#you can load all their gold and items into the backpack

[feardrivesstick]

there’s a trader trick in bg3 that i abuse so often that i like to imagine my tav has become infamous amongst traders on the sword coast

like there’s now a common saying along the lines of “you look like someone sold you an empty backpack” that essentially means “you look like you’ve seen a ghost” or “you look like your future is bleak”

bc if my tav has sold them a backpack they’re either going to kill that trader later or they think that trader isn’t likely to survive and wants to loot their entire inventory later

[miraitrunks]

okay, so… here it is: a larger post of most of the treasure planet merch i’ve received but haven’t shared here. this stuff gets more and more niche/rare the further you scroll, so check it all out! let’s start from the top:

first up— we’ve got my complete collection of all the loungefly products. each one has jim on it so it was a must <3 personally the first release (middle) is my favorite but i think the pink backpack is prettier

second up— my 20th anniversary pin as well as my cursed concepts pin. such lovely grabs <3 then we have the pin i bought off the artist Dean Grayson from his “Heroic Rides” series on etsy. it’s fricken huge!

third— probably one of my favorites, my hallmark treasure planet cups. i got these off ebay and i have absolutely no idea what year they’re from. aren’t they so cool?! i got so many and they’re brand new. the print of jim on the cup is just top tier. “honey, we’ve got guests. bring out the fine china!” 10/10.

number four— my jim & silver keychain toys. these are olddd! if you know me though, you know i don’t keep stuff in the packages. silver could stay, but jim definitely had to come out. he zooms forward like a toy car when you pull him back and then let him go!

item number five— treasure planet for the playstation 2. i’m especially fond of this one considering the ps2 was my first ever gaming console that i owned myself. so many fun memories!

number six— my japanese art promo book featuring some of the japanese voice casting! as an anime fan, collecting japanese promotional material for american media is something that i’ve always wanted to do. i haven’t gotten my hands on a japanese movie poster yet, but it’s on my list for sure. this is a pretty close runner up though! i love all the pngs used for this booklet! (sorry for my weird hand placement in some of these, as the pages folded out and it was hard to photograph with one hand)

number seven— last one for now! i think i saved the best for last personally, but this is my disney adventures collector’s edition magazine for treasure planet back from 2002, the movie’s release year. let me tell you, this thing is such a throwback from the events of the year to the ads that come in the thing.

…AND THERE’S A WHOLE CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE COMIC IN HERE?! i had no idea! it was like striking gold! this is also one of my favorites of all the things i own. can we get a load of how cute he looks on the cover? he almost looks like he’s aware he’s posing for a magazine cover. so adorable!

…wow, that’s all from me for now! while it’s definitely not all i own, this is just some of the newer stuff i’ve gotten since i’ve been away and/or some of the stuff i think is cooler. did you recognize any of this stuff? find anything new? lemme know!

[rouge-the-bat]

i think itd be really funny if hiei didnt realize who kurama truly was for a while after they meet. kurama introduces his name to him as just "kurama," and im sure theres More Than One demon kurama, so its not like hiei would immediately assume hes THE infamous youko kurama. and kurama doesnt tell him, because hes a silly lil fox with much patience and finds much amusement in waiting and seeing how long itll take hiei to realize.

and its not like kurama tries to be subtle either. he gets a fox keychain on his backpack, hiei notices it and asks its purpose. kurama says its just a fun decoration, which hiei dismisses as stupid.

kurama eventually mentions having a tail in his old body. hiei realizes he was an animal demon, but doesnt care which he may have been, because what would it matter?

kurama also does not keep quiet about the fact he was and still is a thief. there are a lot of thieves in the makai, though, things dont click in hieis mind yet.

hiei turns down much of kuramas attempts to "pry into his life" (as he sees it) at first, and doesnt want to pry into kuramas either. he wants to keep their partnership as just business, he has no interest in getting all buddy-buddy (he will also not think into at all why he likes looking at kurama, it doesnt mean anything if he doesnt think about it). BUT. he does end up becoming very curious, because how could he not with a demon in a human body, that has such an unusual situation and loads of knowledge and skill?

kurama told him at least that his soul had escaped to the body of an unborn human before he was able to perish. hiei wondered how long ago that happened, and asked kurama how old his human form is. "14," kurama tells him.

at this point hiei is still able to return to the makai, and he goes to retrieve some various seeds kurama needs for weapons/medicine and such. a good way he can be useful for their partnership- he doesnt want it to be one-sided after all- and plus kurama equipped with more items would defintely be helpful for him as well.

on one trip he eavesdrops on some bandit hideout he discovers- nothing interesting they got there, but information they speak about could come in handy. a very unimpressive-looking demon mentions that theyre gonna become the next youko kurama (hiei manages to keep himself from snorting, but not from rolling his eyes). another demon says that theyve been hearing rumors that youko kurama died for over a decade now, but they still dont believe it. says they bet he faked his death so he can catch some big shot off guard and take em for all theyve got.

this conversation doesnt make him question anything until later, when hes relaxing in a tree back in the ningenkai. its late, and his mind starts to wander and remembers the conversation. hes always heard a lot of tales about the king of thieves, but doesnt know how much may be factual. he offhandedly wonders if kurama happens to know any concrete details, since hes proven to be very knowledgeable about many things.

then it clicks. all the little details over the months fall into place in his mind and hes suddenly wide awake and rushing to kuramas house. he slams kuramas sliding window open, and kurama startles and halts from brushing his hair. he sternly tells hiei to be careful, that glass can break easily, and that sound could have woken his mother. shes a light sleeper and needs her sleep! hiei doesnt comment on that, and just urgently says "kurama. what kind of demon are you?"

kurama blinks for a moment, then chuckles. he gives hiei a wicked grin as he replies "youre just now figuring out who i am, are you?" "kurama," hiei repeats, "what are you?" he sees a mischievous glint in those green eyes that almost looked gold before kurama answers "why, a youko, of course."

[akanshagoyall]

Survive & Thrive: Modern Camping Equipment That Works Hard

When heading into the wilderness, packing smart matters just as much as packing light. Most outdoor enthusiasts already know the basics: a sturdy tent, sleeping bag, and cookware. But what if your camping equipment could do more than you expected? The truth is, many items you carry have more than one job — and in the great outdoors, versatility can mean survival, convenience, or just plain comfort.

In this blog, we’ll explore the unexpected uses for everyday camping equipment — gear that’s more multi-talented than you think. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a seasoned trekker, understanding these hidden functions can help you pack smarter, lighten your load, and make your next trip even better.

1. Trekking Poles as Tent Supports

Your trekking poles are more than walking aids — they can also serve as camping equipment for setting up ultralight tarps or shelters. If you're using a minimalist tent or emergency bivvy, trekking poles can replace traditional tent poles, saving space and weight. With a bit of paracord and some ingenuity, your poles can hold up your shelter in rough terrain where pegging into the ground isn’t an option.

2. Bandanas Beyond Headwear

A simple cotton bandana might not scream “essential camping equipment,” but it’s one of the most flexible tools out there. It can act as a water filter (pre-filtering large debris), a pot holder, a sweatband, a head covering, a signaling flag, or even a sling in emergencies. Plus, it packs down to nothing.

3. Headlamp + Water Bottle = Lantern

You’ve got a headlamp, and you’ve got a translucent water bottle. Combine them, and you have an ambient lantern. Simply strap your headlamp around the bottle, and let it shine inward. This hack turns directional light into soft, diffused room lighting for your tent — all using camping equipment you already have.

4. Sleeping Pads as Multi-Purpose Cushions

Your foam or inflatable sleeping pad isn’t just for snoozing. It can be folded for use as a cushion during meal times, a yoga mat, a windbreaker for your stove, or even an emergency splint. Some campers also use segments as backpack frame support or insulation inside the pack.

5. Duct Tape Fixes Almost Anything

While not exclusive to camping equipment, duct tape is a camper’s secret weapon. Wrap a few feet around your water bottle or trekking pole and forget about it — until you need it to patch a tent, repair a shoe, seal a blister, or even create makeshift tweezers by folding it over on itself.

6. Dry Bags as Pillows

That dry bag full of clothes? Don’t just shove it to the side. Zip it up, turn it inside out for the smooth lining, and use it as a pillow. Many seasoned campers consider this an essential dual-purpose piece of camping equipment, eliminating the need for a separate pillow.

7. Carabiners as Mini Tools

Carabiners aren’t just for clipping gear. Use them to hang food bags out of reach of animals, organize pots and pans, hang lanterns, or even make emergency rope pulleys. This inexpensive camping equipment item carries its weight in gold when you get creative.

8. Multi-Use Zip Ties

Zip ties take up barely any space but come in handy when you least expect it. They can repair broken gear, hang equipment, secure tarps, or help with first aid. Keep a few tucked into your camping equipment pouch — you won’t regret it.

9. Emergency Blankets as Shelter, Rain Cover, or Reflector

That shiny mylar emergency blanket isn’t just for warmth. Reflective on one side, it can be used as a signal device, a heat reflector for fires, or even an impromptu shelter or rainfly. In a pinch, it's one of the most multipurpose pieces of camping equipment in your kit.

10. Tin Foil for Cooking, Cleaning, and Signaling

Foil is underrated camping equipment. Use it to cook fish over a fire, as a makeshift plate or pot lid, or even as a mirror to signal for help. Folded carefully, foil adds very little bulk and offers serious utility.

11. Rain Jackets as Pack Covers

Forgot your pack cover? No problem. Your waterproof jacket can double as one in a downpour. Simply zip it around your bag or drape it across with straps. Smart campers always look for camping equipment that offers backup functions like this.

12. Trash Bags as Emergency Rain Gear or Shelter Liners

Heavy-duty garbage bags are surprisingly useful: instant poncho, groundsheet, gear protector, or emergency bivvy. They're cheap, lightweight, and powerful additions to your camping equipment list.

13. Toothbrush Handle as a Fire Starter

If you're an ultralight camper who cuts off toothbrush handles to save weight, keep in mind: that plastic piece can double as a fire starter. It's flammable and lightweight — the kind of double duty that defines smart camping equipment choices.

14. Cooking Pot as Water Collector or Digging Tool

Your aluminum pot isn't just for meals. It can collect rainwater, boil it for purification, and even be used to dig small holes for catholes or tent stakes — a truly versatile piece of camping equipment.

15. Paracord: The Swiss Army Rope

No list of multifunctional camping equipment would be complete without paracord. It can serve as a clothesline, food hanger, shoelace, guyline, fishing line (inner strands), splint tie, and more. Always bring extra — you’ll find a use.

Final Thoughts

The best camping equipment is what you make of it. You don’t always need the newest gadgets or specialized tools — sometimes, the most ordinary item in your bag becomes a game-changer when the need arises. The trick is to think creatively, prepare for flexibility, and pack with purpose.

By learning the unexpected uses of everyday gear, you’ll become a more adaptable, confident, and resourceful camper — all without adding an ounce of extra weight.

[sleepyhead-whump]

OC Template tag game

Stealing this from @geode-crystal's open tag, and I'll make mine an open tag too! Doing both Sirius and Castor under the cut, as well as the blank template! Please tag me if you do it from mine I want to see everyone's ocs!!

Credit to @theeccentricraven for the original tag game!!

Rules: Copy and paste the template, fill it out for one or more of your OC's, then post your OC's and the blank template for others to copy and paste.

Name: Sirius

Nickname: Stickbug, Starlight (Both from Castor)

Kind of being: Human

Age: 24

Sex Gender: Trans man (He/him)

Appearance: Long, fluffy brown hair, tanned skin, and green eyes. Has a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, and various other scars all over his body. Very tall at 6'7, and worryingly thin, hence the Stickbug nickname.

Occupation: Knight, specifically Castor's personal bodyguard

Family Members: Unknown, he was separated from his family at a pretty young age

Pets: A frog named Ribbit

Best friend: Castor, who is also his lover

Describe their room: He doesn't have one, sleeping either in the barracks or Castor's room

Way of Speaking: Rarely speaks, but when he does he's very soft-spoken. Uses the lower-class dialect of the kingdom's still-unnamed language (I'll figure out a name eventually)

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): Generally stands tall, but somehow gives off the vibe of wanting to seem smaller anyway. Tends to stand pretty still, not gesturing often, and unintentionally gives off an intimidating vibe due to his stoic attitude and imposing height.

Items in their pockets or backpack or purse: Just his sword and a spare dagger for emergencies

Hobbies: Secretly loves baking and cooking, and sampling nice-smelling teas

Favorite sports: Just sword training, and only because it's required. He's not big on sports

Talents, abilities, or powers: Inhuman strength and resilience, as well as ice magic

Relationships (how they are with other people): Seems intimidating and standoffish at first, but underneath that he's really just painfully shy. If someone manages to get past that, he's a total sweetheart.

Fears: Failing to protect Castor, claustrophobia

Faults: Can be too passive, letting his reluctance to use violence go too far before bothering to protect himself, though he's quicker to use it when necessary to defend others.

Good Points: Very kind and gentle, and wholeheartedly devoted to protecting his loved ones, he'll do anything to keep them safe. He also bakes REALLY good bread.

What they want more than anything else: To life a safe, happy life with Castor

Name: Castor

Nickname: Cas, Mon Soleil (My sun) (Both from Sirius)

Kind of being: Human

Age: 25

Sex Gender: Unlabeled, uses he/they pronouns

Appearance: Long, silky blonde hair, light skin, and blue eyes. Has freckles over his nose and cheeks. 6'2 and average build, not particularly muscular.

Occupation: Prince, formerly Crown Prince

Family Members: King Aquila (Father), Queen that I still have to name (Mother), Pollux (Twin sister)

Pets: Tangerine, an elderly orange cat

Best friend: Sirius, who is also his lover

Describe their room: Big and fancy, and full of clutter from his various hobbies. Currently lots of sketchbooks, fabrics, and mannequins since his current hobby is designing clothes

Way of Speaking: Bright and cheerful for the most part, but can be cuttingly sarcastic and foul-mouthed if he's pissed off. Has a rather heavy accent, and speaks the lower-class dialect when he speaks the main language due to Sirius being the one to teach him.

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): Stands tall and confidently, gesturing a lot when he speaks. Attitude is cheerful, bordering on hyperactive when he has access to caffeine.

Items in their pockets or backpack or purse: Random shiny things he picked up like beads or pretty ribbons, and a fancy gold dagger for self-defense that he's technically forbidden to have.

Hobbies: Loads of random ones to keep himself busy, currently designing and sewing his own clothes

Favorite sports: None, he's not athletic at all

Talents, abilities, or powers: Sun magic, but it's kept permanently sealed because it was seen as a terrible omen in Astraea's night and star-worshipping society

Relationships (how they are with other people): Generally pretty open and cheerful, but can be overprotective and bitchy if he perceives someone as a threat

Fears: Being abandoned and forgotten, losing Sirius, wasps

Faults: Can be hotheaded, vindictive, and bossy, and has terrible impulse control

Good Points: Cheerful and friendly, very loving, and he's never boring to be around

What they want more than anything else: To be free to live a long, happy life with Sirius, far away from the palace

Template:

Name:

Nickname:

Kind of being:

Age:

Sex:

Appearance:

Occupation:

Family Members:

Pets:

Best friend:

Describe his/her room:

Way of Speaking:

Physical characteristics (posture, gestures, attitude): 

Items in their pockets or backpack or purse:

Hobbies:

Favorite sports:

Talents, abilities, or powers:

Relationships (how they are with other people):

Fears:

Faults:

Good points:

What they want more than anything else:

[quentin-philip]

Get an Edge in Free Fire: Purchase Diamonds and Conquer the Competition

In the intense world of Free Fire, mere survival is not enough. To truly dominate the battlefield, you need an edge over the competition. The key to gaining that vital advantage? Free Fire diamonds.

What Are Free Fire Diamonds?

Free Fire diamonds are the in-game currency that can give you access to exclusive items that tilt the scales in your favor. With diamonds, you can unlock stylish character costumes, powerful weapons, accessories that boost your abilities, and more.

Key Benefits of Diamonds in Free Fire:

Obtain rare and exclusive cosmetic items to customize your style

Unlock powerful gold-plated weapons with special kill effects

Purchase accessories that provide attribute bonuses

Refresh your luck in the weapon loot crates

Gift cool items to friends

Where to Buy Free Fire Diamonds

The best place to purchase Free Fire diamonds is through reliable online marketplaces. Topping up your diamond supply from shady sellers risks account bans, payment frauds and wasted money. Reputable marketplaces like LootBar offer:

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With these assurances, you can buy Free Fire diamonds with complete peace of mind.

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Topping up Free Fire diamonds from LootBar takes just minutes:

Browse diamond package options and pricing

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Choose payment method and complete purchase

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Dominate the Battlefield with Diamonds

With a sparkling inventory of exclusive gear, your path to domination will be paved. Diamonds unlock game-changing advantages like:

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Strike fear into your foes' hearts by equipping intimidating gold, red, and black weapon skins available only through diamonds. These vibrant skins not only look remarkable, but can also feature special effects like kill-counts.

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Stand out in style by adorning your in-game avatar with premium costumes. From blazing inferno suits to pop star outfits, these vibrant skins let you battle with flair.

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Enhance your in-game pets with special backpacks, helmets and more to amplify their supportive abilities. These accessories can augment pets' skills like healing, scanning and armor plating.

Reign Supreme with Free Fire Diamonds

The path to Free Fire glory lies in gaining an edge over your rivals. Spend your diamonds wisely on items that complement your playstyle, and there will be no stopping your reign of the battlefield.

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"I get all my Free Fire diamonds from LootBar. Their prices are way cheaper than the in-game shop and deliveries are instant. I can always count on them for safe and fast top-ups so I can get back to battling!"

- LuxPlay_, Free Fire player

[steveharrison]

“Really did hurt.” Falling to his doom had not been on the cards. Steve grumbled, but let Lokni pull him up to a stand. Or thereabouts. Attention was reasserted to holding on a little more tightly to the rail which would guide them out of the atrium, towards the slightly smaller mini-mall. It was still grand, if a little dated in Steve’s humble opinion. It did however momentarily help him to forget about the sorry state of his jumper, or the would-be bruise on his ass.

It took some effort to get inside of one of the stores. Steve was delighted to find that despite the chaotic disarray there was definitely items he took a fancy too. Fancy. How cute. He was really starting to like Lokni. Who’d already made a beelined for the cash registers? Smart, he supposed, rob them blind. Though it didn’t feel like cash would be much use on the island. Steve left Lokni too it and began to browse the remaining upright racks.

Crumpled in a pile he did find an excellent light printed shirt. It did however take Steve a fair amount of wading to find it underneath all of the polo shirts. He did not want to look at another Ralph Lauren shirt, ever. He’d ducked behind a rack to quickly change only to pop his head up at the shattering of glass. Steve spied Lokni ravenously stuff a load of watches into a backpack. Interesting. But that could be pried into later. Steve really needed something that wasn’t a heavy pair of jeans.

He found it in the style of white linen trousers, which wasn’t quite the shorts he’d been after. They did possess a certain flair he thoroughly enjoyed. Steve waltzed back around the rack arms laden with a few other items that could serve as additional outfits. “I can’t find anything evening appropriate. The 35 watches all for you? Or can you spare one for a friend?” Pop of gold really would cinch his entire get-up together.

“Eurgh it’s a little cold in here.” However, there was the jacket of his holiday-dreams. Steve leaned over the countertop to grab and stuff it into the duffle bag he was pilfering. “Where next adventure boy? Maybe a boutique?” Quick was lightning Steve lurched and grabbed ahold of Lokni. An ungodly belch had reverberated through the ship. It did however, sound a little like the noises the ship had been making from the outside. Nothing to worry about. Probably. “What…what was that? Oh god…are we going to die in here Lokni?”

At Steve's insistence on being two arms and a leg up Lokni's ass, he chuckled, "I'm not goin' nowhere, calm yourself." Steve was all up in arms, both in the literal and figurative sense, going on and on 'bout "somethin' somethin' cashmere." Lokni rolled his eyes in good humor, glad that he was leading so that Steve couldn't catch a glimpse of his face. The suggestion of a mini mall was thrown out, something that Lokni hadn't even known existed on cruise ships. "I don't know about a mini mall, I've never been on a cruise before, so I don't really know what they're like. Do they have useful things in stock typically?" At Steve's suggestion about finding him a skirt, Lokni chuckled in amusement, "I scare away the locals enough as it is- and if possible I'd like to keep any mirrors we find intact." When they arrived at the grand atrium it was as Lokni had remembered it; all the furniture piled up to one side, reminiscent of the remnants of hay in a feeder that the weaned calves couldn't quite reach yet. With the recent rainfall, there was no doubt that it was slicker than owl shit, but if Steve's nose was right, they were right on the money. Onward they would have to go. All was going well until one minute, Lokni was walking one way, and the next he was literally swept off his feet, Steve's deafening scream ringing in his ears like a train howling by. Disoriented, Lokni slid back-first into the legs of an expensive-looking lounge chair, a pained groan let loose as he watched Steve sled on his ass straight into the sofa next to him. Grunting, Lokni rolled onto his front before getting his feet up under him and rising to assess the damage. Steve's sweater had a hole in it and he didn't seem too happy about it. No worries, Lokni was confident that the stores that Steve had pointed out would be full of expensive and equally impractical pieces of clothing. Although no bones seemed to be broken, Lokni knew that he would be feeling that collision in the morning, and maybe even the day after. "You alright? That looked like it hurt," Lokni asked as he rubbed his back.

Making sure that they were both keeping a steady grip on the railing, Lokni began to help Steve make his way in the direction that he had indicated. "We got this, slow and steady now," Lokni advised, even his boots were slipping on the marble floor. Whoever designed this hadn't taken into account the force of the waves. Lokni wondered how many lawsuits this floor alone could wrack up. At length, they managed to climb and shimmy their way into one of the stores. The walls were a shade of dark green. Piles of mannequins had also succumbed to the tilt of the ship, and Lokni found himself strangely uncomfortable around them; like a horse seeing a fluttering plastic bag. He knew it wasn't dangerous- and yet just looking at them made his skin crawl. "You see anything you fancy?" Lokni called out to Steve. There were plenty of racks full of clothing, some of them still standing. Others were collapsed, broken hangers as well as articles of clothing littering the floor. To the left of the cash register was a glass case full of expensive-looking watches. Now, Lokni had no clue what was valued in the world of watches, but he knew that Akhila would appreciate what she could get. Hell, she could probably even take the extras apart and make somethin' better. With her dexterous fingers, he had not even a hint of doubt in his mind. Using the butt of his hunting knife, he smashed the glass case open, glad that whatever alarm system may have once been in place now lie dormant. The glass softly tinked to the bottom of the wrecked display. With no barrier keeping Lokni from them, he began gingerly scooping up watches, case and all, and shoving them into his pack. He had left the essentials back at camp so that he'd have the space to get more loot. Once Lokni cleared the display case out, he turned to see what Steve was up to.

[cyborg-franky]

nickname: Zephyr

Door number: 40

what I will be wearing: probably a black sundress and a seafoam green lace kimono thing and gold winged earrings and a seafoam green Moissanite gold ring and a pearl bracelet with green glass beads.

booze or sober: ...weed or sober

my ideal first date: probably going to an art gallery, and then having a picnic on a shady patch of grass by a lake or river.

three personality traits about me: I am very kind and easy-going, and honest.

three things I look for in a partner: patience, someone who takes the lead, and honest

three dislikes: arrogance, not respecting my boundaries, and aggression

You don’t care it took you ages to find all the accessories for the outfit you felt cute as heck. You slipped on the green top over your flowy black dress and brushed it down. It was a good length, not too long and not too short.

You hoped your date was with someone chill that you could just vibe with. You slipped on your shoes and brushed back your hair with a sigh, if the date sucked you could just call a friend and make the most of the evening instead.

There was a knock at the door and you jumped up to open it…

- Shachi waved a hand with a simple “Yo!”

- He was wearing a dumb-looking beanie hat, baggy jeans, a white hoody with what looked like a skateboard company logo on the front.

- You hoped he wasn’t picking you up on a board.

- He also had strange looking sunglasses.

- “Shachi, right?” you asked as you closed the door and noticed the beat-up car.

- “Yeah! And your..” he tried to say your name a few times before you simply chuckled and rolled your eyes “It’s Zephyr.”

- You could see the loading screen of emotions when you said that, you chuckled. He was cute you thought “Zep for short is fine.”

- He nods and leads you to the car, you are very hesitant to get in at first before you shrug it off ‘gotta die someday, right?’

- The drive isn’t bad, he’s chatty without being too much, he’s complimented you like a hundred times; ready and apologised for his lack of effort.

- You only kind of mind, at least he’s comfortable.

- His music is very pop-punk and you recognise some, tapping your foot in time with a few.

- You learn about the man during the drive, he makes bad jokes, but you don’t mind, some are pretty funny you guess.

- He shares a big house with a few other guys and a dog called Bepo.

- He asks about you, he’s very interested in what you have to say.

- The drive comes to an end, you are a nice park.. you nod, doesn’t seem like a bad first date.

- He grabs a backpack from the trunk of his car and slings it on his back.

- “I know a nice spot, I’m not going to murder you though, don’t worry.” He says with a grin.

- “Well.. I wasn’t going to think that until you said it..” you laugh when he fumbles with his words after you pointed that out.

- You walk down one of the narrow pathways, trees and plants sprouted up all around.

- There’s a little dock, somewhere people can come and fish, private and jutting out from the heavy foliage on the water.

- He digs around in his bag and pulls out a blanket for you both to sit on.

- This is.. nice you muse and watch as ducks and geese start to come near your perch.

- “I got food for them,” he hums and pulls out a zip lock bag of seeds and hands you the bag before getting a handful and throwing them across the lake’s surface, watching the birds go nuts.

- You watch the animals for a moment before they realise that was all you had and leave.

- Gentle ripples and sounds of nature all around you.

- “Do you…?” he did a gesture of smoking.

- “Nah I don’t like cig- OH. Yeah, I do.” You grin when you got his meaning.

- He rolls you both a joint and you sit there smoking, enjoying the serenity around you both.

- After a while you start to get hungry which was when he pulled out a picnic.

- Not the best-made food items, a lot of snack things like chips and dip. Some fruit.

- You carry on talking, munching on the food he’d brought and watching the occasional fish swim close before making a splash, vanishing beneath the surface.

- “Hey… after this do you wanna… go like grab some real food?”

REBLOG: to go and get.. pizza more than likely and perhaps spark up again at his place or maybe you want to go home and wash the smell of weed and the bird poo off your shoes. He might appear nonchalant, but he will cry if you say no to a second date.

[sutton-kohl]

They don’t make it very far.

Sutton tries to remain patient but between the dehydration and frustration makes it difficult. “We’re losing light.” She points out for the third or fourth time as the sun continues what feels like it’s too quick journey to the horizon. With Willa hobbling a few paces behind her, Sutton tilts her head back, stretching her neck muscles and letting out a huff of a sigh.

“What do you want me to do about it?” The blonde responds as she catches up, the same ire in her tone. The girls are spent and while they aren’t mad at one another they’re the only ones they can take their irritations out on. The journey was proving more difficult by the minute.

“Give me your pack.” Sutton decides and Willa scoffs. Even injured, she would never be weak. This makes the other girl roll her eyes, now moving to stand behind Willa and beginning to pull contents of her backpack out. Leaving the water and a few other lighter things behind, Sutton got to work stuffing the new items into her own bag.  Filled to the brim, she put the weight back on her shoulders and inclined her head forward. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

The next hour was spent in silence but it felt like longer. To Sutton, it felt like they were free falling, flying. It felt like she was suspended in those few moments between being pushed from the helicopter and meeting the ground. It was the effects of dehydration and exhaustion setting in, but she pressed on. Willa hadn’t complained once since her load was lightened to which Sutton refused to either, which left the women with nothing to say.

With the sun dangerously teetering on the edge of setting and a few miles to go, the brunette’s knees wobbled, threatening to give. It was then she finally spoke, her voice a quiet, cracked whisper. “Two minutes.” Was all she said before she practically fell to her knees. Sitting, she then shed her weight and started to stretch her sore muscles with what little energy she could muster to do so.

“This is the last of the water.” Willa said grimly as she took that final sip from her bottle. Sutton looked up at her with wide eyes and world class pout. “Don’t look at me, I didn’t fucking do it.” This almost made Sutton crack a grin, almost. Maybe if she had more energy it would have happened. And maybe, if she had more energy, what happened next...wouldn’t have.

“Oh for - “ Sutton’s swear was cut off as her feet buckled from under her. She had attempted to put her pack on and stand up with the added weight and it toppled backwards. Willa watched helplessly as the brunette slid ass first into a cluster of Ferocactus pilosus.

“Fuck’s sake.” She finished in a screech as a dozen needles pricked through her clothing and penetrated her skin. Slowly and carefully, she peeled herself off the cactus. Thankfully, the backpack had softened the blow of her landing but there were still several needles still protruding from Sutton’s body as she pulled away.

“Willa.” Sutton started but the other woman was already doubled over laughing. “Willa!” She exclaimed again but it was helpless. There were tears streaming down her face as she laughed. “You’re wasting precious water!” Sutton chastised, however she too was being overcome with her own wave of laughter. After a few moments, they were finally able to find some composure only to bend Sutton over a rock for Willa to tug the needles from her backside. The process took longer than it should due to the delirious laughter but finally, the pair were back on their way.

Having finally arrived at their destination noted on the map, they were more than a mess and a little later than expected thanks to the few roadblocks they ran into. Expecting to find Damon and Bianca was wishful thinking. Instead, they were greeted with a crappy hostel room and a simple note:

You did your job. What did you expect? A gold star?

[officialotakudome]

New Post has been published on Otaku Dome | The Latest News In Anime, Manga, Gaming, Tech, and Geek Culture

New Post has been published on https://otakudome.com/cyberpunk-2077-patch-1-3-detailed/

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.3 Detailed

CD Projekt Red has detailed upcoming fixes and content for Cyberpunk 2077:

August 17, 2021 Patch 1.3 is coming to PC, consoles, and Stadia soon! Here is a list of the most notable changes coming in this update.

Please note that the issues listed below did not affect all players.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

A list of all the free DLCs can be found in the Main Menu under “Additional Content”.

Johnny Silverhand’s Alternative Appearance – can be enabled in Settings in the “Additional Content” tab. Multilayered Syn-Leather Deltajock Jacket, Luminescent Punk Jacket – both available in the stash in V’s apartment after receiving a message from Viktor after completing The Ride. They’re of Rare/Iconic quality by default, Crafting Specs to craft a higher quality will also be unlocked. Archer Quartz “Bandit” – available as a reward or for purchase (depending on choices made by player) after completing Ghost Town and then receiving a message from Dakota or Rogue. If you haven’t received the message, make sure to be in the Badlands area and move further away from Dakota’s workshop. Dakota will also need a couple of days to contact you.

IMPROVEMENTS

Improved the minimap’s zoom level when driving, so that it’s more zoomed out and easier to navigate. Automatic Love – screen with pictures of Skye and Angel will be displayed substantially longer, making it easier to choose between the two. Added a button which allows to reallocate the distribution of Perk points on a character’s skill tree. Increased the number of slots for autosaves from 10 to 20 and for quick saves from 3 to 10 across all platforms. Added Database links to Journal entries. Added an accessibility option for center of screen dot overlay which helps with reducing/avoiding motion sickness. It can be enabled in Settings → Interface → Center of screen dot overlay. Fixers will now message V to offer a car for purchase less often. Improved the Screen Space Reflections effect so that it looks less grainy on consoles and on lower visual settings qualities on the PC . Added a filter for quest items in the Backpack. Quest item tags from miscellaneous Job items will now be removed after finishing associated quests, allowing to sell or drop them. It is now possible to rotate V in the Inventory with a mouse. Players will now properly be able to craft a quickhack even if they once crafted it and then got rid of it. Added a comparison tooltip for cyberware. Improved a notification when buying cyberware and not meeting the level requirements to equip it. It’s now possible to upgrade crafting components in bulk. Added new sleeping spots for Nibbles in V’s apartment. Icon on a disposal crate will now turn red when player picks up a body instead of being grayed out. Landmine icon will now be grayed out after disarming it. It’s now possible to use an elevator while carrying a body. Happy Together – Barry now has an updated, more unique appearance. Base item will now be highlighted green like other components if it’s present in the Inventory when crafting the same item of a better quality.

BALANCE CHANGES

Detection time of enemies now depends on game difficulty. Enemies on Easy and Normal difficulties will now detect the player slower. Enemies on Very Hard difficulty will now detect the player faster. Enemies on Very Hard difficulty (and only that difficulty alone) will now be more aggressive when searching around when they are in the “Alerted” state. NCPD will no longer react and turn hostile because of dead bodies in Open World activities. NCPD will now also react to hitting NPCs with a non-lethal weapon. Adjusted the damaging process when shooting crowd NPCs while in combat depending on distance and the weapon used. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper — improved Adam Smasher’s behaviour during the fight. Play It Safe — improved Oda’s behavior during the fight. Transmission — improved Placide’s behavior during the fight. Transmission — increased Placide’s hacking resistance. Cyberpsycho Sighting: Letter of the Law — improved Cyberpsycho’s behaviour during the fight. Every Breath You Take — improved Red Menace’s positioning and aim. Increased stats of La Chingona Dorada (Jackie’s iconic pistols). The Rescue — increased the number of ammo at the beginning of the quest. Introduced minor tweaks and improved balancing of the Contagion quickhack. Improved the Crafting system, so that items with Random quality scale their quality with player’s Crafting skill — it’s not possible anymore to roll a quality exceeding that of the relevant Crafting skill. The level requirement of items will now increase with each upgrade. Note: the level of upgraded items will be adjusted as a result of this change. The equipped items which exceed the level requirement can keep being used but, if unequipped, will have to wait until the required level is reached. Added more crafting specs for cyberware mods. Added crafting specs for knives (available from the start of the game). Updated the number of components required to craft some items, e.g. Bounce Back, MaxDoc, quickhacks, clothing mods and some weapons. Balancing of crafting specs for clothing mods. Balancing the number of components required to craft clothing. Balancing the number of components required to craft Sandevistan Fragments. Optical Camo cyberware will now be available for purchase from Ripperdocs. Adjusted price of the Sensory Amplifier cyberware mod. Rare Unity crafting spec will now be obtainable only during Suspected Organized Crime Activity: Tygers by the Tail. Changed the price and quality of Kerry’s guitar that can be obtained during Gig: Psychofan.

GAMEPLAY

Fixed an issue where crafting specs from clothing stores were available only during the first visit to a vendor. Fixed an issue which occurred after visiting the Nomad Camp, resulting in being unable to use weapons and quick menu items. Fixed an issue where hacking a neutral target wasn’t counted towards the Christmas Tree Attack achievement. Tutorial windows about skill checks will no longer pop up when the “Unauthorized” prompt is displayed on devices. V will no longer look down after using fast travel.

STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE ACROSS PLATFORMS

This section discusses changes that enter all the platforms but many of them make a bigger difference on last generation consoles and lower performance machines.

Delamain’s image will no longer get stuck on holocalls when V leaves the car too fast after completing Epistrophy: Badlands. Item tooltip will no longer disappear if its content is too long. Fixed various typos in subtitles, shards, quests and weapons’ descriptions. Added a text message received after failing Epistrophy: North Oak by leaving the Delamain cab. Changed back the name of the fast travel point near V’s apartment to “Megabuilding H10”. Removed some items labeled as “None” and without proper icons from the inventory. The on-hover menu with multitude of mods on an item in inventory will now show stats properly. Fixed an issue where male variants of the VR tutorial were in Polish for Brazilian Portuguese language version. Black-Market battery mod description will now display strings with item attributes properly. Fixed an issue where the Contagion quickhack button was missing its icon outside of inventory. Status Effects icon of the “Cold Blood” perk now looks like a snowflake. Punk Duolayer Tank Top will now be visible in the Inventory when equipped. Added a loading screen tooltip informing about Fast Forward settings. Fixed the Galena “Gecko” vehicle’s name next to the “Buy vehicle” prompt. Image in the second message from Nancy Hartley in Holdin’ On/Killing in the Name will now be displayed properly. Adjusted wording of the Crafting skill progression reward related to upgrade cost reduction. The image displaying Mackinaw MTL1 in the “Call vehicle” menu will now match with the car’s model. Removed debug strings from the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” perk’s tooltip. Icon grouping artifacts will no longer get detached from their respective locations on the map when zooming in/out. When Stamina Meter is depleted, the appropriate icon will now appear next to the health bar instead of the overload icon. Villefort Alvarado V4F 570 Delegate description will now correctly state that the drive is rear wheeled. The period of the possible occurrence in the description of Synaptic Accelerator in the tooltip will now display a proper value when playing in Polish. Fists description in the weapon wheel will now display an appropriate item type. Fixed text in the shard about Chiba-11 district. Opening Photo Mode and a vendor menu in quick succession will no longer result in freezing the game. Gold iconic loot icons will now be displayed on the minimap. Fixed an instance where hit markers and kill confirmation weren’t visible when destroying enemy turrets. Fixed enemy markers using the incorrect color on unaware enemies – they will now be yellow instead of red. Fixed an issue when RAM Recovery Rate below 0.50 was not displayed correctly. Fixed an issue when the disassemble item button was displayed incorrectly. Fixed an issue where the buttons on switching mods warning were not working as intended. Fixed the non-functional hinted keys when Breaching Protocol. Removed redundant input hints in the Cyberdeck panel.

GRAPHICS, AUDIO, ANIMATION

Reinforced Composite-Lined Rocker Foldtop is now properly aligned with V’s legs. Fixed an issue where the Monowire could slightly dislocate male V’s arms and clip through clothes. Fixed an issue in The Heist where Flathead’s case could float outside the hotel room in Konpeki Plaza, blocking the doorway. Fixed an issue where changing music volume in Sound settings affected car radio alongside with the background music. Fixed an issue where Takemura`s voice was doubled while talking to V in the van in Down on the Street. Fixed an issue where some netrunning suits clipped with female V’s legs and male V’s pants. Fixed an issue with the running animation after jumping on downwards or upwards slope. Fixed dust particles, which were sometimes incorrectly displayed. Characters’ skin will no longer become too bright in dark areas. In The Information, Smasher’s shadow will no longer appear on the elevator’s door after rewinding braindance to the beginning. Fixed Arasaka soldiers spawning on player’s sight when going back upstairs to save Takemura in Search and Destroy.

ENVIRONMENT AND LEVELS

Fixed various map holes in Watson, City Center, Westbrook, Heywood and Santo Domingo. Fixed faulty pathing for vehicles on the City Center ring road. Fixed multiple places where the player’s character could get stuck permanently. Fixed multiple issues with disappearing environments. Fixed multiple issues with objects popping in on player’s sight. GPS in Biotechnica Flats will no longer lead players to unreachable areas.

QUESTS

Rearranged shards into correct categories. Fixed an issue where calls to quest NPCs would abruptly end, making the NPC appear in other calls and potentially breaking other holocalls from the NPC. Fixed an issue where interrupted holocall would resume along with another call, which could make the NPC appear in other calls and break the next holocall from that NPC.

OPEN WORLD

Fixed an issue allowing multiple debrief holocalls from fixers to play at once, which could lead to blocked completion of various gigs (like Gig: A Lack of Empathy, Gig: Fixer, Merc, Soldier, Spy and others). We continue working on visual issues related to gigs stuck in the Journal, note that the latter don’t prevent district achievements from unlocking. Removed redundant loot from the body in the ferris wheel. Fixed an issue where Quadra Type-66 could be destroyed before buying it, blocking the progression of its “Buy Vehicle” quest and possibly the completion of the Autojock achievement. Fixed an issue in a shootout in Wellsprings where enemies were immortal because the trigger area was too small.

CINEMATIC DESIGN

Fixed an issue causing NPCs to not look at V during various scenes. Fixed an exploit where player was granted a Unity Pistol after each save/load. V’s facial animations while looking in the mirror will now be played properly. Fixed an issue where Rogue was spawning next to the player after calling her and asking about Adam Smasher. Fixed an issue where some NPCs could stop performing animations after a longer game session. Fixed multiple issues with NPCs mounting vehicles incorrectly. Fixed various issues where NPCs could be placed incorrectly and clip through objects after loading a saved game. Fixed an issue that could cause NPC animations to be played in the wrong spot in various quests. Fixed an issue where Jackie could spawn before the player’s eyes during the half-year montage. Fixed an issue where NPCs’ appearances got randomized when looking away. Fixed an issue where quests and scenes could progress before the loading screen disappeared.

MISCELLANEOUS

A gift from Judy can now be found in V’s apartment after player receives a text about it after completing her romance side quests. Fixed some story inconsistencies in radio broadcasts. Fixed the blackout effect persisting during Love Like Fire when using certain language settings.

PC-SPECIFIC

Fixed the issue where tutorial tooltips weren’t correctly displayed on 8k screens. Fixed an issue that caused the game to crash if a save thumbnail was corrupted. Fixed toggling Windowed and Fullscreen modes with the Alt+Enter shortcut. It’s now possible to exit locked scanning overlay by pressing TAB. Added a more compact PC version of the mouse cursor.

CONSOLE-SPECIFIC

Inner Dead Zone setting will now be applicable also to the game menus. [PlayStation] NPCs will no longer speak after being killed. Improved streaming of city lights. Overwriting a save game when there’s insufficient memory space will no longer corrupt the save. Masks and tubes inside the barn in The Hunt will no longer be invisible. Rogue will no longer clip through Johnny and will hold the glass correctly in Ghost Town. Fixed an issue in The Rescue where loading a save in front of the police blockade resulted in the NCPD officer not starting dialogue, blocking progress. Fixed an issue on PS4 where the meeting scene with Judy and Dolls in Pisces wouldn’t start properly. [Xbox] Fixed an issue in A Cool Metal Fire where a part of the scene in Cassius Ryder’s clinic could be cut off after the fade out. Fixed an issue where weapons were equipped to a wrong slot when assigning them from the Backpack.

[thecowprint]

Check out 5 Hot Cow Print Products

1. The Classic Cow Print

The classic cow print has been a popular print for decades because it’s cute, it’s simple, and it’s versatile. It makes for a great beach cover up, a cute dress, or a pair of shorts. People Are Wearing Cow Print in 2016 (+ 1 Trend Trend from 2015)

Okay, fine, it’s not a new trend per se, but it’s definitely the first to take a predominantly western and black style and inject some funk and rebellious rebelliousness into it. For example, the adidas Ultra Boho collection does a wonderful job of keeping in line with pop culture references — just check out some of the images. en.stylish.com has a great list of ways you can rock the Bull Tail fit.

Sometimes a simple accent is the best way to go. Check out these simple, yet inventive ways to rock cow print accessories. You can mix a print of one of these accessories with a colored twill top. Or, take this trend one step further and pair a bright pink cotton top and a cropped denim jacket.

Everything in between these two looks is completely acceptable, and I love experimenting with different textures when possible.

Even the most boring outfits look better when they have a pop of color and a little bit of style. Here’s proof. Or these equally simple, yet more colorful accessories.

Print is still a very hot item. Next time you hang out with friends, pick up a copy of Zappos’ new adidas Originals Collection. (Seriously, if you haven’t ordered yet, please, go do it now.) Their creative adidas Originals ad suggestion packs are at the ready for the office, and an array of colors and designs make them perfect for almost any occasion. You can check out a sneak peek from the collection over on Zappos.

 2. The Cow Print Dress

I have a black lace dress that I wear all the time. I love it because it makes me feel feminine and sexy, but it’s also easy to throw on and doesn’t require much effort. I like to wear it with a pair of leggings and heels, but I also like to wear it with jeans and boots. In this case, I paired it with the Tiffany blue shoes you see here. You can even layer your favorite pieces over the top, and I always pair my gold jewelry and watches with it. Hey, at least it’s not faux fur that gets soiled!

Like skimping on the cut, the biggest mistake people often make when attempting to wear cow print is the fact that they’re cut much too high. This dress features a high neck fit and jersey knit—but no high underwear —so there’s no chance your partner will be able to come up to your neck while you dance the night away. But if you’re looking for something from the comfort of your home, here are eight creative ways to rock your dainty cow print top.1. Leave Grown-Up Cow Print at the Invisible Sun Workshop

This is a student-led organization in Philadelphia sponsored by its clothing designer Evan McQueen that offers classes designed to introduce women to animal patterns and to the power of dyeing their skin black, red and gray. I saw an ad for this at a creative event in New York City, and I was instantly like “yes!” themselves. I can always imagine a crowd of belly-dancing cow strip-grooms at a hot, summer dance party — that’s what this class was for me! Not only is it educational, you get to see real, live animals, which is something that few high school classes offer these days. I put on a black leather hoodie and black boots and soaked up that sweet, sweet smell of raw hide. You can see me in my photo up top, performing the “town square dance” for class. Take a load off in these buff and stinking wildness and get after it, you feel good!2.

 3. The Cow Print Backpack

The Cow Print Backpack is available in 3 colours.  It's available in Black, Black/White and the White/Black.  It's available in 2 sizes (S and L).  It's made out of polyester.  It's got a padded laptop compartment.  It's got a water bottle pocket.  It's got 3 compartments. Cow tank. Cow tee. Cow vest. These are just a few of the trendy clothes cow print is turning heads of this time. Worn by royals, entrepreneurs, designers, and everyday people, cow print is hot because it’s unique. It has an edge. It’s instantly recognizable and instantly relatable. It’s the garment that says, YOU, and you alone are responsible for this statement. (And yes, riding a cow helps, too.)

Here’s the secret about cow print; it’s versatile. You don’t have to look too far to see a cow on a tee. You can see a side of a cow on a jacket. You can see a cow in the detail of a dress. Now, you don’t have to wear a cow print item to make it unique, however. It’s more of a statement made adjustment to a garment. A slight crop to the fabric, some side-tucking, or pleating will give your piece edge. It’s less bold, bolder, and more fun, softer, and more approachable.

Traction gear takes the lead in the desert.

The only thing that stops a storm from raging is the planning. The only thing that keeps the water out of the well is knowledge. Well-thought-out footwear has the power to turn an ankle, and treadmills are free to stick, make a noise- we did it to ourselves all those years ago. The cow print biker brings a pair of her awesome leather gloves to use as traction gear. Yes, you can use it as regular, regular cow print gloves. If you want something more unique, slip on a pair of stylish cow prints, or get creative with prints like this. Sneakers are a good option as well, but we prefer non-boot footwear, better for damaged, wet feet.

 4. The Cow Print Belt

When my grandfather passed away, I inherited his belt. Although it was thin and worn, I held onto it because it was my grandfather’s belt. One day I was walking down the street and saw a guy with a belt on that I liked. I asked him where he got it and he said, “Oh, on the internet.” Needless to say, I was intrigued, especially given what bold fashionistas were stripping down in public. It actually made me want to look up the same guy’s profile. I was overwhelmed by the power of fashion to heal. ZEUS ZEYNECK

It’s no secret that this circle of stylists and celebrities are leading the way on showing off our love of cool apparel and accessories. Nerd and fashionista Zeye Netherlands wanted to put a powerful spin on cow print with the help of these style rebels, so they disguised themselves as cows — complete with Doc Martens — and walked down the street in Los Angeles shirtless. Making a statement while still maintaining a fun attitude (and looking darn good doing it), they were able to shock, stun, and please. Whether you’re black sheep or are buckled into spotless attire, now is the time to show it off.

Known for her chic and sassy style, this comic book and graphic-design enthusiast didn’t let fashion’s power to heal get in the way of her creative inspirations. She had a cow on the mantle of her house (she and Friendgiving) and outfit ideas were born. With this chic ensemble, she perfectly channeled all of the feelings surrounding cow print — warmth, strength, courage — plus a little sunshine and fun. Given the current fashion landscape, wouldn’t you want to be sexy, fashionable and fit in with these characters on a daily basis (especially since RuPaul’s Drag Race came to an end last night)? PATRICK MCNAUGHTON

If we’re being honest, we’re probably jealous that this fellow doesn’t have an entire wardrobes to show for it, but he did pull it off (and look, bedrooms are always nice).

 5. The Cow Print Leather Jacket

I'm looking for a leather jacket but I'm not sure what style I should go with. What do you recommend? (I'm thinking dark, leather, short sleeves, accented with white polka dots)

You can find all hottest Cow Print at https://thecowprint.com/

[knittingdreams]

Fireheart - Chapter 4

Hey there! Hope you’re having an amazing day! To make it a little better, here’s an update on my ToG fanfic! If you haven’t read the previous chapters, you can find them here:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

I promise I'll make a Masterlist one of this days so it’s easier to find n_n

CHAPTER 4

Implementing phase one

Once lunchtime came around, Celaena walked eagerly towards the school’s cafeteria, her stomach rumbling loudly. She was still not used to the new schedule and having to get up so early, she hadn’t managed to grab anything for breakfast before riding to school. She had had enough time to carefully sort out her uniform for the day though, adding her own little twist with a red bandana tied around her right wrist. She had also taken twenty minutes in front of the mirror putting on her contacts and making sure her makeup was spotless.

She had accentuated her cheekbones, making her face look a bit rounder than what it was, had thinned her nose, and added a few fake freckles across it. She had decided on black eyeliner and simple grey eyeshadow, with a little bit of gold in the inner corners of her eyes. That day's lipstick choice was bright red, as it matched her rider's vibe. 

Celaena got in the queue at the buffet, eyeing everything in front of her and having a hard time choosing only one item from the vast range of options. In the end, she settled for the fried chicken, a portion of fries, and two servings of pudding. 

Finding an empty table close enough to her main interests but a little secluded at the same time was a challenge; but once she found the spot, she sat down with her tray. 

She watched as the cafeteria filled up, and spotted Sam on a crowded table only a few meters away. They were one to each side of Aedion’s table, and she knew this was no coincidence; Sam was playing his cards too. Annoyed, Celaena glared at him, but Sam’s eyes were too focused on the couple making a scene in between them, and he didn’t see her.

“Hi, there!” Someone said, popping a tray of food next to her own, and grabbing a seat.

Celaena turned towards the intruder, surprised to find a dark-skinned girl with long raven dreadlocks falling to her waist and curious eyes that were looking at her. 

“Hi,” She said dubiously. 

She had enjoyed the peace and quiet of eating on her own the previous day, but she knew it wasn’t going to last. Celaena would have to find her place in the status quo soon, or else she’d end up as an outcast, and that wouldn’t be good for her plans.

“Nice to meet you,” the girl sitting next to her said. “I’m Nehemia, I’m the only other exchange student in this stuck-up school, so I thought we might as well kick start this inevitable friendship of ours,” she finished with a tight smile.

Celaena looked at her a little perplexed, and a little stunned. Nehemia looked somehow shy yet she also had a kind of hidden sass that Celaena found appealing. But she had to remind herself that she wasn’t there to make friends, she had no time for it.

“If you say so,” she replied, nonchalant.

“I’ve been here for a whole year, and I can tell you, this is a hard crowd to please.” Nehemia looked her up and down as if analyzing her. “I would have expected you to be sitting on the table with the jocks already,” she added pointing at them with her head. “A few of them are taken, as the team captain over there. His name is Aedion,” she explained, talking eagerly as Celaena listened carefully while pretending to be more interested in her food. “His father owns one of the biggest businesses in town, and they have investments all over the place, he is loaded! Even more than most of us. It's a bit of a sad story if you ask me, his mother died when he was young, and it’s just him and his father; I believe he lost his aunt and other family members to a tragic accident too. You wouldn’t be able to tell from looking at him though, he’s always so full of himself… And he's got that damned gorgeous smile!” 

Nahemia sighed and stopped talking for a moment as she ate a few spoonfuls of her lunch. Next to her, Celaena looked at Aedion through her lashes as she picked on the fries. 

“Who’s the chick with him?” She asked, knowing that any other girl would have asked the same question.

“Lysandra? She’s the queen bee. Captain of the cheerleaders, she’s probably the most gorgeous girl in this whole town,” she said, and then looked at Celaena, analyzing her again. “Well, maybe she was, she might have competition now.”

Celaena huffed, trying not to grin at the remark. Of course, she was better looking than that girl. At least now she knew who that Lysandra girl was, and she could keep an eye on her. 

“Don’t be stupid,” she said instead.

“Please, I’m not blind, you are absolutely gorgeous. And blond seems to be trending at the moment, I’ve heard every single boy in school talk about your entrance today,” Nehemia added as she lifted her thin brows.

Celaena smiled to herself and disregarded the comment with a wave of her hand.

“So, how long have those two been together for?” She asked next, knowing that she might as well just use this free source of information while it lasted; there wasn’t much time left on the clock before they’ll have to head over to their next class.

“A long while, they've been together since the start of junior year,” Nehemia said. “So sorry to be the one to break it up to you, but you have no chances with Aedion, many have tried to break them apart, but no one has succeeded,” Nehemia finished.

Celaena smiled while she laughed to herself once more. “Don’t worry, I’m not interested, he’s not really my type,” she replied.

“I guess you’re right, you two would look a bit creepy as a couple anyway, he looks like he could be your brother,” Nehemia stated, playing with a gold band from one of her dreads.

Celaena composed her expression into something neutral, trying not to worry about that remark. No one would ever suspect they were related, she was safe, she reminded herself. But this girl had her eyes on the details, and Celaena knew straight away that she’d have to be careful around her. Maybe having her close would be the smarter option.

“What’s your type then? I can picture a hot dark-haired boy…” Nehemia said dreamily as she played with another one of her dreads, her dark eyes darting around the crowd and looking for someone to match Celaena with.

“Oh, how come I didn’t notice it before?” Nehemia said in a hushed tone as she leaned closer to talk into Celaena’s ear. “Dorian is checking you out,” she said, a smile spreading wide on her lips. “You two would look so good together, but he’s not the dating type,” Nehemia replied.

That was a cue Celaena didn’t know she was waiting for, and as the words left Nehemia’s lips, she found herself popping another fry in her mouth and looking up. She met Dorian’s bright blue eyes, and she held his gaze, chewing slowly, playing with a strand of hair between her fingers. 

“How come?” She asked Nehemia, her eyes still on Dorian’s.

Dorian took the bait and elbowed the guy sitting next to him. Celaena watched as Chaol lifted his head, and watched her shamelessly staring at them. 

“I mean, he’s never had a girlfriend in school, rumor has it he’s been with half the girls from Adarlan Elite though,” Nehemia said. “Almost every girl claims to have been in bed with him, but the stories don’t quite… match,” she finished.

Dorian murmured something in Chaol’s ear and then contained a laugh as Chaol shook his head from one side to the other. Dorian shrugged, and stood up, leaving his tray behind on the table and sliding his backpack over a shoulder.

“Is that right?” Celaena replied, her eyes unblinking.

Dorian walked towards their table slowly, deliberately, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Oh my God,” Nehemia whispered. “He’s coming over here, what should we do? What should I do? Do you want me to go?” She was moving in her seat, and Celaena put a hand over her tight under the table, as if telling her to stay calm. Nehemia got the wordless message and went still all of a sudden. She kept her head down, but she gazed up between her long lashes. 

Nehemia looked shy all of a sudden, her shoulders slightly drawn as if trying to make her tall frame look small, but Celaena thought it was a facade; she reckoned underneath it all the girl seemed composed, careful, attentive. The girl knew how to lie, and how to make people see her the way she desired. Celaena noticed because she was so used to doing the exact same thing.

“Dorian,” Celaena said sweetly as the guy finally made his way to them and stood over the other side of the table. “What brings you here?” She asked, motioning at the table and the empty seats in front of her.

“Wondering if I could join you for a moment?” He asked.

“Well,” Celaena said slowly. “I’m pretty certain the bell is about to ring any minute now, and there’s a class I need to attend. I’m sure there’s one you need to head to as well.”

She finished eating the last of her fries, and grabbed a spoon, taking a bite of her chocolate pudding and licking her lips slowly as she swallowed.

“There’s still a few minutes on the clock,” Dorian quipped. “And I’m sure you can’t finish all that on your own,” he continued. “Maybe I could help you.”

“Would you like to bet on that?” Celaena said with a smirk and then shoved another big spoonful in her mouth.

She could see Dorian staring at her lips, and she ran her tongue between them again.  

“You’d be surprised at my odds in gambling,” Dorian said, composing his expression into something like a smug smile. “I’ve never lost, not once,” he said.

Celaena let her eyes drift past Dorian quickly, and saw that she had the attention of most of the cafeteria by then. She saw Aedion looking at her and then looking away when she met his eyes, and then she collided into Sam’s golden-brown irises. It was as if he was trying to burn a hole into Dorian’s back, trying to see through his very soul.

“And will you?” Celaena asked. “I mean, bet against me?” she said as she finished the first portion of pudding, and moved onto the second one.

“No, I would never,” he replied. “I would never dare bet against you, Celaena, I will be sure to always bet on you,” he said, and then he sat down in front of her, leaning over the table to look at her closely.

“Uhm, interesting,” she said. With that, she pushed the dessert over to Dorian and stood up quickly, grabbing her bag in one hand and hooking the other around Nehemia’s elbow. “Lost my appetite, you can have it,” she said as she pulled on Nehemia’s arm and turned around to walk away. 

“You can’t run away, I know where you live, Celaena,” Dorian’s mellow voice trailed after them as they headed out of the cafeteria without looking back.

“What was that about? You just stood up the king of the school! In front of everybody! Do you have any idea how popular that guy is?” Nehemia asked as the double doors closed behind them.

“You have to keep them on their toes,” Celaena replied as she abruptly let go of Nehemia’s arm. The dark-skinned girl looked shocked and motioned to follow along, but Celaena lifted a hand. “I’m on my own from here on, but thanks for the company,” she said nonchalantly as she walked away with quick steps. 

She had never had a girlfriend in her life, and this was the wrong time to go looking for one. Nehemia was smart, and she would keep an eye on her, but she didn’t need friends, no; she needed to infiltrate the hive. 

The first step of her plan had already proved to be a success. She had got the whole school thinking she was a possible match for Dorian. And most importantly, she had caught the attention of the jocks' table. 

Time to move to the second stage, time to become one of the popular kids.

Here’s the Queen Bee herself, Lysandra Caraverre :D [Made with picrew]

[adverb-slut]

The Purgatory Hall Boys Are Bad at Road Trips (Fanfiction)

I just *clutches chest* really love the boys at Purgatory Hall and felt they needed more spotlight so here they are being big dummies on the road.  Oh, I also posted this on AO3 here. 

Title:

The Purgatory Hall Boys Are Bad at Road Trips

Summary:

On a R.A.D-sanctioned road trip to the Caverns of Degeneracy, the Purgatory Hall boys prove that they have just as many brain cells as the demon brothers (read: none).

Genre:

Humor/Fluff/Slice of Life

Rating:

T

Word Count:

6870

-

Hour 0

Our story begins just outside the gates of Purgatory Hall, where two of its three non-native Devildom residents stood near a rather expensive-looking, immaculately-maintained vehicle. 

The short, prone-to-fits-of-righteous-anger one yanked behind him a wagon, which was piled high with duffel and overnight bags, all made of a stiff white and gold fabric straight from the Celestial Realm.  

The other, older man, who never left home without a mysterious smile and his magic wand, too, tugged the handle of his own luggage—although his was a wheeled backpack which sagged due to the weight of the approximately seven-hundred souvenir keychains from around the Human World that he had clipped onto it.

The pair were waiting for their third friend—who, in every sense of the word, was an angel—as together they were planning to embark upon a new R.A.D tradition, which the Demon Prince Diavolo had appropriately christened—Our Annual Road Trip to the Caverns of Degeneracy (A.R.T C.D for short).  The Caverns of Degeneracy were on the far outskirts of the Devildom, over six-hundred-and-sixty-six miles away from the R.A.D campus, and yet, for some asinine reason, Diavolo had decided that they were the perfect spot for hosting the academy’s yearly Bleeding Hearts Festival.  

(Many of the Student Council Officers and faculty had wagered that the Demon Prince had just wanted an excuse to take a road trip—a phenomenon he had recently been introduced to through one of Leviathan’s video games.)

Diavolo himself planned for his personal driver to ferry him and his butler, Barbatos, up to the Caverns a day early so he could begin preparations for the festival and encouraged all students to find their own means of transportation in order to get to the event on time.

The R.A.D Student Council Officers—all of whom resided in the House of Lamentation—had decided to pile themselves into Asmodeus’ tour bus (he had bought it specifically because once he became a famous DevilTuber, he would need it to do meet-and-greets with his fans and also because it had a “bear-y adorable design”) and drive down together.  

As the Purgatory Hall boys had no modes of transportation to call their own, Lucifer had graciously allowed them to borrow Mammon’s Demonio 666 Lexura (fits had ensued à la the secondborn but were ignored), which both Luke and Solomon now hovered around.

However, as Solomon poked and prodded the vehicle, commenting admiringly under his breath at the paint job, the young angel peered nervously at the sorcerer’s backpack.  

He cleared his throat, bent on sounding as polite as possible—but failing miserably—and said, “Solomon, er—are you the one who’s bringing our road trip snacks?”  He followed this with a silent please say no, please say no, Father please let him say no.

Solomon raised an eyebrow.  “I thought you were bringing them.”

Luke dropped the handle of his wagon.  “No!  I would’ve made some snacks if I had the time but I was helping those,” he gagged, “wretched demon brothers pack using some low-level Celestial Realm magic.”  

“Oh, that’s right,” Solomon said, snapping his fingers.  “I just remembered that I volunteered to make the snacks, but Simeon heard and immediately offered to do it for me.  Then he sent me on a bunch of errands to buy groceries, but it felt more like he was trying to get me out of the kitchen.”  He laughed at the last part and shook his head because there was no way that such a criminally calm angel like Simeon would be that underhanded.  

“No!” wailed Luke, yanking his hat off and clutching it to his chest in despair.  “Don’t you know what this means?”    

“It means you don’t like Simeon’s cooking as much as you let on,” decided the sorcerer with a smile at Luke’s theatrical display.

Luke shook his head so vigorously that Solomon had to hold in a laugh based on how much the angel looked like a chihuahua shaking itself dry.  “For trips, Simeon only makes the most nutritious, most energizing food.”  He screwed up his face in disgust as he seethed, “The most disgusting food.”

“The stuff Simeon cooks for dinner isn’t particularly unhealthy and you seem to like that just fine,” pointed out Solomon.

Luke frowned.  “Yes, b—but I’m talking about real healthy stuff here, so we’ll all have lots of energy throughout the trip!  L—like entire salads squished between two pieces of bread and ‘yummy morsels’ of banana slices dipped in cashew butter and drizzled with mung bean and coconut water paste!”  He gestured toward himself.  “Look at me, Solomon!  I was made for jam-filled pastries and perfectly-iced cakes!  No—not,” he shuddered, “health foods.”

“You’re serious?  He’s really going to bring that kind of stuff?” Solomon’s eyes widened.  “I guess I should’ve given in to my gut intuition and made some pork pies as backup snacks.  ‘Snackups,’ if you will.”

Luke could feel bile rising up his throat at the thought of Solomon’s cooking.  “Er—no, I don’t think that would’ve been necessary!”  He spotted a figure exiting Purgatory Hall.  “Oh, look, there’s Simeon, now; we can just ask him what snacks he brought.”

“And then burn them,” finished Solomon.

The younger angel gave a scandalized gasp at the comment as Solomon nodded at Simeon, who walked closer to the pair.  

A lone celestial blue suitcase trailed behind the elder angel as he beamed at his traveling companions.  “Is everyone ready?”  Before waiting for an answer, he turned toward Luke with a gaze that was almost motherly in nature.  “And has everyone gone to the bathroom?  We only have a day to drive to the Caverns of Degeneracy and I want to see some of the Devildom sights along the way.  I even brought an instant camera to take pictures.”  

He pulled out from his cape pocket said camera and an enormous stack of printed DevilmapQuest directions and began to rifle through them, trying to decide which of the landmarks and tourist destinations he wanted to visit most.  

“S—Simeon!  Why did you have to stare at me when you asked if we all went to the bathroom?  I may be young, but I at least know that I should go to the bathroom before long car rides!”  He then blushed and handed Solomon his wagon handle.  “A—and that being said, I—I have to go to the bathroom.”

As he ran inside, Solomon peered over Simeon’s shoulder at the map sheets and laughed.  “You know, most of these directions are online.”

“I know, I know,” admitted the older angel.  “But reading the directions off of a D.D.D requires knowing how to operate one, and you know I’m not too good at that.”  

Solomon smiled and said, “That’s fine, then.  We three will take turns driving and meanwhile, one of the two who aren’t behind the wheel will navigate.”  

“Haha, you’re aware Luke can’t drive, right?” asked Simeon, turning to give Solomon a look that cautiously strode the line between tolerant and what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you.  

“Well, I guess he’ll be the one giving directions, then,” replied Solomon, without missing a beat.  He couldn’t help but silently add he’ll be doing that, either way.  

As Simeon continued to sort through the DevilmapQuest papers and double-check all the items packed in the messenger bag slung across his shoulder, Solomon began to load everyone’s luggage into Mammon’s car.  He couldn’t help but envision himself playing Tetris as he carefully arranged in the trunk the seven blocky bags that the group had among them—six of which belonged to Luke, who packed as if he were planning to change his clothes at least twelve times a day.    

His own backpack—and Simeon’s messenger bag—would be staying with the trio in the cabin space of the car.  He hadn’t felt the need to pack nearly as many outfits as Luke and most of his bag consisted of medical supplies, while Simeon’s was supposed to be filled to the brim with road trip snacks.

Speaking of snacks, Solomon felt his mouth turn dry as he mulled over the healthy monstrosities that Luke believed the older angel had created in place of actually palatable food.  He turned to Simeon.  “Er, Simeon—what’s on the menu in terms of snackage?”

“‘Snackage?’” Simeon laughed.  He pat his messenger bag and said, “Let’s see, well, whenever I go on long trips, I try to make foods that provide a lot of energy, since we’re going to need it—especially you and I, as we’ll be driving.  Here, I made dried, salted edamame and roasted chickpea trail mix, almond-butter-and-white-bean-stuffed dried dates, and oatmeal-honey-sesame-black-bean balls with dried pineapple, coconut, and avocado.”   

Solomon did not like how many times Simeon had mentioned “beans,” for as far as he was concerned, road trip food was junk food exclusively.  He took a deep breath and carefully twisted his mouth into a smile.  “That sounds well … delicious. Ten out of ten.”

“Excellent.  Now, where is Luke?”  Simeon peered behind them toward Purgatory Hall, where a munchkin of a silhouette now appeared.  “Ah, there he is.”  He tossed Solomon the keyring Mammon had tearfully given him the day before.  “Mind starting the car?”

Solomon nodded and after examining the gaudy charms that adorned Mammon’s keys, he clicked open the car and stepped toward the driver’s seat door.  “I’ll take the first shift.  It’ll take us fifteen hours of sheer driving to get to the Caverns of Degeneracy, so we’ll take three-hour turns.”  

As Solomon yanked the car door open, something tumbled out of the front seat.  He jumped back, and Simeon and Luke rushed toward the commotion.  

“M—Mammon?  What are you doing here?” exclaimed Luke.  

Simeon laughed, his brows furrowing in confusion.  “Hoping to hitch a ride?”

Solomon had to swallow his smile when he saw the almost-comical tears that ran down Mammon’s face.  “Did your brothers leave you behind?”

“N— no!  They’d never leave without me, The Great Mammon!”  Mammon hastily wiped his nose before sprawling his hands over his Demonio 666 Lexura.  “I just couldn’t fathom leavin’ my beloved baby for so long!  I had to say goodbye!”

“Speaking of saying goodbye, you do know that Asmo’s bus already left a few minutes ago, right?” asked Simeon.  “I caught a glimpse of them before I came out here and they were already on the road.”

Mammon’s face paled.  “Wh—what?  They wouldn’t! Wait—of course, they would!  Those bastards!”  He immediately turned into his demon form, planted a kiss on his car’s hood, and sped off into the horizon.

“I suddenly understand what the term ‘speed demon’ means,” commented Luke as he watched Mammon’s quickly disappearing form.

“I sure hope he manages to catch up to them,” Solomon said, rubbing his chin.  “Anyway, everyone, pile in.  It’s time to get this show on the road.”

Hour 1

After they had driven well out of the bounds of R.A.D’s campus, Solomon announced, “All right—first item on the agenda—”

Luke raised his hand from the back passenger seat as he strained against his seatbelt.  “—What’s an ‘agenda?’”

“Oh.  An agenda is basically a list of things we have to do,” explained Solomon.

Simeon’s eyes widened in concern.  “I didn’t know we had an agenda.”

Solomon nodded gravely.  “Oh, yes—an unwritten road trip one.  And the first thing on it is picking some tunes.”

Again, Luke raised his hand.  “I have a suggestion!  I have a suggestion!”  From the pocket of his shorts, he drew out a CD case labeled 1001 Hymns to Praise Him.  “This album is my personal favorite.”

Solomon began coughing violently in attempts to cover his laughter, while Simeon smiled and took the CD from him.  “That’s a great idea, Luke, but how about we play this when I drive, and when Solomon drives, he’ll pick the music.”

The sorcerer handed Simeon his D.D.D, keeping his eyes on the road as he instructed, “Here, go to my Akutify account and play my Travel playlist.  Hope you guys don’t mind that I managed to export my entire Spotify account onto Akutify, so we’re going to be listening to Human World songs for now.”

It took Simeon seven tries to carry out Solomon’s orders, but before long, “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys blared through the state-of-the-art stereo system of the Demonio 666 Lexura.  

Luke was silent for a few moments before he innocently asked, “I don’t understand, Solomon.  What do they want ‘that way?’”

Solomon shook his head.  “I’ve been trying to figure that out for years.”

Hour 2

It didn’t take very long for Simeon to discover the first location on his list of places to visit along their trip.  

“The Maw of Beelzebub,” Simeon breathed, taking in their dark, ashy surroundings from the passenger seat.  “I’ve seen it in pictures when I researched for TSL, but I never fathomed I’d get to see it in person.”

Luke pouted as Simeon exited the vehicle.  “Don’t tell me we’re going to see those dumb demon brothers.”

“Nope,” Solomon said, unbuckling Luke from his seat, despite the vehement protests from the little angel.  “The Maw of Beelzebub is a chain of three volcanoes, actually.  The two smaller ones that form the ‘eyes of Beelzebub’ are active, but the huge, massive one that we’re going to walk across by way of that bridge,” he pointed to a shaky overpass that was suspended over a volcano crater a thousand miles wide, “is dormant.  However, you can still see the enormous pool of lava bubbling inside.  Tourists like to drop things down into it—and of course, it disappears into the molten lava—which is why it’s named after Beel because no matter what you feed him, he’s still hungry as if he’s never eaten.”

“Remind me again, then, why we’re walking across it?”  Luke asked as the trio wandered over to the entrance of the precarious bridge.  

Simeon looked at him curiously.  “Don’t you think it’s exhilarating, Luke?  To be so close to something so much bigger and powerful and dangerous than yourself?”   

The younger angel pondered that for a moment before deciding, “Father is so much bigger and powerful and dangerous than me.  I think that’s enough.”   

Simeon laughed.  “So it is.”  He wiggled his fingers under Luke’s hat to rumple his hair.  “But let’s go see it, anyway.”

 Hour 3

“Psst,” Luke hissed, “Simeon.” The elder angel seemed to be too enthralled by the latest song in Solomon’s playlist, “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction, to hear him, so Luke reached out to poke his shoulder.

If he wasn’t strapped to his seat by his seatbelt, Simeon would’ve jumped about fifty feet in surprise.  “Ah, you startled me, Luke.  Did you need something?”

Luke adamantly refused to meet Simeon’s eyes as he flushed and muttered, “I have to go.”

“Don’t worry, Luke—there’s no shame in needing to go to the bathroom,” assured Simeon.

“There is when you just went ten minutes ago,” mumbled Solomon under his breath, but he swerved into a gas station, nonetheless.  “I guess we’re due for a tank refill, anyway.”

Simeon put up his hand.  “You paid for the gas last time—let me do it, especially since Mammon left explicit instructions that his car is supposed to be ‘fed’ premium gas only.” 

Solomon grinned cheekily.  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”  He followed Luke, who had already gone into the gas station convenience store.  “I guess I’ll just have a look around, then.”

However, before he got more than a few feet into the store, he heard someone whisper-screaming his name.

“Psst!  Solomon!  Over here!  Behind the candy stand!” 

He followed the voice, only to find that it belonged to Luke, who was very much not in the bathroom and rather ripping open a packet of fruit snacks.

“Whoa, I didn’t know you had it in you to employ the much-loved five-finger-discount,” Solomon said, nodding appreciatively.  “Considering you’re an angel and all.”

Luke stared at him with blank eyes.  “I don’t know what that means, but these were in my pocket from earlier!”  He motioned for Solomon to come closer and poured a few of the gummies into his hand.  “This is my last pouch—eat them fast.  They might be our last bit of yummy food before we have to eat Simeon’s nightmares.”

Solomon bobbed his head, before dumping the fruit snacks into his mouth all at once, savoring their sweet taste.  He gestured toward Luke.  “Do you always keep those on you?”

The angel’s offended gasp could be heard by all the demons in the convenience store.  “I’m a ten-year-old, Solomon!  Of course, I keep fruit snacks in my pocket!”

Hour 4

It wasn’t that Simeon was a bad driver.  It was just that driving in the Devildom (and the Human World) was very different from driving in the Celestial Realm.

Here, in uncontrolled intersections, it wasn’t customary to say “hello” to the drivers rolling to a stop in all directions.  Even stranger, the traffic lights weren’t celestial blue, gold, and white, but rather red, green, and yellow! 

Luke, who had discovered a “2020 Devildom Rules of the Road” manual crumpled inside one of the cupholders, was forced to bark instructions at the eldest angel, all while offering condescending commentary on how imbecilic the rules of driving in the Devildom were.

“Simeon!  Listen to this!  In the Devildom, you have to obey the posted speed limits, or else you’ll get in trouble!” realized Luke.

“Wait—you don’t have speed limits in the Celestial Realm?” Solomon asked.

Luke replied smugly, “No, because angels have the sense to know how fast they should or shouldn’t be driving.”

“Wow, that’s honestly impressive.”  Solomon grimaced as Simeon ran through another red light.  “Remember, if the light is red, then you have to stop.”

Simeon offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I’m so used to remembering that blue means ‘stop.’”

Solomon slunk low in his seat, knowing better than to rile up the angel, who was rumored to have a feisty side when he got angry.  “I just hope the police or whatever they have here don’t catch us for breaking so many traffic laws.”

“What’s a ‘police?’” asked Luke.

“Oh, you know … people who are supposed to make people follow the laws and stuff,” replied Solomon.  His eyes widened.  “Do you not have a police force in the Celestial Realm?”

“The Celestial Realm is a perfect world, Solomon,” answered Simeon.  “We don’t need police.”

Hour 6

Solomon didn’t know that he could get sick of songs.  Sure, he got tired of the “Despacito” remix after the first dozen times it was played on the radio—but he meant real music.  

“Amazing Grace” in particular.

Luke’s favorite album, 1001 Hymns to Praise Him, really should’ve been called 1001 Ways An Angelic Choir Can Sing “Amazing Grace” because Solomon swore about ninety percent of the songs on the album were just renditions of the classic hymn sung by different groups of angels.

And this seemed to bother neither of his driving companions, who crooned along to the choir in heavenly tones—it seemed to be a prerequisite for angels to be divine singers—without missing a beat.  

He hadn’t even known all the words to “Amazing Grace,” but now he could recite all six verses on demand.  He fought the urge to smash the “eject” button on the CD player, but he worried that Luke would throw a fit or Simeon would look at him with a stare so full of disappointment that Solomon would be willing to throw himself off a bridge just to rid himself of its gaze.

But one could only hear the line “amazing grace, how sweet the sound,” so many times.

He had to do something.

“Hey!  I have an idea!” Solomon chirped.  “Let’s make up our own song!”

He had to fight the urge to smack himself upside the head.  Why did he say that?  He had no ideas for potential song lyrics!

“I like that!” Luke pursed his lips, deep in thought.  “Here, let’s have the first lines go like this: ‘Father, You are all that I need!’”

Simeon used one hand to snap out the beat, and continued, “‘Father, listen to my creed!’”

Solomon sighed.

He did not know if this was any better.

Hour 8

“Luke, wake up.  We’re here.”  Solomon couldn’t help but layer on the desperation thick as he shook the younger angel awake, despite the fact that they were in no danger whatsoever.

Luke shot up, trying very hard to hide the fact that he had been drooling all over his shoulder.  He rubbed his sleep-filled eyes. “What?  Did we beat all the other demons here?  Are the Caverns of Degeneracy as hideous as I imagined?”

Solomon unbuckled Luke’s seatbelt and dragged him out of the car.  He snickered, saying, “We’re not at the Caverns, yet.”  He gestured toward their surroundings, which now consisted of precarious cliffs and rocky crags instead of the open road of the Devildom. 

Simeon stood a few feet ahead of them and turned around, spreading his arms wide in wonder.  “Welcome to Sinner Falls!”

Luke stared at the dark stone formations.  “I don’t see any waterfalls.”

“That’s because Sinner Falls isn’t a waterfall,” Solomon explained.  “You probably better know it as ‘the Abyss—’”

“‘The Abyss? ’  Why didn’t you say so?”  Luke exclaimed, his eyes glittering excitedly.  “The place where demons are tortured for a thousand years during the Millenium has always been one of my dream places to visit!”

Simeon smiled, a little taken aback by the younger angel’s enthusiasm.  “If we’re lucky, we might get to see Abaddon, Angel of the Abyss. He’s supposed to be guarding the canyon up ahead.”

“If we see him, do you think he’ll let me call him ‘Abba?’” teased Solomon, even though the remark earned him a kick in the shin and a “He most certainly will not!  How dare you even say such a thing about one of the most high-ranking angels!” from Luke.

“Careful now, Solomon,” Simeon warned, as the trio walked toward the deep canyon amongst the cliffs.  As far as anyone could tell, there was no end to the inky, suffocating blackness that was visible when looking down into it.  He pointed into the canyon.  “This is the Abyss—er, Sinner Falls.  Us angels cannot pass this invisible barrier—” he pressed his hand out to the ledge of the canyon, only for it to smash against some kind of unseen wall, “—but any human or demon who falls down into it falls for eternity, never to come back to the surface.”

Luke beamed. “That must be why it’s called ‘Sinner Falls!’  Because most humans and all demons are sinners!”  Despite this, he grabbed Solomon’s hand to prevent him from wandering too close to Sinner Falls’ ledge (as he was wont to do), because, despite their bickering and mutual pestering, Luke had a soft spot for the sorcerer.

Simeon followed in suit and intertwined his fingers with Solomon as the trio looked down into the great Abyss, wondering if any of their demon friends would be among the many thrown into it one day.

Hour 9

Simeon rifled through his messenger bag, intent on looking for something to eat.  He had made sure to pack plenty of goodies and was pleased as to how nutritious the snacks he’d made had turned out.  He scooped a handful of edamame and chickpea trail mix into his hand and turned to Luke, who was hunched over a map in the back passenger seat. 

“You haven’t eaten anything in over eight hours; aren’t you hungry?”  Simeon offered him the bag of trail mix.

Luke gulped, as he beamed and shook his head.  “N—no, no!  I’m okay!”

Simeon shrugged and held out the bag toward Solomon, who was driving.  “Do you want some?  I can pour it into your mouth if you want, so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.”

“As titillating as that sounds,” said the sorcerer, “I’m afraid I’m not hungry at the moment.”

“I guess that’s more for me, then.”  Simeon poured more of the trail mix into his palm, but before he could eat any of it, he heard a strange sound.

It was a low rumble, but very, very loud.

It almost sounded like … stomachs growling?

He whirled to face Luke and Solomon and scratched his head in confusion.  “Are you two sure you’re not hungry?”

When the pair shook their heads furiously, Simeon raised an eyebrow.  He yanked out from his bag the stuffed dried dates and the oatmeal-honey-sesame-black-bean balls.  “So … you two wouldn’t mind if I ate all of the snacks?”

“Yeah, sure, go nuts, Simeon,” Solomon assured.  He winced as his and Luke’s stomaches rumbled in unison.  “You wouldn’t actually have any nuts in that bag o’ treats, would you?  Preferably of the chocolate-covered variety?” 

“The dates have almond butter stuffed inside them,” pointed out Luke helpfully, although his expression was less-than-enthused.

Simeon raised his other eyebrow.  Clearly the pair were hungry but refusing food.  What kind of rebellious spirit had gotten into them?  Didn’t they know that food was essential to oh, survival?   His left eye twitched as he felt a black miasma of rage cover him. “If you two don’t eat, I’m turning this car around.  That’s a promise.”

Solomon exchanged nervous glances with Luke at the normally calm angel’s outburst. “Angry Simeon is scary,” he whimpered.

“If you don’t eat, you’ll see just how scary I can be,” promised Simeon with a smile that bordered downright terrifying.  He plopped an oatmeal-honey-sesame-black-bean ball into Solomon’s mouth and handed a stuffed date to Luke.  “Now, eat your snacks.”

He definitely didn’t miss Luke’s grumpy, “Yes, mother.”

Hour 11

“Solomon, I hate to complain—” which earned a snort from the sorcerer, as Luke continued, “but do you really have to play that now?”  He gestured toward the sound system, which, now that it was Simeon’s turn to drive, blared 1001 Hymns to Praise Him.  “Seven Lyres is my favorite orchestra and their take on ‘Amazing Grace’ is simply the best!”

Solomon, who had purposely pulled out a reed pipe from his backpack in an effort to drown out the nine thousandth chorus of “Amazing Grace,” sighed and put it down.  He knew he wasn’t an expert in playing the reed pipe—in fact, this was the first time he’d ever seen the instrument, but the racket was so soothing.

“Where did you even get that from, anyway?” asked Simeon.

“Found it in my backpack.  I didn’t pack it, but considering there was a note attached to it that said ‘Blow,’ I think Asmo put it there as some kind of visual innuendo.”  Solomon shrugged.  “Now seemed like as good a time as any to play it.”

 Luke tapped his chin thoughtfully.  “What’s an ‘innuendo?’”

“Something you’re not allowed to make until you’re much older,” replied Simeon sternly. 

Luke seemed satisfied with the answer and held out his palm toward Solomon.  “May I try?”

Solomon handed the reed pipe over and cocked his head.  “You know how to play?”

He received his answer when Luke gestured for him to lower the stereo volume (which Solomon did with immense pleasure) and began to carefully place his fingers over the openings and gently blow into the instrument.

The young angel played masterfully and Solomon would’ve given him a standing ovation if it weren’t for one tiny thing.

“Why don’t you play a different song besides ‘Amazing Grace?’”  he suggested.

Luke furrowed his brows.  “It’s the only thing I know how to play!”

Hour 12

“I don’t like this place, Simeon,” Luke mumbled, yanking his hat over his eyes.  “It looks like something straight from the End Times.”

He, of course, was referring to the town at which’s city limits they stood in front of.  It was one of the last tourist spots that Simeon had wanted to visit, and it was renowned for being one of the Devildom’s most haunted ghost towns.

Solomon nodded.  “I’m with the Chihuahua.  I’m super excited for the end of the world, and even I’m not getting a good feeling from whatever-this-place-is-called.”

“Deathblow Beggar’s Pass,” answered Simeon, ogling the city entrance sign gleefully.  “They say it’s the most haunted district in all of the Devildom.”  He took a step onto the creaky wooden path that led into the town.  “It’s been evacuated for centuries and now, even most demons are petrified to go inside.”

Luke gripped Simeon’s cape so tight, his knuckles turned white.  “Then why do you want to visit this place?”

“Don’t worry, Luke,” the older angel said (avoiding the question, which the young angel noticed), laughing, as he tousled Luke’s hair under his hat.  “I’ll make sure none of the scary ghosts come near you.”

Luke’s eyes widened.  “Sc—scary ghosts?”  He cleared his throat when he realized how incredibly uncourageous he sounded.  “I—I mean I’m not scared of any g—g—ghosts!”

Solomon and Simeon shared a secret smile at the angel’s feigned bravery, and instead of teasing him, Solomon turned to Luke very seriously.  “I strictly deal with demons, not ghosts.  How about you do me a favor and sit on my shoulders to be my lookout in case any of those ghosts try to pull anything?”

“W—well if you need my help, I’m definitely willing to offer it!” Luke blushed as he climbed onto Solomon’s shoulders.  “It’s my duty as an angel to help humans, after all!”

“That’s the ‘spirit,’” Solomon said.  He laughed when he saw the angels’ unamused faces.  “Get it?  ‘Cause we’re walking into a ghost town?”

Simeon laughed stiffly as to not hurt the sorcerer’s feelings before straightening his posture and looking ahead.  He channeled his inner fantasy writer as he declared, “Get ready, everyone!  We must put aside our doubts and fears as we charge forward into Deathblow Beggar’s Pass, where no creature has exited without releasing screams that could curdle the blood of the Demon Lord!  We might not be of this world, but we certainly can brave its most terrifying sites!”

It would have been a very heroic speech if it weren’t for the fact that not five minutes after the trio entered the city limits, Solomon and Simeon sprinted out, with Luke wailing loudly.

“That was the worst ever!” the little angel blubbered, yanking Solomon’s hair.

The sorcerer didn’t even have enough energy to flinch as he panted, “What in the name of all things unholy was that?”

There was nothing but fear in Simeon’s eyes as he doubled over, trying to catch his breath.  “We should’ve known the saloon bathroom stalls wouldn’t be empty.”  He gagged.  “I never want to see millennia-old demon penis again.”

Hour 15

“Simeon, are we there yet ?” asked Luke for the twenty-first time in the hour.

The other angel sighed.  “Almost, Luke.  Just a few more minutes.”

“Don’t you have the map?” Solomon pointed out as he honked the horn in irritation at a slow driver ahead of him.  “Shouldn’t you know where we are?”

Luke fussed with the multitude of papers that were stacked on his lap.  “I only have the stuff for Simeon’s places.”  His eyes opened wide in realization.  “Wait—how do you guys know where to drive if my maps don’t lead to the Caverns of Degeneracy?” 

“Diavolo said as long as we travel along Route 666 until we see the sign markers, we should have no problem getting there,” explained Simeon.  He peered ahead and squinted at one of the upcoming signs.  “And look—that sign says that the Caverns of Degeneracy are ten miles up ahead.”

“I hope we’re the first ones there,” said Luke.  “It’ll be nice to see all the looks on those dumb demons’ faces when we get there before them.”

Solomon pursed his lips.  “Speaking of those ‘dumb demons,’ I wonder if they’re all right.  We haven’t heard from them since we left Purgatory Hall.”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Simeon assured.  He let out a laugh as he continued, “Assuming they haven’t killed each other already.  It must be hard having all seven of them cooped up in one small space.”

“We can only hope,” said Luke solemnly.  He paused for a moment as he shimmied as far as his seatbelt would allow him and peered over Solomon’s shoulder to look at what was going on in the front seats.  He pointed at the gear shift. “What does ‘D’ mean?”

“I’m not supposed to say that word in front of you,” answered Solomon as Simeon simultaneously replied, “Drive.”

“Oh.  What does ‘R’ mean, then?”

Simeon replied, “Reverse,” before Solomon could say anything.

At the elder angel’s preemptive glare, Solomon widened his eyes and innocently said, “I was going to say ‘reverse,’ as in ‘Uno Reverse Card.’’”

Luke turned toward the dashboard.  “What’s ‘E?’”

“I feel if I say ‘Evanescence,’ Simeon is going to yell at me, so I’ll just go with ‘empty,’” pouted Solomon.  

“Empty what?”

“Gas.”

“So … since that line-thingy is almost at ‘E,’ that means we’re nearly out of gas?”  

“Yep.”

Simeon turned around to cover Luke’s ears at Solomon’s next sentence: “Holy shit—we’re almost out of gas!”

The older angel’s eyes promised murder as he stared at the sorcerer, before directing his stare to the fuel gauge.  “We’re running on fumes.”

“We need to refuel, stat.  Simeon, grab my D.D.D and look up the nearest gas station,” directed Solomon.  “I always forget that Mammon’s car is a gas-guzzler.” 

“What should I do, Solomon?” asked Luke, eagerly awaiting orders like a baby soldier.

The sorcerer nodded, deadly serious.  “Sit there and be cute.”

Luke pouted as Simeon—with surprising speed—brought up a log of the nearest gas stations on Solomon’s D.D.D.  “There should be a station three miles ahead.”

Solomon frowned as he analyzed their fuel gauge.  “I’m not sure we’ll make it.”

“We have to!” cried Luke.  “How will we ever beat those demons if we don’t even make it to the Caverns of Degeneracy?”  

“We’ll have to trust that Mammon’s baby is strong enough to get us to the gas station, then.”  Solomon stroked the dashboard as if trying to offer the vehicle some kind of encouragement.  

And as the car’s fuel began to peter out, Simeon and Luke began to cheer in chorus, “You can do it, Mammon’s car!” while Solomon exclaimed, “You’re a fierce, strong woman who doesn’t need any man to tell you that your fuel gauge is empty!”  

After an eternity (okay, it was more like five minutes), the Demonio 666 Lexura finally eked it’s way to the first pump at a Demobil gas station. 

As the engine sputtered out, the trio let out a cheer, and Solomon and Simeon shared a hug in the front seat.

“Thank Father we made it!” exclaimed Luke as he unbuckled his seatbelt and exited the car.  He pat Mammon’s car.  “Also, thank you for getting us here, even if you belong to the scummiest demon in the Devildom.”

Solomon grinned and turned to Simeon.  “You spotted the gas bill last time, so I’ll do it now.”

“Are you sure?” asked Simeon.  “My TSL royalties are huge, even after I’ve tithed my ten percent.  I’ve got no problem paying.”

“Nah, it’s fine—you can go stretch your legs.” With that, Solomon exited the car and began to work the gas pump.

Simeon nodded and together with Luke, walked toward the attached Demobil convenience store.  By the entrance stood a higher-level demon, who appeared to be selling bouquets of fresh flowers.

The vendor, who had noticed the pair exit Mammon’s car and had seen Solomon get up to pump the gas, called to Simeon, “Flower for your Mister?”  He gestured toward the white-haired sorcerer. 

Luke gasped, absolutely scandalized, and huffed, “Simeon would never settle for a human!” while Simeon chuckled, replying, “I’m sorry, he’s not my ‘Mister,’ but I’ll take a bouquet, anyway.”

After exchanging Grimm for the flowers, Simeon and Luke strolled back to the Demonio 666 Lexura, where Solomon was just closing the fuel tank. 

“Simeon bought you flowers!” announced Luke.

The angel nodded as he handed the sunny bouquet to Solomon.  “It matches your wand.”

“How did you know gerberas are my favorite?” laughed Solomon.  “These are great—thank you.”  As they all piled back into the car, he carefully arranged the flowers in one of the cupholders and beamed, because God,  sometimes the angel was so nice. 

The group drove in silence for a few moments before Luke commented, “I didn’t know gerberas smelled like … salt?”

Simeon sniffed the air.  “I think that’s the sea.  After all, the Caverns of Degeneracy are right along the beach.”

Just as the angel spoke the words, Solomon pulled right into a parking lot that was situated right next to miles and miles of black sand.  

Luke cheered, kicking his feet at Solomon’s seat excitedly.  “Yay!  We’re here!”

Their road trip had finally come to an end.

Destination

After wandering the beach for a few moments, the trio eventually found themselves at the mouth of the Caverns of Degeneracy, which turned out to be several huge caves filled with glowing pastel stalactites and stalagmites.  Hellfireflies twinkled in the air, while friendly gentlemanbugs strolled about the cavern floor.  Some kind of glittering pink moss had been used to adorn the walls with the words, “R.A.D Bleeding Hearts Festival 2020.”

In the middle of it all stood Diavolo, who was discussing the festival decorations with Barbatos.

As soon as he saw the Demon Prince, Luke raced up and, bobbing uncontrollably, asked, “Are we first?  Are we first?” 

Diavolo let out a hearty laugh.  “Welcome you three!  And first for what, Luke?”

Solomon sauntered up and answered, “To arrive.”

“Luke’s been very anxious to know if we’re the first ones here at the festival,” elaborated Simeon, placing his hand on the younger angel’s shoulder.

“You make it seem like it was a competition to get here first—which, yes, you three are,” said Diavolo.  His eyes lit up.  “That’s an excellent idea, though!  Next year, we’ll make the R.A.D C.D a contest to see can make it to the Caverns the fastest!  First place will get a coupon for teatime with me!”

Luke wrinkled his nose.  “Teatime with you?  That sounds—”

“Incredibly fun,” cut in Simeon smoothly.  He turned to Diavolo.  “Have you gotten any word from those seven demon brothers?”

Diavolo grimaced.  “It seems that they’ll be late.  Beelzebub ate all their road trip snacks immediately as he entered Asmodeus’ tour bus, so they had to stop for food at every fast food restaurant they could find because he still wasn’t satisfied, Belphegor kept falling asleep at the wheel, and Mammon got so many speeding violations and every time the police showed up, Asmodeus tried to seduce his way out of their ticket, which only earned them more fines and lectures from Lucifer.  It’s comic-con season, so of course, Leviathan had to stop at every convention center along the way, and unsurprisingly, Satan’s road rage forced him to get into out-of-car fights with every driver he encountered when he was at the wheel.”  He sighed.  “They managed to turn a fifteen-hour trip into a twenty-two hour one.”

Solomon smiled as he said, “I guess we should’ve expected that.”  His grin grew even wider as he gestured toward his traveling companions.  “Meanwhile, we did all fifteen-hours of driving—courtesy of me bending the speeding rules quite a bit when there was no traffic— and saw some of the sights of the Devildom along the way.”

“Oooh, did you manage to get any pictures?” asked Diavolo with an excited gleam in his eye.  “I always want to travel around the Devildom but never get the chance.”

Simeon nodded as he pulled out from his messenger bag some of the pictures he had asked fellow tourists to snap with his instant camera.  He handed them one by one to Diavolo and beamed at the goofy scenes.

The first one was from when they stopped at the Maw of Beelzebub: Solomon teasingly dangled Luke’s hat over the bridge’s railing while the young angel cried and stomped on the sorcerer’s foot in retaliation.  Simeon, meanwhile, tried to rescue Luke’s hat.

The second photo showcased Solomon sitting at the ledge of Sinner Falls with his feet swinging over the bottomless canyon.  Luke and Simeon posed obnoxiously as if they were going to fall into the Abyss, even though as angels, they were unable to.  

The final picture was the only one he had from Deathblow Beggar’s Pass, and it was of the trio crouched in front of the sign that spelled “Enjoy your stay at Deathblow Beggar’s Pass!”

Diavolo examined the images wistfully.  He sighed as he handed the photos back to Simeon.  “You three looked as if you made some fun memories.”

The angels and the sorcerer exchanged contented glances and chorused, “We most certainly did.”

[blameitonfashion1-blog]

The Pros And Cons Of Messenger Bags

What is a messenger bag? Can someone really carry it around like a regular bag? How fashionable is it and how can one wear it? We will answer all these questions in this article.

A messenger bag is actually a kind of backpack, usually manufactured from heavy cloth. It's worn over one shoulder normally with a large strap that hangs down over the other shoulder and usually resting at the back. When couriers originally used messenger bags, they were also used to carry their belongings, but they've become an absolutely fashionable urban fashion icon nowadays. They may have straps that go all the way around the shoulder, but typically the only thing to hold it in place is a sturdy belt that wraps around the middle of the back.

The original canvas messenger bags had very thick straps that were reinforced with thick leather strips. They were originally intended for carrying suitcases, and because suitcases were often very heavy and could not be carried around easily, messenger bags quickly took shape. Nowadays, fashionable styles are made from canvas, leather, vinyl or some other material. It has become popular to wear men's suits along with a messenger bag. This combination has been popular for several years.

If you're thinking about buying yourself a messenger bag, first decide what you'll be using it for. If you're just a student, then you need something that's easy to carry. You might consider a shoulder tote as they're quite roomy and spacious, with ample pockets and compartments. A lot of messenger bags have smaller straps and are suitable to be carried over your shoulder. But if you'll be using it to carry your laptop or tote your homework around, you'll need something with a bit more give.

There are many different colors to choose from, so you can choose one that best suits your personality. If you plan to use the messenger bag to carry your laptop, you should probably go for a dark color, such as black or navy. If you're planning on going out in it, then go for something flashy, such as red or gold. messenger bag straps can be made from leather, canvas or other strong, durable material, which makes them ideal to carry at job interviews or meetings - just make sure that they're strong enough to carry your full load.

Look for a messenger bag that has sturdy hardware and a good zipper. Most modern bags have zippers that are either integrated or are attached to the strap. Although it's not strictly necessary, it's a good idea to get a padded strap for your bag. Zippers that run along the outside are better, as they don't get in the way if you happen to trip. Buttons are also a good option as they give you easy access to the many compartments and pockets.

The major compartment of most messenger bags have multiple pockets and compartments. Some have only two compartments (two separate straps), while others have three, four or even five compartments and zippered doors. Some of the larger, more expensive messenger bags will have a lot more compartments. Some even have a main pocket and a number of smaller pockets and compartments all around the main compartment. This is useful if you need to store items away from the main part of the bag, yet want to be able to reach it quickly.

Some messenger bags also come with shoulder straps. These straps are usually padded and will provide a comfortable carrying experience. To carry a laptop, a larger laptop is usually better carried by shoulder straps, as it provides more balance. You'll find that all messenger bags have some sort of closure, either by Velcro, a snap or some other fastening method. These fastenings are essential for good carrying, because they help keep your things secure and prevent the possibility of losing them.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Why I Still Carry An External- Frame Backpack

I have a pretty old-school approach to backpacking myself but long ago drew the line at an external-frame backpack. M. John Fayhee, in the tradition of Patrick McManus (see “A Fine and Pleasant Misery: The Backpacker” in the Oregon/Washington volume), has written his humorous defense of his preferred backpack.

By M. John Fayhee, updated July, 2020 from Backpacker magazine

There were a dozen northbound Continental Divide Trail thru-hikers—most looked to be in their 20s—dilly-dallying at the first natural water source they had encountered since leaving the Mexican border two weeks prior. From a quarter-mile away, I could hear their excited, collegial chatter. When I approached, walking the other direction, conversation ceased mid-sentence and jaws dropped. Their facial expressions indicated they thought an apparition had just rounded the bend. Maybe a ghost from the area’s gold-mining past.

I was on a 10-mile dayhike, test-driving a brand-new pack, getting a feel for its plethora of adjustments and its weight distribution. What caught the gobsmacked attention of the CDT hikers, though, was that the pack was an external-frame Kelty Tioga, which I had gleefully purchased online a week prior. I learned later that none of them had ever seen an external-frame pack in the wild. “I’ve heard about them,” a woman from New Jersey timidly confessed, in a tone usually reserved for tales of alien abductions. Several got up and ran their fingers along the shiny, exposed metal.

These thru-hikers—all of whom carried ultraminimalist packs—were the first people besides my wife to lay eyes upon my new Tioga. They seemed inclined to bring me up to technological snuff, to let me know that there had been significant design advancements since the days of Colin Fletcher, breakthroughs that liberated backpackers from the unwieldy constraints of what was clearly primitive technology. They seemed to suspect that perhaps I had spent the previous three decades in prison, or maybe meditating in an ice cave in Bhutan.

At one time, the Kelty Tioga represented the apex of backpack engineering. These days, with the backcountry—and the pages of this magazine—dominated by internal frames and fancy ultralight gear, external-frame packs are considered more worthy of a museum than the wilderness.

Alas, when I was first cutting my backpacking teeth in the 1970s, I could not afford a Tioga, which cost, if memory serves, about $120. I had to settle for a bright-red, $49 REI Expedition Cruiser, which was about 11 feet tall and could hold a mid-sized sedan in its cavernous interior. It was not a bad pack, but it was certainly several notches below the Kelty of my dreams.

Sadly, it was stolen—fully loaded—from the front porch of a bar in downtown Huntington, West Virginia. Given that I intended to hike the entire Appalachian Trail the next summer, a new pack was in order. In a gear shop in Chicago, I was lured by an enthusiastic salesperson to purchase one of the first internal-frame packs to hit the mainstream market: an Eagle Creek Saker II with a capacity of 4,300 cubic inches. Until that point, the only packs that did not have a visible frame were rucksacks sold in Army-Navy surplus stores.

I carried the Saker II with me all the way from Katahdin to Springer, but I never quite got used to the way it rested upon my back. Though there was ample padding, there were still many instances when a hurried packing job in the predawn light resulted in a wayward cook kit or fuel canister jabbing an unsuspecting kidney. Worse, it felt like dead weight hanging from my shoulders, especially if loaded for a weeklong stretch. From this experience, I concluded that internal-frame packs had not been perfected.

So when gear-procurement opportunity next knocked, I sold my Saker II and purchased the one, short-lived external-frame model that Lowe Alpine ever made. It was constructed with some flexible composite material, not metal, making it almost seem like it had an internal frame.

A few other external-frame packs came my way over the years, but I was ultimately swept away by the prevailing current and have since been using a frameless GoLite Jam pack. Admittedly, given my advancing age, having a pack that weighs less than a can of Sierra Nevada has its physiological advantages. But it’s only good for ultralight loads—I’m sure those CDT thru-hikers would have admired it—and I don’t count grams on every trip. Sure, I’ve upgraded to a tent that weighs 2 pounds sopping wet. And my stove is smaller than my thumb. But sometimes I splurge on a change of clothes and camp footwear. Living in the desert, I carry ample water. I tote reading material, a camp chair, a notebook, and a camera. And a flask.

And I am not the only one. A high percentage of people I pass on the trail pack like I do—with some creature comforts—especially if they are taking children into the woods. Maybe you can argue that they ought to carry less, but, as a person accurately described as old-school, I argue that hikers ought to carry exactly what they want, and, if that means more gear, then external-frame packs are the best option. They distribute weight better, are easier to pack, have plenty of side pockets, myriad places to tie loose items, and they have far better ventilation. Plus, there is the retro-cool factor—like driving a Camaro you’ve wanted since high school.

So I recently started thinking about the missed opportunity of yore—that Kelty Tioga I passed up. On a whim, I decided to see if, by some miracle of a chance, there were any used Tiogas in need of a good home. I was astounded to learn they were still available—new!—online. I could not pull my credit card out fast enough.

On my 10-mile test drive, the Tioga confirmed what I always knew deep down: I flat-out prefer external-frame packs. I hope that, once the gram consciousness that now almost theocratically defines the backcountry loosens up a bit, more people will realize that external-frame packs are worth their weight in reading material and vodka. And perhaps more companies will start making them again, and maybe you’ll see one in a future edition of this magazine’s Gear Guide.

In the meantime, I will proudly carry my new Tioga with me, despite (or because of) all the stunned glances I get on the trail.

[tripknowledgy-blog]

Keep calm and carry on: Our 13 favorite travel carry-ons

MSN has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. MSN and The Points Guy may receive a commission from card issuers.

If you’re a frequent flyer, choosing a carry-on bag can be a serious commitment. It is, after all, something you’re going to use for days — possibly even weeks — at a time during your travels.

Even if you’re not a regular road warrior, it’s important to have a carry-on bag that will support your travel goals.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

Whether you fly once a week or once a year, you’ll want a carry-on with room and versatility, so it can accommodate everything you’re packing. It’s important for it to be functional as well as eye-catching, so you can quickly identify your bag. Plus, it’s an expression of your personality and travel style.

While most of us are staying home right now in an effort to flatten the curve so life can return to normal as quickly as is safely possible, now might be a great time to do some retail therapy while simultaneously building up your reward balances so you’ll have plenty of points and miles to burn when it’s time to travel again.

Before you press “confirm purchase,” though, do yourself a favor and check out our guides to airline shopping portals as well as the best credit cards for online shopping. That way, the gear you’re buying for your next trip is helping you actually get there, too.

Here are our favorite carry-on bags and suitcases right now:

Away Bigger Carry-OnCalpak Ambeur Carry-OnRimowa Essential Cabin Carry-OnTumi Alpha 3 Expandable International Carry-OnParavel Aviator Carry-On PlusBriggs and Riley Domestic Carry-On Expandable SpinnerSamsonite Novaire SpinnerThe North Face Base Camp Duffel – SOmo Overnight BagOsprey Fairpoint Travel Pack 55Target Open Story Weekender BagHigh Sierra Freewheel Wheeled BackpackEagle Creek Expanse Wheeled Tote Carry-On

Why we love it: Calpak’s Ambeur carry-on is a favorite among TPG editors. It’s a four-wheel spinner that’s stylish and functional, with plenty of pockets to store and organize all your essentials. It’s also somewhat less expensive than the competitive Away suitcase — but more on that in a minute. Calpak bags also have a TSA-approved lock and an interior accessory pocket. It doesn’t have a portable charger, though, so keep that in mind if that feature is important to you. You can choose between rose gold, gold, black and silver.

Sizing: 22 inches by 14 inches by 8.5 inches

Pricing: The bag retails for $165, and you can get a 15% discount by signing up for emails with Calpak. Other retailers sell it as well, including Shopbop and Nordstrom — both of which frequently run sales on their merchandise.

Related: What your luggage brand says about you

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Rimowa)

Why we love it: You’ll no doubt be making a statement with your Rimowa bag, which is beloved by stylish jetsetters around the world. The essential cabin bag is made of polycarbonate material and has a removable and adjustable divider to keep all your belongings organized, in addition to a TSA-approved lock and four wheels that spin in every direction. This bag may not be cheap, but it’s guaranteed to withstand trip after trip. It’s very lightweight, too, so you’ll never feel like you’re lugging a piece of, well, luggage.

Sizing: 9.1 inches by 15.8 inches by 21.7 inches

Pricing: All of these fancy features come with a pretty hefty price tag: $640, to be exact.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of The North Face)

Why we love it: This is the duffel you’re going to want to take with you no matter what type of trip you’re going on. It’s large enough to fit the bill for a long weekend getaway, but not so big that it’s cumbersome. Its key features are removable, adjustable straps (so you can wear it like a backpack); a surprising number of pockets and compartments; compression straps (for over-packers) and a rugged, water-resistant nylon that takes the worry out of your adventures. But, just in case, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Sizing: This version fits 50 liters.

Pricing: You’ll find it on the North Face’s website for $120.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Tumi)

Why we love it: Tumi has established a stellar reputation for itself, and this four-wheel spinner carry-on lives up to expectations. It features a ton of pockets, including a large front U-zip pocket with security zipper, another front U-zip pocket and a front straight-zip pocket. There’s a built-in USB port and a TSA-combination lock, too. In the interior, you’ll find three more zip pockets, compression straps and large mesh zip pocket. It’s got all the bells and whistles.

Sizing: This carry-on is only available in one size: 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches.

Pricing: Tumi’s products don’t come cheap, and this bag is no exception. It’ll cost you $750. The good news, though, is Tumi is sold at Saks Fifth Avenue — so if you haven’t used your $50 biannual credit (up to $100 every year), courtesy of The Platinum Card® from American Express, this is a great way to knock down the price.

Related: How and why I travel the world with only a Tumi backpack

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Osprey)

Why we love it: Say goodbye to your checked bag forever. This Osprey pack is like a backpack, suitcase and carry-on all rolled into one. It can even carry loads up to a whopping 50 pounds, and is equipped with a detachable daypack if you’re looking to travel a little lighter throughout your trip. It comes in a small/medium size as well as a medium/large size and is available in both black and red.

Sizing: The small/medium size measures 24 inches by 13 inches by 12 inches. The medium/large measures 25 inches by 13 inches by 12 inches.

Pricing: Both sizes are currently on sale for $133.95 on Osprey’s website.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Paravel)

Why we love it: Paravel’s vintage-inspired luggage looks like it came straight from the TWA Hotel. Better yet, it’s made with a recycled nylon lining, a lightweight exterior and an aircraft-grade aluminum handle. Its four, frictionless carbon steel wheels ensure an effortless trip from the airport to the hotel, and it also boasts an interior compression board and TSA-approved lock to make sure all your valuables stay safe and secure in transit. It comes in a handful of colors, each with a highlight color that accentuates the bag’s design.

Sizing: 22.7 inches 14.7 inches by 9.6 inches

Pricing: Paravel’s carry-on can be purchase directly on its site for $275.00.

Related: How to tell if your backpack counts as a personal or carry-on item

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of High Sierra)

Why we love it: If you want all the perks of a backpack but don’t want to give up your wheels just yet, you’re in the right place. This backpack has enough storage to keep your item organized for the entirety of your trip, and it easily fits up to a 15-inch laptop. More traditional travelers will probably opt for this bag in black, but there’s also a purple smoke shade and a “razzmatazz” color that caught our eye. It has two wheels if you’d rather use those during your journey instead of wearing it on your back.

Sizing: 19.5 inches by 13.5 inches by 8 inches

Pricing: You can buy it for $82.99 on High Sierra’s website and get an additional 20% off your first order by signing up for emails.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Away)

Why we love it: The Away carry-on is a fan favorite for a reason. Not only is it stylish and durable, but we’re big fans of the TSA-approved lock, four 360-degree wheels and portable charger. You don’t know how badly you need a charger in the airport until all of the seats at the lounge are occupied and you’re on 9% battery. There’s also a hidden compression system that can expand (or contract) your bag as needed, as well as a hidden laundry bag. Away’s carry-on bags come in a multitude of colors, and keep an eye out for various limited-edition shades, too.

Sizing: The Carry-On is 21.7 inches by 13.7 inches by 9 inches. The Bigger Carry-On is 22.7 inches by 14.7 inches by 9.6 inches.

Pricing: Away charges $225 for The Carry-On and $245 for The Bigger Carry-On.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Target)

Why we love it: Target’s new luggage line, Open Story, made a splash when it launched earlier this year, and the Weekender Bag is affordable, sturdy and stylish. Really, it looks more expensive than it is! You’ll love all the compartments to keep your items organized for your next trip.

Sizing: 12.5 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches, and can hold up to 45 liters

Pricing: It’s $79.99 on Target’s website.

Related: Say goodbye to checked bag fees with our 7 favorite travel backpacks

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Briggs and Riley)

Why we love it: Briggs and Riley’s utilitarian four-wheel spinner carry-on is for the traveler who just wants to get this show on the road. It’s sleek yet functional with a deep interior for everything you need (and let’s be real, don’t need) to pack. It features self-repairing, durable YKK® Racquet coil zippers, and the fabric is water-repellent and abrasion-resistant. But best of all, this bag can expand up to 25% and compress down when less space is needed.

Sizing: 19.5 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches

Pricing: You’ll find Briggs and Riley’s domestic carry-on directly on their website. It costs $599.

Related: Target just unveiled its brand-new luggage line — and there’s something for every traveler

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Parker Clay)

Why we love it: We dare you to find a more sleek-looking duffel bag than this. Its style isn’t the only thing going for it — it will also fit all of your essentials (and then some) for weekend or overnight trips, usually with room to spare. It’s crafted from premium Ethiopian full-grain leather, and comes in black, bordeaux, dark brown and rust brown. You can blame it on us if people keep coming up to you at the airport asking where you got it.

Sizing: 19 inches by 11 inches by 11 inches, and weighs 2.5 pounds

Pricing: The duffel is $288 on Parker Clay’s website. It’s on sale for $202 in the bordeaux color.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Samsonite)

Why we love it: Samsonite’s been a longtime favorite of frequent travelers, thanks to the brand’s innovative yet practical designs. The Noviare carry-on shows off a fully lined interior featuring multiple organizational pockets and a removable hanging organizer for toiletries, plus a TSA-approved lock and four 360-degree spinner wheels. You can choose from silver, rose gold, metallic green or black.

Sizing: 29.25 inches by 19.75 inches by 12 inches

Pricing: The bag retails for $390 on Samsonite’s website, but you can get it for 50% off with code “SAVE”.

© The Points Guy (Photo courtesy of Eagle Creek)

Why we love it: If you’re not the backpack type but still want something lightweight, this two-wheeled bag is going to be your new go-to. It’s made of abrasion-resistant materials to keep you moving no matter where you’re headed, and is just compact enough that you can easily take it with you everywhere. If you end up taking a more traditional carry-on or even a suitcase with you, you’ll love the trolley sleeve that slides easily over the handlebars. It comes in a handful of colors, including black, red, navy and gray.

Sizing: 13.75 inches by 14.5 inches by 8.5 inches

Pricing: It retails for $169 on Eagle Creek’s website, but you can find it for $119.95 on Sunny Sports.

How to select the best carry-on

Selecting a carry-on comes down to your travel goals This is an item you’re going to get a lot of mileage out of, and it’s important that it fits and organizes all of your essentials while also expressing your personality and accommodating your travel style.

You’ll also want to make sure it’s an item you enjoy taking with you on trips. If you’re heading straight from the airport to a business meeting, you may want to stick with a slick spinner. If you need complete versatility, you may prefer a bag that can transition from a duffel or rollaboard into a backpack.

The last key component, of course, is your budget. Carry-ons range greatly in price, so decide what the maximum you’re willing to spend is, and go from there.

Benefits of traveling with a carry-on

Traveling with a carry-on instead of a large suitcase can make your journey so much more efficient. Gone are the days of waiting at baggage claim, or fretting during a flight that the airline lost your luggage during your connection.

By taking a carry-on with you, you’re in control of your time and belongings — and you can start your trip on your terms.

Traveling with a carry-on only can also help you avoid pesky checked-baggage fees. In fact, airlines collected $2.8 billion in bag fees in the first half of 2019 alone.

Featured photo by baona/Getty Images.

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These are the top cash-back cards, and a few others that award transferable points that can be used as cash.

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.