#Rhino Ready Bundle

[craftystampin]

Coffee & Crafts: Rhino Ready Enjoy the Journey Card

Rhino Ready Card Join me for Coffee & Crafts as I create this fun African sunset card with the all-new Stamp Set Rhino Ready Stamp Set from the new Online Exclusive product line.  I paired this cute stamp set and matching die, Rhino Ready Dies with the Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper. Watch the video below and follow along as we make this cute card. Resources : See all my Downloads &…

[bobbinacrossafricatake2]

Contraband and Fear of Expulsion

May 24 & 25, 2024

We were ready for a break, so we had a relaxing morning: slept until we awoke. Sarah walked up to the dining room to get coffee to take to the room (twice). We took our time packing up, posting the previous day’s blog entry, and enjoying the space. We had to be out of the room by 10:00 AM, and didn’t leave for the airstrip unlit 12:10, so we took advantage of brunch that one doesn’t get on game-drive-days. It was yummy. The watering hole was mostly slow but in addition to impalas and kudus, we were rewarded with warthogs. It looked like a mama and multiple little ones. They’re like miniature versions of rhinos - prehistoric-looking! Sitting in the dining room with a good overlook was perfect for, first, Chris and Lola and, later, John and Julie to stop by and say goodbye. We wished C&L safe driving, and shared crazy travel stories with John and Julie. Such good vehicle-mates they were! Sylvanius drove us to the airport and waited with us until we were loaded on the plane. Much as we didn’t think he was up to par with the other guides we’d had, his manner and enthusiasm managed to get under our skin, and it was a fond farewell with him, too.

One of the multiple young, women pilots we’ve had came up, happy to see us, and was ready to load us into her four-seater, only to realize that she was flying someone else, and we were on a larger plane, leaving at a similar time, also to Jo’Burg. Such a small world this is with limited pilots on the circuit. As they closed the passenger door, they asked Jillebob to secure the latch - holy moly - didn’t want to have a Boeing incident on a Wilderness flight. We had two pilots up front and while we joked that we were on a training flight, more likely it was some sort of orientation flight for the new guy. In the end, he did well.

At Windhoek, we hung out in the Wilderness “lounge” with decent WiFi, and charging outlets. The Wilderness staff person let us know when to check in and go through emigration. Then, it was a bit more of a wait for the flight. Quick and easy - 1.5 hours and we arrived in Jo’Burg. We had a crazy guy meet us, super nice, but by the time we got our bags and he dropped us at the hotel, we knew all the sordid details of his life. Fun, but nuts.

In the room, Jill FT’d with Janet while Seb purged (1 kg over the Eastern Africa little-flights limit). We bought a bottle of wine in duty-free Windhoek and the check-out gal gave us a song and dance about when we could/couldn’t bring it into South Africa. We decided it was risk-worthy contraband and were grateful when we got to the room. Novice smugglers, we did ok.

The room was comfortable save for the beds so tightly tucked in that Jill woke up complaining that her feet had been in jail overnight! But truly, the Intercontinental made for an easy, comfortable overnight stay. We packed up quickly in the morning and had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel before heading back across the street to the airport. It seems that the immigration go-slow is over, as it was as easy getting through emigration, as it was going through immigration last night. We had some local currency to spend, so wandered around, bought some chocolate and mints for the road, then tucked the last little bundle of rands in a bin for charity.

We waited for a while at Gate A1 only to have a gal swing by and tell about 8-10 of us that the gate had changed to A21. Ha. After a short wait at the gate, we loaded into (or should we say stuffed into) a bus that sat… and sat…and sat by the gate, with us all the while breathing in bus fumes from others idling all in a row. Turns out, we were waiting for one person. The tarmac crew did not inspire confidence. When we got the plane, they opened the door, folks started disembarking and they told us to stay put. Didn’t seem like the safest move, but no one was run over by a passing plane before they let us board. All in all, though, we’ve really enjoyed our three SA Airlink flights. None were full, seats seem more spacious than US domestic flights and flight crew was friendly and professional.

The worry came when they passed out the immigration cards and the health section asked for confirmation that visitors have had yellow fever immunization within the past 10 years. Yikes!!! Sarah’s is 12 years old. First reaction: can one sue Passport Health, the clinic where we each had appointments to get squared away on shots? After filling out one form honestly, Sarah opted to get another form, say yes (vaccine within ten years) and plead ignorance if questioned on entry to Madagascar. Seb wished Jillebob a nice onward journey in case she was expelled at immigration. Thankfully, our airport meet-and-greet guy met us planeside (wow -service!) and hustled us through immigration, health check and bag pick-up without a hitch. Well, only one minor hiccup when immigration’s automatic sensor couldn’t read the visa stamp they had just applied to Seb’s passport. Yay for our M&G guy - we were with our guide and driver, on the way to the hotel, in about 15 minutes!

Maharo, our guide for the first part of our Madagascar adventure, and a driver met us as we emerged from picking up bags, and drove us to the hotel. What an interesting drive! City life is so different from the tourist-oriented safari locations. Looks like quite a bit of poverty here. The road went through rice paddies with shacks; small road-side stands for food; zebu, that are akin to cows but not, until we reached the city. There continued shacks, make shift buildings and more and more actual buildings. The streets were busy, traffic a bit crazy. We never saw a really modern part of town. The city center seems to be on a hill, with lots of cobblestone roads, steps going up and down the hill, lovely-looking (but well-protected) and shabby buildings mixed in all the way to our lovely hotel. It’s the residence of the Consular General of Monaco (who had the 3rd floor) and a hotel with only about four rooms on the lower two levels. Really lovely! Armed guards at the door. Maharo and the staff suggested we pass on going out for a walk - sounds like tourist safety is a concern here. We ventured out anyway; it was simply too long to sit around. We did follow their caution to stay on the main roads and not go into any alleys or buildings. More of the same - alternating lovely and shabby buildings, crazy drivers, not particularly friendly people passing on the street. It will be interesting to see the contrast from here to the countryside. The sprawling cityscape from high up is striking, with some seriously beautiful flowering trees, even if close up the sidewalks are treacherous, streets dirty and not a lot to see.

Back at the hotel, we chilled out in the room for a bit then went upstairs to order a bottle of wine in the lovely living room adorned with Grace Kelly books, eclectic art, and some African artifacts - cool. At 7:00 PM, the other two couples at the residence (all whom we recognized from our flight) arrived for dinner that was set up as a table for two and a larger table with two at each end. We encouraged everyone to join at the common table which threw the staff a bit, but made for a very entertaining evening. Both couples were 70-ish, super nice and extremely adventurous. All four Aussies with one gent originally from Glasgow, one woman from England and the other woman born in South Africa: another wonderful international group. We went around the table and introduced ourselves. Typically, Jill is the worst at remembering names, but the two women were Lynn and Maureen — the same names as Jill’s sisters-in-law. The conversation was about travel, with memories and recommendations shared all around. Back in the room to wrap up the blog post from our two travel days and off to sleep for an early rise tomorrow.

[kenyaluxurysafariofficial]

All-Inclusive Kenya Unveiled

Have you ever dreamed of a vacation that seamlessly combines adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration? Look no further than the enchanting destination of Kenya! In this blog post, we will delve into the wonders of an "All-Inclusive Kenya" experience, where every aspect of your journey is crafted to perfection. Get ready to embark on a journey filled with wildlife wonders, pristine beaches, and vibrant local culture, all wrapped up in the warm embrace of Kenyan hospitality.

The Allure of All-Inclusive Kenya

Kenya, a land of breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems, has emerged as a haven for travelers seeking an all-encompassing experience. The concept of "All-Inclusive Kenya" goes beyond the mere convenience of bundled packages; it encapsulates a philosophy that aims to cater to every facet of your travel desires.

Wildlife Safari Extravaganza

No visit to Kenya is complete without a thrilling safari adventure, and an all-inclusive package ensures you get the most out of this iconic experience. Picture yourself cruising through the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve, witnessing the Great Migration, and capturing the untamed beauty of Africa's Big Five – lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos.

These safari excursions, guided by seasoned experts, provide an immersive encounter with Kenya's rich biodiversity. As the sun sets over the savannah, enjoy a sundowner cocktail, surrounded by the symphony of the wild. With all-inclusive packages, your safari experience is not just a tour; it's a transformative journey into the heart of nature.

Seaside Bliss in Mombasa

After the exhilaration of the safari, it's time to unwind along the pristine shores of Mombasa. All-inclusive resorts in this coastal paradise offer an oasis of relaxation, where azure waters meet golden sands. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves gently caressing the shore, with the promise of a day filled with sunshine and serenity.

Indulge in a plethora of water activities, from snorkeling in vibrant coral reefs to thrilling water sports. Your all-inclusive package ensures that you can savor the freshest seafood delicacies and exotic cocktails without worrying about additional costs. Mombasa's all-inclusive resorts aren't just accommodations; they are gateways to a coastal haven where luxury meets nature.

Cultural Immersion with Local Flavors

Kenya's allure extends beyond its natural wonders, and an all-inclusive experience invites you to explore the vibrant local culture. Engage with the Maasai people, known for their colorful attire and rich traditions. Witness traditional dances, participate in beadwork workshops, and gain insights into the community's deep connection with the land.

The culinary journey is equally captivating, with all-inclusive packages offering a gastronomic adventure. Savor authentic Kenyan dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients, and let your taste buds dance to the rhythm of Swahili flavors. From street food delights to fine dining experiences, your culinary exploration is seamlessly woven into the fabric of your all-inclusive Kenya adventure.

The Essence of Kenyan Hospitality

What sets an "All-Inclusive Kenya" experience apart is the warm embrace of Kenyan hospitality. Beyond the luxurious amenities and curated activities, it's the genuine smiles and welcoming spirit that make your journey truly memorable. The staff at all-inclusive resorts are dedicated to ensuring your comfort and satisfaction, creating an atmosphere where you feel not just like a guest, but like a cherished friend.

Practical Benefits of All-Inclusive Packages

Besides the immersive experiences, all-inclusive packages offer practical benefits that enhance your travel comfort. Say goodbye to the stress of budgeting for meals, activities, and unexpected expenses. With everything prearranged, you can focus on enjoying the moment, creating lasting memories without the worry of hidden costs.

In addition, all-inclusive packages often include airport transfers, making your journey from arrival to departure seamless and stress-free. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple on a romantic getaway, or a family seeking adventure, the convenience of all-inclusive arrangements ensures that everyone can relish their Kenya experience to the fullest.

Conclusion

In the heart of Africa, where the savannah meets the sea, an all-inclusive Kenya experience awaits. It's a journey that transcends the ordinary, where each moment is a brushstroke on the canvas of your memories. From the majestic wildlife of the Maasai Mara to the tranquil beaches of Mombasa and the vibrant culture that weaves through the fabric of Kenya, every element is seamlessly integrated into the allure of "All-Inclusive Kenya."

So, pack your sense of adventure and let the magic of Kenya unfold before you. Embrace the warmth of the people, the thrill of the safari, and the serenity of the coast – all in one extraordinary package. Your all-inclusive Kenya dream is not just a vacation; it's a celebration of life, nature, and the boundless wonders that make Kenya a truly exceptional destination.

[mischiefxmuses]

HW INTRO - NIMONA

Was that [JESSIE MEI LI]? Oh no no, that was just [NIMONA], a/an [CANON CHARACTER] from [NIMONA]. They are [UNKNOWN] years old, use [SHE/THEY], and [ARE] aware that they are not actually from Washington DC. Too bad they can’t stray from this city for long

how long has your character been here

Three years

what is your character's job**

Professional Sidekick! They're too energetic to stay with one job so she's jumped around some jobs included: Waitress, bartender, tour guide and most recently settled on Museum security.

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom

After the ending of the film

has any magic affected your character

Not really.

and any other information you might find useful for us and the other members to know!!

For those who do not know the film, Nimona is a bundle of energy. They are incredibly old but look around their twenties. She is a shape shifter and can take literally any form. They tend to shift to animals most common: Rhino, Gorilla, Horse, Otter, Cat, Wolf and Dragon but can do anything. All her life she was seen as a monster, the kingdom hell bent on destroying them. She always just wanted to be accepted, to have a family. And prove everyone wrong that they were not a monster. Their nature didn't help though as they are a little bit manic. Their mind runs at a million miles an hour and their thoughts can be very intrusive (often violent) though they are learning.

Plots:

Roommate

Have to be ready for nightmares and pretty much constant shifting. (She shifts in her sleep often). And a lot of chaos but also fun.

Friends

They've never really had friends except for Ballister and Gloreth before they fell out. So she's keen for friends.

Fellow chaos makers

pretty self explanatory.

Ship

I am not sure about this yet. If I will ever ship Nimona. If I do it will be completely chemistry based.

[stampwithtami]

CRAFT FOR A CAUSE WITH RHINO READY KITS & AUTISM SPEAKS

RHINO READY KIT & AUTISM FUNDRAISER Offer ends April 10. Discover unique and fun craft techniques while supporting Autism Speaks. Join our fundraiser by purchasing a Rhino Ready Stamps card kit featuring the Stampin' Up Rhino Ready bundle and Stampin' Blends markers. $10 of every sale will be donated to the organization and enters you into my special giveaway. Let your creativity flow while making adorable cards with our high-quality stamps. April 2 is World Autism Awareness day. I have 3 ways to participate join me in helping to raise $500 for Autism Speaks, chose the one that works best for you.    3 WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDRAISER PURCHASE THE KIT - $1O Donation to Autism Speaks is made with each kit sale. - Entry into the special giveaways. PURCHASE KIT DONATE $35 DIRECTLY TO MY AUTISM SPEAKS FUNDRAISER - Online Class Free. - Entry into special giveaways. DONATE HERE 10% OF ALL ORDERS PLACED IN MY ONLINE STORE DONATED - 10% of all orders placed in my online Stampin' Up! Store April 1-10 will be donated. Must use host code N39PQZAB. SHOP ONLINE VIP CLUB MEMBER DISCOUNT - Receive an additional 10% off the kit. Be sure to use the special VIP form on the VIP site to receive your discount. - Kit purchase counts as April VIP purchase. - Not a VIP member yet? Learn more about getting your wish list on a budget with perks JOIN THE VIP CLUB This DIY card making kit is great for all levels of paper crafters from beginners to advanced. It will include a written pdf tutorial with photos of each step, an accompanying video tutorial and the supplies to make all of these projects. See the list below for what is included, and the basic supplies you’ll need to complete your kits. You may add on to the kit if you'd like additional products. ORDER KIT DOWNLOAD KIT FLYER DONATE TO AUTISM SPEAKS GIVEAWAYS Purchase the kit or donate directly (min. $35) and automatically be entered to win one of the special giveaways. ORDER KIT DONATE TO AUTISM SPEAKS ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES & ADD ONS SUPPLIES YOU'LL NEED TO COMPLETE THE KIT (OR EQUIVALENT) - Stampin' Seal - Price: $8.00 - http://msb.im/1qAR - Paper Trimmer - Price: $25.00 - http://msb.im/1qAS - Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad - Price: $6.00 - http://msb.im/1qAH - Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine - Price: $125.00 - http://msb.im/1qAP OPTIONAL ITEMS YOU DON'T NEED BUT MIGHT LIKEI used these items to complete the cards. You don't need them to complete the kit but may like them and can add them on. - Versamark Pad - Price: $9.50 - http://msb.im/1qAI - Heat Tool - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAL - Basics Embossing Powders - Price: $18.00 - http://msb.im/1qAM - I used white embossing for some of the words but you can use the Memento black on white card stock instead if you don't have this. - Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack - Price: $9.00 - http://msb.im/1qAJ - Parakeet Party Stampin' Blends Combo Pack - Price: $9.00 - http://msb.im/1qAK - Radiating Stitches Dies - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAO - Stampin' Dimensionals - Price: $4.25 - http://msb.im/1qAQ - Basics 3D Embossing Folders - Price: $30.00 - http://msb.im/1qAN   KIT ORDER FORM   Read the full article

[blankdblank]

Brother Dearest Pt 71

“Wow,” Howard said in his lean forward in his seat taking in the manor that came into view after having followed the Twins’ points to guide the car down the proper pathway on your land. And through the drive inside the wall the car pulled up to the front door where they saw Victor in the doorway. His smile spread as Jarvis parked and him, Howard, Peggy and Daniel climbed out to look around at the Howlett Manor.

Daniel lowly muttered, “Oh ya, not after perks of the title at all.”

Victor in their walk over chuckled and said, “More for the size for the babies than anything. Our old cabin had seven bedrooms. Have to reshuffle some room for the babies.”

Daniel, “Shouldn’t the walking through the big place be contradicting to her need to rest?”

Victor, “Not really, Bunny has been pacing. The room is helpful for that.” His head nodded to the side, “Come on in she’s fixed up a snack.”

Every room along the way was detailed until Peggy smiled and crossed the spacious kitchen to give you a hug and then take a moment to take in the growth in size you had taken on since the last time you had seen her. “You look fantastic.”

“I feel like I’ve doubled in size, but we’re coming up on the end of the worst of it. Because if I grow any more they can just roll me around the place.”

Howard was next for a hug and said, “Now now, you are not being rolled anywhere. You look perfectly plump as you should.”

When he pulled back Sousa said, “Hell of a house.”

“Well it’s been in James and Victor’s family. Just finished off the major repairs and fix up jobs around the place and spent all our paint and stocked up papers for the walls.”

James smirked loading up the wheeled cart to guide everyone to the sitting room outside the kitchen to enjoy the snacks. After which another tour was to be had crossed by the path of the excited puppies and the babies in their being gathered up to head to their grandparent’s again.

Norma and Leanora, the former with a wide smile and the girl on her hip took her husband’s side for the rest of the tour as talk of the film took over and from another stop to a sitting room they got to business while Peggy and Daniel strolled with you through the Manor and out to the lake.

Daniel said, “You are sure you are fine? We can barely see the house.”

In a smirk at him as James’ hand smoothed over your lower back after you’d stepped over a known bunny hole in the tall grass you had marked with a rock. “I am perfectly fine. Go fishing daily. Helps to bring more food in for supper and helps to knock down the fish population. They’ve seemingly doubled since last summer. River must have froze over early preventing the bears time to fish later in the season.”

Daniel, “Bears? You have bears?”

You giggled and James said, “They’re not ours, but they’ve grown up on our land. They keep their space and are fairly docile when we cross in the forest.”

“I have a picture of some of the cubs we crossed by on our honeymoon. Heavier than they look but they are friendly and curious.”

Peggy said, “I thought it was key to not touch the cubs to prevent angering their Mum.”

“Normally, but they know our scents and we haven’t hunted any of the bears in years actually. We have a sort of deal with the zoo to loan out our males to help breed with their own bears when they need it. And they don’t seem too bothered when they are brought back. Or at least they tell us they aren’t.” James said and that had the confused Chief look at him making you giggle.

“James and Victor can talk to animals and trees. Helps to keep the land. Ooh,” you said lowering your gaze to a large porcupine that jumped at the sound of your approach and in its planned twist to flare out its barbs you could see its three baby porcupines who scurried across the path. With a fourth that was tangled in a small bunch of clover and wild flowers with wound up stalks who let out panicked cries at being left alone.

“Hey little guy,” the Chief watched as James’ hands clenched into fists and his iron laced claws with patchy spots of polished metal extended to be used in his crouch to slide between its now locked up legs while he panted and the plants trapping it there. In just a few careful motions the puffed up mother watched him scoop up the worried baby porcupine between both sets of claws he used like salad tongs to let the baby down a couple feet from her. Gently he released it and stepped back to your side with his claws receding and a smile that spread back across his lips. “She’ll calm down,” he said in the eager trot of the freed baby to his siblings’ sides.

Daniels said, “What was that? With your hands?”

James said, “Bone claws.” He said lifting his arm flat to show the still exposed nubs that eased back between his knuckles and bones in the back of his hand. “Though Jaqi helped to leech iron from our blood into the claws so they won’t break as easily back in the war.”

“How is that helpful?” Daniel asked.

Peggy, “Wouldn’t that make your arms heavier?”

James said, “It’s not a lot of iron, and it’s all from our own blood so there isn’t much difference beyond the fact that it took more effort for the other guys to break our bones. Not that they’d be broken very long.”

Daniel, “So you have fast healing like in the comics too?”

“Oh ya, makes war fun when you get to be shot left and right and pop right back up.” He mumbled with his voice fading off in your stroll past the grouped up porcupine family who took his murmured word as true that they could go back to berry picking when you had passed by in safety.

Peggy said, “Bunny, didn’t you have special healing as well in the comics?”

“Yes, although unlike them I turn metal after I heal.”

Daniel asked, “Actual metal?”

You nodded and raised a hand to lift the sleeve on your t shirt to show a small bruise on your shoulder you had been whacked by a trick door in your closet wardrobe that had him and Peggy tap your skin and the metal patch. “It fades to peachy again in time. Still getting used to the built in wardrobe in my closet. Some of the doors hate me.”

James said, “Vic is oiling the hinges for you now. Shouldn’t spring out anymore.”

You eased the sleeve down and you said, “So this birth should be interesting to watch unfold. But my Doctor is prepared for anything. Says the girls are healthy and it shouldn’t be too rough a birth on me outside of nerves for how many there are.”

Peggy, “They do have gas now. I have a cousin, she just gave birth and they gave her this gas that helps with the pain.”

“My Doc says that won’t work. Pain medicine dissolves in my bloodstream within seconds thanks to my healing powers,” parting their lips, “But he says he has a pair of medicines, one like laughing gas and another to make me sleep if it gets too bad. Sort of strong enough to kill a rhino medical grade pain meds.”

Daniel’s eyes shifted to James and he said, “How are you even standing right now? My brother in law just about collapsed hearing my sister might need stitches after her last birth?”

James smirked, “We’ll get through it. Can’t pass out I’m supposed to be there to hold one of the girls when they come out.”

Peggy, “You’re going to be there?”

He nodded and you said, “Victor and Eddie have been there for their daughters’ births, I was there for Teddy but they wouldn’t miss the girls since the nuns won’t be there to bar them.”

James, “As many people as Jaqi wants in the room will be there. Tons of space now for them all to do that.”

Daniel said in a turn of his head and view of the dock where Eddie was there already with fishing pole in hand, “Looks like your spot is taken.”

You grinned and said, “That’s my cousin Erik. His mom shouldn’t be far away.” You turned your head and waved to her in her stroll from an apple tree she’d gathered a group of apples to hand out to her son and your group who joined Erik on the dock to catch a couple more fish to go with his five he’d already caught.

.

“You should stay the night if you like. It’s a long drive back to Alberta and can get confusing in the dark.” You said as you caught Jarvis’ eyes drop to the inked numbers tattooed into the forearms of your aunt and cousin that Howard had stolen a glimpse at as well.

Howard with a wide smile said, “Sounds like a wonderful plan. Who would turn down a night in this place?”

The Twins and Herc came in with small tarps with metal handles on bundles of chopped firewood they split between the kitchen and a couple fire log stations nearby at fireplaces. When they came back to join you all as Victor and James got to start on lunch with Edie’s help Jeff said, “I think we got enough logs to stave off the storm.”

Daniel, “Storm?”

You said, “There’s a storm rolling in the week I’m due. Just prepping, it’ll be sunny tomorrow for your drive back.”

Herc asked in his lower to sit beside you with a nudge of a foot stool to lift your feet onto, “Still restless?”

You nodded and said, “No troubles yet. Nice and calm as usual like the day before my next Hicks blows in. Should be just fine for the Berry Festival tonight.”

“Berry Festival?” Howard asked with a smile and added that for the schedule. After lunch a round of desserts were gathered up to be taken in to town that had the group was excited to follow you in to the festival the town was readying. Excited buzz came from the people who gladly met your visiting friends and helped to warmly fold them into the activities as they took turns checking in on you.

Nestled under James’ arm sweet kisses were stolen between stops at your favorite spots and snack stands before you took up your seat at the dessert for a dance raffle. Gladly exempt you remained off of your feet beside Herc and your unseen parents with Leanora napping in the pram beside you that your hand kept rolling a couple inches back and forth to help her stay asleep.

Across the way you saw Teddy and his sister asleep by their grandparents and aunts and uncles while James took up the dance the woman who won his dessert grinned through hearing the plans ahead for his brewing family. Sharp and clear in a squeeze of Herc’s hand you inhaled deeply and brought his free hand to stroke your back in his hushed guidance through yet another painful Hicks contraction. “You’re doing good. Just a couple weeks yet.”

“Easy for everyone else to say,” you said in a reach for your drink Beau moved closer to you when the wave of pain washed away. Again you stroked a hand over your belly as the girls got to squirming around to show their return to ease.

Sight of the group of your guests who took up more of the un-partnered females onto the dance floor brought out your grin to Peggy and Daniel in a timid try for a dance that showed a few pauses to avoid trouble with his cane while his body still required use of it. In all the time he had been adjusting to the new leg his posture had grown better and a few strolls across rooms were simpler without use of the cane until he had to turn or step aside. Signs that he was close to a more natural ease of motion were made clear as Peggy’s hushed suggestion had the dance simplified and had her move in closer for a slow dance that coaxed his grin wider.

From home you subtly called your camera and snapped a picture of the groups. A kiss could have been stolen yet wasn’t, not even through the beautiful sunset and firework display. But with hands still interlocked when time came to drive home again the near to blushing duo accepted their guest rooms that were side by side. Spare pajamas already in the closets were found in their sizes and the peaceful dark everyone eased into nightly rituals to coax them off to sleep.

Changed and on your way to bed again as you sat on the end of your bed with a leg curled underneath you to the sound of James changing into his pajama pants you marveled at this new magnificent room. And from the edge on planted hands you eased back farther onto the bed to tuck your legs in and close your eyes to take in the gradual changes in your body. Still without change to your hips to show signs of labor your eyes opened to another stroke of your hands underneath James’ t shirt you brushed up exposing the giant shiny bubble your stomach had grown into. “You grow more beautiful by the day.” He hummed lifting your gaze to him on his approach of the bed.

“I wish I could be more affectionate in return.”

He chuckled and lowered onto the bed to nestle up against your side with arms around you in the release of the shirt that wrinkled under his arms, with a press of his lips to your cheek he hummed sweetly, “You are more than affectionate. The greatest thing you could do to show me affection is tend to the whims of our wandering girls.”

Softly you sighed and leaned in to claim a kiss on his lips he melted into and smirked in the rest of your forehead to his afterwards, “I just keep wandering around. I don’t get it. Trips to the lake, strolls around outside, in the house, I can’t just sit and read like I used to. Even my translations are behind.”

“It’ll be over soon, my incredible Darling.” He said accenting it with another kiss on your lips that had him hunch into an awkward position to keep you from being into an awkward position at the rest of your hands onto his neck and cheek. Sweet kisses and a round of cuddling that broke for a yawn ended in his help for you into the nest of pillows he followed you to wrap around you when the lights were out to get ample rest.

.

Two weeks seemed to roll by and with each day levels of exhaustion waxed and waned to the clear radio coverage on the odd storm brewing over your chunk of Canada. Now with this since a trip of a reporter Howard brought who was covering the upcoming film along with an interview for Norma through him you were confirmed to be alive still and not missing. Yet when the reporter arrived back in New York word spread and now your doomed status took a new height at this freak storm out of nowhere. Amusement from that story however faded in the latest shift of your mood. Only inside you wandered between bouts of your having to sit upright and hunched forward that you took the chance to try and translate a bit of your documents until you had to eat or go to take another nap.

Even plans of Teddy’s second birthday or tries to plan more for your first set of lessons to arrive in the mail in the next week focus was fleeting. And now daily to this evident change on the tail end of Elliot’s arrival had you checked by Herc and given promises that Elliot would help to double check your latest flawed translation. Just notice of a mistranslated word had you shoving the papers away to keep from tearing them all up as you fought off frustrated tears your parents coaxed you through in a snuggling pile and distracting stories to calm you. After a sniffle you wiped your cheek again, “I don’t get it. First my socks didn’t match now I’m mad at a word.”

“Perfectly on schedule. All from the storm, my Dazzling Queen of the Cosmos.” Your father rumbled and pressed a kiss onto your forehead guiding you to lean into his chest.

“I would get furious when I carried you,” your mother said in her own brush of a tear from your cheek, “And I broke two of our mugs. Shoving a bit of paper is not much to balk at.”

Back in the kitchen James sighed and used the can opener to open another can of baby corn, “She threw socks at me.”

Victor chuckled, “Norma prefers pillows.” James sighed and looked at his brother making him chuckle and say, “One week, Herc says we’re near the end. First the gravity change and stair trouble, now this storm is rolling in.”

“If I may?” Elliot said in his ease into the kitchen while the Twins had been readying some tea for you to go with the snacks. The brothers nodded and Elliot said, “It’s not truly a rage, or anger, it is a bout of confusion. One of the final stages, helps to irritate mothers in the end stage. We don’t truly understand the purpose yet, however it is a good sign and will pass by morning.”

James sighed and said, “She could hurl a wall at me I wouldn’t care. I know it’s not under her control right now, but she cried for such a long time at throwing socks at me.”

Victor rubbed his upper back, sighing, “Nobody wants to see her cry. I hated those waves with Norma and the same when Dawn would be lost to tears. It’ll pass and then we get to have a calmer post baby sea of hormones.”

Elliot said, “She is strong, and will pass through this brilliantly. We are all here to see her and you through it.”

James nodded and the closer he got back to your side he felt that electric wave of nerves spike at the hints that you had been upset again. Internally his mother hen switch had been flipped so much so that Teddy had taken to cuddling with him to calm the trouble the boy didn’t understand to be brewing between his aunt and uncle. All day you bounced back and forth tossed about by the whims of your hormones.

And the day after the slow ease into your seat for breakfast had Erik and the Beserkers with the ability to feel your babies and their heartbeats in heart racing stares your way. Eddie however broke the silence asking, “What are you staring at?” His eyes switching between them and you in your groggy reach for some toast to strangely bite into unbuttered.

Herc said before James could repeat the question, “The girls are turned down now.”

Dawn said, “So, she’s near to labor?”

Herc nodded, “Yes,” and his eyes scanned over you in a glance over the tray of butter James brought over you used to spread across the piece of toast you took another bite of for a more satisfying bite. “Either later today or tomorrow. When we are through eating I will give her another exam.”

Sharp inhales and squirms in your chair at the end of the meal had you helped up and guided to your bedroom where a series of checks on both blood, scans with the girdle and physical presses of your belly confirmed the unmistakable.

A clap of thunder came and as the signs showed the storm was descending you were heard muttering in the hall as you paced through a break after your first contraction, “What about the bears?”

James smirked with hold of your hand he wrapped around his arm, “The bears will be perfectly fine.”

“But the rain, and the flowers! Jeanie worked so hard on the gardens!”

Your father said on your free side, “We have a barrier to protect the gardens.”

“The house flooded before, if it keeps raining-,”

Victor said on his chair along the wall you slowly walked past, “We built up the stone drainage walls to divert rainwater. We won’t flood again. We’re prepared for the rains, Pipsqueak.”

You nodded and remained fixed in the wait for the next contraction. Slow didn’t come close to the progress of this labor. More than half a day and still by Eddie’s watch the contractions were still over an hour apart while you felt more restless than ever showing signs that something was going to happen.

 .

“Your Highness, how are things in England?” Victor said with another glance down the hall at Edie returning to your room with a tray of food to keep up your strength.

“Very well. However we have been warned of this storm and I simply had to check if your family was safe.”

“Oh ya, we’ve seen this storm coming and are plenty prepared for however long it takes.”

“That is very good.” The line began to go static and he was heard saying, “Well I will let you dig in and please do call us if you need anything.”

“We will, Your Highness.”

“And do give our love to Bunny,”

Victor chuckled, “I will, and we are sending you the best as well.” He managed to say before the line went dead and he hung up to go and see what else he could do to help you.

Out of the bathroom when you had been helped from a bath now in a fresh pair of pajamas and your hair twisted up into a new braid he entered your bedroom. Sight of Victor mid exhale had him grin at your mildly irritated tone saying, “Don’t tell me to breathe, tell someone else to breathe. I am breathing fine.”

“That you are, Pipsqueak.”

“Come sit down, come eat.” Your mother said ushering you to the table set up beside your armchair coated by towels that helped you to hunch forward between painful contractions as your hips and pelvis refused to separate as it should to make room for the girls who were checked hourly for progress.

Food bled into a stolen nap, one of dozens where you would tuck up in your chair only to groggily awake to the next wave of pain that only worsened the struggle of those who had been on watch as you rested. Small stolen naps only seemed to worsen things as the pain grew more intense in the shrink of those time gaps.

.

One day bled into another supposed to be sunrise and while your father went to fetch some ice for you to chew on James took hold of your hands and eased them around his neck while you felt the next contraction coming on. Low and soft you squeaked out a whimper in a press of your forehead into his chest his hands rubbed your back in the mock slow dance pattern of steps to help ease this. Tired and simply aching to let this get over with your arms eased down and his hands planted again on your sides to follow behind you on the continued means to continue moving to not be stuck in one spot on a bed to suffer through this there.

“Shake,” Victor said in an offer of a glass and with ease his free arm moved out to let you take a grip on his bicep to drink a good few gulps of the shake he claimed hold of until your next lap when he would offer it to you again. Meals in one place now were out of the question and the few bathroom breaks you had were near unbearable at the pressure building in your hips. The tremble of your hands had him just about in tears and had him need a turn of his head away for a few steady breaths.

While Dawn and Norma rested the Twins watched the children in Eddie’s wing to let them be out of earshot if you did begin to get loud if things ever did pick up. And to the next loud explosion of thunder and shot of lightning across the sky the barely audible hum of the generators powering the lights were heard between the switch of records your mother was changing on the record player. Music was hoped to help calm things and give you something to focus on and even hum to as she had gotten you to do earlier in a failed try to get labor to quicken.

.

Eleven chimes of the clock sounded and fresh from another bath you walked to the foot of your bed to take a pausing moment with grip of the wooden frame to breathe after having faced another contraction in your closet Eddie and Victor in the hall asked Herc, “Two days?”

Herc wet his lips and said to another wailing wind that whipped around the walls outside on the other side of the shuttered windows at the end of the hall. “It shouldn’t be long now. Half an hour apart now.”

His head turned however to your mumble to James, who looked like he was in need of being knocked out to get some sleep at his reluctance to do so since you had been unable to get more than an hour long nap for two days. “Soon as these girls get out they’re grounded till I say so.”

Into your back his head tapped a moment and his hand moved to stroke your still hardened belly. “No arguments here, Darling.”

To the next tick of the clock however your eyes opened and your head turned to your dad who walked closer, “Another pain?” Your hand extended in the well of tears in your eyes and his rose to be claimed to plant on your stomach, a move that brought Herc and the guys back into the room. “Herc,”

Herc asked in his cross of the room, “Are the girls giving a signal?”

James, “Jaqi?”

Tearfully you whispered, “Their hearts, are slowing, down.” The last word was painfully squeaked and had his breath quicken with worry.

Your father said in a cup of your cheek with his free hand, “We mentioned a sign the girls could give. They know you’re tired, too tired to keep going. They’re ready to let us get them out now.”

Herc said in the plant of his own hand on your belly to check for himself, “Jaqi we’re going to move you to the bed and get these girls out.”

Elliot from the doorway said, “I have the tea,” fresh from your kitchen with tea cup in hand he added the ground herbal medicine into and brought it over to your reach as you were moved to be lifted onto and laid back on the bed. “Slow sips and you will start to gradually go numb to prepare for this.”

You nodded and accepted the cup while Herc readied the table and lined up Victor, James and your father to take hold of the babies while Eddie climbed to settle on the bed at your side to hold you up steady and to keep hold of your hand through this. From mental warning of the birth the Twins went to fetch Norma and Dawn from their own calming break in another sitting room at their own lack of sleep. Edie and Erik readied the bathing bowl your mother brought some warm water for it in a pitcher so they could clean the girls off nearer to you for the warned moment of panic after the birth was over and your body had healed.

James was the one to ease up your shirt through a stolen press of his lips on your brow as Herc with middle finger held by his thumb gave your belly a few gentle flicks. “Can you feel this?”

“Feel what?” you asked between sips and looked his way from James’ supportive grin that came into focus in his step back. “My, um, my hand is tingling.”

Elliot said, “Ooh, that is enough then,” careflly claiming your cup to not let you drop it on yourself and Eddie eased you back to lay down so Herc could feel around your belly.

Herc said in his catch of your eye, “Just a few moments now Jaqi and your girls will be here,” he said in a muffled voice tearing you from focus of the still slowing heartbeats in your belly. Into his hand a scalpel was produced after he had added his gloves. Firm and easy a single cut was made underneath your belly that was followed by another.

Just pressure alone in place of pain came in the feel of blood pooling to Eddie’s hands folding around yours tucked up near your shoulders in his hold in his slump beside your side. All of the bleeding was fully under the control of Herc. Who kept a stop on the incision that he kept open mentally to scoop out the first girl in a section of the conjoined sack that separated and over a towel on his lap he split open causing her umbilical chord to snap free from the other two parts of the joint sack holding her sisters. In the aftermath of that splash she was laid in the towel in James’ arms with a sharp cry that split his smile out widely as tears filled his eyes. Another splash followed in her sister being eased out with chord snapped off on its own as well for teary Victor to have hold of the wriggling girl who let out a shrill cry of her own then went quieter in his step back.

“One more,” Eddie murmured beside your ear after another kiss on your temple and a third cry had the final girl nestled in her grandfather’s arms while Herc finished the steps of the procedure and let the wound meet up again to instantly seal in a spreading silver ripple of skin. Venom meanwhile in his rest above your head through your mental link caught the same static feeling for when you had neared the end of your tether.

“Um,” you managed to murmur to a ring in your ears to the shallow shift of your breath signaled the reaction you had hoped to not face. Just as when you had lost your finger the very first time and again when you had seen the new hand to replace the one you had fed Venom to see three babies being pulled out of your belly sent a wave of panic through the others when your eyes rolled back and your head slumped to the side. Above your head Venom pressed his cheek to your scalp having felt the hazy blip that was your birth. And without the wound having healed yet still he was unable to ease into your body and help you through this to be conscious for your girls and family.

“Jaqi!” James said and Herc raised a hand to sense for any internal wound he’d have missed after tearing his glove off to sense what was wrong.

Eddie couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “I think she fainted,” relaxing the others who came to sit around you at Herc’s reminder.

“Don’t go too far, have to keep the girls close,” they nodded and with his glove free hands he felt around your now fully silver belly that under your mother’s watch he folded down your waistband halfway to see the silver had spread lower. And in a shift back he eased up one of your pant legs he watched the silver spread down to a ring beneath your knees.

The line made her ask, “Is this normal?”

Herc replied, “For long labors, yes,” his hands shifted to the silver soles of your feet showing just where more of the stress of the past couple days had put on your body. “Ample meals, rest and massages should help her to recover. And we have the breast pump ready for if she is tired to nurse all three in a row after her first lessons on that.”

She nodded and asked, “How long would she be unconscious?”

Eddie, “Ten, twenty minutes. Jaqi hoped she’d not have passed out with the surgery if she had it when Herc first mentioned it.” He chuckled again seeing Norma and Dawn come over to see the girls the guys one at a time eased into the bathing bowl that was changed after each girl was clean and fixed into a diaper and a clean blanket from the pile Edie brought over. All in differing colors they were draped lovingly and as he sat down by your shoulder Erik drew attention to your belly that as the third girl was wrapped in her blanket began to shrink.

Inch by inch from your large belly as if pushed back in time from 48 weeks to your former figure now with a more toned layer of muscle visible in place of the dissolved fat and water weight absorbed back into your system. Careful presses of fingers showed proof that the muscle was healthy and had been built up to carry the weight of the three babies.

The Twins after having taken respectful pictures and filmed the baths used the body scanner to confirm the healing process when completed had you back to your original 89 pound self from after the war that had the baggy sleeping clothes and underwear you had on lay loosely over your slumbering body. To the clear need to change again Norma and Dawn went to your closet to bring out an old set of underwear and a nice set of your favorite two piece pajamas with a sleeveless buttoned silk top that would aid in nursing and being checked for progress on your healing. Your face and hands were the last to seemingly deflate and had Erik happily bring over the open jewelry box that held your original wedding ring and band laid in it to be swapped for the now oversized pair slumped sideways on your ring finger.

Twenty minutes later to the hushed question of if they could go ahead and assign the three names between the girls a deep breath from you had everyone ease in again with James, Victor and your father come to sit down at your side. From a view of the wall of shuttered windows your eyes turned to the top of Eddie’s head that had you tilt yours back to groggily grin up at him. “Hey Sis.”

Venom’s head from his neck smiled and said, “Hello, Sister.”

From them your head turned and the grin on your face fell taking notice of the lack of the giant belly that had your pulse kick up. “Darling,” James’ voice split through your moment of panic in his lean into your view with the girl he brought closer to you. “Our girls are right here.” On his knees he came closer and he moved over your legs to settle at Eddie’s bent legs and into reach of your chest over your folded arms she was eased luring focus of your loose rings on your raised hand.

“Hey, little one,” you said and turned your head in the ease of the other two closer as her curled fingers came out of the blanket to slide around your finger. All three girls cooed and shifted into your touch and gentle pecks on the tops of their heads.

Herc out of your sight said, “Just be careful on sitting up.”

Edie asked, “Are you hungry? It has been hours since you have eaten.”

“I could eat,” you said and smiles spread to that tired statement she hurried off to answer to that problem and grab the serving of stew and rolls from the kitchen in your wing. Erik at the nightstand over the girls’ heads reached for your loose rings and smiled in a shared lock of eyes and handed James your original rings he eased back onto your ring finger and sweetly kissed your lips.

“Have you settled the names yet?”

James shook his head and said, “Waiting for you. This angel was first.”

You nodded and said with a smile, “Aurora Nyx,” she answered with a coo followed by her sister to, “Belinda Rhea,” and lastly joined by, “Nova Carina.” All of the names that Herc had printed on their birth records with Pear Howlett and their title of The Honorable to the birth records and in the presentation of food Eddie helped to guide you up a bit to sit up against pillows while the girls were measured and had their hands and foot prints taken. Along that were given anklets that would grow with them that bore their initials to help differentiate between the three of them that they would be unable to be harmed by or remove.

To the other end of the room the group moved when your dirty dishes were taken so Sarah and James could help change you into your older layers which gave you a tear stirring view of the widespread bruises all over from the lower ribs to just below the knee. And when you were settled back she asked, “Did you want to try a breastfeeding lesson before you sleep? They shouldn’t be hungry but we can let you get some practice?”

You nodded and Aurora was brought over as your shirt was opened and nursing bra undone to have her guide you on your first nursing lesson, “Just ease her head, just like that,” she smiled in a nestle closer to your side as James stroked the top of your daughter’s head in the groggy droop of her silvery lilac eyes. The same shade all three had with the same white hair in tiny tufts of curls across the tops of their heads with a matching seven and a half pound weight to boast on.

When her few suckles had the infant drift off to sleep the two other girls were brought over for their own brief snacks that drifted them off to a deep sleep that by the droop of your eyes was welcome to give you a chance to be helped off the comforter they eased over you when you were redressed again. Soft and sweet she urged James to remain with you and the family would watch the babies while he nestled up with you and proudly he eased you on your side against is chest with gentle kisses given until he drifted off. Every second of his consciousness through this excruciatingly drawn out labor his only thoughts through his pain being how impossibly beautiful his wife was to have suffered so long to bring three girls into this world. Every second more beautiful than the last.

Exhausted from the process Victor took Norma to their bed to curl up around her as Eddie did the same with Dawn after Venom had seen the babies one more time and nestled his head into their foreheads wishing them a good night and promised to see them in the morning. Edie and Erik were last to head off to rest in the decided early breakfast they hoped you would rest until it was made. Just leaving the Beserker group awake to comment on the unbelievable birth process their dearest of friend had faced so adamantly to see it through no matter how long it took.

Silent relief and chimes of midnight echoed through the house to the roll of more protective thunder inside the cone of the storm channeled around your property that waned to softer drizzle over the distant town. Loud and boldly bells in the abandoned Beserker lands in Asgard woke every single creature there who knew as those within earshot of other Beserker outposts on other planets in other universes heard the message of Mother’s successful birth. Three little girls yet unknown across this planet were named throughout several Universes and Dimensions to swell pride in the chests of those who knew just how long the return and expansion of the ruling clan had been awaited.

Pt 72

All –

@sherala007​, @mariannetora​​, @jesgisborne​, @knitastically​, @catthefearless​​, @theincaprincess, ggbbhehe4455, @lilith15000​​, @alishlieb​​,

Not nsfw(smut) - @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore​

X Marvel-Cast - @himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess​, @changlingkhat​

Brother Dearest - @thorinanddwalinsdwarrowdam​​, @swoopswishsward

[itsuki-minamy]

“K SIDE: PURPLE 10”

Translation: Naru-kun Raws: Ridia

K - Side: Purple (Chapter List)

"Now he's tense!"

When Soma entered the room, that voice rang out.

About 10 men flocked to a section of a large spacious room. It looked like the cushions were scattered around the threadbare tatami mats, and that it was just a play area. He didn't have an intermediate basin, and he wondered if it was okay to bet in the area where everything was happening simply with a swing.

"Okay, here we go!"

The men pile up a wad of bills before the day, as invited by the tantalizing voice. Some are scorched and some are bloody. It is "loot" brought from the "battlefield". It is the custom of their predecessors that they often brought money, although they did not have much space or time to spend. Members of the underworld are obsessed with money.

"The pieces are ready. The game. Niroku no Ding!"

When the two dice emerged from under the bowl, the men cheered and sighed. Soma looked at him coldly. Although it was a life that could not be known tomorrow, they were both silly and funny, as they could be happy and sad like the eyes of a rhinoceros.

When…

Soma noticed that one of them did not tremble.

Their synonyms for black suits have been removed to expose the upper body. The impressive Japanese carved tattoos on his back, however, were mostly covered in red-black burns.

"Purgatory" Sword No. 3, Hiiragi Toma.

Soma's target person.

While he was sitting with one knee upright, Hiiragi was rolling a saber onto his side. He must have been stolen from "Scepter 4" during the last conflict. Like a swordsman, even the people of "Purgatory", who have an image of evil, are keeping a distance.

After breathing for a bit, Soma stood next to Hiiragi.

"Are you not feeling well, Hiiragi?"

"……"

Hiiragi looked at Soma with only his eyes. Eyes like a light buried in ash. Soma accepted the pressure of the line of sight, which would be to pass out just by looking directly at an ordinary person, with a smile.

"I have something I want to ask you. You have a little time, right?"

"Let's do it later."

Hiiragi replied briefly. Soma looked at the tatami in front of Hiiragi and shrugged slightly.

"Oh, that's right. Well, I'll wait for you here."

He took the cigarette out of the pack and lit it with the "lighter" to the left of him. Soma vaguely eyed the entire gambling house, smoking purple smoke. It was like the air that swayed there. A kind of atmosphere that is natural for "Purgatory" to breathe.

That's it.

"The pieces are ready. The game."

The hand, swinging the bowl, tried to reveal the rhino's eyes.

A steel-colored saber crashed against the tatami.

"Eh, aaaaaaaaaaagh?!"

Along with the screams, the finger swinging the bowl, rolled. Fresh blood overflowed from the cross section, staining the tatami mats red and black. As he distorted his face in severe pain, he was still screaming in anger.

"Well what are you doing, Hiiragi?"

He shook the saber like a great snake and cut his hand in half, but Hiiragi's face didn't show any change. The holly was fluffy, with a dull top.

"Soma."

"Oh?"

"In our group, I did this for the madman."

Soma laughed as he smoked a cigarette.

This guy must have been a newcomer who had just entered "Purgatory." If he had met a human named Hiiragi even if he was a little bit, he would never have been able to imitate such behavior. Or maybe it could just be an accurate statement, maybe he just wanted to use it as an excuse to use violence

Well, it doesn't matter what it is. Soma tossed the cigarette to the ground and stomped on it with the toe of his shoe.

"It is not a game; do you think such an answer is valid just because you are an executive?"

Hiiragi didn't reply anything with a serious expression. As he gritted his teeth in anger, he stepped on the mat with his left foot. From the burns that cover that story, a flame of extraordinary skill coiled vigorously.

A red light flashed on Soma's left hand.

A high-pressure, high-temperature "whip" that stretches freely at his will. Squirming like a snake targeting his prey, the light shot through his left eye and leaped through the back of his head as it was.

The mutilated body, which lost its brain function, fell.

Hiiragi looked at Soma. That hand was still holding the saber.

"Don't do extra things."

Soma snorted like a fool.

"If you go crazy, it's hard to clean up afterwards. Wear that fine style only outside."

His ability is activated from the tattoo engraved on his back. His power as a combat afterburner was not used in such a room.

Hiiragi kept looking at Soma, but when he looked away as if he had lost interest, he stopped there.

"Clean it up."

"Yes."

Several members of the clan took control and began to clean the tatami mats, bundles and corpses surrounded by gushing blood. There is nothing to blame for the violence. Hiiragi is an executive, not because he is a newcomer to the place, but because Hiiragi is stronger.

There is nothing in "Purgatory" that can be called order. There is only one measure of strong or weak. Those who fought and survived are strong, and those who died are weak. And the weak and the dead are equally useless. That was the only reason the clan welcomed the "King of Violence".

"So, what?"

At Hiiragi's question, Soma finally remembered his business.

"Oh, yeah. Where is the other one who was with you now?"

"......"

"Baraki...?"

Hiiragi frowned. The guy should have been attached to Hiiragi's subordinates, but he doesn't seem to remember him.

Soma was shocked and explained in a way that Hiiragi could understand.

"Look, he came in a few months ago, "right hand" and..."

"Oh, that boy."

Humans who have received the installation of the "Red King" will surely destroy a part of his body with vicious energy as if reflecting the nature of Kagutsu. In Soma it was the little finger of the left hand, in Hiiragi's case it was the back and in Baraki's case it was the right hand.

The damaged part also serves as a means to activate different abilities. Sometimes it is quicker to say what he lost than to remember his face.

Hiiragi shook his head slightly.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him in a while."

"That's right. My subordinate."

"I don't remember who lived and who died."

In "Purgatory", the death of a member of the clan is a daily event. Some die in battle with "Scepter 4", while others die in the inner circle of clan members, like the guy above. It seems that the martial arts group does not intend to remind the staff to be replaced to metabolize.

"He's either dead or trapped. It's not a weird story."

"Well, that's correct. I'm sure I haven't seen any other guys, and I'm sure they're gone."

"What's wrong with that guy?"

Looking back at Hiiragi's emotionless eyes, Soma shrugged.

"I got information to make money, but it seems they didn't tell me everything. So I thought I'd listen to you."

In this case, it would be more accurate to say "listen to the body" rather than "listen to the story." Hiiragi is also a person who originally belonged to an antisocial organization. So the story was fast.

"So he flew. Do you want to chase him?"

Not many members of the clan escape from "Purgatory". Originally, all who enter are daredevils who have no place in this world. There they can burn your life.

It is a group of lost people who do not know about the life and death of the moment, but there are exceptions to everything.

"I am sorry..."

Soma put his hand on his chin and pondered. From his own information from the registry, the question is whether traitors and fugitives can be left alone. "Purgatory" is not oscillating.

First of all, Kagutsu himself, who is the "King", must make him wonder if he doesn't believe that he belongs to the organization.

"So if you see him, you take a suitable frame."

"I understood."

Hiiragi laughed slightly. In fact, it is an order to kill. For Hiiragi, who has fallen from an antisocial organization to "Purgatory", the only thing that can burn his life is the exchange of lives with others.

As he held the saber, Hiiragi walked calmly. Seeing his back, Soma lit a cigarette again and inhaled purple smoke.

++++++++++

As he walked down the back alley so as not to expose himself, Noriya Baraki looked back many times.

There were no other figures than Baraki among the buildings where he rained heavily. Still, he couldn't shake the illusion that someone was chasing him, and he walked quickly with his shoulders hunched.

The dirty clothes that he was wearing, he took off a homeless person with bad luck, and although he smelled strong, he could not do otherwise. The black suit is synonymous with "Purgatory", he cannot wear such a thing forever.

He is no longer a member of "Purgatory".

Baraki belonged to "Purgatory" for the same reason that he joined the Ashima group. He thought it was a gathering of strong people. This is because there is one side that can exploit the weak as they please. So he gave Soma most of the information about the "assets" that he knew about and asked him to put them in the "Burning House". Even if he lost his right hand, he thought that, if he was a proof of a strong man, it would be like losing his little finger.

But…

Baraki realized that he was wrong.

"Purgatory" is not a group of strong men. It was a group of abnormal people.

The violence they wielded at will sometimes robbed the members themselves. Those facing the sword were killed. Those who fear were killed. And the unfortunate one was killed. Kagutsu Genji. That monster called "King" caused death and destruction just by being there. Literally, in "Purgatory", everyday life was next to death.

It is not an environment that can be tolerated by a decent nervous owner. Either they will die early or they will run away. And it's just one of them on a sunny day.

Baraki looked back again.

"Scepter 4" is not the only enemy of "Purgatory". Many anti-social organizations that establish conflicts, almost at random, also see "Purgatory" as their enemy. Similarly, those who strayed from there tended to be attacked more fiercely because there was no reception from the organization.

That is why he must hurry. Get what he wants and fly somewhere far away.

North or south, anywhere, out of reach of those monsters, somewhere far away.

When Baraki turned around for the third time, he appeared in the alley.

"Hey, Baraki."

While he was wearing the black suit, he was laughing, or not. He looks like he was laughing. Burns that jump from the edge of his lips to his temples make his face look like a smile.

"I've been looking for you. Where are you going?"

When he took a step to start running, his foot stopped. One in a black suit with a saber in hand blocked the way. The hand without the saber was badly burned, leaving only two fingers.

They both had familiar faces. They were under Hiiragi's orders.

The one with his "fingers" gasped.

"Hiiragi-san is looking for you."

The one with the burned "lips", he said.

"Which is better, being alive or charred? I'll let you choose according to the kindness of your former colleague."

Baraki put his right hand to his chest.

His heart was pounding hard like a bell and his usual face was bleeding. There was no escape because he was surrounded from the front and the back.

That means this alley, where he completely rains, has become his death.

From the moment he ran away, he had a feeling this would happen.

"Purgatory", "Scepter 4", Kagutsu Genji, Habari Jin. From the moment he got involved in the war of monsters that manipulated different abilities like burning dust, it was confirmed that his fate would be like this.

But still, he didn't want to die. He wanted to live.

Just that feeling propelled Baraki out of the swamp of despair. Baraki may have been small, but they weren't stupid enough to think they could live without doing anything.

If you want to live, you have to fight. It is a lodging business that is also run by those born in this world.

A flame came out of Baraki's right hand.

Guren's palm, which is one size larger than that of humans. The only weapon Baraki possessed colored the alleys that smoked in the rain red.

"Ku."

"Lips" in the back he laughed, and "fingers" in front of him raised his burned hand in front of his face and muttered.

"Yes. You will be charred."

(That's what will happen to you!)

Instead of yelling, he spat, and Baraki kicked the ground and raised his fiery hand towards "fingers".

++++++++++

Under the eaves in front of the station, Hase waited with his bag.

He had been raining lightly since morning, but he didn't have an umbrella due to Hase's nature. As he practiced, Mishakuji suddenly remembered that he was waving a wooden sword while turning into a wet mouse, regardless of whether it was raining or snowing.

Hase noticed Yukari and smiled.

"Oh. You came, Yukari. It's early!"

As Yukari smiles, he tips his umbrella and walks over to Hase.

"Sensei. There are still 30 minutes until the meeting time."

He hears that the place they were heading to from now on, where Miwa Ichigen lives, was in the mountains, which took almost half a day from here. However, Hase's luggage was a bad backpack and there seemed to be no decent change of clothes. With a strange look, Hase also looked at the carrying bag dropped by Yukari with similar eyes.

However, there is only one thing the two people have in common.

Yukari has a sheath that hangs from his shoulder and Hase has a sheath that hangs from his back. To put it the other way around, if you have this, you don't need any other luggage.

"Did you say hello to Sayuri-san before you left?"

Hase wondered such a thing as they entered the station together. Yukari shook his head.

"No, it looks like she was drinking late last night, so I left without saying hello."

"Haha, that's right. Well, it's the beginning of her beloved son. Maybe we all wanted to celebrate."

"It doesn't mean I won't be back."

Hase slaps Yukari's wet back with his big palm.

"I know, I know! You are a man of your word, don't worry!"

Having said that, he laughed at his arrogance.

Dissatisfied Yukari's lips were sharp. Still, it wasn't as frustrating as It used to be. He can always go back to "Nibangai". He will always be able to find the people who live there. That is why Yukari was motivated to take a step into a larger world, as they expected.

He only knows Miwa Ichigen from Hase's story. He's not an eloquent person, but his sword skills were the most beautiful thing Yukari had ever seen in his life. Every time he thought of Miwa's sword, who made Hase say, "I've never seen anything more beautiful than that.", he was excited.

He wanted to see it as soon as possible and, if possible, he would like to make adjustments and acquire it. Driven by painful expectations, Yukari was encouraged and headed for the ticket vending machine.

A roar echoed from a distance.

"……"

A heavy and low sound, like the sound of the earth. Yukari stopped and turned to that side.

The moment he instinctively felt that "Nibangai" was in the right direction, he heard the second sound.

It was a continuous roar. The sound of something exploding and burning, like you heard in war movies. Perhaps Hase noticed that, he turned his face towards him with his dull expression.

The two jumped out of the station at the same time.

Black smoke billowed in the direction of "Nibangai" past the shops and multi-tenant buildings lined up in front of the station. When swallowed it, a red-black explosion broke out many times. At the sight of the rain, the reflection of the flames that stained the streets red was reflected in Yukari's eyes like something terrible.

"Hey, Yukari! Wait!"

Hase's voice came from behind and, for the first time, Mishakuji realized that he was running.

Still, his legs didn't stop. He dropped the bag that was obstructive, and just grabbed the wooden sword that he had taken out of the sheath, Yukari ran in a straight line. Heading for his hometown, "Nibangai" surrounded by smoke and flames.

[kdinthecity]

Love Amongst the Turtleducks (Part Five)

@zutaraweek​ for Day 6: Affirm. This starts out a little sad but has a happy ending. And I got my days mixed up, so there is no comic for this one. Have a Katara gif instead.

In a word, puppies were hard. Katara felt like she had the brunt of the work, too. Sure, Zuko took care of Storm during the day, but that actually meant lots of lap naps during meetings and eating junk food. Katara would come home exhausted from her shift at the hospital (followed by a turtleduck meetup, of course) and Storm would greet her bright-eyed and ready to play.

Then came the frequent stomachaches. Katara didn’t even know what wolf pups were supposed to eat, but she was certain it wasn’t fire gummies and Komodo rhino sausages. Zuko said he would find her some better food and then wrote to Sokka for advice.

Just great.

Sokka would no doubt suggest seal jerky and sea prunes. Neither were readily available in the Fire Nation. Katara knew this because she’d already checked.

Whenever Storm had a tummy problem or an insatiable itch or just flat out wouldn’t sleep at night, Katara examined her with waterbending. The pup’s chi was definitely off.

She wrote to her father but didn’t like the response. He said the wolf wouldn’t thrive in the Fire Nation and belonged back at the South Pole. “You can’t separate a wolf from the pack like that, Katara. She needs her family.”

Up until this point, Katara hadn’t allowed herself to feel homesick.

Zuko fussed over them both. He offered to take Storm for the night so Katara could get some sleep. When she declined, he offered her calming tea. (And mumbled something that sounded vaguely like a proverb.)

“I’m completely calm!” Katara snapped.

Clearly, she was not.

Sokka arrived the following week. He was already en route from Yu Dao to the South Pole. Storm was losing weight, so they collectively decided she should go home with “Uncle Sokka.” (Yes, Zuko and Katara shamelessly acted like the pup was their child.)

Zuko made a packet of Komodo chicken for the trip. “It’s her favorite,” he said. “Don’t eat it, Sokka!”

“And you better write to me with regular updates!” Katara insisted. “I want to know how she’s doing!”

Sokka bowed. “On my honor as the meat and sarcasm guy.”

“Honor. Right.” Zuko sighed.

The next night at the turtleduck pond was very solemn. Zara, the boldest of the ducklings, seemed to notice and gave lots of hand nudges and affectionate quacks. Zali was unusually chill and not nearly as protective of her babies. Even the smallest, shyest duckling tolerated a few head pats.

“They’re extra friendly tonight,” Zuko observed.

Probably because the wolf is gone, Katara realized. Storm had never tried to attack any of the turtleducks, but she was an ever present bundle of nervous puppy energy nonetheless.

In fact, Katara herself felt more relaxed.

At the same time she leaned toward Zuko, seeking his warmth, he titled his head forward. They bumped noses. Neither of them moved. Gold eyes met blue, as if asking permission, before trembling lips found their mark. The kiss deepened.

Where there had been uncertainty before, there was now affirmation. This wasn’t just puppy love. It was something more.

[hellzyeahwebwieldingreviews]

Untold Tales of Spider-Man 14: My Enemy, My Savior – by Eric Fein

Meh

This story’s title page features a great John Romita, Sr. illustration of J. Jonah Jameson sweating it out as he watches Spidey fighting the Scorpion on a viewscreen, with Alistair Smythe gaping at him from another screen. (We don’t know where Jonah is but will soon find out that he’s inside a spider-slayer.) That’s a good way to start.

In the story itself, J. Jonah Jameson has just won the Humanitarian of the Year Award, chosen by the citizens of New York City. After working late at the office on his acceptance speech, he climbs into his limo, heading for home. But suddenly, the limo swerves out of control, running up on the sidewalk. The driver claims he can’t release his foot from the gas and the car is not responding to his actions. When he tries to turn the ignition off, he convulses and falls unconscious. The car drives into a dead-end alley and crashes into the wall. JJJ, bloodied and dizzy, crawls out of the car. Before falling unconscious, Jonah sees “the form of a large man approaching him.”Like that scene? Here it is again from a different perspective. A man “at a control console in a dimly lit lab” watches JJJ get into his limo. He presses a button and a “spiderlike droid” attaches to the car’s rear bumper. The man pushes another button. The spider-droid shoots out “a bundle of fiber-optic tendrils.” Some of them attach to the steering column. Others bore “through the floorboard: where they grab “the driver’s right foot, attaching it to the gas pedal.” These tendrils contract, forcing the driver’s foot down on the gas. After the limo crashes, the man speaks “into a commlink,” saying, “Mr. Gargan, our prey has been subdued. Please, take the necessary action.” Those of us in the know recognize Gargan as the real name of the Scorpion. Of course, those of us who looked at Johnny’s opening illustration already know the Scorpion and Smythe are the villains in this piece.Meanwhile, Spider-Man webs his way to the Daily Bugle. He drops down into a nearby alley, changes to Peter Parker, and takes his latest pix of Spidey battling the Rhino to the city room. There he finds all sorts of frantic activity. Robbie Robertson tells him that “Jonah’s missing” and presumed kidnapped “or worse.” Kate Cushing sends Peter to the crime scene to get some photos. “I’m sure Jonah will be all right,” Peter says, “He’s a tough old goat.”Just then, JJJ wakes up, chained down on a hospital gurney in a lab. He sees “a large mechanical construct twenty feet tall and ten feet wide, surrounded by scaffolding and held up by suspension cables.” “Several smaller robots” service it. The lab’s resident reveals himself as Alistair Smythe, which makes Jonah realize that the robots are spider-slayers. Smythe tells JJJ that he has “inherited my father’s journals and his lab equipment. And I have inherited his crusade. My father’s enemies became my enemies.” And, for Jonah’s pressuring of Spencer Smythe into making more slayers, Alistair blames the publisher for his father’s death.

Then Mac Gargan joins the conversation. Smythe says he and Gargan “recently crossed paths and he explained to me how he was another victim of your crusade,” of how Jonah financed Gargan’s transformation into the Scorpion with “no thought to the psychological damage the treatments had done to Gargan.” (These guys sort of have a point.) When they learned of Jonah’s Humanitarian of the Year award, “the hypocrisy [was] too much…to swallow.” So Smythe built a giant spider-slayer designed to carry Jameson as a helpless passenger. “I’m going to arrange for you to finally be the hero you’ve spent years saying you are, by letting you destroy your favorite public enemy, Spider-Man,” Smythe tells Jonah, “Of course, there is the chance that Spider-Man will finish you off first.” With that, the Scorpion loads JJJ into the giant slayer.Some time later, Spidey is on the Daily Bugle building’s roof expecting an attack. He has received a tip from a “street source” about an event at the Bugle. “And the guy behind it was the Scorpion.” When the giant spider-slayer attacks, Spidey knows that Smythe is also involved. He grapples with the robot. 

Just when he thinks he has won, the slayer jettisons four legs. One of them wraps around Spidey’s leg and administers an electrical shock. Ignoring the pain and further shocks, Spidey rips it away from his leg. Whereupon the slayer blasts a hole in the roof.Inside the slayer, JJJ winces at the destruction to his building. As the slayer burrows from floor to floor, attacking innocent people, he starts to wish that Spidey would stop the robot. “What a revelation,” says Smythe over the radio, “Rooting for your greatest enemy to succeed.” And, sure enough, Spidey yanks on some wiring and circuitry and stops the slayer, only to have a voice announce, “This mechanism will self-destruct in sixty seconds.” Hearing this, Spidey picks up the slayer, takes it to the roof, and throws it toward the East River. As soon as he does, the Scorpion attacks him. But the Scorpion also opens his big mouth, saying, “First you knock off Jameson for me, then I kick your butt.” Realizing that Jonah must be inside the slayer, Spidey puts a spider-tracer on Scorpy, snags the robot with his webbing and climbs onto its back.Even as Smythe taunts Jonah, Spidey rips the top off the slayer, climbs in and frees JJJ from his bonds. 

But then the slayer lands in the river. Spidey drags Jonah, who is “unconscious and very pale” from the wreckage and brings him to shore. Just as he is about to administer mouth-to-mouth, Jonah comes to. Spidey promises to bring help and tries to web-sling away, only to find his shooters clogged up with “river muck.”The Scorpion is ready to celebrate the deaths of his greatest enemies but Smythe tells him both Spidey and JJ are still alive. “I saw you disobey my direct orders by making yourself known to Spider-Man before Jameson was dead. As a matter of fact, because of your big mouth, they’re both alive,” Smythe says, adding, “You’ve ruined everything, you thickheaded lout! I should kill you, but I have more important things to do. So just get out.” Scorpy doesn’t take well to this and attacks Smythe with a “stinger-blast.” Smythe sics his mini-slayers on Gargan. Then Spidey shows up, having followed his tracer (and he had extra web-fluid in his belt) and defeats both foes. 

Rather too easily, unfortunately. As he does so, he says something that may well be the theme of this story, “Oh, here we go again, another chorus of ‘My life stinks and it’s all your fault.’ Well, let me tell you something, bug-boy, I’ve had it with you idiots. Neither one of you can admit to the fact that you’re both responsible for the shambles that your lives have become. Yeah, Jameson helped by making the offer or funding the projects. But you dopes embraced his cause all the way.”The next night, at the Humanitarian of the Year dinner, JJJ gets up and refuses the award. “It would at this point strike me as hypocritical to accept it,” he says, “having just come face to face with two villains whose origins in a small part can be traced to me.” Still, he promises to “continue to crusade against the costumed vigilantes and other superpowered crazies that they attract. Especially that menace Spider-Man, who I can assure you exacerbated the problem with Smythe and the Scorpion.” Jonah gets a standing ovation for his speech but Peter doesn’t take a photograph. He has changed to Spidey to stop “a band of heavily armed men about to break into the banquet.” And so it goes.

This story was merely okay. Pretty much every story has strived to represent an aspect of Spidey’s mythos and this story zeroes in on Jameson. What’s a bit more baffling is the story’s placement. The prior story was set in the very early 80s during O’Neil’s run on Spidey before Roger Stern. This story though could only occur after ASM #373 as that was when Spidey first encountered Smythe after he became the Ultimate Slayer.

However, given how he went into custody this makes one wonder how Jonah didn’t know about Alastair’s upgrade? I can let that go since it’s by no means the first or most egregious fo continuity errors in this anthology thus far. What’s more problematic is that we’ve jumped from like 1981 all the way to 1993. Which is doubly baffling when you consider this book was put out in 1997. For a book titles ‘Untold Tales of Spider-Man’ why would you skip over 10 years worth of material in favour of an era less than 5 years old? Surely there would be plenty of great tales to tell during the Alien Costume Saga alone, which would in turn represent the symbiotes, another iconic aspect of the Spidey mythos.

Beyond that there isn’t much to say about this story. it was kind of cool to check out Smythe and Scorpion teaming up as they are the two villains most associated with Jonah. But other than that...I mean we’ve kind of seen this before haven’t we?

It’s not that it’s poorly executed but it’s just pretty ‘same old same old’. I suppose you could say the same of ‘Livewires’ but at least that told a typical Spidey story set during an oft forgotten era with oft forgotten supporting players. This story is something we’ve seen before since the 1960s.

At the end of the day this is a story that’s skippable as far as entertainment goes but sort of necessary in terms of representing a key component of Spidey lore. From that POV it would’ve been conspicuous by it’s absence.

[raleigh-ocean]

after the storm (i’ll take you by the hand) | billie dean howard x dara ann lynch

words: 2,393

summary: after a week since what transcended in the Montgomery’s house, Dara finally decides what’s best for her for the rest of her life, surprising Billie along the way.

The apartment was filled with a strange calmness, one that seemed somehow anticipation and thin like a layer of ice over a puddle, ready to snap in million pieces at any given second. And Billie felt like anything she did around the house was too loud, threatening to break it with such force that something bad would happen.

For once in years she had closed the master bedroom's door, enough to leave it a bit ajar, in hopes that anything could bother her wife's sleep. After a week, she finally had managed to get some rest and God forbid her, but she was going to let Dara sleep as much as she wanted. But by doing that was that she was getting self-conscious of how loud she actually was.

Even trying to get a tea was proving to be a hard task! Clenching her teeth a bit, however, she managed to get something for breakfast without waking up Dara and she sighed in relief once she was safe in their new couch...the massive black leather couch that replaced their old baby.

Billie couldn't help but chuckle because once again Dara had been right, she should had had to measure their living room before buying it, but she didn't regret doing it at all. At least their old couch fit in the tiny office, being there in case of an emergency.

With that last thought Billie closed her eyes, holding the warm cup in her hands while trying to get some of that calmness in her even when it was a bit unsettling. That last week had been a really long one, the longest she had in months, and getting a bit of...peace? was all that Billie wanted. Mostly to reorganize her priorities and think of new ways to make Dara get out of bed. Sighing deeply, she couldn't help but ask herself if she was helping her wife for real or if she was just letting her be in hopes Dara would get better magically...

No, of course she was helping Dara. 

Billie felt a groan forming in her chest because of the stupid doubt. She had helped her call her boss, explaining how Dara got terribly sick and she couldn't get out of bed because of it; she had been dealing with not only Dara's parents but with all her sisters, brother, cousins, uncles and aunts that were worried about her suddenly falling enough ill to not even pick up the phone; she had helped her showering, eating when she managed to get down something, and even change clothes. And Billie was pretty proud of it all, to be honest, even more when she got the tiniest of the smiles and the tiniest 'thank you, I love you' falling from her wife's lips.

On top of all, Billie was trying to get ahead with her own schedule from home, since she had to call in too. She had decided it was for the best to do as much as she could like that instead of having to stay away from home for endless hours; she didn't want to leave her wife alone, she was afraid in fact.

Because Dara wasn't sick, Dara was mourning; and as much as it pained her to even think about the possibility, Billie wasn't going to take the risk of leaving and letting something bad happen while she was gone.

In between all those thoughts, the faint sound of Dara's phone vibrating over the nightstand brought her back to Earth. Billie almost dropped her cup when she stood up as fast as she could to go and stop the 'demonic device' about to wake up Dara. But when she got to the door, she heard her wife's tired and sleepy voice raise. Peaking through the door ajar, Billie watched how her sweet bundle of blankets pressed her phone between the pillow and her head to not use her hands at all.

"Yeah," Dara's voice was weak, as if she was falling asleep as she was talking. "No, I don't want to...why? Because you don't pay me enough." Billie frowned at Dara's words, getting in the room slowly in silence to move nearer her. "Of course I understand, but those are my final words...then I'll pass by on wednesday to get my things. Bye."

When the short call was done, Billie was already sitting in Dara's edge of the bed, smiling softly at her and taking from her hand her phone to put it away. Dara moved closer to Billie as soon as she felt her presence, rolling enough to lie in her other side so she could face her wife.

"Good morning my love," it was a mere whisper accompanied by a cuddle, but Billie found herself swooning when Dara nuzzled her cheek into her palm because of that. "Who was bothering you this early?"

"Mavis. I messaged her yesterday telling her to find someone else, I'm done with her shenanigans after five years," Billie felt how her heart stopped upon hearing that. "So... I'm jobless again."

Billie wanted to ask why she decided that all of a sudden, pressure her with questions about everything, but the memories of the last time she tried to put her wife through all of that raised dangerously in her mind. Like a warning but also a reminder that if Dara decided that, it was because she thought it was the best for her. Nonetheless, the possibility of Dara getting worse because of this worried Billie to no end.

Not because they were going to be short on money, no, in between their joint savings in case of an emergency and her current salary they could still live comfortably...they could even live off with only Billie working in fact; but because she was again afraid that not doing something would put Dara more into the spiral she was in.

Dara snapped her out of her thoughts when she managed to intertwine their fingers, pulling her hand to her lips to press a light kiss in her knuckles. She looked so vulnerable that the only thing Billie wanted was to get back in bed with her, cuddling Dara for the rest of the day and nothing else than that. But when she hid their laced hands against her chest, Billie feeling how her ring finger brushed the new scar that Dara would sport from now on there - it was like someone had burnt her there, and at the thought she also felt the faint scent of roses in the room -, she knew her sweet girl had something to say. Dara always did that when she had important things to say, she pulled Billie closer in some way to feel their connection better and gain enough courage to say it out loud.

"Bills…?" Billie hummed in response, using her other hand to accommodate Dara's hair out of her face and then place it in her cheek, caressing tenderly with her thumb there. "Is still up the offer you made me two years ago…?"

For a hot second Billie thought she didn't fully register what her wife was saying, but the next second, what it took her to blink twice, she knew about what she was talking about. Billie had offered her to work with her in her show, as part of the team, and that moment had led to the worst argument they ever had, almost breaking up their relationship because Billie's stubborn ass wasn't capable to take a 'no' for an answer.

However, the offer was still there for Dara to take.

"It is Annie, for you it always have been," she replied, feeling her forwardness pick at her insides to ask a bit more...which she did. "What's with that change of heart, lovely?"

Billie thought she messed up when Dara didn't answer right away, but a soft sniffle along a solitary tear being caught in between her thumb and Dara's cheek told her she just did the correct thing.

"I want to be with you, I don't want anything bad happening to you while we are apart…" Billie's heart broke a little with the confession but she let her keep talking at her own pace. 

"Are you completely sure? I don't want you to do something you don't want to." Dara smirked ever so softly to that, mostly because it showed that Billie did change after all, and her free hand went to the one Billie had left in her cheek. 

“I’m sure of it, hundred percent,” more tears spilled by Dara even when she kept the soft smirk in her lips. "And I...I, well, I also think it's time to finally heal and overcome my fear to...my powers."

Billie always knew there was something more behind Dara’s aversion to use her powers. She barely used a little percentage most of the time, and now that there wasn’t someone that made her use those powers...Billie was afraid that her wife was about to lock it away and throw the key. But Dara never said anything about it and Billie felt it wasn’t her place to pry...except this time maybe would be what they needed to overcome that incognita once and for all.

Leaning to kiss her forehead first, Billie tried to kiss every inch of Dara’s face to reassure her, to kiss her tears away. It made her wife chuckle and by the time Billie reached her lips, Dara finally let go of her hands to circle her neck with her arms. Hugging her like that, Billie felt the warmth Dara lacked for the whole week started to pick at her skin, which was a huge change after getting nothing but cold and this emptiness for days.

“You don’t know how much I love you,” Billie was careful to not lay all her weight on top of Dara, but she couldn’t stop from kissing her again and again and again to show her how much the decision meant for her. “How much I...I don’t know, I’m just so excited...” It was the truth, Dara could discern that in Billie’s voice, but she could also feel this something that was telling her that Billie was holding something back. 

“But…?”

“But how are you feeling, my love...?” Now it was time for Dara to swoon, because the Billie from a few years ago would start to rumble right away, doing a bee line in her thoughts without paying attention to anything else. “Even if you tell me that, you still are bedridden.”

“As if I was ran over by rhinos, I can’t lie to that,” hearing Dara being a bit more cheerful made Billie rest her head in her chest, chuckling because her wife also did it. However, her voice dropped to a mere whisper after that. “But I’ll be okay, I just need to…”

“Eat, shower, move?” Billie dared to say, raising an eyebrow, and getting another teary chuckle from Dara. “Sorry, sorry...seeing you like this is...hard. I just want to help you as much as I can.”

The confession only made Dara to look at Billie with new eyes. She fully knew that, Billie was doing her best and if it wasn’t for her presence everyday of that week...she would’ve probably went much worse into the state she was in. Her hands found their way to Billie’s face so that way she could look directly at her and then...Dara only pressed her forehead to Billie’s in a soft knock.

“You already help me a lot, sugar,” Dara moved enough to leave a tiny kiss in the tip of Billie’s nose. She wasn’t crying anymore and that was good thing, but she still felt her cheeks a bit wet. “But I do agree in the shower par-”

Before Dara could keep talking, Billie’s phone ringed loudly, startling both and making them knock their heads harder because of it. Groaning both in pain, Billie managed to fish her phone from her robe’s pocket and when she saw who was calling, her thumb pressed quickly the screen to pick up.

“I almost gave my wife a concussion Audrey,” Billie said half joking half worried while checking that Dara was okay. “Is that a new reference for some sexual thi- Well, I don’t need to know right now,” Audrey’s voice was a bit rushed and whoever was breathing heavily by her side, was being loud enough to be heard through the speaker. “I was calling you guys to officially invite you to Damien’s...quinces,” Dara blinked confused at that and Billie frowned. “Quinces? But she’s about to turn sixteen,” in the other side of the line Audrey clicked her tongue at Dara’s words. “Yes, I know, but I’ll call you two later to explain everything better...and check on how you two are doing,” Audrey sighed a bit and Billie and Dara heard her reassuring whoever was by her side in a soft mumble. “I have to make like ten or fifteen more calls...and try to calm Danielle, she had a breakdown over where to throw the party. I love you two, bye.”

Billie couldn’t help but laugh at how Audrey hanged up on them, because those days it turned into a common thing to hang up on her. Dara smiled upon seeing her wife being effortless happy after all and she let her laugh to her heart’s content just for the sake of it. Like a shot of fresh air right into her lungs, helping her breath better.

“So...how does shower sounds like?” she said, bringing Billie back from her fit of laughter. “Shower and...go pick my niece’s gift?”

Billie noticed the tiredness and the sadness still laced in Dara’s voice, but having her take the initiative to do something was better than having her only lying down in a burrito of blankets. So she nodded for a second before pressing a new kiss to Dara’s forehead, exactly where they hit each other, with a new idea forming in her head.

“We can also pick some new clothes and maybe that new laptop for my brand new second researcher and location manager,” and Billie couldn’t help but smile as wide as she could when Dara’s eyes shone with that. “What do you think about that, honey?”

[craftystampin]

Stampin Scoop Hello, Irresistible and More Online Exclusives Suite Episode 156

Stampin Scoop Hello, Irresistible and More Welcome back for part 2 of the Stampin’ Scoop show featuring the Stampin’ Up! Online Exclusives with lots of Hello, Irresistible Collection samples. Stampin’ Up’s just dropped a new line of “Online Exclusive” products. Tami and I shared a sampling of them in our pre-order haul last month but now we’re able to share them all! And in addition to the hot…

[africaphotographytours-blog]

Africa Strolling Tours - What You Have to Think About Strolling Safaris

The starting point of African safaris can be followed back to the strolling tours which the early pilgrims, ministers and trophy trackers did in the hardest conditions known to man. While these pioneers of safari had an entire life committed to crossing the African mainland by walking, you can appreciate a quality strolling visit in Africa even with predetermined number of days

What makes strolling occasions such prevalent travel encounters? Just put it is the enchantment of outside; the sound of leaves smashing under your boots, the sparkling shades of a winged creature in flight and the smell of new blossoms. Strolling is an emphatically addictive interest as there are medical advantages related from strolling and being outside.

A guided strolling visit to Africa is a rush that lets you get in the African natural life well away from the mass the travel industry. The kind of game you are probably going to see will clearly rely upon the area of your strolling safari. An all around considered walk should give you sightings of giraffes, zebras and different gazelles. There are places where you may stroll without a furnished officer however where there is perilous game an equipped officer is fundamental for wellbeing.

Generally speaking wellbeing ought to be the deciding element and in a perfect world you ought not get in nearness with hazardous game, for example, lions, bison, elephants, rhinos or hippos.

Is an African strolling visit about natural life seeing? Surely not. There is wide assortment of beautiful fowls, various types of plants and a view is ever changing and spellbinding. visit here africa photography tours

Are there places which can be positioned as the best for strolling safaris? There is no correct response for this, as best is an extremely relative term.The Southern African nations had a previous beginning in strolling safaris however the East African nations are rapidly making up for lost time. Private game conservancies and little national parks give more an incentive to your guided strolling visit as they are not visited by mass the travel industry.

An inquiry in the web will flood you with many strolling safaris administrators and keeping in mind that this has the upside of tours and costs on offer, it raises the issue of nature of the tours particularly on directing abilities. There is a reasonable contrast between a path direct whom you follow aimlessly and a naturalist safari control who brings life into your visit by clarifying and deciphering creatures conduct, gives you plants with restorative qualities and shows you hedge ingrained instincts.

Note that a mobile occasion requires preferable readiness over a cabin to-stop bundle safari. It is accordingly essential to do a careful personal investigation on the experience of the strolling occasion's supplier and his aides before booking the visit.

To make the most of your African strolling safari, it helps that your visit is completely upheld with back-up vehicles or creatures for conveying baggage. In many strolling places the vehicles prove to be useful in that you can bounce in and do a game drive as opposed to strolling. See whether there is adaptability of exercises in your strolling occasion.

Your convenience during the strolling safari ought to be near the strolling destinations to lessen the measure of time taken for moves. Guided strolling tours in East Africa should be possible throughout the entire year. Indeed, even in the blustery season up to one isn't enjoying nature out in the hedge, it is conceivable to go out for strolls. Truly, life never stops in Africa! It is bound to rain toward the evening , so you can in any case make the most of your initial morning strolls.

The separations strolled change, however take a gander at 10-12 km with visit stops for game survey. In a perfect world it should be feasible for the strolling gathering to separate to suit various capacities as well as various interests, for example, birdwatching and nature photography.

Since you know the fundamentals of an African strolling visit, hit the console for a mobile safari that suits you.

Anne Huysman is the co-proprietor of Ontdek Kenya, an African Safari administrator situated in Kenya. With 13 yrs experience, her forte is guided strolling get-aways, winged animal watching tours and mindful untamed life safaris from mass the travel industry.

[orokinarchives]

A Favour for Darvo

(A Favour for Darvo banner)

27 November 2013 – 29 November 2013

Prelude

In September, Darvo issued a series of day-long Darvo Deals. At the time, Darvo was not a constant fixture to the Tenno, as the Relays where he sets up shop had not been built yet. Accordingly, Darvo Deals tended to be notable and rare.

19 September:

Hey, Tenno – you interested in a deal? I've got a few you can't refuse. I have recently come into possession of some valuable wares, fit for Tenno. Certain 'unfriendly individuals' would dearly like to have it back, so I must liberate stock quickly. I believe we can both benefit from my predicament.

Today I can offer you a Stealth Pack at 25% less than my competitors – the best gear for eliminating your enemies silently. It includes the PARIS compound hunting bow, lethal KUNAI throwing daggers and the deadly multi-bladed GLAIVE.

I will have more items available in the coming days. Be sure to check back often; I can only offer them for a limited time.

—Darvo

20 September:

Tenno… if you missed my deal yesterday, don't worry about it. Here's a new one that may pique your interest. Want to enter the most sought-after place this side of the solar system? Here's your chance.

I have an abundance of Void Keys I need to unload fast, so they're 25% less than what my competitors offer. Five Void Keys – including one guaranteed Rare Key – will grant you access to secret missions outside the realms of normal space. Here you'll be able to run missions and find the rarest, most amazing materials and blueprints known to Tenno.

I can't hold on to this valuable cargo for long, so this deal is only available for a limited time. Chop, chop, Tenno.

—Darvo

21 September:

So, I have a situation where I have access to a large stock of warframes. Don't worry, totally legitimate sources.

I've heard my competitors are planning on offering a new Ultimate Warframe pack. I'm willing to offer you this pack before they even release it AND at a 25% discount from their proposed price. How about Mag, Nova, Frost, Rhino, Trinity, Ember, Ash, Excalibur, Banshee, Loki, Saryn, Nyx, Volt and Vauban? Sound good? Fourteen warframes in all. This should surely keep you fighting for some time.

My competitors are starting to catch on to my trade business and don't appreciate my deals as much as you do. So get this deal in the Market before it's too late.

—Darvo

25 September:

I have a very rare opportunity for you Tenno. Perhaps you have heard of Dread, Despair and Hate? You know, the signature stealth weapons of a certain elusive assassin? An assassin whose attentions may now be turned my way. My competitors I can handle, but this guy… this guy is serious. I would rather not find out how effective these weapons are first-hand.

You can have the pack at 25% off. I really need to get rid of this stock. Then I need to do my own disappearing act and put Darvo's Deals on hiatus. You understand, right?

It's been a pleasure doing business with you, Tenno. See you when I see you, if I see you.

—Darvo

After this latest Darvo Deal, where he sold the Stalker's weaponry, Darvo disappeared for some time, briefly surfacing a couple weeks later.

15 November:

Vaults are good hiding spots. They're hard to find and even harder to get into. Believe me, I know – it's the reason I still have all my fingers.

Tenno, what if I told you I've been able to collect a wide assortment of vault keys? Dangerous vaults, too hairy for a simple merchant like myself. But someone of your talents? You might appreciate what's inside.

See… I'm reopening my business, but before I can show my face again, I need to pay off some old debts. You understand, right? You won't find my Vault Pack anywhere else, and the price is crazy low. What do you say, for old times' sake?

—Darvo

Alert

On Wednesday (27 November 2013), the alert became available and was present for two days. The Tenno received an inbox message from Darvo.

Inbox message: Just a Small Favour?

My friends,

I have a small favour to ask of you. No, no, favour is the wrong word. You don't get paid for favours, but for this I can pay you. Not in advance, of course, but when you are done there will be plenty to go around. Hell, once this is done, I'll be able to offer you my deals again.

Let me get to the point. There's a ship. A ship I own but am not currently in possession of. All you need to do is sneak onto this ship and take care of something for me. Nothing major. I know you can handle the work. I'll explain when you're on board.

What do you say, will you help your old friend Darvo out?

Oh and by the way, I'd appreciate it if you keep this between you and me. There is no reason for the Lotus to know about this little arrangement.

—Darvo

Mission

The alert was a Mobile Defence mission on Janus, Saturn, using the Corpus Ship tileset, with normal Corpus enemies. There were three Mobile Defence terminals. Unlike most missions, Darvo himself serves as the mission control, instead of Ordis or the Lotus.

Darvo: "Here we go. Are you ready? I'm ready. Take that datamass and drop it into the system. I'll be able to hack into the ship remotely once you do. Should be easy. You'll find what I need in no time."

Darvo: "Just so you know, I'm a bit new to this whole guide thing, so it's not going to be like the Lotus. Don't worry; everything will be just fine."

(when nearing the first terminal) Darvo: "I think you're near a terminal. Yes, yes you are. Drop me in and I'll get to work."

Darvo: "You're close; drop me in."

(halfway through the first hack) Darvo: "Just making a few more adjustments. Nothing strange going on down there? Just Corpus defences? Nothing… else?"

(after hacking the first terminal) Darvo: "That's it. Hmm… I didn't find what I needed. Go to the next terminal. It should be there. I think."

(halfway through the second hack) Darvo: "Did you hear something strange? No? Okay, I'll keep going. Nearly done."

(after hacking the second terminal) Darvo: "I'm really sorry about this, Tenno, but you need to go to the third terminal. I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for here."

(when nearing the third terminal) Darvo: "Here we are. The last one. I'm going to try one more thing to see if I can't lure… I mean, find… the target."

Halfway through defending the last terminal, the Stalker appeared. The Tenno had to defeat the Stalker while still protecting the terminal.

(when the Stalker appears) Darvo: "There you are. Thought you could hunt me? Well, look who I brought: the Tenno."

(upon the Stalker being defeated) Darvo: "You did it! You took care of my problem. That freak's been tailing me for months. That's a load off my back. I'm so relieved."

After that the mission proceeded as usual towards extraction, and the Tenno was rewarded with a built Forma. Once the mission was completed, it could not be run again.

Aftermath

After the alert was completed, the Tenno received an inbox message from Darvo informing them of a new deal in the Market.

Inbox message: Darvo's Deals Are Back!

Friends!

You did it, you got that freak off my back. Well, some of you did and some of you didn't quite make it, but I won't hold that against any of you. What matters is I can now come out of hiding, and that means more deals for everyone.

To celebrate this occasion, I have put together the Super Charge Pack. It is everything you need to take your warframe to the next level, including boosters, an Orokin Reactor and Catalyst, Forma, and even extra warframe and weapon slots. Because there is no longer a price on my head, you all get half price on this deal. That's right, 50% off this amazing pack.

I'm not done yet, either. Keep an eye out for more deals over the next couple of days.

—Darvo

The next day, Darvo had another deal in the Market.

Inbox message: Let Me Make It Up to You

Friends,

I am hearing a very troubling rumour. Apparently, some of you feel that I took advantage of the Tenno. That I should have warned you I was luring a very dangerous assassin to your location so that you could kill him for me. But, friends, had I warned you, you may not have helped, and where would that leave me? You want me back in business, don't you?

Look, let me make it up to you. Courtesy of your hard work, I have a very special bundle for you. A Nekros warframe, the Carrier sentinel, a Soma rifle, and the ever-deadly Ether Reaper. All at half the usual market prices. Come on, Tenno, tell me a deal like that isn't worth a little risk?

—Darvo

After that, there was yet another deal in the Market.

Inbox message: One More Deal

Tenno,

I have one more deal for you. What do you think of a pack containing the Dread bow, Despair throwing blades and a Hate scythe? The Tenno who helped me out will know firsthand just how destructive these weapons can be. Last time I offered this pack, I got myself into a little bit of hot water. Now, thanks to your efforts, the pressure is off, and this time I can offer this deal at half price.

As for me, I am running out of stock, but I have a hot tip on some new product. Don't worry though, Tenno, I have learned my lesson. Everything will be aboveboard from now on. Trust me.

So long for now, Darvo

[Navigation: Hub → Events → Special Alerts → A Favour for Darvo]

[bobbinonsafari]

Kenya Cats

It was a lovely day in Kenya. Up early (why did we think that was a good idea?), the coffee delivered to our cottage (French press) was a disaster, but thankfully, there was coffee available at the main sitting area before we left. Eric and Peter both met us, Eric seemingly enthusiastic to see us again (until he left mid-morning for guide-training activities). The morning drive was nice - perhaps fewer animals than we would typically see in Botswana, but still wonderful. We stopped and watched a very fun baboon troop for a while. There were some very tiny babies learning to climb, one baboon who ran screaming away from a larger one chasing it, youngsters playing and teasing each other: quite the active scene. Baboons may not be the most beautiful creatures, but they sure are entertaining.

On we went and Peter spotted a cheetah quite a ways away. Nearby were giraffes and zebras meandering across the plain past the cheetah. He looked - on and off - like he was going to attack and we’re ashamed to admit we were ready to watch a “kill.” My, how one’s sensitivities change after a few weeks in the bush!!! Alas, after almost an hour, the cheetah was still stringing us along so we moved on. Oh, did we mention that while we were excited to see A rhino, we’ve found them to be “around every corner” – jaded, much?

We spotted a couple of monkeys on a fallen tree limb who were being dive-bombed by some birds. There was general craziness as the monkeys in turn tried to reach up and catch the birds. LOL. We’re told that likely the birds were defending their eggs or babies nearby. Not too far away, there was an eagle quietly/patiently observing (stalking?) a few Guinea fowl. Again, we gave up before he attacked. So interesting, this animal behavior in the bush!

We started back in the direction of the camp, and found breakfast awaiting us on a ridge - lovely buffet, with - of course - a washing station, and chairs to relax as we ate. Peter teased us about leaving us to hunt ostriches and Guinea fowl for eggs, and while he didn’t do that, he DID hide behind a tree and cook us scrambled eggs on toast!

We returned to the camp in time for our tour of the Lewa “Ops Center.” Peter drove us over with fellow guests Carol and Dave. On the way, we caught up with our cheetah from this morning. She was resting under a bush in an area where the vehicle could pull up within a few feet of her for a simply amazing view of her face and gorgeous fur. After a few minutes for photo-taking and admiring, we were back on the way. The “Ops Center”, about three years old, was fascinating, with big screens that monitor rhinos, elephants, and the people who patrol the conservancy to protect them. Conservation is serious business here!

Both of us were exhausted and totally crashed after a lovely lunch back at camp. We hadn’t really caught up from our gorilla days and transit to Kenya. Our naps were thoroughly refreshing and we were ready for the afternoon. Peter alone took us out this afternoon for our game drive. It started slow, but we had a few great sightings. Peter spotted two lions - a male and female - quite a ways away, relaxing together under a bush. It was a challenge to get photos, particularly as the wind was quite strong and made it hard to stabilize a camera! There wasn’t any action so after a bit, we carried on. Our sundowner was across a little stream from a hyena apartment building (a series of holes in the earth having been previously dug by aardvarks) with little ones coming out and going back in or resting. Man, they are seriously ugly creatures! It was cold, so we bundled up for the drive home, stopping to check on our lions. Yay. There they were, well, at least the female with two cubs romping. It was dusk and the light was fading fast, but we caught some good playing of the cubs with the mom standing (well, sitting) watch.

Back at camp, we joined the group for drinks and then a wonderful meal: tomato salad followed by leg of lamb with carrots and potatoes, then chocolate mousse and birthday cake (one of the other guests) for desert. Life is good. Conversation was good with the very interesting characters we’ve met here; nice ending to a good kitty-viewing kind of day....

August 6, 2018

[cosmos-demiplane]

Microsoft E3 2018 Press Conference Thoughts

Another year, another E3, time to post on my seldom used blog! No promises for when this is going to be more active... but we will have to see what the future holds!

So I’ll start by saying I’m not an Xbox guy, I play mainly PlayStation and PC with a bit of Switch thrown in there for good measure. I won’t be making a big post like this for the other conferences except Sony’s and maybe Nintendo’s.  I’ll be looking at all the things mentioned out of chronology, but in an order that bundles the similar stuff together.

This time around Microsoft gave us one hell of a show. Forgetting the exclusives for now, as a PlayStation player I was very happy with the showcase. They showed off 15 world premieres of games, some noticeable ones that I’m personally excited for were: The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (Set in the Life is Strange universe), The Division 2 (they probably feel privileged they got to announce this), Devil May Cry 5 (surprising to see this and other eastern developed games here as I would normally expect this to be revealed at Sony’s show), Jump Force (Blew my freaking mind, a weeaboo gamers wet dream), Dying Light 2 (Again, Xbox got to unveil this, I know PS is scaling back this year but hot damn, incredible), Just Cause 4, and they rounded out the show with a major title that I am very much looking forward to (more on that one at the end!). In brief, WHAT A SHOW. I want all these games *sigh*.

Notable mentions - NieR: Automata is coming to Xbox, Fallout 76 was briefly talked about before Bethesda’s show, Kingdom Hearts 3 will be coming to Xbox (!), Tales of Vespira, Shadow of the tomb raider, Tunic (furry Zelda, looks cute and the world has a nice design, but the design of the player character is meh imo), and I guess I have to put Gears 5 in here somewhere or someone will bite my arm off.

THE GAME PASS, the value of this thing keeps getting better, The Division, Elder Scrolls Online, and Fallout 4 are being added as well as some new tach (machine learning algorithms) that allows your games to start twice as fast. I don’t think the internet infrastructure is in place yet for the future of purely streamed games, but tools like this will probably help it become a stable, staple service sooner rather than later.

Next I want to talk about exclusives, but before I do I’ll put this game (DLC) here as I’m very much looking forward to it, Sea of Thieves Cursed Sails and Forsaken Shores. These next two updates to Rare’s open world PvP pirate game, which I love, should hopefully inject it with some more much needed content (and hopefully not a time limited campaign!).

Xbox’s weakest point has always been its exclusives. After the cancellation of Scalebound and the further delay of Crackdown 3, they had to show us something during this conference to give us confidence in the future of the platform. After all, strong exclusives lead to strong sales, growth, competition etc. And of course, great games all around.

And oh boy did they deliver! FIVE studios have been brought into the fold to increase their roster of First Party exclusives (The quality of these studios can be discussed later, for now let’s just focus on the positives). The first, one formed for the occasion: The Initiative, led by the guy who worked on Tomb Raider. The other four were snatched up as part of a major investment: Undead Labs (State of Decay), Playground Games (Forza Horizon), Ninja Theory (Formally a PS third party dev, they made 2007s Heavenly Sword and 2017s Hellblade), and finally Compulsion Games (Currently working on We Happy Few). Ninja Theory is the big one that will help them the most against the competition, and for the others, the extra money they will receive from being first party will no doubt be a boon to the scope and quality of their games (looking at you State of Decay!).

The exclusive games they did show off were a mix of the highly anticipated and totally unexpected. Battle Toads, a game wanted by the passionate community was show to exist, with a release date of 2019. Session, a new and exclusive skateboarding game was shown. Forza Horizon 4 was shown off, open world, changing seasons, it looks very different to what they have done with the franchise previously. Crackdown 3 was shown to alleviate fears of any more delays (although, anything is possible).

Lastly, before I give my general thoughts, I wanted to give the show opener and closer their own section. They opened the show by unveiling Halo Infinite, the trailer gave vibes of it being a more open world full of wildlife (rhinos anyone??) and a story centred on Master Chief. Other than that and the name, no other info was given, but you can bet it will be taking the series in a new direction. The show was closed, remarkably, by CD Projekt Red’s, Cyberpunk 2077! They have been silent about this game for a while (approx. 2077 days in fact!) because they pride themselves on quality and only showing their stuff when it’s ready. There was no release date given as the game is still in the oven, but I highly recommend you watch the trailer as this is surely going to be one of the best games of the decade.

Of course there are a few things I left out of smaller importance (PUBG was there for some reason?), but, onto my thoughts. I’ll keep this bit brief because I think you can already gather what my opinion is going to be - Holy shit this was the best Xbox conference in the history of Xbox conferences, maybe ever. Awesome exclusives, brand new/acquired studios, game pass improvements, many BIG world premieres, amazing games for everyone; this conference honestly felt like a show for every gamer as much as it did a show for just Xbox fans. I am excited and looking forward to the future of Xbox and the new first party games they will create. This conference seriously impressed me, and E3 has only just begun!

I don’t like thinking of E3 as a competition, but I don’t see how the others can trump this. Bethesda will be the best conference for Bethesda fans, Sony has downscaled, and Nintendo showed all its cards when it won E3 last year. This year has started on a high and I can’t see it getting any higher, which is a great feeling! If the other conferences are anything like this one, this is going to be an incredible E3!

[alexneon-posts]

How much do fellows earn? | ENT Doctor in Lahore

ENT Specialist In National Hospital

In case you are encountering a typical ear, nose or throat issue that isn't responding to therapeutic treatment, your ENT master may provoke restorative technique, for which the aptitudes of a remarkably qualified ENT-expert will be required. An ENT expert is generally called an otolaryngologist or otorhinolaryngologist. The restorative term 'otorhinolaryngologist' is gotten from the Classical Greek words 'ot' which means ear, 'rhino' which means nose, 'laryng' which means throat, and 'logy' which means inspect. It really connotes 'the examination of the ear, nose and throat.

ENT-masters speak to impressive expert in performing medicinal method for the treatment of various conditions, contaminations and deformations, related to the ears, nose, throat, head and neck. They are basically therapeutic masters with higher educations (MD, DO, MBBS, MBChB), who have completed at any rate one year of general cautious residency, and at any rate four years of ear, nose and throat cautious residency. Additionally, some ENT pros complete phenomenal getting ready tasks to speak to extensive specialist in fields, for instance, pediatric ENT, laryngology and otology. On a typical, ENT authorities get an aggregate of fifteen to sixteen years of getting ready in the field, before they begin practicing.

In a bleeding edge ENT focus, an ENT pro is commonly supported by ENT authorities similarly as readied specialists, anesthetists and other therapeutic partners. Some fundamental sorts of restorative method performed by ENT experts are: (ENT doctor In National Hospital)

• Tonsillectomy: This approach is one of the most outstanding restorative systems performed by an Ear Nose Throat authority. It is typically admonished when a patient experiences dull defilements of serious tonsillitis. Tonsillectomies can realize uneasiness for two or three days, and may occasionally require a center remain. Patients generally recover in around a short time.

• Rhinoplasty: This strategy can be performed for elegant reasons, similarly with respect to useful or reconstructive purposes. The procedure generally suffers between one to four hours, dependent upon the multifaceted nature of the particular case. Sometimes, bone and tendon is joined from various bits of the patient's body, and transplanted to the nose.

• Adenoidectomy: This technique incorporates the departure of the adenoids, which are a singular bundle of tissue, arranged at the back of the nose. A segment of the clarifications behind which clearing is prescribed are unlimited pollutions, incapacitated breathing and ear diseases. Adenoidectomies are regularly performed on an outpatient premise, under general anesthesia.

• Removal of swellings: ENT-authorities may much of the time need to clear injuries and swellings in the ear, nose, throat, neck and head area. In addition, they may in like manner a portion of the time need to remove harmful or non-perilous tumors, as well.

• Hearing adversity: Individuals may every so often lose their ability to hear fittingly, due to unplanned harm, sickness, status or various segments. From time to time, they may hear impossible to miss commotions in their ears, like a murmuring, tinkling or squeaking. In case the patient's hearing does not get changed through prescriptions or treatment, they may be provoked ear restorative method.

If you have been urged to direct with an ENT expert by your PCP, you should pick an especially experienced ENT authority, whom you trust and approve of.

An ear nose and throat expert (ENT professional master), moreover called otolaryngologist, otorhinolaryngologist or, rhinolaryngologist, is a remedial specialist in the dissipates of the ear or nose or throat, and related structures of the head and neck.

Best ENT Specialist in Lahore

In the present-day restorative circumstance, over portion of all specialist office visits are for ENT issues. In regulating ailments of the ears, nose and nasal section sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral sorrow and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), similarly as structures of the neck and face, ENT masters have exceptional capacity with respect to the issue.

As of now, the ENT is the most prepared restorative specialty in the United States.

For the examples of ear-related issues, the treatment consolidates helpful and cautious treatment for hearing issue, balance issue, ear illnesses, issue of the facial nerve or cranial nerve, similarly as the administrators of inherent and threatening issue, both of the outer and inward ear.

Do fellows get paid more than residents? | Best ENT Doctor in Lahore

For dissipates related to nose, managing the sinuses and the nasal opening is one of the basic aptitudes of the ENT master. Treating the issues of the nasal wretchedness, feeling of smell, paranasal sinuses, nasal breath (breathing) and sensitivities, similarly as the external appearance of the nose are a bit of an ENT's particular theme.

For the throat-related contaminations and issues, the ENT authority has an ability in managing the messes of the larynx (voice box) and the throat or upper aerodigestive tract, which fuses the dissipates of the voice breath (breathing) and swallowing. (Cosmetic Surgeon In National Hospital)

Other than all of these regions, an ENT master is in like manner arranged to treat tumors (both positive and unsafe/dangerous), overpowering sicknesses, distortions of the face and facial damage. The ENT stars perform both therapeutic plastic and reconstructive restorative methods.

An ENT ace may work with a gathering of authorities in other therapeutic and cautious strong points. He is set up to start practicing after up to 15 years of school and postgraduate planning, just as various traditions. For an inexorably expansive planning, immense quantities of the ENT masters look for following an a multi year organization in one of the seven subspecialty zones, which include: pediatric otolaryngology (youths), otology/neurotology (ears and evening out), affectability, facial plastic and reconstructive therapeutic method, head and neck medicinal system, laryngology(throat) and rhinology (nose).

A solid and steady ear nose and throat pro has a huge data of most of the physical structures and organs in the neck and head locale. Routinely, all ENT specialists handle ear-harms, hearing disaster, unpleasantness, insecurity, adenoidectomies, and sinus ailment and tonsillectomies nosebleeds. The broadest trial of an OK ENT is in giving the best in patient thought through capacities and experience.

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