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A trading community for Dark Souls 1.
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A trading community for Dark Souls 3.
2023.06.08 00:18 VxidCause 17 Looking for long-term friends! What made you smile recently? :)
Hey! How have you been recently? :) I'm Void! I'm 17, soon to be 18 (really weird for me to think about!), from the USA, and looking for long-term friends within my age range (17-21) who are open-minded to hang out with, regardless of timezones, countries, etc :)
I'm a big video game nerd, whenever I'm not studying, or engaging with one of my other hobbies, chances are I'm usually gaming! I primarily play on PC these days, but sometimes I'll hop on my PS4 if I'm in the mood for it. I play games from all sorts of genres, although I have a soft spot for FPS, Simulation, Indie, and story-based games. Some of my current favourites are: Cities: Skylines, Red Dead Redemption 2, City of Gangsters, Elden Ring, Do Not Feed the Monkeys, Slime Rancher, Stardew Valley, and Terraria! I've been thinking about picking up Grand Theft Auto V because it's currently on sale on Steam, mainly for the story though, not really into the online or role-playing stuff lol. So, for anyone who's played through the GTA V story, how was it? Is it worth buying it just for the story? Thank you in advance :)
I'm also very into learning languages! Right now my main focus is German, but I'd really love to pick up French at some point, and maybe get back into Russian. Some other languages I've dabbled in include Norwegian, Spanish, Dutch, along with a couple others. It's a lot, and it makes me a bit sad knowing that I won't be able to experience them all đ
Some of my other interests are history, cooking and baking (although I'm very bad at it lol), watching TV shows, movies, and the occasional anime, listening to music, weather, cats, cycling, lurking on Reddit (hence my lack of posts, sorry! lol), urban planning, and SCP (Secure, Contain, Protect)
Some other interests I want to get into once I move to a more walkable, urban area include photography, hiking, coding, learning a few instruments, science, space, travel, horseback riding, roller-skating, and perhaps crochet!
If you're interested in talking, feel free to hit me up! đ€
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2023.06.08 00:16 ralo_ramone An Otherworldly Scholar [LitRPG, Isekai] - Chapter 11
The Great Hall stood tall against the cloudy day, expelling white smoke from the multiple chimneys on its thatched roof. The outer walls made of a dark gray stone and the overall brutalistic style of the building, gave the Great Hall a certain âBig Bad Evil Guyâs lairâ vibe. Upon further inspection, I noticed traces of mana weaved in between the stone which made me wonder if the whole building had some sort of protecting enchantment in place. It made sense considering the whole town was a bastion between the Farlands and the Ebros Kingdom.
Despite my initial assessment of the city, Farcrestâs marketplace flourished all around me. Food, weapons, tools, all kinds of crafting ingredients. No matter what direction I looked I found new things to identify. Other than the abandoned northern district, the city looked like a bustling trade center.
I continued walking through the street market towards the Great Hall.
Red banners with the Marquis crest, a man killing a wolf with a lance, hung from the inner walls. The gate was guarded by a small contingent of soldiers dressed in shiny armor and armed with long albarests. I was tempted to use [Identify] on them but remembering Elinciaâs reaction, I refrained from doing it. I didnât want problems before even starting my life in this world.
As I reached the closed gate, a guard blocked my path.
âWhat is your business in the Marquisâs Great Hall?â The guardsman asked, glancing at me with unfriendly eyes. The man inspected my appearance from head to toe and he didnât seem to like what he was seeing. My clothing was humble to say the least.
âMy name is Robert Clarke, Scholar from the City of Light. Iâm here for a passage permit into the Kingdom of Ebros.â I said with a haughty voice. A good teacher was, in essence, a good actor, and I took pride in my classroom management.
As expected, my words seemed to pique the guardâs interest.
âFarcrest isnât a border town, Scholar. How did you even enter the kingdom?â
The guard was unsure if he was really talking to a commoner or someone of high birth. Or maybe he thought I was a high level individual? It made sense that people with higher levels looked down on the weaker.
Considering Elinciaâs reaction to the story about the teletransportation, I decided to continue with the same lie. If I had to guess, portals werenât all strange in this world.
âA magic accident teleported me into the Farlands. There I was picked up by an Alchemist harvesting ingredients who brought me here to Farcrest.â I explained with a serious tone.
âShouldâve said that from the very beginning⊠sir. Portal magic is no joke.â He stuttered.
The guard swallowed the story.
âIt is not.â I nodded.
The guard mustâve assumed I was the one responsible for the portal incident because his demeanor changed instantly. If I had to guess, portal magic was a high level technique.
âThis way, sir.â The guardsman said, guiding me through a lateral door at the base of the wall and into a narrow and dark corridor. As much as I wanted to enter through the main gates, I assumed it wasnât worth opening it for a single person.
We emerged into a cobbled courtyard by the side of the Great Hall where a small army of workers unloaded carts with crated goods under the attentive glance of an overseer. Regrettably, I couldnât tell what was inside the heavy boxes.
âTrade seems to be healthy considering Farcrest is a frontier town.â I pointed out in a vain attempt to make the guard talk.
âItâs been that way for a while now.â He sparsely replied as we walked to a wooden building attached to the Great Hall. Outside the building, an angry middle aged woman dressed in a gambeson with the Marquis emblem was training a group of fresh recruits who barely knew how to hold a sword. The kids couldnât be much older than Zaon.
Instead of walking towards the building, we approached the training group.
The soldier saluted and the woman knight raised her hand, stopping the frenetic swinging of the recruits. Her eyes were of a stark gray color and her lips were a fine line under her aquiline nose. Her skin was tanned and covered in small scars of a hundred battles. [Awareness] told me she was the donât-fuck-with-me type.
âCaptain, this man says he arrived at Farcrest via failed teleportation.â The soldier explained my situation.
âAnother one?! I canât believe this is the second time this year.â The Captain chastised the soldier as if it was his personal fault. Then, she turned around to face me. She was taller than me and her rolled up sleeves not only revealed lean and bulking muscles but a skin covered in scars. Those werenât fashionable superficial scars but ones which distorted the skin and muscle.
âTell me you are not from the Ansan Kingdom. It will cost us a small fortune to send you back.â The Captain said.
I understood that was my cue to speak.
âMy name is Robert Clarke, a Scholar, and you donât need to send me back to my homeland, Captain. I am more interested in traveling to the Imperial Library than returning.â I said with a small bow.
âIâm Captain Izabeka Kiln, leader of the city guard. I like you already, Scholar. People who complicate things are too common in these places.â The captain left the bundle of parchment and walked around the table to inspect me closely.
I made a mental note to not complicate things in front of the woman.
âCome on.â The captain left the group of disoriented recruits behind and walked towards the Great Hall. âWe have to ensure you donât have any suspicious hidden titles before giving you your passage permit.â
âHidden titles?â I asked with a tremble in my voice.
âYou have not been in a System Shrine before?â The Captain looked over her shoulder and gave me a confused glance.
I shook my head. Hidden titles could mean two things; there was a method to hide oneâs titles from being identified or there were titles that could only be unlocked at a System Shrine. The second option made sense considering the lack of progress my class had even after twelve levels.
âI warn you, Robert Clarke, Iâm a level fifty seven Knight, if you do try anything stupid Iâll crush your spine before you could even blink.â The captain said before addressing the guard who had guided me there. âYou, maggot, look after the Scholarâs belongings. He is my guest.â
âYes, maâam.â The soldier said, extending his hand to me.
I gave him my backpack and nobody questioned the suspicious wooden shotgun butt protruding out. I felt naked without my weapon, however, the shells were safe inside my pocket.
âYou donât have a suspicious title do you?â The captain asked as we entered a beautifully adorned corridor with painted murals and ornamental banners hanging from the ceiling. The decoration was surprisingly tasteful.
I swallowed hard.
âI donât think so?â I replied, remembering what Elincia had told me about locked titles.
We walked in silence through a carpeted corridor. The brass-framed windows reached the high ceiling and gave us a wide view of the interior gardens. There was a bush maze, fountains and clumps of all kinds of flowers.
We reached a glass door to a crowded balcony and the captain signaled the guards to let us through. On the balcony there were men and women dressed in expensive suits and dresses of vibrant colors. Broad rings of gold and precious stones adorned the nobleâs hands while the women flaunted beautiful necklaces and earrings. If the Marquis was there, he was hidden among the crowd.
Captain Kiln took me to the side of the balcony, far from the noble clump and pointed down to the garden. Two men dressed in fencing attire were standing at opposite sides of the garden while the squires helped them with their padded jackets. In the middle of the fighting area an old man with braided hair and stern look acted as the referee.
âHave you witnessed a judiciary duel before?â The captain asked.
I shook my head.
âThen itâs your lucky day, Scholar. Sir Janus insulted Baronette Tirno during the last feast.â Captain Kiln said with a lupine smile.
âWhat did Sir Janus say?â I inquired.
âJanus said Tirnoâs lovers during their days in the Ebros Knights Academy looked just like his mother.â Captain Kiln let out a tired sigh.
I glanced down at the dueling area. Baronette Tirno was a tall and slender young man of blonde curls and piercing looks. He wore a blue and black jacket with a crest similar to the Marquis symbol, so I assumed he might be related to the Marquis. Tirno moved with ease under the padded jacket and made a flourish with his rapier before blowing a kiss to the balcony. The gesture was answered by a wave of giggles and sighs.
For someone with a soiled honor, he was enjoying the moment.
Sir Janus, on the other hand, was a brutish looking man with the physique of a beer barrel. An unkempt bristly black beard covered his face and his small black eyes resembled the ones from a pig. Janus looked more like a well-armed murder hobo than a knight.
âTirno has the reach advantage.â I said as the squire handed the rapiers to Janus.
âGood, you can use your eyes.â Captain Kiln said and I wondered if every woman had a similar level of sass in this world.
The referee, an old man dressed in a white and yellow tunic, stood at the center of the arena and cast a spell creating a golden dome of twenty meters in diameter. A second later the dome became translucent, barely blocking the view of the duelists.
âHeâs a Fortifier. Any skill used inside the area of the bubble should stay inside instead of killing you. Well, none of them have magic classes but with high level combatants any extra precaution is welcome.â Captain Kiln explained.
Down inside the bubble, Tirno and Janus walked five paces away from the center, turned around, and saluted with the rapiers. Then, they adopted a fighting position I wasnât completely familiarized with. It seemed they were going to start sprinting instead of fencing.
A sudden gust of wind rose, kicking up a dust cloud, and Tirno disappeared just to reappear by Janusâ flank. I gasped. Had he used a skill or was it his natural speed? Janus raised his sword and parried just in time. Then I noticed my mouth was wide open.
âWant to bet?â Captain Kiln asked with an entertained expression on her face.
âI donât have money or valuables other than a quarter cheese wheel.â I babbled back, too entranced with the fight to pay attention to the woman.
The captain slid a silver coin down the railing and left it in front of me. I recognized a gambling addict that shouldnât be gambling when I saw one. I glanced at the coin and then I looked down at the arena. The duelists were still testing each other. Baronette Tirno had an elegant style with quick transitions and nimble footwork. Sir Janus, on the other hand, stood like a heavy boulder in the middle of the yard.
âTwo silver coins and I will tell you exactly how Lord Tirno is going to lose.â I said with a taunting smile.
The captainâs interest was piqued and soon after there were two silver coins in front of me and another two in front of the woman.
âI love to fleece know-it-all Scholars.â The captain said despite the fact she was betting against her own money.
I ignored the banter and focused on the duel. After the initial explosion of speed things had slowed down. Still, they moved faster than any HEMA practitioner or olympic fencer I had seen in my life.
I remembered Zaon talking about class growth. It wasnât a surprise that the kid was apprehensive of becoming a Soldier when there were classes that could move like those two men. Not even with my Lv.5 [Swordsmanship] was enough to reach those speeds.
[Awareness] filled my brain with information. Tirno fought with deliberately elegant movements trying to find an opening on the opponentâs defense while Janus adopted a style similar to what I knew; he tried to control Tirnoâs sword and deliver a strike without jeopardizing his own safety.
âSir Janus is going to end the fight by stabbing the Baronette in the hand.â I calmly said, channeling all my fencing knowledge. Judicial fencing wasnât about killing your opponent, although it happened frequently, but about incapacitating it before it could harm you.
âAlright, Iâm going for Tirno.â The Captain said.
The balcony was in complete silence. Rapiers clashed, but none managed to control the weak of the opponent's blade to create an opening. The amount of stamina both men displayed was astounding, even compared to top tier athletes from Earth. If I were to train for a hundred years I could hardly reach their levels of speed and coordination.
Suddenly Lord Tirno put aside all attempts of defending and lunged forward, aiming at the center of Sir Janusâ chest. Sir Janus stepped back with a nimbleness uncharacteristic of a man of his span. To get away from Tirnoâs blade, Janus raised both arms and pulled back his body. In that awkward position, Sir Janus counterattacked with a downward stab aimed at Lord Tirnoâs hand and withdrew from the engagement to avoid Tirnoâs afterblow.
However, the afterblow didnât come. Lord Tirnoâs sword fell to the ground as the man bursted out cursing. As he retreated to his side of the arena, I caught a glimpse of bright blood flowing from his right hand.
New word learned! Words learned: 3,001/215,000 Rank: Talkative Teenager I made a mental note to not mention that word in front of children.
âI lost.â Captain Kiln sighed, bringing me back to the present.
âNot yet, heâs going to continue. Look.â I replied as Lord Tirnoâs aid bandaged the wounded hand. The noble man snapped at the squire to hurry up but no matter how much bandages he applied, they quickly soaked in more blood. Suddenly, sick of waiting, Lord Tirno pushed his squire back and retrieved the sword.
âItâs over.â Captain Kiln sighed again.
Down in the garden, Sir Janus repeatedly hit Tirnoâs blade until it slipped from his bloody hand. Then Janus prompted his rival to retrieve his sword just to repeat the process. Three times Tirno raised his sword and three times Janus slapped it from his hand.
âWhat a shitshow.â Captain Kiln grunted just as Sir Janus disarmed Lord Tirno for the last time and chased him across the garden hitting the Baronetteâs legs with the rapierâs flat side until he found shelter inside the Great Hall.
Sir Janus took a bow towards the balcony and threw his sword in the squireâs direction. The Captain slid four silver coins to my side of the handrail.
âBetter spanked than dead.â I pointed out, pocketing the coins with a winning smile on my face.
âSir Janus is a lowborn who reached knighthood because he was accepted in the Ebros Knights Academy. His position in the court is frail and yet he acts like an idiot.â
The squires cleared the garden and the nobles who had been observing the duel started vacating the balcony. I learned a couple more insults from overhearing their conversation, some of the nobles were fuming and I pictured them plotting against Sir Janus in the near future. A hurt nobleâs ego was dangerous in this world or the other.
âAbei!â The captain suddenly called.
An old robbed man emerged from the group, clearly annoyed by the interruption.
âWhat is it, captain?â
The man had a shining bald head and a majestically bushy beard. Unlike the young man from the tower, Abei didnât look like a cheap street magician but a full fledged sage.
âWe have one of those portal hoppers. A Scholar.â Captain Kiln announced. âI thought you would be interested.â
In a single sentence, Abeiâs face was cleared of all irritation. The old man made his way through the balcony with an eager stride and, unlike the captain, didnât bother to measure me up with his eyes. Instead he jumped directly to the questions.
âWhere are you from and how did you get here, young man?â Abei struck me like the kind of person who would look into a loaded shotgunâs barrel to satiate his curiosity.
âIâm Robert Clarke, humble servant of the City of Light. I arrived here due to a teletransportation accident.â I introduced myself, already expecting what will come next. The questioning.
âThe City of Light? Never heard of that place.â Abei stroked his beard and looked around searching for an encyclopedia just to remember he was outdoors.
âAnd I never heard of Farcrest until I popped out here.â I replied with a shrug.
Abei nodded, understanding my predicament.
âYou donât seem to be scared for someone so far from home.â The man looked me directly in the eye. I was slowly getting used to being questioned.
âThree days in the Farlands is a hell of a cure for fear.â I replied.
The Captain gave me an approving nod. People of this world trusted too much in the System and too little in the common sense.
âWhy am I being treated with such deference? I'm nobody after all.â I asked, eliciting a jolly laugh from the old man and I braced myself for a long story.
âPeople who are exposed to teletransportation spells usually are wealthy, noble or high level, so it's only logical to protect such individuals when the integrity of the kingdoms depends on them.â Abei explained. âAnyway, we need noble witnesses to grant you the permit. Letâs go to the audience room.â The man added as he invited me through the glass door into the Great Hall.
Before I could cross the doorway, Captain Kiln grabbed my arm and stopped me.
âJust donât do anything stupid and things will go well. Understood?â The woman asked with a stern voice.
âUnderstood.â I replied, knowing perfectly well that doing stupid things, like jumping heads on into a dangerous world full of magic creatures, was exactly my specialty.
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2023.06.08 00:15 MerveleeMyers1girl #merveleemyers #views about #leyf MIC #abusers RINGS issues affecting me...
2023.06.08 00:12 AdamantAce The Flash #26 - Spinning in Circles
DC Next Proudly Presents: In
Top of the Heap Issue Twenty-Six: Spinning in Circles Written by
AdamantAce Edited by
Deadislandman1 << First Issue < Prev. Next Issue > Coming Next Month
Wally West woke to the first light of dawn seeping into his room at Iris's house, his bleary eyes slowly adjusting to the morning light. His room was a testament to the duality of his life: one of an ordinary teenager and the other of Kid Flash, the city's young speedster. A collection of running shoes, sole worn and treads erased, lay scattered in one corner - the Speed Force may have protected him while running, but he had nonetheless developed a nasty habit of being heavy-footed in his civilian life. His desk was buried beneath a chaotic pile of textbooks and notebooks, holding unfinished homework assignments that he could complete in the blink of an eye but always managed to put off.
Wally was never one for routine, finding comfort in the spontaneous and unpredictable. He thrived in the clutter, a trait that had only been amplified since he'd taken up the mantle of Kid Flash. His mornings were never the same, each one different from the last. Today was no different.
His morning haze was ended by a sudden knock at the front door, one he swore he recognised. Wally quickly pulled on a baseball tee and some cargo pants and rushed down the stairs. His aunt Iris had likely already begun her day, leaving Wally to face the unannounced guests himself. As he swung the door open, a blend of strained smiles and apprehension greeted himâthe faces of Mary and Rudy West, his parents. Wally felt a surge of mixed emotions. They had allowed him to leave their family home in Blue Valley, Nebraska and move to Central City at the Flashâs insistence that he be closer to the experts who would put right the seizures brought on by his unstable connection to the Speed Force, and not having seen them for quite some time he supposed he should have been happy to be greeted by them now. The truth was that - though he had never told anyone this - his destructive powers were the perfect excuse to leave an already fraught home environment.
Wally braced himself for the obligatory exchange of pleasantries. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice bereft of warmth.
"Wally, itâs so good to see you!" Mary's voice wavered between forced cheerfulness and anxiety. "We thought we'd come by to see how you're doing."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for school, son?" Rudy asked, his gaze lingering on Wally's dishevelled appearance.
Wally bit back a sharp retort, grinding his teeth in frustration. Their attempt at casual conversation felt like a charade to him, a superficial overlay on a deep-seated problem. "Yeah, I should," he said tersely, the bitterness in his voice seeping through.
Feeling suffocated by their presence, Wally seized the opportunity to escape. "I'm late for school," he declared abruptly, sidestepping his parents and heading towards the door.
"But we just got here," Rudy protested, his brows furrowed in confusion. âWe came all this way.â
"I really can't be late again," Wally called out, his voice fading as he harnessed his super-speed, his figure blurring into a streak of vibrant colours. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving his parents in the wake of his rapid departure.
đ»đș ⥠đșđ»
Wally West found himself ensnared in his own turbulent thoughts rather than his English teacherâs recanting of the complexities of Fahrenheit 451. His heart was wreathed in grief over Max's death, a persistent ache that was compounded by the alienation he felt since moving from Nebraska to Central City. His social life was a drab canvas filled with faceless classmates, void of any meaningful friendships.
His sole source of belonging lay outside the school walls, within the bright streaks of yellow and red of his Kid Flash costume. As the trusted ally of the Scarlet Speedster, Wally felt an unshakeable sense of purpose and identity. But now even his life as Kid Flash was mired in uncertainty.
Wally had always idolised the Flash, back before he knew that multiple people had captured his imagination. Now Max was dead, and Barry was changed by it and other recent tragedies. There was a strained tension in his voice, a distracted focus in his eyes that Wally couldn't ignore. He'd seen him grief-stricken over Danielâs death, and over losing Patty, but this was different.
Then there was Wallyâs destabilising connection to the Speed Force. What initially seemed like an exhilarating unpredictability had turned into a haunting uncertainty. Any time he would use his powers, it was up to chance whether today he would be running a bit faster than before, or if his entire body would be paralysed and wrought by the lightning built up inside of him. It was a heavy burden for a teenager - even one in his senior year. Yet, he understood that he was of no use to Central City or his mentor if he couldn't rely on his speed.
The shrill ring of the bell signalling the end of the fifth period mercifully severed Wally's chain of thoughts. The day was too bright, the hallway noises too loud, everything a grating reminder of how much he'd rather be anywhere else but school. When his cell phone buzzed in his backpack, Wally made a beeline to the restroom to check his messages, discovering an alert from the Flash.
âWilliam and I are tied up with something; need you to deal with a new meta at the Civic Center.â
Wally's heart pounded with a heady mix of adrenaline and anticipation. His personal struggles faded into the background as he promptly excused himself from school, evading the notice of his teachers.
Within moments, Kid Flash skidded to a halt at the Central City Civic Center. A charity fair, attended by the city's elite, including Mayor Derek Fox and his family, had been engulfed in chaos. The cheerfulness of the fair was being choked by a dense, swirling maelstrom of noxious smoke, replacing laughter with terrified screams. A new villain had made their sinister debut.
"Well, a smoky surprise party was not what I had in mind," Kid Flash quipped, attempting to alleviate the tension rippling through the crowd. Drawing a deep breath, he felt the comforting surge of lightning as he manipulated time, slowing it down enough to peer through the swirling particles of soot. Scanning the area, he caught glimpses of numerous civilians and Mayor Fox's family but found no trace of the metahuman.
Releasing time back to its normal flow, Wally felt a peculiar satisfaction in successfully employing an âadvanced speedster techniqueâ. Moving closer to the billowing smoke, his voice cut through the clamour. "Everyone! Kid Flash is here! Follow the sound of my voice!"
Sure enough, figures began emerging from the fog, running past him, all except the mayor. When Ashley Fox, a woman around Barry's age, ran up to him with panic etched on her face, Wally knew this wouldn't be an easy task. "That thing has my dad!" cried Ashley. "You have to help him!"
âI will,â nodded Kid Flash dutifully. He took a deep breath of clean air and then ventured into the smog.
Strangely enough, as he pushed through the initial threshold of the smokescreen, Wally's vision remained less impaired than expected. Though he strained to see through the veil of grey, he managed to discern a dome of smoke enclosing the centre of the square, including his own path. From several points along the wall of the smoke dome, chains or ropes of condensed soot extended downward, converging at the centre where the elderly Mayor Fox was ensnared and gagged by the solidified smoke.
A deep, echoing laugh resonated from somewhere within the smoke, sending a chill down Wallyâs spine.
"Looks like you've stumbled into the lion's den, kid," a voice echoed around him.
"So, you're the one behind this, huh?" Wally shouted back, attempting to pinpoint the origin of the voice.
"You think you can stop me, Kid Flash?" The voice bellowed from within its swirling smoky shroud, a menacing spectre harbouring a grudge.
Wally remained silent, his eyes locked on the mayor. The smoke was thick and toxic, choking the air around Mayor Fox, who coughed and spluttered. He knew he could get Fox out of there in a fraction of a second with his speed, but Smokescreen's smoke was thick, choking. If he made a wrong move at super speed, the sudden vacuum could cause the smoke to rush into Fox's lungs. A slow, suffocating death.
Suddenly, a familiar prickling sensation crawled up the base of Wally's skull. It gradually evolved into a dull ache, signaling the imminent threat of a Speed Force seizure. Gritting his teeth, he concentrated on the task at hand.
"Why are you doing this?" he called out. "You could have targeted everyone, but you specifically went after the mayor. And if it's about him, why do it in public, where a Flash wonât be far away?"
âThis isnât about the mayor,â rumbled the voice of the unknown villain. Smokescreen, Wally decided to call him. His smoke tendrils curled tighter around Fox. "This is about making them know what it feels like to be scared, powerless."
"You can't possibly mean that," Wally cried, searching for any thread to latch onto, any shred of reason that could persuade the villain to reconsider. "I thought this event was for charity!"
âSure, except it's all really for the benefit of these rich guysâ public image.â
Smokescreen's bitter words drifted through the air, his motivations becoming clearer, personal. It did nothing to justify his actions though. Whatever his grievances were, terrorising the public wasn't the answer.
Wally knew what he had to do, but the threat of a seizure loomed, ready to thwart his plans. Taking a deep breath and crossing his fingers, knowing he only had one chance at this, Wally sprinted forward, running a tight circuit around the ensnared mayor. Swiftly, winds began to whip as an air vortex formed, perfectly suited to draw the metahuman's smoke away. Time seemed to stretch into infinity, and in the singular moment Wally found himself in, his dread intensified. This was it, a seizure about to begin. His breath hitched, he didn't have time for this, not now. The smoke was thickening around him, the cries getting louder. He couldn't fail now, not with so much at stake.
Every instinct urged him to halt, but he pressed on, aware that the vortex's force could draw in more smoke. Ignoring his doubts, he clenched his fists, bracing himself for the impending pain, determined to fight it off. As time resumed and the race resumed with it, Wally didn't retreat but dove headfirst into the storm. Battling against the seizure, each passing moment amplified the agony, blurring his vision.
And then, something remarkable happened. Instead of succumbing to the seizure, he pushed past it, triggering a surge of Speed Force energy that supercharged his abilities. The golden lightning in his wake transformed into a dazzling white, propelling him to speeds he had never reached before. The vortex intensified, drawing in the smoky tendrils and hurling them high into the sky, dispersing them in the process.
The shroud lifted, and Wally turned in motion, finally catching sight of the metahuman attacker - a short, middle-aged man now cowering, knocked to the ground alongside the mayor by the intense wind tunnel conjured by Kid Flash.
Desperate, the man clenched his fists and commanded a torrent of smoke that seemed to burst from behind him, swelling as it raised upwards. Whether it was to attack him, or to hurt the mayor, Wally didnât care. Moving at unprecedented speed, Wally reached Mayor Fox before the metahuman could even choose a target. Wally swiftly covered the mayor's mouth and nose with his hand, shielding him from the noxious fumes in case his speed faltered. In an instant, he darted back to the edge of the Civic Center square.
Screeching to a halt, Kid Flash emerged from super speed. The white lightning still engulfed his frame, and though he couldn't see it, his eyes burned with intense white light. Carefully, he laid the mayor down at his daughter's feet.
âThank you!â Ashley Fox cried as she tended to her father.
Applause erupted from the crowd, cheers filling the air as Wally dashed back to apprehend the now feeble-looking Smokescreen, still reeling from the sudden dissipation of his smoky shroud. Wally's punch sent him sprawling, neutralising the threat and ensuring the mayor's safety.
Amidst the persisting cheers, the pain from the seizure gradually ebbed away, taking with it his heightened power. Wally felt like a deflating balloon, the excess energy and power seeping out like escaping helium. His heightened senses recalibrated, and the world resumed its normal speed and rhythm.
A lingering echo of the seizure, akin to the aftertaste of a potent drink, left him shivering. The hyper-awareness of his body and surroundings felt almost invasive after the distant, godlike power he had just experienced. His body, no longer buzzing with extra energy, felt heavy, as if he had been filled with lead. Each beat of his heart resounded loudly in his ears, his lungs aching from the exertion, and sweat trickling down his back, sticking his yellow suit to his skin.
The world around him, which had felt so distant, so removed, was abruptly vivid and pressing. The muffled sounds of the crowd became a cacophony of relieved murmurs and melodic jubilations. The smell of popcorn and cotton candy, once distant and faint, was now potent, mingling with the tangy scent of smoke and adrenaline in the air. He could feel every grain of dust and debris under his feet, the grit pressing into his skin through the fabric of his boots.
He felt drained and yet somehow more alive than ever, every sense heightened in the wake of the energy rush. And beneath it all, he carried a sense of satisfaction, knowing that despite the challenges posed by his unstable Speed Force connection, it had proven to be a formidable asset. Mayor Fox was safe, and the smoke villain had been defeated. As Kid Flash, Wally had conquered his personal obstacles and emerged victorious.
Yet, as Wally West, he continued to run a race against grief, responsibility, and his own fearsâa race with no discernible finish line. His only choice was to keep running, hoping to push through every wall in his path. And on this day, running felt nothing short of fantastic.
đ»đș ⥠đșđ»
The smell of brewing coffee enveloped Wally as he pushed open the door to Jitters, a comforting counterpoint to the chaos that typically defined his world. Amidst the hum of murmured conversation and clattering cups, the speedster found a slow-paced sanctuary, an oddly soothing anchor in a life measured in Mach speeds.
The barista behind the counter was a fresh face amid the familiar, a girl around Wallyâs age with wavy hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, her name tag identifying her as âRosieâ. He had caught her in the midst of latte artistry, hands steady as she crafted a foam rosetta, her tongue peeking out at the corner of her mouth in concentrated effort.
"New here?" Wally asked, not really expecting anything. Friends were not something he had come to anticipate in this city. He was more comfortable confronting supervillains than making small talk, which was likely why Wally West remained mostly a stranger to everyone at his school.
Rosie's gaze shifted, disrupting the intricate art on her latte canvas. "Started this week," she responded, affixing a lid to the slightly marred latte before sending it down the counter. There was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, quickly replaced by humour. "What about you? A regular?"
"Trying to be," Wally confessed, a smirk playing on his lips at the absurdity of it. "People rush in for caffeine, Iâm here to catch my breath."
Rosie chuckled, her eyes gleaming with an unexpected understanding. "Quite the paradox."
A familiar cover caught his eye - a copy of the graphic novel 'Astra Nebula' nestled by the register. "You're into 'Astra Nebula'? Kind of avant-garde, isnât it?"
Her eyes lit up with passion as she set aside her work. "I love it! How they weave so much real world commentary into these strange planets and their stories is⊠well, I donât know how they do it. Wait till you get to Volume Three."
Wally blinked. His perception of 'Astra Nebula' was far less complex, focused on the high-octane action, and not on the layers of social commentary. "Yeah, the subtext is⊠pretty loaded," he offered, hoping his words rang true.
A knowing grin spread across Rosie's face as she let out a soft laugh. "You're in it for the space battles, aren't you?"
Wally blushed, his laughter joining hers. "You got me."
A fleeting connection, punctuated by shared laughter, hung between them, bridging the gap of unfamiliarity.
Just as the moment was beginning to stretch, a voice called out, signalling the end of Rosie's shift. "I need to get going," she said. "Someone else will take care of your order."
âI didnât even order yet,â Wally replied with a smirk, realising the absent-mindedness that had led their conversation.
âOh, right,â Rosie laughed, her eyes wide. âStacyâs better at the latte art anyway.â
âGuess everyone needs a mentor,â Wally suggested, keeping the atmosphere light.
âYeah, I suppose so,â Rosie agreed, moving to untie her apron. âSee you aroundâŠâ
âWally,â he filled in.
"Tomorrow, Wally?" There was a hopefulness in her voice, a hint of a budding friendship that seemed more attainable than he'd dared to hope.
He offered a nod, warmth blooming in his chest. "Yeah, see you, Rosie."
As he placed his usual order with Stacy, Wally found himself wearing an unexpected smile. Stepping out of Jitters, he couldn't help but feel the seeds of anticipation sown. Maybe Central City had something more to offer for Wally West as well as for Kid Flash. He dared to hope.
Next: Barry and William work it out in The Flash #27
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2023.06.08 00:03 anonafaun Is there a name for the extended trauma I experienced?
I am a male, who was in a relationship for 15 years with a female "Lucy" (not her real name).
The TLDR:
I was in a long intense relationship in which I discovered long-standing betrayals of unusual magnitude and complexity. My mind had to process so many memories from good, but untrue, to terrible, but true, that my mind shattered like glass into 1000's of pieces that then burned like wildfire for five months day and night, without pause, as my mind had to process terrible epiphany after epiphany of all the events I had to reinterpret.
Turns out my girlfriend has one of the personality disorders where she can live contradictory lives, and expertly lie with out lying. I.e. she believes whatever she says when she says it, so normal clues of dishonesty simply are not there.
Forgiveness:
After my own recovery, I have completely forgiven Lucy. Her disorders are the result of her own childhood traumas. I hope that one day she is able to overcome the challenges those traumas have created for her.
The question:
Is there a name for a trauma where so many deceptions are uncovered, so deeply intertwined in life over a long period, that the mind breaks up and has to process an overwhelming number of disturbing epiphanies day and night for months before it is able to start dealing with what happened?
The timeline:
For the first 11 years we lived two hours apart. It was a wonderfully intense relationship in which we were always happy to see each other, travelled often, constantly did things together and with my friends (who became her friends), spent uncountable nights talking till late hours, etc.
About five years into our relationship, Lucy trusted me enough to open up about bad behaviors in her past and shared that she thought she was a "bad" person. Before me, she had only had short relationships, cheated on every relationship, and stopped caring about each guy so suddenly and coldly that they were all badly hurt, and one of the guys couldn't make sense of it and killed himself.
Since our relationship had always gone extremely intensely well, and she was dealing with her past directly, I thought it was a good sign she was outgrowing past immaturity and irresponsibility.
I also flattered myself that my kind but assertive personality, interesting work, fitness, personality, etc., had given the relationship a longevity that helped her get past her bad patterns. You know, maybe I was special.
And that is how things played out for 11 years.
At that point my work arrangement had become too restrictive, bureaucracy and other factors of partners were leading me into a dead end. So I quit that work and moved closer to Lucy, also closer to universities that would be good for future career moves.
I assumed that seeing each other more than once or twice a week would be wonderful. But Lucy expressed some worries about my not having my interesting job, and her not having her regular escape from town that our long distance situation had provided. Even though we would still travel.
These didn't seem like problems we couldn't adapt to, to me, so I moved down.
Pretty soon Lucy began to disengage a bit. Not a huge difference, but noticeable. We still had good times, but we also spent many nights talking about relationships, and whether the romance or love ever really lasted. For me it did, she wasn't so sure.
But things were stable, and between travel, friends and family we seemed to be doing well. Just not as well.
At the thirteenth year, the distance between us began to grow more. But we had intense discussions, spent lots of time seeming to work on our relationship. But slowly but surely she began to behave erratically. She acknowledged it, and we "worked" on things, but things got crazy. Whole trips with family she would turn hateful and cold, then back again to warm and loving. She never stopped trying to work on things with me, as far as I knew.
At the end of year 15, I happened to overhear her talking as I arrived to go out with her. It was obvious she had another boyfriend I knew nothing about. Then things began unwinding fast.
For two months, I loved her so much I tried convincing her to hit pause and get counseling, but she wouldn't, so I gave up. But revelation after revelation came in. There wasn't one boyfriend, but a few, and then it wasn't the last few months, but a full two years of dozens of relationships, and regular gang bangs with local guys at my vacation home, on and on and on.
Since out relationship was so intense this seemed impossible. But I learned that virtually every interaction we had for the previous two and more years had been deeply dishonest. Money I gave her to help students afford to go on field trips (she was an elementary school teacher) went to liquor for parties. The guy who asked her to dance at a bar that I assumed was a stranger, and seemed a little surprised I was trusting for her to dance. 100's if not 1000's of little incidents changed their meaning. Nights of being sick were obviously spent otherwise.
The high level of time spent and intensity of talks and other interactions we had, now represented an astounding web of lies and deception, beyond anything my mind could comprehend.
My mind had been like a magnet with a million particles all consistently aligned in a coherent direction representing a consistent view of a girlfriend, having temporary challenges with romantic feelings, but working with me to maintain a deeply loving relationship, in a context of a rich life.
But suddenly, every one of these interactions, incidents, implications, had completely opposite, and as I experienced it, horrifying interpretations. Every epiphany of what something really meant, led to a dozen other unthinkable epiphanies, in an overwhelming explosion of reconsideration and processing of what all meant.
It was as if my brain had suddenly caught fire, and the maelstrom just burned and burned as my mind tried to come to terms with every aspect of every betrayal, but it couldn't do it all at once. My mind needed to process every dichotomy, all in the context that the view I had before was deeply intertwined with happiness and a love I still strongly felt. While the mirror image was horrifying, depressing, humiliating, with the only thing recommending it was that it was the true image.
For four or five months, my brain felt horrendous pain all day, every day. Every night was nothing but nightmares, which only ended when I woke up into what was the worst nightmare for me.
I knew I was going to kill myself. There was no doubt. I was so grateful for life, and all the good things life had given me, but this wasn't something I could survive. It was something that made me grateful for life, but also grateful to go into a final sleep.
Fortunately, one friend somehow knew just how be there for me or I would be gone. She would show up with concern when she hadn't heard from me, put her hand on my shoulder, which was the best feeling in the world. She went on a trip with me that I had planned on not coming back. And on the trip, she f**cked my pain away, or at least down to a manageable level.
I owe her my life, and have good memories of that trip. She says it was a horrible time, but she wasn't going to let me go. I will never be able to describe the depth of my gratitude to her.
So here is my question: That process where my mind had to overturn so many interconnected beliefs, from happy but false interpretations of being loved despite joint challenges, to horrifying but true interpretations of being brutally used, is there a name for that? It had to run its course for months, as every bad epiphany triggered other bad epiphanies that I had to process in order, and over and over, before my mind was able to make sense of my life again.
Other than describe it as a firestorm that wouldn't end, the onset also felt like my brain was safety glass that had suddenly shattered into 1000's of tiny pieces, and I had no idea who I was. It was only after months of the ranging mind fire cooled that I was able to slowly piece back together a new version of me.
This seems like something that might not be common, but must have happened to other people.
Does anyone have a name or reference for anything like this?
After story:
I am fine now, but different. I had PTSD for a while, where I would explode and only be aware of it after about 10 seconds or so, then calm down and be terribly confused as to what I was doing. But that has faded. I definitely feel aftershocks, and sensitivities, but I seem to be doing ok. Best of all, I am genuinely happy these days, with a life I like.
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2023.06.08 00:02 Malakute Still looking for binoculars, worth considering IF binoculars?
Hi there guys, this is my second post here.
Here's the old post for reference
I realized that perhaps the wording on the post was confusing. I learned quite a bit lately and had to adjust my parameters.
I realized that having just an all-around pair of binos for keeping watch at my facility wasn't a very good idea. Since summer and the facility will close for maintenance soon, I've scrapped the idea. I will buy a smaller pair when September rolls out, since the place is well lit there will be no problem in using a pair with smaller lenses.
So now I am mostly focused on personal use, basically scout places and people from afar, at both day and night. Thanks to an user that got his post removed, I learned about 7x50 binoculars. While they would sacrifice range, they would allow me to see better at night. Since we're talking about 120-180⏠and this being a big commitment, I've been obsessively reading about binos, and I learned that there are binoculars that have Individual Focus. Basically instead of having a focusing wheel, you adjust the focusing rings on each lens. This allows you to basically just set and forget, while sacrificing close range viewing distance.
To me this is not a problem because I do not plan on watching from less than 20 meters of distance, and since that design is less prone to water exposure, even better. It is important to mention that while I'm nearsighted, I only wear glasses to drive.
Hope I'm not wearing your patience thin, but it's really a big commitment for me. I might just buy a tripod while I'm at it. Should I consider IF binoculars?
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2023.06.07 23:58 Gel_007 The Founding Chapter 6
June 10th, 327
Itâs been a bit since Iâve written here. I decided to give Augustine a looser leash and I allowed him to explore the outside world as long as he knew what he was doing.
June 11th, 327
Augustine said he had something to tell me later tonight, heâd been exploring almost every day now, the active sense of adventure that boy has honestly impresses me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A: Hey Zach
Z: Hey whatâs up?
A: I wanna tell you about something I found while I was exploring the other day.
Z: Spill then.
A: Alright, so as I was playing around with my long distance teleportation spell and I ended up on the base of a large mountain range. It was strange as I couldnât teleport all the way to the top, it was like something within the very mountainâs mineral makeup was negating my attempts to teleport up to its peak. So I decided to scale the mountain the old fashion way: climbing it. Thanks to the enhancements given to me by that project I scaled the mountain in no time, and the other side? It was like nothing the world has ever seen, the mountain range was hiding a large gulf of water, a large island placed just within the gulf, lush forest and 2 large mountains towards the center, a place that seemed untouched by time itself. It could be the perfect place to permanently hide from the Templar, after all we can only hide in this cabin for so long before they eventually find us.
I was certainly surprised at the fact that he was able to scale an entire mountain with seemingly very little effort, but what interested me more was the island he discovered. He claimed it looked âuntouchedâ but the higher ups at the Templar claimed they have colonized nearly all the available land in this world so to have an entire island be left untouched is almost like foreign concept, something of legend.
Z: An untouched island? Not only untouched but also unheard of. The Templar said theyâve colonized all known land in this world.
A: I know! But I couldnât see any mana towers among the trees or any humans from the peak of the mountains.
Z: Well if still untouched after all this time, chances are that they wonât find it anytime soon.
A: exactly! A place where the Templar will never reachâŠ
solemn look Z: What's wrong Augustine? The memories and thoughts haunting you again?
A: yea, Iâm sorry to constantly bother you with them but Iâve kept them contained for too long
Z: Hey, hey itâs alright. Youâve never been a bother at all, helping you deal with your issues is what friends are for.
A: I appreciate it Zach, for the longest time Elock was really the only friend Iâve ever had so itâs enlightening hearing someone else say that, to this day I still wonder where she is today and if sheâs even alive! I used to have nightmares where I would meet her again just to discover that sheâs-
Z: itâs alright, Iâm sure she thinks about you every day too and most likely wonders the same every night.
A: Yeah I know, but itâs hard remaining optimistic in this world with the whole war between humans and keidran going on.
Z: Well to me that island sounds like a great place to start.
A: agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Augustine and I agreed to visit the island he found beyond the mountains tomorrow, he thinks itâll be the perfect place to hide from the Templar.
June 12th, 327
Augustine said that the mountain range was incredibly far, about days worth of running in Augustineâs estimation, so teleporting there is just another thing to add to the list of things he impresses me with. While the material the mountain range is composed of prevents any magic from directly interacting with them, they donât extend beyond that, so Augustine offered to fly us up there using a telekinetic spell.
Turns out Augustine is only used to telekinetically lifting one item, how do I know? Because he accidentally dropped me. Luckily I landed in a tree. After traversing both sides of the mountain and making it across the water, we arrived on the island at last and man Augustine wasnât lying. It truly was beautiful, lush fruit bearing trees, 2 large mountains and not even the smallest hint of Templar interference!
We headed further inland and decided to stay at the valley between the 2 mountains with Augustine immediately getting to work and hacking away at the tree with the guardâs sword. After a few hours of work, Augustine already had a large pile of planks with me barely keeping up and Augustine teasing me about it, oh Iâm sorry not everyone is a magically enhanced super soldier.
It was beginning to grow dark and we made the decision to head back to the cabin for today and continue the build some later time. Augustine made a waypoint in the cabin so getting back was easy though it had some issues as it took a while to activate. I took a rock sample from the mountains to analyze back at the cabin.
June 13th, 327
This was fascinating! The rock sample I took had incredibly unique properties never before seen! Its primary ability was âabsorbingâ sources of mana. I had stabbed one of our mana crystals into the rock and I observed as it broke down the crystal over the course of an hour! This explains why Augustine couldnât teleport up the mountain. So even if the Templar did find the mountain they would never get over it, even with the most powerful mages magic.
Augustine had gone out to town again, he said it was to pick up building tools to help shore up the house we were building. He claimed he could handle it on his own and despite me wanting to protest, I let him go through with it. Unfortunately the town we went to around a week ago didnât have a hardware store as any construction must run through Lulio first, so Augustine had to head to the neighboring town to see if he could find anything there.
~~~~~~~~~~
(Cut to Augustineâs pov)
Thoughts: âugh cmon how hard could a hardware store be to find, it feels like Iâve been searching for hours already!â
sees sign with a hammer on it âGah! Finally!â
heads inside Shopkeeper: Greetings sir! How may I assist you today?
âUhh itâs alright I can handle it on my own, thanks for the offer though!â
Thoughts: this time the illusion should last longer as these mana crystals are fresh rather than being recharged.
grabs a large amount of nails, 2 hammers, some axes to preserve his sword, saws, sand paper, and stone blocks Shopkeeper: Oh my sir, this is an awful load that youâll have to carry on your own, are you sure you can handle it?
âYes Iâm sureâŠâ
Shopkeeper: Are you sure? We have a policy that allows you to rent slaves to help you with whatever youâre working on.
âNo, n-â
(Shopkeep rings a bell to send a slave to the front before Augustine could interject)
Thoughts: are you kidding me? Gahhh cmon Zack is waiting for me and I donât wanna keep him on the line!
Female voice: coming!
Augustine:
frustrated and staring at the floor Shopkeeper: How about this one? Hard worker she is, very cooperative, very friendly.
Augustine:
looks up Elock: hello sir! How may I assist you today?
shivering Thoughts: E- Elock?! When?! How?! I thought you worked for a farmer?! I canât say anything, it'll reveal my identity to the worker! Okay, okay, okay just keep it calm!
âI- uh
stuttering I changed my mind! She can help me, Iâll take her!â
Shopkeeper: Iâm not surprised, sheâs gone from owner to owner as sheâs quite a hard worker, sheâs worth a lot of money after being traded so many times before ending up at my place. 1000G for 7 days.
âI- yes Iâll take herâ
Shopkeeper: perfect!
exits with supplies and Elock ~~~~~~~~~~
Elock looking at Augustineâs wanted poster:
solemn âSomething wrong?â
Elock: oh! N-nothing! Itâs just these ropes binding my hands are just a bit tight! And W-where are we heading sir? Weâre outside of town at this point and I- uh-
A:
chuckles a bit youâre still just as bad as ever at hiding your nervousness
Elock Elock: Ah- I- how do you know my name?!
A:
unties the rope and disables illusion Itâs been a while, wouldnât you agree?
Elock in shock and on the verge of tears: IâŠAâŠ
trembling, mouth slightly ajar in shock A: what? Cat got your tongue? Well I guess thatâs true consid-
Elock:
pounces on him AUGUSTINE! Iâve missed you so much!How have you been?!Where did you-
starts talking so fast that even Augustine couldnât keep up with what she was saying and weeping happy tears profusely on his shirt A:
slightly choking from how tight sheâs hugging him itâs okay, itâs okay! Iâve missed you too. I almost thought you were gonna be de- ow ow! Stop it I was kidding!
Elock:
blep I know. Not a single day went by where I didnât think about you! And say weren't your eyes brown before?
A: Iâm flattered that you still remember and wellâŠitâs kind of a long storyâŠbut first letâs retreat to safety.
teleports with Elock ~~~~~~~~~~
A: âŠand then I ended up here
Elock: Thatâs incredible! You sure had been on a wild cart ride while I was gone! I wish I could have been there.
A: It's not as glamorous as it sounds, that experiment was agony incarnate, itâs a wonder I survived! In fact I was the only one who came out alive, though the powers I got bestowed with are certainly nothing to complain about but still the effects after weâre brutal.
Elock: glad you did, the way you and Zach escaped the facility was incredible.
A: well he can tell you all about it
points to cabin weâve arrived
Zach opens door A: Hey Zach, Iâm back from my shopping spree.
Z: Augustine what took you so long? The plan was to just get the supplies and get out.
A: I know! But I got a bit off track. I found someone very special.
Elock:
pokes head through the door Mrow?
A: meet Elock, remem-
Z: her! The keidran you met when you were 10?
A: yup
to Elock itâs alright Elock itâs fine he wonât bite.
Elock: H- hello sir.
Z: please call me Zach. Itâs a pleasure.
shakes hand Elock: itâs a nice place you 2 have here.
A: It was by sheer luck that we found this place actually.
Z: Yeah, the blast was much larger than weâd anticipated and even if my house remained intact, theyâd still come searching for me.
Elock: Well lucky you found this place when you did.
A: Are you hungry Elock? We have some steak leftovers.
Elock: oh, I am actually, thank you!
Z: say ElockâŠ
Elock: yes?
Z: Would you mind telling us your journey? Iâd love to learn.
A: Zach!
Z: Right, sorry.
Elock: No, no Augustine, itâs alright. I donât mind in the slightest.
Life in the rainforest regions was paradise, plenty of food, clean sources of water, plenty of building materials, and a beautiful sight to wake up to everyday. My parents worked directly under the matriarch, Lektra(keidran for bolt/thunder) so me being born was almost as exciting as the coronation of the matriarch herself. Unfortunately that swiftly came to a close when Lulio decided to use our home as farmland and despite protests from Lektra, Lulio still went through with the plan. In a flash everything was pretty much destroyed. Our warriors tried to fight back but were eliminated instantly, I was about 3 when this happened and the memory still burns strong to this day.
Augustine:
muttering under his breath psychotic bastardâŠ
Elock: I know how you feel, Augustine, trust me I do.
A: I know, Iâm sorry
Elock:
holds his hand It's alright.
After the destruction of my people and my home, I was sent into the town and stayed in a keidran only home until my 4th birthday. Instead of pleasant accommodations like human orphan homes, all we got was a pillow and some sheets to make ourselves comfortable with, most of us slept on the hardwood floor and it was unbearable. Lulio passed a law where keidran as young as 4 would be eligible for work. After my 4th birthday I was almost immediately whisked off to work on a farm, while the job was tough, they at least gave me my own room and bed, one of their guests even took a small liking to me but tragically he died of a lung infection.
Z: I lament your journey and loss Elock, I canât imagine how tough this was to bear all at once.
Elock: please itâs okay, you donât have to apologize for anything. None of this is any of your wrongdoing.
Z: You said your people were killed but what about your parents? Did they survive too?
Elock: Oh right! My parents were spared as they opted to surrender peacefully and they were sold to different owners. I used to occasionally see them from time to time but after I moved I had to say a tearful goodbye to both them and Augustine.
playfully pinches his cheek Z: Youâre strong for getting through that, not many could take that much.
Elock: I appreciate that.
Z: Do you have any idea where your parents are right now?
Elock: I think theyâre still in the same tow- Augustine? Are you okay?
A:
on the other hand gripping the table so hard that it was gonna break, eyes with a look of both confusion and rage Elock: Augustine?
A: I- I saw themâŠ
Elock: What do you mean?
A: They were thereâŠin the same room.
Elock: Are you talking about the operation?
A: Y- yesâŠI saw them, both of them. They were in the operation too, part of the 10 keidrans selected to be in the experiment. I briefly saw them looking at me, they were scared but I couldnât do a damn thing to help them and now they're dead!
slowly growing hysterical Elock: Augustine!
A:
snaps out of his hysterics Elock: itâs not your fault! Neither of you have to feel guilty!
A: I know, but I just wish I could have done something to help them, but I was just a powerless child.
Z: Augustine. We all wish we could have done something to stop Lulioâs plan, we all feel the same way just please donât put all the blame on yourself.
A: I know, I'm sorryâŠ
Elock: itâs alrightâŠweâre all here to support you, you got hit the hardest out of all so you should be the one to be the one who receives sympathy.
A: âŠthanks guys, It feels like itâs been so long since Iâve heard something so comforting.
Elock: donât worry, weâll never leave and when we do, weâll leave together.
A: âŠoh! Elock, I hate to do this but would you mind helping us with something? We found a place that could be our key to salvation.
Elock: Of course! I donât mind in the slightest.
A:
teleports all 3 of them via waypoint ~~~~~~~~~~
Elock:
in awe of the island IâŠthis is incredible! It reminds me so much of my home! And you were right! Thereâs no hint of Templar activity at all!
A: We were just as shocked as you are right now when we first found it. I mean like Zach said, the Templar claimed that they have settled on all available land in this world.
Elock: Well then, letâs make good use of this place, so letâs get to work!
A: I couldn't have said it better myself.
hours later, the trio had finished building a moderate sized wooden house A: woo! Not bad for a day's work, am I right?
Elock: MrrrrâŠman that was a nice workout!
Z: Tell me about it!
A: So Elock, should we tell Zach?
Elock: I think so!
Z: Tell meâŠwhat?
A: WellâŠon the way here, Elock and I started thinking and we were thinking of a way we could free other slaves from their captors.
Z:
sigh⊠well at this point, I know better than to criticize your plan before even hearing it so go ahead, spill it on me.
A:
Operation: torchwick âââââ
- Elock would be our messenger, using her spare time to get any other slaves on board with the plan, amassing as many as possible.
- On the large hill next to the town, we plant a large amount of gray mana crystals. Where downhill wind will carry the effect down into the town
(Gray mana crystals were created for a special purpose, making large smokescreens on the battlefield)
- I would then use a spell that emits a light that canât be perceived by humans but can be seen by keidrans and basitins alike, Which would act as the signal to go for it.
- The group would then head towards the light where we would then break for the mountains as fast as possible.
(Unfortunately the waypoint spell barely lasts for even a few days, and teleporting a large group of people via waypoint could be tough even for me)
I would then use as much of my power as possible to telekinetic lift as many refugees as possibl-
Z: YeahâŠconsidering that you almost dropped me off the side of the mountain, I think even you would have trouble lifting a bunch of slaves.
A: hey!
Elock: Mreeheehee!
A: anyways! After we figure out a way to get everyone up there, weâll be untouchable!
Z: huhâŠwell from one chaotic strategist to another, itâs worth a shot.
A: Perfect! See Elock?
Elock: mew?
A: I kept the promise I made, all those years ago! when we meet again, itâll be your freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also for anyone who wants to know a bit more about Elock:
Name: Elock of the rainforest leopards
Species: rainforest leopard
Languages: human, keidran
Physical characteristics: yellow fur, black nose marking, black rosettes running down back and onto tail, unusually big and poofy tail, butter yellow hair with black streaks, faint outline of heart pattern on her behind
Height: 5â4â
Age: 9 years(was 4 when she met Augustine)
Eye color: emerald green
Mental characteristics:
-Quick learner
-Eager to help
-Bad at hiding panic
-Imaginative
-Heart of gold
-Shy but slowly growing out of it
-Optimistic
Likes: adventure, rain, storytelling, being adored, helping, hugs(especially from Augustine), pouncing on people she cares about.
Dislikes: slavery, Templar(although not as intensely as most others)
Unlike most, Elock had the ability to both read and write prior to slavery, being taught by both her parents and Lektra herself. Spending most of her time reading and drawing using whatever material she could find.
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2023.06.07 23:39 Budget_Break_3923 Forgot the name to an old Archery game
There's a game i played, must have been 10 years or so ago, which was amazing, but i can't remember the name nor can i find it in my play store history. The game is as follows:
The game starts off in first person view. You're holding your bow and you can aim it around. You can't run around or anything, your character is stationary in this one spot. Once you aim and shoot your arrow, it changes into a 3rd person view of the arrow, and you can adjust it's direction as it flies through the air. Your goal would be to fly through the air, dodge whatever obstacles are in the way, and attack the level boss. You would start the level with a certain amount of arrows, i dont remember how many but it wasnt just one, maybe 15 or so.
There are secrets and items which can be found in the levels. Some include coins, where some i believe would give you a new weapon or speed boost to your arrow.
There were many different bows to purchase and discover, each with different speeds, max range, and damage.
At the far reaches of the level, there was a level boss. Some giant beast which you would need to defeat to access the next level. If you cant beat him, you would still keep whatever gold you earned in the level. Like any good game, the boss would have weak point which would do more damage, and could also defend itself by hitting the arrow out of the air if you dont dodge it.
If anybody knows what game this is, i would be as thrilled as can be, it was awesome and i miss it.
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2023.06.07 23:38 casioF-91 Megathread: Legal resources
Megathread: Legal resources
Introduction Nau mai! Haere mai! Welcome to
LegalAdviceNZ. The
general purpose of this subreddit is to provide free and simple local legal advice to those who need it. Reddit can never be a true substitute for qualified advice from experienced lawyers - but there is a community need for easy access to basic, informed legal commentary. Thatâs why we are here.
If you are new to this subreddit, please review the rules in the sidebar and be aware that this is a heavily moderated sub. Content must be on-topic.
This megathread sets out some of the helpful legal resources available around New Zealand. Most of these are freely available. This list is categorised into 10 sectors: Civil disputes, Consumer protection, Criminal, Employment, Family, Healthcare, Housing, Property, Traffic, and Constitutional & Government. There is also a general resources section at the start, with several organisations that provide guidance and information on most legal issues.
0. General resources - 0.0 New Zealand Legislation https://www.legislation.govt.nz/ (The authoritative source of law - Acts, Bills & secondary legislation. You can read and download any of these for free.)
- 0.1 Community Law https://communitylaw.org.nz/free-legal-help/ (Free legal help throughout New Zealand.)
- 0.2 Citizens Advice Bureau https://www.cab.org.nz/ (a nationwide, but locally based, community organisation, helping people to know and understand their rights and obligations, and how to use this information to get the best outcomes.)
- 0.3 New Zealand Law Society https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/for-the-public/common-legal-issues/ (the NZLS guide to common legal issues, and where you can go to find a lawyer)
- 0.4 Youth Law Aotearoa https://youthlaw.co.nz/free-legal-help/ (a free community law centre for children and young people nationwide, providing free legal services to anyone aged under 25 who are unable to access legal help elsewhere, or those acting on their behalf. The only organisation operating across NZ where children and young people can access free legal services just for them.)
1. Civil disputes 1.1 Ministry of Justice Civil Law:
https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/civil/ (Civil cases can include disputes over business contracts or debts, or disputes between neighbours, or debt recovery.)
1.2 Disputes Tribunal:
https://www.disputestribunal.govt.nz/ (The Disputes Tribunal is a quick and cost-effective way to settle disputes.)
2. Consumer protection 2.1 Consumer NZ
https://www.consumer.org.nz/ (an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to getting New Zealanders a fairer deal.)
2.2 Consumer Protection
https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/ (MBIE's online guide to NZ laws that protect you when buying from, or sharing your information with, businesses selling in New Zealand, including online retailers.)
2.3 NZ Govt - Consumer Rights & Complaints
https://www.govt.nz/browse/consumer-rights-and-complaints/ (NZ Government's general information on consumer rights.)
3. Criminal 3.1 Ministry of Justice Criminal Law sector
https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/regulatory-stewardship/regulatory-systems/criminal-law/ (encompasses the definition, deterrence, and punishment of criminal conduct. What is and isnât acceptable conduct in our society.)
3.2 Ministry of Justice Criminal Law
https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/criminal/ 3.3 Victims Information
https://www.victimsinfo.govt.nz/ (for people affected by crime)
3.4 Victim Support
https://victimsupport.org.nz/ (a free, nationwide support service for people affected by crime, trauma, and suicide in New Zealand, helping clients find safety, healing, and justice after crime and other traumatic events.)
3.5 Healthline's Sexual Assault Resource Guide
https://www.healthline.com/health/sexual-assault-resource-guide#online-forums-and-support (We hope this guide can serve as a resource in your time of need and answer any questions you may have about what to do next.)
4. Employment 4.1 Employment New Zealand
https://www.employment.govt.nz/ (MBIE's resources that may help you find out more about the different laws that apply to employment relationships and how the Employment Relations Authority and the courts apply that law.)
4.2 NZ Council of Trade Unions - your rights
https://union.org.nz/rights/ (Everyone has the right to decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Unions ensure that, as a worker, your voice is heard, your views are respected and your rights under the law are upheld.)
4.3 NZ Govt - Workers Rights
https://www.govt.nz/browse/work/workers-rights/when-you-have-a-problem-at-work/ (NZ Government's guide - if you have a problem at work talk to your boss directly. If you cannot solve it you can get help from government and other organisations)
5. Family 5.1 Ministry of Justice Family Law
https://www.justice.govt.nz/family/ 5.2 Family Court website
https://www.districtcourts.govt.nz/family-court/ (information about the Family Court jurisdiction, including what we do, useful legislation, and tips on how to find Family Court judgments.)
5.3 Search for a Legal Aid lawyer providing family law services:
https://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/going-to-court/legal-aid/get-legal-aid/can-i-get-family-or-civil-legal-aid/apply-for-family-or-civil-legal-aid/get-a-family-or-civil-legal-aid-lawye 6. Healthcare 6.1 Medical Council of New Zealand
https://www.mcnz.org.nz/support/support-for-patients/your-rights-as-a-patient/ (The Code of Rights applies to both public and private facilities, and to both paid and unpaid services. It gives you as a patient, the right to be treated with respect, receive appropriate care, have proper communication, and be fully informed so you can make an informed choice.)
6.2 Ministry of Health
https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/your-rights (When you use a health or disability service, your rights are protected by the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumersâ Rights.)
6.3 Health and Disability Commissioner
http://www.hdc.org.nz/ (The Health and Disability Commissioner promotes and protects people's rights as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights. This includes resolving complaints in a fair, timely, and effective way.)
7. Housing 7.1 Tenancy Services
https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/ (MBIE's Tenancy information for landlords and tenants.)
7.2 Housing Advice Centre
https://housingadvice.org.nz/advice/ (We can help! We are a free independent service. We can help you out of homelessness. We can support you in fulfilling obligations to maintain housing obligations. We provide education for agencies and case workers on the tenancy act and how to assist homeless persons.)
7.3 Renters United
https://rentersunited.org.nz/help/ (Renters United is focused on changing laws to make renting better for everyone, and donât provide support with particular renting situations. However, there are some places listed here by Renters United that you can turn to for support.)
7.4 Tenant Aratohu NZ
https://tenant.aratohu.nz/ (Support and guidance for tenants and their advocates.)
8. Property 8.1 NZ Law Society Property Law for the Public
https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/branches-sections-and-groups/property-law-section/property-law-for-the-public/ (Lawyers are trained to understand and advise on the implications of buying and selling property. Buying and selling a property extends far beyond the transfer of legal title. Your reasons for buying and selling, your family and financial circumstances, your plans and expectations for your own future and that of your family, and what happens to the property when you die are just some of the issues a property lawyer will consider and discuss with you)
8.2 Real Estate Authority - Settled
https://www.settled.govt.nz/ (valuable information, checklists, quizzes, videos and tools â from understanding LIMs and to sale and purchase agreements, to when to contact a lawyer, settled.govt.nz explains what you need to know)
8.3 Consumer NZ - Neighbourhood disputes
https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/neighbourhood-disputes (There are a number of laws that may assist with common neighbourhood problems such as noise, rubbish, fencing and tree problems. Some practical solutions to resolving them.)
9. Traffic 9.1 Waka Kotahi NZTA - Road Code
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/roadcode/general-road-code/ (A user-friendly guide to New Zealand's traffic law and safe driving practices.)
10. Constitutional & Government 10.1 Governor-General
https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/roles-and-functions-governor-general/constitutional-role/constitution/constitution (New Zealand's constitution is not found in one document. It has a number of sources, including crucial pieces of legislation, legal documents, common law derived from court decisions as well as established constitutional practices. Increasingly, New Zealand's constitution reflects the Treaty of Waitangi.)
10.2 Electoral Commission
https://elections.nz/ (Supporting you to trust, value, understand and take part in New Zealand's democracy.)
10.3 Te Tari Taiwhenua Internal Affairs
https://www.localcouncils.govt.nz/ (Local government in New Zealand, including sector-wide statistics, the relationship between central and local government, and how you can participate in local government policy decisions.)
10.4 Citizens Advice Bureau - Bill of Rights Act
https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00001324 (What are my rights under the Bill of Rights Act?)
10.5 Office of the Privacy Commissioner
https://www.privacy.org.nz/ (The Privacy Act 2020 is New Zealand's main privacy law. The Act primarily governs personal information about individual people, but the Privacy Commissioner can consider developments that affect personal privacy more widely.)
Mod notes The above list is a basic, non-exhaustive guide to some free online New Zealand resources. Descriptions have been taken from websites listed. Please let the mods know if any links are not working, if you are aware of a free helpful legal resource that is not in this megathread, or with any other suggestions.
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2023.06.07 23:25 WhadayaBuyinStranger Peppermint Pork
Brian was sitting in his armchair watching conspiracy theory videos sprinkled with ones about the paranormal, as he does most nights for several hours, when he was overcome by a sudden primal hunger near impossible to ignore. His stomach felt like it was imploding. He shoved the feeling down deeper and kept watching. This time, it was an interview with very contrarian physicist and philosophy enthusiast.
"What if I told you the universe isn't real? In what is called a bio-centrist view, consciousness is all that exists, and everything around us is just like a user-interface that our brains make and give our senses. If a tree falls in the forrest and nobody is around to hear it, not only does it not make a sound, but it doesn't even exist until a conscious observer walks past it."
"Ok, um, is any of this provable? This all sounds a little woo-woo for me," his guest replied.
"It is. In fact, the famous double-slit experiment we discussed with our last guest definitively proved that the universe isn't defined until a conscious observer witnesses it. Reductionists used to argue consciousness is an illusion, but ironically, we now know there is consciousness but we do not know there is anything else. So, one could say the outside world is an illusion. What we believe to be patterns that reliably predict how the universe should work all fall apart on the quantum level. My very efficient machine of a brain constructs a framework for understanding what's around me, but I only see what fits into that framework. If you give someone with bipolar disorder an optical illusion, they will not be deceived by the illusion because their brain works differently, and the illusion was built for you and I. All of what us neurotypical people see is a shared illusion because we have similar constructs for interpretting the world. The real universe could be far more bizarre than we give it credit for."
The video ended, and with a deep breath, he pried himself from his armchair and stumbled into the kitchen. In his freezer were the remains of a pulled pork sandwich. Fighting his most basic carnal desires, he stared at it sitting in the freezer as cool refreshing fog surrounded it and gave an almost other-worldly ambiance to this heavenly meat.
In an instant, this 145lb 6'2" man's resolve shattered. He grabbed a plate, threw the entire sandwich in the microwave, and in only 90 seconds there was nothing standing between him and satiety. He sat at the table with a fork and knife, prepared to take small bites and savor each moment when just as suddenly as the urge to feed overcame him, a stronger urge not to compelled him to get up from the table and prepare for bed, putting the entire event to rest. He didn't put it back in the freezer but left it out, figuring the rotting smell would ruin his taste for the meat.
The next two days, he tried to eat various foods such as dried fruits, protein bars, vegetables, and small servings of oatmeal. He could barely get any of it down. All the while, this rotting meat was sitting on his kitchen table during a particularly hot week of summer, attracting flies.
Brian worked from home, but the quality of his work had been suffering lately. Barely having the energy to work, he sat at his computer and tried to focus on the task at hand when he heard a wet plop. He looked behind him and saw the dinner plate face down on the floor with his sandwich from several nights ago underneath. He slowly got up and attempted to clean up the mess when one of the most incredible events in mankind's history happened to this frail man in a crumbling old Kansas City apartment. His food spoke to him.
"Freeze me," it said.
"But you're a sandwich. Sandwiches don't talk."
"Brian, listen closely. I am God, and I can take many forms. Who are you to question me? If I wish to take this form and ask you to help me preserve it, you shall do as I ask."
"Alright," sighed Brian. He put the sandwich in the freezer. Then, he watched an episode of King of Queens and went to bed.
The next morning, he opened the freezer to check on his new friend, but it just sat there lifeless.
A couple weeks went by with nothing. Brian resumed his work and watched his videos. Everything became fairly routine again until he again felt what he called "an unholy cramping" in his stomach. He got up from the chair and managed to fight the temptation to disobey the sandwich for a few more minutes. He knew he couldn't hold it off forever. Again, he resisted the urge to feed, and again he left it out for several days only to be shocked that his sandwich spoke to him. It felt like it was happening for the first time. Even though the last time it happened was less than a month ago, it was barely a vague memory. Brian once again followed the orders of the sandwich and refroze it.
This cycle would soon be broken though. A few months later, a new family moved in next door and caught him in the hallway as he went to get his mail.
"Oh hi! I'm Susan. We just moved into 2C."
"Brian, I'm in 2D."
"Oh, so we're neighbors then!!!" she exclaimed and rushed in for a hug. "We just moved here from Sydney and are absolutely love this city's zoo! There is so much to do in this town. What are some good restaurants you'd recommend?"
"Oh, I don't eat out. I make my own food."
"Smart. I bet that's how you stay so fit. Listen, my husband Kyle and I would love to invite you over to our new place for a homecooked meal," Susan said with a warm motherly tone.
"Ok, can I bring my own food?"
"S- sure. Is 7pm tonight good?"
"Yeah, see you then" Brian said hurriedly as he darted back to his apartment, trying to give the vibe he was too busy to chat.
He stared blankly at his kitchen cabinets with a mounting sense of pressure. He would NOT eat whatever she prepares. He can't comtrol the calories, the macronutrients, the portions, any of it, and he knew if he were to arrive empty-handed, he'll have to eat whatever they prepare. He couldn't find anything hearty enough to look like a meal though. All he had in his cabinets were nuts, vegetables, and some protein bars. He knew there was only one food in his home that fit the bill. It will look like a normal dish, and then he can pretend he isn't feeling so he won't need to eat it. Such an excuse would be insulting if he doesn't eat their food, but who cares if he claims he's sick and won't eat food he brought?.
"But the smell. What will you do to cover the smell?" his sandwich asked him.
"Spices! I'll cover you in spices. The strongest smelling spices. He doused the sandwich in peppermint extract, which surprisingly, did fully cover the scent of rotting meat.
He spent the afternoon bathing it in a large bowl filled with peppermint extract. It was the strongest bonding moment the two of them had so far. They both were singing. Brian grabbed a toothbrish and whimsically pretended to be scrubbing it down. He had never had such a genuine connection with anyone before.
"Brian, do you trust me?"
He nodded.
"I require proof. Make a small incision on your hand and place a piece of me in it. We are blood brothers."
Hesitantly, Brian obliged, and he shoved a small piece of this maggot-infested minty meat into his hand and promptly poured alcohol on it. He then bandaged up the wound. As he sat in his favorite armchair waiting for the dinner with his new friends, he thought to himself "I'm so glad I'm trained in first-aid. Most people wouldn't be prepared for this and wouldn't even think to rinse the wound with alcohol."
As the meal time approached, Brian changed the bandage, put on his formal attire, and reheated the sandwich once more to freshen it up.
He rang the doorbell and was already starting to form pit stains through his one dress shirt.
"Hi, come in! This is my husband Kyle."
"Brian."
"Pleased to meat you, Brian. Please, take a seat. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Water please," Brian replied as he sat at the table.
The lunch sack he brought the sandwich in began to squirm. "Brian? Briiiiii-an... did you hear what the man said? Pleased to meat you? He knows. He has one of my brethren in his fridge. He calls it his meat-mate. His wife gets jealous. That's why she's so bubbly around you. She wants to make him jealous. Introduce me to his meat-mate. We can sort all this out."
Susan started looking concerned. "Brian? Are you ok? Hello? What happened to your hand?"
Kyle's demeanor quickly changed from one of sociable hospitality to distrust. He could tell there was something off about Brian.
Picking up on this, Brian attempted to build rapport. "I'm fine, really. It was just an accident in the kitchen."
Susan, trying to dismantle the awkwardness replied "ouch, I'm so sorry. Kyle just did that a few months back."
At that moment, Brian turned to Kyle with curiosity. He looked deep into his eyes and told him in a very heart-to-heart manner "I want to show you something."
He opened up his lunch sack and pulled out his slab of rotten meat sandwiched between two blue-green moldy pieces of bread. Ashamed he never married, Brian said "my beautiful wife was jealous of it at first, but we have a very different bond." Turning to Susan, he explained "the bond between man and woman is different from between man and meat. Your husband's meat can co-exist with you. You don't need to feel threatened."
"You need to leave. Meal's over, bud. Get out, Kyle said while clutching a knife under the table. As Brian grabbed his sandwich and was headed out, he saw the knife and grew concerned for Susan's safety. Clearly, Kyle had gone too far down this dark path and had become so fixated on his meat-mate that he was going to do away with his sweet wife Susan, Brian thought.
Sitting in his apartment, Brian wondered if he had gone too far himself. "I knew this was too good to be true." He grabbed the sandwich and decided to dispose of both it and Kyle's meat-mate, but he knew as they were blood-bonded, it was impossible for him to willingly destroy the sandwich. "Shit! Kyle's cut! He's blood-bonded to his as well, and they're both held captive by his sandwich. He wasn't trying to be rude to me. His sandwich wanted him to make me leave. The only way out is for me to eat Kyle's sandwich and him to eat mine. He's so deep into this, I know won't eat another man's sandwich though."
Over the next couple hours, Brian devised a plan to sneak into their home and incorporate small pieces of his sandwich into all of their food and of course, do Kyle the kindness of taking his sandwich out of the freezer and eating it for him.
He decided he needed to find out when they are having guests over next and incorporate it into their dishes then because they will be preparing enough food that he can spread it more easily amongst the dishes without getting noticed.
Unfortunately, as the weeks went by before they would have guests over, Brian's hand bwcame infected, and the infection was worsoning. It began to take on a repuslive smell, much like his sandwich, and the flesh of his hamd was becoming discolored. He noticed this was what happened to the bun. It had also changed color over time.
In another week, Brian's whole body was aching. He was feverish and throwing up what little he had in his stomach. "The meat is fighting back. I need to act soon."
The next day, once his neighbors left for work, he broke in and immediately searched their freezer. Unable to find meat-mate, he started mixing pieces of his sandwich among the foods they had in the fridge. Now, all he needed to do was wait.
The next day, Brian woke up invigorated knowing he had been cleansed, but he looked down at his hand, at it had even gotten worse. More drastic measures needed to be taken. He figured his hand had already metamorphasized into more rotten pork meat than man. It was too late for his hand, but perhaps the rest of him could be saved. As his luck would have it, there was a community potluck for the apartment the following evening. He promptly signed up to bring peppermint pork.
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2023.06.07 23:18 Dismal-Jellyfish Commissioner Hester M. Peirce: "Although I agree with the objectives of these rulesânamely, to reduce the incidence of misconduct in the security-based swap marketsâthese final rules leave unaddressed concerns I had at the proposing stage about their breadth, and I accordingly cannot support them."
| Source: https://www.sec.gov/news/statement/peirce-statement-security-based-swaps-060723 Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have just heard, today the Commission will vote on finalizing Rule 9j-1, which would prohibit fraud and manipulation involving purchases and sales of security-based swaps, and Rule 15fh-4(c), which would prohibit coercion, manipulation, or deception of a security-based swap entityâs chief compliance officer. Although I agree with the objectives of these rulesânamely, to reduce the incidence of misconduct in the security-based swap marketsâthese final rules leave unaddressed concerns I had at the proposing stage about their breadth, and I accordingly cannot support them. The version of Rule 9j-1 before us today is better than the proposed version. The final rule would adopt a considerably narrower definitions of purchase and sale than the expansive proposed definitions that would have covered the performance of obligations arising out of a security-based swap for the life of the transaction. The definitions in the final rule instead generally tracks the Dodd-Frank definitions of these terms. This change should reduce the likelihood that every action taken by a counterparty to a security-based swap during the life of the transaction, including actions required under the swapâs terms, will expose it to liability. In another positive change, the release also makes clear that attempted violations of the rule require scienter. Finally, the affirmative defenses should mitigateâeven if they do not eliminateâthe risk that the rule might make it impossible for a lender, which will often possess material non-public information on its borrowers, to use credit default swaps to hedge the risks of those loans. Notwithstanding these improvements, the final rule is still overly broad. The affirmative defenses may not provide market participants with sufficient clarity to allow them, for example, to feel confident somebody on a firmâs trading desk can hedge a loan using security-based swaps when the firm has obtained material non-public information in connection with the loan. As another example, the negligence standard applicable to paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of the rule may facilitate second-guessing in enforcement actions. Most concerning, however, is an overbroad anti-manipulation provision directed at manufactured credit events and other types of opportunistic trading strategies. This provision, too, has been narrowed since the proposal; the provision no longer contains the âdirectly or indirectlyâ language, and the release makes clear that violation of this provision requires scienter. But the release describes the scope of the provision in the same broad and ambiguous terms to which I objected when the rule was proposed.[1] Indeed, in words nearly identical to those in the proposal, the release explains that this provision would apply to âan action taken for the purposes of avoiding or causing, or increasing or decreasing, a payment under a security-based swap in a manner that would not have occurred but for such actions.â[2] As did the proposing release, the adopting release does attempt to provide assurance to market participants that the Commission will use this provision to pursue only âactions taken outside the ordinary course of a typical lender-borrower relationship.â[3] Yet, as one commenter noted, market participants must look to the text of the rule, [4] which makes no reference to (and offers no safe harbor for) actions taken in the ordinary course. Moreover, the Commission repeatedly notes in this discussion that whether an action is taken in the ordinary course is a âfacts and circumstancesâ inquiry under which the Commission will review âall relevant facts.â[5] Although this approach does ensure maximum flexibility for the Commission to pursue misconduct that is hard to describe ex ante, it does so at the expense of clarity for firms that will have to guess at what facts the Commission may, in hindsight, determine to be relevant. The Commission feels compelled to preserve maximum flexibility for itself because it is trying to prohibit harmful but exceedingly difficult-to-define behavior that has occasionally appeared in the credit default swap markets. This behavior includes manufactured credit events and other opportunistic trading strategies that can cause the market to question whether these instruments will serve the purposes for which they were designed. Drawing in advance a line that cleanly distinguishes between manipulative conduct and actions taken in the normal course of business, even if they are unseemly and potentially unfair, is difficult. That the opportunistic trading strategies the rule targets have occurred relatively infrequently, and that each generally has presented distinct facts, makes the rule-writing task more difficult. Preserving discretion for the Commission could chill, unnecessarily, perfectly legitimate trading strategies or exercises of a counterpartyâs rights under a security-based swap.[6] Moreover, as one commenter noted, security-based swaps are often used to hedge complex financing arrangements that involve heavily negotiated terms providing the lenders with a range of options to protect themselves from the borrowerâs default.[7] Lenders worried that they may not be able to exercise such rights without affecting the value of the security-based swap in a way that the Commission later might view as manipulative may be less willing to provide financing in the first place.[8] Moreover, because the release suggests that actionâsuch as rescuing a failing firmâwill be subject to greater scrutiny than inactionâsuch as letting a failing firm collapseâthe rule risks spurring inaction and thus reducing market efficiency.[9] Some circumstances might warrant a rule with these chilling effects, but no such circumstances are present here. The targeted misconduct has occurred only relatively infrequently in this market. Our anti-fraud rules likely already prohibit some of that conduct.[10] And, in a demonstration of the power of private ordering, market participants themselves have addressed some of the offending conduct. Sophisticated repeat players are well-placed to police one another for undesirable conduct, even if it is not illegal. In 2018, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association publicly acknowledged that these manufactured credit event strategies could affect negatively the security-based swap market and in 2019 made its Narrowly Tailored Credit Event Protocol available for adherence by counterparties.[11] This Protocol appears to have eliminated much of the destructive behavior simply by introducing greater uncertainty that these strategies could succeed. As the release notes, this Protocol does not address every possible such strategy, but, the release also does not challenge one commenterâs assertion that these strategies have become âextremely infrequent.â[12] In short, the Commissionâs desire to maximize its own flexibility in this anti-manipulation provision does not seem to further any regulatory objective. To the contrary, this rule likely will deter far more entirely legitimate activity than it will prevent truly manipulative activity. The Commission instead should delay taking any action here and wait to see whether the problem of opportunistic trading strategies is significant enough to warrant a solution as blunt as the one before us today. We can all agree with the sentiment of Rule 15fh-4(c): coercing, manipulating, or deceiving a CCO is bad behavior. But regulationâeven regulation that prohibits bad thingsâalways involves trade-offs. Will subjecting every interaction between employees and a CCO to potential legal liability empower the CCO to do her job or simply make employees less likely to approach the CCO to seek her input on compliance-related issues? I do have a few questions: If a bank provides a loan to a customer and, in the process of negotiating the terms of that loan comes into possession of material non-public information, would the affirmative defenses permit the bank to hedge that loan exposure through a credit default swap? If so, under what conditions? LSTA noted in its March 2022 letter that the broad language of the anti-manipulation provision coupled with the use of a facts and circumstances test to determine whether a transaction was in the ordinary course would likely chill perfectly legitimate exercises of a lenderâs rights expressly provided for in heavily negotiated financing arrangements.[13] Can you provide me any comfort that these fears are groundless? The economic analysis suggests that Rule 9j-1 will benefit the market by reducing fraud and manipulation, including opportunistic trading strategies, and thereby increase confidence in the security-based swap market. In July 2022, the Managed Funds Association submitted a comment letter presenting data that it claimed suggested that there was no evidence of any lack of confidence among market participants.[14] The economic analysis seems to wave this evidence away as not persuasive, but does not provide any countervailing evidence that the market is laboring under a significant risk of fraud or manipulation. Is there any such evidence? What evidence, if any, do we have that manufactured credit events or other opportunistic trading strategies continue to present a risk to the market? One law firm submitted a comment letter identifying different types of market activity it described as âlegitimateâ that âwould be threatened byâ Rule 9j-1.[15] Iâd like to understand better how the staff would view these examples from that letter: âAn investor who holds CDS (either long or short) participating in an ad hoc restructuring group.â âAn investor who holds bonds and has bought CDS refusing to consent to a restructuring, choosing to rely on CDS protection.â âAn investor who owns bonds and has sold CDS selling bonds back to the Reference Entity.â âAn investor who has sold CDS providing rescue financing to distressed issuers.â The release states that âmisconduct that affects the payments and deliveries under one security-based swap could be prohibited by final Rule 9j-1 if that misconduct occurs in connection with effecting or attempting to effect transactions or purchasing or selling or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of any security-based swap, and not just the security-based swap that was the subject of the misconduct.â[16] Could you provide an example of what type of misconduct this might encompass? The final rule prohibits manipulation of the price or valuation of a security-based swap. The release states that âthe pricing and valuation of security-based swaps are intrinsically connected.â[17] If this is the case, why is it necessary to prohibit manipulation of valuation, given that manipulation of valuation would also almost certainly result in manipulation of price? Although I cannot support todayâs adoption of these rules, I do appreciate the effort that the staff put into reviewing the comments and taking to heart those comments in an effort to make the rule more workable. I especially appreciate the time that Carol McGee spent with me to answer my questions about the rule and Pam Carmodyâs work on drafting it. I also want to acknowledge the contributions of the Office of the General Counsel. What Hester is against: https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2023/34-97656.pdf Overview of Security-Based Swaps Security-Based Swaps Generally: - Although the definition of security-based swap is detailed and comprehensive, at its most basic level, a security-based swap is an agreement, contract, or transaction in which two parties agree to the exchange of payments or cash flows based upon the value of other assets or upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of some event, including, for example, a change in a stock price or the occurrence of some type of credit event.
- The exchange of these payments or deliveries, including purchases or sales upon certain events, is a fundamental aspect or feature of a security-based swap.
- Moreover, this feature of security-based swaps is in contrast to secondary market transactions involving equity or debt securities where the completion of a purchase or sale transaction terminates the mutual obligations of the parties.
- Security-based swap counterparties, who are considered the issuers of the security-based swaps, continue to have obligations to one another throughout the life of the instrument, which can extend for years if not decades.
- Parties may enter into a security-based swap for a multitude of reasons, but often, the parties to the contract seek to gain exposure to an asset without owning it or to manage or transfer risks in their asset and liability portfolios (e.g., credit or equity risks).
- Typical participants in the security-based swap market include, among others, lenders transferring credit risk, insurance companies managing asset and liability risk specific to the insurance industry, activists or hedge funds obtaining exposure to the price movement and dividend payments of a stock without the costs and burdens of stock ownership, and financial institutions that engage in market-making and dealing in security-based swaps.
- The terms of the contract between the counterparties determine the specific rights and obligations of the parties throughout the life of the security-based swap, including, for example, the amount and timing of periodic payments due under the instrument, the maturity of the instrument, and terms of settlement.
- Unlike other types of securities where settlement occurs when the buyer receives the security purchased and the seller receives cash equaling the value of the security sold, for security-based swaps, a final net payment is paid by one party to the other at a future point in time to which the parties have contractually agreed.
Two common examples of security-based swaps â credit default swaps (âCDSâ) and total return swaps (âTRSâ) - Generally, a CDS is a contract in which a party (the âprotection buyerâ), such as a lender, agrees to make periodic payments (the âpremiumâ) over an agreed upon time period to another party (the âprotection sellerâ) in exchange for a payment from the protection seller in the event of default by an issuer (or group of issuers) of securities (the âreference entityâ).
- The CDS contract states whether the CDS is settled physically or in cash in the event of default by the reference entity. Generally, the protection buyer is using the CDS to manage risk and the protection seller is using the CDS to take on risk in return for a premium. A cash-settled CDS contract relying on ISDA documentation is subject to determinations by a committee with respect to whether a defined default event (a âcredit eventâ) has occurred and, if so, to hold an auction to determine the settlement price of the CDS.
- The auction process includes the determination and publication of a list of deliverable obligations that a CDS protection buyer can deliver to the CDS protection seller after the auction settlement.
- A CDS protection buyer can deliver any of the obligations on the list, with delivery of the cheapest deliverable obligation maximizing recovery.
- This feature of CDS contracts is an aspect of some of the manufactured or opportunistic strategies discussed in section I.B.2.
- A TRS may obligate one of the parties (i.e., the total return payer) to transfer the total economic performance (e.g., income from interest and fees, gains or losses from market movements, and credit losses) of a reference asset (e.g., a debt or equity security) (the âreference underlyingâ), in exchange for a specified or fixed or floating cash flow (including payments for any principal losses on the reference asset) from the other party (i.e., the total return receiver).
- If the TRS is negotiated over-the-counter, the terms of the TRS can be individually negotiated and could include one payment at the expiration of the TRS or might include a series of payments on periodic interim settlement dates over the tenor of the TRS.
- For TRS with periodic interim settlement dates counterparties could agree to reset the price of the reference underlying on the periodic interim settlement date based on current market prices of the reference underlying (âreference priceâ).
- Accordingly, throughout the life of a TRS, depending on the terms of the TRS, the reference price that determines that payment on periodic interim settlement dates might be reset based on current market prices of the reference underlying
Security-Based Swap Market Developments - In 2010, following the 2008 financial crisis, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Act âto promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system.â
- Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act addressed significant issues and risks in the swap and security-based swap markets, which had experienced dramatic growth leading up to the 2008 financial crisis and were shown to be capable of affecting significant sectors of the U.S. economy.
- In testimony before Congress introducing the first draft of the Dodd-Frank Act, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner highlighted the risks posed by an unregulated OTC derivatives market, which had been operating without the âbasic protections and oversightâ existing in the rest of the financial systems, including a âlimited ability to police fraud and manipulation.â
- In his written testimony, Secretary Geithner listed four broad objectives of the proposed reforms which were eventually enacted as Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act:
- Preventing activities in the OTC derivatives markets from posing risk to the stability of the financial system;
- Promoting efficiency and transparency of the OTC derivatives markets;
- Preventing market manipulation, fraud, and other abuses; and
- Protecting consumers and investors by ensuring that OTC derivatives are not marketed inappropriately to unsophisticated parties.
- The security-based swap market remains large. Based on information reported pursuant to 17 CFR 242.900 to 242.909 (âRegulation SBSRâ), as of November 25, 2022, the gross notional amount outstanding in the security-based swap market is approximately $8.5 trillion across the credit, equity, and interest rate asset classes.
- The credit security-based swap asset class is large, with a gross notional amount of approximately $4.7 trillion, of which single-name CDS (including corporate and sovereign) account for the largest category at $4.3 trillion.
- Additionally, as indicated by data submitted pursuant to Regulation SBSR, the size of the equity security-based swap market is also significant â with approximately $3.6 trillion of equity security-based swaps outstanding as of November 25, 2022.
'The trouble' - In general, the ongoing payments of a security-based swap depend, in part, on its gross notional amount outstanding.
- The particular aspects and characteristics of security-based swaps (described above in section I.B.1) provide opportunities and incentives for misconduct.
- In general, parties to a security-based swap may engage in misconduct in connection with the security-based swap (including in the reference underlying of such security-based swap) to trigger, avoid, or affect the value of ongoing payments or deliveries.
- For instance, a party faced with significant risk exposure may engage or attempt to engage in manipulative or deceptive conduct that increases or decreases the value of payments or cash flow under a security-based swap relative to the value of the reference underlying, including the price or value of a deliverable obligation under a security-based swap.
- Moreover, fraud and manipulation in connection with a security-based swap can affect not just a direct counterparty, but also counterparties to that counterparty.
- For example, if fraud or manipulation leads to a large change in variation margin, the defrauded counterparty could default on its obligations to its other counterparties. In addition, other counterparties to the same security-based swaps could be affected by fraud or manipulation that affects the reference underlying assets, as could investors in those underlying assets.
- Given the global and interconnected nature of the security-based swap markets, it is critical that the Commission has appropriate tools to fight fraud and manipulation in these markets.
- Recent developments in the security-based swap market highlight these concerns.
- For example, in the 2021 Proposing Release, the Commission discussed certain manufactured or other opportunistic CDS strategies that had been reported by academics and the press:
- A CDS buyer working with a reference entity to create an artificial, technical, or temporary failure-to-pay credit event in order to trigger a payment on a CDS to the buyer (and to the detriment of the CDS seller).
- Alone or in combination with the above or other strategies, causing the reference entity to issue a below-market debt instrument in order to artificially increase the auction settlement price for the CDS (i.e., by creating a new âcheapest to deliverâ deliverable obligation).
- CDS buyers endeavoring to influence the timing of a credit event in order to ensure a payment (upon the triggering of the CDS) before expiration of a CDS, or a CDS seller taking similar actions to avoid the obligation to pay by ensuring a credit event occurs after the expiration of the CDS, or taking actions to limit or expand the number and/or kind of deliverable obligations in order to impact the recovery rate.
- CDS sellers offering financing to restructure a reference entity in such a way that âorphansâ the CDS â eliminating or reducing the likelihood of a credit event by moving the debts off the balance sheets of the reference entity and onto the balance sheets of a subsidiary or an affiliate that is not referenced by the CDS.
- Taking actions, including as part of a larger restructuring, to increase (or decrease) the supply of deliverable obligations by, for example, adding (or removing) a co-borrower to existing debt of a reference entity, thereby increasing (or decreasing) the likelihood of a credit event and the cost of CDS.
- Taking into consideration all of the above, Rule 9j-1 will be an important additional tool to augment the Commissionâs oversight of the security-based swap markets including, but not limited to, the markets for CDS and TRS.
Overview of the Final Rules: Rule 9j-1 - Final Rule 9j-1 includes prohibitions on categories of misconduct prohibited by section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and section 17(a) of the Securities Act, when effecting any transaction in, or attempting to effect any transaction in, any security-based swap, or when purchasing or selling, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of, any security-based swap (including but not limited to, in whole or in part, the execution, termination (prior to its scheduled maturity date), assignment, exchange, or similar transfer or conveyance of, or extinguishing of any rights or obligations under, any security based-swap).
- The final rule also includes a provision prohibiting the manipulation or attempted manipulation of the price or valuation of any security-based swap, including any payment or delivery related thereto.
- This provision has been moved to paragraph (a)(6) of Rule 9j-1 (from paragraph (b) as proposed) to clarify that these provisions apply to conduct that is undertaken in connection with directly or indirectly effecting, or attempting to effect, any transaction in any security-based swap, or purchasing or selling, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of, any security-based swap.
- Final Rule 9j-1 provides that:
- A person with material nonpublic information about a security cannot avoid liability under the securities laws by communicating about or making purchases or sales in the security-based swap (as opposed to communicating about or purchasing or selling the underlying security)
- A person cannot avoid liability under section 9(j) or Rule 9j-1 in connection with a fraudulent scheme involving a security-based swap by instead making purchases or sales in the underlying security (as opposed to purchases or sales in the security-based swap).
https://preview.redd.it/guzs4cyuwn4b1.png?width=826&format=png&auto=webp&s=d55104e51db1f955fb3520cb652663faa1f8e898 Rule 15fh-4(c) The Commission also is adopting a rule aimed at protecting the independence and objectivity of an SBS Entityâs CCO by preventing the personnel of an SBS Entity from taking actions to coerce, mislead, or otherwise interfere with the CCO. The Commission recognizes that SBS Entities dominate the security-based swap market and also recognizes the important role that CCOs of SBS Entities play in ensuring compliance by SBS Entities and their personnel with the Federal securities laws. As a result, the Commission is adopting Rule 15fh-4(c), which makes it unlawful for any officer, director, supervised person, or employee of an SBS Entity, or any person acting under such personâs direction, to directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead, or fraudulently influence the SBS Entityâs CCO in the performance of their duties under the Federal securities laws or the rules and regulations thereunder. https://preview.redd.it/dkubyk9ywn4b1.png?width=966&format=png&auto=webp&s=634948d848a6277ed7247d7803a5a63d2b866972 https://preview.redd.it/5r40tixywn4b1.png?width=943&format=png&auto=webp&s=1757b80d2890e4460c1e4adfe1d3e5f25c4599d6 The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted rules to prevent fraud, manipulation, and deception in connection with security-based swap transactions and to prevent undue influence over the chief compliance officer (CCO) of security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants (SBS Entities). âAny misconduct in the security-based swaps market not only harms direct counterparties but also can affect reference entities and investors in those reference entities,â said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. âGiven these marketsâ size, scale, and importance, it is critical that the Commission protect investors and market integrity through helping prevent fraud, manipulation, and deception relating to security-based swaps. Todayâs set of rules will do just that.âThe antifraud and anti-manipulation rule adopted today is designed to prevent misconduct in connection with effecting any transaction in, or attempting to effect any transaction in, or purchasing or selling, or inducing or attempting to induce the purchase or sale of, any security-based swap. The rule takes into account the features fundamental to a security-based swap and will aid the Commission in its pursuit of actions that directly target misconduct that reaches security-based swaps.The Commission also adopted a rule to protect the independence and objectivity of the CCO of a security-based swap dealer or major security-based swap participant.The adopting release will be published in the Federal Register. The final rules will become effective 60 days after the date of publication of the adopting release in the Federal Register. TLDRS: - Hester cannot support.
- A security-based swap is an agreement where two parties exchange payments or cash flows based on the value of assets or events, continuing to have obligations to each other for the life of the contract.
- Typical participants include lenders, insurance companies, hedge funds, and financial institutions.
- The specifics of the swap, such as periodic payments and settlement terms, are determined by the contract between the counterparties.
- The two common examples of security-based swaps are Credit Default Swaps (CDS) and Total Return Swaps (TRS).
- A CDS involves a protection buyer making periodic payments to a protection seller in exchange for a payment in case of default by the reference entity.
- A TRS transfers the total economic performance of a reference asset in exchange for a cash flow.
- As of November 2022, the gross notional amount outstanding in the security-based swap market was approximately $8.5 trillion.
- The credit security-based swap asset class accounted for $4.7 trillion, while equity security-based swaps accounted for around $3.6 trillion.
- Misconduct may occur in security-based swaps to trigger, avoid, or affect the value of ongoing payments.
- This includes manipulative or deceptive conduct that alters the value of payments under a security-based swap relative to the value of the reference underlying swap.
- Rule 9j-1 is introduced as an additional tool for overseeing the security-based swap markets, including the markets for CDS and TRS.
- This rule includes prohibitions on misconduct and manipulation in connection with security-based swaps.
- In addition, Rule 15fh-4(c) is adopted to protect the independence and objectivity of a Swap Brokerage Security Entity's Chief Compliance Officer.
https://preview.redd.it/mikc5pyiwn4b1.png?width=610&format=png&auto=webp&s=d7e9f1ec5e1bb791f93a46207a911ae6c30a3e68 submitted by Dismal-Jellyfish to Superstonk [link] [comments] |
2023.06.07 23:07 Psychedelicblues1 25 [M4F] California/Anywhere - Hoping to meet someone new [Relationship]
Hi Iâm 25, I have my B.S in chemistry, Iâm Latino with Mexican and Salvadoran roots, Iâve lived in LA in all my life and Iâm a bit of an introvert but Iâd rather do things with other people instead of just by myself. For anybody interested in how I look hereâs
me.
Some stuff about me is that I absolutely love video games and have been playing them since about 2002 and I have games from a variety of systems that Iâve collected over the years and have played ranging from the Gamecube all the way to the PS5 so if you just want to play some video games with me like Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Fall Guys, Dark Souls, Elden Ring, PUBG, even Warzone Iâd be more than happy to play those with you but I do admit I suck at shooters but do have fun with them but youâll probably be carrying instead of me.
I love comics and manga and some characters I can always read and absolutely love are Batman and Spider-Man for comics and I can watch any of their movies easily and enjoy them a lot so if youâd like we can watch any Spider-Man and Batman movies together. I do have a collection of comic book omnibuses if youâd like to see that as well. For manga Iâm reading Berserk, Dragon Ball Super, Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and JJBA Part 9. I do watch anime and I am caught up as well on the few Iâve watched. I absolutely love Gundam so if anybody wants to watch Gundam with me Iâm more than happy to do so.
Some other interests of mine that could lead to stuff we could watch are Doctor Who, which I wouldnât mind rewatching from Ecclestonâs era up until now, Iâm excited for the specials this year. Also Star Wars I absolutely love Star Wars and would love to be able to watch all the movies with someone this year and even the shows too if you are that committed. Iâve always wanted to watch The Twilight Zone and itâs something I want to get through and The Outer Limits which Iâve been slowly but surely watching at a snails pace. Any other shows you want to watch Iâm more than open to doing so as well.
I do love classic rock, new wave and some indie music nd Iâm open to some new music I just do admit I donât like rap at all and could never get into it. Iâd be happy to share songs with you if you wanted to hear some, Iâm not a huge fan of pop but Iâll listen to some as well.
Iâm not expecting anybody to like everything Iâve listed and thatâs okay with me. Iâd rather meet people who are different from me and would like to chat with me anyways. I donât have any specific preferences but if you message me Iâll make sure to get back to you regardless. If you read this post all the way thank you for your time and I appreciate it.
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2023.06.07 23:07 Psychedelicblues1 25 [M4F] California/Anywhere - Hoping to meet someone new
Hi Iâm 25, I have my B.S in chemistry, Iâm Latino with Mexican and Salvadoran roots, Iâve lived in LA in all my life and Iâm a bit of an introvert but Iâd rather do things with other people instead of just by myself. For anybody interested in how I look hereâs
me.
Some stuff about me is that I absolutely love video games and have been playing them since about 2002 and I have games from a variety of systems that Iâve collected over the years and have played ranging from the Gamecube all the way to the PS5 so if you just want to play some video games with me like Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Fall Guys, Dark Souls, Elden Ring, PUBG, even Warzone Iâd be more than happy to play those with you but I do admit I suck at shooters but do have fun with them but youâll probably be carrying instead of me.
I love comics and manga and some characters I can always read and absolutely love are Batman and Spider-Man for comics and I can watch any of their movies easily and enjoy them a lot so if youâd like we can watch any Spider-Man and Batman movies together. I do have a collection of comic book omnibuses if youâd like to see that as well. For manga Iâm reading Berserk, Dragon Ball Super, Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and JJBA Part 9. I do watch anime and I am caught up as well on the few Iâve watched. I absolutely love Gundam so if anybody wants to watch Gundam with me Iâm more than happy to do so.
Some other interests of mine that could lead to stuff we could watch are Doctor Who, which I wouldnât mind rewatching from Ecclestonâs era up until now, Iâm excited for the specials this year. Also Star Wars I absolutely love Star Wars and would love to be able to watch all the movies with someone this year and even the shows too if you are that committed. Iâve always wanted to watch The Twilight Zone and itâs something I want to get through and The Outer Limits which Iâve been slowly but surely watching at a snails pace. Any other shows you want to watch Iâm more than open to doing so as well.
I do love classic rock, new wave and some indie music nd Iâm open to some new music I just do admit I donât like rap at all and could never get into it. Iâd be happy to share songs with you if you wanted to hear some, Iâm not a huge fan of pop but Iâll listen to some as well.
Iâm not expecting anybody to like everything Iâve listed and thatâs okay with me. Iâd rather meet people who are different from me and would like to chat with me anyways. I donât have any specific preferences but if you message me Iâll make sure to get back to you regardless. If you read this post all the way thank you for your time and I appreciate it.
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2023.06.07 23:06 Psychedelicblues1 25 [M4F] California/Anywhere - Hoping to meet someone new
Hi Iâm 25, I have my B.S in chemistry, Iâm Latino with Mexican and Salvadoran roots, Iâve lived in LA in all my life and Iâm a bit of an introvert but Iâd rather do things with other people instead of just by myself. For anybody interested in how I look hereâs
me.
Some stuff about me is that I absolutely love video games and have been playing them since about 2002 and I have games from a variety of systems that Iâve collected over the years and have played ranging from the Gamecube all the way to the PS5 so if you just want to play some video games with me like Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Fall Guys, Dark Souls, Elden Ring, PUBG, even Warzone Iâd be more than happy to play those with you but I do admit I suck at shooters but do have fun with them but youâll probably be carrying instead of me.
I love comics and manga and some characters I can always read and absolutely love are Batman and Spider-Man for comics and I can watch any of their movies easily and enjoy them a lot so if youâd like we can watch any Spider-Man and Batman movies together. I do have a collection of comic book omnibuses if youâd like to see that as well. For manga Iâm reading Berserk, Dragon Ball Super, Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, and JJBA Part 9. I do watch anime and I am caught up as well on the few Iâve watched. I absolutely love Gundam so if anybody wants to watch Gundam with me Iâm more than happy to do so.
Some other interests of mine that could lead to stuff we could watch are Doctor Who, which I wouldnât mind rewatching from Ecclestonâs era up until now, Iâm excited for the specials this year. Also Star Wars I absolutely love Star Wars and would love to be able to watch all the movies with someone this year and even the shows too if you are that committed. Iâve always wanted to watch The Twilight Zone and itâs something I want to get through and The Outer Limits which Iâve been slowly but surely watching at a snails pace. Any other shows you want to watch Iâm more than open to doing so as well.
I do love classic rock, new wave and some indie music nd Iâm open to some new music I just do admit I donât like rap at all and could never get into it. Iâd be happy to share songs with you if you wanted to hear some, Iâm not a huge fan of pop but Iâll listen to some as well.
Iâm not expecting anybody to like everything Iâve listed and thatâs okay with me. Iâd rather meet people who are different from me and would like to chat with me anyways. I donât have any specific preferences but if you message me Iâll make sure to get back to you regardless. If you read this post all the way thank you for your time and I appreciate it.
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2023.06.07 23:02 Eris_The_Impish [BotW] Does Anyone Else Share This Opinion?
I think BotW had some critical failings that bled into TotK. I'm going to point out what those failings are, and would legitimately like to know if anyone agrees with me on this matter.
This is not to say that I disliked BotW, it just isn't anywhere near on par with some of Nintendo's past Zelda titles as far as I'm concerned.
Note: there will be spoilers from BOTW, TotK, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Wind Waker, as well as some non-Zelda games that I think did a concept that could be used well in/blend well with future Zelda titles. I will be making a passing reference to Age of Calamity. I do not intend to go too deep into spoiler territory, so I'd say that there are mild, very mild, spoilers for, but mostly references to, all of the mentioned games.
.
Failing 1: Background.
From what I can tell, BotW and TotK take place in a timeline where Demise was killed by the original hero rather than just sealed away prior to Hyrule's founding, meaning that the events of Skyward Sword and the timelines we're familiar with never took place. Then Ganondorf came into being in time to be present at Hyrule's founding and was sealed away by the Sages.
If that interpretation is inaccurate, please correct me.
I don't mind the concept of a new timeline. That's not the part that bugs me; it's the less abstract parts of the past where things begin to fall apart.
Specifically regarding the Champions. Especially Mipha.
They were Link's comrades-in-arms, yet the memories he recovers of them are just enough to get a glimpse of a fragment of their personalities and see something they could do with their powers.
Ironically, the one we see the most sides to is Revali, allegedly the least close to Link. We get to see a little more about their personalities in Age of Calamity, but still not really enough to call the Champions anything but side characters when they were supposed to be main characters.
They had to have hung out at least a little in their downtime; how else do you build trust between your fellows? Mipha, in particular, was canonically Link's bestie, so it's extremely odd that we only saw a couple of memories that had her in them.
The Champions are main characters, but get treated like side characters. They're pretty much entirely forgotten by TotK, which seems strange to me. Especially in Mipha's case, as she still had relatives living who remembered interacting with her.
This issue extends into the Sages of TotK, but it's not as glaring an issue.
The Sages in Ocarina of Time could be treated side characters because they WERE side characters. The main characters in OoT were Link and Navi. Zelda was a plot device but we didn't really get to know much about her, so I'd still call her a side character. Same goes for Ganondorf.
Link's past, however, is always something to be treated with care. Saria, Aryll, the Ordon children, and the other students at Skyloft's Knight Academy all got special attention paid to them because they were important to Link. Focusing solely on Zelda, without giving Link any personal motivation beyond duty, actually relegates Link to a side character in his own adventure!
The amnesiac route, unless special attention is paid to the player character's personal interests, makes the main story a chore. An example of a good amnesiac player character would be the Fateless One from Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (or Re-Reckoning, depending on which version you have). The Fateless One was endlessly curious, and every dialogue option involving the game's main antagonists makes it clear that the Fateless One has a vested interest in figuring out why they're being hunted.
Link, by contrast, asks some questions occasionally but mostly just goes, "oh, okay", and seems relatively uninterested in Hyrule's plight beyond duty. We have no incentive to care about the main story, because the most expression Link shows is a grin while cooking and the most he investigates regarding the happenings of Hyrule is during side quests.
If they wanted to do something markedly different with Link's origins, then they could have taken a page out of Dragon Age's book- let the player pick Link's background. Dragon Age: Origins, in particular, let the player play through a quest line exclusive to the origin that the player picked.
It would be very easy for Nintendo to implement something like that, too; have baby Link be washed up on a river bank for some reason and let the player pick from two or three options as to who finds him. This could result in different play styles, different starting regions, and even different questlines exclusive to a Link raised in a different environment.
For example, they could have a Link raised by thieves come back from a heist to find his entire gang has been arrested. They could have a Link raised by witches flee his coven because Ganondorf took over, wanting their magic for himself. A Link raised by mercenaries could become fascinated by Hyrule's knights and sneak out to watch them train, only to get in trouble when he's caught. Even more brazen an idea, a Link raised by monsters could start off as a genuine enemy of Hyrule and switch sides at some point- possibly due to a betrayal or new perspective.
Don't all of those possibilities sound interesting? They all give a solid personal reason for Link to begin his journey and individual questlines that, theoretically, the player could choose.
It would definitely be a departure from what we're used to with Zelda games, and depending on how well Nintendo pulled it off, a welcome one.
To summarize this first failing; pushing aside the supposed main characters and not making Link's past his own past (instead making it Zelda's past with Link in the background) lead to a main story that feels very impersonal to play through.
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Failing 2: World Structure
I'm just going to come out and say it: Nintendo had no business crafting an open world. While branching out can be a good thing, Nintendo went about it in a way that makes each replay less and less rewarding.
Large spaces in BotW and TotK serve no purpose, it takes forever to get places, and I'm sure almost all of us have wandered into an area that we weren't ready for and been killed instantly on multiple occasions. I'm going to elaborate on these in order.
Large, empty spaces are a recurring issue for open-world games. So much so that you will almost certainly walk past something interesting without realizing it, because in-depth investigation typically results in "I see a lot of grass". The best fix for this that I've seen in games I've played is something I'd call "Controlled Open-World". Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Wind Waker are good examples of this; you have to unlock an area first, but then you have free reign to do as you please. In Ocarina, I've actually left Dodongo Caverns in the middle and gotten the Zora Sapphire before the Goron Ruby, and the well in Kakariko can be completed as soon as you reach Kakariko as an adult and get your hands on the Song of Storms. Twilight Princess and Wind Waker are less likely to let you do things out of order, but their worlds are still remarkably open once you unlock certain items to access certain areas that you couldn't before.
Twilight Princess, in particular, has the best Hyrule Field in the series, with tons of nooks and crannies to discover things in butnot enough to overwhelm.
The best example of Controlled Open-World I've seen in games I've played as a whole, however, is Dragon Age: Inquisition. You have a home base, and from that home base you fast travel to the different areas, none of which really feel empty the same way places like the average Hyrule Field do, with quests and things to discover. This setup also helps to add to how massive the world the Dragon Age games takes place in feels. Something like that would work wonderfully in a Zelda game; it could also let you explore, to some extent, some of the lands around Hyrule for more world building, should that route be taken.
That also would solve the taking forever to get places issue (another problem that plagues open-world gaming as a whole). It'd be one thing if we didn't have a quest log- that forces us to look around the area instead of pulling us towards a bright ping on the map- but with a quest log and quest markers you're constantly looking back at the map to see how much longer you have until you reach your destination.
While the "accidentally wandering into high-level areas" thing is fine for other games (Elden Ring, for example, was made by FromSoftware, so you expect to die even in areas you ARE ready for), Zelda games have a history of being fair. Some open-world games will level the entire world around the player's level in order to prevent wandering to your death.
That approach, however, would not work for Zelda games because Zelda games do not have a typical leveling system. Instead, work in prerequisites for certain areas or have certain enemies start spawning in the world after a set amount of story progression.
I should not have been able to approach a Lynel in BotW with four hearts on my first playthrough. They could have made a speedrun mode, unlocked after beating the game the first time so you know how it works, that allows for things like that, but being able to run into a Lynel that early on no matter what is not fair to the player, with how terrible the weapons you can get towards the beginning of the game are.
The player should be aware, through environmental cues if nothing else, that they are not ready for the area they're in. Whether they proceed or not afterwards is their choice, but there should be something to indicate a difficulty spike.
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Failing 3: Loot
The problem I have with the loot system of the most recent Zeldas, however, is in the Spirit Orbs, Slate/Arm abilities, and Champion/Sage powers.
The issue I have with Spirit/Light Orbs is that I liked the Heart Piece system. You solve overworld or dungeon mini-puzzles or beat an enemy to get a Piece of Heart. I honestly don't know what possessed Nintendo to make Spirit Orbs serve as both Pieces of Heart and Pieces of Stamina. I don't dislike the shrines- I just think they should have had the Spirit Orbs do something else, which will be elaborated on in Failing 4, and then have the player solve overworld puzzles in order to increase Hearts and Stamina.
My issue with the Slate/Arm abilities is that there's no pacing. You start the game with everything you need. If you started off with basic stuff and then obtained more advanced applications later (say in TotK you started off being able to fuse wooden items to your weapons then later gained the ability to use stone, then metal, then monster parts), that would be fine. There, however, is only one ability that gets an upgrade (in the form of a secondary ability) throughout both games, which makes the Slate/Arm abilities, while insanely useful, a handout. I will admit that the Slate abilities were much less overpowered than the Arm abilities, but having to upgrade them would have made them feel like a reward to have.
The issue I have with the Champion/Sage powers is that they're generally much less useful than the Slate/Arm abilities (being much more situational, whereas the Slate/Arm abilities could be used anywhere to achieve almost anything), but they're the ones that you had to put in effort to get. The Sage powers in particular seem to be a downgrade to the Champion powers; Mipha's Grace was a literal lifesaver, for example, and Sidon's power pales in comparison. The Sages' avatars are an excellent concept, but their low attack rate means that the only one I've seen actually take out enemies is Tulin.
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Failing 4: Gameplay
This sounds more all-encompassing than it actually is. There are only a few aspects of gameplay that I actively dislike, but they are very different from one another so I can't put them all under a more narrow label.
The quickest dislike to explain would be food. While a good concept, and I do like crafting things, we are allowed so much food in BotW and TotK that it renders everything except one-hit-kills a non-issue. In previous titles, your limited supply of healing/magic meter meant that you had to be strategic about your approach to things and added a layer of tension that is just absent from most of BotW's encounters.
I'm not the first nor the last to complain about weapon durability. What Nintendo should have done here, aside from not having weapons (specifically the Master Sword) degrade at all, is add items to repair your weapons that can be found in chests or shops, or let Link unlock weapon schematics so he could build his own from raw materials.
Finally, combat. Oh boy. As far as combat goes, I'm of the opinion that the best system in the series belongs to Twilight Princess. There was a bit of versatility there, but the depth of swordsmanship that the Hero of Twilight unlocked put the rest to shame. The issue with BotW and TotK? There's no mastery.
Every weapon type has a single moveset, even if they "handle (slightly) differently". That's it; no special combos, no technique, nada. Just very simple moves. This makes combat in BotW and TotK very shallow; you can't pull out a dungeon item to change the tide of battle, because there are none. Most players rely on solely their weapon and a Champion/Sage power or two, with the really good players switching between their Slate/Arm abilities and their weapon with impeccable timing.
While I get that this is what Nintendo intended for us to do, Link not having more involved weapon usage is a huge waste.
Going back to the origins thing all the way back towards the beginning here, a different origin could work with differing weapon types- a warrior-raised Link could be our typical sword-and-shield hero, a thief-raised Link could wield a dagger in his off-hand (increased offensive potency, more precise parry timing), and a witch-raised Link could weild a magic rod in his off-hand (increased attack potency and from a range, with more precise parry timing and reduced parry-stun window). Then again, Nintendo is probably never going to go for off-hand offense. Not for Link, anyway.
Going back to what I was saying about Spirit/Light Orbs, I think they should have been used to collect weapon skills. Maybe we could have found an ancient training hall and delivered the Orbs there in order to obtain extra combos with a weapon type of our choosing (or for bows, extra damage bonuses) or increased durability for whatever weapon type we desire that is available (or shields, even). This would have made combat a lot more enjoyable for me, and for others who like more in-depth battle systems, and generally speaking would make less of the overworld chests and puzzles missable because instead of just Korok seeds or shabby weapons, you could be missing a Piece of Heart or Piece of Stamina.
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Sorry that this was so long, but now that you've made it to the end, what are your thoughts?
Some of my points may seem contradictory to one another, but generally speaking, I'm saying that the execution of a lot of what BotW and TotK had just didn't mesh well with other mechanics or concepts
Do you agree or disagree with what I have typed here?
Is there anything you think was a critical failing if BotW/TotK (save the final prize for seed collecting) that I did not mention here?
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2023.06.07 23:00 JanTio Delivery service ringing doorbell at 22:50 and begging for something to drink from behind my closed front door. Would you�
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2023.06.07 22:58 pensezbien DPD marked our doorbell with a black X. What to do?
Earlier today, DPD rang our doorbell and brought two packages, one for us and one for an unknown neighbor in the adjacent building (this is in a core area of Berlin with a bunch of units per building).
Of course, we accepted the package for us, but we declined the package for the neighbor. I understand that receiving packages via neighbors is common in Germany, but we have complicated physical and mental health situations (diagnosed and being treated by doctors) where sleep and focus and mobility are all very difficult, as well as a late-shifted biorhythm and a language barrier, so we'd like to opt out of that system both for our own packages and for those of neighbors. We'd like our packages to be delivered to our location, to a nearby pickup point for the relevant shipping company (or a re-attempt or two at our home) when we are not at home to receive our packages, or return to sender. We don't want our packages to be sent to neighbors either, so it's not just that we don't want to receive our neighbors' packages.
When we politely but insistently declined to accept the neighbor's package, the guy walked away saying something about "letzte Paket" and marked our doorbell with a black X.
What can we do to ensure that the driver doesn't refuse to deliver our own packages to us because our health and our German skills aren't up to doing the delivery person's job for our neighbors? If we leave the black X, will that just tell them not to send us our neighbors' packages but without interfering with our own? Or will it make them pretend we're never at home even when we are, meaning we should remove the black X?
I understand that the delivery people are underpaid and overworked and don't blame them for the problem ... except if they mark us in some way to indicate that they shouldn't deliver to us, which is absolutely their choice and not company policy. We did after all accept our own package. The systemic problem is something that should be fixed by legislation, where delivery people get a higher minimum wage and maximum number of hours per day and maximum number of packages they can be expected to deliver per day.
And I understand that things like Packstations and Amazon Locker are good solutions for smaller packages. My wife and I use them for some cases. But they're not viable for large packages, especially with mobility issues to deal with, nor for sellers that refuse to ship to Packstations.
Thanks for any advice.
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2023.06.07 22:54 Great_Ad_776 My game crashes whenever I open it, how can I fix it?
2023.06.07 22:50 AlphonseCoco Art of War: War Trophies (Story 1, Part 1)
Hey guys, this isn't my first post here, or even my first attempt at a serial, I'm just incredibly bad at follow-through and put the pro in procrastination. That being said: Enjoy!! I will try and put these out in a reasonably amount of time. Also, sadly this first part won't have any humans directly, as I became...verbose. Subsequent parts shall.
First: some long-winded background. I am not an artist or engineer, so I will do my best but really work that suspension of disbelief.
They say any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. If that is the case, then the races that made up the TransGalactic Federation were archmagi of legend. These races created monuments of inconceivable power and presence, capable of quelling all newcomers to the stage, or those with hostile intent. However, magic has a far greater property than mere power: flair. Magic is loud, bold and unafraid, yet it can also be subtle and unassuming, refined. The greatest engineers and technicians, eventually hybridizing into the current artnician, collaborated with the artisans of the age to create not just architectural masterpieces, but space stations of indescribable beauty and function. Even their objects of more utilitarian functions were made beautiful.
One would think such cultures would be beyond conflict, having embraced so delicate and refined a focus as aesthetic. However, that is not the case, as heated debates regarding artistic talent, originality, medium, presentation, any number of hot topics in the academia of artistry, became very real, very serious reasons for hostile actions. Wars broke out across the Federation, battles fought over resources not for survival, but for art. Ideologies, once minor, began to take hold over vast swathes of the population. Some were logical: radicalized cultures that sought to eliminate anything did not originate from them, or that deviated from their accepted beliefs, and the forces that developed in kind to combat them. Others were decidedly unexpected: the once-accepting, pacifistic race known as the Borthians soon became known as The Scour and began systematically genociding any culture whose artistic style was other than naturalism, artistic expression bereft of a civilized touch beyond trailblazers and colonizers or the remains of society overtaken by nature. The dreaded Glâtrills, who were almost deemed inhospitable to life and exterminated, favored a <ERROR: comparable word does not exist; inputting acceptable alternative> neoclassic style with virtually no external influences on style or subject outside their race and led the first League of Acceptance, standing their grounds and ultimately dooming their race to protect the cultures of others from erasure. Bastions of cultural excellence, examples of art and literature throughout the history of countless member races, including more than a few who were rendered extinct through ennui, disease, or time, were razed, while others were plundered for greed or safety.
This conflict has been raging for millenia, with cultures rising and falling, sides changing as do the cultural views and tastes. Genetic modification, now viewed as much an art as war, has been used to tailor various races to select or varied purposes. Beauty is both subjective and objective, as function is its own form of beauty. Art and war have gone hand in hand for generations, with some races using literal battlefields as their canvas, and the dead as their medium. It was onto one such scene that humanity first stumbled into the collective knowledge of The Culture Wars. This ugly, unmodified, plain alien race, with its crude, inefficient ships sought to join the battle against the Scourge and other, similarly minded threats. Function may be beautiful, but even the most magnanimous of artists cannot turn a blind eye to such an eyesore. As such, humanity was allowed onto the stage, but was met with scorn only the most arrogant of professionals can show to a novice who does not know their place. Humanity is young, it is technologically inferior, it is weak. It will have to claw its way to survival among the lesser races of the universe.
But Humanity has a secret its fickle allies and rabid enemies have overlooked. A mastery that has been ingrained in Humanity since its earliest common ancestors fought for resources, for survival. A talent it has nurtured, for good or ill, an art style that the other races has couched in flowery prose, stunning calligraphy, and ultimately pointless beauty:
The Art of War
Dramatis Personae:
Skrikârika: Triuâquoll anatochanic, TransGalactic Federation (League of Acceptance), Logistics
Tuvix: Trolk Sculptech, local League of Acceptance, drafted civilian
For convenience and efficiency, units have been translated and converted to the viewerâs preference.
Interesting fact: the plural of opus is an opera! Which actually makes sense.
Local system: Trolkâa
âMove your asses! League pieces are incoming, they report heavy damage!â Skrikârikaâs head started pounding, and he groaned as he forced himself out of his nook. Fitting his visor over his ears, the Triuâquoll pulled on his jumpsuit and heavy boots, checking the onboard chronometer and sighing at the lost sleep. Downtime was uniform among League forces and dependent on the local solar day length and proximity to the nearest front, which meant he was currently limited to 1 12.5% rotation (4.5-hour) âfreeâ shift per as he was currently crewing a forward operating repair depot. Said shift was on a fixed schedule, which meant unless the incoming opera were in immaculate condition, heâd be looking at less than 2 hours of sleep for the nextâŠ
Skrik jerked awake as something sharp and painful jabbed him in the bicep. He lurched away, swiping a nearby sensor probe and brandishing it at his attacker. Tuvix, one of the tusked locals 4-armed and his shift partner, tossed away the now empty stim ampule and grinned.
âFeeling better?â
Skrik scoffed, rubbing his throbbing shoulder but clear-headed and alert once more, and followed Tuvix to the repair bays module. âAny idea what weâre dealing with?â Tuvixâs 2 left hands pointed in opposite directions, indicating some ambiguity in any answer he could provide. By the time they arrived, Skrik started to understand just how screwed they were.
Sitting in their bay was one of the few remaining Glâtrillian gladiatorial suits. According to his suitâs telemetry feed from the allied opus, it was known as Honor of the Patient Stroke. Massive for a solo-pilot suit, the Honor measured 18m base height, with various weaponry and accoutrement increasing its bulk further. The only reason it fit in the repair bay that was 15 meters max on any side was due to its missing lower half and left arm. The on-site corpsman was already tending to the unresponsive pilot, neural links spidering back into the cockpit. Skrik could smell ozone and judging by the charring presented on the cables, he doubted the noble reptilianoid would wake up, much less return to combat. However, Glâtrillian rites dictated any remains be returned posthaste, and all wounded be rescued immediately. A dying race could afford no luxuries in holding off extinction, and every member had to contribute, even if it was genetic material to stave off annihilation.
Skrik and the rest of the double shifts waited for the pilot and medic to board the rescue craft for evac, before they started working. In addition to the Honor, several other mechs had limped, bobbed, or been dragged to their FORD. These pilots were still able and willing, save an avian Kuri whose broken body had been somberly removed and set aside, and were merely waiting for their opus to be repaired or replaced.
Over the next 6 hours, Skrik and Tuvix worked on disassembling the least grievously damaged constructs, diagnosing and repairing internal damages, and replacing armored components. As an anatochanic, Skrikâs responsibilities overlapped with other fields, which was also why he worked closely with Tuvix. Anatochanics were those who had an affinity for understanding and replicating the feats of flesh and blood in alloy and <translation error: engine/hydraulic oil/fuel/coolant/lubricant/plasma; UPDATE: new terminology determined; ORIGIN: Sanskrit> PÄdodaka, and they were responsible for the the synthetic muscles, tendons and ligaments, and the hardpoints where these components were integrated to the endoskeleton. Some anatochanics even had an aptitude for running neural cables, the incredibly delicate and sensitive filaments that would be run throughout the synth muscles, connecting the pilot mind and body to their steed. Skrik could proudly claim to be one of these, although he was still too inexperienced to be trusted running the synthetic equivalents of the PNS and CNS without oversight.
Tuvix was a sculptech, which were often looked down upon by other artnicians within their field. Sculptechs were responsible for forming and fitting armor plates, the skin as it were, to opera. The skill needed to fabricate and fit bespoke armor plates to non-standard constructs could not be dismissed, but skills that did not require finesse, color selection, harmonic interactions were seen as lesser, âlazyâ arts. Skrik would admit that there were other artnicians and tasks that were by far more finicky and beautiful than armor plating, but anyone with eyes could see the skill and passion Tuvix possessed. He could match alloy ratios almost by sight, allowing for quicker smelting or forging while an analysis would verify his work, or when given permission by pilots, providing improvements for the armor plates, be they reduced weight, better defenses, or even improving a opusâs range of motion and balance by reshaping plates and still maintaining the original aesthetic.
Tuvix went beyond these abilities, having skill in etching and neural linking. His unique combination of talents allowed Tuvix to continue the intricate designs prevalent on most opera without interruption on new plates and ensuring that pilots could actually feel and interact with their environments and foes by running external sensor feeds through the engravings. More than one warrior had been saved by these neural links informing them of dangerous temperatures, a change in terrain or balance, and even incoming attacks by sensing increases in ambient electrical charges or sensations of wind from an incoming blow.
They had just finished repairs on the remaining opus, the pilot gingerly reconnecting their neural links and running diagnostics, when the defense sensors went off.
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2023.06.07 22:46 ParulInnovyt The Perfect Weekend Escape: Relaxation and Recreation at Riverview Inn & Suites
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So, if you're looking for the perfect weekend escape that combines relaxation and recreation, look no further than Riverview Inn & Suites in Rahway, NJ. With its stunning location, comfortable accommodations, and a range of amenities, this charming hotel is your ticket to a rejuvenating and unforgettable getaway. Book your stay today and get ready to experience tranquility and adventure in equal measure.
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2023.06.07 22:41 Future_Ad_3485 The Night Squad Files Case Zero: The Meeting of Partners
My fingers drummed on the cold steel table in my specialized prison cell, my daily dose of blood having not been sent to me. A dry thirst burned in my throat, my ruby eyes dilating at the vampire in a cheap business suit plopping down across from me. Playing with my amethyst waves, he traced his slender finger along the nape of his neck. His ruby eyes glistened with excitement, his slicked back ivory hair reminded me of everything I hated about the government.
âPretty hungry, Morticia Deathbite?â He taunted cruelly, hatred burning in my eyes. âI have a deal for you. The government will exonerate you of all your charges if you agree to become my wife for a mission. There is one catch, you have to let me bite you. Oh forgive my manners. I am Agent Stanton Lifewick, a member of Night Squad. The vampires in the program work to hunt down serial killers that the police canât seem to get. Will you join me?â Growling through gritted teeth, my inky lips curled into a defiant snarl. Spitting in his face, wicked laughter rumbled in his throat.
âYou can rot in hell. You guys put me in this jail cell for only drinking the blood of serial killers. Fuck you.â I retorted venomously, his hands wiping away the spit. âYou can leave now, you rotten bastard!â Snatching the collar of my orange jumpsuit, he yanked me close to his face. The corner of his lips twitched with fury, a raw tension thickening between us. Shooting daggers into each other's eyes, my elbow slammed into his face. Crashing back, I sprinted out the door. Red light bathed the concrete halls, a shrill alarm blaring in my ears. Unlocking the other criminals on my way out, the distraction would be my way out. Security guards attempted to stop me, one punch smashing them into the wall. A Cheshire Cat grin spread cheek to cheek at the open gate, my bare feet smashing through. Feeling the pale moonlight on my skin pleased me, Stanton called for me to stop. Flipping him off, I leapt into the trees. Hopping from branch to branch, my heart stopped at him blocking my path. Straightening up, claws extended from my black fingernails. Cracking my neck, he pulled out a gun with holy water soaked wooden bullets.
âI canât let you escape.â He snapped hotly, a bead of sweat dripping off of his brow. âJoin me now or Iâll shoot you.â Putting my hands up in the air as a dare, maniacal laughter burst from my lips. Shrugging my shoulders, he watched me crack my fingers one by one. Leaning forward, something was stopping him. My face fell at the sound of guns clicking underneath me, the sheer amount of agents scaring me. Placing my hands behind my back, my claws receded back into their place.
âJust take me back so I can fucking die.â I grumbled under my breath, Stanton putting his gun away. Leaping closer to me, even my speed wouldnât allow me to dodge all of their bullets. Standing behind me, his fangs grazed the nape of my neck. His hot breath bathed my neck, the agentsâ fingers all ready to shoot me. Too many black suits, I thought irritably to myself. Freedom and blood was all I desired, the bastards stripping both from me.
âJust fucking say yes, you idiot!â He growled huskily in my ear, his hand sliding down the small of my waist. âYou get freedom and all the blood you need from me.â His invisible strength threatened to break my back, my body trembling in his hold. Something about it dulled my hatred for him. Concern flashed in his eyes for a moment, tears welling up in my eyes. Peeking into his soul, a white aura surrounded him. Bowing my head in shame, my bangs hid my eyes. Live a life alone in prison or experience life again? Did the world hate me as much as I hated it?
âFine.â I uttered in with defeat, a sickening dread bubbling in my gut. âYou win but you better treat me like one of you. I refuse to be a slave and a prisoner.â Sinking his fangs into my neck, the disgusting sound of him drinking my blood drowned out the agents putting their guns back. Inky bats flew across my breasts, a solid black band forming on his finger. An indescribable bond formed between us, silent tears streaming down my cheeks. This contract reminded me of how my first master used me to kill innocent people for defying the church, his gentle touch scaring me out of my trance.
âAre you okay?â He whispered kindly in my ear, the sudden shift in his personality ringing the alarm bells. âI am going to get you to the car and we will sign a marriage contract to get our license. I donât bite. Well, unless I have to. I am aware you have been alive since medieval times so the concept of living off your mateâs blood is new. It actually makes you ten times stronger. Imagine that power coursing through you.â Tossing me over his shoulder, he jumped off the branch.
âOperation Get Hitched is a success!â He announced with a warm smile, a tender blush rising to my cheeks. âGo home to your families.â Carrying me to the car, my waves bounced up and down with every step. Sitting me down in the passenger seat of a generic black armored SUV, my hair blew back as he slammed the door shut. Sliding into his seat, he pulled out a pile of papers from the center console. Passing me the pile, I knew the drill. Signing on the dotted lines, a knock stole his breath away. Rolling down the window, a fellow agent stamped the paper. Dropping two velvet boxes into my lap, the papers fluttered in the other agentâs hands. Closing his window, he held my hand up. Opening up the closest box to him, he slid on an onyx band of twisted branches. Grasping the remaining box, my jaw dropped at the matching band. Sliding on his finger shakily, surprise rounded his eyes. Thorns dug into my fingers, his face showing the same fate for him. Sniffing the ring, it reeked of an eternal curse. Fantastic, we were bound together forever.
âCan I ask you a question?â I choked out awkwardly, a warm gaze falling on me. âWhy me? I am not the only vampire there. I can think of s-â Putting his finger up in the air, the ring glittered in the pale moonlight. Grabbing my shoulder, any cockiness he had was gone. It almost seemed to be a mask in front of the boys, his private personality seeming naturally sweet.
âI picked you because I saw your beautiful face in a pile of files. Also you are the oldest vampire alive, so that helped. I find you rather amazing. I donât agree with you killing all those serial killers but you had to eat. Am I right?â He mused tenderly, is crooked grin stopped time as the urge to kiss him dominated my mind. âHow about you drink something? I had them starve you for a couple of days. I am sorry about that.â Guiding my head to the nape of his neck, his vein throbbed violently. Biting him now would seal the deal from my side, the scent of a summer day wafted up my nose. Piercing his tender flesh, my pupils enlarged at the first sip, the sweet taste of lemonade coated my throat. Wrapping my arms around his neck, short gasps poured from his lips. Drinking my fill, a satisfied sigh flowed freely from me. He was right, your mateâs blood tasted like nothing else. Scarlet blood stained the corner of his lips, my hands cupping his face. Pressing my lips against his sensually, his arm slid down to the small of my waist. Refusing to let me go, his tongue danced in my mouth. Time stopped, our heartbeats were all I could hear. Releasing him from the spell, he sat back in a daze with a goofy grin. Scarlet burned his cheeks, my impulsive behavior having landed me in some hot water for sure.
âSorry for that.â I apologized profusely, hoping that he wouldnât hate me for acting on my inner thoughts. âI get a little impu-â Kissing me back with twice as much passion, my body arched towards him. The seat belt was the only thing that held me back, his heart beating faster than mine. Another knock interrupted him, a flustered Stanton rolled the window down.
âWhat!â He yelled sharply, the ivory haired femaleâs ruby eyes flitting between me and him. âSelena, you need to give your older brother privacy.â Her petite five two figure didnât scream power but boy did her intense color changing aura. Sticking out her tongue, a deeper scarlet colored his cheeks. Blinking a couple of times, she leaned into the car.
âI am Selena Dogood, his baby sister. You must be the infamous Morticia he never stopped talking about. Honestly, he never shut up.â She teased lightly, her short leather dress fluttering in the breeze. âWould you like to h-â Covering her mouth with his hand, a stern gaze shut her offer down.
âI would but I need to get to the hell I am calling suburbia. You know the reason I married her in the first place. They suspect the serial killer is living in that godforsaken town.â He informed her briskly, cursing under his breath. âI might like her a bit. Do you have her clothes? People are going to stare if I bring her out in a prison jumpsuit.â Dropping a silky emerald dress into his lap, a horrendous flashback of the church dressing me in lingerie for special guests to view haunted me. Horrendous slurs had been carved into my skin, the people throwing rotten tomatoes at me. Clutching my chest, a tight embrace snapped me back to reality. Selena put her hands up into the air, walking back to her own SUV. Kissing the top of my head, the nature of our bond made this moment unbearably sweet. His slender six foot seven frame towered over me by a good foot, thus his embrace felt like Heaven. Shaking my head, I shoved him off. Undoing my seat belt, he turned his back as I peeled off the jumpsuit. Tossing it into the back, I tugged on the sweetheart neckline dress. The silk felt soft against my skin, the material a far better cry from the rough cotton of my previous outfit. The straps failed to cover the number the prison had branded me with, my fingers tracing the faint numbers. Not seeing what I did wrong, the people should have applauded me. Furthermore, I needed to eat.
âYou look beautiful.â He commented pleasantly, his eyes falling on the numbers branded on my chest. âThey didnât tell me that they did that to the first vampires in prison. I promise to make your life better. Can you cook?â His question threw me off as the engine roared to life, the trees turning into a sea of houses. Rolling my eyes, most of them were close enough to pass a damn cup of sugar through the bathroom window. The ranches nauseated me further, my heart sinking at the car pulling up to a flamingo pink ranch. My face scrunched in disgust, my eyes falling on a red headed woman with piercing blue eyes. Her curls bounced around her shoulders, her ample cleavage hanging out of a tight tank top. Pouting in my direction, something seemed off about her. Perhaps it was because her aura was darker than the bottom of the ocean. Hopping out to the car, his hand ripped open the car door. Sliding on the shoes, a scowl planted itself on her lips.
âWhoâs Shirley Temple across the street?â I inquired softly, his eyes rolling. âShe seems to like you.â Rolling his eyes, a wicked grin spread cheek to cheek as he rose to his feet. Pinning me to the car, his lips kissed mine hungrily. Time stopped, the sound of the night fading to the background. Releasing me from his spell, her death glare sent chills up my spine. Lifting my finger, he purposely showed off our wedding rings. Glee glittered in his eyes at her obvious bewilderment, he flipped her off on the way into the house. The outside must have been deceptive because all sorts of taxidermy lined the Victorian style wallpaper, the dark wooden bookshelves were lined with first editions of books. Sitting me down on what was his original emerald velvet couch, my hands rubbing the carved bats on the armrest. Crossing my legs, my eyes fell on the coffin coffee table. Laying down, sweet slumber stole me away.
Snapping awake, a flurry of impatient knocks frightened the shit out of me. The bright sunshine blinded me, a fluke in my DNA allowing me not to burn in the sun. Rushing to the door, the redhead from the night before knocked once more. Opening the door, I leaned on the door frame. Horror rounded her eyes at my porcelain skin and black lips, her perfect ass shoving her way in. Following her into an all black kitchen, she called out Stanley. Cocking my brow in response, a messy haired Stanton wandered into the hall. Defiance glittered in his eyes, my eyes taking in the same emerald wallpaper from the living room now lining the hall.
âYou are a cockadoody for your disrespectful behavior from last night.â She complained bitterly, her eyes snapping back to me. âDid you find her on an albino dating site? Why havenât I seen her?â Rubbing his bare muscular chest, he examined her pristine white dress and black sun hat. My heart fluttered at the sight of him, part of me wishing he wouldnât slick his hair back anymore. A matching branded set of numbers sat on his chest, curiosity twinkling in my eyes.
âWhy donât you leave, Susie?â He asked politely, popping a white tablet into his mouth. âI need you and your husband to leave me alone today.â Narrowing her eyes in his direction, he motioned towards the door. Something seemed off with her, her aura sickening me. Cupping my mouth, he noticed my reaction to her presence. Not only that, the scent of her blood reminded me of a corpse. Walking up next to her, I pushed Stanton out of the way.
âWhat is your name?â I demanded viciously, folding my arms across my chest. True love lit up in his eyes for the first time, the crack of her slap stunning me into a temporary silence. Her chest huffed up and down, my crazed grin infuriating her further. Pinning me to the wall, I stole the opportunity to peek into her soul. A shadow blocked me from seeing into it, my face falling.
âI am Susan Smith, the leader of the neighborhood watch. I am watching you. I am a black belt by the way.â She warned icily, my unimpressed expression peeving her off further. âWhat is so funny?â Knowing that she would charge me if I touched her, I cleared my throat.
âHello to you then.â I chirped cheerfully, turning on my people-friendly smile. âI think you should go now. I work the night shift and you and your creepy neighborhood watch can go fuck yourself. You can keep your hungry eyes off my husband.â Raising her hand to strike me, I caught it mid slap. Lowering it to her side, my grip on her wrist refused to let her go.
âWhatever. My husband is hotter than yours and the mayor of the town. I wouldnât touch him with a ten foot pole.â She returned haughtily, my fingers letting her go. âWe donât want you Gothic freaks in this perfect little slice of Heaven.â Cocking my brow at her words, it was obvious she liked my husband. A slightly overweight bald man in a pair of khakis and a blue button up shirt stepped out to search for his wife, his chocolate brown eyes falling on us. The name Richard stood out to me, a defiant glow coming over my face.
âHeâs hot if slightly overweight and bald with a side of khakiâs is in fashion.â I taunted cruelly, watching her face grow red as the fire hydrant outside. Stomping off, she slammed the door behind her. Dusting off my dress, he pulled me in for a warm embrace. The foot difference made me feel pleasantly small, the feeling of his muscles against my face causing a tender blush to rise to my cheeks. This was an emotion that I havenât felt in a while, the desire to give in to my nightly urges raged. Pushing him away, I folded my arms across my chest. Hurt dimmed his eyes, his hands running through his hair.
âWe donât have to do any of that until you are ready. We do have to get ready to go to the grocery. I just took my sunblock pill.â He explained happily, turning to walk back into his room. Hugging him from behind, my outcome was to alleviate his hurt. Freezing in his tracks, he spun on his heels. Hiding his wet eyes underneath his hair, he barely responded as I wiped away his tears. Pushing me away, a glass shattered on the worn wooden floor the moment I hit it. Shivering on the floor, I had tried too hard. Rushing into his room, I chased after him.
Fighting the tears, his years in prison had done a number on him. Sliding into the room in the nick of time, he shoved an onyx lace baby doll dress into my arms with a pair of chunky heeled boots. Stomping into the bathroom, he had his outfit hanging off of his arm. Changing quickly, he needed something to cheer him up. Crashing into the kitchen, the bottom of my dress fluttered with each step. Noting the dark roast coffee beans, coffee was the only thing vampires could taste beside blood. Humming to myself, I began the process of making him a latte. Smoothing out my bell sleeves, it was time to add the milk. Pouring the foaming milk into his coffee, he wandered in with a grumpy look on his face. My breath hitched at his black and white striped button up shirt over a pair of black shorts, his worn converses bringing him down to what age we looked like. A silver cross dangled from his left ear, his eyes falling on the apology coffee.
âI am sorry. It has been a long time since someone touched me. It is a tale I will tell you another time. Did you make that for me?â He queried with a tired smile, taking the clear cup in his trembling hands. âDid they teach you how to make this in jail?â Nodding silently, he took a sip. His eyes widened at how tasty it was, the cup was empty in a couple of minutes.
âAre we watching the people at the grocery store?â I questioned shakily, afraid to speak. âWonât we stand out?â Shaking his head, he ruffled the top of my head. Kissing the top of my head, he offered me his elbow. Hooking mine around his, he guided me out to the car. Helping me in, we were soon heading to the local grocery store. The worn sign flickered against a faded tan facade, the housewives streamed in and out. An irritated Susan rushed past his car.
âWe do but I have lived here for months, so they are used to it. If you wore pink it would be more alarming.â He whispered gruffly into my ears, those damn urges coming up again. âTrust me. We are the town freaks anyway with being âalbinosâ. The air quotes added a sense of humor to the moment, his soft chuckle telling me that he was fine. Helping me out, the wives all waved at him. Jealousy flashed in my eyes, his fingers intertwined with mine. While he received a bunch of smiles, I received death glare after death glare. Bright lights blinded me, the constant conversations caused my ears to pin back. The serial killer could be among these people, the very thought exhilarating.
âThis can be a bit much for your first day out of jail. I would have left you at home but our bond wonât allow it.â He assured me sweetly, placing my hands on the cart. Holding me from behind, he rested his chin on my head. Talking for a minute to the butcher, a special symbol on his neck informed me that he was an ally. Susan rolled up next to me, one of her lackeys boxing me in. Leaning on the end of my cart, she cast insult after insult at me. Ignoring her words, a familiar face stole my attention. His wrinkles matched the fatherâs from back in the medieval times, a pair of sage eyes meeting mine. He smelled human, a Celtic symbol glowed on his neck. Susan waved her hands in front of me, a strained huh escaping my lips. His black priestâs uniform sickened me, clammy sweat soaking my skin.
âDid you hear me!â Susan demanded childishly, holding out an invitation. âThis is something we call a book club.â Seconds from crumbling it up, Stanton snatched it from her fingers. Pecking me on the lips, she rolled her eyes in a huff. Father Rowell had disappeared into the crowd, my husband carrying on the conversation for me.
âI have to go to the bathroom!â I blurted out awkwardly, leaping over the carts. Crashing through the people, I skidded to a stop in front of Rowell. Reaching his hand out to me, a bolt of lightning zapped him the moment our skin touched. Clearing his throat, he pointed to the automatic doors.
âShall we go outside?â He suggested with a sly grin, my ankle failing me at the wrong time. Crashing onto my ass, he snapped his finger. A rotting church towered over us, so many questions rested on the tip of my tongue. One pew remained, the wood groaning as we sat down on it. Why did this feel warmer than before?
âAre you the serial killer, you old man?â I interrogated intensely, his head shaking. Sliding me a Celtic spell book with the proper page open, the spell he was using only required the sacrifice of a lamb. Leaning back, he touched the glowing symbol on his neck. I guess it all added up.
âItâs not me. This damn thing prevents me from killing anyone. I turned it around, I swear. â He attempted to assure me, my look of disbelief not pleasing him. âI am sorry for using you. You seemed so lost and I was lost by the propaganda they were spreading. The church today is much more honest. I can be a pair of ears for you. Will that help you out?â The church bell rang, the wood quaking underneath my boots, his eyes allowing me to peer into his soul. The white aura was enough to convince me, my hand touching his.
âBesides the killing, you did everything right.â I admitted sheepishly, allowing him to smile subtly. âYou found me after one of my bloody massacres and still hid me from the church.â Snow drifted aimlessly, his palm catching a couple of snowflakes. Watching them melt in his palms, he turned to me.
âDo you remember when I found you? Ruby painted the snow but you looked at me with the biggest plea for help. You were but a ten year old child with fangs in my eyes.â He commented in a fatherly tone, both us leaning back to watch the snow fall. Resting our hands on our flat stomachs, he let out a soft chuckle
âI am surprised you helped me after finding out I was the daughter of the first vampire.â I laughed gently, his hand reaching for mine. âI got married yesterday. I am sorry that I went to prison. I must have disappointed you with that tidbit.â Taking my hand, he examined the ring. Snapping his fingers, we were back at the grocery store. Dropping a card into my palm, he shoved his hands into his pocket.
âI came to seek you out. The killer is among your little area I call Hell. Good luck with that marriage.â He called out as he walked to a waiting car, Stanton coming out with a bag of groceries. Peeking into the bag, it was two bags of coffee. Providing the perfect distraction, the contacts amusing me.
âIt really looks like we eat.â I joked tenderly, nudging his shoulder. âCan we go home now?â Winking in my direction, his arm curled around my waist. Flipping me the invitation, his next words pissed me off.
âYou are going to that book club tomorrow. Play nice and try not to stand out too much. The trick to winning Susie over is through the love of reading. As I recall, you had a cell full of the latest books.â He ordered sharply, rubbing his chin. âI know you read them all. Can you handle that tomorrow?â Whispering something in his ears, a devilish grin spread cheek to cheek.
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2023.06.07 22:39 Positive_Ant_297 Eufy Security Failed to load video
About a couple of months eufy Security app has been intermittent me to view video for my wired doorbell and wireless cameras various types. Home Base is a 2
Error occurs when attempt to view the video. Error message is
Failed to load video
I have updated the app, checked that the firmware is up to date, changed the SSD even tried the usb for storage, checked the network config...
Any help is appreciated.
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