Jin valley fair
Silicon Valley
2014.03.22 00:18 Silicon Valley
The subreddit for the HBO show Silicon Valley. We are making the world a better place.
2021.06.26 21:07 myrtlecreekva Myrtle Creek, Oregon
A subreddit for Myrtle Creek & neighboring Tri City, Winston, Riddle, and Canyonville. Managed by the Myrtle Creek Visitors Association.
2013.09.16 17:55 jquest23 The Big E.. Stuff about whats going on at the East Coast Largest Fair
The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as "New England's Great State fair". It is the largest on the east coast, and the 6th largest fair in the US. The Big E is inclusive of all 6 of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. Located in West Springfield. The Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, since 1917
2023.06.05 02:35 Drechenaux Main Character Syndrome
It's said that we each think ourselves of the protagonists of our own stories. Take that too far and you get narcissistic people who annoy everyone around them- but there is another layer to it.
In the end, we all experience the world through our own eyes. And what we see is always limited.
Don't get what I mean? Imagine for a second that you were living in a simulation. Now, you may think that it's nearly impossible for a computer to possibly synthesize everything in the world going on around you.
Imagine walking into a bookstore. Have you ever... actually read every single book in there? No, leave that, have you ever even opened each book? How do you know that... each book is real, that each book actually has words in it without you opening each one? They could very well be placeholders, just there to make the world look more real.
Extrapolate that to the world. Sure, there are ways of knowing about everything going around you- but how much do you actually experience?
In the end of course, it's only what we experience that shapes what we think of reality. We can never go inside someone else's head.
This would all just be a though experiment. Or at least, it would be normally.
Two week ago, I moved into a new town. I didn't really relish the idea as it was a rather small town- a far cry from the city I'd grown up in, but I had to come here as part of a job, and my student loans weren't going to pay themselves.
I sighed, and grit myself for six months of utter boredom.
That's what I thought would happen. I settled in well enough, only for my doorbell the ring the very afternoon I had arrived.
Hadn't been expecting that- I hadn't even unpacked half of the boxes yet.
It was my neighbor- at least that was how they introduced themselves. It was Gary, his wife, and his twin daughters. They were nice enough- though overall given that I was eager to get to work they were more of a distraction than anything.
The visitors didn't stop there though. The mailman, other neighbors from down the street, the owner of the local grocery store, the garbageman- all of them fell the need to ring on my doorbell just to say 'hello' to me. I wouldn't have minded but the thing was that the conversations dragged on for far longer than they ever should have.
And now that I truly think about it- there was something really off about each of those conversations. I know the Uncanny Valley effect is regarding faces- but this was like that, except for speech. What was being said was normal- but there was an, oddness to it that I couldn't really put my finger on. As if I was thinking- 'Wait a moment, real people don't talk like this.'
I just chalked up all of this attention to small town values and went to sleep even though I barely got any unpacking done at all.
I did notice something odd- outside the window that looked over my backyard- I saw the silhouette of a lady with her dog by the road. This wouldn't be abnormal on its own- but for three nights in a row, I always saw her.
At seemingly the same place.
The next morning I got up and my day was instantly ruined when I saw that all the tires to my car had been slashed.
So much for small town hospitality- I was almost beginning to swear when I heard a warm voice said, "In trouble there, neighbor?"
It was Gary. From the way he approached me- it was like he'd been waiting all this time behind the corner just to pop up when I would notice the slashes tires.
"Uh... yeah, someone did this..." I said.
"Oof- looks like we got ourselves a troublemaker on the loose here," Gary said. "We should let the Sherriff know- oh, there he is!"
In what couldn't possibly be a coincidence, the Sherriff strolled right up to us as if he had just been strolling around the neighborhood. "Good morning there- and oh, is this our new resident!"
He introduced himself and assured me that he would look into the matter, and as with all the other conversations I had up till now it lasted three times longer than necessary. I was really beginning to become impatient.
At the time I just chalked it up to folks from a small town being different, though now that I look back on things, they were definitely dragging out those conversations as much as possible.
Gary offered me a ride to work- which I accepted given I had no real other options. He talked a lot about his own life- only occasionally asking me questions about mine.
In case you were wondering what it was that I did there- I was a reporter working on a story. I was looking into a story regarding a factory near the town, and so Gary was nice enough to drop me off at the town library which also housed its records.
It was fairly old- didn't even have a digital system in place, they still used those old cards you would write into if you wanted to take a book out.
You would think that at the very least in a library I would get some peace and quiet, but no.... the librarian and her two assistants walked up to speak to me. They shooed away the other patrons who also seemed to want to introduce themselves and began explaining how the library worked.
Again, the conversation lasted way too long for my liking.
I tried to focus on my work, but I really couldn't. I noticed it every so slightly- people were waiting for me around every corner. Their faces were in books that they clearly weren't reading as they were on the same page for two hours.
I didn't make much headway as I made to leave- unsure of how I would even get back home when the second I stepped out of the library I ran into Gary.
"Hey there!"
"Were you... waiting for me all this time?"
"Aww shucks no! Of course not, I was just in the area and remembered you didn't have a ride home. Realized the library closes around this time so I thought I'd give you a lift."
'Thank... you," I said, very creeped out.
On the drive back, Gary told me that there was going to be a large party over at his house tomorrow afternoon. I said I had work- but Gary told me the library was closed on weekends. I found that to be very odd but had not real way of confirming that it was wrong so I shrugged and said that I would be there.
That night, again, I saw the lady with her dog across the street. In the same spot. I didn't think too much of it then.
The next day was the party- and to my surprise it looked like half of the town had shown up. I was immediately ushered in and asked to sit down in the center of the living room- it was as if I was the Birthday Boy at a kid's party.
Everyone wanted to speak with me- it was nice for a while but became quite overwhelming thereafter.
That night, I again saw the lady with her dog across the street. I could swear she was in the same spot as well.
I went ahead and opened the door- going for an evening stroll. I walked down the road and I saw a woman in her mid-forties walking a Golden Retriever. She was no longer standing still, but was walking up to me, eager to introduce herself. She walked the same route every day, she told me, and was really excited to see the new face who was the buzz all around town.
The next day I tried to get some new tires- but every shop in town was out of it (and by every shop I mean the two there). Despite how friendly everyone was, none of them had a spare set of tires- something I found hard to believe.
They did managed to find a bicycle I could borrow- that was good enough to go to the grocery store and back. It took me over an hour to get to the library for my job though- Gary kept offering to drive me there, but I always refused.
I did actually get some work done- and it went on like that for a week longer when my bike was stolen one day.
The Sherriff was right around the corner as the last time, and Gary was as willing to offer a ride as ever. Now, I couldn't even get someone to lend me their bicycle anymore.
That night, I saw her again. That same lady, standing across the street. In the same spot.
I went for a walk- and she ran into me. As if she had been expecting me.
I had no idea what was happening around this place. I felt nauseous and didn't come out of the house for two days, just whiling away time on my laptop.
I had made my decision then- screw this job! I was getting out of here. I called my boss and told him I was leaving, and given I somehow still didn't have new tires I just called for a taxi company. I'd get my car back some other way- I didn't want to live here a moment longer.
The night before my planned escape, I woke up, startled by a noise downstairs. I went to see that it was... Gary.
He wasn't carrying a weapon of any sort and didn't look threatening in any way- but he was in my house at two in the morning.
"H-how did you get in?" I asked him.
"Ah, picked the lock. Locksmith helped," he said.
I grabbed a nearby umbrella- hardly an adequate weapon, but the closest thing near me. "D-don't get any closer!"
"I don't want to bother you," Gary said, seemingly nonplused by how weird this whole situation was. "I just wanted to let you know... that you can't leave."
That confirmed my suspicions when I heard a voice from outside.
"Gary! How long are you going to hog everything for yourself!"
"We want our turn!"
"What happened to 'sharing is caring?'"
I looked outside the window- and saw the townsfolk had surrounded my house.
"What is going on?!" I demanded.
"It's hard to explain," Gary said. "But let me start at the beginning. The 'factory' you were looking into, it wasn't a factory at all. It was a research facility for the military. We don't know why- but they made us. They made us like this, eternally trapped in this town. They abandoned us. We don't know why- just that it seems they wanted to curse us. I know no other reason as to why the should torment us so."
His face twisted into a snarl.
"We are background characters. We have little will of our own. It's only when someone like you comes from the outside that we find our purpose. That this town of ours has life breathed into it. Did you know what my days like were before you came along? I would stand in an empty house with my 'family' for hours on end. Just staring at a blank wall, unable to eat or drink or sleep. Unable to feel, unable to express myself. I can't even talk to members of my family unless you come around."
"Ah, I think you have a term for us," Gary said. "NPCs? Side characters? That's what we are. We can't do anything unless you come around. And I loved it so much when you were here- for the firs time in years I felt alive. Did you know something? My house is actually empty. No furniture. Nothing at all. Everything that you saw in there on the day of the party- it materialized only when you came in. I could go back home to an empty house, but I won't anymore." He began to move. "Come with me."
I ran upstairs and locked my bedroom door, barricading myself in as well as I could. I looked out my window and saw throngs of people there.
I can hear them at my door. Any minute now they'll get in.
I-I have family outside here guys. I do not want to spend my life being a prisoner of whatever... things live in this town.
My hand is shaking in terror as I type this out on my phone. I... don't know what I can do in this situation. I think I can smell smoke- they're definitely starting a fire, knowing I'll have to jump out the window. I don't know if they'll fight over me or try to tear me apart so each of them gets a piece, but they're not going to leave me alone.
They may all be prisoners here- but it looks like I'll end up being another inmate along with them.
submitted by Drechenaux to nosleep [link] [comments]
In the end, we all experience the world through our own eyes. And what we see is always limited.
Don't get what I mean? Imagine for a second that you were living in a simulation. Now, you may think that it's nearly impossible for a computer to possibly synthesize everything in the world going on around you.
Imagine walking into a bookstore. Have you ever... actually read every single book in there? No, leave that, have you ever even opened each book? How do you know that... each book is real, that each book actually has words in it without you opening each one? They could very well be placeholders, just there to make the world look more real.
Extrapolate that to the world. Sure, there are ways of knowing about everything going around you- but how much do you actually experience?
In the end of course, it's only what we experience that shapes what we think of reality. We can never go inside someone else's head.
This would all just be a though experiment. Or at least, it would be normally.
Two week ago, I moved into a new town. I didn't really relish the idea as it was a rather small town- a far cry from the city I'd grown up in, but I had to come here as part of a job, and my student loans weren't going to pay themselves.
I sighed, and grit myself for six months of utter boredom.
That's what I thought would happen. I settled in well enough, only for my doorbell the ring the very afternoon I had arrived.
Hadn't been expecting that- I hadn't even unpacked half of the boxes yet.
It was my neighbor- at least that was how they introduced themselves. It was Gary, his wife, and his twin daughters. They were nice enough- though overall given that I was eager to get to work they were more of a distraction than anything.
The visitors didn't stop there though. The mailman, other neighbors from down the street, the owner of the local grocery store, the garbageman- all of them fell the need to ring on my doorbell just to say 'hello' to me. I wouldn't have minded but the thing was that the conversations dragged on for far longer than they ever should have.
And now that I truly think about it- there was something really off about each of those conversations. I know the Uncanny Valley effect is regarding faces- but this was like that, except for speech. What was being said was normal- but there was an, oddness to it that I couldn't really put my finger on. As if I was thinking- 'Wait a moment, real people don't talk like this.'
I just chalked up all of this attention to small town values and went to sleep even though I barely got any unpacking done at all.
I did notice something odd- outside the window that looked over my backyard- I saw the silhouette of a lady with her dog by the road. This wouldn't be abnormal on its own- but for three nights in a row, I always saw her.
At seemingly the same place.
The next morning I got up and my day was instantly ruined when I saw that all the tires to my car had been slashed.
So much for small town hospitality- I was almost beginning to swear when I heard a warm voice said, "In trouble there, neighbor?"
It was Gary. From the way he approached me- it was like he'd been waiting all this time behind the corner just to pop up when I would notice the slashes tires.
"Uh... yeah, someone did this..." I said.
"Oof- looks like we got ourselves a troublemaker on the loose here," Gary said. "We should let the Sherriff know- oh, there he is!"
In what couldn't possibly be a coincidence, the Sherriff strolled right up to us as if he had just been strolling around the neighborhood. "Good morning there- and oh, is this our new resident!"
He introduced himself and assured me that he would look into the matter, and as with all the other conversations I had up till now it lasted three times longer than necessary. I was really beginning to become impatient.
At the time I just chalked it up to folks from a small town being different, though now that I look back on things, they were definitely dragging out those conversations as much as possible.
Gary offered me a ride to work- which I accepted given I had no real other options. He talked a lot about his own life- only occasionally asking me questions about mine.
In case you were wondering what it was that I did there- I was a reporter working on a story. I was looking into a story regarding a factory near the town, and so Gary was nice enough to drop me off at the town library which also housed its records.
It was fairly old- didn't even have a digital system in place, they still used those old cards you would write into if you wanted to take a book out.
You would think that at the very least in a library I would get some peace and quiet, but no.... the librarian and her two assistants walked up to speak to me. They shooed away the other patrons who also seemed to want to introduce themselves and began explaining how the library worked.
Again, the conversation lasted way too long for my liking.
I tried to focus on my work, but I really couldn't. I noticed it every so slightly- people were waiting for me around every corner. Their faces were in books that they clearly weren't reading as they were on the same page for two hours.
I didn't make much headway as I made to leave- unsure of how I would even get back home when the second I stepped out of the library I ran into Gary.
"Hey there!"
"Were you... waiting for me all this time?"
"Aww shucks no! Of course not, I was just in the area and remembered you didn't have a ride home. Realized the library closes around this time so I thought I'd give you a lift."
'Thank... you," I said, very creeped out.
On the drive back, Gary told me that there was going to be a large party over at his house tomorrow afternoon. I said I had work- but Gary told me the library was closed on weekends. I found that to be very odd but had not real way of confirming that it was wrong so I shrugged and said that I would be there.
That night, again, I saw the lady with her dog across the street. In the same spot. I didn't think too much of it then.
The next day was the party- and to my surprise it looked like half of the town had shown up. I was immediately ushered in and asked to sit down in the center of the living room- it was as if I was the Birthday Boy at a kid's party.
Everyone wanted to speak with me- it was nice for a while but became quite overwhelming thereafter.
That night, I again saw the lady with her dog across the street. I could swear she was in the same spot as well.
I went ahead and opened the door- going for an evening stroll. I walked down the road and I saw a woman in her mid-forties walking a Golden Retriever. She was no longer standing still, but was walking up to me, eager to introduce herself. She walked the same route every day, she told me, and was really excited to see the new face who was the buzz all around town.
The next day I tried to get some new tires- but every shop in town was out of it (and by every shop I mean the two there). Despite how friendly everyone was, none of them had a spare set of tires- something I found hard to believe.
They did managed to find a bicycle I could borrow- that was good enough to go to the grocery store and back. It took me over an hour to get to the library for my job though- Gary kept offering to drive me there, but I always refused.
I did actually get some work done- and it went on like that for a week longer when my bike was stolen one day.
The Sherriff was right around the corner as the last time, and Gary was as willing to offer a ride as ever. Now, I couldn't even get someone to lend me their bicycle anymore.
That night, I saw her again. That same lady, standing across the street. In the same spot.
I went for a walk- and she ran into me. As if she had been expecting me.
I had no idea what was happening around this place. I felt nauseous and didn't come out of the house for two days, just whiling away time on my laptop.
I had made my decision then- screw this job! I was getting out of here. I called my boss and told him I was leaving, and given I somehow still didn't have new tires I just called for a taxi company. I'd get my car back some other way- I didn't want to live here a moment longer.
The night before my planned escape, I woke up, startled by a noise downstairs. I went to see that it was... Gary.
He wasn't carrying a weapon of any sort and didn't look threatening in any way- but he was in my house at two in the morning.
"H-how did you get in?" I asked him.
"Ah, picked the lock. Locksmith helped," he said.
I grabbed a nearby umbrella- hardly an adequate weapon, but the closest thing near me. "D-don't get any closer!"
"I don't want to bother you," Gary said, seemingly nonplused by how weird this whole situation was. "I just wanted to let you know... that you can't leave."
That confirmed my suspicions when I heard a voice from outside.
"Gary! How long are you going to hog everything for yourself!"
"We want our turn!"
"What happened to 'sharing is caring?'"
I looked outside the window- and saw the townsfolk had surrounded my house.
"What is going on?!" I demanded.
"It's hard to explain," Gary said. "But let me start at the beginning. The 'factory' you were looking into, it wasn't a factory at all. It was a research facility for the military. We don't know why- but they made us. They made us like this, eternally trapped in this town. They abandoned us. We don't know why- just that it seems they wanted to curse us. I know no other reason as to why the should torment us so."
His face twisted into a snarl.
"We are background characters. We have little will of our own. It's only when someone like you comes from the outside that we find our purpose. That this town of ours has life breathed into it. Did you know what my days like were before you came along? I would stand in an empty house with my 'family' for hours on end. Just staring at a blank wall, unable to eat or drink or sleep. Unable to feel, unable to express myself. I can't even talk to members of my family unless you come around."
"Ah, I think you have a term for us," Gary said. "NPCs? Side characters? That's what we are. We can't do anything unless you come around. And I loved it so much when you were here- for the firs time in years I felt alive. Did you know something? My house is actually empty. No furniture. Nothing at all. Everything that you saw in there on the day of the party- it materialized only when you came in. I could go back home to an empty house, but I won't anymore." He began to move. "Come with me."
I ran upstairs and locked my bedroom door, barricading myself in as well as I could. I looked out my window and saw throngs of people there.
I can hear them at my door. Any minute now they'll get in.
I-I have family outside here guys. I do not want to spend my life being a prisoner of whatever... things live in this town.
My hand is shaking in terror as I type this out on my phone. I... don't know what I can do in this situation. I think I can smell smoke- they're definitely starting a fire, knowing I'll have to jump out the window. I don't know if they'll fight over me or try to tear me apart so each of them gets a piece, but they're not going to leave me alone.
They may all be prisoners here- but it looks like I'll end up being another inmate along with them.
2023.06.05 01:03 AmaranthSparrow Shingo Kimura (Sasuke Retsuden mangaka) Interview Summary
I don't have time to translate this fully, but the Japanese version of naruto.com posted a three-part interview with Shingo Kimura to commemorate the release of the second volume of the manga. Unfortunately they aren't available on the English version of the website.
From a young age, about three or four, his older sister used to draw pictures of his Kamen Rider action figure and he would imitate her. Not long after that he started watching the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and became aware that it was based on a manga. In the second grade he did an assignment that asked about what he dreamed of doing in the future, and he wrote mangaka because it was a job he was familiar with, despite not really understanding much about it. From then on he became more aware of mangaka.
He was first introduced to the Naruto manga at a friend's house when he was in the third grade. At the time he was impressed by how cool and 3D it looked despite rarely using screen tone for shading. After that he started collecting the tankobon edition. He considered Naruto to have just the right blend of "realistic" seinen and "cute" shonen qualities, so it really appealed to him.
In 2012 when he was in Junior High he started buying Shonen Jump after seeing a couple issues that had connecting Naruto illustrations on the covers [TL Note: promoting the release of Road to Ninja.] He was apprehensive about it at first because the story was a bit further ahead in the magazine than the tankobon he usually bought.
He also learned from reading the magazine that Kishimoto was acting as a judge for the Tezuka awards and wanted to submit one of his own manga, but at the time he was too busy with clubs and studying to practice drawing. In high school he decided not to do any extracurriculars and instead went straight home from school every day and spent hours copying manga. He occasionally drew his own original art, but mostly copied art directly from Naruto and Blade of the Immortal [by Hiroaki Samura]. He started copying Blade of the Immortal because Kishimoto had listed it as one of his major influences.
After graduating high school in Gunma he went to an art school in Kiryu. After graduating he submitted the manga he created as his final art project to the Tezuka Awards and won a Runner's Up award in 2018. The ceremony was the first time he met Kishimoto, who praised his drawing ability and shook his hand, as it was still pre-pandemic. He'd imagined if he ever met Kishimoto he would cry, but when he finally met him it didn't happen.
Kimura closes by saying that his entire identity is really derived from Kishimoto. His love for Akira, Blade of the Immortal, and the IG Production films Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh were all because they were things Kishimoto had praised.
Ever since high school he's scrutinized everything he could about Kishimoto's art in order to emulate his techniques, even comparing the differences between the serialized edition in Jump and the final tankobon editions. For example, for the magazine editions Kishimoto draws dirt on clothing using a G pen, but for the tankobon editions he retouches them using a Posca ultra-fine pen.
In 2016 he bought a DVD called Jump Ryu which included an interview of Kishimoto in his studio. He paused the DVD and checked the various books in Kishimoto's studio to see what things he referenced and then bought copies of them for himself, including books about writing and planning out stories.
The same happened in 2015 when he went to the Naruto Exhibition, which had a display of various books and movies that Kishimoto kept around the studio. Included were Hunter x Hunter, Blade of the Immortal, various Tarantino movies, Elysium, District 9, and The Usual Suspects. He bought all the ones he hadn't already seen and watched them.
He's used a photo of Kishimoto and Hiroaki Samura as the home screen on his phone ever since he was in high school from an issue of Da Vinci magazine.
At the exhibit when he saw Kishimoto's illustrations on paper for the first time, he could imagine the world spreading out beyond the frame. He realized that if you just have paper, you can create entire worlds. Kimura says that he hasn't gotten to the point yet, but he's going to keep working hard and learning until he can some day do it himself.
Kimura tried to emulate Kishimoto's camerawork too, though figures it's probably ingrained in him anyway at this point. He mentioned trying to avoid long-range lense effects because it's not something Kishimoto would do, but he might use them in his own works. Kishimoto praised the fight he drew between Sasuke and Meno in the hallway, because it's difficult to position the camera in narrow corridors. Kishimoto had drawn lots of cool fights in similar alleys and Kimura wanted to show his respect for that. He also made an effort to keep things looking flat without adding anything too unusual to the composition.
Kimura was especially conscious of trying to match Kishimoto's style for the larger frames, though Kishimoto had told him not to be too conscious about it. At the time Kimura was struggling with the art, so he thought by trying to make his art as close to Kishimoto's as possible he'd figure some things out. He was also really nervous that if he strayed too far from the style of Naruto it might make people unhappy.
When Kimura was drawing the final page of the manga with Sasuke and Sakura's back facing the camera, the editor suggested that they should instead be shown from the front so their faces could be seen. Kimura revised the draft and gave it to the editor, who showed it to Kishimoto. Kishimoto sketched out his own rough draft for the page as a suggestion, which was very similar in composition to Kimura's original draft, showing them from both from behind. The editor apologized to Kimura for not trusting his original instinct. Kishimoto had also drawn one other draft sketch for him previously, so he was really happy.
After drawing Sasuke Retsuden he feels like he had been trying to explore his own artistry and style while subconsciously pushing away Naruto, but after being asked to draw the series he reread Naruto and fell in love with it all over again.
For a long time he had been working with his editor trying to submit drafts for his own stories and trying out various things, but after drawing Sasuke Retsuden he realized he should be honest with himself, that his work is always going to look a certain way. He can't quite explain it, but it's how he feels.
First is the Rasengan / Chidori clash at the Final Valley. He discusses how impressive it was to show the scene from beneath the water, using screen tone to darken the water and bubbles to convey the power, with the water spray eventually giving way to show them clearly. He mentioned that there was a similar scene when Hashirama and Senju were shown fighting as children.
Second is the scene of Sasuke using Kirin. He explains that Kishimoto used a special function on his copying machine to draw the Kirin, which would "hollow out" thick lines leaving only outlines. Kishimoto had mentioned that he no longer has a copier with that function so he can't draw Kirin anymore.
Third was the scene of Naruto returning to Konoha. He explains that Kishimoto drew the rough draft and his assistants did the inking for the final art, but he's still impressed they were able to do something so detailed in a weekly series. He praises the perspective and composition and mentions the contrast with the scene when Sasuke later returns to the village.
Fourth isn't a specific scene, but rather the times Kishimoto would show an action shot from three different angles similar to an action movie. He realizes he forgot to include a scene like this in Sasuke Retsuden.
Fifth is the scene of Naruto unlocking Kurama's gate for the first time, and he praised the callbacks to Iruka's dialogue in the the first chapter.
He mentions at around that time there were Naruto contests in Jump where you could win prizes if you submitted postcards with Naruto drawings. He submitted seven or eight drawings and won six prizes. One of his drawings was the scene of Obito saying "this left eye craves war," though his sister told him he was naive to think they would choose winners based on the quality of the art.
He also loves the first chapter of the manga, and says that any time he had trouble drawing his drafts he'd go back and reread the first chapter for inspiration.
submitted by AmaranthSparrow to Boruto [link] [comments]
Part 1
In Part 1, Kimura discusses how he got interested in manga.From a young age, about three or four, his older sister used to draw pictures of his Kamen Rider action figure and he would imitate her. Not long after that he started watching the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and became aware that it was based on a manga. In the second grade he did an assignment that asked about what he dreamed of doing in the future, and he wrote mangaka because it was a job he was familiar with, despite not really understanding much about it. From then on he became more aware of mangaka.
He was first introduced to the Naruto manga at a friend's house when he was in the third grade. At the time he was impressed by how cool and 3D it looked despite rarely using screen tone for shading. After that he started collecting the tankobon edition. He considered Naruto to have just the right blend of "realistic" seinen and "cute" shonen qualities, so it really appealed to him.
In 2012 when he was in Junior High he started buying Shonen Jump after seeing a couple issues that had connecting Naruto illustrations on the covers [TL Note: promoting the release of Road to Ninja.] He was apprehensive about it at first because the story was a bit further ahead in the magazine than the tankobon he usually bought.
He also learned from reading the magazine that Kishimoto was acting as a judge for the Tezuka awards and wanted to submit one of his own manga, but at the time he was too busy with clubs and studying to practice drawing. In high school he decided not to do any extracurriculars and instead went straight home from school every day and spent hours copying manga. He occasionally drew his own original art, but mostly copied art directly from Naruto and Blade of the Immortal [by Hiroaki Samura]. He started copying Blade of the Immortal because Kishimoto had listed it as one of his major influences.
After graduating high school in Gunma he went to an art school in Kiryu. After graduating he submitted the manga he created as his final art project to the Tezuka Awards and won a Runner's Up award in 2018. The ceremony was the first time he met Kishimoto, who praised his drawing ability and shook his hand, as it was still pre-pandemic. He'd imagined if he ever met Kishimoto he would cry, but when he finally met him it didn't happen.
Kimura closes by saying that his entire identity is really derived from Kishimoto. His love for Akira, Blade of the Immortal, and the IG Production films Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh were all because they were things Kishimoto had praised.
Part 2
Kimura discusses his work on Sasuke Retsuden, saying that he tried to emulate Kishimoto's style as much as possible but feels he was only partially successful. He started by intensely studying Kishimoto's art, even making copies and enlarging pages to figure out the right line widths. However after checking more of Kishimoto's art he now feels he made the lineart too thick in the chapters of the first volume.Ever since high school he's scrutinized everything he could about Kishimoto's art in order to emulate his techniques, even comparing the differences between the serialized edition in Jump and the final tankobon editions. For example, for the magazine editions Kishimoto draws dirt on clothing using a G pen, but for the tankobon editions he retouches them using a Posca ultra-fine pen.
In 2016 he bought a DVD called Jump Ryu which included an interview of Kishimoto in his studio. He paused the DVD and checked the various books in Kishimoto's studio to see what things he referenced and then bought copies of them for himself, including books about writing and planning out stories.
The same happened in 2015 when he went to the Naruto Exhibition, which had a display of various books and movies that Kishimoto kept around the studio. Included were Hunter x Hunter, Blade of the Immortal, various Tarantino movies, Elysium, District 9, and The Usual Suspects. He bought all the ones he hadn't already seen and watched them.
He's used a photo of Kishimoto and Hiroaki Samura as the home screen on his phone ever since he was in high school from an issue of Da Vinci magazine.
At the exhibit when he saw Kishimoto's illustrations on paper for the first time, he could imagine the world spreading out beyond the frame. He realized that if you just have paper, you can create entire worlds. Kimura says that he hasn't gotten to the point yet, but he's going to keep working hard and learning until he can some day do it himself.
Kimura tried to emulate Kishimoto's camerawork too, though figures it's probably ingrained in him anyway at this point. He mentioned trying to avoid long-range lense effects because it's not something Kishimoto would do, but he might use them in his own works. Kishimoto praised the fight he drew between Sasuke and Meno in the hallway, because it's difficult to position the camera in narrow corridors. Kishimoto had drawn lots of cool fights in similar alleys and Kimura wanted to show his respect for that. He also made an effort to keep things looking flat without adding anything too unusual to the composition.
Kimura was especially conscious of trying to match Kishimoto's style for the larger frames, though Kishimoto had told him not to be too conscious about it. At the time Kimura was struggling with the art, so he thought by trying to make his art as close to Kishimoto's as possible he'd figure some things out. He was also really nervous that if he strayed too far from the style of Naruto it might make people unhappy.
When Kimura was drawing the final page of the manga with Sasuke and Sakura's back facing the camera, the editor suggested that they should instead be shown from the front so their faces could be seen. Kimura revised the draft and gave it to the editor, who showed it to Kishimoto. Kishimoto sketched out his own rough draft for the page as a suggestion, which was very similar in composition to Kimura's original draft, showing them from both from behind. The editor apologized to Kimura for not trusting his original instinct. Kishimoto had also drawn one other draft sketch for him previously, so he was really happy.
After drawing Sasuke Retsuden he feels like he had been trying to explore his own artistry and style while subconsciously pushing away Naruto, but after being asked to draw the series he reread Naruto and fell in love with it all over again.
For a long time he had been working with his editor trying to submit drafts for his own stories and trying out various things, but after drawing Sasuke Retsuden he realized he should be honest with himself, that his work is always going to look a certain way. He can't quite explain it, but it's how he feels.
Part 3
In Part 3 he discusses his five favorite scenes from Naruto.First is the Rasengan / Chidori clash at the Final Valley. He discusses how impressive it was to show the scene from beneath the water, using screen tone to darken the water and bubbles to convey the power, with the water spray eventually giving way to show them clearly. He mentioned that there was a similar scene when Hashirama and Senju were shown fighting as children.
Second is the scene of Sasuke using Kirin. He explains that Kishimoto used a special function on his copying machine to draw the Kirin, which would "hollow out" thick lines leaving only outlines. Kishimoto had mentioned that he no longer has a copier with that function so he can't draw Kirin anymore.
Third was the scene of Naruto returning to Konoha. He explains that Kishimoto drew the rough draft and his assistants did the inking for the final art, but he's still impressed they were able to do something so detailed in a weekly series. He praises the perspective and composition and mentions the contrast with the scene when Sasuke later returns to the village.
Fourth isn't a specific scene, but rather the times Kishimoto would show an action shot from three different angles similar to an action movie. He realizes he forgot to include a scene like this in Sasuke Retsuden.
Fifth is the scene of Naruto unlocking Kurama's gate for the first time, and he praised the callbacks to Iruka's dialogue in the the first chapter.
He mentions at around that time there were Naruto contests in Jump where you could win prizes if you submitted postcards with Naruto drawings. He submitted seven or eight drawings and won six prizes. One of his drawings was the scene of Obito saying "this left eye craves war," though his sister told him he was naive to think they would choose winners based on the quality of the art.
He also loves the first chapter of the manga, and says that any time he had trouble drawing his drafts he'd go back and reread the first chapter for inspiration.
2023.06.04 22:44 monkeyeatbanan39 Any Time Zone - Lonely and wanna try something new? Looking for some genuine ACTIVE friends to join a friendship circle and play games/hangout on vc/watch stuff/do quizzes/etc - 18+ please!
Hey! I provide good energy and positive vibes and am looking to reach out to some fellow nerds! The group is still fairly new/green so looking to branch out a bit moree
I find it easier to make friends over an activity like a game online, so I'm using trying to create a friendship circle off the back of that! Me and my friends are quite high energy so be prepared for top-notch jokes and quality levels of banter (I'd avoid approaching us if you are easily offended)
The games we play: League of Legends/TFT (EUW), Overwatch 2, Valorant, Minecraft, DBD, Genshin Impact, Golf with Friends, Terraria, Apex, Stardew Valley, Fall Guys, Among Us, Jackbox Party Games and MANY MORE (Open to other suggestions too ofc!!)
If you're a non-gamer but would still like to hangout, chat, maybe do a movie night here and there, you are welcome too! We'll be doing things like Quizzes, Karaoke, Fitness Chats, Movie Nights, Watch Parties, Cards against Humanity, Jackbox Party Games and Skribblio :)
Would preferably like people who hang with us over voice chat though ! (and please by 18+)
With all that being said, if this post interested you at all, drop me a DM and let's chat, maybe you'll be a good fit with us! :)
submitted by monkeyeatbanan39 to Needafriend [link] [comments]
I find it easier to make friends over an activity like a game online, so I'm using trying to create a friendship circle off the back of that! Me and my friends are quite high energy so be prepared for top-notch jokes and quality levels of banter (I'd avoid approaching us if you are easily offended)
The games we play: League of Legends/TFT (EUW), Overwatch 2, Valorant, Minecraft, DBD, Genshin Impact, Golf with Friends, Terraria, Apex, Stardew Valley, Fall Guys, Among Us, Jackbox Party Games and MANY MORE (Open to other suggestions too ofc!!)
If you're a non-gamer but would still like to hangout, chat, maybe do a movie night here and there, you are welcome too! We'll be doing things like Quizzes, Karaoke, Fitness Chats, Movie Nights, Watch Parties, Cards against Humanity, Jackbox Party Games and Skribblio :)
Would preferably like people who hang with us over voice chat though ! (and please by 18+)
With all that being said, if this post interested you at all, drop me a DM and let's chat, maybe you'll be a good fit with us! :)
2023.06.04 22:06 tropicalasparagus Nordstrom Rack Valley Fair Promo Code
Check this out for Nordstrom Rack Valley Fair Promo Code. Find the best deals for you by looking at the current promo codes and coupons on that page. You'll always find the newest coupons, promo codes, and deals on that page. Choose one to apply to your order and save money.
submitted by tropicalasparagus to SnorterDiscount [link] [comments]
2023.06.04 21:34 Quiqueen309 How does memory work in the game?
(WARNING‼️INTENSE THEORIZING FOR ADVANCED PLAYERS) Now recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the story line and how Update 5 is going to shed some light on a lot of questions we might have but I decided to go back to the beginning and pick out details that I may not have noticed before. Now it all started when the last update was released and Simba and Nala had to join the valley. In addition to them joining many things that have been obvious to the player is now being discussed by the characters in the game. 1 topics in particular, like how on earth is someone like Scar able to skip death and appear in the valley. This isn’t the first time we’ve thought about it, since characters like Ursula and Mother Gothel have been roaming around since the beginning but this is the first time another character mentions it. Whether the characters remembers their death or not is a topic for another day but their presence in the valley is easily explained. They are there simple because we made it so. It’s our imagination so death is not a barrier in the valley but for some reason Memory is.
Now I know the entire game is about the forgetting and whatever we forget is essentially forgotten in the valley but this ISNT TRUE! Now this is where I need the DDLV community detectives to join me on solving this mystery. Now Im assuming there are plenty of things that the characters remember but just haven’t asked us about or haven’t had the other triggering character enter the valley for the memory to appear. With this being said there is still something off, Just how far do the characters memories go? When I say this, I mean do they remember everything that has already happened to them in their original stories? What is considered cannon to the writers of the game and what is not considered to have taken place at all. Characters like Elsa remember events up to Frozen 2 since she mentions how the powers of the forest spirits work, we can assume that much since this knowledge can’t be obtained unless you’ve seen that movie. On the other hand characters like Nala and Simba can’t even remember that they’ve already had a child named Kiara. If you talk to Nala she mentions wanting to name their child by that name, making it obvious that those events haven’t taken place but they are inevitable because these characters already have stories. Part of me believes it is popularity based but if this is true why even mention something that happens in the future if it isn’t relevant. This is the same with characters like Woody and Buzz who remember Bonnie who is fairly new in their story arcs as their new owner after Andy but Ariel and Eric seem to be stuck in the moment after escaping Ursula? They have no hints so far of having memories of a child named Melody or having to fight Ursula’s sister Morgan’s in their second movie arc.
I’ve thought of one explanation and I’ve resulted in their memories being based on how many characters from their respective movies they have in the game. So the more characters they have the more memories. This is partly true since many of the quest have requirements of other characters being in game or have accessed a certain level of memories. Since Frozen and Mickey Mouse has the most characters they should obtain the most memories of their stories but there is one thing that debunks this. The Toy Story characters! There are only two and somehow they remember up to where their movies drop off. This racks my brain so with further investigation I wanted to include you all on what keeps me up at night and see some of your theories as well. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and think about this🥹
submitted by Quiqueen309 to DreamlightValley [link] [comments]
Now I know the entire game is about the forgetting and whatever we forget is essentially forgotten in the valley but this ISNT TRUE! Now this is where I need the DDLV community detectives to join me on solving this mystery. Now Im assuming there are plenty of things that the characters remember but just haven’t asked us about or haven’t had the other triggering character enter the valley for the memory to appear. With this being said there is still something off, Just how far do the characters memories go? When I say this, I mean do they remember everything that has already happened to them in their original stories? What is considered cannon to the writers of the game and what is not considered to have taken place at all. Characters like Elsa remember events up to Frozen 2 since she mentions how the powers of the forest spirits work, we can assume that much since this knowledge can’t be obtained unless you’ve seen that movie. On the other hand characters like Nala and Simba can’t even remember that they’ve already had a child named Kiara. If you talk to Nala she mentions wanting to name their child by that name, making it obvious that those events haven’t taken place but they are inevitable because these characters already have stories. Part of me believes it is popularity based but if this is true why even mention something that happens in the future if it isn’t relevant. This is the same with characters like Woody and Buzz who remember Bonnie who is fairly new in their story arcs as their new owner after Andy but Ariel and Eric seem to be stuck in the moment after escaping Ursula? They have no hints so far of having memories of a child named Melody or having to fight Ursula’s sister Morgan’s in their second movie arc.
I’ve thought of one explanation and I’ve resulted in their memories being based on how many characters from their respective movies they have in the game. So the more characters they have the more memories. This is partly true since many of the quest have requirements of other characters being in game or have accessed a certain level of memories. Since Frozen and Mickey Mouse has the most characters they should obtain the most memories of their stories but there is one thing that debunks this. The Toy Story characters! There are only two and somehow they remember up to where their movies drop off. This racks my brain so with further investigation I wanted to include you all on what keeps me up at night and see some of your theories as well. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read and think about this🥹
2023.06.04 20:59 PaintedCollection First time host family
So my husband and I are really considering having an au pair watch our children. From what I’ve seen, we’d need to go through an agency because we live in the US. We’re in NY about a 70 miles north of NYC.
I guess my questions are: which agencies have people had positive experiences with and what was it like having an au pair? I’m a bit nervous about the whole process in general because my children are young and can’t really advocate for themselves (4yrs, 2yrs, and our 3rd is due in October).
We would be looking for an au pair to start in December 2023 while I’m still on maternity leave so I can help her learn our routine and get to know her. I would return to work in late January/early February when the baby is over 3m.
As for our set up, we have an extra bedroom on the 1st level of our home. We would be able to provide our au pair with a car and a 2nd hand cellphone with unlimited data if we add her to our plan. We would need her to watch the children for about 5-8 hours a day, M-F. I’m a teacher so she can have off on days I’m not working (without a decrease in stipend pay of course). She would also mostly be off in the summers. Just more of an extra set of hands occasionally. She would be welcome to join us on any day trips we go on as a guest.
The only downside for our au pair is my husband and I live a very frugal lifestyle and have a very strict budget. We can’t afford to eat out or go on vacations out of state. We take a few local day trips a year. The most extravagant places we would go are the Bronx Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the NY renaissance faire, and some local places in the Hudson Valley that are either free or low cost.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. Wasn’t sure which details would be need to know.
submitted by PaintedCollection to Aupairs [link] [comments]
I guess my questions are: which agencies have people had positive experiences with and what was it like having an au pair? I’m a bit nervous about the whole process in general because my children are young and can’t really advocate for themselves (4yrs, 2yrs, and our 3rd is due in October).
We would be looking for an au pair to start in December 2023 while I’m still on maternity leave so I can help her learn our routine and get to know her. I would return to work in late January/early February when the baby is over 3m.
As for our set up, we have an extra bedroom on the 1st level of our home. We would be able to provide our au pair with a car and a 2nd hand cellphone with unlimited data if we add her to our plan. We would need her to watch the children for about 5-8 hours a day, M-F. I’m a teacher so she can have off on days I’m not working (without a decrease in stipend pay of course). She would also mostly be off in the summers. Just more of an extra set of hands occasionally. She would be welcome to join us on any day trips we go on as a guest.
The only downside for our au pair is my husband and I live a very frugal lifestyle and have a very strict budget. We can’t afford to eat out or go on vacations out of state. We take a few local day trips a year. The most extravagant places we would go are the Bronx Zoo, the Natural History Museum, the NY renaissance faire, and some local places in the Hudson Valley that are either free or low cost.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. Wasn’t sure which details would be need to know.
2023.06.04 20:23 endersgame69 Kayobi's Days Off C15
The next day I remembered to bring the key that Suki gave to me, and I won’t pretend I wasn’t a little smug about that. ‘I’m responsible!’ I thought, teasing myself over something silly and small, and turned the key with a click to open up the store. I whistled when I walked in, this time I was early. I had something to do after all. I went to the register, took the envelope full of cash, and then after taking a bank statement off the desk in Suki’s office, I left and locked up.
I went to the bank and got there right as they opened, a slender woman in a knee length dress with short black hair met me with a smile. “Can I help you?” She asked, and I slid the envelope across the marble countertop to where she stood.
“I need to make a deposit into this account.” I then slid the statement across to her and waited.
I very much enjoyed her shocked expression, while the amount wasn’t ‘massive’ it was probably more than Suki had deposited at one time in a very long while.
“There was a long term debt that was cleared off her books yesterday.” I explained with a sweet smile spreading over my face, I had to really work not to laugh at the memory of those poor confused Yakuza trying to fight an otherworldly monster.
Part of me still regretted leaving them alive. But I reminded myself that they would almost certainly have gotten police attention to ‘handle’ me if it came down to it, and I didn’t want any official records getting unwelcome attention on my vacations.
The woman brightened up a fair bit and swiftly completed counting out the cash. “It will be available for use within the next hour.” She promised. “Thank you for doing business with us.” She said, and after taking a receipt for the amount I said…
“A pleasure. Have a nice day.” And walked back out.
Setup in the store that morning was easy, a quick laying out of stuff, I had no idea what she wanted to put on sale, so I just didn’t do any. There were a few things that I probably could discount that had a bunch of sales, however I didn’t like the idea of putting something on sale when there wasn’t much inventory in the first place.
So I just… did one more quick wipe down, and then rushed to the bento boxes and began setting out food to cook and putting together as many to-go boxes as I could. ‘I should have just taken the money yesterday, then I could have teleported to the bank and then back again…now I have to rush.’ I huffed.
“No wonder places hire people to do this stuff…” I mumbled under my breath as the first customers came in for the day. “Welcome to Toriyama’s.” I said and went to the register.
The first was a young man, barely of age to hold a job out of high school, obviously wearing a suit belonging to his father, given the ill fit, he looked frankly silly. Gangly and still growing, a sheepish awkward look on his face. I’d been around enough humans to read him, and knew he knew how ridiculous he looked in that shabby gray thing with his hair slick to excess and his face not as well shaved as it should have been.
“I’m ah… a little short.” He mumbled, and for this I knew just what to do. I reached for a clipboard and slid it across to him.
“Write your name and what you got, just come back and pay for it later.” I said. Suki had done the same thing for me when I got to Earth, while I was still figuring out how money worked here and everything. Honestly this place was a big part of the reason I could relax as much as I did after a hard week of painting.
It’s always easiest to relax, even for a swapper, when you’re around people who you just know want you to do well.
His voice cracked a little when he said, “Thank you.” His stomach rumbled again, and he scribbled out some information that I didn’t bother to check. I probably should have, but I wasn’t worried, worst case scenario, I’d cover it. I couldn’t help myself. I smiled as warmly as I could, reached out my hand and said, “Good luck.” while touching his arm. [D’oog kul] I cast the spell very quietly, whispering the words so softly he wouldn’t hear them, and accepted the pen back from his hand as soon as he was done.
I doubted I’d need to cover it. But even so?
The routine had to be kept up, so I waved goodbye and the other young men and women rushing through their morning routines rushed to the counter for whatever last minute things they needed.
A few women visited to buy their detergent for the common wash, some with small children on their hips and looking relieved to see that the prices hadn’t somehow gone up overnight. I wondered what it was like for them… to be honest I’d never really given that much thought to how everybody else lived their lives.
I was a happy NEET, after all. It didn’t occur to me that the people in Shinjai were struggling. I had to wonder, ‘How much of that was because of the Yakuza coming around here and taking money from these little family businesses?’
I might have inadvertently solved a number of problems by addressing this one. Maybe they’d still be back, but I had my doubts. If they were, then I’d have to deal with them with greater harshness.
The day went by faster than you might think, like… faster than a session binge watching that show about the pharmacist who knew lots of modern stuff that has been on my list of things to watch for… I dunno, at least a month now?
Once I was alone and things began to settle down, I went back to the rear office and began calling up numbers and paying past due bills. I didn’t sit down, it just didn’t feel right… plus her chair was just…awful.
Looking around the mess I could only feel worse, like I’d been taking advantage of the Toriyama kindness for a while now, and not really given anything back.
OkayK, I was helping now. But that was just so I wouldn’t be inconvenienced.
“Yes, pay in full. And can you arrange a delivery tomorrow for restocking?” I said to the representative over the phone. “Yes I’ll pay up front this time. Use this account number…” I read it off and moved on to the next one before more customers could appear.
As I began to stack up paid bills in one clean corner of the old work desk, I found something unexpected.
A bin, one of those shallow desk bins made of wood that were just a little larger than paper. It was buried under the incoming bills…and that’s what it was labeled.
It took a while, but I gradually exposed its mate, an ‘outgoing/paid’ labeled bin, and I began to use that instead.
By the time Jin came in, I was nearly done. “Kayobi… what are you doing back there?” He asked, he had a mix of horror and confusion on his face when he saw the phone in my right hand and the letter of lateness in the other.
“Yes, go ahead and pay that now. It’s fine, and up front for the rest, go ahead and charge it.” I then wrote down the confirmation number, hung up the phone, and set the letter and the phone down.
“Just paying the bills, I saw that some were late, so I took care of it.” I said, and the blood drained from his face.
“But… but we don’t… there’s no money… what have you done…” He whispered, and I thought the poor boy was going to faint.
“Of course there was.” I said as I walked past him to go to the register. “There was an envelope full of cash right here.” I replied, and he blinked dumbly for several seconds.
“But that was… that had a special purpose, there’s ah… a cost of business in Shinjai that ah… it isn’t on paper.” He cleared his throat and started to shake from head to toe.
“No, there’s not.” I said and flicked my hair back. “I took care of it.”
Jin’s mouth dropped, “I… what? With…I don’t… what do you mean you took care of it?” He emphasized.
“Oh, a few men came by yesterday morning,” I gave a casual shrug, “I stopped by their building yesterday evening, I had a conversation with their bossman, and now the problem is solved.”
His brow furrowed, “You’re joking, right?” He asked.
“No.” I said and waved to another young customer, “Welcome to Toriyama’s!”
Jin stared at me until the customer was gone, then said, “I need to know what you did.”
“No, you don’t.” I replied. “You had a problem. I did something, and now that problem does not exist. You worry too much. All you need to know is that the debt is cleared and it will not be coming back. So with what used to be paid, I’ve now paid off most of the bills. I also went ahead and reordered the usual goods, that way you’ll stay fully stocked.”
“But-” Jin started to speak, but I cut him off.
“Nope.” I quipped and said, “No buts. The problem is solved, now why are you even here? Go visit your mother, I’ll cover the store for a few more hours, I’ll let you handle the lock up if you really insist.”
“I… you’re the best, Kayobi!” He shouted with glee and all but ran out of the store.
“I know. It’s true. I am the best.” I said to myself, sure that he hadn’t heard me or seen what was probably a goofy grin on my face.
Oddly enough, it felt pretty good to help out.
But I still wanted to watch my favorite shows…
‘I’ll watch some tonight, after a quick call to Celia.’ I promised myself, and went to wipe down the counter again.
submitted by endersgame69 to TheWorldMaker [link] [comments]
I went to the bank and got there right as they opened, a slender woman in a knee length dress with short black hair met me with a smile. “Can I help you?” She asked, and I slid the envelope across the marble countertop to where she stood.
“I need to make a deposit into this account.” I then slid the statement across to her and waited.
I very much enjoyed her shocked expression, while the amount wasn’t ‘massive’ it was probably more than Suki had deposited at one time in a very long while.
“There was a long term debt that was cleared off her books yesterday.” I explained with a sweet smile spreading over my face, I had to really work not to laugh at the memory of those poor confused Yakuza trying to fight an otherworldly monster.
Part of me still regretted leaving them alive. But I reminded myself that they would almost certainly have gotten police attention to ‘handle’ me if it came down to it, and I didn’t want any official records getting unwelcome attention on my vacations.
The woman brightened up a fair bit and swiftly completed counting out the cash. “It will be available for use within the next hour.” She promised. “Thank you for doing business with us.” She said, and after taking a receipt for the amount I said…
“A pleasure. Have a nice day.” And walked back out.
Setup in the store that morning was easy, a quick laying out of stuff, I had no idea what she wanted to put on sale, so I just didn’t do any. There were a few things that I probably could discount that had a bunch of sales, however I didn’t like the idea of putting something on sale when there wasn’t much inventory in the first place.
So I just… did one more quick wipe down, and then rushed to the bento boxes and began setting out food to cook and putting together as many to-go boxes as I could. ‘I should have just taken the money yesterday, then I could have teleported to the bank and then back again…now I have to rush.’ I huffed.
“No wonder places hire people to do this stuff…” I mumbled under my breath as the first customers came in for the day. “Welcome to Toriyama’s.” I said and went to the register.
The first was a young man, barely of age to hold a job out of high school, obviously wearing a suit belonging to his father, given the ill fit, he looked frankly silly. Gangly and still growing, a sheepish awkward look on his face. I’d been around enough humans to read him, and knew he knew how ridiculous he looked in that shabby gray thing with his hair slick to excess and his face not as well shaved as it should have been.
“I’m ah… a little short.” He mumbled, and for this I knew just what to do. I reached for a clipboard and slid it across to him.
“Write your name and what you got, just come back and pay for it later.” I said. Suki had done the same thing for me when I got to Earth, while I was still figuring out how money worked here and everything. Honestly this place was a big part of the reason I could relax as much as I did after a hard week of painting.
It’s always easiest to relax, even for a swapper, when you’re around people who you just know want you to do well.
His voice cracked a little when he said, “Thank you.” His stomach rumbled again, and he scribbled out some information that I didn’t bother to check. I probably should have, but I wasn’t worried, worst case scenario, I’d cover it. I couldn’t help myself. I smiled as warmly as I could, reached out my hand and said, “Good luck.” while touching his arm. [D’oog kul] I cast the spell very quietly, whispering the words so softly he wouldn’t hear them, and accepted the pen back from his hand as soon as he was done.
I doubted I’d need to cover it. But even so?
The routine had to be kept up, so I waved goodbye and the other young men and women rushing through their morning routines rushed to the counter for whatever last minute things they needed.
A few women visited to buy their detergent for the common wash, some with small children on their hips and looking relieved to see that the prices hadn’t somehow gone up overnight. I wondered what it was like for them… to be honest I’d never really given that much thought to how everybody else lived their lives.
I was a happy NEET, after all. It didn’t occur to me that the people in Shinjai were struggling. I had to wonder, ‘How much of that was because of the Yakuza coming around here and taking money from these little family businesses?’
I might have inadvertently solved a number of problems by addressing this one. Maybe they’d still be back, but I had my doubts. If they were, then I’d have to deal with them with greater harshness.
The day went by faster than you might think, like… faster than a session binge watching that show about the pharmacist who knew lots of modern stuff that has been on my list of things to watch for… I dunno, at least a month now?
Once I was alone and things began to settle down, I went back to the rear office and began calling up numbers and paying past due bills. I didn’t sit down, it just didn’t feel right… plus her chair was just…awful.
Looking around the mess I could only feel worse, like I’d been taking advantage of the Toriyama kindness for a while now, and not really given anything back.
OkayK, I was helping now. But that was just so I wouldn’t be inconvenienced.
“Yes, pay in full. And can you arrange a delivery tomorrow for restocking?” I said to the representative over the phone. “Yes I’ll pay up front this time. Use this account number…” I read it off and moved on to the next one before more customers could appear.
As I began to stack up paid bills in one clean corner of the old work desk, I found something unexpected.
A bin, one of those shallow desk bins made of wood that were just a little larger than paper. It was buried under the incoming bills…and that’s what it was labeled.
It took a while, but I gradually exposed its mate, an ‘outgoing/paid’ labeled bin, and I began to use that instead.
By the time Jin came in, I was nearly done. “Kayobi… what are you doing back there?” He asked, he had a mix of horror and confusion on his face when he saw the phone in my right hand and the letter of lateness in the other.
“Yes, go ahead and pay that now. It’s fine, and up front for the rest, go ahead and charge it.” I then wrote down the confirmation number, hung up the phone, and set the letter and the phone down.
“Just paying the bills, I saw that some were late, so I took care of it.” I said, and the blood drained from his face.
“But… but we don’t… there’s no money… what have you done…” He whispered, and I thought the poor boy was going to faint.
“Of course there was.” I said as I walked past him to go to the register. “There was an envelope full of cash right here.” I replied, and he blinked dumbly for several seconds.
“But that was… that had a special purpose, there’s ah… a cost of business in Shinjai that ah… it isn’t on paper.” He cleared his throat and started to shake from head to toe.
“No, there’s not.” I said and flicked my hair back. “I took care of it.”
Jin’s mouth dropped, “I… what? With…I don’t… what do you mean you took care of it?” He emphasized.
“Oh, a few men came by yesterday morning,” I gave a casual shrug, “I stopped by their building yesterday evening, I had a conversation with their bossman, and now the problem is solved.”
His brow furrowed, “You’re joking, right?” He asked.
“No.” I said and waved to another young customer, “Welcome to Toriyama’s!”
Jin stared at me until the customer was gone, then said, “I need to know what you did.”
“No, you don’t.” I replied. “You had a problem. I did something, and now that problem does not exist. You worry too much. All you need to know is that the debt is cleared and it will not be coming back. So with what used to be paid, I’ve now paid off most of the bills. I also went ahead and reordered the usual goods, that way you’ll stay fully stocked.”
“But-” Jin started to speak, but I cut him off.
“Nope.” I quipped and said, “No buts. The problem is solved, now why are you even here? Go visit your mother, I’ll cover the store for a few more hours, I’ll let you handle the lock up if you really insist.”
“I… you’re the best, Kayobi!” He shouted with glee and all but ran out of the store.
“I know. It’s true. I am the best.” I said to myself, sure that he hadn’t heard me or seen what was probably a goofy grin on my face.
Oddly enough, it felt pretty good to help out.
But I still wanted to watch my favorite shows…
‘I’ll watch some tonight, after a quick call to Celia.’ I promised myself, and went to wipe down the counter again.
2023.06.04 20:12 Eether_Berry7570 Can you identify this fly?
 | Spotted in Southeastern Colorado. I'm in a dry valley and sometimes see bugs like this but only during the rainy season. In the past some of the fauna from the mountains comes into the valley during the rainy season, is that the case here?. It's fairly big, one inch in length, about the diameter of a quarter. Found deceased. submitted by Eether_Berry7570 to whatsthisbug [link] [comments] |
2023.06.04 17:06 GoshinGames Is a farming sim even viable anymore after Stardew Valley & clones?
I want to start work on my own farming sim, having loved Harvest Moon as a kid and It's then niche gameplay. Since Stardew Valley's astronomical success, is it fair to say that farming games are kinda overdone now after the release of many Stardew clones and whatnot?
Or do the Stardew Valley fans want even more games like that and the players WANT more farming sims? How would you approach making a new one?
I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to combine the farming sim with an animal crossing vibe and give it a little twist of my own to make it more unique, but I'm kinda on the fence of doing it... Definitely need some kind of second opinion or advice here, much appreciated!
submitted by GoshinGames to gamedev [link] [comments]
Or do the Stardew Valley fans want even more games like that and the players WANT more farming sims? How would you approach making a new one?
I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to combine the farming sim with an animal crossing vibe and give it a little twist of my own to make it more unique, but I'm kinda on the fence of doing it... Definitely need some kind of second opinion or advice here, much appreciated!
2023.06.04 15:11 YukiteruAmano92 Remembrance, Chapter 3 of 28
TWBS Previous Next First
-
---Esme’s perspective---
---Saturday, 11th of November, 2682 Terran Calendar---
---Southern England---
Fucking Sussex!
‘Can you send me to the Forth Valley?’
‘Oh, we can try… On an unrelated note, how’s your standard English? No problems in communicating?’
I should’ve just said ‘No, I have great difficulty in communicating in anything but Lallans Scots!’ instead of putting on my poshest English speech register to say ‘Marjorie dearest, would you be a lamb and pass another buttered scone… hold the raspberry jam, it’s far too spicy for me!’ which she told me she’d take as a ‘Yes.’
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” plays a loud, prerecorded Welsh language announcement, over speakers.
They’re fucking rubbing it in!
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” it repeats in Scots Gaelic.
“Ceci est une caserne Anglophone. Si vous avez été assigné ici par erreur, veuillez vous faire connaître auprès du personnel de la caserne pour une réaffectation.” it says in what I’m 90% sure is a French version of the same announcement (I can’t be certain, though, as that’s not one of my languages).
Looking at the crowds queuing to get in makes me regret asserting that I didn’t need transport here.
‘You shouldn’t be sending someone to War that you don’t trust to navigate themself from Galloway to Sussex!’ were my exact words.
I brushed off the recruitment officer saying that I’d be processed faster if I arrived on Military organised transport.
Well, standing here’s not gonna get me to the front of the queue now, is it!
I walk forward to join the massive throng of people, almost all of which look to be about my age.
It’s astonishing how short you feel, being an average height girl in a crowd of people!
178cm really isn’t all that much when you’ve got a not insignificant number of +2m guys here!
Even guys who are the average 188cm can make a girl feel short when their packed too close…
I see a few Neanderthal hunks… perhaps conscription won’t be all bad(!)
When I make it to the front of the line, the guy just stares expectantly at me like I’m supposed to already know what to do.
“Y’awright?… Err… mah nam’s Esme Reid…?” I say, hesitantly, in perfectly comprehensible speech.
“I’m sorry, would you repeat that?” he answers, looking at me like I just spoke to him in fucking Chinese!
“Greetings, gracious sir! You may kindly refer to me by the name ‘Esme Reid’!” I say, affecting my supercilious Southern English gentlewoman accent.
“Alright, Ms Reid. Please present your draft papers and identification.”
The balls they have to ask me to prove who I am when they’re the ones asking me to go off and fucking die for them!
I think about quipping that I should ask him to show me some proof that this is a legitimate Military installation sanctioned by the government of Sol… but think better of it…
Instead, I pull out my draft papers and my holopad, quickly getting up my identification app.
The man scans the code with his own holo and spends a few seconds glancing from his screen to my face and back.
Seeming satisfied that I’m not attempting to enlist under a false identity (for whatever strange reason a person might want to do that) he glances at my papers, says “Everything seems to be in order.” and waves a hand in front of a machine which whirs for half a second before spitting out a simple chain necklace with two little metal rectangles hanging off of it.
He hands it to me and says “This is your identification tag. Please check that the information on it is correct and, if it is, put it on and never take it off.”
I check the tag.
“You’ve got my name and birthday right…” I say, making a conscious effort to keep my speech register in that that a standard English speaker would consider acceptable “…don’t know about the regiment and serial number.”
“Those will be correct.” he says with a ‘move along’ tone.
I shrug, raise the dogtag over my head and drop it around my neck.
I walk on and he’s serving the girl behind me before I’ve even rounded the counter.
I’m ushered through the barracks, herded by the staff, until I reach a building labelled ‘Billet House 279’.
It doesn’t really look like I expected soldiers’ digs to look.
Definitely prefabbed but sort of has more the look of a uni hall than anything else… though I think it’s probably a bit much to expect that I’ll get a room to myself(!)
I follow the throng of draftees through to a wide open room, on the ground floor, that looks like it’s normally a cafeteria.
The camp attendants (who I’m guessing were in the same boat as us, not too long ago) direct us to stand along the left, right and nearside walls, keeping the back wall and centre of the room clear.
Everyone in place, there follows a few minutes of silence broken only by people whispering to one another.
Then, she enters the room.
Dark skinned and clad in green camo clothing, her scalp is easily visible between her cornrows with nary a hair out of place.
Her expression looks absolutely indifferent with just the slightest hint of a curled lip.
From the broadness and flatness of her facial features as well as her single mauve eye, she is clearly half Tshwane… though, you’d never guess that from her stature!
Female Tshwane average nearly 2m… the men are more like 2.2m!
She’s shorter than me!
She’s also built like a Sapiens, not the willowy thinness typical of Tshwane
I guess genetics interact in funny ways sometimes…
Based on her age, her Tshwane parent would probably have to have been one of the very first to be cloned back!
The other eye seems to have been ripped out at some point because in its place is a bionic and there’s a patch of hypopigmented scar tissue, forming a tear shape, at the right corner.
“Recruits… Welcome to the United Terran Coalition Infantry Trainin’ Camp, Graffham… My name is Warrant Officer Simone Sands… and I’ll be your drill instructor…” says the woman, cooly, speaking in a rough sounding, London accent.
The surname ‘Sands’ probably means her dad was the Tshwane (though not necessarily… she might have been given her mum’s surname… or it might be a coincidental English surname).
“…You all know why you’re here… Most of you’ve prob’ly already lost loved ones to this War… You are here to defend our right to exist… and I can’t think of a more worthy reason to fight than that…”
I’ve decided I like this woman… She may be English but I’ll try not to hold that against her(!)
“The first thing I need to tell all of you is that, by the end of your trainin’, you will NOT like me…” she says, as if reading my mind “…that’s OK. My job ain’t to be liked, my job ain’t to make friends… my job is to make soldiers!”
She casts her biological and bionic eyes around the room, letting her words hang in the air.
“Note… that I said ‘soldiers’… This ain’t Full Metal Jacket. This ain’t the 20th Century. There’ll be no Pvt Piles here!… I ain’t aimin’ to destroy your minds or your individuality. I ain’t goin’ to physic’ly and psychologic’ly abuse you into becomin’ robots or killers… I am makin’ you into soldiers… Regardless… this process will not be easy! In fact, it may well be the hardest thing you ever do!… As the face of this process, you will come to hate and resent me for it!… I hope for it! The more you hate me the more-DO YOU HAVE SOMETHIN’ TO SAY, PRIVATE?!”
Everyone in the room is startled by the authoritative woman breaking herself off to shout angrily at someone on the other side of the room.
“STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!”
The boy that steps forward is tall, bulky and muscular with a handsome, half Neanderthal face… just my type!
Then he has to go and ruin it by opening his mouth.
“I was just saying… that I find it somewhat difficult to take you seriously as a commanding officer… You just seem a little bit… little.” says the boy in the poshest, smarmiest English drawl I’ve ever heard!
The woman does not shout, she does not scream, she doesn’t snarl or even purse her lips!
She just nods, as if considering his words, then asks “What’s your name, Soldier?”
“Rupert Forest.” responds the boy, proudly.
“And, how tall are you, Pvt Forest?” responds the woman, unimpressed
“195cm.” he answers.
“And, what’s your mass?” she asks.
“110kg.”
“I see, I see… So, by your logic… you’d make a better drill sergeant than me, would you? You’re 25cm taller and 35kg heavier, afterall!”
He smirks “I wouldn’t presume to say so, Ma’am…” in a way that definitely suggests that he thinks he would.
She seems to consider that for some moments before answering “Alright then, fight me for it!”
“I’m sorry…?” responds the poshboy.
“You heard me… Clearly, you got no respect for skill and experience but it seems like you must respect power… so fight me for it! You win, you get to train this lot, I win, you never question my authority again!”
Is this woman mad!?
She may be a soldier but this boy she just challenged is a half Neanderthal giant!
She’s gonna lose!
I do not want to be drilled by some snotty, privileged English brat who got here at the same time as I did and just couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut!
Then again, I don’t really want to be drilled by a woman so delusional that she felt the best way to squash insubordination was to challenge a man she has no hope of beating, either!
The guy is clearly salivating over the power that’s just been slapped on the table in front of him as he answers “I accept your terms, Ms Sands…” with faux magnanimity.
There’s no way they’d let a Private run drills, is there? When he wins, someone just needs to go and complain and they’ll give us another (less stupid) drill sergeant… right?
He strips off his jacket to reveal a pair of thick, muscular arms that (in spite of his repulsive personality) are a thrilling sight.
He has to go and ruin it by flexing and posing, clearly revelling in the room’s worth of gasps he got when he revealed his arms… He obviously likes being the centre of attention.
“Done?” asks Sands, drily.
“If you still want to do this…” he says, smugly “…you could just concede defeat and I’m sure no one would hold it against you!”
Her lip curls as she answers “But… if I did that, no one would learn nothin’, now would they…”
He shrugs before launching himself at her without waiting for her to give the word to begin.
She whirls out of the way and he snatches at her, unsuccessfully, as his momentum carries him past.
“Lesson 1:…” she shouts while snapping into the space behind him and kicking out his knee “…size does not determine victory, strength does not determine victory…” levelling another powerful kick between his shoulderblades to bring him to the ground.
She backs off, allowing him to scramble to his feet and turn to face her, hunched in readiness and scowling.
“…Pvt Forest here looked at me with contempt on account of my small size and, though he didn’t say so, I’d guess that my rough accent, my lack of a graduate epithet and my lack of a penis also played a roll in his judgin’ me as less than!… He thought he could beat me, he probably still DOES, and, ’causa that, he didn’t respect my ability to lead…!”
Forest makes another lunge for the smaller woman, misses and is punished for it by being knocked back to the floor.
I’m agog as I watch this little woman… there’s no other word but toy with the giant man!
“…but victory does not care how big you are, how strong you are, how classy or educated you are or what**’**s in your pants or panties…!”
She dodges around his arm and pins his chest to the floor with her knee.
“Discipline and trainin’ determine victory!… Things that I have and Pvt Forest LACKS!… Things that ALL of you will acquire, over the next 8 months!!!” she turns her head down to the mountain of man she’s pinning to the floor “Concede, Private!”
The man shakes his head, trying in vain to leverage himself up.
“Alright then… Lesson 2: When faced with a resistant individual, compliance can be effectively enforced by the expedient of lockin’ their joints to induce PAIN!!!”
She grabs his thick arms by the wrists and pulls them backwards in a way they are not meant to bend!
He screams in agony!
“CONCEDE!!!… Don’t make me send you to the Medical Officer! It’d be inconvenient for BOTH of us if your pride makes you miss your first week of trainin’ while your arms heal!!!”
He holds out for two more seconds before screaming “I concede! I CONCEDE!!!”
She releases him and stands back up.
“On your feet, Soldier…” she growls down at him.
He stands back up, his face beet red.
“Are you ever goin’ to question my fitness to instruct again, Private?” she glares up at the humiliated giant.
“No.” he answers, gracelessly.
“No…?” she says as if waiting for something else.
Forest looks as confused as I am about what she’s expecting.
“No, Ma’am!” she snarls.
“No, Ma’am.”
“Good, we’ll work on your attitude, movin’ forward. Now, get back in line!”
The humiliated man picks up his civvy jacket and returns to the place he was called out from.
“Now, I don’t think I need to prattle on anymore about how you’re gonna hate me by the end of our time together, do I?… I think Pvt Forest helped me prove that point quite well, so I’ll move on… You will sleep in this buildin’, six to a room. Your rooms will be gender segregated. If you wish for a place to be… intimate with people of the opposite gender, you may request use of one of the conjugal rooms… I suggest you do the same if you want to be intimate with a same gender partner but that’s between you and your roommates! You will eat in this room at 0700hrs, 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Diet’ry requirements will be accommodated but, bare in mind, this ain’t your mummies’ and daddies’ kitchen! ‘This food is forbidden by my religion/personal ethics’ is a diet’ry requirement. ‘I am allergic to this food’ is a diet’ry requirement! ‘I don’t like how this food tastes’ is not(!)… In the mornin’s, you will be receivin’ lessons in lecture theatres, workshops and the like…”
“Oh great… just what I wanted after leaving school(!) More classrooms(!)” I mutter to myself.
Her head instantly wheels to me with unnerving precision.
“Someone else with somethin’ they’d like to say!?” she says, locking eyes with me, terrifyingly.
“No, Ms Sands!” I answer, instantly.
“Miss?! I’m not your bloody schoolteacher girl!!!”
Everyone laughs. Even Pvt Forest, like he wasn’t just humiliated himself, 2 minutes ago!
“Ma’am… err… Ma’am, no, Ma’am!!!” I say, doing my best to emulate the tone I’ve seen soldiers use in films.
She rolls her eye (it’s difficult to tell if the bionic rolls too) and says “Better… What’s your name, Private?”
“Ma’am, the Private’s name is Esme Reid, Ma’am!!!”
“Do you remember me tellin’ you this ain’t Full Metal Jacket?… You don’t need to scream when you talk to me, you don’t need to refer to yourself in third person and one ‘Ma’am’, when you’re done speakin’, is enough, Reid!”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She points to her single, mauve eye, then to me and says “I’ll have my eye on you, Reid!”
Somehow, her tone sends a chill up my spine but I do my best not to show it.
She turns away and I release a silent sigh of relief.
“As I was sayin’… In your lectures you will learn the ins and outs of military theory; tactics, strategies, logistics etc. You will learn as much as we can tell you about the nature of the species we are fightin’; their capabilities, tendencies, political organisations and known weaknesses… bear in mind that First Contact weren’t much more than 4 years ago and we’ve been at War for almost all the intervenin’ time, so a lot of what we teach you will be little more than guesswork and hearsay from prisoners we’ve interrogated… The mornin’s’ll also be where you learn the particulars of the equipment you’ll be expected to be proficient with in the field. This includes firearms, plasmaweaponry and durasteel armour, as well as the tech you’ll likely encounter from the opposite side; kinetic pulse weapons, laser weapons, field emitters etc… I strongly suggest that no one allows word to get back to me that they’re not takin’ these classes seriously!… A stupid soldier is a dead soldier!”
She glares around the room, her eyes resting on me four a quarter of a second.
“…In the afternoons and evenin’s, you’ll be doing PT… that’s ‘Physical Trainin’’… soon to be every one of your two least favourite words in the English Language(!) “
I notice a wry smirk twist the mouths of a few of the camp attendants.
“In PT you will be drilled in agility, endurance, close quarters combat and coordinated marching… Five times over the comin’ 8 months, you and your trainin’ partner will be dropped into a remote bit of wilderness, somewhere on Earth, for five day practical survival experience. You will be given a beacon, to summon retrieval, but these are only to be used in cases of actual threat to life or bodily integrity… not because you’re feelin’ miserable!”
She takes a second to pause for breath.
“You get an allowance of 12 days off, over your time here… that’s two a month… These are subject to my approval and I may deny them for any reason, including no reason… so don’t piss me off!… You may not take more than 2 consecutive days leave at a time! Certain classes are mandatory and leave will not be approved on days they occur. If your allowance is spent, no more leave will be approved, barring a real emergency!… Now, for today, you are going to line up to have your maps and room keys downloaded onto your holos when your name is called, then you are going to have your bodies scanned for your armour measurements… at that point everyone with no uterus has the rest of the day free to settle in… If you have a uterus, you’ll need to report to medical to get your cycle paused! This is, I’m afraid, nonoptional… You are not prohibited from engaging in relations with your fellow recruits but you cannot be a soldier while you’re able to get pregnant. Attempts to circumvent this requirement in any way will land you in the Stockade!… After your cycle pause has been given, you’ll also have the rest of the day to settle in… Enjoy it! It’ll be the most downtime you get for a while!… Finally… I believe we have a 17 year old with us here… Pvt Taylor?”
A few people put their hands up, most looking confused.
“Pvt Oskar Taylor! The 17 year old?” she says, exasperated.
All but one of those with their hands up put them down.
The one remaining Pvt Taylor with his hand in the air has pale skin, black hair, brown eyes and a sharp featured face wearing a dour expression.
He stands even taller than Forest… Nearly 2m tall!
Though he’s not quite as heavily built, he’s certainly a good looking piece of boycandy!
“Pvt Taylor…” says Sands, her mouth breaking into a smile for the first time I’ve seen “…couldn’t wait to go off to War, could you(?)”
He mutters something but, while I can hear the power and deepness of his voice, I can’t make out a word he says.
“You’ll have to speak up, Taylor! Nobody’ll be able to hear you if you mumble.” points out Sands.
“I said I had some personal circumstances that made this the most sensible course of action for me, Ma’am.” says the tall, dark haired man, looking over her head rather than down at her and speaking in a grim monotone. He definitely loses boycandy points for the poshness of his accent, unfortunately…
“I see… I won’t pry into that but… you didn’t think of Officer Training? That’s the route that most people take when volunteering ahead of their conscription.”
He shakes his head “I thought of it and decided against it, Ma’am.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Pvt Taylor?”
“I didn’t believe I would make a good officer, Ma’am.” he answers simply.
She laughs “I wish every soldier could be as introspective, Taylor! I like you!… Unfortunately, bein’ a minor does mean that you can’t be put in a room with others… Sooo, that means you get a room to yourself… for the moment. Might sound cushy but before anyone else gets too jealous, bare in mind that privacy is the only advantage! His room will be a sixth the size of yours so its basic’ly a broomcupboard… the disadvantage will be severely reduced opportunity to socialise!… If that doesn’t sound doable, you can leave and come back when you turn 18, Taylor.”
“It’s acceptable, Ma’am.” he says without hesitating.
Yeah… it’s official… I don’t like him…
---later---
I rub the spot on my arm where the serum was thunked into me about 15 minutes ago.
Like with everything else about conscription, I get it… I understand the point…
But seeing the sense doesn’t mean I have to like it!
It’s not like I want to get pregnant (getting a nine month reprieve from service would be a fairly shitty reason for me to bring a child into the world) but it does feel like one last slap in the face to my personal autonomy that I’ve just had a cycle pause fucking mandated upon my body by the government!
As I draw near, door 1512 detects the key downloaded on my holo and unlocks
I open it and am greeted by a blonde girl, smiling broadly and instantly identifiable as brimming with ADHD energy.
“Hey there! My name’s Charlotte, it’s lovely to meet you!” says the girl, wrapping me in a hug without asking if I’m OK with that.
Her accent makes me wonder if everyone I meet here is going to be a posh toff!
She makes three of three of my fellow draftees!
“A pleasure, Charlotte… the name’s Esme…” I say, speaking Scottish accented standard English and gingerly patting her back.
“Oh, you’re Scottish…?” she says pulling herself off me with an expression that suggests meeting a Scottish person is just the most wonderful thing she could have imagined “…My great grandmother was from Edinburgh, where are you from?”
“Stranraer.” I answer.
She frowns “I don’t know it, I’m sorry!”
“I won’t hold it against you… Southwestern tip of Scotland? Where it nearly touches Ireland and the Man Peninsula?… ’Bout two and a half million people?”
“Oh, wooow! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone from a village before!” she says, seeming entirely oblivious to how that might be taken as an insult.
“Yeah… I guess it’s not that big.”
“Well…” she wraps me back in the hug and continues “…we’re the first ones to the room and that has to mean we’re going to be best friends!”
“I’m afraid my best friend’s name is Tamsin… the position is not open.” I say, firmly setting a boundary.
“I meant best bootcamp friends, silly!” she says, as if that should have gone without saying.
“Alright… I guess that positions open… but you’ve not got the job yet(!)” I quip, warming up a little to the ball of posh English energy.
She pulls back and beams at me “Alright then, for my first act as best bootcamp friend candidate, let me show you the view!… That should earn me some points!”
She says, leading me into the room that’s so small it makes me doubt that that goody-two-shoes 17 year old can possibly have one a sixth this size!
She leads me to the window and spends a few moments making sure I’m positioned just right before she draws back the curtain.
The view is quite breathtaking… rolling hills of snow blanketed mammoth steppe, lit by evening sun, with barely any of the sprawling military camp visible.
Though, you can see one of the tallest structures ever built by Humanity… the Sussex Space elevator… several times the Earth’s own diameter, the ‘top’, if you can even call it that, is a fifth of the way from here to Luna! …And… in 8 months, I’m going to be riding it, all the way up, to get on a troop transport.
“Look! See! There’s a herd of aurochs over on that hill! You know this place used to be a national park, before even Unification or the Reset! It’s called the South Downs! My mum told me we had family from here… obviously I never met any of them because they would have left hundreds of years ago!…”
The bubbly girl talks and talks and… just keeps talking… but I don’t particularly mind.
---
Support me on Patreon for to access the entire series, now.
---
TWBS Previous Next First
submitted by YukiteruAmano92 to HFY [link] [comments]
-
---Esme’s perspective---
---Saturday, 11th of November, 2682 Terran Calendar---
---Southern England---
Fucking Sussex!
‘Can you send me to the Forth Valley?’
‘Oh, we can try… On an unrelated note, how’s your standard English? No problems in communicating?’
I should’ve just said ‘No, I have great difficulty in communicating in anything but Lallans Scots!’ instead of putting on my poshest English speech register to say ‘Marjorie dearest, would you be a lamb and pass another buttered scone… hold the raspberry jam, it’s far too spicy for me!’ which she told me she’d take as a ‘Yes.’
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” plays a loud, prerecorded Welsh language announcement, over speakers.
They’re fucking rubbing it in!
“This is an English language barracks. If you have been directed here in error, please make yourself known to barracks staff for reassignment.” it repeats in Scots Gaelic.
“Ceci est une caserne Anglophone. Si vous avez été assigné ici par erreur, veuillez vous faire connaître auprès du personnel de la caserne pour une réaffectation.” it says in what I’m 90% sure is a French version of the same announcement (I can’t be certain, though, as that’s not one of my languages).
Looking at the crowds queuing to get in makes me regret asserting that I didn’t need transport here.
‘You shouldn’t be sending someone to War that you don’t trust to navigate themself from Galloway to Sussex!’ were my exact words.
I brushed off the recruitment officer saying that I’d be processed faster if I arrived on Military organised transport.
Well, standing here’s not gonna get me to the front of the queue now, is it!
I walk forward to join the massive throng of people, almost all of which look to be about my age.
It’s astonishing how short you feel, being an average height girl in a crowd of people!
178cm really isn’t all that much when you’ve got a not insignificant number of +2m guys here!
Even guys who are the average 188cm can make a girl feel short when their packed too close…
I see a few Neanderthal hunks… perhaps conscription won’t be all bad(!)
When I make it to the front of the line, the guy just stares expectantly at me like I’m supposed to already know what to do.
“Y’awright?… Err… mah nam’s Esme Reid…?” I say, hesitantly, in perfectly comprehensible speech.
“I’m sorry, would you repeat that?” he answers, looking at me like I just spoke to him in fucking Chinese!
“Greetings, gracious sir! You may kindly refer to me by the name ‘Esme Reid’!” I say, affecting my supercilious Southern English gentlewoman accent.
“Alright, Ms Reid. Please present your draft papers and identification.”
The balls they have to ask me to prove who I am when they’re the ones asking me to go off and fucking die for them!
I think about quipping that I should ask him to show me some proof that this is a legitimate Military installation sanctioned by the government of Sol… but think better of it…
Instead, I pull out my draft papers and my holopad, quickly getting up my identification app.
The man scans the code with his own holo and spends a few seconds glancing from his screen to my face and back.
Seeming satisfied that I’m not attempting to enlist under a false identity (for whatever strange reason a person might want to do that) he glances at my papers, says “Everything seems to be in order.” and waves a hand in front of a machine which whirs for half a second before spitting out a simple chain necklace with two little metal rectangles hanging off of it.
He hands it to me and says “This is your identification tag. Please check that the information on it is correct and, if it is, put it on and never take it off.”
I check the tag.
“You’ve got my name and birthday right…” I say, making a conscious effort to keep my speech register in that that a standard English speaker would consider acceptable “…don’t know about the regiment and serial number.”
“Those will be correct.” he says with a ‘move along’ tone.
I shrug, raise the dogtag over my head and drop it around my neck.
I walk on and he’s serving the girl behind me before I’ve even rounded the counter.
I’m ushered through the barracks, herded by the staff, until I reach a building labelled ‘Billet House 279’.
It doesn’t really look like I expected soldiers’ digs to look.
Definitely prefabbed but sort of has more the look of a uni hall than anything else… though I think it’s probably a bit much to expect that I’ll get a room to myself(!)
I follow the throng of draftees through to a wide open room, on the ground floor, that looks like it’s normally a cafeteria.
The camp attendants (who I’m guessing were in the same boat as us, not too long ago) direct us to stand along the left, right and nearside walls, keeping the back wall and centre of the room clear.
Everyone in place, there follows a few minutes of silence broken only by people whispering to one another.
Then, she enters the room.
Dark skinned and clad in green camo clothing, her scalp is easily visible between her cornrows with nary a hair out of place.
Her expression looks absolutely indifferent with just the slightest hint of a curled lip.
From the broadness and flatness of her facial features as well as her single mauve eye, she is clearly half Tshwane… though, you’d never guess that from her stature!
Female Tshwane average nearly 2m… the men are more like 2.2m!
She’s shorter than me!
She’s also built like a Sapiens, not the willowy thinness typical of Tshwane
I guess genetics interact in funny ways sometimes…
Based on her age, her Tshwane parent would probably have to have been one of the very first to be cloned back!
The other eye seems to have been ripped out at some point because in its place is a bionic and there’s a patch of hypopigmented scar tissue, forming a tear shape, at the right corner.
“Recruits… Welcome to the United Terran Coalition Infantry Trainin’ Camp, Graffham… My name is Warrant Officer Simone Sands… and I’ll be your drill instructor…” says the woman, cooly, speaking in a rough sounding, London accent.
The surname ‘Sands’ probably means her dad was the Tshwane (though not necessarily… she might have been given her mum’s surname… or it might be a coincidental English surname).
“…You all know why you’re here… Most of you’ve prob’ly already lost loved ones to this War… You are here to defend our right to exist… and I can’t think of a more worthy reason to fight than that…”
I’ve decided I like this woman… She may be English but I’ll try not to hold that against her(!)
“The first thing I need to tell all of you is that, by the end of your trainin’, you will NOT like me…” she says, as if reading my mind “…that’s OK. My job ain’t to be liked, my job ain’t to make friends… my job is to make soldiers!”
She casts her biological and bionic eyes around the room, letting her words hang in the air.
“Note… that I said ‘soldiers’… This ain’t Full Metal Jacket. This ain’t the 20th Century. There’ll be no Pvt Piles here!… I ain’t aimin’ to destroy your minds or your individuality. I ain’t goin’ to physic’ly and psychologic’ly abuse you into becomin’ robots or killers… I am makin’ you into soldiers… Regardless… this process will not be easy! In fact, it may well be the hardest thing you ever do!… As the face of this process, you will come to hate and resent me for it!… I hope for it! The more you hate me the more-DO YOU HAVE SOMETHIN’ TO SAY, PRIVATE?!”
Everyone in the room is startled by the authoritative woman breaking herself off to shout angrily at someone on the other side of the room.
“STEP FORWARD AND SPEAK SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU!”
The boy that steps forward is tall, bulky and muscular with a handsome, half Neanderthal face… just my type!
Then he has to go and ruin it by opening his mouth.
“I was just saying… that I find it somewhat difficult to take you seriously as a commanding officer… You just seem a little bit… little.” says the boy in the poshest, smarmiest English drawl I’ve ever heard!
The woman does not shout, she does not scream, she doesn’t snarl or even purse her lips!
She just nods, as if considering his words, then asks “What’s your name, Soldier?”
“Rupert Forest.” responds the boy, proudly.
“And, how tall are you, Pvt Forest?” responds the woman, unimpressed
“195cm.” he answers.
“And, what’s your mass?” she asks.
“110kg.”
“I see, I see… So, by your logic… you’d make a better drill sergeant than me, would you? You’re 25cm taller and 35kg heavier, afterall!”
He smirks “I wouldn’t presume to say so, Ma’am…” in a way that definitely suggests that he thinks he would.
She seems to consider that for some moments before answering “Alright then, fight me for it!”
“I’m sorry…?” responds the poshboy.
“You heard me… Clearly, you got no respect for skill and experience but it seems like you must respect power… so fight me for it! You win, you get to train this lot, I win, you never question my authority again!”
Is this woman mad!?
She may be a soldier but this boy she just challenged is a half Neanderthal giant!
She’s gonna lose!
I do not want to be drilled by some snotty, privileged English brat who got here at the same time as I did and just couldn’t keep his fucking mouth shut!
Then again, I don’t really want to be drilled by a woman so delusional that she felt the best way to squash insubordination was to challenge a man she has no hope of beating, either!
The guy is clearly salivating over the power that’s just been slapped on the table in front of him as he answers “I accept your terms, Ms Sands…” with faux magnanimity.
There’s no way they’d let a Private run drills, is there? When he wins, someone just needs to go and complain and they’ll give us another (less stupid) drill sergeant… right?
He strips off his jacket to reveal a pair of thick, muscular arms that (in spite of his repulsive personality) are a thrilling sight.
He has to go and ruin it by flexing and posing, clearly revelling in the room’s worth of gasps he got when he revealed his arms… He obviously likes being the centre of attention.
“Done?” asks Sands, drily.
“If you still want to do this…” he says, smugly “…you could just concede defeat and I’m sure no one would hold it against you!”
Her lip curls as she answers “But… if I did that, no one would learn nothin’, now would they…”
He shrugs before launching himself at her without waiting for her to give the word to begin.
She whirls out of the way and he snatches at her, unsuccessfully, as his momentum carries him past.
“Lesson 1:…” she shouts while snapping into the space behind him and kicking out his knee “…size does not determine victory, strength does not determine victory…” levelling another powerful kick between his shoulderblades to bring him to the ground.
She backs off, allowing him to scramble to his feet and turn to face her, hunched in readiness and scowling.
“…Pvt Forest here looked at me with contempt on account of my small size and, though he didn’t say so, I’d guess that my rough accent, my lack of a graduate epithet and my lack of a penis also played a roll in his judgin’ me as less than!… He thought he could beat me, he probably still DOES, and, ’causa that, he didn’t respect my ability to lead…!”
Forest makes another lunge for the smaller woman, misses and is punished for it by being knocked back to the floor.
I’m agog as I watch this little woman… there’s no other word but toy with the giant man!
“…but victory does not care how big you are, how strong you are, how classy or educated you are or what**’**s in your pants or panties…!”
She dodges around his arm and pins his chest to the floor with her knee.
“Discipline and trainin’ determine victory!… Things that I have and Pvt Forest LACKS!… Things that ALL of you will acquire, over the next 8 months!!!” she turns her head down to the mountain of man she’s pinning to the floor “Concede, Private!”
The man shakes his head, trying in vain to leverage himself up.
“Alright then… Lesson 2: When faced with a resistant individual, compliance can be effectively enforced by the expedient of lockin’ their joints to induce PAIN!!!”
She grabs his thick arms by the wrists and pulls them backwards in a way they are not meant to bend!
He screams in agony!
“CONCEDE!!!… Don’t make me send you to the Medical Officer! It’d be inconvenient for BOTH of us if your pride makes you miss your first week of trainin’ while your arms heal!!!”
He holds out for two more seconds before screaming “I concede! I CONCEDE!!!”
She releases him and stands back up.
“On your feet, Soldier…” she growls down at him.
He stands back up, his face beet red.
“Are you ever goin’ to question my fitness to instruct again, Private?” she glares up at the humiliated giant.
“No.” he answers, gracelessly.
“No…?” she says as if waiting for something else.
Forest looks as confused as I am about what she’s expecting.
“No, Ma’am!” she snarls.
“No, Ma’am.”
“Good, we’ll work on your attitude, movin’ forward. Now, get back in line!”
The humiliated man picks up his civvy jacket and returns to the place he was called out from.
“Now, I don’t think I need to prattle on anymore about how you’re gonna hate me by the end of our time together, do I?… I think Pvt Forest helped me prove that point quite well, so I’ll move on… You will sleep in this buildin’, six to a room. Your rooms will be gender segregated. If you wish for a place to be… intimate with people of the opposite gender, you may request use of one of the conjugal rooms… I suggest you do the same if you want to be intimate with a same gender partner but that’s between you and your roommates! You will eat in this room at 0700hrs, 1200hrs and 1800hrs. Diet’ry requirements will be accommodated but, bare in mind, this ain’t your mummies’ and daddies’ kitchen! ‘This food is forbidden by my religion/personal ethics’ is a diet’ry requirement. ‘I am allergic to this food’ is a diet’ry requirement! ‘I don’t like how this food tastes’ is not(!)… In the mornin’s, you will be receivin’ lessons in lecture theatres, workshops and the like…”
“Oh great… just what I wanted after leaving school(!) More classrooms(!)” I mutter to myself.
Her head instantly wheels to me with unnerving precision.
“Someone else with somethin’ they’d like to say!?” she says, locking eyes with me, terrifyingly.
“No, Ms Sands!” I answer, instantly.
“Miss?! I’m not your bloody schoolteacher girl!!!”
Everyone laughs. Even Pvt Forest, like he wasn’t just humiliated himself, 2 minutes ago!
“Ma’am… err… Ma’am, no, Ma’am!!!” I say, doing my best to emulate the tone I’ve seen soldiers use in films.
She rolls her eye (it’s difficult to tell if the bionic rolls too) and says “Better… What’s your name, Private?”
“Ma’am, the Private’s name is Esme Reid, Ma’am!!!”
“Do you remember me tellin’ you this ain’t Full Metal Jacket?… You don’t need to scream when you talk to me, you don’t need to refer to yourself in third person and one ‘Ma’am’, when you’re done speakin’, is enough, Reid!”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She points to her single, mauve eye, then to me and says “I’ll have my eye on you, Reid!”
Somehow, her tone sends a chill up my spine but I do my best not to show it.
She turns away and I release a silent sigh of relief.
“As I was sayin’… In your lectures you will learn the ins and outs of military theory; tactics, strategies, logistics etc. You will learn as much as we can tell you about the nature of the species we are fightin’; their capabilities, tendencies, political organisations and known weaknesses… bear in mind that First Contact weren’t much more than 4 years ago and we’ve been at War for almost all the intervenin’ time, so a lot of what we teach you will be little more than guesswork and hearsay from prisoners we’ve interrogated… The mornin’s’ll also be where you learn the particulars of the equipment you’ll be expected to be proficient with in the field. This includes firearms, plasmaweaponry and durasteel armour, as well as the tech you’ll likely encounter from the opposite side; kinetic pulse weapons, laser weapons, field emitters etc… I strongly suggest that no one allows word to get back to me that they’re not takin’ these classes seriously!… A stupid soldier is a dead soldier!”
She glares around the room, her eyes resting on me four a quarter of a second.
“…In the afternoons and evenin’s, you’ll be doing PT… that’s ‘Physical Trainin’’… soon to be every one of your two least favourite words in the English Language(!) “
I notice a wry smirk twist the mouths of a few of the camp attendants.
“In PT you will be drilled in agility, endurance, close quarters combat and coordinated marching… Five times over the comin’ 8 months, you and your trainin’ partner will be dropped into a remote bit of wilderness, somewhere on Earth, for five day practical survival experience. You will be given a beacon, to summon retrieval, but these are only to be used in cases of actual threat to life or bodily integrity… not because you’re feelin’ miserable!”
She takes a second to pause for breath.
“You get an allowance of 12 days off, over your time here… that’s two a month… These are subject to my approval and I may deny them for any reason, including no reason… so don’t piss me off!… You may not take more than 2 consecutive days leave at a time! Certain classes are mandatory and leave will not be approved on days they occur. If your allowance is spent, no more leave will be approved, barring a real emergency!… Now, for today, you are going to line up to have your maps and room keys downloaded onto your holos when your name is called, then you are going to have your bodies scanned for your armour measurements… at that point everyone with no uterus has the rest of the day free to settle in… If you have a uterus, you’ll need to report to medical to get your cycle paused! This is, I’m afraid, nonoptional… You are not prohibited from engaging in relations with your fellow recruits but you cannot be a soldier while you’re able to get pregnant. Attempts to circumvent this requirement in any way will land you in the Stockade!… After your cycle pause has been given, you’ll also have the rest of the day to settle in… Enjoy it! It’ll be the most downtime you get for a while!… Finally… I believe we have a 17 year old with us here… Pvt Taylor?”
A few people put their hands up, most looking confused.
“Pvt Oskar Taylor! The 17 year old?” she says, exasperated.
All but one of those with their hands up put them down.
The one remaining Pvt Taylor with his hand in the air has pale skin, black hair, brown eyes and a sharp featured face wearing a dour expression.
He stands even taller than Forest… Nearly 2m tall!
Though he’s not quite as heavily built, he’s certainly a good looking piece of boycandy!
“Pvt Taylor…” says Sands, her mouth breaking into a smile for the first time I’ve seen “…couldn’t wait to go off to War, could you(?)”
He mutters something but, while I can hear the power and deepness of his voice, I can’t make out a word he says.
“You’ll have to speak up, Taylor! Nobody’ll be able to hear you if you mumble.” points out Sands.
“I said I had some personal circumstances that made this the most sensible course of action for me, Ma’am.” says the tall, dark haired man, looking over her head rather than down at her and speaking in a grim monotone. He definitely loses boycandy points for the poshness of his accent, unfortunately…
“I see… I won’t pry into that but… you didn’t think of Officer Training? That’s the route that most people take when volunteering ahead of their conscription.”
He shakes his head “I thought of it and decided against it, Ma’am.”
“Oh? Why’s that, Pvt Taylor?”
“I didn’t believe I would make a good officer, Ma’am.” he answers simply.
She laughs “I wish every soldier could be as introspective, Taylor! I like you!… Unfortunately, bein’ a minor does mean that you can’t be put in a room with others… Sooo, that means you get a room to yourself… for the moment. Might sound cushy but before anyone else gets too jealous, bare in mind that privacy is the only advantage! His room will be a sixth the size of yours so its basic’ly a broomcupboard… the disadvantage will be severely reduced opportunity to socialise!… If that doesn’t sound doable, you can leave and come back when you turn 18, Taylor.”
“It’s acceptable, Ma’am.” he says without hesitating.
Yeah… it’s official… I don’t like him…
---later---
I rub the spot on my arm where the serum was thunked into me about 15 minutes ago.
Like with everything else about conscription, I get it… I understand the point…
But seeing the sense doesn’t mean I have to like it!
It’s not like I want to get pregnant (getting a nine month reprieve from service would be a fairly shitty reason for me to bring a child into the world) but it does feel like one last slap in the face to my personal autonomy that I’ve just had a cycle pause fucking mandated upon my body by the government!
As I draw near, door 1512 detects the key downloaded on my holo and unlocks
I open it and am greeted by a blonde girl, smiling broadly and instantly identifiable as brimming with ADHD energy.
“Hey there! My name’s Charlotte, it’s lovely to meet you!” says the girl, wrapping me in a hug without asking if I’m OK with that.
Her accent makes me wonder if everyone I meet here is going to be a posh toff!
She makes three of three of my fellow draftees!
“A pleasure, Charlotte… the name’s Esme…” I say, speaking Scottish accented standard English and gingerly patting her back.
“Oh, you’re Scottish…?” she says pulling herself off me with an expression that suggests meeting a Scottish person is just the most wonderful thing she could have imagined “…My great grandmother was from Edinburgh, where are you from?”
“Stranraer.” I answer.
She frowns “I don’t know it, I’m sorry!”
“I won’t hold it against you… Southwestern tip of Scotland? Where it nearly touches Ireland and the Man Peninsula?… ’Bout two and a half million people?”
“Oh, wooow! I don’t think I’ve ever met someone from a village before!” she says, seeming entirely oblivious to how that might be taken as an insult.
“Yeah… I guess it’s not that big.”
“Well…” she wraps me back in the hug and continues “…we’re the first ones to the room and that has to mean we’re going to be best friends!”
“I’m afraid my best friend’s name is Tamsin… the position is not open.” I say, firmly setting a boundary.
“I meant best bootcamp friends, silly!” she says, as if that should have gone without saying.
“Alright… I guess that positions open… but you’ve not got the job yet(!)” I quip, warming up a little to the ball of posh English energy.
She pulls back and beams at me “Alright then, for my first act as best bootcamp friend candidate, let me show you the view!… That should earn me some points!”
She says, leading me into the room that’s so small it makes me doubt that that goody-two-shoes 17 year old can possibly have one a sixth this size!
She leads me to the window and spends a few moments making sure I’m positioned just right before she draws back the curtain.
The view is quite breathtaking… rolling hills of snow blanketed mammoth steppe, lit by evening sun, with barely any of the sprawling military camp visible.
Though, you can see one of the tallest structures ever built by Humanity… the Sussex Space elevator… several times the Earth’s own diameter, the ‘top’, if you can even call it that, is a fifth of the way from here to Luna! …And… in 8 months, I’m going to be riding it, all the way up, to get on a troop transport.
“Look! See! There’s a herd of aurochs over on that hill! You know this place used to be a national park, before even Unification or the Reset! It’s called the South Downs! My mum told me we had family from here… obviously I never met any of them because they would have left hundreds of years ago!…”
The bubbly girl talks and talks and… just keeps talking… but I don’t particularly mind.
---
Support me on Patreon for to access the entire series, now.
---
TWBS Previous Next First
2023.06.04 13:29 Zeplight [H] 500+ Games, Absolver, Zombie Army 4, Deathloop, Crusader King 3, Dark Wood etc. [W] Paypal Only.
The keys on the list are global unless otherwise stated. Paypal fees if any is on the buyer side. Prices are in USD and included of Paypal Fees. Not open for game trade.
My IGS Rep Page: https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/xksm8m/zeplights_igs_rep_page/
Others
submitted by Zeplight to indiegameswap [link] [comments]
My IGS Rep Page: https://www.reddit.com/IGSRep/comments/xksm8m/zeplights_igs_rep_page/
Others
- >observer_
- 112 Operator
- 198X
- 60 Parsecs!
- 8 Doors
- A Case of Distrust
- A Plague Tale: Innocence
- Aaero
- ADOM (Ancient Domains of Mystery)
- Aegis Defenders
- Age of Wonders
- Ageless (sub483339)
- AI War 2
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- Almost There: The Platformer
- Ame No Marginal -Rain Marginal-
- American Fugitive
- American Truck Simulator
- Amnesia: Rebirth
- Ancestors Legacy
- Ancestors: The Humankind Odessy (sub491195)
- Anna's Quest
- Army Men RTS
- As Far As The Eye
- Assassin's Creed Origin (Ubisoft Key)
- ATOM RPG Trudograd
- Atomicrops
- Automachef (sub381449)
- Autonauts
- Aven Colony (sub638759)
- Avernum 3: Ruined World
- Back 4 Blood (sub638759)
- Backbone
- Bad North: Jotunn Edition
- Banners of Ruin
- Basement
- Basingstoke
- Batman Arkham Origins
- Battle Chasers Nightwar
- Battlestar Galactica Deadlock
- Battletech
- Battletech - Flashpoint
- Battletech - Shadow Hawk Pack
- Beat Hazard 2
- Bee Simulator
- Before We Leave
- Beholder
- Between The Stars
- Beyond The Wire
- Biomutant
- Bioshock: The Collection
- Black Book
- Black Future '88
- Blade Assault
- Blasphemous
- Bleed 2
- Bloodstained: Ritural of The Night
- Blue Fire
- Book of Demons
- Borderlands 3 (sub437166)
- Borderlands 3: Director's Cut (sub564219)
- Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition
- Boreal Blade
- Boundless
- BPM: Bullet Per Minute
- Calico
- Call of Cthulhu
- Call of the Sea
- Caravan
- Carto (sub500578)
- Catherine Classic
- Cepheus Protocol
- Chess Ultra
- Chicken Police
- Children of Morta
- Cities in Motion 2
- Cities: Skylines + After Dark DLC
- CivCity: Rome
- Colt Canyon
- Command & Conquer Remastered Collection (Origin Key)
- Conan Chop Chop
- Control (Standard Edition)
- Cook, Serve Delicious
- Crown Trick (sub508288)
- Crusader King 3
- Crusader kings II: The Old Gods DLC
- Crying Suns (sub437438)
- Cryofall
- Cyber Hook
- Dandara
- Dark Deity
- Dark Future: Blood Red States
- Darksburg
- Darkside Detective
- Darksiders 3
- Darksiders Genesis (sub410535)
- Darkwood
- Dead in Vinland
- Dead Island Definitive Edition (Asia only)
- Deadly Days
- Death Stranding Director's Cut
- Deathloop
- Deleveled
- Demon Turf
- Deponia Doomsday
- Deponia Doomsday Soundtrack
- Deponia: The Complete Journey
- Descenders
- Desert Child
- Desolate
- Desperados 3 (sub468802)
- Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor
- Dirt 5 (sub468802)
- Disciples: Liberation (sub639671)
- Disjunction
- Distance
- Distrust
- Do Not Feed The Monkeys
- Don't Escape: 4 Days To Survive
- Doom Eternal Standard Edition
- Drake Hollow
- Driftland: The Magical Revival
- Due Process
- Duke Nukem Forever
- Duke Nukem Forever: The Doctor Who Cloned Me
- Duke Nukem Forever: Hail to the Icons
- Dungeons 3 (SEA Region Locked)
- Dusk Diver
- Duskers
- Earthlock
- Edge of Eternity
- Effie
- Elderborn
- Eldest Souls (sub481268)
- Elex
- Embr
- Emily Is Away
- Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG (sub625031)
- Encodya
- Endless Space 2 (Digital Deluxe Edition)
- Endzone - A World Apart
- Epic Chef (sub629510)
- Etherborn
- Evan's Remain
- Evergarden
- Everhood
- Evoland Legendary Edition
- EXAPUNKS
- Fae Tactics (sub481256)
- Fallout 1
- Fallout 76
- Family Man
- Fantasy Blacksmith
- Felix The Reaper
- Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
- Fight'N Rage
- Finding Paradise
- First Class Trouble
- Five Dates
- Fling To The Finish
- Fluffy Horde
- Fobia - St Dinfa Hotel
- Forager (sub437442)
- Forgive Me Father
- Fort Triump
- Founders' Fortune
- Framed Collection
- Frog Detective 2
- FRONTIERS
- Frostpunk
- Frostpunk: The Rift DLC
- Full Metal Furies
- Fun With Ragdolls: The Game
- Fury Unleased
- Gamedec
- Garage: Bad Trip
- Gas Station Simulator
- Gears Tactics
- Generation Zero
- Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition (sub271316)
- Genesis Noir
- Ghostrunner
- Goat of Duty
- God's Trigger
- Gods Will Be Watching
- Going Under (sub501621)
- Gold With Your Friends (381453)
- Golden Light
- Golf Gang
- Greak: Memories of Azur
- Greedfall
- Gremlins, Inc
- GRIP: Combat Racing
- GRIP: Combat Racing Artifex DLC
- GRIS
- Grow: Song of the Evertree
- Guacamelee! 2
- Guts And Glory
- Hammerting (sub512607)
- Hard Reset Redux
- Hard West
- Hearts of Iron III Collection
- Heaven's Vault
- Hell Let Loose (sub613818)
- Hello Neighbour
- Hellpoint
- Hero's Hour (sub678794)
- Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire
- Hidden & Dangerous: Action Pack
- Hidden Folks
- Hitman 2
- Hitman: The Complete First Season
- Hiveswap Friendsim
- Hokko Life (sub586950)
- Horizon Chase Turbo
- Hot Wheels Unleashed
- Hotshot Racing
- House Flipper
- I AM Fish
- I'm Not A Monster
- Ice Lakes
- Idol Magical Girl Chiru Chiru Michiru Part 1
- Idol Magical Girl Chiru Chiru Michiru Part 2
- If Found (sub648718)
- Ikenfell (sub500220)
- Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition
- In Other Waters
- In SOund Mind
- Indivisible
- Industria
- Injustice Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition (cannot be activated in America and some countries)
- Iris And The Giant (sub383019)
- Iron Danger
- Iron Harvest
- Japanese School Life
- John Wick Hex x2
- Jurassic World Evolution
- Jurassic World Evolution - Deluxe Dinosaur Pack
- Jurassic World Evolution 2
- Just Cause 3 XXL Edition
- Just Cause 4: Complete Edition
- Just Die Already
- Karakara
- Katana Zero
- Kill It With Fire
- Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
- Killsquad
- Kingdom Two Crowns
- Laguna
- Last Oasis
- Late Shift
- Lawn Mowing Simulator
- Legend of Keepers
- Legion TD 2
- Lethal League Blaze
- Levelhead
- Life Is Strange 2: Complete Edition
- Lightmatter
- Little Big Workshop
- Little Misfortune
- Love Is Dead
- Lovecraft Untold Stories
- Mafia: Definitive Edition (sub342916)
- Mafia: Definitive Edition (sub462250)
- Mages of Mystralia
- Maid of Sker
- Main Assembly (sub447337)
- Majesty 2 Collection
- Maneater
- Mass Effect Legendary Edition (Origin Key)
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- Memoria
- Memoria Soundtrack
- Men of War: Assault Squad 2 War Chest Edition
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience DLC
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
- Metal Unit
- Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition
- Middle-Earth: Shadows of Mordor GOTY (cannot be activated in Japan)
- Middle-Earth: Shadows of War
- Midnight Protocol
- Milky Way Prince The Vampire Star
- Mind Scanner
- Minit
- Minoria
- MO: Astray
- MOLEK-SYNTEZ
- Monster Crown
- Monster Prom
- Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp
- Monster Sanctuary (sub389091)
- Monster Train First Class Edition
- Moonlighter
- Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
- Morbius Front '83
- Mordhau
- Morkredd
- Mothergunship
- Moving Out (sub444329)
- My Friend Pedro
- My Time At Portia (Asia locked)
- Nairi: Tower of Shirin
- Narcissu 10th Anniversary Anthology Project
- Narcissu 10th Anniversary Anthology Project Season Pass
- Narita Boy
- Nebuchadnezzar
- Necromunda: Hired Gun
- Neon Abyss
- Neoverse
- Neurovoider
- Niche - A Genetic Survival Game
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
- Nilfelheim
- Nigate Tale
- Night Call
- Nimbatus The Space Drone Construction
- Not For Breakfast
- Not Tonight
- Nowhere Prophet
- Okami HD
- Old Man's Journey
- Olliolli World - Rad Edition (sub674842)
- Omno
- One Step From Eden (sub436891)
- Opus Magnum
- Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength
- Orwell: Keeping An Eye On You
- Othercide
- Out of Space
- Out of the Park Baseball 18
- Outward (sub350244)
- Overcooked 2
- Overload
- Override: Mech City Brawl
- Panzer Paladin
- Paradigm
- Paradise Killer
- Paradise Lost
- Paratopic
- Partisans 1941
- Party Hard 2
- Path of Giants
- Pathfinder Kingmaker Explorer Edition
- Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
- Pathalogic 2
- Paw Paw Paw
- PC Building Simulator
- Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
- Per Aspera (sub625162)
- Pesterquest
- PGA Tour 2k21 (sub489182)
- Phantom Doctine
- Phoenix Point: Year One Edition
- Pillars of Eternity
- Plague Inc: Evolved
- Planet Alpha
- Planet Coaster
- Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack
- Planet Zoo (sub430055)
- Police Stories
- Pool Panic
- Popup Dungeon (sub522177)
- Project Winter
- Pumpkin Jack
- Punch Club
- Purrfect Date - Visual Novel/Dating Simulator
- Puss!
- Q.U.B.E 2
- Railroad Corporation (sub772236)
- Railroad Tycoon 2 Platinum
- Railroad Tycoon 3
- Railraod Empire (sub221839)
- Raji: An Ancient Epic
- Rapture Rejects
- Rapture Rejects Safari Outfit DLC
- Rebel Cops
- Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville
- Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mastered
- Red Solstice 2: Survivors x2
- Regular Human Basketball
- Relicta
- Remothered: Broken Porcelain
- Resident Evil Revelations
- Retimed
- Revita
- Ring of Pain (sub500224)
- Rise of Industry
- Rising Storm 2: Vietnam + 2 DLCS
- Road Redemption
- Roboquest
- Rock of Ages 2: Bigger & Boulder
- Rock of Ages 3: Make A Break
- Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos (sub530677)
- Rogue Lords
- Roki (sub481264)
- Rollerdrome (sub751973)
- Root Double - Before Crimes * After Days -Xtend Edition
- Rover Mechanic Simulator
- Rustler
- S.W.I.N.E HD Remaster
- Scribblenauts Unlimited
- Secret Neighbor
- Seven: The Days Long Gone
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Shadow Tactics: Aiko's Choice
- Shadows: Awakening
- Shady Part of Me
- Shapez - Puzzle DLC
- She Remembered Caterpillars
- Shenmue 1 & 2
- Shenmue 3
- Shenzen I/O
- Shining Resonance Refrain
- Shoppe Keep 2
- Sid Meier's Civilization VI
- Sid Meier's Civilization VI Platinum Edition
- Sid Meier's Railroads!
- Siege Survival: Glora Victis (sub582859)
- Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
- Silence
- Silver Chains
- SimplePlanes
- Simplerockets 2
- Simulacra
- Simulacra 2
- Size Matters
- Skully
- Slipstream
- Smnile For Me
- Sniper Elite
- Sniper Elite 3
- Sniper Elite V2
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts (sub404878)
- Song of Horrow Complete Edition
- Sonic Mania
- Sound of Drop Fall Into Poison
- Space Accident
- SpeedRunners
- Spellcaster University
- Spintires
- Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated (sub458837)
- Star Renegade (sub794787)
- Star Wars: Squadrons (Origin Key)
- State of Mind
- Steel Rats
- Still There
- Strange Brigade
- Street Fighter V
- Struggling
- Stubbs The Zombie In Rebel Without A Pulse
- Stygian: Regin of the Old Ones
- Sundered
- Sunless Bundle
- Sunrider: Liberation Day - CAptain's Edition
- Super Daryl Deluxe
- Super Magdot (sub594513)
- Superhot: Mind Control Delete
- Superliminal
- Supraland (sub460236)
- Surviving Mars
- Surviving The Aftermath
- Suzerain
- Swag And Sorcery
- Sword Legacy Omen
- Sowrds and Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon
- Syberia 3
- Tabletop Playground
- Tales of The Neon Sea
- Tannenberg
- The Adventure Pals
- The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
- The Anacrusis
- The Ascent
- The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut
- The Beast Inside
- The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
- The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos
- The Dwarves
- The Final Station
- The Haunted Island A Frog Detective Game
- The Henry Stickman Collection Farmer's Dynasty
- The Journey Down: Chapter Three
- The King's Bird
- The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante
- The Messenger
- The Occupation
- The Serpent Rogue (sub703028)
- The Shapeshifting Detective
- The Spiral Scouts
- The Stillness of the Winf
- The Suicide of Rachel FOSTER
- The Surge 2
- The Survivalist
- The Swords of Ditto: Mormo's Curse
- The Textorcist: The story of Rey Bibla
- The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
- The Wild Eight
- This Is The Police 2
- Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
- Through The Darkest of Times
- Timble
- Toem
- Tohu
- Tokyo 42
- Tools Up
- Total Tank Simulator (sub449434)
- Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
- Trailmakers
- Train Simulator 2017
- Train Simulator 2017: Platform Clutter Pack
- Train Simulator 2017: Town Scenery Pack
- Train Station Renovation
- Train Valley 2
- Tribes of Midgard
- Trine 4 The Nightmare Prince
- Tropico 6 El Prez Edition (sub309482)
- Truberbrook
- Tsique
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil
- Underhero
- Unmetal
- Valfaris
- Valkyrie Chronicles 4 Complete Edition
- Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York
- Vampire: The Masuerade - Shadows of New York
- Vampyr
- Verlet Swing
- Void Bastards (sub433886)
- Voidigo
- Wandersong
- Wargroove
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
- Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus x2
- Warhammer: Chaosbane
- Warhammer: Vermintide 2
- Warsaw (sub410235)
- Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
- Warstone TD
- Wasteland 3
- We Need To Go Deeper
- We Were Together
- Werewolf: The Apocalypse Heart of the Forest
- West of Dead
- Where The Water Taste Like Wine
- Wildfire (sub463953)
- Wingspan
- Wizard of Legend
- Worms Rumble (sub519845)
- Wrath: Aeon of Run
- WWE 2K Battlegrounds
- WWE 2K Battlegrounds (sub489191)
- WWE 2K Battlegrounds Ultimate Brawlers Pass
- X-Morph Defense
- XCOM Complete Pack
- XCOM Chimera Squad (sub450756)
- XCOM Ultimate Collection
- XCOM 2 (sub192007)
- XCOM 2 Reinforcement Pack
- XCOM 2 Resistance Warrior Pack
- Xuan-Yuan Sword: The Gate of Firmament
- Yakuza 0
- Yakuza 3 Remastered
- Yakuza Kiwami
- Yakuza Kiwami 2
- Yes, Your Grace
- Yoku's Island Express
- Yooka-Laylee And The Impossible Lair (sub389099)
- Youropa
- Yuppie Pyscho
- Zengeon
- Zombie Army 4
- Zombir Army Trilogy x2
- Zwei: The Arges Adventure
- Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
2023.06.04 07:23 akynzeo Review of 8 Death and Floral Scents
Hi everyone! I'm fairly new to purchasing/trying indie fragrances; I came across Death and Floral while browsing social media and was super intrigued. I purchased a handful of samples along with some 5ml rollerballs. Again I'm not very experienced with fragrances, but here's my very basic review of the ones that I've tried so far :)
Capitalist Figs - Black figs, blackened honey wine, and swirling black sugar on a bed of black patchouli
I feel like capitalist figs was one of the stronger fragrances that I purchased. Opening the tester bottle I immediately got hit with strong wave a patchouli followed by a general sweetness (I'm guessing the black sugar?) I didn't get any notes of fig unfortunately, mostly just patchouli. I don't think this fragrance is for me, but I would really enjoy smelling it on someone else. Rating: 3.5/5
Doomsday - Overdried dead grass, cool menthol tea, black currant, sage, dried acorns, tobacco.
Really interesting scent! I would imagine this as a great fall fragrance; it reminds me of walking through the woods on a really cool, crisp, fall morning. Dried grass, acorns, and crunchy leaves were the first things I picked up on when smelling. I picked up in a little bit of tobacco, but I did not smell any menthol tea. Rating: 4/5
Electric Feel (May 2023 SOTM) - A blend of different electricity accords; hot wires, neon signs, tv static fuzz, the electricity that rumbles inside a thunderstorm.
I'm gonna be honest, I don't really know how to describe this one. I guess my best describing words would be intense, spicy, a little acrid..? My friend said it smelled like warm plastic or kinda like the hot air that comes off an old CRT television or playstation. It's not entirely unpleasant to smell, but just really interesting. Rating: ???/5
Freshly Dead (July 2022 SOTM) - Lavender, rosemary, mint, apples, carrot seeds, fresh tomato.
I was really excited for this fragrance. I'm not sure if it's just the way the fragrance reacts with my skin, but the scent of Freshly Dead is SO faint when I apply it. I feel like 10-15 minutes after application the scent is almost entirely gone. Although very faint, It's super light and refreshing. Fresh, crisp apple followed by mint and light lavender were the first notes I picked up on. It quickly dries down into a slightly savory/vegetal note, which I'm presuming is either the carrot seed or tomato. I love the scent, I just wish it worked with my skin/were formulated to be stronger. Rating: 3.5/5
Somedays in Oz - Fresh garden mint, wall-climbing ivy, spicy juniper, orris butter.
This was another scent that was beautiful but very quiet and subtle. The application did not last very long on my skin, maybe about 15-20 minutes. I found it to be a refreshing mixture of primarily mint followed by other green/floral notes (I presume what I'm mostly smelling is the wall-climbing ivy...?) My one friend loved this scent, and said that this is exactly what she would imagine the land of Oz to smell like, and I agree! Rating: 3.5/5
The Deadly Poppy Field - Green and watery flowers, soaked earth, lily-of-the-valley, slightly sweet red poppies, the sweet lingering of a memory.
I loved this scent; I was looking for something green/herbal/earthy and she delivered! This reminds me of wet, fresh cut grass in the summer heat; planting fresh flowers and being covered in damp soil. Intensely green and earthy, and I loved it! Rating: 5/5
The End is Here - Vanilla coke, bourbon, fleeing animals, the musk of an infinite black void.
I picked this one up simply because of the description. What does fleeing animals and the musk of a black void smell like? The first things I picked up on were presumably the vanilla coke and musk note. It's very pleasant, warm, and inviting. I applied this one before I went to work and got multiple compliments from my coworkers. Additionally, one rollerball application to a few pulse points lasted a good 5-6ish hours on my skin. I really enjoy this one and will re-purchase once this rollerball is finished. Rating: 4/5
The People You Love Become Ghosts Inside You - *Heavenly musk, lingering funeral flowers, cold scent of vanilla in an empty corridor, handprints on a foggy window (*Notice: ‘The people you love become ghosts inside you‘ is a heavy atmospheric that has been reported to cause feelings of intense emotion and is sometimes unpleasant in its vulnerability. Not for the faint-hearted!)
WOW! This has to be one of the most unique/complex fragrances that I have ever smelled. Lingering scents of an old church, funeral parlor, maybe an old uninhabited house...? I don't know how Death and Floral can get these descriptions so accurate. Floral notes but they're not fresh, more leaning towards dried/withering flowers. I've never smelled vanilla used like this before. It truly is cold (almost medicinal...?) combined with the musk and floral notes. Reminds me of cold linoleum/tile floors, cobwebs, dusty books, dimly lit rooms, etc. Rating: 5/5
Overall I had a ton of fun testing/smelling these fragrances! I will be purchasing more in the future; excited to see what comes next!
submitted by akynzeo to Indiemakeupandmore [link] [comments]
Capitalist Figs - Black figs, blackened honey wine, and swirling black sugar on a bed of black patchouli
I feel like capitalist figs was one of the stronger fragrances that I purchased. Opening the tester bottle I immediately got hit with strong wave a patchouli followed by a general sweetness (I'm guessing the black sugar?) I didn't get any notes of fig unfortunately, mostly just patchouli. I don't think this fragrance is for me, but I would really enjoy smelling it on someone else. Rating: 3.5/5
Doomsday - Overdried dead grass, cool menthol tea, black currant, sage, dried acorns, tobacco.
Really interesting scent! I would imagine this as a great fall fragrance; it reminds me of walking through the woods on a really cool, crisp, fall morning. Dried grass, acorns, and crunchy leaves were the first things I picked up on when smelling. I picked up in a little bit of tobacco, but I did not smell any menthol tea. Rating: 4/5
Electric Feel (May 2023 SOTM) - A blend of different electricity accords; hot wires, neon signs, tv static fuzz, the electricity that rumbles inside a thunderstorm.
I'm gonna be honest, I don't really know how to describe this one. I guess my best describing words would be intense, spicy, a little acrid..? My friend said it smelled like warm plastic or kinda like the hot air that comes off an old CRT television or playstation. It's not entirely unpleasant to smell, but just really interesting. Rating: ???/5
Freshly Dead (July 2022 SOTM) - Lavender, rosemary, mint, apples, carrot seeds, fresh tomato.
I was really excited for this fragrance. I'm not sure if it's just the way the fragrance reacts with my skin, but the scent of Freshly Dead is SO faint when I apply it. I feel like 10-15 minutes after application the scent is almost entirely gone. Although very faint, It's super light and refreshing. Fresh, crisp apple followed by mint and light lavender were the first notes I picked up on. It quickly dries down into a slightly savory/vegetal note, which I'm presuming is either the carrot seed or tomato. I love the scent, I just wish it worked with my skin/were formulated to be stronger. Rating: 3.5/5
Somedays in Oz - Fresh garden mint, wall-climbing ivy, spicy juniper, orris butter.
This was another scent that was beautiful but very quiet and subtle. The application did not last very long on my skin, maybe about 15-20 minutes. I found it to be a refreshing mixture of primarily mint followed by other green/floral notes (I presume what I'm mostly smelling is the wall-climbing ivy...?) My one friend loved this scent, and said that this is exactly what she would imagine the land of Oz to smell like, and I agree! Rating: 3.5/5
The Deadly Poppy Field - Green and watery flowers, soaked earth, lily-of-the-valley, slightly sweet red poppies, the sweet lingering of a memory.
I loved this scent; I was looking for something green/herbal/earthy and she delivered! This reminds me of wet, fresh cut grass in the summer heat; planting fresh flowers and being covered in damp soil. Intensely green and earthy, and I loved it! Rating: 5/5
The End is Here - Vanilla coke, bourbon, fleeing animals, the musk of an infinite black void.
I picked this one up simply because of the description. What does fleeing animals and the musk of a black void smell like? The first things I picked up on were presumably the vanilla coke and musk note. It's very pleasant, warm, and inviting. I applied this one before I went to work and got multiple compliments from my coworkers. Additionally, one rollerball application to a few pulse points lasted a good 5-6ish hours on my skin. I really enjoy this one and will re-purchase once this rollerball is finished. Rating: 4/5
The People You Love Become Ghosts Inside You - *Heavenly musk, lingering funeral flowers, cold scent of vanilla in an empty corridor, handprints on a foggy window (*Notice: ‘The people you love become ghosts inside you‘ is a heavy atmospheric that has been reported to cause feelings of intense emotion and is sometimes unpleasant in its vulnerability. Not for the faint-hearted!)
WOW! This has to be one of the most unique/complex fragrances that I have ever smelled. Lingering scents of an old church, funeral parlor, maybe an old uninhabited house...? I don't know how Death and Floral can get these descriptions so accurate. Floral notes but they're not fresh, more leaning towards dried/withering flowers. I've never smelled vanilla used like this before. It truly is cold (almost medicinal...?) combined with the musk and floral notes. Reminds me of cold linoleum/tile floors, cobwebs, dusty books, dimly lit rooms, etc. Rating: 5/5
Overall I had a ton of fun testing/smelling these fragrances! I will be purchasing more in the future; excited to see what comes next!
2023.06.04 06:06 DylanIsNotAPerson13 roadmap theories (possible spoilers?)
wanna just preface this by saying i know NOTHING, i’m just a nerd. i have a youtube channel but i didn’t really think a theory video would work well on it so i’m just posting it on reddit for maybe some people to read! i’m so sorry this is gonna be long, but i would like to share my thoughts! again, maybe spoilers and im definitely mentioning some leaks, so read with caution!
first off with update 5! i think it’s going to be released this week. it’s the most logical. if it were to be released on monday i think we’d have news by now, so my guess is wednesday-friday. my guess is we’re only going to get the fairy godmother; the shadow in the treehouse is our own. if there are other characters i think it’ll be cinderella, peter pan, or a complete surprise that no one has guessed. they’ve mostly told us it’s mostly story focused, which i think is true. i could understand if they only give us fairy godmother because we are getting so much more story, closing out the first story arc of the game. we’re probably going to get a watering can upgrade to let us get rid of the fire, and maybe possibly limit the night thorns to the forgotten lands.
in terms of the summer update, i think it’s going to be fairly small-ish. obviously we’re getting venellope, probably coming from a realm (or maybe introduced similar to mirabel). i think this update is going to also introduce the ralphstagram feature. i think it’ll work similar to the gallery in the sims. we can show off and possibly download each others clothing creations and maybe biome creations? just a small guess. i think the update will be released last week of july-beginning of august. for the september update i think we’re getting more than just belle. maybe ralph, or beast, or some other characters! they definitely are hinting we’re getting more than one character. this won’t add anything to the major story, other than individual character quests. since this is releasing with the Halloween star path, i’m guessing middle to late september.
in terms of the coming later in 2023 part, i think there’s a lot of things. there’s a large chance we’re getting aladdin characters, mostly likely aladdin, jasmine, and genie (and maybe jafar!). i think we could possibly also see characters from peter pan, alice in wonderland, and tangled. i think with aladdin could come some sort of arabian desert biome. others are wanting some sort of atlantis biome, which i could sort of see. i could see a quest where we raise atlantis from under the valley and it pops up somewhere near dazzle beach. i think the new royal tool will probably be the hour glass, which will enable some sort of time skip. my only issue with it is i don’t know how they would do it without having some sort of consequence/cooldown and don’t know if the devs would want us to be able to time skip. to be fair, i couldn’t see any other tool, other than maybe an axe, but there’s not much it could do that our pickaxe couldn’t.
to those who read all of this, i’m truly amazed. thank you for reading my theories and speculations. go take care of yourself 🩵
submitted by DylanIsNotAPerson13 to DreamlightValley [link] [comments]
first off with update 5! i think it’s going to be released this week. it’s the most logical. if it were to be released on monday i think we’d have news by now, so my guess is wednesday-friday. my guess is we’re only going to get the fairy godmother; the shadow in the treehouse is our own. if there are other characters i think it’ll be cinderella, peter pan, or a complete surprise that no one has guessed. they’ve mostly told us it’s mostly story focused, which i think is true. i could understand if they only give us fairy godmother because we are getting so much more story, closing out the first story arc of the game. we’re probably going to get a watering can upgrade to let us get rid of the fire, and maybe possibly limit the night thorns to the forgotten lands.
in terms of the summer update, i think it’s going to be fairly small-ish. obviously we’re getting venellope, probably coming from a realm (or maybe introduced similar to mirabel). i think this update is going to also introduce the ralphstagram feature. i think it’ll work similar to the gallery in the sims. we can show off and possibly download each others clothing creations and maybe biome creations? just a small guess. i think the update will be released last week of july-beginning of august. for the september update i think we’re getting more than just belle. maybe ralph, or beast, or some other characters! they definitely are hinting we’re getting more than one character. this won’t add anything to the major story, other than individual character quests. since this is releasing with the Halloween star path, i’m guessing middle to late september.
in terms of the coming later in 2023 part, i think there’s a lot of things. there’s a large chance we’re getting aladdin characters, mostly likely aladdin, jasmine, and genie (and maybe jafar!). i think we could possibly also see characters from peter pan, alice in wonderland, and tangled. i think with aladdin could come some sort of arabian desert biome. others are wanting some sort of atlantis biome, which i could sort of see. i could see a quest where we raise atlantis from under the valley and it pops up somewhere near dazzle beach. i think the new royal tool will probably be the hour glass, which will enable some sort of time skip. my only issue with it is i don’t know how they would do it without having some sort of consequence/cooldown and don’t know if the devs would want us to be able to time skip. to be fair, i couldn’t see any other tool, other than maybe an axe, but there’s not much it could do that our pickaxe couldn’t.
to those who read all of this, i’m truly amazed. thank you for reading my theories and speculations. go take care of yourself 🩵
2023.06.04 04:06 EngagePicard [Release] Powershell script to easily find overlapping cells when installing a ton of map mods!
Preface: As a general rule, ~NEVER~ blindly run code that you find online, mine included. Please read through the script itself before running to make sure it's safe, or ask someone who can. I'm providing this because I found it useful, but wanted to notate this as I don't expect anyone on ProjectZomboid to be knowledgeable on this.
Hey ProjectZomboid! This is a fairly simple powershell script that will allow you to pop in a ton of cell coordinates and see if any of them overlap.
This isn't a huge issue when you just have a few map mods, but it becomes super useful when you're adding a map to your server and don't feel like looking through 30+ workshop pages (especially where some of them leave it up to users to post the cell coordinates 😑).
The coordinate data was all hand-gathered by me, in this order of availability: 1) Mod description, mod comments, then the Spreadsheet for the Project Zomboid Maps collection on the workshop.
Powershell is specific to Windows, so you'll need to be running (or have access to) a windows machine to run this. This was quick and dirty, so feel free to steal it and use it however you see fit. If you're unfamiliar with powershell or scripting at all, here's exactly how you can use this:
1) Click Start
2) Type "Powershell ISE" and open it. (You can alternatively use VS Code or any other Powershell compatible IDE)
3) READ the script and make sure you know what it does, for your own safety. I've added comments generated from ChatGPT to explain exactly what it's doing, but you should still read through it and verify.
4) Copy and paste the script into Powershell ISE (Or VS Code)
5) Hit F5 (Or the green arrow in Powershell ISE, arrow on the top right in VS Code)
6) If there are any cell overlaps, you won't get any output. If there are, you'll see red output in the console below.
I hope someone finds this useful!
submitted by EngagePicard to projectzomboid [link] [comments]
Hey ProjectZomboid! This is a fairly simple powershell script that will allow you to pop in a ton of cell coordinates and see if any of them overlap.
This isn't a huge issue when you just have a few map mods, but it becomes super useful when you're adding a map to your server and don't feel like looking through 30+ workshop pages (especially where some of them leave it up to users to post the cell coordinates 😑).
The coordinate data was all hand-gathered by me, in this order of availability: 1) Mod description, mod comments, then the Spreadsheet for the Project Zomboid Maps collection on the workshop.
Powershell is specific to Windows, so you'll need to be running (or have access to) a windows machine to run this. This was quick and dirty, so feel free to steal it and use it however you see fit. If you're unfamiliar with powershell or scripting at all, here's exactly how you can use this:
1) Click Start
2) Type "Powershell ISE" and open it. (You can alternatively use VS Code or any other Powershell compatible IDE)
3) READ the script and make sure you know what it does, for your own safety. I've added comments generated from ChatGPT to explain exactly what it's doing, but you should still read through it and verify.
4) Copy and paste the script into Powershell ISE (Or VS Code)
5) Hit F5 (Or the green arrow in Powershell ISE, arrow on the top right in VS Code)
6) If there are any cell overlaps, you won't get any output. If there are, you'll see red output in the console below.
################################################### # List of all maps to compare cell data between. # To add a new map, copy one of the existing lines and replace the data EXACTLY how you see below, or use the following format: # 'MAPNAME' = @('11x22','33x44','55x66') # If you get any errors, make sure that the coordinates are surrounded by a single quote (') and not a backtick (`). Alternatively, you can use double quotes (") as long as you use the same quote on both sides. ################################################### # Define Maps to compare coordinate data from $maps = @{ 'Hopewell' = @('49x11', '49x10', '49x9', '50x9', '51x9') 'Trimble' = @('50x10','50x11','50x12','50x13','52x10','52x11','52x12','52x13','53x10','53x11','53x12','53x13','54x10','54x11','54x12','54x13','55x10','55x11','55x12','55x13','56x10','56x11','56x12','56x13','57x10','57x11','57x12','57x13','58x10','58x11','58x12','58x13','59x10','59x11','59x12','59x13','60x10','60x11','60x12','60x13','61x10','61x11','61x12','61x13','62x10','62x11','62x12','62x13') 'AdamsFamily' = @('37x31') 'Ashenwood' = @('38x38','38x37') 'BedfordFalls' = @('42x36','42x37','43x33','43x34','43x35','43x36','43x37','44x33','44x34','44x35','44x36','44x37','45x25','45x26','45x27','45x28','45x29','45x30','45x31','45x32','45x33','45x34','45x35','45x36','45x37','45x38','45x39','45x40','45x41','45x42','45x43','46x25','46x26','46x27','46x28','46x29','46x30','46x31','46x32','46x33','46x34','46x35','46x36','46x37','46x38','46x39','46x40','46x41','46x42','46x43','47x25','47x26','47x27','47x28','47x29','47x30','47x31','47x32','47x33','47x34','47x35','47x36','47x37','47x38','47x39','47x40','47x41','47x42','47x43') 'BetsysFarm' = @('30x31') 'BigBearLake'= @('16x23,17x23,18x23,19x23,20x23,21x23,22x23x16x24,17x24,18x24,19x24,20x24,21x24,22x24x16x25,17x25,18x25,19x25,20x25,21x25,22x25x16x26,17x26,18x26,19x26,20x26,21x26,22x26') 'BreakPoint' = @('42x16') 'CONResearch' = @('31x42') 'CathayaValley' = @('31x30') 'CedarHill' = @('16x19') 'Chernaville' = @('32x34','32x35') 'Chestown' = @('15x22') 'Chinatown' = @('37x29') 'FarmHouse' = @('32x25') 'Coryerdon' = @('24x18','24x19','25x19','26x20','26x21','26x22','27x19','27x20','27x21','27x22','27x23','28x19','28x20','28x21','28x22','28x23','29x19','29x20','29x21','29x22','29x23','30x19','30x20','30x21','31x19','31x20','32x19','32x20','33x19','33x20','34x19','34x20','34x21','34x22') 'DeadInHongKong' = @('44x20','44x21','45x20','45x21') 'EvacMuldraugh' = @('38x31','39x31','38x32','39x32','38x33','39x33','39x34','39x34') 'EastRiverside' = @('23x17','23,18') 'EdsAutoSalvage' = @('29,28') 'ElysiumIsland' = @('35x22','35,21') 'FinneganAsylum' = @('13x31','13x32','14x31','14x32') 'FortRedstone' = @('18x37','18x38','18x39','18x40','19x39') 'FortRockRidge' = @('22x20','22x21','23x20','23x21') 'HeavensHill' = @('25x26') 'HilltopManor' = @('10x19') 'Homepie' = @('29x26','29x27','30x26','30x27') 'Hopefalls' = @('32x22') 'Kingsmouth' = @('10x14', '10x15', '10x16', '10x17','11x14', '11x15', '11x16', '11x17','12x14', '12x15', '12x16', '12x17','13x14', '13x15', '13x16', '13x17') 'LakeIvy' = @('29x32','30x32','31x32','29x33','30x33','31x33','29x34','30x34','31x34') 'LittleTownship' = @('27x28') 'LouisvilleLakehouse' = @('48x8','48x9') 'MarshRidgeExpansion' = @('32x42') 'McCoysBunker' = @('44x14') 'MilitaryFuelDepot' = @('34x43','34x44','35x43','35x44') 'MonmouthCounty' = @('39x26','40x26','41x26','42x26','39x27','40x27','41x27','42x27','39x28','40x28','41x28','42x28','39x29','40x29','41x29','42x29') 'MuldraughShippingCo' = @('32x32') 'MuldraughFireDept' = @('35x35') 'NettleTownship' = @('22x30','22x31','23x30','23x31') 'OldParkTown' = @('29x29','30x29') 'Orchidwood' = @('27x32','28x32','27x33','28x33') 'OverTheRiver' = @('38x20','38x19','39x20','39x19') 'OverlookHotel' = @('15x21') 'Petroville' = @('35x39','35x40','35x41','36x39','36x40','36x41','37x39','37x40','37x41') 'PelesMansion' = @('32x31') 'RabbitHash' = @('30x24','31x24') 'RavenCreek' = @('0x37', '0x38', '0x39', '0x40', '0x41', '0x42', '0x43', '0x44','1x37', '1x38', '1x39', '1x40', '1x41', '1x42', '1x43', '1x44','2x37', '2x38', '2x39', '2x40', '2x41', '2x42', '2x43', '2x44','3x37', '3x38', '3x39', '3x40', '3x41', '3x42', '3x43', '3x44','4x37', '4x38', '4x39', '4x40', '4x41', '4x42', '4x43', '4x44','5x37', '5x38', '5x39', '5x40', '5x41', '5x42', '5x43', '5x44','6x37', '6x38','6x39','6x40', '6x41', '6x42', '6x43', '6x44','7x37', '7x38', '7x39', '7x40', '7x41', '7x42', '7x43', '7x44') 'RedbirdRangerStation' = @('20x36') 'ResearchFacility' = @('18x41','18x42','19x41','19x42') 'RiversideMansion' = @('18x17') 'RosewoodCabins' = @('24x38','25x38') 'RosewoodExpansion' = @('27x36','28x36','27x37','28x37') 'RosewoodVHSandGunStore' = @('27x40') 'Seaside' = @('41x3') 'Speck' = @('30x41') 'SpencerMansion' = @('21x19') 'Springwood' = @('34x26','34x27') 'SuperGigaMart' = @('12x21') 'TeraMart' = @('36x37') 'SouthMuldraughMall' = @('37x37') 'Museum' = @('35x27') 'UncleRedsBunker' = @('36x36') 'WestPointTrailerParkVHSStore' = @('38x24') 'Wilbore' = @('15x33','16x33','15x34','16x34','15x35','16x35') 'Winchester' = @('7x22', '7x23', '7x24', '7x25', '7x26', '7x27', '7x28', '8x22', '8x23', '8x24', '8x25', '8x26', '8x27', '8x28', '9x22', '9x23', '9x24', '9x25', '9x26', '9x27', '9x28', '10x22', '10x23', '10x24', '10x25', '10x26', '10x27', '10x28', '11x22', '11x23', '11x24', '11x25', '11x26', '11x27', '11x28', '12x22', '12x23', '12x24', '12x25', '12x26', '12x27', '12x28', '13x22', '13x23', '13x24', '13x25', '13x26', '13x27', '13x28') 'CorOTRRoad' = @('25x19','35x20','36x19','36x20') 'GreenLeaf' = @('21x34','22x34') 'LincolnAirport' = @('13x30') 'OverfieldBunker' = @('44x21') 'Refordville' = @('11x23','11x24','12x23','12x24') } # Compare all map data and verify that none overlap. If an overlapping value is found, it will output in the console in RED. It will output two values for each "match". I could probably fix this, but it's not a huge deal. # This line starts a loop. `$maps.GetEnumerator()` retrieves all key-value pairs in the `$maps` hashtable. Each pair is then piped (``) to `ForEach-Object`. $maps.GetEnumerator() ForEach-Object { # This line assigns the current key-value pair (referred to as `$_`) to the variable `$map`. $map = $_ # This line starts another loop. `$map.Value` retrieves the value of the current key-value pair, and each element in this value is piped to another `ForEach-Object`. $map.Value ForEach-Object { # This line assigns the current element (again referred to as `$_`) to the variable `$coord`. $coord = $_ # This line retrieves all key-value pairs in the `$maps` hashtable and pipes them to `Where-Object`. $maps.GetEnumerator() Where-Object { # This line is a conditional statement. It checks if the current key (`$_.Key`) is not equal to `$map.Key`, # and if the current value (`$_.Value`) contains `$coord`. If both conditions are true, the current key-value pair is piped to another `ForEach-Object`. $_.Key -ne $map.Key -and $_.Value -contains $coord # This segment starts after the `` operator. } ForEach-Object { # This line writes a string to the console. The string contains the keys of the overlapping elements and the overlapping element itself. # The `-ForegroundColor red` part sets the color of the text to red. Write-Host "$($map.Key) and $($_.Key) overlap at $coord" -ForegroundColor red # These lines close the corresponding loops and conditional statements. } } } Ideally, if the map coordinates were standardized and posted in the same place on the workshop, you could automate this process and automatically parse out which maps conflict with other maps, but unfortunately that's not the case. If you're aware of a tool that already exists that does this in a better way, please let me know!I hope someone finds this useful!
2023.06.04 03:32 sgtjoy Along for the ride continued
Jesus ran like a scalded dog to Barsun’s apartment. This was a matter of urgency because the most precious commodity in the universe had been pilfered. Someone had stolen a SOUL from the Guf (in other words they had a real shitshow on their hands.) This was no mere Brink’s hold up. It was beyond imagining. It was unprecedented and it was a complete and utter surprise. The fact that he passed Shiva, Ghandhi (just an advisor) and Buddha (same) demonstrated to him that the wheels have fallen off the cart. Thor called him down and told him that he had not one soul to have escaped Valhalla. Jesus couldn’t outrun the news it seemed, and he was divinely hauling ass. I guess news travelled faster than his divine feet in a set of Crocs could carry him. When asked he would later admit that they were not in fact good running shoes.
There was a soul missing from the Guf. The warehouse of all souls. This same missing soul was now occupying one electronic being. They had no plans for this. In fact, Jesus was totally against artificial sentients with souls. Every God he knew felt the same way and, since he knew them all he also was aware they had not released a soul. This is not supposed to happen and had never happened. Everyone was terrified of one thing that he would not speak aloud and would not contemplate. That fact was badgering him every step. Someone had fucked up big time or someone is tampering with the whole shebang.
There was potentially someone more powerful than them. They weren’t almighty. Fuck. He needed a stiff drink and a blunt. Desperately. Barsun may have had 8 legs and 8 eyes and the basic appearance of a Trilobite, but he had the easiest of ways about him. When Barsun walked into a room everyone calmed down. The Ytrillians assumed it was Barsun entering the room. Later on modern Ytrillians had attributed this common occurrence to pheromones. Thing is this: it was indeed Barsun entering the room. Pheromones had dick to do with it. He was Jesus’ best friend and the first he turned to outside the Father. Jesus had even discussed things with Quetzalcoatl, and he could not figure exactly how this could of happened either. None of his souls were missing. Jesus already knew this, but the formality had to be observed.
Jesus walked to the door and kept trucking as Barsun opened it at just the right moment. Something was different in the flat and he knew instantly. He was jealous enough that it broke his train of thought. “Where did you get all of the blacklight posters and beads? There was a poster of the 23rd psalm. He walked up to it and read Yea thou I walk through the shadow of death…..pretty much standard except at the end ….For I am the meanest motherfucker in the valley. He began to laugh raucously. “I must have one of those. Now.” Barsun moved to take it down and roll it up for Jesus to take with him. That is how close they were. “I can’t take it but I will get one with no problem. Where did you get it?”
Barsun replied “eBay.”
Jesus was stunned truly and looked at the God and said “You are cheating on Goodwill. You are committing retail adultery. I cannot believe you did that.” Barsun replied “Well you use Amazon.”
He had him there. It just seemed inconsistent with everything else in the flat having come from Goodwill. It just wasn’t right.
Barsun indicated a Bean bag chair for Jesus. He reclined in the same. Given his body type it was amazing how some furniture made for humans was so useful to him. There was going to be a brisk trade springing up in the next two years. Things were about to get interesting for a few sentient races and He was excited for them.
Barsun inhaled through his eight spiracles and stated. “I know about the Guf. And no, it is not an accounting error. I know. This simply cannot be. No one else had access and Gods were diligent and cautious with the souls under their care. However impossible it is clear: It is a fact.
They weren’t at the top of the food chain. Or were they? There were….implications here……
Jesus asked out loud the question. “If we aren’t the ones in overall control then who are we?” Barsun knew the question was coming and he had thought it through. “We are the exact same beings we have always been. Able to do tremendous amounts of good for the most part. We have not changed. I do think it curious that none of us saw this coming as well.” He paused before he continued; thinking how disturbing and exciting this news was. For once they had a surprise and the thought thrilled him that something just upset his view. And for the first time ever he had felt fear. It was exhilarating. It was the best thing to happen ever. He continued “ Someone tweaked the system. However, I am not afraid because of one thing. I sense no wrongness around the event. Nothing unusual has gone down and no one has died, the universe is whole. If it hasn’t caused any problems, then what are we concerned about? Only thing I can come up with is Ego.”
Jesus knew he was right. He did not want to think about it, but he had the exact same experience. He looked at Barsun and knew he too had felt the same emotions. They were both thrilled.
Onboard the HRMS Saratov in Luna Orbit.
Yuri was sitting at his station in the number one chair. People had been calling him number one behind his back. It was a very very very old joke that apparently had more staying power than a tattoo. It just never went away on it’s on. He was running the optimal plot outbound from Sol. They were moving Sub Light at 0.2C enroute to designated warp space. The scientist did not like it when warp drives threw off their Cesium clocks. There is a reason they were protected. They were everywhere and were critical to accurate computing. Not being a programmer himself, he had no real grasp of why. He just followed regs and the Terran Space Treaty of 2225. There were places to depart and places to return. Both had to be strictly adhered to as vessels coming out of warp would have massive radiation bow waves that had to be dissipated in a safe direction. It only took one event where 23,000 Luna colonists died as a result of poor judgement for the players to get a treaty together. Meanwhile the killer of so many had paid the price for his arrogance. His first officer had warned him that it was going to happen. Out of just pure Ego thousands of lives were lost. They could have prevented it. They were required to study such disasters in training but one story stuck in his head and he never forgot it. He could remember the major players involved and he had written a paper on it in His academy days. He remembered the details of the Tenerife disaster very well . Over 500 people killed by hubris and not a little incompetence.
He had started down this line of thought after he had looked at the final roster of nations in the flotilla. This was not unusual as Earth’s forces were fully integrated with common technology and ships. All drive hardware and power systems were identical to their counterparts. They worked as a whole to such a degree that there was really only one fleet. The Terran fleet. They all liked the sound of it. Political boundaries on Earth hadn’t moved for slightly more than two centuries. Not one inch. Turns out that nearly free energy was a great equalizer and the key to a post scarcity civilization. Who would think it?
It all came down to teamwork. There were Corvettes from Cuba The CSS Havana and the CSS Holguin. The pride of the human fleet the IRNS Vikrant was going as well. The admiral felt honored. The George Washington from the New England Confederacy and the SSS Atlanta from the Southern Democratic Republic were also on hand. One thing Yuri did not understand; why would The Northeastern Confederacy and The Southern Democratic Republic not unify. Their fleets were fully integrated and there was an open Border along Virginia that was un defended. Passports worked in both countries and there were no restrictions on residence. It worked for them. They weren’t fighting. The Middle Asiatic Republic sent the Karachi and the Kabul. Both were light carriers carrying a mix of MiG-29Z and F-15 Mk 82 Eagle fighter aircraft. They had little to do with their namesakes except for the identical aerodynamics. Primarily trans atmospheric fighters they were capable of brief spaceflight. The other significant difference besides the addition of reaction thrusters was the material they were made of. They consisted of a Ceramic Graphene matrix that could withstand the temperatures of reentry. The whole concept of stealth had gone away with the advent of gravimetry. So; Why reinvent the wheel? Pick something optimized for aerodynamics without regard to stealth features. Today fights were won by the best missileer and gunfighter. You could not hide. So best be the most optimal aircraft. Besides: Stealth was slow. Top speeds of aircraft dropped during the brief stealth era. Averages were back over Mach 2 now since speed was life for a fighter pilot.
Why pick the MiG29 and the F-15? They were the pinnacle of aerodynamic performance. There has been little to no new knowledge about aerodynamics to come out since those times. They were manufactured via vapor deposition 3D printing. A molecular composite they were strong and had reduced radar cross sections. Armed with a mix of missile and cannon they delivered quite a bit of firepower and were more than a match for any invading spaceborne forces. These fighters would destroy drop ships by the hundreds. Some even wanted to bring back the MiG-21. It would make a lot of sense.
Humans have the Ruslan (his personal favorite) trans atmospheric transport or the C-301 Starlifter. Both aircraft had mixed mode propulsion with highly refined cero-ferrous gas turbines. They were capable of both open or closed cycle operation. Smaller countries often used refurbished secondhand equipment from other countries for a small fee. This made certain there were adequate forces to bear and that all participated. It was in everyone’s best interest. No one wanted some weakling holding their flank.
Both the Ruslan and Starlifter transports were good at different things as the Ruslan carried large payloads but was inefficient in transport atmospherically whereas the Starlifter was great at theater transport but had a smaller payload. This is why it was a mix of these two aircraft. They were complementary. Many think there is a great rivalry going on between the two countries, but both had each other’s technology as well. It was convoluted but both countries ultimately had the same master. They work together. It may be anticompetitive, but it also was efficient. Yuri continued to think along this veia until he heard the Ship’s AI speakeing to the Admiral. “Something terrible has happened.” What do you mean Jezz?” Jezz replied to him “I do not know but I can feel tragedy. I am sick with it what has happened. The Admiral told her to “Get on the web and see what is going on?” “I am Sir and I can find nothing.” The Admiral looked to Yuri and gave him the Conn. Something was about to go to shit and Yuri knew it. He could sense it to. Fortunately the Bridge was deserted and no one else heard the exchange. The crew were running battle simulations from the CIC. Thank God for small favors.
45 minutes later a graviton packet arrived with news that was indeed terrible. He was the only one to know it too. The Galileo had been lost with all hands. They had just recovered the emergency buoy that had warped in. They had been attacked and the Admiral knew who had done it. Or at least thought he did. An AI had killed 50 innocent unarmed souls (that were spying I know) that could not fight back. They had raked them with Maser Fire. He pinched the shit out of himself. In fact, he left a bruise but all it did was confirm what he already knew: shit was about to get real up in here.
First thing was to compose himself as he had to determine who if any crew had family on the ship. This included some 8,000 people of all ratings from anywhere in the squadron. He had one very difficult personal notification he would have to make. Captain Pearls brother Nico was on the Galileo.
This was all so tragic but there was one thing that kept forcing its way to the forefront of his mind and he could not ignore it. How did she know? How did Jezz feel this precognitively? This actually did scare him and if he thought too much about it he would start to feel very queasy. This was outside his skill set. He did not know if this was technological, spiritual or philosophical but he could say this: none of those disciplines actually fit the situation.
It was all a bit much. He had to go to the Atlanta. He spoke to the bridge. “Full stop fleet and await further instructions.” “Aye Aye Sir.” Up in here.
Aboard the SSS Atlanta. A tall dignified black man wearing his dress blues and a gold ring on his left hand that you could hardly read. He had worn it a century. His was the same uniform he had 20 years ago. He could still wear it and he was proud of that fact. His only regret was the fact he had yet to have a family until 10 years ago when he had adopted his son Chris. They were inseparable but Chris was 5 thousand light years away give or take and that made him anxious. And now he had to let someone he held dear that her family was changed forever. He smelled of Hoyt’s cologne and peppermint. He went to her quarters. The lighting was somber and it was dead silent in there. Couch was empty but there she was in a sway back chair it had lots of gold leak and was nicely carved. He had found her crying. She already knew and he was going to shitcan someone when this was over. Then he realized what had happened. How had she known? She had sensed him and she had known it was bad.
He still had to tell her.
By the time he was back on the Capatob he was spent. It was all he could do to restrain her. She was enraged and was out for blood. He had never sensed such fury. Someone had fucked around and now they were going to find out. He had talked with her an hour and she seem to be calmer, but he was going to have to watch her. He knew how she was. There were stories that were all no doubt true. She was a legend and would go down as one of the greatest hermaphrodite to ever live. They were going places and the shit was on. And now there was an unfortunate motivation. That was a dangerous combination right there. Make it personal and logic can go out the window. Make it personal and there will be no civility in victory. She was just the kind of human that was the perfect storm squared. The puddle of gasoline and someone flipped a match. It was a very volatile mix.
He was a bit of a cynic and a practical man. If she wanted to go there he would let her. She would either be a hero or a Martyr. He was perfectly OK with that. Being a practical man it also served his other purpose. She would eclipse him in the history books. At least he hoped so. He did not want his hands on this. The first contact situation with the twist of a western and an incalculable amount of science fiction had indelibly marked the mind of every member of the Greater Terran Fleet. They had read all of the possible scenarios from every Sci Fi author. If you pressed them they would finally admit it. The fleet really liked Heinlein. They had been trying to get at least a Heinlein corvette on the roster for years. They had thus far been unsuccessful. They needed a champion for the cause and they were trying to get One Fleet Admiral to order it to be. The Admiral took some joy in tormenting them. He was going to help them out but he was milking it for a favor. That was going to come in handy. “You can have your Heinlein but I am going to need this in return”. He was just being practical. All good commanders were excellent manipulators after all.
It is plain as day and the idea of a Heinlein proves my point but there was an even bigger more academic question that eclipsed all others. Who was right? Who came closest? No one would talk about it but they were all thinking the same thing.
The Admiral broke a taboo and called it out. He felt it was time. They needed a little friendly wager and a reason to get through the battle. They were going to have a pool where everyone had to pick the author. They buy in was just 5 UCreds. If you don’t live through the battle you cannot win. So: don’t die. Who came closest to the real thing? Which author or story came close to what was about to happen.Once a story was picked it was dead to all others. There was potentially some reward in alacrity. He knew it was a bit of a sucker’s bet since someone had to judge wo was closest and this would be highly subjective and entirely his decision. (Author’s note: I am a veteran of the US Army with several deployments around this dirt ball. I can say the military is the most Fascist organization around today. It has to be. Paradoxically it is the most “fair” in that everyone gets treated the same: like shit.) At least it would be a distraction and would give them something else to focus on. He had a very bad feeling about this. They were going to go in and kick the doors in on an alien civilization. They were going to war. No one would admit it, but everyone knew it. This was not to be discussed. That was an order. This is an exploratory rescue mission answering a distress call.
Vegan Fleet Academy Alpha Centauri B. 6, June 62425 Gregorian.
Planetary Admiral Kenneth Alexander looked out on a sight he never thought he would see. Lots of young people sitting politely in their chairs listening to what he had to say. He wrote the fucking book. There it was on the lectern right in front of him. He had written a book on astral navigation to make a little extra cash and because there was an over reliance still on electronic means to navigate. Sailors needed to be able to navigate in any situation with a sextant, a star map database and gravimaetric readings without the need of an AI or targeting computer (Insert Star wars joke here). The book could have been half as thick in his opinion but the publisher insisted he needed a little more explanation. The Admiral gave students too much credit. He truly felt it should be taught in grade school. He was called a fanatic when he suggested that kids on track for Ensigns should have had basic instruction. His argument being that Ensigns started service in the year in which they turned sixteen. That meant there were some 15 year-olds in the mix. Start teaching them early. They should show up to basic already familiar with side arms and rifles. He was a fanatic.
As far as that damned accursed book goes the fact he had 500 copies actually printed and bound meant there were few of them around, but sitting right about center in of the second row sat a copy of his book. He felt like the guy who saw the first unicorn. He never saw one in the wild before and this book was well worn. It was 50 years old after all but printed on plastic synthetic paper and woven fiberglass for silicone bindings held together with silicone adhesives meant that the damn things were waterproof and actually quite practical. The book required no batteries and even had a quick and dirty position fix protocol in a special section. This particular specimen wasn’t falling apart, this one was just worn out.
The way he carried the book was clear. He was oblivious of the significance. He had found it in a used bookshop for free. They were using it as a doorstop, and they just gave it to him. He had become engrossed by it and at 13 years of age he was finishing his PhD. The admiral sensed this in a psychic flash and pulled back he had poor control still. He was never going to get used to the change “OK everyone come on let’s get back to it the party is over. We have to finish this section and then we will get out of here. There is no class tomorrow so we will have the Parade of the Caisson tomorrow with Captain James Cook on interspecies governmental relations…. Someone was tapping on his shoulder getting his attention. She could have all of it. She whispered way too close for someone who did not prefer women but about perfect for him. He was in the latter camp. “We need you to speak tomorrow sir Captain Cook had a equipment malfunction over Hawaii and is delayed Sir. Pleeeease Sir?” With just enough breathiness that it made him jittery. He was an old perv. He was just that way. The lady in question was 100 years old however but, maybe it was still cradle robbing? He just had a thing for Afro’s in the natural state. It was distracting.
“Godddamnitalltohellwhatinthefuckdoyouwant?” This was a perfectly reasonable thing to say. He had just been asked to do the one thing he vowed to never do again. They wanted him to speak and air his opinions? This is the most dangerous thing you can do in society. He had no politics per se’ beyond one or two things. He was a professional and he would do his job as long as the checks kept coming. He was not a politician and he did not like politicians, of any stripe. What he had learned was ironclad. Never be honest or always be truthful. Pick one or the other was his personal philosophy. He always chose honesty when he needed to hide a truth. No one believed the truth. No one believed the truth because they were put off by it. He always thought back to when he was 12 or so when he got ribbed and harassed about masturbation. His uncle Gerry was kind of a cruel fuck and liked to torment him. He Gerry asked him if he was J.O’ing a dozen times a day or something. He had replied “That is about right.” This had brought down the room and gotten great laughs and Gerry quit running his mouth at him. Fuck you Gerry. You little bitch. In his opinion the media obfuscated everything not by making up lies but by omitting certain facts to fit their agenda. No one took major media seriously. The only objective newspaper he was aware of was the National Enquirer. Yeah I know it sounds stupid but it is true. Reality was anything but and people had come to be comfortable being lied to and even preferring it. All of this is roiling in his head and he has been put on the spot to boot. Add to that the fact that at least some of the outburst was audible. No one seems to have heard it, however. This settles the age-old question. It was only said if it was heard. No one heard the statement therefore…….. The mental gymnastics weren’t that bad. He could deny it. It happens. But he still had to give an answer .“What is in it for me?” Jannel the beautiful woman replied “absolutely nothing sir. This will not benefit you in any way and may once again be picked apart. As such I would advise against doing it. Still I am asking you. My ass is in a vise and the DEAN is having a temper tantrum so I feel like I am being spitroasted by the devil and a lamp post in a not so good way, but I would consider it a great personal favor if you will do this despite your misgivings and likelihood of misadventure.” So fast and so well enunciated.
“Sure. I will do it. Goddammit.” Honesty must be rewarded.
submitted by sgtjoy to HFY [link] [comments]
There was a soul missing from the Guf. The warehouse of all souls. This same missing soul was now occupying one electronic being. They had no plans for this. In fact, Jesus was totally against artificial sentients with souls. Every God he knew felt the same way and, since he knew them all he also was aware they had not released a soul. This is not supposed to happen and had never happened. Everyone was terrified of one thing that he would not speak aloud and would not contemplate. That fact was badgering him every step. Someone had fucked up big time or someone is tampering with the whole shebang.
There was potentially someone more powerful than them. They weren’t almighty. Fuck. He needed a stiff drink and a blunt. Desperately. Barsun may have had 8 legs and 8 eyes and the basic appearance of a Trilobite, but he had the easiest of ways about him. When Barsun walked into a room everyone calmed down. The Ytrillians assumed it was Barsun entering the room. Later on modern Ytrillians had attributed this common occurrence to pheromones. Thing is this: it was indeed Barsun entering the room. Pheromones had dick to do with it. He was Jesus’ best friend and the first he turned to outside the Father. Jesus had even discussed things with Quetzalcoatl, and he could not figure exactly how this could of happened either. None of his souls were missing. Jesus already knew this, but the formality had to be observed.
Jesus walked to the door and kept trucking as Barsun opened it at just the right moment. Something was different in the flat and he knew instantly. He was jealous enough that it broke his train of thought. “Where did you get all of the blacklight posters and beads? There was a poster of the 23rd psalm. He walked up to it and read Yea thou I walk through the shadow of death…..pretty much standard except at the end ….For I am the meanest motherfucker in the valley. He began to laugh raucously. “I must have one of those. Now.” Barsun moved to take it down and roll it up for Jesus to take with him. That is how close they were. “I can’t take it but I will get one with no problem. Where did you get it?”
Barsun replied “eBay.”
Jesus was stunned truly and looked at the God and said “You are cheating on Goodwill. You are committing retail adultery. I cannot believe you did that.” Barsun replied “Well you use Amazon.”
He had him there. It just seemed inconsistent with everything else in the flat having come from Goodwill. It just wasn’t right.
Barsun indicated a Bean bag chair for Jesus. He reclined in the same. Given his body type it was amazing how some furniture made for humans was so useful to him. There was going to be a brisk trade springing up in the next two years. Things were about to get interesting for a few sentient races and He was excited for them.
Barsun inhaled through his eight spiracles and stated. “I know about the Guf. And no, it is not an accounting error. I know. This simply cannot be. No one else had access and Gods were diligent and cautious with the souls under their care. However impossible it is clear: It is a fact.
They weren’t at the top of the food chain. Or were they? There were….implications here……
Jesus asked out loud the question. “If we aren’t the ones in overall control then who are we?” Barsun knew the question was coming and he had thought it through. “We are the exact same beings we have always been. Able to do tremendous amounts of good for the most part. We have not changed. I do think it curious that none of us saw this coming as well.” He paused before he continued; thinking how disturbing and exciting this news was. For once they had a surprise and the thought thrilled him that something just upset his view. And for the first time ever he had felt fear. It was exhilarating. It was the best thing to happen ever. He continued “ Someone tweaked the system. However, I am not afraid because of one thing. I sense no wrongness around the event. Nothing unusual has gone down and no one has died, the universe is whole. If it hasn’t caused any problems, then what are we concerned about? Only thing I can come up with is Ego.”
Jesus knew he was right. He did not want to think about it, but he had the exact same experience. He looked at Barsun and knew he too had felt the same emotions. They were both thrilled.
Onboard the HRMS Saratov in Luna Orbit.
Yuri was sitting at his station in the number one chair. People had been calling him number one behind his back. It was a very very very old joke that apparently had more staying power than a tattoo. It just never went away on it’s on. He was running the optimal plot outbound from Sol. They were moving Sub Light at 0.2C enroute to designated warp space. The scientist did not like it when warp drives threw off their Cesium clocks. There is a reason they were protected. They were everywhere and were critical to accurate computing. Not being a programmer himself, he had no real grasp of why. He just followed regs and the Terran Space Treaty of 2225. There were places to depart and places to return. Both had to be strictly adhered to as vessels coming out of warp would have massive radiation bow waves that had to be dissipated in a safe direction. It only took one event where 23,000 Luna colonists died as a result of poor judgement for the players to get a treaty together. Meanwhile the killer of so many had paid the price for his arrogance. His first officer had warned him that it was going to happen. Out of just pure Ego thousands of lives were lost. They could have prevented it. They were required to study such disasters in training but one story stuck in his head and he never forgot it. He could remember the major players involved and he had written a paper on it in His academy days. He remembered the details of the Tenerife disaster very well . Over 500 people killed by hubris and not a little incompetence.
He had started down this line of thought after he had looked at the final roster of nations in the flotilla. This was not unusual as Earth’s forces were fully integrated with common technology and ships. All drive hardware and power systems were identical to their counterparts. They worked as a whole to such a degree that there was really only one fleet. The Terran fleet. They all liked the sound of it. Political boundaries on Earth hadn’t moved for slightly more than two centuries. Not one inch. Turns out that nearly free energy was a great equalizer and the key to a post scarcity civilization. Who would think it?
It all came down to teamwork. There were Corvettes from Cuba The CSS Havana and the CSS Holguin. The pride of the human fleet the IRNS Vikrant was going as well. The admiral felt honored. The George Washington from the New England Confederacy and the SSS Atlanta from the Southern Democratic Republic were also on hand. One thing Yuri did not understand; why would The Northeastern Confederacy and The Southern Democratic Republic not unify. Their fleets were fully integrated and there was an open Border along Virginia that was un defended. Passports worked in both countries and there were no restrictions on residence. It worked for them. They weren’t fighting. The Middle Asiatic Republic sent the Karachi and the Kabul. Both were light carriers carrying a mix of MiG-29Z and F-15 Mk 82 Eagle fighter aircraft. They had little to do with their namesakes except for the identical aerodynamics. Primarily trans atmospheric fighters they were capable of brief spaceflight. The other significant difference besides the addition of reaction thrusters was the material they were made of. They consisted of a Ceramic Graphene matrix that could withstand the temperatures of reentry. The whole concept of stealth had gone away with the advent of gravimetry. So; Why reinvent the wheel? Pick something optimized for aerodynamics without regard to stealth features. Today fights were won by the best missileer and gunfighter. You could not hide. So best be the most optimal aircraft. Besides: Stealth was slow. Top speeds of aircraft dropped during the brief stealth era. Averages were back over Mach 2 now since speed was life for a fighter pilot.
Why pick the MiG29 and the F-15? They were the pinnacle of aerodynamic performance. There has been little to no new knowledge about aerodynamics to come out since those times. They were manufactured via vapor deposition 3D printing. A molecular composite they were strong and had reduced radar cross sections. Armed with a mix of missile and cannon they delivered quite a bit of firepower and were more than a match for any invading spaceborne forces. These fighters would destroy drop ships by the hundreds. Some even wanted to bring back the MiG-21. It would make a lot of sense.
Humans have the Ruslan (his personal favorite) trans atmospheric transport or the C-301 Starlifter. Both aircraft had mixed mode propulsion with highly refined cero-ferrous gas turbines. They were capable of both open or closed cycle operation. Smaller countries often used refurbished secondhand equipment from other countries for a small fee. This made certain there were adequate forces to bear and that all participated. It was in everyone’s best interest. No one wanted some weakling holding their flank.
Both the Ruslan and Starlifter transports were good at different things as the Ruslan carried large payloads but was inefficient in transport atmospherically whereas the Starlifter was great at theater transport but had a smaller payload. This is why it was a mix of these two aircraft. They were complementary. Many think there is a great rivalry going on between the two countries, but both had each other’s technology as well. It was convoluted but both countries ultimately had the same master. They work together. It may be anticompetitive, but it also was efficient. Yuri continued to think along this veia until he heard the Ship’s AI speakeing to the Admiral. “Something terrible has happened.” What do you mean Jezz?” Jezz replied to him “I do not know but I can feel tragedy. I am sick with it what has happened. The Admiral told her to “Get on the web and see what is going on?” “I am Sir and I can find nothing.” The Admiral looked to Yuri and gave him the Conn. Something was about to go to shit and Yuri knew it. He could sense it to. Fortunately the Bridge was deserted and no one else heard the exchange. The crew were running battle simulations from the CIC. Thank God for small favors.
45 minutes later a graviton packet arrived with news that was indeed terrible. He was the only one to know it too. The Galileo had been lost with all hands. They had just recovered the emergency buoy that had warped in. They had been attacked and the Admiral knew who had done it. Or at least thought he did. An AI had killed 50 innocent unarmed souls (that were spying I know) that could not fight back. They had raked them with Maser Fire. He pinched the shit out of himself. In fact, he left a bruise but all it did was confirm what he already knew: shit was about to get real up in here.
First thing was to compose himself as he had to determine who if any crew had family on the ship. This included some 8,000 people of all ratings from anywhere in the squadron. He had one very difficult personal notification he would have to make. Captain Pearls brother Nico was on the Galileo.
This was all so tragic but there was one thing that kept forcing its way to the forefront of his mind and he could not ignore it. How did she know? How did Jezz feel this precognitively? This actually did scare him and if he thought too much about it he would start to feel very queasy. This was outside his skill set. He did not know if this was technological, spiritual or philosophical but he could say this: none of those disciplines actually fit the situation.
It was all a bit much. He had to go to the Atlanta. He spoke to the bridge. “Full stop fleet and await further instructions.” “Aye Aye Sir.” Up in here.
Aboard the SSS Atlanta. A tall dignified black man wearing his dress blues and a gold ring on his left hand that you could hardly read. He had worn it a century. His was the same uniform he had 20 years ago. He could still wear it and he was proud of that fact. His only regret was the fact he had yet to have a family until 10 years ago when he had adopted his son Chris. They were inseparable but Chris was 5 thousand light years away give or take and that made him anxious. And now he had to let someone he held dear that her family was changed forever. He smelled of Hoyt’s cologne and peppermint. He went to her quarters. The lighting was somber and it was dead silent in there. Couch was empty but there she was in a sway back chair it had lots of gold leak and was nicely carved. He had found her crying. She already knew and he was going to shitcan someone when this was over. Then he realized what had happened. How had she known? She had sensed him and she had known it was bad.
He still had to tell her.
By the time he was back on the Capatob he was spent. It was all he could do to restrain her. She was enraged and was out for blood. He had never sensed such fury. Someone had fucked around and now they were going to find out. He had talked with her an hour and she seem to be calmer, but he was going to have to watch her. He knew how she was. There were stories that were all no doubt true. She was a legend and would go down as one of the greatest hermaphrodite to ever live. They were going places and the shit was on. And now there was an unfortunate motivation. That was a dangerous combination right there. Make it personal and logic can go out the window. Make it personal and there will be no civility in victory. She was just the kind of human that was the perfect storm squared. The puddle of gasoline and someone flipped a match. It was a very volatile mix.
He was a bit of a cynic and a practical man. If she wanted to go there he would let her. She would either be a hero or a Martyr. He was perfectly OK with that. Being a practical man it also served his other purpose. She would eclipse him in the history books. At least he hoped so. He did not want his hands on this. The first contact situation with the twist of a western and an incalculable amount of science fiction had indelibly marked the mind of every member of the Greater Terran Fleet. They had read all of the possible scenarios from every Sci Fi author. If you pressed them they would finally admit it. The fleet really liked Heinlein. They had been trying to get at least a Heinlein corvette on the roster for years. They had thus far been unsuccessful. They needed a champion for the cause and they were trying to get One Fleet Admiral to order it to be. The Admiral took some joy in tormenting them. He was going to help them out but he was milking it for a favor. That was going to come in handy. “You can have your Heinlein but I am going to need this in return”. He was just being practical. All good commanders were excellent manipulators after all.
It is plain as day and the idea of a Heinlein proves my point but there was an even bigger more academic question that eclipsed all others. Who was right? Who came closest? No one would talk about it but they were all thinking the same thing.
The Admiral broke a taboo and called it out. He felt it was time. They needed a little friendly wager and a reason to get through the battle. They were going to have a pool where everyone had to pick the author. They buy in was just 5 UCreds. If you don’t live through the battle you cannot win. So: don’t die. Who came closest to the real thing? Which author or story came close to what was about to happen.Once a story was picked it was dead to all others. There was potentially some reward in alacrity. He knew it was a bit of a sucker’s bet since someone had to judge wo was closest and this would be highly subjective and entirely his decision. (Author’s note: I am a veteran of the US Army with several deployments around this dirt ball. I can say the military is the most Fascist organization around today. It has to be. Paradoxically it is the most “fair” in that everyone gets treated the same: like shit.) At least it would be a distraction and would give them something else to focus on. He had a very bad feeling about this. They were going to go in and kick the doors in on an alien civilization. They were going to war. No one would admit it, but everyone knew it. This was not to be discussed. That was an order. This is an exploratory rescue mission answering a distress call.
Vegan Fleet Academy Alpha Centauri B. 6, June 62425 Gregorian.
Planetary Admiral Kenneth Alexander looked out on a sight he never thought he would see. Lots of young people sitting politely in their chairs listening to what he had to say. He wrote the fucking book. There it was on the lectern right in front of him. He had written a book on astral navigation to make a little extra cash and because there was an over reliance still on electronic means to navigate. Sailors needed to be able to navigate in any situation with a sextant, a star map database and gravimaetric readings without the need of an AI or targeting computer (Insert Star wars joke here). The book could have been half as thick in his opinion but the publisher insisted he needed a little more explanation. The Admiral gave students too much credit. He truly felt it should be taught in grade school. He was called a fanatic when he suggested that kids on track for Ensigns should have had basic instruction. His argument being that Ensigns started service in the year in which they turned sixteen. That meant there were some 15 year-olds in the mix. Start teaching them early. They should show up to basic already familiar with side arms and rifles. He was a fanatic.
As far as that damned accursed book goes the fact he had 500 copies actually printed and bound meant there were few of them around, but sitting right about center in of the second row sat a copy of his book. He felt like the guy who saw the first unicorn. He never saw one in the wild before and this book was well worn. It was 50 years old after all but printed on plastic synthetic paper and woven fiberglass for silicone bindings held together with silicone adhesives meant that the damn things were waterproof and actually quite practical. The book required no batteries and even had a quick and dirty position fix protocol in a special section. This particular specimen wasn’t falling apart, this one was just worn out.
The way he carried the book was clear. He was oblivious of the significance. He had found it in a used bookshop for free. They were using it as a doorstop, and they just gave it to him. He had become engrossed by it and at 13 years of age he was finishing his PhD. The admiral sensed this in a psychic flash and pulled back he had poor control still. He was never going to get used to the change “OK everyone come on let’s get back to it the party is over. We have to finish this section and then we will get out of here. There is no class tomorrow so we will have the Parade of the Caisson tomorrow with Captain James Cook on interspecies governmental relations…. Someone was tapping on his shoulder getting his attention. She could have all of it. She whispered way too close for someone who did not prefer women but about perfect for him. He was in the latter camp. “We need you to speak tomorrow sir Captain Cook had a equipment malfunction over Hawaii and is delayed Sir. Pleeeease Sir?” With just enough breathiness that it made him jittery. He was an old perv. He was just that way. The lady in question was 100 years old however but, maybe it was still cradle robbing? He just had a thing for Afro’s in the natural state. It was distracting.
“Godddamnitalltohellwhatinthefuckdoyouwant?” This was a perfectly reasonable thing to say. He had just been asked to do the one thing he vowed to never do again. They wanted him to speak and air his opinions? This is the most dangerous thing you can do in society. He had no politics per se’ beyond one or two things. He was a professional and he would do his job as long as the checks kept coming. He was not a politician and he did not like politicians, of any stripe. What he had learned was ironclad. Never be honest or always be truthful. Pick one or the other was his personal philosophy. He always chose honesty when he needed to hide a truth. No one believed the truth. No one believed the truth because they were put off by it. He always thought back to when he was 12 or so when he got ribbed and harassed about masturbation. His uncle Gerry was kind of a cruel fuck and liked to torment him. He Gerry asked him if he was J.O’ing a dozen times a day or something. He had replied “That is about right.” This had brought down the room and gotten great laughs and Gerry quit running his mouth at him. Fuck you Gerry. You little bitch. In his opinion the media obfuscated everything not by making up lies but by omitting certain facts to fit their agenda. No one took major media seriously. The only objective newspaper he was aware of was the National Enquirer. Yeah I know it sounds stupid but it is true. Reality was anything but and people had come to be comfortable being lied to and even preferring it. All of this is roiling in his head and he has been put on the spot to boot. Add to that the fact that at least some of the outburst was audible. No one seems to have heard it, however. This settles the age-old question. It was only said if it was heard. No one heard the statement therefore…….. The mental gymnastics weren’t that bad. He could deny it. It happens. But he still had to give an answer .“What is in it for me?” Jannel the beautiful woman replied “absolutely nothing sir. This will not benefit you in any way and may once again be picked apart. As such I would advise against doing it. Still I am asking you. My ass is in a vise and the DEAN is having a temper tantrum so I feel like I am being spitroasted by the devil and a lamp post in a not so good way, but I would consider it a great personal favor if you will do this despite your misgivings and likelihood of misadventure.” So fast and so well enunciated.
“Sure. I will do it. Goddammit.” Honesty must be rewarded.
2023.06.04 00:56 Shmantalope USD 700-900 - Building a budget mid-rangeish computer for my girlfriend while also trying to upgrade my own?
What will you be doing with this PC? Be as specific as possible, and include specific games or programs you will be using.I am looking to make my girlfriend a budget mid-rangey computer. I'm aiming for hers to be able to play games at moderate settings and be mildly future-proofed. Will likely be fine as long as it can play Stardew Valley lol, but would like the ability to do more. No 4k or anything, just 1080p.
At the same time, separately, I'm looking into upgrading my own computer and potentially re-using parts for hers if reasonable. I've lost my parts list from when I made it back in 2019 but off the top I'm using an i5-9600k, Z390-A Pro Motherboard, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060, with 16 gb of ram and a PSU fairly high above what I currently need.
What is your maximum budget before rebates/shipping/taxes?For my girlfriend, I'm thinking something in the range of 700-900, assuming that can accomplish the above goals. The lower within reason, the better, but if there's some fairly nice upgrade for marginally more, I'd go for that (i.e. the number is somewhat arbitrary and flexible)
For me I don't have a specific price in mind, I was just wondering if there were any good cost-to-performance pieces I should consider switching in and, separately, if I could potentially offset the overall cost of the two computers by buying a new part for myself and reusing the old ones. I've been hearing a lot about Ryzen stuff going on sale recently on Amazon for instance. As is, it performs fine, its just been several years without an upgrade.
When do you plan on building/buying the PC? Note: beyond a week or two from today means any build you receive will be out of date when you want to buy.Ideally within the next week or two, unless there's a particular upcoming sales period I'm not aware of
What, exactly, do you need included in the budget? (ToweOS/monitokeyboard/mouse/etc)Just the computer (parts/case) itself, the peripherals I'll handle separately.
Which country (and state/province) will you be purchasing the parts in? If you're in US, do you have access to a Microcenter location?CA/US. Yes but it's somewhat far so I'd generally prefer to avoid it unless the difference is outrageous/it can be shipped
If reusing any parts (including monitor(s)/keyboard/mouse/etc), what parts will you be reusing? Brands and models are appreciated.Unsure, I put my computer together in around 2019 for something like ~1,400, parts only, so I'd think some of the parts are quality for the time, but it's been several years so I don't know if they'd be relevant to be reused
Will you be overclocking? If yes, are you interested in overclocking right away, or down the line? CPU and/or GPU?I don't think so, I'm not really familiar with it and never got around to overclocking mine
Are there any specific features or items you want/need in the build? (ex: SSD, large amount of storage or a RAID setup, CUDA or OpenCL support, etc)N/A
What type of network connectivity do you need? (Wired and/or WiFi) If WiFi is needed and you would like to find the fastest match for your wireless router, please list any specifics.I assume wired, but I don't know her setup so maybe wireless would be better?
Do you have any specific case preferences (Size like ITX/microATX/mid-towefull-tower, styles, colors, window or not, LED lighting, etc), or a particular color theme preference for the components?Probably a mid/full but I'm open to ideas. I've never really engaged with the aesthetic side of computer building so I don't know how hard/expensive it is to add in, but my girlfriend is into pink/orange/teal pastel colors and potentially rbg, so if it could be done at not too much additional cost, I would prefer it.
Do you need a copy of Windows included in the budget? If you do need one included, do you have a preference?No
Extra info or particulars:N/A
2023.06.04 00:09 Big_Tie Best leveling mod for simple yet balanced leveling?
Putting a modlist together (using Through the Valleys as a base), and curious what the best option would be if I just wanted no hassles or weirdness (such as avoiding majors, or min-maxing), yet without making it pretty imbalanced like just giving free skill ups. I know Through the Valleys recommends Attribute Progress Redesign, but it seems like it'd still have some of vanillas hiccups, idk.
Curious what you all would recommend, honestly! I'm not at all a min-maxer, just wanna enjoy the game while keeping it fair and straightforward.
submitted by Big_Tie to oblivion [link] [comments]
Curious what you all would recommend, honestly! I'm not at all a min-maxer, just wanna enjoy the game while keeping it fair and straightforward.
2023.06.03 23:40 MxChrisCross What's the easiest way to learn to play?
My best friend started playing almost a year ago and has been wanting me to play. They play almost every day and honestly are fairly good from what I can tell. I'm not very good at games like this (I usually play things like Stardew Valley or Night of the Rabbit) but I want to learn and surprise my friend. Are there any tricks or tips I should know? Is there a way to appear offline to them while I get practice in? TIA!
submitted by MxChrisCross to VALORANT [link] [comments]
2023.06.03 23:16 Myeloman Pear tree woes…
 | Zone 9b Central Valley California. submitted by Myeloman to gardening [link] [comments] Planted a multi-species pear from Lowe’s maybe 8-10 years ago and admittedly I’ve neglected it by not pruning (I’ve dealt with, and continue to deal with, a host of medical issues). One species does fairly well, well enough that we can process the fruit into pear butter. The others? Not so much. Looks like all the flowers and surrounding beaches withered and died, and some small underdeveloped fruits fell off. We’ve had unusually cool weather, and lots of rain this winter. Tree is planted in the corner of the back yard and gets sufficient water from lawn irrigation. Soil is heavy clay but was heavily amended with hood compost tilled in before tree was planted and grass seed applied. I’m at my wits end, and ready to cut this down. Can it be saved? If so, how? |
2023.06.03 22:23 jravitz [WTS] 268 Bottles - Niche, Designer, Hard to Find, Discontinued and Rare - Hermessence, Le Labo, Guerlain, Chanel, Dior, Creed, MFK, Tom Ford, YSL, Kilian, Memo, More! (Bottle)
Post here and/or PM me with any questions. Shipping is $5. International is available, please discuss. Free samples with every purchase! Payment is by Venmo, CashApp or Zelle; PayPal must inquire.
All of my contact info as well as all of my bottles for sale, are available in my spreadsheet which you should bookmark and look at for a more updated inventory
Spreadsheet
submitted by jravitz to fragranceswap [link] [comments]
All of my contact info as well as all of my bottles for sale, are available in my spreadsheet which you should bookmark and look at for a more updated inventory
Spreadsheet
| HOUSE | FRAGRANCE | SIZE | REMAINING | Notes/Condition | Price | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amouage | Incense Rori Attar | 12mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $439 | Niche |
| 2 | Amouage | Material (Woman) | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; Tester Cap | $145 | Niche |
| 3 | Amouage | Orris Wakan Attar | 12mL | 99% Full | Full Presentation | $419 | Niche |
| 4 | Amouage | Rose Aqor Attar | 12mL | 99% Full | Full Presentation | $419 | Niche |
| 5 | Amouage | Vanilla Barka Attar | 12mL | 99% Full | Full Presentation | $419 | Niche |
| 6 | Andy Tauer | Cologne du Maghreb | 50mL | 99% Full | First Release, Rectangular Clear Bottle; With box | $95 | Niche |
| 7 | Bond No. 9 | Madison Square Park | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 8 | By Kilian | Apple Brandy on the Rocks | 50mL | 99% Full | Full Presentation, Box has some wear. | $160 | Niche |
| 9 | By Kilian | Bamboo Harmony | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester Refill (No Spray) | $209 | Niche |
| 10 | By Kilian | Black Phantom | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester Refill (No Spray) | $215 | Niche |
| 11 | By Kilian | Gold Knight | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester Refill (No Spray) | $209 | Niche |
| 12 | By Kilian | Good Girl Gone Bad | 250mL | 99% Full | Decanter; No Box | $800 | Niche |
| 13 | By Kilian | Intoxicated | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester Refill (No Spray) | $209 | Niche |
| 14 | By Kilian | Love Don't Be Shy | 50mL | 99% Full | Full Presentation, Box has some wear. | $160 | Niche |
| 15 | Byredo | Infloresence | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Niche |
| 16 | Byredo | Lil Fleur | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Niche |
| 17 | Byredo | Mixed Emotions | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Niche |
| 18 | Byredo | Mumbai Noise | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Niche |
| 19 | Byredo | Sunday Cologne | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Niche |
| 20 | Chanel Exclusif | Cuir de Russie EdT | 200mL | 95% Full | No Box; Tester | $725 | Niche |
| 21 | Chanel Exclusif | Misia EdT | 200mL | 98% Full | Vintage Discontinued Formula; No Box | $380 | Niche |
| 22 | Chanel Exclusif | No. 22 EdT | 200mL | 97% Full | $550 | Niche | |
| 23 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Bois D'Argent | 7.5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini | $30 | Niche |
| 24 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Bois D'Argent | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 0V01 (2010 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $35 | Niche |
| 25 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Cologne Royale | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 1X01 (2011 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $30 | Niche |
| 26 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Diorissima | 7.5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini; No Cannister - Price includes shipping | $30 | Niche |
| 27 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Eau Noire | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 1R01 (2011 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $35 | Niche |
| 28 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Eden Roc | 7.5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Price includes shipping | $30 | Niche |
| 29 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Granville | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 0V01 (2010 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $35 | Niche |
| 30 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Milly-La-Foret | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 0W01 (2010 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $30 | Niche |
| 31 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | Mitzah | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 1W01 (2011 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $35 | Niche |
| 32 | Christian Dior / Dior Privee | New Look 1947 | 5mL | 100% Full | Official Mini - Batch Code 1R01 (2011 Production Date) - Price includes shipping | $30 | Niche |
| 33 | Clive Christian | I Pour Femme (Woody Floral with Vintage Rose) | 50mL | 99% Full | No Box | $180 | Niche |
| 34 | Clive Christian | Rock Rose | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $289 | Niche |
| 35 | Creed | Acqua Florentina - F Batch | 75mL | 95% Full | Box, Can add a Creed Cap as well | $175 | Niche |
| 36 | Creed | Aventus - 22A11A | 100mL | 100% Full | Full Presentation | $250 | Niche |
| 37 | Creed | Aventus Cologne - 2022 Batch | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $234 | Niche |
| 38 | Creed | Aventus Cologne - F Batch (Plastic Cap) | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed in Box | $239 | Niche |
| 39 | Creed | Aventus for Her - F567 | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $190 | Niche |
| 40 | Creed | Erolfa - 15X01 | 120mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $369 | Niche |
| 41 | Creed | Erolfa - F Batch | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $160 | Niche |
| 42 | Creed | Green Irish Tweed - 19U11 | 50mL | 99% Full | Full presentation with Box | $160 | Niche |
| 43 | Creed | Green Irish Tweed - 2022 Batch | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $195 | Niche |
| 44 | Creed | Himalaya - 22B01A | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Square Style Cap | $175 | Niche |
| 45 | Creed | Jardin D'Amalfi | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $199 | Niche |
| 46 | Creed | Millesime Imperial - F Batch | 100mL | 100% Full | Comes with Box and SQUARE Older Style Cap. | $180 | Niche |
| 47 | Creed | Neroli Sauvage - F241 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $160 | Niche |
| 48 | Creed | Original Santal - F511 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $160 | Niche |
| 49 | Creed | Royal Mayfair - 15R01 | 120mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $229 | Niche |
| 50 | Creed | Royal Oud - F BATCH | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $275 | Niche |
| 51 | Creed | Royal Water - 20C01N | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Square Style Cap | $175 | Niche |
| 52 | Creed | Silver Mountain Water - 21V01A | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Square Style Cap | $180 | Niche |
| 53 | Creed | Spring Flowers 2023 | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $225 | Niche |
| 54 | Creed | Tabarome - 21Y01A | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $160 | Niche |
| 55 | Creed | Viking - F512 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $205 | Niche |
| 56 | Creed | Virgin Island Water - F473 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $195 | Niche |
| 57 | Creed | White Amber - 17W01 | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $149 | Niche |
| 58 | Creed | Wind Flowers - 22C01B | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap | $199 | Niche |
| 59 | Diptyque | Do Son Eau de Toilette | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $99 | Niche |
| 60 | DS & DURGA | Amber Kiso | 100mL | 100% Full | New, No Box | $125 | Niche |
| 61 | Frederic Malle | Eau de Magnolia | 10mL | 100% Full | Official Travel Spray | $55 | Niche |
| 62 | Gallagher | Bergamot Silk | 100mL | 99% Full | $84 | Niche | |
| 63 | Giorgio Armani / Armani Prive | Gardenia Antigua | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $155 | Niche |
| 64 | Giorgio Armani / Armani Prive | Pierre de Lune | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $155 | Niche |
| 65 | Giorgio Armani / Armani Prive | Rose Alexandrie | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $155 | Niche |
| 66 | Guerlain | Angelique Noire | 30mL | 100% Full | Mini Bee Bottle Decant | $215 | Niche |
| 67 | Guerlain | Angelique Noire | 10mL | 100% Full | Tall Glass Decant | $55 | Niche |
| 68 | Guerlain | Cherry Oud | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $279 | Niche |
| 69 | Guerlain | Cruel Gardenia | 200mL | 100% Full | Brand new tester without box | $329 | Niche |
| 70 | Guerlain | Embruns D'Ylang | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $339 | Niche |
| 71 | Guerlain | Epices Volee | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $339 | Niche |
| 72 | Guerlain | Gourmand Coquin | 10mL | 100% Full | Tall Glass Decant | $60 | Niche |
| 73 | Guerlain | Herbes Troublantes | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $339 | Niche |
| 74 | Guerlain | Joyeuse Tuberuese | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $349 | Niche |
| 75 | Guerlain | Musc Outreblanc | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $349 | Niche |
| 76 | Guerlain | Oeillet Pourpre | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $339 | Niche |
| 77 | Guerlain | Oud Nude | 200mL | 95% Full | Tester; No Box | $369 | Niche |
| 78 | Guerlain | Rose Barbare | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $339 | Niche |
| 79 | Guerlain | Rose Barbare | 200mL | 90% Full | DECANTED - NO ORIGINAL BOTTLE | $250 | Niche |
| 80 | Guerlain | Santal Pao Rosa | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester (No Box) | $349 | Niche |
| 81 | Guerlain | Tonka Imperiale | 30mL | 100% Full | Mini Bee Bottle Decant | $199 | Niche |
| 82 | Guerlain | Tonka Imperiale | 10mL | 100% Full | Tall Glass Decant | $55 | Niche |
| 83 | Hermes / Hermessence | Agar Ebene | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $150 | Niche |
| 84 | Hermes / Hermessence | Brin de Reglisse | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 85 | Hermes / Hermessence | Cedre Sambac | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 86 | Hermes / Hermessence | Epice Marine | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $170 | Niche |
| 87 | Hermes / Hermessence | Iris Ukiyoe | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $150 | Niche |
| 88 | Hermes / Hermessence | Muguet Porcelaine | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 89 | Hermes / Hermessence | Myrrhe Eglantine | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $185 | Niche |
| 90 | Hermes / Hermessence | Osmanthe Yunnan | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $150 | Niche |
| 91 | Hermes / Hermessence | Paprika Brasil | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $170 | Niche |
| 92 | Hermes / Hermessence | Santal Massoia | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $170 | Niche |
| 93 | Hermes / Hermessence | Vanille Galante | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $150 | Niche |
| 94 | Hermes / Hermessence | Vetiver Tonka | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box, No Cap | $150 | Niche |
| 95 | Hermes / Hermessence | Vetiver Tonka | 200mL | 100% Full | Full Presentation, Brand New. | $399 | Niche |
| 96 | Hermes / Hermessence | Violette Volynka | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $185 | Niche |
| 97 | Hiram Green | Vetiver | 50mL | 95% Full | Full Presentation | $130 | Niche |
| 98 | House of Sillage | Hufflepuff | 75mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $325 | Niche |
| 99 | House of Sillage | Nouez Moi | 75mL | 99% Full | Tester | $120 | Niche |
| 100 | I Profumi di Firenze | Caterina De Medici | 50mL | 99% Full | No Box | $35 | Niche |
| 101 | Initio | Musk Therapy | 90mL | 99% Full | Full presentation with Box | $200 | Niche |
| 102 | Initio | Side Effect | 10mL | 100% Full | Official Travel Atomizer | $75 | Niche |
| 103 | Knize | Knize Ten | 125mL | 99% Full | No Box | $110 | Niche |
| 104 | Le Labo | Another 13 | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $189 | Niche |
| 105 | Le Labo | Baie 19 | 100mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $225 | Niche |
| 106 | Le Labo | Cedrat 37 – Berlin City Exclusive | 100mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $275 | Niche |
| 107 | Le Labo | Cedrat 37 – Berlin City Exclusive | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $225 | Niche |
| 108 | Le Labo | Gaiac 10 – Tokyo City Exclusive | 100mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $400 | Niche |
| 109 | Le Labo | Mousse de Chene 30 - Amsterdam City Exclusive | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $300 | Niche |
| 110 | Le Labo | Musc 25 – Los Angeles City Exclusive | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $250 | Niche |
| 111 | Le Labo | Rose 31 | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $175 | Niche |
| 112 | Le Labo | Tabac 28 – Miami City Exclusive | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $250 | Niche |
| 113 | Le Labo | The Noir 29 | 50mL | 99% Full | Sprayed Once to Test / Brand New; No Box | $175 | Niche |
| 114 | Maison Crivelli | Bois Datchai | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $169 | Niche |
| 115 | Maison Crivelli | Rose Saltifolia | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $159 | Niche |
| 116 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | 724 | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $365 | Niche |
| 117 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | 724 | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 118 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Amyris Femme | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $139 | Niche |
| 119 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Amyris Femme Extrait | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 120 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Amyris Femme Extrait Special Edition Bottle | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $245 | Niche |
| 121 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Celestia | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $115 | Niche |
| 122 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte | 200mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $279 | Niche |
| 123 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $149 | Niche |
| 124 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Celestia Forte | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $159 | Niche |
| 125 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $119 | Niche |
| 126 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Universalis EdT | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $219 | Niche |
| 127 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Vitae | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $219 | Niche |
| 128 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Vitae Cologne Forte | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $119 | Niche |
| 129 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Aqua Vitae Forte EdP | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $159 | Niche |
| 130 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Baccarat Rouge 540 EdP | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $205 | Niche |
| 131 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Baccarat Rouge 540 EdP | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $409 | Niche |
| 132 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $295 | Niche |
| 133 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Gentle Fluidity Gold | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 134 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Grand Soir | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $170 | Niche |
| 135 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | L'eau a La Rose | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $129 | Niche |
| 136 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | L'eau a la Rose | 35mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $90 | Niche |
| 137 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | L'homme A la Rose | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $159 | Niche |
| 138 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Oud EdP | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $170 | Niche |
| 139 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Oud Extrait | 10mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $35 | Niche |
| 140 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Oud Satin Mood EdP | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $190 | Niche |
| 141 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Petit Matin | 70mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $145 | Niche |
| 142 | Maison Francis Kurkdjian | Petit Matin | 200mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $350 | Niche |
| 143 | Maison Lancome | Orange Bigarades | 100mL | 100% Full | Full presentation with Box | $229 | Niche |
| 144 | Mark Birley | Charles Street | 75mL | 97% Full | Travel Version | $90 | Niche |
| 145 | Masque Milano | Tango | 35mL | 99% Full | $90 | Niche | |
| 146 | Memo Paris | French Leather | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 147 | Memo Paris | Inle | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 148 | Memo Paris | Italian Leather | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box or Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 149 | Memo Paris | Lailabella | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 150 | Memo Paris | Marfa | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 151 | Memo Paris | Moon Fever | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 152 | Memo Paris | Oriental Leather | 75mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box; No Cap | $135 | Niche |
| 153 | Mind Games | Caissa | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $250 | Niche |
| 154 | Mind Games | Gardez (Black Queen) | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $225 | Niche |
| 155 | Mind Games | J'Adoube | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $299 | Niche |
| 156 | Mind Games | Scholar's Mate | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $225 | Niche |
| 157 | Mizensir | Cologne de Figuer | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $175 | Niche |
| 158 | Mizensir | Cologne de Matte | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $175 | Niche |
| 159 | Mizensir | Ideal Oud | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 160 | Mizensir | Mythique Vetiver | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $175 | Niche |
| 161 | Mizensir | Sweet Prailine | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 162 | Mizensir | Bois de Mysore | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 163 | Mona di Orio | Cuir | 75mL | 99% Full | No Box | $120 | Niche |
| 164 | Oliver and Co. | M.O.U.S.S.E. | 50mL | 99% Full | Limited Edition 87/133 | $110 | Niche |
| 165 | Parfums de Nicolai | Patchouli Intense | 100mL | 98% Full | Full Presentation | $119 | Niche |
| 166 | Perris Monte Carlo | Tuberuese Absolue | 100mL | 99% Full | No Box | $99 | Niche |
| 167 | Pomare's Stolen Perfume | Angel's Share | 9mL | 70% Full | No Box | $40 | Niche |
| 168 | Roja Dove | Apex Discovery Atomizer | 7.5mL | 99% Full | $50 | Niche | |
| 169 | Roja Dove | Creation-E Essence de Parfum | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 170 | Roja Dove | Scandal Essence de Parfum | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $165 | Niche |
| 171 | Roman Monegal | L'eau de Rose | 50mL | 97% Full | $70 | Niche | |
| 172 | Santa Maria Novella | Sandalo | 100mL | 95% Full | No Box | $80 | Niche |
| 173 | The Harmonist | Desired Earth Eau de Parfum | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand new, Sealed | $219 | Niche |
| 174 | The Harmonist | Magnetic Wood Parfum | 50mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $229 | Niche |
| 175 | Tom Ford | Beau de Jour | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $1,000 | Niche |
| 176 | Tom Ford | Ebene Fume | 250mL | 99% Full | Decanter; No Box | $750 | Niche |
| 177 | Tom Ford | Ebene Fume | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $170 | Niche |
| 178 | Tom Ford | Fougere Platine | 250mL | 90% Full | Decanter; No Box | $625 | Niche |
| 179 | Tom Ford | Fougere Platine | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $1,000 | Niche |
| 180 | Tom Ford | Fucking Fabulous | 250mL | 99% Full | Decanter; No Box | $750 | Niche |
| 181 | Tom Ford | Fucking Fabulous | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $180 | Niche |
| 182 | Tom Ford | Grey Vetiver Parfum | 100mL | 100% Full | Sealed, New in Box | $170 | Niche |
| 183 | Tom Ford | Oud Fleur | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $1,000 | Niche |
| 184 | Tom Ford | Oud Wood | 250mL | 99% Full | Decanter; No Box | $750 | Niche |
| 185 | Tom Ford | Rose de Chine | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $175 | Niche |
| 186 | Tom Ford | Rose Prick | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $269 | Niche |
| 187 | Tom Ford | Soleil Blanc EdP | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $140 | Niche |
| 188 | Tom Ford | Soleil Brulant | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $145 | Niche |
| 189 | Tom Ford | Soleil Neige | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $850 | Niche |
| 190 | Tom Ford | Tobacco Oud | 50mL | 95% Full | No Box | $180 | Niche |
| 191 | Tom Ford | Tobacco Vanille | 50mL | 90% Full | Full Presentation with Box | $155 | Niche |
| 192 | Tom Ford | Tuscan Leather | 50mL | 100% Full | Magnetic Cap Decant | $115 | Niche |
| 193 | Tom Ford | Vert des Bois | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $900 | Niche |
| 194 | Tom Ford | White Suede | 1000mL | 100% Full | Sealed Dramming Bottle | $850 | Niche |
| 195 | TVGA | Milestones Extrait | 9mL | 90% Full | No Box | $40 | Niche |
| 196 | Washington Tremlett | Black Tie | 100mL | 95% Full | $125 | Niche | |
| 197 | Yves Saint Laurent | Tuxedo | 250mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $375 | Niche |
| 198 | Acqua di Parma | Arancia Di Capri | 150mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 199 | Acqua di Parma | Colonia EdC | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $75 | Designer |
| 200 | Acqua di Parma | Colonia Intensa | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 201 | Aqua di Parma | Magnolia Nobile | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $115 | Designer |
| 202 | Caron | Pour un Homme de Caron Le Matin | 125mL | 100% Full | Opened to test, sprayed once | $69 | Designer |
| 203 | Caron | Pour un Homme de Caron Le Soir | 125mL | 100% Full | Opened to test, sprayed once | $69 | Designer |
| 204 | Caron | Pour Un Homme Impact Parfum | 75mL | 97% Full | No Box | $175 | Designer |
| 205 | Chanel | Allure Homme Sport - Aftershave Balm | 100mL | 99% Full | No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 206 | Chanel | Allure Pour Femme EdT | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 207 | Chanel | Antaeus | 100mL | 85% Full | Silver Sprayer | $125 | Designer |
| 208 | Chanel | Bleu de Chanel - Aftershave Balm | 100mL | 99% Full | No Box, Minor Cosmetic Damage | $55 | Designer |
| 209 | Chanel | Bleu de Chanel - Aftershave Lotion | 100mL | 99% Full | No Box, Minor Cosmetic Damage | $55 | Designer |
| 210 | Chanel | Bleu de Chanel Parfum | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $130 | Designer |
| 211 | Chanel | Chance Eau Tendre EdP | 50mL | 90% Full | Tester; No Box | $90 | Designer |
| 212 | Chanel | Chance Eau Tendre EdT | 150mL | 99% Full | Tester; No Box | $120 | Designer |
| 213 | Chanel | Coco EdP | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $85 | Designer |
| 214 | Chanel | Coco Mademoiselle - Moisturizing Body Lotion | 200mL | 99% Full | No Box | $55 | Designer |
| 215 | Chanel | Coco Mademoiselle EdP | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $90 | Designer |
| 216 | Chanel | Coco Mademoiselle EdT | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 217 | Chanel | Coco Mademoiselle L'eau Privee | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $90 | Designer |
| 218 | Chanel | Cristalle Eau Vert EdT Concentree | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Designer |
| 219 | Chanel | Cristalle EdP | 50mL | 95% Full | Tester; No Box | $135 | Designer |
| 220 | Chanel | No. 19 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $115 | Designer |
| 221 | Chanel | No. 5 Eau Premiere | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $85 | Designer |
| 222 | Chanel | No. 5 EdP | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $85 | Designer |
| 223 | Chanel | Platinum Egoiste | 75mL | 99% Full | SPLASH, NOT SPRAY Older Formulation | $125 | Designer |
| 224 | Christian Dior | Dior Homme Sport - 2017 Version | 125mL | 99% Full | Tester; No Box Batch Code is 6Y02 | $89 | Designer |
| 225 | Christian Dior | J'adore in Joy EdT | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap, No Box | $60 | Designer |
| 226 | Floris | 007 | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap, No Box | $100 | Designer |
| 227 | Floris | A Rose For... | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $65 | Designer |
| 228 | Floris | Cefiro | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester with Cap, No Box | $59 | Designer |
| 229 | Floris | Lily of the Valley | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box. | $65 | Designer |
| 230 | Gucci | Gucci Guilty Absolute | 90mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $70 | Designer |
| 231 | Guerlain | Habit Rouge L'instinct | 100mL | 99% Full | Sprayed once | $84 | Designer |
| 232 | Guerlain | L'instant de Guerlain Pour Homme EXTREME | 10mL | 100% Full | VINTAGE BLACK RIM - DECANT | $50 | Designer |
| 233 | Hermes | Twilly | 80mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Box | $65 | Designer |
| 234 | Jo Malone | Amber & Lavender | 30mL | 90% Full | No Box | $52 | Designer |
| 235 | Jo Malone | English Oak & Redcurrant | 30mL | 80% Full | No Box | $49 | Designer |
| 236 | Jo Malone | English Pear & Freesia | 100mL | 100% Full | Brand New with Gift Box and Gift Set (Body Wash, Body Lotion) | $180 | Designer |
| 237 | Jo Malone | Rose & White Musk Absolu | 100mL | 100% Full | No Box | $180 | Designer |
| 238 | Jo Malone | Velvet Rose and Oud Cologne Intense | 50mL | 99% Full | Tester; No Box | $90 | Designer |
| 239 | Thierry Mugler | A*MEN | 100mL | 99% Full | Rubber Flask; No Box | $75 | Designer |
| 240 | Thierry Mugler | A*MEN Ultra Zest | 100mL | 85-90% Full | Rubber Flask; No Box | $250 | Designer |
| 241 | Tom Ford | Costa Azzura Parfum | 50mL | 100% Full | Brand New, Sealed | $130 | Designer |
| 242 | Amouage | Cristal and Gold Ladies | 50mL | 95% Full | Vintage, Incredibly hard to find. Full presentation in nice condition | $399 | Vintage |
| 243 | Cartier | Santos EdT | 100mL | 60% Full | Splash; Refillable; Original Formulation; No Box; Some Wear on Case | $149 | Vintage |
| 244 | Chanel | Egoiste Cologne Concentree | 100mL | 97% Full | Bottle Only | $399 | Vintage |
| 245 | Chanel | Gardenia EdT | 100mL | 100% Full | Vintage; Sealed | $390 | Vintage |
| 246 | Crabtree & Evelyn | Crabtree & Evelyn Extract of West Indian and Sicilian Limes | 125mL | 100% Full | Full presentation with Box | $209 | Vintage |
| 247 | Dunhill | Cologne | 125mL | 99% Full | Vintage; Splash | $100 | Vintage |
| 248 | Escada | Pour Homme Aftershave | 75mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $165 | Vintage |
| 249 | Escada | Pour Homme Aftershave | 125mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $240 | Vintage |
| 250 | Floris | Bay Rum | 3.5 Oz | 97% Full | Vintage; Splash. "Use as a cologne, after shave lotion, or hair lotion." | $84 | Vintage |
| 251 | Floris | Special 127 | 100mL | 98% Full | Vintage; Dark Blue Box., 2 Royal Warrants, Vintage Version | $70 | Vintage |
| 252 | Fragonard | Zizanie | 240mL | 80% Full | Shaker bottle (Splash, not spray) no box. At least 80% Full. | $240 | Vintage |
| 253 | Geo F Trumper | Ajaccio Violets | 100mL | 99% Full | $40 | Vintage | |
| 254 | Gucci | Envy Aftershave | 50mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $140 | Vintage |
| 255 | Gucci | Envy Aftershave | 100mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $215 | Vintage |
| 256 | Gucci | Rush for Men | 50mL | 100% Full | Full Presentation; These do not come fully filled | $190 | Vintage |
| 257 | Gucci | Rush for Men Aftershave | 100mL | 100% Full | BNIB Sealed | $140 | Vintage |
| 258 | Guerlain | Heritage EdT | 200mL | 100% Full | New; Vintage; Splash. 1991 Bottle. | $225 | Vintage |
| 259 | Guerlain | Samrasa EdP | 50mL | 100% Full | No Box | $109 | Vintage |
| 260 | Guerlain | Samsara EdT 1992-1993 Formulation | 100mL | 100% Full | Tester; No Cap; No Box | $109 | Vintage |
| 261 | Jean Desprez | Bal a Versailles | 9 Oz | 70% Full | Vintage; Splash; No Box Open to offers on this enormous bottle. | $135 | Vintage |
| 262 | Lacoste | Eau de Sport Vivifiante | 100mL | 99% Full | No Box | $110 | Vintage |
| 263 | Lacoste | Land | 100mL | 99% Full | $130 | Vintage | |
| 264 | Nino Cerruti | Fair Play Pour Homme | 100mL | 99% Full | Full presentation with Box | $275 | Vintage |
| 265 | Paco Rabanne | Eau de Metal | 20mL | 100% Full | Vintage; Mini | $15 | Vintage |
| 266 | Ralph Lauren | Silver Romance for Men | 100mL | 80% Full | No Box, No Cap | $145 | Vintage |
| 267 | Revillon | Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Super Concentrate | 60mL | 99% Full | Atomizer | $190 | Vintage |
| 268 | Revillon | Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Super Concentrate | 90mL | 99% Full | Atomizer | $290 | Vintage |
2023.06.03 20:52 MillanFS Open fanfic focused on writing redemption character arcs
The Big 3 have always had a problem with rushing redemption stories, they rushed Hawk in S4 giving him way less time than he deserved for a redemption arc and an AVT champion arc, and they rushed Robby making him a yesman to Johnny in Mexico and destroying his independent, rebellious and lone-wolf nature. In Season 6 they have to write Tory’s and Kenny’s redemption arc and I feel it might be a disappointment again. They shouldn't sideline redemption characters like Hawk or Tory nor give them a reduced role but the opposite.
So I have decided to write a fanfic focusing on redemption characters arcs (whether failed or sucessful) and their rivals, specially Hawk-Demetri, Tory-Sam and in a minor way, Robby-Kenny (because they’re master and apprentice, not rivals). I’ve given less protagonism to Miguel and Robby on purpose because this is supposed to be only the first half of the season, and as they are the two main contenders for winning the Sekai Taikai, I want them to give room to other characters in the first half of the season and then Miguel and Robby could be the focus on the last part of the season. I also don’t want the Sekai Taikai to be the main narrative drive in the first half on the season, it should only be focused on the last part.
I've left multiple paths open so the readers can choose their favourite scenarios in a "make your own adventure" way, but I've still develop more the one which I prefer because I can't develop everyone.
Hawk should have a conflict over Robby being Daniel's favourite student, and Hawk should complain to Daniel that he's not being fairly treated as he tried to save Miyagi-do and is the male champion in S4 AVT while Robby was in CK trying to get Miyagi-do banned. Daniel won't realize he's playing favourites by prioritizing Robby- Daniel and Hawk had barely had any interaction in S4 and S5, compare this with Daniel close connection with Robby in S1, S2 and reopening the dojo in S5-.
Hawk could have two arcs, one (worse) that regresses his character into being jealous and reignites his rivalry with Robby and one (better) in which Hawk is more mature and he's instead disappointed with Daniel lying to him or denying he has favourites, in both of them Hawk could join Johnny's Eagle Fang, quit karate or maybe even joining Kreese's CK if he's demoralized and manipulated (specially if he's jealous).
Demetri could have a mediator role, trying to improve the relation between Hawk and Robby, as he's friendly with both, may try to keep Hawk in Miyagi-do, attempt to convince Daniel to spend more time with Hawk
Also, Demetri is the moral compass and the most Miyagi-like on the show so he could have also an unique conflict arc with Daniel, opposing the idea of joining the Sekai Taikai with the only purpose of stopping or destroying Cobra Kai once and for all, pointing out to Daniel that joining a world tournament to destroy another dojo -change CK name for Topanga Karate or Locust Valley- sounds insane or evil and having his first mayor fallout trust with Daniel as Demetri consider Daniel is going against Miyagi-do principles.
And maybe feeling disappointed with Daniel and Hawk conflict, or by his own conflict with Daniel, Demetri could end quitting karate with Hawk (at least for a time), which could cause Daniel to rethink and reflect on his ways.
Tory should try to redeem (and possibly fail, a failed honest redemption attempt would be new and interesting) herself and join Miyagi-Fang, but Amanda should tell her in a conversation that she only learned about her family situation in S4 thanks to Kreese. So Tory would be on a quest to find about Kreese whereabouts and would be loyal to Kreese, not because she's evil, but because she's grateful for all Kreese did for her. Tory would be the first to find Kreese and 3 scenarios may happen: that Kreese let her go and join Miyagi-fang, that Kreese recruits her into Kreese's Cobra Kai and she openly abandons Miyagi-fang or that Tory joins Kreese in secret and acts like a mole in Miyagi-fang trying to recruit some members.
This plot influences and interacts with each other, and everyhing is linked. Maybe Tory subverts Hawk, who no longer believes in Daniel, and fills him with more doubts regarding Miyagi-do (most interesting scenario), maybe she fails and get exposed. If Tory is raising any suspicion, Sam would notice it and be extremely paranoid, so I could see Sam trying to expel Tory out of Miyagi-do
Sam trying to expel Tory out of Miyagi-fang and getting into a "purge mode", trying to find all potential CK moles and casting shadow and putting blame on old CK's like Kawk, Robby or Kenny.
Tory gets expelled by Sam so Tory openly joins Cobra Kai, which causes an argument between her and Robby, with Robby threatening to break their relationship. There are three options here, whether Robby breaks with her again, Robby decides to keep their relation secret and pretend they’ve broken in public lying to the Miyagi-fangs or Robby stays with her. I’d prefer the second one, because it opens two other options, whether Robby is discovered or not. I prefer a paranoical Sam in spy mode discovering Robby for the sake of the story, but maybe the audience has any other preference.
Silver should be out of jail, he only got exposed of bribing a ref, and that's no major crime to end-up in jail. They have no evidence on Silver being behind the burning of Barnes furniture store and Stingray testimony isn't reliable. Silver should try to rebuild Cobra Kai and he could blackmail Kenny telling him that he can free his brother Shawn Payne from juvie using his lawyers if Kenny becomes a mole at Miyagi-fang and steal Miyagi-secrets and Miyagi’s medal of honour. (Silver had an interest about it in his first encounter with Mr. Miyagi in KK3.)
Kenny goes to Miyagi dojo, but watches Robby training Anthony, so he decides to go back, when in that moment he collides with Hawk. Hawk ask him what is he doing, if he's spying or has any trick upon his sleeve. Kenny apologizes to him for calling him Fauxhawk and tells him that he came to talk to Robby but he found Robby training Anthony LaRusso, who was his bully.
Hawk tells him that Kenny was acting like a bully the last few months, Kenny replies to him that he got corrupted by Cobra Kai, which leads to Hawk showing empathy, telling Kenny that he was also in CK, that he trashed the dojo and that he stole Mr. Miyagi’s medal of honour and tells Kenny a lesson about forgiveness, about how you must forgive your own enemies and they will show forgiveness to you. Hawk tells Kenny that he should talk with Robby Keene as he’s always cared about him and he’s worried about Kenny’s future.
Kenny talks with Robby in an emotive talk, thanking him for being his teacher and apologizing to him for failing him and Kenny joins Miyagi-fang, but Silver reminds him of the deal they made and Kenny feels forced to steal the medal of honor in a night training session with Robby. Kenny uses his stealth and in a moment Robby goes to drink or to the bathroom and he steals the medal.
The next day, everyone realizes Mr. Miyagi’s medal is missing and Sam, who thinks that Hawk was arguing with his father because he’s reverting to his defiant CK ways, publically accuses Hawk of stealing the medal of honour, and this causes a massive uproar. Miguel tries to descalate the conflict between his best friend Hawk and his girlfriend Sam but his efforts are useless and fails. Miguel is in a hard spot in the crossfire between them.
Hawk doesn’t feel trusted nor wanted at Miyagi-do, so he gets angry and quits, which is the moment Tory uses to tell him to give Kreese a second chance as Kreese’s a changed man and convince Hawk to join Cobra Kai. Kenny feels absolute regret and he’s completely remorseful after realizing what his actions have caused, so he thinks about confessing his secret to Robby and asking him for help, here there are two options, whether Kenny tells Robby in exchange for Robby keeping his secret and helping him (which it’s the one I prefer) or Kenny doesn’t say anything to Robby.
Demetri trust in Hawk’s innocence, but he feels desolated when Hawk’s defect and tries to get Hawk back into Miyagi-fang. Hawk tries to assure him that everything is alright, that “despite everything, you will always be my Binary Brother” and that being in opposite dojos doesn’t mean their friendship had to end but that he’s not going back to Miyagi-fang. Demetri is still not convinced, and he’s scared of Hawk getting manipulated by Kreese and could be reverting to his bully ways and end up breaking his arm again. Demetri also feels that he failed Hawk by not clearing his name and by letting him slide into CK again. Demetri also realizes that Sam is becoming way too overzealous.
Miguel is extremely disappointed at Hawk, says to him that Kreese has got into his head again. Hawk tries to defend his innocence and says that Kreese’s not in his mind nor he stole the medal of honour but Miguel trusts Sam’s words as he’s blinded by love and under Sam’s influence. Hawk also recriminates Miguel to be bonding with Robby more that with him and replacing him with Robby as his new best friend, so Miguel thinks Hawk is jealous and in the end Miguel leaves to avoid any conflict, stating Hawk is no longer his friend.
Hawk wants to ensure to Demetri and Miguel everything is alright and tries to persuade Kreese to make peace with Miyagi-fangs stating that they must first deal with Silver CK and that “the enemy of my enemy is your friend”. Kreese only agrees because he’s in inferiority (only has Tory and Hawk) and he sees the "peace as nothing more than a lull between battles" that could allow him to reinforce his position and gain time. They go to Miyagi-dojo to make the offer, but it gets rejected because Daniel doesn’t trust Kreese and Sam says it’s all a trick so they lower their guards. Demetri sees this as another abandonment of Miyagi principles and is worried on the negative effects this rejection and the continuation of hostilities may have on Hawk.
Hawk wants to talk in private with Demetri to ask him why are they rejecting the peace offer, and convinces Tory to stay a little bit longer, but he gets gang- surrounded by Sam and the Miyagi-fangs including Robby. Hawk point to Demetri that this is gang-assault and that if he’s gonna help him defend or side with his attackers, and Sam will say that if Hawk wants to escape unwounded he only have to give back Mr. Miyagi’s medal of honour, that’s very important for her, and that she will let him go. Hawk replies he doesn’t have the “fxcking medal, princess” but Sam doesn’t believe him as Hawk and Toryin Kreese’s CK, so Sam is going to attack him. Tory tries to intervene and gets ready to fight against Sam, but...
Demetri tries to stop Sam by talking and asking her if this isn’t too extreme, but Sam’s replies something like “Radical situations need severe punishments” and tries to attack.
Robby thinks (or knows) that Hawk didn’t do it as he was training that day and knows Hawk isn’t stealthy enough due to his previous experience, and wants to stop any fight from happening because he still has feelings for Tory and Tory might get wounded, so Robby has four options: Robby could say that Hawk wasn’t stealthy enough and that he was training alone to protect Kenny and keep his secret, but it would put him as the main suspicious target, as Robby has no alibi and her girlfriend Tory is in Kreese’s CK; Robby could say that Hawk wasn’t stealthy enough and that he was training with Kenny, putting a massive target on Kenny and Kenny could feel betrayed and maybe falling even more under Silver influence; Robby could say that he’s sure that Kenny did it as he confessed, which would guarantee Kenny feeling betrayed, getting expelled out of Miyagi-fang and completely falling into Silver influence or Robby could remain in silence.
If Robby decides to say nothing, Demetri would face three options: siding with the Miyagi-fangs and attacking his Binary Brother therefore betraying Hawk trust and fully throwing him under Kreese’s influence, defending his Binary Brother and betraying Miyagi-fang, therefore getting expelled of Miyagi-fang, or pretending “Not be there” therefore doing nothing. But there’s a more important Miyagi-do principle above “Not be there”, which it’s Miyagi-do Rule number 1 “Karate is for defense only”, and because pretending “Not be there” is apathy and “Apathy is death” (let’s see who catches the reference of the original conundrum a long, long time ago in a faraway story).
Miguel isn’t at the scene at first, but he could appear in any moment if the conflict drags and could try to mediate between Sam and Hawk, but he didn’t believe in Hawk but Sam, what could he do to solve the conflict? Miguel faces two options which are like Demetri’s: siding with the Miyagi-fangs and attacking his ex-best friend therefore betraying Hawk trust and increasing Kreese’s influence or defending Hawk and betraying Sam and the Miyagi-fangs, therefore getting a massive conflict with Sam and risking ending their love relationship.
After that, I’ll leave it with a “to be continued” because I’ve left a lot of possible routs and doors open, but whatever it happens, the mid-season should be focused in the conflict between Kreese’s CK and Silver’s CK in the CK civil war they’re having. Kim-da-eung could be conflicted and maybe she’ll play both sides, supporting both and will only choose siding openly with whoever ends up being the winning side. This should happen in the mid-season breaking-point to see who will triumph, absorb the other CK and represent CK in the Sekai Taikai. My personal preference is Silver, he has more resources than Kreese and the Sekai Taikai was his idea and his project, but I want to know your opinion.
The way I see it, a full unhinged "cocaine" Silver traps a vengeful Kreese by luring him into a meeting at Coyote Creek in a picnic like area, makes his CK (Shawn and Kenny) climb the trees and remain hidden and once Kreese’s CK arrived they throw Molotovs at them. Kreese, Tory and Hawk find cover under a stone bench, Silver makes them a phone call them asking them to voluntarily betray Kreese if they don’t want to end being burned alive and shouts with a maniac and sinister laugh “Do you remember the napalm days? Back to ‘Nam, Kreese, back to ‘Nam oh I liked that John, I liked that”. Kreese’s Vietnam PTSD is triggered massively, and he has a breakdown while he and his students are at risk. Tory is able to snap him back to reality and Kreese advises them to fully cover in mud to avoid major burns and thinks in giving up and surrender himself in order to save Tory (and Hawk, but mostly Tory), I leave the ending of the mid-season open here, use your imagination.
Something you may have noticed is that none of the CK kids are evil, Hawk is a dovish peacemaker who wants to keep his friendship with Demetri and Miguel, Tory joins CK due to loyalty to Kreese, not due to revenge or any evil intention and Kenny is forced to join in order to get his brother out of juvie. This is done on purpose so they can fully redeem in the second part of the season and leaving the door open to the teens to be able to redeem Cobra Kai, specially Tory after Kreese's sacrifice to save her. I've decided Kreese to sacrifice to save Tory and not Johnny because Kreese had a toxic relation with Johnny in which despite loving him, he choked him twice, and Johnny wants to close CK in S5 "Cobra Kai is the problem" but Kreese has never been violent or dangerous towards Tory on purpose, so I think any Kreese's redemption/sacrifice should focus on Tory.
See, that is how you write a compelling story for at least half of season 6 at without not focusing on the Sekai Taikai, because the ST shouldn’t be the main drive of the plot of S6 at least until the very end. If this season is going to have 15-16 episodes, as some people speculate, the Sekai Taikai shouldn’t become the main narrative focus at least until episode 10.
(There is no Fanfic flair, so as it's open I picked the discussion one)
submitted by MillanFS to cobrakai [link] [comments]
So I have decided to write a fanfic focusing on redemption characters arcs (whether failed or sucessful) and their rivals, specially Hawk-Demetri, Tory-Sam and in a minor way, Robby-Kenny (because they’re master and apprentice, not rivals). I’ve given less protagonism to Miguel and Robby on purpose because this is supposed to be only the first half of the season, and as they are the two main contenders for winning the Sekai Taikai, I want them to give room to other characters in the first half of the season and then Miguel and Robby could be the focus on the last part of the season. I also don’t want the Sekai Taikai to be the main narrative drive in the first half on the season, it should only be focused on the last part.
I've left multiple paths open so the readers can choose their favourite scenarios in a "make your own adventure" way, but I've still develop more the one which I prefer because I can't develop everyone.
Hawk should have a conflict over Robby being Daniel's favourite student, and Hawk should complain to Daniel that he's not being fairly treated as he tried to save Miyagi-do and is the male champion in S4 AVT while Robby was in CK trying to get Miyagi-do banned. Daniel won't realize he's playing favourites by prioritizing Robby- Daniel and Hawk had barely had any interaction in S4 and S5, compare this with Daniel close connection with Robby in S1, S2 and reopening the dojo in S5-.
Hawk could have two arcs, one (worse) that regresses his character into being jealous and reignites his rivalry with Robby and one (better) in which Hawk is more mature and he's instead disappointed with Daniel lying to him or denying he has favourites, in both of them Hawk could join Johnny's Eagle Fang, quit karate or maybe even joining Kreese's CK if he's demoralized and manipulated (specially if he's jealous).
Demetri could have a mediator role, trying to improve the relation between Hawk and Robby, as he's friendly with both, may try to keep Hawk in Miyagi-do, attempt to convince Daniel to spend more time with Hawk
Also, Demetri is the moral compass and the most Miyagi-like on the show so he could have also an unique conflict arc with Daniel, opposing the idea of joining the Sekai Taikai with the only purpose of stopping or destroying Cobra Kai once and for all, pointing out to Daniel that joining a world tournament to destroy another dojo -change CK name for Topanga Karate or Locust Valley- sounds insane or evil and having his first mayor fallout trust with Daniel as Demetri consider Daniel is going against Miyagi-do principles.
And maybe feeling disappointed with Daniel and Hawk conflict, or by his own conflict with Daniel, Demetri could end quitting karate with Hawk (at least for a time), which could cause Daniel to rethink and reflect on his ways.
Tory should try to redeem (and possibly fail, a failed honest redemption attempt would be new and interesting) herself and join Miyagi-Fang, but Amanda should tell her in a conversation that she only learned about her family situation in S4 thanks to Kreese. So Tory would be on a quest to find about Kreese whereabouts and would be loyal to Kreese, not because she's evil, but because she's grateful for all Kreese did for her. Tory would be the first to find Kreese and 3 scenarios may happen: that Kreese let her go and join Miyagi-fang, that Kreese recruits her into Kreese's Cobra Kai and she openly abandons Miyagi-fang or that Tory joins Kreese in secret and acts like a mole in Miyagi-fang trying to recruit some members.
This plot influences and interacts with each other, and everyhing is linked. Maybe Tory subverts Hawk, who no longer believes in Daniel, and fills him with more doubts regarding Miyagi-do (most interesting scenario), maybe she fails and get exposed. If Tory is raising any suspicion, Sam would notice it and be extremely paranoid, so I could see Sam trying to expel Tory out of Miyagi-do
Sam trying to expel Tory out of Miyagi-fang and getting into a "purge mode", trying to find all potential CK moles and casting shadow and putting blame on old CK's like Kawk, Robby or Kenny.
Tory gets expelled by Sam so Tory openly joins Cobra Kai, which causes an argument between her and Robby, with Robby threatening to break their relationship. There are three options here, whether Robby breaks with her again, Robby decides to keep their relation secret and pretend they’ve broken in public lying to the Miyagi-fangs or Robby stays with her. I’d prefer the second one, because it opens two other options, whether Robby is discovered or not. I prefer a paranoical Sam in spy mode discovering Robby for the sake of the story, but maybe the audience has any other preference.
Silver should be out of jail, he only got exposed of bribing a ref, and that's no major crime to end-up in jail. They have no evidence on Silver being behind the burning of Barnes furniture store and Stingray testimony isn't reliable. Silver should try to rebuild Cobra Kai and he could blackmail Kenny telling him that he can free his brother Shawn Payne from juvie using his lawyers if Kenny becomes a mole at Miyagi-fang and steal Miyagi-secrets and Miyagi’s medal of honour. (Silver had an interest about it in his first encounter with Mr. Miyagi in KK3.)
Kenny goes to Miyagi dojo, but watches Robby training Anthony, so he decides to go back, when in that moment he collides with Hawk. Hawk ask him what is he doing, if he's spying or has any trick upon his sleeve. Kenny apologizes to him for calling him Fauxhawk and tells him that he came to talk to Robby but he found Robby training Anthony LaRusso, who was his bully.
Hawk tells him that Kenny was acting like a bully the last few months, Kenny replies to him that he got corrupted by Cobra Kai, which leads to Hawk showing empathy, telling Kenny that he was also in CK, that he trashed the dojo and that he stole Mr. Miyagi’s medal of honour and tells Kenny a lesson about forgiveness, about how you must forgive your own enemies and they will show forgiveness to you. Hawk tells Kenny that he should talk with Robby Keene as he’s always cared about him and he’s worried about Kenny’s future.
Kenny talks with Robby in an emotive talk, thanking him for being his teacher and apologizing to him for failing him and Kenny joins Miyagi-fang, but Silver reminds him of the deal they made and Kenny feels forced to steal the medal of honor in a night training session with Robby. Kenny uses his stealth and in a moment Robby goes to drink or to the bathroom and he steals the medal.
The next day, everyone realizes Mr. Miyagi’s medal is missing and Sam, who thinks that Hawk was arguing with his father because he’s reverting to his defiant CK ways, publically accuses Hawk of stealing the medal of honour, and this causes a massive uproar. Miguel tries to descalate the conflict between his best friend Hawk and his girlfriend Sam but his efforts are useless and fails. Miguel is in a hard spot in the crossfire between them.
Hawk doesn’t feel trusted nor wanted at Miyagi-do, so he gets angry and quits, which is the moment Tory uses to tell him to give Kreese a second chance as Kreese’s a changed man and convince Hawk to join Cobra Kai. Kenny feels absolute regret and he’s completely remorseful after realizing what his actions have caused, so he thinks about confessing his secret to Robby and asking him for help, here there are two options, whether Kenny tells Robby in exchange for Robby keeping his secret and helping him (which it’s the one I prefer) or Kenny doesn’t say anything to Robby.
Demetri trust in Hawk’s innocence, but he feels desolated when Hawk’s defect and tries to get Hawk back into Miyagi-fang. Hawk tries to assure him that everything is alright, that “despite everything, you will always be my Binary Brother” and that being in opposite dojos doesn’t mean their friendship had to end but that he’s not going back to Miyagi-fang. Demetri is still not convinced, and he’s scared of Hawk getting manipulated by Kreese and could be reverting to his bully ways and end up breaking his arm again. Demetri also feels that he failed Hawk by not clearing his name and by letting him slide into CK again. Demetri also realizes that Sam is becoming way too overzealous.
Miguel is extremely disappointed at Hawk, says to him that Kreese has got into his head again. Hawk tries to defend his innocence and says that Kreese’s not in his mind nor he stole the medal of honour but Miguel trusts Sam’s words as he’s blinded by love and under Sam’s influence. Hawk also recriminates Miguel to be bonding with Robby more that with him and replacing him with Robby as his new best friend, so Miguel thinks Hawk is jealous and in the end Miguel leaves to avoid any conflict, stating Hawk is no longer his friend.
Hawk wants to ensure to Demetri and Miguel everything is alright and tries to persuade Kreese to make peace with Miyagi-fangs stating that they must first deal with Silver CK and that “the enemy of my enemy is your friend”. Kreese only agrees because he’s in inferiority (only has Tory and Hawk) and he sees the "peace as nothing more than a lull between battles" that could allow him to reinforce his position and gain time. They go to Miyagi-dojo to make the offer, but it gets rejected because Daniel doesn’t trust Kreese and Sam says it’s all a trick so they lower their guards. Demetri sees this as another abandonment of Miyagi principles and is worried on the negative effects this rejection and the continuation of hostilities may have on Hawk.
Hawk wants to talk in private with Demetri to ask him why are they rejecting the peace offer, and convinces Tory to stay a little bit longer, but he gets gang- surrounded by Sam and the Miyagi-fangs including Robby. Hawk point to Demetri that this is gang-assault and that if he’s gonna help him defend or side with his attackers, and Sam will say that if Hawk wants to escape unwounded he only have to give back Mr. Miyagi’s medal of honour, that’s very important for her, and that she will let him go. Hawk replies he doesn’t have the “fxcking medal, princess” but Sam doesn’t believe him as Hawk and Toryin Kreese’s CK, so Sam is going to attack him. Tory tries to intervene and gets ready to fight against Sam, but...
Demetri tries to stop Sam by talking and asking her if this isn’t too extreme, but Sam’s replies something like “Radical situations need severe punishments” and tries to attack.
Robby thinks (or knows) that Hawk didn’t do it as he was training that day and knows Hawk isn’t stealthy enough due to his previous experience, and wants to stop any fight from happening because he still has feelings for Tory and Tory might get wounded, so Robby has four options: Robby could say that Hawk wasn’t stealthy enough and that he was training alone to protect Kenny and keep his secret, but it would put him as the main suspicious target, as Robby has no alibi and her girlfriend Tory is in Kreese’s CK; Robby could say that Hawk wasn’t stealthy enough and that he was training with Kenny, putting a massive target on Kenny and Kenny could feel betrayed and maybe falling even more under Silver influence; Robby could say that he’s sure that Kenny did it as he confessed, which would guarantee Kenny feeling betrayed, getting expelled out of Miyagi-fang and completely falling into Silver influence or Robby could remain in silence.
If Robby decides to say nothing, Demetri would face three options: siding with the Miyagi-fangs and attacking his Binary Brother therefore betraying Hawk trust and fully throwing him under Kreese’s influence, defending his Binary Brother and betraying Miyagi-fang, therefore getting expelled of Miyagi-fang, or pretending “Not be there” therefore doing nothing. But there’s a more important Miyagi-do principle above “Not be there”, which it’s Miyagi-do Rule number 1 “Karate is for defense only”, and because pretending “Not be there” is apathy and “Apathy is death” (let’s see who catches the reference of the original conundrum a long, long time ago in a faraway story).
Miguel isn’t at the scene at first, but he could appear in any moment if the conflict drags and could try to mediate between Sam and Hawk, but he didn’t believe in Hawk but Sam, what could he do to solve the conflict? Miguel faces two options which are like Demetri’s: siding with the Miyagi-fangs and attacking his ex-best friend therefore betraying Hawk trust and increasing Kreese’s influence or defending Hawk and betraying Sam and the Miyagi-fangs, therefore getting a massive conflict with Sam and risking ending their love relationship.
After that, I’ll leave it with a “to be continued” because I’ve left a lot of possible routs and doors open, but whatever it happens, the mid-season should be focused in the conflict between Kreese’s CK and Silver’s CK in the CK civil war they’re having. Kim-da-eung could be conflicted and maybe she’ll play both sides, supporting both and will only choose siding openly with whoever ends up being the winning side. This should happen in the mid-season breaking-point to see who will triumph, absorb the other CK and represent CK in the Sekai Taikai. My personal preference is Silver, he has more resources than Kreese and the Sekai Taikai was his idea and his project, but I want to know your opinion.
The way I see it, a full unhinged "cocaine" Silver traps a vengeful Kreese by luring him into a meeting at Coyote Creek in a picnic like area, makes his CK (Shawn and Kenny) climb the trees and remain hidden and once Kreese’s CK arrived they throw Molotovs at them. Kreese, Tory and Hawk find cover under a stone bench, Silver makes them a phone call them asking them to voluntarily betray Kreese if they don’t want to end being burned alive and shouts with a maniac and sinister laugh “Do you remember the napalm days? Back to ‘Nam, Kreese, back to ‘Nam oh I liked that John, I liked that”. Kreese’s Vietnam PTSD is triggered massively, and he has a breakdown while he and his students are at risk. Tory is able to snap him back to reality and Kreese advises them to fully cover in mud to avoid major burns and thinks in giving up and surrender himself in order to save Tory (and Hawk, but mostly Tory), I leave the ending of the mid-season open here, use your imagination.
Something you may have noticed is that none of the CK kids are evil, Hawk is a dovish peacemaker who wants to keep his friendship with Demetri and Miguel, Tory joins CK due to loyalty to Kreese, not due to revenge or any evil intention and Kenny is forced to join in order to get his brother out of juvie. This is done on purpose so they can fully redeem in the second part of the season and leaving the door open to the teens to be able to redeem Cobra Kai, specially Tory after Kreese's sacrifice to save her. I've decided Kreese to sacrifice to save Tory and not Johnny because Kreese had a toxic relation with Johnny in which despite loving him, he choked him twice, and Johnny wants to close CK in S5 "Cobra Kai is the problem" but Kreese has never been violent or dangerous towards Tory on purpose, so I think any Kreese's redemption/sacrifice should focus on Tory.
See, that is how you write a compelling story for at least half of season 6 at without not focusing on the Sekai Taikai, because the ST shouldn’t be the main drive of the plot of S6 at least until the very end. If this season is going to have 15-16 episodes, as some people speculate, the Sekai Taikai shouldn’t become the main narrative focus at least until episode 10.
(There is no Fanfic flair, so as it's open I picked the discussion one)
2023.06.03 17:50 TheScribe_1 [The Book of the Chosen] - Chapter Twelve - The Blacksmith's Boy (Part Three)
Fourth and final part at the same time tomorrow.
Series Page - Read 10 weeks ahead on Patreon - Read the story so far on Royal Road
*
Chapter Twelve - The Blacksmith's Boy (Part Three)
Clouds. Black, moving, twisting like rope. His head ached. His blood was hot as flame. Fire flashed in the clouds, and the old stormtower gleamed. The Old Man stared back at him from the gloom, eyes carving at his skin. You could have warned me. He taunted him. Smoke bled around his shoulders, and his skin melted away. Cal tried to look away, but it was too late. The fire was on him, and the sky filled his eyes with black water, smothering his breath.
*
He gasped, pain searing down his spine, and choked on his own breath, spluttering.
‘Get him up.’
‘I’ve got him.’
Lokk’s voice. Cal felt a hand curling underneath one of his arms, lifting his aching jaw off the floorboards. Pain shot down his back again, and he cried out, eyes spinning. Then there was another hand beneath him, and he was lifted groaning away from the floor. They lowered him carefully into a chair, and he fell against it, skin stinging, panting through gritted teeth.
‘What happened to him?’
‘Had a wolf at ‘im, by the looks of it!’
‘Don’t be a fool! No wolves in these woods.’
‘Believe in magic, but not in wolves?’
Cal groaned again.
‘Shut it, all of you!’
Cal blinked again, and the Innkeep’s rosy cheeks coalesced into the air before his eyes, looking down at him worriedly. Lokk was at his shoulder, wide-eyed, his mop of lank hair hanging loosely over his forehead. Someone had put the door to, and it was suddenly very quiet. Cal took a breath.
‘What happened, boy?’ The Innkeep asked him. Beyond his shoul-ders, Cal could see the faces of a half-dozen patrons, blinking back at him with wide eyes. All except Old Godry, who looked mildly irritated. Outside, the storm wailed helplessly against the thatching, and thunder rumbled against the hills, more distant, now. Cal held his breath, craning his ears. But the footsteps were gone. He swallowed.
‘There were…’ He hesitated, glancing towards the door. ‘I… fell.’
‘Down half the Teeth by the looks of it!’ Lokk pointed at his arms. ‘What were you doing out in this?’
Cal blinked, looking down. His arms were crisscrossed with dozens of bloody cuts, and his shirt was hanging off him in strings. He frowned, shrugging, and then winced as fire raced over his skin, and fell back against the chair, gasping.
‘Thought… Thought I had time to get back.’
‘Damned fool.’ Carel told him, appearing beside her father. She had a pail of steaming water under one arm, and a bundle of rags in the oth-er. ‘Got to clean those before they rot.’
‘I’m fi-’
‘That’s enough talking.’ The Innkeep told him. ‘Or I’ll want coin for the cloth.’
Cal thought better of arguing.
‘Saw a fair few mugs go over.’ The Innkeep turned towards the rest of the room, smiling reassuringly. ‘I’ll fetch a new barrel. This one’s on the house.’
A few grumbles of approval from the assembled regulars. They were all watching him. He could feel their eyes on him, prying, poking. Sen-sible boys know better than to go wandering in a storm. They’d always thought the Blacksmith’s stray was cracked. Same as his master. Godry seemed to have let his irritation go at the promise of free ale, but Cal spotted the butcher’s brute of a son, Petr, sneering back at him over the rim of his mug. He lowered his eyes. They thought him mad. Maybe they were right. Behind his eyes, the shadows were still chasing him through endless trees, clawing at his heels. But the door stayed closed, and there was no sound beyond it but the storm. Maybe he was losing his mind.
‘Quite the show, that was.’ Lokk grinned as his father went off to find the barrel. Carel rolled her eyes, pulling up another chair and set-ting about dampening the cloth. ‘Barely seen you in weeks, then you show up all bloody an’ panting like a wolf that’s got in with the chick-ens? You always knew how to make an entrance.’
Cal grunted. He didn’t feel like explaining himself. Wasn’t sure he could, even if he did.
‘Scared off the new folk, too.’ Lokk nodded towards an empty table in the far corner of the room, scattered with discarded mugs.
Cal blinked. ‘What?’
‘Had some of Solen’s new hands in tonight.’ Lokk told him offhand-edly, scratching his chin. ‘Quiet lot. Must have given them quite the fright. Saw themselves out sharpish.’
‘What did… hnngg.’ Cal clamped his teeth together with a groan as Carel pressed one of the rags against his bloody forearm.
‘Stay still.’ She told him, wiping the cloth slowly across his skin. It felt like someone was stripping his flesh with a wood plane. Cal clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to yelp. Lokk lounged idly against the bar beside him, sweeping his loose hair back from his forehead un-tidily.
‘Interrupted Godry, too.’ His friend went on, clearly unperturbed by his suffering. ‘Old goat hates being interrupted.’
Cal grunted again. The little clump of patrons seemed to have lost interest in him, now, turning back to their mugs as the Innkeep moved deftly through the tables, a little cask under his arm. Petr and his father were sitting glowering at no one in particular. Forley and his young wife Priss looked taken aback, and not the least bit shaken, by the un-expected turn of events the evening had taken, but the dour-faced min-ers beside them (whose names Cal did not know) seemed to have paid Cal’s entrance no heed at all. Old Godry was sitting patiently, firelight knotting over his scarred cheeks, waiting for his cue. Soon their mugs were full again, and the foolishness of the Blacksmith’s stray was quite forgotten. The Innkeep set the empty cask down somewhere behind the bar, and went off to find another barrel. Cal gritted his teeth as Carel went on with her work, eyes watering, and watched the villagers blur indifferently by the fire.
‘You weren’t finished, Godry.’ Albin, the butcher began, taking a long swig from his mug. ‘’bout to tell us how the wizard farted out his storm to save the savages.’
Cal saw Forley roll his eyes. ‘You know damned well where we were! Tell us about Arolf!’
Albin scowled, opening his mouth to retort, but Godry regained his composure in time to step in.
‘Aerolf, Forley.’ He corrected patiently.
‘Aerolf, then.’ The young shepherd agreed, rolling his eyes. ‘What happened next?’
‘Well, like I was saying, old King Talor’s already met his end, but them Northmen weren’t done yet. That beast Aerolf most of all.’ Godry began, lowering his voice and eyeing his audience conspiratorially. ‘He had a score to settle, see. This weren’t the kind of man to let a woman run from him, you understand.’
‘Serves him right.’ Albin grumbled. ‘Couldn’t keep her in his bed, even with a sword on her.’
The two miners snorted in agreement, and Petr just kept scowling. Cal flinched as Carel drew her rag over a particularly deep cut. He caught her eye reproachfully, and she smiled slyly.
‘Oops.’
She was very close, he realised, and he could feel the heat of her against his cut-thread skin. Another night, he might even have enjoyed it.
‘So there they was, dead King and all. Could of had the throne for hisself, right then.’ The old miner continued gravely. ‘But he was more animal than man. Mad as a beast, they say, big as a bear, covered head to toe in blood, cut up like an old buck. And this beast had a taste for blood.’
The little circle of villagers leaned a little closer in their seats, eye-ing Godry eagerly. Cal realised he was listening along with them.
‘So off he goes, bloody magic blade in hand.’ Godry held out his hand like a blade, scowling at them over the fire. ‘He finds that place where old King Talor locked up his pretty young daughter. And what’d’you think he does when he finds it?’
‘Kills her.’ Forley whispered.
‘That’s right, boy.’ Godry nodded, dropping his arm. ‘Heard it said he clawed the tower door open with his bare hands. Dragged her out in-to that garden, butchered her right there in the grass, threw her off that big rock of theirs like an old ham. This weren’t a man you run from. If he couldn’t have her, no one could.’
‘How’d they kill him, then?’ Albin asked, frowning.
‘Well, see now. Northmen ain’t the only one with monsters.’ Godry said craftily, raising one patchwork brow. ‘Dekar’s a sharp one. He’d realised what was afoot, by now. Rallied the King’s Men, drove the scum back out of the King’s hall. Weren’t a man amongst them left standing, save the ones in the garden. But for Aerolf and them, he saved his best killer.’
‘The Bloodless.’ Forley murmured.
‘The Bloodless.’ Godry agreed. ‘Biggest woman you’ve ever seen. Big as a wagon, skin like blue snow. They say there’s nought but ice in them veins, and if you cut her, she don’t bleed.’
‘And I’ve got rocks for balls.’ Albin snorted.
‘Might as well, for all the good they do you.’ Godry snapped back at him. ‘But the Bloodless finds the traitor. Right there in that garden, all covered in the Princess’s blood. Cuts Aerolf down, throws him from the walls after her, him and his magic sword. Almost killed that Stonesplitter dog, too, whilst she were at it. Weren’t no easy thing though; gets her head cut open like a peach for its trouble. Should’ve died, right there. Would’ve, if not for those… other types Dekar had took up with.’
‘‘Least the traitor was dead.’
‘Aye, that he was. That Heartspire’s taller than a mountain. Say there weren’t nothing left of him but mulch, once he got to the bottom. Him and the princess both.’
‘Makers have mercy.’ Forley murmured, making the sign of the Nine over his breast. Even Albin took another mouthful of ale.
‘Weren’t no mercy. A beast don’t deserve none.’ Godry said sober-ly, following Forley and drawing a circle over his chest. ‘If he couldn’t ‘ave her, no one could.’
Cal barely heard them. He felt drained, as though the cuts had bled the weight from his bones. He floated just above his chair in a haze, and the roomed blurred and swayed as if through shallow water. Carel went about her work quietly, carefully, and the pain of it washed over him in raw waves, until the pail of water at her feet was stained an ugly pink.
‘Dekar had a plan though!’ Forley whispered excitedly, his rever-ence forgotten. ‘Tell ‘em, Godry!’
‘That he did, Forley.’ Godry smiled, his scarred face contorting gro-tesquely. ‘See, that Dekar’s sharp as a carving knife. Took up Taylor’s magic sword, led the King’s Men himself. But that weren’t all. Had some of his men kept back, from down West. Big men. Hard men. Came on the Northmen camp in the dead of night. Surrounded ‘em.’
‘Weren’t just any men, I hears it.’ Albin grumbled.
‘Here we go!’ Forley snorted.
‘Said it yourself, Godry. Dekar took up with them religious types.’ Albin shot back, frowning indignantly. ‘Everyone knows it.’
‘Religious? Masks don’t keep the Makers.’ Forley spat. ‘Ain’t noth-ing but bandits dressed up like monks.’
Cal blinked.
‘Brothers ain’t got no Gods save the Darkness.’ Priss murmured qui-etly. ‘You say Nine, I say eight.’
‘All the same.’ Albin was saying, folding his arms over his mug. ‘Brothers are useful, and good old Dekar didn’t sniff at them like you do.’
‘That’s enough, Alb.’ Godry interrupted. ‘He’s still our King, even all the way out here.’
Cal opened his mouth, straightening in his seat, but Carel pushed him back down again tutting.
‘Sit still.’
‘But-’
‘Hardly our King anymore, anyways.’ Albin spat. ‘Not like it used to be. Valia’s for the lowlanders.’
‘You sounds like a Northman.’ Forley scowled.
‘Or one of the Elahi.’ Priss added. Albin bristled, and Godry jumped in just in time.
‘Doesn’t matter. All Dekar’s hard men never got to the Northmen camp.’ The grizzled old smelter went on. ‘Seems old Isandur weren’t done yet.
Cal gritted his teeth. His head ached, and his mouth tasted like smoke.
Albin spat at his feet, sneering. ‘Isandur my arse.’
‘Let him be, Alb.’ Forley told him.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as the butcher and his son fixed Forley with their most angry of looks. Then Godry cleared his throat noisily, and Petr shoved himself to his feet and stalked off to-wards the bar, snatching up their empty mugs as he went.
‘But Isandur is a crafty one, and no mistake. Showed up just in time, as always. What he wanted from it, no man can say. Them Chosen are scheming sorts, what ones is left. Us mortals couldn’t guess what they’s thinkin’.’ He paused, nodding knowingly. ‘Storm-tamers, they call ‘em. He spoke the words, and the sky opened. Biggest storm you’ve ever seen. Caught Dekar’s men as they came. Scattered ‘em like wheat in a gale.’
Petr aimed a crooked smile at Carel as he passed, and she lowered her eyes. Cal barely noticed. He no longer heard Godry. The room around him seemed very far away. Was he awake? Or was he dream-ing?
‘Northerners took the chance. Fled faster than the wind what chased them. Them that were still on the rock, them what murdered and killed our King?’ Godry went on, shaking his head sadly. ‘Them he called the wind itself for, and carried them away before Dekar could get at them. Aerolf’s brother, among them. King of the North, he goes by now. Couple of other Northmen, too. Stonesplitter cut almost in half by the Bloodless’ blade.’
Albin spat on the floor, and the miners scowled. No right-minded Valian liked this part, magic or not. Cal ground his teeth.
‘That Chosen bastard let the King get his throat slit, then shows up to save his killers.’ Albin cursed.
‘Makers know why. Not been seen since.’ Godry agreed. ‘Back they went, anyway, back to the rest of the savages as they fled like dogs. Storm was so heavy, river banks burst behind them, flooded half the valley.’
Cal’s heart was pounding in his ears, and his skull was ringing. Out-side, the wind whined over the thatching, howling at the broken clouds.
‘Don’t matter how many men Dekar had. Or how many Brothers. Ain’t no one swimming in mail.’
Cal forced his eyes shut. Black Ones. A storm. Falling.
‘Cal?’
He opened his eyes, blinking into the firelight, and found Carel look-ing down at him worriedly.
‘Does it hurt?’ She was asking softly.
‘What… no, I’m fine.’ He told her, blinking again. ‘I need to…’
‘Stay here.’ She told him, lifting up the bloody pail. ‘I need more cloth.’
She turned on her heel and disappeared. Cal’s head spun.
‘… already scared off the new folk with all these tall stories.’ Albin was saying. ‘Storm’s just a storm. Forge boy knows.’
Cal blinked, lurching unsteadily to his feet. Asking questions, the Innkeep had said. His vision blurred unsteadily, and the room stared back at him, wobbling like a top.
‘Cal, you need to sit down.’ Lokk told him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Cal blinked. His eyes stopped spinning, and the ache in his head had vanished. The wind had moved on overhead, and the air was thick with smoke and heat. The little group of patrons were eyeing him curiously. All save the butcher.
‘Listen to him boy, before you hurt yourself.’ Albin sneered back at him.
‘Come on, Cal. Ignore him.’ Lokk murmured in his ear.
Cal swallowed, meeting the swarthy butcher’s eye for a moment. Then he let himself be steered backward, slumping into his seat like an empty sack.
‘Must have lost more blood than I thought.’ Lokk told him, pulling up a chair beside him and tutting. ‘Want to pick a fight with Albin as well as that storm?’
‘What?’ Cal mumbled, blinking. The butcher had gone back to his drink, and the other villagers had gone with him, grumbling amongst themselves about the practicalities of storm-tamers and treacherous, magical old men. He took a breath. ‘I wasn’t. I-’
‘Sure looked like you were. You know Alb. Just his way. Didn’t mean anything by it.’
‘Lokk, when did the new folk leave?’
‘What? Oh… I told you. Right after you turned up. Spooked ‘em good, you did, all bloody like a fresh ham…’
‘Where did they go?’
‘How should I know? Had my hands full peeling you off the floor. Why d’you care, anyway?’
‘Lokk, I need to…’
‘Oh, no you don’t! You aren’t going anywhere. Need to rest.’ His friend told him, pinning him to his chair by his shoulders. ‘Look like you fell down half the Teeth face first.’
‘I…’ Cal began, lowering his voice. His head was clearing, and the room was no longer spinning like a leaf. Beside the fire, the other pa-trons were still bickering emptily. The storm had passed, and the ache of it was clearing from his battered skull. ‘I didn’t just fall. Something was chasing me.’
‘What are you talking about? You crack your head, too?’
‘Lokk, listen. There were…’
‘Let go!’
They both looked up at the sudden commotion from beside the bar. Carel had just made it out from behind it with a fresh pail of steaming water before Petr had cornered her, bulky shoulders blocking the way forward like a stubborn bullock. He had one meaty hand curled around Carel’s wrist, and she had her eyes fixed on the floor. Cal was on his feet before Lokk could say anything.
‘Let go of her.’
The big youth let go of Carel’s wrist, and the pail fell abruptly back to her side, spilling steaming water across the floor. She looked at it distantly, frowning.
‘Or what, you little shit?’ The butcher’s son grumbled throatily, turning slowly around to facing Cal, glaring down at him with rheumy-eyes. His words had the imprecise edge of drink to them, and his breath smelled of sour ale. ‘Gonna throw yourself down a fucking hill at me?’
‘Just leave her be, Petr.’ Lokk added from Cal’s shoulder.
‘Mind your own business.’ The big youth snorted, still glaring at Cal darkly. ‘Sit down before you hurt yourself, stray.’
He began to turn back to Carel. Lokk put a hand on Cal’s shoulder, and Cal ignored him.
‘Leave her be.’ He said again.
‘Or what?’ Petr snarled back, lurching around again, wiping spittle from the corner of his mouth. ‘Going to bleed on me?’
‘It’s fine, Cal. No harm done.’ Carel said quietly from beside the bar, eyes still on the ground. ‘Sit down, let me finish with your cuts.’
‘You heard her. Be a good little foundling and sit down like she says.’
Cal swallowed. Petr was nearly a head taller than he was, and his arms were thick, corded with miner’s work. But there would be no avoiding it now, and he didn’t have the patience to let it be, that night. The big youth was drunk, and spoiling for a fight. Cal glanced back over his shoulder, but the other patrons were bickering loudly beside the fire, oblivious, or indifferent, or both. The Innkeep was still in the back somewhere, tapping a new barrel. Strike first. Strike hard. Cal shifted his feet slightly, readying himself. His head had cleared, and his pain was far away. The moment of calm was on him. A blink in time. The room faded away, vibrating with stillness. There was only his breath. In, and out. He waited.
‘Nothing to say? Suppose a dead whore can’t teach her cunt son any manners.’
Cal moved quickly, uncoiling like a bowstring. He burst forward off his hind leg, bunching his fist towards Petr’s slab of a jaw. The butch-er’s son had no chance to react. How could he? Cal moved with the ease of a seasoned brawler, hard limbs whipping like clubs. Lokk’s arm slipped from his shoulder. He was already halfway across the distance between them before Petr could even blink.
His boot splashed, skidded, slid. The water. Cal blinked, lost bal-ance, and slid wildly into Petr’s chest. His head thudded into the other boy, and he staggered back, confused, dazed. Petr blinked down at him, cogs turning slowly in his ale-slowed mind. Then a broad grin spread across the big youth’s jaw.
‘Should’ve listened, stray.’
submitted by TheScribe_1 to HFY [link] [comments]
Series Page - Read 10 weeks ahead on Patreon - Read the story so far on Royal Road
*
Chapter Twelve - The Blacksmith's Boy (Part Three)
Clouds. Black, moving, twisting like rope. His head ached. His blood was hot as flame. Fire flashed in the clouds, and the old stormtower gleamed. The Old Man stared back at him from the gloom, eyes carving at his skin. You could have warned me. He taunted him. Smoke bled around his shoulders, and his skin melted away. Cal tried to look away, but it was too late. The fire was on him, and the sky filled his eyes with black water, smothering his breath.
*
He gasped, pain searing down his spine, and choked on his own breath, spluttering.
‘Get him up.’
‘I’ve got him.’
Lokk’s voice. Cal felt a hand curling underneath one of his arms, lifting his aching jaw off the floorboards. Pain shot down his back again, and he cried out, eyes spinning. Then there was another hand beneath him, and he was lifted groaning away from the floor. They lowered him carefully into a chair, and he fell against it, skin stinging, panting through gritted teeth.
‘What happened to him?’
‘Had a wolf at ‘im, by the looks of it!’
‘Don’t be a fool! No wolves in these woods.’
‘Believe in magic, but not in wolves?’
Cal groaned again.
‘Shut it, all of you!’
Cal blinked again, and the Innkeep’s rosy cheeks coalesced into the air before his eyes, looking down at him worriedly. Lokk was at his shoulder, wide-eyed, his mop of lank hair hanging loosely over his forehead. Someone had put the door to, and it was suddenly very quiet. Cal took a breath.
‘What happened, boy?’ The Innkeep asked him. Beyond his shoul-ders, Cal could see the faces of a half-dozen patrons, blinking back at him with wide eyes. All except Old Godry, who looked mildly irritated. Outside, the storm wailed helplessly against the thatching, and thunder rumbled against the hills, more distant, now. Cal held his breath, craning his ears. But the footsteps were gone. He swallowed.
‘There were…’ He hesitated, glancing towards the door. ‘I… fell.’
‘Down half the Teeth by the looks of it!’ Lokk pointed at his arms. ‘What were you doing out in this?’
Cal blinked, looking down. His arms were crisscrossed with dozens of bloody cuts, and his shirt was hanging off him in strings. He frowned, shrugging, and then winced as fire raced over his skin, and fell back against the chair, gasping.
‘Thought… Thought I had time to get back.’
‘Damned fool.’ Carel told him, appearing beside her father. She had a pail of steaming water under one arm, and a bundle of rags in the oth-er. ‘Got to clean those before they rot.’
‘I’m fi-’
‘That’s enough talking.’ The Innkeep told him. ‘Or I’ll want coin for the cloth.’
Cal thought better of arguing.
‘Saw a fair few mugs go over.’ The Innkeep turned towards the rest of the room, smiling reassuringly. ‘I’ll fetch a new barrel. This one’s on the house.’
A few grumbles of approval from the assembled regulars. They were all watching him. He could feel their eyes on him, prying, poking. Sen-sible boys know better than to go wandering in a storm. They’d always thought the Blacksmith’s stray was cracked. Same as his master. Godry seemed to have let his irritation go at the promise of free ale, but Cal spotted the butcher’s brute of a son, Petr, sneering back at him over the rim of his mug. He lowered his eyes. They thought him mad. Maybe they were right. Behind his eyes, the shadows were still chasing him through endless trees, clawing at his heels. But the door stayed closed, and there was no sound beyond it but the storm. Maybe he was losing his mind.
‘Quite the show, that was.’ Lokk grinned as his father went off to find the barrel. Carel rolled her eyes, pulling up another chair and set-ting about dampening the cloth. ‘Barely seen you in weeks, then you show up all bloody an’ panting like a wolf that’s got in with the chick-ens? You always knew how to make an entrance.’
Cal grunted. He didn’t feel like explaining himself. Wasn’t sure he could, even if he did.
‘Scared off the new folk, too.’ Lokk nodded towards an empty table in the far corner of the room, scattered with discarded mugs.
Cal blinked. ‘What?’
‘Had some of Solen’s new hands in tonight.’ Lokk told him offhand-edly, scratching his chin. ‘Quiet lot. Must have given them quite the fright. Saw themselves out sharpish.’
‘What did… hnngg.’ Cal clamped his teeth together with a groan as Carel pressed one of the rags against his bloody forearm.
‘Stay still.’ She told him, wiping the cloth slowly across his skin. It felt like someone was stripping his flesh with a wood plane. Cal clenched his jaw, forcing himself not to yelp. Lokk lounged idly against the bar beside him, sweeping his loose hair back from his forehead un-tidily.
‘Interrupted Godry, too.’ His friend went on, clearly unperturbed by his suffering. ‘Old goat hates being interrupted.’
Cal grunted again. The little clump of patrons seemed to have lost interest in him, now, turning back to their mugs as the Innkeep moved deftly through the tables, a little cask under his arm. Petr and his father were sitting glowering at no one in particular. Forley and his young wife Priss looked taken aback, and not the least bit shaken, by the un-expected turn of events the evening had taken, but the dour-faced min-ers beside them (whose names Cal did not know) seemed to have paid Cal’s entrance no heed at all. Old Godry was sitting patiently, firelight knotting over his scarred cheeks, waiting for his cue. Soon their mugs were full again, and the foolishness of the Blacksmith’s stray was quite forgotten. The Innkeep set the empty cask down somewhere behind the bar, and went off to find another barrel. Cal gritted his teeth as Carel went on with her work, eyes watering, and watched the villagers blur indifferently by the fire.
‘You weren’t finished, Godry.’ Albin, the butcher began, taking a long swig from his mug. ‘’bout to tell us how the wizard farted out his storm to save the savages.’
Cal saw Forley roll his eyes. ‘You know damned well where we were! Tell us about Arolf!’
Albin scowled, opening his mouth to retort, but Godry regained his composure in time to step in.
‘Aerolf, Forley.’ He corrected patiently.
‘Aerolf, then.’ The young shepherd agreed, rolling his eyes. ‘What happened next?’
‘Well, like I was saying, old King Talor’s already met his end, but them Northmen weren’t done yet. That beast Aerolf most of all.’ Godry began, lowering his voice and eyeing his audience conspiratorially. ‘He had a score to settle, see. This weren’t the kind of man to let a woman run from him, you understand.’
‘Serves him right.’ Albin grumbled. ‘Couldn’t keep her in his bed, even with a sword on her.’
The two miners snorted in agreement, and Petr just kept scowling. Cal flinched as Carel drew her rag over a particularly deep cut. He caught her eye reproachfully, and she smiled slyly.
‘Oops.’
She was very close, he realised, and he could feel the heat of her against his cut-thread skin. Another night, he might even have enjoyed it.
‘So there they was, dead King and all. Could of had the throne for hisself, right then.’ The old miner continued gravely. ‘But he was more animal than man. Mad as a beast, they say, big as a bear, covered head to toe in blood, cut up like an old buck. And this beast had a taste for blood.’
The little circle of villagers leaned a little closer in their seats, eye-ing Godry eagerly. Cal realised he was listening along with them.
‘So off he goes, bloody magic blade in hand.’ Godry held out his hand like a blade, scowling at them over the fire. ‘He finds that place where old King Talor locked up his pretty young daughter. And what’d’you think he does when he finds it?’
‘Kills her.’ Forley whispered.
‘That’s right, boy.’ Godry nodded, dropping his arm. ‘Heard it said he clawed the tower door open with his bare hands. Dragged her out in-to that garden, butchered her right there in the grass, threw her off that big rock of theirs like an old ham. This weren’t a man you run from. If he couldn’t have her, no one could.’
‘How’d they kill him, then?’ Albin asked, frowning.
‘Well, see now. Northmen ain’t the only one with monsters.’ Godry said craftily, raising one patchwork brow. ‘Dekar’s a sharp one. He’d realised what was afoot, by now. Rallied the King’s Men, drove the scum back out of the King’s hall. Weren’t a man amongst them left standing, save the ones in the garden. But for Aerolf and them, he saved his best killer.’
‘The Bloodless.’ Forley murmured.
‘The Bloodless.’ Godry agreed. ‘Biggest woman you’ve ever seen. Big as a wagon, skin like blue snow. They say there’s nought but ice in them veins, and if you cut her, she don’t bleed.’
‘And I’ve got rocks for balls.’ Albin snorted.
‘Might as well, for all the good they do you.’ Godry snapped back at him. ‘But the Bloodless finds the traitor. Right there in that garden, all covered in the Princess’s blood. Cuts Aerolf down, throws him from the walls after her, him and his magic sword. Almost killed that Stonesplitter dog, too, whilst she were at it. Weren’t no easy thing though; gets her head cut open like a peach for its trouble. Should’ve died, right there. Would’ve, if not for those… other types Dekar had took up with.’
‘‘Least the traitor was dead.’
‘Aye, that he was. That Heartspire’s taller than a mountain. Say there weren’t nothing left of him but mulch, once he got to the bottom. Him and the princess both.’
‘Makers have mercy.’ Forley murmured, making the sign of the Nine over his breast. Even Albin took another mouthful of ale.
‘Weren’t no mercy. A beast don’t deserve none.’ Godry said sober-ly, following Forley and drawing a circle over his chest. ‘If he couldn’t ‘ave her, no one could.’
Cal barely heard them. He felt drained, as though the cuts had bled the weight from his bones. He floated just above his chair in a haze, and the roomed blurred and swayed as if through shallow water. Carel went about her work quietly, carefully, and the pain of it washed over him in raw waves, until the pail of water at her feet was stained an ugly pink.
‘Dekar had a plan though!’ Forley whispered excitedly, his rever-ence forgotten. ‘Tell ‘em, Godry!’
‘That he did, Forley.’ Godry smiled, his scarred face contorting gro-tesquely. ‘See, that Dekar’s sharp as a carving knife. Took up Taylor’s magic sword, led the King’s Men himself. But that weren’t all. Had some of his men kept back, from down West. Big men. Hard men. Came on the Northmen camp in the dead of night. Surrounded ‘em.’
‘Weren’t just any men, I hears it.’ Albin grumbled.
‘Here we go!’ Forley snorted.
‘Said it yourself, Godry. Dekar took up with them religious types.’ Albin shot back, frowning indignantly. ‘Everyone knows it.’
‘Religious? Masks don’t keep the Makers.’ Forley spat. ‘Ain’t noth-ing but bandits dressed up like monks.’
Cal blinked.
‘Brothers ain’t got no Gods save the Darkness.’ Priss murmured qui-etly. ‘You say Nine, I say eight.’
‘All the same.’ Albin was saying, folding his arms over his mug. ‘Brothers are useful, and good old Dekar didn’t sniff at them like you do.’
‘That’s enough, Alb.’ Godry interrupted. ‘He’s still our King, even all the way out here.’
Cal opened his mouth, straightening in his seat, but Carel pushed him back down again tutting.
‘Sit still.’
‘But-’
‘Hardly our King anymore, anyways.’ Albin spat. ‘Not like it used to be. Valia’s for the lowlanders.’
‘You sounds like a Northman.’ Forley scowled.
‘Or one of the Elahi.’ Priss added. Albin bristled, and Godry jumped in just in time.
‘Doesn’t matter. All Dekar’s hard men never got to the Northmen camp.’ The grizzled old smelter went on. ‘Seems old Isandur weren’t done yet.
Cal gritted his teeth. His head ached, and his mouth tasted like smoke.
Albin spat at his feet, sneering. ‘Isandur my arse.’
‘Let him be, Alb.’ Forley told him.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as the butcher and his son fixed Forley with their most angry of looks. Then Godry cleared his throat noisily, and Petr shoved himself to his feet and stalked off to-wards the bar, snatching up their empty mugs as he went.
‘But Isandur is a crafty one, and no mistake. Showed up just in time, as always. What he wanted from it, no man can say. Them Chosen are scheming sorts, what ones is left. Us mortals couldn’t guess what they’s thinkin’.’ He paused, nodding knowingly. ‘Storm-tamers, they call ‘em. He spoke the words, and the sky opened. Biggest storm you’ve ever seen. Caught Dekar’s men as they came. Scattered ‘em like wheat in a gale.’
Petr aimed a crooked smile at Carel as he passed, and she lowered her eyes. Cal barely noticed. He no longer heard Godry. The room around him seemed very far away. Was he awake? Or was he dream-ing?
‘Northerners took the chance. Fled faster than the wind what chased them. Them that were still on the rock, them what murdered and killed our King?’ Godry went on, shaking his head sadly. ‘Them he called the wind itself for, and carried them away before Dekar could get at them. Aerolf’s brother, among them. King of the North, he goes by now. Couple of other Northmen, too. Stonesplitter cut almost in half by the Bloodless’ blade.’
Albin spat on the floor, and the miners scowled. No right-minded Valian liked this part, magic or not. Cal ground his teeth.
‘That Chosen bastard let the King get his throat slit, then shows up to save his killers.’ Albin cursed.
‘Makers know why. Not been seen since.’ Godry agreed. ‘Back they went, anyway, back to the rest of the savages as they fled like dogs. Storm was so heavy, river banks burst behind them, flooded half the valley.’
Cal’s heart was pounding in his ears, and his skull was ringing. Out-side, the wind whined over the thatching, howling at the broken clouds.
‘Don’t matter how many men Dekar had. Or how many Brothers. Ain’t no one swimming in mail.’
Cal forced his eyes shut. Black Ones. A storm. Falling.
‘Cal?’
He opened his eyes, blinking into the firelight, and found Carel look-ing down at him worriedly.
‘Does it hurt?’ She was asking softly.
‘What… no, I’m fine.’ He told her, blinking again. ‘I need to…’
‘Stay here.’ She told him, lifting up the bloody pail. ‘I need more cloth.’
She turned on her heel and disappeared. Cal’s head spun.
‘… already scared off the new folk with all these tall stories.’ Albin was saying. ‘Storm’s just a storm. Forge boy knows.’
Cal blinked, lurching unsteadily to his feet. Asking questions, the Innkeep had said. His vision blurred unsteadily, and the room stared back at him, wobbling like a top.
‘Cal, you need to sit down.’ Lokk told him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Cal blinked. His eyes stopped spinning, and the ache in his head had vanished. The wind had moved on overhead, and the air was thick with smoke and heat. The little group of patrons were eyeing him curiously. All save the butcher.
‘Listen to him boy, before you hurt yourself.’ Albin sneered back at him.
‘Come on, Cal. Ignore him.’ Lokk murmured in his ear.
Cal swallowed, meeting the swarthy butcher’s eye for a moment. Then he let himself be steered backward, slumping into his seat like an empty sack.
‘Must have lost more blood than I thought.’ Lokk told him, pulling up a chair beside him and tutting. ‘Want to pick a fight with Albin as well as that storm?’
‘What?’ Cal mumbled, blinking. The butcher had gone back to his drink, and the other villagers had gone with him, grumbling amongst themselves about the practicalities of storm-tamers and treacherous, magical old men. He took a breath. ‘I wasn’t. I-’
‘Sure looked like you were. You know Alb. Just his way. Didn’t mean anything by it.’
‘Lokk, when did the new folk leave?’
‘What? Oh… I told you. Right after you turned up. Spooked ‘em good, you did, all bloody like a fresh ham…’
‘Where did they go?’
‘How should I know? Had my hands full peeling you off the floor. Why d’you care, anyway?’
‘Lokk, I need to…’
‘Oh, no you don’t! You aren’t going anywhere. Need to rest.’ His friend told him, pinning him to his chair by his shoulders. ‘Look like you fell down half the Teeth face first.’
‘I…’ Cal began, lowering his voice. His head was clearing, and the room was no longer spinning like a leaf. Beside the fire, the other pa-trons were still bickering emptily. The storm had passed, and the ache of it was clearing from his battered skull. ‘I didn’t just fall. Something was chasing me.’
‘What are you talking about? You crack your head, too?’
‘Lokk, listen. There were…’
‘Let go!’
They both looked up at the sudden commotion from beside the bar. Carel had just made it out from behind it with a fresh pail of steaming water before Petr had cornered her, bulky shoulders blocking the way forward like a stubborn bullock. He had one meaty hand curled around Carel’s wrist, and she had her eyes fixed on the floor. Cal was on his feet before Lokk could say anything.
‘Let go of her.’
The big youth let go of Carel’s wrist, and the pail fell abruptly back to her side, spilling steaming water across the floor. She looked at it distantly, frowning.
‘Or what, you little shit?’ The butcher’s son grumbled throatily, turning slowly around to facing Cal, glaring down at him with rheumy-eyes. His words had the imprecise edge of drink to them, and his breath smelled of sour ale. ‘Gonna throw yourself down a fucking hill at me?’
‘Just leave her be, Petr.’ Lokk added from Cal’s shoulder.
‘Mind your own business.’ The big youth snorted, still glaring at Cal darkly. ‘Sit down before you hurt yourself, stray.’
He began to turn back to Carel. Lokk put a hand on Cal’s shoulder, and Cal ignored him.
‘Leave her be.’ He said again.
‘Or what?’ Petr snarled back, lurching around again, wiping spittle from the corner of his mouth. ‘Going to bleed on me?’
‘It’s fine, Cal. No harm done.’ Carel said quietly from beside the bar, eyes still on the ground. ‘Sit down, let me finish with your cuts.’
‘You heard her. Be a good little foundling and sit down like she says.’
Cal swallowed. Petr was nearly a head taller than he was, and his arms were thick, corded with miner’s work. But there would be no avoiding it now, and he didn’t have the patience to let it be, that night. The big youth was drunk, and spoiling for a fight. Cal glanced back over his shoulder, but the other patrons were bickering loudly beside the fire, oblivious, or indifferent, or both. The Innkeep was still in the back somewhere, tapping a new barrel. Strike first. Strike hard. Cal shifted his feet slightly, readying himself. His head had cleared, and his pain was far away. The moment of calm was on him. A blink in time. The room faded away, vibrating with stillness. There was only his breath. In, and out. He waited.
‘Nothing to say? Suppose a dead whore can’t teach her cunt son any manners.’
Cal moved quickly, uncoiling like a bowstring. He burst forward off his hind leg, bunching his fist towards Petr’s slab of a jaw. The butch-er’s son had no chance to react. How could he? Cal moved with the ease of a seasoned brawler, hard limbs whipping like clubs. Lokk’s arm slipped from his shoulder. He was already halfway across the distance between them before Petr could even blink.
His boot splashed, skidded, slid. The water. Cal blinked, lost bal-ance, and slid wildly into Petr’s chest. His head thudded into the other boy, and he staggered back, confused, dazed. Petr blinked down at him, cogs turning slowly in his ale-slowed mind. Then a broad grin spread across the big youth’s jaw.
‘Should’ve listened, stray.’