I am looking to get access to the bloomsburry fashion photo archive and i was wondering if anyone who goes to fit would be kind enough to lend me access to the archive so I see some photos. I am looking to see archives of Yohji Yamamoto, Maison Margiela, Vivienne Westwood, Calvin Klein, Comme Des Garcons, Emporio Armani.
Im basically looking for the 80s-90s era because for some reason the high quality photos from that era have disappeared or never existed on the internet.
I would be eternally grateful as I am a self taugh lt fashion designer.

Hi all, this is my first time posting and would greatly appreciated some advice, insight and bra suggestions. I, like many other members of the IBTC, was victimized by Pepper and fell for their marketing and targeted ads. It wasn’t until after I bought some bras from them, that I came across negative Pepper reviews that led me here. I took a deep dive into the rabbit hole that is ABTF.
For the last 15 years of my life, I have been wearing the wrong bra size, thank you Victoria’s Secret sales associate for telling me my bra size is a 34B… Every 34B I ever tried on was too big in the band, so I guesstimated that I must’ve really been a 32A since I was flat chested and the bands were always riding up my back. 32A was never a great fit either, but it seemed better than 34B.
I ended up with a 34AA from Pepper, thinking it was the best fitting bra I’ve ever worn. Technically it was the best fitting bra I’ve ever had in my life. Until I stumbled upon ABTF.
Here are my measurements:
Loose Underbust: 30.25 Snug Underbust: 30 Tight Underbust: 29.75 Standing Bust: 34 Leaning Bust: 35.75 Lying Bust: 34 Sizing System: US Shape: Shallow, wide root, full at bottom (I think) AFAB
The calculator suggested my size as 30DD/DDD or a more comfortable size of 32D/DD. (Still trying to overcome the sticker shock of being a D cup or even a DD after thinking I was an A cup for so many years)
I’ve tried lots of different bras so far. The ones I liked the most were the Natori Feathers Contour Plunge Bra and the b.tempt’d Future Foundation Push Up Bra. (Too insecure to post pictures)
Natori Feathers 30D - I ultimately decided to keep this one. The band was snug but comfortable (seemed tighter in black). The gore laid flat, the cup shape seemed really good (there was the most subtle tiny bit of quadboob only in the left cup post scoop and swoop), and there was a nice, subtle lift. It was very comfortable. After 30 min of wear, I forgot I was wearing it.
30DD - The band felt about the same as the 30D. The top of the gore dug into my sternum a bit. After wearing it for 30 min, the gore was really annoying and left a red mark. The cup shape seemed really good, except the top right cup gaped if I moved my right arm. Post scoop and swoop, the cups were full with no quadboob. But after I moved, the breast tissue “settled” which lead to gapping in the tops of the cups, especially the right one. The outetop edges of the of the cups seemed to rub against my armpit in a very uncomfortable way.
30DDD - No amount of scoop and swooping could fill these cups.
B.tempt’d Future Foundation Push Up Bra (This one did not come in a 30 band so both were returned) 32C - The band was loose, as expected, so I sister sized down to a C cup. The cups seemed like a good shape match and I loved the silhouette it gave me. But the cups gaped if I moved my arms a lot and there was quite a bit of quadboob after the scoop and swoop.
32D - This had a very similar fit to the 32C, minus the quadboob post scoop and swoop. The gaping was more pronounced, especially if I bent over to pick something up.
I loved almost everything about this bra. The shape and demi-coverage of the cups, the ultra soft material to them, the deep, wide plunge and gore, the silhouette it gave me under clothes. The push up was subtle and natural looking. The shallow projection and shape matched so well, but the gaping at the top and the band ruined it. Can anyone recommend one like this but with a 30 band?
Bras I tried and didn’t like or didn’t fit: Natori Front Close T Back (orange in a glass) Natori Discreet Convertible Spacer (It was very comfortable and fit almost perfectly but it flattened my chest in a very ugly, unflattering way) Natori Bliss Perfection (too much coverage, made me look like I was wearing my grandma’s bra) b’tempt’d b.wow’d Push Up (very stiff, uncomfortable cups) Freya Deco Moulded Plunge (everything was wrong with this one) A bunch of Calvin Klein bestsellers (every single one except an unlined one was way too projected for me)
Questions: 1. How important is scooping and swooping in sports bras and bikini tops? 2. For the armpit, how can I tell what’s armpit fat and what’s the tail of Spence? How much of that should be swooped into the bra cups? 3. I’ve heard that it’s normal to have to scoop and swoop multiple times throughout the day if this is the first time wearing ABTF. How will I know if that’s why vs. having to do it multiple times because the fit isn’t good? 4. Is it possible that a 30D would fit better right now, and after months to a year of wearing ABTF a 30DD would fit better because of tissue migration?
If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I’m sorry if it’s all over the place!

As a fellow tall and trim man (6'3, 220 lbs.) I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations when finding clothes that fit me. Generally, I can find pants NOW since the slim, tailored fit has been in. I wear a 34" inseam. Difficulty comes when trying to find shirts that fit properly because of my long arms. I've seen some of the brands that cater to our community, but nothing seems to be stylish. Am I the only person that wants a more stylish tall and trim brand? Also share what you'd like to buy that other brands are not offering you. Looking forward to hearing from you.

As a fellow tall and trim man (6'3, 220 lbs.) I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations when finding clothes that fit me. Generally, I can find pants NOW since the slim, tailored fit has been in. I wear a 34" inseam. Difficulty comes when trying to find shirts that fit properly because of my long arms. I've seen some of the brands that cater to our community, but nothing seems to be stylish. Am I the only person that wants a more stylish tall and trim brand? Also share what you'd like to buy that other brands are not offering you. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hello (and thanks for reading!),
I am a creative nerd, asocial hermit, and walking stereotype of the melancholic struggling artist.
I guess that doesn't sound great, but I would also like to believe that I am a great friend, attentive listener, problem solver, and quite emotionally intelligent. I am educated (master's degree), self-employed as a freelance writer (I have some goals this year I hope I have the courage and energy to shoot for), and love to make people laugh. My primary "love languages" include quality time, words of affirmation, and physical touch. I want to spend time with you (and give you space), tell you how great you are (without patronizing), and hold your hand and stuff (maybe touch your butt).
Look, dating hasn't been going great these past few years - I wouldn't say I have any horror stories, but it is difficult to find that genuine connection for my balance of grounded, quirky, shy, anxious, fun-loving, creative, loving, and occasional self-loathing that I embody. In terms of typical qualities, I gotta be honest: I'm not an ambitious, travel-loving, type-A grindset kind of guy. I'm a comfortable bug, happy at home or walking in empty spaces with music in my ears, listening to my friends' problems and then watching shows or playing games with them online, looking forward to cooking something simple yet tasty so I can have leftovers the next day kind of guy. I think I can be exciting and challenging, and I'm willing to do a lot for a person I like but you probably won't find a jet-setting whirlwind romance here, sorry.
In terms of hobbies, I love learning about history, cooking, trivia, engineering projects, scientific discoveries, how things work, why things are the way they are. I play a lot of games in my free time, and I'd like to play games with you (although the sweaty PvP ones I might sit out unless we REALLY hit it off). I collect and read tabletop RPGs and board games, and enjoy comics and webcomics as well. Of course I watch shows and often the same shows - I would really enjoy introducing some of my favorites to you. In general I am very passionate about discussing the little nerdy intricacies of things that I am into and in equal measure I'd love to hear you geek out about your favorite stuff as well. My taste in music covers the entire gamut but my top most-played for 2022 included a lot of theatrical rock, shoegaze, prog/jazz fusion, indie pop, and heavy metal/hardcore - I wish I went to more concerts. Horror movies are cool but I'll watch anything if there is someone to talk to during. I don't write much as a hobby these days since doing it for work but running a good tabletop game will get me motivated in a heartbeat.
I also have a cute little chihuahua/terrier who is afraid that every stranger wants to ruin her life, I exercise regularly, and I enjoy hiking/biking/bouldering for more active activities.
Socially, I am very introverted. I'm not interested in meeting strangers (present post excluded, of course), I need my time alone every now and then, and if there's a lot of socialization I will need to like... take a breather for a bit and that's cool, no biggie. I get anxious when I have to talk on the phone, I dread long checkouts at the grocery store, and I am not pleased having my picture taken (although I'll be a good sport about it). I'm very gregarious and jolly with my friends or close-knit groups, but I wanted to make this clear because I have met some people who really don't understand that like, no, I do not want to go to this thing or that event just to meet people or be stuck in rooms with strangers. Please be okay with that. I promise your parents will love me, though (if you get along with them).
Physically, I must apologize on my behalf - I am excessively average in appearance. 5'8", brown haibrown eyes, dad bod although I have been working consistently to reach a more fit figure and would consider that a realistic goal for me. I have a big bushy beard and looong hair down to my tailbone, although I have no particular attachment to it and would let any potential future partner have a strong voice on if it stays or if it goes. I've never tried to dress for anyone else but myself - I tend to wear a lot of grey or earth-tone khaki pants, button-down shirt over t-shirt, and a jacket if it is cold. I might have a suit stashed away somewhere but if I do we're gonna have to tailor that bad boy before busting it out. If you like the "hairy soft bod" trope I think you're in luck, haha.
Your pic gets mine, as they say.
What am I looking for, exactly? Well, dating in the traditional sense has never been my cup of tea - I guess I've never really done much of anything in the traditional sense, for better or worse. I want us to be friends, to get to know each other and spend time together talking or sharing activities and hopefully we start swapping food pics and outfit selfies and shots of places we visit and it becomes difficult to go to sleep because we're each trying to be the last to say "goodnight" and then we realize that damn, we really enjoy each other's company and should really talk about getting serious with it - like, go out and shit. Slap a label on that sucker. I hope you are the kind of cozy homebody nerd or super badass action chick gets along well with cozy nerds who wants to forge a genuine connection. If you're local we can still go on traditional dates for pizza and museums and stuff too of course but I don't mind a long-distance thing either. If the feelings are forged, we'll make it work.
I'm have to admit: I'm not, like, a chaste person. It feels difficult to admit that one Reddit without sounding like a creeper trawling for nudes but yeah, sexuality is an important aspect of a relationship for me. That doesn't mean I am looking to sext with you within a day or a week or even a month of getting to know you but like... let's not pretend it doesn't exist, is all I'm saying? I am immersed in smut as part of my work, it isn't difficult for me to talk about. And a long-term, long-distance relationship without that sort of stimulation (I am an extremely visual person) really does end up feeling like a pleasant friendship with an extra helping of emotional labor. Let's be real about who we are, please.
As an admittedly average unfashionable dad-bod guy I know I don't have much place to make physical demands of people but in that department I would hope you are some form of HWP or on the way there, aaand... gosh, that's it really. I'm trying hard to be healthy - I would want to be with someone who feels the same.
So, hey! I know this is a lot but I wanted to paint a genuine portrait of where I am coming from and what I am looking for. I'm not a difficult person and it's easy to say hi to me, although I perform my best with some sort of prompt to go off of. Seriously, ask me stuff - I love answering questions and will be sure to follow up with some for you! Tell me a bit about yourself, what's a hobby you're happy with and what's a hobby you wish you could explore more or had more friends to share it with?

Hello (and thanks for reading!),
I am a creative nerd, asocial hermit, and walking stereotype of the melancholic struggling artist.
I guess that doesn't sound great, but I would also like to believe that I am a great friend, attentive listener, problem solver, and quite emotionally intelligent. I am educated (master's degree), self-employed as a freelance writer (I have some goals this year I hope I have the courage and energy to shoot for), and love to make people laugh. My primary "love languages" include quality time, words of affirmation, and physical touch. I want to spend time with you (and give you space), tell you how great you are (without patronizing), and hold your hand and stuff (maybe touch your butt).
Look, dating hasn't been going great these past few years - I wouldn't say I have any horror stories, but it is difficult to find that genuine connection for my balance of grounded, quirky, shy, anxious, fun-loving, creative, loving, and occasional self-loathing that I embody. In terms of typical qualities, I gotta be honest: I'm not an ambitious, travel-loving, type-A grindset kind of guy. I'm a comfortable bug, happy at home or walking in empty spaces with music in my ears, listening to my friends' problems and then watching shows or playing games with them online, looking forward to cooking something simple yet tasty so I can have leftovers the next day kind of guy. I think I can be exciting and challenging, and I'm willing to do a lot for a person I like but you probably won't find a jet-setting whirlwind romance here, sorry.
In terms of hobbies, I love learning about history, cooking, trivia, engineering projects, scientific discoveries, how things work, why things are the way they are. I play a lot of games in my free time, and I'd like to play games with you (although the sweaty PvP ones I might sit out unless we REALLY hit it off). I collect and read tabletop RPGs and board games, and enjoy comics and webcomics as well. Of course I watch shows and often the same shows - I would really enjoy introducing some of my favorites to you. In general I am very passionate about discussing the little nerdy intricacies of things that I am into and in equal measure I'd love to hear you geek out about your favorite stuff as well. My taste in music covers the entire gamut but my top most-played for 2022 included a lot of theatrical rock, shoegaze, prog/jazz fusion, indie pop, and heavy metal/hardcore - I wish I went to more concerts. Horror movies are cool but I'll watch anything if there is someone to talk to during. I don't write much as a hobby these days since doing it for work but running a good tabletop game will get me motivated in a heartbeat.
I also have a cute little chihuahua/terrier who is afraid that every stranger wants to ruin her life, I exercise regularly, and I enjoy hiking/biking/bouldering for more active activities.
Socially, I am very introverted. I'm not interested in meeting strangers (present post excluded, of course), I need my time alone every now and then, and if there's a lot of socialization I will need to like... take a breather for a bit and that's cool, no biggie. I get anxious when I have to talk on the phone, I dread long checkouts at the grocery store, and I am not pleased having my picture taken (although I'll be a good sport about it). I'm very gregarious and jolly with my friends or close-knit groups, but I wanted to make this clear because I have met some people who really don't understand that like, no, I do not want to go to this thing or that event just to meet people or be stuck in rooms with strangers. Please be okay with that. I promise your parents will love me, though (if you get along with them).
Physically, I must apologize on my behalf - I am excessively average in appearance. 5'8", brown haibrown eyes, dad bod although I have been working consistently to reach a more fit figure and would consider that a realistic goal for me. I have a big bushy beard and looong hair down to my tailbone, although I have no particular attachment to it and would let any potential future partner have a strong voice on if it stays or if it goes. I've never tried to dress for anyone else but myself - I tend to wear a lot of grey or earth-tone khaki pants, button-down shirt over t-shirt, and a jacket if it is cold. I might have a suit stashed away somewhere but if I do we're gonna have to tailor that bad boy before busting it out. If you like the "hairy soft bod" trope I think you're in luck, haha.
Your pic gets mine, as they say.
What am I looking for, exactly? Well, dating in the traditional sense has never been my cup of tea - I guess I've never really done much of anything in the traditional sense, for better or worse. I want us to be friends, to get to know each other and spend time together talking or sharing activities and hopefully we start swapping food pics and outfit selfies and shots of places we visit and it becomes difficult to go to sleep because we're each trying to be the last to say "goodnight" and then we realize that damn, we really enjoy each other's company and should really talk about getting serious with it - like, go out and shit. Slap a label on that sucker. I hope you are the kind of cozy homebody nerd or super badass action chick gets along well with cozy nerds who wants to forge a genuine connection. If you're local we can still go on traditional dates for pizza and museums and stuff too of course but I don't mind a long-distance thing either. If the feelings are forged, we'll make it work.
"Gamer gal" is just a shorthand for the fact that I would like someone who is passionately nerdy and loves to gush about their hobbies - discussing trivia and history and dissecting art and design and writing is a passion of mine and if it isn't something you are enthused about as well then we won't end up having much to talk about! We are more than our hobbies and I'd love to explore the "real talk" or spend our time together just enjoying each other's company as well but I've learned from experience that if for example you'd be bored during a heated discussion about the 30-tear history of a Street Fighter character's theme music then maybe we're not going to be on the same wavelength, y'know?
I'm have to admit: I'm not, like, a chaste person. It feels difficult to admit that one Reddit without sounding like a creeper trawling for nudes but yeah, sexuality is an important aspect of a relationship for me. That doesn't mean I am looking to sext with you within a day or a week or even a month of getting to know you but like... let's not pretend it doesn't exist, is all I'm saying? I am immersed in smut as part of my work, it isn't difficult for me to talk about. And a long-term, long-distance relationship without that sort of stimulation (I am an extremely visual person) really does end up feeling like a pleasant friendship with an extra helping of emotional labor. Let's be real about who we are, please.
As an admittedly average unfashionable dad-bod guy I know I don't have much place to make physical demands of people but in that department I would hope you are some form of HWP or on the way there, aaand... gosh, that's it really. I'm trying hard to be healthy - I would want to be with someone who feels the same.
So, hey! I know this is a lot but I wanted to paint a genuine portrait of where I am coming from and what I am looking for. I'm not a difficult person and it's easy to say hi to me, although I perform my best with some sort of prompt to go off of. Seriously, ask me stuff - I love answering questions and will be sure to follow up with some for you! Tell me a bit about yourself, what's a hobby you're happy with and what's a hobby you wish you could explore more or had more friends to share it with?

I feel the pants are quite baggy and I noticed some peoples pants fit them really well like slim fit. Do you guys taper your pants?

I didn’t tell them why I was so eager to spend time with them, I just kept suggesting games and they kept indulging me. William and Rebecca kept giving me worried looks, and trading uncertain expressions with each other, but they did not press me.
There would have been no point. Brilliant as they are, this was not something they could have properly appreciated. It was good for them to just be there.
It’s amazing how much that matters, to just have people around you who want you to do well and are ready to praise your strengths and comfort your weakness… I previously mentioned the use of the term ‘privilege’ and the way it was used to mean an advantage. I think that this kind of warmth is the ultimate privilege.
Obviously there is no ethical way to perform such a study, but I would tentatively hypothesize that if we were to take an identifiable small group of humans, deny them any belief that they could perform well, ostracize them from public life, and denigrate their character and potential, that this group would underperform on a generational level. Even if one were to then ‘erase’ that social norm, the generational inculcation of doubt would be a hindrance starting with home life and carried forward until intense multigenerational efforts were undertaken to erase it.
But… that’s just a hypothesis, even if I could properly create an AI simulation with artificial life to test it, I wouldn’t trust the results, and thank goodness there is no way for me to know whether or not I’m right.
All I could really be right then, was grateful that I had my humans.
It was probably the only reason I slept at all that night.
The following day I rose to see Bonny Red dressing in… something very different.
Shorts of red and black. Her hands were ‘taped’ in the usual way human fighters evidently did it, and she wore no body armor. She had given her fur some stylistic ‘streaks’ of black paint across her orange and red fur to enhance the ferocity of her appearance, but she stood there barefoot with her tongue lolling out of her mouth. “Well, do I look fierce enough, laddy?”
“Yes.” I answered. I don’t know what it is about me, but I seemed to have developed a fondness for dangerous and fearless females. That reminded me, I hadn’t heard back on whether or not Lisa intended on going. I gave her ringside seats of course, with a few more to take her friends.
There would be a lot of good seats taken up by football players, cheerleaders, and others. A dlamisa native who had never gone to Earth would assume I was just paying back a favor for assistance they’d previously given to me when I was afraid of being deported, but that wasn’t so.
Alright it was a little bit so. But not that much. Truth be told, it was a show of appreciation, nothing more, and that’s all I’ll say of it.
“Ferocious, fierce, and fiesty.” I said with an emphatic nod.
“Are you going to be there in person?” She asked, but I shook my head.
“I still don’t like crowds.” I answered, and that was true, the notion of being engulfed in that sea of people when I didn’t absolutely have to be? Especially when there was bound to be bloodlust aplenty there?
That’s a great big no thank you from me.
“As ye like it, laddy, then I’m going to cast off with the rest, wish me luck, but don’t bet on me to win.” She huffed and wagged her tail.
Some have suggested that she lacked confidence in saying that, and maybe that’s true. But it’s because Bonny Red was a scout, her body was modified to make her enduring, fast, and very strong. But she was not a front line infantry soldier. If she were meant to ‘assassinate’ someone out there, I might put a bet on her to succeed. But putting her against say, Boatswain, or Genghis? She’ll avoid a lot of blows, put up a good fight, but they’re mountains built to withstand great violence.
I couldn’t see her winning. But she would put on a very good show no matter who she was partnered with.
“Good luck!” I shouted as she withdrew.
The rest of the ship was full of people making their way to the mess hall, Bonny Red authorized an extra few rations of beer during the fights, so even those who had no interest in the fights themselves, would definitely show up to ‘support’ the combatants.
Naturally I was going.
And naturally I had a flask full of whiskey that I’d been saving for an occasion like this since we’d first arrived. I didn’t mention it to anyone, buuut amidst my luggage I’d salvaged a few bottles of William’s private stash, at his request, since we couldn’t be sure that those beautiful bottles wouldn’t be destroyed by those barbarians.
The mess hall was already packed when I arrived. I didn’t usually wear clothing in the human fashion while on the Red Spark, but this time I wore a borrowed pirate outfit to show my support for the Captain.
The sea of humanity and dlamisa alike was enough to make me a little uncomfortable, even if they were familiar. But I compensated by staying near the exit so I could depart quickly if I felt the need. Though having said that, I did like watching the amiable chatter between crew and guests, it was nice to see them getting along.
Even if nothing else happened, when these families and representatives of the powerful returned to Earth, I think there would be a long term remembrance of where their safety lay and who their true friends were when considering the Earth stance on my homeworld.
It might even be enough to get me a pardon for the crimes they’d probably name after me when they realize that I’ve gone so far with the sole purpose of resetting our entire culture and way of life.
Or maybe not?
“Let’s get ready to rummmble!” The voice on the screen shouted at the exact moment the screen came into view.
It was a beautiful day on Earth, with a bright blue sky and a stiff breeze and bright yellow sun raining down on the world below. The octagon was divided into two halves by a single red line, and a cage wall surrounded the whole, with two doors through which the contestants would enter.
The stands could hold one hundred thousand viewers, including a ‘box seat’ area where I could see the great leaders of our worlds military, along with the Earth’s Presider, taking their places.
Unsurprisingly, Grand Admiral Musashi had a beer handy. I have not mentioned this because it wasn’t really relevant to events, but in the runs of alcohol that made it to the homeworld, Earth beer was rapidly becoming a staple of life.
This was especially true of our office cultures, manufacturing, and other sectors. Each segment of our society was developing a kind of preference for alcohol that was distinct from the others. ‘Wine’ became the rage among the administrative class of civilian professionals.
Beer became the drink of choice within our military, and a brief mention of news came to me that allotting soldiers a ration of beer with their other resources for ‘morale purposes’ was being considered at this time.
Office workers seemed to have taken to sake, while the manufacturing and laborers was developing a taste for tequila. I could go into everything that the other sectors and industries were developing a fondness for… but it was getting so that even between competitors there were ‘brands’ that were favored by competitors, such that you knew who someone worked for and what they did for a living, based on what alcohol they ordered.
Thanks also to the passage of ‘Bailey’s Law’ a few years ago, the vehicle speeds increased, which reduced overall commute time, which in turn meant that since the work days were growing functionally shorter, recreation time was increasing.
And that recreation time was being taken up with a rise in these venues akin to human bars, where my people would drink and consume various media that was starting to trickle into the mainstream of society.
The only thing everybody agreed on was a love of Earth coffee and tea, with shops opening late into the night and the various groups that would otherwise never meet, began interacting in crowded establishments to share common tables.
I thought something might be made of this in the future.
But for now I had to focus on the task at hand. Musashi had a short snout and a slightly stooped walk, this was common among old soldiers and sailors, the strains placed on our legs would act up over time until short of removing them and replacing them was the only real option, or promoting someone into a position where they would not have to move as fast or as much.
Unsurprisingly, many of the subjects Bau experimented on before leaving Dlamias, were old soldiers who could no longer function and could not bear the feeling of uselessness as their years wore on.
Those who didn’t opt for that fate, they became Admirals, Generals, and advisors of high rank in some capacity, if they were fit for the job at least. Grand Admiral Musashi had won one hundred forty-seven naval engagements on our borders over a life that spanned six hundred years and some. He was the most highly decorated living veteran of our military and was widely respected in our society, having come from the lowest ranks to rise to his present position.
He had a relatively dour face of gray and black fur with eyes that were slowly turning milky and likely only had vision at all thanks to having genetic engineering reverse the damage.
Down below, the first fighters were stepping into view. Genghis and Iskandar wore shorts colored in the patterns of our people’s governments. They were waving to the cheering fans and holding fists up to show their enthusiasm, to say they were ‘larger than life’ was to do a disservice to myth. They already had a legion of fans for their heroism in the Walker house, while their opposite numbers were drawn from a security company and a member of the embassy staff. They were relative unknowns in principle, but thanks to the incluse of biographies, their long records and past triumphs had earned them a fair amount of public interest.
The black and tan fur of the oversized dlamisa security member gave him a particularly fierce appearance, and the wall of human muscle seemed a perfect complement toward him in return. Scars marked his arms and legs that indicated gunfire and blades alike.
The announcer’s voice rang out over the world… or it felt like it did, at least. “Welcome to the first Martial League of Earth and Dlamias! Where the strongest of the strong will test their mettle in determine who towers above all the others as the most powerful warriors in the galaxy!”
I specifically requested that line be used, because I knew that hearing the words ‘most powerful warriors in the galaxy’ would be seen as a challenge, calling out all the other apex predator species and daring them to come forward.
I could already imagine it as the display made it through the ranks of other species militaries, though there was no questioning that, as a species, ours stood apart… is there an individual warrior alone who does not think he is the equal of the best?
No.
And that was what I wanted to prick at. To goad them to act, to join the league and put their greatness on display. Hence why on the league site it included written translations into the languages of scores of different species. So that anyone could go to the ‘apply’ section to get a chance to form a team and join the league. The one rule? The team had to be formed between two different species.
The clash began with the ring of a bell, a human tradition from who knows where? And the two sides began to clash. I remind you, in the attack on the Walker house, Byron was able to crush skulls with his hands. This requires over twice the strength an unmodified human is able to generate, and because he did it easily, he had to far exceed the minimum of what they call ‘twenty-four hundred newtons’.
And now human fists with cybernetic enhancements to mind and body were smashing into genetically enhanced dlamisa chests. Genetics versus cybernetics. Jaws closed over Iskandar’s arm, teeth piercing flesh, he shouted in pain and the powerful neck shook, attempting to pull him up and throw him free.
This was where our jaws were really useful, shaking our prey to aggravate the injury. But while the jaws pierced his flesh and made him bleed, Iskandar was simply so large that he couldn’t be easily lifted up. A cybernetically enhanced human would weigh considerably more than another of equivalent size, thanks to the metal in their bodies.
His shout of pain was gone as the pain receptors shut off, and his free arm began punching into the body of his combatant.
Genghis was encountering a similar struggle, the more flexible human limbs were able to hit places it was harder for us to guard, but by raw strength alone as the two rolled around on the ground, he was slowly taking the upper hand.
The round ended with a ring of a bell, the crowd was on its feet, but I was less interested in the fight than what was taking place in the stands. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I could see the way Grand Admiral Musashi’s eyes were widened and he was pointing down at the combatants who took water, had the blood wiped from their faces, taped up the various puncture wounds, and prepared for the final round.
The old hero of our people was asking questions. He no doubt wondered how it was possible for humans to endure what they were. It is one thing to hear of the reputation human warriors developed for pain resistance, ferocity, and strength. It was a very different thing to see it up close. I didn’t need to hear him to see the gears turning in his head as he began to really understand what those few who had firsthand experience with human void sailors were saying in the stories that reached his ears.
Seeing, as they say, is believing.
The ringing of the bell to start the final round saw the four combatants charge in as if they barely felt a thing, which was probably the case, but now there was an element of teamwork to it, rather than simple individual brawls taking place at the same time. Genghis and Iskandar’s experiences in squad battles likely exceeded their counterparts, which was probably why they won.
Throwing off their opponents who didn’t expect their opposites to suddenly switch places in the middle of the fight, crossing each other at a run and tackling heavy bodies to the ground.
When their opponents could not rise again, and they lay defeated on the now bloody mat, with sweat and panting within the arena, and cheers howling from billions of watching spectators around the world…
I knew I had a hit. No pun intended.
There would be four more fights that day, and then more on the same day of subsequent weeks… but even if I had done no more, it was impossible that this had not touched our Grand Admiral.
He knew what Captain Bonny Red knew, what I knew. Between the growing publicity of the Silent Civil War and the pair of victors who raised their hands together in triumph… he would not let anything stay as it was.
Nor would he wait. He couldn’t afford to.
The best thing to do is the right thing. The second best thing is the wrong thing. The worst thing to do, is nothing.
And you don’t gain a reputation like his by being the sort that does anything but the first of those three.
The way I saw it? Things were looking up.

Hi everyone!
As the title states I’m a petite person but I’m also a person the always runs cold… I can’t fit into their pants/dresses so I’ve only purchased mohaiwool sweaters but most sweaters are too big for me, I am wondering (& tempted) to shrink them for a better fit. Have other petite people tried this before?
For a size comparison: Chest- 32” Waist- 26” Hips- 35”
The Angelie & Angie in XXS all fit perfectly but the Bettany in XXS was too big. This last collection the Amanda sweater in XXS fit like a male S or a female M on me. Needless to say it looks like I stole someone’s sweater 😩

I just got back from a trip where I knew I’d be doing a bunch of shopping so I tested this combo out and it worked out great:
I used my go-to Le pliage expandable travel bag and packed a 40L Patagonia black hole with me so that I could fill it once my bag got full of fun stuff, then I checked it on the way home.
I packed 2 quince silk tees, a reversible skirt, a wool& dress, a sweater, 2 pairs of Athleta endless pants and my fav windproof rain jacket. I only wear Rothy’s to travel (and honestly most days in general) because they’re super easy to pack and comfortable AF, and I keep everything in the same color family so it’s all a capsule/interchangeable. I have a scarf that I accumulated along the way that works for me as a travel blanket as well.
I’m so into my athleta stuff right now because absolutely no wrinkles and it all fit in one packing cube (minus the trench coat but that was surprisingly packable). In retrospect, I was staying only in hotels so the silk shirts worked well (quince’s washable silk is easy to sink wash and hang dry but I definitely needed to iron them out).
Overall a success and I’m so glad I thought to bring the duffle because I definitely brought too much stuff back home :)

Fashion is an ever-changing phenomenon that is important not only for women but also for men. Boys today are more concerned than ever before with their appearance and style. They want to look stylish while keeping up with the latest trends. Boys are more exposed to fashion than ever before, thanks to the rise of social media, and they are eager to try out new looks.
In this blog, we will discuss the latest fashion trends for boys and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe.
Jackets that make a statement
A statement jacket is an absolute must-have in any boy's wardrobe. A denim jacket, leather jacket, or bomber jacket can instantly transform your look. The key is to find a coat that perfectly fits you and complements your body type. You can also play around with different colors and textures to create a one-of-a-kind look.
T-shirts with graphics
Graphic tees are a great way to add personality and fun to your outfit. They are available in various styles and designs, from bold logos to quirky prints. Wear them casually with jeans, sneakers, blazers, or dress shoes.
Sweatshirts and hoodies
Hoodies and sweatshirts aren't just for lounging around the house anymore. They've become a streetwear fashion staple that can be dressed up or down. A hoodie or sweatshirt can be worn casually with jeans and sneakers or layered under a blazer for a more formal look.
Denim
Denim is a timeless fabric that will never go out of style. Denim is a versatile fabric worn in various ways, from jeans to jackets to shirts. Wear denim jeans with a graphic tee for a more casual look or a denim shirt under a blazer for a more polished look.
Sneakers
Sneakers are no longer just for athletic activities. They've become a fashion statement compatible with almost anything in your closet. There is a sneaker for every style and occasion, from classic white sneakers to bold, colorful designs.
Accessories
Accessories can either enhance or detract from an outfit, so choose wisely. Accessories like hats, sunglasses, and watches can complete your look. You can also add some personality to your business by experimenting with jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets.
Suits with a tailored fit
A tailored suit is a must-have for formal occasions. A well-fitted case can give you the appearance and feel of confidence and sophistication. You can select various colors and fabrics, from classic black to bold prints. Pair your suit with a dress shirt, tie, and dress shoes for a polished look.
Backpacks
Backpacks are useful and fashionable accessories that can be used for school or daily activities. They are available in various styles and colors, from classic leather to bold prints. A backpack can also be a statement piece that adds character to an outfit.
Vintage Clothing
In recent years, vintage fashion has made a comeback, and a trend boys can easily incorporate into their wardrobes. Denim jackets, leather boots, and plaid shirts are vintage clothing that can add a retro vibe to any outfit. Boys can also try vintage-inspired accessories such as fedoras, suspenders, and bow ties.
Button-Down Shirts
Button-down shirts are ideal for formal occasions or special occasions. They come in various colors and patterns and can be dressed up or down with dress pants or chinos.
Finally, boys' fashion is changing and becoming more diverse than ever. Many styles and trends exist, such as statement jackets, graphic tees, and tailored suits. The key is to try on different looks until you find ones that suit your body type and personality. You can create a unique and stylish look that reflects your style with the right pieces and accessories. Clothing, Shoes & Accessories are necessities for people of all ages, as many people work in offices and students today want to look fashionable. For the ideal combination of fashion and comfort, check out eBay, Shopify, or TrueGether. These sites like Shopify, but free and simple to use.

Selling two pairs of Ludlow Slim-fit unstructured suit pant in Irish cotton-linen — brand new just not the style/fit I expected. Second pair was for a sibling.
Here is a link to the product
Asking $80 each OBO (feel free to message with offers)
timestamps

Pics here
Up for sale are the following:

• Lululemon ABC Classic Pant, Size 34L, Black, New with tags, Asking $90 shipped OBO (The flat measurements are 17.5" waist, and 33" inseam. I normally wear a 34" inseam and the cut is such that this style fits me fine.)
  
• Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Vest, Size XL, Black, New with tags, Asking $45 shipped OBO
  
• Vuori Strato Tech Tee, Size XL, Grey, Worn a handful of times but still in great condition, asking $30 shipped OBO
  
• Vuori Strato Tech Tee, Size XL, Cedar Red, Worn a handful of times but still in great condition, asking $30 shipped OBO
  
• Bogs Sauvie Chelsea Boot, Size 12 (fits 12-12.5), Black, New in box, Asking $75 shipped OBO
  
• Check out my Arc’teryx/Lululemon/Outdoor Research stuff here
  
• I also have some Outlier stuff listed here.
  
• olo Fragrance stuff here
  

It's relatively easy to go through an initial sort through your closet, to discard or donate anything that is getting too ratty, doesn't fit your current body, or no longer suits your current tastes or lifestyle. But what about all the clothes that you still like and still want to wear, and it's still way too much stuff to store in your available space? If you're struggling to fit too many wearable clothes into too little space, here are a few tips I've found useful over many years of living in small spaces.

1. Choose your colors. One of the easiest ways to further declutter your wardrobe is to identify colors you like that match well with your individual hair, eye, and skin color, and discard anything that clashes with them. Neutral tones like black, white, navy, and beige are great as mix-and-match coordinates for your colored items, but even among the neutrals, there are certain shades that will flatter while others will make you look washed-out. Don't keep ANYTHING if the color doesn't make you look and feel awesome!
2. Shop your closet. At the beginning of each new season, try on EVERYTHING that you typically would want wear in that season, from outerwear to underwear. (For convenience, I'll typically wear a white T-shirt while I try on all my skirts and pants, then a single pair of black pants while I try on blouses, tees and sweaters.) For each item in wearable condition that you still like, ask yourself: would I pay full retail price to buy this again today? If no, that's an easy toss into your discard pile, although not without regrets and gratitude for making you look great in previous seasons. If yes, toss it in a "Want to keep" pile. More about that in Item 4 below.
3. Remove and store out-of-season clothes...judiciously. Your closet and bureaus should be reserved for in-season clothes that you look forward to wearing soon. So pull out all your out-of-season stuff, stow it in rodent-proof containers, and move the containers to a less-convenient location. (I'm not proud of this, but I once used my car trunk to store out-of-season items I couldn't bear to let go, when I didn't have any other place to stow them. And they were in fine shape, when I took them back out.) Before storing them away, do a quick cull to discard or donate anything that no longer merits the extra work of storing and moving it in and out of seasonal rotation. If your favorite everyday-wear leggings are starting to pill and the fabric is wearing thin in spots after several winters of heavy use, swallow hard...then out they go!
4. Compare similar items in your "Want to keep" pile. Chances are good that you've got similar items in your "keep" pile, and you have neither the room nor the need to keep them all - especially if it means crammed-up storage space that wrinkles everything and makes it harder to select what to wear. So before putting all those wanna-keep items back and deferring the hard decison-making for another year, bite the bullet and make each item compete against at least one other. If you only get to keep one, will it be the blue T-shirt from your favorite concert, the green one that matches your eyes, or the black one with the sassy quote? Do you want to keep the jeans that make your butt look amazing, or the pair that is more comfortable? The corduroy skirt, or the wool plaid? And how many times have you actually worn a dress and spike-heeled shoes in the past few years, regardless of how pretty they are and how great you look in them?

I hope that some of you will find these suggestions helpful. Please feel free to add your own favorite tips to this list!

Hey there! This is a little bit of a read, but you can think of it as a high effort post from someone who means business. I've clearly marked and categorized everything, so feel free to skim the parts that interest you.
What brings me to reddit for dating: For the short of it, I've been doing online dating for about 7 years, and could only describe my experience as a sisyphean struggle. With more traditional dating platforms having been absolutely torturous and a complete waste of time, with me rarely ever finding matches and those I do get ending up being ghosts or people who just don't respond less than productive, I'm hoping this might give me a breakthrough.
Age: 26, open to 18-32~. I’m less about age, more about attraction.
Appearance: 5'8", short blond hair, blue eyes, white skin, slim fit body type. I dress almost exclusively in black if I can help it, hence "closeted goth". I've been told I'm fairly handsome, but I'm including a few (poorly taken) pictures, so you can decide for yourself whether or not I've been lied to!
Face: https://ibb.co/album/rk62jF
Body (Warning: Shirtless): https://ibb.co/album/kJB64j
Interests: Many of my interests fall into the "nerd" category. Games (video and tabletop), anime, music, art, sci-fi and fantasy stuff of all varieties. I enjoy a lot of RPG's, and some of my favorite game series include kingdom hearts, fire emblem, dark souls, and a fair few others. I play a lot of league at a fairly high level, but I'm not exactly proud of that because the game damages my sanity at times.
In general, I like to keep in shape, play games with friends, share music I think is great, watch tv/movies/anime (horror and psychological stuff especially), share memes, read, and do some amateur writing. I'm also rather intelligent/insightful and enjoy some nuanced discussion.
Location: Currently in central NJ, somewhere in the no man's land between nyc and philly. I'd prefer someone local who I can meet in person, but won't pass up someone great online who's willing to eventually relocate or that I can eventually relocate to.
Looking For: Monogamous relationship, ideally something serious. I feel that what I'd like the most is to find someone very special to me, who I can love with all my heart and spend my life with. It'd probably be my greatest joy in life to be able to do that, and have someone do so in return. That said, this is just a description of my ideal scenario, not what I'd expect out of every relationship.
Traits I'm Looking For: Kind, loving, trustworthy, understanding. Good sense of humor, emotionally intelligent, communicates well. In this regard, I wouldn't ask for anything I don't freely give. I also very fond of women who are dominant/aggressive in a playful way, as well as role reversal dynamics.
Personality: Generally cool headed, laid back, and kind. Introverted, but can be extroverted when I'm in my element and otherwise comfortable. Deceptively intelligent despite how incredibly basic my pictures look, but I also tend to clown around a lot so that's not easy to discern at first. I’m also very reasonable, with a strong preference for peacefully resolving issues, so you can expect very little to no drama and good communication. Oh, and according to a myers briggs test, I'm an INFJ?
Fun facts: I have a deep and sexy voice which many people don't expect, and a great many people tell me I should get into radio or voice acting. I'm also a bit dead on the inside but that's probably because there's a skeleton living inside me.
Partner preferences: I'm a big fan of goth/alt girls, as well as tomboys. I also really like short hair, usually between pixie and neck length, and have a sizable interest in women that are taller than me. But these aren't dealbreakers! As long as I find you attractive, everything is fine.
Dealbreakers/Requirements : Similar interests are pretty important for me. I tend to play a lot of games in my free time for entertainment, so having a partner that I can do that together with is my ideal. I do have a strong preference for body type that I unfortunately can't get past, with that preference being the thinner end of the spectrum when it comes to proportions/body fat. So basically petite/slim/fit/muscular. PLEASE DON'T BE A SOCIOPATH, OR ACT LIKE ONE!
If you have any questions about anything I mentioned (or didn't), just ask and I'll absolutely answer them for you. I'm very friendly so absolutely feel free to come talk to me.

I’ve been pretty much celibate after my breakup last year and realizing that I do miss physical touch so looking for something intimate. Would be nice if it became a ongoing FWB situation, but not necessary
me: can’t host but i I can drive to you, DDF, 5’8”, 6”x5”, Asian, muscular but not ripped, can pick you up, handsome (you can be the judge of that), 12 tattoos and 8 piercings, straight and switch. Can hold a conversation about anything and let’s get a coffee or chat online first before meeting.
I have some pics on my profile if you want a sneak peek of what you’re getting 😉
What I’m looking for: slim/fit but not a hard requirement, as long as you’re hwp(not a deal breaker), DDF with proof
Being able to host would be nice but I’m also down to find a discreet corner at a park or one of my bucket lists: a dressing room.
If this sounds appealing, feel free to send me a chat and a pic of yourself!
If this ends up turning into something I will go get tested before we meet up since I haven’t been tested since last year, look forward to chatting :D

Hey guys! Wondering if you all can help me a bit.
I've been reading up a bit more on how to style yourself as a romantic and I'm running into some issues.
For example, some of my favorite things to wear are: Geometric/avante garde jewelry, monochromatic or black colors, oversized sweaters, straight leg pants, heavy boots
Some of the things I dislike wearing most of all are: peplum tops, pastel colors, glittery or sparkly fabrics or make up, ballet flats
It seems like all my favorite things are bad for my type, while all my least favorite things are what is recommended!! There are some things I could change-- I could wear more color or different jewelry, maybe. But I really struggle with how "femme" everything is-- I'm gay and fairly butch and dressing in a bunch of strappy sandles and flowing flower prints is just... Not ideal for me.
Any tips or advice?
I'm thinking I can focus on waist definition. Maybe oversized sweaters but cropped with something form fitting underneath. I can't do pastels, but I could do some "maximalist" style patterns.
But beyond that I'm stuck. And recommendations for a "masc romantic"?

Cracked 5000 words on this one. Enjoy.
Warning: Suicide.
<<First <Previous Goodbye
​
​
Ships from the Home Fleet descended on the Red Spark like a pack of hungry wolves when they found her adrift. Human and Dlamisan medics were the first to board and immediately began a medivac of the wounded and dead to the fleet’s hospital vessels. Next came the engineers. Almost every ship in the fleet sent their best and brightest to the Red Spark to keep her space worthy. In mere hours her engines and hull were repaired. Then as suddenly as all the help arrived, they all left.
Down on the planet, there was a titanic rescue effort going on. Cities and towns had been struck by falling debris and everyone able was ordered to assist in the operation to save as many lives as possible. Unfortunately, that meant that for the next several days all comms traffic was dedicated solely to emergency response as most of Earth’s communication satellites had been destroyed in the fighting. Communication with friends and family had to wait. But fortunately, the celebration on the Red Spark didn’t.
​
​
Deep in the belly of the Red Spark laid a bar. A bar not made of metal alloy like the rest of the ship, but more like something you’d find in one of the old cities of Earth. The walls were paneled with wood from the worlds that the Red Spark had visited, giving the bar an almost plaid-like pattern. Against that plaid wall laid nearly a dozen restaurant-style booths with their wood paneling being almost as varied as the room itself.
As stunning as the rest of the room was, it was nothing compared to the bar that filled the center of the space. It went nearly from wall to wall before curving in an L shape, making it seem like it stretched for miles. Nearly a dozen different woods from the Dlamisan homeworld made up just the countertop. Each wood on the countertop seemed to correspond with the wood of five stools that were carefully matched from Earth’s native trees. In all there were nearly seventy stools across the bar, which combined with the booths would total just enough seats for the entire crew of the Red Spark. Sadly, the entire crew of the Red Spark would never fill them again. Instead, the only ones at the bar counter currently were three crewmembers. Sunny, McCoy, and the bartender himself.
McCoy Sat down next to Sunny and looked at the bartender who was still righting bottles, glasses, and other utensils that were knocked about during the fighting. He made to speak up and order when suddenly the bartender turned and stared at him. McCoy had cleaned himself up since the battle. No longer was he sporting a blood-soaked uniform that covered an equally drenched set of fur. He was wearing what could only be described as a pirate’s best. But despite his fine wears Jack’s gun could still be seen poking out from his pocket.
McCoy opened his muzzle to place his order to the staring bartender, “A scotch, please. And not just that stuff we keep around for mixing with those human sodas. Let me get a glass of the stuff from before the war.”
The bartender had gotten a good look at McCoy and noticed the shape of the weapon and handle poking out of his pocket. So instead of turning back to the bar and making the requested drink, he instead pointed his hand to a sign hanging up on the wall behind the counter. “All weapons must be turned in before receiving service.” Apparently, there had been an incident several years prior where some humans and dlamisa were bored and tried to use plasma pistols on low power rather than darts on one of the bar's two boards. Needless to say, it hadn’t gone well the burn marks that still hung on the wall proved it. The bartender never forgave the incident and forced all his patrons to hand over all their weapons before being allowed to drink, on pain of sobriety those who dared not to obey.
McCoy not wanting to make a fuss reached into his pocket and pulled out the pistol, he looked at it mournfully before setting it on the counter for the bartender to take. Professionally the bartender picked up the weapon, cleared it, and took it to a secure back room hidden from view of the bar.
While both the bartender and McCoy had handled the interaction with silent professionalism, Sunny hadn’t. She had been one of the few officers gifted with one of those weapons and was shocked to see McCoy had one in his possession.
Picking her jaw up from the countertop she asked the question that seemed to have been overlooked by the bartender. “McCoy, where did you get that gun?”
McCoy looked at Sunny and took a deep breath he spoke, “It was Jack’s. It’s mine now. That’s all that matters.”
“McCoy he wouldn’t have given that gun up to anyone less than his mate! Not to mention that he still wouldn’t do it so long as he could still breathe!” Sunny interjected, apparently not satisfied with his previous answer.
McCoy in response just looked at the bartender as he returned from storing the mentioned firearm. The bartender cocked his head in an unspoken question that McCoy answered with a small nod. The bartender then turned and made the medic’s requested drink before looking at Sunny.
“McCoy and Jack are mates. I’m not aware of the specifics, but they’ve been together for several decades at this point,” The bartender explained.
“Were mates… We were mates… He was the first to die, and he did it in my arms,” McCoy muttered, correcting the bartender.
“McCoy… Why didn’t you tell me you two… We’ve been friends for…” Sunny stuttered out before taking a breath, switching to Enkanti. “To say I’m sorry for your loss would not be a suitable response. You’ve been my friend for so long, you deserve better than that. Whatever you need I am here to provide,” Sunny said staring at the depressed medic.
“The only things I need are a few more of these,” McCoy said swirling his glass before continuing, “And a bottle to take back with me,” he finished huffing in sarcastic amusement.
“Then whatever you want I’ll pay for. I’m not leaving you to drink alone,” Sunny responded, putting a paw around the medic’s shoulder.
“Nobody here is paying for anything. My bar is open. Anything you want is yours, even from my personal collection if you’d like,” the bartender said switching the conversation back to English.
“Thank you both, as enticing as it sounds I’d really just like to finish this one and take a bottle back to my office. I need some time alone…” McCoy trailed off.
Sunny hugged him a little tighter before responding, “That’s ok McCoy. Both of us will be here for you whenever you’d like to come back.”
So there the three sat in silence for nearly an hour as they each downed their respective drinks. Eventually, McCoy found himself staring at an empty glass that was held in his shaky paws. Sunny and the bartender watched him as he carefully set the glass down and made to get up from the bar.
“Can I get that bottle now? I feel like it's time for me to go,” McCoy said quietly.
“Of course, you can,” The bartender responded before reaching up to the very top shelf and pulling down an old unmarked bottle of brown liquid. “Scotch from before humanity played with Nukes. Same brand as the one we had back when we first met,” He finished, gently placing the bottle in front of McCoy.
McCoy carefully picked up the bottle and stared at the bartender. Thoughts raced through his head as he felt the weight of the bottle in his paws. Every memory he had with the pair across from him flashed in front of his eyes. Every happy and sad day blended together in one long stream before abruptly ending as the bartender reached over the counter and wrapped up McCoy in a hug that felt strong enough to bend steel.
“Thank you. Thank you both,” McCoy said nodding to Sunny and the bartender before continuing. “One last thing before I go. I need Jack’s… no, my, gun back.”
The bartender’s eyes fell and his small smile turned into a deep frown. It seemed like he hoped McCoy would have forgotten. Quietly he got up and went to the back room to go fetch it. Seconds turned to minutes as the bartender still hadn’t returned with the gun. McCoy briefly began to consider getting it himself before suddenly the bartender returned holding the small silver weapon.
He placed it on the counter and slid it across, never taking his hand off of it. McCoy grabbed for the weapon, but it didn’t budge under the hand of the bartender. McCoy was about to ask why when the bartender suddenly began speaking.
“McCoy, promise me something,” He said.
“Promise you what?” McCoy responded, confused.
“Tell me if there’s anything I can do to convince you not to pick up this gun,” The bartender said almost pleadingly.
“...No,” McCoy muttered after a moment of silence.
“Please don’t make me regret this,” The bartender begged.
McCoy pulled his eyes off the gun and looked at the concerned bartender in front of him and answered, “It’ll be ok…”
The bartender then silently lifted his hand off the gun and watched as McCoy put it back in his pocket. No more words were exchanged between them, but a feeling of finality filled the room as McCoy turned to head for the door.
Sunny was confused at what she had just witnessed. The conversation between the two made nearly no sense to her. She was just about to ask the bartender what the hell they had been talking about when suddenly the door to the bar opened and in stalked a very angry Bonny. Her eyes immediately locked onto McCoy who was trying desperately to make himself look small. His ears were down and his tail wrapped around his legs, but still, he tried to maintain some kind of bearing and gave a sloppy salute. That seemed to make Bonny even angrier. Her tail lashed back and forth behind her as she stared at McCoy from just inside the doorway.
“Drop the gun McCoy,” she growled out.
McCoy stood up a little straighter and placed the precious bottle on a nearby table. “Why? What’s the issue?” He asked, feigning ignorance.
“Why!? WHY!? DO YOU REALLY THINK AFTER ALL THIS I WANT TO LOSE MORE OF MY FRIENDS?” Bonny barked out angrily, before taking a deep breath, settling herself. “Cookie told me about your plan McCoy, it’s over,” she finished.
McCoy shook and panted nervously as he slowly stepped back from the captain. “Please Bonny, I can’t do it anymore. Too many bodies, too much loss. I just can’t do it. My mate meant everything to me, Bonny,” McCoy stuttered as he reached into his pocket.
“Mate? You and Jack were… I never thought…” Bonny muttered, just as shocked as Sunny that they’d managed to hide that information from her and the rest of the small crew.
“We were going to tell you. Just as soon as we had saved enough to leave. He and I planned on making a new life together. It's all I’ve thought of for decades Bonny! Now he’s gone and so is our future,” McCoy said, his voice dropping to nearly a whisper as finished.
“You can make a new future McCoy! We’ll all help you do it,” Bonny begged.
“A future without Jack isn’t a future I plan on being a part of,” McCoy spat out drawing the gun from his pocket.
McCoy closed his eyes as he raised the gun, stopping only when he felt the cool metal of the barrel under his chin. His finger wrapped around the trigger and felt the roughness of the metal against his paw pads. As he began to squeeze he felt a sudden pain in his chest and then all of the sudden the world went tumbling.
Sunny slammed into McCoy like a golden bullet. She let out a howl as she made contact with him, sending the gun clattering to the feet of Bonny Red. The small communications officer was crouched atop the medic as he struggled to break free. Sunny was not having it and pinned McCoy's arms to the deck and stared into his eyes. His eyes displayed the pain in his heart, and this time Sunny didn’t miss it. Clinging to his arms Sunny let loose a sad howl that echoed through the halls. Briefly, McCoy fought, but it became quickly apparent that Sunny had the upper paw and was not going to lose it
The bartender walked out from his station and sat down on the floor next to McCoy’s head and began scratching the ears of the struggling Dlamisan who stilled quickly. He seemed about to speak before Sunny interrupted.
“You don’t get to leave me like this,” barked Sunny with a growl that turned to a near whisper as she continued, “We love you, I love you. You’ve been my friend for over a century. That’s not something you get to just walk away from.”
The bartender piped up as he scratched just behind McCoy’s ears, “She’s right bud. You mean the world to us. Every day you’ve brought joy to the folks around you. Losing you would hurt us too,” He said as he slowed his scratches, pausing in silence before resuming, “It hurts now, I know. It’s going to hurt tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that. It’s going to keep hurting for a long time, but the hurt will change. It will get easier my friend. Some day the pain will become bearable enough that you’ll stand on your own again. Until then you have us here to help you. I know we’ll never fill the hole left behind, but we’re going to do our best to try,” The bartender finished speaking and returned to his gentle scratching.
Bonny Red picked up the gun from the floor and set it next to the bottle before kneeling next to the still-pinned despondent medic. Motioning Sunny off of him, sending her and the bartender away, she leaned down and grabbed McCoy in a hug, pulling him off the ground and leaning him back against herself. Not unlike how a parent would hold a child on their lap, except the ‘child’ was a Dlamisan scout medic, and the ‘parent’ was a brightly dressed pirate captain.
“McCoy back when we decided to leave the empire, you were my rock. You sat with me just like this as I grieved over the crew that died. You even stood by me as I proposed obtaining the Red Spark. You’ve been behind me for every tough decision I’ve ever made. Now, I’m here to stand behind you,” Bonny said, leaning back onto the wall.
There they sat together on the floor until the bartender returned. In his hands were four glasses which he gently set on the ground, one glass for each of them. He then reached over to the table and grabbed the bottle of scotch, cracking it open. Pouring deeply into each glass, he corked the bottle and took a seat next to Bonny and McCoy, prompting Sunny to do the same on the opposite side, sandwiching the two between them.
The four didn’t move for nearly an hour as they reminisced over time long gone last. Even McCoy managed to join in as the bottle slowly drained. Eventually, the bottle ran dry, but no one wanted to risk the fragile feeling of satisfaction that had slipped into the room, so they continued to talk for some time. Tears were shed by those who could, hugs were exchanged, and in between all the misery, some laughter began to break through.
The first giggles came from Sunny after she tried to stand up too quickly and lost the battle with booze and gravity, coming back down across the laps of the three who remained sitting. Her small huffs of laughter only increased in volume when the bartender began scratching her head, causing her tail to begin wagging. It wagged so hard it smacked straight into the muzzle of Bonny Red making her start huffing with laughter. Sunny’s tail rapidly became a projectile, smacking into both Bonny and McCoy as it sped up. Even McCoy wouldn’t help, but let out a small huff at the absurdity of the situation as his friend’s tail battered him and the captain while Sunny was happily getting her head scratched.
But all good things come to a close, which was made apparent when Bonny’s datapad chimed alerting her to a message from the bridge. As she looked at it her huffs of amusement died rapidly and she sighed, letting go of McCoy and standing up. Turning to look back at the three she saw their looks of concern and confusion. Seeking to alleviate their worries, she told them what she had received, “I’ve got to go back to the bridge, the Oberon says there are reports I need to check out. I’ll be back when I have it all taken care of. Until then you two,” she points at Sunny and the bartender, “Are responsible for taking care of McCoy. And you,’ she turns her gaze to the medic, “I always have time for you. If you ever, ever, think you may want someone to talk to, then call me,” Bonny finished and left the bar pocketing the gun as she passed the table.
​
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Bonny Red stalked angrily through the doors to the bridge of the Red Spark. She was looking for Oberon, the XO, as he was the one who dared to interrupt her time with her friends due to some ‘reports.’ She found him sitting in his chair dutifully going over his datapad which must’ve contained something interesting as he failed to notice the disgruntled captain in front of him. Bonny decided to make her presence known to the XO by clicking the claws of her hind paws on the ground intimidatingly, almost like an impatient human would tap their foot.
Oberon looked up upon hearing the sound and barked out an order, “Clear the bridge, I need a minute with the captain.” Like ants, all the other officers shuffled out in a line to go carry out their tasks elsewhere as best as they could.
Bonny turned to Oberon confused. “What reports are so important that you call me back after I specifically asked not to be disturbed? Not only that, but you clear the bridge for it” Bonny asked, annoyance still evident.
Oberon held out his datapad and explained, “I have here the impact locations of large pieces of debris across the planet.” He then stood up and took off his hat, and switched to Enkanti, “Bonny Red, I regret to inform you…”
Bonny froze. She knew those words. She had said them nearly a dozen times to the family of her fallen crew over the years. Never in a million lifetimes did she think that they’d be turned back to her. She began to shudder and pant as Oberon continued, “Your home was among those hit by debris from the battle…”
Her hearts stopped and time seemed to freeze. Everything she had fought for. The lives she had thrown down in the path of the Zenti. This couldn’t be it, it just couldn’t be, something had to be wrong. Not her Bailey and pups, anyone but them. They couldn’t be gone.
Oberon kept his decorum as he finished, “Your family remains unaccounted for… I’m so sorry Bonny.”
Bonny felt her chest tightening, each breath was coming faster than the last, but it still felt like she couldn’t breathe. She felt her hearts start again, slamming like three hammers against her chest. Her vision began to fade as she reached out for something, anything to hold onto. Her paws found Oberon as he grabbed and then lowered her gently into the Captain’s chair. “No, no, no…” Was all Bonny could say. She didn’t believe it. No, she wouldn’t believe it. She needed to see for herself.
Standing back up, she staggered to the door, past a shocked Oberon, and into the hallway filled with her officers. She pushed past, uncaring, making her way to the elevators. Down she went, straight to the hangar decks. The lights were still broken in many places, but she knew these halls like the back of her paw, so she pressed forward. Reaching the hangar bay she entered one of the Red Spark’s few working shuttles, cranked the engines, and pointed it toward Earth.
​
​
In a small room of a house in the countryside of Kentucky two old friends sat around a radio listening to the emergency frequency, waiting for updates on the state of the planet.
“Byron, I’m hearing reports there’s been a shuttle launch from the Red Spark and it’s coming towards Louisville,” Boatswain said.
“Well shit. That must be Bonny. Run and grab Bailey. I’ll track her position and keep you updated. You meet her when she lands. We can’t hail the shuttle through this old piece of junk,” Byron responded, tapping the top of the machine.
Boatswain moved through the halls of the house and tapped a red and black Dlamisa on the shoulder, distracting him from watching two pups chasing after a thrown ball through a window. Boatswain then explained the situation causing Bailey to stand up and begin moving. Together they went to a car parked out front and tore off down the driveway towards the glow of flames in the distance.
​
​
Bonny Red was piloting like a mad woman. To describe her flight as ‘erratic’ or ‘unsafe’ would do it no justice. To this day several speed records for vessels of the shuttles weight class are still held by her thanks to her sprint to the surface.
Breaking through the atmosphere Bonny flew the shuttle over her neighborhood. Below all she saw was destruction. The shockwave of a cruiser slamming into the ground nearby had leveled many of the houses, turning what was once a beautiful place to live into matchwood. Flying to her street she saw nothing good. All the houses were almost completely demolished. Desperately she looked for somewhere to set the shuttle down. Finding some clear space in the cul-de-sac at the end of the road, Bonny dropped the landing gear and let the shuttle fall unceremoniously to the ground.
Jumping out she immediately began moving through the rubble toward her home. The street itself was littered with bits and pieces of the lives of her neighbors. She passed the park that the pups loved to play in, now scorched. She stepped around a crushed vintage car, the pride, and joy of her next-door neighbor. Finally, she walked over the remains of a little bicycle, bent and broken from the shockwave, before stepping onto what remained of the front porch of her home.
The first thing she saw was the splintered remains of the swing that Bailey and William had built together in William’s later life. It had been one of the first things they shared together when Bailey reached Earth. It was only fitting that they shared it again before he passed.
Bonny then turned her eyes to where her front door once stood, now blown in and shattered, stepping through what remained of the frame. Picking through the debris was made much more difficult as the roof had caved in, forcing her to begin digging frantically through the rubble in search of her family.
As she dug her way further into the house personal item began to surface. The clothes came first, the little ones always left theirs strewn around the house and neither she nor Bailey could keep track of them all. Pushing past the memories Bonny scrabbled deeper into the rubble, stumbling onto what once was the kitchen. Immediately plowing through to reach the bedrooms she stumbled upon a cabinet that had fallen off the wall. Inside its shattered glass door, she saw what remained of her mate’s most prized possession. Bailey’s mug, his first gift from Fauve, was shattered into a dozen pieces. Her hearts sank, she knew he’d never voluntarily leave without it.
Placing the pieces into a jacket pocket, she pushed on. Deeper and deeper into the rubble she tunneled until suddenly a smell hit her nose like a freight train, smoke. Something was burning, and it was spreading fast. The wood frame of the house had become the kindling to a bonfire that she was squarely in the center of.
Her frantic digging became haphazard. She had to get to the pup's bedroom. She knew they’d be there, they all would be. Every time they had a nightmare they’d hide under their little beds. Bonny was certain that’s where she’d find them. So she dug. She dug while her paws bled and her lungs screamed from the smoke. She dug even as the heat of the fire began to become unbearable. She kept telling herself that they had to be there.
Bonny felt a bundle of fabric in her hand, she’d found something. Unable to see it through the smoke she put it up to her nose and took a deep smell, hoping against hope that it’d tell her something. It did, through the acrid smell of the smoke she smelled her son and daughter. Shoving the fabric into her jacket she kept digging, but the heat was too much. Her lungs screamed for fresh air and her fur was burnt in patches across every exposed limb, she had to get out. Bonny stumbled through the tunnel she had dug getting there as flames licked her jacket.
Bursting out into the cool air Bonny turned to look at what was left of her home. It was a flaming ruin. So many memories of everyone she loved, gone. Up in smoke before her very eyes. Reaching into her jacket she pulled out the fabric she had saved from the blaze. In her paws were a little tricorner hat and a tiny little red necktie.
At that moment Bonny thought back to what McCoy had said and she understood. She felt the soul-crushing thought of a life without her family and made her decision. She let out a miserable howl and drew her weapon, the very same silver pistol she had taken from McCoy not but an hour before.
​
​
Boatswain pulled onto the road leading to Bailey’s house. The rubble was thick and the road was becoming nearly impassable, but still, they pressed on. The armored car drove over the lives and memories of entire families as they tried to reach their destination.
Both turned their heads as they heard a mournful howl, but before Boatswain could utter even a word of warning to Bailey he was out the door and tearing down the mess of a street. Turning the corner he saw her. Kneeling on what remained of their front porch was a scorched and bleeding Bonnie Red with a silver object pressed beneath her chin.
At 100 yards, the object came into focus. Dropping to all fours he ran faster than he ever had before. Bailey’s legs burned as he sprinted, but he wasn’t closing the distance quickly enough.
At 50 yards he saw Bonny’s whole body tense as she slipped her finger onto the trigger
At 30 yards he let out a desperate choked howl as put every ounce of willpower into making his legs move faster.
At 20 yards he saw her ear twitch, turning towards him at the sound of his howl.
At 10 yards he was just close enough to see the trigger move back as Bonny’s eyes opened in shock and recognition.
At 5 yards Bailey Walker saw the hammer make contact with the rear of the gun. The barrel of which was still firmly beneath the chin of his mate.
​
​
In the bar of the Red Spark McCoy looked at the bartender as he polished the counter, while he and Sunny drank. There was a question burning in his mind, one that he hadn’t been able to shake since the bartender had lifted his hand from the firearm.
Deciding to break his impromptu vow of silence McCoy asked, “You knew, didn’t you? You knew what I wanted to do and you gave me the gun anyway. Why?”
Sunny cocked her head upon hearing the question before leveling a glare at the bartender and following it up with a question of her own, “Wait. You knew!? How could you risk McCoy’s life like that!? You irresponsible piece of shi…”
The bartender interrupted her rant before it could really begin saying, “Yes I knew. I’m no fool, McCoy. I knew exactly what you wanted to do with that gun. What I didn’t know was if you’d actually do it.”
Sunny was about to jump over the bar and begin strangling the bartender before he suddenly placed a small and thin metal rod on the table in front of her and McCoy as he continued to speak, “I was in your shoes once. It may have been centuries ago, but I remember that feeling more vividly than any other. I tried it too, a gun, not unlike yours. It took me all day and a lot of liquor to work myself up to do it. I put that damn thing up to my head and screamed to the heavens as I pulled the trigger, but when the hammer fell all I felt was regret. At that moment I realized I didn’t want to die, my family wouldn’t want me to die, but the cards were on the table and there wasn’t a thing I could do.”
The bartender took a breath and poured himself a drink before continuing to speak to the two Dlamisans entranced by the story, “Well, the hammer connected, and nothing happened. I was shocked and confused by my still being alive for days until I figured out what went wrong. You see, the former owner of the firearm kept them partially disassembled, and in my haste to die, I’d forgotten to put the firing pin in.”
The bartender paused and sipped from his glass before finishing, “I realized something that day. Sometimes you don’t remember what you have until you leave it behind. I gave you that gun not to help you leave, but to give you the chance to come back.”
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Not going to lie. I really felt like a bull in a china shop trying to write this. It was tough to write and I honestly just couldn't think of a suitable ending for nearly a week. I hope I did it justice.
On a recommendation of a friend, I made a ko-fi. If you'd like to fuel my caffeine addiction to make the words flow faster, that'd be the way to do it. Also, I'll try to post a link to a google drive folder with all the parts of the story there. Of course, it will stay free here, but it'll be more compiled there.
Thank you all for your comments and support throughout the story. This wouldn't have been possible without y'all.

Lost a bunch of weight and these fit a bit baggy on me now.
Album of actual pants
J Crew Website Originals:
Navy (Worn once) Catskill Green (Never worn) Mushroom (Worn once) Khaki (Never worn)
Purchased $79.50 Retail, Selling for $65.00 for each.
Also open to trading for the 484 slim fit variant.
Prefer to exchange in person in NYC/NJ/PA/DE area or we can arrange shipping as well.