#it's got like 70 slides now whoops
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08.13.2018
First day of school! It sucked. My classes are ok. Got lost on the way to physics, but Mr. Mark was super nice about it. There was this new person in my art class and I complimented their blue hair. History seems promising. I'm with Piper and two other girls. College English is probably gonna suck because 1) English 2) Stress 3) no friends :( but hey what else is new. Physics seems enjoyable. I like the classroom, the sliding white boards are cool, and the girl I sit next to is very sweet :) Ate lunch at the picnic tables. Went to Advanced Chemistry with Marie. Kept calling me out for messing up, whoops. Hard time driving home. :/ CD finally worked. And the best part: called Elizabeth and A is back!! I'm so happy I get to talk to him again.
At the time I was very much STEM-oriented and hated English even though it was my easiest subject? And now I love English and have a writing minor in college so reading this is really funny.
The car I drove in high school was older than I was, and had a CD player that worked 70% of the time. I drove my sister to and from school. The parking lot for juniors was so far away from the building, we had to walk past all the sports fields and the senior parking lot.
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I made a Batfamily-centric DC timeline that covers Pre-52, New-52, and Rebirth content in one slideshow, so here it is! Feel free to use this as a resource for fanfic/fanart references, sources for comic issues, or if you just want to read me narrating the DC universe with way too many puns and memes
#soho speaks#seriously guys use this#i have nothing better to do with it#it started as a timeline for tim's life so i could remember stuff for fanfics#and it snowballed from there#it's got like 70 slides now whoops#dc comics#dc universe#batfamily#batfam#batman#batman and robin#new 52#dc rebirth#bruce wayne#dick grayson#nightwing#barbara gordon#oracle#batgirl#jason todd#red hood#tim drake#red robin#idiot duckboy#cassandra cain#black bat#stephanie brown#spoiler#duke thomas
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Okay well then!!!! I am very glad and excited to share my most recent idea I had while rereading Yeti Hunting again!! And the new Incubus one too!! They're almost exactly the same idea, just different flavors I suppose. Also Joe is trans in both the ideas but that's less to do with the ideas themself and more to do with just me projecting on him sgfjgsjfhsjdh
Okay so it's like a reverse au so Stern is some kind of cryptid, but as far as Barclay knows they're just two good human friends (but maybe they wanna be a little more than friends...). And then one day Joseph goes into heat and tells Barclay he's sick to try to keep him away, but Barclay being the sweetest man alive goes to his house with fresh soup to take care of him and Joe seems really panicked about Bar being there and tries to make him leave but he is CLEARLY unwell and Barclay is very stubborn when it comes to helping people he cares about and so he plants himself down on the couch and says he's not leaving until Joe tells him what's wrong and Stern tries to hold onto his human form but it's taking too much focus and energy and whoops Barclay finds out his friend not human and currently in distress and so horny it hurts and if he can help his friend and fuck him at the same time, well then that's just a win all around (bonus points if at the end Barclay is kinda sad because he thinks Joe just needed somone to fuck him, not nessacarry Barclay, but Joe frantically assures him that he is SUPER into him and if it were anyone else he would have kicked them the hell out and probably skipped town bc he couldn't trust anyone else with a secret like this).
Or!! (This is where the incubus part comes in) Joe is an incubus and currently hiding out in his human disguise at the Amnesty lodge and it's going fine for a while, but then he starts talking to and getting to know the really hot chef. And they slowly start growing closer and closer. And maybe in this world, the power an Incubus gets from sex depends just as much on their desires as it does the human's. And this has never been an issue for Stern before, but now he's falling for Barclay and wants him and no one else so he's getting less and less energy from his encounters and Barclay is worried about him because he doesn't seem like himself anymore. Almost as if he's... dulled? When Barclay looks at him the blue of his eyes seem muted and his general aura seems... gray. And it all comes to ahead when Joe finally stops insisting he's fine and after dinner one night he asks if he can speak to Barclay privately, and he comes clean about everything and Barclay, while a little shocked, rolls with it very well and cups Joe's face in his hands and kisses him softly and it like,,, you should have come to me sooner, I'd do anything for you,,, and yeah it's really tender,,,,
Okay that's it I'm sorry it's so long and probably incoherent. I tried to use at least little formatting to make it better but it's a tumblr mobile ask, I'm not sure even the new paragraphs will translate over. The general idea is that they're close friends and Stern is Not Human and Barclay finds out under less than ideal circumstances :3 I know these are far from original or unique but I just wanted to share my ideas with you bc you're the inspiration for a good 70% of my private writings, but if you like them enough and ever feel like doing something with them that'd be cool ;3
Here you go! I went with scenario one. Content Note: some “mating” talk and mild subdrop at the end (which is, of course, taken care of)
The two canvas bags are ready to burst. Barclay peers into them, contemplating the addition of another box of tea, in case Joseph doesn’t like the other two. Mama was cagey when he asked, he doesn’t know what’s ailing the other man, only that he’s sick.
Joseph manages Amnesty Lodge, where Barclays’ been a cook for the last six months. Barclay was initially wary of him; his cosmopolitan bearing and clean-cut appearance is so out of place in the rustic mountain town of Kepler that the logical explanation is he’s one of those city types who fell on hard times and got stuck here.
It took less than forty-eight hours for him to prove Barclay wrong. Polite and polished, efficient and stunningly good in a crisis, Joseph handles the day to day chaos of the lodge while Mama, the owner, took care of the big picture stuff. His friendly greetings and consistent compliments about Barclays cooking gradually turned to afternoons spent at a table with his work so they could talk during lulls in business.
When Joseph leaned against the counter, sleeves rolled up, laughing as he helped Barclay tidy the kitchen, the cook rushed headlong into his crush and never looked back. He regularly dreams of blue eyes and a movie-star face, finds his day doesn’t really start until Joseph pokes his head in to say good morning.
He’s been without that greeting for two days now. Joseph never misses work, and his sudden absence worried Barclay enough that he checked with Mama to be sure the manager was okay.
“Joe’s fine big fella, just under the weather is all.”
The one time Barclay got sick, Joseph brought him tea and soup himself, checked in on him every hour, and--if Barclay’s fever addled brain is to be trusted--fluffed his pillows. It’s the least Barclay can do to drop off snacks and be sure his friend is okay.
It’s a short drive to cabin Joseph calls home; he used to live at the Lodge, but as it got more crowded, he moved to his own space so those who needed a cheap, safe place to stay could have one.
His knock on the door is answered by a brisk, “Who is it?”
“Barclay. I, uh, I brought you a get-well gift.”
Joseph opens the door to the cabin and to an entire new universe of fantasies. His normally slicked-back hair falls, relaxed, across his forehead, his loosely tied blue robe shows a tantalizing V of skin, and the dreamy-sleepy expression makes his face even more kissable.
“Hi.” Joseph takes a step forward, taking the bags and bringing his face achingly close to Barclays’. Then he freezes, reversing into the house, “I, um, it was very sweet of you to bring all this. But you need to go.” He takes another step back, then doubles over with a groan.
Barclay hurries across the threshold, setting the bags on the floor and steadying him over to the couch.
“Fuck, do you need me to get you like a heat pack, or a puke bucket?”
“No, no I just need to lay down, and for you to g-” he shudders, curling in on himself and tipping sideways.
“Joseph, you’re really sick, I’m not gonna just leave you here. I mean, fuck, what if it’s your appendix or something?” He sits down next to the shaking man, rubbing his back comfortingly.
“It’s not, I promise. Oh lord” he whines, looks at Barclay with frantic eyes, “I hope you can keep a secret.”
“Of course I can. Whatever I can do to help, I want to.”
“Careful with those promises, big guy.” The nickname comes out in a growl as Joseph stands, undoing his wristwatch.
“Oh FUCK!” Barclay scrambles back, almost falling over the arm of the couch.
There’s a monster where Joseph just was. Years ago Barclay saw a Maned Wolf in a zoo, and he’d swear that’s what he’s looking at now were it not for several glaring issues. First, it’s standing comfortably on two legs. It’s paws are more like hands, able to hold the watch and adjust the collar of its shirt. And he’s never seen a wolf, maned or otherwise, with spines down its back and a whip-like tail.
The creature runs a clawed hand through the fur at the top of it’s head, the way Joseph does when he’s nervous, “So. I can’t tell you everything, at least not right now. What I can tell you is that this is the form I was born into, somewhere far away from earth.”
“Okay.” Barclays brain grinds like a broken ice machine as a familiar voice speaks to him from a fanged mouth.
“I, um, I’m what humans call a Chupacabra. To answer the usual questions: no, I’ve never been to Puerto Rico. No, I don’t eat goats. And no, I’m not going to eat you.”
“Okay.” His heart is still racing, but not from fear, which is the most confusing was this could have gone.
Pointed ears flick, worried, “Are you in shock?”
“Kinda, yeah.” He nods as Joseph sits next to him with a heavy sigh.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I took the next few days off to avoid this exact scenario. I figured I wouldn’t see you, but forgot how thoughtful and caring you are.” Claws gently stroke Barclays hair, “my wonderful Barclay.”
He’s about to bring his hand up, cup those strange fingers to his cheek and whisper “always”, when Joseph pulls away.
“I, I’m sorry. Again. I always get too handsy when I’m in heat. That’s the second worst side-effect, after the fact that being in my disguise is untenable when I’m in the thick of it. It’s like wearing a wet, wool sweater made of nausea.”
“....Hold on, you had to take time off work because you’re horny?”
“Almost. Heat doesn’t come that often for me, which means whenever it happens, it’s intense. I have a hard time eating or sleeping, I can’t focus, and I spend most of the week masturbating. Which is not as fun as it sounds; I’m not even at the height of the damn thing and last night I humped a pillow on the kitchen floor while dinner reheated.”
Barclay groans, tries to hide it when the ears swivel his way, “Uh, guess I’m glad I brought you lots of food so you remember to eat. Shoulda, uh, put some lube or something in there as well, huh?”
Joseph chuckles, “My nose tells me you put molasses cookies in there, so I’ll let it slide.”
“There anything else I can do to help?”
“Well…” he shakes his head, “never mind, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Do what?”
“My heat is more manageable when I have a partner. Fucking someone relieves things more effectively than masturbation does. But I can’t-”
“I can help with that.” The offer is out before his brain catches up with his mouth.
“Barclay, my kind have a very, um, involved mode of, um, well, I guess you foreplay. As, as much as I’d love for you to be my mate” he winces, “see, that’s what I mean. I say things like that, most of them not even possible given the fact you and I can’t reproduce.”
“Uh, does it help if I say hearing you call me that is really hot?”
Blue eyes widen, and a tail traces up Barclays leg, “Only if you mean it.”
“I do.”
A narrow, long tongue flicks into the air, “In that case, big guy, how about we have a little planning session over dinner?”
-------------------------------------------------
Barclay parks in the driveway, next to Josephs’ sedan. He heads past the house and down a short slope to a creek, the twilight sky casting the forest in eerie grey-blue. There’s a tire swing leftover from a previous resident, and he idly pushes it back and forth as he waits for the game to start.
“It’s like hide and seek” Joseph wipes his mouth, cleans cookie crumbs from the table, “We start outside, move inside, and you go as long as you can without me catching you. After all, I want a mate who can hold his own.”
He stuffs his hands in his jacket pocket to warm them. A yip bounces out from the trees behind him. When he turns, he quickly spots glinting eyes and bared fangs hidden in the undergrowth.
Sprinting towards the cabin, he realizes Joseph laid a trap for him from the start; by asking him to begin at the creek, he’s forcing him to run uphill to safety, slowing him down. He lets his lizard-brain, concerned only with the fact that something dangerous is chasing him, take over and drive his legs as fast as they’ll go. The back door is locked, he double-checked that on the way down, so he doesn’t waste his time trying it, races to the front of the cabin and slams the door shut just as something huge rounds the corner after him.
The nob jiggles, his pursuer testing the lock and discovering the thrown deadbolt. Barclay uses those few seconds to secure the windows on the first floor, throws his jacket down into the cellar as a failsafe, and bolts up to the bedroom. His hammering heart insists that locking that door is not enough, so he crawls into the closet and shuts himself up among the meticulously organized shirts and slacks. It’s not enough space for him to stand, so he tucks his knees to his chest and waits.
“What happens if I, like, completely outsmart you.”
A toothy smile, “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you.”
Each of the downstairs windows rattle in turn. Then the scratching starts, claws on wood coming closer with each breath. Joseph is climbing the wall up to the bedroom window that Barclay knows for a motherfucking fact he did not secure.
A shuff as the window slides open, the cryptid landing with remarkable stealth on the bedroom floor. Barclay tracks him by the light coming under the closet door, his mouth covered so his breathing won’t give him away. The shadow pauses, sniffs, and then the bedroom door opens and shuts. Barclay’s not moving until he hears the front door do the same.
Just as his legs start to protest being smushed up against his chest, the door reopens. Snuffling signals Joseph closing in, and an instant later the only light coming in is from the far ends of the door. Slowly, his last line of defense rolls to the right, revealing the creature crouching on the other side.
“Not a bad effort, big guy. You actually confused me for a minute with the scent trail of your coat downstairs.” Joseph reaches for him and Barclay, remembering that he’s not supposed to give up until he’s pinned, leans away.
“That’s how my mate wants to play?”
“J-just following your instructions, babe.”
An intrigued purr, “I guess you are. All the more reason you’re the perfect partner for me.”
The words Barclays dreamed of hearing for months distract from the claws closing around his ankles. He lets out an undignified yelp when Joseph pulls his legs straight out and drags him out of the closet. Once he’s free of the forest of clothing, the cryptid picks him up and drops him on the bed. He moans and Joseph snickers, joining him on the bedspread.
“Fuck, Joseph, no one’s ever been able to do that before and it’s so, so fucking hot.” He arches his back and shifts his limbs to help Joseph undress him.
“It’s because you’re the perfect size; big and strong, large enough to give me a decent cuddle when I’m human, but still small enough to be an easily subdued mate.” He gets the humans’ jeans and boxers off, hesitates, and then tosses them on the floor with a pained expression, “I’ll fold those later.”
“Gonna hold you to that. Also, wanna point out that it wasn’t that easy to subdue me.”
Joseph nuzzles his cheek, claws caressing his thighs, “Barclay, I was jogging while you were sprinting.”
“You coulda caught me right awaAAy ohwhatthefuck.” Tingling heat glides down his throat as Joseph licks a stripe along the skin, “fuck, it, it feels like the time I tried hot wax.”
The cryptid sits up slightly to look at him, “Is that a...good thing?”
“Fuck yeah. I really fucking liked it but it was fucking murder with the chest hair.”
Joseph runs his claws through the hair in question, “I like it.”
“I know, I saw you eyeing me that one time I used the springs at the lodge.”
“You can’t prove anything.” Joseph leans back down, curling his tongue around Barclays left nipple. The sensation makes him buck his hips, which Joseph correctly takes as a signal for more. He moves to the other side, takes his time teasing it and licking down the sensitive center of Barclays chest. Noses his stomach, nips his sides, and slides the alien heat of his tongue into the crease of his thighs.
“Y’know I, ohfuck, I assumed from all that talk yesterday you’d get right to fucking me.”
Joseph kisses the inside of one thigh, “I, um, I thought about it, almost ripped your jeans to shreds and took you on the floor. But I wanted to be sure you were turned on. You’re not just a warm body, Barclay. You’re my mate. That means your pleasure matters as much as mine.” He licks up Barclays’ cock, hardened from rubbing against the soft fur of his belly, and sighs, “and what a mate.”
“Fuck” he squeezes his eyes closed because if we watches that mouth saying everything he wants to hear in between sucking his dick, he’ll cum in ten seconds flat.
A final lick to the tip and then Joseph hops off the bed, “Did you prep the way I told you?”
“Uhhuh.”
“Good.” Joseph returns, sets several items he can’t see by his feet, “that’ll make things easier. First things first” he produces a cock cage, sliding it into place, “these are a few things I smuggled over from my original home. This is enchanted, so it can go on an erect cock but still prevent the wearer from cumming until it’s removed.”
“That’s just cruel, babe.” He sits up on his elbows to kiss Josephs snout, earning him a pleased yip.
“If you cum too fast, I won’t be able to properly breed you.” He winces again, “sorry, I sound like one of Indrids romance novels.”
“Again, gorgeous, I find it really fucking hot.”
The spines on Joseph’s back ripple, “You think I’m gorgeous? Like this?”
“I do. Also kinda scary, but in a hot way.” Now it’s his turn to cringe, “see? I sound like cheap porn written by an eighth grader when I’m horny. The way you sound is fine.”
Joseph lovebites his ear, then retrieves the other two items from the end of the bed.
“And how does this look, big guy?”
“Like it’s either going to kill me or make me cum like a dozen times.” He furrows his brow at the strap-on. It’s narrower than the average human dick, with a pointed, slightly up-curved tip. What’s worrying him are the spikes.
The entire shaft is coated in short protrusions. They don’t end in points, thank god, but if they’re at all stiff this is going to be miserable.
“Here” Joseph waves him over, “touch it.” He guides his fingers along one side and the spines bend fluidly under his touch, and now all he wants to know is how they feel inside him. Joseph also moans, bucking his hips so the toy slides along Barclays palm.
“It’s, ohlord, also enchanted so that the wearer feels it as an extension of their body and can cum with it. Also, please decide in the next thirty seconds whether you want to be on your back or your stomach.” Amber pre-cum drips down Barclay’s fingers.
“Stomach is better for meWHOAH, ohfuck, okay we’re doing this.” Now flipped on his belly, he raises his ass. The cryptid kneads it appreciatively before holding it open and sliding his cock in with once, graceful thrust.
He bottoms out with a groan, which is more articulate than Barclay is managing to be as the spines rub and glide inside him, finding every patch of nerves, every angle to drag against in just the right way. Joseph hauls him onto his knees and then he’s off, growls and yips filling the as he fucks him. Barclay only just registers the bed banging into the wall so forcefully the headboard is cracking when claws sink into his hips and Joseph pulls him all the way onto his cock and pulses into him.
“Holy fuck that was fast.”
“I, I didn’t jack off once today. Didn’t want to waste it, wanted to save it all for my perfect mate.” He’s thrusting again, not as hard but twice as fast, “shit, you feel so good, big guy, please tell me Mama okayed your time off for tomorrow.”
“Wh-why are we talkingAHnnn, about this now?”
Hot breath tickles his ear, “Because now that I know what’s like to cum in you, I don’t plan on cumming anywhere else for the next day and a half.”
“Ohfuckme” Barclay groans happily into the pillows as Joseph empties into him, cries out when his tail whips across his calf.
“Shit, did that hurt?”
“No, no it felt good, fucking-A babe every fucking part of you is amazing.”
The cryptid whines, pleased, and wiggles his hips, giving Barclay an idea.
“That’s, uh, that’s why I want you for my mate, because you’re so fucking goo-mmph” his face presses harder into the pillows as Joseph pins his shoulders down and fucks into him, snarling “yes” over and over again. When he finishes this time he hunches over, nipping Barclay’ shoulders and neck.
“You catch on quick, big guy.”
“Thanks, babe. Uh, are we gonna switch it up at any point or am I staying like this until tomorrow night?”
“No, we can fuck however we want. After” a fuzzy hand rubs circles on Barclay’s abdomen, “I’ve cum in you enough times that I can feel it from out here.”
Barclay moans, tightening around him as his hips snap once more, already imagining being full and fucked out. Maybe it’ll take all night. He’ll be limp if it does, but right now nothing sounds better than melting into the bed while Joseph fucks his ass like it belongs to him.
After forty-five minutes, his cock is aching, his mind holds only thoughts of how good it feels to do as Joseph tells him, and he’s been cum in so many times that wet, obscene sounds accompany the cryptids thrusts. Said sounds pale in comparison to Josephs’ voice, which is spinning increasingly impossible scenarios the longer they’re in bed.
“I hope they take after you.” Joseph murmurs.
Barclay just manages to turn his head, “Who?”
A muzzle playfully nudges his cheek, “Our kids.”
His heart seizes and shakes at the words; they both know that’s not what will happen. Joseph warned him he might say things like this, said he could tell him to knock it off if need be.
“Maybe they’ll, ahnn, they’ll have big, beautiful brown eyes and bigger hearts, just like you.”
He doesn’t want him to stop. Every thrust hits deeper, every point where their skin meets buzzes brighter when he talks like this.
“H-hope at least one looks like you, blue eyes.”
A guttural whine, tingling heat as Joseph laps tenderly at the back of his neck, “We’ll just have to see, usually we’re born in threes so, soOH, oh I’m close, shitshit”
“That’s it babe, fill me up, c’mon, c’mon I want it so bad, Joseph, baby, please.”
There’s a howltrill as cum spurts into him, Joseph panting as he smooths his hand around Barclays side.
“There, that’s done it.”
Barclay whimpers as he pulls out, his mind and body pulled tight, certain that if he doesn’t cum soon he’ll propose marriage instead and that’ll be a fucking disaster.
Joseph carefully rolls him over and unlocks the cage, “Do you want to cum?”
“More than anything. Oh!” he’s unprepared for Joseph to sink down on his cock, “oh fuck, yeah, wanna cum so bad babe please, I’ll be so good, be such a good mate if you just let me cum in y-fuuuck” A trio of sensations levels him as he climaxes; his vision whites out, his hips jerk more violently than they ever have before, and a line of cum drips down his leg.
Somewhere far away, Joseph says, “I think we’ve earned a break.”
He nods, body limp as the cryptid climbs off him. Then he’s falling, spinning helplessly down in a pit of realizations.
Joseph didn’t mean any of those things he said. His friend needed a mate and Barclay, lovesick fool he is, was eager for a chance to play pretend that he didn’t think about what would happen when the game ended. Even if Joseph keeps him here through tomorrow, the next time they meet at the Lodge he’ll act like nothing happened.
Fuck, Barclay didn’t even get to kiss him during all this, and now he’ll never get the chance, never, nevernever-
“Shit, I should have put a towel or a spare blanket down. Now I’ll have to strip the bed before I can--Barclay? Oh, oh baby, what’s wrong?” A hand pets his face and he turns away from it, refusing to open his eyes. Joseph takes his hand instead, “it’s okay, I’m here, whatever you need I’ll-”
“Don’t. Don’t say that. You can’t give me what I need, it isn’t your fault I, I know I’m not really your partner and I, I…” he sniffles, wipes his palm under his eye.
“Barclay, look at me please.”
Reluctantly, he opens his eyes just in time to see Joseph dip down and kiss him. It’s awkward, their mouths not made to fit together, but he savors it all the same because it’s Joseph, his Joseph, kissing him like he hoped he would.
“My heat can make me say some ridiculous things. What it can’t do is make me feel affection where none exists. In fact, the reason I wasn’t able to keep my disguise on yesterday is because being near you meant being near the mate I wanted most in the world. I, um, suspected you might share my feelings, but I didn’t want our first interaction as boyfriend to be me asking if you wanted to spend a day or so with me while I was in a sex haze. But then you offered to help, and I wanted it so badly that I barreled ahead without making sure you understood that this was me declaring my feelings. I’m sorry.”
Barclay climbs into his lap, not caring about the mess he makes in the process. The cryptid laughs, hugs him close.
“I, I shoulda said something sooner too. Not that I regret how we spent our first date.” He kisses Josephs chin.
“Me neither, though I don’t think it quite counts.” He rubs their foreheads together, “can your boyfriend take you out to dinner on Friday?”
Barclay grins, looks into loving, blue eyes, “Yeah, he can.”
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Limo Kissing Cousins
The phone rings.
“Bill, I need your help!” pleaded a familiar voice.
“Steph? What’s the matter, cuz?”
“I need help with picking out the limos for the wedding and Tim is away on business,” Stephanie exclaims. “Could you come with me to the appointment in 30 min? Sorry for the last minute notice, but I don’t want to go by myself and well, you know your cars.”
“Of course, I will. I’ll pick you up in ten.”
You couldn’t wait to help her and your cock was getting hard just thinking about her sitting next to you in your truck.
You drive up to her house and there she is, wearing a short black mini dress, strapless with a short white denim jacket and black heels. She looked stunning as usual.
She hops in your truck and places her warm hand on your cheek, leans over and gives you a kiss on the cheek. Her tits bulging out of the top of her dress.
“We’re using All American Limousine on Foster. Do you know how to get there?”
“I do,” you answer and head over to the place.
“You’re so sweet to do this for me, Bill. I knew I could count on you.” As she places her hand on your thigh as an affectionate gesture. You get all tingling as you are trying to imagine Carlos Rodon pitching a fastball.
You get up to the limo place, park in the lot, walk around and open the door to let Stephanie out, like the gentleman you are. She grabs your arm and walks with you up the path to the office.
I see you both walk in and greet you with a smile. Wearing a red and black wrap dress with red strappy heels, I greet, “Hello bride and groom to be! Welcome to All American!”
You and Stephanie both laugh and say, “Oh no we’re not a couple. We’re cousins.”
“I’m just helping out with the arrangements, while her fiancé is away,” you explain.
“Well aren’t you the sweet guy,” I say. “Okay, then both of you follow me.”
You follow me to the back office, where I point to a couch for you to sit and I move to my desk.
I take out a thick portfolio of limos and party buses. As I begin to ask her questions about the wedding party size and other details. And she excitingly tells me all the plans.
I can’t help but notice you looking down her top as she spoke, and looking at her pouty red lipstick mouth. I was getting flushed and horny just imagining your mouth kissing her neck down to her bulging tits and sucking on her nipples with your hand up her skirt squeezing her thong-peeking ass cheeks.
“Should I fill out some paperwork or something?” she asks me suddenly and bringing me back to reality.“Uh, yes, I think we have what you are looking for. How about you come follow me to the yard to look at the selection.”
“Do you have a preference?” I ask. “We have our line of Lincoln MKT stretches, 70, 80 and 120 and party buses or our Mercedes fleet, but they don’t include party or sprinter buses.” Stephanie looks over to you with a confused look. “What do you think?”
“I definitely think you should go with the Lincolns since they have the party bus you need,” you recommend.
Stephanie follows behind me and you behind her and we walk to the outside.
I open the first white Lincoln MKT 120 stretch and slide inside, Stephanie follows and her skirt hikes up about an inch. She notices my looking and smiles shyly. “Whoops. Thank goodness my wedding dress is long, haha,” she says.
You slide in as well and Stephanie loses her balance and falls onto your lap. At this point, not only can I see your cock bulging out from your jeans, but Steph feels it on her leg. “Hey there now cousin!” she says jokingly.
I turn to her and whisper, “He’s too sexy, not to pretend he’s a very distant cousin.”
“Oh, I agree,” Stephanie admits softly in my ear. “Secretly, I’m always crushing on him a little, especially at family parties.”
Though she accidentally sat on your leg, to your surprise she decides not to move and stays right where she is.
I continue to talk about the inside features but neither you or Stephanie are paying attention.
I see her hand start caressing inside your thigh. You can’t believe what is happening.
And you can’t help but follow with your hand on her leg. And she responds by leaning back with her head on your shoulder and starts breathing in your ear. You feel her tongue come out and start nibbling.
I continue to show the halo, dome and console lighting, and ice storage compartments but watching you two have got me a mess.
Stephanie reaches her hand out to me and I slide over to you both now, kneeling in front of you and her on top of you. I can just see her panties showing under the skirt of her dress as you continue to feel up her thigh. Moving her dress to her waist.
I rub my hand up your jeans and start opening them. Your cock is rock hard. Stephanie is sucking at your ear now and her hand is under your shirt, rubbing your chest, pinching at your hard nipples. Your hand makes its way up her dress and you grope at her tits, which are now busting out of the heart cut top of the dress.
Now with your cock spearing up from your jeans, I move in closer and start licking it. Moaning as I do so. Stephanie looks down and sees me and slides lower off your leg. Her on one side of you, me on the other. Your cock in my mouth, deep. Then I take it out and Stephanie latches on and takes you deep too. We take turns sharing your hard, glistening dick, back and forth. Then in unison, we both pull your jeans off.
As we are kneeling in front of you, facing each other, our tongues start licking all around. Flicking at your balls. We split those – Steph has your left, I have your right cupping them in our mouths and then back to licking your shaft up and down.
Pre-cum seeping out. You’re trying so hard not to cum but you could at any moment. Then as we are busy sharing your cock with our tongues, they touch and we start making out, right over your cock. Your one hand in her hair and the other entangled in mine. I’m stroking you and she moves her hand up to your mouth for you to suck on her beautifully polished fingers. My other hand is playing with her gorgeous breasts that are now completely out of her dress top.
You then take her hand from your mouth and grab down at her tiny waist to pull her back up onto your lap. I pull off her pink silk panties and position your cock to fit inside her. Her feet are on the limo floor for leverage. She moves up and down on you. Her pussy right in front of my face. I can’t help but start licking her smooth wet pussy lips that are wrapped around your cock. Moving up and down on your lap. You can feel her tight ass rubbing on your belly. You grab her tits and feel and squeeze them hard, pinching her nipples as she just did to you.
I take my fingers and wipe off some of her cum seeping out of your cock and you feel my hands reach under your balls. My two fingers enter your ass and start finger fucking you hard and fast, as Stephanie rides your cock and I lap up at her wet, cock-filled pussy.
Your cock is throbbing hard and you’re about to explode your load. You pull Stephanie off your cock by grabbing her ass and you cum shooting all up on her tits. Being the cum hungry slut I am, I quickly move up to start licking your cum off her chest and hear her “mmmmmmm” as I do so.
She turns to you and kisses you on your mouth and says “you’ve always been my favorite relative, Bill.”
Copyright © 2017 NY Jinx All rights reserved
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Prodigal son s1e2, because I have nothing better to do but succumb to the addiction @loubuttons and @thisbibliomaniac have dragged me into.
This kid is so tiny to be uncovering his father’s monstrosity. Also what the heck is his bite guard?? As a dental professional, I am Concerned. I am, however, digging the trend of happy bops when he wakes up from his nightmares every morning.
You can’t ignore your mother forever...a’ight, as much as I want her to bug off and leave him alone, at least she’s making sure he eats.
I like how they connect Ainsley’s work to Malcom’s.
“Again with the girl in the box.” Oh frick, they never found her?? Oh that’s appalling. A twenty year old memory from a traumatized boy...that’s a completely fascinating mystery to solve.
The costume department knows what they’re doing with Gil. And Gil knows what he’s dealing with when it comes to Malcom...
Malcolm getting JT’s name wrong and Dani’s right is bringing me joy. Also this family homicide is freaky. Also also everybody’s still hung up on the hand chopping, as they should be.
Mouth sewn shut. That’s sick.
Edrisa Tanaka is adorable and I’m interested to see how she and Malcolm play out.
Oh heck, Aristos being forced to watch his family’s death. Welp, it wouldn’t be a crime show without horrific happenings.
Aaaand now his dad has his phone number. Don’t like that. Going by the hand tremors, neither does Malcolm.
Oh no, Tanaka’s opening his mouth. This is going to be horrible. And Martin is making it exponentially worse with his predatory interest. OH EW THERE’S SOMETHING IN ARISTOS’S MOUTH EW EW EW ITS A SNAKE EW THIS STUPID SHOW SUCKS.
I’m watching ads now and darn chipotle, I want queso now. Heck.
Nnnnnnope to the snake. OH FRICK EW THERE ARE MULTIPLE SNAKES EW. Black mambas no less. Faaaabulous. And Malcolm is choosing now to talk about the brain’s “freeze” function. Nice. I love that his snake skills are what get JT to accept him for another case.
No, Martin, we do not want to bounce around ideas. We want you to rot.
Metaprolol. That’s a bit hilarious, a lot of our patients take that for a medical condition.
Malcolm calmly reintroducing himself to JT to break the awkwardness is a bit hilarious and kind of sweet. “Was it weird?” Good question, JT.
“Are we sure there aren’t any more family members?” Gil asking the smart questions.
Martin needs to STOP with the phone calls! What IS it with the Whitley parents and no sense of boundaries with their son??
Whoop, another kid! Gil called it. Also he looks fantastic with those shades. Lou diamond phillips just looks frickin cool. ‘70s cop vibes.
Ah dear Malcolm, gently breaking the news of a family’s murder.
Ooh, the snakes mean something to Liam. Aaaand he’s running. And he’s keeping...exotic animals, I’m guessing? in this warehouse. Yep, black market animal dealer. Guess we know where the black mambas came from. I doubt Liam is the killer, but he’s definitely connected.
A leopard! That’s cool. Not cool that it’s being smuggled, but the animal is cool.
HE THREW A SNAKE AT MALCOLM oh yikes Malcolm just got bit. This show is whump central, y’all. Also small snakes pack more venom than large ones and he should’ve known that, which means he’s probably downplaying the seriousness of the injury which is VERY on brand for Malcolm. The suicidal ideation is deeply concerning, but hot dang does it make for good tv.
HIS DAD CHLOROFORMED HIM WHEN HE FOUND THE GIRL HOT YIKES. and he woke up panicking. Ugh. Poor boy.
“He’d be willing to come in and discuss your investigation.” And would Liam also be willing to discuss his attempted murder of a police consultant? Because I feel like they shouldn’t let that slide. Oh, Gil isn’t boring. Good man, Gil.
I do like how Malcolm dresses. We should bring vests back. I should buy a vest.
Poor boy. The no-sedatives thing is a serious source of angst. And now Ainsley is prying into his trauma and frankly I do not trust her. Aaaand she stole his phone to listen to his voicemails. My GOSH, this family needs to learn some boundaries!!
He’s one sad boi 😢 somebody needs to protect him because clearly his family doesn’t know how.
Yep, back with worst dad ever. Gotta admit, this is a fascinating dynamic, the way he hates his dad and wants to get away, yet cannot and needs him, and these two actors play it extremely well. The height difference helps sell it, too.
“Good things?” Martin, you drugged him. I don’t know why Malcolm thought he could get some straight answers.
“I’ve always been fascinated by familicide.” Coming from you, Martin, that is disgusting.
Called it, Liam isn’t the killer. Is it the lawyer dude? Oh, no, we’re looking for a bastard kid. Innnnteresting.
“My door is always open.” No, Martin, you are in prison. Your door is locked.
Oh yikes, Liam is dead. And the brass considers the case closed, because good crime shows always include conflict with the brass.
“I don’t need to take a breath! And I don’t need sleep!” YES YOU DO MALCOLM.
Littman! That’s the lawyer dude! Yep, he’s my bet for the killer. Small business loans my foot.
Ohhhh the kid has vitiligo like Aristos! Ahahahaa, somebody just gave himself away. And he’s confessing. And he just poisoned his own family. Frick this dude. I will be outraged if he succeeds in killing his family.
Surgeon’s son. Makes sense he would know what to give them to counteract the metoprolol. Mildly terrified they’re giving an antidote without knowing how much metoprolol they were given, but hey, it’s tv. Don’t try this at home, kids.
I am maliciously pleased by Malcolm saving Littman’s life when Littman asked him not to. Stand trial for your crimes, you stain upon humanity.
“I need it.” “That’s not a good thing.” Preach, Gil. Here’s to the one sane spot in Malcolm’s life.
“Something’s reacting with the alcohol. But I’m fine.” You are NOT, sir.
Dani checking out his loft is kind of cute. And helping him with his cuffs is ;_; She’s remarkably accepting of his weird sleeping arrangements, too, which I kind of respect.
...did his mom know about his dad’s murders?? That’s extremely creepy. Maybe not, maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Oh, we’re not done yet! Should’ve expected that! Why is he sneaking up on his dad?
I should’ve known he wouldn’t let go of the girl in the box. This’ll be an intriguing arc. Aaaand now his dad is gaslighting him and trying to force blame for his own actions onto his son. Somebody needs to bury Martin.
Aaaand his mom is tracking his visits to the prison. Don’t like that, am back to suspecting her.
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A Marathon Effort
Off to Olympia today. Early start for us with breakfast at nine followed by an hour and a half drive through the mountains. Breakfast was as ever more than we could handle. Omelette + toasted cheese and ham foccacias + cake desert plus a whole host of other stuff if you wanted it such as toast and jam. It certainly set us up for the day. We headed off for the big drive which was through the mountains. There are endless peaks, endless olive trees and endless hairpin bends as you either go up or come down the mountains. Certainly we were pretty high at times with 1500+ metres not unusual in these parts. Views spectacular. After close to 2 hours we arrived at Olympia home of the Olympic Games. It was now around mid-day and the weather was stinking hot. You first enter the modern village of Olympia with flags of many nations flying along the street and with the bustle of a small tourist town. 500 metres on is the site of not only the original games but of ancient Olympia. The ancient Olympic Games took place here every 4 years for at least 1000 years up to 393 AD when a Roman emperor banned them and also destroyed a fair bit of the surrounding old city. Earthquakes did the rest of the damage so nothing much of the temples and athletic facilities remains intact but you really do get a feel for how it might have originally looked with some partial reconstructions and also representations of what the buildings might have looked like on explanatory signage outside the site of each ruin. One thing that strikes you pretty quickly is the size of Olympia. It's quite a large area compared say to the Acropolis. Let's say 300 metres by 300 metres excluding the stadium and perhaps larger compared to say 150 by 150 for the Acropolis. You walk past the gymnasium, the wrestling school where columns had been erected to give an indication of the size (extensive) and appearance. Also the workshop where the ivory and gold statue of Zeus was sculpted one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately the statue was destroyed by fire in AD 475. Pressing on we head for what would have been the most striking building in Olympia the Temple of Zeus which housed the statue of Zeus. One column has been erected to indicate what size it would have been and wouldn't you give anything for it to be intact. It would have been quite stunning. On to the building where the athletes swore their oaths to abide by the rules and not to commit foul play. The temple of Hera (the most intact on site) and also to the spot where the Olympic flame is lit every 4 years for transporting around the world to the host city. The were also a number of other interesting sites of buildings now largely destroyed but nevertheless which were brought to life by the signage and representations of them and basic foundations with a column her or there. An audio guide would have been fantastic though the Greeks largely don't seem to have cottoned on to them at least in this part of the country. Finally in one corner the archway which leads to the stadium itself. The stadium held 45000 spectators though women and slaves had to watch from the surrounding hills. It's rectangular not circular and when we were there there were very few people so you could get a peaceful sense of it. The start and finish line (rows of large stones) of the 120metre race are still there with a judge's seat to one side. It was pretty special if you like the Olympic Games which we both do to stand there and try and cast your mind back 2000 years and imagine what the atmosphere would have been like. Full house 45000 yelling plus those in the hills. I of course completed a 20 metre dash in double quick time. Usain would have been envious. Also a loud group of Americans rolled up and ran the full 120 metres with much whooping and hollering and wildly differing speeds from hare to tortoise (the tortoise finished last on this occasion). Mind you no shade and the temperature would have been mid to late 30s in the sun so good effort and very amusing. We stayed in the stadium perhaps half an hour just looking at it from different angles and enjoying the serenity (prior to the American dash event). We both really liked Olympia. It's one of those intangible things. Were the ruins the best preserved - No. Was the guide or audio guide good - No. It was just well set out and signposted and you had to use your imagination to visualise how things might have been. The devotion to Zeus was very manifest. It also of course has the very tangible link to today. Fabulous. We were probably on site for more than 2.5 hours and it was time for lunch which was a shared roll, iced coffee and soft drink. Batteries recharged we headed for the museum. The museum is excellent with a range of ancient and well preserved artefacts. The highlights for me included a large statue of Hermes and in the main hall the statues/carvings which were high up at either end of the Temple of Zeus. One end depicting a chariot race and the other a fight between centaurs and mythical humans. The centaurs turned up at a wedding feast got drunk and tried to abduct the women. A bunch of charmers they must have been. Never trust one. Also in the museum and from the Temple are depictions of the 12 labours of Heracles (Hercules) and I never realised previously that each labour is linked to a sign of the zodiac. We meandered around for perhaps an hour and a half enjoying the museum and then it was time to head home which would be another 1 hour 45 minute drive through the hills. We took a slightly different route back which took us along some back tracks over and around the mountains and through some small villages. Leaving at 4.30 it was amazing that over the 70 kms we saw 3 cars only (that were moving). Virtually no human beings. Of course we saved the best to last. Within cooee of Dimitsana, in fact we could see it nearby, Narelle the trusty voice of Apple Maps together with the in car navigator decided we should head up a very steep, narrow and rubbly track. Steep like 1:8. Despite misgivings we loyal adherents to Narelle put our better judgement to one side and headed up thinking this must be a back entrance to town. We had also seen another car go up there (must be alright then). After a couple of hundred metres a hairpin saw the road quality decrease (which was remarkable in itself). Rubble was now replaced by ruts and larger rocks with everything uneven. We also saw the car that had preceded us but they were getting out of it and had obviously arrived at their destination. Foolhardedly we pressed on. The road (ha! Track) swung sharp right and moved to 1:6. The little Micra was getting more unhappy and wheels were spinning. Ahead of us 2.5 metres wide moved to what looked like progressively 1.6 or so. We stopped and of course the odd stall occurred (tricky gearboxes these Micras) during which we started to slide backwards. This was shall we say - unnerving. A very calm in car discussion followed. Something along the lines of what the **** **** **** **** ****. That's the abbreviated version and that was just the navigator. Anyway, a somewhat ill fated decision was taken to progress further up the hill as reversing did not seem a good option. Neither was progressing but, it was, on the face of it, the lesser of the two evils. All sorts of thoughts were going through my head. Such as how did we get into this situation? There must have been a better route. Where can I find another navigator. They were the nicer ones. Steeling ourselves I hit the gas and the little car with spinning wheels took off up the hill. As with all these narrow passages there comes the narrowest point and we reached it with the car swerving marginally from side to side. Squeals from the navigator or was it me, curses, but somehow we were thru with inches to spare either side. Heaven knows how. Great - relief but no, now we face the reverse a steep incline going down into a housed area. At least it was paved but where did it lead to? Were we heading to a dead end with half an hour of back tracking (in reverse - up and downhill and round corners with unforgiving stone walls - arguably impossible, at least with my reversing skills) to get out. Liz could not open her car door so close were we to the wall. I had a bit more room so parked up and walked down to check things out. At that point I did let out a squeal as not 5 metres from our car curled up in the street, of all things, was a dead snake. How it died who knows as it seemed intact. Certainly did not expect to see that on the stone surface on the outskirts of town. Skirting it as widely as possible as it might still have been alive I pressed on down the hill swung round a corner and there to my relief was a small square with two cars parked in it. So there was a way out. However the little pathways off the square which led down to the town looked like they wouldn't accommodate a car. At that point a lady came out of her house and I asked if we could get down from there and she said yes. I quickly realised that she meant I could walk down not drive down. However the route out of this pickle was now clear. Returning to the car I moved fwd, let Liz out for guidance purposes advising her to avoid the snake (snakes being one of her prime dislikes). From then it was not hard though quite steep to swing down into the little square drop a Uey and head back the way we came. A bit of care through the narrow section and more care down the slippery slope. Liz who was in front providing guidance reckoned my eyes were wide as saucers and she saw terror on my face. Certainly the steering wheel was being clenched. I maintain this was my look of concentration and focus. Anyway, one more close encounter, in this case with the local police car on the hairpin bend going down as it came up the other way and we were down. Liz took a minute or two to join me as she walked down. She had waved me on initially but it seemed a good idea not to stop for her as the track down only accommodated one car and I didn't want to meet one coming up (and who knows who would give way to who) so I got out of there and waited at the bottom. Probably we both needed a minute or two to ourselves to collect our thoughts. Of course we pressed on on the road we had originally been on once down and within a couple of hundred metres of the death track was the main road into town which took about 2 minutes more to reach. This 30 minutes out of our lives which seemed like 30 hours was totally unnecessary. We had a good laugh about it later and in fact Liz was very happy to tell me she cackled her way down the track to rejoin me. This was mainly due to my terrified (highly focussed) visage which for some reason she found very amusing. Weird sense of humour that girl. Showers were (very) necessary and we reprised the night before a little with a visit to the little bar. Priest was in there. Then headed to a different place for dinner with lamb for me and Moussaka for Liz. Lamb OK, moussaka just. Wine ordinary. Service just but view good. We didn't really care. We laughed about the escapade up the hill and relived the enjoyment of Olympia. It had been a full day! Let's hope tomorrow is more exciting!
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Okay! College AU
Lance chucks a snowball in Keith’s direction and nails the latter square in the back with a loud whoop.
Keith tenses on impact then turns toward Lance, snowball in hand and eyes narrowed dangerously.
Lance has about two seconds to run before Keith is on him like a bullet. The two topple to the ground, and Keith takes his snowball and shoves it down Lance’s shirt.
Lance yelps loudly as icy snow slowly slides down his bare back, and he harshly shrugs Keith from his back, leaving the latter lying in the snow beside him.
“That wasn’t fair!” Lance accuses while wrapping his arms around himself with little hope of fending off his shivering.
“Payback,” Keith mutters back, panting hard and massaging his temples. His head had been throbbing since he was pulled from sleep this morning by Lance’s loud voice shouting about the snow, and it’s gotten to the point where even slight movements feel as if screws are drilling into his brain.
“You know you are having fun, Keith. You can’t deny that this snow is perfect!” Lance sits up and slides his hands through the fluffy snow beneath them. He smiles as his fingers move against it with ease.
“We’ve been out here for hours, though,” Keith points out as he closes his eyes against the blinding white snow further irritating his head.
“Igloos take time!” Lance looks back toward the igloo he and Keith slaved away on for two hours when they first got out here. It’s been a dream of his to make an igloo, build a snowman, have a snowball fight, just generally experience snow.
Where he comes from, snow is just a concept seen on TV. Every winter, he would keep his eyes trained on the window to see if it would snow, but the temperature would never dip below 70 degrees. Snow is an impossible dream where he’s from, so when it came time to pick a college, he went with one way up north, and it has yet to disappoint.
Their igloo is solid thanks to Lance’s dabbling in architecture paired with Keith’s previous experience with Shiro. It can fit the two of them easily.
“Well, what’s next on your big snow day list?” Keith asks, rolling onto his side to get a better look at the brunet.
Lance thinks for a moment, but his eyes widen as if a light bulb clicks on above his head. “Sledding!” He turns to Keith just as Keith groans, flops onto his back, and drapes one arm over his eyes.
Sledding, Keith thinks, sounds exhausting. He doesn’t want to disappoint Lance since this is the latter’s first snow, but he’s not sure how much longer he can go. A deep ache is starting to settle in his bones, and he’s concerned at how nice the snow has been feeling against his face while the rest of his body is a shivery mess that no longer knows the meaning of warmth.
“We don’t have sleds,” Keith points out, holding back the small detail that Shiro does.
“Doesn’t Shiro have some?” Lance questions, and Keith inwardly curses while nodding. Of course Lance would know that.
“I’ll get them!” Lance shouts while hopping to his feet! Above him, fluffy snowflakes begin to fall once more. “At this rate, we will be out of class all week,” Lance comments, more to himself, as he starts back toward the dorms.
Keith sits up and watches Lance leave. He desperately wants to go with the brunet, but right now, he’s not sure he could even make it that far. Their igloo is right beside him, and it’s less than ideal. But, Keith thinks as he begins crawling into it, it’s shelter from the snow fall above him.
That’s gotta be a plus, right?
When Keith is inside, he curls up against one wall, drawing his knees close to his chest. He’s suddenly very tired, another trigger that’s all but screaming that he’s sick, so he closes his eyes. A small nap can’t hurt.
*****
When Lance returns, he frowns at Keith’s absence. “Keith?” He calls out, glancing around. He eyes the igloo with a tilt of his head before he drops the sleds and starts toward it, with faint voices of other students coming outside trailing behind him.
He crawls through the small tunnel and spots Keith fast asleep when he reaches the opening. “Really, Mullet?” When Keith doesn’t stir, Lance moves closer with a huff. “Mullet,” he tries again, clapping his gloved hands in front of Keith’s face.
Still, Keith remains motionless in front of him, and a spike of worry shoots through Lance. “Keith?” He lightly shakes Keith, but the latter only groans and pinches his face up against the slight jostling.
“Keith, buddy?” Lance takes a gentler route and brushes Keith’s bangs away with gloved fingers. Even through the fabric covering his hand, Lance can feel an uncomfortable heat radiating from his friend, and he leans forward to get a better look.
He takes in Keith’s flushed cheeks paired with a thin sheen of sweat coating his forehead with a deep frown. “Keith,” Lance says, voice urgent but shaking. He pulls one glove off and cups a hand to Keith’s burning cheek. “Keith, wake up.”
He briefly slides a hand to Keith’s forehead to confirm that Keith is running a nasty fever before moving his hand back to pat Keith’s cheek. “Come on, Keith. Wake up.”
Finally, Keith stirs, and Lance lets out a sigh of relief he wasn’t aware he was holding.
“Hey,” Lance says gently when Keith’s eyes flutter open. “We’ve gotta get you back to the dorm. You’re burning up.” His voice is thick with worry, and Keith only blinks up slowly at him.
“Sleds?” Keith rasps out, and Lance shoots a soft smile.
“Not today, Keith. You’re really sick.” He trails the backs of his fingers softly down Keith’s heated cheeks. “Did this just come on?” He questions, wondering how Keith got so sick so fast.
Keith shrugs and pushes himself up on one trembling arm to cough harshly into his fist. Well that’s new, he thinks to himself. “Wasn’t feeling great since this morning.”
When Lance’s face falls at his words, Keith mentally kicks himself. “No, Lance. I wanted to come out here and experience this with you no matter what.”
Lance shakes his head. “You should have said something.” He eyes the entrance before turning back to Keith. “Let’s just get out of here.”
Keith can’t read Lance’s face, and it’s driving him up a wall, but he nods and starts following Lance out of the igloo. His mind is running a mile a minute despite his pounding head, and he’s so distracted that he ends up bumping into Lance, who is frozen in front of him.
“Lance?”
Suddenly, the tunnel directly in front of Lance caves in as voices flood in from outside.
“God, you’re such a klutz! You ruined someone’s igloo!”
“You pushed me!”
Lance stares hard at the thick snow keeping them from getting out, and then he shouts.
“Hey, wait! We’re in here!” He listens for a response, but he’s met only with the sound of wind whipping harshly outside. “Shit,” he says at the same time Keith mutters out a clipped “fuck” behind him.
Both Lance and Keith begin digging since their phones are safe in their dorm, but after five minutes, Lance orders Keith to stop and rest when the latter can’t go two seconds without coughing.
Lance ushers Keith back to the one room behind them, and Keith instantly curls against a wall, teeth clacking together as strong shivers course through his body.
Lance takes his glove off once more and presses his palm to Keith’s forehead, frowning deeply at the heat that appears impossibly hotter than before. He crawls back some and sheds his coat, ignoring Keith’s weak protests.
“You’ll get cold.” Keith tries when Lance drapes his coat over Keith.
“No I won’t,” Lance reassures as he tucks the jacket around Keith. “I’m already a little warm from the digging, so I’ll be fine.”
“Let me,” Keith pauses to cough harshly, “help.” He goes to sit up, but Lance pushes him back gently with a hand to his covered chest.
Shaking his head, Lance shoots Keith a wide grin despite feeling anything but happy. “I’ve got this, Keith. Just rest, okay?”
Keith seems hesitant, but he can’t stop shivering and his surroundings are swimming in and out of focus, so he nods and curls up into a tight ball while Lance gets back to work.
*****
For an hour, Lance digs. He’s growing frustrated because this shouldn’t have taken that long, but every time he thinks he’s going to find a breakthrough, he’s met with another wall of snow. It must be coming down pretty hard outside, he thinks while panting. He’s tired, exhausted even, but he can’t stop.
The two times he went back to check on Keith, he found the latter growing steadily worse: he’s shivering so hard Lance briefly wondered if it’s possible to be hypothermic with a fever, and his coughing is becoming more intense with each passing second. Each cough sounds as if it’s building deep within Keith’s lungs, and Lance tenses as Keith coughs and coughs.
He has to get them out. He doesn’t want to be dramatic, but it’s turning into a matter of survival, and he uses this drive alone to keep digging.
After another thirty minutes, his hand breaks through, and he carefully continues breaking mounds of snow around until there’s an opening big enough to fit one person. He has to be quick for the snow is falling hard outside, so he crawls back to Keith and has to shake the latter awake.
“Keith, come on. We’re getting out.”
“Lance?”
Lance swallows back the concern forming as a pit in his throat. “Yeah, it’s me. Are you ready? We have to hurry.”
Blinking slowly, Keith nods. He’s not entirely sure what’s going on, but the urgency in Lance’s tone is enough to tell him that he should obey. He slowly starts to move the jacket covering him away, but Lance steps in to quicken the process.
Lance grabs the coat then ushers Keith in front of him. He wants Keith to get out first. No, Keith needs to get out first.
Keith is slow moving in front of him, and Lance bites back any replies to hurry. He knows how hard this must be for Keith, so instead of being abrasive, he chants out words of encouragement as Keith slowly crawls in front of him.
When they reach the opening, Lance breathes out a sigh of relief while he helps Keith up and out. He watches with bated breath as Keith topples to the ground as soon as he’s out and then breathes out a quiet curse before climbing out of the small opening after him.
Outside, the wind is fierce, and the snow falling with it almost hurts as it whips against Lance’s skin, but he couldn’t care at all right now. His priority is Keith, and he’s just in the middle of helping Keith up when he hears a voice trail across the wind.
“Lance!?”
Lance snaps his head to the right and squints against the wind to see Shiro starting toward them. “Thank you,” he breathes out to no one in particular when Shiro closes the distance between them.
“Are you two insane?! They are calling for a massive blizzard!” Shiro pauses, studying Lance’s thin, long-sleeve shirt. “Why aren’t you wearing your jacket?” Shiro’s statements and questions bounce harshly from his tongue, but Lance only waves them away.
“None of that matters!” He doesn’t mean to shout, but the wind is picking up and drowning out his voice. “Get Keith! He’s really sick!”
Shiro frowns and moves toward Keith. “What happened!?”
Lance only shakes his head and gestures for Shiro to pick Keith up.
“Shiro!”
Hunk’s voice carries across the wind, and Lance could cry when he spots his friend coming toward them. “Hunk!”
Hunk’s face scrunches up in worry, and he runs the rest of the way to the group. “Lance, hey! What’s going on!?”
Shiro already has Keith bundled up in his own jacket and cradled in his arms, and Lance is quick to pick up his abandoned coat and add it on top.
“Keith’s really sick!” Lance explains just as Shiro starts back to the dorms with Keith. With the adrenaline gone, he’s starting to really feel the cold wind paired with icy snow, and his limbs hurt from being crouched and digging for so long. He doesn’t even know he’s falling until he lands against Hunk’s big, warm chest.
Hunk is quick to lift Lance into his arms, and Lance presses himself impossibly close to the body heat.
“I’ve got you, buddy.” Hunk says, and despite the wind, Lance catches every word.
Lance breathes out a shaking breath and nuzzles his face against Hunk’s shoulder, and Hunk responds by tightening his hold on Lance.
“Everything’s going to be okay now.”
#voltron#vld#sickfic#prompt#klance#klangst#lance mcclain#keith kogane#takashi shirogane#hunk (voltron)#i thought the prompt specified for keith to be the sickie because i can't read so keith's the sickie#my writing#my voltron writing
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thanks to @severe-queer for tagging me!!
i tag @vitariesocks @threatlevelmidmorning @alywayieroxoxo @alohamoraz @confusedwayward @-run-to-you- @sun-moon-andthestars @yenidenmi @phantittytastic @sweet-herondale and any other followers of mine that’d like to do it!!
my answers are below (it’s very long so);
last:
1. drink - water
2. phone call - probably one of my parents
3. text message - "that made lucy mad at me smh” (lucy is my dog lmaooo)
4. song you listened to - “un homme debout” by claudio capéo
5. time you cried - a week or two i think?? i honestly don’t remember
6. dated someone twice - never
7. kissed someone and regretted it - uhh the middle of this summer sort of. i don’t entirely regret it, but i feel like it made things kinda awkward between us for a little bit and we used to be pretty close so... that wasn’t good.
8. been cheated on - never
9. lost someone special - if this means lost like died, about five years ago. if it means lost in any way, this summer.
10. been depressed - depressed as in like Depression, july
11. gotten drunk and thrown up - never
favourite colours:
12. royal blue
13. maroon
14. grey
in the last year have you:
15. made new friends - yesss!!
16. fallen out of love - kinda
17. laughed until you cried - yESS LIKE A WEEK AGO
18. found out someone was talking about you - unfortunately lol
19. met someone who changed you - not reallyyy
20. found out who your friends are - kinda sorta
21. kissed someone on your facebook list - don’t have facebook so
general:
22. how many of your fb friends do you know in real life - again, don’t have facebook lmaoo
23. any pets - two miniature dachshunds named charlie and lucy!!
24. do you want to change your name - i mean yeah i did so
25. what did you do for your last birthday - laser tag and dinner with friends!!
26. what time did you wake up - nine because i had to do something at school even though it’s saturday,,,, ick
27. what were you doing at midnight last night - sleeping, surprisingly enough. i was soo exhausted yesterday. i fell asleep at like 11, which is fuckin legendary.
28. something you can’t wait for - finishing all of the history hw i have to do today ew
29. when was the last time you saw your mum - ew idk recently
30. what are you listening to right now - my dogs barking at literally nothing,,,, typical XD
31. have you ever talked to a person named tom - yeah
32. something that is getting on your nerves - my history teacher wasn’t in class to teach us the last part of our unit on friday and we still have a test in two days?? and she apparently she’s not gonna delay it?? i’m????
33. most visited website - you’re looking at it
34. hair colour - brownnn
35. long or short hair - long
36. do you have a crush on someone - kinda sorta maybe
37. what do you like about yourself - i’m passionate and loyal and try to help as many people as i can!! which is cool!!
38. piercings - nonee
39. blood type - good question,,, beats me
40. nickname - from my name, so far i’ve gotten “chandy candy” and “cha cha slide” and i don’t think anyone is gonna beat those so. those. other unrelated nicknames though (all from other places on the internet whoops) are dashy, dox, and nova :).
41. relationship status - rlly rlly single
42. zodiac - leo
43. pronouns - they/them
44. favourite tv show - the middle
45. tattoos - none but definitely gonna get some
46. right or left handed - right!!
47. surgery - got my adenoids removed when i was like 7 or somethin
48. broken a bone - fractured my elbow which is like?? p much a break but
49. sport - LMAO DOING YOGA RN TO GET ONE SCHOOL PE CREDIT AND THEN DO BACKSTAGE FOR SCHOOL MUSICAL TO GET THE OTHER OOOO BOY NO SPORTS HERE!! i played competitive soccer for a v v long time but uh,,, no longer and never again
50. vacation- not sure what this is asking so. last vacation was to the beach, but favorite vacation was probably either to amsterdam or munich. or universal because harry potter world is The Best.
51. pair of trainers - favorites are hightop converse and vans :)
more general:
52. eating - last thing i ate was pizza
53. drinking - last thing i drank was water lmaoo!! hydration!!
54. im about to - do more homework ew ew eww
55. waiting for - someone to send somethin on discord so i have an excuse to do something besides homework rip me
56. want - to ask my crush to hoco :(( but like we all know it’s not gonna happen ahaha
57. get married - pls pls pls yes
58. career - honestly i have no idea?? i think i’ll probably end up getting involved in some kinda startup thing because i gotta be mentally-engaged 24/7 or i check the fuck out and that kinda scene seems like it’d be good for me in that sense.... but idk. i wish i could do something with writing but,,, unlikely. we’ll see i guess!! ahaha.
59. hugs or kisses - um kisses
60. lips or eyes - i mean bothhh but i notice eyes first so,, probably eyes if i had to pick
61. shorter or taller - assuming this means for a gf,, taller probably?? both are good though so like idc.
62. older or younger - as of right now i’d only be comfortable dating someone within a year either way of my age... so either but as long as it’s v v little difference.
63. nice arms or nice stomach - aRMS
64. hook up or relationship - relationship pls aah
65. troublemaker or hesitant - tbh depends what it is but definitely come off as hesitant
66. kissed a stranger - nah
67. drank hard liquor - noo
68. lost glasses or contact lenses - surprisingly no
69. turned someone down - yeahh
70 - sex on the first date - no
71 - broken someones heart - not that i know of
72. had your heart broken - i mean sorta but mostly indirect so like?? whatever
73. been arrested - nooooo
74. cried when someone died - yep
75. fallen for a friend - ahaha yeah welcome to my life
do you believe in:
76. yourself - hell yeah!!
77. miracles - absolutely
78. love at first sight - nah
79. santa claus - i mean no
80. kiss on the first date - no
81. angels - kinda sorta??
other:
82. current best friend’s name - abby!!
83. eye colour - green :D
84. favourite movie - harry potter and the chamber of secrets, revenge of the sith, the sixth sense, get out, the lion king, literally anything i love movies it’s
#long post warning#thanks again for tagging!!#and sorry it took so long for me to do it aah i didn't see it until now
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Fear & Trembling in the Winds
Late July, 2016
I’d been scared all day, since Tommy and I started up the Wolf’s Head at dawn. My friend Zach had warned me that three groups of his friends climbed it and all said “Horrifying, terrible, don’t do it!” I already knew I didn’t like being on top of vertical cliffs, where there’s no escape. But here I was anyway. Here, halfway through the “Piton Pitch,” the most notorious 50 feet of the route. It was easy for a while, a ledge traverse with a crack nicely protected by old pitons, so plenty of places for my hands and feet - then I rounded a corner and suddenly the ledge and crack petered out into nothing, into a sea of holdless slab. 15 feet away I saw the end, a huge sandy ledge you could sleep on. But in between was nothing - just one old piton hammered into the middle of it, what seemed like a very far way away.
I started out towards that piton, and found nothing good to hold, or stand on. Shit. I retreated. There was another way, going up a hard-looking crack, also with a piton in it. Maybe I should go that way? I pulled out the “beta,” information on which way to go where, and confirmed that indeed, I should just head out the slab. Damn it.
I looked out, and down. The exposure was relentless. “Exposure” meaning cliffs falling away below you for hundreds and hundreds of feet. Still no good holds. But a storm was threatening, and there was no going back, or down, so I cast off into the void, the sea of nothing.
Wolf’s Head ridge looking steep from Pingora
How I got into this pickle
A couple months ago I wrote about my mountain mentor and great friend Ben. I wrote about how he took me up climbs that scared me so much I couldn’t move. And now I was back in what I knew was Ben’s favorite kind of climbing - ridge traverses - like Evolution, or Palisades, or Forbidden. This is a climb Ben would have loved. It’s a climb Ben would have taken me up, dragged me up, me paralyzed with fear, “gripped,” rattled, lost it, but still there.
Today I want to talk about that fear more.
Most climbers I know don’t have the same fear of heights that I do. Sure, everyone says they’re scared of heights. Even Will Gadd. But Ben would hop up on a tiny summit pinnacle. Greg does that too, and Ryan - “climbers” do that. They’re comfortable in thin air, like mountain goats. It’s not like that for me. Get me even 5 feet off the ground and I cling tight, I stay seated, I don’t want to stand up, I feel the vertigo, the “what if,” “what if I fall?” I like to hold on tight. I’ve bailed off beginner routes because I was scared - a 5.6 in Lander last spring, a 5.8 (with bolts!) just last week. So … why do I climb? I used to say “I’m retiring” after every climb. But then I go again. I’m probably the worst climber who’s been climbing for 10 years, because my fear resets my skills to 0 every season.
I’ve felt fear for a long time. Growing up, I was afraid of the dark. I would jump from my bed to the safety of the hallway to avoid being nabbed by the monsters under the bed, or on the floor. I wasn’t scared of heights, I don’t think - I spent much of my waking hours climbing trees in the yard, looking down at our roof. But as time went on, I gained that fear. The Fear, I called it. The paralyzing fear.
I’ve tried to work with the fear a few times. It’s a knot in the pit of your stomach. It’s a tight chest, or neck. It causes me to leave, to run away. In DC, in 2005, I tried “exposure therapy” to fear - I’d stay in dark rooms, or shut the door in the bathroom (with monsters hiding in the mirror). I re-read “Dune” and found the Litany:
"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."
I read Buddhist philosophy and practice about detaching from the illusions we think are our true self.
But I lost my nerve and stopped facing fears. When I hiked half the Appalachian Trail in 2008, I was scared of being alone, and never sat through to see what was on the other side of it. I clung to other people. And I grew ever more scared of heights.
Fear and the Diamond
Three mountains stand out as the peaks of my fear, all 2010 trips with Ben: downclimbing a 4th class slab onto the Little Bear - Blanca traverse (Ben had to talk me down); getting totally paralyzed, unable to move, on the East Ridge of Forbidden Peak (Ben had to break out the rope and throw me one end); and what has become the Ultimate Fear, the ultima thule of terror: getting three pitches up the Diamond on Longs Peak (also with Ben) and completely losing it; we bailed and he noted the cause as “Skye altitude sick” - a generous diagnosis. I may have been altitude sick, as I went from sea level to 13,500’ in a day. More to the point, I was completely psychologically shattered.
Little Bear to Blanca. Intense fear, and eventually came to terms with it.
Ben rapping down to the start of the Diamond, after my first rain-bivy, also at 13,500′. Note his smile.
Here’s me, petrified, on the side of Longs Peak just before we bailed. Note the terror in my eyes.
Into the Winds
The Winds have been on my list for 2 years, and were high on the list for this fall. I planned to go in September, after the legendary mosquitos died down, but an old ranger friend from Philmont, Tommy, hit me up on Facebook a month ago.
Hey Skye! Nice looking pictures, you defintitely have the beta for Wyoming. Im looking for a climbing last weekend of july to climb Pingora or something in the Cirque. Ive got a rope and half a rack. Seeing if youre interested
I was interested. I hadn’t seen Tommy in a decade, and I remembered him as a bit of a wildman, so I made sure we were on the same page about risk:
Me: Also as a general caveat, I am pretty darn cautious / conservative when it comes to risk, and have lost the "summit fever" I used to have... my priorities are 1. come back alive 2. come back friends 3. get to a summit. You down with that philosophy?
Tommy: Absolutely, Ive definitely learned to swallow my pride when it comes to summits. No more of a humbling feeling than when mother nature decides whether or not you send. Here are my priorities, 1. get on the route. 2. get off the route safely 3. enjoy the climb 4. summit.
So it was on. A month went by, I got my gear together, and I headed south after work, through the Cliff Creek fire zone (props to the wildland firefighters out there!), met Tommy in the morning, and hiked in to Cirque Lake.
Hiking in, Pingora at right and Wolfs Head atop a cloud.
We climbed Pingora Peak’s South Buttress, the chillest sweetest sunniest rock, huge ledges and nice climbing and straightforward rappelling.
We looked at Wolf’s Head from the top and were both fully intimidated. We camped at the lake again, shooting star photos. Tommy dreaming of Wolf’s Head. We woke, and we headed up.
Wolf’s Head
I was scared from the first step onto the rock, up grassy ledges to the start of the route on the “Sidewalk.” Tommy was fine.
We got near the Sidewalk, and I felt inside: I should climb this. This is what Ben taught me to do - and I’m ready. I can do this. I told Tommy I was up for it, and he protested not.
I headed up the Sidewalk, 2 feet wide, unprotected, cliffs on both sides - and I wasn’t really there, mentally. I was moving tentatively, clinging. Halfway out I thought maybe I could get a piece of gear in, so I pulled out the “nuts” - metal chocks that fit in cracks to hold a fall - and, something I’ve never done before, I dropped half of them off the side of the mountain. Now I was trembling for real. This was a problem - a major portion of our safety gear, gone, and me shaking in the middle of an unprotected skinny slab.
Looking back down the Sidewalk
The nuts had landed on ledges below us, so I retreated back down the Sidewalk, downclimbed the ledges, retrieved the nuts, and got back up to the Sidewalk. Take 2. I breathed deep - this time, just go for it. And I just went for it. Feet, rubber soles smearing on sticky granite. Hands, holding the two edges, corners, solid holds. And I just moved. No funny business trying to put a nut in halfway - I just went. I crossed the Sidewalk, got to a solid spot, I put in solid gear, and I whooped with joy. I had done it. And my head was in the game. But The Fear was still there, underneath - fear of what was to come.
We climbed 4 pitches to get to the towers. The Towers. Four towers, each with its own “crux” or hard move. The “hard moves” were only 5.6 - easy, by any good climber’s standard - but still bone-chilling to do above hundreds of feet of thin air, when you have an almost-debilitating fear of heights like I do.
This whole time, I had The Fear. It was ever-present. And in turn, I worked on being present with the fear. On seeing the fear as something separate from me - so that I wasn’t consumed by the fear, but could hold it at arms-length, thank it for keeping me safe, and still not be paralyzed or ruled by it. “Ah, fear - that’s a feeling.” And keep moving.
Getting to the base of the first tower move was a scary and awkward down-crawl on loose rock without good protection, and we both got rattled. “Good gear, good rope, keep moving” became my mantra. I saw a rappel station and thought “maybe we should bail…” - better yet, maybe we should get the Canadians behind us with double 70 meter ropes to bail, and slide down their ropes back to our camp. But they weren’t bailing, and we kept moving.
Tommy did the boulder hug move in style, then got into a very tight awkward chimney and stopped, inside the slot, before the piton ledge. The Piton Pitch. He was around a corner and kept shouting back about how awkward it was. “Awkward is fine” I shouted back, “just make it safe.” He did. I followed, and popped out on the ledge. Tommy was not stoked, which is unusual with him, but he was hanging in there.
The ledge looked great, and I saw two pitons in the crack in the corner. Pitons are old-school climbing gear, metal hammered into cracks too small to take other gear. Solid. All’s well. I walked out, around the bend - and the ledge petered away into nothingness. There was another piton, out in the middle of a sea of slab. Slab meaning no cracks, nothing to really hold on to, grab, stick a hand or foot in securely. Just little holds. This is fine when you have bolts the whole way, and a short walk back to the car. But here, although safe, it still was terrifying.
I saw another route, a vertical crack, with a piton in it. It looked harder, and it wasn’t clear if it “went” all the way to the ledge. I looked back at the horizontal route. The ledge was only 15 feet away, huge, and inviting. I just had to get there across an infinity of slab, and one piton.
Tommy entering the Piton Pitch
I checked the beta again. Yep, definitely have to go out that slab. And so I went. Good handholds, one at a diagonal but it worked. Decent footholds. I headed down and right to the piton. I clipped it with a sling. And I headed out, into space, towards the ledge. There was another crack. I reached it. I let out a whoop and holler. I was home free. I placed a cam in the crack and headed to the ledge. I built an anchor, and told Tommy I was off belay. I was safe! I had made it through the hardest part! And I hadn’t really even looked down, down the hundreds and hundreds of feet to the ground.
This is just how climbers climb. It’s not anything special. But for me, with my fear of heights, it was downright magical. It was a breakthrough. The Fear was gone.
Waiting for Tommy to take down his anchor, I thought about Ben. I thought about Ben like I had thought about him on the Grand last summer, “my first big mountain alpine lead.” I thought he would have loved it, and I thought Ben I miss you fuck I miss you. I missed him, and I cried, and my eyes stung from the sweat and fear and sunscreen. Then I had Tommy on belay, and he was climbing.
Tommy followed to the ledge, unhappy on the slab too. Then he headed up around Tower 3… and right then, the sky opened up and the rock was instantly soaked with rain. Tommy continued, aiming for a cave at the base of Tower 4. He climbed quickly, then I followed. This was a hand crack traverse, over infinite space again, on a rope, and wow: heady.
Tower 4, the final crux. I wanted to hand it off to Tommy but instead just went for it. Did it. Climbed it, had fun with it! I stuck my foot in the crack, along with my 2 hands, in order to be solid to place a big cam in the crack. Now this is fun! The Fear was gone. I was just climbing.
We got through tower 4, then climbed 2 more pitches of easy, fun rock, and I ended up on the summit. The summit!
The clouds had vanished when Tommy was halfway through Tower 3, by the way, and stayed away for the rest of the day.
We headed down 6 rappels and a bunch of ledge-walking, some exposed, some mellow. I had a new rappel system down, taught me by my roommate Mike, for extra efficiency and safety. I felt efficient and safe on the rappels. I felt safe in the mountains.
We got back to camp, swam, ate, shared food with the Canadians who were right behind us all day, drank a beer and stayed up late taking star photos.
From camp, at night under stars and Milky Way, surrounded by mountains, and in the morning, sunrise advancing over the granite peaks, I bowed to the four directions:
Thank you, mountains
Thank you, family
Thank you, friends
Thank you, Ben (and all who’ve gone before)
Life, death, what is this existence anyway??
This life, and the fact that it’s going to end for each of us, is a crazy thing to me. It doesn’t fit in with the day-to-day in our society, or the stories we tell, or what we take for meaning. Save money, buy a house, get promotions, buy a bigger house, buy a bigger TV, a bigger truck. All of that falls away during climbing.
Up on Wolf’s Head, a thousand feet off the deck, dark clouds all around and rain coming down, no escape other than keep going all the way over, for hours, with fear and trembling - that truth, that mortal truth, is very present. And the focus and presence, the “lead head” or “lead mind” that I have to get into in order to climb - that place of sheer utter presence, because you have to, of separating from The Fear, of sitting with it, not running away from it, for hours, on top of a 2 or 10 foot wide ridge, counting on your partner to stay with it too, to save your life by building a safe anchor and catching you if you fall - that specific mental focused place - that’s why I go climbing.
I headed up Wolf’s Head for Ben, because I knew he would have loved it, and would have taken me up it. I fought fear for hours, and found the presence and place that lies beyond fear. And by staying through it, I found something deeper, not for Ben or for anyone else, but for me.
Thanks to Tommy for being a great, fun, and safe partner (not in that order). Thanks to “the Canadians” - Rob & Jill - who were right behind us all day with a double-70m rope, giving me some extra security if we’d had to bail. And big props to Max and Ryan for free-soloing pretty much that whole route, in about an hour, early in the morning before we even got to the Sidewalk.
Postscript, June 2017
This is the Diamond. Two months before Wolf’s Head, I climbed a peak across the valley from the Diamond with Philmont friend Chris Sawyer. I’ve spent much of the year since re-learning the physics, mechanics, and safety systems of climbing. I bought a new harness, new rope, better shoes. And this year (almost a year since Wolf’s Head) I’ve climbed 50 pitches of “sport” climbing and am back in the game. I’m climbing as hard as I was at my peak in 2012, and getting better. This story about the Diamond may not be over yet...
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whoops apparently i got tagged
I got tagged by @thetasigmawillseeyounow
Rules: You must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people
THE LAST:
1. Drink: gatorade
2. Phone call: a guy in illinois?
3. Text message: Kris
4. Song you listened to: The Private And Intimate Life Of The House from Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
5. Time you cried: last night?
HAVE YOU EVER:
6. Dated someone twice: Nup
7. Been Cheated on: no comment
8. Kissed someone and regretted it: Yeah
9. Lost someone special: Yep
10. Been depressed: (:
11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: Again, no comment
LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS:
12. Graphite gray-ish blue
13. Silver
14. Scarlet
IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU:
15. Made new friends: Yeah
16. Fallen out of love: Yes?
17. Laughed until you cried: Yep
18. Found out someone was talking about you: I don't think so?
19. Met someone who changed you: I don't think so
20. Found out who your true friends are: I already knew
21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: facebook is for losers
GENERAL:
22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: f acebook is for LOSERS
23. Do you have any pets: two cats; Koda and Tangerine, and kind of a dog named Chloe?
24. Do you want to change your name: Not really
25. What did you do for your last birthday: I think a Slip N Slide and X Men movies
26. What time did you wake up: 7:54 meaning my alarm hadn't went off an hour before when it was supposed to
27. What were you doing at midnight last night: Listening to stand up comedy and trying to sleep
28. Name something you cannot wait for: the sweet release of death
29. When was the last time you saw your mother: last night
30. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: i'm not gonna say it so that people who don't know won't see this but if you know me you know
31. What are you listening to right now: Top 40 Lost or Banned Episodes of Kid Shows
32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: Yeah he was a dick and cried when fourth graders made fun of Duke (A basketball team people from KY hate)
33. Something that is getting on your nerves: this grainy ass proactive shit that dried on my face
34. Most visited website: Tumblr and Youtube
35. Elementary: Hell
36. High School: insert noise I can't type but feel right here
37. College: (-:
38. Hair color: Brown
39. Long or short hair: Short
40. Do you have a crush on someone: Unfortunately
41. What do you like about yourself: Sometimes I can write and people have told me I'm mature for my age?
42. Piercings: One ear's pierced and the other earlobe is split oops
43. Blood type: A+?
44. Nickname: Jay, Bucky, Jace
45. Relationship status: Pining
46. Zodiac sign: Gemini
47. Pronouns: He&Him
48. Favorite TV show: The Walking Dead and Bob's Burgers
49. Tattoos: None right now
50. Right- or left-handed: Right
FIRST:
51. Surgery: I had ear tubes when I was a baby
52. Piercing: Both my ears
54. Sport: Ballet, gymnastics, and soccer
55. Vacation: No clue
56. Pair of trainers: ????
MORE GENERAL:
57. Eating: TAKIS
58. Drinking: Lemon lime gatorade
59. I’m about to: Get up, unfortunately
61. Waiting for: It
62. Want: To go home
63. Get married: Hopefully?
64. Career: IIIIII don't wanna think about thiiiiiis
65. Hugs or kisses: Kisses
66. Lips or eyes: Eyes
67. Shorter or taller: shruuug
68. Older or younger: Older
69. Light or dark eyes: Dark
70. Nice arms or nice stomach: all arms and stomachs are nice to me
71. Sensitive or loud: Sensitive
72. Hookup or relationship: Relationship
73. Troublemaker or hesitant: Hesitant in real life, troublemaker when doing dumb shit online
HAVE YOU EVER:
74. Kissed a stranger: Yeah
75. Drank hard liquor: No
76. Lost glasses contact/lenses: YEP
77. Turned someone down: Yeah, it's a long story involving salt water and flashing people while boogie boarding.
78. Sex on first date: No
79. Broken someone’s heart: I think maybe once
80. Had your heart broken: Yeah
81. Been arrested: Not yet
82. Cried when someone died: Yeah
83. Fallen for a friend: Once
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
84. Yourself: ehhhhhhhh
85. Miracles: Kind of?
86. Love at first sight: No way
87. Santa Claus: )-:
88. Kiss on the first date: Not usually
89. Angels: I want to believe in them but idk
OTHER:
90. Current best friend’s name: Kris, Gwen, Tonly/Fizzy, Robin, Quinn, Lauren
91. Eye color: Just brown
92. Favourite movie: Dead Poets Society, GotG Vol. 2, Nerve
okay i tag @extremeyoutuber1026 @erla1 @this-is-unoriginal @charliander @blackqueenary
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John T Mainer 28840: Meat Shields
Meat Shields
The war was not going well. Rockets Raccoons were up against the Mullah's of Mayhem, a threepeat gold clan in the division the Raccoons had found themselves advancing into as the fresh meat. Out of the gate the Mullah's of Mayhem issued a fatwa calling Racoons trespassers in Division X and an abomination in the sight of the Craftsmen. They were ordered to burn their own mecha, or burn in them. The Racoons washed down a plate of bacon with a fifth of bourbon and told the Mullah's of Mayhem where they could insert their gold medals, and offered a boot to pound it home. They expected to have some time to scout before things got hot, that is the way things worked in Division W. Turns out Division X is more intense.
The second the clock struck O murder hundred, the Mullah's struck. Rolling out of the darkness in a tide of niode powered intolerance, they cut through Rockets Raccoons like a Galaxy Eye through an open cockpit. Two of the Raccoons were in specialist lineups to go hit the Mullah's scouts, just a few minutes from ready to hit the badlands to go hunting, but caught in tens and twenties when the Mullah's Kami, Notas, and Charon tore through, freezing, burning and stomping everything in their path.
My job is usually pretty chill. I pilot a third rank Magnus in Chubby's Cherubs. Me (Grinner) and Sweet Meat Stevenson act as flankers for Isabella in her Regis. We have a bit of niode gear here and there, but our guns are pure crystal. Best guns forward is the Raccoon creed, but each of our lines is designed to fight as a line. Me and Sweet Meat have pretty decent freeze, good trample, hit hard with missiles or cannon. Sweet meat has a lot of forking missiles, nothing super hot, but it spreads the love around. I pack a mix of good crystal cannons and OK crystal cannons. We keep being promised upgrades as soon as we score some loot, but every time I get a good one, I get a new weapon slot, so retiring my third rate guns keeps getting put off.
Isabella though, her Regis "Body-Count" is a real killer. I mean, sure her guns do less damage than mine on paper, but her lizard is a real laserbrain, and gets almost as much extra out of them as a Red Ant would, and packs about three times as many. It also loves to kill. I mean its not the fastest beast out there, but it loves to get the pure kill shot, often passing up an opening to wound to wait for the clean kill. Grinner and Sweet Meat our Magnus are sluggers, but Body Count is a pure killer, so is Isabella. We make a good team. Or we did until the Mullah's of Mayhem hit us. Isabella was shut down by trample before we even knew the second rank was under fire. I had my Lightning Shield on, so I lived, but I got frozen by the forking hit on Meat Shiled and never got my guns to lock on before both my legs got taken out by some kind of advanced plasma weapon I have never seen before. Some kind of Vortex crap that I will be having wet dreams about owning probably forever after seeing it burn through my Magnus legs like hot coffee through a sugar cube.
Sweet Meat got off three shots before he fell. One miss, two clean hits, one forking, and the Mullah Notas and Charon didn't even notice. The hits exploded all over the shields in their niode perfection and didn't even break their concentration. No weapon we had could touch them. They were just outclassing our crystal machines, too fast, too many guns, and shields we could not even scratch. There was literally no point in my Grinner and Sweet Meat firing at all.
As we were getting anti-radiation chelation therapy at the aid station, I made the mistake of bitching to Isabella about how useless we were against those bastards.
"We can't beat their shields, what is the point of even trying?" I complained.
Isabella slapped me so hard my head just about hit my shoulder it snapped so far around. She was furious. All five two of her. She should have looked ridiculous, little her tearing both my own six two, two forty, and Sweat Meats six even three fifty a new exhaust port, but all she looked was fierce and intimidating, because she was not intimidated. Her response was pure Isabella, as irrational as it was inspirational. She had a point.
"Sheilds? You are worried about their shields? I will teach them to fear MINE!" Isabella shouted.
Sweet Meat kneaded his temples, the big Chinese pilot looked like a defeated Buddha, and his words were filled with dump shock and despair.
"I know you have some good fire shields, but honestly each of us has one niode shield, but the rest of yours are nothing to write home about, I mean my own Magnus probably has better shields than you when you crunch the numbers" Sweet meat was a bit of an analyst, as well as manic depressive, magnus pilot, and avid gardener. What can I say, a weird dude.
Isabella gripped both of us by the back of the neck and pulled our heads together against hers in a fierce hug. She continued her rant low and intense, practically the same height standing as we were sitting getting our blood cleaned of the radiation from our engine breaches.
"No you morons, not my mecha shields, my meat shields. You two losers are going to keep me alive long enough to EAT THEIR SOULS!" She was scary intense sometimes, but there was a reason she anchored the third line, if we were needed, it was bad, and when it got bad, you needed somethign scarier on your side. We had Isabella. She kept on, finally getting through to us. "OK, so they are faster, stronger, tougher than we are. So what? I will swap out my niode shields with you guys for anything you have against trample and fork. I am maxed out to do two things, strike first, and kill things. You losers only have to stand upright, look, big stupid and ugly, to keep their attention while I tear their hearts out. It almost like you are over qualified!"
Sweet Meat and I started to laugh. What could you do? The Mullah's of Mayhem had read from their Scrolls of Holy Ass Whooping, so now maybe it was time to read them a passage from The Book of Payback. Payback is a bitch they say, and her name is Isabella.
This time we were the ones attacking. Not the brightest idea in the world, but Raccoons are curious critters by nature, and there was loot to the victors, if you had the nerve to dig for it. Nerve we had, so dig we didl.
Our front line can match anyone out there. The boss is a badass. We always wondered why he stayed with us when the big outfits kept offering a place in their own ranks. He laughed it off. He got through the first two of their ranks before they got him. With the front rank gone, that was 70% of our niode weapons, all our niode BFM, the next rank was niode heavies, but the gear was mixed, the weapons were mostly crystal. They were pretty chewed before they stepped to the line, and only got one kill before they got eaten alive. A smart man would have made a career change at that point, but I stopped thinking when Isabella screamed.
"EAT THEIR SOULS!" She screamed as her Regis roared and charged forward.
I opened up my own engine amplifiers wide, Race Engines spooling up pure power for my engines and guns, Lantern engines howling power into my limbs and overcharging my capacitors (also making me a huge target for any wandering missile, but life is like that). We charged at her side, two gun metal grey Ogers flanking a hunting dragon. We got hammered. Something called a Rift Beam hit Bubba on the left wing square, and the Xango that fired it milked every erg out of it. Damned thing had so much power that after blowing him right the heck up, it tracked right to take me where I was shielding Isabella's flank.
Alarms went off everywhere, my gun capacitors overloaded and exploded. I had NO GUNS. I had no sensors operating beyond peeking out the cockpit and seeing bad guys that a way. I was able to move because I needed no external data to do that, but was helpless as a newborn babe. Helpless, not useless.
Isabella cut loose with a Galaxy Eye and caught a Kami that had just ignited Sweet Meat's Magnus. Her beam was a pale thing against the bright fury of the flashing niode powered laser shields that fed that monster, and even healed it as they did so. On its own, the Galaxy Eye lacked the power to even warm the Kami's paint. Isabella on the other hand was a matadora. In her hand a slender blade that you could stop with a thick button could slide into and out of the heart of a charging rhino before it even realized it was dead. That Galaxy Eye flowed through an eddy where shield emitter zones interfered with each other, splashed against a plasma charging chamber feeding the Kami's own guns and caused a dissonance in their own shielding. The plasma to punch through shields, armour, and still have enough power to devour two mecha at a time was released INSIDE the Kami, and it died in a shattering explosion.
Isabella and Body Count screamed their joy to the world, and we, her meat shields, howled with her.
The Xango pilot was a veteran, and spotted the threat, swinging his Planetary Defense laser to take her under fire. It could punch through her laser shields and blow her reactor core through the rank behind her. It could not punch through her meat shields and do it. I stepped my tottering and shut down Magnus into the path, and snapped my arm cannon mounts up to bring his cockpit into line with their gaping muzzles. Reflex triggered his burst before thought could interfere. His coherent light death beam wasted itself in incoherent frustration as it screamed through my already shut down mecha. Sure, it gutted me and shut down the Yallan to my rear (poor tyke looked like it was about to trip and fall on my exploding ass too), but Isabella's splash shiled shrugged off the hit like rain on a dragons arse as she triggered a Vulcan Phaser. The Xango did not live long and prosper.
The Charon did not take that well and closed with its great claws to tear Isabella in half. His Leviathan punched with killing force, but Sweet Meat took it on the chest plate. Freeze fractures shattered his chest and took his right arm when he tried to take a step forward. The Charon's claws were deep inside Sweet Meat, ripping his torso off his legs when the Flavian Spear took him in the armpit. Nanobots contained in the great tanks flash activated from the laser energy bleed and instantly absolute zero was achieved in the crystal metal matrix of the bones of the mecha. DIfferential cooling of the couplings caused the unstoppable power of the Charon to be, well, unstoppered. Charon got to ride his own ferry across the Styx as Isabella gave him a taste of what he fed Sweet Meat.
The Apatotron that remained in the line cut loose with a Heartbreaker missile swarm, and without us to shield her, what little armour remained on her Regis failed under the 75mm armour piercing warheads coming in two converging swarms to overwhelm her point defense lasers and ECM lures of her missile shields. She fell, but not before gutting that line. The fourth line buried the Apatotron in fire, as it spent its last rockets on a Yallan that was already shut down anyway. Our boys carried the fight. It wasn't pretty or cheap, but it was a win.
We pulled Isabella from Body Count, what was left of her noble Regis. She was bleeding and laughing (she was that kind of girl) and hugged us as we slapped trauma patches on the bits that were spurting not dripping. She was almost shouting before the trauma patches drugs took her into unconciousness.
"Meat shields over niode shields boys! Those bastards got Raccooned! We got it done"
Sweet meat listened to her rambling as she drifted into unconciousness. He was grinning his soft Buddha grin. He looked at me and said what we both were thinking.
"She's crazy as a bed bug. She's right too,, but crazier than a pet raccoon" He held up his fist to me.
"Meat shield!" He said.
I banged my fist into his
"Meat shield!" I swore.
Welcome to Mecha Galaxy. Prepare to be Raccooned.
John T Mainer 28840
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NSFW #06: Afterthought
From all accounts, the fifteenth edition of Night of Champions was one for the ages. Except from NSFW’s perspective. For the third time this month, they in some capacity were rushed to a hospital. This time it was to address a thirteen inch gash into John’s abdomen. Fortunately, it was superficial but still required a transfusion from the blood loss.
And so, nearly three hours later, John and Mike watched the Tag Team Championships be decided on the screen of Mike’s Galaxy. The pair anxiously waited to be dismissed from Indiana University Hospital’s emergency room as they watched the heated contest.
NSFW had indeed gone beyond The Limit. In what would be considered a moral victory. And on paper - without meaning. The lion-share of credit for the revitalization of the tag team division would be given to another duo.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the winners of the matchup via pinfall, and NEW EWC TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, Mucho Grande!!!”
They watched someone else’s crowning moment with blank expressions. John, sans shirt due to the stitched up wound crawling up his ribcage, tuned into the vibe of the situation and touched the screen to opt out of the live stream.
John and Mike were sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. The curtain was drawn around their section of the ER. He whispered solemnly.
“Let’s just go.”
Then he gingerly reached forward and retrieved a clean gray Indiana University t-shirt that Mike had purchased from the gift shop. He struggled to even get the shirt over his head with his mobility being limited.
“Yeah. Anybody asks, I’m taking you out for a smoke break.”
Giving a bit of a dry chuckle, Mike grabbed hold of the edge of the shirt and gave their partner a hand with it. They didn’t comment, it was just a natural thing to do.
“You wanna go back, see how the show ends? We could just drive back to the hotel now if you didn’t feel like it.”
Mike didn’t really feel like it themself. They wouldn’t bother even suggesting if Natalie wasn’t in the main event. It’d feel weird skipping out on that, like they weren’t being supportive. John stood up slowly, grimacing from the exertion. His face was still pale. His shoulders slumped.
“If you want.”
They looked him over, an expression of concern lining their face. After a bit of consideration, Mike rested their hand briefly on the back of their best friend’s, squeezing slightly before sliding it off.
“Mmm… let’s just split. I’m not really in a rah-rah mood. Nat’ll understand.”
There was a slight mutter of ‘I hope’ under their breath.
Just thirty minutes later, they were in their hotel room. John was already sound asleep on the bed, Mike’s insistence.
Mike, however, stayed up to see the abrupt end of Natalie Young’s Undisputed Championship reign.
“...fuck.”
Clicking off the phone and turning off the lamp, Mike flopped back onto the pillow they’d yanked onto the floor along with one of the blankets, staring at the ceiling in the dark. They wondered if Natalie’s loss was somehow their fault at the same time that they countered themselves with the ridiculousness of such a notion.
But even so, they hadn’t been there.
Closing their eyes, they sighed. Why did these things never turn out the way they should?
They were half way home. I-70 would be their trail home and it cut through the heart of Ohio. It was a boring, tedious drive. Devoid of all of their usual revelry. Mike, doing all of the driving this time, pulled off to a rest stop just outside of Columbus. It was there that they learned their next bit of business from Hollister’s weekly preview.
John and Mike hunched together to view the screen once more.
”In tag team action, NSFW takes on the Unholy Two!”
Mike was the one who cut off the video this time. Wordlessly, the two shared the same sentiment. Moments later, Bishop Church and Mike McGuire would address the world.
NSFW sat on a well-weathered picnic table. Both are in jeans and sneakers, Bishop’s shirt a plain olive green and Mike’s a distressed grey, bearing the image of everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic baseball and the caption ‘Mr. Met Is My Homeboy’. The big man seemed a bit uncomfortable, fidgeting slightly with the wind of bandages under his shirt. A grassy yard, somewhat tamped down by foot traffic, surrounded them. A cute little kid walked his even cuter pet beagle in the background. The rest area was a somewhat idyllic setting, bringing summer road trips to mind, but Bishop and Mike didn’t look particularly cheerful at all.
“Forgive me if I just jump past the intros this week, Faithful. We ain’t really in the mood. I mean, you’d think we would be though, right? We did what we fuckin’ said we were gonna do. We broke The Limit. But it don’t really feel so shiny. I mean, we didn’t really come out of it looking like winners, yeah?”
Her gaze turned to her partner, brow furrowed slightly.
“That was fucking badass what you did, by the way. Don’t ever do it again.”
John nodded in agreement. Although, his mouth slightly curled up into a smirk.
“All in all, not a great show for your boys. But you’d think giving it our all would fuckin’ count for something, wouldn’t you? That my partner being a noble fuckin’ dude and nearly bleeding himself out just to get us the win would be worthy of some kind of acknowledgement? Nope. We get one line in this week’s preview. ‘NSFW takes on the Unholy Two’. Almost like a fuckin’ afterthought.”
“No offense to the Unholy Two.”
“Yeah, nothin’ personal.”
“And believe me, that’s good. It’s been very personal as of late.”
“Too personal for my taste. Steve Bennett. Victor Price. Whichever of you two fucking-”
They were being shot from the waist up so unseen, John placed a hand on her knee and squeezed lightly. She let out a long exhale, shaking their head a bit.
“...anyway. The Limit. We done with you dickfucks yet? You get the memo? You can batter us like Southern fried chicken, but you can’t kill us. You can’t fuckin’ get the job done. You. Can’t. Beat. Us.”
“So congratulations to the new Tag Team Champions. I’m sure you’ll be relaxing in the back as you take another night off. Tune in and watch NSFW in action.”
“Yeah, Muchos Felicidades. I owe you a pot of paella… and I’d say you owe US a title shot. But maybe I’m getting a tad ahead of myself. Little big for my fuckin’ britches. Or… maybe I just think it’s about time we get what we want more than any other tag team in this entire fuckin’ company.”
Click. Fizz. John opened a can of LaCroix and took a long pensive sip.
“But I guess that’s none of our business.”
“Not this week it ain’t, anyway. This week, as we mentioned. Unholy Two. El and Roach. We weren’t being sarcastic when we said this ain’t personal. I actually kinda like you guys. You get the drift of what being a proper fuckin’ tag team’s all about. You seem kinda fun to hang around. You’re the kind of guys I wouldn’t mind getting a damn beer with. Unfortunately, we got the momentum of a freight train and you guys’re standing right on the fuckin’ tracks.”
Mike cracked her knuckles, that devious, devilish smile starting to play across her lips. The one she got when she relished the thought of incoming mayhem. While she was talking, John set the can of sparkling water back behind him.
“My partner is right. I like you two as well. But…”
John raised his pointer finger in the air as if to object to his own statement.
“You two rough and tough bruisers have a funny way of handling adversity. What did you honestly expect from the likes of Collateral Damage and Bulletproof?”
“There’s always gonna be dipshits jumping you. It’s the nature of the business. So you can bitch about it, say how goddamn unfair it is, or you can square up and do something about it. Like we’ve been doing for the last month. Geez, guys, we shouldn’t be having to tell you this, you’ve been in the game how long?”
“The game being relative. This business. Seemingly elsewhere from the way you two converse. It’s clear you two have a long and storied history. You have each other’s back. But you are not us.”
Mike leaned forward, tilting the brim of her hat back.
“Said it before, will say it again. Ain’t no team like us but us. Nobody’s fuckin’ hungry as us, nobody wants it this bad. Is that cocky to say? Yeah, probably. Is it the fuckin’ truth? Absolutely. You are Now Standing in our Fucking Way, boys.”
“Your return to the business hasn’t been what you two thought it would be. Unable to adapt. Unable to execute. But quick to make excuses. So quick to hold others to your sense of morality. Ironic, coming from me, right? I’ve learned a lot lately. You’d be surprised. But understand this. We will be knocking on your front door in Salt Lake City.”
John pointed to the both of them.
“You will see us coming.”
“That’s the thing about us. We ain’t the Golden Turdbags, and we sure’s hell ain’t the fraternity of Saltine Cum Munch. But even if we were the sneaky type? We wouldn’t need to waste it on you boys. I mean after all, you just got whooped by what you probably thought’d be a green as grass manager and a part time rockstar- basically a night off. You underestimated them so bad that they caught you two completely fuckin’ unprepared. You were so fuckin’ obsessed and paranoid that OH NOES BULLETPROOF MIGHT JUMP YOU that you lost all goddamn focus on the ladies that cleaned your fucking clocks. Jesus, it’s like you’re the Nick James of tag teams.”
John raised a hand up to his mouth, presumably to scratch his chin but Mike knew the score. He quickly regained his composure.
“So let us formally introduce ourselves to you. I’m Bishop Church.”
“And I’m Mike Fuckin’ McGuire.”
“And we are the next Tag Team Champions.”
In unison.
“NSFW.”
“And you two?”
“Are our next hurdle to clear. How high we gonna have to jump? Depends on how Mad Legend-y you buttheads are gonna be. But rest fucking assured. Our momentum ain’t gonna stop with you. Bring it or get fucked.”
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RC390: MRF Revz C1 & FC1 Radial Tyres Test: 500 kms 1 Week Review
We have a lot of Indian tyre manufacturing companies like CEAT TYRES, JKTyre, Apollo, Birla etc, but MRF is the most renowned and unlike a few out there who are known because of their aggressive marketing (and not necessarily for their products), MRF has always left us impressed by the quality of their tyres – be it cars or bikes!
In the recent times, we have seen a lot of new and more powerful motorcycles getting launched and quite clearly, the age-old run of the mill rubber fell short of expectations. To fulfil this growing demand for performance tyres, MRF TYRES recently launched radial tyres for motorcycles under their Revz range and became the first Indian manufacturer to do so. They contacted us for a review of these and we obviously obliged.
At first we thought we will test them on an R15 v2 but later we decided we will plonk them on the most powerful motorcycle in India under 3 Lakhs – the RC390 to understand how close can we get to ‘the best’ OE Metzelers!
We got fresh new Revz C1 and FC1 tyres shipped to our tester Shrey Sunil in Mumbai who has been riding on them on his new KTM RC390 for the last 550 odd kms and more than a week. While we will live with them for many months now and a detailed review along with its comparison with Metzelers will follow in sometime, today we will share our first impressions and answer the question – if they really are worth considering!
Specs:-
Front – MRF Revz FC1 : 110/70 R17
Rear – MRF Revz C1 : 150/60 R17
This is exactly the same OE size which the Duke 390 and RC390 come equipped with in India and hence they are a direct fit.
During these 550 kilometers, we have used these tyres on various types of testing roads which include dry tarmac, soft to hard cornering and thanks to this being monsoons, we have plenty of grounds to examine their wet grip as well. Let us quickly talk about them one by one…
DRY GRIP:
These are relatively medium compound tyres and the grip offered by them on dry surfaces is, to put it in two words ‘simply superb‘! It is so surprising that if you give these tyres to a layman without informing him about the different rubber, he will NOT realize at first the difference, it so close to OE!
High speed straight runs and braking is very impressive and these are the best tyres we have ever ridden from MRF TYRES so far.Rating: 8/10
WET GRIP:
On the contrary to what you read a few seconds back, these Revz on wet are not confidence inspiring! On high speed straight runs, if there is decent amount of water on the roads, the bike slides and sways disturbing your control.
We felt as if the treads are not able to splash that water off the road ably. Hard braking in the wet also tends to take away your control on the bike and rather than enjoying your ride, you tend to focus on saving your day.
Rating: 5/10
CORNERING:
The Revz C1 & FC1 have a very similar curve at the edges like the Metzelers and hence cornering doesn’t take too much of an effort (unlike the other renowned tyre we tested). The curved shape assists cornering surprisingly well on dry surfaces and the behavior is confidence inspiring, however, on the wet the bike slides and sways and lower your chances of aggressive corrections if you go wide into a corner!
Rating: 7/10
LIFE:
Though it is a little premature to talk about life at this moment, but considering that these are not very soft compound tyres (like Metz), we hope their life is around 20-30 percent more.
Other Motorcycles Which Can Use these Tyres
Duke200
RC200
GT250R
Benelli TNT 300
PRICE & VFM-ness:
MRF Revz FC1: Rs 2589
MRF Revz C1: Rs 3462
For a pair of this rubber, you will need to spend Rs 6000 and when you compare this with Metzelers, the original rubber, there is a difference of a whooping Rs 10,000 (Metz cost approx 16,000). For this amount of money you can buy another set of MRF and a half which means the already high life gets almost tripled! And considering that MRF has a very wide distribution network, sourcing them should be easier as well.
Rating: 10/10
First Review Verdict:
We did not share the prices upfront because then you would have started considering them as cheap alternatives for Metzelers and this, neither we nor MRF wanted us to portray. The good thing is that the company is confident of their product.
So, if you have run out of your OE rubber on your Duke 390 or RC390, and have had a hard time sourcing the Metz, you should give the new MRF tyres a chance. They are brilliant in dry surfaces and at a fraction of a cost of the Metz (or even most of the other options), they are no compromise at all! But yes, if you are a very spirited rider, your major traversing is on wet roads and have about 8 percent of the original motorcycle cost to re-spend on tyres, you can avoid them; but this percentage of folks, as we see, is not very much….
Article Source: Bike Advice
Article Link: https://bikeadvice.in/rc390-mrf-revz-c1-fc1-radial-tyres-test-500-kms-1-week-review/
#Buy tyres online#buy ceat tyres#buy mrf tyres#mrf tyre online#ceat tyres online#buy ceat tyre#buy mrf tyre#mrf tyre online price#ceat tyre online price
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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 70
from internships to entering the nether
Yumi: "...How...How does a _child_ get kidnapped and..." *shudders*
lord death: .....*takes a long sip* we as a people have to improve, to keep things like....like _this_ from happening...
Yumi: "I know...How much information do we have? Such as, who...killed this child?"
-elsewhere-
Shima: *reading a book on familiars* "..." *yawns*
konekomaru: so, what are you doing for your secret santa?
Shima: "Don't know...This gift choice is really hard to figure out."
Bon: *grumble grumble*
-elsewhere-
leo: .......
Gin: *slides a glass of water* "Here."
leo:....*small sip* ...........
Gin: "How old are you?"
leo: ………..25 years old.
Gin: "I was told about some of your abilities. Must be useful."
leo:.......................................*her expression is solemn*
higuchi: ...
Gin: "I've seen what you can do out there. I can imagine it hurts. Do you need any medicine?"
leo:...........im used to it.
higuchi: .....
Gin: "Because you wanted to protect someone."
leo:....my new home...
Gin: "Yes. You were happy there."
leo:.....he....he made me feel like i wasnt alone anymore....
higuchi: dostoyevsky?
leo: *she shakes her head* vanya...
Gin: "A sibling?"
leo:.......n-not exactly. he made me feel welcome when i was taken in by the rats.....he means a lot to me. *soft smile* even if he doesnt love me the same way, he's the most important person to me.
higuchi: ......
Gin: "Do you know whether he is safe?"
leo:....you said he escaped, right?
naoya: long hair, head bandages?
leo: yes!
naoya: yeah, he escaped.
leo:....*sigh* i see....
Gin: "Do you think he'll return?"
leo:...i think he will.....he wouldnt ever dare to leave mr dostoyevsky's side....to vanya, fyodor is the most important to him...
naoya:......
Gin: "Hmm...And you? Will he return to you?"
leo:....i can only hope, right?
Gin: "..." *closes the file* "We'll see." *opens the door—and is pushed aside*
Tachihara: "I brought snacks!"
leo: ....
higuchi: -_-;
Tachihara: "Who wants--"
*shoved by Motojiro*
Motojiro: "Who's up for a rousing game of Chutes and Ladders?!"
Gin: "..." *pulls out a blade*
leo: ._.;
-elsewhere-
Fitzgerald: *sipping his tea, wearing a shit-eating grin*
louisa: sir francis?
Fitzgerald: "Yes, Miss Alcott?"
louisa: any news?
Fitzgerald: *deathly serious* "Yes, there is."
louisa: o.o; oh?
Fitzgerald: *holds up the guest list* "This 'Plus One' option is increasing the number of guests for our party. I had not considered so many people would have a Plus One! We'll need more plates..."
-elsewhere-
Jacqueline: "Any update from your 'patient'?"
kim: well, he's back home now.
Jacqueline: "Think they'll go after him again?"
kim:...i dont know....
-elsewhere-
Tanizaki: *staring at the sunset*
???: brother....
Tanizaki: "Yeah?"
-there is someone standing..........in an elephant suit-
naomi: we start our punishment tomorrow.
Tanizaki: ._.; "...What the heck are you wearing?"
naomi: mascot suit.
Tanizaki: .________.;;; "...How bad is mine?"
naomi:.....do you really want to know~?
Tanizaki: "I mean, better now than later?"
-elsewhere-
Yohei: *typing*
chie: *helping the others decorate the tree*
Shotaro: *wrapped in lights* ._.;
-elsewhere-
Takehisa: *seated in driver's seat* "Okay, I'm going to start it up again. Check the engine."
karin: alright!
Takehisa: *starts the engine*
karin: looking good.
Takehisa: *turns over the engine*
*Burst of exhaust out the back-pipe*
karin: *cough* crap!
Takehisa: ._.;;; "...Whoops."
-elsewhere-
Benimaru: *lights a candle at a shrine*
kirei: *smiles*
Benimaru: *lowers his head, prays*
-elsewhere-
Kid: "Hmm..."
stocking: comfy~?
Kid: *smiles* "Maybe~"
stocking: *smiles and kisses his forehead*
Kid: ^\\\^ *purrs*
stocking: so cute~
Kid: >\\\\< "I can't help it--you're so cute..."
stocking: *smoooooooch*~<3
Kid: "Mmm..." -\\\\- *rubs her hand*
-elsewhere-
Mrs Harue: "Sweetie? Can I get you anything?"
keek: ......*shaking a bit*
Mrs Harue: "..." *hug*
keek:...*sniffle*
Mrs Harue: "We'll go out tomorrow to the doctor..."
keek: o-ok....
Mrs Harue: *trying to smile* "We can also stop by your favorite game shop?"
keek:....s-sure....
-elsewhere-
Black Star: *groans*
tsubaki: easy now...
Black Star: "I-I'm fine...I can leave now--" *tries to sit up--and his burnt hand touches the bed* "Ow!"
tsubaki: !!!
Black Star: TT~TT "I want a healer..."
-elsewhere-
Magaki: *giggling* <It's so close...> *looks in the mirror--then sees no reflection* "..." <Not close enough...She smelled like one of them...>
-...-
Magaki: <Just need a bit more time...> *transforms their arm into the Uncanny Sword* <And someone to wield...> *licks their lips*
-elsewhere-
Poe: "So, how was it?"
ranpo: it did the job well, so good work there! how's your shin?
Poe: -~- "It still hurts..."
lana: *getting ice for it* here, put your leg up*
Poe: "Thank you..." ^^
lana: ^^
-elsewhere-
Kishiri: "What you been thinking for Christmas?"
vivian: well, papa said he was going to be attending a christmas party at manhasset in hopes of forming some kind of collaboration.
Kishiri: "Manhasset? They got some deep pockets, right?"
vivian: mmhmm!
Kishiri: "Man...Sounds like a fancy shindig. You going?"
vivian: of course! since papa's always working in europe, this is one of the few times of the year i actually get to see him.
Kishiri: "...Good for you to see him."
-elsewhere-
Vulcan: "You heading to bed?"
yu: yeah.
shinra: yeah. i get the feeling things are going to be busy in the coming days....
Relan: "Holidays, too..."
-elsewhere-
Hibana: *passed out* "Zzz..."
gabriella:....*smiles and tucks her in*
-morning-
Kunikida: "..."
aya: .....is he gonna be ok soon?
Katai: "...I don't know. He hasn't been keeping to his schedule..."
aya: *worried* *light bulb* kunikida! let's go ice fishing!
Katai: ._.;
Kunikida: "...Where?"
aya: i think there's a big pond in the park in the pine acre's district!
Kunikida: "...You'll need your coat."
aya: ok!
Katai: "You'll need poles, too..."
-elsewhere-
Kyouka: *yawns* "Wake up..."
atsushi: *yaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAawn* ugh....so exhausted....
Kyouka: "It was a busy mission. Are you skipping classes today?"
atsushi: cant afford to right now. *streeeeetch*...............................................kyouka did i seriously fall asleep on the kitchen table?
Kyouka: "...I don't know?" *looks around*
-elsewhere-
Akutagawa: *marks the calendar* "Okay...Just need to learn non-lethal attacks. Should be easy. Set up the first dummy."
coke-bottle glasses: right away, sir.
Akutagawa: *summons Rashomon*
coke-bottle: *timing him*
Akutagawa: *wraps Rashomon around his fist--and punches the dummy's chest*
-knock back!-
coke bottle: excellent work, sir!
Akutagawa: "Hmm. Was it lethal?"
-elsewhere-
Sanjuro: "Until Black Star recovers, will you be investigating alone?"
tsubaki:....i suppose so.
Sanjuro: "...Without the Uncanny Sword?"
tsubaki:....*gulps*
Sanjuro: "...It'll be okay. We're going to get...it back."
tsubaki:...right. we have to.
-elsewhere-
Johannes: "I don't see why I have to go with you." >3<
metsu: *holding an umbrella* because you are too much trouble to be left on your own.
Johannes: "Hmph. You act like no one else has ever done that in a lab...And Jeje will clean it up."
metsu: ...
Jeje: "IT GOT EVERYWHERE!"
-elsewhere-
Todoroki: *takes books out of his locker*
ochako: hey todoroki! *waves*
Todoroki: "Oh. Good morning. How are you?"
ochako: nervous for the internships.
Todoroki: "Oh? But Gunhead sought you out, right?"
ochako: yeah. but ive totally got this. *fist pump*
Todoroki: "..." *smiles, fist bump* "Yes."
ochako: hehe ^^
Todoroki: "...I have finalized my choice."
ochako: really? where is it?
Todoroki: "...My father's..."
ochako: ^u^ ......... OuO.......... O___O WAITWHATNOW!?
Todoroki: "I guess I should've given you a warning, such as 'Sit down for this'...Sorry. I just...need to learn how to control my flames..."
ochako: what the heckie dude? why not someone like, i dunno, ryukyu? or manuel, or even the wild wild pussycats??
Todoroki: "None of them are the person from whom I inherited my Quirk."
ochako: ......are you sure? even after all he-
Todoroki: "I won't act like this won't be hard...or even impossible. I...have had to set up some appointments..."
ochako: ....
Todoroki: "With a-a...therapist..."
ochako:......*she hugs him*
Todoroki: "..." *pat pat* "Th-Thanks?"
-elsewhere-
Jacqueline: *putting books away--spots a student at a desk* "???"
rowena: hello. ^^ we're working on setting up a club. we have two members so far. *she holds up a sign that says 'mystery and occult club'*
Jacqueline: "Oh...I would imagine you would have more members in no time at this kind of a school..."
rowena: *she smiles*
Jacqueline: "Wait--who's Member #2?"
rowena: annaaaaaa- *seeing poe* miss warren ^^;;;;
Jacqueline: "???"
Poe: "Rowena? What's this club for?"
rowena: it's a club dedicated to the study of mysteries and the occult, as the name implies. ^^ i think it could help me make friends here who share similar interests with me.
Poe: ^^; "Just be careful..."
-elsewhere-
Lucy: "Zzz..."
marie: miss montgomery?
Lucy: *grumbles, looks up* "..." O_O *sits up straight* "S-Sorry, Miss Mjolnir."
-elsewhere-
higuchi: they're WHAT?
naoya: yeah, those two rats are joining us.
Tachihara: "AND I AM HYPED!"
higuchi: even after they, oh i dont know, TRIED TO KILL ALL OF US?!?!
naoya: well, they seemed eager, especially the munchkin.
Tachihara: "...That gremlin is still here?"
naoya: um, that's who i meant. her and the other guy, sasha i think?
higuchi: alexander pushkin.
naoya: eh, close enough.
Tachihara: D: "What about the cute girl?!"
naoya: opted to stay in the cell.
Tachihara: -3-
-elsewhere-
Katai: "...I haven't gotten a bite."
aya: how about you, kunikida?
Kunikida: "Nothing."
aya: hmm...
Katai: "I was hoping to catch fish. She seemed to like them..."
aya: ??
Katai: "...!!! N-Nothing..." .\\\. "I-I think I'll have a nibble soon."
aya: ok then. *shrug*
Kunikida: *his line has a tug* "??"
aya: quick! you got this!
Kunikida: *starts to pull it in*
-you caught it!-
Kunikida: "Ah. Salmon." *hands it to Katai* "Give it to that woman you like."
aya: wait, uncle katai has a girlfriend?
Katai: "I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
Kunikida: "You said she was there when you were recovering--"
aya: ??
Katai: "I SAID NOTHING!"
-elsewhere-
Dazai: "..."
-knocks-
kirako: dazai?
Dazai: "..." *opens the door* "...Hey."
kirako: listen, i know yesterday was a bit of a shock for you...it's a shock for me too...
Dazai: "...I'm sorry."
kirako: ??
Dazai: "I didn't mean for this..."
kirako: dazai, it's ok. these things happen.
Dazai: "...Getting pregnant is not 'just happens'..."
kirako:....im not mad at you, if thats what you're thinking.
Dazai: "I'm mad at me..."
kirako: .....
Dazai: "...Look. Whatever you want, I'll support. I'll have the money..."
kirako:....*pats his back*
Dazai: "...I'm not 'father material.'"
kirako: no one said you had to be.
Dazai: "...I'd have to, or else I'd screw that kid up..."
kirako:....*holding him close, stroking his head* ....
Dazai: "..." *looks shocked, even as he hugs her*
kirako: ....*hums slightly*
Dazai: *closes his eyes*
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: *grabs his books*
eijiro: eyyyy! ozaki! what's up?
Chuuya: "Oh. Helo, Eijiro. How are you?"
eijiro: good. been busy?
Chuuya: "...Quite. I need to pick up some makeup assignments..."
-elsewhere-
Lucy: "Any plans after school?"
atsushi: i might take a nap. im still exhausted...
Lucy: *nods* "Let's get you home...I'll cook something and you can get the leftovers from the fridge."
atsushi: ok then. *yaaaawn*
-elsewhere-
Black Star: "Zzz..."
tsubaki: ......
Black Star: *groans*
{Black Star: "..." *looks around* "...Oh, great. Here again."}
{???: ....................}
{*In his dream, he is at a waterfall...*}
{????: ...................}
{Black Star: "...Tch. Look, whatever Yoda speech you got, make it fast: I got to wake up and--"}
{????: *bearing their teeth and charges*}
{Black Star: "!!!" *tries to leap over*}
-black star?-
Black Star: *tossing in sleep*
tsubaki: black*star?
Black Star: *swings his arm*
tsubaki: black*star wake up!
Black Star: *his hand reaches at Tsubaki* "No!"
tsubaki: *hugging him*
Black Star: "..." *coughs* "I...Sorry."
-elsewhere-
Katai: *counting the fish* "Is this good?"
aya: mmhmm!
Katai: ^^ "Yay..." Q~Q "Can we go home now?"
-elsewhere-
Kid: *thumbing through papers*
liz: busy week?
Kid: *nods* "I would like to finish some of these tasks before the holiday break. How about you?"
liz: yeah.
-elsewhere-
Gin: "..."
higuchi: you ok?
Gin: "Just thinking. The idea of including those Rats is not comforting."
higuchi: i can see where you're coming from here, especially after what the one tried to do with-....*sigh*
Gin: "Yes. I would love to put an explosive around _their_ necks."
higuchi: ....
Gin: "..." *pulls out her blade*
-later-
Endeavor: *reclining in front of his fireplace*
secretary: sir, you have someone to see you.
Endeavor: "??? Who is it?" *sets down his drink*
secretary: its your son.
Endeavor: "More specifically?"
secretary: he says his name is 'shouto'?
Endeavor: "!!!" *tosses the chair aside* "SHOOOOOOOOOOOOUTO!"
secretary: *falling out of their chair* t-too loud.
Todoroki: *standing at the entrance* "...This was a mistake."
Endeavor: *running through the hall* "Wait!"
secretary: *ducks under the table* Q-Q;
Todoroki: "...Endeavor."
Endeavor: "Oh, come on, my boy--if you're going to join me at this Agency, can't you call me 'Dad'?"
Todoroki: "...That's not the word I was looking for."
Endeavor: "...One day, after this training, you will learn to respect me and embrace not only your power but your legacy--"
Todoroki: "When are you going out on patrol?"
Endeavor: "CLEAR MY SCHEDULE!"
secretary: y-yes sir! (thinking: the pay isnt worth this shit Q_Q )
-elsewhere-
Gunhead: *looks at clipboard* "Let's see...Yep. That's you." *holds out his hand* "Welcome aboard, kiddo!"
ochako: *shaking his hand* i look forwards to lookin- working with you sir!
Gunhead: ^^ "D'aw, you're all gungho and ready to power through--awesome!"
ochako: ^^ (thinking: he's actually really chill and adorable how the hell even-)
-elsewhere-
Uwabami: *adjusting the mirror*
-knocks-
momo: um. h-hello ma'am.
itsuka: hey. ^^
Uwabami: "Ah, Yaoyorozu, Kendo! Welcome!" *opens her arms*
itsuka: um....*glances* *ahem*
momo: *bows* i look forwards to working with you, ma'am!
itsuka: ._.;
Uwabami: "Oh, please, sweetie--" *hugs*
momo: ^///-///^;
itsuka: grk- s-strong grip...
Uwabami: "I'm so glad you are here!" *hands Momo a mirror* "Hold this."
-elsewhere-
Izuku: *looking at the address* "So it should be just a few doors--" *looks up* o_o; "--down?"
-the place looks completely abandoned-
Izuku: ("Maybe...No, this is the right address.") *approaches the door* "Um, excuse me? I'm looking for someone? I'm Izuku--"
-an old man is laying on the ground.....red all over.....-
Izuku: D: *SCREAMS* "Oh no! Help! Ambulance! Police! This old man is--"
-he springs back up-
old man: HELP! I'VE FALLEN, AND I _CAN_ GET UP!
Izuku: *LOUDER SCREAM* "HE'S ALIVE!"
old man:... !! NOOO MY KETCHUP FILLED SAUSAGE LINKS! OH THE HORROR!
Izuku: ._.;;;; "...Um, excuse me, sir?" ^^; "I'm Izuku Midoriya. I'm here from--"
old man: you a telemarketer, sonny?
Izuku: .___.; "N-No? I'm a student who was to begin an internship with Gr--"
old man: boy. *pats his back* if you're lookin for 'big joe mcgee', that's a block down. but if i were you, i'd just turn back. he'd break you in half in a heartbeat.
Izuku: O______O;;;; ("...WHAT THE FUCK?!")
old man:....im hungry.
Izuku: "...Sir, I am looking for Gran Torino! Is he here or not?!"
old man: wha? toshinori, izzat you?
Izuku: -_-; "No, I'm Midoriya..." ^^; "Excuse me, sir. I have to make a call..." *sets down his luggage, takes out his phone*
old man: *looking through the suitcase* say kiddo. fire an attack on me, would ya? lets see what your one for all can do.
Izuku: ._.; "...Gran Torino? Sir?"
old man: did i fuckin' stutter? put it on and come at me, bro!
Izuku: :X "I-I need a room to change in, sir!"
old man: next floor, first door on the left.
Izuku: .\\\\. "Th-Thank you!" *grabs his suitcase, runs*
gran torino:.... (thinking: let's see how well you picked them out, toshinori...)
-elsewhere-
Bakugo: "...The heck you staring at?"
fan: oh. my. gosh. you're interning for best jeanist?! EEEE! HE'S SO COOL!
fan 2: i would totally let him step on me!
Bakugo: "...Okay. I already have to deal with one of you masochistic fuckwads in class--I don't need one here. Get to stepping."
secretary: mr bakugou? right this way, please.
Bakugo: *follows, grumbling* "I wanted a top hero and all, but these fans are obsessive...Just fixated on one person like some weirdo."
-elsewhere-
Mineta: =\\\\\= "I get to meet a giant lady, I get to meet a giant lady..."
old lady: yeah? *takes a drag* whadda you want, brat?
Mineta: "I was looking for Mount Lady, and she's all--" *imitates her dimensions* "--and you're not."
???: oh my fucking god, barb, he's the intern! fuck!. hey cutie~ (thinking: oh fuck my life)
-yep, it was mt lady, coming home from a grocery run-
Mineta: "... ... ... ... ... ..." *SCREAMS*
mt lady: what? what?!
barb: did his parents drop him off the empire state building as a baby?
mt lady: well that explains everything.
Mineta: "IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND WORK WITH YOU, MA'AM! I can't wait to be under your tutelage!" *excited*
mt lady: riiiight. sure... ^^# (thinking: i cant wait to punt this runt)
-elsewhere-
Deathgoro: "Got to keep up the pace when going on patrol, kiddo!"
jirou: u-u-understood, sir!
-elsewhere-
All Might: *shuddering* "He'll be fine, he'll be fine, he'llbefinehellbefine--"
-elsewhere-
Sanjuro: *marking a map* "And this was the radius where you encountered this thief..."
tsubaki: so they couldnt have gotten far, then.
Sanjuro: *shakes his head* "And here are the residential areas--" *circles those*
-elsewhere-
Wes: ._.;;;;;; "...Why is your friend back? We're not done with practice--"
licht: long story.
Hyde: *waving a flag* "Do it, baby!"
licht: *throws the chair at him*
Wes: O_O
Hyde: *knocked down--the flag drapes him like a coroner's sheet*
licht: he will be at peace, for i am a heavenly angel. *pose*
-the spotlight shines upon him-
Wes: "...JOSEPHINE! The spotlight isn't until later!"
maid: i dont know what happened! it just turned on by itself!
ghost dog: 8D
Wes: -_-; *pets ghost dog*
-elsewhere-
Lucy: "Huh. They're both fast asleep?"
Dazai: "Zzz..."
kirako: zzzzz....
atsushi: *puts a blanket over them*
mii: *mreow*
Lucy: "??? Oh, hello..." *pets Mii*
mii: ^u^
Lucy: "I didn't know Kirako had a cat..."
atsushi: yep, she does.
Lucy: "What a cutie..." *scratches under Mii's chin*
mii: ^u^
Lucy: "You hungry, little guy?" ^^
mii: *mreow!*
-elsewhere-
Jacqueline: *setting the plates*
nagisa: *helping with stirring*
kim: thanks, kiddo.
nagisa: hehe! ^^
Jacqueline: *smiles* "We have enough chairs?"
kim: i think so. mami and chrona said they'd be over too.
Jacqueline: "It'll be good company...I better get dessert out of the oven."
-elsewhere-
Shamrock: *reading the email* "...How sad."
naho: whats up?
Shamrock: "!!!! Oh! Um...My favorite tea is being discontinued." X^;
naho: .....that stinks. *exits*
-elsewhere-
Relan: *sneezes*
iris: you ok?
Relan: "I think so? Just dust..."
tamaki: it's like that baby panda video.
Relan: ._.; "...I'm not a panda..."
shinra:.... TTuTT (thinking: could have fooled me.)
-elsewhere-
Hibana: =\\\\\\\= *snuggle*
hanako: *giggles*
Hibana: "Such a cutie-patootie..."
-elsewhere-
Karim: "Hmm...You been okay?"
dia: !! o-of course. just a bit tired is all.
foien: ...
pearl: we do worry about you, dia.
dia: im fine, really...
Karim: "Well, how about some soup?"
-elsewhere-
Iida: "So you are on patrol?"
manual: yeah. hosu city's been in a bit of a panic after the incident- s-sorry.
Iida: "No, I understand. It would make sense to have superheroes visible to give civilians confidence..."
manual: that's right. especially since so many people are around during the holidays.
Iida: "Hmm...How approachable are civilians to you?"
-elsewhere-
Izuku: *stares at the broken microwave "..." *tries opening the door* "...You shouldn't use this, sir. It'll release radiation, and not the 'superhero origin story' kind..."
gran torino: im gonna go to the store now. be back soon. clean up while im out see ya! *exits*
Izuku: *sighs* "What even is this...I thought I would come here to learn how to control One for All, then I'm told my focus on learning it like All Might would teach it was a shackle...Maybe...if I tried another approach..." *looks at his hand* "...This hand of mind is connected to my arm, which is connected to my shoulder...It's...!!! It's an extension of me!"
-elsewhere-
best jeanist: to be honest, im not really a fan, mr kacchan.
Bakugo: "!!!! Then why the ever-loving crud-apples did you take me on as a protege?!"
best jeanist: because i intend to make a good example of you. *sparkle sparkle*
Bakugo: "I am already an awesome example! Look at me! I won in the competition (ignoring that my opponent was totally wimping out)--DID YOU JUST CALL ME KACCHAN?!"
best jeanist: please, it's all over social media. *shows his phone* also, have you looked in the mirror lately? heros and villains are two sides of the same coin. look at that hard glare of yours. does that look like the face of a hero to you?
-night time-
Izuku: *drops garbage bag in the alley*
-the night is silent-
Izuku: *looks up the alley wall* "...Okay...If I try to bounce there, then there..." *nods* "Let's do this..." "Charge up the feet...and the knees...and...BOUNCE!" *leaps*
-elsewhere-
leo: .............
{RHOD member: <oi, oi, new girl, give us a smile>}
{leo: ...}
{RHOD member 2: <she's a cute on, the boss sure knows how to pick 'em, eh?>}
{*tap tap on Members #1 and #2's shoulders*}
{RHOD 2: <nyeh>}
{leo: ??}
{Ivan: *creepy face* "Master would like you two to leave her alone--or suffer."}
{1 + 2: OwO;;;;; *they flee*}
{leo: ...... <t-thank you, sir....>}
{Ivan: *slight bow*<"Anything for my master...Even though he had not specifically asked me in this instance.> ^^;
{leo: .... .///. <w-what exactly will i be doing here? i dont have any particular skills that would be of use->}
{Ivan: <I...don't know that. But Master said he was interested in what you could do, and I always trust his word~ Maybe speak with him?>}
{leo: <m-maybe....>}
{Ivan: <But first--> *hands her a tray*}
{leo: ?? *blinks* }
{Ivan: <Can you make tea?>}
{leo: <well, i've never actually tried to...>}
{Ivan: <Then in the name of our master, I will teach you...>}
leo: .....*sigh* please be ok, vanya....
-elsewhere-
Ivan: *shuddering*
fyo-dolly: ...
Ivan: *stares* "..." <Is this to your liking, Master?>
-no answer-
Ivan: Q~Q "H-Have I offended you?"
fyo-dolly:....
Ivan: "..." *holds up the doll* *high-pitch voice* "I think you're really obedient, my loyal servant!" *normal voice* "Oh, am I, really~?" ^^
*Fyodor*: "Oh, yes--you are the most perfect servant! Far better than that skanky whore who is only good for filling with my seed--"
Ivan: "Oh, stop, master~ You'll embarrass me." =\\\\=
*Fyodor*: "It's true! You also know how to tend to me in every way possible..."
-elsewhere-
pushkin:.................kati? did you feel that?
katya: the overwhelming feeling of second hand embarrassment? yes.
Gin: "Are you two done talking?"
katya: nyeh?
pushkin: nothing! OuO;
Gin: "Good. Now pay attention..." *holds up a kunai*
-elsewhere-
Fourth Kind: "And that's it for today. Now get to bed for a bright and early day, you poozers."
eijiro: understood!
-elsewhere-
Izuku: *his face is bruised* TWT
gran torino: jeez, you fall down the steps, sonny?
Izuku: "Just some...late night jumping practice, sir."
gran torino: yeah, every real challenge starts that way. ya'll'd be hard pressed to get that kinda mentality outta all might. he could manage fine from the start, so i had to use different methods. the only thing the kid had going for him was his body... GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER, YOU SICK FUCKS.
Izuku: :X "I WASN'T THINKING ANYTHING OF THE KIND, SIR! ...And why did you make that plural?" *looks around*
gran torino: dont think about it too much. anyway. we sparred until he was ready to pass out and cry.
Izuku: ._.;;; "...Poor All Might...That must've hurt."
gran torino: not as much as the emotional pain. he was entrusted to me by a friend of mine who's long gone, god rest her soul.
-ding dong-
Izuku: "I'll get it, sir..." (" 'Entrusted'? Did he mean...All Might's mentor?")
delivery: delivery for a mr...torino?
gran torino: aha! it's here!
-one microwave installation later-
Izuku: "Wow, that is one fast delivery..."
gran torino: how about we heat up those taiyaki i bought the other day, huh? im starved!
Izuku: owo; "...For breakfast?"
-and so-
gran torino: *nom* >3< TOO COLD!
Izuku: "!!! I-I don't understand! I set the time correctly, I know it..."
gran torino: ah! here's your problem! you put them on too big of a plate! if you use too big a plate, it wont spin and only a part of it will get warm! have you never used a darn microwave?!
Izuku: "O-Of course! We just don't--My mom and me--We don't have a spinning microwave! Ours is stationary and...And...!!!! I figured it out!"
gran torino: ?
Izuku: "I am the taiyaki!"
gran torino:....did you hit your head harder than you thought you did? are you going senile?
Izuku: "I have been trying to concentrate all of my power to one spot, rather than using One for All throughout my body, as an extention of myself..."
gran torino: now yer catching on!
Izuku: ^^ "I-I only hope so. Now it's about putting it into practice..."
-elsewhere-
Uwabami: *checking her mail* *sighs* "So annoying...All these invitations..."
-one letter from the zoo-
-'do your best today! <3 aoi + shiina + everyone'-
Uwabami: "..." TTWTT "D'aw..."
-elsewhere-
Mr. Asui: "What you want to do today, kiddos?" *ribbit*
satsuki: did-nee! did-nee!
mrs asui: sound like a plan. ^^
-elsewhere-
Akitaru: *sets down glasses* "Drink up."
shinra: thanks for the meal! *gulps*
tamaki: are we ever going to the nether? its been weeks.
Takehisa: "If someone would hurry on the map--"
Victor: "I'M TRYING! I'M TRYING, DARN IT! STOP PUTTING ME UNDER MORE PRESSURE!!!"
karin: o-o;
nozomi: D8>
Victor: "..." Q___Q "I'm sorry--I'm just really stressed...Knights. Fire people. Mushrooms. Tunnels. Fear of dying. It's all a lot weighing on me..."
nozomi: i-it's ok. *hug*
karin: *glare*
Victor: .\\\\\\\. (*screaming internally* "This is not helping my stress...")
-elsewhere-
Todoroki: "What's it like working for my father?"
secretary:..... Q_Q
Todoroki: "...Oh no. He hasn't done...that, has he?"
secretary: no! nothing like that! he just piles all the work on me. TT_TT i barely have time to sleep...
Todoroki: "...May I help?"
-elsewhere-
Fyodor: *humming*
guard: you seem chipper...
Fyodor: *smiles* "I have decided to make the best of my situation~"
guard:...creepy....
-elsewhere-
???:...mufufufu~ this should be easy~
-elsewhere-
Kid: *playing with Shiori*
shiori: ^u^
Kid: *holds up a doll* "And what is this animal?"
shiori: moomoo!
Kid: "A moo-moo! The cow goes--" *impersonating the sound* "Mooooo!"
shiori: *giggles*
Kid: *sets down the cow, picks up another one* "And what sound does this little one make?"
shiori: meeew!
Kid: "A kitty cat!" *sets it down* "And how about this one?" *picks up Shiori*
shiori: *baby squeal*
Kid: "Shiori goes 'hee hee hee'!"
stocking: *smile*
Kid: *looks at Stocking...winks at her*
stocking: 7///w///7~<3
Kid: ^\\\^ *passes Shiori to Stocking*
stocking: hey, shiorin ^^
shiori: stocky! stocky!
Kid: *smiles, as he snaps a pic*
-elsewhere-
Yohei: "Look what a big boy you are..."
toru: hehehe!
Yohei: "And a happy boy, too." *picks him up* "Umph! And bigger..."
chie: ah! haha, yohei im not done washing him yet! ^^; *laughs*
Yohei: "Oh--sorry!" *sets Toru down* "I'll mop up."
chie: ^^; *washing toru in the sink* aw, did daddy try to get you out of bath time early?
toru: ba!
chie: hehe, silly daddy!
Yohei: ^^; "Sorry...Just been away so long today..."
chie: *small smile* ah, did you want to be on ducky duty?
Yohei: "...That'd be great." *smiles, kisses her cheek as he takes the rubber ducky*
toru: ^o^
Yohei: "QUACK QUACK!"
toru: ^u^
-elsewhere-
Relan: *pats Shinra's back* "Better?"
shinra: y-yeah.
iris: *hug*
shinra: =///=
Relan: "We're here for you..."
-elsewhere-
Jacqueline: *sighs* "Good meal..."
mami: thanks for tonight. ^^
kim: no probs.
nagisa: ^u^
Crona: *nods* "Th-Thank you..."
-elsewhere-
Dazai: "..."
yosano: still moping because of the baby, huh?
Dazai: "It's not 'moping.' It's thinking."
yosano: hmm...
Dazai: "Money. Broken family. Dad who has problems."
yosano: you're scared because you're inexperienced.
Dazai: "Is that the _only_ reason? What do I know about raising anyone?"
yosano: well, you've been doing well with atsushi and kyouka, right?
Dazai: "...I don't have to change their diapers, though..."
yosano: hey, you're not the only one raising this kid.
Dazai: "...What if she doesn't want me involved?"
yosano: you'll just have to ask then, wont you?
Dazai: "..." *bolts upright* "Yes, I will."
-elsewhere-
Sanjuro: "It's getting late...Maybe call it a night?"
tsubaki:...perhaps...
Sanjuro: "..." *hug*
tsubaki:....*hug*
Sanjuro: "We'll stop them...and we'll get him--...the sword back."
tsubaki:...r-right....*walking home* .........
Sanjuro: "..." *looks up at the sky*
-elsewhere-
Magaki: *covering their ears* "..."
-...-
Magaki: "...Stop..."
-...?-
Magaki: "Stop talking to me...I don't want to hear it..."
-...-
Magaki: "..." *lowers their hands* "..." *stares at the one that transforms into the Uncanny Sword* "...Go away..."
-elsewhere-
Bakugo: [how is your internship?]
itsuka: [its...an experience. ^^; ]
Bakugo: [about the same -_-# ] *texts a photo: his hair and outfit have been changed*
itsuka: [who are you and why do you have katsuki's phone?]
Bakugo: [HA HA FUCKING HA. i'm gonna kill jeanist for this shit]
itsuka: [XD]
Bakugo: [ -_-# what's snake woman got you doing? patrols?]
itsuka: ... [advertisement.]
Bakugo: [??? like, passing out flyers?]
itsuka: [it should be on in 8 minutes on channel 22]
Bakugo: "???" *flips on Channel 22* ['kay. let's see what this is all about...]
-seems the commercial is promoting the oumagadoki zoo-
-momo and itsuka are also in explorer themed outfits-
Bakugo: "??? The zoo--" *spots Itsuka* "..." .\\\\.
-elsewhere-
Tokoyami: "...Is this the work to finish?"
ojiro: i think so. *phew* a lot to clean up...
Tokoyami: "A civil service, I suppose..." *takes out a flashlight*
-later-
hagakure: [it's so sad. TT^TT i didnt know how bad things were here in chicago...]
Ojiro: [a lot of crime?]
hagakure: [that's the least of it. when i got to valkyrie's office, some of the graffiti was disheartening to say the least...]
Ojiro: "..." [i'm sorry]
hagakure: [cant turn back now, though. i came because i wanted to help out the people who were suffering here. so thats what im going to do! *determined emoticon*]
Ojiro: [sure you will. good luck! stay safe]
hagakure: [i will. ^^]
-elsewhere-
Free: *laying down a blanket*
milia: zzzz
Free: *tucks her in, strokes her head*
milia: =w=
eruka: *small smile*
Free: *stands back...* *whispers to Eruka* "When does she start school?"
eruka: sometime in the spring.
Free: "That's a bit off...Better help her prep..."
-elsewhere-
Asura: *shudders*
mikan: *pet pet*
heibito: =w=
Asura: *slight whimper before hugging Heibito*
mikan: *hums*
Asura: "...This is pleasant."
-elsewhere-
Lucy: "Zzz..."
anne: zzz
Lucy: *turns over under her blanket* =w=
-morning-
Wes: *yawns*
liz: zzzz
Wes: "..." *rubs her back*
liz: morning~ *kiss*
Wes: "Good morning." *smooch* ^\\\^ "Sleep well?"
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: *shivers*
sonia: *asleep*
Chuuya: "..." *gets up, goes to the kitchen...takes out the cat dish*
mito: *mreow*
Chuuya: *pours out a bit of dry cat food and a bowl of milk* "Here you go, Mi--...Mito."
mito: *mew!* *nom nom nom*
Chuuya: *pets her* "..." *looks at the kitchen table*
-...silence-
Chuuya: *sighs, opens the cupboard, removes some bowls and cups*
sonia: *yawns and gets up*
Chuuya: "??? Sonia? You up?"
sonia: *nods and goes to brush her teeth*
Chuuya: *wipes his eyes*
-elsewhere-
Jacqueline: "So...That zoo commercial."
kim: yeah, i could see them setting up. aoi seemed pretty nervous.
Jacqueline: "Hmm...They didn't ask you to be in the commercial?"
kim: i didnt offer, so nah.
-elsewhere-
Endeavor: "--and let the people know you mean business. Give them a dirty glare if you have to."
intern 1: *muffled reply*
Todoroki: "..."
-elsewhere-
Gin: *washing blood off her hands*
katya: *streeeetch* haaaa, that was great.
pushkin: hell yeah it was. did you hear the one guy begging for his mommy?
katya: nah, i think my gun was too far down his throat.
higuchi:.....a long time ago, you both threw your morality out of a car on a busy highway, didnt you?
Gin: "We can't have unwanted attention--which is what you brought onto us."
katya: nyeh?
Gin: "Do I have to discipline you?"
pushkin: are you still mad because i almost killed your bro? OwO;;;
*STRANGLE*
pushkin: grk- O-O UNCLE! UNCLE!
higuchi: gin!
katya: GET THE FUCK OFFA HIM! *lunges*
-hirotsu put them on janitor duty as punishment=
Gin: *in janitor's uniform* -_-####
katya:... <fuck>
-elsewhere-
Spirit: "Have a good day at work."
sachiko: *nods and smiles*
Spirit: "I'll have dinner ready..." *smooch*
-elsewhere-
Kyouka: *picks up her books* "Ready?"
atsushi: *nods*
Lucy: *walking with them* "What's on the agenda?"
atsushi: usual school stuff until christmas break.
Kyouka: "Any exams for you?"
atsushi: im not sure.
Akutagawa: "None for me."
Lucy: .____.
atsushi: i see akuta-.... O-O;;
Kyouka: "You're looking well. Been eating better?"
Lucy: "DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM."
Akutagawa: "I haven't killed in at least a week..."
atsushi: that's good.
Akutagawa: "Thank you."
Lucy: >_> "_Only_ a week...?"
-elsewhere-
fukuzawa: hmmm.....
Tanizaki: "Sir?"
fukuzawa: *looking at his phone.... 'when is the best time to host a baby shower?'*
Tanizaki: "...Sir. Is there something you want to tell me?" ._.
fukuzawa: ?
naomi: you didnt hear? *whispers*
kenji: *peeek* hehe, silly mr fukuzawa, babies dont take showers.
Tanizaki: *listening* "..." O_____O
naomi: yeeep.
Tanizaki: "...Jeez. Might as well find a deal on diapers..."
-elsewhere-
Stein: "I'll need volunteers."
sayaka: TTuTT (please dont call on me please dont call on me pleeeeease dont call on me!)
Stein: "Miss Kaname."
madoka: y-yes sir!
sayaka: O.O;
Stein: "And Sayaka."
sayaka: Q-Q
-elsewhere-
Medusa: *groans, sets her head at the kitchen counter*
neian: zzzz
Medusa: "..." *drags a book--"Arcania*--over to herself, rests her head on it, watches Neian* "..."
-elsewhere-
Katai: *checking his phone*
keek: [thanks for helping me]
Katai: "..." ("I wish I had done more sooner...") [you're welcome. how are u?]
keek: [ok. went 2 doctors. will be going 2 therapy]
Katai: [oh good--i think that will help]
-elsewhere-
Kunikida: *opens his book...holds his pen...his hand is shaking*
ranpo: still shook up over that kid, huh?
Kunikida: "...Do you have to be so blunt?"
ranpo: hey, i just have a detective’s understanding.
Kunikida: *shuts his book, tosses his pen away*
ranpo: ...
Kunikida: "...I can't do this..."
yosano: ....
Kunikida: "...I think I have to leave."
fukuzawa: what do you mean?
aya: you can't give up, kunikida!
Kunikida: "Look at me...Do you not understand the embarrassment I will attach to this Agency by staying here?"
fukuzawa: you arent bringing shame to the agency.
Kunikida: "I LET A CHILD DIE! I should be punished!"
-stunned silence-
Kunikida: "..."
aya:....*teary eyed* kunikida...
Kunikida: *shakes his head*
-elsewhere-
Intern #1: "Yo, Kacchan! Good luck today!"
Bakugo: "Blow it out your ass."
-elsewhere-
Gunhead: "Oh no--that poor kitten's stuck way up there..."
ochako: *gravities on up* its ok, kitty.
-she got clawed up, but it was worth it-
-elsewhere-
emily: alright. and now for the roll call. mr twain?
twain: yo!
emily: wilde?
oscar: here~
emily: white?
ebie: *hanging upside down* here!
emily: steinbeck?
Steinbeck: *calling from upstairs* "Coming!" *walking down, holding a potted vine*
emily: ah. baum?
man: we're here~! ^^
girl: present.
emily: good. let's see. hemingway?
Hemingway: "Ay."
emily: that should be-
oscar: wait. dickenson isnt here.
emily: IM RIGHT HERE! D8>
oscar: hmm? oh! she's giving role. sorry hun~ ^^;
emily: =_=;
Steinbeck: "Okay, now that that part is taken care of, onto business--" *pulls out Christmas lights*
-elsewhere-
Fitzgerald: "..." *staring at Christmas lights on the tree*
mary: *putting a bow on mr tsubaki* hehe ^^
Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *head tilt*
mary: hehe ^^
Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nuzzle*
-elsewhere-
leo: ......
Akutagawa: *enters, carrying a backpack of books*
leo: ??
Akutagawa: "...I had to come back to tend to you, as others are not here to do so."
leo: ....i....i see....
Akutagawa: "..." *sits down, takes his homework out from his bookbag* "...I go to school now. Did you?"
leo: ...i had private tutors when i was much younger. i continued my education with the rats.
Akutagawa: "..." *shivers when she says 'Rats'*
leo:....
Akutagawa: "...I've gone a week without killing."
leo: ?
Akutagawa: "I made a promise to someone I want to kill. And that I'm attracted to."
leo:.....ah....
Akutagawa: "...I'm conflicted. But not killing has made me...feel things."
leo: ....do you love this person?
Akutagawa: "...I think so?"
leo: ....why?
Akutagawa: "...He's powerful."
leo:....is that...the only reason?
{atsushi: *smiles*}
Akutagawa: "...He looks friendly."
-elsewhere-
Lucy: *opens her lunch* "Jeez...Following us like that."
atsushi: yeah…but i think he's been getting kinda better? ish?
Lucy: "Yes, I felt much better that he didn't try to kill me this time." -_-;
atsushi: i really do think he might get better from this. *smiles and holds her hand*
Lucy: =\\\\= "...Tiger instincts, right?"
atsushi: *chuckle*
-elsewhere-
aya: *pounding on katai's door* UNCLE KATAAAAAI WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!!!
Katai: "!!!" *wrapped in his futon, bounces to the door--and falls out of it onto the floor* "...Owie."
aya: *shaking him* it's kunikida! he's thinking about leaving! we gotta talk him out of it! >A<
Katai: O_O;;;; "...I left. It worked out...fine-ish for me." ^^;;;;
*...Something is crawling along the floor behind Katai*
*...Is that an amoeba?!*
aya: O_o *chokehold* TALK HIM OUT OF IT AND CLEAN YOUR HOUSE DARN IT!!
Katai: O________o "OKAY, I WILL! ..." *takes his phone, dials Kunikida* "...It's still dialing..."
aya: please pick up....
*CLICK*
Kunikida: "...What?"
aya: please dont leave, kunikida! you cant just give up because of one slip up! that's not the kunikida that we know!
Kunikida: "...'Slip up'?"
aya: people make mistakes ok? that's normal. all we can do is learn from the past and improve, right?!
Kunikida: "...What am I supposed to learn from someone's death? How many will die..."
aya: ....*biting her lip* IF YOU DONT STOP BEING A BABY ABOUT THIS THEN MORE PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE! YOU CAN HELP STOP THAT! JUST GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR BUTT ALREADY AND START GOING FOR IT, DAMMIT!
Kunikida: *triggered, as he remembers lives he has lost--and those he has saved* "..." *drops the phone*
aya: ....kuni?....*shaking* kunikida are you ok?
{Kunikida: "Aya...I'm sorry that you were almost--"}
{aya: its fine. miss yosano was there, right? ^^}
{Kunikida: *sighs* "That is a relief..." *opens his book* "Although this unpredictable nonsense has disrupted my schedule. -^- }
Kunikida: "..." *picks up the phone* "Are you safe?"
aya: y-yeah, im at uncle katai's right now.
Kunikida: "Is Katai okay?"
aya: yeah. h-he needs to clean though. big time.
Kunikida: "...I will be right there. Go out and buy a sponge."
-elsewhere-
kirako: hmm? dazai? what brings you over?
Dazai: "...I came to offer my services."
kirako: oh?
Dazai: "...May I help with anything? Chores? Baby clothes?"
kirako: ah. well, if i need any extra help, i'll let you know. but for now, i seem to be doing well. ^^;
Dazai: "...Have you been to the doctor recently?"
kirako: besides yosano? *chuckles*
Dazai: "I mean...Do you have an OB-GYN?"
kirako: i might schedule an appointment later on...
-elsewhere-
keek: ...
Dr. John: "Let me know whether you feel the pen..." *takes her pen, taps it along the top of leg*
keek: i feel it....
Dr. John: "Okay..." *taps closer to the healed stump*
keek: yeah...
Dr. John: "Okay...That means nerves are still active and haven't died...How is pain in the severed nerves?"
keek:....i-its not as bad...p-physically, anyway....
Dr. John: "...We can keep track of pain medications. But when you say 'physically'...is there something you wanted to discuss that wasn't physical?"
keek:....*shaking* i have....n-nightmares.....the rats....n-nurse lewis...a-a-and that man....*she's shaking badly*
Dr. John: "..." *offers her hand*
keek: *whimpering*
sachiko: *outside* (lewis? s-she doesnt mean......does she?)
-elsewhere-
Black Star: *sits up in bed*
tsubaki: *asleep*
Black Star: "..." *pats her head, his hand more healed*
-elsewhere-
Kunikida: *scrubbing the floor*
aya: *dusting*
Katai: D: "B-But don't upset the feng shui!"
-elsewhere-
Mori: "..."
-footsteps can be heard-
Mori: "!!!" *tries to hide under the desk*
-the door opens-
fukuzawa: ......
Mori: *trying to lean up against the back of the desk*
fukuzawa: mori? i know you're here......it's alright. i have no intentions of fighting you right now.
Mori: "...There is no Mori..."
fukuzawa: ?? *looks under the desk*
Mori: *huddled, holding papers and crayons* Q~Q
fukuzawa:.....?? mori?
Mori: *holds up a paper, with a drawing of Elise*
fukuzawa: .............she's your ability, isnt she?
Mori: "...Yes."
fukuzawa: you can summon her again, right?
Mori: "...It's so hard..."
fukuzawa: ??
Mori: "Summoning her...She won't be how she wants to be..."
fukuzawa: what do you mean?
Mori: "She...can never age."
fukuzawa: ....
Mori: "...I don't deserve..."
fukuzawa:....what happened to you, mori?
Mori: "...The loss of innocence..." *puts a hand through his hair*
fukuzawa: .....
Mori: "...You have seen enough death. You survived it."
fukuzawa: .....
Mori: "...Rintaro did not."
fukuzawa:....rintarou? (come to think of it, that girl always called him that....)
Mori: *nods* "He died when he...When I...When we..."
fukuzawa: when you what?
Mori: "...Killed them..."
fukuzawa: ...
Mori: "Rintaro's mother..."
fukuzawa: !!
Mori: "And...father."
fukuzawa: ?!
Mori: *closes his eyes as tears fall* "I-I guess we're orphans, huh, Rintaro?"
fukuzawa: ...
Mori: *giggles...which turns into crying*
fukuzawa: .....(natsume...what do we do with him like this?)
Mori: *shaking, curled up in the fetal position*
fukuzawa: ....
Mori: *shivering, closing his eyes*
fukuzawa:...*sighs* god dammit.....come on. *picks him up* if people knew the boss of the port mafia was hanging around here by himself, you'd be an easy target...especially like this...
Mori: "Zzz..."
fukuzawa:.... *sighs and begins heading back*
Mori: *nuzzles into his chest*
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: *grabs a box of cereal at the grocery*
katya: sup.
-she and pushkin have a whole cart full of milk...-
hirotsu: put those back.
katya: =n=#
pushkin: =3=
Chuuya: "...What...the...heck?"
hirotsu: *sigh* those two are quite the handful...
Chuuya: "...Working with them seems like a bad plan. How you hiding this from authorities?"
hirotsu: you'd be surprised. we managed to clear you and akutagawa's ledgers so you may attend school, we can clean theirs as well.
Chuuya: "That's a fair point...Just keep them away from me."
hirotsu: while their attitudes can use _quite_ an improvement, they have proven effective in terms of missions, especially given akutagawa's 'hiatus'.
Chuuya: "...Still thinking he won't last another week."
-morning-
Kid: *kitten yawn*
stocking: morning~
Kid: =w= "Good morning..." *smooch*
stocking: mmmm~
Kid: *cuddles* "How was your sleep?"
stocking: good.
-elsewhere-
atsushi: *streeeetch*.... *goes out for a quick walk around the apartments*
Dazai: *on the roof*
atsushi: *sighs and tiger jumps onto the roof* hey dazai, please dont jump. *pulling him back*
Dazai: O_O; "...I was just admiring the view!"
-phone message-
Dazai: *pulls up the message*
[emergency mandatory meeting; fukuzawa's apt]
Dazai: "??? Okay, let's move..."
-in the apartment-
ranpo: so what's up?
kirako: is everyone here?
Kyouka: "Yes."
Dazai: "..."
Tanizaki: *looking around*
*No Kunikida*
naomi: mmhmm.
kenji: is kuni sick?
*Knock knock*
kirako: *looks*
*Kunikida is outside*
yosano: found him!
aya: *following him inside*
Kunikida: "I'm sorry. I got turned around on the way here."
fukuzawa: so then everyone is accounted for.
mii: *mreeeeow*
Dazai: "Y-Yeah...What is this about?"
fukuzawa: on my walk last night, i found something rather...distressing...he was in a bad state and i was forced to bring him back with me to keep him out of harms way.
Kunikida: " 'He'?"
fukuzawa: *looks in the other room* it's alright, you may come out. they wont hurt you.
*shivering is heard...as Mori walks in, wrapped in a blanket*
yosano: what...
atsushi: ....the....
odasaku: actual fuck....
ranpo: WTF?!
kenji: hi!
kirako: O_O
Kyouka: !!!!!!!!!!! *hides behind Kirako*
Kunikida: "!!!" *puts Aya behind him* "Sir, what is the meaning of this?"
-he explains what happened-
ranpo: he looks...almost kind of cute this way.....i feel sick.
yosano: there is so much wrong with this picture.
Dazai: "..." *leans forward, stares at Mori in the face*
Mori: "..."
atsushi: what's he doing?
odasaku: ...
Dazai: "..." *flicks Mori's nose*
Mori: "OW!
naomi: um... ._.;
Dazai: "Huh...Never thought this would happen. So, what, we switch bodyguarding him?"
fukuzawa: for now, until we can figure out what to do with him, we'll be keeping him here so that he doesnt endanger himself or others.
Kunikida: "It's the 'others' part that concerns me. What do you propose?"
fukuzawa: i will be keeping him in the back room for the time being.
Dazai: "So who takes the first shift watching him--"
Mori: *stares at Naomi*
naomi: not it!
aya: not it!
yosano: i'll do it.
ranpo: really?
yosano: well, someone has to.
Mori: *stares at Yosano* "...Oh! Long time no see, akiki!"
yosano:...what the fuck? ._.'
Mori: ^^ "Glad to see you. How's the medical profession treating you?"
yosano: fairly well. and it seems i'll be treating you for today.
Mori: "Okay. Just don't treat me like that one patient we had your last year--that guy really didn't need a spinal tap that badly..."
yosano: ... -_-; this is going to be a long day, isnt it?
fukuzawa: it doesnt look hopeful.
atsushi: ._.; (so that's where ranpo gets his bluntness from...)
Dazai: "Well, we'll leave you to it~"
-elsewhere-
Akutagawa: *sets a tray of food down for Leo*
leo:....*small nom*
Akutagawa: "...You miss him?"
leo:....hard not to...im worried....
Akutagawa: "He did try to kill me and my...rival."
leo: .....if you're angry with him, you can take it out on me.....i cant die anyway....
Akutagawa: "...Useful."
leo: ......on an outside perspective, yes....
Akutagawa: "...Even if you cannot die, I'm not sure I could...That is a bit ambiguous whether it would violate my agreement."
leo: ...
Akutagawa: "..." *sits down* "...What does love feel like?"
leo: eh? well....when you're able to be with that person, it feels....warm.
Akutagawa: "And light?"
leo:...*small smile* yes.
Akutagawa: "..." *nods* "It feels peaceful."
-elsewhere-
Katai: *walking through the grocery...dragging his futon with him*
blair: oh hello~ ^^
Katai: o\\\\w\\\\o "H-H-H-Hell-oooo?"
blair: ^^
Katai: owo "...Fish."
blair:...nyeh? OwO~?
Katai: "I-I went f-fishing...Do you like fish?"
-elsewhere-
Victor: "So..." *hands out the groceries* "I think the Eighth is about ready."
ivy: about fucking time.
Joker: "No kidding. After all this, I don't know whose liver was going to hold out longer, mine's or Red's."
-elsewhere-
Takehisa: *packing the Matchbox*
shinra: .....
Akitaru: "...Hey."
shinra: !! *salutes* sir!
Akitaru: *small laugh, salutes back* "At ease, soldier. Just wanted to see whether you're up for this."
shinra: of course! i mean, i-i have to be, right?
Akitaru: *smiles* "Right!" *pats his back* "...We'll bring him back."
-elsewhere-
Hibana: *opening a box*
gabriella: a gift for iris?
Hibana: *nods* "I thought it was time..."
gabriella: *peek* oh!
Hibana: "You think she'll accept it?"
gabriella: im certain.
-elsewhere-
Master: *sets down a glass of water--then notices a ripple in it* "???"
miranda: looks like another one.
Master: "Weird. We had them months ago--and now they're back?"
-elsewhere-
naomi: ._.;
Tanizaki: *facepalm*
naomi: why is he clinging to me? .____.;;;
Mori: =w=
Tanizaki: "..." *removes a switchblade*
naomi: um.... *poke poke*
Mori: "I feel at peace...You're very kind, ma'am."
naomi:...um....thanks? *blinks*
Mori: *rests his head on her lap* "You're like a mommy..."
Tanizaki: *biting his lips, taking out another switchblade*
naomi: .______. *sweats and screams on the inside*
-elsewhere-
-rumble rumble-
Kyouka: *hiding under a table* O~O
atsushi: everyone ok?
kirako: y-yeah. *rubs her stomach*
Dazai: "..." *looks out the window* "...No obvious damage. Just some car alarms..."
aya: that's good...
Kunikida: "..." *re-sets the table*
-elsewhere-
Kid: "..." *shivers*
stocking: *pats his back*
Kid: "N-Not again..."
stocking: shhhhh, im here, kid...
Kid: *shivers, slight whimper*
stocking: *holding him to her chest and strokes his head*
Kid: *closes his eyes, trying to steady his breath...*
stocking: *humming*
Kid: *calms down, starting to sleep*
-elsewhere-
Katai: owo;;;; "...You okay?"
blair: nyeah. just a bit startled is all. ^^
Katai: "Th-That's good..." *he had leapt into her arms*
blair: hehe, cozy? *slight squish*
Katai: o\\\\w\\\\o "...Incredibly so?"
-elsewhere-
Poe: *under a pile of books that fell from the shelves* ._.;
lana: *helping him up* edgar, are you ok?
Poe: *nod nod* "I-I know I like to put my head into a book, but this is ridiculous." ^^;
lana:.......*chuckles*
Poe: "..." *forehead smooch*
lana: ^///////^
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: *using his gravity powers to hold items up before they hit the floor...the amount he is holding up is stressing out his body* .______.;;;; "I-Is that everything?"
kouyou: *she nods*
Chuuya: "..." *lowers the items...then falls back onto the floor with a sigh* "Phew..."
-elsewhere-
Izuku: "Wow! Are you okay, sir?"
gran torino: bwahaha! mother nature cant keep me down!
Izuku: o_o; "I suppose not..." *picks up items that fell in the kitchen--including boxes of candy* "...You sure like sweets, sir..."
-elsewhere-
Bystander: "Isn't that that cat-girl who lost in the Sports Festival?"
tamaki: *keeping a straight face, altough she was a bit hurt*
nozomi: try not to mind them that much, miss tamaki. ^^;
Bystander #2: "I think she lost more than the match--you see her pants fly off?"
tamaki: *HISSSSSSSSSSSS*
Bystander #2: *falls back* "Oh shit!"
-elsewhere-
Yohei: "Damn...It cracked the roof."
mana: showtaro? you got the supplies?
Shotaro: *lifts them up with Bone of the Ox* "Got 'em!"
mana: ok! let's do this then.
-elsewhere-
Victor: *carefully crawls back into the Eighth through the open window*
komori: *staaaaaare*
Victor: O________O;;;; "...Um...Howdy!"
komori: [sneaking out again?]
Victor: ^^;;; "Oh, you know--my family is up at weird hours, have to get there when I can. And I don't want the Commander to dock me for personal days or sicks days--I'm saving those up to go to a comic convention next month." *nervous laugh*
komori:......*eye glints at him*
Victor: O______O;;; *runs--into the wall*
-elsewhere-
Spirit: "...You okay?"
sachiko: yeah...just uneasy....
Spirit: "Something at work?"
sachiko:...*sigh* if what that girl said is true, that zoey actually did that to her.....do i get the authorities involved? if i do that, they'll question her, and it might just stress her out more than she already is...
Spirit: "Wait, Zoey? ...What girl? She knows something about your coworker who went craz-- ...Who..."
-she explains the situation-
Spirit: "...Have you talked to this girl?"
sachiko: not yet. but please dont tell anyone i told you this, i could get in some real shit for telling you this...
Spirit: *zips his lips* "Got it. Not even if Lord Death asked me."
sachiko: *smiles* thanks, spirit. *hugs*
Spirit: *pats her back, hugs her*
-elsewhere-
Kunikida: *looks outside* "...Where the devil is he? Why would he leave home? Did he get shot...again?"
-knocks-
Kunikida: "???" *looks through the peephole*
-it's katai!-
Kunikida: "!!!" *throws open the door* "Where were you?! I was worried sick..."
Katai: .\\\.
aya: uncle katai?
Katai: "...Hi. I, um...Earthquake."
-elsewhere-
Karim: *drenched* -_-#
pearl: *giving him a towel*
ruby: when's dia gonna get back?
-elsewhere-
dia: .....
Fyodor: *smiles*
dia: ....<i held up my end, you hold up yours...>
Fyodor: <How shall I begin?>
dia: ...
Fyodor: <Maybe tell you where she went?>
dia: <where is she?>
Fyodor: *smiles* <I can't write it out. You'll need a map...>
dia: ...
Fyodor: <Do you have one? I can dictate the directions to you...>
-elsewhere-
leo: ...
Akutagawa: *nudges Naoya* "Talk to her."
naoya: hey there.
leo: ...*nod*
naoya: *hands her a beer can* thirsty?
leo:....im good....
naoya: well, i had a talk with kouyou about finding you some work.
leo: ...............
Akutagawa: "You may like it. Just listen."
naoya: kouyou said she'd offer you a position as a courtesan. she said she'd hate to let you rot away in this dingy-ass cell. 'sides, we let the other two nimrods out, why not let you out too?
leo: ........ it wouldnt.....be the first time i was in such a position......
naoya:...... ._.; *feeling like an ass* did you want to talk to her personally?
Akutagawa: "...That might be a good idea."
leo:.....perhaps......
Akutagawa: "...When would you like? It could be later."
leo:....it doesnt really matter when....
-elsewhere-
Ivan: *shivers*
-silence.... deafening silence....-
Ivan: "...Am I going to die like this, Master?"
fyo-dolly: .....
Ivan: "..." *strokes the puppet* <I suppose...if it is for you...>
-elsewhere-
Shinoda: o_o;;; "...What are you doing?"
mana: fixing the roof, what does it look like?
Shinoda: "But Nea said she likes it like this..."
chie: it's going to cause a leak! D8<
nea: *pouts* fiiine...
Shinoda: ^^; "I'll treat you to ice cream..."
-elsewhere-
Rin: "Was class that bad?"
madoka: i-im alive. QuQ *shaking*
sayaka: TTwTT
kilik:... *pat pat*
sayaka: thank you TTATT
Rin: "Jeez..." *hugs Madoka* "That bad, huh?"
-elsewhere-
Yumi: *cradling Shiori*
shiori: zzzzz
lord death: *small smile*
kirika: ...
Yumi: *sets Shiori down into her bed*
kirika: ...cute.
Yumi: "??? Kirika?"
kirika: w-what?
lord death: *hug*
kirika: !!... 7///7;
Yumi: *pat pat*
-elsewhere-
Magaki: "..." *grimace*
-...-
Magaki: <The blood is so awful...I never wanted to drink it...> *sets it down* <...No, relax. I got it from the butcher's shop.>
-...-
Magaki: "..." <What exactly can _you_ do, anyway? Aside from sword-stuff...>
-elsewhere-
Sakuya: *sitting at the kitchen table, looking at the night sky*
soul: cant sleep?
Sakuya: "No...Not a new problem."
soul: ah.....need something to drink?
Sakuya: "...Yep."
soul: milk?
Sakuya: *nods* "...Maybe cookies?"
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: "..."
sonia: zzzz
Chuuya: "..." *tucks her in*
sonia: *holding her teddy*
Chuuya: *soft sigh* ("Surprised she likes that thing...")
sonia: zzzz
Chuuya: *small forehead kiss*
sonia: =w=
Chuuya: *smiles, before he stands up and heads to the door*
-elsewhere-
Dazai: "..." *turns over*
kirako: zzzz
Dazai: "..." *protective hug*
kirako: =///=
Dazai: "..." *small cuddle*
-elsewhere-
fukuzawa: ....
Mori: "Zzzz..."
ranpo: zzzz
fukuzawa: ....*reading*
Mori: *turns over* "E-Elise..."
fukuzawa: ....
Mori: *whimpers*
fukuzawa:....*awkward shoulder pat*
Mori: TT~TT
-elsewhere-
Jonah: *giggles, re-designing a Hood's face*
hood: OwO
guruna: *spinning in a swivel chair* kurururu~
Jonah: "I think you'll enjoy it. It'll be great for infiltration..."
-elsewhere-
Burns: "Why are you still awake?"
dia: sorry sir, busy day....
Burns: "Hmm." *offers a mug* "Have a seat."
dia: *sitting down* ... *her hands are a bit shaky*
Burns: "...Okay. What's eating at you?"
dia:....*sigh* just....this dostoevsky incident...
Burns: "??? What about it?"
dia: b...bad memories....
-she explains what happened, but leaves out the part about barkova-
Burns: "...I had my suspicions you knew him."
dia:....i thought....coming here would keep me away from that terrible place.....he's in my head....
Burns: "Only if you let him."
dia: ....im sorry, sir.
Burns: "Don't apologize. This is a rough spot that you'll get through."
dia:...u-understood.
Burns: "..." *pats her shoulder* "You're tough. I know you won't let some lunatic get to you."
dia:... *she nods* ....
-elsewhere-
Akutagawa: "Zzz..."
Gin: *sets the blanket down, tucks him in*
Akutagawa: *breathes more easily*
-elsewhere-
leo: ......
*A door down the hall sounds like it opens*
leo: ??
???: "...Sleeping?"
leo: .....who is this?
Kouyou: *approaches* "Someone who has been wanting to speak with you."
leo:...oh.
Kouyou: "Disappointed?"
leo: n-no, just....i dont know about this....i dont want to betray the rats...
Kouyou: "And how would this be betrayal?"
leo: if your suggestion is for me to work for you....
Kouyou: "Yes, it is. And I think you would do well..." *studies Leo's face*
leo: *there is a solemn look on her face, her eyes dull and tired, weary of the world*
Kouyou: "...What do you want?"
leo: ....an escape from this ability of mine....i want to be able to die....but i cant...
Kouyou: "...I'm sorry. I don't know what you have gone through..."
leo: .......*silently stares at the wall, tears falling, but her expression doesnt change*
Kouyou: "..." *unlocks the door*
leo: ....
Kouyou: *enters...sits beside her*
leo:......??
Kouyou: "..." *pats her hand*
leo:.....*shaking a bit*
Kouyou: "It's okay...Cry as much as you need to."
leo: ........
Kouyou: *pats her back*
leo: ....
Kouyou: "...Do you like tea?"
leo:.... *nod*
Kouyou: "Then let's get you some tea." *presses a button on her smartphone*
-elsewhere-
Katai: =w= "Zzz..."
blair: *in cat form, sleeping on his lap*
Katai: *turns slightly...looks up* "...??? ..." *pets Blair*
-elsewhere-
Yukio: *wide awake* "..."
momo sakura: *yawn* yuki?
Yukio: *sits up* "Momo?" *puts on his glasses* "Can't sleep?"
momo sakura: *nod nod*
Yukio: "...Want to talk?"
-elsewhere-
shinra:.....
*It's dark...There is hardly any light...*
shinra: oh.... this place again...
*There is fire, but little, no warmth...A skull is at Shinra's feet*
shinra: WARG! *falls over*
???: mr kusakabe?
shinra: *blinks* oh, hey mikami.
mikami: *awkward wave*
shinra: ok, so we're lucid dreaming right now or something?
mikami: i think so.
shinra: ok. so how about we check this place out and see what we find?
mikami: *nods*
-the two are walking along, looking for any other potential people-
*A pedestal can be seen*
mikami: what do you think it is?
shinra: not sure... helloooooo? anyone here?
*The room grows bright*
shinra: *he sees someone* ?? ...... !!!
*Someone in a cloak, with odd tips poking from the top appears...Someone stands before them*
shinra: s-sho? sho!
Sho: *looks up* "...You again."
shinra: *reaching for him* grab on!
Sho: *stares...holds his sword*
-whud-
shinra: *lying on the floor* ....ow....
-elsewhere-
Sho: *eyes snap open*
dahlia: shall we proceed?
Sho: "..." *takes up his sword* "I am ready."
-elsewhere-
Hibana: "?! What's wrong?"
mikami: s-sorry, i just had a nightmare. ^^;
ryuuko: are you bruised?
mikami: i-i dont think so...*brushing her bangs out....showing her blind eye...*
Hibana: "...Well, I hope sleep is better. Need something?"
-elsewhere-
Yumi: "Shh...It's okay..."
kirika: *peeks into kid's room* ??
Kid: *holding his head*
kirika: is he ok?
lord death: *pats his back* shhh...
Kid: *whimpering* *his skin is burning up*
lord death: ellen, call for stein.
ellen: right away, sir.
Kid: *closing his eyes, getting faint*
-elsewhere-
Chuuya: "Zzz..."
mito: zzzz
Chuuya: *yawns...pets Mito*
mito: =w=
Chuuya: *sighs...looks at the clock*
-4 AM-
Chuuya: *groans* "Still early..."
mito: *streeeetch*
Chuuya: "..." *pets along Mito's stretching*
mito: =w=
Chuuya: *picks up a cat toy, wiggles it*
mito: *batting at it*
Chuuya: *smiles, moving it up and down to get Mito to leap onto the bed*
mito: *leaps* *mreeew* ^w^
Karim: "..."
pearl: *doing round and bumps into someone* ah! sorry about that sir-
Onyango: "Excuse you."
pearl: *ahem* may we help you?
dia: ... !! ah, commander onyango! it's been a while.
Onyango: "...Dia? Child. You're older now."
dia: yes.
pearl: s-she's actually a company commander now after rekk- *tenses* f-father hoshimiya's passing...
Onyango: "...And that is why I am here, child." *turns back to Dia, ignoring Pearl* "Where is the Commander?"
dia: he should be in his office.
Onyango: "Still the same place, or has the building been re-built, too?"
-elsewhere-
*Someone stumbling, bleeding from their stomach*
???: "H-Help..."
'eyebrows': oh! oh goodness!
tao: commander! we got someone hurt!
Huang: *walking into the alley* "Symptoms? Condition?"
tao: they've been cut open!
Huang: "Gloves."
granny: *handing her the gloves and medkit*
Huang: *puts on the gloves, takes out clothes* "Wipe the blood. Sterilize the wound."
'eyebrows': understood!
ritsu: y-yes!
Huang: *takes out needle and thread...she charges a flame along the needle*
-elsewhere-
Tsukiyo: ._. *sits up* "Did you feel that?"
fang-hua: mmmn?
Tsukiyo: "The ground just shook..."
fang-hua: so they're starting up again?
Tsukiyo: "What is causing them? I don't know where the fault lines are..."
-early morning-
shinra: so then the nether...
Victor: "Yep! This is a 'wear dark pants' kind of a mission..."
tamaki: TMI!
iris: will you really be ok with going, relan?
Relan: "I-I've been improving my combat skills--I think? I mean, if Victor, Nozomi, and Vulcan are going, I should be able to, too, right?" ^^;;;;; "..."
shinra: *smiles* i believe in you rel!
nozomi: *nervous*
karin: *she has on a backpack with something in it* dont worry, kiddo. we got you covered!
Vulcan: *twirling the keys* "We're all packed. I'll take care of driving us there."
-and so-
shinra: it's pretty overgrown...
tamaki: the snow just makes it creepier! >~<
shinra: try not to lose your pants, ok?
tamaki: GET BENT!
Akitaru: "Hey, settle down! Just be happy the city let us go in here. After what happened with the last venture people made underground...and the one before that..."
tamaki:.... Q_Q;;;
Takehisa: "...Sir, are you nervous?"
Akitaru: "Why would you say that?" *his knees are knocking into each other as he shakes just below the waist*
komori: [i will stay by the matchbox]
maki: ._.;
Vulcan: "I wouldn't worry too much, guys. I did water clean-up work here all the time...Hey, Sister? You got a prayer before we go in?"
iris: y-yes! *praying* i ask for the infinite dawn, give light to the impure souls. ratomu.
*CREEK* *the doors are opening*
tamaki: MREOW!
karin: huh.
Arthur: "Magic door--MAGIC DOOR!"
Akitaru: "Sister, stay back..."
iris: *backs up and looks at her hands, stunned*
Arthur: "She's a witch--burn her!"
-PUNCH-
Relan: -_-#
maki: *fist steaming*
Arthur: X~X
Vulcan: "Um, guys?" *he's by a power station* "The electricity still works here. Even the door-opening mechanism is still operational--"
shinra: are you trying to give us a collective heart attack?!
Vulcan: "What? We're all fine, right?"
Akitaru: *facing the open doors* "..."
shinra:....*gulps*
tamaki: ._.;;;; creepy....
-and so they enter-
karin: *turns her headlights on*
nozomi: *gulp* is everyone alright?
tamaki: Q_Q
Arthur: "I don't know what the big deal is."
Vulcan: "Yeah. Looks the same as before. Oh, hey, look!" *points* "My tag [graffiti] is still here!"
nozomi: ^^;
maki: pusupusu, can you give us some extra light?
pusupusu: pususu~ 💗
Takehisa: "??? What's this Mickey Mouse looking symbol?" *pushes the dust aside--and there is a skeleton on the ground* "..."
tamaki: *SCREAM*
iris: !!!
Relan: "!!! Eeeek!"
shinra: ._.;;;
*Groaning is heard*
Akitaru: "Calm down! We don't need any of you groaning!"
shinra: 0_______0;;;;
Takehisa: "...Sir. That wasn't us..."
Akitaru: "...Then who was it?"
karin: *looks in the direction of the sound* what the?
iris: !!!!
???: "Leave...Iris..."
iris: SISTER!
shinra: hiban- (no...something isnt right here....)
"Hibana": *reaching out a hand* "Save...me!"
iris: *running towards her*
shinra: !!! WAIT IRIS-
-a thick mist appears-
misora: EEP!
tamaki: WHAT THE FUCK
shinra: shit!
"Hibana": "..." *her smile warps into a gaping mouth, opening wide, as her hand grabs Iris's wrist--and digs nails into her skin*
iris: *SCREAMS*
tamaki: GET OFF HER!
shinra: IRIS!! RELAN! GUYS!
Relan: "I can't see! Where are you--AAAAH!"
-the fog disperses...-
Takehisa: *collapsed on his back, unconscious*
-elsewhere-
tamaki: *cough cough* iris! relan! you two ok?
Relan: *whimpering*
iris: i-i think so..relan! are you ok??
Relan: "Th-They already separated us..."
tamaki:...ok, just breathe, you're gonna be fine. i'll look after you two....*spots someone* ....w-what the....?
iris: is that....another sister?
amber?: ....... *standing still, her back facing them*
tamaki: a-amber? amber?!
amber?:.....................................
Relan: "...After what we just saw..."
tamaki: amber, it's me tama- *turns her around*
-'amber's' face is badly decayed-
tamaki: *screams and stumbles back, hitting a fake wall and falling into the darkness, screaming*
iris: !!! TAMAKI!
Relan: "!!!" *looks at 'Amber'*
iris: !!!
*A large man, carrying the demeanor of a priest, approaches*
iris: *tense*
Assault: "...I do not enjoy the prospect of killing children. But if you are in the way of our Preacher, then Assault will kill you."
-elsewhere-
maki: ugh.... *winces* c-crap...
-she's alone in what seems to be an old railway-
maki: *whimper* this sucks....but at least it cant get any 'better' right?! QuQ;;
???: it's only some stray child.
maki: O-O;;;; *turns and looks*
*Numerous White Hoods surround her*
maki: awwww biscuits.
Flail: "Heh. 'Child'? It's just a woman trembling in the dark..."
maki: how cute, im gonna deck you in the shnozz now ^^
white hood: she's gonna what us in the what now?
-SLAM-
hood: @_@
maki: *demon eyes*
-several hood run in terror-
Flail: "She is just a puny little girly woman! We can take her, men! GET BACK HERE AND STOP RUNNING LIKE PUSSIES! THIS IS A PERFECTLY GOOD CAUSE TO DIE FOR!"
maki: i think your big nose just scared them.
-iron owls go-
Flail: "MY NOSE IS NOT BIG--"
"Disc": "Shut up, sir." *firing flaming disks at Maki*
maki: *finger guns and fires them back at them* nah.
Bee: O_O;; "I TOLD YOU DISCS WAS A DUMB THEME, FRIZ!" *struggling to duck--and gets his hood shaved off by a disc*
Friz: "SHUT UP, BEE!" *gets a disc-shaving up his back* "AAAH!"
Flail: *facepalm* "I thought we'd be more effective than this..."
maki: ^u^
Flail: "..." *throws off his cloak*
maki: aww, does big nose wanna pway?
*Flail stands, bare-chested, hairy, with a chain in his hands*
Flail: "I'll crush you, tiny girly woman!"
maki: *urk* oh god, my eyes burn!
hood 4: *runs to vomit*
Flail: *summons a fireball along the chain* "ENOUGH WITH THE DUMB JOKES!"
maki: alright... come at me, bro.
*The fireball grows spikes to become a mace*
Flail: "In the name of the Preacher, I bless you with DEATH!"
maki: *DODGING*
*The mace smashes the ground, walls--and some Hoods*
Bee: O_o; "I HATE THIS JOB--" *SQUISHED*
hood 5: OW! *he's naked now* FUCK THIS LUCKY LEWD CURSE! TT~TT
Flail: "Don't let a little nudity stop you, boys!" *BANG BANG BANG*
-IRON OWL PUNCH-
Flail: *his face is squished by the sides*
maki *PUNCHES HIM IN THE GUT*
Flail: "..." *laughs, coughing up blood* "HA! No matter how muscular you are, at the end of this, you are still just a woman!"
maki: *glares and chops him into the dirt* yes. a woman who just wrecked your shit.
Flail: "BUT I'M STILL STANDING--"
-BWAM-
Flail: X~X "..." *Meteor Strike then falls onto his lower body, smashing his balls* x.x
-elsewhere-
Vulcan: "It's like biology, really. People come together, people depart--"
Akitaru: -_-# "Don't turn this into science talk."
Vulcan: "We get separated, we return. Just like how we'll find Lisa, right, sir?"
Akitaru: *sighs* "If we just stand here, we're not going to find anyone--"
???: !!!!!
Akitaru: "...Oh, you got to be kidding me--"
-SMACK-
Akitaru: *knocked down across the floor, into the wall*
Giovanni: "Kukuku..."
Vulcan: "..." *smiles* "Lisa."
lisa: .........
Vulcan: "Got to say, you're looking great. That outfit suits you."
lisa: .....*shaking*
Vulcan: *trying to hold onto his friendly smile, even as his eyes are wet*
lisa: why did you come here, vulcan?
Vulcan: "...That's a silly question. To bring you home."
lisa:.....*her eyes look dull*
Giovanni: "WhaT'S WRonG, Feeler?"
lisa: *eyes wide in horror*
{Giovanni: "...A stray."}
{lisa: *staring up at him*}
lisa: *shaking*
Giovanni: "I taught you: to control flames, to control humans...to control hIM. I GOt him to adOPT YOU. MAYBe i neeD TO REMind you of yoUR LESSON..."
lisa: *trembling* ah-
Vulcan: "!!! Get away from her!"
Vulcan: *rushes at Giovanni*
lisa: *shooting firey tentacles out at them* feeler....i am feeler.....right?
Giovanni: "Yes--"
Vulcan: "No!" *VULCAN PUNCH--"
Giovanni: *catches Vulcan's fist--with a robotic hand*
Vulcan: "...What the f--"
*tossed*
lisa: ....
Vulcan: *lying on his back, coughing*
Giovanni: "I have his key, I know the rest from his family. Feeler, cremate him."
lisa: *attacking*
Vulcan: "!!!"
*a small ball rolls in between Lisa and Vulcan*
lisa: ??
-elsewhere-
tamaki: *winces as she gets up* ah....*slams her fist to the floor, yelling* FUCK! FUCKING! DAMMIT! *she's crying* *whimpering* i hate this...i cant do anything...i couldnt keep them safe....am i just...that useless?
???: kurukurukurururu~
tamaki: ?! *looks up*
guruna: oh my my~ what have we here~? a lost little kitty?
Tamaki: "Nyah?"
guruna: kururu~ how cute. what's your name, little kitten?
Tamaki: "..." *steps back, assuming a defensive pose, summoning a flame tail* "Back off!"
guruna: aw, does kitty want to play a game? kururu~ very well~ *sends a fire tornado at her*
Tamaki: "!!!" *pushes with fire-tail and kitten fire paws, trying to get out of the path--*
guruna: hmm, your movements are all sloppy-sloppy. it's because you're upset, riiiight~?
*Tamaki's tail gets caught in the fire tornado*
Tamaki: O_____O "OH SHIT--"
BLAM-
Tamaki: *face-first into the wall* "..."
guruna: kurururu~ aww, did kitty get all hurtsy? you're upset, riiiight~? i think i know whyyyyy~ because you're a child of misfortune...
Tamaki: "..." *pulls her face off the wall...she's bleeding...and it's mixed with her tears* "..."
guruna: i can understaaaand~ im a child of misfortune as well. when i was just a little girl, my mommy and daddy didnt want me anymore, so one day, they threw me out of the car over a bridge and drove away. i waited for days for them to come back, but they never came back. Y_Y
Tamaki: "...Oh my..." *tries to stand up*
guruna: one day, the hoods found me. i was so mad and sad that the world had been so mean to me. i wanted to make them hurt. i wanted them to hurt for how they treated me. *crawls over to her* you're mad too, arent you? because the world treats you like a joke *rubs a hand up her stomach and smiles* it's ok, tammykins, we can just...burn this awful world together <3
Tamaki: "...Okay, stop touching me right the fuck now."
guruna: kuru?
Tamaki: "I'm sorry...about what you went through. That's not fair. But you taking it out on a world, where there are many innocent people is not the answer!"
guruna: oh?
Tamaki: "So, we can either talk this out..."
*Tamaki's tail returns--along with two...three...six...*
guruna: kuru? O_o;;;;;
Tamaki: *growls...as fire extends along her back, over her head, forming tiger teeth*
guruna: OwO;;
Tamaki: *roars, as she rushes on all fours with nine-tails coming off of her*
guruna: *sending fire tornados at her*
Tamaki: *tail whip #1*
guruna: *slammed into a wall, revealing a staircase up to the upper levels*
Tamaki: "..." *lowers her fangs, smiles* "Lucky."
-in the upper levels-
iris: *hiding with relan in a room* *looking around* hmm....
Relan: *trying to steady his breath*
iris:...*touches her cheek* (if this was long ago, i couldnt even move....but im not the same person anymore. right now, relan needs me. and we need to get out of here.) *spots a fire extinguisher and crowbar*.... *idea* relan? i have a plan.
Relan: "Wh-What?"
iris: *smiles* think you can handle a crowbar?
-outside-
Assault: *marching through* "My Lord commands I follow through."
-one door opens and iris steps out, holding the extinguisher-
Assault: *pulls back his fist* "I'm sorry..."
iris:.......
Relan: *pulls back with the crowbar* "..." *brings it down--*
Assault: *catches*
Relan: "!!!"
iris: !!!! *sprays him down*
Assault: *just stands there, before he tosses Relan back*
Relan: "UMPH!"
iris: !!! relan!
Assault: *grabs Iris by the neck*
iris: *grk-*
Assault: *summons a fire bullet* "I am sorry. But this is ho--"
*CRACK*
iris: *falls* *cough* ah!
Assault: *his left arm is bruised...but his right arm is still holding a fire bullet* "..." *turns back*
Relan: Q~Q *still holding the crowbar* "...G-Get away!" *swings it*
Assault: *dodges* "I guess I should have killed you first." *kicks Relan back*
Relan: *falls back, still holding the crowbar*
iris: *throws the extinguisher at assault's head*
Assault: "..." *lifts his foot--and slams it onto Relan's chest*
Relan: *screams*
iris: get AWAY FROM HIM! *tackles him*
Assault: "!!!" *collapses to his knees* "You little welp!" *grabs Iris by her hair*
iris: *bites down on his arm*
Assault: "AH!" *pulls harder on Iris's hair--tearing some out*
iris: *winces, bleeding a bit*
Assault: *pulls back his fist--*
???: ururuRURURURUUUUUUU
-GURUNA GETS SLAMMED RIGHT INTO HIM, sending them both into the wall-
guruna: @u@ uwaaaa, now im really dizzy~
iris: !!... *looks* tamaki!! you're alright!
Assault: *his head is smashed into the wall...there is blood*
Relan: *turns over, sitting up*
tamaki: *panting* you two ok?
Relan: *coughing blood*
iris: !!! relan! *runs over to him* are you ok??!!
Relan: *crying...but smiling* "I'm just...glad you're okay."
iris: *hugs him*
Relan: *pat pat*
tamaki:....come on, we need to find the others.......
*Assault is standing over them again...*
Relan: "!!!" *takes the crowbar--leaps, and slams it through his teeth*
Assault: "GAAAH!" *falls back*
Relan: Q______Q "..."
guruna: *squished* KU-
tamaki:....lets go....
guruna: kuruuu... love hurts... TTuTT
-elsewhere-
Takehisa: "..."
arrow:.... *aiming at him and shooting* ....
-elsewhere-
shinra: guys? *shaking* where are you?!
???: "I'm over here!"
shinra: victor, you ok?
nozomi: w-we're fine.
karin: just glad to be alive.
Victor: "I-I had someone trying to hold a sword at me..." Q_Q
karin: but i scared them off, nyoho~ ^^
nozomi: dr itou... ^^;
Victor: "Shinra...This is why I said this was a dark-pants day...Have you found your brother?"
shinra:...no, not yet. but he's close. big brother instincts.
karin:.... ?? are those...gunshots?
-elsewhere-
arrow: .....
Takehisa: ("It's almost pitch-black--yet their aim is incredible. And I haven't landed a single hit.")
-BANG-
Takehisa: ("I'm a sitting target...") *spots the abandoned subway car* ("Need cover.")
-a light shines through the car-
arrow:....
Takehisa: "!!!" *falls back--*
-FWOOOOOOOOM-
Takehisa: *he has landed back on the floor--and the blast blew away his glasses*
arrow: i dont allow...for my prey to escape.... *fires again*
Takehisa: *barely dodges, the fire arrow just skimming along his leg* "...Sorry. That 'prey' belongs to us."
arrow: this world is always changing.... human feelings are...unneeded.... we will obtain the adora burst....both kusakabe, and kurai's...
Takehisa: ("With this fog, and without my glasses, it is difficult...") "Hmm...No feelings? I suppose that makes it easier to organize the world...But it won't convince Shinra or Mikami to join you."
toujou?: then why are you fighting?
Takehisa: "..." *smiles* "That's hardly going to provoke me, 'Toujou.' Your face just makes me calm." *lowers his duffle, opening and removing pieces*
mirage: what is he doing?
Jonah: "Are those...shotguns?"
-BLAM-
mirage: O-O;;
Takehisa: *holding a smoking shotgun* "..."
mirage: noisy...and that shockwave...
-elsewhere-
seraphim: ah....so _they_ are here as well, lord sho?
Sho: *closes his eyes* "...Yes. I sense them."
seraphim: shall i greet them?
Sho: "...Leave Kusakabe to me."
-elsewhere-
arrow: *aiming, even though she is wounded*
*BOOM*
arrow:.....
Takehisa: *trying to steady himself* ("At this rate...I'm going to pass out...") “…” ("In this world, it is spectacular deaths that command attention...Flame combustion...Superheroes...Meisters...I always knew my death could come at any point...I am always prepared to die...") "..." *looks at the 8 on his sleeve* "...Damn it. If I left it to Obi, who would care for our subordinates?" *takes up one last rifle*
arrow: *shoots*
Takehisa: ("And I...will use my opponent's flame to increase my own...")
*His bullet moves faster by sapping the fire from Arrow's arrow*
-BOOOOOOOOOM-
arrow: *knocked back, screaming*
Takehisa: "..." *falls, slumps back against the column* "Now stay down..."
mirage: ....
Takehisa: "...Two more, huh? Hiding, like cowards."
mirage: *holding a knife*
Takehisa: "..." *his hand passes along to a stray bullet...which he flicks, sending at a rapid speed*
mirage: *doesnt even flinch*
-BOOM-
Takehisa: "...Illusion."
mirage: now die...
Takehisa: "..." *smiles*
mirage: ??
*Something appears on top of the debris*
Jonah: "??? Is that a turnip?"
*The debris is knocked aside--as someone emerges*
Arthur: "Born from the Earth, I still descend from the Heavens as the Shining Knight!"
mirage:....what?
Arthur: "The Holy Paladin? That guy that was captured by Hoods? ...Come on! I was missing for a long time!"
mirage: .... screw it, im just killing him.
-mist appears-
Takehisa: "Don't screw this up, Boyle!"
-several figures appear, one attacking-
Arthur: "...One trick. That's dumb." *doesn't move*
-fwsh-
mirage: oh?
Arthur: "I only move when I feel the weight of body and murderous intent upon me. That is what Konro that and sour commander taught me."
-they all attack-
Arthur: *doesn't move, closes his eyes*
mirage: *lunges, grinning*
Arthur: *eyes break open* ("The breath of life--") *removes Excalibur, slices with his blade*
-mirage is gone...-
Takehisa: OAO;;;
Arthur: "..."
Takehisa: "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!"
Arthur: "I sense the breath of life--"
*SMACK*
Arthur: *collapsed on the floor*
mirage: *slumps over*
Takehisa: "What kind of an idiot just swings his sword wildly--..." *looks behind* "...Oh. He _was_ there?"
Arthur: *bleeding on the floor* "He was going to stab you in the behind. That's craven."
-elsewhere-
lisa: ....
Akitaru: *struggling to speak, but his mouth is covered*
Vulcan: *coughing*
lisa: ....
Vulcan: "Lisa! I said I would bring you home!"
lisa:...you shouldnt...have come here...
Giovanni: "Kukuku...Those who cannot possess flame abilities are not deserving of life...'Lisa' awakened her ability. You remember that day, yes, Feeler?"
lisa: ...my parents perished....i was left alone....the bug.....awoke those flames in me....
Vulcan: "He's lying to you!"
Akitaru: *reaching for an orb* "He's...taking advantage of your fears..." *grabs the orbs--and extinguishes her flames*
lisa: *backs up* they protect me....
Vulcan: "From what?"
lisa: from the flames...from the fears....
Akitaru: "...I don't know anyone who isn't afraid of flames, kid. Even firefighters..."
lisa: ...
Giovanni: "Tell me...Do you know what attracts insects to flames?"
Akitaru: "...I mean, I guess I've wondered--"
*Giovanni's cloak blows back--revealing a monstrous mouth emerging out of his chest*
Giovanni-Chest-Mouth: "I'M NOT TELLING YOU!"
Vulcan: o_o;
*The cloak descends--and a small "burp" comes out from under it*
Giovanni: "And now, it is time for you to die ignorant of this world--which, really, is not much different than how you were born into it..."
Akitaru: "Okay, enough of this..." *takes up a fire extinguisher, blasting Lisa's flames*
lisa: why are you doing this? they protect me....from the fear....the sadness....
Akitaru: "If you have to bury yourself in them...are they really protecting you, or are they imprisoning you? Why do you look so insecure?"
lisa: *attacks* shut up!
Giovanni: "Bringing a fire extinguisher to a battlefield...Fool."
Akitaru: "..." *picks up a bigger fire extinguisher* "You know that our role is to protect humans from fire...and as long as I'm alive, that's what I'll do!"
Giovanni: "...Kill him."
lisa: ...
-BLAM-
*Akitaru is held back against the wall by Lisa's flame*
lisa: protecting lives...yet throwing yours away....
Akitaru: *cough* "Appearances...can be deceiving. I'm not throwing away my life. I'm saving yours..." *a trigger slides out of his sleeve*
lisa: ??!!
-BOOOOOOOOOM-
Giovanni: "!!! When did Obi attach those extinguishing grenades...When she attacked each time?! Feeler...you fool."
lisa: *falling* !!!!! (mom....dad....i dont...want to-)
*Giovanni stands back, not coming to her rescue...*
lisa: *tears falling*
*CAUGHT*
lisa: !!?? *looks*
*Vulcan has caught her*
Vulcan: "..." *smiles*
lisa: v-.... *tears falling as she cries, holding him tightly*
Vulcan: "..." *hug* "It's okay...Even without flames, there are those of us who will protect you."
lisa: *hic* *trembling*
???: "You'rE MAKIng a misTAKE..."
lisa: ......s....stop it..... 'he gave you a place to live when you had nothing' SHUT UP! GET OUT OF MY FUCKING BRAIN!!
Giovanni: "FeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEELer...Who saved you? Who brought you to Vulcan? I. Have you forgotten your debt? RETURN."
'feeler': do as he says.
lisa: JUST SHUT UP!! *banging her head* SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY!!
Vulcan: "!!! Lisa!" *grabs her by her shoulders*
lisa: she wont leave....she wont leave my head.... 'you're in _my_ head' SHUT UP!
Vulcan: *holds her, hugs her* "I'm sorry..."
*Vulcan feels something along Lisa's back*
Vulcan: "???" *pulls back, looks--*
*There is a rope around Lisa's waist*
lisa: *yoinked* AH!
Giovanni: *ropes Lisa in, holding her by the waist...the rope is around her neck now*
Vulcan: "Lisa!"
lisa: *choking*
Giovanni: "If either of you move, then my heated rope will decapitate her."
*A robo-arm appears from Giovanni's cloak...it tosses something to Vulcan: a handgun*
Vulcan: *catching the gun*
Giovanni: "If you value her life, do as I say: take that gun...and kill Obi."
Akitaru: !!!
Vulcan: "...You monster!"
Giovanni: "Oh, Feeler...Finally, your life will be worth something."
lisa: please...dont do it vul....just let me die...
Vulcan: "..." *shaking*
Akitaru: "Vulcan...Son...You're going to have to..." *opens his arms*
Vulcan: *aims* "...I'm sorry."
Akitaru: "Don't be."
Giovanni: "Hurry..." *tightens his grip on Lisa*
-bang-
-akitaru collapses-
lisa: !!!
Vulcan: *shaking...*
Giovanni: "..." *lets go of Lisa* "Amazing...Didn't think of a dog of the brigades had it in him."
lisa: *cough cough* vul...y-you shouldnt have-
Vulcan: "..." *falls to his knees*
Giovanni: "Kukuku...This is such a glorious--"
Akitaru: *raises* *intense stare*
Giovanni: "!!!"
Akitaru: "i KNEW YOU WOULD DO IT, VULCAN--BUT THAT STILL REALLY HURT!"
lisa: ??!! w-wha-
Giovanni: "WHAT THE F--"
Akitaru: *grabs the nearby railroad tracks--and lifts them on his own, knocking down Giovanni* "YOINK!"
Giovanni: "UMPH!" *falls back*
lisa: but...h-how did he-
Akitaru: *thumbs his nose, smiles* "Trade secret of the Brigade, I'm afraid--"
Vulcan: *wiping his eyes, small laugh* "I added bullet-proof lining to all of the Eighth's coats!"
Akitaru: …
Vulcan: "..." ^^;; "Oh. Sorry! Y-You wanted to be a secret, right?"
lisa: did you name it 'the turtle shell'?
Vulcan: "..." *turns to look at Lisa* "...Oh my God, I love you."
lisa:... .//////.
Akitaru: "...Um, not to ruin this moment, but...What the hell is that chicken thing?"
*Giovanni stands...without his coat...as just a head with legs*
lisa: ....what the actual hell.
Giovanni: "..."
Vulcan: o_o;;; "...Dad used to tell me stories about these kinds of things, but goddamn."
Akitaru: "Dude, do you even lift?"
Giovanni: "You saccharine fools...Trusting in each other to risk your own lives..." *the legs widen--as the body re-assembles itself--with a ton of guns, missiles, knives, and a spoon*
lisa: vul....kick his ass.
Vulcan: "...You got it, babe. Initiate: Penguincete!"
lisa:... =///=;
*Armor assembles over Vulcan's head--producing a rock penguin helmet with fire engines off the temples that blast Vulcan forward*
Vulcan: "Let's do a strength test!"
Giovanni: "Your silly headgear is no match for my ingenuity!"
Vulcan: *his beak slams into Giovanni's chest, obliterating his tech*
Giovanni: "GODDAMN IT, YOUR SILLY HEADGEAR WAS TOO MUCH!"
-elsewhere-
shinra: ugh...i feel sick.
nozomi: mr kusakabe?
karin: easy kiddo.
Victor: "Is it the Adora Link? The Adora Link? Please tell me it's the Adora Link!"
shinra: *feeling black skeletal hands reaching up, and a large shinra head over him* *screaming*
nozomi: !!!!
karin: breathe kid, breathe!
shinra: w-what's....what's going on?
*A hand touches Shinra's cheek*
shinra: *staring at the horned figure* ah- wha-what are....
*The horned figure grins...as their hand pulls back, they have transformed into--*
Mrs. Kusakabe: *holding out a hand* "Shinra..."
shinra: mom- MOM! *reaching out*
Mrs. Kusakabe: *smiles...* "Why did you let me die?"
shinra: ah-
*FWOOSH*
{shinra: *trembling, looks up at burns*}
{Burns: *his right eye is on fire*}
{shinra: ....*looks in where burns is looking*}
{???: "AAAAH!"}
shinra: that's....
Arg: *guttural noises...blood swept up into the air from claw marks cut into his face*
shinra: *backing away*
???: *sniffles*
shinra: !!!
*Infant Sho is seated on the ground, crying*
shinra: hey lil guy... *picks him up* hehe, it's ok. ^^
Sho: *sniff...giggles* "Hee hee..." *grabs Shinra's nose*
shinra: *smiles*
???: ...nra.....shinra?.....shinra!
shinra: !!!
karin: *putting a cold compress to his head* you ok?
shinra: y-yeah...
Victor: *holding a notebook* "Tell me everything!"
-he explains what he saw-
karin: the 4th's commander...?
Victor: "Arg? What, was he at your house during the fire?"
shinra: i dont know...
-ashen foot prints appear down a path-
shinra: wha?
nozomi: shinra?
shinra: i think....he's leading me to him....
???: not quite yet.
Victor: ._.;;;
Shinra: "Wha--"
karin: ?!?!?! n-no way...that cant be-
-fire feathers shoot out-
Shinra: "!!!" *tackles Victor and Nozomi*
nozomi: EEP!
karin: *dodging* ... !!!!!!!!!!!!
Shinra: *kicks one feather away*
nozomi: what's-..... *her heart drops*
seraphim:....
karin: i-....irina!!
Victor: "...Wow..."
nozomi:.... *her voice shakes* m-mama?
Shinra: "...Nozomi?"
seraphim: it's been a while. i see you and your aunt have joined the 8th now.... a pity. surrender the adora burst child, and i'll make your deaths painless.
karin: what the fuck?? how are you- y-you died!
seraphim: ufufu ... AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! oh you naive sister of mine...
Shinra: *staring at Seraphim...charging his feet*
Victor: "..." *steps forward*
karin: why are you doing this?!
seraphim: im only doing what i wask tasked to do...
nozomi: m...mother.....
Shinra: "Who 'tasked' you? The Preacher?!"
seraphim: *ignoring him* nozomi, it's been a while.....are you still following toshiaki's research? how foolish~
nozomi: ah-
seraphim: i should have just let you die like your useless father...
nozomi: *she just shatters* ah......
Victor: "!!!"
karin: *putting on her fisticuffs and attacks* HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?! SHE'S YOUR CHILD! and toshiaki- HE WORKED HIMSELF TO HIS DEATH TRYING TO FIND A CURE BECAUSE-
seraphim: he was only a means to an ends. im so glad you found him for me~
karin: why? the irina i know isnt cruel like this...
seraphim: dont you get it? 'irina harada' doesnt exist anymore.
karin: *punching at her*
Shinra: "..." *charges his feet--and leaps, aiming a kick for Seraphim*
Victor: "..." *glancing between Seraphim and Nozomi*
seraphim: *knocked back* will you surrender nicely, boy?
nozomi: *she cant even move*
Shinra: "...Because you're Nozomi's mother, I'm going easy on you. We're taking you, too, along with Sho."
karin: licht! get nozomi out of here, and you better not try anything funny!
Victor: O_O;;; "R-Right!" *picks up Nozomi*
seraphim: oh? what of her? she doesnt have any abilities of her own, she's nothing but dead weight.
Shinra: "...Ma'am...You're dead wrong..." *leaps again*
seraphim: ~angel bullet~
Shinra: "!!!!" *tries to dodge--*
-the feathers graze him slightly-
Shinra: "Ah!" *lands on the wall--and leaps again*
karin: shinra! try to knock her to the ground!
Shinra: *leaps from the ceiling* "Got it!" *opens his arms*
seraphim: *attacking*
Shinra: *getting grazed, some hitting his arms* "RAWR!" *reaches for Seraphim's neck*
seraphim: !!
Shinra: *grab--and pulls back his fist to punch*
-POW-
seraphim: !!!
Shinra: *falling...but not as fast as Seraphim is*
karin: batter... UP! *PUNCH*
seraphim: *sent into the wall*
Shinra: *lands next to Karin* "...Is that it?"
karin: better not stick around to find out, lets go find your brother.
Shinra: "...But she's Nozomi's mother."
karin:...after what all she did, she doesnt deserve to be…
-elsewhere-
dahlia:.....they have arrived....
Sho: "..." *takes his sword*
-the door opens-
shinra:...hey lil bro... *warm smile*
Sho: "Shinra Kusakabe...You've actually appeared."
shinra: of course i did, now let's get you home. ^^
Sho: "_This_ is my home. With the Preacher."
shinra: ....
Sho: "Why do you insist on taking me away from my family?"
shinra: sho...i am your family, just try to remember, you, me, our mom........
Sho: "Stop. I have no mother. And the thought of you as my brother makes me want to vomit. Furthermore, I am not of woman born--"
shinra: as opposed to what, an incubator?
Sho: "...I...don't actually know. But the Preacher does."
shinra: ...*opens his arms for a hug*
Sho: "..." *smacks his hand away*
shinra: ....jeez, not very touchy-feely, are ya?
Sho: *swings his scabbard at Shinra's face*
shinra: *dodging*
Sho: *twirls--swings again, aiming for his feet*
-elsewhere-
misora: huwaaaa, this sucks. it smells bad and i feel like im gonna throw up! >^<
Jonah: "Oh, lookie here!"
misora: *grimaces* oh THAT explains it!
Jonah: *leans forward* "Lost?"
misora:.... *not even looking back and punches him with in the face*
Jonah: *knocked back...and his face is squished up where she punched him, his nose now up on his forehead*
misora: how gross
Jonah: *deep breath* "I don't see many like you who can throw a punch like that...What's your tale, girlie?"
misora: cut the BS, you know who i am, you creepy wormy stalker!
Jonah: *leans over her, his forehead nose resting over her hair* "Just wanted to get to know you all over again..." *inhales*
-SLAM-
misora: why dont you hurry up and die at my feet, scrub?
Jonah: "I can do many things at your feet~" *his lips are now on his cheek...he taps his cheek onto her shoes*
misora: GROSS! IM GONNA VOMIT TILL I DIE! DX< *kick to the face*
Jonah: *by this point, his eyes are on the back of his head* ._. *blink blink*
???: "Are you two done yet?"
misora: uru? *turns*
Haumea: "Hi~"
misora: unyeh? soooowwy~ dont mind me, i was just going now~ ^^
Haumea: *rests a hand on Misora's head*
misora: eh-
*ZAP*
misora: OSHARE- *KO* @w@ owowowowowo.....
Haumea: *snaps her fingers* "Jonah, bring her along."
Jonah: *sits up, his face back to normal...ish* "Can do!" *slings Misora over his shoulder*
misora: XAX
Haumea: *smiles* "And with Sho and Kusakabe now meeting, it's time..."
-elsewhere-
shinra: *still dodging*
Sho: *has his blade out, attempting to slice at Shinra*
shinra: *dodging* sho! please! just hear me out!
Sho: *knocks Shinra to the floor*
shinra: GAH!
Sho: *vapor comes off of his back* "..."
shinra: *getting up*
Sho: “No matter how fast you are, you’re not going to catch up to me. You and I are in different universes.”
shinra: im not going to give up though- *running for him*
Sho: *prepares his sword*
-fyooooom-
Sho: "!!!"
-tackle hug-
Sho: "?!!!
shinra: it's ok, lil bro. *smiles*
Sho: *clenches his teeth* "Stop calling me that!" *pulls back his fist*: *his eyes widen* "...Oh no...I've disappointed--"
shinra: ?? disappointed?
Sho: *pushes Shinra away, leaping to a pedestal*
shinra: ... (it's like that dream....)
Sho: "..." *bows before a figure in white*
shinra: *stares at the horned figure* is that the preacher?
Sho: "...You see them? Of course...because of the Adora Link."
shinra: ....
Sho: "The Preacher is who shares this link with me...lets me access this power."
-the vision fades-
shinra:...
Sho: "Your Adora Burst is not enough. But with the Preacher’s divine protection, I can affect the entire universe..."
shinra: my head's hurting from all of this....but enough of that, let's play tag some more. ^^
Sho: "I am not interested in playing games." *holds his sword* "The Preacher said they need you. They did not say they need you conscious."
shinra: alright then, you're it!
Sho: "No..."
*He vanishes*
shinra: oh? hide and seek then, eh?
-shiv-
shinra: !!
Sho: *has driven just the tip of his blade into Shinra's shoulder* "You are the 'It.'"
shinra: heh... i guess i should show you, you're not supposed to hurt the other player.
Sho: "..." *disappears again*
shinra: ...
*Kick to the back*
shinra: oof!
Sho: *holds the sword over Shinra's head, his foot pressed down onto his back*
shinra: this is pretty pointless then, huh? but i wont give up....the memory of when you were still just a lil tyke, that's enough a reason to keep going, right?
Sho: "I have no such memories. Let's assume you and I are related by blood: there is no connection between us. No memories. Nothing."
shinra:...then lets make new ones. there's lots of people who are looking forwards to meeting you. *smiles*
Sho: "I have no desire to meet those people. We in the Order have only one goal--"
shinra: i know, i know...to you, im just some stranger, but to me, you're still my lil bro! so.... thanks for being alive, sho.
Sho: "..." *lifts his blade* "I summon...Separated Univ--"
-huh? where did shinra go?-
Sho: "???" *looks around* ("I'm...alone?")
-elsewhere-
lisa: nnngh.....vul...?
maki: she's waking up!
lisa: *cough* ....giovanni....where-
tamaki: he fled....
lisa:....
Vulcan: "Lisa...How are you..."
lisa:....*she starts laughing....which devolves into sobbing hysterically*
Vulcan: "..." *holds onto her*
karin: ....
tamaki:...c-come on, lets find the others and get out of here already!
Vulcan: *carries Lisa*
-elsewhere-
Haumea: *watching from the balcony*
misora: *coming to* uwaaaa.... *yaaaawn* wha?
Jonah: owo "Hello~"
misora: *PUNCH* EW GROSS! DX<
Jonah: *his face spun onto the back of his head* ._.
Haumea: "Shh...Your lover's spat is getting in the way of observing..."
misora: how dare you! *peeeeeeek*
Haumea: *leans over Misora* "Is. There. A problem~?"
misora: OxO *blinks*
Haumea: *mad grin* "I think you'll do nicely~"
misora: OxO;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
-elsewhere-
Sho: "...Where is Shinra Kusakabe...?"
-FYOOOOOM-
shinra: *crashed into a wall* holy shit! what just happened??
Sho: "??? How...did you appear there?"
shinra: not su- *throws up* ugh...vertigo... >~<
Sho: "...It is not possible. Without the Preacher's divine intervention, _you_ should not be able to pass through to your own universe..."
shinra: my head's spinning, cut me some slack and let's just go home now, sho.
Sho: "..." *walks forward* "For the last time...This is my home. And you are going nowhere--"
shinra: if i just leave without you, then i cant keep my promise to mom.
Sho: "I have no mother. I have no interest in this mother. And I want you...to shut up..." *raises his sword* "About a mother."
-zip zoom-
Sho: "!!!"
shinra: jeez, are you having that moody pre-teen phase?
Sho: "You emerge from nowhere, insist you are my brother--" *swings his sword* "AND THIS IS NOT A MOODY PRE-TEEN PHASE!"
-zip zoom-
Sho: "?!!"
{shinra: *crying, locked in the pantry*}
Sho: "?!" *looking around him* "Wh-What is this?"
-there are more memories...-
Sho: "..." *just watching them* "Is this..."
{student: its that demon! he killed his own mom and baby brother!}
{student 2: get away from us! *throws a rock at shinra*}
{shinra:....(it wasnt me...there was...a horned thing there...)}
Sho: "...'Horned'? ...Preacher, what is...Why are they throwing things at that boy?"
baby sho: baba...
shinra: *picks him up* i got you!
baby sho: ^o^
Sho: "..." *tears falling*
shinra: years ago, it was just you, me, and our mom...then the fire happened...
Sho: "Yes..."
*The memory of the fire appears...*
Horned Monster: *staring at Baby Sho*
{Young Haumea: "Hmmm...Sure cries a lot..."}
shinra: people were afraid of me, blaming me for what happened, even grandma hated me. she would hit me, lock me in the pantry....but i never gave up...
Sho: "I was raised for one purpose: to fulfill the Preacher's goals...I persisted..." *turns to Shinra* "...Our grandmother hit you?"
shinra:....but before that happened, we were all a happy family.
Sho: "...A family..."
{Mrs. Kusakabe: "My boys..."}
{shinra: ^^}
{baby!sho: mama!}
{Mrs. Kusakabe: *hug*}
{shinra: i love you, mommy! ^^}
{Mrs. Kusakabe: "I love you, Shinra. And I love Sho. I will always love you both..."}
Sho: *silently weeping*
-...-
*Sho stands...His sword is not with him*
{shinra: *hero stance* here i am! ah! mom! a newspaper blew in! *he removes it from sho* haha! there you are!}
{Mrs. Kusakabe: "What a good brother you are!"}
{shinra: ^///^ hehe}
{Sho: *sniffles...adjusting to seeing the light again*}
shinra: *smiles*
Sho: "...Brother?"
shinra: come on sho, let's go hom-
-shiv-
Sho: "!!! I-I didn't...Did I?"
shinra: *looks back*
???: "D'aw, what a shame..."
Sho: "Haumea?"
shinra: wh-what?
Haumea: "??? Wait..." *lifts up Shinra's chin*
shinra: who...who are....-
Haumea: *slap*
shinra: *collapses*
Sho: "Brother! Haumea, what are you--"
Haumea: *squeezes Sho's mouth with her fingers to quiet him* "Tsk tsk...You know that to re-create the Great Fire we _need_ those of us who gained the Adora Burst through the insects--"
Jonah: "TMI, Haumea."
Haumea: -_-#
misora: O^O~?
Haumea: "Oh well~ It doesn't matter if I gave out too much info--since it's not like anyone can stop us. Right, Sho?"
Sho: "...I didn't...My sword..." *sniff* "Sh-Shinra? Please..."
shinra: sho....run....
Sho: "No! Not without you!"
Haumea: "Oh, don't worry. You two won't be separate!" *giggles--then deathly serious* "The Preacher wants you both."
misora: *stumbles forwards* .....
Jonah: owo~
Sho: "all those years ago! What happened to me?!"
Haumea: "..." *leans forward...rests a hand along Sho's face--and zaps his brain*
Sho: "!!!!!!!" *passes out*
shinra: SHO!!
-BANG-
Haumea: *dodges--barely* O_O;;; "...The devil?"
tamaki: *TAIL WHIP*
Takehisa: *holding a smoking gun* "...Get away from them."
Haumea: "Eek!" *smacked in the face* "Owie!" *falls back* "...When did _she_ get competent?!"
misora: !! *runs behind takehisa* Q_Q THESECREEPYPEOPLEKIDNAPPEDME!! >^<
Jonah: D8 "COME BACK TO ME, MY PRECIOUS!"
karin:....ew.
iris: creepy.
Haumea: >_<# "NOW YOU ALL ARE TICKING ME OFF!" *spots the sword through Shinra* "..." *devious smirk...as she kicks the sword harder into him*
shinra: AHHHH!!!!
iris: !!!! STOP IT!
Takehisa: "NO!" *bang bang bang*
Haumea: *spins to dodge* "Oh, sorry~ Not today..." *snaps her fingers towards Takehisa*
Takehisa: *aims--* "!!!!" *collapses*
Haumea: "Huhuhu..." *aims her fingers at Tamaki*
tamaki: *bracing*
*SLICE*
tamaki: huh... ah!
Haumea: "..." *the back of her crown is cracked* O_o;;;; *holds the back of her head* "GAH!"
Arthur: *behind Haumea* "Okay, weird bag-dress lady: you're defeated by the Shining Knight of the Earth Samurai Cowboy Superhero!"
tamaki: THAT'S TOO MANY TITLES!
Haumea: Q~Q "My crown..." *growls--and snaps her fingers at Arthur's face* "Take that!"
Arthur: "...Take what?"
Haumea: ._. "..." *snaps again*
Arthur: "...What? You like snapping your fingers?" *snaps his fingers* "Yeah, I can do that, too."
Haumea: >_<# *snap snap snap snap*
shinra:.....what?
Arthur: "..." *takes his sword--and knocks the hilt onto the top of Haumea's head*
dahlia: that is enough.
Haumea: "...GAH!!!!" *holds her head* "Stupid stupid sword person!"
*A column is shaking behind Haumea*
Haumea: "Stupid mindless person! And now I got to carry Kusakabe with a sword through him to the Preacher, and this is all so annoying when--"
*The column falls towards Haumea*
Haumea: "...What is that sound?"
Akitaru: *PUUUUUUUUUSH*
Haumea: "...Oh motherf--"
*SMASH*
-rumble rumble-
tamaki: !! shit!
maki: we got shinra, now let's go!
shinra: w-wait, s-sho-
Haumea: *bruised* -_-### "Jonah, get Sho." *passes out*
Jonah: *picks up Sho* "Come on, Baby..."
Sho: "Zzzz..."
shinra: urk-
-outside-
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The State of Digital Marketing Events
One of the (many) great things about our industry is that there are a ton of great digital marketing events taking place all over the world. You only have to take a quick look at the list we maintain here on State of Digital to see that much for yourself. And in recent months, I’ve seen a few brand new dedicated SEO conferences pop up here in the UK, which is indicative that the popularity and demand for such events is growing – even in 2017.
While I think it’s safe to say that our industry is doing really well on the events front, I do feel that there’s a couple of things (in my view) we could be doing to make them even better. Such as…
1) More speaker variety (especially ‘new blood’)
I don’t know if this has started to happen to anyone else recently, but when it comes to speaker line-ups, my view of them has changed…
There’s still an element of being drawn to an event that has established, recognisable figures from the industy on its speaker roster. For example, I took one look at MozCon 2017’s line-up a few days ago and was immediately impressed by the talent on show.
However… (he types, reluctantly..)
I’m beginning to see some of the same names and same faces speaking about the same topics at some events… Despite the fact that I know some of these speakers personally, having met them at the likes of brightonSEO, I’ll look at the line-up of a newly discovered event and think “s/he is speaking at this as well?!” Please understand that I wish no ill will towards these SEOs (hell, some of them have become friends of mine over the years), nor is this the rant of the envious wannabe speaker. And I completely understand and appreciate that event organisers want to put on the industry’s best and brightest, including those with a solid track record of wowing an audience. But ironically, having a line-up not too dissimilar to every other event out there could be more of a turn-off than an incentive to go, ultimately backfiring on the organiser.
Some of the speakers at brightonSEO April 2017
I really admire what Kelvin Newman (@) of BrightonSEO and Mark Scully (@) of Learn Inbound do with their events, and take inspiration from them when I organise Cardiff SEO Meet events, a quarterly SEO meetup that I run. While you’ll still recognise many of the speakers on their events’ respective line-ups, you’ll often see fresh and/or lesser-known faces as well, who might even be speaking about non-SEO/inbound marketing topics (or closely-related topics to SEO, such as User Experience and Conversion Rate Optimisation). With my meetup, while I’ve booked some recognisable names (e.g. @ of Gocompare.com fame, who’s spoken at brightonSEO in the past), I try to book ‘local heroes’: Cardiff and South Wales-based specialists who may not necessarily be widely known to the industry (or even be established speakers)…
It can be a gamble, but one that I feel almost always pays off, offering something a little unique to the run-of-the-mill you might see otherwise.
In fact, Kelvin took a gamble booking Dave Trott (@) for brightonSEO April 2012. When Kelvin introduced the advertising guru on-stage, he told the audience that Dave had literally just told him that he didn’t know what SEO was or what it stood for. Whoops… Not a reassuring first impression. And yet he gave one of the most popular talks in brightonSEO’s history (source). He didn’t even talk about SEO at an SEO event, but everything he did talk about was very much relatable to SEO. And that’s why it worked so well.
We need more speakers and talks like that.
2) More gender/ethnicity diversity of speakers
At the risk of sounding like a bit of a fanboy, Kelvin and Mark do a fantastic job of this with brightonSEO and Learn Inbound, respectively. Mark especially has blogged and tweeted a lot about trying to get the gender balance right at events – I recommend following him if you’re also passionate about the topic.
Again, most digital marketing events on my radar tend to be doing this pretty well, however we’re far from perfect as an industry. I won’t name and shame them, but when a recent social media conference announced their initial line-up of speakers, 7 of them were men and 0 of them were women. When they went on to announce the full line-up, 21 of them were men and only 3 of them were women – that’s an 87/13 split. What infuriated me about this is that the majority of social media experts I know and trust are women – they very easily could’ve hit 50/50, or even 87/13 the other way if they’d made even a little bit of effort.
Years ago I remember reading about a Ruby on Rails conference that got a lot a negativity because their speaker line-up and attendee list was entirely white and male. In an unofficial ‘post-mortem’ post, the organiser made a few points that – to an extent – I can sympathise with: “Yes, gender equality and racial equality are important. But the team’s motives were to get the best speakers. Turns out, a lot of the prominent Rubyists are white guys. […] Adding a token minority speaker is offensive to that speaker.”
I get the point that he made, and it might even be forgiveable (although perhaps still not really acceptable) in an industry that is almost entirely made up one of ethnicity and/or gender. Otherwise, and especially in an industry that’s a bit more balanced – such as digital marketing (which is 70/30 M/F, according to a 2015 survey by Moz; I’d wager it’s even more balanced now) – then there’s little excuse. I take Mark’s viewpoint on it: “[At Learn Inbound] we never start speaker selection conversations with who is the “best man at ‘x'” or “best woman at ‘y'” since the quality of the talk remains the priority concern, but we will turn down certain speakers for an event if there isn’t gender balance on our panel” (source).
I’ve run four Cardiff SEO Meet events so far and we’ve had pretty much 50/50 male/female speakers, as well as ethnic minorities, LGBTQ and a wheelchair user. I didn’t go out-of-my-way to recruit these types of speakers, and I most certainly didn’t approach it as a box-ticking exercise, either. I simply identified that they were excellent speakers on their subjects: the Amazon SEO expert I know is an ethnic minority; a woman who runs multiple startups – and has done well for herself utilising SEO and content marketing – is a wheelchair user; and so on. You get the idea.
It doesn’t have to be a box-ticking exercise. Don’t treat it as a box-ticking exercise. Get to know the people in your industry and you’ll soon find that you’ll be recruiting these types of speakers without even trying or worrying about it. It’ll come naturally.
We do have to make an effort though – that’s the important thing.
3) More events (especially smaller local meetups)
I don’t necessarily mean more events by the people who are already running events and that their events become more regular. I mean more events run by more people and in more locations.
And not only that… Big conferences are great, but often the biggest gaps that need filling are the smaller meetups in smaller towns and cities. This was the feedback I got when I set up Cardiff SEO Meet, and I’m still told that some nearby cities (even bigger ones with more established digital agencies based in them) are lacking a local meetup in their area. That sounds crazy to me.
So I encourage would-be event organisers to set up a meetup in your town/city. We shouldn’t just be putting on big conferences all the time and expecting people to travel hundreds of miles to get there, when we could put on smaller events in areas where they’re missing (and therefore needed).
We need more meetups on a smaller, more local scale. And besides, there are so many benefits to running events – not to mention the SEO/link building side of things (as evidenced by #2 & #3 here and under the first sub-section here).
Bonus point – Be sure to look after your speakers!
To end off, I’d like to talk about an experience I faced as a speaker, not as an event organiser. I’ll leave you with an anecdote of something that happened to me when I spoke at a meetup…
A few years ago, I spoke at a local design meetup about SEO. My talk gave guidance on SEO tactics that are applicable to graphic/web designers in particular. I was given the option to choose a book that’d benefit the audience, which would be given away as a prize on the night as part of a raffle draw – so I chose . I thought I’d be given the opportunity to tell the audience why I chose the book, explaining that it’s more of a textbook and therefore a source of reference, not a read-it-all-in-one-sitting type thing. Unfortunately, I didn’t realise that the meetup sponsor – responsible for the prize – would read it in one sitting and give feedback on it before the draw. For that reason he slated the book, describing it as boring and using other similarly wonderful words. When the raffle was drawn, he even handed it to the winner saying “here’s your doorstop.” This was all in front of the audience that I’d just given the talk to. The winner also went on to slate it, saying that it was useless to her as she worked at a law firm (despite the fact that she also ran a blog on the side as a hobby, meaning that it could’ve been of use to her after all). And worst of all, the person responsible for the meetup’s social media slagged it off via the meetup’s Twitter account – so even some of the people involved with running the meetup were having a laugh at my expense.
I was hurt. I was humiliated in front of nearly a hundred people. What hurt more was the fact that I did the talk for free, and people forget that you’re not only giving 20 mins of your time actually giving the talk – there’s hours and hours of preparation beforehand, from building the slide deck to practicing it over and over. My oldest son was less than a year old at the time… I don’t want to sound melodramatic saying that I was abandoning him in order to do it, but to be completely honest, I would’ve rather stayed at home and spent a bit more time with him. Beats being humiliated in front of an audience, right?
So, what am I getting at with this weirdly-placed rant? It’s simple: look after your speakers. Be proud of them. Be grateful that they’re devoting their time to contribute to your event. Because let’s face it: your attendees may be your ‘customers,’ and your sponsors may be your ‘advertisers’ or even ‘investors,’ but your speakers are your ‘performers’ – they’re your rockstars. 😉
…GOD it’s good to get that off my chest. Been carrying that one for a while.
I hope this post hasn’t come across as preachy or self-righteous, especially when I talk about the way that I run Cardiff SEO Meet. That’s not my intention. I’m passionate about running events and in seeing the events in our industry becoming better and more accessible. The events in our industry are already great – and while perfection may be an impossibility, we can sure damn try.
[Image credits – MozCon 2016 & Learn Inbound Jan 2017 photos obtained with permission from the respective organisers]
Source
http://www.stateofdigital.com/state-of-digital-marketing-events/
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NHL playoff race report: Opportunities await Penguins and Islanders this week
Our weekly look at the Eastern Conference playoff stretch.
Welcome to the post-trade deadline NHL world! It’s a hellish landscape full of streaky teams battling each other for a handful of playoff spots. It’s a Great Time To Be Alive™.
So each Monday we’ll hit the reset button, take a step back, and look at how the playoff race in each conference has changed. Who’s up. Who’s down. What changed since the previous week. What games teams need to take care of this week. You get the idea.
Onward!
Playoff-Primed
Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Penguins (43-16-8, 94 points)
Holds second in Metropolitan by two points, 15 games left (11 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Taking advantage of the Capitals’ plummet. Pittsburgh extended their win streak to five games last week. But they finish their road trip against the Flames on Monday, the NHL’s hottest team.
Met goal for last week? No. Kris Letang remains out with an undisclosed injury.
Goal for this week: Keep the streak alive and pass the Capitals in the standings.
Washington Capitals (44-17-7, 95 points)
Leads Eastern Conference & Metropolitan by one point, 14 games left (11 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Dropping points out of nowhere. Washington has lost four straight games and just lost their new toy in a suspension. A second-straight Presidents’ Trophy isn’t the foregone conclusion it was a week ago.
Met goal for last week? Nope and nope. Braden Holtby is still winless against the Stars (so strange) and Kevin Shattenkirk only had one power play point in three games before his suspension.
Goal for this week: Stop the slide, but that won’t be easy. The Wild, Predators and Lightning are all on tap this week. Washington chose a bad time to start slumping.
Columbus Blue Jackets (43-18-6, 92 points)
Holds third in Metropolitan by two points, 15 games left (11 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Columbus lost ground to the Penguins last week after an odd rout at the hands of the Sabres over the weekend.
Met goal for last week? Nope. Taking advantage of an easy schedule does not include losing to Buffalo. The Jackets should’ve swept the week.
Goal for this week: Bounce back with statement games against tougher competition. That means sticking to their identity: score first in at least three of the four games.
Montreal Canadiens (39-22-8, 86 points)
Leads Atlantic Division by two points, 13 games left (8 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: That division lead is looking precarious.
Met goal for last week? Eh. If the goal was to “withstand” the road trip, then they did so ... but that 5-0 loss in Calgary was briefly demoralizing.
Goal for this week: Sweep the Senators in a critical home-and-home weekend series. Their points lead over Ottawa is the difference between facing the Rangers in the first round or the Bruins in an emotionally-charged trap series.
Ottawa Senators (39-22-6, 84 points)
Holds second place in Atlantic Division by six points, 15 games left (12 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: That six-point cushion over Boston is delicious. Both teams enjoyed a successful week (Ottawa extended its winning streak to six games) but only the Senators earned those extra two points.
Met goal for last week? Yes. See above.
Goal for this week: End the week as healthy as they began it. Which isn’t that healthy, mind you: Mark Stone, Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan are all dealing with issues despite Ottawa’s recent success.
Boston Bruins (36-26-6, 78 points)
Holds third place in Atlantic Division by two points, 14 games left (12 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: As impressive as those wins over Detroit and Philadelphia were, the loss last Monday in Ottawa stung.
Met goal for last week? No. Boston’s 4-2 loss in Ottawa kept them from earning every possible point last week.
Goal for this week: Take a month-worth of momentum on one of the more dreaded road trips in hockey: the Western Canada road swing.
New York Rangers (44-23-2, 90 points)
Holds first wild card by 14 points, 13 games left (12 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: A disappointing loss to the Hurricanes aside, the Rangers are doing well. Though the injury to Henrik Lundqvist could prove costly if Antti Raanta stumbles.
Met goal for last week? Yes. For the most part. New York stopped bleeding goals, holding opponents to one goal per game on average in their three wins.
Goal for this week: Let Antti Raanta prove he’s one of the best backups in the game.
Have a shot
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
New York Islanders (32-24-11, 75 points)
Trailing wild card by one point, 15 games left (8 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Breathing down Toronto’s neck. Interim head coach Doug Weight has infused this team with confidence at the right time, and the Islanders finished up one of their longest road trips of the season with two wins in Western Canada.
Met goal for last week? Yes. Thomas Greiss was the star in the Isles’ 4-1 win in Edmonton and helped stave off the Canucks in a 4-3 overtime win two nights later.
Goal for this week: Keep the pressure up on the Leafs during an easy week against the Hurricanes (twice) and Jets.
Toronto Maple Leafs (31-22-14, 76 points)
Holds wild card by one point, 15 games left (11 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: That was a week the Leafs desperately needed. Toronto ended a five-game slide with three straight wins.
Met goal for last week? Yes. Those wins over Detroit, Philadelphia and Carolina held off the charging Islanders at least for another week. But now it gets tough.
Goal for this week: Keep that momentum alive during a truly tough week: a trip to Florida and Tampa Bay finishes with a home date with the red-hot Blackhawks on Saturday. Toronto needs to aim for at least three points out of six.
In trouble
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Lightning (32-26-9, 73 points)
Trailing wild card by three points, 15 games left (10 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Broken. The playoffs are still within reach, but injuries are back in Tampa Bay.
Met goal for last week? No. We told them to stay healthy. Then Tyler Johnson, Vladislav Namestnikov and Cedric Paquette all suffered knee injuries in one game. Whoops.
Goal for this week: Hope the kids can keep producing. They still won that injury-plagued game against the Wild and rookie Yan Gourde scored to help them beat the Panthers. If Tampa Bay can keep this up, they might get Steven Stamkos back with the playoffs still in play.
Florida Panthers (29-27-11, 69 points)
Trailing wild card by seven points, 15 games left (11 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Whatever hope gained by Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau’s return has evaporated after losing eight of nine games and going winless last week.
Met goal for last week? No. Florida did not “get back into that winning groove.” It’s more like a losing waddle.
Goal for this week: Salvage. Salvage. Salvage. This is a difficult week with the Leafs, Blue Jackets, Rangers and Penguins on deck. Florida must get points in at least three of four to stay relevant.
Philadelphia Flyers (31-28-8, 70 points)
Trailing wild card by six points, 15 games left (9 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Philly wasted its opportunity after demolishing the Sabres on Tuesday. The Flyers followed that up with losses in Toronto and Boston, giving them a net loss in points for the week.
Met goal for last week? No. Aside from that 6-3 win in Buffalo, the Flyers were outscored 6-3 in their next two games. Michal Neuvirth and Steve Mason weren’t perfect, but they weren’t aided much, either.
Goal for this week: Watch the tape of that Sabres win religiously and put the lessons to use against the Blue Jackets and Penguins.
Pretty much done
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Carolina Hurricanes (27-27-11, 65 points)
Trailing wild card by 11 points, 17 games left (13 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Sandwiched in between disappointing losses to Toronto and Colorado was an impressive win over the Rangers. Valentine Zykov also enjoyed a successful NHL debut with a goal in his first game.
Met goal for last week? No. We asked them to feast on struggling teams. They lost to the Avs and Leafs, so ...
Goal for this week: Ask more of the youngsters and receive it. Zykov will get more playing time, and Lucas Wallmark just got called up over the weekend. This is the chance for both to prove they’re ready for the show next season.
Buffalo Sabres (28-29-12, 68 points)
Trailing wild card by eight points, 13 games left (12 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: A miserable week takes Buffalo out of the “in trouble” category and into this done-zo one. Their win on Saturday ended a four-game slide that likely ended their playoff hopes.
Met goal for last week? No. Dropped points in two of three games instead of all three like we asked. Is it that hard? To follow the rules?
Goal for this week: Get a point on a brutal road trip across California.
Absolutely done
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Detroit Red Wings (26-30-11, 63 points)
Trailing wild card by 13 points, 15 games left (8 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Well, they’re still out of the race by a good margin. But they proved they can still play spoiler against playoff teams in their own conference.
Met goal for last week? Nope. Petr Mrazek gave up ten goals in three games. So much for that.
Goal for this week: Same as last week, I suppose. If Mrazek can’t turn it around against the two worst teams in the league, Detroit should be worried.
New Jersey Devils (25-31-12, 62 points)
Trailing wild card by 14 points, 14 games left (10 vs. quality teams)
Outlook: Ten straight losses. Carving a path up the lottery rankings.
Met goal for last week? No. They did not stop the bleeding. And now they are about to die.
Goal for this week: Catch up on The Expanse and Legion. Oh, wait, you meant New Jersey’s goal. I don’t know. Go get some pizza.
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