as well as an Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program.
Those are two different levels of care. A youth that comes into the program, we will evaluate, through a chemical use evaluation, what their needs are.
If they are in the lower need, they would be in the Outpatient Treatment, which involves individual psychotherapy services, group psychotherapy, as well as family therapy.
IOP services or Intensive Outpatient involves nine to 12 hours of treatment services per week. That's more intensive and that's where the family is very involved, and there's a lot of group psychotherapy involved in that.
To make a referral, families can call the main hotline number as well as the Behavioral Health Clinic.
They will be asked a question about what the concerns are with their adolescent. That may tell us they need the Chemical Use Program. At that point, within 24 to 48 hours, a clinician will call them, talk about what the needs are and have them schedule an appointment to come in.
The Boys Town Chemical Use Program has a couple of unique aspects to it.
One is family involvement is important and pivotal. If we have an adolescent that comes in, their family will be involved and be informed.
Parents have the most knowledge on what's going on with that adolescent. That's very important to us.
In addition to that, our program has those services that I mentioned, individual, family, and group. We individualize our treatment to the needs of that family, of that child, and what their diagnosis is.
The other part of the Chemical Use Program is we are a dually-credentialed program, which means all of the clinicians in the Chemical Use Program have a dual license.
They're able to provide services for the substance use as well as mental health difficulties.
Those services can be combined and they can be working on those aspects together.
The Boys Town Chemical Use Program is committed to serving youth by providing drug and alcohol education, treatment and prevention services. We serve youth, ages 11-19, with varying conditions — from those who are experiencing challenges related to the early stages of substance use, to those who have been diagnosed with long-term substance abuse or dependence disorder, including co-existing mental health conditions. In addition to providing services to children and youth, the Boys Town Chemical Use Program also provides services to adults.


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DHS seeks better private-public sharing of cyber threat information
Jory Heckman@jheckmanWFED
The Department of Homeland Security wants private-sector companies to get under the agency's information-sharing umbrella in order to better manage and mitigate cyber risks to critical infrastructure.
Suzanne Spaulding, the Under Secretary of DHS' National Protection and Programs Directorate, told audiences at Wednesday's MetricStream GRC Summit that industry's sharing of cyber threat information with DHS creates a "network of networks" that reduces the risk of another major data breach, like the 2013 Target breach that affected more...
Suzanne Spaulding, the Under Secretary of DHS' National Protection and Programs Directorate, told audiences at Wednesday's MetricStream GRC Summit that industry's sharing of cyber threat information with DHS creates a "network of networks" that reduces the risk of another major data breach, like the 2013 Target breach that affected more than 40 million customers.
"Today the adversary can use either an IP address or a kind of malware, or other kinds of tactics and procedures for conducting malicious activity, and they can use it over and over and over, because we're not sharing that information efficiently enough," Spaulding said. "What we're trying to create here is a system that as soon as any node on this network of networks detects malicious activity, that information goes in milliseconds to everybody in this network of networks. And so the adversary might be able to get away with some once, but only once, because as soon it's spotted, everyone has it, and ideally, has the technology, which is available, to block it. And that would be a huge step forward."
With cybersecurity threats on the rise, Spaulding said her team has broadened its purview on national security infrastructure threats to include more than just bridges, roads and buildings.
"It is all of those goods and services and functions that underlie our way of life, and have such an impact to our day-to-day lives. So of course it's the electric grid and water, but it's also financial services and emergency services. It's nuclear facilities and chemical facilities, but it's also critical manufacturing and commercial facilities. So it's not just about protecting, it really is about ensuring the functionality that we've all come to depend upon," she said. "It's about our ability to take full advantage of the wonderful benefits that a networked world has to offer us. And it requires a fundamental level of security in order to do that,"
With the growing influence of cyber in the threat landscape, Spaulding said organizations need their chief executive officers to stay abreast of the issues, rather than just chief technology and information officers.
"It's particularly important when you're talking about cybersecurity, because it's so easy to cede this to the technical folks and to put this in a stovepipe, that it's only about IT systems and networks, when really it has to be part of that broader conversation about functionality within those critical infrastructure sectors," Spaulding said.
Congress encouraged further public-private partnership on cybersecurity last year through passage of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, which passed as part of the year-end budget budget deal. Spaulding said information sharing allows government and industry to move more swiftly to prevent or minimize cyber intrusions.
"We need to move with the speed that our adversaries moves, and that's what our automated information sharing initiative was designed to do, and is now open for business," she said. "The idea with the automated information sharing is that we'll have this network of networks. It's not a spoke-and-hub idea. We encourage companies to share information with us — the more data we get, the more we can add value through analysis, and we're building stronger and stronger systems to detect bad things we've never seen before."
Spaulding also touted the agency's success with its Enhanced Cybersecurity Services (ECS) program, which provides guidance to industry's sharing of cyber threat indicators with DHS' National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).
"At DHS NPPD we try to add value. Threat is one of the areas that I think the private sector most looks to the government for help. And so we try to provide context at sort of the strategic level," Spaulding said.
Read more: Cybersecurity
Jory Heckman
Jory Heckman is a reporter at Federal News Network covering U.S. Postal Service, IRS, big data and technology issues.
Follow @jheckmanWFED
New tools, liability protections elevate DHS cyber threat sharing
Cybersecurity Read more
All News CIO News Cybersecurity Department of Homeland Security GRC Summit Industry Information sharing Suzanne Spaulding Technology


text:
Russian ship Admiral Gorshkov performs hypersonic missile launch
US Navy's lead America-class ship test fires RIM-116 missile
Turkey to build three Istanbul-class vessels concurrently
UK NAO warns of potential delays in achieving initial carrier strike operating capability
The British Royal Navy's plan to achieve initial carrier strike operating capability by December 2020 could be delayed due to technical issues that are yet to be resolved, according to the UK's National Audit Office (NAO).
HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first carrier, is now expected to sail for the first time in the summer of this year, nearly three months later than originally planned.
The UK's planned carrier strike group will be the first to be deployed since the Invincible-class aircraft carrier left service.
NAO head Amyas Morse said: "The department has made good progress and clear plans to achieve an initial carrier strike operating capability by December 2020, but it still has a lot to do as it brings together the equipment, trained crews, infrastructure and support.
"Problems in any of these areas could mean use of the carriers is delayed or reduced. The programme will shortly move into a high-risk period of trials, testing and training which may affect plans and increase costs.
"The closely timed sequence of tasks offers no further room for slippage and there remain significant risks to value for money."
"The programme will shortly move into a high-risk period of trials, testing and training which may affect plans and increase costs."
NAO noted that the next three years will be critical to establishing the capability and deploying it in 2021.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will have to bring together the carriers, Lightning II jets and Crowsnest radar, along with trained crew members and supporting infrastructure, logistics, communications and surveillance.
The MoD will be required to test and operate all these elements together in preparation for the capability deployment. The department will also have to address any operational unknowns that may be revealed during testing.
Fully flexible carrier-enabled power projection (CEPP) capability is expected to be achieved by the MoD by April 2026.
NAO has found that the Royal Navy is currently lacking in numbers of trained military personnel, running 4% short of its target strength of 145,560.
The watchdog has also noted that in order to address the slippage in reaching set targets, the MoD have had to take several decisions that have compressed the overall production schedule, and added risk with limited contingency in the process.
Decreasing Defense Expenditure: Key Trends and Future Outlook
Electronic Warfare - Emerging Trends, Approaches, Key issues and Investment Outlook
Counter-Stealth Technologies - Key Drivers, Trends and New Developments
The Future of Disruptive Tech Themes in Defense
Network Centric Warfare - Demand Drivers, Key Applications and New Developments
Nao Inc
National Audit Office


An Alaska Site has a presentation of up to date data regarding earth's magnetic field, plotted out on a graph from readings taken from the fluxgate magnetometer, built by the University of Alaska. We can in fact follow abnormalities in the earth's magnetic field, and track the day(s) when they occured. This relates to the approach of Nibiru / 12th Planet / Planet X, as the planet closes in for passage it causes more and more magnetic abnormalities/disturbances and this will be reflected in the data.


The name Joanna Kulig might not ring a bell for the majority of American moviegoers, but that could all change in the coming weeks with the theatrical expansion of "Cold War." The Polish drama from "Ida" director Pawel Pawlikowski about a singer, Zula (Kulig) and a musician, Wiktor (Tomasz Kot), "doomed" to love one another has made Kulig someone-to-watch on the international stage. With a timeless movie star quality that only comes along every so often, Kulig has been compared to everyone from Jennifer Lawrence to "Jules and Jim"-era Jeanne Moreau.
Kulig, 36, had enjoyed relative success working in film and television in Poland, in projects like "Elles" with Juliette Binoche, and in "Ida," where she played a pop star. But when "Cold War" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (and an "eight-minute standing ovation"), Kulig found herself in a spotlight that has yet to dim.
"For me it's very exciting. I'm very happy about Polish films and more and more people from the states can learn about Polish film, Polish culture — this is one thing — but another, this is very new situation and very new for me how film works," Kulig said recently in Los Angeles. "We did Cannes, it was something very big. There was a big standing ovation and Julianne Moore and Benicio del Toro, they cried and they said, 'Thank you for this.' I was surprised, you know? I'd never been in a situation like that."
"Cold War" has struck a chord around the world. Achingly beautiful, tantalizingly brief (at 88 minutes), the film is a musical odyssey as Zula, an ambitious and talented girl from the wrong side of the tracks intent on survival, and Wiktor, an urbane musician who is taken by Zula's feral charisma, chase one another across the eastern bloc through the decades.
Kulig likened their romance to that of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, and its universal appeal to "Casablanca."
"He was intellectual, more educated, very warm and calm, and Zula was quite like Marilyn Monroe like a wounded bird, like sensitive and emotional but at the same time distracted because of her difficult childhood," she said.
Pawlikowski said he made Kulig watch Lauren Bacall to get the "timing and delivery down."
"The Zula character is quite nasty at times and quite sarcastic and Joanna doesn't have that in her character," he said.
And he's not surprised that she's getting such widespread attention for the role, in which her feisty and unforgettable character also gets to sing everything from folk to jazz and dance, although some have expressed a minor gripe with his choices.
"Joanna won the award for the best actress at the Cairo Film Festival. The local audiences adored her, but they were furious at me for having made the film in black and white," Pawlikowski said. "They said, 'She's so beautiful! Why would you have made the film in black and white?'"
"It was great. You travel, it's empty, you can be in your own world," she said. "Because when you're an actor, it's this wonderful job, but like you are in one subject for a long time. It's a very big psychological process ... You have to find your own place and come back to your own life."
And, importantly, she added, everyone is asleep in Poland when it's daytime in California.
Now she's back on the West Coast again, although this time it's hardly a vacation. She's bouncing around between press engagements, "Cold War" screenings and awards events and industry meetings. She's met Brad Pitt, Timothee Chalamet, Quincy Jones and Lady Gaga at various awards events. Steven Spielberg wanted to meet with her. And she's already filmed a part in the Amazon adaptation of "Hanna."
"I'm open," Kulig said of her plans going forward. "I like new experiences in life and new cultures."
"The good thing is she's got her head screwed on the right way. She's not a young girl just starting. I think she'll make the right choices. She's got potential. She has a unique personality. It's rare to come across someone so original and genuine," he said. "She's a very truthful, spontaneous and in the moment person. She lights up. And she doesn't lie which is strange for an actor."
The future is bright for Kulig, and awards and a higher profile aren't the only thing she has to look forward to in 2019. She's expecting her first child in March as well.
"This year, I will remember all of my life," she said.


Charter a fully equipped Adventure Bus or Adventure Van for your club, family, friends, scouts, whoever! You can choose from one of our own itineraries or we'll help you create an ideal tour just for you! Contact us for more information.


New song available. Collaboration between The Weeknd and Daft Punk.
I am of a similar opinion!
I enjoyed this song, I thought it was well written and Daft Punk let their presence known on the beat.
Can't get enough of this. His newest song "False Alarm" is also worth a mention, might be even better imo.


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Q: last value in sqlite column with aiosqlite Could anyone give me a tip with asyncio SQLite on how to retrieve the last value from a column named kW? Only column in the db named save_data with one table named all_data.
In SQLite db browser if I run SELECT * FROM all_data ORDER BY kW DESC LIMIT 1; this will return:
2021-02-01 09:23:09.758140 73.7699966430664
Which is correct but includes the timestamp but I am only interested in the value 73.7699966430664
Any tips help not an expert on sql and trying to learn asyncio at the same time. The code below doesn't require asyncio but its part of something else I am working on...
import asyncio
import aiosqlite

async def collect_report_value():
    async with aiosqlite.connect("./save_data.db") as conn:
        result = await conn.execute("SELECT * FROM all_data ORDER BY kW DESC LIMIT 1;")
        print(result)
        return result

asyncio.run(collect_report_value())

This just prints <aiosqlite.cursor.Cursor object at 0x000001EEFCF9A808>
Any tips on how to retrieve data value from sql (not the timestamp) through asyncio methods greatly appreciated.

A: try to fetch your object:
result = await conn.execute("select kw from all_data order by kw desc limit 1")
resultfetch = await result.fetchone()
print(resultfetch[0])

and the sql related you can make it simplier by requesting only the desired column:
select kw from all_data order by kw desc limit 1;

I have assumed you want the kw column, but I my have misunderstood your question, it you meant another column, just replace it in the select statement.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The changing drivers of DCS development
Now that distributed control system (DCS) technology is moving into middle age, the nature of what users want from it is evolving. Enough maturity may avoid a mid-life crisis.
By Peter Welander October 14, 2015
That industrial citizen, the distributed control system (DCS), has reached the age where it needs to take stock of its accomplishments so far and decide what's next. Born around 1975, this technology is certainly mature and has many years to go before retirement. Let's reflect on its life so far.
Forty years ago, more or less, this technology was launched as several automation original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) brought out similar platforms at roughly the same time. Which company released what and when exactly isn't critical to this discussion. Suffice it to say the platforms had a high degree of similarity and covered much of the same space. Early adopters among oil refiners, chemical plants, and other traditional process industries used them to replace panel boards, pneumatic, and electronic analog controllers. Many of those early platforms are now only memories, although some companies continue under the same banner.
The systems were purposely built around proprietary hardware and software, using hard-wired input/output (I/O) field devices. Operators got their information on monochrome cathode ray tube (CRT) displays using keyboards and maybe proprietary tablets. What seems now to be hopelessly outmoded was, at the time, the height of adaptability.
For as crude as the computer software was at the time, the DCS's number crunching capability was pretty sophisticated. Algorithms to control loops were reliable, and most of the time these platforms worked pretty well and could keep even complex processes on an even keel. Many of these early systems operated for decades, and with a little critical maintenance from time to time, some are still working today.
Evolutionary process
Over the years, DCSs evolved in many ways, but some of the basic underlying concepts remained static. Some of those improvements include:
Operator interaction with human-machine interfaces (HMIs) grew more sophisticated as graphic capabilities got better and a greater sense of how operators access information grew.
Operator interaction spawned studies of how operators work in abnormal situations, further improving operator effectiveness.
I/O supporting field devices added digital mechanisms to increase the amount of information available.
Asset management platforms helped improve reliability by making the connection with maintenance more direct.
Open off-the-shelf hardware replaced proprietary equipment, although to many, this proved to be a mixed blessing.
Alarm management became an industry in its own right.
Support grew more sophisticated for integration with larger enterprise networks to allow information transfer, but with it came the whole new issue of cyber security.
Procedural automation, still a relatively new development, has taken a growing role in helping operators get through startups, shutdowns, and other situations where safety incidents can happen.
Similar implementation
In spite of all these improvements, the mechanisms for designing and implementing a system didn't really change:
Field devices were still hard-wired to the DCS I/O through junction boxes and marshalling cabinets.
Each of these had its own terminals, meaning there could easily be 15 points where wires were terminated, introducing points where communication could be lost.
Field devices only could communicate with the controller to which they were connected.
New capabilities added to controllers and field devices often served only to make them more complex and difficult to configure.
Programming was written largely from scratch and could not be implemented until the hardware was installed because it had to reflect the final configuration.
So long as projects remained relatively simple, the traditional approach worked, and users tolerated its shortcomings. Some plants adopted fieldbus networking to mitigate the field wiring problems, but in the greater scheme of things, those numbers were small.
Lacking standardization
Over the years projects and their resulting DCSs became more complex and more expensive. The costs of large projects grew higher, and companies often saw their new plant waiting to start up, delayed by final adjustments to the automation platform. It did not take long for companies to realize how much money was being lost each day, never to be recovered. Systems were too hand-built, lacked standardized components, and were too engineering intensive.
Automation engineers found themselves in the crosshairs when their systems were the last thing standing in the way of startup and realizing revenue. In spite of all the improvements over the years, to the thinking of many users, the DCS at age 35 was fat and out of shape, but there was no practical alternative. The customers said, "There has to be a better way." The vendor companies had to get this couch potato back into condition.
"For us it started about five years ago with electronic marshalling," said Roger Freeman, vice president of Emerson Process Management's project management office. "That was followed by virtualization of the entire DCS, not just the workstations, but the controllers and I/O controllers, so that the whole engineering side could be done independently of the hardware platform. The whole thing became more flexible at a lower cost."
The key realization, made by Emerson and others, was that the process of designing and implementing a DCS was far too linear. Main steps had to take place in a serial fashion, each waiting for completion of the one previous. Any delays added to the overall timeline, pushed out the ultimate startup of the plant, and resulted in lost value. Late changes required by process engineers made the situation worse since they could not be anticipated.
"The whole idea of LEAP [Honeywell's lean project management program] is to separate functional design from physical design and bind them at the very end," said Jack Gregg, Experion product marketing director for Honeywell Process Solutions. "It's the perfect scenario for new installations, but can also be applied to brownfield projects."
It begins with I/O hardware
Field wiring and I/O were major contributors to the problem because they had to be configured for the specific site. If field device A had to connect to Controller 3, the cable had to follow whatever path necessary to tie together those points, and if anything had to be changed, the adjustment was time consuming and expensive. Emerson, Foxboro, Honeywell, and Yokogawa all created systems using configurable standardized I/O hardware with field-mountable cabinets.
With more hardware standardization, more elements of the DCS could be designed at the same time. Programming could be written independently of the hardware. Serial development gave way to parallel activity. Rigid design elements gave way to flexibility.
New list of challenges
The change in approach has changed the way customers and vendors discuss projects. Questions now are not so much whether the system can control the process. That aspect is taken for granted. Discussions now center on many of the newer capabilities along with purchase cost, lifecycle cost, complexity, speed of deployment, stability, adaptability, and longevity. Companies want predictable installation or upgrade projects because so much hinges on maintaining production.
"The pressure on time with a brownfield project is stronger in many ways than it is with a greenfield project," said Claudio Fayad, marketing director, DeltaV platforms for Emerson Process Management. "Refineries are stopping every 6 or 7 years, and they stop for 30 days. The pressure is to make the automation project predictable, regardless if it's a greenfield, an upgrade, or modernization. It's part of all those conversations."
Adding the human element
For many years, DCS design discussions focused on technology. Naturally operators were part of the picture, but often secondarily. With all the aspects of the changing workforce emerging, people are becoming a larger element. Suppliers are changing the way operators interact with the systems based on human factors, and often this extends to how operators interact with each other. There is a far greater emphasis on collaboration human to human, and this can be in the same control room or two people on different continents helping each other out. New technologies support this kind of interaction.
"The new HMI solutions came about through observation of operators and how they work," Gregg explained. "Our new console was designed for the operator who sits there for 12 hours controlling a volatile process and be asked at the 11½ hour to make a critical decision. So we asked, 'What can we do to help that operator stay alert, be aware, and be responsive?' Part of the answer was the design of the furniture, but also new ways for the operator to look at the process."
Flexibility for the future
One truly universal aspect of this discussion is longevity. While most computer-based equipment has a lifespan of a few years, control systems are measured in decades. Any company installing a new system has to be thinking out 20 years or more, with both the vendor and user considering the implications of decisions on that basis. Adaptability and flexibility need to be included because nobody really knows what changes might need to be made years down the road.
"We used to have a very defined mental model about the control system, and there was not a lot of ambiguity," Fayad recalled. "Now you can do so many things and in so many different ways. You can bring I/O on a bus, hard-wired, wireless, or hybrid. The tools were only about control, now they're about control, operations performance, maintenance, project efficiency, so we have to help people understand those differences and what they mean to work processes. Users want these operational benefits without facing risk."
Marjorie Ochsner, senior marketing manager at Honeywell Process Solutions works with customers during DCS migrations and sees what old systems can look like after many years of constant use.
"Many of our customers have infrequent turnarounds only every several years, so the stability of their control system is core to their business," Ochsner noted. "So when you talk about investing in and implementing new valuable innovations, we are always looking for ways to bring our customers forward without shutting down the process. We call this continuous innovation," she said.
Our friend the DCS is still a solid citizen, and now reaching middle age, is ready to take on ever increasing challenges while delivering systems with greater simplicity and flexibility. Mid-life crisis averted, although there are still occasional thoughts of buying a Corvette.
– Peter Welander is a contributing content specialist for Control Engineering, pwelander@cfemedia.com.
Key concepts:
After 40 years, key DCS design elements have not changed significantly.
Customers are driving DCS vendors to develop more standardized designs for more predictable project execution.
Is your plant still waiting for a modern DCS? Have you quantified the costs of waiting?
See links to related articles on this topic below.
Make your I/O smarter
Automating automation: Why do smart devices have to be configured manually?
Toward simpler and faster control system implementations


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Girls Football
The Under 16 Girls Football team have had a excellent season this year, finishing 3rd in their group in the Gloucestershire County finals tournament.
The team qualified for the County final by finishing 3rd in the Stroud and Cotswold District League tournament at Rednock School on Wednesday 21 March 2018. They improved game by game during the tournament as they got used to the structure of playing 7-a-side. They demonstrated particularly strong defending, combined with good passing in attack. Their results during the District tournament included a 1-0 victory against Stroud High School for Girls, 0-0 draws against Rednock and Maidenhill Schools, a 1-0 loss to KLB School and a 1-0 loss to Thomas Keble School.
The Gloucester County final took place at Rednock School the following day, Thursday 22 March. The girls did not lose a game on the night, showing resilient defending and good attacking skills. Results included a 1-0 win against Five Acres Academy and three 0-0 draws against KLB, Tewkesbury and Churchdown Schools.
Mr Cumming, PE teacher and coach said: "This team has played some excellent football across the two tournaments and they should be extremely proud to not lose a game in a county final."
Team captain Libberty said she was "proud of the team's efforts because it is the best we have done in four years of playing school football."
Well done to the following players who have represented the team this season: Libberty, Mia, Charlie, AR, Ella, Eve, Neve, Bo and Emily.


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Opinion: Hang up your vagina costume and DO something meaningful for women
by Desiree Huitt Jan 26, 2017
Surely I am not the only woman out there embarrassed by the women's marches this week. Cue the hate mail to start rolling in. For those still interested, bear with me as I continue my rant on what it means to be a true feminist. Women (and others) dressed up like giant vaginas or wore knitted hats to protest the inauguration of a president that said "grab them by the pussy" in a private conversation over a decade ago. This is President Trump's first week in office, and so far he has not abused his executive power to oppress women's rights. The celebrities who were speaking at the marches, like Madonna, have made a living out of exploiting themselves for decades. Love the energy and enthusiasm, but let's focus that on real women's issues and human-rights issues, both domestic and abroad. There are worse things in life than offensive language and hurt feelings.
Did I mention she considered blowing up the White House because Trump was elected? (Image courtesy of WireImage)
For example, female genital mutilation (FGM) is occurring in this country and hundreds of other countries around the world. Girls, from toddlers to teenagers, are mutilated against their will due to a cultural stigma. I covered this topic in a previous article because it affects so many generations of women, and it is women who are keeping the tradition alive. Women are oftentimes the facilitators of these barbaric procedures. Where are the thousands of women standing up for the scared little girls who are not only mutilated, but then lose trust in the women who are supposed to protect them the most?
What about the Yazidi women being sold by ISIS? These girls are repeatedly raped and then passed on to the next ISIS fighter. In June 2016, the UN estimated that ISIS is holding at least 3,500 women and children for sexual slavery. Any takers to volunteer to find them a way out of the hell they call life?
(Image courtesy of Twitter)
ISIS members bragging about Yazidi girls (image courtesy of YouTube)
ISIS has executed LGTBQ people by throwing them off of buildings in Syria and Iraq. Even though homosexuality is generally culturally tolerated behind closed doors, anyone who publicly exhibits an alternative lifestyle is killed. I still have not seen anyone rushing over to help other than the military.
(Image courtesy of IBT)
ISIS throwing a gay man from the roof of a building (Image courtesy of IBT)
What about the Boko Haram women, who have been kidnapped and oftentimes forced to become suicide bombers? The reaction to their circumstance was nothing but a short-lived hashtag. Those young women have been forgotten by the world until the next one dies from a suicide bombing or is found with the Boko Haram member she was forced to marry and whose children she was forced to bear. Once freed from Boko Haram, they are still shunned from their families and villages.
(Image courtesy of Twitter/@FLOTUS44)
What about the trafficked women in your own backyard? SOFREP writer George Hand IV works for DeliverFund, an organization that fights human trafficking every day. According to George, reliable statistics for human trafficking are difficult to obtain, but it is estimated that 21 million people are trafficked globally, with 1.5 million here in the U.S. According to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in six of 18,500 runaways reported being trafficked at some point in their lives. Do you volunteer your time to getting them to safety?
The one thing that these women's marches have shown the world is how out of touch with reality these protestors really are. I mentioned being embarrassed by the women's marches because most of the women interviewed during the marches had no clue about real women's rights. When the protestors were really pressed to discuss real issues, many turned away the interviewers. Most of these people have no idea what being a feminist actually means. Feminism seems to have morphed into just another word for being pro-choice. Feminism is so much more than that. Nothing will be handed to you; you have to work hard to get anywhere in life, and women's rights are no different.
Hang up your giant vagina costume and actually DO something meaningful for women. Educate yourself, have a vision, and carry out a plan to actually bring about change. If your plan includes protesting, great use your first amendment rights—but you need to know the basics of your cause at the minimum. Women's-rights issues will be here no matter which president is elected. Join the military, Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross, or one of the thousands of other NGOs. Be a true feminist and DO something that will get you out of your protected safe space and can legitimately affect women's lives. There are so many other women's issues not discussed in this article, like domestic abuse, incest, murder, sexual harassment, all of which have charities or organizations dedicated to help. In the time you spent meticulously sewing pubic hair on your vagina costume or knitted your "Pussyhats", you could have actually accomplished something meaningful. In the end, action brings about change, not empty words.
Nadia Murad Basee Taha, a young Yazidi woman and survivor of human trafficking, addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Dec. 16, 2015. (Image courtesy of Reuters)
Featured image courtesy of Salon
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About Desiree Huitt
Desiree Huitt is an Army Veteran serving 11 years as a Military Intelligence officer and prior to OCS as a combat medic. She is a graduate from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies.
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Desmond "Des" Shepard
The sweetest cyborg you will ever meet.
0 · 603 views · located in A Not-Too-Distant Future
a character in "Plumeria Research Facility", as played by Demai
ID Number: #66666
Informal Name: Desmond "Des" Shepard
Sexual Orientation: Bisexual
Floor: 12
From the neck up, Desmond resembles a fluffy duckling when he first wakes up in the morning. All newborn blinking innocence and messy hair. As the day goes on, depending on the company, that will either remain or change to something far harder and sharper. There is exactly one person that he is a fluffy duckling around, which is why the two of them are allowed to be together.
More on that later.
When angered or focusing, Desmond doesn't so much walk as prowl, and his walk is better described as a murder strut. He has a strong core, with his shoulders tilted a little forward and his chin slightly down, hips swaying and shoulders moving a little with them when he moves. He walks with a slight forward tilt, as if he's going to reach out and grab you. It also works to conceal his true height, which is 6'3. Despite his footsteps often being silent, he has a presence that few fail to notice. His expressions are usually in the realm of soft and earnest and genuine, though. He has heartbreaking puppy dog eyes, and often appears somewhat like a kicked puppy. He can also move his eyebrows individually, so sometimes that will catch people off guard, which will make him laugh. Normally, he walks as if terrified that he'll scare the dust particles in the air. He's very careful in how he steps.
Desmond's eyes are a bright icy blue that occasionally change color in the light and with his mood, turning flinty when he's angry and more watery when he's laughing. He has long eyelashes, set above has high, chiseled cheekbones. He has red, pouty lips and a strong jaw, with a cleft in his chin and three-day stubble, because he is a lazy butt and doesn't want to shave nearly as often as he should. Speaking of his mouth, he has a soft accent that turns to into ta and you into ya and sometimes drops G's off the ends of words and occasionally just kind of throws words together. He hates his voice, to be honest. It's deep and should be smooth, something that would be sweet and good for crooning love songs deep into the night. However, what throws it off is the metallic sound that echoes beneath it. Sometimes, when he gets angry or close to tears, speaking hurts, as his vocal chords have been replaced partly with metal that doesn't quite fit right. He was created for utility, the only purpose his voice would have had would be mission reports.
Desmond's hair is dark, and far too soft for his own good. He keeps that kind of long too, down to his shoulders. Inevitably, every morning, it will be sticking up literally everywhere. It feathers out a little at the ends, though it falls straight for the most part. His greatest weakness is likely his hair, as it happens. Whenever someone plays with it or scratches his scalp, he just kind of... melts into their arms. It feels far too good, and it is the most sensitive area of his body, besides the seams where his metal limbs and plates meet flesh.
Desmond's most noticeable feature, though, is not his hair or his eyes or that jaw of his. About half of his body is made of a shiny, non-corrosive alloy that employs both hardness and strength to make him into a weapon of great potential. His left arm as well as his right leg are constructed entirely of this metal, along with most of his torso and neck, as well as his right ear. As lightweight as it is, it is still heavier than a human arm, and as such most of his bones are also made of metal to anchor his limbs and keep them from actually falling off. He still has many of his original organs, but he also has wires laced throughout him, as well as general things to make working on him easier. He can open the metal parts of his body to care for them and attempt to fix any glitches. In order to achieve the ability to move about perfectly, his metal parts are made of plates that allow him to move, bend, and otherwise act normally.
Each of the metal limbs and areas on his body are connected to his brain, and have artificial nerves. He has a full range of motion, as well as full access to the immensely important sense of touch. Which, of course, means that he can feel pain as well. Sparking or moving wires wrong inside of him can hurt immensely. He is waterproof, of course, and his eyes are also implanted with a chip that allows him to either view the world normally or as if looking through a computer interface, assessing threats and accessing the programming that is a part of him. Part of his mind is computer, and sometimes, he catches viruses, which is immensely annoying. Imagine him to be partly like Buzz Lightyear. The viruses don't exactly hurt him, but he may start wooing people in Spanish.
Desmond was created for usefulness as well, and much of his physique reflects that. In his right elbow, there is a place created specifically for a needle to go in, if drugs of any sort must be administered. There are various compartments in his sides, leg, and arm that can be adjusted to hold all sorts of things, from kill switches to weapons. He also responds to various code words, each with a different purpose. They are seldom-used words, such as "otsukaresama", which is an untranslatable Japanese word that is used to tell someone that you recognize their work and are thankful for it. This word acts as a sleeping switch, and he will pass out and remain still and malleable for a period of 24 hours and 15 minutes, exactly. Previously, it was used to transport him. Recently, as he gains more self awareness, he has been revolting against these words. He will dream during this period of rest, and sometimes cries out. The word "demesne" can be used in times of great distress, to force him to calm down for a short period of time. He is rumored to have a kill switch, but whatever that may have been, only he knows it now.
Desmond dresses for comfort, partly because he was never permitted to in his old world. He was used to restrains and straps, and now that he's been offered something soft, he takes every chance he has to wear hoodies or sweatpants or soft fabrics in general. He is almost always warm to the touch, but he sometimes still feels cold, so he will often be found wearing long sleeves. His weight is mostly muscle and metal, and so he is immensely hard to actually pick up. He has very nice arms, and sometimes distractedly will pinch himself to leave bruises on his flesh, hoping to remind himself of reality or to punish himself in cases where he believes he has done wrong. He has thick thighs and broad shoulders, paired with a small waist.
Abilities & Mutations
Description: Subject #66666 is the result of experiment in creating the perfect soldier. It has strength and speed greater than peak human performance, emphasized and added to by the metal implants and parts that it has. It can crack concrete with only its fingers, and pass cars on a highway with ease. It heals at a rate much faster than a regular human. It can observe reality through a computer interface connected to its eyes, and normally, it is able to extend its consciousness and explore other computers, gathering data and probably occasionally implanting viruses. However, there is currently a block on that ability. Subject #66666 has lasers as well as powerful electromagnets in its metal hand, enabling it to defend itself outside of hand-to-hand combat. It has incredible combat skills, and has dozens of recorded kills to its name.
Potential Uses for Mutation: Combat, for the most part. Death, potentially, through its codewords.
Flaws or Defects in Subject: Subject is meant to respond to a series of codewords, but as it gains agency, it rebels against them further. Subject #66666 must always follow direct orders, though. Subject #66666 glitches on occasion and catches viruses. There have been two incidents in the past month where its internal functions caught fire from overheating. Subject overworks itself and will not answer when asked about its physical state. Hypothesis states that it does not wish to worry subject #31235. When apart from #31235, it grows increasingly angry and agitated.
*Note: Do NOT Separate
Codewords:
Otsukaresama: Used to make the subject "sleep" for a period of 24 hours and 15 minutes exactly. It will not respond during this time, making transport convenient and easy. This word can be used consecutively, but only once the subject regains consciousness will it have any effect.
Demesne: Used in cases of great distress to force the subject to calm down immediately; slows breathing and reduced heart rate.
Aubergine: Used to restrict breathing; acts as a punishment. Ends with repetition of the word.
The Sound of Silence: The actual song has been programmed into the subject's mind. When hummed or sung for upwards of four seconds, it will cause the subject to lose its voice for two hours and three minutes, exactly.
Kuebiko: This word, when used, disables the use of all functioning metal limbs and parts visible on the surface of the subject for a period of 15 hours and 7 minutes, with a leeway of 10 seconds. Bones and organs will still work, as well as the extremities still constructed of flesh.
Noctivagus: In Latin, literally, wandering in the night. This inspires in the subject a need to return to the base, to return home, so to speak.
*Notes: This was the most commonly known and used codeword, as it caused little harm. However, as the base no longer exists, this codeword now will inspire a deep and instinctive nostalgia in him that he cannot ignore nor rid himself of, and he will wander, searching for the home that he destroyed himself and knowing all the while that he will never find it.
Inretio: In Latin, this word means trap. When used, this word restricts the subject's ability to access other computers or technology using his mind.
*Currently in use, unsure of how to remove this block.
Symperiféromai: Used when the subject is being particularly rebellious. This will force it to respond to and obey any order given, without any resistance whatsoever.
*Known only to Desmond and Meadow.
Mnemosyne: Used in cases of extreme need only. Wipes the subject of all of its memories, causing it to become a clean slate once more. It will recall its utilities and function, as well as skills learned, but personhood and any affections gained will be forgotten.
Hygge: Ironically used to describe peace and enjoying life's simple pleasures in Denmark, this codeword will cause the subject immense pain. It can be ended by a repetition of this word. Otherwise, it can go on for an unlimited amount of time. The longest recorded test of this was exactly 48 hours, 51 minutes, and 34.2 seconds.
Psūkhē: Perhaps the most dangerous of these codewords. This is the subject's kill switch. The utterance of this word will release chemicals hidden in compartments inside of the subject's metal parts, as well as cause its internal functions to glitch and destroy themselves from the inside out. Death will be swift and painful.
Desmond is constantly being torn between two different sides of himself. The first is instinctively violent, a little animalistic, accustomed to killing. The second is one of the kindest people you will ever meet, and that is who he truly is. Years of conditioning has gotten to him, and he reacts very badly to being scared or being pushed into doing anything he doesn't want to. It takes a gentle, familiar hand to get him to calm down, but it does take a little while.
Desmond was the sweetest child in the world, with a head of fluffy hair and a habit of walking up to people in the supermarket and very gently stroking their hands, gazing up at them with his big blue eyes and declaring the scariest looking of people his very best friends. His mother informed him that he could only be friends with them if he knew something about them, and so he would ask for their middle name or favorite color and then give her a very smug look. He annoyed some people, endeared himself to others, and that seems to still be how it is today. He's eager to befriend people, though he is often terrified of new people. It takes him a while to get comfortable around them, to get used to them. As soon as he gets used to them, he's entirely fine. He'll dance with them, laugh with them. He knows a lot of very lame puns, and sometimes makes up new ones.
Desmond is very honest, in all of his dealings. He's the sort of person that you want to consult for fashion advice, because he will tell you if that dress actually goes with your hair. In general, though, particularly as he meets new people, he wants them to like him. When they act standoffish to him, he wants to wrap them up in his arms and get them to like him again. He's very stubborn, he's got a head like an ox. He's also a gentle giant, in all definitions of the word. He loves soft, delicate things, and he has not once broken one. He cries very easily as well, despite his harsh and hard background. If something's really happy or really sad, he will cry. He cannot physically make it through half of the Disney movies that people watch.
Everything that Desmond feels, he feels poignantly. The serum did something to him, increasing how sensitive he is to literally everything. He feels pain at a greater scale, he feels emotion at an immense rate. He's immensely empathetic, and he wants to comfort everyone he possibly can. Despite being made partly of metal, he gives excellent hugs. Desmond notices things and he feels things, and that is part of what makes him unique. When he loves, he loves with his whole being. Despite and perhaps because he is so sensitive, though, he is selfish. He is terribly bad at giving things up, at losing things. He's kind of a hoarder, too. Whenever someone gives him something at all, whether it's a pretty marble or a piece of paper, he will keep it forever and ever. Desmond treasures everything that he is given, from food to trinkets. He loves food, also. He savors everything he is given, because someone put work into it.
Desmond loves cuddles, and he's kind of immensely sassy. He's got a way with words, and occasionally he writes poetry or random snippets. He loves words, and he doesn't know it, but his mother was a writer. He's most like his mother, in appearance and mannerisms, and if they ever meet, they will recognize that. Particularly when he's mad, though, he'll take his way with words and twist it, his usually helpful honesty turning angry and frustrated. When he's mad, often, he will isolate himself, drawing away from everyone. When he gets attached to people, he will rarely become angry with them.
Desmond, though, for all of his kindness and love and sensitivity, is a human weapon. Death is something normal to him, having his hands stained with blood is something that he has grown up with. He's used to being given a mission, a target, and then going and killing whoever he is told to kill. He's used to following orders, and without a mission, he's often a little lost. Desmond is creative, both with his hands and in general, but sometimes that creativity is put to use in killing someone in an immensely painful way. He's got an ability to shut out screaming or loud noises in general, just because he's so used to them. Sometimes, he'll sink into his programming again, and he'll be a threat to most, if not all, around him. It's hard for him not to think of himself as a monster, and he'll beg people not to touch him sometimes. For all of his good, Desmond sees himself as a murderer, and cannot think well of himself. He relies on others for any form of self esteem, because if he's left to his own devices, he will sink into self hate. He's killed so many and done so much bad, and even if it was because he was forced to, his agency removed, it was still his hands. His palms are still stained with blood.
Desmond is not easily angered, but he sometimes reacts instinctively violently in general. If someone tries to take something from or hurt someone that he loves, he will push them away or pick them up and move them away. Often, people are a little like spiders to him. He doesn't really want to kill them, but he will pick them up and set them outside the door and hope that they don't come back. He also often doesn't mean to hurt people, but sometimes he does on accident. He'll apologize a thousand times over for that. However, when he's sunk into his programming, he'll prowl around like a wolf, he'll snap at everything he sees. He's a weapon, he's a hunter, and he certainly acts the part.
When it comes down to it, Desmond is a wonderful person. He's often content to watch the sunrise or lay with his head in Meadow's lap and watch her play video games. He loves having his hair played with, and he's kind of a flirt. He loves to dance, and he hates his voice because of the metallic scraping that accompanies it. He's not used to having a lot or being shown affection or gratitude, so when someone compliments him or says he did a good job, he will actually preen. He's a full body blusher as well, and he's very bashful. He loves being called pet names, though he rarely calls others by them. He's partial towards calling others sweetheart or sweetie, but other than that, he does use their names. He's more used to the world than some of the inmates, but even so, he's still separated from it. He loves sweets, he loves sugar of any and all kinds, and he is very good at fixing things. He's kind of the mom friend as well, he's very bad at not worrying. He's very physically affectionate to those he's close to, and he likes to always be touching them in some way, if it's hand holding or hugging or even just comforting touches on the shoulder. He loves being touched, and he loves to sing, though he will never, ever do it when others are around. He only sings to Meadow when he thinks that she's asleep.
Notable Skills: Subject has great physical strength, while retaining an almost predator-like grace. It was created to be a hunter, and can move silently and fight with nearly perfect form. It is also excellent at knitting, singing, anything involving heavy lifting, and ballet. It enjoys dancing. It keeps trying to persuade Dr. Reid to dance with it.
*Note: Get him to make Dr. Neill a scarf, the AC's been freezing lately
Notable Disadvantages: It responds to a series of codewords that can be utilized in various ways, and are listed below. It has various glitches in its machinery that range from amusing to dangerous, such as its occasional catching of viruses (amusing) and its occasional overheating (dangerous). It is also unable to access other technology using its mind, as one of the aforementioned codewords is currently in effect.
Subject #66666 is the lone survivor of an experiment in creating the perfect soldier. He was born to a normal family, with parents and an older sister. However, a terrible drunk driving accident caused him to be taken from his family. They were all safe, for the most part, but they were told that he was dead. The paramedics were bribed into taking him, as the program needed subjects. Tiny and broken, they brought the child back to their labs to study him. He would be trained, assuming that this actually worked. Those in charge of this project were praying for a miracle, and this fluffy-haired child was exactly what they were looking for.
The child responded well to each of the treatments. That is, save for one. It would become absolute perfection, it would respond to programming and to instructions, and they hoped to keep him human as long as they could and push the limits. They only got half of a chance to do so, though, because the serum they injected into him caused an adverse effect. Burn marks and terrible scarring appeared on his left arm, the product beginning to eat and burn away at him from the inside out, just as it had for every other subject. This time was different, though, it didn't instantly blow through him and leave him a charred piece of dust on a lab table. It was slow-working, and its hunger seemed sated after it took his arm and leg and chunks out of him. It wasn't enough to kill him like it had all the others.
The child sobbed and screamed for its mother all throughout, and they put it into a medically induced coma to get it to be quiet. While it was asleep, they replaced its limbs and parts of its body and mind with metal. The serum worked, besides those stupid side effects, and the child would be able to lift things more than five times his weight even at such a young age. So, they fixed what they could, and knew that as he grew older, they would have to replace and better his metal parts.
When the child awoke from his coma, he panicked, and destroyed half of the lab. So, of course, the solution was to gather a series of other great minds and begin to turn this child into an avenging angel that would obey their every word. It was a chance at playing god, and they leapt at it. The parts that the serum had not eaten were strengthened, far beyond normal human capacity, and his mind was malleable, now. They were able to program him through trial and error, using a mix of punishments and the computer in his mind to slowly change his nature. They took his memories of his family and of all that he had used to be. His home consisted of a base with shiny walls and technology that they often hooked him up to.
They named him Cobalt, and he was their favorite tool. He made his first kill when he was eight, and only stopped six months ago. When he wasn't in use, they'd put him to sleep. He was subhuman, he was more machine than person, and they felt little guilt over abandoning him for a couple months and then coming back. He felt little attachment to them, but he had little choice but to obey. Over time, they broke every bone in his body, injected him with who knows what, testing him and trying him. He was the only survivor, and they had to test his limits.
Their breaking of his skin and bone didn't affect him much. He cried and screamed and then healed quickly. It was when they started to tinker with his metal parts, trying to improve them, that they actually began to destroy him. He began to overheat. They replaced his vocal chords and they hurt. Everything that they tried to fix, they only made worse. And still, they sent him on missions. They had the perfect soldier, why not use it? But in seeking perfection, they broke him.
Finally, they realized that as useful as he had been, that he was no longer the perfect weapon they wanted him to be. He was no longer a gun, to be pointed and used. Cobalt became aggressive towards them as well, trying to assert himself. He made multiple escape attempts. So, of course, they decided that the best course of action was to decommission him. They were going to wipe his memories and take his abilities and turn him into a husk. He knew this. He heard them. Maybe they'd take him apart slowly, while he was still alive. He was a thing to them, nothing mortal or human any longer. Maybe they'd use parts of him to create other soldiers. Maybe they'd unwind him slowly, take his skin and his blood and his metal limbs... He was particularly attached to his metal limbs. They were the only things he could call his.
And when they came for him, he was ready. He killed all of them before they could take him apart. All of them save for one, who knocked him out, who knew that he would have no chance at containing this force of nature on his own.
Six months ago, he was brought to the facility, covered in blood and guts. When he woke up, he successfully killed something like a dozen guards in under three minutes with his bare hands. It was then that he met a tiny, tiny woman with feathers and huge eyes that took his too-big hand and promised him that he'd be okay. There was no fear in her eyes, and that was initially what drew him to her. He was so, so used to fear or fascination. She just looked... excited to meet him. And even though he left a trail of blood and red was still drying all across him, she introduced herself as Meadow and squeezed his hand and then led him off. He tried to hide it, but he was terrified of this place. She promised him that he didn't need to be scared, and it only took another day for him to start associating her with safety and home. She was delicate and small, but she was... Goodness. She became his whole world. They were put in separate rooms at first, but every night and most of the day, she'd come to him. He wasn't allowed to leave his room just yet, and he missed sunlight and music so, so badly. But her eyes were just like the sun and her voice was better than his favorite song. So he was okay.
Cobalt became Desmond about a month after he was introduced to the facility. His hair was braided, and he had his head resting in Meadow's lap as he watched her play a game involving assassins. He chose his name because Altair felt a little too fancy, and Desmond Miles had a fabulous hoodie. Later, he chose Shepard for a last name, as a result of the Mass Effect games. He liked those names far better than the codename he had been given, and he permanently abandoned it as soon as he had a name of his own. He and Meadow share a room now, which is both absolutely wonderful, because he can't imagine being away from her, and absolutely terrible, because he has somehow managed to fall head over heels in love with her. And he can't tell her, and he knows she doesn't feel the same way. So he's doing his very best to be content with just being her friend. He's dependent on her almost to a dangerous level, and the doctors fear separating them. All in all, though, he's got more agency than he did. He has people who love him. He's happy. And that's more than he had ever hoped for.
Actions of Note within Facility: There are rumors of him, Caspian, Guinevere, and Dr. Reid forming a quartet. When he first arrived, he was a great danger, and now is placid as can be.
Desmond "Des" Shepard's Story
A Not-Too-Distant Future
# 2016-06-11 05:03:29 , as written by Inuiri
A collab between Demai and Inuiri
If there was one thing that Des had noticed about sharing a room with Meadow, it was that he slept far better than he did alone. He actually had time to dream in between the night terrors and the insomnia that hit him hard on the worst possible days. He'd had wonderful dreams that night, and he wasn't used to waking up smiling.
"Dezzy.." The little voice beside him mewled, shifting and getting on her knees, bouncing and shaking the bed, making it thump over and over. "Wake up!" Meadow chirped, hugging him tight as she kept it up. "Wake up wake up wake up!"
That was the second thing that he had noticed. He tended to wake up plenty earlier than he normally did. "Meadoooow," He complained in a mumble, his voice made hoarse from sleep. "'M busy." He protested, wrapping the tiny woman up in his arms and rolling over to trap her in them, effectively preventing her from escaping and continuing to disturb his slow awakening. The little girl squealed delightfully in reply as he moved, hugging his neck tight and grinning from ear to ear, yelping in pain when she laid on her back, the weight agitating her wings. She gasped and clung tight to him like a cat that had been thrown in water, keeping her back off the bed.
Alright, not busy any more. Worry immediately struck at his chest, a flood of guilt immediately filling the hole it left. He gasped a soft apology, gently lifting her off it a little, keeping her off the sheets easily. She was light as a feather in his arms, and perhaps that was an apt comparison.
"I'm ok." She assured him quietly, calmed by his arms around her despite the constant ache in her shoulder blades. "See? Promise." Meadow assured brightly, nuzzling his shoulder.
Des mumbled another apology in response, careful to move his hands just so, hoping to avoid hurting her further. He knew she wasn't alright, she was in pain, she was... She was likely going to need surgery at some point, and he couldn't even hug her tighter, because he would crush her. He put on a brave face, smiling and nudging at her gently in response. "So I can go back to sleep?" He teased softly.
"Noo!" She squeaked indignantly, squeezing him tight to compensate for how he couldn't. "You have to be up! Up up up!!" The girl cheered gleefully.
"Down down down." Des grumbled good-naturedly, shifting to place her atop him with gentle hands. "Better?" He asked quietly.
Meadow giggled brightly, kissing his nose when she was in place. "Uh huh." She hummed, hugging him tight and hiding away in his chest. "But up!" She insisted once more, tugging him towards the edge of the bed.
Des gave her a terribly amused look, sighing at last and then letting her tug him along, slowly sitting up. He yawned, reaching up to scrub at his eyes with mismatched hands. He mentally told the computer that attempted to analyze his current state of sleep deprivation to shut up, and dragged one hand down his face. "'M tired." He mumbled, pillowing his head on her shoulder.
She grinned and hugged him tight still, "But it's morning!" She whined with a grin, just as much of a bird like this as in every other way, with the need to wake up everyone.
"And I'm Des." The cyborg teased a little, dropping a kiss onto her hair and then curling up, small as he could get with his size, pillowing his head on her lap. "Five more minutes?" He pled, peering up at her and giving her a pair of pathetic puppy dog eyes.
Meadow pouted and laid across him too, hugging his waist and nuzzling his metal shoulder. "But it's time to be up!" She cried again.
Des was losing this battle, and finally, he surrendered, gently picking her up and setting her on his shoulders. "What are we doing today?" He asked, tapping his metal fingers on her knee. So far as he knew, they were just going to be meeting with Lottie--Dr. Reid, he reminded himself.
"I dunno!" She hummed with a grin, resting her chin on his head and hugging his neck tight, petting his locks back into place, still crazy from sleep. "Can we go outside?" She asked innocently, just like every day.
"We can ask," Des answered softly, a gentle answer that came most days around this time in the morning. But the answer was always no, no, the director says no, the doctors say no... He didn't blame them, really. Not for him and Cas, anyway. But Meadow deserved better.
Meadow grinned brightly at the prospect, hugging him tighter and squealing his name happily. "Ask!" She repeated gleefully. "When we see Lottie."
"What time is she coming here?" Des asked. He considered amending his sentence, adding an over right before the word here, but it was really all one giant compound. They were an elevator away from her, but getting to that elevator, well... He'd rather not risk it.
"3." She hummed in reply, kicking her legs as she sat on his shoulders, repeating the number a few times with a smile, playing with his hair once it was all fixed.
"And what time is it now?" Des nuzzled into her hands gently, tipping his head back to look at her. Time for you to get a watch, he thought, but there were no watches to be found easily accessible around there.
"9!" The girl answered happily, crawling her way to his front, hugging to him like a koala and gazing up at him with her excited golden eyes.
Des was relatively confident that he could feel his heart melting at her response and then at her embrace. He hugged her carefully, humming softly to her. "Six hours is a long time to practice dancing." He teased a little, swaying in a circle with her.
She gasped at the idea. "We can dance! And then do other stuff too!" Meadow chirped hurriedly, slipping from his arms and landing silently on her toes, grabbing his hands.
Des couldn't help but smile at her excitement. He leaned down, gently setting her on her feet. "Like what?" He prompted gently, raising his hands to let her have them.
The ginger squeezed his hands and released one to twirl, hugging him when she returned to his chest. "Like stuff with you." She cooed in earnest, gazing up at him with a soft smile.
"Like drawing, or singing? We could make frosting," Des hugged her gently, dropping a kiss onto her head. He loved frosting. "And something to eat with the frosting." He teased a little. But of course, that was second on the list of priorities when it came to that.
"Sing!" She gasped immediately, jumping and hugging his hands to her chest. "We should sing." She murmured quieter, smiling brightly. She didn't get to hear his voice a lot… He thought she was asleep. But she never really was.
Des hesitated at that, biting his bottom lip out of habit. His brain was moving a mile a minute, though, apparently determined to inform him of all the bad things that could happen. "I--" He started, and nervousness made his vocal chords scrape together. His cheeks flushed, and he ducked his head down, as if he were a turtle and could hide in his shell, earning a gasp from Meadow at the metallic grating. Assuming he was hurt like he normally was from such a sound, she leaned up on her tiptoes and pet his throat in a soothing motion, trying to fix it. Des' cheeks only got darker at her actions, and he leaned down a little to accommodate her better, not wanting her to have to strain herself.
"Better?" She inquired in a small voice, hugging him tight, seemingly never getting off her toes as she stroked his hair. "We don't have to sing that's ok, we can do other stuff." Meadow assured him gently.
"You wanted to sing," Des whispered, trying to get the frustrating pieces of metal that let him speak to work. He hesitated a little, giving them another few moments to soothe themselves. "You're awake when I sing to you?" He asked, a little shyly, as soon as they felt well enough to work.
Her already pink cheeks burned bright red as her eyes widened. "I.. Y-Yeah.." She mumbled bashfully, ducking her head down and kicking the ground with her toe. "'M sorry I can stop." She whispered, peeking up beneath her curls.
Des quickly shook his head, squeezing her hands gently, hoping to comfort her somewhat. "It's okay," He promised softly. "Does it help you sleep at all?" He asked after a moment of hesitancy, afraid that the scraping would keep her awake rather than help her fall asleep.
Her cheerful grin returned in a millisecond at his question, nodding hurriedly and hugging him tight. "Lots." she mused, rocking on the balls of her feet, unable to be sad for more than a moment.
The cyborg was rather relieved that he hadn't caused any lasting damage, and he smiled. He hugged her back in a moment, careful as always. "Lots and lots?" He teased, nudging at her curls gently.
"Yeah!" Meadow chirped in reply, kissing his cheek and becoming distracted quickly as her stomach growled, her insatiable metabolism rearing it's ugly head. "Do we have more animal crackers?" She inquired sweetly, pulling from his embrace and wandering about their room on her tiptoes, heading for the cabinets too high for her. The snacks were one of the easy things for Lottie to sneak in for her.
Des went after her, resting his metal hand on the doorway briefly, just gazing at her with a soft little smile on his face. He was just happy to know her, to be able to spend his time with her. "I think we do," He answered, reaching down to gently lift her up so that she could reach. "We should still have the ones with icing too." He added with a bright smile.
"Yay!" She giggled, clapping and hugging to his arm as she was lifted, kissing his cheek and reaching up. Almost falling from his arms as she reached for the door, she pulled it open and grabbing the tiny box, hugging it to her chest and swinging her legs.
He breathed in sharply when she just about fell, gathering her back to him with gentle fingers in moments, making sure that she was safe and secure. Then, he set her down on the counter. "You okay?" He asked softly. She nodded firmly and opened the box like nothing was wrong, humming quietly as she worked on it, pulling one out and kneeling up, putting the cracker in front of his mouth. Des took the spare moment to try to still his flyaway heart, soothing it with reassurances that she was okay and he hadn't yet dropped her. He came back to himself a moment later, and then he purposely crossed his eyes to look at the cracker, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
Meadow giggled and poked him in the mouth with it, "Eat!" She ordered happily. "Breakfast time," She clarified further.
"I like breakfast," Des teased a little, and then nudged at her hand playfully before delicately taking the cracker from her hand, thanking her as soon as he swallowed.
A grin split across her features as she hugged his neck, "Go get breakfast!" She suggested. "With everyone else. Down in the cafeteria." The ginger hummed as she crawled onto his back again, voice muffled by the crackers in her mouth.
"As you wish," He answered with a soft little smile, shifting to help support her as she climbed over again. His whole chest felt warm just being around her, and he resisted the urge to turn his head and gaze after her. "Cas might be down there." He hummed in thought, smiling a little at the remembrance of their friend.
She pouted a little but nodded. "Ok." She grumbled, her voice too soft and sweet to convey any real negative emotion. "Go!" She chirped, pointing to the door and kissing a metal spot on his shoulder as they headed out.
# 2016-06-25 04:16:33 , as written by Demai
As the two continued down the hall, Meadow sang quietly to her beloved, giant, bodyguard. Des didn't wanna sing. That was ok. She would do it for him. She kissed his locks, though there was more behind the affectionate gesture. TV said when someone makes your heart feel all funny that's what love was. And that's what Desmond felt like… So she loved him then. But she didn't get the difference between the way they said I love you, things that were and weren't ok. They always said I love you. But Dezzy couldn't always have loved her. It made her head hurt thinking about it. So she pushed it aside and leaned over, kissing his nose and hugging his neck tight.
Des' mind was on the same general topic, though a slightly different branch of it. Hearing her sing made every atom in his body, flesh and metal, want to stand up and twirl around. He felt so, so happy... Meadow was the light of his life, to be entirely honest, and he wished he could give her the world, despite knowing that that wasn't a possibility right then. Someday. He hummed softly along with her, smiling at the song that he recognized. He chuckled softly, and gently squeezed her calves, nuzzling at her knee gently.
She squeaked a little at the feeling and giggled, "Hey~" She scolded gently, kissing his metal palm and hugging it to her chest, crawling to his chest and curling up there. "Don't squishy me!"
Des tipped his head up at that, offering her an entirely innocent look as he surrendered his hand to her. He couldn't help but smile, helping to keep her steady as she migrated down to his chest. He cradled her there, letting her listen to his metallic heart. "Why would I do that?" He teased gently.
She giggled, kissing his nose as she leaned up. "You're a meanie." She cooed lovingly, nuzzling his chest and squeezing him tight. "Meanie Des." She hummed.
There had to be some reasonable combination of the words Meanie and Des, but he couldn't easily think of one. He laughed softly, and pressed a kiss to her hair in response. "Am not."
"Yeah." She chirped softly, grabbing his hand with both of hers, nuzzling his wrist and smiling. "I love you." The little birdie hummed, peering up at him with her bright golden eyes, full of nothing but love.
Des felt his whole chest light up at her words, as if her voice had turned on a light switch inside of him. He attempted to quiet the butterflies that appeared along with it, and it was a practiced act by then. If only your heart was supposed to do funny things when you were in love, he was in trouble, because loving Meadow was a full body experience. "I love you too," he whispered affectionately, condensing the light in his chest and the butterflies in his stomach and the warmth everywhere else into three words that he meant, and hoped that she might eventually.
Her eyes lit up at that, giggling gleefully and hugging him tight, kissing his cheek as she latched onto his neck. "Yay!!" She cheered, kicking her feathered feet happily as she ran her talons over his scalp.
The cyborg couldn't help but laugh, finding her joy contagious and needing an outlet for all the warmth that had welled up inside of him. He hugged her gently, cradling her to him and rocking her gently in his arms. Then, as if another switch had been pulled in him, all the tension went straight out of his shoulders when she touched his hair, his eyes closing briefly. If a man could purr, he certainly was as he nuzzled into her hands.
The tiny experiment giggled at his reaction, keeping it up and continuing her singing as she swung her legs. "Don't fall asleep." She cooed playfully.
"Meadooow, you're gonna make me melt." Des protested softly, smiling a little. He gave her a petulant look, peering up at her through his lashes before she hit a particularly sensitive spot and there he went again.
She bit her lip to suppress a grin and pulled her hands away with a little laugh. "Ok, no more." Meadow vowed playfully, tucking her hands behind her back and smiling smugly.
It took him a moment to get his center of gravity back in the right place, and he successfully found one of her hands afterwards. Out of habit, he gently ran his thumb over the feathers on her wrist, and ached to kiss them. But he gazed at her instead, with a soft look in his eyes and a little smile. "Once we sit down?" He suggested softly.
Meadow nodded firmly in reply and hugged his neck again. "Uh huh." She hummed softly, nuzzling her nose against his jaw, too naive to understand the intimacy of it as she let her eyes flutter shut.
Des' cheeks flushed softly at her actions, and he ducked his head down a little, unable to keep from leaning into her touch. Guilt soon stabbed at his chest, though, because he knew she didn't know. And he himself only had some vague idea... What a pair they were, really. He dropped a kiss onto her temple in response as they came up to the elevator doors.
The girl giggled in reply and squished her burning cheeks with glee, feathers puffing out a bit as she poked his nose with her talon, opening her mouth the speak only for them to almost slam into David and Margot as they stepped from the elevator.
# 2016-07-01 16:12:44 , as written by Scarlet Loup
"Do you suppose we could visit Meadow first?"
David looked up from the clipboard on his lap, which he'd balanced on the suitcase that rested on his thighs. He'd checked Margot into the facility multiple times, and each time, he had another stack of paperwork to file. He knew it was only a matter of time before he could no longer get his daughter below the lobby, but until that day, he'd continue filing as many medical forms as he had to.
"Yeah...uh...are you on any new medicines?" he asked, looking up briefly from his form and looking around for Margot. The young girl had taken to walking in a slow circle around his wheelchair, swinging her arms back and forth impatiently.
"Dunno," she mumbled, coming to a stop now as she looked at David in exasperation. This happened every time. Why couldn't he do this before she got here? He was wasting the time she got to spend exploring. "You could ask Mom." David made a face, tapping the pen against his packet of papers.
"Let's not bring your mother into this, got it?" He filled in "unknown" for now, telling himself he'd go back and fix that when he knew. With that, he slammed his pen down on the paper and smiled down at Margot. "Come on then, you. We've got to turn this in."
David wheeled himself over to the front desk and dropped the papers off before any questions could be asked. Margot trailed behind, slinging her backpack onto her shoulders as her father continued making his way towards the elevator. Truly, she loved these visits here - even if she could never speak of it when she went back home. Long ago, her father had fabricated stories she'd be able to tell when her mother asked. And, boy, did she ask.
But Margot wouldn't tell, she couldn't tell. Then she wouldn't be able to come back, and God knew when she'd next see her father. She'd asked her mother once why Dad didn't visit them, and Adele had just laughed to herself before cutting off. She wouldn't sink so low as to insult David in front of her daughter. And yet sometimes she couldn't help herself.
"Well, we'll drop your bags off and then-" David began to speak as they entered the elevator, after he'd scanned his ID.
"You said I could see Meadow," Margot shot back, crossing her arms over her chest now.
"I did?" Oh God, what else did I agree to? "Uh, yeah, I did. Let's go drop off-" But Margot had already pressed the button to Meadow's floor, determined to reclaim as much of her visit as he'd stolen while completing the paperwork. David sighed and rubbed at his temple. "You can't do this, Margot. Things are different here now - I'm in charge of you, damn it." His Scottish accent grew more intense as his voice raised in pitch slightly, sounding more like a complaint than scolding.
When the doors opened, she started to step out, but he wheeled in front of her, sliding out an arm to push her slightly back behind him. But she stopped moving without his guidance and, instead, David rolled himself into Des.
"Ah, good morning, you two," he greeted, grinning up at the pair as Margot watched from behind the wheelchair. He moved back slightly and turned in his seat to look at Margot. "Margot, this is Desmond." Now, he looked back up at the metallic man. "And this is Margot, my daughter."
"Uh...hi," the young girl said quickly, slowly stepping out front behind the wheelchair. "Nice to...meet you." She held out a hand for a moment and then pulled it back, not entirely sure she wanted to shake his metallic hand.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, Des had taken a step forward--only to quickly take three back, not wanting to accidentally crush the staffmember and the child he assumed was his daughter. An apology immediately slipped out, and he shifted Meadow a little. She was better with people than he was, and on instinct, he did his best to make himself a little smaller. That want was exacerbated by how the little girl looked at him.
Meadow, on the other hand, had the exact opposite reaction, lurching forward at the sight of them. "Margot!" She squealed gleefully, slipping from Des' arms and holding his hand, leading him forward with a smile, bumping his arm with her forehead to get him to shake her hand.
Des was terribly torn, between the fact that Margot was literally sidling behind the wheelchair to avoid him and Meadow's exuberance. The girl did not want to shake his hand, and Meadow was now nudging him. He looked at the latter with a helpless expression, and then hesitated before offering his normal hand as Margot reached forward, a little hope rising up in his chest. She took her hand back quickly, and that hope fizzled out promptly. He drew his back before he could touch her, whispering an apology. "Nice to meet you too." He said softly, smiling a little at her. And for once, his voice didn't scrape or anything
Meadow frowned a tiny bit at the awkwardness, hugging his metal arm tight to show him how much she loved it if Margot didn't. She reached forward a little so she didn't have to release Des, hugging Margot with one arm and grinning. "I missed you!" The ginger chirped happily. "Dezzy is the best in the world and he's the sweetest." She declared.
Des' chest warmed at Meadow's actions, and he was terribly grateful for her. He leaned down, resting his head on hers for a moment before straightening a little once more, blushing at Meadow's response. She thought he was the sweetest? He curled his metal fingers a little, squeezing her hand gently. His actions earned a little giggle from the hybrid, leaning up to bump her forehead to his, nuzzling their noses together and tucking herself into his side as she looked back to David and Margot expectantly.


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