ɴᴏ ᴍᴇʀᴄʏ.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 and 𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐏𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐎 𝐀𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐎

Cobra Kai Season 4 Episode 4

Lyrics by Intruder by Peter Gabriel.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐓𝐇 as 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐏𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐎 as 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐎

// I don’t usually post this kinda thing, but given the current turbulent climate, I figured some folks may find this useful. As part of my job, I have to keep up to date with developments in cybersecurity, and threats to personal data and privacy.

The company behind the site National Public Data is currently scraping and storing personal data of US citizens, and freely displaying it for anyone to search (name, address, phone number, family members etc). If you do a search and find that your details are in their database, you can make a request for it to be removed:

When you find your profile, click View Full Profile.

Copy the URL

Go to the Opt Out page

Add the URL into the Your Profile Link field and click Request Removal

Enter an email address and the site will send you an email requesting that you click to confirm deletion

If making multiple requests (eg. on behalf of someone you know), you’ll need a different email address each time.

This isn’t the only site / data broker out there that provides this type of service, but this company has previously had a security breach which makes things a bit worse.

Stay safe ♡

She'd been in the process of cooling down, but now? She could go another few rounds, fuelled by spite if nothing else.

She could get another speaker. Easily. The thing was cheap, picked up at some novelty store inside a mini mall when she'd been shopping for carry-on friendly toiletry items. But the threat of it being taken from her raises her hackles.

"You don't even have any students with you," she whinges, dropping low, quickly extending her leg toward the bag, and hooking her foot through one of the straps to pull it all toward her without getting too close to the looming old man. "Are you allowed to be in here without them?" she asks as she stands again, satisfied that her possessions are outside his immediate sphere of influence.

ㅤㅤStubbornness seems to be rife within the room, the pair respectively standing their ground as her petulant rebuttal momentarily falls upon deaf ears, the elder’s expression blank as if the words had formed outta thin air as opposed to the smart mouth of a negligible competitor. There’s a slow shift in the man’s stance while carefully shrugging off a jacket, sleek sportswear comprising of layers in a deepened shade of black whose lustre seems to voraciously consume the surrounding light, the neatly bundled oil slick of a garment set atop a small rack housing a pyramid of colourful dumbbells, their diminishing weight in ascent marked by a warm to cool gradient with each sturdy handful. A trendy logo of a maison de couture is lost beneath the folds, reminiscent of a life of abundance that had ungraciously started to wind down over the last few months, financial woes present with a pair of uncompromising bookends framing two distinct periods of volatile bitterness over the last forty-something years  (  ouroboros be damned, he doesn’t deserve this double whammy  ).

ㅤㅤㅤㅤThere’s a low deep set hum as hands unravel the gathered material of the gi, belt comfortably bound as Silver slips into its elongated formation specifically tailored for his lofty stature, sufficiently cloaked by the semblance of a second skin, frosty eyes tracing against the company’s reflection in one of the surrounding mirrors.  “ Not right now, but I don’t see how that’s so important. A reservation’s a reservation. Security would have you on your ass before you could start pouting. ”  Seemingly nonchalant and nonplussed, this rebellious act of a small fish in a large pond is in fact grating, controlled palms smoothing over the tightly bound tresses about the sensei’s crown, making it a point not to turn around to face her, purposeful detachment present while speaking into the sheen of the surface instead.  “ Besides, you have the expanse of the entire city at your disposal to train… If you’re creative enough, of course. ”  The scant hint of a condescending simper tugs at the corners of the man’s lips, gaze narrowing to take in the formation with the skilled manoeuvre  (  flexible, good for her  ).

ㅤㅤThe contrastingly breezy yet unforthcoming nature of the other’s words is in stark contrast with the manner in which he stands, a natural  (  or posturing?  )  bearing of intimidation reminiscent of the lurid even if one weren’t to see those fists at work, a predator habitually sizing up prey regardless of its size. Noting how he’s potentially ready to bite off more than he can chew with that playful parlance, a tight-lipped smirk curls over pursed lips, an amused huff filtering through the heated air that intermittently stifles given the coupla layers Terry sports.  “ I’ve had my eye on you for quite a while. ”  A light-hearted intonation swiftly weaves through, a chuckle gracing subsequent words.  “ Your dōjō, that is. ”  There’s an unspoken hint of reverence about those two syllables, inflections that signify a sanctity that very few truly understood, even if Silver’s perception bastardises it beyond recognition, moulded to fit into his own idealised vision—  but something tells him that that  shouldn’t be too much of an issue here, not when the evils of pride and money are at stake, the foundation of one’s prestige always worth fighting for.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ“ I know all about your meteoric rise, a reputation forged as you made the clever shift from mere karateka to sensei. Emboldened as you pummelled your way head first through each and every martial arts circle you set your mind to, claiming your rightful place. ”  Did the guy have something to prove? Was the hateful rhetoric of vengeance entwined with neglect being spurred, telling the world  ‘ all eyes on me ’  while mommy and daddy gave little or no attention at all?  ( were they even in the picture?  )  Certain background details are non-existent, and while crafting well educated assumptions may’ve been Terry’s speciality, time permitting, he was prepared to learn on a one-to-one basis this time around, to temporarily step in to fill a void with fleeting yet potent efficacy, as with so many individuals through his lifetime  (  anything to further his own agenda  ).  “ Let’s just say I have a good eye when it comes to spotting talent and potential. Other impressive teams notwithstanding, I pegged you as the only real competition from the start. ”  Fingertips gingerly trailing over the circular inlay about the rectangular edges of the pendant, they trace inwards onto pronounced embossed indentations, the protruding  silver  iron dragon proudly gleaming against the inky recess.

TERRY: My past behavior was… inexcusable. If I could go back and undo it all, I would. [ep405]

the  difference  in  their  personalities  has  always  been  noticeable  and  it  became  even  more  glaringly  so  when  sat  side  -  by  -  side.  the  two  men  are  polar  opposites.  his  friend  has  a  taste  for  the  finer  things  in  life      (    even  in  the  midst  of  recent  downfall    )      while  snake  has  always  been  a  simple  man  satisfied  by  simple  pleasures.  his  own  preferences  are  a  little  less  refined.  throaty  chuckle  eases  outta  him  at  the  mention  of  'cuisine',  finding  amusement  in  the  suggestion.      "you  could  feed  me  fuckin'  dirt  and  it'd  still  taste  better  than  prison  food."      he's  hardly  in  a  position  to  complain  these  days.  the  hand  on  his  abdomen  brushes  over  healing  wound  one  last  time  before  back  straightens.  not  his  first  battle  scar.      —      probably  won't  be  his  last  either.  snake  has  tried  living  an  honest  life.  look  where  it  got  him.

ㅤㅤTaste is usually acquired with experience, but there has to be a willingness to open one’s mind in order to fully embrace the smorgasbord this world has to offer, a feat that not all are entirely prepared to do. Set down a nice meaty steak with all the fixins, and Snake would probably be perfectly content regardless of the grading of the beef itself - whether locally sourced and pumped full of USAD approved nutrients, or grass-fed and shipped across the world from Queensland, a true gourmand would know that a good peppercorn sauce can shift opinion within an instant for the undiscerning palate of those not particularly concerned about what they put in their body  (  unfortunately he’s had to be careful in recent years  ).  “ That bad, huh? ”  There's a sharp tut, the sound alluding to how times seemed to have changed, noting how this was undoubtedly a deterrent to stop re-offenders from circling back into the system, the promise of a decent meal seemingly ample for those unfortunate enough to consider the big house as a viable lifestyle choice.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤWhy anyone would want to go back was beyond him, yet Silver can think of far worse reasons, none of which were particular appetising for someone whom had evaded jailtime a selection of times. Analytical eyes trace over the other’s shifting mien when family comes into question, the addition of the child on the team a means to an end in the grander scheme of things - they had far stronger students in their midst, and from the elderly man’s perspective, Felix was never intended to make an impression given the others’ proven fortitude  (  nepotism can only get you so far, regardless of hardwork  ).  There’s an acquiescing nod with the topic, but an unimpressed stream of air is expelled, chin raising as gelid eyes sharply poise upon the other’s gaze - there was always a minor element of friction between Snake and Dennis, a factor Terry often took advantage of in order for the duo to meet elevated expectations their sensei held just out of reach—  but this tournament was  important, the last thing needed was for them to start a dick measuring contest while losing sight of  their  his goals.