#also got a detailed outline of costs!
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As I'm sure many of you are already aware, Did You Know Gaming (who have been doing some really great investigative work lately) recently put out a video on canceled Sonic games. The whole thing's worth a watch, but I have to bring it up here specifically because they talk about the plans for Sonic Chronicles 2 with a LOT of new info directly from the lead designer.
youtube
The section on how the story of Sonic Chronicles 2 would have went starts at 9:45. It's very interesting! He outlines the whole plot, including the fact that they were going to end with ANOTHER obvious plot hook for a sequel in the hopes that they or some other studio could keep the Sonic Chronicles series going indefinitely. Sonic Team even claimed they were interested in using Chronicles characters like Shade in other games. It's crazy to imagine a timeline where this might have become a pillar of the franchise.
I refuse to mourn the loss of the sequel, though, because y'all saw me stream the original. It was miserable. And with the original game selling and reviewing decently well, they would have had little reason to go back to the drawing board and overhaul that game's bizarrely hateful design.
Of course, DYKG also had to talk about the reason why the game was canceled. I was dreading this because of how often people tend to get the basic facts of the Penders cases wrong or downplay the obvious Archie Knuckles inspiration in Chronicles. But no, they did their homework! And they got the details right in part because, well... they asked Penders for comment directly. And he sent them back a MASSIVE wall of text about the whole ordeal, including some fascinating details that I don't believe I've heard before!
You can go to 15:19 in the video and scrub through to read the many, MANY screencaps of their emails from Ken, but here are the most interesting and/or hilarious tidbits to me:
#1: Perjury!
As we already knew, Ken claimed that the incomplete, photocopied contract Archie presented in court was a forgery, and that he had never signed a work for hire contract.
The judge obviously knew that one side had to be lying here, and thus was more than willing to present the case to a jury to let them decide the truth... and send whoever was deemed the liar to jail for perjury. (The judge apparently looked Ken directly in the eye when he said this, which... well, make of that what you will.)
Archie's lawyers knew that they didn't have a completely airtight case and obviously did not want to go to jail. So they decided to settle instead of going to trial in front of a jury.
(I will reiterate that Archie's arguments not working out is overall a GOOD thing, because we really do not want to set a legal precedent where corporations can "lose" a contract for a creator, make up a story about what was on the contract, and then have that hold up in court. They gotta get that shit in writing. And they didn't. They fucked up!)
#2: Sega was threatening to revoke the Sonic license!
As we knew, Sega wanted nothing to do with the comic copyright lawsuit. To them, it was Archie's job as licensee to deal with their freelancers. (Y'all watch Succession? You know how Logan loves lackeys who will eat shit for him without him having to even hear about the problem? Yeah.) And, in fact, according to Ken, Sega gave Archie an ultimatum: if they wanted their license to make Sonic comics renewed, they were gonna have to deal with Ken on their own, and cover all the costs.
Yeah, uh, this kinda makes me think that Sega being pissed about the ongoing Scott Fulop copyright case in 2016 may have been a bigger factor in Archie Sonic's cancellation than I previously thought. There was a lot going on at the time that could have contributed, but, y'know.
Anyway, Archie sued Ken for "damaging their business" largely because Sega was threatening to take away the Sonic IP. But because Archie couldn't ask Sega for help and they couldn't produce an original contract, they had to settle.
There's another detail I find funny here, though. Ken WANTED Sega to get involved in the comic copyright case, thinking that Sega would strongarm Archie into paying him the millions of dollars he wanted for "using his work without permission" so that they could be done with it. I mean, sure. I guess Sega wouldn't have cared about Archie's finances, but still. I'm not so sure that would've worked out for him.
#3: Shade!
Yes, Penders still claims he legally owns Shade, and under advice from his lawyer still intends to put out an NFT of her to put his claim to the test. Yes, it's incredible that he still hasn't put out the damn NFT. It only needs to be one image, which he already drew! The market has collapsed!
Anyway, building an argument off the legal concept of estoppel, he says that if Sega continues to not do anything about his claims that he owns Shade then, in the eyes of the court, they'll be forfeiting their claims to Shade altogether. But they aren't going to do anything because they never wanted any part in the copyright battles in the first place, and to them Chronicles is a long dead asset not worth fighting over. Why bother trying to use Shade again and giving Ken a reason to take them back to court when they can just move on? It's not like this franchise is short on characters. And so Ken can say that Shade and Julie-Su are literally the same character, and if he owns Julie-Su then therefore he also owns Shade.
Our copyright system is, indeed, a nightmare. Chronicles should have been halfway to the public domain by now.
#4: Sega's oversight on the Archie comics!
Ken says that in his first year on the series Sega only requested some dialogue changes here and there through the editor. They never requested huge script changes, and also never spoke to Ken directly. After that first year, they stopped asking for dialogue changes altogether, and Ken "had a free hand to do pretty much whatever he wanted." Yeah, no surprise there.
He does, however, say that Archie's original deal with Sega stated that they weren't allowed to create ANY new Sonic characters without informing Sega. They would've needed to make a contract every single time to get Sega's approval and make it absolutely crystal clear that Sega owned the whole cast. And then Archie just... didn't do that! And didn't tell any of the freelance creatives not to come up with new characters! Had Archie followed this rule, the trajectory of the comics would have been completely different, but there also never would've been a copyright battle in the first place.
What a shitshow. Truly.
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To the stars — Hyunjin
pairing; hwang hyunjin x female reader, (mentions of other members)
genre; titanic!au, romance, fluff, angst, tragedy
summary; the most famous and youngest violinist of her time and a young artist of the lower class on board of the Ship of Dreams? Pathetic, yes, and yet opposites seem to attract.
warnings; mature content, mature language, cursing, tw!death, drinking alcohol (only a little bit), a little bit of smut, smoking (might add more warnings later)
word count; 3,4k
taglist; @hyunskizz, @daiyoon
authors note; I'm not a fan of tragic endings, so be prepared for a happy ending?
Parts; Teaser | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 soon
!minors do not interact!
"A CONCERT IN NEW YORK?!" It all started with that. I never dreamed of getting this far in my life. I had never been the best student, nor the well-behaved daughter of the house who took private lessons in literature and history seriously. I had always been a little different from the other kids my age that had the same social status as me. And now I was England's most famous violinist.
"I can not believe it!" When the news reached me that I would play at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, it seemed I was at the peak of my career as a violinist. Luck seemed to be on my side.
"And the best thing, my dear, the costs of our trip are fully covered. We don't need to pay a penny." My mother, standing behind me and combing my hair, smiled at me through the mirror. Our trip. The corners of my mouth twitched before I smiled softly. "I can't wait to get on board, mother." Although I would have preferred to travel alone with my friends. "I never imagined such a ship in my wildest dreams. It must be breathtaking." I continued, leaning back in my chair a bit. "That's it dear. And in a few hours, we'll be able to see it by ourselves." My mother put my comb aside and finally asked me, "I hope you've packed everything? Felix and the others will surely be here soon. You should have everything ready by then." I nodded at her question. All I had to do was peel off the robe I was wearing and slip into one of the dresses my mom ordered from a special designer for me for today. And I definitely hated it. I hated everything about that dress because it didn't reflect who I was at all. But what didn't I do to be the good, loving daughter. "Darling?" My mother seemed to sense my absence, even though I knew that she didn't care about me until I finally had success in life. I blinked and looked up at her, "I'll get changed now and take care of the final details. I'll come to the driveway once I'm done." It was exactly the answer my mother wanted to hear. She smiled contentedly, "I'll have your suitcases loaded, then we can leave immediately."
When she finally left my room, I was able to get a moment for myself. I enjoyed the moment just sitting there and letting my gaze wander. I probably wouldn't see these four walls, my home, for a while. Would I miss it? I guess not. It was just a prison for me anyway. My eyes finally settled on today's flyer, which featured a huge cruise ship. Underneath it was written in capital letters:
The ship of dreams - the Titanic sails today!
"The ship of dreams, huh?" My fingertips traced the outline of the image before picking up the flyer. My gaze slid over the contours of the ship. That such a giant could stay afloat at all was almost a miracle. It was not for nothing that the creators of the Titanic boasted that ship was unsinkable. I finally put the flyer back on my desk and made sure to be in the driveway on time. I knew that my mother wasn't a friend of being late.
And yet I was. Exactly two minutes late. I gave my mother an apologetic smile, knowing it wouldn't save me, before glancing at the motorcade pulling up and parked in our driveway. I paused for a moment before two young men got out of the front car. Lee Felix and Han Jisung. My best friends and those who would also join me on my trip to New York.
Not minding etiquette, I rushed down the stairs to greet my friends. "Finally you two are here!" I hugged both of them happily. Felix laughed: "Hey, I can't breathe!" He gasped while Jisung just giggled. Reluctantly I let go of the two. "You can't believe how happy I am that you're here." I explained and lifted visibly my eyebrows, which meant that they should just save me from my mother. Jisung suppressed a smirk while Felix replied, "Don't worry, we'll get your mind off things." A smile tugged at his lips as he looked behind me and greeted my mother as she joined us. "Good morning gentlemen. It's nice that you've finally arrived." I wanted to give my mother a wry look, but that would only mean more trouble. "Mrs. l/n (your last name), we're glad to see you too." Jisung mirrored my mother's smile as he addressed her. She nodded with a friendly expression on her face before continuing, "It's a wonderful day to embark on such a great journey, I hope you're all set." "Of course ma'am." Felix replied with his typical happy smile, which is why I always called him sunshine. I grimaced and jumped into the conversation, "All right, now that everything is settled, let's be on our way as soon as the house servants have loaded the last suitcases." I looked around. Thank god my mother agreed, "I'll go and see if we have everything. Take care of your friends darling, maybe they want some tea?" I wanted to make a face, but I nodded instead. "I'll take care of them, mother." I kept smiling until she was finally out of my hearing range. I sighed loudly and turned back to my friends.
"So?" I asked, looking questioningly at Felix and Jisung. "I heard we make the Titanic unsafe?", "Oh yes!" Ji crossed his arms and grinned. "But first we have to get you out of that horrible dress. That's straight from the last century." He eyed me. "Thank my mother. If I had it my way, I wouldn't wear that either.", "Don't worry, I've got enough fabric in my luggage to design you a new dress in no time." The light that started to pop in Jisung's eyes told me he couldn't wait to get me into one of his self-designed dresses. Because as an up-and-coming fashion designer he was always looking for new ideas and challenges: "It's good that I don't have any knowledge about that." Felix said and leaned against his car, a brand new model that was all the rage in Europe. "But my mother would have preferred that I would marry you." I chuckled and looked at him. Felix cocked his head and spoke amusedly, "That wouldn't work between us anyway Y/n. We're already so palsy-walsy." I giggled at his words, "I guess you're right." Felix and I have known each other since we both could. walk. He came from an even wealthier family than I did, and had always been an excellent student, hardworking and well-behaved. He could have had any girl, but he had never been with anyone. He also got the chance to study engineering in New York. The reason why he accompanied me on my trip. "Nice car you have there." I finally said. Felix raised his eyebrows, "Uh yeah, it just got delivered a few days ago. Drives great." The young man replied, whereupon I said, "Then I have no choice but to go with you. I won't miss an opportunity like that." I smiled crookedly, earning a surprised look from Felix, "Your mother wouldn't like that." No, she absolutely wouldn't, and I didn't care. Without any hesitation, I opened the door of the car and placed myself in, "I consider this as my dowry." I joked looking out at my two friends who were staring at me, "I love when you guys look so stunned." I grinned before adding, "What? Are you jumping in? Otherwise, the ship will leave without us."
___
The music was loud, and the smoke from cigarettes and the smell of beer and whiskey mingled in the pub. It was only 11 o'clock and almost everyone here was already star-struck. "So what else do we have?" Hyunjin leaned a little over to one of his friends who was sitting with him at the round skat table. "Hm, let's see." The young man with light brown hair spoke and rummaged in his pocket. He pulled out a few pennies and a pocket knife. "Shit, guys, that's nothing. Besides, that's the knife of Minho's grandfather." Another young man standing behind them leaned over them. "I know Jeongin." Hyunjin sighed before looking at Minho, who was staring at the pocket knife, lost in thought, "Buddy, you don't have to-", "It's alright." Minho interrupted the young man next to him before placing the knife and the few pennies in the middle of the table, where all the money, some valuables, and three tickets to New York lay. A trip on the dream ship, a trip into a new life. "This time, we'll get everything." Minho smiled confidently. They couldn't lose. Otherwise they would lose everything except what they are wearing. Even if it wasn't much that the three young men owned. Because when you came from the working class, there wasn't anything worth living for. A journey into another, probably better life came as called for. "So," Hyunjin's gaze slid to the men sitting across from him and his friend, "Let's play."
___
"It's unbelievable how jammed everything here is." I spoke and stuck my head out the window as we drove down the harbor. So many cars and people gathered in one place. It was difficult to even find a way through the crowds. "We're probably not the only ones." Jisung spoke ironically. "The Titanic seats about 2,400 people on board. No wonder it's so crowded today." Explained Felix, who was driving the car. It would probably have been quicker to walk. He honked his horn and waved a few people aside. "Wow, that's a lot." I answered before we turned around a corner as a huge ship came into our view. The Titanic. I held my breath and took in the sight. I had never seen such a giant in my life. It was overwhelming. Jisung now lowered the window pane to his side too to get a better view of the ship. "Have you seen anything like this before?" he asked while admiring the massive structure of grandiose engineering. "No" Felix and I replied at the same time, cause we were both completely captivated by this view. If there truly was an unsinkable ship, it could only be the Titanic. Felix's car slowly came to a standstill before he broke away from the sight of the ship and turned to us. "All right, I'm going to sign us in. Stay by the car, okay?" He looked at Jisung and me in the back seat. We nodded almost synchronously.
So Felix left us alone while Jisung and I got out to get a better view of the ship that was right in front of us. "Amazing. Sailing with this to New York will be fantastic." I could barely hide the excitement in my voice. And Jisung sounded pretty excited too. "It truly is the ship of dreams. I can't wait to get on board." I agreed before I heard my mother's voice. I turned around and saw her just getting out of the car that was parked right behind us. She gave me a displeased look but didn't say anything. Surely I'd get a lecture for not riding with her once we got on board. "The servants bring everything into the ship." She explained and looked at me. "We're already signed up, I've taken care of everything, so let's get on board dear." I blinked and looked questioningly at Jisung, who just nodded, "Go ahead, I'll wait here for Felix." he smiled. Although I would have loved to board the Titanic with my friends, I had no choice but to follow my mother. We walked over the bridge that connected the mainland with the ship, where we were greeted warmly by the crew. But I hardly had eyes for that. Instead, my gaze wandered over the pompous interior of the ship, the high walls and the elaborate decorations on the railings and stairs. But a voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Welcome on board of the Titanic Miss." In front of me stood a young, handsome man with raven-black hair, in a uniform. I wasn't very familiar with the ranks of a ship's crew, but from the looks of the other person in front of me, he seemed important. And I shouldn't be wrong. "I am pleased to welcome you on board. My name is Captain Bang. I will take you safely to New York." His accent immediately told me that he wasn't British, but Australian. Also, his smile was quite contagious.
I blinked and finally replied, "The pleasure is all mine." Does he want to greet all first-class guests in person? It looked like that. I returned the captain's smile before he asked me, "Are you traveling alone miss?" I was taken aback by his question, "No I..." I paused and started to look around. Only now did I realize that I had lost sight of my mother in all the hustle and bustle. I gasped and looked back at my interlocutor, "No, I'm traveling with my mother." I explained to him, whereupon the captain looked around, "It's easy to lose each other in crowds like this. What's your name, Miss? I can call a retinue for you who's going to get you to your room and let your mother know that you were safely accompanied." He was very accommodating. I nodded in agreement, "That would be wonderful." I replied and gave him my name, whereupon the captain paused and just regarded me for a moment before answering, "Wait here Miss l/n, I'll take care of it." A smile appeared on his lips again before the young man turned on his heel to look for a crew member who would attend to my business. So I lagged behind a bit awkwardly, which is why I turned my attention back to what was happening around me.
Lost in thought, I looked at the many people around me. There were probably many more in the lower classes, but even here, where the rich and beautiful met, it seemed overcrowded to me. Every single one of them could afford the trip without any problems. At that moment, I wondered how those who couldn't fare. "Y/n!" Felix's voice got through to me. I looked over my shoulder before my two friends caught up with me. "Have you finally made it?" A mischievous grin spread across my lips. Felix ran a hand through his hair, a little out of breath "Yes, just about that. The ship will be leaving soon. They are about to load the last wagons." he said. I was about to say something when a young man joined us. He was obviously one of the ship's crew, "Miss l/n?" he looked at me questioningly. I blinked and replied, questioning almost as much as he did, "Yes?" "You want me to show you to your room." he explained to me briefly. I had already forgotten that, "Oh, yes right." I looked back at Felix and Jisung. "Then we'll see each other later, yes?", "Of course Miss L/n." Felix cocked his head teasingly while he wore his bright smile. I playfully rolled my eyes and couldn't help but smile. Finally, I followed the young crew member deeper into the ship. Into a whole new world.
___
Glasses flew around, and the smell of beer spread while Hyunjin and Minho were still sitting at the skat table. Behind them stood Jeongin, who looked worriedly at his friends' cards. Things were looking bad for the three young men. If they were going to win this game, more or less a miracle would have to happen. Minho's right leg bounced nervously up and down as he scowled at his cards. Things weren't looking too good for Hyunjin either. He was missing a certain card to turn the tide. He bit his bottom lip nervously before hearing Minho sigh angrily, "Damn, I'm out." He leaned back and crossed his arms. It was probably Hyunjin's fault now. His eyes swept fleetingly over his opponent. He was tall, handsome and definitely a good skat player.
"So, last round?" he raised his eyebrows. Hyunjin nodded slightly and looked at the deck from which he would draw his next card. Everything would stand or fall at that moment. He dropped the first card to his opponent and then drew one for himself from the deck. Minho cautiously squinted at his buddy while Hyunjin stared at his deck. "So?" his opponent asked, while the rubble of the masses around them almost drowned him out. Jeongin leaned over Hyunjin's shoulder full of tension, who was sitting in his chair as if stuck and had to realize for a moment what had happened right now. Minho frowned and craned his neck to get a better look at the cards as well. But what he saw at that moment made him fall from the clouds, "Damn, shit" he breathed, while Jeongin, almost at the same time, started to cheer, "Holy Mother of God!" Hyunjin blinked and looked at his opponent before a wide grin appeared on his face, "Well, I guess we won!" He revealed his cards. A slippery winning hand. Nobody would come up against that. Their victory was certain. They would go to New York. Defeated, his opponent sat back while the three young men cheered their victory. "Thank you for this extremely entertaining game gentlemen." Jeongin took the valuables and the tickets while Hyunjin and Minho hugged each other with joy. Luck had been on their side for once, but they shouldn't celebrate too soon. "Hey!" The three friends were interrupted in their burst of joy by one of the men who had also been playing for the tickets. "If you still want to go on board, you better hurry. The ship leaves in five minutes." For a moment it seemed like Hyunjin had misheard his words. "What?" Jeongin stared at the man, who replied, "Yes, in five minutes. The Titanic will leave the harbor at twelve." "Fuck." Minho gasped and looked at Hyunjin, who was also looking at his friend, "Go ahead and grab everything you fucking have and get the fuck out of here!" He gasped. Jeongin hurriedly put in his pocket the remaining money on the table and then followed Minho and Hyunjin who had already run ahead. Although the pub was right at the harbor, it was difficult to move through the crowds as quickly as possible. Everyone had come to admire the Titanic, say goodbye to relatives, or go on board themselves. "Where the hell are we going?!" Minho, who was right behind Hyunjin, gasped and tried to keep up with the young man. Hyunjin, meanwhile, made his way through the crowd, trying to get an overview while the crew members already started to catch the bridges, the entrances to the ship. Hyunjin's eyes scanned the area feverishly until he finally spotted a bridge that hadn't been caught yet. "There ahead!" he shouted and was just able to avoid an older man before nearly running him over. They had to reach the bridge at any cost. Hyunjin felt his lungs threatening to collapse, but he couldn't stop now. He couldn't miss this chance.
Not this time.
The three young men rushed onto the bridge and hastily waved to the crew members who were about to pull the bridge in. “HEY!” Hyunjin roared at the top of his lungs to get the men's attention, which worked. Startled, they looked up and waved the three friends over. "You couldn't come any later, huh?" One of the men asked them as Hyunjin showed him the tickets Jeongin had given him. "Sor....ry sir." The young man gasped for air while his counterpart checked the tickets. So the three friends could catch their breath for a moment. Finally, the man in uniform looked up and handed him back the tickets, "Welcome aboard the Titanic gentlemen."
They made it.
Hyunjin took the tickets and boarded with his friends. "Damn, we did it." Said Minho with a big, very happy smile on his face. "We really made it." Hyunjin smirked while Jeongin still couldn't believe it.
Now a new beginning, a start into a new life, was within reach.
"Come on, let's go on deck and watch the ship leaving the harbor." Satisfied, Hyunjin wrapped his arms around his friends.
They would see their home from afar for one last time, before there was no way back.
#hyunjin x reader#jisung x reader#felix x reader#chan x reader#hyunjin stray kids#stray kids fanfic#stray kids scenarios#stray kids fanfiction#stray kids imagine#hwang hyunjin#hyunjin#hyunjin skz#lee minho#minho x reader#skz chan#stray kids reactions#stray kids x reader#stray kids x you#kpop scenarios#kpop aesthetic#stray kids imagines#stray kids#stray kids bang chan#stray kids boyfriend#stray kids hyunjin#hwang hyujin imagines#skz hyunjin#han jisung#lee know#han jisung imagines
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No. 19 - Wizz Air
Wizz Air, whose name I regret to inform you is not short for Wizard Air, is an extremely successful low-cost carrier based in Hungary with subsidiary branches in Abu Dhabi, Malta, and the UK, and two former branches based in Ukraine and Bulgaria which are both now defunct. Their planes are a common sight at airports across Europe and beyond, so they should at least have the decency to make them look nice.
How did they do?
I do think it goes without saying that there’s a reason I’m doing Wizz Air at this specific time. While not a pride livery, these planes are...pretty undeniably bisexual pride flag colors. In fact, here is the bisexual flag color-picked from Wizz Air planes. Guess which is which!
Well, also, I got a request after I had already written most of the post. It would feel a bit rude to not mention that.
That is...beside the point of my actual assessment. How well designed are these planes?
The various Wizzes Air use this livery. They’re nice and colorful, standing out from what’s around them. You almost never see this sort of pink used on an airplane. The painted winglets are classy and the overall shapes are plenty alright. I always find the use of a website on an airline’s livery to be somewhat tacky, but, well...they are a low-cost carrier, I suppose. Anyway, they’re at least less prominent than on the old livery:
And, to be perfectly honest, I really like the old livery too. There are still some planes flying around wearing it and I think the two designs are both better for the existence of the other. They feel like two parts of a whole and I love that about them. They very cleanly cover half the plane each, all the way up to the current one painting the ventral fairing while the old one leaves it white, and it feels very complete, like they’re inversions of each other. Even the logo is filled in on the old one and outlined on the new one. It’s just...it’s good! I like it! I really like these planes!
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi adds the extra bit of logo to the tail. I think it looks...completely fine and does not impact my opinion at all, which is a good thing in this case, because I like the thing it’s based on.
image: Wizz Air Twitter
The interiors are apparently also matching Wizz Air color! It’s a small detail but it really goes a long way for establishing a mood, and it feels like something fairly often overlooked. Even other strongly-branded planes often have plain black seats.
And the overall impression is really the thing here. All the individual parts are irrelevant compared to the holistic vibe of Wizz Air, which is undeniably pretty fun. The snappy name, the nicely composed text logo with the exclamation point, and the multiple bright colors lend these jets an exciting, bubbly feel. I’ve never flown with Wizz, so I’m not sure if they’re as fun as their planes make them look or as joyless as their direct competitor Ryanair, but these planes are some of the few which feel to me as if they’re following in the footsteps of PSA, at least visually - fundamentally upbeat, in emphatic defiance of the pasteurized nature of mass air travel.
Grade: A
(I still wish it was short for Wizard Air though.)
#tarmac fashion week#grade: a#wizz air#region: europe#region: west/central europe#region: southern europe#region: middle east and north africa#region: hungary#region: malta#region: united kingdom#region: united arab emirates#era: 2010s#era: 2020s#a gay plane has landed#cabin fever#low cost carriers#ultra low cost carriers#requests
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I got to give belly scritches to both ginger cats this morning but my phone crashed right as I tried to get photos (I think it might be model specific, the LG G5 crashes repeatedly if the charge is under 60% and will not start at all if it's under about 45). They also played with the string of the dog lead before getting distracted with a brotherly play fight.
I've been stuck unable to craft or do much except rest after pulling my left shoulder somehow. Neck neuralgia is so stupid. Arm hurty so gonna make your eyes not work and woopsie doo brain feels too big for the back of your cranium in a way that's going to ramp up into pain so odd it'll feel like you don't have a body just a big ache that outlines the exact shape of your skull from the inside.
Felt sane enough to try a little konmari without throwing out baby and bath with the bathwater. I could tell the difference between aesthetic enjoyment and nostalgia, personal spark vs rarity/sunk cost but it passed within five minutes. I was looking at newer monster highs and some work in progress that can't currently be finished that I've displayed with mixed dolls and couldn't get the clarity and then doubts took over.
So next time: fully dressed dolls among their similar shaped/unfinished 'peers' and try again.
Still not doing the craft supplies, it's too fraught. It could really do with some reorganising but I could so very easily give away all the painstakingly collected stashes because of the uncertainty that comes with neck injury and the big worry that comes with the pain.
Like I'm currently struggling with taps (faucets?) and spreading butter so everything handicraft related feels slightly threatening. There's no pressure except a very limited amount of personal space and clutter blindness.
Paperwork and email inbox sorting is on hold because it got out of hand and is going to take some courage 😂😁
Getting registered to vote is proving difficult: they want paperwork to prove I lived in British addresses from before I was ten: they have my birth certificate and passport details but I wasn't exactly on the bills or receiving official mail as a kid. If they really cared, they could see my NHS records but I suspect they want 'expats' only not emigrants, the types with a second home, double citizenship or who left after retirement. It was open to any brits but they want proof of diplomas (16+), work payslips and bills. I had a bank account at 7 (granddad felt it was a very important rite of passage to have one even though I didn't get an allowance) but that doesn't count either. Frustrating.
I'm very fond of late winter, the skies are spectacular and you get to see the frost sparkle as the sun rises. I don't mind wearing double socks because there are no mosquitos. The slap in the face that is cold wind makes any heated building feel magically cozy and the birds make a racket up til 7 thirty. Even saw what looked like a bat this morning but I don't know what they eat in this weather or if they hibernate. Off to wikipedia.
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Treasure Quest, Chapter 8: Wedding Day
Pairing: Captain Dean x Rhaya Payton (OFC, eventual) Other Characters: Sam Winchester, Captain Keira, Captain Crowley, Lucifer, Lord Darius Payton, Lord Ashton Kane, Connor (OMC's) Carissa Payton, Darcy (OFC's).
Word Count: 4649
Warnings: Angst, Realization of Feelings, a bit of Rhaya's self-doubt, Unwanted Wedding Ceremony, Slight Medical Issue, but Still Scheming Stepmother and Still Annoying Fiancé
Series Summary: Rhaya Payton is the daughter of the governor of Ochana. She grew up listening to her father tell her stories of pirates and treasure maps. At a gala one night, her stepmother, Carissa, announces Rhaya’s engagement to Ashton Kane, a wealthy nobleman. Only problem is, no one checked with Rhaya first. After overhearing plans made by her fiancé, Rhaya decides to go on the run and stows away on Captain Dean’s ship. What will happen when he finds her?
This Chapter: After a confrontation at breakfast with her stepmother, Rhaya doubles down on her resolve to avoid marriage to Ashton at all cost. Carissa may have her plans, but Keira and Darcy have Rhaya's back as they formulate plans of their own. Captain Dean & Company are racing to get to the church and receive assistance from an unusual source. The closer she gets to "I do", the more desperate Rhaya becomes, so she takes matters into her own hands. Will the Captain of Rhaya's heart arrive in time to stop the ceremony? Tune in to find out....Enjoy!
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Rhaya listened as Keira reviewed the events of the past few days. She explained how they arrived at the island, found the treasure, and their narrow escape from the island's inhabitants. When Keira mentioned that some of the crew were injured, she was quick to assure Rhaya that nothing was life-threatening. Jack would make a full recovery, she promised. Both women laughed at Dean's assertions that the young man would now have better luck with the ladies.
"Speaking of Dean, will he....is he....um....he's on his way here, right?" Rhaya asked in a small voice.
Keira thought back to her last conversation with Dean, right before she set sail for Ochana. She knew he was committed to the plan to at least stall, if not stop, the wedding. However, he mentioned some business he had to attend to before he could leave Alcaria. He had sent her ahead to carry out the plan, in case he couldn't get to Ochana in time.
"Honey, I'm not sure. He said he had some things to do once he got home to Alcaria. But he sent me here first to make sure to stop or somehow stall your wedding to Lord Dumbass," Keira muttered.
"Well, I am all for that, you know. But how are we going to do it? I mean, you've got a plan all worked out, right?" Rhaya wondered.
Keira snorted. "Are you seriously doubting my scheming ability right now? I think you've forgotten who you're dealing with," she responded with a slight scowl. "Here's what I've got so far."
***
Dean stood at the bow of the ship, willing it to find the right winds to carry it faster from Alcaria to Ochana. The plan he had outlined with Keira was only designed to get things to a certain point, which was to prevent Rhaya's marriage to Ashton. After that, the details were a little fuzzy, but Dean figured that the pieces would somehow magically fall into place.
Sam cautiously approached his brother, who continued to stare out at the horizon, wishing they had already reached their destination. "Dean, we're going as fast as we can. Keira knows what she's doing, and she has allies on the inside to help her and Rhaya. No one wants to see her marry Lord Hoity-Toity," Sam grumbled.
"I know, Sam," Dean sighed. "It's just....I want to be there to protect her, you know? It's not only Lord Stuck-Up that I'm worried about, it's also her horrible stepmother. Rhaya told me about her, and it wasn't a rosy picture. Carissa has ways of dealing with people who don't bend to her will, and for that reason, I don't want my girl anywhere near her. There's no telling what that witch will do to Rhaya when this wedding goes south," Dean noted grimly.
Seeing his brother so determined to defend his girl against her stepmother ignited a glimmer of hope in Sam that maybe Dean had found his someone. "Then it's a good thing I see the coastline of Ochana," he grinned. He pointed to a stretch of land in the distance, a sandy beach giving way to a hill of green grass. Wooden docks extended out into the water, with tall, well-muscled men waiting to catch the docking ropes as soon as they were thrown.
"Hot damn, that's it!" Dean exclaimed. Seeing how close they were made him even more anxious to reach their destination. Only problem was, they were at the mercy of the wind currents. Suddenly, as if by the Fates, the sails seemed to catch a tailwind, which increased their speed. Hold on, sweetheart, Dean silently pleaded. I'm almost there, and once I am, I promise I will do everything in my power to protect you.
***
Sunlight filtered through gauzy curtains, stretching its fingers across the hand-sewn quilt tucked around the sleeping form in the bed. A knock at the door elicited a groan from the body being kept warm under the quilt. As much as she wanted to send away her visitor with a bark of, "Go away!", Rhaya reluctantly sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Just a minute," she mumbled.
Slowly padding over to the door, she opened it to reveal Darcy and Keira, and gave them a sleepy smile. "Come on in," she said through a yawn as she stepped aside to allow access.
"Your stepmother is expecting you to join her at the breakfast table to discuss some wedding-related details with you. She said, and I quote, 'If she's not here in the next 30 minutes, I will drag her to this table myself and I won't care if she's still in her nightgown'," Darcy explained with a grimace.
The three women looked at each other and all rolled their eyes. "Fine," Rhaya sighed. "I'll wish my father 'good morning', have some breakfast, and hear what the Evil One has to say. Then I will return to my room where I will disregard everything she said that doesn't fit with our plans."
Twenty-nine minutes later, Rhaya sauntered into the dining room, where her father and Carissa were seated. Her father was situated at the head of the table, where she stopped to give him a peck on the cheek. "Good morning, Papa," she wished him with a smile, and then took her seat in the chair to his right.
"Good morning, Rhaya. I was beginning to wonder if you'd be joining us as I requested, or if you'd run away again," Carissa remarked.
"Good morning, Stepmother. As you can see, I am present and accounted for, and within your 30-minute deadline. Fully dressed as well, because goodness knows I wouldn't want to be brought to the table inappropriately dressed," she challenged, her eyes narrowed at Carissa.
Lord Darius turned to his daughter, barely suppressing a smile. "Today's a busy day for you, sweetheart. Are you nervous with all of this? It would be all right if you were, since you are taking an important step in your life," he pointed out as he reached for her hand.
Rhaya squeezed her father's hand. "No, Papa, as important as all of this is, I'm not nervous. I'm certain that events will unfold exactly as they are supposed to," she replied.
At that moment, a staff member entered the dining room and informed Lord Darius of a matter that needed his immediate attention. He politely excused himself, expressing his apologies to his wife and daughter. He pressed a kiss to Rhaya's temple and told her that he would be waiting for her in the designated area of the church to walk her down the aisle.
As soon as he left the room, the tension between the two women increased to the 11th level. The remaining staff stood off to the side, ready to fulfill any need, but were also prepared for a hasty exit, should the situation require it. They glanced nervously among themselves as they waited for some sort of break that was sure to occur.
"You certainly enjoy pushing my orders to the breaking point, don't you? I ask you to be here in thirty minutes, you show up in twenty-nine," she commented dryly. "Mark my words, Rhaya, this day will unfold exactly as it is supposed to, because I will make sure of it. I will watch your father walk you down the aisle in the dress I have chosen for you. He will then take his place at my side, where we will bear witness to your exchange of vows with Ashton," Carissa concluded.
Rhaya scoffed in response to her last comment. "You know damned well that I do not want to be married to Ashton or to anyone else unless it is my decision. Just because I'm the governor's daughter doesn't mean I'm entitled to anything less than my own choice of who I share my life with. I realize that today is going forward whether I like it or not, but that doesn't mean everything will happen exactly according to your plan," she retorted.
Carissa slammed her hands on the table, causing the dishes to rattle and the staff to jump in surprise. "Watch your language, and DO NOT cross me, Rhaya!" she shouted, then took a deep breath to calm herself. "I will get what I want, which is you married to Ashton and out of this house, away from your father. Should you decide to take your chances and choose to defy me, there will be hell to pay, I assure you."
"Are you threatening me? Your own stepdaughter?" Rhaya exclaimed in disbelief.
Carissa calmly sipped her tea. "No threat, darling, a promise. The last person who got in the way of what I wanted? She suffered a great deal before there was nothing in this world that could save her. Your father, bless his soul, attempted everything to save her, which nearly cost him his own life. Luckily the Fates decided to intervene and spare him. While it's unfortunate that his salvation was at her expense, in the end, I got what I wanted. As I always will," she added darkly.
Rhaya watched as her stepmother returned her teacup to its saucer and rose from her chair. When Carissa rounded the corner of the table, she bent close to Rhaya's ear and whispered, "Don't be late." She patted her stepdaughter's shoulder before leaving the room.
The last exchange left Rhaya and the remaining dining room staff stunned and in shock. They all asked themselves the same questions. Did we hear that correctly? Did the governor's wife just admit that she had something to do with Lady Isabella's illness or even her death?!? What should we do now? With a renewed determination, Rhaya stood up from her chair and flashed a quick, sympathetic smile to the staff before leaving the room.
As soon as she closed the door to her bedroom, Rhaya began to pace the floor, her hands shaking in both fury and fear. Fury that Carissa essentially admitted to playing some part in what happened to her mother. Fear, because if push came to shove, and Rhaya pushed, Carissa would shove. After that, there's no telling what the outcome would be. She's already somewhat proven that murder is not beneath her and would feel zero remorse about it.
Rhaya wrapped her arms around herself, trying to focus on the plan formulated with Darcy and Keira. She glanced at the clock on her dresser and noted that it was time to start gathering what she would need to get ready for the wedding. Her dress and veil were already at the church, but she needed her shoes, makeup and hair accessories. Keira and Darcy would be helping her to apply her makeup and arrange her hair.
This new development from breakfast with Carissa further solidified Rhaya's decision to abscond from her wedding day. She didn't love the groom and couldn't stand to remain any longer than ten minutes in his presence. In addition, she knew of his plans for her to meet with an unknown "accident", one from which he would make certain that she would not survive. Then there's that last, pesky detail. Her heart would always belong to a treasure-hunting sea captain, and that was unlikely to change.
***
Crowley paced back and forth beneath the tree while he waited for his counterpart to arrive. He had received a message from a member of the governor's staff, asking for a meeting. The note said it was important and pertained to the upcoming nuptials of Lady Rhaya and Lord Ashton. Crowley was of the opinion that the wedding was ill-advised, due to his perceived reluctance on the part of the bride-to-be.
When he heard the soft footsteps to his right, his hand immediately flew to the dagger at his side. Before he could draw it, the mysterious stranger called out. "Captain Crowley? Thank you for meeting me here." The visitor stepped into view, with beams from the moonlight allowing him to recognize her.
"Ah, Captain Keira, I presume," he drawled. "Currently of The Aurora, as inherited from Sydney "The Sparrow" upon her retirement," he remarked.
She nodded. "I appreciate you meeting me on such short notice and hope you can help me. I assume you are here for the wedding of my sister and her pig of a fiancé," she started. At Crowley's nod of confirmation, she continued. "This wedding must not take place, for many reasons. Not the least of which is Rhaya has developed feelings for Captain Dean Winchester."
Crowley snickered. "You don't say? Well, will wonders never cease. And what, pray tell, does this have to do with me?" he asked.
Keira explained the plan, or as much as had been formulated so far. Crowley listened intently, nodding where appropriate and offering his own suggestions. When she was finished presenting her case, she kept her gaze firmly locked on her fellow captain. "Can we count on your assistance, Captain Crowley?"
He thoughtfully stroked his bearded chin before his face broke into a wide grin. "From one captain to another, I will assist you in your endeavor. The lady Rhaya deserves much better than she has been promised to. Not to mention, it will give me no end of amusement to see Lord Jerk-Face get ditched at the altar," he muttered, sticking out his hand.
A look of gratitude passed over Keira's face as she shook Captain Crowley's hand. "Thank you, Captain, I swear you won't regret this. I promise to see that you are more than fairly compensated at the conclusion of this fiasco," she vowed. After giving Crowley a salute and receiving one in return, Keira reminded him to wait by the tree for the next phase of the plan.
On her way back to the mansion, Connor, the captain of the guards, was on his way to meet her. "Captain Keira, a ship has just entered our sovereign waters, The Black Diamond, and is asking for permission to dock in our harbor. However, Lady Carissa gave strict orders that our harbor is to be closed from now until the newlyweds depart. What shall I do?" he wondered.
Keira pinched the bridge of her nose and gave an exasperated sigh. "Of course she'd order that," she mumbled. "Connor, I've known you almost as long as I've known Rhaya, and I'm sure you'd want what's best for her. In that spirit, please grant docking privileges to The Black Diamond. I accept full responsibility from Lady Carissa," she affirmed, then glanced at her watch. "I am expected to meet with Rhaya to start getting ready for the wedding, so I must take my leave."
"I will do as you suggest, Captain Keira," he nodded, then took a half-step closer to her. "I hope I won't be out of line when I ask if you have some sort of plan for our dear Rhaya?" he asked.
"Absolutely, Connor," she smirked. "Please ask Captain Winchester to meet Captain Crowley at my favorite tree, the one where Rhaya and I first met." He agreed and watched as Keira continued on her way.
***
Rhaya sat in her chair at the vanity, absently twirling a makeup brush while she waited for her partners in crime. The plan was simple enough, sensible, not too many moving parts. She only hoped it was sufficient to ensure the ultimate outcome of her non-marriage to Ashton. If for some reason this didn't work, well....she shuddered to think of the alternative.
Keira and Darcy entered the room around fifteen minutes later and began the process of preparing the bride. Rhaya's hair was styled in a classic updo, with wispy tendrils on each side loosely curled to frame her face. Her makeup was kept minimal, using mostly neutral colors to allow her natural beauty to shine through.
After those tasks were completed, the women helped the bride to step into her dress. While Darcy laced the corseted bodice, Rhaya closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to drift towards Dean. Though it had only been a short two weeks since she had last seen him, it had seemed like the longest two weeks of her life.
It was more than just his friendship she missed. His absence made her heart ache to be with him, see him. She longed to look into his mossy green eyes and not find judgment in them for being her true self in his presence. Especially now, she craved the safety and security she felt when his arms were around her. Only now was she finally able to admit to herself that she loved him, and had been in love with him for some time.
"Time for your veil, my dearest friend," Darcy nudged softly. Rhaya gestured with her hand to where the veil was draped over the back of a chair. The silver tiara was simple, yet held no shortage of crystals to add sparkle to the occasion. Darcy situated it in her hair, careful not to disturb the locks piled on top of her head. Keira fanned out the piece of netting at the back to ensure no wrinkles, then moved to stand in front of the bride.
"For what it's worth, you look beautiful, Sis. Are you ready?" Keira asked as she and Darcy each took one of Rhaya's hands, giving them a gentle squeeze in consolation.
Rhaya took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose," she replied. A knock sounded at the door and she heard her father's voice from the other side announcing it was time to go. Rhaya picked up her bouquet and the trio headed for the door.
Keira and Darcy stepped out first in their floor-length bridesmaids' dresses made of navy blue crèpe back satin, with a lace overlay on the bodice. Their hair and makeup were similar in style to the bride, and each carried a bouquet of white roses with a red ribbon woven among them.
Lord Darius gave each woman a beaming smile and expressed how lovely they looked before giving them a peck on the cheek. When he turned to his daughter, his eyes became glossy as he realized she was no longer his little girl, but a full-grown woman on her wedding day. "How I wish your mother was here to see this," he whispered, a lone tear streaking down his cheek. "Whatever happens today, I want you to know I love you very much, Rhaya."
Tears were threatening in her own eyes as the magnitude of the occasion and all that would unfold suddenly caught up with her. "I love you too, Papa," she replied softly. "Quick, pass me your handkerchief, please. Darcy will have my head if I ruin the work she put in on my makeup," she chuckled.
He did as she asked and watched as she carefully dabbed at her eyes. Once she had her emotions somewhat under control again, he kissed her forehead. Then he reached up and brought the veil down over her face. The doors then opened, and the music began to play the chosen piece for the march down the aisle. There were many expressions of approval rippling among the guests as the bride and her father walked past the pews.
At the altar, Lord Darius placed Rhaya's hand in Ashton's, then moved to take his place at Carissa's side. Rhaya hazarded a glance at her stepmother, who had a satisfied smirk on her face, certain that she had won this particular battle, if not the war. A grin twitched at the corners of Rhaya's mouth, because she knew the day was only getting started.
"Please be seated," the officiant commanded. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today...."
***
Dean was met at the docks by Connor, who relayed Keira's message for him to meet someone in the trees behind the estate. The message was cryptic, but he trusted that the meeting was all part of Keira's plan, thus he followed its instructions. When he got to the designated spot, he could see no one waiting for him. He was about to leave when a figure emerged from behind the giant trunk.
"Captain Winchester I presume?" the man inquired.
"Who's asking?" Dean countered, his hand on his sword.
"Name's Fergus McLeod, but I'm better known as Crowley, Captain of The Moon Raider. I'm here on official business for Lady Rhaya and her friends, whose objective is to stop the wedding," he revealed.
Dean relaxed a bit and held out his hand for Crowley to shake. "I've heard of you. Nice to meet you in person, and I appreciate your help." Leaning closer, he asked, "By the way, what exactly is the plan?"
"Right now, we need to get you and Sam to the church, so I'll explain on the way." Dean started to follow, then stopped short at the mention of his brother. Crowley rolled his eyes at the unasked question of how he knew Sam had tagged along to the meeting. "Your brother must not have done well at Hide-and-Seek when you were wee Winchesters. He sticks out like a sore thumb. C'mon, we don't have much time," Crowley remarked.
***
The officiant had nearly finished his speech about how important it was to love, honor, respect, and cherish each other. Then he asked the most crucial question. "If anyone here knows of any reason why these two individuals should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Rhaya waited anxiously for someone, preferably Dean, to speak up on her behalf. As the silence grew, so did the beating of her heart until she thought it would nearly leap out of her chest. When a respectable amount of time had passed with no objections, the officiant smiled and prepared to resume the ceremony. Rhaya's heart plummeted to her shoes at the prospect of being legally bound to Ashton, and with that, she would always be at his mercy.
"Do you, Lord Ashton Kane, take Rhaya Payton to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forth?" the officiant asked.
"I do," Ashton replied with a fake smile.
The officiant turned his attention to Rhaya. "And do you, Rhaya Payton, take Ashton Kane to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forth?"
Rhaya looked into Ashton's eyes and saw nothing but a hardness and an arrogance, with no love for her in them. She was determined to not be trapped in a miserable marriage with him. If Dean wouldn't save her by bursting through the doors and declaring his love, then she would have to save herself. "I....I....," she managed to get out before collapsing to the floor in a puddle of white.
Chaos erupted at the altar, with Keira attempting to assess Rhaya's condition among the ever-growing crowd. Lord Darius broke through and knelt at his daughter's side while bellowing at people to back away and give the bride some room to breathe.
Keira clasped Rhaya's right hand while checking her pulse with the left. She felt an almost imperceptible pressure on her right hand, then noticed a minute twitch in Rhaya's nose. To her relief, Keira realized this was the signal from the bride that it wasn't a true fainting spell.
Nonetheless, she had to get Rhaya somewhere more quiet to reassess the situation. Fortunately, she saw Connor weaving his way through the crowd to offer his assistance, so she called out to him. When he finally reached Keira's position, she told him what had happened. The captain of the guards scooped Rhaya up in his arms and took her back to the room she was in before the ceremony.
***
Carissa was a mixture of emotions as she watched the picture-perfect wedding crumble before her eyes. She was so close to getting what she wanted, and then Rhaya had to go and faint in front of everyone at her own wedding. Appearances meant everything to Carissa, and this certainly didn't help matters any.
Ashton was sure to be embarrassed by her stepdaughter's inability to suck it up long enough to say "I do". Lord Darius, of course, was beside himself, worried about his precious daughter. He rushed after Connor and the others back to the dressing room, where the doctor waited. Carissa moved to follow her husband, but was stopped short by a look that said he preferred she wait for him to return with news.
Maybe it was the stress of Rhaya trying to meet everyone's expectations of her, or her objection to an arranged marriage that caused her to faint. Frankly, Carissa didn't care. All that mattered was that at the end of the day, Rhaya was legally bound to Ashton in holy matrimony. However, the more Carissa thought about it, the more her anger grew at the distinct possibility that some shenanigans were brewing.
Carissa turned just in time to see Lord Ashton stomping over to where she was standing at the back of the church. "What in the hell is going on? One minute she's about to say 'I do', the next minute she's on the floor passed out!! She must be plotting something," he muttered. "For all we know, she could be escaping out of the window of that little room where they're keeping her!"
"Get a grip, Ashton," Carissa hissed. "I agree, her behavior is rather suspicious, but I have given her ample warning of what will happen if she does not follow through. Besides, I have guards stationed at every possible exit. They are under strict orders that if she tries to escape, one of them will see her and not allow her to leave the grounds," she assured him.
Ashton snorted. "Most of those guards have known her since she was a child. Those who haven't will take their cues from the more senior members of the guard," he grumbled. He scanned the crowd to see if Rhaya was somehow trying to blend in with the crowd to then make her escape. Finally, his eyes landed on Lucifer and a few of his men, standing around and taking in the scene. Ashton marched over to the group with a plan forming in his mind.
"Well, well, Lord Ashton, seems you're having some trouble closing this deal," Lucifer smirked.
"If you want to keep that bonus, you'll help me make sure my bride doesn't escape," Ashton seethed.
Lucifer shrugged. "From what I can see, the escape routes are all blocked by the governor's guards," he replied.
"I want people I can....trust, and unfortunately, you with your men are the best candidates. That's who I need to be guarding the exit points, not Lady Rhaya's 'friends'," he snapped.
"Fine," Lucifer muttered, before going over to his men. He relayed Ashton's instructions, but with a few modifications to make sure the deal was upheld.
"Now, I'm going in there to make sure she finishes what was started," Ashton grumbled as he started towards the back room.
Right as Carissa had picked up her skirts to follow him, Lord Darius returned to her side to give an update to his wife and his daughter's almost-husband. "Rhaya's fine, she just got a bit overwhelmed with the magnitude of the day's events. Keira and Darcy are in with her now, getting her calmed down enough to where she can continue with the ceremony."
Carissa looked at her husband in disbelief, as if he'd sprouted another head. "Are you serious? The three of them are plotting something, I'm sure of it, and I'm going to find out what," she declared. She started to head towards the back room, determined to put a stop to whatever mischief was being plotted.
At that moment, the bride reappeared, veil covering her face, ready to begin the ceremony again. Carissa and Ashton made their way back up the aisle, their actions assuring everyone that the wedding would pick up where it left off.
Once she reached the altar, Carissa moved into her designated pew and Ashton took his place in front of the officiant, while Lord Darius escorted the bride. He turned to face the bride before giving her away again to Ashton. When the governor lifted the veil, a collective gasp rippled through the church.
"YOU'RE NOT RHAYA!!" Ashton thundered.
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thanks for answering in such detail about the tarot card meanings! its so much more complex (&expensive, the pricing of some card decks are ridiculous) than you originally think. do you tend to use the same card deck throughout and have you ever tried any divination tools for yes or no questions?
Some decks are very expensive, but I always think about it like this: Someone had to design and draw all of those cards. I would pay the same or a similar amount for a similarly detailed piece of art for my wall, so why not for a deck of beautiful art? (I once printed a little version of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck to travel with since I couldn't afford a deck and forgot my own at home! It worked well enough at the time and only cost me the ink and paper. (: )
As for your questions, I tend to use the Alleyman's Tarot for most of my divinations these days, especially ones done for others. I just like it and vibe with the style. It suits the way I read. (Yes, technically it's an oracle deck and not a tarot deck because it doesn't follow the strict outline of a tarot deck. Technicalities.) I've got a handful of other tarot decks that I'll use if the situation calls for it. In live sessions, for example, I lay out all of my decks and let the querent choose which one I draw from. I also have an oracle deck that I made myself (which is still partly in progress, though I have been using it) that's specifically for advice and guidance from spirits. It doesn't answer any question other than "What do I need to know?"
And yes, I've done yes/no divination! Most often, I'll flip coins or roll a die for evens or odds -- though that's because I always have a coin, and I almost always have dice nearby. I also have a pendulum that I use sometimes, most typically for simple spirit communication (or finding lost items).
I don't explicitly offer yes/no divination, even with those methods, though. The last thing I want is for someone to take my yes or no too seriously and make a bad decision. I only do those kinds of readings for people I know or for myself.
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Okayyyyyyyy now the informational version of the doll post is up, I get be all silly casual editorial over here :3c I was gonna do it as a reblog but honestly the doll post is already so stupidly long, I'm just gonna do it separately and I'll link it in the replies on the main post, but this post is Not gonna make sense unless you read that first lol
a) I dont think the bodies coming from two different lines is super obvious, but once you know it, things click. Bow's arms are weirdly narrow for his size compared to the girls’ proportions, for instance, and though he is the tallest in the show, he's especially tall in this line. You can even see it down to their underwear. Often dolls have a few molded lines on their body to represent underwear and give the illusion of "decency" when undressed. The girls have a single thin waistband line, She-ra has none (she needed not to if her Battle of Bright Moon doll was going to work), and Bow has a much thicker waistband with further details like seams and a fly (for some reason, but Bow now wears tighty whities I guess).
b) I know the bodies “came of DC Super Hero Girls” but I really wish I had more details than just that quick comment. That makes it seem like Adora, Glimmer, and Catra all came from the same line. I know Adora and Shadow Weaver are using the same body, and I’m pretty sure Catra is too because I found photos of Adora undressed on ebay and she had a weird circle outline on her back like there was an optional hole that was filled in, but like, why did that line even have a model with a tail hole? We know Glimmer is a “curvier sculpt,” so did that line already have some body diversity or did she come from another unnamed line? I don’t know, and I don’t have the dolls to compare. I'm just assuming it's a different body type from the same line since that’s all that was said (listen, I need to be told things very directly and clearly or I feel like I might be getting them wrong. Remember when I didn’t think I was autistic? Wild).
c) She-ra's accessories (well, her gauntlets and boots) are a little big for her and there's gaping. You can see it a bit even in the promotional pictures and it’s not surprising given the budget on these dolls. It probably gets worse with heat, though, so shipping might exacerbate the issue. Maybe the best time to move these dolls is winter LOL
d) She-ra's peplums are attached to her clothes and not her plastic emblem, which I think you can guess, but putting it out there in case. It's still confusing to me why her peplums are sparkly (and transparent for the core design). It's the one big "miss" in the designs from the show (well, Catra's outfit is also weirdly mesh up top and the color is off).
dd) Honestly all of She-ra's skirts are fucked, but everything about her Battle Armor doll is weird. I did a whole other post about how weirdly budget Battle Armor She-ra was compared to the other dolls despite being twice the cost. I mean I know Swift Wind is in that set so two models raises the price, but he seems pretty budget too, so like… what the hell Mattel.
ddd) Oh yeah, the tulle of the regular skirt is actually shockingly high quality. Like tulle is a Bad Texture for me (go back to the autism bulletpoint) and I don’t mind this. I mean I’m not gonna seek it out, but it doesn’t make me recoil and it’s soft enough to not cause me issues. I can say that about very few tulles.
e) I don’t know if this is a difference between digital model and final production or if SDCC She-ra got a slightly different accessory cast then the regular one, but if you look at the 3D model for She-ra’s chest emblem, it shows one thick bracing bar up her spine. In the final doll, it’s two bars, thinner and a bit further apart, that basically frame her spine, with one bar attached to each half of the emblem. And of course, it hooks together with pegs. Those aren’t shown on the model either and that's why I’m inclined to say that is just an earlier model of it. No stock photos of SDCC She-ra show her back under the cape, though, and checking it would necessitate removing her from the packaging, which I’ve never seen anyone do.
ee) Also, I didn’t know how to describe it well so I just didn’t put it in the post, but her regular cape isn’t straight across in the back. Rather, it has a v cut and “straps” that are sewn to each shoulder, so the top set of pegs and the crossbar for the emblem actually show through, but her hair covers it anyway. Once again, IDK about the SDCC one because I've never seen the back of her.
f) Shadow Weaver’s stand is hot garbage. It’s just a stick between her legs with tiny curves to (supposedly) cup each leg that she’s supposed to essentially balance on. Traaaaaaash. They're assuming no one will take her out of the packaging, ig.
ff) Okay also, Shadow Weaver's top isn't exactly a monastic scapular, but idk how else to describe it. Usually those drape over the shoulders and then are tied around the waist, while hers actually has a sleeve and is sewed together on one side, but then it has the long extension from a scapular, so I'm just going to use that to describe it since it's a fantasy bullshit amalgamation.
g) I know it seems like I have a Monster High bias (and I do) because I mention it multiple times, but since the guys leading the SDCC exclusives were two big minds behind it, it seemed like a valid comparison to draw. I researched what else the other team members did, but when I only turned up 3 out 4 of the modelers (Arpine, Kittaya, & Sean) working on Barbie and I couldn't say "all of them" anymore, I stopped looking since it really wasn't relevant. Monster High ended up being a good touchpoint due to being made by the same team/company, one of the dolls having its body come from that line, and it being the only other doll line I know literally anything about. Since Monster High (G3, anyway) costs nearly twice as much as these dolls (15$ vs 25$), they also felt relevant when it came to things like painted hair. Annalise specifically hyped up the dolls all having real hair? So I'm just kind of guessing that's something that isn't a given on dolls at this budget (and probably, unfortunately, especially so for textured hair). Again, pretty much everything I've learned about dolls has specifically been because of this line lol. I like looking at the new Monster Highs but I really don't know shit.
h) Also, I don't know how doll hair length is measured so I just went with 6 inches in the post, but regular She-ra has 5-7 inches of hair, depending on if you're supposed start at the base of the head or top of the head. Also I was using a ruler so. Not the most accurate.
i) I got kind of ambiguous answers on what counts as an articulation point, but at the end of the day the She-ra dolls have less than Monster High (I can say this definitively) and Monster High is listed as 12 on Dollect while She-ra in incorrectly listed as 13. There are 11 separate joints, with some also including a hinge so you can properly pose them, but I can't give you a list of what joints bend multiple ways or if any are ball joints (IDK how to identify one, I think I’ve made it obvious I'm out of my depth here). The joints are really stiff in my experience but they would probably loosen up if you worked them more, I’m just not going to take that risk.
j) Actually this should be up with the She-ra info so it's out of order but I'm not positive Battle Armor She-ra has the same hair as regular? In listings it looks shorter but it's hard to tell because it could just look different from being played with and when she's in box you can't tell since it's behind her. It seems really weird to me that every She-ra is so similar and so different at the same time so I really don't know. They might even be made out of different kinds of fibers. Like for the SDCC exclusive I'm pretty sure they prioritized looks so the hair might be made out of "worse" material as a result if it displays well (I mean, I know there's reflective strands in it, and those usually feel Bad). There's a lot of upgrades and really cool packaging for only an added 5$ for each doll so cutting some corners on those might make sense. These dolls are made on a relatively tight budget at the end of the day.
I wish I could get hands on with all these dolls because I think I could make the post way better then, and if I ever do manage to learn new info I’ll update the post, but I've done my best lol. Hopefully this post answers any questions people might or might not have about the dolls since they're kind of Difficult to actually get and check out yourself
#listen i'm not paying three figures for these dolls. or even three times retail price (which is still half of what most listings charge)#shoutout to the damaged out of box catra going for over 100 fucking dollars#i've got what i could beneath that barrier and i'll wait out the others lmao#though i don’t know that there’s any waiting out catra 😑#mylife#this addition wasn't meant for reblogging anyway so doing it separately works out#i Do have another addition to that post coming up that im. trying to figure out what im gonna do about#because i want to add photos of the packaging details that stock photos dont show but i dont like to take my own photos lmao#and i cant rn anyway so i'll wait until i can and figure it out then ig#merch#spop dolls
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6 and 18 for the writers questions ask!
Thank you, sandalaris! 🥰
6. Do you have any kind of consistent writing schedule or just hoping for the best?
Right now, hope for the best. 😅
Used to be very consistent ... then my colon exploded and almost killed me. 🙈🙊 Health and physical/mental healing takes precedence. Before last year, creating largely did. (How else could I churn out 200 @those70scomics then write/revise a fanfic and get them all out in a relatively short amount of time? Now, I'm happy to get one or two days a week to write for a few hours. A temporary situation but my current one.)
18. What is your most and least favorite part of writing?
Favorite, a tie. First, I love the initial creation I do in my mind. I essentially write the outline / first draft mentality. Second, the first revision. Once I have my first draft on the page, I enjoy greatly reading it and being in editor-mode to make it better.
Least favorite, also a tie (ish). The final revision: the words-used-too-many-times per chapter check and the resulting changing of sentences. I did this for One Difference: Jackie and Hyde Don't Kiss (Over the Summer) meticulously. I stayed up until three a.m. too many nights. It was tedious, and I hated every second of it. (That's the only fic where I had to switch to a chapter posted every-other-week schedule relatively consistently.)
I don't do this (much) with fanfic anymore. I'm likely the only person who notices. Regardless, the cost-benefit ratio isn't worth it.
My other least favorite part of writing is getting the first draft out of my head and onto the page. Much of it is fun to do, but I also feel different kinds of pressure at the same time. I don't edit or revise (mostly) during a first draft, but I've got a ton of writing technique I incorporate into that first draft (too much to list). That's why my first draft on the page resembles more of a second draft (unless I start with my outline/first draft hybrid style).
I write myself revision notes, which helps with the pressure. Anything from a character name change to remember to describe the weather in this scene consistently (and his the characters experiencing it) to change X plot point to Y plot point (with detailed instructions).
Fanfic Ask Game
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hey there pal, hows the weather-
i’ll cut to the chase: how do you get writing done, and how do you stay focused on your writing and not get so distracted?
Weather's pretty decent right now! Sunny and hot, which is why I don't plan on going outside for several hours, but I'll take that over thunderstorms that knock out my power for a few seconds and my wifi for longer. My dad calls it "florida flash and flicker" which is as amusing a name as it is way too accurate.
Anyway, uh. Well, I do get pretty distracted, I won't lie. I'm on here right now instead of writing. But there's a particular site I use called 4thewords that, for lack of a better description, it translates writing words into fighting monsters. With time limits. And while it really isn't a big deal if I "lose" the battle by running out of time, it's a big deal to me and it helps me stay on task.
It's a bit of a tradeoff; I've noticed that while I write significantly more on 4tw I also generally have to edit more after the fact too. But you can't edit what's not there at all.
It's also absolutely not the sort of thing that would work for everyone, but it works really well for me. I started using 4tw after I got a free extra month's subscription (it does cost money, but it's not very much, and if it's not feasible in your budget there is a community pool that you can put yourself into for other users to donate subscriptions to) thanks to beating Camp Nanowrimo in... July of 2021? I have written so much more since I got it and I genuinely cannot recommend it more.
More generally, though: it helps to set deadlines for myself, artificial or otherwise. I'm one of those people who will put off important school assignments until the last minute and then dash out a 10-20 page essay the day before it's due and somehow do okay on it, because adrenaline kicked in.
It also helps that I'm generally very passionate about the things I'm writing? Most of the people I know irl have heard about whatever gay fanfic I'm actively working on the most. I'm meeting up with my nana for lunch tomorrow and she is going to hear about the gay people whether she likes it or not. (She is also going to get this story read out loud to her dramatically because she called me when I was reading it out loud to my dad dramatically and was vaguely curious, and I like reading funny things out loud to people I like dramatically.)
...I think it also helps to focus on One Thing at a time. Which, you have presumably seen my AO3, I'm not good at doing that. But it's much easier to keep your thoughts in order if you mainly work on one longer fic at a time.
It's also much easier to keep your thoughts in order if you write things down. I didn't use to outline my writing, I started cowriting a funky crossover between Warframe and RWBY with a friend who was far more of a planner and who did drag me somewhat kicking and screaming into doing that. Taking notes is important, otherwise you run the risk of forgetting important details like which trainer has which Pokémon or if the gay dumbass you're currently writing has had any sort of revelations about that fact lately. They don't have to be organized (though it helps if they are) and they don't have to make sense to anyone but you, but if you write things down you're much less likely to forget important/cool things you came up with like two separate projects ago.
I hope this makes some sense, anon! If you'd like clarification on anything by all means send another ask, I'll do my best to explain in more depth. Thanks for the ask!
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If u don't mind me asking how have u been finding bg3. I wanna get it for myself, so I would love to know how u r finding it so far. ❤️
Overall, I enjoy it. I think the art is beautiful and the characters are all interesting [even the ones I dislike or am eh about]. I find the villains - thus far - compelling. It is VERY easy to get lost in. And I love, love, LOVE the character creator. I can waste so much time on it [and whew discovering dyes and getting into part three and buying outfits??]
Mods make it more enjoyable, imo. Though I am wary about adding more [I don't know if I am just downloading too many - I only have three! - or if I made a booboo in downloading but it acts up my PTs at times. But not too frequently]. It does also take a lot of energy. I believe the new laptop I got meets most, if not all, of the best qualifications and my laptop still sounds like it is dying whenever I play it. My mom thought I had bought a fucked up laptop the first time she heard the fan running.
I do have my issues with it - mostly representation-wise. But also storytelling-wise ... and sort of coding-wise? But I feel weird saying the last one because the game already has so much going on ... and I'm not a coder, I feel it is easy to complain on the last part. I WILL SAY the things they consider never fails to blow my mind. I remember one time I had Kendis stack up some material to block out [redacted] and even when the camera zoomed out of it and focused on their face, you could see in the bg that the outline of their 'tower' was still the same.
I also love the various dialogues they have. I found out from youtube that someone made Shadowheart a bard -- and they have lines for her with vicious mockery [which I believe is something clerics don't usually have] and it is wild the thought and detail!
I feel over all it is very good, not perfect but dang good, for replayability -- hence why I have so many MCs. There are certain things that sorta happen the same - though that may be a limit of my imagination - but there are plenty of little [and big] details that crop up d/t decisions I've made as I RP my character, their class, their powers in some playthroughs that weren't in others. So you get surprised, you get variation. I think it is enjoyable. I don't know if it is worth the cost because 1. I don't know your status and 2. again i DO have some issues. But my only regret in buying it is how I've let it consume my time .... not that I was doing much before that lmao.
#anon#grapecase answers#grapecse plays bg3#i hope this answers your question!#i tried to keep it spoiler free - and keep from bitching about my issues/problems - but i hope this isnt too vague#because i worry that it is#bg3
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This is the same as the previous post. I locked it down to prevent incorrect information about the circumstances of Damar Hamlin''s injury from spreading. Please keep reblogging.
(content notes: traumatic injury, head injury, gross negligence by a powerful organization)
Hey everybody,
I wanna talk about something really important. You might not follow sports or American football so it might not come up in your social feeds.
There was a game tonight between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. was hit extremely badly, enough that They did CPR on him for nine minutes. As of writing this (1/2/23 at 20:05 Pacific) he is at the hospital and not breathing on his own.
[edit 1/3/22] The Bills issued a statement saying Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after I wrote this post. The rest still stands.
Even before Hamlin had made it to the hospital(!!!) the NFL called for the players to warm up in five minutes. The coaches said "ABSOLUTELY NOT" and refused.
It took the NFL an hour to officially cancel the game. Equipment operators were packing up before it was officially called.
So you may have heard about former NFL players with "chronic traumatic encephalopathy", or CTE. That's a medical way of saying "you got bashed in the head a lot and it fucked up your brain". 99% of former NFL players who donated their brains for research had it.
Here are some of the symptoms of CTE:
The team found that—whether the men’s brain changes were mild or severe—all experienced mood, behavioral, or cognitive symptoms associated with CTE. These included impulsivity, depression, apathy, anxiety, explosive rages, episodic memory loss, and problems with attention and higher order thinking. Nearly all donors whose brains were diagnosed with CTE (96%) experienced progression of their symptoms during life. Men found to have milder brain pathology died younger, at a median age of 44, and suicide was their leading cause of death. The men with more severe pathology died at a median age of 71. Their leading cause of death was dementia or trouble with movements like swallowing.
I'm telling you all this because some of you might think professional sports is a niche subject that doesn't affect your life. Or you think that athletes, like actors or other people who make much more money than you, are protected from exploitation by the amount of their income.
The average career of an NFL player is 3.3 years. Average salary is $2.7 mm. You don't need to do the math to see that's not exactly big bucks. Until I read that last article I did not know that the NFL has a pension plan. Also it's really not great. Additional detail?
The new CBA also outlined… a plan to establish a program that guarantees former players without insurance receive mental health services, orthopedic care, preventative care and other health interventions at no cost to the player.
For emphasis, because this is really important: THE NFL DID NOT HAVE A PLAN TO PROVIDE CARE FOR UNINSURED PLAYERS UNTIL 20-GODDAMN-22. A plan!! It hasn't even been established!!
No amount of money will make up for fucking up your physical and mental health. It especially will not if you don't have a healthy way to deal with those fuck-ups.
It is now nauseatingly crystal clear the NFL is another facet of the system that allows police to kill (Black men) with impunity. You do not treat people you think of as human this way. And because all this stuff is connected, we have to be aware of the ways people try to get us not to care.
I regret that it took Hamlin's terrible injury for me to understand this. The NFL's response is the reason I absolutely must remember it.
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Absolutely no one asked for this but it has been bugging me ever since I got this book, so...
The Druid's Call hardcover ""review""
I'm talking how the hardcover is made, not about the artwork or story inside. Those are both top tier to me.
Ignore my nails and the bad pics. I've been sick for 5 days straight, cut me some slack. 🔨🔨🔨
Now, this looks lovely in pics. BUT! Lookie here:
I dunno if it comes off clearly in the pics, but the quality of the paper in the cover sucks.
It's barely a bit higher quality that everyday printing paper and it has already began wrapping from a slight wave of moisture we had in the area (every other book I have is doing just fine, and has been doing fine for years. This is a paper issue, not a Mara doesn't take care of her books issue).
This might be the new norm for hardcover books, I dunno, this is the first hardcover I got in over a decade. But comparing it to another of the same thickness that I have...
LOOK HOW STURDY AND WELL MADE THIS ONE IS! I've had this book for over 15 years and it looks new, despite me constantly reading and re-reading it as a child and teen.
Same price tag btw. Granted, the well made one would probably cost like 25€ now, but still. Finally found it online. It's only 7$ more than Doric's book. That's too big of a difference.
Naked, the hardcover for The Druid's Call looks like this:
It came with that hit on the bottom and the stain at the middle right of the first pic. Still ignore my nails pls and ty.
Which... Like, okay. Creamy white with dark green is not a combo I enjoy, but sure. The title is nicely made though.
And to its credit, the pages are actually lovely and I feel like most of the care has gone to them:
The ones with the leafy outline are flashbacks, which in a book that riddled with them, feel nice to have that border to signify the change in experience.
It's also kinda neat to see them when the book is closed:
So anyway.
Half love, half hate the quality. It is my fav book, so I guess that's why I went and wrote all this.
I don't think I would care this much if it was a random book I picked up from the shelf. And I would had gladly payed plus 10€ or more if it meant that its quality was in every detail, not just the pages.
#the druid's call#the reason why it's my fav book is pretty personal and shaped from my life experiences so i dunno if i would rec it to everyone#but i think even if i didn't relate to doric as much as i do#this book would be a nice fantasy pick#though you'd have to watch the movie after if you want closure about the land she lives in (which is a good thing cause the movie slaps)#so i guess i do rec it#hmm hmm#also if you're a fan of the movie you kinda almost have to read this cause it actually gives doric a proper character
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Waiting at the airport desperate to get home. This trip is the clusterfuck that just keeps unfolding.
I snuck out to an early quick coffee and toast to try and avoid an ear bashing from the Account Director who was messaging me a blow by blow detail of the group yoga going on, how she was making eye contact with the founder of our customer company, he winked and clearly that means they’re best mates, bla bla bla.
Unfortunately I ran into her scurrying back to my room! She proceeded to regale me stories of last night after I bailed. Why is that apparently so many great connections were made, clients tried to crack on to her, such a great night, she was hanging out and getting selfies with all the bigwigs…..she has this manner of literally just spewing story after story after story at you. It’s at the point now where I actually zone out and just nod while planning my teams priorities in my head and what food shopping I’ll need to do on the way home from the airport!
Anyway, she started outlining my day for me which I cut her short to inform her I was bailing the second my speaking spot was finished. And then the jokey passive aggressive, reminding me it’s the cost the company money, she won’t be telling the CEO that I shirked my duties and bailed early. I informed her that I would be giving very frank feedabck on the entire clusterfuck when I’m back from bushwalking and taking it up directly with the CEO and CTO.
I really found her so infuriating. I detest being treated like a child and micromanaged. And her neediness was next level. Her desire to be “one of the crew” was actually embarrassing, I was fascinated and repulse and mesmerised in equal measure!!
….she actually got a tattoo of the Anytime Fitness logo on her wrist today. WTAF???? And of course we all had st stand there for an hour to witness and video and photograph the event so it could prove just how dedicated she was. And it would be this tatto that smooth out the shitshow all the customers are pissed about.
She loves being the centre of attention, she barely introduced me to anyone. When I was bailed up on the way back from breakfast, the co-founder walked past and she started yapping to him, so I just reached across and said, “We haven’t been introduced yet, I’m Libby the Head of Product”. She simpered and banned some fucking bullshit.
She has always been super cagey about letting me near customers and in real life it was even worse. Everything was a sign that she was on the inner, “so-and-so smiled at me”, she was constantly saying “did you see that?”, of which my answer was “what?”….”oh so and so just looked my way and made a face”….I am out of all patience !!!
Anyway, nerves kicked in and she kept looking at me going “you alright?”…”you alright”…..to which I extended immense willpower to stop myself slapping her senseless to shut her the fuck up.
The actual presentation was fine, yes I was nervous. I buggered up the first slide but once I got cracking I settled and it seemed to go ok. The Senior Support Manager (the fellow introvert who also got volunteered for this clusterfuck !) was also very good. We disgraced neither the company or ourselves.
I then had to wait around during the conference lunch break to witness said tattooing while she simpered and carried on.
Then it was off to the airport, post fucking haste.
Rookie error number one: I underestimated cash and card usage. I work for a payments company, you’d think I’d know better! I don’t carry cash OR cards anymore and got caught many times. When I got out of the airport and handed old mate (so brown and shrivelled and toothlessly smiling, such a joy!) he shook his head and said, cash. I must have looked completely blank!! He pointed to the terminal and said, ATM, I wait here. And of course that sparked a sweaty trek all over the fucking airport to find the atm. Finally found it and got requisite cash. Trudged back to old mate, with an additional IDR100 for being such a stupid Australia tourist!! The smile that split his walnut-like face was lovely!
Rookie error number two: assuming the wifi in the airport would be first world enough to allow me to checkin online for my QF flight. Wrong.
Rookie error number three: assuming I could activate global roaming with my useless mobile provider.
Rookie error number four: stupidly thinking that if I get into the checkin hall, they’ll be better wifi!! So there I was stuck in limbo, in the checkin hall, can’t go forward to access food and gates, can’t go back to get a SIM card to get wifi, and checkin doesn’t open until 3 hours prior to flight which means I had 6 ducking hours on a hard seat with no facilities, no wifi.
And so I cried. I do get it was nerves, stress, frustration and a good measure of rage at my own stupidity. So I found a corner and sobbed for a few minutes. It’s been many, many years since I cried in an airport. It also took some next level willpower not to resign on the spot.
So, cry over, sucked it the fuck up, calmed down and resigned myself to a very long wait. Pulled my book out and started reading.
For some reason I just thought I’d try and get global roaming one more time. Hey presto, it worked!! It was third world slow but enough to checkin online, get a boarding pass and get through the blessed doors into the heaven that was the departure gate area.
So I’ve purchased salt and vinegar chips and resigned to reading fro the next few hours. And of course there’s no lounge here, so am out with the sweaty, white Australians! And no business class this time either!!
So I’ve decided I don’t like Bali. The people are ridiculously lovely, but I can’t do the egregious privilege on display from privileged white folks being waited on hand and foot by the brown folk. I was acutely uncomfortable the entire time. I get that tourism is good for their economy but what about their dignity.
Anyway, I have five and half hours to wait until I hie myself southward. A decent coffee in Melbourne airport before the short jump home…..and then bushwalking for six whole mother fucking days.
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Primavera - Quiet Spring: Chapter 4
Location: Seisou Hall (Eichi, Rei & Aira’s Room)
Characters: Eichi & Aira
Aira: Thank you for the food! The chocolate was delicious!
The sweet chocolate and the bitterness of the Darjeeling tea balance each other out and a lovely melody from the pairing is created… It truly feels like something created at the hands of a heavenly conductor!
It was a hospitality that could’ve only come from you, Tenshouin-senpai ♪
Just kidding~ Maybe it’s because I’m an idol otaku so I tend to overexaggerate the good things. Sorry for pretending like I’m a know-it-all!
Eichi: Hehe. With an abundant fountain of vocabulary, you can express your feelings in a detailed manner. I think it’s a good thing.
I know a lot of people who are stubborn and aren’t very honest with themselves, despite being quite clever, so I strongly feel that it’s a good trait to have.
Especially at times like this, it might be better if I also denied that.
I pretend to be the perfect individual who is capable of anything, but to be honest… behind the scenes, I’m actually quite reckless.
The reason why I was lying down on the bed earlier was most likely because I was tired.
Aira: Really?
Eichi: I was putting on a strong front as best as I could. Before I entered the room, I could barely manage to stand with just my spine alone. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, though.
There aren’t that many people who would accept it when I whine.
I may be blessed to be raised in a good environment and to also be more resourceful than most… but I’ve now landed myself a punishment that I should be thankful for.
Aira: I see… So you do have things you worry and think about, Tenshouin-senpai.
I feel a bit sorry for always being on the receiving end.
You gave me sweets and tea and they say you feel better when you donate your money. I would be happy if you can let me repay your kindness.
Eichi: The sentiment is more than enough. I served you the sweets and tea because there was someone I wanted to serve them to.
Besides, I’m sure you’ll be scared stiff if you found out how much they cost.
Aira: Hmm. I can’t say anything back when you put it that way… I’d end up in debt, huh.
Eichi: Yeah. So just let your upperclassman show you his cool side.
If you really want to repay me, I’d appreciate it if you could wash the tea set and put it away.
Aira: ………! Please let me do that!
Eichi: Thank you, Shiratori-kun. You’re quite conscientious.
Aira: No, no. Anyone would do so! I’ll be using the sink for a bit ♪
Eichi: Hehe. I can’t thank you enough. I’ll be more than happy to just be on the giving side but no – I’d still like to do so even if I had to pay them.
Especially to such adorable underclassmen.
…Alright. We’ve had our break so I’ve got to come up with something for my underclassman’s issue.
(The confectionery company that has helped out with “Chocolat Fest” is waiting for the situation to go back to normal too.)
(It’s not that different from us who are hoping for them to start supplying us with sweets again.)
(Which means it may be a good idea to talk to the international trade companies. I’ll be able to gain information, find out what the situation is like and maybe even get wind of when the conflict settles down.)
(As for the main outline for “Chocolat Fest”, it’s not time for me to act just yet.)
(Surely, if I were to suggest a specific alternative at this point in time, the people around me would start moving to make that a reality.)
(But I can’t have that. Even if someone like me with power and money becomes happy, there’ll be organisations and people who will suffer the consequences.)
(During “Tempest Fest”, a florist acquainted with Yuzuru faced the impact of the ES’ establishment and fell apart…)
(This time, I need to pay close attention like before.)
(For example, the new units haven’t experienced “Chocolat Fest” before.)
(It would be nothing short of cruel to push the sweets issue onto them.)
(Shiratori-kun and his unit aren’t an exception, either.)
Aira: I’m all finished. Tenshouin-senpai?
Ah, you’ve got another strange look on your face. Are you thinking about something again?
Eichi: Hehe. Just a continuation of before. I was thinking about this and that regarding next year’s “Chocolat Fest”.
What can I do to convey those feelings of love? It tires my head to think about next year’s affairs at this moment in time.
Shiratori-kun, do you plan on taking part in it next year as “ALKALOID”?
Aira: Yes! Of course, I do! “Chocolat Fest” is a must when it comes to idol events ♪
I don’t know if I can do a good job like the upperclassmen, but I’d like to give love in my own way ♪
Eichi: How enthusiastic of you. You’re more than welcome to take part.
I’d like Valentine’s Day to be an event open to everyone. Limiting how much love one can give and receive… I hope something like that can only be left to the aristocracy.
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12, 13, 24, 25, 26, 29, 43, 74
For fanfic ask game because brain still go brrr about your work a lot :D
JORDANNNNNN SHAKING YOU GRABBING YOU SHAKING YOU
this ones gonna be LONG lol GONNA PUT THIS UNDER READ MORE :]
12. do you outline your fics? if yes, how detailed are your outlines? how far do you stray from them?
i try to lmfaoooo!!!! for opddmh for example, ive got the basic outline of how i want everybodys arcs to end, the climax of the story, and a vague idea of a few of the plot beats all written out in an empty discord server i use to keep track of things!! i also put in loose scraps of dialogues i daydream up even if im not quite sure where theyll fit in yet, just so if im really stuck i can scroll through and see if anything rings a bell!! there are QUITE a few emotional scenes already written out and ready to go
nothing is super detailed tho!! quite a bit of it is still on a chapter to chapter basis. while i have an outline its not always set in stone, for example there were a LOT of scenes i had scribbled down for odietlg and lgowab that didnt make the final cut!! i dont have the notes for odietlg but i do have them for lgowab bc theyre archived in that empty discord server i mentioned earlier lol. one idea from that story that got scrapped were all of the different endings coming from different peoples point of views (for example korekiyos pov, tenkos pov, kaedes pov) but that got scrapped bc i thought itd lessen the impact a bit. ALSO in one of the earlier drafts of lgowab a LOT more v3 kids were gonna be ahl members including tenko, but i thought it was more important to keep their numbers down to really emphasise how much danganronpa is dramatising their threat level lol! off the top of my head there were bits and pieces i scrapped from odietlg too but i wont go on and on about that LOLOL
oh and also there is an entire channel dedicated to miu that i still go back to sometimes LMFAOO
13. do you listen to music while you write? if yes, what have you been listening to recently?
oh my god i cant listen to music while i write LMFAOO or at least not music with lyrics. if i really really need to write i will pull myself up by my pants sit down at my desk and stare at my screen in total silence until eventually my adhd meds wear off and i go to sleep
im mostly kidding LMFAO if i really need something in the background ill put on this playlist! if i need inspo sometimes i go to the fic playlists ive got on spotify :]
24. how do you choose whose POV to write in?
i choose based on who i think will tell an interesting story! going to be flat out honest with you, sometimes the povs i write from arent my favorite characters, but i think that their personal story would be a really good fit in what im trying to convey! tenko is probably one of the only exceptions considering the entire story is based around her surviving LMFAO even then that was mostly because i wanted to dissect her under a microscope for 42 chapters. emma and maki are like this too considering mask of my own face/run from your demons are oneshots :]
himiko and miu got chosen for lgowab mostly based on the fact that they had completely different stories to tell and i didnt want to choose two protags who were going through the same thing!! himiko strived for selflessness while miu struggled with morality and paranoia and i thought they would contrast well :] and oh my god let me tell you i did not expect to bring miu back for a whole other fic but i got ATTACHED shes such a mess.
everybody in opddmh were selected because they brought a range of different lifestyles/coping mechanisms to a post-game universe and they all have stories i wanted to explore!! makoto and being the poster child for hope and struggling with how others perceive him, mikans debate with her own morality and growing bitterness towards the company, and then of course akanes total refusal to be worried at all costs. byakuyas brief povs are to supply a more pessimistic view of their situation that parallels miu, which is why theyre always together during it. ive mentioned this in another ask from kozuelovemail but the v3 kids that stay alongside each pov were selected because they parallel the older participants in some way!!
and then of course. probably goes without saying but i do tend to choose female povs lmfaooo not only because I Am One but also because theyre just soooo criminally unexplored
25. what’s your favorite part of the writing process (worldbuilding, brainstorming/outlining, writing, editing, etc)?
well i can say its NOT editing LMFAOOOO this bitch does not edit!!!!!!!!!!!!! which you can probably tell!!!! i mean i give it a good glance and then send it off usually a lot of the edits are made when i wake up in the morning read over the chapter again and go "what the hell was i trying to say here"
brainstorming maybe???? i love Thinking. a lot of the times stories come to me in various scenes rather than one linear storyline and ive gotta grab them all from inside my head and mash them together. i also love brainstorming characters arcs and what their Deal is gonna be throughout it
and then writing of course. love writing. ive had to teach myself to kinda just type out a draft at first and to stop going back to edit, and then once i finish i go back and add extra or remove anything that sounds silly. writing on a good day is lots of fun!!!! ESPECIALLY when its scenes that im excited for/are high drama. like. those high drama scenes that ive been waiting to get down onto google docs dot com...... hell yea
26. what’s your least favorite part of the writing process?
PFFT WHOOPS already answered probably editing! its difficult for me to sit there and read over everything meticulously cuz my brain just does not want to thoroughly go through something especially if ive just completed it. which. most of the time as soon as i complete it and have gone back to add in extra/remove the silly bits i consider it done and i send it through LMFAO. thats on me for updating weekly tho!!! there are gonna be mistakes!!!!!!!!!! and yknow what ive learned to live with that this is a fanfiction i write for fun and i do this cuz i love writing :]
29. what’s something about your writing that you’re proud of?
hgfdjkgshdk i always feel so bad like. praising my writing yknow? theres always going to be parts of it id change or want to go back on but if i had to choose something id probably say the characterisation? i try to put in a lot of effort in making these people feel more human and not as "larger than life" as they usually are, and i want every pov i write from to have flaws and things theyre good at and little quirks that make each of them stand out from each other. when i write characters i try to keep in mind the little things about them, like himiko twitching her nose or mikan having acne shes self conscious about, miu twirling her hair or makoto using novelty mugs instead of the more aesthetically pleasing ones. just tiny things that round them out as people :]
43. is there a trope or idea that you’d really like to write but haven’t yet?
ouhghggh..... not sure! im so so focused on opddmh rn if i think about anything else ill totally spiral away from it (im already doing that with the rp im in LMFAOOOO erin on the brain). there are a few things im excited to write for but thatd be spoiling >:)
73. do you have a fic you wish got a bit more love?
not really!!!! i know its such a corny fucking answer but genuinely people have been so so lovely on all of my fics. like some of the kindest people. and also people who have stuck around for a very long time!! theres one commenter mythgirl02 who has literally given me a comment on every single chapter on every single fic ive published mythgirl if youre out there..... i love you. and even if they dont comment on every chapter ive gotten commenters who have actually brought me tears YOU FUCKING INCLUDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and also lily if shes reading this their comments are always so so sweet
i write bc ive got stories i wanna get out of my brain and share!!!!!!! its fantastic that people click on them to read along!!!!! i really try not to worry too much about kudos or reads or anything like that, but the support has been very very lovely and its led me to some awesome communities :]]
JORDAN I FUCKING LOVE YOU FOR THIS <333 THANK YOU SM AND SORRY ITS SO LONG I LIKE TALKING
fanfiction ask game!
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For the Weird Questions for Writers, 22 & 25, please! And, if you'd like to share: 18 for Jughead's pink bathroom and the fortune of his chickens (from The Chickens Come Home To Roost)!
Hi @raymondebidochonlifechoices! I've combined yours with one I got from @middleagedresidentofriverdale, since you both asked one of the same questions.
18. Choose a passage from your writing. Tell me about the backstory of this moment. How you came up with it, how it changed from start to end. Spicy addition: Questioner provides the passage. For that story, I knew I needed to get Jughead out of Archie’s garage. So, I created a situation where he came into some money. And, Riverdale real estate prices have got to be rock bottom, it was more than enough to buy a stately house on Elm Street. I thought it’d be funny if Jughead went for a place that had curb appeal, but also an interior that revealed the previous owners’ surprisingly eccentric tastes. I actually modeled the pink “princess” master bath after my own to some degree. I remember thinking: what tweaks might make this room really silly, yet too nice to compel Jughead to remodel it? I ended up making everything pink. To replace the pink fixtures with equivalent non-pink ones would end up costing more than Jughead paid for the house itself. Plus, the space makes Juniper really happy.
As far as the chickens go, Daisy, Stacy, and Janice are alive and well! I imagine Jughead and the twins have since added a few to their flock, especially since the chickens led the twins and their friends to restart Riverdale's chapter of the 5G (Guts, Gumption, Guile, Greatness, and Glory) youth organization’s Poultry Division. In fact, the twins and company enlisted Jughead as their advisor, which I’m certain has led to many wacky adventures.
22. How organized are you with your writing? Describe to me your organization method, if it exists. What tools do you use? Notebooks? Binders? Apps? The Cloud? I’d say I'm somewhat organized—in theory at least. I kept a Google doc outline for my multi-chapter and also made one for my AwUB series (once I realized it wouldn't be the one shot I’d originally anticipated). I also created a master document for the AWuB universe, where I stashed key facts, characters, events, etc., to refer to and (hopefully) ensure that I didn’t contradict myself. That was really helpful, especially once that universe started expanding rapidly.
25. What is a weird, hyper-specific detail you know about one of your characters that is completely irrelevant to the story? Dr. Curdle Jr. is obsessed with symmetry to the extent that he’s ended relationships over it. In fact, it was among one of many “irreconcilable differences” cited in his first divorce. His daughter, Cassie (an OC who’s friends with the twins) moves things around their house ever so slightly to fuck with her dad whenever she’s mad at him. It’s very effective.
27. Who is the most stressful character you’ve ever written? Why? LOL, I’m not sure that I’ve found any character I’ve written to be “stressful,” but the closest I can think of is probably Alice. She’s so high strung and mean, though I in my writing I try to soften her up and make the situations lighter/funnier.
Thank you both for the asks!
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