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shotokimchi · 1 year

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When Their S/O Is a Seggs God 2

Minors DNI

A/N: Here's a part 2 since I had so much fun while writing the first one, I appreciate the reblogs and the comments!

I'm planning to continue this drabble and write for other characters too, so you can suggest different fandoms as well.

Note: They arent in an established relationship in Dabi's one

Characters are aged up! Part1 w/Shoto and Katsuki

Dabi

So you and Dabi are playing this game called cat and mouse for a while since you are a pro hero and whenever the League is causing trouble, your main target is always him

Why you ask?

You see, you have this very important hero-like reason...

You think he's hot.🔥 (fair enough)

So when you and your friends get a call from the police, telling you that the League is gonna strike (act like bitchy teens) again, being the responsible server of society you are, you immediately attend the mission

After telling your hero friends Shoto, Deku, Pinky and Dynamight that you are trailing quietly behind Dabi you turn off your earphone and watch your villain crush slowly make his way into a narrow alley

Then you hear Pinky's voice in your ear "ThickThighs, you need to distract him till we get there." (Yes your hero name?)

IT IS NOW YOUR TIME TO SHINE

In a swift motion, you appear in front of him and a sly smirk makes its way onto his lips

"Well well the stalker hero is here."

"You are lucky Dabi because i like my meat burnt." (🍆)

Before he can process what nonsense you are talking about he finds himself on the ground laying on his back while you are keeping his head locked between your thighs, he quickly grabs your thighs and you feel his hands warming up "I'll turn you into a roasted chi-"

"Want a quick head?"

The cockroach is speechless

....

"W-"

Not waiting for his brain to function, you put your juicy phat ass on his face 🍑🍑

And face toward his portal opener leg spreader zucchini, then quickly get him out of his cheap drugstore pants

Your soft hand finally meets his touch starved lonely villain dick and starts pumping him like REAL FAST

literally can create electricity with how fast you are jerking him off

too bad he cant see whats happening since all he can see is your ass on his face

but you are giving a real show to the street rats so

lucky rodents ig 🐭

He is grunting and moaning uncontrollably into your core

Legit thinks you have an extra sex-related quirk or smthn Thought his dick was on fire and got scared for a moment bc it was getting too hot thanks to the speed of your hand so tried to pry you off of his face but you quickly caged his arms with your thighs (Even Nicki Minaj is jealous of your thighs at this point) Eventually gives in since you are giving him the time of his life but mf wasn't ready for your brand new Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum 👅👅👅

HOW ARE YOU SUCKING THAT STRONG IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

boy ejaculated in 45 seconds and wants the ground to swallow him whole LMAO and to make it even worse you even compared 45 seconds to a butterflies lifespan

to make him feel better ofc

"If you look at it, it's probably like 5 years for a butterfly Dabi don't worry."

yep, he definitely wants to kill you now

Quickly gets up to scurry away, you embarrassed the baddy ok his pride is HURT he won't let you see him in this pathetic state

so he cages you with his flames and disappears once you manage to escape but not before scraping his private number on the concrete so you can see it later with his initials on the bottom

BC WHAT WAS THAT YOU ARE AMAZING

HE WANTS ANOTHER ROUND SO HE CAN TAKE REVENGE

so when you see it you are doing the happy dance you can finally see him again

not before getting interrupted with an awkward cough from your earphone tho

"We heard everything Y/n..."

Izu says

"Y/N THAT WAS MY BROTHER AND YOU KNOW THAT"

POOR SHOTO

and Katsuki is probably gagging in the background

...

"She ate tho."

Thanks, Mina (got them villains whimpering under your ass💅)

Midoriya

So when I tell you that Midoriya worships the ground you walk on it is not an exaggeration 🛐

Baby is that in love with you and wants to spend his whole life with you so he decides to wait till marriage

Virgin Pro hero Izuku is so attractive ok no buts like he's the number one hero in the whole world so strong, undefeatable and scary to the villains

But when it comes to you he just wants everything to be so special and perfect, always smiling and making sure you're feeling loved

Baby thinks you deserve all of his firsts KHDASDKJS- CUTE

So when he gets on one knee and asks you to marry him while you guys were out on a trip to Spain you can't help but jump around in your cute summer dress while hugging him and screaming "YES" at the top of your lungs

AND NOW . . .

THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME

In his head(notebook), everything is planned

-Drink champagne together

-Take a bubble bath together

-Give her a massage

-Warm up a little bit(yes literal work out)

-Make love

he totally wrote it into his notebook. 📝

It's hidden in the drawer and you dont need to know that

BUT

Before he can open the drawer and take a slight peek at his notes, you are suddenly butt naked and sitting on the bed calling for him with your sweet voice

Baby literally SCREAMED when he saw you

Because you are so gorgeous WTF Asks if you want a drink first and you say no, then realizes the notes aren't helping him with shit so gets in front of the bed and quickly starts doing stretches And you are giving him the *tf is he doing* look but meh you are used to his weird antics already lol cant pull a muscle babes so you sigh and drag him onto the bed

literally looks at you like this LOL AND HAS A HAND RESTING ON HIS HIPS TOO BOY WE DIDNT EVEN STARTED- Don't get mad at him he is just that nervous

Smiling at his silliness you slowly drag him on top of you and start kissing his shaky lips and it actually helps him ease up a bit

..till you start pinching and massaging his nipples

Baby literally squeaks and tries to move away only to be stopped by your legs around his waist, caging him and pulling him towards you more "Where are you running off to, hm?" Bro is about to cream his boxers HE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE A VIRGIN SO HOW ARE YOU SO EFFORTLESSLY DOMINANT? Guess all of that smut you've read paid off well

You make him lay on his stomach while whining and whimpering with you on his back stroking his cock from behind

%100 gripping the sheets and biting down on the pillow so he doesnt disturb the people on the floor

but you have other plans so you grab his chin lift his face and shove 2 fingers in his mouth

He just obeys you like that bc he doesn't know what to do aww he is too embarrassed at this point

gets 20 spanks on his plump buttocks bc you just love seeing them jiggle

GO EASY ON HIM ITS HIS FIRST NIGHT

But you show no mercy and suggest trying the position "69"

Surprisingly he is very eager to do it, it sounds so erotic to him he ends up cumming 3 times just from your mouth and when you finally cum on his face you quickly grab your phone, open your camera and tell him to smile

Best selfie ever: Tired looking izuku with your cum on his face smiling shyly at the camera

Baby is bathing in his own sweat at this point

But is y/n done?

NO NOT EVEN CLOSE? So the night continued like that, you acting like letting him take the lead then swapping the roles and embarrassing him non-stop milking him till his balls turn into deflated balloons 🎈

That's how the first sex tape of the Midoriya couple was created and trust me, there are many tapes to be filmed

And believe it or not, whenever he goes drinking with his hero friends, he gets so drunk that he spills every spicy detail about your sex life and everybody in the room listens to him in awe, with jealousy and mouths wide open.

A/N: AAAAHHHH FINALLY DONE HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE IT, reblogs and feedbacks r appreciated!

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weirdowithaquill · 5 months

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Flying Scotsman in 2004 - A Comedy of Errors and Owners:

Ok - so this is something I've been sitting on for a while now, but I feel like with 'The World Famous Engine' now being uploaded to Ao3, now is the right time to cover this rather insane topic. See, we all know the story of Flying Scotsman and the NRM: the NRM bought the engine for the nation, and then sent it into the Works for 1 years' worth of work in 2006... One year of work that ended up spiralling into ten years and £4.2 million.

But behind that story is a rather more shocking story, and one that really needs more recognition to help people understand just how absolutely shockingly Flying Scotsman had been treated before that overhaul.

Sir William McAlpine:

Our story most likely begins under Alan Peglar, but I have a rather sneaking suspicion it actually gets interesting under McAlpine. Sir William McAlpine bought 4472 Flying Scotsman in 1972 to save the engine after Alan Peglar went bankrupt in San Francisco, leaving the engine on a US Military Base.

He brought Scotsman and had the engine restored at Derby Works in England, and then successfully owned and ran the engine for another 23 years, making him the longest-lasting and most successful of all Scotsman's owners.

Pretty good achievement!

But, during this era, Flying Scotsman visited Australia, broke the record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive, pulled the Royal Train, ran on a multitude of heritage railways and mainline excursions, got an overhaul three times - including one at Barrow-in-Furness (story idea, anyone?). This is not where the worst of the issues arose from, but it does give you a good idea of the kind of work this engine was being tasked with.

And then in 1995, it was involved in an accident at Llangollen Railway. When put back into steam, smoke emerged from a crack separating the boiler and the front cab. It was deemed a total failure and immediately withdrawn from service immediately - and that's what did McAlpine in. He sold the engine off to cover some debts, and Tony Marchington

What do I think went wrong here? I have a feeling that Scotsman was run pretty haggard in Australia (which, fair - it's not always a very nice country to machines) and when refitted to his BR livery, several... shortcuts were made to get the engine back in service. All the same, this isn't where the trouble came from.

Tony Marchington:

And here's where things went south. Fast. Flying Scotsman was bought, went through a three-year long overhaul worth £1 million and then was set to work. Thing is, that overhaul had a number of red flags surrounding it - perhaps most notable being the fitting of an A4 boiler working at 250psi. Now, for those unaware - the original A1 class ran at 180psi, and the upgraded A3 class ran at 225psi. The engine was being run at a pressure it was extremely unfit to operate with.

It would be a bit like fitting a massive V12 motor to a Honda Accord. Yes, the car will move extremely fast and look impressive and move for a while, but every other piece of that car will deteriorate rapidly due to the pressure it's all under. Now transfer that to a steam locomotive - one where to reach that pressure, the firebox is under a lot of strain.

Flying Scotsman failed a lot during the Marchington era, and it's not surprising why. The poor engine was literally falling to pieces - as one NRM staffmember noted: "On our first inspection, the rear drivers had been removed to deal with bearing problems. The visiting NRM team was most unimpressed with the quality of work being done on the bearings. Other examples of poor workmanship (of which I cannot remember the detail) were evident on inspection.”

Please note, the bearings and valves had all recently been replaced.

Also note, Tony Marchington was under pressure from the shareholders of Flying Scotsman PLC - a company he set up - to make money, and so many of the fitters working on the engine may have been given far, far too many constraints in time and budget to properly overhaul the engine, in essence needing to just 'do the bare minimum to get it back in service'...

And this is the condition the NRM bought 4472 Flying Scotsman in.

The National Railway Museum:

All of the above is an indication of the condition that Flying Scotsman was in when bought in 2004 - but that only tells about half of the story. The other half is a bunch of issues surrounding the purchase, certification and understanding of just how bad things were. And make no mistake, the NRM is not blameless in this circus - it just managed to inherit a bad situation and then fumble with it until they sat down and figured out what had happened.

Let's take a moment to look at the AEAT report that the NRM got, then compare it to reality:

The AEAT report stated that:

"Whilst it was not possible to complete a thorough examination of the locomotive, or to witness it in steam, the condition of the locomotive has been monitored regularly as part of the VAB audit process. Taking this into consideration, it is considered that the general mechanical condition is satisfactory for continued operation, subject to effective maintenance, until the next General Overhaul in 2006. The scope of mechanical overhaul is not anticipated to be extensive but will involve strip down of the motion and axleboxes to gauge wear and remedial action. The cylinders all require re-lining and boring to nominal diameter."

The reality of the condition of the engine was far from this rather rosy portrayal given by AEAT. For starters, the engine was not properly examined, and several areas of testing were 'not possibly to be checked adequately' for a variety of reasons, including:

the locomotive was being prepared for a test run

equipment failure

4472 Flying Scotsman not being in steam

Anyone notice something off? Why exactly can the company not see how the engine is when in steam if the engine is being prepared for a test run?

Furthermore, AEAT had been the VAB (Vehicle Acceptance Body) for Flying Scotsman for 14 years by this point and finding a huge number of faults at this point very much would have raised questions about their work. More probably, the company had grown accustomed to the engine working, and simply assumed everything was satisfactory unless demonstratable to the contrary. Like the NRM admitted:

"[T]he previous owner’s VAB may not have been the best choice of inspector."

Thing is, AEAT included pictures in their report, but most of these were of the air brake compressor, locomotive air brake, tender air brake cylinders, TPWS antenna selection switch and the TPWS antenna mounting arrangements, which while critical to obtaining permission to operate on Network Rail, don't say much about the actual condition of the engine. And the photos that were of the actual mechanical parts of the engine were... telling.

The Stay Nuts in the firebox are rusting, melting and missing. And that wasn't the only major issue with the engine - several of which were extremely dangerous:

the Robinson superheater header doors had been seal welded;

other inspection doors had also been seal welded;

Repairs to defective studs on the superheater header were needed;

the smokebox door locking mechanism was broken;

the firebox stays needed caulking;

the boiler mountings and pipework in the cab was considered dangerous;

the air brake reservoirs were overdue re-certification;

two tender springs needed replacing;

Re-metalling one crosshead was needed, which resulted in having to remove the bogie, and led to the discovery that the piston rods were incorrectly fitted to the crossheads and required extensive repairs in order to make them fit properly;

Removal of the 'belly' access door in the bottom of the boiler barrel in order to remove a build-up of some 6 inches of sludge;

one of the tender wheel tyres was flat;

the air pump needed repairs;

the vital axlebox oil pads which were long overdue for replacement;

the tender handbrake just didn't work and needed repairs;

121 boiler tubes needed replacement (2004);

the boiler itself needed replacement (2006);

Foundation ring heavily corroded and cracked;

a large number of latent fractures throughout the whole of the locomotive's frame assembly;

the valves and bearings were faulty or broken;

there was a serious crack in the right-hand cylinder;

the entire firebox itself was in desperate need of replacement;

the boiler washout plugs had been fitted with domestic gas plugs;

the wheels are all in need of re-turning;

the frame hornblocks are all cracked;

one of the driving wheels was bent;

the frame stretchers were all cracked and beyond repair;

The centre-cylinder motion bracket also had cracks;

The frames were wrongly aligned;

And the frame's horn ties were scrap, and needed to be remade.

That is thirty separate issues that the NRM discovered between 2004 and 2012 restoring the Flying Scotsman. The Flying Scotsman needed such a complete overhaul to be restored that some people argued that it would cheaper to just build an entirely new engine.

A completely new version of this engine:

And remember, AEAT certified this engine to run on the mainline. The Flying Scotsman had turned into a literal moving death trap under its various owners, and I am not surprised it cost the NRM £4.2 million to rebuild Flying Scotsman.

In summary, 4472 Flying Scotsman was about as sick as an engine could get when it arrived at the NRM. The amount of work required to fix the poor engine was extensive - and some may argue unjustified. Personally, I disagree. Yes, Flying Scotsman cost a ridiculous amount of money to save and rebuild - but this is not an engine who would ever accept living on a plinth in a museum. This is an engine with a fascinating history filled with trials, tribulations and triumphs; and in my opinion the Flying Scotsman's place is on the mainline. Will there be a day when the old engine has to be withdrawn and placed in the NRM? Probably - it's the oldest mainline certified engine in the UK already, and it's not getting any younger. But by that same token, Flying Scotsman went through a massive, extensive overhaul to ensure that generations to come could see the majestic A3 doing what it always did best, and there's something truly inspiring about that.

A big thank you to the NRM for saving Flying Scotsman, and an even bigger 'what the hell?' to the people who almost destroyed it by being careless.

The pictures used in this post do not belong to me. All pictures belong to their owners. If you wish to read the NRM Flying Scotsman report yourself, this is the URL, and a hyperlink to its archived form on the Wayback Machine:

#weirdowithaquill #railways #real railway stuff #Flying Scotsman #4472 Flying Scotsman #NRM #The National Railway Museum #Flying Scotsman very nearly didn't get his happy ending #There was a lot wrong #this stuff is crazy #long reads #very long post #lner a3 #wayback machine

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astranite · 28 days

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Notes- Christmas TAG secret santa fic.

Because of this post and @janetm74 and @edutainer2022 here are my additional notes for my 2023 thunderfam secret santa fic.

It contains brainstorming that became part of the og fic and notes as a continuation for the car ride. It was actually these that I came up with first and intended to write but got side tracked with explorations of getting ready, especially given the prompt i was given was “Every day is a school day” with Jeff and Lucy. Also deadlines!

Mind that this is pretty much as is from my notes in its entirety, complete with spelling errors, partial sentences and utter lack of cohesion as I jumped between ideas.

Link for the fic proper on ao3.

---

“Every day is a school day” Jeff and Lucy. And everyone.

Car drive to spent christmas with Grandma and Grant at Gran Rocha. The preparing and road tripping shenanigans.

getting all five kids plus themselves and luggage into the car on time as chaotic as a school day. Jeffs line?

S15, J13, V12, G 6?7, A3

Wake-up call. Alarm going off Lucy tired and grumpy where Virgil gets it from. I’ll get the kids up and you can head straight to the coffee. Jeff fooling around like mock drill sergeant. Scott’s grumpy teenness and chucking a pillow at him with surprisingly good aim for supposedly asleep. Scott getting up. Bed hair mess that Jeff runs a gentle hand through pulling him into a hug. Virgil and John. John and Bagel the cat curled up together. Both hissing at him in unison. Virgil needed to be hugged and woken up more slowly.

Down in the kitchen. Jeff kissing Lucy and trying to steal her coffee. No you cannot steal my coffee Jefferson Tracy, you have your own. Lucy’s massive science pun mug. Hair in her face looking like little Virgil.

HURRICANE LUCY. Time skip to about to go?

packing- John wanting to fit telescope. Or “But I did leave my telescope behind” but bag full of books.

Last min shoving presents in. Neighbour to feed the cat.

Scott nabbed the car keys first on massive ** many different keychain so neither Lucy nor Jeff could lose them. Swinging them around his finger, “can I drive” Parental chorus of “No!” Doesn't have license yet but is learning to pilot. argument of Grandma lets me drive on the ranch. Thats the beat up old ute and theres nothing much out there to hit any way.

And they were done. Bags were in the car, kids were in the car, last final bathroom stops had been had. Lucy patted down her pockets. Keys! She didn’t have them, so Jeff must except that he didn’t. Surely the couldn’t have lost them with the neon pink rocket ship key chain attached to prevent this. Until they both spied Scott leaning against the drivers side door and swinging them around his finger.

“So, can I drive?” Scott asked as if he didn’t already know the answer to that question.

“No,” came the parental chorus.

Then the other kids repeating them, picking up on it slightly behind.

Scott grinning and tossed the keys in the air one last time then caught them. He passed them to Lucy’s waiting hand prompted by a stern eyebrow.

7 seater beat up car. Drive- Kansas to Texas. approx 9 hours to 8 1/2. Lucy english thinking its ages. at least america had good highways. and from her mothers tales at least kangaroo spotter was a redundant position.

Panic at dress clothes for Christmas day

someone packed no underpants. Gordon only packed underwear and swimmers. Trying to sort laundry at last minute. Jeff’s haphazard packing of his own clothes with getting everyone else in military order. Lucy remarking jokingly, “Mightve gotten to mars adn forgot your space suit.

Jeff the nerd, calling Grandma to tell on our way, “Houston we have take off”. Kids dramatic countdown. A “finally”. FOnd eye rolls.

John and Virgil at back seats. Johns already long limbs folded up.

Scott getting the dubious privelige of the middle row. but centre seat between Alan and Gords car seats and on big brother duty.

Lucy hoping but not expecting to get some rest on the trip. Up all night getting ready. has mystery novel to read. but trying to wrangle kids. Putting Jeff’s cowboy hat over her face to keep the sun off as she sleeps.

Stops for toilet breaks. Lunch fast food. “Do not let gordon have soda.” Johns burger order. Virgil picking pickles out to give to john. The chips stealing. Trying to eat and drive. sending older ones in to fish younger out of the play area. losing Scott to it too, send in John planning it like a mission.

Jeff adn Lucy discussion over what coffee is supposed to do. ADHD Jeff. starting with Scott asking for coffee, cheekily. No, we dont need you any more hyper. Jeff’s confident, “Coffee doesnt do that” Even same with Aa. spirited debate. JSSo that means I can have some? eff still saying no coffee for Scott.

Lucy driving at some point.

If Lucy had to hear one more rendition of baby shark she was the one who was going to get out and walk.

music and Lucy and Virgil comparing synesthesia.

John reading massive heavy text book, splayed out across knees. not getting car sick, serve well for astronaut. for fun, reminded he didnt need to study.

Scott bored and restless. tinies asleep. no phone signal. twisting around, being told off for seat belt, trying to see what Johns doing. seat swap and he and John are in the back doing maths and physics, heads bent together. virgil eyes closed but awake or leaning around car seats to look out the windows, bobbing head to music through headphones.

when John adn Scott get stuck, calling questions out to Lucy. Jeff snoring in front seat, head on lucy;s jumper, went from wide awake to clonked out even after the coffees.

Virgil using breath on fogged up windows to draw. Scott and John used it for math.

Gordon are we there yet. Alan copying him.

naming animals and animal sounds. then naming sea creatures. then sounds of sea creatures. some known, some gordon happily making them up.

car sickness. Scott getting car sick, in spite of crazy spins and flips but then hes in control. another reshuffle, Jeff wedged into the middle seat, Lucy laughing and looking in rear view mirror at tall, broad shouldered husband folded awkwardly into the back. John and Virgil back-back. Scott getting shotgun, window open and nauseous. Vomit bags in glove box because learnt from past fiascos and puke in hat story. Scott grumps would be fine if I was driving

some point tinies and Jeff all asleep. John and Virgil happy together. Lucy getting to check in and chat to scott.

on destination. everyone there, big family. Lee? Kayo adn Kyrano and Kayo mother. Jeff brothers? packed into the big ranch house. noise and merriment. hot dry texas air. smell of good food cooking. some slight odour of burnt.

explain lucy parents farm????

“The eagle has landed” finding rooms, unpack car. eldest three in together. youngest.

John overwhelmed after trip, not wanting to talk to anyone. near tears at thought of going into party. going to stable to spent time with horses.

Virgil running up to Grant and talking his ear off, to much delight of both parties. Grant, still broad shouldered and strong from farm work, charcoal black hair now salt and pepper grey.

Achievements getting caught up with. Jeff telling grandma about scotts, Scott proud but a bit uncharacteristically shy, leaning into a side hug.

the comments of how big the kids were all getting, and theyd better not be having more. Lucy laughing and very nope five is plenty enough.

somewhat tired cranky, sticky dusty kids. Gordon spilling something sticky on him in the last hour, waiting to get there to wash him off. Recovering excitement at bath.

grandma’s welcome cookies.

——- other fic. Graduation. car crash. Injuries—the bruises. Scott burst into tears with brothers because he wants mum

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #astrawrite #jeff tracy #lucy tracy

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diabolus1exmachina · 11 months

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Gilbern T11 (prototype).

Gilbern is not a name that immediately springs to mind when you think of classic British sports cars. In fact not many people know about the former car maker that hailed from Wales. And even fewer are aware of its exciting two seat, rear engined sports coupe project from the 1970s. Founded in 1959 by Giles Smith and Bernard Friese, Gilbern was Wales’ only car maker. Both the former butcher and the former German Army soldier succeeded in building a car company from nothing and for a time challenged the likes of Jaguar and Rover with the Gilbern Genie V6. By the time the company folded in 1974, over 1000 Gilbern’s had been built.

The story of the Gilbern T11 starts back in 1970 when the Welsh car manufacturer was looking for ways to expand their model range. While their fibre glass bodied cars proved popular, they were expensive and never sold in large numbers. As a result the small firm struggled financially and needed something different to turn their fortunes around. They decided to build a light and compact, rear engine, two seat sports coupe, handing over the design to Trevor Fiore. The project went from the clay model design stage to the production of a partially built prototype. The aim was to display the car at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show but that never happened. As the firm’s finances worsened, the project was cancelled and the T11 prototype along with the other three prototype chassis’ were abandoned.

When the firm finally went bankrupt in 1974, the partly assembled Gilbern T11 was taken home by its managing director where it stayed for a number of years. It was then passed on to the Gilbern Owners Club before changing hands again. The task that the new owner lay ahead was huge. First of all he had acquired a car that had sat for decades. Then there was the fact it was an unfinished prototype. Restoring an old classic is one thing but finishing a car that never got beyond the prototype stage is another. Thankfully owner background as a mechanic meant he had the skills needed to get it done. And he had a vision that allowed him to put his own stamp on Gilbern’s wedge. If it had been anyone else I suspect the car would still be in pieces today.

The Trevor Fiore’s design really was a work of art, taking cues from many other exotic sports cars of the day. Its design echoes that of the De Tomaso Mangusta, the Ferrari Daytona and the Bitter CD. And of course there is the Montiverdi Hai 450SS. The similarities between the two are uncanny. While the Gilbern T11 did not have a V12 or a V8 powerplant, it made up for this with its striking overall design. You could park this car beside a Lamborghini Miura or a De Tomaso Mangusta and it would not look out of place. It looks that good! It does make me wonder then what Gilbern could have achieved if they had succeeded in taking the T11 to full production.

#Gilbern T11 #Jaguar #Rover #De Tomaso Mangusta #Ferrari Daytona #Bitter CD #Montiverdi Hai 450SS #Lamborghini Miura

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tsukiyadori · 7 months

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"Amidst Stars Spread Out Immeasurably Like Sand, There is One Star Shining Towards me"

The Case Files of Jeweler Richard Side Story: Masago Nasu 真砂なす(Like Sand)

Finally, finished reading that side story. It took it to the last split part to actually get to the title's meaning that had been in a riddle to me for all this time. As it turns out, it's a from a song/haiku from poet Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902) from the Edo period in old Japanese and the nasu would be something like のうような or と同じくらい or 形づくる, basically a fancy way of saying 'like'.

『真砂なす数なき星の其その中なかに吾われに向かひて光る星あり』

Amidst stars spread out immeasurably like Sand, there is one star shining towards me

Which is to say, this is the origin story of Seigi's shift to calling Richard his 'shining star" in volume 12. It was just a little detail dropped in a conversation with Minoru, not explained, but probably noticeable to any observant reader as it has nothing to do with gemstones or natural phenomenon or anything he used previously.

Also.

Every time he calls him that, it's literally actually a confession basically???

I mean, that's pretty much the same thing they already did in Moonstone?? Just using a piece of more obscure classic literature that isn't so overused, like Souseki's The Moon is Beautiful. And with none of that teasing playfulness.

I still think Claire the Lune has to be right after the bulk part Masago Nasu, before its epilogue. It didn't get so much of a confirmation rather than another reference (Seigi having to realize, he's not the youngest any more, when he overeats.) And with that it's a whole string connecting it all together. But in any case, this is a direct prequel to the Overture side story. Which again is a direct prequel to volume 12. Both of them along of with v12 exorbitantly make me think of....

Series convergences (that maths thing) or the Sorites Paradox.

As in: How close do you have to get, how many grains do you have to pile up until it is basically as good or actually that same thing?

Seigi keeps insisting he's Richard's "Private Secretary". And it's his way of differentiating it from that usual stuff, to which he has clearly distanced himself more than one time. That's not the nature of their relationship, despite anyone outside thinking it could only be that. I still remember how I felt like screaming to the void when he declares as much to Jeffrey in the Otsukareta Hanashi short story (from Tsujimura-sensei's blog) that is set right after the epilogue of volume 10. (I mean, how often do you get something served that screams queerplatonic and then basically confirms it even if it doesn't use the word?)

But is it that still? (Was it that to begin with??) Does that differentiation even matter at this point? Couldn't they just go with that usual way?

In Ouverture the topic of marriage gets brought up by a Sri Lankan woman, Seigi dodges it, but there is no way he hasn't considered it. It's cut short by an interference by Richard. Seigi and Shimomura have a phone conversation and Shimomura treats his work as the same as a Jeweler, Seigi corrects him, his job title is 'private secretary' and he's stubborn about that, but also by this point, as Shimomura points out, he's doing effectively that very same work. Saul makes sarcastic implications about that job title in Masago Nasu, only for Richard to cut him short and basically muzzle him. But Seigi even has to and does agree. He even reiterates that fact in v12 by his own accord, his work is now essentially the same as Richard's as a jeweler (though he says he's still a sort of lesser Richard.) And 'private secretary' which really is his very Seigi-roundabout way of naming their nature of relationship that also just makes sense only to them. And the analogy to their relationship is palpable. It's been a running trope since at least Diamond that they look like a couple, but they have piled up a lot more of things that make it look just like that. And short stories like the Itsuka Operaza de actually depict the details from an outsider's eyes with more details, which almost feels like the narrative is trying to make a persuasive case.

And then there's Masago Nasu's main point. Saul telling them the story of his and his wife Masago, over whom he sing-sangs another ancient love poem, including a word that means sand and is her name. And he warns them, they are so similar, their headspaces are similar, it's like their souls are twins, so they are prone to not talk about some things, because they simply already know. But if tragedy strikes (Masago dies by the machineries of Truck-kun), you may be left with the regret of not having said enough that you loved them, when you had the chance. And there's the whole chess play, with Richard first being in a clear lead, but then bang, Saul drove him into checkmate, things aren't always going the way you think they will.

And Seigi has bullocks of things to say, but doesn't manage while it's probably super simple actually (he even basically concludes this in Clair de Lune!) while also not, but also he probably wouldn't ever use it that way, because as he already says in Sardonyx it feels like it would become trite to say it like that. Also, he's probably scared in a few ways about that on top of it. Not being able to say anything is 'salvation' to him. But also, Richard's waiting for that. Although clearly he very much knows already what it would be, because in all the numerous roundabout ways Seigi has long since said it, more than just a trillion times, but still apparently thinks he hasn't, but kind of also, he knows Richard knows (because he kinda always knows what he wants to say). But despite that, Richard looks very much like he wants to hear that. (At least that interlude in v12 and many other spots has him always look like internally sighing.) So he waits for Seigi to get there. (And even keeps any external interference away for him at that.) But what's worse, Seigi knows that. But still fails to, at this point, mostly because he keeps dodging the easy ways that are.

Couldn't they just settle for that usual thing? It really does undeniably look very similar. It would be simpler.

But where's the beauty in that trite simplicity? Why round up the convergence value, if you can have a beautiful endless irrational number?

(And there is still undeniably something still different. Or why make the point that they are sleeping in different hotel rooms or still have their own floors in the Sri Lankan house so clearly?)

It's a convoluted something, but unlike any other case of can't they just open their mouths and talk turkey?? It doesn't feel like there will be any miscommunication drama to be had here whatsoever.

Oh, I dig this dodgy roundabout way of all sorts of coded analogies, context-sensitive, but to outsiders entirely incomprehensible metaphors and talking around the bush while also having zero of the bad consequences not talking straight typically has in that old trodden infuriatingly stupid trope. I so dig it.

.... But I still also want to shake Seigi a few times though. Just because he says he'd wait a hundred years until you are both just bones in your graves; don't have this way too patient poor tsundere wait so long for it. Get it over or just settle on that there is no need to do this talking between you and don't tease the poor fellow so much. :<

In any case, quite curious where this is going to go towards in the next volumes. There seems to be little plausibility that this doesn't get picked up as a theme one way or another, me thinks.

Less than a week left until v13~

#ramblings #translation #english translation #light novel #the case files of jeweler richard #housekishou richard shi no nazo kantei

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galaxyharlot · 4 months

Text

Having a day and need to distract myself so I'm going to over analyze a throw-away line from Speed Racer 2008. Any mention of Speed Racer in this essay is in regards to that movie.

Before reading this understand that Speed Racer is a movie about macro economics effecting the individual. Any science talk is just flavor to that, and studies like this take a lot of liberty.

youtube

"Pops. Thats a Bernoulli Converginator!" "Transponder Shmonder. You want real kick you go Bernoulli."

What the fuck is a Bernoulli Converginator and why is it a big deal.

Now. First assumption. Bernoulli is a companly like Edison Motors or Tesla. Named after someone famous in the history of physics and electronics and speed.

I'm watching a video about Spider-Man 2, and how to make a good sequel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCVYDrtecDY

In it we hear Doc Ock talking to Peter about Bernoulli, and Peter asks "Did Bernoulli sleep before he found the curves of quickest descent?"

I'm going to assume that this was a well researched line, because Spider-Man 2 tries to be at least somewhat accurate with its real world physics, I think.

Looking it up, the Bernoulli family lineage has a lot of mathematics in it. Daniel Bernoulli is who we're talking about in regards to Speed Racer, for sure. His findings lead to the invention of the carburetor.

Sidebar: He was friends with Euler. I wonder if Speed Racer Universe has a company called Euler. They created a theory that explained how steel can bend without cracking. The racing cars in Speed Racer, the T-180, are essentially jets with wheels. They don't turn the wheel to turn the wheels. They turn the wheel to turn the engine.

Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in static pressure or the fluid's potential energy

Another sidebar, apparently Mach is the measure of how fluids relate to the Bernoulli Principle. No clue what that relationship is. From what I can garner, it has to do with the idea that going faster fucks with the pressure of air impacting the thing going fast.

Actually, I don't think thats a sidebar. I think that can lead to the answer of "what the hell is a Bernoulli Converginator". We have an answer to what the Bernoulli half is now. Its short for Bernoulli's Principle, which has to do with Mach speeds and how they influence the pressure around something going fast.

That leads to the next question, what is a converginator? Converginator as far as I can tell is something that the Speed Racer movie came up with. So, lets break it into its principle parts. Converginate and "or". "Or" is usually a suffix that means "something that does the thing being modified". Convergence is the act of unifying, in multiple definitions. So, this is a device that unifies bernoulli's principle.

What the heck does that mean. We know that it makes things go fast, and its a power supply, and it has kick. Another throw away line with lots of weight becomes important here.

Actually, rolling back a bit first. Some more bits about the converginator. When they get the Mach 6 Car going, it starts up sounding like a V12 Engine. Or as Speed puts it, "Sounds beefy Pops."

So something about it has something similar to gearing. The design of it reflects that too. It looks like a scifi version of 6 piston engine. T-180s are all electric. So what the heck is making that noise? For right now, I'm going to either assume magnets or something causing a lot of increase or decrease to pressure.

Might be important to talk about why they're using a Converginator. The finale of the movie showcases the battle between new technology optimized by a company, and a dedicated practice working with the tools they know for the customer they know. The company they're up against created a car that uses something called the Transponder. I'm going to ignore that for now, or until this essay decides its suddenly relevant. What we need to focus on now is how a Bernoulli Converginator works to Speed's abilities and knowledge.

Now, onto that important throw away line. Speed spins out, and his car stalls, and these races don't do pit crews. He has to figure out how to get it running again, and he can only rely on the foresight of Pop's designing, and his own knowledge of that design. That foresight leads to him remembering that he can jumpstart the car with the Bernoulli Converginator. So, this thing has to be making power somehow. Either that, or its messing with potential energy.

The fluid in this case is probably air, given that aerodynamics is important. This thing can turn air pressure into electricity. Thats pretty damn cool. It reduces the pressure of the air around the car, and turns that pressure into electricity. Converting that air's potential energy into kinetic energy. This lines up with the movie I think, cause when Speed does that, he fuckin zooms. Cars don't just magically go faster than their top speed. This guy didn't just jumpstart his car. He made a mario panel speed boost to the finish line with an expert supermove that only the bernoulli converginator can do.

#essay #speed racer #speed racer 2008 #physics #scifi #sci fi #science fiction #thinking too hard #Youtube

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koulia · 2 years

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𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 ¥ — 𝐊. 𝐁𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐆𝐎𝐔

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 : streetracer!bakugou au. fem!reader

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 : cursing, illegal activities.. there’s barely any dialogue fyi.

𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 : umm for collab (@sasusaki) also this is on wattpad i just haven’t uploaded it yet but @ ATSVLI on wattpad

ⓘ masterlist

i’m inna lamb’ truck who stoppin’ me ?? (super urus - lucki)

You never expected you’d find yourself in this environment, but yet here you were. Your plush legs sat on the top of the top of Tokyos best street racer’s black and orange Lamborghini Aventador SVJ V12. Your head bopping along to the beat of the song playing through his stereo, custom made by Kyoka Jirou.

The smell of gasoline wafted through the dark sky; it had taken you a while of getting used to the smell but now the smell is familiar to you.

If you were to ask anyone about their favorite part of these late nights racing, they might reply with the thrill of winning, the pot money, or even the flagger girls. But Katsuki Bakugou wasn’t just anyone— he was Dynamite. Just the simple slip of his name would send shivers down his opponents spine.

Well, except for one.

“Well well well.. if it isn’t the Katsuki in the flesh,” A voice dripped in venom purred. “and who might this be?” his attention was turned towards you now.

“Oh hop off my dick, Monoma.. Don’t you have a race to lose?” You sneered. You went to stand next to Bakugou who was leaning against the car, his hand hooked around your waist and pulled you closer.

“I see how it is, she’s your new sidekick Katsuki?” his lips curled into a wicked smile, taking a step closer.

“You must want your ass beat then.” Bakugou’s voice was laced with anger. he cracked his knuckles and walked closer to blond.

Monoma just laughed and waved him off. “Okay okay.. see you on the starting line, Dynamite. And this time, we’re racing for the girl.”

Bakugou muttered curses and stood next to your side again. He watched as Monoma made it back to his car and then checked his phone for the time, 10:50PM. The race would start soon and he still needed his car checked.

“You’re riding with me this time.” he announced, stepping into his car. The suddenness left you with no choice but to step in his car. You knew it was a nice car, but you didn’t know it was this nice.

The floor was decorated with LED lights that were slowly fading through all the colors. The dashboard was clear except for a polaroid picture of you two. It was from your first official date months ago.

The prep went by fast— to be fair all you could think about was how this race was over you. What if Bakugou lost? It’s not totally impossible, you thought. Soon enough it was time for the race to begin. The cars were aligned with the painted line. There was a half naked flagger girl holding a checkered flag. You honestly might’ve been more nervous than Katsuki.

You looked over to him only to see his side profile. He was focused on seemingly one thing right now, and that was winning against that shithead.

“Gimme your hand.” He sighed, looking back at the road.

“What?”

“You’re nervous, yeah? Let me hold your hand then.” he sat his right hand on the centerpiece palm up, awaiting your hand in his. You placed yours there and looked over at him, smiling. He rubbed his thumb against your knuckles and you felt yourself calming down.

Then the red lights changed to yellow. The yellow changed to green. And with that, the race had started.

Bakugou’s left hand was gripped on the wheel as the car accelerated faster than lightning. His lips curled into a smile, he was in his element.

The subwoofers reverberated the music in the car so much that the bass was felt in your heart. There was no one in front of you and Katsuki.

The roar of a corvette was quickly coming into earshot just as the finish line was. You looked over and saw Monoma’s devilish smile appear when he saw Katsuki’s drop.

The two cars were neck at neck and closing in on the line. He let go of your hand to press the blue button that read “NOS” where the gear stick would be. The car slung forward with a speed greater than anything you would know. The sound that came from the engines sounded like an explosion.

You assumed he had it in the bag until you saw Monoma catching back up. You looked at katsuki once again. His eyes were a different shade of red, a darker shade. Thousands of solutions were going through his head. His jaw was clenched. The grip on the wheel was turning his knuckles white.

He took both his hands and turned the wheel— fast.

The car spun into a donut-like shape and crossed the line first.

“Woah.” was all you could get out. It felt like your soul had been plucked from you, as well as your breath. Everything felt euphoric.

The cheers of the crowd were ear-shatteringly loud as you stepped out the car. Bakugou’s hands were shoved in his black cargo pants pockets when he walked towards Monoma’s car.

He bent his torso down to look in the window with a shit-eating smile. We walked off towards you and slung his arm around your neck. “How’s that for your first race?” He snickered.

You had no words. So you turned and left a fat kiss on his lips, holding his neck in your hands. He kissed you back, the passion in his actions becoming apparent, yet you pulled away before it became anything.

You smiled at him, looking him in his eyes. “Well done, Dynamite.”

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supercharged-streamer · 5 months

Text

Just beat Venam in 13.5 so here's some quick thoughts.

-Does anyone remember Venam's introduction back in V12? It is still the part I remember the most LOL you actually got tricked by her straight up.

-THE LAYOUT OF THE CITY IS SO MUCH BETTER. The old one was much more spacious but it was very easy to get lost in it. Not to mention how certain key area's like Venam's house are easy to miss. Its much more condensed and the important areas got a well needed overhaul so they stick out.

-Speaking of which... Venam's gym got a overhaul as well. Instead of mixing colors, you have to go through panels with various effects and turn on switches. It's much more straightforward by design as you can tell what each panel does. The previous one you had to like... Look at a easy to miss portrait... It also fits Venam's character very well. I was curious to see how they would make this different from Amber's gym... Assuming her gym here still has the same "HYPE!" building gimmick.

-Does anyone know how rare the Black Prisms are? I finished Mr. Luck's quest but was curious as to if they're as rare as shinies are in this game. I WAS NOT expecting him to have a full on shop system now... I uh. Learned that the hard way.

-Glad there is now a difficulty designed for people (Like me) who just play for the story. I feel kind of bad for the hardcore players though.

-THANK GOD THEY REHAULED THOSE BOSS POKEMON. OH MY GODDD YOU DON'T HAVE TO BREAK THEIR SHIELD TO ACTUALLY HIT THEM ANYMORE. OH MY GODDDD.

-Various QOL changes such as being able to start quests by talking to the initiating NPC are very nice to have.

And I think that's all I have for now. For being a "half update", they really did change a lot here. And this is only the first half of the first chapter!!! ....Wish me luck because I am going to need it when I encounter that fruity rift man and his massive fish.

#iozoneposts #.txt #pkmn fangames tag #mal plays pkmn rejuv 13.5

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disco-elysium-via-polls · 26 days

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🎵 Instrument of Surrender

For a reason that you'll see... soonish, but not today, I'm going to attempt this check again now.

BACKYARD WALL - Just an ordinary wall. Nothing to see here.

[Conceptualization - Impossible 18] Why am I looking at this wall?

+1 You have a keen aesthetic sensibility. +2 Cindy's artistic impulses are infectious. +1 Dresscode: Pseudo-SKULL

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Impossible: Failure] - Yeah, why? It's a wall, an ordinary wall.

INTERFACING - Snow covers the white-on-blue police livery of the motor carriage. The white colours nearly meld together.

Wait, why am I even thinking about this? Wasn't I supposed to…

"No time for this, gotta run." [Finish thought.]

INTERFACING - ... do something important? Something murder-related? There's always *something* important. Doesn't mean you can't take a moment to admire this piece of machinery.

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - This is a Coupris Kineema, the Coupris MotorCorp's follow-up to their highly successful workhorse, Coupris 40, and the answer to the LUM's racing-bred 'Fevre' series.

INTERFACING - With its air-cooled, rear-mounted twelve cylinder compression ignition engine driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, the Kineema is able to reach 100 kilometres per hour in 13.5 seconds. And go on to a top speed of 180 kilometres an hour.

Won't it roll over in the first sharp corner?

Turn your attention to the motor carriage itself.

Motor carriages don't interest me. [Finish thought.]

INTERFACING - The high centre of balance is offset by a large battery bank mounted at the bottom of the cabin, feeding all the auxiliary systems and making the Kineema effectively a mobile power plant.

This tech-talk is really rubbing me the right way here.

Turn your attention to the motor carriage itself.

+1 Torque Dork

INTERFACING - Due to a quite steep price tag it is very unusual to see one in police livery.

COUPRIS KINEEMA - Even at a standstill the uni-body Coupris Kineema looks sleek and dynamic. The cabin is tilted frontward to give it a more aggressive *hunched* look.

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Easy: Success] - Someone has waxed it recently.

"That machine really puts the 'loco' back in 'locomotion'!" (Point to the vehicle.) "Very cool."

"I don't like your machine, lieutenant. Looks impractical."

(Shrug.) "A motor carriage. One of many."

Actually motor carriages don't interest me. [Finish thought.]

+1 Torque Dork

KIM KITSURAGI - "Mhmh." The lieutenant smiles ever so slightly. "You want to take a closer look?"

"What's it packing there?" (Point to the engine.)

"What in there made the infernal whining sound that woke me?"

"A fine machine..." (Run your hand over the smooth metal surface.)

"Okay, let's move." [Leave.]

KIM KITSURAGI - "Hundred-and-thirty."

INTERFACING - I reckon that's a seven-litre V12 there.

"That's what..." (Rub your chin.) "... a seven-litre V12?"

(Let out a whistle.) "Momma's serving some serious macaroni."

"Oh, I thought it would make more."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Seven-point-two. Supercharged." The lieutenant is trying to suppress a smug smile. Unsuccessfully.

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - Saying these words brings him immense joy.

2. "What in there made the infernal whining sound that woke me?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "You mean the coil noise?"

"What is 'coil noise'?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "When variable current passes through wires that make up the coils on the electrical systems on this machine -- it causes vibration in the wires and the cores of the coils."

"When the frequency of the current in the coils falls within the audible range the resulting vibration creates the *whiny sound* you mentioned."

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT [Medium: Success] - What a binoclard!

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Whatever you do, don't make fun of the lieutenant for explaining this to you.

"You are such a binoclard, Kim."

"Wow... how do you know all that?"

"Mhmh, that's exactly what I thought."

KIM KITSURAGI - "I have pretty much maintained my vehicles by myself ever since one was assigned to me. You inevitably pick up some knowledge on the way."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - There's pride in there. A trained driver, *knows* his ride.

3. "A fine machine…" (Run your hand over the smooth metal surface.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes." There's gentleness in the lieutenant's voice as his eyes run over the vehicle's contours. "An extraordinary machine."

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Easy: Success] - It's nice and all, but why so modest? Put some zing into it. Flare it up. Slam it down!

VISUAL CALCULUS [Medium: Success] - Helium headlights would improve the range and quality of the visual field a lot.

AUTHORITY [Easy: Success] - It's a bit *girly* right now. Fit it with some proper off-road components.

"You need to *slam* it, Kim. Make it more imposing."

"Ever thought about switching to helium headlights?"

"With a winch and mud tyres we could take it off the beaten path, Kim."

"Okay, enough about the details."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Sorry, I'm not following you?"

INTERFACING - Lingo it up.

"Drop the ride *two hundo mill*, get the camber to frosty-frosty minuses..."

"I'm not either. Don't know why I said that."

KIM KITSURAGI - "No, that's... *porno*-tuning."

HALF LIGHT [Medium: Success] - USE BIGGER WORDS!!!

"It needs a *MASSIVE* aero-kit and *GARGANTUAN* roof-mounted..."

"Trust me, it's cool."

"It's what?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Porno. That's short for pornography."

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - The sole purpose of 'pornography' is to stimulate one's visual sense to evoke sexual arousal -- the same is true with the modifications you're proposing.

"So? What's wrong with pornography?"

"Pornograpy is something completely different, Kim."

"Alright, I guess it did get a bit porny there."

KIM KITSURAGI - "That's a negative on the porno. Thank you, though."

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - No one in the history of convictions has been more sure of *anything*.

3. "With a winch and mud tyres we could take it off the beaten path, Kim."

KIM KITSURAGI - "We are not going to though, because this is clearly a *sports* motor carriage." Sounds like he has a strong concept of what this machine is.

2. "Ever thought about switching to helium headlights?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Actually, I have a pair at home -- just haven't gotten around to fitting them yet. I need to lay some wiring for the ballasts first..."

"If we ever get this case solved, maybe we can do it together?"

"Sounds like a hassle, but good luck."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Maybe," he replies with an apologetic smile and nods. "Yes, definitely maybe."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - ... and means *no*.

Didn't *quite* know enough about the engine to convince him there, unfortunately.

4. "Okay, let's move." [Leave.]

🎵 Martinaise, Terminal B

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - You're back before the cargo container. Its draw has not lessened since you were last here. If anything, it seems to have grown slightly.

3. [Rhetoric - Impossible 18] Persuade the door to open.

+1 Erratic, yet thorough. +1 Been in the world for two days. +1 Been in the world for many days. +1 One more door.

RHETORIC [Impossible: Success] - Aaaaand as it's always been -- it's impossible to open a container with rhetoric. Maybe you're losing your mind?

Knock on the door.

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - No reply.

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Medium: Success] - The knock produces a hollow ring of metal. Doesn't sound like there's anything inside the container.

2. Open the door.

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - You attempt to turn the handle, to no avail. The doors seem to be mechanically locked.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Trivial: Success] - To your left, the lieutenant considers your actions -- with some puzzlement.

4. Nothing more to do here for now. [Leave.]

None of that helped, but we're not necessarily done there.

🎵 Evrart's Theme

This is not a fishing rod, is it? It's...

REACTION SPEED - Is that an Insulindian phasmid? It looks like an Insulindian phasmid. Quick -- catch it before it scuttles away!

"Stop right there!"

Pirouette toward the phasmid.

Creep up to the phasmid quietly.

Wait a moment. Is that really the phasmid? You don't want to make a fool out of yourself.

FISHING ROD - Beautiful leap! But this isn't a phasmid in your hand -- it is a fishing rod.

EVRART CLAIRE - "What are you trying to accomplish, Harry?"

"Uh, it's a novel fishing method."

"Sorry, I thought the fishing rod was... something else."

"I was just trying to surprise you. To throw you off, you know."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Well, you certainly succeeded, Harry." He adjust himself in the chair. "You are a very surprising police officer indeed."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mr. Du Bois, 'Every worker...'?" He leans toward you, waiting for your to complete his sentence.

"... a member of the board?"

"... is a living god!"

"... is an organ in the great state organism of war! Also, looks just like *me*."

"… for himself!"

EVRART CLAIRE - "That's right, Mr. Du Bois!" He nods in approval. "I see the socialist-democratic fervour now burns in your heart too. How can I help you today?"

"I'm looking for a cell of underground communists. Can you help me?"

"I opened the door you asked me. Can we discuss the murder now?"

"Let's talk about my lost gun."

"I did it, Evrart -- I made it even shadier."

"A few more things regarding Joyce..."

"What's in the container that's outside your office?"

"Evrart, I'm going to leave now, but we might talk again later." [Leave.]

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mr. Du Bois, really. Do I look like a man who has time for *underground* communists? I'm as aboveground as it gets!"

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - That's a non sequitur if you've ever heard one!

"Let's drop the funny stuff. I'm trying to make contact with my revolutionary brethren."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Sure thing, Harry. We're *all business* now. The answer is still 'no'. I'm a busy man, as you can see. I don't block off time on my schedule for 'underground' types..."

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - That note of contempt in his voice is sincere, sssire.

EVRART CLAIRE - "You've already spoken with Mañana, as I understand. I'm afraid I don't have anything else for you on *this subject*..."

RHETORIC - That's all you're going to get out of him, it appears.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now, was there anything else you wished to discuss today?"

"I opened the door you asked me. Can we discuss the murder now?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm very glad to hear that, Harry," he says with a smile. "One question: you didn't actually happen to stumble in and see what's inside the apartment, did you?"

Task complete: Open apartment door for Evrart

+70 XP

Level up!

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He's trying to figure out if you're lying.

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - There is no way to sway this man in any direction. He is un-suggestable and un-swayable. Just tell the truth.

"I *may have* gone inside and seen a collection of racist mugs."

"I did go inside. Weasel had the flag of the Old Revachol on his wall."

"The deal wasn't for me to go inside, so I didn't."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Just as I thought. Culturally antiquated mug collection. What a weasel..." He shakes his head. "*Pissing* on Evrart's Rainbow Coalition."

DRAMA - He *was* testing you. And you succeeded.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now let's get down to brass tacks. It's time for men like me and you to figure out who's killed who and why." He pretends to roll up his sleeves. "Real police work is gonna start happening now. I promise you, Harry, this is gonna be good."

"I've heard about a connection between the lynching and the strike. I'd like to hear what you know about it."

EVRART CLAIRE - "By now I'm *sure* you've figured out who the dead man was working for -- the bad guys. Wild Pines. Sent to scare us. Another *violent measure* of the top hats against us flat caps."

"I'm listening."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Harry, this strike is the culmination of many *many*, mistakes made by the Wild Pines Group. They tried to shut the strike down by sending in armed mercenaries."

KIM KITSURAGI - "You mean our victim?"

EVRART CLAIRE - He nods gravely. "A security contractor. Can you imagine that? Workers standing in peaceful protest -- united in the spirit of fellowship! -- and they send hired killers to *mow* us down with machine gun fire."

COMPOSURE [Medium: Success] - He performs a motion, as if spraying bullets from a machine gun.

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm talking *beasts*, hardened killers from proxy wars in Yeesut, Semenine, Saramiriza -- you name it, they've done it. Raping, killing, burning villages -- killing little children for the Señorita Pineapple company, Harry..."

"Everything they did there, they brought over here. They want to turn Revachol into a Third World slum. Honestly, the only thing they didn't do, is kill the village elephant."

"Hold on, you have a village elephant?"

"Go on."

"I think I've heard enough."

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, Harry, the elephant is metaphorical and so is the village, but the mercs -- and their brutality -- are very real."

"Go on."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now, I haven't *personally* witnessed the brutalities out there. I have the luxury of staying in my container, you see -- if I need to go somewhere, they just move my container." He laughs.

"Wait, they move the container?"

"Go on."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes! I'm an old man, Harry. My legs aren't what they used to be. They lift my office with that big crane. It's actually very fun, you should try it."

"But enough about me and my fun container." His face turns serious. "The killers the company hired… I think there were three of them. All hardened commando-types."

"One of them got downright suicidal. Getting drunk, violent, a little rapey..." He shakes his head. "Even their own negotiator couldn't control him. That's your boy, the one who likes *hanging out* and trees."

KIM KITSURAGI - "By *negotiator* you mean Joyce?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Harry," he says, ignoring the lieutenant, "what you need to realize is -- we dockworkers are not pushovers."

"We got grit, Harry -- this whole neighbourhood does. Push us hard enough and we push back -- and when we do..." He raises his finger. "We push to kill."

"Wait, the whole *neighbourhood* is in on it?"

"Who exactly did the *pushing*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Potentially, Harry, potentially. We got arm wrestling champions, rowing club people, ex-coal miners -- tough guys, all ready to spring into action for their home base."

"Who exactly did the *pushing*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "There's a militant wing inside the Union. A group of people whose duties don't involve manual labour, but peacekeeping in the neighbourhood. Making sure everything runs smoothly."

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - That sounds a bit like organized crime.

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're like you guys," he nods to you and the lieutenant. "Idealistic people who want to make sure bad things don't happen. And if they already have... well, punishment must follow."

LOGIC - Again: that sounds like organized crime.

KIM KITSURAGI - "So these *idealists* killed our victim?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mhmh. One day Titus Hardie -- leader of this peacekeeping faction -- comes up to me and says: 'Boss, socialist-democratic fervour drove us to take it upon ourselves to kill this beast that was burdening the land.'"

"He probably worded it differently, but that was the idea. Sure sounded to me like they killed him." He chuckles. "I gave them two weeks paid leave and told them to lay low to avoid retaliation."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Aren't you worried we might arrest them for this?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, I'm not *at all* worried about that. These are not the kind of men who get arrested. They're Martinaise boys, tough and gritty. I'd like to see the man who takes them in." He chuckles. "Besides I sent my lawyergirl to look after them."

EMPATHY [Challenging: Success]- Despite his boastful tone, he's having doubts about something -- but what?

Maybe he doesn't believe the boys *really* had it in them. They're his boys after all.

"I think you're sharing information with the police, because you don't think they *actually* did it."

"Okay. Another question."

EVRART CLAIRE - "That's very clever, Harry. Yes. They might have said it just to impress some girls or something." He rubs his chin. "But Titus has a bad temper, so the chances are 50-50."

+5 XP

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He thinks it's closer to 60-40. 60 they didn't do it.

"I want to hear again about how the lynching and the strike are connected."

"There was a bullet in the hanged man's head."

"How do you know the mercenaries were hired by the shipping company?"

"You mentioned a *lawyergirl*?"

"Tell me about Titus Hardie and his crew."

"Good talk. Let's conclude for now."

EVRART CLAIRE - "So they shot him?" He sounds pleasantly surprised.

KIM KITSURAGI - "He was shot in the head *before* he was hanged."

EVRART CLAIRE - "How odd." The man shrugs. "I don't know what to say, lieutenant. They told me they hanged him. A hanged man is what I saw when I took a look into that yard..."

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - It's impossible to say if he's telling the truth, sire.

EVRART CLAIRE - "What I *do* know is -- the case is in safe hands. If anyone can get to the bottom of this shot-and-hanged-man, it's my two little policemen. Godspeed, policemen!"

3. "How do you know the mercenaries were hired by the shipping company?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "How do I know? Let me tell you about these people." He slams his fist on the desk. "That's their MO. It's what they do."

"Last winter some poor workers in Terminal E went on a little strike. The company sent in *Sediment* -- a security contractor. The strike was over the workers' right to wear protective footwear, Harry."

"These guys turn up and start beating people. Tell you what, Harry, I wouldn't be surprised if we got the same mercenary company -- after a little *rebranding*. And I'm sure as hell not surprised to see an army of scabs under my gates."

KIM KITSURAGI - "So you believe the scabs were organized by the security contractor?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "You said it. Hell..." The fist slams on the desk again. "... one of those guys looks big enough to take down that proverbial elephant! Boys like that don't just *happen* to show up during strikes."

"The name of the company is Krenel this time. It might have been Sediment before."

"Another question."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Of course, you're always one step ahead of me, Harry. I'm no genius. I'm in this position because people *like* me."

"The remaining mercenaries are organizing a tribunal to take on the Hardies."

"Let's change the subject."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Tribunal?" He appears aghast. "That sounds *serious* Harry. We Union men should be *shitting* ourselves..." He rubs his chin and smiles suddenly: "I wish you hadn't told me that. I'm gonna lose *sleep* over this. Let's change the subject."

EMPATHY [Trivial: Success] - He's clearly happy about the tribunal.

"You don't *seem* too worried about it."

"Okay. Yes."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, Harry, what do I *really* think about the tribunal? You're trying to climb to second base with old Evrart before you've even courted him properly."

+5 XP

RHETORIC [Easy: Success] - He wants you to do more *things* for him before.

4. "You mentioned a *lawyergirl*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, Liz is a bright one!" He grins broadly. "I paid for that law degree myself, thinking it'll probably turn her all fancy, but hell, Harry -- she came back a firebrand socialist! Sometimes she scares *me* with her zeal."

5. "Tell me about Titus Hardie and his crew."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, they are simply fine young men -- all seven of them! Exemplary Union members. Always working to advance their position in the local socialist-democratic movement. Core members."

"Old Theo used to run them, but things really *kicked into gear* when Titus took the reins and named the group after himself." He starts laughing. "Gotta love his initiative."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Interesting. Who's second in command?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're almost all of them *great* guys, born leaders. Whatever happened, I'm sure they only had the best interests of Martinaise and Revachol in mind."

"Work with them -- hell, interview them! But don't fight them. They really are just like you -- men who like beer, women, and some *order* on the streets."

AUTHORITY [Medium: Success] - That's him *allowing* the police to ask his men questions.

LOGIC [Challenging: Success] - He's betting on them being useless to you.

6. "Evrart, I met these Hardies. Can you ask them to cooperate with me?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "But of course! It's the least I can do for my good friend, Harry. I'll do it right after we've concluded this talk."

+5 XP

AUTHORITY [Trivial: Success] - You can now go and tell Titus about this. See what he has to say.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Also, Harry, here's five reál." He holds out a banknote.

"Wait, why are you giving it to me?"

Take it.

"I don't need it, I only wanted you to help me with the Hardie boys."

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm not giving you anything. I'm just holding out five reál."

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - Needless to say, this is another *move*. Don't take it.

We also just genuinely do not need more money. This will still make talking to the Hardies easier.

2. "I don't need it, I only wanted you to help me with the Hardie boys."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, I wasn't offering it to you, just holding it out there." He pockets the bill. "But I am willing to share *information*. Was there anything else?"

+1 Honour +1 Reputation

7. "Good talk. Let's conclude for now."

EVRART CLAIRE - "*Was* it a good talk?" He leans back, suddenly worried. "I'm not sure we made much headway here. I was hoping we'd bust the case wide open, heck, I even wanted to tell you what I *really* want to achieve with the strike..."

"I don't know what happened, Harry. I wanted you to feel like Mr. Martinaise! And, of course -- I also wanted you to *find your gun*." Great sadness comes over him. "But... it's like I can't completely trust you. Yet."

"Yet?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, Harry. It's like I can't *fully* trust you if you're not a man of the left," he says, slowly shaking his head. "I *want* to, but I just can't..."

RHETORIC [Easy: Success] - A man of the left? So you have to be a social democrat?

EMPATHY [Trivial: Success] - He's been *hurt* too much in the past -- by men who aren't *social democrats*.

"I am not a 'man of the left'. I'm a patriot of Revachol."

"You're right not to trust me. I take care of *me*. I'm a hustler. I grind. I'm a money engineer."

"What's that supposed to mean?! I'm more left than *you* are."

"This is another corrupt scheme, isn't it? I'm neither left nor right. I do what my *heart* tells me to do."

+1 Communism

EVRART CLAIRE - "You're saying it, but I don't believe you. You know how it is -- company snitches, *agent provocateurs* everywhere... I'm barricaded in this fortress of mine, and I need to get a message out. Will you help me?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "And what would this entail?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Once again I require nothing unethical or illegal of you. You just need to get two little signatures on this piece of paper." He pulls out an envelope. "And then mail it to my accountant in La Delta."

"Kim, what do you think of this?"

"What are the signatures for?"

"Fine, if I happen to be there, I can ask them." (Accept the task.)

"No, I'm not going to do this." (Reject the task.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "It depends. I don't think what we just got from Mr. Claire was very useful." He studies Evrart.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - But, he thinks, it's your call.

EVRART CLAIRE - "As I said, it weighs on me heavily..." He bows his head in shame, then looks up and smiles: "But once we get *really* talking... well, I'm gonna hand you the keys to Martinaise! And maybe even help you figure out who's behind this killing."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - He's saying as little as possible as vaguely as he can. Deliberately omitting things.

2. "What are the signatures for?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm glad you asked, Harry -- the Union is going to build a modern youth centre in Martinaise!" He grins broadly. "It will be *righteous*. We're gonna get those teenagers off drugs -- and *on* roller skates!"

"There's a nameless little street on the coast with some old houses around it. Most people have already signed. I just need *two* more signatures to get this mission off the ground, Harry."

3. "You mean the fishing village?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, yes, the little cul-de-sac on the coast. Where all the men have drowned -- in either the sea or the bottle. A gloomy place, doesn't have that Union attitude."

4. "What will happen to the current occupants?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're just gonna have to deal with the construction noise for six months and then they'll be living like kings -- right next to a fancy new youth centre, designed by the best architects from Stella Maris."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - Is he absolutely sure the tenants won't be thrown out in the street?

"Are you 100% sure no one's going to end up homeless?"

"Sounds like everybody wins."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Am I...?" The big man shakes his head in disbelief. "Harry, these people... Martinaise is the most important thing in my life. I would never let anything bad happen to them."

"We're gonna build a youth centre there. The value of their properties goes up and kids have a place to play in. I'm looking out for these people, not pulling the rug from under them, Harry. I'm looking out for all of Martinaise, not just the harbour."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - He means it.

5. "Fine, if I happen to be there, I can ask them." (Accept the task.)

I don't see any problems with this, and it's the only way to get a lead on our gun.

EVRART CLAIRE - "You bring joy to my heart, Harry -- such a pleasure to be working with you. Here..." He hands you an open white envelope.

Item gained: White Envelope

"You need to get signatures from Isobel Sadie and Lilienne Carter. The cul-de-sac is right past the pawnshop and across the canal. I heard there was some trouble with the water lock, but it should be fixed now."

"Once you have the signatures, mail this to 13022 La Rocca in La Delta. *Then* I'll know you're a solid socialist." He runs his fingers through his thin hair.

New task: Get two signatures for Evrart

2. "Let's talk about my lost gun."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, yes, my best men are tracking it down. Some kids saw some other kids running away with it. Some folks said a paranoid schizophrenic might have it. Leads are being checked, Harry."

"What's that, Harry? You're getting a little pale. Is it the words *paranoid schizophrenic* and *lost gun* in one sentence? Don't worry, it's just a lead. It'll probably turn out to be nothing."

4. "I did it, Evrart -- I made it even shadier."

EVRART CLAIRE - "What?" The big man looks at you surprised.

"The brew! The shady, shady brew."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, how could I forget your little side-project! Well done, Harry. Well done! Don't even tell me what it was. But good job! I love it when workers take the initiative like this."

+5 XP

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - So do I. That's one tasty brew, you should drink some right now if you can!

4. "A few more things regarding Joyce..."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Great! You wanna bounce something off your old friend, Mr. Claire, right?" He seems genuinely pleased. "Well, let's hear it, Harry!"

Only one new dialogue option here...

2. "I told Joyce that I met you."

EVRART CLAIRE - "It's *perfectly* okay. Even if you've told her everything we've talked about, it's *absolutely* fine."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - He seems happy about the prospect of you telling Joyce about your conversations.

"It sounds like you *want* me to tell her about our conversations."

"Okay, that's cool."

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, no, Harry. I'm perfectly neutral *and* one hundred percent for transparency. I know people say a lot of bad things about the Débardeurs Union, but we are actually," -- he squeaks his chair -- "squeaky clean."

+5 XP

EMPATHY - Yes, he really doesn't seem to mind.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Hmh..." The lieutenant seems incredulous.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - Sure, he thinks. It's about *transparency*.

7. "Okay, let's talk about something else." (Conclude.)

EVRART CLAIRE - "Absolutely, Harry! What's on your mind?"

"I mailed the signatures you asked me to get." (Lie.)

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, you didn't." He waves you off with a chuckle. "I know the mail-man, Harry. I know everyone and everything that happens in this town and I *know* there's no letter in that mailbox yet."

"Just like I *know* you'll get it done. Once you stop horsing around." He nods reassuringly. "Let me know when it's done."

5. "Evrart, I'm going to leave now, but we might talk again later." [Leave.]

EVRART CLAIRE - "See you soon, débardeur!" The big man raises his hand in farewell. "Just kidding. But not too much."

WHITE ENVELOPE

A white envelope with a stamp attached to the upper-right corner, handed to you by Evrart Claire. Inside are some legal documents with two names printed on them: Isobel Sadie and Lilienne Carter. Both signatures are required.

>INTERACT

WHITE ENVELOPE- You take the legal documents out of the envelope: a 12-40 month construction period and the zoning plan in the addendum.

Look at the zoning plan.

"Kim, what do you think of this?"

[Logic - Medium 11] Try to find a loophole in the deal.

Put the documents back in the envelope. [Leave.]

WHITE ENVELOPE- The youth centre cuts into the ocean like the bow of some great modern ship. Apparently it's going to cover most -- if not all -- of the street and the square between the existing houses. It's three storeys tall.

VISUAL CALCULUS [Medium: Success] - It's going to be awfully close to the already existing buildings. Almost wall to wall, practically integrating them into the youth centre.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - This is either an ominous or cool architectural choice -- hard to say.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - My money is on cool. Looks like a cubic pyrite.

2. "Kim, what do you think of this?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "I'm no property lawyer, but it looks fine," the lieutenant replies, flipping through the documents. "I like the print size. They're not selling or leasing anything. It's not a perfect solution, but..." He shrugs.

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - ...how else are you going to build something? It's always inconvenient to build things, and citizens inevitably have disagreements over such construction projects, but there's no other way.

You know what, let's not stand right in front of Evrart while we do the next thing.

3. [Logic - Medium 11] Try to find a loophole in the deal.

+1 Centre's very dclose to houses. +1 Ominous shape. -1 Cool cubic pyrite.

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

Wait, what are the ramifications of this?

"Look, Kim..." (Point to the photocopy.) "These people are going to have to move away. Can we do something about it?"

"The noise will be tough on the villagers, but I guess that's just the cost of progress."

LOGIC - Once the construction starts it'll probably take a few months -- a year maybe -- for even the most stubborn occupants to get tired of living like this. After that they'll sell their property for cheap and move out.

"Look, Kim..." (Point to the photocopy.) "These people are going to have to move away. Can we do something about it?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "I should have seen it." The lieutenant frowns as he reads over the document again.

"Evrart probably has eyes on us, but..." He pauses to think. "We could try to get other people to sign this instead of those listed. *Or* you could forge their signatures yourself. By the time he finds out, we'll already be gone."

Attempting to forge the signature has a -10 penalty, as Evrart's people could be watching us here. If we're going to attempt this, we'll need to do it somewhere else. Or Kim's other suggestion might be easier...

#disco elysium #kim kitsuragi #evrart claire #titus hardie #elizabeth beaufort

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