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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Survey #326

“life by life / waste to waste / i'm the harbinger: the master of decay”

When you get married what do you think you’ll put most of your focus and money into? Do you mean like, for the wedding? Probably the venue. Or possibly the photographer. Have you ever had a teacher that also taught your parents? No. What’s something you complain about frequently? My legs. Are you afraid of falling in love? Very. Are you close to any of your aunts/uncles? Not very. Do you hate it when people smoke around you? Very much so. Do you own anything that is special edition? Yeah, things like DVDs. Do you have any funky bookmarks? I have this one meerkat bookmark where the image moves when you tilt it. Did you ever watch Pokemon? Hell yeah I did. Are there more females or males in your family? Females. Does anyone in your family snore loudly? My mom does due to having gerd. Dad did too when I actually lived with him. I wouldn't know nowadays. Do you own a camera tripod? Yes. Did you ever believe in mermaids? No. Have you ever purchased alcohol? Yes. Any essential quirks/interests/other you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? Similar interests, like being a metal fan and gamer especially, as well as a serious animal lover for sure. Any romantic gestures you really like? Okay if someone did that little bow thing while reaching out for my hand to dance, I'd melt, lol. I also appreciate love interests holding open doors, SHOWING INTEREST IN HOW I FCKN FEEL, asking permission before doing anything in sexual exploration, stuff like that. Any sexual fantasies? Are you daring enough to share one? Yep, not sharing those lmfao. Have you ever been in love? Twice. What is your favorite/least favorite word? My favorite is "serendipity/serendipitous," and my least favorite is "retarded." Have you ever been skinny dipping? No. If I actually had a body I was confident in, I probably would in privacy tho at night lmao. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Oh yeah. What is your favorite thing to do? Probably RPing with my favorite OCs when I'm in a really creative mood and during a great scene. Did you go to your senior prom? Yeah, I did. Prom's honestly pretty damn overrated, but I did it and his senior prom anyway. It's the picking out a beautiful dress and taking pictures that I loved. What did you do after graduation? I don't remember. We probably went out to eat or something. Favorite home cooked meal growing up? Spaghetti. What item most embarrasses you to purchase? Nothing, really. Do you give cards to people for holidays or events? No. Name the coolest thing about one of your grandparents. Uhhhhh idk. Name two things you put whipped cream on? I hate the texture of whipped cream. Do you ever eat peanut butter straight from the jar? Sometimes if I want a snack but am trying to be healthy-ish, I'll eat just a scoop. What was the last pill you took for? Pain. Do you prefer your clothes loose or close fitting? Loose, 100%. Favorite thing you’ve ever painted? Meerkats grooming. I did it in high school on a large piece of burlap. Are there any songs that remind you of your mother? "Take It Like a Woman" by Alice Cooper, for one. How did your elementary school teachers describe you? Very smart, sweet, friendly, and nice. Game you were best at in PE/gym? Pf, none. Obsession from childhood? Dinosaurs and Pokemon. Best way for someone to bond with you? Let's talk about deep stuff regarding the world or about how awesome animals are. Top 5 favorite Vines? Oh boy. There are just way too many. I'll try to name a few: 1.) the "I can't find my berries" saga guy; 2.) *in drive-thru, asked what he would like to order* "I wanna FUCKIN DIE"; 2.) "i cOUldA DROPpeD my CroISSAnt"; 3.) "it's Wednesday, m'dudes"; 4.) "a d a m"; 5.) "I WON'T HESITATE, BITCH." God, I miss Vine. What is the first meme you remember seeing? Holy cow, I have no idea. Sci-fi, fantasy, or superheroes? Fantasy. Favorite tradition? Dressing up for Halloween, even though I don't do it anymore... Talent you’re proud of having? Writing. Favorite website from your childhood? Webkinz was unbeatable. I was obsessed. Any good luck charms? I don't believe in those. Favorite potato food? French fries. Tell me the color of your eyes, without using the name of a color: Uhhhh a cloudy sky right before rain? Ever been through a goth phase? Goth is my fucking AESTHETIC. I wish I could afford a truly gothic wardrobe, because you bet your sweet ass it's all I'd wear out. Can you remember your first phone? If so, what kind was it? I think so? It was a Blueberry, I believe. Who is your favourite character from Alice in Wonderland? Obviously the Cheshire cat. What is your favorite type of YouTube video to watch? Lately, it's been tarantula and snake channels/pet YouTubers. I still think my overall favorites are let's plays, but right now it's just stepping back a bit. What’s the next project you are excited to start? I have this pretty cool drawing I wanna do of a morbid meerkat doing a big toothy smile, doing a peace sign (but his fingers are syringes) with a crown blinking over his head. Inspired by the "Professional Griefers" lyric of "lab rat king." I just really wanna make it perfect and am procrastinating in fear of failing... Have you ever experienced a miracle? I don't think I believe in miracles. What are your top three names you like for a daughter? Alessandra, Justine, and Chloe, to name a few. Which did you like better: high school or college? High school, at least in most ways. What is the theme of your bedroom? It doesn't have a theme. My interests just kinda threw up everywhere, haha. Have you ever lived in a dorm? No. Were you raised religious? Yes. Do you do your own taxes, or do you hire a professional? I don't have to do taxes yet. What was the very first thing you ever saved up to buy with your own money? Venus was the first big thing, I think. Describe your favorite Christmas ornament: I don't know what that would be, honestly. We have so very many. What jobs did your parents have when you were growing up? Dad's always been a mailman, and he also had a second job as a carpenter for a while. Mom worked with special needs children at my elementary school as a teacher assistant. She also worked at the hospital at one point, doing some computer work. I don't remember her actual position. Are you taller than your mom? We're the same height. Would you marry someone if they were unable to have sex? Sure, that's not a big deal to me. Last reason you went to the ER? For myself, a suicide attempt/overdose. What was the last word document you typed? This survey, actually, so I could save progress as I combine them. What’s something you don’t think people take seriously enough? Global warming. Have you ever dated someone who had a child from a previous relationship? No. Is there any drama currently going on with your family? No. What was the last fruit or vegetable you chopped/sliced up? An apple. I wanted apple slices with peanut butter. What is your favorite Hostess/Little Debbie snack? Holy SHIT that is impossible. Maybe the devil cakes, but I really don't know. I love most of them. Do you/your family buy loaf from the bakery or bagged on the shelf? Bagged. White, wheat or other? Mom buys white bread, but my favorite is pumpernickel. What was the last non-fiction book you’ve read? (Not a school textbook!): I ain't got a clue. I don't really read non-fiction. What color are your headphones/earbuds? These are blue. Would you be embarrassed to find out you snored loudly in public? Yep. Thankfully, I don't snore. Do you feel guilty about killing bugs? Yep. How do you feel about coconut? Not a fan. ^ Ever cracked one open? Ha, I've always wanted to. Who did you last worry about and why? My mom. She's getting a CT scan ASAP due to chronic headaches and stomach pain, so I'm worried her cancer might be re-emerging. When was the last time you ate/drank something gross just to be polite? I don't know; I struggle to do this. If I don't like something, my face shows it. I can't help it. When did you last make up a baby’s bottle? Never. Do you have any framed black & white photos in your home? Who are they of? No. What’s the most expensive thing your car needed to get done? N/A If you had a thousand dollars to spend on a pricey brand you like but can’t really afford (until now of course), which ONE brand would you chose? I don't know. Real talk, I find most luxury brands to sell pretty ugly stuff... Do you like candy canes? Yeah. Do you still talk to any of your old teachers? Yes; one is my landlord. What color was the dress you wore to your senior prom? It was black. Ever go to another school’s prom? No. Do you like burning candles or incense? I love incense. Do you ever venture into the woods? What do you normally do in there? When I used to live in the woods, I did every now and then to take pictures. Does your significant other ever make you mix CDs? Single, but that would be so romantic. /swoons How did you dress your freshman year of high school? I was this emo/metalhead/goth creature. What is the best present you have ever received? My dog Teddy. <3 What is the best present you have ever given? I put the most effort into a scrapbook thing of well over a hundred reasons I loved my then-boyfriend Jason. Even though we're done, I honestly hope he still has it, just to remember. What is the best surprise you have ever had? Sara's parents paying for a flight up there to be with Sara for her birthday. Have you ever been robbed? No, thankfully. Ever kiss someone on the first date? No. Ever sleep with someone on the first date? Definitely a nope. Ever give someone a wrong phone number on purpose? No. What’s the strangest thing you have ever witnessed firsthand? I have no idea. It's... very morbid, but possibly dogs twitching after being euthanized. Seeing Teddy do it was such a strange, painful experience. Like there was still life in there... even though I know it was just his nerves doing their final hoorah and he was already dead. Ever seen a psychiatric ward? I've been in a mental hospital five or six times, so I'm uncomfortably familiar with them. What is the last thing you did that you didn’t want to do? Group therapy. I'm really burning out on it. Thankfully, I don't have it on the weekends. What is the last thing you convinced someone else to do? I dunno. If you could live in a different time, would you? When? Nah. Do you prefer to sleep alone or with someone else? Sleeping alone is more comfortably physically, but I usually prefer sleeping with a partner because there's this amazing feeling of safety, love, and companionship. How many pillows do you sleep with? Two. Do you prefer cold air and blankets, or warm air and no blankets? Cold air and blankets by ten miles. I can't sleep if I'm even remotely hot. How often do you dust? Sigh, not as much as I need to. What is the most "extreme" activity you have ever done? I haven't done very much that fits that description... so idk. Dr. Pepper or root beer? Dr. Pepper. I hate root beer. Last room you cleaned? Mine. Last thing you did that made you feel like an adult? Checked into the doctor's office by myself, haha... Talk about sad. What’s your favorite picture of your mom? Dad? It's not my business to actually share those pictures, but I can describe them. I fucking ADORE this candid photograph I took of my mom laughing; I will forever cherish it. It's morbid to think about, but it's absolutely a picture I'll frame of her once she's passed away. I don't have many pictures of Dad, but I do really like this picture we took together at Red Lobster once. Are you subscribed to anything (Magazines, monthly boxes, streaming sites, etc.)? Mom pays an Adobe Creative Cloud photography bundle subscription for me, but that's it. Last TV show series you finished? Fullmetal Alchemist with Sara. It was a rewatch for me, but she'd never seen it. What’s something exciting that’s happened to one of your friends recently? A childhood friend got engaged a few days back. Do you have any board games? If so, where do you keep them? We have a few somewhere. What were the last things you glued together? I don’t recall. What are your friends’ pets’ names? I'll just use Sara here since she's my best friend. She has two family dogs, Buster and Beesly, a cat named Winter, four ball pythons named Martha, Crowley, Little Dot, and Jane Marie, and Doris, a bearded dragon that I personally adore most. :') What all did you do today? I played World of Warcraft early this morning, but not for very long. I've been in a phase of being very uninterested in it lately. I've mostly just done surveys... lots of surveys. I'm just in the mood to. I've also been listening to music and watching John Wolfe play Amnesia: Rebirth periodically. If you live in a house, how many floors does it have? If you live in an apartment building, how many units does it have? It's just one floor. Would you like to live in a world with mythical creatures, even if they turned out to be evil or dangerous? Honestly... I probably would, haha. Are you scared of heights? Yes. When was the last time you lost something of great sentimental value? Did you ever end up finding it again? Never, I think and hope. What food do you find to be the most filling? Is this something you eat a lot of? Eggs or oatmeal. Not really. What do you think of people who purposefully train their dogs to fight or to be aggressive? They're fucking garbage human beings. If you suffer/have suffered with acne, do you squeeze your spots or do your best to just leave them be? Ugh, I was so bad (and still am if something pops up) about picking at it. Does your father have any hobbies? What are they? Sure. He loves sports, fishing, idk if he still plays video games, fantasy football... and I can't forget playing with his grandkids. It's hard for me to know all of them when I don't live with him and see him rarely. What did the last face mask you wore look like? It was just a white cotton one. Is there a specific song that you always request at parties? What is it? I don't go to parties. Would you rather read poetry or write poetry? Write it. Have you ever had any really infected injuries? I've had infected piercings as well as a badly infected pilonidal cyst. Is there any band out there that you like every song by them? No. Are you popular on any websites? No. What was the last song you listened to? Aaaaand now I'm hooked on "NIHIL" by 3TEETH. Are you currently texting anyone right now? No. When was the last time you played jump rope? Yikes, probably not since I was a kid. I used to love it. Who was the last person you offended? I dunno. What’s the earliest you’ve ever had to wake up for work? Not early. Do you know anyone who has changed their first name? I know trans people who have, yes. Do you know anyone who has been on life support and survived? No. At least, I don't believe so. Do your parents have a strong relationship together? They're divorced, and Mom at least can't stand him. Dad doesn't really care. Do you ever feel like you’re sharing too much about yourself online? Oh, I absolutely used to. I still might, idk. I've tried to reel it back some. How many windows are in the room you’re in? Eight, but they're just small, vertical rectangles stacked together, so it's not as revealing as it sounds. What was the last necklace you wore? My spiked choker, I think, for pictures. Or maybe the one I have with a bunch of big silver skulls. Do you think there are more dimensions than what we’re able to perceive? I don't think so, no. Does anyone in your family have schizophrenia? My half-sister on Dad's side that I've never met. Have you ever been in an abandoned house? A shack, yeah. Do you like art? I positively adore it. I could NOT imagine life without it. How about theatre? I don't care for it. Have you ever made breakfast for someone? Yes, for Sara. Do you talk to your crush? If you have one. Yeah, she's my best fren. If yes, what do you usually talk about? Nowadays I ask her almost daily how she's doing in regards to her progress of recovering from both serious physical and mental stressors. I try to always be an available ear if she ever wants to vent. Would you rather read or watch a video about something? Watch a video. In what ways have you fulfilled some of the hopes and dreams you had as a teenager? I've fulfilled none of those. What’s one stressful thing you’ve been trying to deal with lately? How have you been dealing with it? Inexplicable, chronic boredom/serious anhedonia. I've just... put up with it. I get pleasure out of essentially nothing most days, and it sucks big time. I just try to distract myself and force myself to do things I usually love, though I've been bad about actually succeeding in making me do said stuff... Is there a regional chain of store/restaurant/etc. in your area that you feel very loyal to? MOTHERFUCKIN BOJANGLE'S, BITCH. You think YOU have good fries somewhere? Oh hunny, sit down. Oftentimes, people warn us against getting tattoos or body modifications or dying our hair unnatural colors because we could be judged poorly for them. But has a more “alternative” look ever worked out in your favor? Well, I like myself better with my piercings and tattoos, and that's all that really matters to me. Do you have any daily routine/habit of that you’re really proud of keeping up? No. .-. Pick one of the following activities to do in a forest (assume you would be equally good at each one of these): Foraging for mushrooms, identifying trees, searching for specific types of bugs, trying to build something out of fallen branches and logs. Searching for bugs w/ my camera!!! But that all sounds fun. What’s the hardest class you’ve ever taken? My most recent math course that I failed horribly.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''master of decay'' by 3teeth

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hiyo-silver · 5 years

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"What's Up You Guys It's Me, Bdenbrough!" - NEW FRIEND VS OLD FRIEND - WHO KNOWS ME BETTER?

Summary: Bill has Eddie and Beverly on his channel to challenge them to see who knows him better.

Chapter 1 2 3 + ao3

Taglist: @hazelash @fuckboykaspbrak @thesquidliesthuman @rachi0964 @beepbeep-losers @bigbilliamdenbro @jalenrose1122 @sleepygaybrough @itandstrangerthingsfanfic @boopboopbichie @peachywyatt @aizeninlefox @sockwantstodie @ahoybyeler @yooonbum @coffeekaspbrak

Bill decides to get on an uploading schedule. He wants to post every other week on a sunday, giving him Saturday to film and edit. He makes a habit of it, the hardest part is coming up with ideas for his videos, so often they end up being viral challenges that have long past, or tags he hasn’t even gotten tagged in, like his first video.

His titles give him a few more subscibers, “SLIME MAKING”, “THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE - HYPOTHERMIA?”. He learns to become the king of clickbait. He rises up to 100 or so subscibers in a couple months. It makes him feel on top of the world, like the coolest kid in Derry.

Summer comes and he decides it’s finally a good enough time to introduce his newer friends in a vlog or in another type of video. His audience has met Richie, Eddie, and Stan, but not Beverly or Mike or Ben. He especially wants to introduce Bev, he thinks she’s really pretty, and maybe she’ll be impressed by his whopping 257 followers. Maybe she’d even go to get milkshakes with him, or even get a bag of candy to share.

So he sets out on how to execute his next idea, “Best Friend vs New Friend: Who Knows Me Best?” He enlists Eddie for this one, he knows Richie may be too animated for even YouTube in his fresh out of school haze. Plus it’s good to get Eddie out of the house whenever he can, Sonia is something else.

He pulls the bean bags out of the closet so he can sit on his desk chair between them. He’s excited for this one, he can basically call it a collab, even though Eddie and Bev aren’t necessarily other content creators. He could pretend they are though, even linking their instagrams in the description box. Call them influencers, basically anyone can be one of those these days.

He looks down at his arms, covered in blue and black pen, doodles all down his forearms. He gets bored when he’s planning questions for these, more often than not turning to Google for a lot of them. His left arm is laced with planets and stars, even an attempt at recreating the milky way on his wrist near the root of his hand. He decides not to wash it off, it only adds to his charm.

He awaits the knock on the door, Beverly had said that they would meet up and walk together to his place. His parents work on weekdays and today is a Friday, so it’s perfect for him. He loves the summer, his parents aren’t always around when he’s home, it gives him room to enjoy himself.

He finally does hear the knock of the two of them while he’s propping his tablet up on some books on his desk as a tripod, he had hoped to get one for his birthday but his parents obviously wouldn’t, and they’re a little too expensive for his friend’s style.

He bolts down the stairs with his socked feet, slipping slightly on the corner, almost stubbing his toe on the wood baseboard. He has a bad habit of rushing himself to put out videos, he’s a workaholic on a self inflicted job at the age of twelve.

He’s going to be starting seventh grade next year, he hopes the work that comes of that doesn’t put a damper on his creativity for his channel. His channel is about all that brings him joy when his friends aren’t around. A self sufficient antidepressant. It’s even better when he gets to bring them in for videos.

He opens the door out of breath, pushing his hair back behind his shoulders. It’s getting long, he’ll have to ask for a trim soon. He smiles at them as he takes in gasps of air to control himself better. “Ready to f-f-film?” he asks, still leaning against the doorframe.

“Damn, you’re wheezier than Eddie,” Bev smirks, chuckling as she steps into the threshold of the house, patting him on the back firmly enough to get him to choke. He gives her a smile, his face as red as his hair, as well as hers. They’re the two red head chicks at school, they stick together. Though Bill has always been more shy, Beverly is better at being abrasive in response to the teasing.

“Hey! I r-r-r-ran to let y-you guys in,” He defends, moving out of the way to let Eddie come in as well. “It’s all s-set up upstairs, I have a-all the questions and the props all r-ready,” he says with pride on his face as the shorter boy comes in through the door, wiping off his feet and closing the heavy wood door behind him.

“Sounds good, you’re on, Bev,” Eddie says with his own devilish grin, he plans on winning, he can do it all with his memory. He probably knows everything about Bill there is to know, they’ve been chumming since kindergarten, the age of five all the way to them being twelve now.

They all stomp up the stairs, allowed to be as loud as they want with the lack of parents in the house, the premises all to the kids. Bill plops down on his chair, spinning in a circle happily. Bev and Eddie sit hard in the bean bags, on his left and right sides respectively.

Bill leans forward to start the recording, sitting back in his seat, putting on the usual energy. “What up you g-guys! It’s m-me, Bdenbrough back here with y-your Saturday entert-t-tainment!” he announces with a bright smile. “Here I h-have for you, Beverly and Eddie, the b-best friend vs n-new friend challenge,” He says with a slight smirk, feeling as if he’s got tricks up his sleeve.

Beverly smiles and waves with the tips of her fingers, the gap between her teeth showing through her parted lips, covered in her favorite cherry lip gloss. “I’m Bev,” she introduces, “Basically this one’s twin,” she says, pointing up at Bill in his seat, crossing one of her legs over the other.

Eddie adopts a slightly less nervous expression as the filming actually starts, “I’m Eddie, call me any funky nicknames and I’ll castrate you,” he states, giving the camera a smile that’s almost eerie after what he just said.

“Well! L-let’s get started with the questions I’ve pr-prepared,” Bill says, pulling out his organized filming journal, scanning his eyes over the page of questions, they aren’t too hard, but hopefully just enough so he can claim a true winner to this channel. Or else his clickbait would be even worse.

“First, w-what’s m-my favorite color?” he asks, crossing his own leg over the other, a smug look on his face despite the easiness of the question. He’s saving the big guns for later, giving him the false sense of security.

“Blue!” Bev jumps in before Eddie can. Blue is Bill’s favorite more recently, Eddie was about to say either lime green or purple, those are the colors he’d planned to paint his room a couple months back. He also wanted some wolf posters, but what his mom provided were some ones with bunnies on them. She doesn’t want her daughter to get too rough or aggressive. Bunnies are the perfect role model.

A few more easy questions come, about animals and about what his favorite subject at school was this year, up until he brings up one of the most complicated questions of the game. “W-what am I most scared o-of starting Middle School n-next year?” he asks, a quizzical look even on his own face.

“Uhm…” Eddie starts, cradling his chin in his hand in focus, his eyes nearly piercing the camera with their sharpness. “Having a reputation that’s not what you are?” He guesses, and Bill’s expression softens.

“I’ll take that a-answer. That’s nine for Eddie and e-eight for Beverly,” he says, striking his pen across the page for another talley on Eddie’s side. “That w-was the final question! The rumors are true, b-best friend since kinderg-garten wins!” he smiles, patting Eddie on the shoulder as he smiles.

It is true. He doesn’t want a reputation. He doesn’t want to be seen as girly, he thinks he might like girls which makes him feel weird inside. It makes him shiver with even more fear and excitement when he thinks of Bev. He likes her, but he can’t be gay, he’d be the first one to be outed if he ever uttered a single word about it to anyone.

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lyricalt · 7 years

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[ovw] more beach stuff (3)

Rating: T Characters: light mcgenji, plus some surprises. Warning: alcohol mention, bad jokes Note: sometimes.. you want to write something... utterly pointless set to funky music.

Genji hears the makeshift ladder rattle first and then top of McCree’s bleach-blond head appears over the ledge. He’s about to make a smart comment about it, one out of several since the beginning of the mission, but McCree starts talking in numbers and coordinates so Genji turns back around to look out into the ocean, using his HUD to direct his gaze. There’s a third yacht coming in view, windows all tinted and a couple of people sunbathing on the deck. Genji’s HUD snaps a picture, though he isn’t equipped enough to offer anything more than a simple visual.

McCree joins him on the small rooftop, bare feet leaving wet footprints on the ridged tiles. Technically, the lifeguard tower’s rooftop isn’t made to be stood on, but that has never stopped Genji or McCree from climbing up for a better view before. McCree crouches low next to Genji, hair still dripping wet in it’s tie.

The roof slants at an upwards angle facing the ocean. It’s one of the many reasons why they have found it more preferable, being able to have some form of cover while they kept their eye on the yacht convoy at sea. McCree lowers himself on his stomach, shoulder pressing to Genji’s as he starts to adjust his sniper rifle setup.

The rooftop is a small space, but not that small. Genji humors McCree for a moment before he scoots to one side, reaching for the pack of supplies. “What do you need?”

“Get me one of them, uh, dust trackers. And a regular bead,” says McCree, putting his eye to the scope of the sniper rifle. He pauses, easing away for a moment, and blinks with a frown. The rifle is a standard issue, perfectly reliable, but McCree has been modifying it bit by bit on his own time.

Genji picks out the requested items, handing over a tracking bead and the smaller, more expensive cap of the dust tracker. He assumes McCree is still unsatisfied by the gun, but any more customizations and Genji thinks the rifle would just turn into another revolver.

“This shit’s too fiddly for me,” McCree mutters, peering through the scope again and lining his sights. He taps the tripod stand. “Haven’t done this stuff in ages.”

Genji gives him a pat on the shoulder, fingers trailing up to tuck a damp lock of bright yellow hair behind McCree’s ear. “Hm, I see. Would you rather I do it?”

McCree stops his scope measurements, head turning so fast he might have been in danger of spraining it. Genji gives him a leveled stare in return and then, with a smirk, McCree takes the specialized bullets from Genji’s palm. His hand slides further down Genji’s arm. He presses his mouth to Genji’s warmed metal wrist.

“Oh, sweetpea, we know you’ll fuck up the whole mission if you do,” McCree says kindly, and starts loading the rifle, tracking bead first.

“I thought you would say that.” Genji settles back, letting McCree do his work.

McCree’s first shot with the rifle goes unnoticed, timed to fire with the distant lighthouse horn. Genji follows the bullet with his cybernetic sight and a pair of binoculars. He sees the tracking bead stick to one of the antennas of the third yacht, high enough to be not be knocked by waves or seen when the boat is docked. Genji worries for a moment about the sound of the bead hitting against the metal rod, but McCree had caught the second the sail lines chimed over the metal poles, waving from the sea breeze. The ding! of the tracker matches perfectly with the ping! of the sail lines. Genji smiles from behind his mask but doesn’t say anything.

Instead, he pats the small of McCree’s back twice, signaling a confirmation. McCree breathes again.

It takes another minute to load the dust tracker and calculate the whatever variables McCree needs to adjust. As far as Genji understands, a dust tracker is a timed-loaded bullet, set to release a puff of particles to be inhaled. Ideally, it would track the location of the target who breathes it in for a day or two, depending on the amount inhaled.

The tricky part is, of course, firing the bullet in such a way that it releases beneath or near the person’s nose or on their clothes—without the target feeling it. Genji thinks it would be easier for him to simply run up to the person with the dust tracker and cup his hands over the target’s mouth himself, but they have orders to not engage and only observe. Winston had been very firm about it, and Genji supposes if he wants the quieter mission, he ought to obey.

McCree goes still for a very long while, eye to the scope and finger over the trigger. Genji almost gets bored of waiting, but he observes their target—one of the people sunbathing on the yacht deck with an impressively large fishbowl of margarita at their side, no doubt one of the leaders from the way they have been served upon by a duo of hovering omnics.

Genji doesn’t know what McCree is watching for. He can see the sweat trail down McCree’s neck, intermingled with the water from his hair. McCree shifts, lowering his head by just a fraction. A strand of hair falls across his forehead, almost like a line of sunlight cutting on his cheek. Genji wants to brush it aside, but McCree’s eyes narrow.

The target lifts their drink, putting the glass rim to their mouth.

McCree fires.

Genji sees the target wrinkle their nose, tongue flicking over their lips with a dissatisfied expression, but the drink only gets set aside as the target wipes their nose with a corner of their towel.

He gives McCree another two pats on the back. McCree exhales, putting his head to his forearm to rub the sweat from his brow. Genji snags the moment to brush back McCree’s hair, enjoying how the gentle pull makes McCree tip his head back.

“Well done,” he says.

McCree rolls on his back, mindful of the small pack around his waist. He unzips it for a celebratory cigar and Genji reaches over his stomach to pull out the lighter for him.

“Whew. I want whatever the guy in Yacht-1 was having,” McCree says, turning his head to the flickering flame in Genji’s hand.

“The whole bottle? Hah, I doubt-” Genji halts in mid-sentence as a text message blinks purple in his HUD. “TaKillYa,” he reads, too baffled to mention the line of heart emojis scrolling down his vision.

“Tequila?” McCree says, thoughtful. “Sure.” His cigar catches on the lighter. He inhales.

Genji glances past the mysterious text, almost missing the streak of fine glitter that plays over McCree’s face for less than half a second. His cybernetics slow it down, shows it like static in the air between them, though the smoke from McCree’s cigar obscures most of it. Someone starts to play music on the beach below, the bass vibrations at the perfect frequency to start buzzing faintly in Genji’s ear.

McCree’s pull from the cigar cuts short with a surprised choking noise. He coughs, rubbing his nose. “Ugh, that tasted funny.”

Genji sits up, alarmed. He fixes his gaze back to the ocean. “McCree.”

Sensing Genji’s urgent tone, McCree rushes his cigar and looks through the scope. “Movement. Yacht-2.”

Genji sees someone climbing on to the yacht deck, though an odd splash in the water below the boat catches his attention. He squints. “Someone’s coming out of the water. She’s… signaling?”

McCree swivels his rifle. He pauses. “She’s blowing us a kiss.”

A purple skull flashes in the middle of Genji’s HUD, but Wintson’s anti-hack program wipes the screen clean before it can start being a threat to his systems. Half of Genji’s network connections shut down as a precaution, though he swears the music coming from the beach is growing louder.

Genji steals the binoculars around McCree’s neck. His faceplate makes it awkward to use, but it is not nearly as awkward as seeing a very attractive women wave at him from the deck of Yacht-1, flower-patterned skirt fluttering in the ocean breeze while her own sniper rifle points at them. She has purple skin. He’s left wondering for a second how they had missed that.

Genji starts sliding down the roof, waiting a moment for McCree to fire off one last round before grabbing him by the swim trunks to drag him to the ground. He hears the return fire crack in the distance, and McCree’s sunhat flies off his head as they land hard on the sand.

McCree mutters something under his breath, scrambling to his feet.

“What?” Genji asks, tilting his head. A saxophone riff blares between his ears. He looks around him, trying to find which beachgoer is the one responsible for the loud noise. “I cannot hear you over the music.”

McCree is busy pulling up his shorts and taking out his revolver, but he spares a brief glance at Genji.

“What music?”

Maybe on any other mission, McCree would have had a huge laugh over Genji’s audio speakers getting hacked to play someone’s beach playlist. He hears the song leaking out from Genji’s helmet, too faint to catch the tune but loud enough to notice the rhythmic beat between the pauses of gunfire.

It doesn’t hinder Genji at all, thank god, but McCree would rather have Genji’s undivided attention while driving a jet ski across the rolling waves. The bounces over the water is suspiciously consistent and faster than what he feels necessary, despite the two of them chasing after two yachts.

He holds on tight, one arm circling around Genji’s shoulders and one leg around Genji’s waist. It’s the only way to stay on—there isn’t a less dignified position unless McCree wants to go flying off into the water. The sound of the jet ski’s motor changes in tone, and McCree knows Genji’s about to make a sharp turn. His hold tightens. He’s not much of a praying man—but he comes real close to asking for a few favors.

His revolver is disguised as a flare gun, a little bulkier than Peacekeeper, but it fire a steady round of bullets towards one of the yachts. He manages take Talon’s sniper off guard, shooting her rifle from her hands. The rifle goes clattering to the deck, sliding to the edge of the boat.

Genji spins the jet ski around, leaving a circular trail of bubbly white froth in their wake. McCree shoots the sniper rifle again, giving it one last push into the ocean. From the corner of his eye, he sees Widowmaker calmly disappear below the deck, sliding her sunglasses back over her head. His parting shot misses her shoulder by a hair.

McCree checks back his gun, bullet cases dropping into the water.

“Where’s the other one?” he asks and taps the side of Genji’s helmet when Genji fails to answer right away. It sounds like the song is at the chorus, and he’s willing to venture a guess that Genji is actually listening to it. He repeats in a louder voice, “Where’s Sombra?”

Genji points to the Yacht-3. The jet ski honks, which McCree hadn’t known it could do.

“I’m getting you on the boat. Prepare to jump,” Genji says.

McCree says, “What? Really?”

“I cannot hear you,” Genji replies, and it sounds like a damned lie. He speeds up towards the third yacht, one arm raising as shuriken fly from his hand.

The shuriken embed themselves into the hull of the yacht, cascading down in perfect footholds. McCree starts to very quickly calculate how far he would need to jump, but Genji speaks up.

“Those are in case I accidentally drop you,” he explains, still speeding.

The swell of the ocean lifts the jet ski higher and higher each time Genji rides over the rolling waves. Suddenly, McCree has a very good idea of what the cyborg is planning, and he doesn’t much like it.

“Genji,” he says, plaintive, “I don’t have my armor on.”

“I will catch you if you cannot land on your two feet.”

McCree already feels his bones and muscles aching against his will. He reloads. His leg slides from Genji’s waist, though it doesn’t stop him from giving Genji’s shin a sullen kick to stop his foot from tapping to the music. Genji leans forward, swerving into a cresting wave, just behind the yacht.

McCree presses his ear to Genji’s helmet. He hears the build up of the song, the cheery saxophone, and he is both impressed and annoyed that Genji has somehow timed the whole thing as they jump—tequila!

They fly into the air together, and McCree loosens his death grip from Genji’s shoulders. He lets himself hop off the jet ski before it thuds heavily on the deck of the yacht. Despite his timing, McCree lands off-balanced, unused to accounting for how the floor rolls beneath his feet. He lurches to the side, stumbling, but shoots at a shimmering blur near Genji.

The shimmering blur flickers, and the first thing that comes into view is Sombra’s grin before the rest of her appears, sitting behind Genji on the lopsided jet ski. Her arm slings comfortably around Genji’s shoulders.

“You like my summer playlist, friend?” she asks, wetsuit squeaking against Genji’s armor. Her snorkel hits Genji in the faceplate, to no real effect.

“It sucks,” Genji replies, trying to lean away without giving up his spot on the jet ski.

“No, I actually think he likes it,” McCree says, helpful, but he is ignored.

The jet ski slides back and forth on the deck as both Sombra and Genji try to knock each other off it. McCree is about to suggest the two of them both get off the damned thing for a better fight, but something glints in the distance from Yacht-1, and then he notices Yacht-1 is approaching them fast. McCree blinks, a part of him relieved that Widowmaker seems to have been unable to find another sniper rifle onboard her yacht, otherwise she would just shoot at them from a safe distance.

McCree aims his gun, trying to make out the slender cylinder in her hands. He pauses.

“Oh shit,” he says, backing away and trying to signal Genji.

And Widowmaker, in all her wedge-heeled glory, aims her harpoon gun.

“Genji, sword,” McCree calls out.

Genji’s reaction is immediate and unquestioning. He pulls his sword from its sheath, turning around to face Widowmaker.

He is just in time for the harpoon to spear him through his right shoulder. McCree hears a pained grunt from Genji and the wet sound of biotic parts tearing with metal. Genji whirls back around to glare at McCree.

“You thought,” Genji begins, incredulous despite his gasping. “You thought I would be able to deflect a harpoon?”

“Erm,” McCree says.

He doesn’t get to hear the rest of Genji’s angry yelling. Widowmaker reels Genji back, yanking him into the ocean like a reverse-caught fish. McCree hears a faint splash, but the cord connecting the harpoon to the gun grows taunt. He raises his gun and shoots at the line, fraying the woven threads. He figures Genji has enough blades on him to cut the rest.

“Alright Sombra, where’s-”

To his surprise, Sombra seems similarly annoyed by the whole ordeal. She ignores McCree walking towards her, yelling over her shoulder to Widowmaker. “Hey, what the hell? Watch it. You could’ve hit me!”

“As if that would be such a terrible loss!” Widowmaker shouts back, still trying to drag Genji out of the ocean.

Sombra revs the jet ski, not going anywhere fast. McCree wonders about her. He gets close enough to wrap his metal hand over one handle of the jet ski.

“Y’know… if you’re on the jet ski, and I’m getting on the jet ski—who’s driving the yacht?” he asks, curious, and points his gun at her.

Sombra rolls her eyes. Her palm glows purple. “I am, stupid. Right into that pier.”

She grabs his hand, fingers tapping over the metal skin quick enough to command a release. McCree’s grip in the jet ski loosens, but he’s too busy looking at the approaching pier to care. He runs across the deck towards the edge, because it’s nearly perfect—he can make a jump for the pier and regroup there, maybe call Winston for backup—

There is a man sitting on a motorcycle on the pier. The man’s got a cloak and a skull helmet and black smoke floating around his body. McCree blinks. What the goddamn shit.

The man on the motorcycle seems to be watching the whole thing, arms propped up on the handlebars in a relaxed slouch. He does a doubletake when he sees McCree.

“What the fuck? Really?” Reaper says, staring at him.

McCree lets the yacht crash into the pier, too stunned to even try figuring out what he had just seen. Sombra rides out the collision, letting the tipped yacht slide both her and the jet ski back into the water before taking off, engine sputtering happily away.

McCree rides out the crash as well, though with less grace than a man of his profession should have done. He flings himself off the yacht, where the water should have been, the last he checked, but his legs jar against something hideously solid. He groans, rolling to his side and feeling as if both his ankles have twisted under him. Some fool had thought to catch him in a motorboat.

A can of beer plunks down in front of him before he can draw his gun. It spews out a yellow beam of light.

McCree peers up at his savior. It’s an older man wearing the douchiest shades he has ever laid eyes on, with an apron that says ‘Raise the Steaks’. For a moment, McCree wonders if he had been the one shot with the harpoon, and if he’s been dying all this time and hallucinating through some kind of hellscape.

“Get up, McCree,” the older man orders, rough voice familiar enough to strike a chord. Soldier 76, without the usual tactical visor, it seems.

McCree stares. For some reason, the lower half of Soldier’s jaw isn’t as distinctive as McCree thought it would be.

“What are you doing here?” he asks and wants to finish with ‘—wearing that?’ But he knows he’s not in any position to criticize anyone, given his current attire.

“I’m the getaway,” Soldier 76 says, turning around to steer the boat away from the pier. They start to speed off. “And you’ve been bugged, son. Nice going.”

There’s a spice shaker strapped to Soldier’s arm. McCree looks at it, dubious. The air around him smells faintly like barbeque.

But before he can say anything else, something thuds against the front of the boat and McCree lurches to the backend. Groaning, he peers at the water, only seeing the leftover wake from the boat.

“Did we hit something?” he asks, very carefully, because he has a single guess on what it might be.

“Yeah, your boyfriend,” Soldier 76 says, confirming all of McCree’s suspicions. He slows the boat down. “Do you see—oh. There he is.”

The end of a harpoon pokes through the upper left side of the boat’s hull, the point just touching Soldier 76’s leg. Soldier 76 steps to the side, unbothered, though a drop of blood starts to well up on his shin.

Genji crawls onboard, using the embedded harpoon as a foothold. There’s an impressive hole in his chest, though the tail end of the harpoon cord still threads through the mechanical part of his body. He wobbles on his feet, pointing to the floor of the boat.

“Is that beer?” he demands after a long pause, sounding a little less coherent than normal, but he’s not exactly wrong either.

McCree tugs Genji to the ground, near the glowing beer can, which he finally can assume is a biotic emitter in disguise. He picks up the can and shoves it into Genji’s unresisting hands.

Genji looks down at it. McCree can picture him squinting at the label.

“...Did I lose a lot of blood?” Genji asks, unsure.

“Naw. Just a harpoon through your chest, sweet thing,” McCree reassures as Soldier 76 throws him another biotic emitter. It fizzes out foam when McCree pulls the tab.

“That’s actually real beer,” Soldier 76 says.

McCree snatches it back from the ground and takes a fortifying gulp. It’s cheap shit, but it doesn’t stop Genji from reaching over to grab McCree’s wrist and tip the can his way. He takes a smaller sip—or what McCree assumes would be a smaller sip, if it hadn’t dribbled down the front of his faceplate.

“It’s cheap shit,” Genji confirms, leaning heavily against McCree’s aching shoulder.

“Would you rather have tequila?” McCree asks.

Genji punches him.

#fic: beach series #overwatch #jesse mccree #genji shimada #mcgenji

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lgordinho · 5 years

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Possível GAIVOTA DO CÁSPIO/ Putative CASPIAN GULL/ Larus cachinnans cachinnans

2.º Inverno/ 2nd winter. Vista lateral contra fundo escuro/ Side view against dark background

Praia de Santo Amaro de Oeiras (Oeiras, Lisboa), 14-Fev-2010

Tirada pelo método Digiscoping: Telescópio Zeiss Diascope 65 T FL, Ocular Zeiss Zoom 15-45x, Adaptador fotográfico Nikon FSB-6, Câmara Nikon Coolpix P5100, Tripé Manfrotto/ Taken by Digiscoping: Zeiss Diascope 65 T FL spotting scope, Zeiss Zoom 15-45x eyepiece, Nikon FSB-6 digital camera bracket, Nikon Coolpix P5100 camera, Manfrotto tripod

Luís Gordinho

Note: Probably would be the second record for Portugal (unless http://www.avesdeportugal.info/larcac.html is not up-to-date). The first was in April 2006 at Beja landfill (Moore 2008, cf. Anuário Ornitológico 6:85-9). This bird was found by me (the round/dome-shaped crown and the very pale grey mantle feathers were striking) but identification as Caspian Gull was first proposed by Magnus Robb. Magnus also assisted me as I obtained the (very poor!!) flight shots, by keeping track of the bird. Thanks Magnus! Similarity with Caspian Gulls in some (but not all…) reference photos is suggestive. See e.g. http://www.xs4all.nl/~daarruud/cachinnans2d.html (by Ruud Altenburg) and photo 441 in p. 330 of Olsen & Larsson 2004 (Gulls, Helm ID Guides).

Some comments from Ruud Altenburg, Pim Wolf & Magnus Robb. Thanks for your input guys. Pim Wolf wrote: You are right Ruud it's a 3cy (or a second winter if you prefer), primary shape looks much too rounded for a 2cy/first winter. It would also have to have some really funky moult.... Ruud Altenburg wrote: Before posting our comments maybe we should first agree on its age. From Pim's reply I take it he considers it a first winter but I have looked at the pictures assuming it's one year older. 2cy YLG/CGs with such a proportion of adult-type scapulars do exist, but the primaries look very rounded and the lesser coverts don't look like juvenile to me either. The only snag is the tail which looks already very worn and brown for second generation feathers. Concerning feathers patterns it would look quite OK for a 'less-advanced' 3cy Caspian. The problem is that for a rarity you want to have an undisputed bird and this bird certainly does not fit that bill. Probably it's best to leave this one unidentified. Pim Wolf wrote: When I wrote that the tertials looked OK I had not seen the attached picture (www.flickr.com/photos/lgordinho/4360039938). On that picture they don't look good for Caspian Gull, I have never seen this amount of dark speckling in the white rim to the tertials in any Caspian. I should have looked at Luis's photostream more carefully! I know that these lines will seem like I'm teaching someone's grandmother to suck eggs but since some of this text will wander about I guess that there are a few things that need to be said at the start. Plumage and structure varies in all large gulls, including Caspian, resulting in a bewildering array of possibilities. I've seen gulls that look like proper Caspian on plumage but with short legs as well as birds that have a structure resembling a Caspian Gull but with a completely "wrong" plumage. Apart from that, judging gulls on pictures is a hazardous undertaking, I've often been reluctant to accept that a bird that looked quite good in the field can look so unconvincing on my own pictures a day later... That said, I have to admit that I am in Ruud's corner on this one, Caspian is a gull that should be seen in Portugal but I'm afraid that this is not the best candidate, you will find a better one soon. I would not call this a Caspian on my dike but there is no reason to dismiss it right away. The tertial pattern, the pale looking mantle and the more or less pale head are all suggestive of Caspian. That's as far as the good news goes, I still don't see a "true" Caspian in this gull. First of all, in these pictures the structure of the bird does look "off" for Caspian, It's just too powerfull and not slender and elongated enough for a classic individual with that strong bill, relatively short wings and thick legs. Plumagewise the pattern on the lesser coverts (pale edge with a darker, heart shaped center) fits a YLG or even Herring Gull better than it does Caspian. I've gone through a lot of photo's of 1-2 cy Caspians and unpatterned dark lesser coverts are the norm, even in February on late moulting gulls such as yours is. The head pattern (with that smudgy mask halfway on the head) looks more YLG than anything else. My guess is that the unpatterned new grey mantle feathers are only indicative of a late moulting bird. On both a YLG as well as a CG in first winter the norm is that the new mantle feathers that are moulted in september-november always have some internal markings on them. If they are moulted at that time of year the pattern on those new feathers can be more or less conclusive; they usually have some sort of achor pattern on YLG and a dark shaftstreak (and not much else) on CG. This bird has neither so apart from saying that they are untypical of both I cannot base anything on those feathers. The old mantle feathers on the other hand look much better for a YLG than for a CG. Well, than what is it? I hear you say. The honest answer is that I don't know, it does look a lot paler than the graellsii its standing next to, certainly too pale for any YLG I've ever seen in the south of France or recognized in the Netherlands. All other YLG's I've seen, or have seen pictures of, are as dark as, or darker than the French birds so it's definitely not a standard YLG of any form. I'm afraid that I can't take the identification of this one further than that without resorting to the classical American Defense that dictates that if you can't recognize it, it must be a hybrid. That could very well be the case; unfortunately there is no way of knowing... Magnus Robb wrote: It really stood out from the other gulls (mainly LBbG, Yellow-legged and 1st-w Herring) by the paleness (especially in contrast with very dark primaries), the slender appearance, very long neck when it stretched, long tibia, limited 'tertial step' etc. Luis remarked that he found the bird surprisingly round-headed, although I admit that I've seen cachinnans looking rounded-headed than this bird. I also thought the fine streaking on the hindneck was a strong pro-cachinnans feature. I wouldn't put too much faith in the underwing photos. The light was very poor, and it was very difficult for Luis to get any picture of the wing at all with shutter speeds of 1/15 and 1/30. The reason for including those shots was to show the paleness (translucence) of the inner primaries. The rest is not much more than a silhouette. Ruud Altenburg wrote: Unfortunately I'm a bit reluctant to call this a Caspian Gull. Although it looks pale, structurally it reminds me more of Yellow-legged than Caspian. In particular the shape of the head, in combination with the long but very strong bill, are atypical for Caspian. In Caspian, males may show a strong bill but generally in combination with long tibia and a rounded head. E.g. the birds in pictures 5-6 on this page: www.xs4all.nl/~daarruud/polen2/cachinnans3cy.html<http... Another problematic feature is the very dark underwing. By this age, many Caspian shows little to a lot of white in the underwing. The Polish bird in this topic is in the darker range: www.talk.gull-research.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=35 Sometimes it's surprisingly hard to identify a bird from even a series of pictures. Obviously it stood out from the crowd in the field and was different from your local YLGs. Let's wait what Pim has to say, but I have my reservations to identify it as a pure Caspian.

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andybseesthings · 7 years

Photo

AUSTRALIA TRIP :: DEC 7 2016 - JAN 7 2017 :: [Part 1]

First up - Melbourne! If you want to learn about a few awesome hidden bars, how to have your phone stolen within 48 hours of arrival and general other golden pieces of information in this fantastic, beautiful city, read on....

Late night touch-down at Tullamarine airport and a swift Skybus saw check-in at the first night’s backpackers at nearing midnight. We chucked the bags in the room, changed into clothes that didn’t smell like a locker room (try as you might, over 24 hours travelling on flights and through airports has an adverse affect on your personal hygiene) and asked the friendly guy at reception for a low-key bar that would still be open. Enter The Highlander Bar - fully recommended. Vibe for days, and a sweet collection of booze.

This lasted us one drink, and come their closing for 1am, and showing that NOTHING was learnt from the USA trip back in the summer, headed straight for the Crown Casino - taking the above picture of the Casino on the way! To be fair - It’s a great place to have a few drinks and exercise the excitement that comes with the first day of travel, drinks weren’t horrendously expensive and for a while we were $60 up! When the next hour was to be 4am, the backpackers was calling. Next up, we moved on to the much nicer Greenhouse Backpackers, bang in the centre, and so started a few days and nights of exploration. The first afternoon, an old friend of mine from the UK that now lives in Mornington (Hello Pete!) came up and checked into Greenhouse for the night too, and we hit some bars. I’ve been out here once before and Pete and I had gone around the rooftop bars in the daytime, but with night falling we hit some other lesser known spots. Total must sees:

The Croft Institute - Cocktails with Syringes, areas that look fresh out of a horror film, and a sweet vibe, this asylum get-up is found down some winding chinatown lanes. I don’t want to give it all away, just make it an essential stop!

The Rooftop Bar & Cinema - Found at 252 Swanston Street, this bar is an awesome place to sink a cold one in the sun, and a lively bar with cool views at night. Not too expensive, and when you’re heading up or down this building to the rooftop, stop off at: Cookie Bar - Awesome beers on tap, funky vibe and well - you’re already in the building so why not! Ponyfish Island - Ok, so probably better known, but still a great place to chill at day and night - Situated under one of the footbridges that cross the Yarra from Melbourne CBD to Southbank, the views of the city from here are superb, and it’s totally chic vibe is ideal whilst watching the world - and boats - coast by.

We ended up opposite Flinders Station watching a pub covers band, and chatting to anyone and everyone that came and sat at the huge table we were on. Anyway, come 2am, I realise that my UK Phone (a new Samsung Galaxy S7, which I’ve come to love using for shots when my camera isn’t around, especially as it shoots RAW) is... not on my person. I’d been tapping my pocket thinking I had it, but that was the old S5 we’d brought and put an Aussie simcard in. Crap.

Still, these things happen, and the next day I heard about a spate of pickpocket theft in that exact area. Sucks, but it’s just a “thing” at the end of the day, so un-deterred, we went to the back of St Paul’s Cathedral and chatted to the homeless chaps living on the street there, and took time to listen to what brought them there. This is partly going to be covered in a future post, as it relates to a part of a new musical project I am putting together, but for now, it led to this shot with this guy who had such a hopeful outlook on life that talking to him was such a pleasure.

My mobile phone recommendation goes thus: Travel with one phone on you. If you have more than one, keep one in your bag. It’s so easy, after being used to having to check for one phone on your person, to then on travel not be used to having two on you, and forget to check for both. Especially after a few beers. Don’t get me wrong, a spare is a good idea and in fact on this trip completely was a lifesaver, but yea - don’t be Johnny Two-Phones out in bars if your observational skills are anything like mine!

The next and following days we walked the streets of Melbourne taking in everything we could, including all of the awesome street art that adorns so many walls. So popular, and you can see why to be fair! With Christmas looming, the festive feel everywhere was addictive in the sunshine, if a little odd for a Brit that is used to cold at this time of year! Also took the trip down to St Kilda - Absolutely love SK, and the laid back way of life there. Can’t recommend it enough! I did go out at night and take some night shots and timelapse too, but that’s for another post. What I do love about this country, is that I sat on the corner opposite Flinders with my camera on a Gorillapod Tripod for a good 45 mins taking timelapse, with hundreds of people crossing the roads and walking by, and not once did i have ANY trouble from even one person. You try that in the UK...

After this, we headed out of the city to stay with family for a few nights, taking in Philip Island and Mount Dandenong (below - amazing view!) among many other beaches and sights - oh and Ramsey Street. Yes, yes, tourist location 101 i know but y’know - You have to see it when nearby! It’s like a guilty pleasure.

Anyway, with batteries recharged, the flight to Coolangatta was next on the cards..

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nintendoduck-blog · 7 years

Text

Vivre Le Rêve Christmas Toy Top Ten Predictions

New Post has been published on https://www.vivrelereve.co.uk/christmas-toy-top-ten/

Vivre Le Rêve Christmas Toy Top Ten Predictions

Here’s our list of top 10 Christmas toys for 2017. It’s the time of year when thoughts start to turn to Christmas shopping – especially for those with little ones to buy for. Popular toys can be in short supply and snapped up quickly so we’ve has issued our list of top present predictions early this year to help parents plan ahead. They can, therefore, see which toys are going to be the most wanted and start ordering now to try and be more organised for the big day.

So we’ve been checking the toys out, playing with them, getting kids to play with them and finding out the cheapest places to buy the toys – updated in realtime wherever we can.

We’re predicting tech toys will be a big hit with kids this year!

1. Anki Cozmo Robot £199.99

Christmas Toy Top Ten

This guy really is pretty special. We’ve spent a bit of time with Cozmo and his personality really does evolve as you hang out with him more. He’ll nudge you to play with him, and we’ve even seen him get annoyed and move away from his ‘owner’ when they’d ignored him for a while – though he soon comes around.

2. Vtech Kidizoom Flix Playset £46.98 (RPP £59.99)

Christmas Toy Top Ten

Meet Flix! Your fun alien camera friend! Customise his look using the camera by changing the colour of his eyes and background. Unlock some funky accessories by playing 3 fun games. Set Flix to Guard mode where he will act as your guard and take photos in secret!

Features include a 2 mega pixel camera, 1.8 inch colour screen, twistable lens and a built-in rechargeable battery.

Bundled with a flexible tripod and USB cable for photo uploading.

3. Lego Boost 17101 Creative Toolbox £149.99

LEGO Boost

This LEGO robot takes construction to another level – you can style him to be a classic looking bot or turn him into a cat, guitar or auto-builder. There are 840 pieces in this epic set, and each one of the different robot styles has a set of activities designed especially for it: access them using the dedicated app. We can’t quite believe how many skills this toy rolls into one…

4. FurReal Roarin’ Tyler The Playful Tiger £134.99

FurReal Roarin’ Tyler The Playful Tiger

This totally lovable tiger is always ready to play – he has 100 sound and motion combinations and reactions when you play with him. Stroke his tummy and he might give a roar or blink his eyes in appreciation. He responds when he’s given his little yellow bird toy to play with too. Adorable.

5. Mattel Bloxels Game £39 (RRP £43.99)

Mattel FFB15 Bloxels Build Your Own Video Game

Now here is an epic idea. Take a pinch of Minecraft, a hint of Lego, along with classic platform video games and turn it into a toy that not only allows children to play those video games, but to help craft them too. Let kids be creative, let them THINK, and also let them play. Awesome.

6. FurReal Friends Makers Proto Max Interactive Pup £89.99

Christmas Toy Top Ten

Kids can create and code their own ultimate pup with the amazing Proto Max interactive pet from FurReal.

With over 400 sounds, over 100 eye animations, a wide range of colours and 360-degree motion, you can customise this cute little critter right down to its personality! You can even have it do awesome tricks and routines by using the downloadable app! The fun starts as soon as you open the box and start to create your very own pup!

An ideal introduction to coding and computers, Proto Max is perfect for inspiring creativity as well as developing thinking and problem-solving skills.

7. Meccano Robot M.A.X £149.99

Christmas Toy Top Ten

From the internationally renowned maker of robotic toys arises a new model of impressive proportions. M. A. X. Combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with customisable programming. The result is a one-of-a-kind robot of your own creation! Once built, M. A. X measures 12-inches tall! Control M. A. X using voice commands, buttons on the MeccaBrain, or the free M. A. X app! You’ll know exactly what M. A. X is thinking based on the expressive facial graphics. If you know a young mind in need of a challenge, introduce them to their new friend, M. A. X!

As a S. T. E. M robotics platform, M. A. X is designed to engage kids in intellectually stimulating play, drawing on their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Not just a learning tool, this robot loves fun! Try playing on M. A. X’s built-in gaming platform; are you smarter than a robot? Find out with the built in trivia game, or ask it to tell you a joke! With a multitude of features, kids will want to bring M. A. X everywhere!

8. Nerf Nitro Motor Fury Rapid Rally £49.99

Nerf Nitro Motor Fury

Blast into motorised, rapid-fire stunt challenges with the Nerf Nitro MotoFury Rapid Rally set. Design outrageous car-blasting action with the high-jump ramp, long-jump ramp, and 12 obstacles. Comes with 9 cars, including 3 special ones available only in this set.

9. Lego Creator 10254 Winter Holiday Train £74.99

Lego Christmas Train

Celebrate the holidays with this festively decorated Winter Holiday Train set from Lego.

Featuring a sturdy green engine with red locomotive wheels and a large smoke-bellowing stack, it also boasts a coal tender, flatbed wagon with Christmas tree, gifts and toys and a cosy red wagon where you can join the ticket collector at the table for a warm cup of cocoa.

Have fun loading up the toys and gifts and watch the Christmas tree rotate as you journey around the track. Stop to pick up the passengers at the charming boarding platform with its bench and lamp-post, then join the driver in his taxi and help deliver the precious cargo in time for Christmas.

10. Luvabella Doll £99.99

Luvabella

This robotic doll has an astonishingly expressive face – her lips move and her eyes blink. And she is programmed with 100s of responses and reactions. So, if you tickle her tummy or her toes, she will giggle, if you give her her lamb toy, she will kiss it, and if you cover her eyes, she will play peekaboo! She’ll also adapt to how your child likes to play, responding more positively to repeated actions, and even learning to say a few words.

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