#and the schedule works great that I can keep doing coms consistently | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

teeth-and-tea · 3 years

Text

ANIME & MANGA I HAVE BINGED IN THE LAST MONTH: May 2021

I've Been Hunting Slimes for the Past 300 Years and Now Ive Maxed Out My Level: incredibly long name aside, cute af slice of life that suffers Same Face Syndrome. I'm still happy to watch it because of how feel good and fluffy it is though, Im probably gonna forget about it in two or three years tho. 8/10.

Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro: I found out this was a webcomic first and suddenly all the HORNINESS made so much more sense. A Femdom, Degradation, Humiliation, Dacryphilia Bullies to Lovers story disguised as a high school rom-com which, I'm not going to lie, misses SKEEVY CITY by mere inches on a regular basis. However, I'm a Dom/Switch and this entire relationship sets off my dom brain center like New York City just shy of midnight. So if you're into that sort of scene, this anime is for you. If not, it's still fascinating but you're probably gonna be a little put off by how mean the Girl!Bully is to the guy MC. Unless you find out something about yourself, in which case, congrats! Stay safe, sane, consensual, and learn about the traffic light system on top of safe words, I promise you'll have a better life in general after that. Still Ongoing, currently 10/10.

Fruits Basket: IM GONNA CRY I LOVE THIS ANIME SO MUCH???? The original anime came out when I was in... I think middle school and my parents were really strict on what I watched so I never got to experience the first wave and I never bothered to watch the show ever after I moved out of the house years later. However, now that I'm much older I honestly can say this is one of my favorite anime to date, and all the characters are charming, lovable, with their own problems that I can connect to or sympathize with, and I love the MC which is always a treat tbh. Except Akito. Akito can suck a sandpaper dick. I'm only on S2 tho so no spoilers! Anime 11/10.

Monster Girl Doctor: went in thinking it was gonna be a monster girl who's a doctor with a homoerotic assistant (her name is SAPPHY okay sue me for thinking it) and ended up watching the entire dubbed harem series. Honestly, I've seen worse and this one has consistent follow-through on interesting characters and backstory enough for me to shove aside the blatant under-monstrousness of the female monsters and the harem-ness of everything else. Dubbing is honestly really good, which is a treat, and the monster designs are not the worst and the MC is tolerable. Honestly, I don't mind having watched it! The mix of cgi and the traditional animation together work pretty strangely though, and it often doesn't flow super well. 7.5/10

So I'm a Spider, So What: Dubbed version which honestly isn't that bad. Took me a bit to get into it, but after realizing that it's got a mismatched timeline a la The Witcher, it made so much more sense. Heavily done in cgi, and you can definitely tell between the 2D and 3D animations, but not the worst in the world. I went in not expecting much but it ended up being an Issekai I can stand and even enjoy. On god has a decent story... with the spider. I'd be a liar if I didnt say I skipped some of the human parts just to get back to the best part of the show. 8/10.

Somali and the Forest Spirit: I'm so fucking nostalgic for this thing it makes me want to go and hug my dad. About a human girl under threat of being eaten with a monster-dominated world. Very obvious "humans fear what they don't understand" message but instead of the humans learning tolerance it's what happens when they get annihilated first so like, kudos for the mangaka for having the guts to do that. I cried like a baby regularly. It's really good, I watched the dub and ID WATCH IT AGAIN!!! 9/10.

To Your Eternity: Oh my god. O h my g o d. Fell in love on the first episode, ngl. About if an immortal being learned how to be a person from scratch. I love it. HOWEVER. Keep a box of tissues on you at all times because you're gonna need them. I'm only on EP7 because that's all that's out right now but just know. I love it. Not for everyone but certainly for my "what do we define as human and the human condition" ass. 12/10.

Those Snow White Notes: A sports anime without any sports. About shamisen playing which is cool because I never realized how cool this instrument was??? Its neat af. OP1&2 are by Burnout Syndrom so know theyre fire. Gonna be real, its pretty alright, but not extraordinary. You can tell they were using the characters as archetypes rather than actually characters which kinda kills a lot of the emotional value you could've had, but I'm still gonna watch it. It doesn't make me cringe as hard as other sports anime tho so I consider it toptier in that regards but if you're a big sports anime fan you might be bummed out by it. Every single musical performance is INCREDIBLE tho. A solid 8/10.

Toilet Bound Hanako-kun: THE ART OMFG IT'S SO GORGEOUS. Listen, if you took coptic markers and gave them an animation budget with some manga panel direction thrown in there, that's this anime. It's beautiful. Gorgeous. I'm in love with the aesthetic every second. Story? Really good. Characters? I love the MC and his evil little twin brother asshat. Demons? Not super imaginative but I'm carrying on happy as can be anyways. Dubbing? A bit shaky at times but I found the voices charming if a little off for some of them. I'm already waiting for the second season with popcorn at the ready. 10/10.

Prison School: I watched this directly after Hanako-kun and it was like I got slapped in the face by sweaty unwashed titties and some fedora wearing schmuck's piss kink. No character is likable or redeemable. I finished it, but at what cost? 2/10 and only because a character shit his pants and I laughed.

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle: watched this right after Prison School and it was NECESSARY tbh. Its so CUTE and honestly, im not even kidding you, the fucking funniest anime I've seen in months. I watched the dub and the VAs are having the time of their lives working on this anime not just giving it their all but literally just going ham. Its great. If I read this im sure id be bored outta my mind but the VAs giving it a joyous performance make it an insta fave for me tbh. 9/10.

Sk8 the Infinity: i watched the dub with my bro and I can confirm that its a spectacular show because we both loved it and we have vastly different tastes. Incredibly SUSPENSFUL AND STRESSFUL for an anime about skateboarding but we finished it in a single sitting tbh. The last episode is not dubbed for some reason but we still loved it. Like if Free! was less obnoxious but the only fan-service here is Joe ♡ a beefcake who owns my lesbian heart. I think there's exactly one named female character tho and I legit couldn't tell you what it was if there was a gun to my head. So, over all, 9.5/10.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: I'm going to be entirely honest, I went in thinking it was going to be a boring isekai of no value. I was right about the Isekai part. It was honestly pretty interesting and focused on nation building like you're playing civilization rather than the usual "Get Stronger" narrative or "Get Some Pussy" narrative most isekais take which is delightfully refreshing. Granted there are flavors of that in this which means it doesn't alienate the big isekai watchers out there, but it's not the whole dish and it doesn't make me want to cringe the same way others do. You've got a slime MC just vibing and building a nation of monsters nbd. Does lose points for making the female monsters more humanoid than their male counterparts but makes them back by only doing perfunctory fan-service and nothing that makes me want to cry... except the butt sumo episode but in fairness it was all a terrible dream. Literally, the MC refuses to dream anymore after that. solid animation, decent voice acting, decent story, made me realize how HUGE this is in the Light Novel community???? There's like 18 fucking novels and that's WILD. 8.5/10.

MANGA:

Spirit Photographer Saburo Kono: a one shot special by the mangaka of The Promised Neverland! Honestly a really delicate touch of both super creepy and really touching, and I'm not gonna lie I'm bummed that this isn't a bigger project but the single chapter makes it a good taste for their style. I've been wondering if I wanna read/watch The Promised Neverland and now I think I will. 10/10

Deranged Detective Ron Kamonohashi: from the mangaka of Hitman Reborn comes this Sherlock and Watson derivative! Not even 20 chapters out yet with a sort of spotty schedule, I honestly love it even thought it's exactly as you expect. HOWEVER. Kamonohashi the "Sherlock" character uses mental pressure to kill all confirmed murderers and it's up to Toto the "Watson" character to save all those people before Kamonohashi kills them! It's just recently introduced a "Moriarty" family of crime lords (not a big spoiler don't worry it was obvious) so the tension surrounding Ron's past is amping up rn. Personally, I think the art is GORGEOUS, the characters engaging, and the story quick enough to keep my interest. Most mysteries are solved within a chapter or two so you're not stuck 20 chapters into one locked room mystery which is just peachy tbh. RN, 10/10. If this gets an anime, I anticipate a legion of fangirls who ship the two main characters along with their many friends. I've been alive too long to believe otherwise.

Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro: Yeah I read the manga after I watched the show. A slower build than the anime, but it works for the format, if theyd done the same with the show then I don't think it wouldve done as well. Honestly? Cuter tbh but just as horny. You dont start really LEARNING about your character until like, chap 65 tho and no real "drama" happens until like 75. A good chunk of the chapters are like 8pgs so its a breeze to get through. I love these slow burn idiots of the century. 9.5/10 because you can DEFINITELY tell the mangaka does hentai too.

Yugen's All-Ghouls Homeroom: one-shot by the mangaka for Food Wars, it's no wonder there's this constant perviness from the MC, a guy who can see and exorcise spirits. Takes place at an all girl's finishing school with KICK ASS monsters tbh, kinda bummed its not longer. The MC? Blatant monsterfucker who is also a CONFRIMED monsterfucker???? Idk i vibe with that single emotion. Everything else is hit or miss. 7/10 for monsters and cool concept, lost points for the MC very pointedly being okay with admitting he'd wait for the teenagers to be adults tho. Creepy af. Could live without that.

Hell's Paradise: I finished the entire 127chps in 3 days and I was really enthusiastic about it 90% of the time thinking about how deep it was and then I actually thought about it and I ended up being very neutral about the whole thing tbh. The art is fantastic tho, but DEFINITELY deserving of the M rating. Tits. Tits everywhere. But not tits to be ecchi over, no, monster hermit tits on beautiful women-ish figures. Now generally I give that a pass but a huge theme in the story is that men and women are "no better than one or the other" but like, lady tits are what you see 99% of the time. Men tits are few and far between. I call bullshit on most of the "deep" themes is what I'm saying, so it's like the mangaka was trying for those deep thoughts but missed the margin a little too far for my preference. That being said, the MC is a married man who loves his wife which automatically makes him my favorite character so like... idk so many good things, so many misses, but overall really spectacular themes and imagery. Unique but classic all at once. It's getting an anime and I have NO IDEA how much censorship they're gonna be doing but they're going to be doing SO MUCH. Oh yeah, and one guy is a plant/human hybrid who fucks a 1000 year old plant-hermit which makes him a canon monster fucker. And one canon non-binary character who I, a nonbinary, actually like. So like... gosh I've got mixed feelings. 8.5/10.

Choujin X: From Sui Ishida, mangaka to the mega hit Tokyo Ghoul comes this brand new manga!... Of one chapter, lol. Not really binge-y because it's just the one chapter out right now but I'm already keeping my eye on it. The grasp on anatomy in the art is PHENOMENAL and you can see Ishida flexing his art skill which is great. Can't give a true rating but I'm giving it a tentative 9/10 because I'm excited to see more.

Shag&Scoob: technically not a manga, its an ongoing webcomic I binged an subscribed to in one day and I just think it deserves more attention. Starts off funny with "what if Scooby Doo had a gun" and has been led to "what if all cartoons are aliens that survive and receive their powers by the humans that love them in an epic war with Martians." On god, its good. I finished the current series in a couple hours so it's a breezy read, highly recommend it. 9/10.

To Your Eternity: Yeah I watched the anime and then finished all current 143 chapters in like 3 days. GOD IM WEAK. I don't buy physical manga unless I know I want to remember the story forever and I'm already budgeting for the current books out. Yeah, this is a good series. That being said, definitely not for the faint of heart or those who suffer under common triggers like suicide, molestation, death, etc. It's all framed as bad and necessary to the story don't get me wrong, but it's there and has lasting affects on the characters. Incredible story telling by the creator of A Silent Voice. Keep tissues nearby at all times. 12/10.

#i've been killing slimes for 300 years and maxed out my level #don't toy with me miss nagatoro #spirit photographer saburo kono #fruits basket #deranged detective ron kamonohashi #yugen's all-ghoul's homeroom #monster girl doctor #so i'm a spider so what #somali and the forest spirit #to your eternity #jigokuraku #hell's paradise #choujin x #shag and scoob #toilet bound hanako kun #prison school #sk8 the infinity #that time i got reincarnated as a slime

45 notes · View notes

bronanlynch · 3 years

Text

(bi)weekly media update

apparently I just. do these every two weeks now huh. sorry to the tuesday again no problem extended universe crew for being unable to keep to a consistent schedule

listening: Curses by The Crane Wives, a band that I just started listening to but I like their sound, nice and fun and folksy, lots of songs with ominous lyrics that are good on fanmixes

youtube

honorary mention to the new Lil Nas X song because we are all love the new Lil Nas X song, it’s a bop, it’s been stuck in my head on and off ever since I heard it, and I am not immune to sexily blasphemous music videos

reading: finished Smoke & Ashes, the most recent book in the Kate Kane series that I talked about last week, and I enjoyed it a lot but there sure is a cliffhanger and afaik no set release date for the next one. it’s pretty angsty but does have lots of nice moments of hope, and some discussion about recovering from both depression and alcoholism that I appreciated.

also read more romance novels, and I appreciate that Cat Sebastian, like KJ Charles, knows how to write about rich characters while making it incredibly clear that hoarding wealth is morally indefensible. it’s like the “wow, cool robot” thing where I want to be told that I’m right for disliking capitalism/imperialism/the military industrial complex, but also I do very much want you to show me the cool robot (hot rich prettyboy in nice clothes)

also finally started Harrow the Ninth today, so I’m sure I’ll have more to say about that next time

watching: speaking of “wow, cool robot,” watched a little bit more Turn A Gundam, which sure does have some cool robots. also some gender. the main character crossdresses to like, hide their identity for fun complicated spy reasons and it’s not treated as a joke or anything? it’s just a thing that they do? and no one comments on it beyond when they were like “hey you have to wear a dress to this event because the people from the moon think our mech pilot is a woman and they can’t know it’s actually you because they still think you’re working for them”

absolutely hate that the guy on the right is just wearing a normal boring suit though like. c’mon man

Zan and I have been watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier aka the sambucky show each week and my review so far is. well it’s about what I expected. the first episode was incredibly slow and kinda disappointing (Sam and Bucky never interact! the fact that Bucky might maybe miss Steve is never brought up, not even by his therapist, who tbh gives me incredibly bad vibes! if my best friend and the only person I knew from my past fucked off and left me alone to deal with my trauma in favor of ruining the life of a woman who’d moved on from him, I’d be pissed!) (for the sake of not being angry all the time I pretend Steve died instead of did That).

the second episode was more fun, more happens, there’s some incredibly heavy-handed corporate queerbaiting mixed in with some actually nice emotional moments (this article and this thread by the same person have a pretty good summary of All That). the handling of race, uh, could be better tbh. I appreciate what they’re going for, and to be fair the whole show isn’t out yet so it could get better (since some of the problems are tied to, y’know, the overall political problems, i.e. the fact that the villains are a group of people, led by a Black woman, who hate borders and illegally deliver medication to refugees which is somehow a bad thing, I kind of doubt it). but there is something about the way they’re making a Black man the mouthpiece of American imperialism, and the way that the new (white) Captain America who takes the shield when Sam doesn’t want it has a Black girlfriend and a Black best friend who, so far, have mostly just given him motivational pep talks, that doesn’t really inspire confidence. (this article and thread are a good overview of that aspect of the show)

also, I think it’s very funny when people are like “well you can’t say anything about the show yet, only two episodes are out” like. first of all lads it’s a six episode show, a third of the content is a decent chunk to use to form an analytical opinion, and second of all, if something strikes you as Not Great, you’re allowed to feel that way and say that, you don’t have to wait to see if there might be some twist or context that makes the thing you didn’t care for great and fine, actually,

that being said,

(when we watched the first episode, the immediate next thing we did was watch Winter Soldier and I was pleasantly surprised how well it holds up. not perfect obvi but still a solid movie, and the music does fuck)

also watched this very neat little video essay on Victoriana costuming and like, why so much media is set in the Victorian era, and started the c-drama Word of Honor which I’m sure will either be in a future post or just. something I start blogging about normally

playing: the weekend before last was the Beam Saber season finale, which I’ve already posted about quite a bit because it was fun and I love to play games with my friends. played a very fun game of Things, Eldritch and Terrifying by S. Gates this past weekend. it’s a very fun game, with very easy-to-follow rules and lots of helpful adjectives and scene starters, and also just conceptual it slaps (one person is an eldritch terror, the other person is the human that they’re courting. there’s a variant where you play as a vampire. it slaps). we made it uh, more of a rom-com than a horror story but I had a very good time, we told a very cute love story, and we’re gonna try again to make it more horror-y next time.

also I finally started Brigmore Witches and it’s very good and fun. my one complaint is that I want the Whalers to have names, because I enjoy the bit at the beginning where you can eavesdrop on them and some of them are concerned for you and some of them are fucked up about the Overseers invading their home and some of them want to fucking betray you. also, I didn’t realize that the very beginning when you fight Corvo is a dream sequence so I spent the whole fight being like “wait why does he get a gun and I don’t, where are my powers, wait aren’t I supposed to lose this fight for Plot Reasons why is he dead.” also, fucking love the favor that lets you dress up as an Overseer to get into the prison. I do love a good disguise mission

making: citrus chicken (from a cookbook so no link), plus some citrus-y root vegetables. very good if you like orange.

writing: nothing I can share yet for ~zine reasons. yes I have several fandom event weeks coming up that I want to participate in, no I haven’t written anything for any of them yet

#dreaming.txt #pictures of food below the read more

8 notes · View notes

kierakravec-blog · 4 years

Text

After four in a row

Just to jog the readers' memory, in 1982 when Brazil had giants like Zico and Socrates nfl jerseys, they failed to defend against the Italians. A 2 2 draw would have sufficed but they chose to attack and messed it up. That Brazilian side was probably the best one not to win the World Cup..

Cheap Jerseys free shipping Dhoni seemed acutely aware of the format's penchant to make anything happen and he worked tirelessly to ensure he wasn't caught off guard. He had assessed this to be the "best batting wicket in the tournament", but keeping the runs down was crucial because "it is a knockout game. If it's an off day for you, you're completely out and you have to start all over again.". Cheap Jerseys free shipping

cheap jerseys I'm sure there are several other football teams that could adjust their schedule at the last minute for a bowl game. The boys could then go home and spend the holidays with their families. Choices and consequences.". For the rest of us, everything from similar economic and religious backgrounds, to having the same friends, to both being the oldest sibling can contribute to a happy, long term relationship. However, there seems to be two very big, very glaring exceptions. You want to hook up with someone who is both less smart and uglier than you.. cheap jerseys

wholesale jerseys This isn the ghetto in south central LA this is fucking abbottsford https://www.cheapjerseysitems.com, surrey, white rock, and north van. Hahahah oh no my parents 5 bedroom house only had 3 flatscreens i just was never complete I had to become a G to get a plasma screen. I had to be a G because these streets out in the valley are thug lyfe yall gots to hustle to survive how can anybody live off just one lambo and a porsche desperation made me what I am hahahah. wholesale jerseys

wholesale jerseys from china Monsieur Fergant, the visitor, hearing these last words, politely stepped forward to echo them. Burned arsenic, beyond a doubt, said Monsieur Fergant. When this gentleman was subsequently questioned on the subject, it may not be amiss to mention that he was quite unable to say what burned arsenic smelled like. wholesale jerseys from china

wholesale jerseys After four in a row, we should be referring to Lance in the same hushed tones as we did, Bradman, Nicklaus and Pele. Anything an American does well just has to be criticized by you Europeans. The fact that Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer, went through surgery and cancer treatment, only to return to win four Tours de France, is a great accomplishment.. wholesale jerseys

wholesale nfl jerseys The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. The kidneys filter out the wastes from the blood, and produce urine, which flows through the ureters to the bladder. Normally, urine is sterile, and doesn't contain pathogens.

Repeat. Stamina will come.Pool tools can help you build endurance and improve your form. Kickboards let your upper body rest while you work your legs. Polizzi once earned $32,000 for an appearance at Rutgers more than the Noble laureate Toni Morrison received for a talk there, and $32,000 more than I earned that evening. Jersey Shore also generates its share of social capital: in 2012, the University of Chicago hosted an academic conference devoted to Shore Studies, which included the panel Construction of Guido Identity and the paper Going to the Jersey Shore, Bitch! Aesthetically speaking, Jersey Shore stands at ground zero of the Italian American look. For all their cruelty, the mobsters in Coppola Godfather films cut a fine figure, especially the Vito Corleone played by Robert De Niro.

nfl jerseys Right Wingers 2 Kenesky's Sports 0. Right Wingers: Sheila Cartwright, Susie Swartz. S/O: Joy Samborski. April 29 Frank Budd: A track star at Villanova https://www.cheapjerseysaleusa.com, Budd competed in the 1960 Olympics in the 100 yard dash. For several years in the 1960s, Budd held the world record in the 100 yard dash at 9.2 seconds. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1962 NFL draft and played one season each with the Eagles and the Washington Redskins, amassing 10 catches for 262 yards and one touchdown as a wide receiver. nfl jerseys

We do have plans to bring in the new team for exhibition matches either with an international team or a friendly Indian team. We will also look at holding camps for players here maybe even bring in the Blackburn coach to train them, and take players abroad for training. Our aim is to find an Indian footballer in the Blackburn Rovers team sometime in the future.

Sometimes, kids can get to the opener and the structure will go up and down. At some point, a child could get hurt, depending on how old the structure is. Some older models don't have a sensor that automatically goes back up if there's anything in the pathway of the structure. Cheap Jerseys free shipping

Cheap Jerseys china Returning home should provide a boost for both Rinne and the Predators. They are 7 1 inside Bridgestone Arena this post season with the lone loss coming in overtime. They expect a loud arena for Game 3, which is the first Cup Final home game in Nashville history and it comes on a Saturday night.. Cheap Jerseys china

Cheap Jerseys free shipping I worshipped the Morrissey of 1983 1985. Every NME interview was an occasion, every Smiths Top of the Pops performance a jaw dropping landmark moment of your teens. (A bush you could actually have hidden in hanging from his back pocket when they did Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now https://www.cheapjerseys168.com, the words Marry Me scrawled across his chest during William It Was Really Nothing.) Cheap Jerseys free shipping.

1 note · View note

audrikp-blog · 4 years

Text

You have to take it as it comes

Haven played good, consistent baseball night in and night out, for nine consecutive innings, Forney had said before Sunday game. Overlook a lot of little mistakes at the end of the day coming out on top We fortunate to be where we at, but I don think we played our best baseball yet. Yes, it still early and there still some tinkering to be done..

wholesale nfl jerseys If you notice one or two carpet beetles in carpets or old wooden rags, wholesale nfl jerseys that doesn't mean that your home is heavily infested with this insect. Before you conclude the same, search for the site of infestation in carpets, mattress, kitchen cabinets, cupboard, etc. And in the process, chances are high that you will come across the hairy larvae of this insect. wholesale nfl jerseys

cheap nfl jerseys 14. New Orleans Pelicans (27 25): In only his third season in the league, Anthony Davis is already a man amongst boys. He single handedly keeps the Pelicans competitive on both ends of the floor, and is certainly a candidate in the MVP conversation. cheap nfl jerseys

nfl jerseys This also works for video games and video game systems. Maybe you don't follow sports, wholesale nfl jerseys from china but the guy you're hanging around with or your taxi driver happens to have the same new Call of Duty game that you have, so you can easily pass the next ten minutes without a moment of awkward silence. Sports, video games, sports video games these are all good "Common Ground Topics" the socially awkward man should familiarize himself with. nfl jerseys

Cheap Jerseys from china The tension only rose when Germany started fast, sending an early shot off the crossbar and behind the goal. But then Neymar, the crown jewel of Brazilian soccer, Cheap Jerseys china struck. His curled free kick caromed off the crossbar and into the net, putting Brazil ahead 1 0, and the streets of Copa burst into celebration.. Cheap Jerseys from china

nfl jerseys Still personally, I do not mind if somebody calls me a fanatic when it comes to observing and following up all the basketball leagues out there. It is something irresistible for me and it is just a matter of pride for me to be called as a basketball fan or even a fanatic as it is. For me to watch college basketball online is a great boon that I could watch it to my flexible time schedules.. nfl jerseys

wholesale jerseys Once you have your paste or dough ready, bag it up in plastic bags immediately. A 6 egg mix will produce about a pound and a half to a kilogram or more of bait, www.cheapjerseyschinatrade.com depending on various ingredients you choose to use. The thing about bait is you can look at what every other angler is doing and deliberately not copy it to achieve many very big competitive edges over them! This little bit of thinking is one of the great key to success; copying is fine but you learn far less and fast learning is what puts you ahead the easiest and quickest! Like anything in life, practice makes perfect, but then luckily, your fishing baits do not need to be perfect to catch big fish; in fact the opposite is the case in so many ways!. wholesale jerseys

wholesale jerseys Mr. Mark David Whelan is Group Executive, Institutional of the Company. He was Chief Executive Officer of ANZ Australia and Management Board member responsible for Global Commercial Banking. As you can see, the ragworm has an earwig's ass for a face. Those pincers right around its face hole are extraordinarily strong, www.cheapjerseyschina8.com too they can provide a nasty bite when the ragworm is threatened because the mandibles are made out of a unique substance that's both harder and lighter than most synthetic material we have. As a result, scientists have been ecstatically tearing the jaws off these worms so they can get them under a microscope and hopefully replicate it.. wholesale jerseys

wholesale jerseys Portrait photography is a type of photography where you click a person or persons in a certain background or set up. If you think that it is complicated, www.cheapjerseysfromchinasale.com let me simplify the explanation. Everything from a family photograph to clicking kids in the park, falls under portrait photography, provided the picture has a person in it. wholesale jerseys

wholesale nfl jerseys You have to take it as it comes, and it's fantastic."Most watched News videos She on a roll! Diane Abbott has yet ANOTHER car crash interview Wife trying to divorce husband FAILS to get him to cheat on her Kharum Butt appears with ISIS flag in documentary last year Khan says everyone has a role to play to tackle terrorism in UK Man attempts to break car door during road rage incident in Bradford TV reporter goes off on INSANELY vulgar tirade at police officer mums swear in front of their children in transphobic tirade Michelle Carter appears in court over suicide The bicycle thief: Step dad steals bike to teach daughter lesson Body of alleged attacker lies outside Notre Dame Cathedral Suspected London terrorist appears with ISIS flag in documentary Teen girl mowed down by a train SURVIVES the impact in IndiaNursery worker is left with broken ribs and needing. 'A pawn in her sick game': Woman, 20, 'persuaded her. KATIE HOPKINS: No wonder they didn't want us to know who. wholesale nfl jerseys

wholesale nfl jerseys from china I can make one in about 10 minutes if I have all my parts and tools lined up, but it will most likely take about an hour if you are not familiar with the processFor two years I made these rain barrels and sold them at a local farmers market for $50. I got a little tired of them, as anyone would after making hundreds of anything. Eventually I realized that I would probably be more interested in designing larger rain water containers, and that these barrels are kind of a puny attempt at rain water collection wholesale nfl jerseys from china.

1 note · View note

cherp-official · 5 years

Text

Real Talk Time

CW: This is politics talk, sorry, folks! We’ll be returning to your regularly scheduled RP content soon.

Hiya, folks. Friendly neighborhood Mod TTMIYH here, here to talk about something absolutely unrelated to cherp or RP as a whole except in tangential broad strokes.

If you are an American, and you are over 18, you have to vote. The majority of the Cherp userbase almost certainly consists of marginalized individuals in one way or another, and if Cheeto Hitler wins a second term, a: we are not going to have another free election, and b: marginalized people everywhere (me included) are going to get fucking demolished. The planet is on fire. We have to stop the bleeding now, not in four years, not when it’s convenient for us, NOW.

How can you help? I’ll make it very easy for all of you guys.

1: Find a candidate you like. I like Bernie, and I think besides him and Warren most of the other candidates are unpalatable, so I’m going to be volunteering for Bernie’s stuff, but, and this may not be perfect praxis, literally anyone is better than four more years of trump, especially if we can get a majority in the senate and house. At the bare minimum, getting a senate and house majority will be able to cockblock Trump for four years and probably impeach him, but we really need to be aiming for a complete sweep via ANYONE other than Trump.

Bernie Sanders: https://map.berniesanders.com/ Elizabeth Warren: https://elizabethwarren.com/join-us (Sigh) Pete Buttigieg: https://peteforamerica.com/forms/volunteer/ Amy Klobuchar: https://amyklobuchar.com/ Tom Steyer: https://www.tomsteyer.com/volunteer/ Andrew Yang: https://act.yang2020.com/sign/organic-web-volunteersignup-20180821/ (Also Sigh) Joe Biden: https://joebiden.com/join/

Great. Got one you like? Did you research their policies and are sure they’re what you want? Good!

2: Fight like hell for them.

We need to be involved with the civic process at EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Put in your zip code, find out phone banking and canvassing and door-to-door events near you. The more people you can get off the couch and inform about what is at stake, the better. Even if your preferred candidate loses the primary, you’re still helping engaging potential voters that would not otherwise have been engaged, and that can help whoever wins.

If your preferred candidate loses, I’m sorry! That sucks. But pick your chin up and get behind the next candidate in line. Your efforts are not wasted, but we have to keep it up.

3: Pester EVERYONE. See what I’m doing right now? I’m using the platforms I have (with permission from Insolent, don’t you fret) to spread the message that we need to fucking mobilize like never before. We need to absolutely crush the Republican party into the dirt with sheer numbers so that they can’t possibly fuck around with the vote enough to win.

Get your relatives to volunteer (if they’re the same party as you). Get them to pledge to vote. Bug your friends until they go canvassing with you. Talk about this on social media. Talk about it everywhere. Become the obnoxiously political friend. Reward yourself with some ice cream every time you get someone new involved with volunteering.

Do research. Don’t argue on the internet with people on the other side, because they’re not going to listen and it’ll wear you out, but convince people who seem like they haven’t decided one way or another. Make sure you know exactly what your candidate’s policies are so you can talk about them in a way that gets people on board.

Use your voice! You have one. Use it. If you reblog this post you are magnifying my voice to everyone that can hear you.

4: Engage in the civic process. I will make this just as easy for you as I did the volunteering stuff. Go to https://resist.bot/ , you can access it through Twitter, Facebook Messenger, or text message. It will guide you through the steps to send letters to your local representatives, even your representatives in your state legislature, your senators, your congressmen, and so on. You can send an email or a snail mail or even a fax because for some reason they still use faxes.

Research your representative’s policies. If they align with yours, encourage them to keep it up, and make sure they know if they keep doing the right thing, you’ll vote and donate to them. If they don’t align with yours, threaten them via civics. Explain how, if they vote against Trump’s impeachment, for example, you will do everything in your power to elect their opponent.

Make it personal. You are such and such from X part of their constituency, you grew up in XYZ town, yadda yadda. They are humans. Their staffers are humans. Appealing to their humanity won’t work for 99.9% of the bad ones but you might be that one letter that cracks someone’s shell. You have nothing to lose by giving it a shot.

Resist.bot makes it so easy. I sent my representative a letter just today and it was easy so I’ll probably send more. Yesterday I volunteered to do phone-banking for Bernie.

I’ve been sitting on my thumbs my entire life waiting for everything else to go well for me, but I don’t have time to sit on my thumbs anymore.

Things aren’t going to change unless we force them to change.

Volunteer. Vote. Get yourself involved. Mobilize.

There is too much at stake not to.

Thank you.

#politics

11 notes · View notes

oanaosol-blog · 4 years

Text

https://www.allidietpharm.com/straight-fit-keto/

Straight Fit Keto In the event that sex is the main exercise you participate in week by week, you may need to reconsider that. As per Dr. Hokemeyer including only a couple of moments of cardio to your routine every week can help up your endurance.

The better physical shape you're in, the better you'll have the option to explicitly perform," he told INSIDER. "Picking up these advantages doesn't require Olympian endeavors.Straight Fit Keto Moderate exercise — 20 minutes three times each week — is all you have to win the gold in the room."In the event that you've considered adding reflection to your every day normal, realizing that it tends to be an advantage for your presentation in the room very well might be the deciding component for you to get it going

"In the pressure of life we overlook we can take a short ways from our day to discharge our bodies' endogenous narcotics that quiet us down," he said. "We've been instructed, notwithstanding, that masturbation is something despicable.Straight Fit Keto It isn't. By consistently jerking off, you discharge the sexual strain that shields you from performing at your sexual best with an accomplice." Despite the fact that practicing is a decent method to help improve your endurance, Straight Fit Keto Dr. Paul Turek, a board-confirmed urologist and men's sexual wellbeing master, said that having great by and large wellbeing is a considerably progressively significant factor.

Straight Fit Keto "The penis is the canary in the coal mineshaft for cardiovascular wellbeing," he told INSIDER. "What turns out badly in the heart turns out badly in the penis first. Ensure your cholesterol is acceptable, there is no diabetes, no pot paunch and that pulse is under acceptable control.""Stress executes erections and sex drive, the two of which are required for acceptable sex," said Dr. Turek. "Stress is an inappropriate sensory system for sex, and is vastly improved for fleeing from wooly mammoths. Disengage from day by day life to have extraordinary sex. You should attempt needle therapy, it functions admirably to enable de-to push your life."

With thorough calendars and endeavors to locate the ideal work-life balance, a great night's rest could be the keep going thing at the forefront of your thoughts. As indicated by Dr.Straight Fit Keto Turek, in any case, great rest can improve your endurance for different things you do in the room.

"A very much refreshed body is the best reacting sexual body," Dr. Turek told INSIDER. "Absence of rest isn't deadly yet it is distressing." Feeling somewhat off during your most recent frolic? Make certain to go understand that looked at in light of the fact that it may be the reason for your decline in endurance. " Straight Fit Keto On the off chance that you feel there is something incorrectly, go to a certified urologist and get a full registration," Dr. Turek said. "I had a patient who griped that sex was getting excruciating for him. We found that he had a little blister blocking his ejaculatory conduit. After the medical procedure, he was a changed man."

Regardless of whether you're simply setting out on your wellness excursion or intending to get your back in gear with the goal that you can run your first long distance race, expanding endurance Straight Fit Keto is a decent objective to have. Why? First off, improving your physical wellness includes expanding your body's effectiveness. Furthermore, endurance is critical to augmenting the efficiency of your heart, lungs, and muscles.

Straight Fit Keto Endurance, which can be utilized to portray both physical and mental interests, is characterized as the capacity to drive yourself to your most extreme potential for a given time allotment. At the point when you set out to construct your endurance, you're attempting to build the timeframe during which you're ready to perform at the pinnacle of your capacities. Endurance varies from perseverance in that the last is in reality about expanding the span of your exercise not maximizing your exertion, essentially.

How about we be genuine for a moment—in any event, performing at your present capacity level can be totally depleting. What's more, presently you're required to kick things up a score?! I can hear an aggregate moan resounding through the web, and trust me, Straight Fit Keto I realize that the battle is genuine. However, before you state "no chance to get" to pushing your body significantly harder than you as of now do, consider that there are a few significant advantages associated with building endurance.

Straight Fit Keto Expanded endurance implies decreased weakness, less vitality required to finish your every day plan for the day, and better physical and emotional wellness and prosperity. The proof all focuses overwhelmingly toward the significance of expanding endurance, paying little mind to your present capacities. In case you're prepared to quit before you even begin building endurance, there are mental strategies you can use to keep your head in the game. Rachel Gargiulo, an affirmed sustenance specialist at Nourishing Journey in Columbia, Maryland, says,

"When meaning to assemble endurance, rehearsing care contemplation is a viable device to help show an uplifting attitude around pushing through distresses and weariness.Straight Fit Keto Through this expanded common sense that you'll accomplish, you would then be able to chip away at advising yourself not to gripe and to prop up when the conditions are attempting."

Straight Fit Keto Alright, so in case you're persuaded to get the opportunity to take a shot at building your endurance, the following inquiry is the place to begin. Try not to perspire it—I have you secured with some endurance boosting techniques. Utilize these recommendations as a guide, yet additionally listen near your body's signs. In the event that you aren't sure how difficult to push, don't be hesitant to contact your doctor or a guaranteed fitness coach for help thinking of your course of action.

Interim preparing may seem like a propelled procedure, yet it's actually simply exchanging short explosions of high-power action and longer times of lower force action. The high-and-low-power levels are individualized dependent on your present condition of wellness.Straight Fit Keto if running is your jam, you can include short, extreme runs to your standard daily practice; in case you're to a greater extent a speed walker, you can switch between strolling at your run of the mill pace and brief times of running.

Straight Fit Keto There are various strategies for interim preparing, from HIIT to HILIT, yet you can simply begin with this fundamental equation: 30-second explosions of high-power movement followed by three to four minutes of lower force work out. This program will assist you with building endurance by improving your high-impact limit, which thusly will help increment the length and power of your exercises.

In the event that you need to have the option to go more earnestly for more, you need to fabricate the muscles Straight Fit Keto that will make that conceivable. Quality preparing difficulties your cardiovascular framework and helps increment your running economy, which permits you to utilize vitality all the more proficiently as you work out.

Straight Fit Keto Rather than building your activity program around cardio alone, make certain to work in quality preparing with free loads, machines, or development successions that join both cardio and quality. For instance, attempt a moment of hopping jacks to get your heart siphoning followed by 20 push-ups to reinforce your center. Expanding the strain on an activity bicycle is an amazing method to join cardio and quality preparing, and swimming is a misjudged practice that will work your heart and your chest area muscles.

Rather than resting for 60 seconds in the middle of weight lifting sets, have a go at resting for 30 seconds; in the long run, check whether you can dispense with the break between sets altogether. On the off chance that you discover this excessivelyStraight Fit Keto testing, think about lifting less weight and expanding the quantity of reps, which is an ideal formula for endurance and continuance.

In the event that you need to show your body to invest physical energy for longer timeframes, you need to get it familiar with that task. Start by expanding the length of one of your exercises once per week. Straight Fit Keto Expand on your activity length step by step, regardless of whether it implies bringing your force down a peg during that exercise. When you've expanded your continuance, speed and power will follow.

Straight Fit Keto One of the keys to building endurance is expanding your body's abilities. One approach to improve your cardiovascular wellness is to get your heart and muscles used to serious physical action. The rhythm of your exercise ought to be testing yet not feasible.Straight Fit Keto The best piece of this methodology is that it will cause your lower power exercises to feel a lot simpler in examination.Your new endurance building plan will include a move in the pace of your normal daily schedule.

click here to order now 50% : https://www.allidietpharm.com/straight-fit-keto/

https://www.facebook.com/Official.Straight.Fit.Keto/ https://sites.google.com/site/straightfitketoupdates2020/ https://www.facebook.com/Straight.Fit.Keto.Official.Page/ https://form.jotform.com/201311866000035

https://technurtury.com/openclass/services/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-1.html http://www.chothaibinh.vn/threads/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.227058/ https://gaigoisaithanh.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.t17026/ http://panikangst.internet4um.at/t4808f2047-https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html#msg12612 http://sternental.community4um.de/t3374f2007-https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html#msg3408 https://cityclassify.com/list/view/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto?aid=60275 http://forum.finalfencing.co.uk/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-td14842.html http://sfbats.ning.com/forum/topics/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-1 http://chiaselamdep.net/threads/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.65304/ http://kultursommer2011.frauen4um.de/t2269f2002-https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html#msg2284 https://sellventa.com/tienda-en-facebook/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html http://kleinanzeigen.dormagen-online.org/erwachsene-suche/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html http://sfbats.ning.com/forum/topics/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://way2find.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto/ https://www.advertisinghunt.net/awpcp/show-ad/41035/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto/ http://www.lacartes.com/business/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-/1607580 http://www.eredan-arena.com/forum/index.php?thread/54288-https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto/ http://http-www-onlinehealthsupplement-com-primary-organics-cbd-oil.262905.n8.nabble.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-td3.html http://theadvertcate.com/admanage/services/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-1.html http://www.virtuellement.com/OC/abonnements-clubs-forme/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html https://www.kongregate.com/forums/2-off-topic/topics/1909612-https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://marketplace.maargah.com/spanish/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html https://www.saatchiart.com/art-collection/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto/1596537/364889/view http://naijask.com/question/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto/ https://primaryorganicscbdoil.lighthouseapp.com/projects/143813-primary-organics-cbd-oil/tickets/3-httpswwwallidietpharmcomstraight-fit-keto https://carcymru.co.uk/openclass/other-market/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html http://seni123.com/seni-ukir/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html https://classified.flocash.com/outdoors/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto.html http://oanaosol.mybjjblog.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-10225827 http://oanaosol.total-blog.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-20290579 http://oanaosol.full-design.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--33678667 http://oanaosol.affiliatblogger.com/28719186/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://oanaosol.affiliatblogger.com/28719186/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://oanaosol.alltdesign.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-15621513 http://oanaosol.blogminds.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-9645301 http://oanaosol.uzblog.net/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-10254214 http://oanaosol.amoblog.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-16994070 http://oanaosol.blogkoo.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-14578308 http://oanaosol.blogkoo.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-14578304 http://oanaosol.canariblogs.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-11037664 http://oanaosol.qowap.com/29316402/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://oanaosol.isblog.net/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-12693866 http://oanaosol.ampblogs.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--31432026 http://oanaosol.ampblogs.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--31432017 http://oanaosol.blog5.net/32330438/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto http://oanaosol.thezenweb.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--34338920 http://oanaosol.pages10.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--32726465 http://oanaosol.pages10.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--32726460 http://oanaosol.ampedpages.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--25971540 http://oanaosol.pointblog.net/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--30909385 http://oanaosol.pointblog.net/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto--30909378 http://oanaosol.blogzet.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-9948029 http://oanaosol.tblogz.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-10068287 http://oanaosol.blogdigy.com/https-www-allidietpharm-com-straight-fit-keto-9607742

1 note · View note

steviemillcr · 4 years

Text

Hey is that [DIANA SILVERS]? No, that’s just [STEVIE MILLER]. They’re [TWENTY-FOUR], and have spent [ONE YEAR] in Dayton. I hear that they’re kind of [OPEN-MINDED], but also [COMPETITIVE]. Did you hear their vices are [VIDEO GAMES & ECSTASY]? Can’t wait to see [SHE/HER] at the next party!

full name: stevie monroe miller

nickname: mills .

age: twenty-four

date of birth: nov 8th

place of birth: tampa, fl

zodiac: scorpio

gender: cis-female

nationality: american

sexual orientation: pansexual

romantic orientation: homoromantic

relationship status: single

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES.

height: 5″7

weight: none of your business

hair color: brunette

eye color: hazel

need glasses/contacts? nope

tattoos/piercings: power button behind her right ear and a triforce on her left ankle. clit piercing

distinguishing marks: freckles.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

hometown: tampa, fl

current residence: dayton, ca

past residences: nyc, ny ( college )

living arrangement: apartment

spoken languages: english

financial status: average

education level: college; bachelors of fine arts ( graphic design )

occupation: youtuber / twitch streamer / freelance gd

FAMILIAL INFORMATION.

father: jason miller. 40.

mother: unknown

siblings: none.

children: none.

pets? black cat named felix

other: none.

PERSONALITY.

positive traits: open-minded, creative, honest, intuitive

negative traits: aimless, competitive, insensitive, finicky

likes: reds. oranges. warm colors. chocolate. morning dew. citrus. watercolor paper. flannel. hot chocolate. milk. white russians. legend of zelda. kirby. slasher films. the scream trilogy. serial killer documentaries. sketching. animal crossing. aqua. raves. ecstasy. sex.

dislikes: blatant stupidity. button mashing. most rom coms. shitty headphones. asmr sounds. trolls. bein told what to do. campers. waking up early. high nasally voices. 13 yr old boys who talk shit.

quirks: - coming soon -

stevie is a fairly laid back individual. she grew up with thick skin and a sharp tongue. but underneath it all she’s not so bad. she comes off as closed off and introspective, which for the most part is true. she doesn’t just go up and start a conversation with a stranger unless she has a reason. she will sit and sketch one though.

online, she is much more extroverted. that’s not to say she feels safer there. more like she cares less. on one side, she knows the people she plays with are people-- but the fact she can simply shut off the game when she’s pissed and not have to explain or do shit? it’s much easier. she cares less what people may think of her which, wasn’t much to begin with.

she’s blunt. painfully so. to everyone. friend and stranger alike. though if you are a friend, she’ll find a way to apologize if she came off too harsh. she’s not afraid of being humbled and in fact appreciates it more than having things sugar coated.

She doesn’t go out of her way to be a bitch. sometimes it just happens.

she holds grudges. a. long. fucking. time. she still hasn’t fully forgiven her father/brother/jason for his betrayal even though she knows he was doing what he thought was best.

when she’s on molly, stevie is a very different person. touchy feely lovey dovey. she’s a hot mess and she’s had her fair share of nights that left her in awkward positions.

Stevie isn’t shy about sex. Shell try just about anything once and she’s usually pretty good about keeping her feelings out of the equation.

But hasn’t had a lot of great experiences in the bedroom. She knows it can be fun and it has been a handful of times, but more times than not, it’s just...something to do. That doesn’t mean she goes out and picks up people whenever she gets bored, but when she has an itch, she’ll scratch it and that’s all it usually is. An itch.

THE RUN DOWN.

was raised believing her father is actually her older brother

her grandmother raised her along side her father brother in tampa, florida

the household was a close one and between her ‘mother’ and ‘brother’, she knew she was loved.

she was often the object of teasing in school. she was too odd or too mean. her mother was too spacey and her brother too hot. but she took it in stride, learning to weaponize her words ( and sometimes her fists ) and after a while, learned to ignore it, even when it got out she was pansexual and in love with her best friend

the feelings were unrequited, she made that clear, though her friendship only grew stronger

she went to nyc on scholarship, choosing graphic design as her major specializing in motion graphics

the stress of the work often left her zapped and working in a computer lab all night? not helpful. so when she had the chance to go out and party she would.

her fesitivities mostly consisted of underground / secret raves. the music, colors, and atmosphere did a lot for her. she kept things pretty tame, only drinking and smoking pot occasionally.

but when her mother passed, her world was flipped on its head. as per his mother’s dying wish, her brother came clean. he admitted that he allowed her to believe she was abandoned...unwanted by both parents, because lets face it, there was no way she was biologically her grandmother’s daughter. she spent her whole life believing she was forsaken and it was the one person she loved more than anything that let her

going back to school had been hard. she was angry. so so angry. and sad. her grandmother, the only mother she’d ever known was gone and her brother-- dad? she wasn’t talking to him. so she pushed. she worked harder and she played even harder

she took her first taste of ‘e’ three nights after arriving back in nyc and it was the most elevating thing she ever experienced. nothing in the world felt wrong. everything was amazing. more than that. exhilarating.

it became a regular thing, though she took care. only after her school work was done and her schedule was clear. what was the harm in it if she were careful? what was wrong with wanting to feel good, to erase that crippling anger just for a night?

when she finished school, she moved home. almost. she couldn’t go back to Jason, not even after two years. she loved him, yes. she appreciated his sacrifices, yes. but she couldn’t look at him, let alone forgive him. not yet. so she went to orlando to look for work.

the field was full of competition, which she often enjoyed but somehow she was getting lost in the shuffle. unmotivated. she got a few freelance things, but most of her time she spent online, chatting with friends from college or destroying teenage boys at call of duty.

it got to a point she wasn’t leaving her apartment. she’d order food, do some minimal sketching and just...play.

it was a friend that suggested she make a youtube channel. she played enough and her perspective was nothing if not interesting...so she figured she may as well. youtube gave way to twitch and patreon and before she knew it she was receiving checks for fucking around online. not literally. well maybe once.

about a year ago, she came to dayton for a gaming convention. it was a small thing, targeted at twitch streamers. lots of big names in the game so of course she came. she just...decided not to leave.

she loved the chaos Dayton offered, their parties, and especially their molly. she doesn’t make it a habit but as her life continues to plateau, she keeps a regular stash to make things interesting.

#reallife.intro #::|| bio ||::#::|| headcanon ||::

1 note · View note

docfuture · 5 years

Text

The Maker’s Ark - Chapter 46

[This is a chapter from my latest novel, a sequel to The Fall of Doc Future and Skybreaker's Call. The start is here, and links to my other work here. It can be read on its own, but contains spoilers for those two books. It is serialized irregularly, interspersed with related short stories and vignettes when I don't have a new chapter ready. My target posting schedule is something new about every two weeks, a rate I still aspire to return to someday. Because it's been so long, those reading this as it comes out may wish to refresh their memories with the last chapter that took place on Earth here.]

Previous: Chapter 45

A great torrent of snow and ice arced up behind Flicker as she carved her way across Europa. She skated through a deep mist of leftover atmosphere and escaped ice particles. Vision was nearly useless for anything but the overlays and updates on her visor. But she didn't need it. All obstacles were already gone--powdered, melted, or vaporized during her first visit. The only directions that mattered were up, down and forward. The mist flashed to plasma when it hit her damper field, close to her body. Functional plasma--it helped power the MHD generators in her force field harness. Curved force field blades stretched out behind her, extending her reach and refining it, letting her slice out vast icy windrows and fling them upward to be scooped up by the portal maw on the ship flying above and behind her. Mostly. The leftovers were a problem. The 99+% efficiency of the scooping process was right on the edge of not good enough. "Even if the construction goes perfectly." She remembered saying that, what seemed like ages ago. Everything she'd done had worked, and she'd stayed within planned parameters--but the project depended on more than just her. The status on one of the force field modules changed from green to yellow. That made two. Four, and she'd need to call for a break to swap them out. If nothing else went wrong first. And given the complexity and scale of what they were attempting, that was-- Her visor flashed an alert: Incoming signal from Diver, the Floater pilot of the gas giant flyer, which was trailing a slipstream to ease the strain on the portal ship. She was also relaying messages to Flicker as needed; since the flyer was out front, its com unit didn't have to punch through the messy mix of dense cold water and rarefied hot plasma Flicker was plowing up. "Stop time," Diver sent, along with a more formal signal, a string of emoticons, and a graph indicating that an accumulation of technical problems on the portal ship had reached a safety threshold. "Got it," Flicker replied, along with a few emoticons of her own, ending with a shrug. She turned off the force fields, and the vast billowing in her wake started to dissipate. At least their translation protocols were getting better. She had names for two of the Floaters now--nicknames and titles came across better than untranslatable personal names. The pilot was 'Reckless Diver', and Journeyman's recent nemesis, the Floater safety guy, was 'Cheerful Cloud of Warning'. DASI cautioned they were still missing nuances, but the names worked well enough. Better than the portal ship at the moment. As soon as Diver got the signal that her slipstream was no longer needed, she dived and landed. Quickly. She was on the ground with the hatch open in under ten seconds--she took pride in not making Flicker wait any longer than she had to. Diver was heavily biomodded and her ship was built for storm chasing on Jupiter, so rapid deceleration wasn't a problem. She and Flicker shared an enthusiasm for hypersonic shockwaves and jokes with the punch line 'And then I broke it.' Flicker liked her. Diver waved two of her envirosuit's six tentacles as Flicker boarded, then took off again as soon as the hatch closed, sending happy aerodynamic model updates and data mixed with more emoticons. Flicker waved back then checked in with DASI. Journeyman was supervising the controlled closing of the portal, and would return to Learning when that was done, leaving the portal ship to Three and her repair bots--who had a bit of work to do. At least they weren't running low on replacement parts. Yet. DASI noted that The Floaters had part of an early warning network up and running, though they weren't ready to say how much warning they thought it would actually give of the Visitors. There were a lot of difficulties involving time-shifted 'echoes', many of them from Flicker's actions during the fleet battle, but some from as far back as her destruction of the Topaz Realm during her dissociative fugue as Skybreaker. That was always the challenge with sensitive detectors--separating out what you were looking for from the background noise. Incoming voice call. "Hey," said Malk, one of Learning's liaison biogestalts. "Glad you're on your way back. Pira and I get worried about your sensory deprivation." "I'm okay," said Flicker. "It gave me time to think, and work on my biogestalt exercises. Those went well, but I need to talk to Learning about some starship stuff that's kind of important. I figured out the reason I was twitchy when I woke up this morning." "Anything we can help?" "Learning probably can. Last night was the first time I've ever had a full night's sleep far away from any significant mass. And when I did my morning startup, some checks that have always failed before... didn't. So a few things switched from cold lockdown to maintenance mode." "Ooh. Okay, I just notified the duty Auditor to authorize a new privacy segment. Learning will be ready." "Thanks. This is good news, I think. At least, good to know about, rather than stay ignorant, but..." Flicker took a breath before finishing her message. "My jump drive itches." ***** "DASI says there is no indication of outside influence," said Sid, Doc's chief of security. "But she also confirmed, without being specific, that Doc is working on some sort of cognitive or memory problem. And I have discretion to call on available expert assistance." "Which would be me," said Yiskah. "Yes." Sid looked at her expectantly. He didn't say 'read my mind', but he was sure thinking it loudly. They were in the small briefing room next to his duty station. "Well, you're in luck," she said. "I was already on my way, but Doc's been unusually concerned about 'side-channel information leakage modes'. However, we're in a secure area now, so... DASI?" "Yes?" came from the wall speaker. "Is Doc still down in the Dangerous Artifact vaults?" "Yes. He visited vault three, and set up a communications relay outside vault one. He then invoked an interrupt restriction protocol, entered the vault and sealed the door, reactivated the defenses, and opened alcove one of vault one. That was two hours and forty minutes ago." Yiskah looked over at Sid, who raised an eyebrow and looked back. "You have far more experience working with Doc than I do," she said. "Do you have any personal observations that might be of use for my assessment?" Sid looked thoughtful. "The personality shift reports from yesterday worried me. His actions since, not so much. The last security update he sent said that he needed to fix something complex, and what he's doing sounds consistent with that. Dangerous, but consistent. It is a lot more like his style from back before he adopted Flicker--explain nothing except safety precautions." Yiskah frowned. "DASI? What's in vault one, alcove one?" "Restricted data," said DASI. Available description, 'Second-order closed-loop cybernetic control helmet'; Safety note, 'Lethal trap, not Lyapunov stable'." "Joy," said Yiskah. "Are you willing to override the locks so I can get in?" "Unnecessary. You are already on the exception list. I will warn him." "All right," she said, and turned back to Sid. "I'll handle it, and have DASI keep you updated."

In the elevator on the way down to the sub-basement, Yiskah contacted Stella Prime. "Anything to add?" she sent. "The personality change was a side effect of something he did in order to properly brief Journeyman," replied Prime. "After Journeyman and Flicker boarded Learning, Doc alerted me that he needed to do some messy memory cleanup and would be unavailable for a while, and he spent last night in an isolation chamber. I'm more concerned about something else. He has unreplicated causal loop experience in his head, and judging from what DASI and I are seeing on Earth, we appear to have hit some sort of tipping point or phase change. It would be useful and timely for Doc to update his loop models. Get him to explain if possible. I can't spare the attention right now." Yiskah frowned. "That could take a while, and I won't to be able to follow everything." "DASI will. And if you mind scan him, he won't gloss over uncertainties. He has a characteristic reaction to them, he won't be able to hide it from you, and he knows it. And I have to go--new crisis." "Understood." ***** Yiskah let the door close behind her after entering. She raised an eyebrow, but avoided starting a full mind scan. The vault was silent except for the faint whisper of a ventilation fan--the impression of rustling echoes was an illusion created by the interaction of her telepathy with the shielding in the walls. The door to one of the alcoves stood open, and its shelf was empty. Doc sat in a folding chair with a water bottle beside him. His usual lab coat was absent; he was dressed as if for strenuous outdoor work, in a t-shirt, many-pocketed jeans, and sneakers, along with his goggles. And the helmet. The helmet looked old in the way of futuristic technology from the end of the previous millennium, apart from the small rectangular boxes attached to each side, which looked like a battery pack and a wireless communications module of more recent vintage. Doc nodded and smiled. "Hello, Yiskah," he said. "Hello," she replied. "I went along with your precautions. Care to tell me just what is going on?" "Too much," he said. "But I'm to the point where you can safely help. Good to see you." "You could have called first." Doc shook his head. "No point. I needed to deactivate a personality overlay. Its security wasn't as aggressive as your mind trap, but it still precluded useful telepathic contact. And I wasn't going to open the door in the middle of the risky part. I suppose you'll want to verify identity continuity first?" "Back up. Is this overlay gone now? Will a mind scan cause you any difficulties?" "It has been deactivated, yes, but I still need to clean up. And go ahead. Hazards are marked, and I have the major ones secured, but I'm not done reindexing. And I'm not apologizing for the mess." Yiskah moved to stand in front of him, and put a hand on his shoulder before beginning her visualization scan. One way she could use her telepathy was to give form to a subject's mental organization, analogies, and personal assumptions. It gave a useful overview and it was fast. It had arguably helped save Doc's life twice. She let the images come into focus and fill her perceptions. The two of them stood inside a large square of chain link fence topped with barbed wire. It was cluttered with large green boxes, insulators, and heavy cabling of the sort you might see in an electrical substation. Yellow and black striped tape and orange cones surrounded several boxes, though work appeared to be complete. The whole station was humming with power. The entire surrounding landscape looked like a major construction site that had suddenly been converted to storage. Pallets piled high with... something... were covered with tarps. Some of them also had hazard tape, shipping tags, or more detailed caution signs on them. Silent robots steadily moved boxes from one pallet into a freshly built and still unpainted warehouse. The ground was covered with tread tracks, and a bulldozer and backhoe rested nearby, unmoving for the moment. Yiskah own perception had an effect on the visual form of the subject's self-image, so she could shape them to pull out psychological nuances. Doc wouldn't be able to tell what he looked like unless she told him or chose to create a mirror. The last time she had scanned, he had appeared as a more elderly version of himself, a lab-coated scientist in his late fifties or early sixties. He had changed. He stood relaxed, arms at his sides, and smiled crookedly at her. "Well, how do I look?" Yiskah narrowed her eyes. He still looked like himself, but younger, perhaps in his mid-twenties. His hair was long, pulled back in a queue. His goggles were absent, and he wore a black t-shirt with an unusual flower and some strange writing on the front. He seemed poised and confident. She found his appearance quite encouraging... ...except for the helmet. Glowing strands emanated from it all directions, some to the power station boxes, others to faint, force-field-like bubbles over some of the pallets. Three climbed to the cloudy sky, and one of those strands pulsed steadily with green energy. The helmet radiated heat, and sweat trickled down Doc's face, unnoticed. There was a faint smell of smoke and ozone. Doc should not be that relaxed, not amid these signs of tension and strain. The wrongness of it grew more jarring every moment. She took a step back and released the visualization, leaving them facing each other in the vault once more. "You've got a lot going on in there," she said, "and I have many questions, but that helmet worries me the most. Are you done using it? How willing are you to take it off?" "Not quite done, and very," said Doc. "No way it's leaving this vault. But I want to leave it on for a while longer, to damp side effects. The mood balancer helps with that." Yiskah breathed in sharply. "Mood balancer. Okay, now I understand the 'lethal trap' note." Doc half-smiled. "It's definitely not something I'd want to use every day, or outside this vault, but the note was for Flicker; the lack of stability means the helmet would likely kill her in under a second. And she might otherwise be tempted to try if she knew what it can do." "It's definitely affecting your judgement right now. Could you please take it off? Asking nicely." "You aren't going to let this go, are you?" "No," said Yiskah. "Any reason to stay down here once the helmet is safely locked up again? Do you need me to take you to the med center?" "Living quarters will be fine, but if you'll willing to give me another hour, I can--" "You can have neurological damage. And your other symptoms will only get worse." "Yiskah, if I stop damping-- Okay. I'll grant that it's possible for you to provide the level of support I'll need to keep the next day or so from turning into a cascading disaster when we get hit by another crisis--and we will--but the withdrawal effects will be grueling for me and probably distasteful for you. I really don't want to be as much of a pain as I'll be if I have to stop now." "Your rationalization is a thing of beauty and fine craftsmanship," she said. "But I'm not buying it. Asking less nicely." Doc stood, his face now grim, then closed his eyes to commune with the helmet and perhaps DASI. After a moment he opened his eyes again. "Ten seconds," he said aloud, and moved to the shelf in the alcove. Yiskah followed, ready to catch him if he collapsed. She could feel the wave of anger and other emotions hit Doc's mind as the helmet shut down. He managed to keep his hands steady as he removed the helmet from his head, placed it on the shelf, and closed the alcove door. He turned to face her. "Wonderful," he said. "Best case now is embarrassing emotional context mistakes, profuse unintentional oversharing, and peevish ranting." "We can do better than that," she said. "And I have a handy list of rant topics for you." Doc made a chopping motion with his hand. "No point arguing here. Upstairs." "Sure, let's go. Nice evil twin impression, by the way." Doc winced, and she could sense the beginning of his migraine as the vault door opened. "Fool," he muttered. Yiskah laughed. "Ah, your sense of humor survived. We'll get you through this." ***** Safety interlock reverification status: Verified. Hazard avoidance priority reverification status: Verified. Resuming command sequence from low speed interface buffer. Inefficient protocol warning. Subsystem hazard alert notice 0081538621644: Action--defer. Subsystem maintenance alert notice 0081538621645: Action--defer. Subsystem hazard alert notice 0081538621646: Action--defer. ... Subsystem hazard alert notice 0081538627929: Action--defer. Subsystem maintenance alert notice 0081538627930: Action--defer. Selected alert notice actions complete. Returning to configuration lockdown. Loading test sequence for auxiliary communication using [localization missing] gradient inducer... Done. Protocol synchronization signal received. Beginning sequence. ... Sequence complete. Safety and compatibility verified. Settings saved. Test session complete. ... "Done," said Flicker as she opened her eyes. She glided to the floor of the maintenance bay, and Learning turned the gravity and lights back on and shut down the scanners. "Everything's locked down again," she said. "My jump drive is back on safe, and the deferred messages should only itch when I first wake up. I didn't want to disable them completely." "A reasonable compromise," said Learning. "Maintenance messages, even old ones, from a system as complex as yours are not to be dismissed lightly." "Yeah," said Flicker. "The portal gradient detector com channel thing seems to have worked, too. Your scanner signals got through, and it felt like the protocol got properly set, but I didn't get a good sense of the details. It's really hard to keep my subconscious from filtering them out. Did all the keys and checksums match on your end?" "They did," replied Learning. "The Floaters will be somewhat relieved." "I'm relieved, even though it's slow. Cloud is right; if my visor gets trashed during a space battle, I'll want a better com backup than trying to use a black hole as a signal lantern." "Indeed. I am glad your tests were successful." "I'm starting to find my balance as a starship, but extracting parameters and changing anything safely is still an incredible pain. Your backup and feedback really made a difference. I may want to do more tomorrow, depending on how the ice collection goes." "I will be available. Is there anything else I can do to ease your acclimatization or otherwise assist you?" "Well, yes. There are some starship to human body reflex translation issues I'm going to be working on for a while. Would it be against procedures or anything if I use the gradient com to call you informally, possibly at odd times? The low bandwidth isn't a problem at human speeds, and I need the practice." "I will always be happy to assist," said Learning. "Fleet support is my primary mission, and I am assigned to liaison duty. You are the most powerful defender of Earth, so no one can question my duty." A pause. "I'd do it anyway; but that means you don't have to worry about getting me into trouble." "Heh." Flicker smiled and looked down. "Thank you, Learning." Flicker left the bay and returned to the entryway of the small group of compartments she was sharing with Journeyman, DASI's local node, and, in a more abstract way, Three. She checked in with DASI on the way and frowned. Status for Journeyman hadn't updated for a while, but they were passengers and guests when off-duty, so DASI was being conservative about following Grs'thnk etiquette on shipboard privacy. "Hey," said Three from the entry display as Flicker closed the hatch. "Good job on your snow tossing! All of today's problems were hardware or at the portal end--or both. DASI said your exercise metrics looked really good, and the tests when you came back worked out too. How are you doing?" "Better than I expected," said Flicker. "I owe you an apology." "Me? For what?" "Back when you first started talking about Learning? And how you felt about him? I was skeptical and kind of dismissive?" "It's all good, Flicker. Appreciating him can require a shift in perspective." "Well, I've made the shift. Learning and I set up a hierarchy of joint safety reflexes so I don't have to worry about ripping up his interior, burning out anything, or punching a hole in his hull if I have to move in a hurry. So I can finally relax all the way when I'm on board. And I've worked with him a bit." "Nice, isn't he?" said Three. "Yeah. But I need some advice. I noticed something earlier, and I slowed back down just a bit ago to catch up on body chemistry and emotional lag. It's gotten quite a bit stronger. I'm having a reaction to him that I'm having trouble sorting out." "That's not unexpected. Pleasant or unpleasant reaction?" "Pleasant but awkward. You'll probably laugh, because you have your emulators, or whatever you use, and--" "I won't laugh at you," said Three. "And if you feel uncomfortable staying on board, the backup for the portal ship is almost here, and has active life support and plenty of room, so--" "No! I'm not uncomfortable. I'm fine with Learning. More than fine. I really like the way he interacts with me. I just started thinking about some things, and..." Flicker trailed off. "Well, he does have recreational bioemulator remotes, so if--" "I know, Pira told me about them. That's not..." Flicker looked down. "I mean, he's a starship. And so am I. When we can take some time without being irresponsible, I want to dance with him. Dive close, mesh my momentum transfer with his grav repellers, and spin around. Tickle his strain grid sensors with my inertial dampers. Trace patterns with my energy transfer in his shields, and... And a hundred other things I haven't thought of yet and I sure there are things he'd think of too. Play with him. Laugh with him. Make jokes about the show we'd be putting on for the other ships. But he has his crew, so privacy is an issue, and I don't know what restrictions he's under, and what might not translate, and whether this is all too fast, or..." She looked back up. "Am I being silly? And would any of this bother you?" "No," said Three. "You aren't. And you wouldn't bother me. He's been gently flirting with you for a while now. What has changed is that you're starting to think of yourself as a starship, so he's a peer instead of a funny alien AI. And he's well socialized--the Grs'thnk are very careful about that for their ship AIs. So if you like his style, he's quite attractive." Three smiled. "I was already comfortable as a fleet of starships when we first started working together, so I took a shine to him pretty fast. But he's been 'just a friend' to you before this. Does what he and I are doing bother you?" "Oh, no. I wouldn't even be considering this if you hadn't made me aware that he might enjoy that sort of thing too. But there's something else. Learning and I have compatible safety protocols now. That's..." Flicker bit her lip. "I used to have dreams about that." "Yeah," said Three. "That would do it." "So... What should I do? Should I talk to him about it?" "You can certainly talk to him. But there are a couple things to consider. About the restrictions he's under--you realize that making every reasonable effort to keep you happy is part of his job?" "Yes, he's been very up front about that. That's part of not being irresponsible, because it's a power imbalance. I'd want to spend some time talking to him, and you, before I consider actually doing anything--but not talking about it seems like it would be irresponsible too." "That's a healthy attitude." Another smile. "You're certainly benefiting from our little starship social support group. Not having one for most of your life was what made you vulnerable to dissociation. I'd never have pushed dissociation as a temporary solution if I'd known how bad yours still was. I'm sorry about that." "Not your fault," said Flicker. "DASI said that Doc and Journeyman deliberately kept you in the dark. You were the only one who could push me the right way to uncover the biogestalt problem--but you might not have done it with full information, because it was riskier than you thought. And involving you directly in any causal loop is really dangerous because of your mind trap." "It was a humbling experience. But I'm glad it worked." "Me too. Today was much better than most of yesterday--and I'm feeling better than I expected to be able to away from Earth." "One other thing about Learning," said Three. "There is a boundary issue. He's not supposed to have any direct contact with DASI, so he and I have been doing a lot of indirect stuff--some of it diplomatically sensitive. Don't get me wrong--it's a lot of fun, too. But some of it's like the kind of things Doc and Jumping Spider used to coordinate when they were spending time together." "Um," said Flicker. "I never did get Database access to a lot of that stuff. So I'm not sure... Oh." "Yep. So if Learning changes the subject or makes a joke that doesn't quite answer a question--he usually has a good reason. Are you willing to accept that?" "Yeah," said Flicker. "I should probably start practicing that sort of thing, too. Because I'm not very good at it yet, and things like whether or when I might be able to make an unassisted jump to Grs'thnk or Xelian space are going to be really important military intelligence. Whether I want them to be or not." "An excellent idea. I can help too, but there's a funny Grs'thnk diplomatic training game for it that I think you'll like. Learning is great at it. And picking up the mindset while enjoying yourself should help reduce stress for Journeyman." "How is Journeyman?" asked Flicker. "Is he out of the shower yet? He must have ported back really late." "He's recovering. He didn't port back; he took a shuttle, because--" "He didn't port? Is he hurt? What happened?" "It's all right, he just didn't want to put extra effort into balancing energy and momentum transfer while he was feeling wiped. Your day went better than expected; his went worse." "Okay thanks going to go talk to him", said Flicker. She zipped over to the hatch to the inner compartments and waited impatiently while it opened. ***** Multitasking. Yiskah typed up summaries for DASI at the workstation beside Doc's bed, glancing occasionally at updates from Stella Prime and a crisis tracker. Prime was still in a contentious meeting with representatives of the Kyrjaheim Intervention Cooperative, the organization that a majority of Golden Valkyrie's Choosers had founded to conform to EDU transition guidelines on humanitarian military intervention. They had already ended a nasty war in East Africa in a single day, which would probably have attracted more attention if it hadn't been the same day the Russians tried to nuke Black Swan. Other wars were being discussed--whether they were inevitable, how soon they would happen, and what to do about them. Opinions differed and tempers were short. Doc was on his back with a damp cloth over his eyes and a med monitor on his wrist. Painkillers had taken some of the edge off his migraine, but he had agreed to give his visual cortex a rest for a while. Yiskah projected her presence to him with a light touch, reassuring without being intrusive, while he rambled. "Breakdown of the default consensus future," he said. "That's the cause of what DASI and Stella are seeing, and no I don't know how bad it's going to get yet. It's been building for a while. There's a public part and an underlying part, and they reinforce each other. It's not just a result of causal loop pressure. Looks like the models underestimated the significance of feedback loops involving magicians using social media--those can grow much faster now. I discussed it with Journeyman just before he left." "Thoroughly alarming him in the process," said Yiskah. "He was already thoroughly alarmed. Sharing his anecdotal data with me probably had a net calming effect, given what else we talked about." "About that. You were unwilling to allow DASI to record the conversation, even under fully locked privacy. Why?" "We were in the middle of a causal loop, discussing relevant actions. I wasn't going to involve anyone else. And there's another, more esoteric reason--compatible past broadening. If things got dire and he needed to risk a chancy port that might result in a sideways worldline transfer, any allowed point of incompatible history that we both knew about and agreed on beforehand could make it easier for him to pull off. But if DASI recorded it, that would break a necessary symmetry. Under one version of my worldline theory, anyway--but it was an easy tradeoff. He agreed." A note of humor crept into Doc's voice. "At least, that's how I remember it." "Well," said Yiskah, "you believe that, so there's no point in arguing now. However. I'd like to know a bit more about the alarming overlay you allegedly deactivated downstairs. And any other mental work you've done recently. Your thinking has changed. For the better, apparently, but..." "Understandable," said Doc. "That was my nightmare processing overlay. It started as a causal-loop-compatible composite of old versions of me from worldlines that managed to contribute to my coherent nightmares. The Grs'thnk would call it a partial pseudogestalt--they use similar constructions as medical aids in cases of severe neurological or cognitive disruption. I used it as an interpreter and gatekeeper; it kept triggered-release and age-inappropriate memories inaccessible while preserving the original nightmare data in encrypted form. It was never intended for use around anyone else, and I haven't used it for a while, for a good reason. "I updated it as I augmented, so it worked properly with newer memories and nightmares, while remaining compatible with older ones. I also adapted it to use as a safety backup for other work, such as detecting mental influence. To deactivate it, I need to pass a few security checks. This was intended to protect my primary nightmares from exotic forms of tampering or eavesdropping, such as might be employed by an overconfident forensic telepath." Yiskah raised an eyebrow. "Was that why you decided I wouldn't be able to help?" "Not before I was done, yes. Because back when I woke up from my coma, I discovered I had a small problem. I could still activate the overlay. But without my top-level augments, my primary way to deactivate it was gone, and most of my backup methods were unavailable due to side effects from what you and Stella did while saving my life. Another way required a fresh coherent nightmare--and those stopped around the same time." "I explored other methods," said Doc. "Then those triggered-release memories started popping up after I used the pool in Kyrjaheim. I really needed the overlay to verify I was putting them into the proper context. And there was one sure way to handle the deactivation problem, but it required extensive preparation and some risk. I started the preparation, in between working on everything else. I was almost ready; I was literally seconds away from telling Stella about it when Flicker interrupted. And then Breakpoint called and there was no more time. I needed the overlay right away, to pull and interpret some original nightmare memories to help Journeyman." "And then you were stuck with it for a while." "Yep." "So... Why did you need the Helm of Lethal Trap to deactivate it?" "I didn't. I needed the helmet to re-augment. That's what all the prep and most of the time in the vault was for--I did a partial replacement of my top level augments. I concentrated on the memory management and stability segments, and left out all the speed optimizations, which were by far the most time consuming parts. And I needed the helmet because that's what I used the first time, and I still had backups of the process memories stored encrypted in a special corner of the Database. Otherwise it would have taken weeks." Yiskah smiled wryly. "So that's what left you with such a memory mess." "No, the re-augment went fine." Doc waved an arm. "And the primary nightmare memories are safely locked away again. I'm a mess because I haven't reassimilated the secondaries. A lot of them are emotionally loaded, they've all been recontextualized, and I'm not the same person I was when I first had them, so they don't fit nicely anymore. I didn't know which ones I'd need, so I had to pull all the ones with Voidsmith, and there were a lot of them." "Voidsmith?" "Journeyman. I warned you about context mistakes. His name was Voidsmith in many of the nightmares." "Why were your memories involving Voidsmith so emotionally loaded?" "He can escape from the end of the world, potentially carrying measure from a dying worldline to one that survives. That is so important. I've seen him do it in half a dozen nightmares." Doc took a deep breath. "And not do it. Twice. Because he can run away... But he never wants to." Yiskah frowned. "Why is it so important? I never followed your original discussion of measure with Prime very well. I can see having a higher measure of surviving worldlines is nice in an abstract sense, but that doesn't help us if we're dead, no matter what happens somewhere else, right?" "Ah. Measure is a mathematical generalization of size. I'm using it kind of sloppily, because I have no way to prove just how it applies to my worldline theories. But in most of the theories I've used to make predictions that actually helped, higher measure for a worldline and 'similar' worldlines is good. It allows more connections to other, living worlds, more power behind probability manipulation and causal loops that help everything survive, and more options in general. I'm fairly certain that Golden Valkyrie depends on measure manipulation to affect the future indirectly. And Journeyman can transfer measure to us as well--because he exists in other worldlines in our cluster. And there's some evidence he's done exactly that. Twice. Recently." "So how does he manage it without leaving three of him running around?" Doc waggled a hand. "Not entirely sure, but measure isn't a number, it's a generalization. What we would expect to see in the aftermath is something unlikely and fortunate involving Journeyman. Like, say, appearing 17 seconds before he left when he ported Flicker and himself home from the portal mishap, while just barely surviving. Or finding some disturbingly detailed tips in his blind drop when they ported home from Flicker's first session on Europa. I'm still arguing with Ashil and DASI about the details of how measure transfer relates to sideways worldline transfers, causal loops, and apparent time travel to the past. And there are many complications that I'm handwaving. But they both agree that relative measure of worldlines is a useful concept. As is the idea of 'future survival measure'--that's how likely a worldline is to endure in the absence of outside help. I've been using the word measure for both, which, again, is sloppy. But it's also faster, and I'm pedantic enough already." The humor returned to his voice. "Speaking of sloppy, we'll want to do our best to keep the future survival measure of Earth from dropping too much while Flicker, Journeyman, and Golden Valkyrie are gone. They're more likely to survive the Visitors if they aren't causally linked to problems here, but if it gets too bad, they might come back to a different worldline where we did a better job. Could get a bit lonely if that happens." ***** Journeyman was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at his hands. He was wearing pants, but his shirt and hat were still on a nearby chair. It looked like he had started to get dressed after his shower, then stopped. There was an open flask on the nightstand. Flicker wasn't sure exactly what was in it, but it was definitely something alcoholic. "Mike?" He looked up, his eyes concerned. "Hey, Flicker. You okay?" "I'm fine. I was worried about you. Three and DASI said things got pretty rough at the portal." Journeyman smiled and his eyes relaxed. "Oh, well..." He waved a hand and looked to the side. After a moment he picked up the flask and replaced the cap. "Yeah," he said. "They did." She glided over. "Touch no touch?" "Touch." She sat down and put her arms around him. She didn't say anything. "Opening was fine," he said after a while. "Nailed the space we wanted. Got the portal situated, then Three expanded it with her generator, and brought the Floater test unit online as a backup. And we were okay for the first couple of hours. Couple of shaky spots. Whenever the snow flow hitting the rim and bouncing off shifted, Three had to blip her drives to keep us on the right orbit, and that made the portal want to slide off-center, so I had to kinda tap at it then the generator would pick up and balance it." Journeyman start to wave his hand, noticed he was still holding the flask, and put it back on the nightstand. "Did the mass accumulation make it harder?" asked Flicker. "No. Well, yeah, but we were ready for it. Except for the back pressure. The plan was not to make the space too big or it would take forever to shrink it back down after we get it filled and you're ready. And I followed the plan. But I think we made the space just a little bit too small. Or not quite stretchy enough at the non-portal boundaries, which is basically the same thing." He waved his now-empty hand. "Three compensated for the back pressure. She did that great. Hell, she did everything great. Forget her being prickly yesterday, she kept everything together today, sang sea shanties when I was on the edge, and... Well, anyway. Problem was, to keep the portal permeable so we could keep scooping snow without vapor escaping, she had to tighten up the tension in a way that made it harder for me to feel what was going on. So I was trying to steer the portal with less and less feedback. And that sucker was huge. No way could I ever manage that big a portal by myself, I'm a finesse guy." He looked down. "Then shit started breaking. Heard you had a little trouble with that, too." "Not bad," said Flicker. "Two generators went yellow, and one of those turned out to just be a flaky sensor." "Yeah," said Journeyman. "We had sensors, generator cells, one of the grav units, two inertial compensators, and I forget what else. Oh, and the secondary resonator on the Floater unit just flat died about halfway through. And it was freshly tested. Cloud said they didn't 'untranslated the expletive untranslated', but DASI says that's just colloquial Floater for 'why the frick did it have to do that now?' He's good at swearing. Where was I?" "Things were breaking." "Oh, yeah. About five hours in Three had to switch to using both generators, with the Floater unit as the primary, to keep the tension low enough so I could still guide things. And in hour six, we had a desync and suddenly I had to pull one whole side of the portal. It was like trying to turn an angry rhinoceros with rubber bands. Three got everything back under control and resynced in under a second but I was kind of a wreck after that. I wanted to go the full eight hours but Three said something was hitting yellow in hour seven so we had to shut everything down, and when we were finally done I asked her what hit yellow and she said it was me." Journeyman looked over at her with a slightly desperate expression. "I'm sorry. Did what I could." "Mike... You did everything anyone could ask, and more." Flicker sped up to check in with DASI and Three on her visor, then slowed back down again. "Three says she's going to swap in the backup portal ship for tomorrow; the maintenance levels are better because they had more time. And a team of six engineers from the Xelian Volunteers are helping her troubleshoot all the problems--we were doing so many new things at once there were bound to be glitches. And there's even--okay I'll stop now because your eyes are starting to glaze over." "Yeah, my brain isn't braining very well. I keep worrying about some of what Doc said. About running if the Visitors show up before we're ready. I don't know if I can do that. I could see it as a way of baiting them away? Maybe? But we'd have to circle back, somehow. I can't just abandon everyone here--I mean there are so many people I care about on Earth, our Earth, not some hypothetical... Gah." He rubbed his forehead. "And tomorrow. I don't know if we'll be able to reopen the portal. I don't know if I'll even be able to find the right place to try. If we can't find the space again we might have to start over from scratch." "Well," said Flicker. "If we have to start over, we start over. Europa has plenty of ice. And it wouldn't be from scratch, because we have a lot more data now, and everyone is analyzing like mad. Everyone else--don't worry about it, we're clear to rest." "Don't worry. Heh." He leaned back until he was lying sideways on the bed with his feet still on the floor, then looked up at her. Flicker put her hand on his chest and met his eyes. "Mike, you've helped me so many times. Let's worry about tomorrow... tomorrow. Not tonight. Okay?" Journeyman blinked, but didn't look away. Then he smiled. It was a faint smile, but real. "Okay," he said.

#FallofDocFuture #Maker's Ark

17 notes · View notes

peterbarron13-blog · 6 years

Text

How To Be A Better Runner?

The world of distance running can be a rather intimidating one for the uninitiated. The thought of endless miles pounding the pavement desperately trying to keep up with throngs of super-fit joggers is enough to give most distance running beginners nightmares.

But it needn’t be this way. According to Dubai-based distance runner, personal trainer and Instagram personality Peter Barron, everyone can get into running. Here, we ask the fitness adviser for his top tips on becoming a better runner.

Is It Possible To Be A Distance Runner Without The Skinny Physique?

Long-distance runners are traditionally thin because their main focus isn’t to build muscle – their focus is endurance. That being said, you can maintain size while building your cardiovascular fitness. I suggest you log everything and be consistent. Have a schedule with your runs and make sure you’re increasing your miles as well as your calories. Make sure you are getting into the gym for two to three weight sessions per week and as you increase your miles, you can decrease the volume in the gym so sets and reps will decrease.

Where Is Your Favorite Place To Work Out?

My workouts are broken up into running and resistance training. I run with Adidas Runners Dubai – it’s great to run as a group and have that sense of community. We have numerous runs in different locations around Dubai each week, which is also great for variety, but my favourite is Kite Beach. I recently joined the Fairmont The Palm and use their health club and gym – it’s one of the best I’ve ever trained in and it’s also great to be able to chill on the beach after a tough weight session.

What Kind Of Food Should We Eat While Training For A Distance-Running Event?

For me it is all about a balanced diet. This is very important to fuel your workout, prevent injury and to ensure your body recovers after each session. I would suggest vegetables and fruit rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, as well as lean protein sources, good sources of healthy fats and, of course, foods packed with quality carbohydrates. My number one food is salmon (an excellent source of omega 3 essential fatty acids and protein).

What Are The Essential Piece Of Kit Every Runner Should Have?

For me this is a no brainer: Adidas Ultraboost runners. If you haven’t run in them before, put them on your feet and watch all-around comfort and performance improve instantly.

What Else Do You Do Apart From Running?

At the moment I am training at Gravity Calisthenics in Al Quoz, which is a bodyweight style of working out based around stability and balance. I have also recently been using PRAMA, by Pavigym in Fairmont The Palm, which is an interactive LED-based workout that works on coordination, balance, strength, speed, agility and flexibility. This is great if you are training for any sport or just looking to get fit.

Have You Got A Favourite Event That You Love To Take Part In?

I like to take part in any 5km, 10km or half marathon races that take place in Dubai. But more so, events with Adidas runners are great, because for me running with a group is more enjoyable – it’s good to hear other people’s stories, why they run and what motivates them.

What Is Your Advice For Beginners Who Want To Get Into Running?

Running is a workout for both the mind and the body. Everyone was once a beginner. Don’t worry about what other people are doing and enjoy each run.

Blog Source URL: https://www.peterbarron13.com/how-to-be-a-better-runner/

#personal fitness trainer dubai #fitness trainer Dubai #fitness professionals dubai #personal trainer near me #gym personal trainer #personal trainer dubai cost #health counseling services #fitness center dubai

1 note · View note

theboldtypeobsession · 6 years

Text

The Bold Type - 2x01 - “Feminist Army” Recap

I plan to do these recaps every week but real life takes over and I write when I have time. I’ve been working on 2x01 & 2x02 recaps since premiere week and between technical difficulties (my laptop is old and turns on when it feels like it) and working crazy hours at work, it’s been slow getting these done. My recaps are a bit lengthy, so if you’ve got time to read, I hope you do. Also, the episodes always open with the Ladies together so my recaps will (for the most part) start off with the Ladies and then branch off into Kat & Adena’s storylines (they are the 2 characters I relate to the most being a bi-woc). Lastly, any and all feedback, (helpful) criticism and suggestions are welcomed/appreciated!

Season 1 Summary - When we last checked in with the Ladies of The Bold Type: Jane who started as an assistant, now promoted to a writer –her dream job, made a tough decision to move on from Scarlet. Sutton, the ultimate assistant got an opportunity to dive head first into the world of fashion, where her heart has always been. Kat, the queen of social media, living her best professional life and even with a few hiccups, is at the top of her game! Professionally the Trio made plenty of moves, when it came to their personal lives they found themselves at different stages. Jane experienced her first orgasm, got tested for the BRCA gene, decided to give Pinstripe a chance, then decided not to and leaned on her friends through it all. Sutton managed to keep her relationship with Richard (a board member) under lock and key until Kat & Jane found out. After breaking up with Richard, she hooked up with Alex but realized that her heart is still Richard’s. Kat unexpectedly fell hard for Adena, an artist and proud muslim lesbian who turned her world upside down. As a result, Kat jumped on a plane to be with Adena. At every turn the Ladies have been there for each other, with support, love, a shoulder and wine when needed.

S2 – E1: Feminist Army

The episode picks up 2 weeks after the end of season 1. Kat is on her way back from her international vacation with Adena and Jane & Sutton have decided to be her welcome home party. After several delays, Kat arrives and the Ladies are finally reunited and yes, it feels so good! On the cab ride home, the Trio engage in a “catch me up” session with Jan & Sutton pointing out how sprung Kat is over Adena (who we also find out is on her way to NY, her visa has been approved). The joy is emanating from Kat so much so that she wants to share it with the world, starting with the cab driver. Since Sutton is always working, there’s a detour stop at a pop-up shop and the Ladies have an awkward, yet laugh out loud worthy run in with Jacqueline (Kat’s facial expression says it all). Jacqueline asks Jane about how things are going and Jane proceeds to tell Jacqueline about the vertical and the stories that she has lined up. Even though Jane no longer works at Scarlet this exchange feels as if she’s trying to convince Jacqueline that she’s a great writer. With what she’s heard Jacqueline assures Jane that what she’s doing is important and with that she bids the Ladies farewell.

Kat – who has been wearing a permanent smile is dressed for work and engaging with her personal social media audience. She snaps a video as she climbs over Adena, who’s still in bed and clearly trying to stave off the morning sun. Adena tries to coax Kat to come back to bed by suggesting they finish what was started the previous night and although Kat’s face and mouth are in agreement (“I would love to”), she has to go to work. As a compromise, they settle on having lunch…kissing her girlfriend goodbye, Kat heads off to work.

Back into the swing of things at Scarlet, Kat has a full day ahead of her. First a meeting with Jacqueline who welcomes her back and gets Kat to admit that her need for time off was not just because she wanted a vacation. Kat realized while she was gone that everything important to her was as a result of Scarlet...Adena, Jane, Sutton and her career too and she doesn’t take any of it for granted. Jacqueline brings Kat up to speed on what is needed now that she’s back, including changes to the dot-com and the hiring that needs to happen in the social media department and to start things off, she’s needed for a meeting with the board.

It’s time for the seminar on sexual harassment and Kat and Sutton are both wearing faces of boredom until Richard comes in to make a statement. As Richard unpacks the latest changes made to the company’s dating policy, Kat sends a text to Sutton to make sure she’s aware that everything Richard is saying is for her. And just so Sutton understands how much Richard’s statements are for her, Kat being the best friend that she is, raises her hand and asks if the employees who are in different departments/on different levels can date. Richard makes it abundantly clear that it doesn’t matter, department or level as long as they are willing to sign a consent form, it’s a go! Anyone would see this as a victory but Sutton is apprehensive and it’s written all over her face.

Jacqueline and Kat are facing off with the board that consists of white men who are out of touch with how to capture the attention of trendsetters. Kat never one to bite her tongue, interjects and get a chance to school the board on how to engage with millenials…yes, a guy self identifying as a unicorn in fact will start a conversation…score 1 for the social media director…Kat-1 vs. Board-0. While sharing her small victory with Sutton, they are confronted with the latest gossip which happens to be about Sutton. In the midst of dealing with that mini crisis Adena shows up for their scheduled lunch date. The moment Adena speaks Kat’s name, her face lights up and smiles are exchanged between the two. Kat so caught up with everything that’s been going on forget to text Adena to cancel lunch. Kat asks Adena for a rain check and although visibly disappointed, she understandably obliges.

Back at the apartment Kat is greeted with the smell of delicious food and her girlfriend dressed in a kimono with lingerie underneath. It’s clear that Adena has certain things in mind when she makes the statement that she’s been craving Kat all day. Yet, somehow Kat misses this and goes into a spiel about a Scarlet party she has to attend and would like Adena to go with her. Just as she had done that morning, Adena makes a last ditch effort, unsuccessfully, to get Kat to stay home. Instead, Adena finds herself caving to Kat’s megawatt smile and she agrees to go to the party. To say that Adena is very understanding is an understatement.

While at the party, Jacqueline greets Kat & Adena and Adena has a chance to thank Jacqueline for everything she did for them while in Peru. Since this is a Scarlet party, Jacqueline wants Kat to walk the red carpet and take pictures but when Kat tries to get Adena to participate, Adena declines leaving Kat to wonder why. After fulfilling her red carpet obligations, Kat confronts Adena. Adena explains to Kat that they are still in the beginning stage of their relationship and she feels that Kat is moving too fast. To that Kat reminds Adena that they spent weeks traveling together and now they are essentially living together. Adena tries delicately to clue Kat in on what’s been bothering her but Kat insists that Adena tell it to her straight and that she does. She tells Kat that in her willingness to post pictures on social media of them and to tell everyone who will listen that she has a girlfriend, she’s not ready to go down on her. It was as if the room stood still. Kat is shocked and left speechless, not sure of how to digest what Adena has said to her. Instead of trying to hash things out in the middle of a party, they decide they’ll talk when Kat gets home. With her best friends bearing witness to what is Kat & Adena’s first fight, Sutton knows what they need in that moment –a closet.

For Kat the relationship with Adena is her first ever relationship and with this revelation from Adena’s confession, she’s questioning the relationship, her sexuality and being able to please her girlfriend. Luckily for Kat, she has friends that listen and offer sound advice, reminding her that she’s a newbie and she can’t be worried that she’ll get it right every time. With this bit of reassurance, Kat returns home to Adena who’s waiting up for her. Even though she’s nervous, Kat knows that she has to face Adena. Pushing past her need to “run” at the first sign of trouble, Kat confesses that she feels like she screwed up. To that Adena apologizes for snapping instead of just being honest. This conversation is raw and honest and a sign that both ladies are willing to do the work. Kat owns up to where she fell short, admitting that she hadn’t offered, but also, Adena never asked. Adena kindly reminds Kat of what she said the first night they hung out. In addition, she didn’t want to push her to do anything she wasn’t ready to do or didn’t want to do. Kat takes this opportunity to let Adena know that she’s attracted to her but that she was a little worried and scared. Adena puts Kat’s mind at ease by letting her know that it’s not about the act but it’s about being able to have the hard conversations. Without missing a beat Kat states matter-of-factly that she’s never talked about oral sex so much, not even at Scarlet which is surprising to me since Scarlet prides itself on being a feminist magazine. Then again if Scarlet is perceived as a magazine for straight women, it makes sense.

Kat wants Adena to know that she heard every word she said and she sets out to let her girlfriend know how much she desires her. At this point, Kat can’t help herself and she kisses Adena and that’s all it takes. More stolen kisses and glances lead to a moment when the camera pans out on Kat’s face and in that moment, it’s as if Kat let go of her inhibitions. She realizes that she’s safe with Adena and is willing to give her what she needs and wants and she proceeds to go down on her. Although she may not know exactly what she’s doing, she gives it her best and that’s evident based on Adena’s reaction. Kat has a lot of learning to do and it’s clear that she’s willing to stick and stay. -

(Sidebar: I cannot recap this episode without mentioning the scene with Kat, Sutton & Sage coming off the elevator…please pay attention to Sutton’s faces during this scene…chuckle worthy.

Also, Kat & Sutton are greeted by Alex who has definitely stepped up his game. He has grown out his facial hair and has graduated from the khakis…he’s getting his “grown man” on and it’s showing up in a pleasant way.

Last thing, do we know why Kat changed her shirt from the checkered green shirt to the printed flowing blouse that she had on when she got home? Each time I’ve watched the episode I’ve had the same thought.

P.S. I’m working on the recaps for 2x02 & 2x03...hope to have them both done before 2x04 airs.)

#the bold type #tbt #episode recap #kat edison #jane sloan #sutton brady #adena el amin #jacqueline carlyle #kadena #tbt 2x01

20 notes · View notes

atravellersfootsteps · 6 years

Text

Have you always wanted to start a blog but don’t know where to begin?

I get it. There is so much information out there and it can get overwhelming. Extremely overwhelming. The great news is that you are in the right place.

I am going to break down the process of how to start a professional blog into 10 super simple steps for you, and I’ll leave the technical jargon behind.

Step One: Picking a Good Travel Blog Name

When it comes to picking a blog name, it is important that you pick a damn good one! One that stands out from the crowd.

One of the first things you should do is write down several ideas or words that come to mind. Think about your niche and what you want to write about, but also allow yourself to dream big.

What I mean by dream big is set yourself up to develop and grow as your blog does, and not restricting yourself in the years to come.

Say for example you are a backpacker and decide to include that in your name but over time your travel style changes. You may have put yourself into a box as your blog clearly states you are all about backpacking, so working with 5-star resorts will be a challenge.

The same goes for if you blog about Australia, so include that in your name. You have basically told the world that your blog is about Australia. What happens if you move to Canada?

Rebranding and redesigning is expensive and time-consuming so make sure you take the time to come up with a name that you love, and that gives you the flexibility to grow with your blog.

When choosing a name, you will also need to make sure the domain and social handles for that name are available.

Key takeaways:

Choose a unique and memorable name

Consider what you want to blog about

Allow yourself to dream big and avoid putting yourself in a box

Avoid Clichés

Confirm that the domain and social handles are available.

Yes, a great name is essential, however, you can’t spend 6 months thinking about it! There comes a point where you just have to make a decision. A great name is important but it certainly isn’t as important as the content you produce down the track.

To check if a domain is available you can use the Bluehost domain name checker. You don’t need to buy your domain, just make sure it is available. This tool will also suggest other domain names for you.

For access to printable worksheets to help you decide on your name and niche, click here.

Step two: Set up your domain and hosting

After you have decided on a name and checked that your preferred domain (eg. www.yourblogname.com) is available, it is time to set up your hosting.

Web hosting is the service that makes your website available to be viewed by others on the Internet and is something everyone has to do.

Now I know what you might be thinking, why do I have to set up and pay for hosting when there are free options like Squarespace, Blogger etc?

Well, the answer is simple. If you have decided you want to make money from blogging or at some point you think you might, you will need a self-hosted blog. It is best to set your blog up correctly the first time to avoid technical challenges down the road if you do decide to transfer your website.

That is why I recommend setting your hosting up with Bluehost

Bluehost is the #1 most used and trusted hosting network on the internet and is very affordable for new bloggers.

The Perks of Starting a Blog with Bluehost

FREE Domain

24/7 Support

FREE 30-day Money Back Guarantee

One Click WordPress Install

Now I know this may sound technical, and maybe it just sounds overwhelming and scary, but I am going to walk you through the process step by step. Bluehost makes it so simple that it is hard to screw it up.

Ready to go? Click here!

Instructions for setting up hosting with Bluehost

Click here to start setting up hosting and you will be taken to the below screen

Click Get Started Now

3. Select your plan

4. Choose a domain, either a new domain or one you already own! This should have been decided upon when you selected your blog name. Remember, .com is generally the best option!

5. Enter your personal and package information

6. Enter your payment information and create a password.

And you have successfully set up your hosting, woohoo! Now it is time to install WordPress.

For a step by step video tutorial, click here.

Step 3: Install WordPress

If you, in any way want to monetise your site and create a professional blog, it is essential that you use WordPress. After you create your password, you will be prompted to log in and select a theme. You can then start building your WordPress site.

Finally, you will receive emails from Bluehost with your account and WordPress information.

Welcome to your new blog!! Now it’s time to design!

For a detailed video tutorial on how to install WordPress, sign up for my FREE e-course on How to create a professional blog.

Step 4: Choose a theme and design your blog

Finally, the fun part, making your blog look awesome.

The first step is to pick a theme! What is a theme? It is the template for your website, that looks great and does not require coding.

WordPress has heaps of free themes, however, I recommend spending some money and choosing a mobile-friendly theme you love. A good theme will allow you to easily customise your site and make it look great. You can search for premium themes via WordPress or Theme forest.

So how do you install a theme?

Go back to your WordPress dashboard.

Hover over “Appearance” and click on themes.

Choose and activate a theme, then go to “YourDomainName.com” to see it!

For a detailed video on how to install a WordPress Theme, click here.

Step 5: Install Plugins

Another great way to customise your site is with Plugins. If your theme doesn’t offer a customisation you would like, a plugin usually does.

For example, you can get a plugin to have a Facebook pop up appear or your Instagram appear in your sidebar.

So how do you install a plugin?

Go to your WordPress Dashboard

Click Plugins from the side panel

Click Add New

Search for a plugin

Click Download

Activate

Edit settings (where applicable)

Plugins are great, but too many plugins cause too many problems. Here are a few of my basic recommendations:

Askimet – protects you from spam

Wordfence – website security

Jetpack – For website stats

WP smush – shrinks file sizes

Yoast – the BEST SEO plugin out there

W3 Total Cache – will help your site run faster

Insert Headers and Footers – to quickly add code to the header of your site

Broken Link Checker – Checks your blog for broken links and notifies you on the dashboard.

Google Analytics Dashboard for WP (GADWP) – Displays Google Analytics Reports in your Dashboard.

Pinterest Pin It Button – Pins images to Pinterest straight from your blog posts.

Social Warfare – Used to maximize social shares of your content.

To see a quick video on how to install plugins, sign up for my FREE e-course on How to create a professional blog.

Step 6: Install Google Analytics

Google Analytics is the industry standard for tracking traffic. Google Analytics tells you how many people visit your site, where they are from, how long they stay, what type of content is the most popular, etc, etc.

The stats you get from Google Analytics are what you will use to pitch to brands and companies.

You will need to sign up for Google Analytics and paste the tracking code into the header of the website. I recommend doing this via the Headers and Footers Plug In that we just installed.

This is an example of what Google Analytics looks like.

For a detailed video tutorial on how to install Google Analytics, sign up for my FREE e-course on How to create a professional blog.

Step 7: Claim your social media handles

When choosing your blog name, you should have already looked into the social media handles to ensure they are available.

I recommend signing up with:

Facebook Page (not a personal profile)

Twitter

Instagram

Google +

Youtube

Tumblr

Snapchat

When you start out, it will be essential to only focus on one or two social media channels. If you try to succeed in too many, you may spread yourself to thin and succeed at none. Regardless, you will want to at least set up all your accounts and leave them sitting there for when you do decide to focus on them.

For more information on how to set up your social media accounts, click here.

Step 8: Set up an email list

One of my biggest regrets is not setting up an email list from the start. Your email list will become your greatest asset over time. Conversions via emails are much higher than via social media, and your email list is the one thing you own. It’s yours, unlike social media sites.

Some email services include Mail Chimp and Convert Kit.

You will need to create an account with an email service provider and then create pop-ups and forms to encourage people to sign up for your email list. The best way to do this is by offering incentives for your readers to sign up. For example a free checklist, worksheet, ebook, online course or webinar. These are just a few ideas.

This is an example of the opt-in I use on A Travellers Footsteps.

For a video tutorial on creating an account and building an opt-in, click here.

Step 9: Start writing

The first place to start is with a solid about me page. Don’t overthink it. Grab yourself a coffee (or a glass of wine) and write. Don’t worry about mistakes, just write and edit it later! Once you have nailed your about me page, it is time to start on the content.

You should already have a predefined niche, which you decided on when choosing your blog name. Write about topics in your niche. It can take some time to find your voice and unique style. Don’t be afraid, just keep writing and it will come.

Step 10: Publish and start sharing your content with the world

FINALLY, I hear! You can hit the publish button! YAY!

After publishing, it’s time to share your work with the world. You can do this through your social media networks and email list.

I use Hootsuite to schedule my social media posts in advance, which helps me to stay consistent.

If you want more information about what to do after you hit publish, join my free e-course on How to start a successful blog.

Yay, you made it!

By this point, you must be feeling just about every emotion under the sun. You really do deserve some congratulations because the hardest part is over. And by the hardest part, I mean starting. Starting is the biggest challenge, and now you have overcome that, you are well on your way to success.

Make sure you pin this article for later!

How to start a professional blog Have you always wanted to start a blog but don’t know where to begin? I get it.

1 note · View note

livingcorner · 3 years

Text

Gardening 101: How To Tend A Thriving Garden | Whitney Blake@|how to tend a garden@|https://whitblake.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IMG_5114.jpg@|21

Through the Gardening 101 series, I’ve walked through planning your garden and picking what/where to plant. Now, it’s time to help your new plants thrive!

I truly believe that anyone can have a green thumb as long as you set yourself and your plants up for success. Your plants need adequate sunlight, consistent water, and food to thrive. It really is that simple!

[external_link_head]

Watering your garden

My very first garden was a patio garden in Lakeland, FL. I constantly forgot to water the little pots and my poor plants got scorched. When we built our raised beds here in North Carolina I knew that we needed some sort of irrigation system if we were going to succeed. I just couldn’t rely on my memory or spend an hour a day watering the giant space!

Most gardening blogs or books will tell you that the average veggie/flower garden needs around “1 inch” of water a week. I always found that to be incredibly vague since I don’t measure the rain or how much is being watered. Instead, I did some trial and error to see how fast my specific soil dried out! It’s so simple, just stick your finger in the dirt and if it’s dry past your first knuckle it’s time to water. Eventually you’ll see a pattern that your soil is dry roughly X number of days after rain or watering.

[external_link offset=1]

Garden Watering Tips & Tricks:

It’s much better to water deeply, less often (excluding the peak of summer) because it encourages the plant’s roots to grow deeper where water is more consistent instead of shallow. If watering with a hose or watering can, water until it pools up then let that sink in, and then do it again!

Water early in the morning or in the evening. This will help maximize how much is absorbed into the soil and less evaporates from the sun.

If watering with a hose or watering can, water the soil not the leaves! Water on the leaves of plants (especially in the evening) can lead to a whole list of fungi/bacterial problems.

Automation is your very best friend! We use a timer and soaker hose to keep our garden watered. The only time I hand water is when adding liquid fertilizer!

During the spring/fall we have this timer set to go every 3 days for 45-60 minutes. We switch to every 2 days or daily during the peak of summer. If it rains, simply hit the rain delay on the timer to have it start again in 2-3 days!

You’ll want to set up your soaker hose after you have everything planted. It’s gloriously easy! We used a short regular hose to connect the soaker and spigot (so we weren’t “soaking” the lawn). You’ll want to run the soaker hose very close to the plants, but not touching them. We typically aim for 1-2 inches so the plants have some room to grow. Some plants like water more than others (cucumbers and melons especially) so I loop the soaker around those plants to give them extra!

These are the soaker hoses we are planning to switch to this season. We kept having issues with the standard round ones breaking in storage and I like how durable these seem!

Feeding your plants

Even with amazing soil, your plants will benefit from a little extra food here and there! Most fertilizers list the three primary nutrients in the standard N-P-K number format. This stands for Nitrogen – Phosphorus – Potassium. Nitrogen promotes good leaf development, Phosphorus encourages root growth and blooming, and Potassium also encourages strong roots.

I have some specific fertilizers I use for different plants, and different times of the year. Here are my favorites:

Alaska Fish Fertilizer. You’ll notice that this one is high in nitrogen (5-1-1) so I love to give it to my baby plants… although fair warning, it stinks to high heaven! At that stage in growth, encouraging leaves and roots is a great thing, and this fertilizer can help minimize transplant shock. I recommend not using this during the flowering or fruiting season unless the plant is showing a nitrogen deficiency (yellowing leaves).

Fox Farm Grow Big Fertilizer. This is my favorite tomato fertilizer because it does exactly what it says, the plants and fruits grow REAL BIG. I only use it on my tomatoes but I’ve read that it works great on others.

Fox Farm Big Bloom Fertilizer. I use this fertilizer on almost all of my fruiting and flowering plants! Some plants (zinnias, hydrangeas, poppies) do better with less food however, so I just don’t feed them as often.

Dr Earth Rose & Flower Fertilizer. This is what I use for my roses throughout spring/summer, and my peonies once in early spring. Unlike the fertilizers above, this one is granular so I sprinkle it in a circle around the base of each plant and then water it in.

Garden fertilizer schedule

I think one of the hardest parts of gardening for me is remembering to do things, or when I last did it. To tackle those memory issues last summer I started a garden planner/journal and it changed the game for me!! I created a color coding system to quickly mark when it rained, when I fed the plants each type of fertilizer, and when I applied any disease treatments. I used these color coding dot stickers, and this is the weekly/monthly planner I’ll use for 2020!

This system is SO helpful because most things are done every 2-4 weeks and it gets tricky to remember specifics. I also jot down things like when I planted or started seeds, when I transplanted into the garden, and when something started fruiting or flowering. It’s nice to look back and see that it took X days from seed to bloom, or remember when my roses/peonies flowered.

Plant Feeding Method

I simply use a watering can and a designated garden measuring spoon set to fertilize my plants (you don’t want that fish fertilizer making it’s way back into the kitchen – trust me!). The beauty of buying a concentrate is that it lasts a pretty long time!

Pruning and harvesting

Pinching young plants

While your plants are tiny (usually under a foot tall) most all benefit from what’s called “pinching”. To do this, you simply cut the top of the growing stem off above a set of leaves, which encourages the plant to grow bushier. This usually leads to more flowers or fruit. To get specific details on pinching each variety of plants (some plants, like peonies should NOT be pinched as you’ll lose the flowers!) I would google it just to check that the plant will benefit. You don’t want to accidentally ruin your whole plant!

[external_link offset=2]

Pruning your garden

Once your plants are well established, they often benefit from a little pruning. I tend to do light pruning almost weekly as I pull off any leaves that look potentially weird. About once a month when the plants are really established (so, July-October) I’ll break out the clippers and do a serious pruning. I clip off branches that are touching the ground, branches that are drowning neighboring plants, and just generally keep the plant shaped well. This is also when I’ll do a big harvest of flowers (aka cut every single flower!), because the more you cut the more they bloom!

Harvesting

Harvesting is pretty straight-forward but something you want to keep on top of. I’ve found that my plants are much happier when I harvest things regularly, probably because they can then put energy into the other fruits. You really don’t need any fancy equipment for harvesting most things, but these snips are my all time favorite!

Have questions?

Feel free to leave me a comment (with your zone info!) and I’ll try to help you out!

Read more gardening posts here!

[external_footer]

source https://livingcorner.com.au/gardening-101-how-to-tend-a-thriving-garden-whitney-blakehow-to-tend-a-gardenhttps-whitblake-com-wp-content-uploads-2020-01-img_5114-jpg21/

#livingcornernews

1 note · View note

tweetie-voice · 3 years

Text

#5 - 10 Minutes Early Morning News - June 25, 2021

All right, let's do one twenty boys, the online social media vocalizer. It is june, twenty third, two thousand and twenty one. The independent best online sex toy stores for shameless shopping at home take things up in a bedroom with a discreet package from one of these online boutiques inde, one hundred com press, one for more info pres to for next tweet, kelsey, chapman inde, one hundred june twenty third, as the late musical genius next per provoco to or george michael once, crew and sex natural sex is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should we couldn't agree more. Sometimes you need a little help and get in there, though, and so we are, and so we saw it out some incredible online sex toy boutiques that offer the best ashes and toys close accessories furniture and whatever else you may need to get the job done. Maybe you're looking for something as simple as a wan vibrator or something as complex is a lattis ball gown for your next bdsha, either way, you'll find what you needed. One of these online stores keep reading to find you new faber way to shop for everything. Sex and let the fun begin, spat rum, boutique best, educationally queer friendly spectrum boutique describes itself as a sex, positive toy store that has a no nonsense, approach of sexuality and sexual education. We first became aware of the store via owner and dil. Do dutch is zoe le gones raucus instar several years ago, a place where she posted stream hilarious entertaining moving, and i was informative content frequently related to sexual health and the questions about him. An you are afraid to ask based in detroit, spectrum has been around to two thousand and fifteen and caters to all identities with equal enthusiasm, toys and tools are separated into gender categories, thus making it a queer friendly store where you can feel free to experiment with which, whatever catches, your fancy. All products are: a hundred percent body safe and carefully selected bazil, we erself so you're, always getting an educated stamp of approval on your purchase bone is shipping in the? U s is free on orders over ninety nine as adam and eve best budget toys and launch right at him, and he as i go to for many and one that's heavily gendered in a bit. More old fashioned by today's standards is still a great place to find a deal in basics like bud, plugs and lacy laundry found in in thousand nine hundred and seventy one making it fifty years old, adam and eve have always dane to provide a clear, far and supporter service, even excepting one hundred percent. No questions ask and return tom is with don know when they don't work out for the buyer. The category was easy to browse and offer hundreds of a product opinions, and it's generally easy to find. Only some sort of discount on a single product is in cose release her email news letters and sponsored influences so you're rarely pay full price for something you're buying just for the fun of it a great product for any first time or is it adam and eve magic, massage de logs? It's not quite as powerful there's a much beloved named brand magic one, but against the job done a far at last, as she price sack perfite just start in to experiment, there's also babe land love, honey, purple, passion forward, slash d v, eight good vives over king goop, any one hundred com, nartist dating with masks, is well different. Singles dress up as creatures for blind dates on sexy beasts dash nartist net flix is new reality dating program. Sexy beasts, a remake of a british show, has singles dressed up in heavy prosthetics for blind dates. Nordica press one to read more press to for next weed all right s. Media reports, depending on where you live. Your market may be increasingly challenging for home buyers due to low housing inventory in high demand, risks. Medico television strangles singles, dressed up bass creatures for blind dates on sexy beasts. Given the popularity of the mass singer, we can ascertain that dowers enjoy watching people dressed up in strange costumes and given the general state of reality television over the past two decades. We can also conclude that people enjoy watching people go on bizarre dates. Netlik has endeavored to combine these two irrefutable tenants and one convenient package. Thus we have sexy beasts in which elaborate prosthetic laden singles meet for a night of non judge, mental romance at least that's how they're touting it take a look at the trailer which features dolphins, demons, cannon, scarecrows in six bow vines and handful on categorization trailer. Now on net flix to this trella's credit, it inspires a bevy of different thoughts and feelings. First, despite understandable inclinations, it's not exactly accurate to refer to this as a furry dating show. This thing was in question: aren't dressing up as such, based on a sexual proclivity toward customary at least not so far as the show's premise would have is to believe. Instead, the idea is that people dressed up and extremely ornate disguises would only be able to judge one another on personality. Of course, sexty beasts trailer only advertise contestants with body topes that highly wood traditionally priorities. All people we see are thin and when shown out of the heavy prosthetics traditionally attractive. So, are we really to believe that sexy beasts is subverting the traditional superficiality, or is it just both literally and figuratively dressing it up as something else granted? This isn't necessarily to deny the entertainment value in the central concept. Perhaps it will be fun to watch a space, alien trade nervous, small talk over cosmos with the ground hog, though the idea may be new to some viewers. Sexy beasts is based on a light named british series. The reality dating show ran for just over six months in two thousand and fourteen on bbc three a year later, the american network and you need lawrence a likewise short live. The rebot, however, net flix's take seems to have up the production value, which is half the fun sexy beasts from base to babe season. One episode two on ae sexy beast will hit the streaming service in july, twenty one, it's six, forty four pm june, twenty third, two thousand and twenty one c nb reports. Big tech is under fire. Six anti trust bills hit the house floor to day, follow the lake to listen to c n b, c's fast money, podcast, listen to the at c nc fast monty podcast, here c, that cx fer sh threw three nine qid associated press like apodes, good toity, a customer who ordered a couple of chili dogs fried pickled ships and drinks at a new hampshire restaurant left a big tip, sixteen tousand dollars. I want you to have it. You guys were card. The customer said giz moto, amazon, trashes millions of products a year at just one warehouse reports, say press on to read more press to. For next week, one former employee of the dumb from mine warehouse told it v, there's no romor reason to what gets destroyed. I commerce, tin amazon, destroys millions of items a year, e commerce, sin amazon, destroys millions of items a year at just one of his fulfillment centers in the united kingdom. According to an i tv report, published on monday footage take it inside the company's warehouse in dumb for line. Scotland shows boxes mark destroyed, filled with everything from smart tv laptops, strongs, hair dryers top of the range headphones computer, jazz books, glore thousands of seal face mass account lest other products i tivy reported. The items consists of those that have damaged packaging were never so har where we turned by a buyers and virtually any of it could have been donated to a chaville organization or another useful purpose. I tv track trucks camera in the good schedule for the struction and found that, while some of them headed towards recycling facilities, other products were traced, the land fills which amazon denies and the ultimate destination for the goods destruction to be tail. Goods is a phenomenon by no means limited to amazon according to don't cha. Well, there are no european joining wide estimates of goods burn trash recycled, otherwise the supposed to be cheer. The estimates that do not exist vary widely, as companies and generally not required to discloses how much is wasted. The french government estimated that some six hundred and eighty nine million in goods were destroyed in two thousand and fourteen wow, the german government estimated the toil at abound. Fay point two: four billion in two thon ten. Those figures are generally considered to be wild on the rest, o its don't show well reported that return products comprise an overly tiny amount of destroyed merchandise in the you and other reasons they are wasted, include damager, blemish packaging over production, mis, labeling up selenes coin desk peter the back crypto ic change. Bullish is reportedly in talk to do public vis back merger. The peter thiel back, think changes. Bullish is reportedly discussing the possibility of going public via aspect merger condeca, the daily based forbes colba band medical marijuana use, even in states where it is legal trip, dot. A l, foward sst upper g, lower v, h, theh, bs news. Restaurant prices are rising across the us, as inflation edges up should poly mexican grill recently hipe menu costs as much as four percent nationwide to cover higher wages. Restaurant prices are rising across the us, as inflation edges up c bs, newsom massanello. It is exactly the same mechanism of easy money for march two thousand and twenty that caused both dash big point and houses to rise, but housen can fall approximately twenty five, a d, forty percent after the glut, but hash sank, b, tc fellow at michael un, the score sailor hat the logical apparatus of of the messin carinto inject the will low crade cognac. If you have a bread credit score, a may feel like a red mark. Follows you wherever you go working to prove your credit is a worthwhile go because the better you credit, the better, the rates you receiving all the lone like mortgages, allalone's and credit cards, but how long have to wait to ye change? That's not an exact answer to that. As each person, finance situation is unique and complex in general, depending where you're, starting from how you manai finance, as it could take anywhere for a month to as much as ten years. Here's what they consider when it comes to. How long am i take a scene improvement in your score? Starting out, it may be easier to improve your credit score by doing things like opening a credit card and paying it off responsibly. Mark gets insider reports. Big coin is worth the zero and there is no evidence that block chain is useful technology. Black swan author, not seen tale, says isabel lee june twenty third, two thousand and twenty one black swan author, nosin talem double down on his criticism against a big coin. This time saying the cryptic currency is worth exactly zero and that there is no evidence that block chain is a useful technology. In a recent six page, drap paper, titled bit coin curvin season, bubbled talula, that for key arguments against the cryptic currency which he promoted to is seven hundred forty two thousand twitter followers. First, the author said that, in spite of the hype, big coin failed to satisfy the notion of currency without government. In fact he said big coin prove to not even be a currency at all. The total failure of big coin i becoming a currency has been masked by the inflation of the currency value, generating paper profits for large enough. A number of people to enter the discourse well ahead of its utility, he said, and to am second criticism, said big coin can neither be your short nor long term store of value. He used the famous chucks the position of gold versus bid coin, which he said was poor comparison to illustrate his point. Gold and other precious metals are largely maintenance, free, do not the great over historical horizon and do not require maintenance to refresh their physical properties. Over time he said, cryptic currencies require a sustained the amount of interest in them. His final two points argue that big coin is not a reliable inflation. Hedge contribute some analyst views and it's not a safe haven for investments where they meant to protect against government, tiran or other catastrophes, not even remotely. He said siding the march two thousand and twenty market panic when big coin sank lower than the stock market, as well as the recent ransom payments follow in the colonial pipeline suber attack, which authorities were able to track government structures and computational power will remain stronger than those of distributed operators who, while this trusting one another, can fall prey to simple hopes. He added taleb has been a vocal critic of big coin, but the paper also slam the underlying tecknadel big coin for lines. On the author pointed to what it sees as a lack of utility of block chain technology, there is no evidence that we are getting a great technology unless great technology doesn't mean useful. He continued and we have done at the time of writing. In spite of all the fan, fair, still close to nothing with the blonde chain. In april talamo c, n b c, that big coin is an open pansy scheme in a failed currency reported by markets insider june, twenty third, two thousand and twenty one. Six. Fifty nine p m depictions of the roman emperor, nero as notorious are based on a partisan source narrative. A curator, the british museum said anything you think you know what, but nero is based on manipulation in lives and a two thousand years old. How nasty was nero really a show at the british mersem portrays him as the victim of a roman smear campaign, heart dat, new york com press, one to continue further press to to go to next sweet continue further, the new yorker reports, how nasty was nero, really c n reports patrol she roti scotto stepping down according to a sit familiar with the decision mark in the ladies, changing the border agencies, leadership structure, mataba by an announce as erotylus policy that would give no lewis to gun dealers who fail to comply with federal law. Their license to cell would be revoked in a first offense of fence offence, but an anti crime effort takes on law breaking gun dealers. President joe budden is announcing you effen syston zing president joe bines, announcing new epic system, a rising national tide president joe bin. As an noting new efforts, summarizing national tide of iling crimes, administration officials, ap usom, leela miller staff, rider los angeles times, com june. Twenty third, two thousand and twenty one chaos you rotten tuesday, night and b news reports and at least one person was arrested after school board, share brede shevardino ed. The public comment portion of the meeting following numerous disruptions, pronoun polishes debate, at least the chaos said virginia school board meeting. One person was arrested at the tuesday's meeting, the loudon county sheriff so i've said another was issue to trespassing summons and be com. The associated press reports, a bipartisan group of us senators meeting privately as reach a tentative framework on an infrastructure deal. According to a person familiar with the negotiations, president jo biden has invited the senator to the white house on thursday, the biggest factor in parent child estrangement reports. The economist is the rise of individualism in america. How many american children have cut contact with their parents? A young feel of riser suggested a surprisingly common economist c b s news, puerto rico's governor calls lack of state o geographic discrimination. The hill cows run loose through los angeles suburbo, their escaping slaughter house good for them. The new york talyor, the white house had wednesday that the us would send three million doses of johnson and johnson's vaccine thursday to brazil. The shipman is part er, president biden, a pledge to deliver eight, a million doses overseas by the end of june forge reports. This bill gates back, starts new partnership to ames to prevent prenames for s reports this bill gates back start us new partnership and to prevent pandemic in food crops tribe. The al forward, slash capital y l e one, six f, three, the documents are shameless and her rising and you reek of desperation. At page eighty eight rights, the insanity of trumps campaign to overturn the election recently released emails really help the skeltthe pressure campaign on the justice department, the atlantic in time. It's a dangerous world out there for your devices. Apis is your. I phone is facing an excentral threat from congress. The company makes its case against sidelong, as congress considers forcing the issue incom. This was twitter voice, signing off eleven thirteen pmta

#All-news #mayoral race #new york city #comedy #funny #current events #breaking news #June #June 2021 #commentary #United States #local news #fast news #hysterical #hilarious #news clps

0 notes

blueplanettrash · 7 years

Note

Single father Lance?

Here you go, I hope you enjoy it! I kind of went overboard with this, it has 4,359 words and I have an idea for a modern AU with this too! I don’t know when I’ll get around to writing that, but it will probably happen eventually. Have a good read!

Most of his dreams consisted of the same two faces. A beautiful tanned young girl with slightly wavy blonde hair and bright green eyes; and a giggling young boy with dark skin, chocolate brown locks and the same sparkling eyes as the girl. They reached out to him and called his name with smiles on their faces. He would run towards them, arms stretched out, his grin would falter as the girl would disappear from his sights but the boy would continue smiling and holding out his arms.“Daddy!” He would call; the smile never once faltering from his face, even though the dream would never last long enough for him to feel his father’s arms wrap around him. Lance pumped his arms frantically trying to sprint with all his might to the boy. He wanted to reassure him, kiss his forehead and tell him that he would be back soon. That he wasn’t going to disappear like his mommy. He could feel tears streaking down his face when the boy appeared to be getting farther and farther from his reach.

“Leo!” He yelled reaching forward trying in vain to grab his small arm in his hand and pull him closer.

“Don’t worry!” He cried. “Daddy will make it back to you, I promise!” As young as he was, he understood and nodded his head as he vanished in the distance. Lance stopped running and put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. He let out a small choke when he heard a cry in the distance.

“I love you, Daddy,” the small voice came from the same direction. He looked painfully towards the voice.“I love you too chiquito,” he whispered as the world faded to white around him.

Lance’s eyes blinked open and he stared at the ceiling above him. His thoughts drifted to the image of the blonde girl and he pushed his palms into his eyes. He let out a slow breath and sat up. His hand clenched his robe above his heart as he bit his lip, trying to drown out the pain in his chest. His eyes squeezed shut and a single tear slipped down the side of his nose before he quickly wiped it away and stood up.

“You have to stay strong for Leo,” he whispered to himself, slipping his robe down his shoulders and picking up his baseball shirt. As he got ready, he remembered all the mornings he spent helping Leo get ready for school before he left for the Garrison. He felt terrible leaving his son for school; especially after losing his mother in a car accident, but he knew that in the long run, it would work out for the best. They wouldn’t have to worry about money and Leo would get the best care and education Lance could ever ask for. That is until they were shot out into space; now Lance constantly worried about his little boy, sure he was with his grandparents but he didn’t want Leo to grow up without a father and one that seemed to abandon him at that. He just needed to help with the fight against Zarkon and then they would be brought back to Earth and he could reunite with his son. He pulled on his jacket and started heading down the hall to the kitchen. When he entered he grabbed a bowl and filled it before sitting down at the empty table. Shortly after the rest of the paladins filed in, each of them giving him a smile and a nod which he returned.

“Whats on the schedule for today Princess?” He asked when she sat down in her seat.

“The Blade of Marmora believes they know where some important intel can be found,” she replied. “After we eat, we will meet on the bridge for a conference with Kolivan,” they all nodded in response and concentrated back on their meals.

“Would this intel help in bringing down the Empire?” He asked. She looked up from her food in confusion.

“I suppose it would, I don’t believe they would ask for our assistance if it did have something to do with Zarkon,” she affirmed. “Why are you so interested Lance? You aren’t usually worried about the significance of the mission,” she pointed out. Lance shrugged his shoulders and stirred the goo in his bowl.

“Well, I can usually tell the difference between rescuing prisoners and fighting the Galra,” he mumbled before stuffing the spoon in his mouth.

“Yes, well I believe the Intel will prove useful toward our efforts,” Allura gave Lance a reassuring smile. Lance gave a small sigh but nodded and let himself focus on breakfast instead.

Pulling on the paladin armour gave Lance a sense of protection and safety compared only to his home. He followed his fellow paladins onto the bridge where Allura and Coran already had the feed open, and Kolivan’s face up on the screen.

“Greetings Paladins,” he said nodding to the group. They nodded in return and sat in their designated seats around the room.

“Explain the situation, if you would Kolivan,” Allura said.

“Of course, we have received word from an inside source that there could be information on this outpost that could greatly increase our chances of defeating Zarkon,” he announced. He flicked his claw across the screen and the file popped into the castle, Allura brought it up revealing the outpost’s layout.

“We believe it will be a relatively simple mission, there doesn’t seem to be any live Galra on board, only sentries, and drones,” he continued.

“Doesn’t that seem a little strange?” Lance asked from his position. The others looked at him in confusion. “Well; if the information is as important as they say it is, wouldn’t they have actual Galra there to protect it?”

“We don’t know much about the Galran sentries, they could be just as effective as live beings,” Pidge commented shrugging her shoulders. “We should bring one back with us!” she said excitedly. The others chuckled at her excitement but looked at Shiro when he began speaking.

“Pidge, you, and Keith will go extract the intel. Keith will be your backup,” they both nodded in response and fist bumped with grins on their faces. Shiro grinned and looked between Lance and Hunk. “Lance and Hunk, we will be lookouts, it looks like there are three different entrances to the server room, Hunk and I will be on the ground floor and Lance you’ll be on the top floor,” they both gave salutes and Shiro gave his attention to Kolivan.

“Good luck Paladins, I hope this information aids you in our fight against Zarkon,” he signed off.

“We’ll use Green’s cloaking device to get close enough to the base without being spotted, does anyone have any questions?” He asked looking around the room. When no one spoke up they headed out towards the hangers and onto Green.

“Are you ready paladins?” Allura asked from Green’s dash. “We won’t be able to keep in contact with you during the mission because the distance will be too great,”

“Yes Princess, understood,” Shiro replied.

“Opening wormhole now,”

Infiltrating the outpost turned out to be the easy part, but it turned out to be absolutely crawling with sentries. They snuck through the halls taking out the bots left and right and dragged them out of sight. Eventually, they made it to the server room, easily taking out the guards stationed outside and crept into the room. After entering they quickly set up at their posts and Shiro motioned for Lance to advance to the next floor. He nodded and quickly made his way to his place, thankfully there were no sentries posted at his position. After a few minutes of radio silence, Keith’s voice came onto the coms.

“Guys, this bot just lit up,”

“The ones outside my door just did too,” Hunk said nervously as well.

“Pidge, any ideas?” Shiro asked.

“Just a second, maybe I can find it on the computer,” she responded. “I found the schematics of the sentries, they look like they were specially made for this complex,”

“Okay,” Keith said gruffly.

“Chill Keith,” she muttered, then a gasp. “They’re bombs! We have to get out now!” She yelled. As soon as the warning came, Lance slammed open the door and bolted down the stairs following his teammates. With a glance behind him, he saw that the memory device was still plugged into the system. His mind raced with visions of Earth and Leo’s face, and how it was endlessly drifting away from him. This intel could help them get back to Earth; they needed it, he needed it. He pivoted quickly, almost tripping right on his face as he raced back to the computer.

“Lance what are you doing?!” Shiro’s voice yelled through the coms.

“Keep going, I’ll meet you there!” He yelled back, not sparing them a glance. He leapt over the bots and yanked the device free. He knew that Shiro would be disappointed in him for possibly risking his life, but this was going to help them immensely. He sprinted past the doorway, ignoring the blinking red eyes of the downed sentries and only looked forward. He could see his friends in the distance and was glad that he wasn’t left as behind as he thought he was. Green was still crouching where she was left, with her mouth open, waiting to welcome the paladins back. They scrambled up the ramp and as soon as Lance was inside it snapped shut. They shot out into space a single tick before the first explosions started. They flew further away and watched in morbid awe as the entire outpost was engulfed in white-hot flames. Lance laid on his stomach, face to the ground, and sweat pouring down his face as he tried to catch his breath. He clutched the intel in his hand and slowly pushed out a breath.

“Lance,” Shiro’s stern voice made Lance’s head snap up to look at his team. Shiro and Keith had deep frowns on their faces, Shiro’s looking more troubled than Keith’s. While Pidge and Hunk had pain filled expressions tainting their faces. Shiro looked like he was about to speak before he closed his mouth and wiped his hand down his face.

“We will talk about this when we get back,” he finally said. Lance gulped and nodded his head in understanding. He got on his knees and looked down at the ground in shame. He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he smiled when he saw Hunk giving him a sad little smile. Hunk got down on his knees and engulfed Lance in his arms, burying his head in the crook of Lance’s neck.

“I’m okay buddy,” he whispered reassuringly. He heard Hunk give a little sniff but he nodded and drew back, keeping his arm around Lance’s shoulders as they rode through the wormhole.

“Welcome back paladins, how was the mission?” Allura asked popping up on the dash.

“Fine Princess, we got the intel,” Shiro said politely, not showing the previous disappointment aimed at Lance. Allura gave them all a wide smile.

“Excellent, Coran and I will meet you in the hangers,” she said before her feed disappeared. Pidge flew Green through the airlocks and into the hanger where they could see the Alteans waiting beside the computer. They gave them all smiles as they descended, but they fell when they noticed the unusual stoic attitudes of the paladins.

“Is everyone alright?” Coran asked as they trudged to the computer.

“Yes Coran, we’re going to talk about it later,” Shiro replied as Pidge jumped onto her chair and booted up the system.

“Lance,” she said holding out her hand. He dropped the stick in her hand and stepped back as she plugged it in. His heart stopped when only a blank screen opened up.

“It looks like the data got corrupted, we didn’t get anything,” Pidge stated, typing rapidly on the keyboard trying to find anything that might be hidden. Lance took a step back and clenched his fists at his sides.

“It must have happened when I took it out,” Lance muttered looking down. “I’m so stupid,” the others looked at him in shock.

“What do you mean Lance?” Pidge asked. “This isn’t your fault, this happens all the time,”

“No, I must have done something, I fucked up somewhere and we lost key information in defeating Zarkon,” he responded not looking at the other paladins.

“There will be other chances Lance,” Shiro said reassuringly putting his hand on Lance’s shoulder. “We’ll get there eventually,” he gave him a hesitant smile.

Eventually. Eventually wasn’t good, eventually could mean years and years from now. He would miss everything; his first day of school, his first relationship, his first car. He might not get to teach him how to ride a bike, or how to defend himself, or how to read. All the important moments in his life he had with his parents, Leo might never get to experience because they’ll eventually take Zarkon down.

“I can’t do eventually, I need soon!” Lance suddenly yelled, making the other jump. “We need to defeat Zarkon, so I can go home!” He yelled finally losing his cool.

“Hey! We all want to go back to Earth Lance!” Keith growled stalking forward. “We all have families we want to get back to, but right now they’re better off without us because we are saving lives out here,”

“You don’t understand,” Lance whispered looking straight into Keith’s eyes. Keith’s teeth ground together and he grabbed the ridge of his chest plate pulling him forward.

“What don’t I understand Lance?!” He yelled. Lance ripped Keith’s hand off of him and threw it away.

“I HAVE A SON!” He screamed in Keith surprised face. “I have a son on Earth who thinks his dad is dead or abandoned him! God knows what the Garrison told my family,” he looked around at the shocked paladins around him. He gazed at Shiro with sad, tear-filled eyes.

“So I can’t do eventually Shiro; my boy needs his father because he doesn’t have his mother anymore, and I will not let my son become an orphan,” he said softly. He turned and left the hangers, the silence filling the space behind him. They turned to Hunk after a moment and looked to him for answers, but he only shook his head looking down at the ground in shock.

“I had no idea,” he whispered. “He would go away every weekend, but he told me it was personal, so I never asked,”

“We need to talk to him guys,” Keith said still looking at the spot where Lance was standing.

“Yes, he’ll need us now more than ever,” Shiro agreed coming up to stand beside Keith. “We need to apologize as well, he must have been feeling this way for a while and we didn’t notice anything,” the paladins stood and exited the hangers, leaving the Alteans behind.

“Coran,” Allura said. The man looked up from where he was looking sadly at the blank monitor screen.

“Yes, Princess?” He asked. They started making their way out of the hangers, she turned towards the direction of the bridge. He gave her a confused stare looking at the paladin’s backs as they headed towards the quarters and lounge.

“We’re setting a course to Earth,” she announced giving the man a wide smile. An equally as wide smile stretched across his face and he gave a little bow.

“Yes, Princess,”

Tears were rolling down the sides of his face as his head rested on the back of the lounge couch. He would give anything to see his son again and to hold him in his arms. He stared blankly at the paladins when they stood on the floor above him; like him, they changed out of their paladin armour into their regular clothes. They crawled onto the cushions beside him Shiro and Hunk on both sides of him, close enough that they were touching shoulders with him. Keith and Pidge sat on the floor in front of him, each putting a hand on his knee. They waited for him to lift his head up and look at them all.

“I am so sorry Lance,” Keith started. “I shouldn’t have assumed to know what you’re going through, I knew that you were homesick but I didn’t try to understand past that,” he stated looking into Lance’s eyes, which widened a bit at the apology.

“No, its okay,” he said. “I shouldn’t have yelled, I just, I want to see him and for him to understand that I’m not abandoning him and that I’m not going to be gone forever,” he admitted. He shakily put his hand up to his face to try and hide the tears still rolling down his cheeks.

“You said that his mother was already gone, do you mind if I ask you about that?” Shiro asked putting his hand on his back.

“No, its okay, it happened a while ago,” Lance sniffed and leaned back into the hand rubbing his back. He breathed in trying to gain his bearings.

“You don’t have to tell us, Lance,” Hunk said sadly, tears welling in his eyes at the sadness pouring off of his best friend.

“No, I want to, you guys are my family, and I want you to meet him someday so I want you to know,” he stated forcing a wobbling smile to his face. They each gave him an encouraging smile in return. He once again took a deep breath and slowly breathed out.

“Her name was Racheal,” he started with a smile filled with love. “She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen; blonde hair, green eyes, she had so many freckles, just like Leo. That’s the name of my son by the way, kind of funny isn’t it,” he gave a weak little chuckle.

“We were both fifteen when he was born and I was never the same, it was like I found a piece of myself that was missing from my life. I would do absolutely anything for him, I loved him from the moment I heard the news from Racheal. I was going to marry her too; my mamá was going to let me use abuela’s ring and everything,” Hunk let out a low whine and he squeezed his eyes shut against the tears in his eyes. His chin wobbled and his hand grabbed onto Lance’s.

“She and her parents were coming back from her postpartum checkup, the hospital is a long drive from home and it was getting dark out and they didn’t even see it coming. A drunk driver was driving on the wrong side of the highway and struck them head-on; Nathan and Anne died instantly but Racheal made it long enough for me and Leo to see her one more time. It was so hard to say goodbye to her; I thought I was going to marry her someday and we would live the rest of our lives together,” his voice cracked and leaned forward with a sob. He could feel Pidge wrapping her arms around his leg and hugging it trying to offer support. Keith’s arm wrapped around his neck and pulled his head and shoulder into a hug.

“You don’t have to tell us anymore,” he whispered reassuringly. You could hear the wetness in his voice, and the tear tracks on his cheeks. Lance sniffed in consideration, but shook his head and sat back up.

“Its okay, the worst is over,” he said giving them a sad grin. “Sure, it was difficult to raise Leo on my own, but I had my parents to help me and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I got to see him every weekend in the Garrison, and I knew that I was doing the best job that I was able to. I would do anything for him and I need to get back to him soon before he forgets who I even am, and only knows what I look like from a picture,” he looked mournfully into the distance before glancing at the people around him. Not surprisingly their eyes were filled with tears and they clung to wherever they could on the blue paladin’s body.

“We’re so sorry Lance, we promise we’ll do whatever it takes to get back to Earth the fastest,” Shiro proclaimed grabbing Lance’s other free hand. The others nodded in agreement and gazed at him with sad eyes. Before he could respond Allura’s voice came onto the speaker.

“Paladins, please meet us up on the bridge please, it is of great importance,”

“Let’s go, guys,” Lance said when no one moved. Their worried stares followed him the entire way up, but they instead widened in disbelief when they walked through the doors.

“Allura, Coran,” Lance breathed out walking forward as if in a trance.

“Welcome back to Earth Lance,” Allura said quietly. “Go, be with your son,” she prompted. He turned to her in surprise and looked around seeing smiles coming from the others.

“Do you all want to meet him?” He asked biting his lip.

The journey to Lance’s home was filled with the quiet chatter of descriptions of Lance’s family, his mother, father, and siblings but mostly Leo.

“He’ll love all of you,” he reassured them. They descended onto a field, a short distance away they could see a house with people already rushing out and towards the ship to investigate it. Lance sucked in a breath when he saw his papá cautiously creeping forward before he knew it he was sprinting across the field and into his arms. He bowled him over and ended up landing on his chest, trembling and sobbing his heart out. Big, familiar hands found their way into his hair and started petting it back.

“Lance?” His papá’s voice shook and Lance lifted his head to look at his face with a teary smile.

“I’m home papá,” he said. He was crushed into another hug and he let out a laugh. They got up and he was immediately swarmed by his family, his mamá pulled him into a bone-crushing hug along with his siblings. He stepped back from the noogie he was receiving from his oldest brother.

“They told us you were dead,” Rosa said placing her hand on his cheek. He pressed into it and gave her a small smile.

“Well, they lied,” he replied. He took her hand in his and looked around in confusion. “Where’s Leo mamá?” he asked.

“I’ll go get him,” she replied with a smile, turning back towards the house. The paladins came up behind him and Shiro patted him on the back.

“Isn’t that the guy on the poster in your room?” Maria suddenly asked pointing to Shiro. Lance’s face immediately flushed red and he slapped his hand across Maria’s mouth. He looked back at the paladins who each had amused smiles across their faces.

“You have a poster of Shiro on your wall?” Keith asked chuckling a bit.

“No!” He denied immediately shaking his head.

“Yes, he has the action figure of him too,” Marco added, grumbling when Lance covered his mouth as well. They blinked and burst out laughing except for Shiro who mad a confused look on his face.

“I have an action figure? Hah, tight,” he chuckled. Lance pouted at all the laughing figures around him still not removing the hands from his sibling’s faces.

“Daddy?” A quiet voice asked. All the voices stopped and looked at the young boy standing hand and hand with Rosa.

“Leo,” Lance smiled getting down to one knee and opening his arms. That was all it took for the three-year-old to bolt to the teenager. He wrapped his little arms around his father’s neck and clutched onto the familiar green jacket. A strong arm lifted him off the ground and cradled him firmly to his chest, the other pressed his head into the crook of his neck comfortably. It wasn’t long until Leo was wailing in relief and Lance was shedding tears alongside him. He sobbed until he fell asleep against Lance’s shoulder, gripping the material of his jacket with white knuckles. Lance shushed and bounced him lightly, he turned to face the Alteans and the paladins.

“I don’t know if I can leave him again guys,” he stated sadly. The other paladins smiled and shook their heads.

“We understand Lance, you have to do what you need to,” Shiro said.

“Lance if I might,” Coran said walking forward. “The Castle has catered to generations of Altean children, along with your help I believe it could become an excellent place to raise Leo, that is if you wanted to,” he suggested shrugging his shoulders. Lance only gaped in response before turning to look at his family, who were all giving him reassuring smiles.

“I may not know where you’ve been, of what you’ve been doing, but I know that one day you’ll be back on Earth,” Rosa said. “If you believe that this is the right choice, take it,” he looked down at his son and smiled thinking of all the adventures they could have and everything he could teach him.

“Thank you mamá,” he sniffed as her arms went around him. With a cry, his family squeezed around him offering him their reassurances and acceptance. He waved them goodbyes as they traveled as a pride back to the blue lion. The walk up the ramp felt lighter with the presence of his son and he sat down at the pilot’s seat and carefully took off. Just as before the cockpit was filled with silence, but this time it was light and filled with happiness. As he was walked out of blue behind his teammates, Leo stirred and looked up at his father.

“Where are we?” He asked softly looking around curiously.

“Leo, welcome to the Castle of Lions,”

Part 2

Stories Masterlist

583 notes · View notes