#gammon shift

[thecreativityofnostalgia]

EXIT DREAM LEGACY

About Us:

Exit Dream Legacy is home to many independent video game creators dedicated to sharing creative ideas and trying new things to change the face of gaming forever. Founded in the early 2000’s by a group of six friends, [P̶̣̼̝̖̳͉͖̮̫̑̐͑̈́͌̓̌͘͜͝a̵̡̦̹͛̍́̈́̆͜͜r̸̢͉̬̃k̸̦̇̽̐̈́͑͘͝é̷͉͕̣̿̅͐r̵̰̰͔̠̝̓̓̀͆̒̕ ̵̛̗̤̹̭̀̈́̄͆͗̊̾̂̉̄J̶̦̺̟̟̼̘̱̘̪͔̞̯̌̉̂͐̐͠o̴̢̨̯̖̗̲̯̫̣̞̊̑́̅͋͗͜ń̵̨͚͈̹̜̱̗͕̓̇͛̓̈͘̕͜e̵͓̝͈̬̽̀̒͆̅̀̀̚s̴̛͚̈́̌̎̀̍̒͛̊̀̕͠,̴̧̡̛̰̘͔̖̈́̓̈͝ ̷̛̖̖̟̦͙̖̐̎̔̽͂Ŗ̶̨͉͇̦̩͓̳͓̖͙̃́́͋̓̚͝ͅe̶̛̟̪̤̻̗̜͚̲̻̞͖̿̊̃͐̓̀̆̕ͅb̷͎̓ͅē̸̢̡̬̜̳̟̺̣̥̑̍̆͑̒͝ͅc̶͙̲̬̹͕̗̭̫͔̘̃̌͛̏̐͐c̵͖̭̯͇̲̥̜͚̠͕̈̈́̈́̄̂̇͜͝a̴̧̞͚͈͉͉͙̋̄ ̸̛̩̘͋͐̒̏̀́̎͘̚͝S̵͓̀̍̔̾͝u̶̢̨͙̞̘͖͂̐̅̓̾͒̀͜ş̶̛̹̺̯͓̣̤͔͆̎̂̒͐̏̽͜͝ǎ̵̧̤̼̮͈̰͓͉̗̼͚̈̓̃̈́͜͠͝͝n̸͙̰̠̈́̍͂̈́̄͝,̷͚̞̜̭̥̀̑̏̉̃̀̅̓͘͝ ̷̭̪̼͍̱̖͓̻̒͜J̴̛̳̟̰̗̲̘͙͊̅̓͠ͅṍ̴̫͚͍̟̺͕̙̻̮͓̖͕͌͊͂̎̀͒r̴̝̬̻̟̅̓̄̈́͊̔̿d̵̡̗̫̘͚́̿ä̴̪̥̱̝͍̫́͜n̸̖͔̫̤͓̯̳͍͌͋̀̒̎̑́́̐͠͝ͅͅ ̷̧̧̡̢̛̤̙̗̮̯̣̦̞̀̄́́̆͠͝͝͝͝S̸͎̲̻͐̿̍̀̂̔͘͝ͅm̴̨̻̟̱̼̤̦̠͈̒͒̈́͑͘į̶̱̻̮͇̈́͊̅͌̓̃̃t̷̨͎͓̻̩̱̫̙̑̌h̴̨̡̧̠̰̺̮̣̄̐,̵̱͔̰͊ ̷̨̛̬̹̦͈̗̣̫̳̬̲͍̅̅̾͌̃̔̉̕͠͝͝Z̵̳̟͕̬̤̐̒͐͜͜e̴̛̖̠̪̮̝̦͈̅̌͗̓͊̀̈́̂͛̕͜͠l̷̨͈̥̤̻̤̖̍̄͑̊̑̅͑͘͝d̷̡̪̰̭̪̬̀̑͌͒̿̋̎̉͗̚͝͝a̸̰̘͊ ̷̨̧̰̻͔̠̘̠̹̉͂̌̒͆̊̈͛F̷͇̘͖̫͔̝̩̝͈̜̆̄̉͂̍̔̅͜ͅr̴̰̮̀̀́̏̑͊̚͠͝ȩ̴̠͈̼̖̣͕͎͓̤͒̆͊̒̓͘͘͝e̶̥͍̬̦̋͒̌m̶͆̃��̡̣̝̥̠̅͐̌͊͜a̷̢̼̼̜̦̩̺͎̭̜̝͕͂̿̆̏̑͘͝͝͝n̸̫̼̺̝͓͉̝̱̈́̃́͠͝͝ͅ,̶̖͙̬̮͓̼̟̝͕̰̰̙̍͌̇̓̄̒̈͘ ̵̼̈́͛̈́́̃̒K̴̡͕̳̙̔̈́̾̆͋̅͑̚͜ḙ̷͓̜͖̘̭̔̃́ṽ̶̳̤͎̺͓͍̣̕͝ͅï̶̧͖͈̯͍̞̲̩̩͍̺̋͌̉̊̄̑͆͛̃̏͘n̷̻̊ ̸̡̫̝͍̥̱̠̝͖̈́̽̌͊̈́͂̄̇̀͘A̸̢̻͖͔͖̻̯̤͉̍̑͌͆̒͝ņ̸͙̜̜̹̞̤̤̰̙̮̓̂̔̓̓̐͂̓͊̇̕͠ţ̸̰͈͈̙͕͙̗̳̩͈̋͛̌̏̇͛́̍͗͛ǫ̴̡̧͉̠̦͙͙̫͐͊̈͑ͅñ̸̢͓̦͔͍̥̙̼̕į̶͙̪̌͊̀͆͑o̴̡̨͇̗͎͂͑́̋͋͗̐͝,̷̡̤̻̪͙͎̙͙̏ ̵͓͇̤͕̤͔̞̖̹̎͆́̓̏̓͂́̐͘͜͝a̶̘̟̥̤̱̰̙͐n̴͈̞̜͎̫̬̖̱̦̽̂͂͜d̸͕̭̟͉̎̍̄̀ ̴̢͓͔̼̠̰͓͎̭͍̣̻́̓̅̿̒̉͐͐̔̕G̸̬͖̬̘͔̊͆ṛ̶̔͝a̶̡̫͖̼̦̖̽̒̈́̆̈́̀́̈́͋c̵̛̯̬̩̈́͂̐̅̀̌͑͝͠ȇ̶̻̺́ ̵̲̖̖̞̖̬̝͌͜R̵̩͖̙̮̒̈͌̐o̸̝̰͚̺̓̎́̉̂̌̂̏̄̊̃̈́s̶̤̙͚̞̎̂͑̒̈́̒̐͑e̶̬͋́̊̈́.̸̦̙̼͇̜̑͌͊] what started as a small business soon involved into massive success.

We at the team have taken a certain risk when it comes to experimenting and creating something that would engage audiences alike. We like to stay somewhere in the middle of PG or PG-13 rated games. It's always best to avoid making games that are too offensive or gruesome to the player's eye, especially when it comes to our humor. unlike when we made a mistake making "Rocky's Bad Wool Day."

When it comes to good games, we always do a little playtest to be sure that it's playable. When we think it's ready, we go to the next step when it comes to making a story. We like to surprise players with what we come up with, and when it comes to horror games, we like to sprinkle little hints of "LORE" into the mix, as a little secret story hidden in the backgrounds.

We made many partnerships with a few small businesses to help promote some of the projects we are currently working on. And with some of the cash we received with the acceptance of merch, most of it will go to charity, while the rest goes straight into the works of other stuff, so we can do more big and fun things in the future.

As we continue to evolve and remain as an independent family business, we look forward to making something special that'll help to inspire others.

Let us find an exit to a world of imagination!

Games we made:

— Little Runmo (2002)

— Battle Gods (2005)

— Bongo-Chewy (2007-2008)

— Rocky’s Bad Wool Day (2012)

— Silvereye 427 (2014)

— The Amazing Digital Circus (2017) [Purchased the right from C&A after canceling and putting the game on sale.]

— Ragatha’s Manor (2019) [Spin-off to The Amazing Digital Circus]

— Perfect Heart (2022)

— Jax-Ware (2023) [Spin-off to The Amazing Digital Circus]

— Monster Planet (2024)

Game Publisher:

— Gammon Inc.

What happened to the original founders?

After finishing their last game, “The Amazing Digital Circus”, they tragically passed away due to an unknown disease. We were all really heartbroken knowing that the founders had gone away too soon. We would’ve shut down and disbanded the team, but luckily for us, the head founder of “Exit Dream Legacy” asked to write a written statement as a final request before they go. And this is what she has to say:

“While our demise was sudden and unexpected, we enjoyed being the developers of The Amazing Digital Circus along with the other games we created. Randle was our biggest inspiration for the games we’ve created and we wouldn’t want our legacy to end on a tragic note. This is why we’re passing this company down to him. From the day Ŗ̴̨͇̼͓̲̩̺͈̤͌̋e̸̢͖̞͙̪͗̐̾̊̈̈́̀͝b̴̨̥̩͍̙̫̝͚̼̳͑͋͛͋̉̒̈̚͠ē̴̙̯̟̱̮͉̘̯̣̩c̷̖͍̥̈́̄̋͗c̵̨̮̝͇͙̥͋̑a̴̬͑̔̑̓́͘̕ and I adopted him, we knew he would be someone very special. As for the rest of the team, we’re forever grateful for making Exit Dream Legacy possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

- P.J

It’s truly sad to see them go. The head founder was truly like a mother figure we all wish we had. She’d listen whenever we were going through hard times, she helped when someone was in need, and she knew what to say when we all struggled. She’s truly someone we should all aspire to be. Let your legacy live on while the company grows strong.

Who’s the new owner?

Randle Jones, the founder of the company, also requested the team to guide her son and show him how things work. It was a struggle at first after the passing, but he’s starting to manage a little.

[No matter the struggle and hardships, Exit Dream Legacy will live on for generations to come.]

—EDL

[klausysworld]

(This is based on that cam girl idea I had except I ended up making more boring than I initially thought so I might make another or something? I dunno, either way I hope everyone likes it cuz it’s still cute)

Something special

Klaus was no stranger to sex. Over a thousand years he had tried damn near everything and knew just how to pleasure both himself and others. He found it both amusing and inspiring how humans invented new things to satisfy their needs and often tested them out. Webcaming sites were one of his favourites.

Having an eager, gorgeous girl on his screen teasing him for hours and moaning softly. It helped that he had a lot of money, it mean he had private chat rooms and calls with a lot of these girls. There, when it was only him, they would begin to lose more clothing. Some were happy to be completely naked for everyone to see but the ones who were out for money only did it for the right amount. They were his favourites, knowing that they got excited when he joined the live because he would offer what they needed.

He hadn't been on for a good while while he was busy with his curse and hybrids but once he had the time, he decided to log back on. He scrolled for a little while to find someone who peaked his interest. Klaus was careful with who he picked, he didn't want to have loads of girls waiting for him, he needed them to feel special and wanted.

But after a little while, he found her. Y/n, or at least that was her name on here. With a slight smile, he joined. She was in her panties and an oversized baby-pink jumper that went just over her thighs and swallowed her pretty body. Her hair was down and she was simply eating her dinner, gammon egg and fries. The wall behind her was white and he could see the end of her bed at the edge of the screen. She smiled at the camera as she dipped her fry in her egg and took it into her mouth, chewing slowly before swallowing it down.

He watched the comments, and then her, studying how she reacted to different requests and compliments. Some people were asking for her to take off the jumper, some were asking her to lick her knife and others were asking to have a private or members only stream. She hummed softly as she took a sip of her drink, which was a tall glass of milk making Klaus smirk.

She shifted to sit up in her knees, her thighs parted but the jumper making it impossible to see between them. A good few people send her money, most a maximum of $50 but he could tell that she was happy with that. She let out a soft laugh at one of the comments, "mm it's just milk, I'm sorry" she smiled and as though it were contagious, so did Klaus.

For the next few nights he just watched her. The most she would let anyone see of her was her thighs or sometimes a little cleavage but she wasn't explicit at all. He began to wonder how much it would take to have her take her panties off. So, out of curiosity, he asked.

He watched as her face went pink and she fiddled with the edge of her t-shirt. "You're very forward..." she glanced at the accounts name "Nik" she murmured softly and he grinned.

A hundred?

He questioned with a sly smile and she nibbled her lip and ignored him making him hum lowly to himself.

Two hundred?

He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly in determination. When she still didn't answer him and instead began talking to a different one of her...fans I suppose, he decided to send her some money. $500 to be exact. Her eyes went wide and she seemingly shrank into herself. "I- um..." her face reddened and she paused for a moment before the steam ended. He then received a private message

I can refund you

was all it said and he frowned

Why would I want a refund? It's for you, sweetheart.

he replied with a click of his tongue, watching the three dots dance across his laptop screen.

I won't do what you want for it. You can have it back.

she was scared and he knew that but he didn't want her to be.

That's alright, love. You can keep it anyways. Maybe buy yourself something and wear it in your next show.

he offered, hoping she would accept. As soon as she did, he was in.

If you're sure? I'm very sure. Well then thank you, Nik ❤️

he smiled at his screen and went offline for the rest of the night. He began to picture how her body would look beneath her baggy clothes, he imagined her sexy little figure crawling towards him on his screen and her lips whispering his name like she had before.

The thought stuck with him even in sleep and followed him all the next day and onwards.

It took a good couple of weeks to fully gain her attention. Then he was on every day, sending in money and flattering her. He was happy to do so though, besides she had been more confident and a little more seductive with her behaviour. She still never took her clothes off, especially not for everyone but when he went into a members only room with her and a few others she would be in only her underwear. No shirt or jumper to hide her soft skin.

And after persistency, he managed to have a one-on-one session. He had his camera off to begin with but when she shyly asked if she could see him, he didn't want to deny her sweet voice. Her expression was somewhat relaxed when she saw him, he wondered what other kinds of people would manage to get her like this.

He smiled and hummed as he allowed her to look him over for a moment. "Better than expected sweetheart?" he purred and she shrugged sheepishly.

"Well yeah honestly" she laughed and so did he. Most of the men she went one-on-one ended up being either old and alone, young and horny or married and telling her she needed to be quiet because his wife was in the next room over or that he was on break at work. Still, she never hung up, they were paying her after all. Some of them were there purely to talk and of course others were much more direct about what they wanted.

Nik had been a bit of a mystery to her. Sometimes he was asking to see her panties and the next he was just wondering about her day or what things she had in her room like the teddy bears on her bed which she didn't mean to have in the shot.

So she was curious as to how this first personal interaction would go.

Klaus was mostly proud that he had gotten this far but also somewhat excited, after realising that Y/n had become his release for his stress after a long day in Mystic Falls, he began to feel a little something for her. He just knew if she were here that she'd be terrified, she was far too lovely for war and pain. If Klaus were honest, he didn't really understand why she was on this kind of platform, she really didn't seem the type but he assumed it was for the money or perhaps she wasn't as innocent as she made him and the others believe but he didn't think that was the case.

Either way, he had been looking forward to this evening for a while. "Well I'm glad I haven't disappointed" he chuckled and she smiled. She sat back against her fluffy pink beanbag so the camera could see her top half. His eyes traced the pattern on her white lace bra, a little jewel handing for the bottom. Her hair looked freshly done and he could tell that she put in much more effort for her spenders.

"Don't worry about disappointing me, I can promise that you won't" she told him, her voice smooth like silk as his tongue wetted his lips and he straightened up. He was sat in bed, his laptop on his lap over the covers and a bottle of lube on his bedside table just incase.

They began just talking about simple things, she asked him questions and he answered to an extent and vice versa.

But as the night grew older, he began to ask if he was allowed to have a better look at her. She agreed easily and stood up for him, giving a 360 of her body. He groaned softly and damn near begged for her to take her panties off and by the end of the call she did. Her thighs squeezed together but he could see her smooth little mound. She sat back in her beanbag on her side so the curve of her ass was on display for his eyes and occasionally when she shifted, he would catch a glimpse of her glistening cunt.

After a good while she had to go and thanked him for everything he had said to her and given her. He smiled back and thanked her in return "Perhaps next time we'll get rid of that pretty bra of yours too?" he teased and she blushed.

And next time, he did. He had her completely naked, lead on her front and eating some chips while they spoke. Klaus could imagine her tender breasts spilling out of his hands as she told him some innocent story without realising his attention being elsewhere as she leaned up on her elbows allowing him to see her pebbled nipples. Once he let out a groan, she popped her head up and realised. He could see something dim in her eyes and it made him feel some sort of guilt? But she brushed whatever it was away and smiled, asking if he wanted her to help him feel better.

After that he began to push further and further each time, becoming aware that when she trusted him enough, she would do just about. anything.

Her manicured nails would squeeze at her budded nipples while he gave slow strokes to his hardened cock, occasionally cupping his balls to tease himself.

Her legs would part for him to get that view he had longed for, his mouth watering and cock beginning to twitch with the need to bury inside her and yet he feared that he never would.

Often it was one-sided, Klaus would get off while she spoke delicious words to fuel his desire and showed off her body. But after a while he began to request that she showed him how she played with herself. He asked if she ever thought about any of her spenders when she was alone at night and if she would ever let any of them, more importantly him actually meet her. Touch her, fuck her. God he wanted to, he needed to.

Seeing her little fingers curl inside her tight little cunt was becoming addictive. It got even better when he would send her the money over and a link of the toys he wanted her to play with for him.

Sometimes she would bring her toys out in some of her normal streams, she would have her vibrating panties on while she spoke to her fans, grinding against a teddy and biting at her own lip to keep quieter than she would be normally.

Klaus and Y/n had become somewhat emotionally involved without telling the other of their true feelings. They both assumed the other was their for physical things. Y/n especially thought Klaus could care less about her. Especially when he suddenly stopped turning up. Never joining her performances or even coming online. She assumed he must've gotten bored or something?

She didn't know that he was in New Orleans, in and out of wars and living in a house full of bloodsucking creatures, night howlers and magic practisers.

And he didn't know that she was also in New Orleans, working in a little coffee shop out of the way. Not until he found himself inside it after a very long night. He didn't want to go home and stayed out, wondering until the sun rose and shops began to open. That was when he stepped inside and his eyes found hers.

Recognition flashed through both of them and he could hear her heart pounding as she stepped back quickly, tripping on her foot as her breathing escalated and a whispered chant of "nonono" slipped past her lips. On instinct he rushed forward to follow her, shoving past the little gate that let the employees go behind the counter. Other staff yelled at him but he just focused on following her breathing.

He got to a small room which a couple coats hung up and some bags, then he heard a slam and lifted his head to see a window smack closed.

Hurriedly he went back out through the front and sped round where she must’ve climbed out, he could faintly hear the quick patter of footsteps and chased it. His breathing was almost as fast as hers as he turned corners with pace and ran straight into someone. He apologised with a grunt and looked up only to find himself surrounded by people once again as the day was beginning in the busy city.

He let out a frustrated groan and spun around, checking through the crowds as much as he could. “For fucks sake” he growled, storming through the people until eventually finding his way home.

After that day he went back to that coffee shop every day until he eventually compelled one of the other workers only to find out she quit on the same day she saw him there. He compelled every person in the building until one of them told him that they knew where she shopped.

He then continued to hang around the shopping centre for hours like a full on stalker.

Eventually he spotted her, and he did not waste a single second before he was directly behind her “Y/n?” He whispered and she physically jumped as his hand came in contact with her shoulder. She smacked his hand off her, wide eyes staring at him and he knew she was ready to run so he moved forward. Hands either side of her head against the shelves of the supermarket.

Her breathing was laboured and fear rolled off of her. “What do you want?” She whispered, her voice a little more breathy under the circumstances but still mellifluous.

“I- I don’t know” he whispered back, becoming a little confused. What did he want from her? As if realising the situation a little better he moved his hands away from her. What the hell was he doing?

He had caged the poor girl, scared her and for what? To look at her? He could do that online though he was certain she would have blocked his access by now. He didn’t even think to log back on.

His jaw clenched and he took in the anxious expression painting her face. Had someone found her before? Did she think he was here to hurt her?

“I’m sorry” he murmured, taking a hesitant step back “I didn’t know you were here, I just saw you and- I don’t know…I just wanted to…see you? Or talk to you? I don’t-“ he could feel his mouth going dry as he stared at her

“How did you know I’d be in here?” She asked, afraid and a guilty look spread through him.

“Well…okay that makes it look worse” he laughed uneasily. “I just…I missed you” he whispered and she studied his face

“It’s not like it’s hard for you to see me” she whisper yelled and he sighed

“Well I know that but I couldn’t come on there anymore” he mumbled knowing that a number of beings would’ve been able to hear it.

“Right, you’re married or something. Look I don’t care okay? I’m not gonna tell anyone. I don’t even know if your name is Nik” she promised. “I won’t say anything and you won’t say anything…right?” She asked, a twinkle of desperation glistening in her eyes.

His expression softened slightly and he backed away slightly so she wasn’t trapped. “I’m not, married- but I won’t do or say anything. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you” he told her, still confused with what he himself was thinking and doing.

She watched as he left, bumping into someone by mistake as he left. She wasn’t sure whether she should be more afraid or at ease. She leaned more towards the first one.

She began to look over her shoulder whenever she was out, she moved apartments and changed her loyalties when it came to shopping.

And yet still, even with Klaus also trying to avoid her and leave her be, they managed to collide.

Walking straight into each other in the middle of town. His hand had lurched forward to catch her from falling and they both looked to the other prepared to look annoyed before both going silent and wide-eyed. After a second he let go of her and they both muttered an apology, what was worse was that he was with Rebekah and Hope. As soon as Y/n saw the child she turned moved past him, gaining speed as she went. Rebekah could tell something was wrong as her brother went to follow the girl only to sigh and turn back to Hope.

“Secret lover?” She teased but he didn’t look amused so she kept it to herself though she had Hope shared a look.

Klaus however only appeared troubled. He found himself making a new account to watch his girl once again but she’d been inactive for a little while, people asking for her to come back. He hoped he wasn’t the cause but part of him knew he was. He’d spooked her.

But after a while she came back and he watched, send in some cash and eventually he was on a one on one session again. He apologised for how he’d come across and promised he never had ill intentions. After a little time they fell back into pattern and their confidences grew when asking and doing things.

And when he saw her working in an art store selling paints and other mediums as well as helping out with some galleries nearby, he decided to actually talk to her comfortably.

He asked if she’d consider going to dinner with him and gave her his actual number. After a good week she agreed and he had in a fancy restaurant. He could practically smell her nerves but tried his best to soothe her, promising everything was okay and safe. She told him she did the camming for two reasons, for the money but also for herself because she enjoyed it and it made her feel good about herself. They both agreed that if their relationship progressed that it wouldn’t stop her from doing what she wanted just like she wouldn’t stop him from his….job that he made up.

In fact he asked if she’d ever let him join her. She had laughed and shook her head but several dates later when he had her pressed against the same bed that he’d watched her touch herself in months earlier, and was sucking pink marks into his skin, he asked again. And with convincing, she agreed.

God he couldn’t wait to have people know she was taken, he knew it would take a little while but he wanted to make all those people watch as he fucked her senseless. Show them how a real man could treat her instead of those toys.

Not that he didn’t enjoy using them with her, whether it was steaming or in their personal time. He kept her hidden from his family and she didn’t want to ask about it, a little worried for the answer after that time she saw the little girl and blonde women but she had fallen in love with him and it frightened her to think that any of this wasn’t real for him.

For her, she was safe. She was with someone who respected and knew about what she did and would pleasure her not only privately but willingly be apart of her…show.

And for him, she was someone who didn’t see him as a monster or a freak. She wasn’t caught up in any of his family drama or causing any. Everything was nice…for a while.

[estellan0vella]

Sunshine's Guide To Murder│Lee Minho

Chapter Thirty: Toad In The Pond SS: 10 (ignore time stamps and dates) Word Count: 4.1 K Content Warnings: None? Previous Next Masterlist

Minho leans back in his seat, sipping on his iced americano, the soft hum of the car heater filling the space. Snowflakes flutter past the windshield as Hayun adjusts her scarf, taking a long sip of her hazelnut honeycomb frappuccino. She sighs contentedly, her earmuffs slightly askew, and Minho shakes his head.

“I need to understand your aversion to coats,” he says, his voice teasing but with genuine curiosity. “It’s freezing out there, but here you are. Bare legs and no coat. You’re dressed like winter Barbie.”

Hayun shrugs, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Coats ruin my cute vibe. I look like a marshmallow.”

“Yeah, because frostbite is such a good look,” Minho retorts, rolling his eyes. “I’m just saying, princess, a little practicality wouldn’t kill you.”

“Neither will a little cold,” Hayun quips back, taking another sip of her drink. “Besides, you’re my personal heater anyway.”

Minho huffs, his lips twitching into a smirk. “You’re impossible.”

They watch the diner from their vantage point, the windows fogging slightly as the heat inside contrasts with the snow-covered world outside. Hayun leans forward, peering at the entrance, and then settles back in her seat.

“What if we planted someone there?” she muses aloud. “Like Hyunjin? Hospitality workers live for customer gossip. When I worked at the café with Seungmin, we’d talk about the regulars all the time.”

Minho tilts his head. “Hyunjin, though? You think he’d blend in?”

“Hyunjin can blend anywhere,” Hayun replies with a laugh. “He’s like a chameleon with perfect bone structure.”

“Fair point,” Minho agrees. “But Seungmin working at a café? I can’t picture it.”

“Oh, he hated it,” Hayun says with a grin. “But he was great at eavesdropping, and his deadpan commentary kept me sane. I bet he’d love this plan.”

Hayun takes another sip of her drink and hums. “You know, this would be beautiful with some Bailey’s in it.”

Minho glances at her. “What’s Bailey’s?”

She perks up, animated now. “Okay, so before Etta passed, we celebrated my eighteenth birthday with a trip to the UK. We discovered Bailey’s. It’s this magical mix of Irish whiskey, spirits, cream, and flavourings.”

“Is it good?” Minho asks, intrigued.

“Good? It’s life-changing,” Hayun declares dramatically. “You pour it over ice, and it’s like drinking a creamy hug.”

Minho chuckles. “You have some at home?”

“Imported,” she replies proudly. “You better appreciate it when I share it. Shipping’s expensive as hell, but it’s worth every penny. I’m thinking of getting Chan a bottle for Christmas. He’d love it.”

“Fancy,” Minho teases. “Podcast money treating you well, huh?”

“Oh, you can’t talk, Mr. Fancy Car,” Hayun counters, smirking. “Besides, it’s the shipping that’s pricey, not the drink.”

Minho shakes his head with a grin. “You’re a trip, you know that?”

“I try,” she says with a mock bow of her head.

Minho shifts in his seat. “What if we did a big Christmas? My house and your house together. Sweet potato noodles, divine.”

Hayun wrinkles her nose. “Christmas roast is where it’s at.”

“That’s a Western thing, right?” Minho asks.

She nods enthusiastically. “Etta introduced me. Roast chicken, turkey, beef, gammon, vegetables galore, gravy, and- oh! Yorkshire puddings.”

Minho frowns. “Yorkshire puddings?”

Hayun lights up. “Oh, you’re in for a treat. It’s like this pastry thing, kind of, but not really. It’s an experience. You can put gravy on them, or apple sauce if you’re Felix or me.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“And toad in the hole!” Hayun adds, clapping her hands.

“Toad in the what?” Minho’s voice is incredulous.

“Toad in the hole,” she repeats with a grin. “It’s sausages baked into this batter. It’s delicious.”

Minho stares at her. “You’re making that up.”

“I’m not!” Hayun insists, laughing. “British food is weird, but it’s amazing.”

Minho shakes his head, taking another sip of his americano. “You’re a strange one, princess.”

“And yet, here you are,” Hayun teases, nudging his arm.

Minho’s lips curl into a small smile as he glances back at the diner. “Yeah, here I am. I can make beef Wellington, you know.”

Hayun groans dramatically, clutching her frappuccino like it’s a life raft. “Ooh, I might marry you. Forget the podcast, forget the plans, let’s just settle down and make beef Wellington together.”

Minho smirks, raising an eyebrow. “High standards, I see.”

“You’d be surprised,” she shoots back with a grin, tucking her legs under her on the seat. “Can you make any other British dishes?”

“Not really,” Minho admits. “Beef Wellington is just one of those things I got obsessed with once, and I nailed it. You?”

Hayun nods proudly. “Etta was half-American, half-British, and she taught me a lot. You want cottage pie? Done. You want bibimbap?” She pauses for dramatic effect. “Expect a minor fire.”

Minho bursts into laughter. “Cottage pie?”

“It’s like shepherd’s pie,” she explains, already knowing where this is going.

Minho blinks, confused. “Okay, so there’s cottage pie and shepherd’s pie? What the fuck? What’s the difference?”

“Shepherd’s pie uses lamb mince, because, you know shepherds. Sheep,” Hayun replies, gesturing like it’s obvious. “Cottage pie uses beef.”

Minho tilts his head. “Okay, but why isn’t it called cow pie or farmer pie? Who comes up with this shit?”

Hayun freezes for a second, then laughs. “That… that’s a really good question. Cottage pie does sound unnecessarily fancy.”

“So, what actually is it?” Minho presses.

“It’s just meat and vegetables in gravy, with mashed potatoes on top,” she says. “I like being a little extra and putting cheese on the top.”

Minho nods thoughtfully. “I respect the cheese move. Tonight, you could make me the sheep pie or the cow pie.”

Hayun giggles. “We’d have to go shopping for ingredients.”

“Done,” Minho says without hesitation. “Or better yet, I want the toad in the well.”

Hayun snorts, nearly spilling her drink. “It’s toad in the hole. And that means you’ll get to try Yorkshire pudding too because it’s basically sausages baked into one giant Yorkshire pudding.”

“Deal. Toad in the hole it is,” Minho says, already starting to plan. “We’ll get the stuff after this.”

Hayun nods, sipping her drink again. “You’re really about to experience British cuisine, huh?”

Minho looks at her sideways. “Why is it called toad in the hole, though?”

Hayun leans back in her seat. “Something about how toads wait for their prey in burrows, with their heads poking out. Just like sausages peep through the batter.”

Minho stares at her, incredulous. “Why do you know that?”

She shrugs. “Read it once. Eidetic memory, remember?”

Minho shakes his head, smiling. “Yeah, that’s cute and all, but can we circle back to the fact that you, a native Korean, know how to make Western dishes but can’t cook bibimbap without setting something on fire?”

Hayun rolls her eyes, playfully smacking his arm. “It’s not that I can’t! I just don’t. It’s intimidating!”

“Intimidating?” Minho looks genuinely shocked. “It’s literally rice, vegetables, meat, and gochujang. You stir it all together.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Hayun grumbles. “I grew up on instant noodles and convenience store meals, okay? Western stuff was Etta’s thing, and it stuck. Bibimbap was not on the menu in rural America.”

Minho just shakes his head. “Princess, we’re fixing this. Tonight, toad in the hole. Tomorrow, bibimbap lessons.”

“Only if you teach me,” Hayun retorts.

Minho smirks. “Oh, I’m absolutely teaching you. And if you burn anything, you owe me.”

“Deal.” Hayun grins. “But tonight, you’re eating British food. Cheese-covered mashed potatoes and sausage-filled batter coming right up.”

“Sounds divine,” Minho deadpans. “Let’s hope I survive.”

Minho watches as Hayun shifts in her seat, her white mini skirt riding up slightly as she adjusts her position, wincing. “Two o’clock on the dot,” Minho says, glancing at his watch. “That’s one part of Mr. Shin’s schedule mapped out.”

Hayun sighs, leaning back against the seat. “Good. My ass is starting to go numb.”

Minho smirks, leaning closer. “I can smack it to bring the feeling back.”

“No,” Hayun snaps, glaring at him. “You did it earlier, and it still stings.”

Minho chuckles, unapologetic. “Can’t help it. It’s too tempting.”

Hayun groans, taking a long sip of her frappuccino. “You’re incorrigible.”

Minho hums in agreement, starting the car. “Now, let’s go get the toad in the pond stuff.”

Hayun turns to him, her brows furrowed. “It’s toad in the hole!”

“Right, right,” Minho replies, smirking. “Let’s go get the toad in the mud stuff.”

“You’re being patronizing,” Hayun accuses, narrowing her eyes.

Minho puts on his most innocent expression. “Me? Patronizing? Never been patronizing a day in my life.”

“Yeah, right,” Hayun mutters, rolling her eyes as Minho pulls out of the parking lot.

When they arrive at the store, Minho parks and leans back in his seat. “This better be good,” he says, side-eyeing Hayun.

Hayun gasps dramatically, clutching her chest. “Your lack of faith in me hurts, Min.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “A few weeks ago, you nearly burned my house down.”

“I can’t cook Korean food!” Hayun protests.

“You’re Korean!” Minho retorts, throwing his hands up.

Hayun huffs, crossing her arms. “Most of my foster families weren’t, okay? There’s a surprising number of Westernized people fostering Korean orphans. It’s not like I grew up learning traditional recipes.”

Minho softens slightly, but he doesn’t drop the teasing smirk. “Fine, but I’m holding you to this British masterpiece you keep hyping.”

Inside the store, Hayun grabs Minho’s hand, lacing her fingers through his as she pulls him toward the shopping carts. Minho looks down at her hand, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Dainty little hands,” he remarks.

“Patronizing!” Hayun snaps, tugging him forward.

“Me?” Minho feigns shock. “Never.”

Hayun doesn’t dignify that with a response as she starts loading the cart with ingredients. She grabs flour, eggs, milk, and a pack of sausages. “We’ll need these for the Yorkshire pudding batter,” she explains. “And I could make onion gravy to go with it.”

“You’re the chef tonight,” Minho says, letting her take the lead.

Hayun nods, grabbing onions, stock, and butter. Then she makes her way to the vegetable section, selecting broccoli, carrots, and green beans. “You’re my sous chef,” she declares, dropping the vegetables into the cart. “I’ve grabbed enough to make two toad in the holes in big dishes, so you can take one back to Chan, Changbin, Hyunjin, and Seungmin.”

Minho stops pushing the cart for a moment, blinking at her. “You’re too nice.”

Hayun shrugs nonchalantly. “I know Chan misses stuff like this sometimes. He mentions Australia and his family a lot, so if I’m already making it, it’s no big deal to make another. I’ll give you instructions on how to make the gravy.”

Minho stares at her, an unfamiliar warmth spreading in his chest. “You’re really something else, you know that?”

Hayun smiles at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I know. Now let’s check out before you try to talk me out of it.”

As they reach the checkout, Hayun pulls out her phone, ready to tap the card reader. But Minho, quick as lightning, snatches it out of her hand. “Nope,” he declares, holding her phone out of reach.

“Minho!” Hayun whines, reaching for her phone, but he steps back, grinning.

“You’re not paying,” he says, effortlessly balancing the bags in one hand while reaching for his own wallet. “I’m still wooing you, remember? Besides, you’re making this because I asked for it.”

“So what?” Hayun huffs, crossing her arms. “Let me pay, you overgrown flirt.”

Minho merely chuckles as he taps his card to pay. “Not happening, princess.”

He grabs the bags and starts walking toward the door, leaving Hayun no choice but to trail after him. She sighs, glaring at the back of his head. “You don’t have to pay for everything, you know,” she says, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “You paid for my coffee earlier, too. Besides, I thought the wooing would end after we kissed in my bed.”

Minho glances back at her, a teasing glint in his eye. “The wooing doesn’t stop, even once we’re officially dating,” he replies. “But you’re right, I don’t have to do anything. I want to.”

That simple, sincere admission makes Hayun pause, her cheeks warming. She quickly pulls her scarf up over her mouth and nose, trying to hide her reaction.

Minho notices immediately, his smirk widening as he slows his pace to walk beside her. “What’s this?” he asks, his voice dripping with amusement. “Is the princess blushing for big, bad Lee Minho?”

“Shut up,” Hayun mumbles from behind her scarf, refusing to look at him.

Minho laughs as they reach the car. He places the bags in the trunk, glancing over at Hayun, who’s already climbed into the passenger seat. Her scarf is still hiding most of her face, but he can see the tips of her ears, red from embarrassment.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, Minho starts the car and adjusts the heaters, turning to her with a mischievous grin. “You know,” he begins, leaning closer as she fumbles with her seatbelt, “I think it’s adorable how flustered you get. It’s nice to know I can have this effect on you.”

“Minho,” Hayun warns, her voice muffled by the scarf.

“What?” he says, feigning innocence. “I’m just pointing out how cute you are. It’s not my fault you’re so easy to tease.”

Hayun groans softly, pulling the scarf higher until it covers her nose entirely. “You’re insufferable,” she mutters.

“Am I?” Minho teases, his tone mockingly hurt. “But you still agreed to let me woo you. If anything, you’re encouraging this behaviour.”

“I take it back,” Hayun jokes, her voice light but muffled. “You’re terrible at this.”

Minho leans back, placing a hand on the steering wheel as he smirks at her. “Oh, princess, if you think this is terrible, wait till I start pulling out the real flirting. This is just the warm-up.”

Hayun peeks at him from behind her scarf, her eyes wide with mock horror. “This is the warm-up? God help me.”

Minho laughs as he shifts the car into drive, sneaking another glance at her as he pulls out of the parking lot. “God can’t help you now, princess. You’re stuck with me. And trust me, I’m not letting you out of this so easily.”

Hayun finally lowers her scarf slightly, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “You’re lucky you’re cute, or else I’d kick you out of the car.”

Minho raises an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “I’m the cute one? That’s rich, coming from the girl who blushes at the drop of a hat.”

“Minho!” Hayun protests, half-laughing as she covers her face with her hands.

Minho chuckles softly, his eyes flicking between the road and her. “You’re going to regret letting me know how much you like this, princess,” he warns, his tone low and playful. “Because now, I’m never stopping.”

Minho and Hayun pull into the driveway of Hayun's house. The moment they step inside, Hayun kicks off her white Converse near the door, and Minho follows her into the kitchen, placing the bags of groceries on the counter.

Minho claps his hands together. “Alright, Miss British Cuisine Chef, put me to work.”

Hayun laughs softly, her cheeks slightly pink as she nods toward the groceries. “Okay, we’re making toad in the hole.”

At her words, a commotion comes from the living room. In an instant, Jisung, Jeongin, and Felix burst into the kitchen like excited children. Jisung’s eyes are wide with disbelief. “You’re making toad in the hole?!”

Hayun nods with a grin. “Yeah, Minho’s never had it, so I figured why not.”

Felix clasps his hands together, feigning tears. “Are we getting some, or is this all for him?”

“I’m making two,” Hayun replies, amused by their enthusiasm. “One for us five and one for Minho’s house.”

Jeongin leans against the counter with a wide smile. “Onion gravy too?” he asks hopefully.

“Of course.”

They all whoop in unison, their collective joy making Minho chuckle.

“Why are you guys acting like she’s making Michelin-star food?” Minho teases as Jisung, Jeongin, and Felix retreat back to the living room, clearly thrilled by the news.

“You’ll see,” Jisung shouts over his shoulder. “It’s a fucking masterpiece.”

Once the kitchen clears, Minho rolls up his sleeves. “Alright, boss. What’s first?”

Hayun hands him a cutting board and a knife. “You start chopping the carrots and broccoli. I’ll handle the potatoes.”

Minho gets to work, his knife moving methodically through the vegetables. “So, how do we do the veggies? Fry them?”

“Nope,” Hayun replies, peeling a potato with practised ease. “We steam them. For a dish like this, frying doesn’t fit the vibe. But we do have to boil the potatoes first to mash them. I add garlic cream cheese when I mash them.”

Minho freezes mid-chop, scrunching his nose. “Garlic cream cheese? In mashed potatoes?”

From the living room, Jisung shouts, “It tastes fucking divine!”

Minho shakes his head, amused, and keeps chopping. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Hayun finishes peeling the potatoes, dropping them into a large pot of cold water. She turns on the hob, adds a pinch of salt, and stirs it gently with a wooden spoon. “Potatoes are on. Now we need to make the Yorkshire pudding batter.”

Minho sets down the knife, grabbing the ingredients she’s already laid out. Under her watchful eye, he begins mixing flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. His brows furrow in concentration as he whisks the batter, his arms flexing slightly. Hayun watches quietly, a smile tugging at her lips.

“You’re pretty good at this,” she says.

Minho smirks, not looking up from the bowl. “Told you, I’m a man of many talents. What’s next?”

Hayun lines two deep rectangular dishes with greaseproof paper and preheats the oven. “Frying sausages,” she answers. “I’ll handle the bacon.”

Minho moves to the stove, heating a skillet and tossing in the sausages. As they sizzle, he glances at her. “Why do you need bacon if you’ve already got sausages?”

Hayun grins mischievously as she lays strips of bacon on another skillet. “You’ll see.”

Once the sausages are golden and fragrant, Hayun carefully wraps each one in the cooked bacon. She holds up one of the creations with a smile. “Pigs in blankets.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “Pigs in blankets?”

“Yeah,” Hayun says. “Sausages are from pigs, and the bacon is the blanket.”

From the living room, Jisung’s voice rings out. “Are you making pigs in blankets toad in the hole?!”

“Yes!” Hayun calls back.

“I love you!” Jisung shouts, making Minho chuckle.

Minho carefully places the last bacon-wrapped sausage into the deep dish, arranging them evenly before stepping back. “Alright, chef. What’s next?”

Hayun grabs the bowl of batter Minho prepared earlier and slowly pours it over the sausages, the pale mixture spreading and filling the dish perfectly. “This,” she says with a grin, “is where the magic happens. The batter rises around the sausages to form a fluffy, crispy Yorkshire pudding.”

Minho watches intently, leaning on the counter as she pours the batter over the second dish. “How does it not just stay soggy?”

“It’s the heat,” Hayun explains as she slides both dishes into the preheated oven. “Super hot oven makes the batter puff up and get crispy on the edges. It’s science, Min.”

Minho hums, clearly unconvinced. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Hayun laughs, setting the timer for thirty minutes and turning back to the counter. “Now, we start the vegetables.”

She moves to the steamer, arranging the broccoli, carrots, and green beans in neat piles in the baskets before setting it up over boiling water. Minho peeks over her shoulder. “Why do you look so precise doing that?”

“Because presentation is part of cooking,” she teases. “Now, check the potatoes.”

Minho lifts the lid on the pot and peers inside. “Why is the heat so low? Aren’t these supposed to boil?”

“They are,” Hayun says, washing her hands. “But we don’t want them done too early. Timing is everything when you’re cooking a big meal. We still need to prep the onion gravy.”

Minho crosses his arms, leaning against the counter as he watches her move around the kitchen. “I feel like I’m just here to be bossed around.”

“You’re here to help,” Hayun corrects, pulling out onions and beginning to peel them. “Now grab a knife and start slicing.”

Minho takes an onion and slices into it, glancing at her. “You know, you’re way too organized for someone who’s burned water before.”

Hayun rolls her eyes. “I didn’t burn water. I just forgot I was boiling it, and the pot went dry.”

Minho chuckles. “Sure, princess.”

They work in comfortable silence for a while, slicing onions and preparing the other ingredients for the gravy. Minho occasionally sneaks glances at her, smiling when he notices how focused she looks, her lips slightly pursed in concentration.

“You’re really good at this,” he says suddenly.

Hayun pauses, looking up at him. “Good at what?”

“Cooking,” Minho replies, gesturing at the organized chaos on the counter. “You’re like... competent. It’s surprising.”

She laughs, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thanks, I think?”

Minho smirks, brushing a piece of onion off his fingers. “It’s a compliment. Mostly.”

Hayun tosses a bit of onion skin at him, laughing when he flinches. “You’re the worst.”

“And yet, here I am, slicing onions for you,” he replies with a grin.

They finish prepping the gravy ingredients, setting them aside for later. Hayun glances at the timer on the oven. “Fifteen minutes left. Let’s check on the batter.”

Minho crouches in front of the oven, squinting through the glass. “Holy shit. It’s puffing up. It actually works.”

“Told you,” Hayun says, leaning over his shoulder to look. “Yorkshire pudding magic.”

Minho straightens, turning to face her with a teasing grin. “You’re not allowed to look this smug.”

“I think I’ve earned it,” Hayun retorts, bumping his shoulder with hers.

Minho grabs the pot of boiled potatoes, draining them into the sink. “Alright, twig wrists, hand me the masher.”

Hayun snorts as she passes him the masher and a mixing bowl. “Jisung usually does the mashing because he insists it’s the most therapeutic part of cooking.”

Minho starts mashing with a dramatic flourish. “Therapeutic for him, labour for me.”

“You’re so dramatic,” Hayun teases, opening the fridge and grabbing the garlic cream cheese. She scoops out a generous dollop, plopping it into the bowl. Then she adds a splash of milk and a pinch of salt. “Here, this will make it heavenly.”

Minho mashes a little harder, mixing everything together. “You know, you keep calling this heavenly, but I have my doubts. What’s so special about garlic cream cheese, anyway?”

“It’s magic,” Hayun replies, her tone almost reverent. “Trust the process.”

“You sound like a Pinterest board,” Minho grumbles but continues mashing until the potatoes are smooth and creamy.

Meanwhile, Hayun turns to the pan of onions sizzling on the stovetop. She stirs them, adding flour and stock to create a rich, aromatic gravy. The kitchen fills with the comforting scent of onions and herbs, making Minho pause mid-mash to sniff the air.

“Alright, maybe I’m starting to believe,” he admits, grabbing five plates. He starts plating up the mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables with precision, clearly trying to impress her.

Hayun glances over. “Look at you, Mr. Perfectionist. Do you want to be a chef in your next life?”

Minho grins. “Nope. I just like showing off.”

The oven timer beeps, and Minho sets down the last plate to pull out the toad in the holes. He carefully places one on the counter for his housemates and brings the other to Hayun. “Here’s your masterpiece, Princess.”

“Don’t call me Princess when you’re holding my creation,” Hayun scolds lightly, but she’s smiling. She quickly starts cutting portions, spooning onion gravy generously over each slice.

Minho picks up the pot of leftover mashed potatoes and takes a bite. His eyes widen. “Holy shit, this is actually really fucking good.”

“Told you,” Hayun says smugly as she drizzles gravy over the last plate. “It’s all about the garlic cream cheese.”

Before Minho can retort, Jisung, Felix, and Jeongin appear in the kitchen, lured by the smell of food. They immediately start peppering Hayun’s face with kisses, one on her cheek, one on her forehead, and one on the top of her head.

“Stop!” Hayun laughs, swatting at them half-heartedly.

The trio suddenly freeze, realizing Minho is standing right there. They all look at him like deer caught in headlights. Minho raises an eyebrow, casually eating another bite of mashed potatoes.

“What?” Minho says, smirking. “You all like dick. I’m not worried. Unless—” He turns to Hayun with mock suspicion. “Something I should know?”

Hayun laughs, raising her hand. “Vagina haver, right here.”

Felix groans, burying his face in his hands. “You’re insufferable.”

Jisung leans against the counter, grinning at Minho. “You’re actually not freaking out. Impressive. Most straight guys would be sweating by now.”

Minho shrugs, still munching on potatoes. “I’m comfortable with my masculinity. Plus, I’ve got the girl, so what do I care?”

Jeongin shakes his head with a laugh. “You’re cocky as hell.”

“Damn right,” Minho replies. “Now sit your asses down and eat. Hayun’s been slaving over this for you ingrates.”

Hayun rolls her eyes but can’t hide her smile. She places the plates on the table, and everyone gathers around, digging in with eager anticipation.

Minho takes his first bite of the toad in the hole and pauses, savouring the flavours. “Alright,” he says after a moment. “This is fucking amazing. I take back everything I said about your cooking skills.”

Hayun beams. “Thank you, Min.”

Jeongin raises his glass of water. “To Hayun, the best chef in the house.”

Everyone cheers, clinking their glasses together. Minho leans over to whisper in Hayun’s ear, “You might actually be winning me over with this cooking thing, Princess.”

She nudges him with her elbow, laughing softly. “Good. That’s the plan.”

"But you still can't cook bibimbap for shit,"

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[mads-weasley]

Epiphany Pt. 2: Out of the Woods

Lewis Nixon x Reader

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

A/N: here's chapter two, guys! thanks to everyone who responded to the first part! y'all made my day! without further ado, enjoy! hbo owns the rights, and this is about the fictional portrayal of easy company on the show. nothing but love and respect for veterans on this blog!

Summary: Operation Overlord is upon Easy Company, and the brave paratroopers get their first taste of war.

Word Count: 3.6k

Warnings: mentions of death, blood

Hundreds of tents lined the muddy fields surrounding the Upottery Airfield in preparation for Operation Overlord. (Y/n) found a dry spot amongst 2nd platoon and laid out all of her supplies. Looking at the various grenades, mines, and other random items, she groaned. “How am I supposed to put all of this in a pack? It’s ridiculous!”

“Tell me about it! ”Joe Toye scoffed from her right, staring down at his pile. “I’ve got a three-day supply of ‘K’ rations, chocolate bars, charms, candy, powdered coffee, sugar, matches, compass, bayonet, entrenching tool, ammunition, gas mask, musette bag with ammo, my webbing, my .45, canteen, two cartons of smokes, Hawkins mine, two grenades, smoke grenades, Gammon grenade, TNT, this bull, and a pair of nasty skivvies!”

Perconte rolled his eyes, tired of Joe’s rant. “What’s your point?”

“Come on,” Toye fumed. “This stuff weighs as much as I do! Probably twice as much as (y/l/n).”

“Yeah, yeah,” she chuckled as Joe continued.

“I still got my chute, my reserve chute, my Mae West, and my M-1.”

Frank got up and walked past the group, calling over his shoulder with an amused expression. “Where are you keeping your brass knuckles?”

“I could use some brass knuckles,” Toye sighed, sitting back on his heels.

(Y/n) finished readying her pack and attempted to lift it over her shoulder with a grunt.

“You and me both, Joe,” she gritted, failing the first few tries.

The fourth time, it weighed considerably less, and she was able to wobbly sit it on her shoulder without tipping over. A proud smile grew on her face, but when she turned and saw who was there, her lips formed a fake pout.

“Nix, you know I could’ve done that by myself?”

The officer laughed, his bright smile making an appearance. “Sure, I thought watching you fail three times was enough.”

Realizing he just admitted to watching her, he shifted from foot to foot and cleared his throat. “Two years. Two years of training led us here. Crazy, right?”

“Yeah,” she murmured, looking around at all her fellow soldiers. “I can’t believe it’s been that long.”

“Well, time did seem to crawl by when we were with Sobel.”

“Absolutely. I still remember his dumbfounded face when Luz impersonated Major Horton. It was the best day of my life.”

Vest came by with pamphlets, handing them to every soldier, announcing they were from Colonel Sink.

“George,” (y/n) called. “Can you do Sink?”

“Does a wild bear crap in the woods, son? Uh, sweetheart?” He corrected, cringing. “Doll? Your majesty? Great and mighty (y/n)?”

(Y/n) raised her eyebrows at him, smirking. “Nice try.”

Cracking a smile, he held up the paper and began reading it as the Colonel. “Soldiers of the regiment, tonight is the night-,” his voice lowered, becoming serious as he continued. “-of nights. Today, as you read this, you are en route to the great adventure for which you have trained for over two years.”

The message hung in the air as each paratrooper took it in. They were going to war. The realization washed over (y/n) like a bucket of ice water, and her mind flashed with the faces of the men she’d come to call brothers. 

Don, George, Skip, Alex, Frank, Lip…

It could be the last time she saw some of them.

“Hey,” Nix smirked and pointed at the various mohawks Lieb had given some men, oblivious to her anxiety-ridden mind. “I think you should try that hairstyle.”

She rolled her eyes and playfully smacked him on the chest. “Whatever.”

When he didn’t reply, she followed his line of sight to Lieutenant Meehan, who stood atop a jeep. ”Easy Company! Listen up! Gather around me.”

Once Easy was fully gathered, he continued. “Now, the Channel coast is socked in with rain and fog. High winds on the drop zone. No jump tonight!”

Grumbles broke out from the men as they looked at each other in disbelief.

“The invasion has been postponed. We’re on a 24-hour stand-down. Drill sergeants, take charge.”

(Y/n) looked up at Nix as he lit a cigarette, shaking her head with a groan. “Great.”

“What?” He shrugged. “Can’t put up with me for another 24 hours?”

“You know what? You’re insufferable, Nix.”

JUNE 6th, 1944: UPOTTERY AIRFIELD

The channel cleared the next day, and the jump was back on. (Y/n) removed her helmet and grabbed the grease paint from George’s outstretched hand. 

“I hate this stuff,” she grumbled, twisting off the cap.

She felt someone take the small can from her hand and recognized the culprit by their low chuckle. 

(Y/n) turned to face him with a playful scowl. “Why are you so immature, Lewis?”

“Lewis?” He gasped, a hand flying to his chest. “Oh, I’ve really done it now.”

Her scowl broke as she shoved him lightly. “Shut up.”

“See, I think you’re overthinking this,” he stated, holding up the tin. “All you have to do is get a glob,” he scooped a few fingers into the can. “-And rub it on your face, like so.”

To (y/n)’s dismay, he quickly reached out and smeared the paint down her cheek with a proud smirk.

“See? Voilà.”

Mouth hanging open, she snatched the can from him, hardly concealing her newly formed amused smile. “I hate you,” she deadpanned as she started toward the rest of her platoon.

His hand reached out and grasped her wrist. “Hang on. Let me fix it.”

“Fine,” she huffed.

Lew knew her well enough to see that it was taking all her willpower to keep the corners of her lips from curling into a smile. He thought it was an admirable attempt, but he could see straight through her. 

What he didn’t expect was her glare to drop completely when he lightly tugged her closer by her wrist. An unreadable expression passed over her face, and Lew discovered he might not be able to read her as well as he thought. 

Peering down at her, he softly brushed her (y/h/c) flyaways from her face before leaning down to be at eye level with her. (Y/n)’s breath hitched slightly at the gentle touch, and she looked up to meet his eyes. 

“Don’t make me look like a raccoon, okay?” She whispered, nervousness flowing through her veins.

With a nod, he got some paint on a few fingers and cupped her jaw with his other hand before making lines across her forehead and cheeks. Tilting her face up softly, his touch trailed down her nose down to her lips. Nix’s gaze stayed there for a moment, swallowing thickly as he noticed their curve and the slight pout they were shaped in.

‘It would be so easy to lean in and…stop,’ he caught himself.

“Uh, all done,” he murmured, dropping his hands to his pockets.

(Y/n) blinked, coming down from the high of his touch. “Thank you,” she replied, her gaze locked with his. “Do you need any help with yours?”

Snapping out of his daze, he smiled bashfully. “I’ve got it.”

A few seconds later, Dick approached them, all geared up and ready to go. “It’s time.”

D-Day had begun.

Staring at the solemn faces of Skip and George across from her, the endless possibilities of what could go wrong flooded her mind as her stomach began to churn.

What if their stick blew up?

What if she was captured?

What if she was killed?

(Y/n) looked up at the sleeping man beside her, admiring his face in the dim light of the plane. Her eyes followed the curve of his nose down to his parted lips as soft breaths passed through them. Even covered in grease in a dark C-47, he was still breathtaking.

What if he was killed?

When they first met in that putrid-smelling mess hall in Toccoa, (y/n) never would have guessed what would become of the pair. The mysterious aura that first drew her to him was quickly wiped away after a few months, revealing a kind, but complicated, man who was sometimes too smart for his own good. 

He was there to vent to when Captain Sobel revoked her weekend pass because her hair was “too long,” and was simply always there to support her. Through the new COs, new bases, and even new countries, he’d been a constant. Over the last two years, he’d been there for her, and she realized that if anything happened to him, she wouldn’t know what to do.

Sure, she was close with the other men in Easy, especially 2nd platoon, but those relationships were… different. Her heart didn’t skip a beat when George Luz or Chuck Grant walked into a room. Their smile didn’t cause heat to rush to her cheeks. 

He was her best friend. There was no other way to describe it. 

But do best friends look at each other the way they do?

Her thoughts continued to run rampant for the next hour as the paratroopers got closer to their destination. To her left, Tab was deep in thought, as well, pulling at his bottom lip as he usually did when thinking. Pulling herself from her thoughts, (y/n) nudged him with her shoulder. 

“So, I heard you got a present from home.”

He dropped his hand to his lap and grinned as he fished something from his bag. “Yeah, courtesy of the Kokomo police department.”

Floyd showed her the revolver with a proud expression. “It feels good to have a little bit of home with me.”

“That’s great, Tab. I’m glad you’ve got support like that from home.”

“What did your folks have to say about you joining up?” He asked.

(Y/n) took a deep breath before answering, willing the memory from her mind. “They weren’t thrilled, that’s for sure.”

He elbowed her side gently with a chuckle. “Well, we’re all real glad you decided to join this mess. Who else is gonna keep all of us straight?”

Laughing to herself, (y/n) leaned her helmet back against the rumbling wall of the plane, wishing sleep would welcome her soon. Her eyes shot open after a few minutes when the aircraft shook with turbulence. Nausea crept up her throat at the movement, and she groaned at the realization she wasn’t going to get any rest.

Time seemed to stretch on forever sitting on the hard metal seat of the plane. Some of the other men started to rouse and have small conversations around her, but all she could think about was her parents. Could they stand to lose another child?

Tears burned her eyes as her mind replayed the moment they heard the news about Pearl Harbor and her brother’s fate. Her mother’s wails when she collapsed onto the floor beside the radio. The deep ache in her chest didn’t seem to go away with time, and she doubted it ever would.

(Y/n) was pulled from her thoughts by a gentle hand on her shaking knee.

“You’re gonna be okay, (y/n/n).”

Lew.

“Yeah,” she sighed, furiously blinking away her tears. “I’m not worried about myself, though.”

“Don’t worry about me, alright? Stay focused on yourself.”

(Y/n) smirked and raised an eyebrow. “What made you think I was worried about you, mister ‘yale know-it-all?’”

At that moment, Nixon was thankful for the dark plane, for she couldn’t see the flush that crept across his cheeks. “Only by the kind way you speak to me,” he retorted, rolling his eyes. 

Within seconds, his face became serious. “But I mean it, (y/n). Please be careful.”

“I will, Lew. You too, okay?” She replied, grasping his hand atop her knee.

Their conversation was cut short by the red light flashing on beside Dick. Nodding at each other, they prepared for what was about to happen.

“Get ready!” Lieutenant Winters yelled above the rumble of the plane. “Stand up! Hook Up! Equipment check!”

Following orders, they stood, hooked up, and started checking their helmets, followed by pulling on the harnesses of those in front of them. George stood between Nix and (y/n) in line, separating the pair.

“Don’t enjoy this too much,” George jeered back to her as she checked his equipment. 

Through his humor, she could see the fear that each of them felt. 

Dick’s voice filled the plane again. “Sound off for equipment check!”

“Ten okay!”

“Nine okay!”

“Eight okay!”

“Seven okay!”

Hearing her heartbeat in her ears, (y/n) attempted to push her fear deep down. 

“Six okay!” Chuck yelled, tapping her on the shoulder.

(Y/n) repeated the motion for George, shouting. “Five okay,”

“Four okay!”

“Three okay!”

“Two okay!”

“One okay!” Winters finished, looking out the jump door.

Within seconds, the cloud cover dissipated, and explosions filled the air, violently tilting the plane sideways. (Y/n) lost her balance and fell back onto her seat with a curse. Luckily, Chuck grabbed her harness and hoisted her back on her feet in front of him. 

As the plane continued to shake beneath their feet, she looked through the small window at the stick beside them just in time to see it get hit and go down in flames. Her mouth went dry at the sight, and she prayed that they wouldn’t share the same fate.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Someone yelled at the back of the plane.

Lip turned behind him. “Does that light look green to you?”

The man didn’t get to respond as gunfire ripped through the plane, peppering him with shrapnel.

“I’m hit!”

Among the chaos, the green light flicked on, and Winters called out to them. “Let’s go!”

Without hesitation, he jumped out the door, followed by Gene, Lew, and George. Following Luz, (y/n) didn’t even look before pushing herself out the door.

The first thing she felt was the wind whipping at her equipment as she fell through the air. Anti-aircraft shells exploded around her, adding to the deafening cacophony surrounding her. Explosions, screams, gunfire…it was a sound she’d never forget.

Even with her parachute deployed, the ground was fast approaching. To her panic, she couldn’t see her DZ anywhere. To make matters even worse, the wind guided her toward the dense forest instead of one of the many open fields surrounding her. She tried to pull up on the risers to change her direction, but it was too late. Within seconds, she flew into the tall European oak trees she tried so desperately to avoid.

All air left her lungs as she slammed into a tree, sending her falling through the branches. The sound of snapping wood filled her ears and she hissed at the sharp stings that covered her body as she fell. 

With a jolt, her descent was abruptly stopped, causing her to swing into a nearby trunk with a thwack. (Y/n) groaned at the impact, feeling pain seep into her already bruised and battered body. 

“Great,” she hissed, looking up at the tangled chute. “Of course, I landed in a freaking forest.”

Seeing she was only a few feet off the ground, (y/n) let out a sigh of relief and reached for her knife. When she looked down, she cursed at the missing bag that was supposed to be attached to her leg. 

‘At least I didn’t put anything important in there,’ she thought.

The (y/h/c) quickly cut herself free of the chute and fell through the air again, landing on her feet with a wince. Even though she couldn’t see herself, she knew she had to look rough. The stinging from various cuts and scratches torso, arms, and legs were a dead giveaway to her appearance. 

Pulling out her M1, she quietly made her way to a clearing better illuminated by the moon. She stayed near the edge, wary of being seen, and used her compass and map to try and figure out where she was. After a few minutes, she discovered she was a few miles west of the rally point. Just as she was about to move, a drip of red on her map stole her attention. (Y/n) took off her helmet and began to run a shaky hand through her grimy hair when a sharp pain flared from her temple, making her groan at the searing sensation. Pulling her hand away, she gasped to see it covered in dark red. 

The paratrooper quickly grabbed a bandage and gritted her teeth, tying it the best she could.

“Head wounds bleed the most,” Doc Roe had said in a medic seminar. “You’re gonna go through bandages quick.”

 She gently placed the helmet back on her head and took a deep breath. “You can do this, (y/n),” she muttered under her breath as she started moving east toward the rally point. “You can do it.”

She’d made it to the ground, but she wasn’t out of the woods, yet.

D-Day Plus Three: Sainte-Mère-Eglise, France

Since Nix finally made it to Sainte-Mère-Eglise on June 7th, his eyes searched the crowd for one face. Every day, he kept a constant check on who arrived and who they’d seen or heard from, and for two days, he couldn’t rest.

On the third day, he overheard some men from the 82nd.

“Did you see the broad?”

On instinct, he rushed out of the makeshift company CP onto the street filled with exhausted paratroopers, ignoring the concerned looks from the men as he quickly made his way to the front of the town. 

“Thank God,” he whispered, seeing her wobbly figure from a distance. 

Her downcast eyes didn’t see him approach as she dragged her feet in the mud, too tired to even pick them up.

“You’re late to the party,” Lew chuckled, trying to mask his relief.

Despite the ringing pain in her head, her eyes shot up to meet his. When their gazes met, she let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. He made it.

A tired smile grew on her blood and dirt-covered face. “Nice to see you, too, Lew.”

Extending his arm out to her, Nix pulled her into a tight embrace. It was like his mind needed physical reassurance she was there. 

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he murmured into her helmet.

Leaning into his chest, she let the rhythm of his heart calm her fear. Even in a warzone, she felt safe in his arms. “I was worried about you, too.”

A chuckle reverberated through his chest. “So you were worried about me, huh?”

Pulling back to look at him, (y/n) smirked. “I take it back.”

His playful expression changed to concern as he noticed her pale face and the blood beneath her helmet. “Hey, what happened? You’re bleeding.”

(Y/n) ducked her head to the side. “I’m fine, Lew. Really.”

“Come on, let me see,” he urged, gently unclasping her helmet. 

A hiss left him, seeing the blood-soaked cloth haphazardly tied around her head. 

“(Y/n),” he sighed, one hand tilting her jaw to see the wound while the other peeled back the bandage. The gash ran from her right temple to just above her ear. “This is deep. You’re gonna need stitches. Let’s go to the aid station.”

His tender touch left her speechless. “Ok-okay,” she whispered, following him to the medic tent.

The coppery smell of blood hit her like a ton of bricks the second she entered the tent. Men were lying on cots, missing limbs, and crying in agony. (Y/n) froze, unable to tear her gaze from the carnage before her. A guiding hand on the small of her back urged her to keep walking. 

“Come on, (y/n/n). This way,” Lew muttered.

He led her into another tent that was less crowded and sat her down on a nearby cot. “I’ll go find Doc. Stay here.”

Laying back on the cot, (y/n) allowed her body to fully relax for the first time in almost three days. Soreness gnawed at her muscles, leaving behind a dull ache that drained all of her energy. Within a few minutes, her eyes began to droop, and sleep finally welcomed her.

“She’s in here,” Lew said, Doc Roe in tow. “She’s got a nasty cut on her head.”

The cajun nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a look. You know head wounds bleed a lot.”

Walking into the room, their expressions softened at her curled-up form on the cot. “Is it okay if she sleeps,” Nix asked, crouching next to her.

Grimacing, Roe shook his head. “I really should check her head, sir.”

With a nod, Lew gently shook her shoulder. “Hey, (y/n/n). Doc’s here to check your head.”

She weakly groaned and sat up slowly. “I think I could sleep for a week.”

Chuckling, Gene held his index finger up in front of her face. “Follow my finger.”

After a few seconds, he sighed, grabbing a suture kit from his satchel. “Doesn’t look like you have a concussion, but that cut’ll need stitches.”

Roe carefully cleaned the wound as (y/n)’s eyes screwed shut. “You ready?” He asked.

Keeping her eyes closed, her hand shot out beside her, grasping onto Nixon’s hand tightly. “Lew, please talk to me. Say anything, I don’t care, just talk.”

He squeezed her hand in response as she let out a hiss when the first suture pulled through her split skin.

“When I was in college…” 

With Lewis Nixon’s warm and reassuring hand in hers, along with his distracting words, the pain became bearable. In the small medic tent in Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Eugene smiled to himself, witnessing the intimate moment between the two.

“Ce sont des idiots.” He muttered to himself. “Des idiots en mal d’amour.”

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[spontaneousglitterbees]

Trying to upload once a week on YT and I haven't even made the trackart, but I'm excited about this one if anyone knows where to find a higher quality off vocal please let me know

EDIT: Trackart and lyrics!

Part of the Evillious Chronicles by mothy(AkunoP) Referenced pricechecktranslations' transcript and octosan's translyrics UST by by NeeMiSo Cover, Mix, Thumbnail + Trackart, Translyrics by glitterbees

Notes!

I'd be remiss not to thank octosan for their translyric of "Madam Merry-Go-Round is she" in the chorus, which proceeded to get stuck in my head for several days straight until I made this.

I gave Alice the royal We both in reference to her position, Queen of Levianta, and the OSS novels.

This is also where I had a bit of fun with host/ess as in 'hosting a party' and host as in 'a whole host of people'. Happy coincidence!

Also given the novels and Alice's identity as MotC/Irina and variations therein: calling her a Clockwork gear seemed thematically and literally appropriate, like the figurine made to dance in a music box

Rather than noting how Alice's face is familiar, I leaned into the novels again (can you tell I just read Punishment and part of this is my processing it) with the way nobody has actually seen the queen's face in Quite Some Time. Until Gammon, anyway.

Alice's hands are certainly not pure by the end of Evillious, but technically time is transient here, making it impossible to know if this is facetious or not. Seemed apt. Plus holding a smile in your hands is just a dash of unreality that fits the vibe I think, as representation for the abstraction of interpersonal warmth and comfort

I'm still not positive just which "vow" Alice is talking about here, so I tried to leave it ambiguous

Final verse, same as the firt! Only with a few words mixed around, nodding to how on some level Alice is aware of her fate to repeat over. And over. And-

Where should we go next on our tour of Evillious?

Lyrics!

Welcome, all, to your new happy place! Pardon Us as We undo these chains binding you to one time and space.

Here's a tip from your Host: See the house brimming with ghosts! Give the ferris wheel a spin, don't be shy, tonight is yours so strap in.

But hey, if you find you need a break from the flurry of fun and games, our cold cradle will hold your weary frame….

Madam Merry Go Round are We, Ruling the park as the reigning queen. Madam Merry Go Round are We, always caught in the same machine.

From the top of the carousel you see in ever shifting Utopian glee…

Madam Merry Go Round are We, spinning through all the old worlds debris. Madam Merry Go Round are We. Nonetheless, We keep the same routine.

Round and round as it whirls fro and to, don't fret about a thing that you thought you knew!

So then if you want your wish to come true, I'm afraid you'll have to wait. So sit back, relax, and join in the queue.

What's that gleaming through the shade, but the famed Shadow Parade? They've been marching their whole lives to the beat of an end they've yet to find.

And as the clock strikes the midnight hour, see, desire for this in your power! It's just the role of your Hostess to oblige….

Madam Merry Go Round are We, Beautiful face hidden by a screen. Madam Merry Go Round are We, lost as a forgotten memory.

In her hands pure as driven snow, there she holds a smile warm and amiable.

Madam Merry Go Round are We. Even if you think your love is key, Madam Merry Go Round are We. Those fleeting feelings are all a dream.

As a vow made between two on both sides never lasted for long and was left behind….

Madam Merry Go Round are We, Ruling this land as the reigning queen. Madam Merry Go Round are We, Clockwork gear trapped in the machine.

At the top of the carousel you see, in ever rhyming Utopian glee,

Madam Merry Go Round are We. Spinning on through the new world's debris, Madam Merry Go Round are We. Every cycle the same routine.

Even if you have no way home, You should have known the only fault here's your own!

[daily-coloring]

Best of 2023 - Albums

Unbelievable year ... Fallen pop stars are returning, long time not seen artists are turning up in a best possible shape, producers making music under their own names, ... First of all I really enjoyed a few soundtracks this year especially Anthony Willis's Saltburn and Arnaud Rebotini's L'lle Rouge. Surprisingly I listened again on repeat a few DJ mixes too. Danny Tenaglia's new Global Underground was a pure treasure, James Zabiela's home session just made me dance for an hour in the living room, as well as Andy Butler's energetic set did too.

01. Roisin Murphy - Hit Parade - "If Hit Parade isn’t Murphy’s best album, it’s certainly her wildest and weirdest. Nowhere else is the scale of her ambition more evident than on the percussive and atmospheric “Free Will.” Murphy says she doesn’t believe in free will but that you should “just make believe that you can write the play” anyway. It’s yet another indelible statement that couldn’t come from anyone else." - Slant Magazine

02. Rebecca Black - Let Her Burn - "An acceptable stretch of Let Her Burn gives Black a chance to reform a persona she had never had any control over until now. As fundamental a shift as perhaps expected, Black warrants this change of pace but there is something inevitable about how these perspectives are formed and how retaliation to reactionary dogpiling a decade ago comes to the forefront. Working hard and pushing through with this half-hour debut LP is exceptional, with spotty highs and consistently solid mixes that give those electronic undercurrents a beat-worthy working. Destroy Me is a crucial highlight in getting to the core of reinvention but also in engaging with how buoyed Let Her Burn is by how much of an opposition it takes to the early works. Black has let her burn, whatever “her” was. Let Her Burn razes and destroys as much as it can, and it works as a successful, credible debut." - Cult Following

03. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Hana

04. Clark - Sus Dog

05. Everything But The Girl - Fuse

06. Depeche Mode - Memento Mori

07. Mermaidens - Mermaidens

08. Kesha - Gag Order

09. Anna B Savage - in|FLUX - "So as a follow up to A Common Turn, this does feel like an album where, lyrically and thematically, we are dealing with an artist who has battled some of the previous demons, accepted the daily flux of life, and found a way to focus on the moments when life feels most complete. But in a musical context – Anna also seems to have taken that feeling, that love of contradiction, into the songs. At moments explosively ecstatic, at others wrought with emotion – and filled with influences and sounds from areas not explored on the previous LP – the album brings a bunch of disparate sounds and feelings together to create a powerful and impressive whole. Most impressive of all is the fact that, after an album that sent Picky Bastards into a spin for the whole of 2021, Anna has released something as good if not better." - Picky Bastards

10. HMLTD - The Worm

11. JMSN - Soft Spot

12. Orbital - Optical Delusion - "It’s an album of unlikely collaborations. Day One features the operatic talents of Dina Ipavic, while Are You Alive, sung by Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, floats into moodier, more analog territory. Best of all are The New Abnormal (Golden Girls’ Kinetic turned inside out) and the anti-gammon state of the nation rant of Dirty Rats." - Record Collector

13. Spelling - SPELLLING & The Mystery School

14. Future Utopia - We Were We Still Are

15. CLT DRP - Nothing Clever, Just Feelings

16. Joy Wellboy - The Ones That Got Away

17. Pierre Rousseau - Twenty - Music for Etudes N°20 - Spring Summer 2022

18. Joyce Muniz - Zeitkapsel

19. Emiliana Torrini & The Colorist Orchestra - Racing The Storm

20. Thomas Azier - The Inventory Of Our Desire

21. Sofia Kourtesis - Madres

22. Not Waving - The Place I've Been Missing

23. Restive Plaggona - Ignis

24. Deichkind - Neues Vom Dauerzustand

25. Daughter - Stereo Mind Game

26. Daði Freyr - I Made an Album

27. Yves Tumor - Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)

28. Surgeon - Crash Recoil - "Crash Recoil is probably about as close to a live Surgeon record as we’re ever going to get. Child views producing and performing as two disparate disciplines, which they are, and he goes about each in a very different way. This also means it’s about as close to a traditional pop/rock approach to writing and recording as you’re likely to find from an electronic producer, woodshedding tracks on the road and sharpening them to a diamond sheen. More bands and producers should think of adopting the approach as it clearly can yield stunning results, as evidenced by this glorious offering." - Spectrum Culture

29. Duran Duran - DANSE MACABRE

30. When Saints Go Machine - Rosy

31. Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

32. Maps - Counter Melodies

33. Laurent Garnier - 33 tours et puis s'en vont

34. Benedikt Frey - Fastlane

35. ANOUK - Deena and Jim

36. Anthony Naples - Orbs - "The New York producer once known for muscular house and techno continues to drift into the ether, channeling ’90s chillout and dub techno into his singular vision." - Pitchfork

37. James Holden - Imagine This Is A High Dimensional Space Of All Possibilities

38. Hifi Sean & David McAlmont - Happy Ending

39. Tirzah - trip9love...???

40. Kelela - Raven

[blaauwberggroup]

The Benefits of Meat Processing Companies in South Africa

Meat processing companies in South Africa are essential to the South African economy and the lives of millions of people. They guarantee that consumers nationwide, from major cities to isolated rural areas, can obtain fresh, premium meat. These businesses are vital to the nation's food supply because they produce a wide variety of goods, from processed meats like biltong, polony, and sausages to fresh cuts. Here are some of the main advantages of South African meat processing businesses.

Quality Control & Food Safety

One of the most important benefits of meat processing companies in South Africa is their strict adherence to quality control. Strict health and safety regulations are followed by these businesses to guarantee that all meat products are fit for human consumption. The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and ISO certifications, which ensure that meat products are free of contaminants, are two examples of local and international food safety standards that processing facilities must adhere to. Customers can rest easy knowing that the meat they buy is of superior quality thanks to this commitment to safety.

Economic Growth & Employment Opportunities

Meat processing companies in South Africa make a substantial economic contribution to the nation by generating employment and stimulating economic expansion. From butchers and quality control experts to logistics staff and customer service agents, the industry employs thousands of people. As these businesses grow, they create jobs in many places, particularly in rural areas where jobs can be hard to come by. Furthermore, the demand for regional meat supports farmers and suppliers, thereby bolstering the agricultural sector and the overall economy.

Sustainable Resource Use

Sustainability is increasingly important, and many meat processing companies in South Africa are taking action to run their businesses more sustainably. They are actively trying to reduce their environmental impact by making investments in waste reduction techniques, water recycling systems, and efficient technology. To ensure that South Africa's natural resources are protected for future generations, some businesses work with regional farmers to source meat ethically and sustainably. A lot of processors are also looking into eco-friendly packaging options to lessen their environmental impact.

Meeting Consumer Demand with a Diverse Product Range

The modern South African consumer seeks variety, convenience, and quality in their food choices. Meat processing companies in South Africa satisfy this demand by providing a variety of goods, ranging from conventional beef, chicken and lamb cuts to processed choices like gammon, sausages and marinated cuts. Customers can select goods that suit their tastes, dietary requirements, and financial constraints thanks to this variety. These businesses are also skilled at launching innovative goods, such as pre-seasoned options and ready-to-cook meals, to satisfy customers who desire convenience without sacrificing taste or quality.

Conclusion

Meat processing companies in South Africa are much more than meat suppliers. They play a key role in supporting local farmers, ensuring food security, and creating jobs. By being creative and committed to sustainability and quality, they continue to meet the shifting needs of South African consumers. As the demand for a range of affordable meat products increases, these companies remain essential to the nation's economy, culture, and future. All South Africans gain from a safe and sustainable food system, which is facilitated by supporting local meat processing companies.

[daveg65]

324 - Keeping Up with The Betas and Dave’s Top 5 list of iOS 18 Features

The latest In Touch With iOS with Dave he is joined by guest Guy Serle, Marty Jencius, Jeff Gamet. discuss the latest updates in Apple devices, focusing on iOS 18 and the iOS 18.1 beta 4 release. Joined by Guy Serle, Marty Jencius, and Jeff Gamet, we share insights on new AI features, the revamped Siri interface, and the user experience challenges of the beta software.

We dive into my experiences with Vision Pro and its OS 2 updates, plus the excitement surrounding the upcoming iPhone 16, particularly its emphasis on repairability. Additionally, we explore the new security features and enhancements in iOS 18, underscoring the significant improvements for users. The episode wraps up with a light discussion on sports app updates and streaming complications, highlighting the ongoing evolution of Apple’s ecosystem.

The show notes are at InTouchwithiOS.com


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Summary 

I dive deep into the updates and features of various Apple devices, focusing heavily on iOS 18 and the ongoing iOS beta releases. It’s great to have Guy Searle, Marty Gentius, and Jeff Gammon join me to discuss everything from the latest beta updates to the anticipated iPhone 16 releases.

We kick off the episode by discussing the release of iOS 18.1 beta 4 and MacOS Sequoia 15.1, which has many users excited about Apple intelligence features that were not included in the initial iOS 18 release. The anticipation for these AI-powered capabilities is palpable, especially among developers and enthusiasts who want to see how Apple will improve text handling and voice recognition through updates like the revamped Siri interface.

Marty shares his experiences with running the beta, highlighting some underwhelming aspects of Apple intelligence, while we all voice the consensus that some features still feel “early-stage.” We also discuss public access to the 18.1 beta and caution users against installing it on production devices, reminding listeners of the potential instability that often accompanies beta software. Of particular interest is the integration of AI features like improved spell-checking, grammar corrections, and enhanced user input methods.

Transitioning into discussions on Vision Pro, I share my experiences with the device over the last two weeks. We cover the recent updates to Vision OS 2, including enhanced response times and new guest modes for easier use by family and friends. Guy and Marty contribute insights about the evolving app landscape for Vision Pro, connecting it to broader trends in VR and AR technology, as well as user adoption challenges associated with high-cost devices.

From there, we dive into the excitement surrounding the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro's upcoming release. There’s an electric buzz in the conversation as we discuss the features of the new devices, especially the ease of repairs highlighted in Apple's communications. With the iPhone 16, we see a shift where repairability is finally being addressed, paving the way for sustainable practices in tech.

As we discuss some of the risks of being an early adopter, especially with iOS 18, I present a series of the most exciting new features we can expect to see with the OS, including the revamped Control Center, RCS support for smoother communication integration across devices, customizable home screen widgets, and enhancements to the calculator app. Each feature seems to represent a significant leap in usability and user experience.

Throughout the episode, we also touch on new security features, including the ability to lock apps and hide them for enhanced privacy, which is especially useful for sensitive applications. The Passwords app is also discussed, with a consensus that while it may not replace niche solutions like 1Password, it provides a solid and user-friendly option for the average person looking to manage their passwords effectively.

In a lighter vein, we wrap up our conversations about the sports app updates and the implications for streaming sports, discussing the rising costs and complications that often frustrate sports fans. Jeff vocalizes common grievances about the fragmentation of sports streaming services, while we all acknowledge the challenges ahead for sports enthusiasts trying to navigate this landscape.

  As we conclude, we emphasize how each update and new feature ultimately aims to enhance user experiences across Apple’s ecosystem. It’s a thrilling time for tech enthusiasts, and we’re excited to see how these updates will transform the ways we interact with our devices.

Links Mentioned

Beta this week. iOS 18.1 Beta 4 was released this week.Apple Seeds Fourth Developer Betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 With Apple Intelligence

 iOS 18.1 Beta 4 Expands Phone Call Recording and Transcribing to Select Older iPhone Models

Apple Seeds First iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia Public Betas With Apple Intelligence

Download tvOS 18.1 Beta 1 for Apple TV

watchOS 11.1 Beta 1 Now Available

Vision Pro This week. Apple Releases visionOS 2 With 2D Spatial Photos Feature, Persona Updates, Improved Guest Mode and More 

Apple Vision Pro's Killer New Feature Coming Later This Year

Apple Releases visionOS 2.1 Beta 1 for Vision Pro

Is the Vision Pro a flop? We discussed this. 

Alternative device? https://www.roadtovr.com/htc-vive-focus-vision-specs-price-release-date-announcement/

iPhone 16 releases tomorrow 9/20 Recap of what model they 

iOS and iPadOS 17.7with bug fixes Apple releases iOS 17.7 with security fixes as an iOS 18 alternative

When Should You Upgrade to Apple’s 2024 OS Releases

iOS 18 was released to everyone this week. 

iOS 18 Features: The Ultimate Mega Guide

Dave’s Top 5 list of iOS 18 Features

Control Center Everything New With the iOS 18 Control Center

RCS Support and iMessage New Features Everything New in the iOS 18 Messages App 

RCS in iOS 18: What You Need to Know About Apple's Android Messaging Overhaul  MVNO carriers won't have it right away, https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-18-home-screen/

Homescreen customization moving apps on any part of home screen Hide App Names on Your iPhone Home Screen https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-18-home-screen/

Passwords app iOS 18 Passwords App: All the New Features

Calculator has math notes, conversions iOS 18: What's New With the Calculator App

News

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Firmware

Apple Says These Five Changes Make iPhone 16 Models Easier to Repair

Apple Says iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Batteries Can Be Removed With Low-Voltage Electrical Current

End-to-End Encryption Coming for iPhone-to-Android RCS Messages

Apple Talking With JPMorgan Chase About Potential Apple Card Partnership

Apple Sports App Updated With Live Scores on iPhone's Lock Screen and More New Features

Announcements

Macstock 8 wrapped up for 2024. But you can purchase the digital pass and still see the great talks we had including Dave talking about Apple Services and more. Content is now available! .  Click here for more information: Digital Pass | Macstock Conference & Expo with discounts on previous events.  

Our Host

Dave Ginsburg is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users and shares his wealth of knowledge of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and related technologies. Visit the YouTube channel https://youtube.com/intouchwithios follow him on Mastadon @daveg65, and the show @intouchwithios

  Our Regular Contributors

Jeff Gamet is a podcaster, technology blogger, artist, and author. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s managing editor, and Smile’s TextExpander Evangelist. You can find him on Mastadon @jgamet as well as Twitter and Instagram as @jgamet  His YouTube channel https://youtube.com/jgamet

Marty Jencius, Ph.D., is a professor of counselor education at Kent State University, where he researches, writes, and trains about using technology in teaching and mental health practice. His podcasts include Vision Pro Files, The Tech Savvy Professor and Circular Firing Squad Podcast. Find him at jencius@mastodon.social  https://thepodtalk.net 

Here is our latest Episode!

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Agreement Is Reached," Windsor Star. January 12, 1943. Page 10. --- Chrysler, Union Settle Row Over Firing of Employe --- Agreement was reached yesterday between the Chrysler Corporation of Canada, Limited, and Local 195, U.A.W.-C.I.O., in the settlement of the case of a discharged union employe whose ouster last Thursday caused a strike at the company's Plant 3, involving 1,500 men on Saturday.

Vernon Gammon, the discharged employe, under the terms of settle- ment, will be suspended for 10 days. then will be re-employed, without loss of seniority, in another department of the plant.

CONTINUED AT WORK The strike, which closed Plant 3, is estimated to have cost 5,000 valuable man-hours. Only one shift of workers was affected - the day workers. Other workers on the company's 24-hour schedule of production reported and went to work as usual.

The agreement followed day-long conferences between company and union representatives yesterday. One of the differences to be aired was the interpretation of the rules of grievance procedure laid down in the contract between union and company.

According to this contract, when a grievance arises, involving the alleged improper discharge of an employe, the following procedure shall govern (quotation from contract terms):

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE "The discharged employe or steward may present a grievance in writing. either direct or through the relevant plant committee to management's representative within 48 hours of the discharge and management's representative will review the discharge. Every effort shall be made to render management's decision thereon forthwith."

In Gammon's case, the union did not comply with the requirement of written grievance but instead. called management's representative on Saturday morning asking for a meeting. The meeting was set for Monday morning provided in the meantime the written grievance was filed.

Before the meeting could be held. the men in Plant 3. after the luncheon period on Saturday, remained away from their jobs and were informed that the plant would be closed for that shift if they did not return. The men did not go back to their jobs.

[mariacallous]

This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

The hottest summer on record for many Texas cities has brought millions of dollars in damage to municipal plumbing and the loss of huge volumes of water during a severe drought. 

Authorities across the state are struggling to keep up with widespread leakage even as they plead for water conservation and have restricted outdoor water use. The impact on Texas’ water systems highlights both the vulnerability of basic infrastructure to a warming climate and the high costs of adaptation.

“The intense heat and drop in annual rainfall have dried up the soil, causing a shift in water lines,” said Erin Jones, a spokesperson for the city of Houston, which logged its hottest summer on record this year. “When the pipes shift, the pipe joints can break, causing water leaks.”

She said the municipal government in Houston was taking 500 calls per week for water leaks, up from 300 around this time in 2022, when drought conditions were less severe. The city, which budgets almost $20 million annually for water line repairs, has authorized an additional $33 million in spending this year to bring in contractors to help municipal workers with repairs, Jones said.

In addition to the dry, shifting soil, the leaks result from the brittleness of aging pipes and a high demand on the city’s water infrastructure despite the conservation appeals and edicts. “The demand on the system continues to increase due to customers’ using more water and increased water leaks,” Jones said.

Leaking pipes cost Texas billions of gallons of water and hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Texas water utilities reported 30.6 billion gallons lost to breaks and leaks in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. The Texas Water Development Board, a state water authority, estimated an additional 101.6 billion gallons of unreported loss that year.

Those losses collectively accounted for 12 percent of total reported water use and cost the state an estimated $266 million (which considers the production cost of the water lost, not the repairs to busted pipes) in 2021. That year, Texas enjoyed below-average summer temperatures and a near-total absence of drought conditions. The figures for this year, which will not be published until 2024, are likely to show far higher loss rates and attendant costs. 

This year, record-breaking temperatures hit Texas in late June and lingered through early September—part of a global heat wave that also set records from China to Morocco to Bolivia and made this summer the world’s hottest since at least 1940. 

The US Drought Monitor currently shows more than half of Texas experiencing “severe drought,” and nearly one-third “extreme drought.” The groundwater in aquifers is declining, and some reservoirs are nearing alarmingly low levels. 

For the state as a whole, this summer was the second-hottest on record, ranking behind 2011 and ahead of 2022, according to John Nielsen-Gammon, director of the Southern Regional Climate Center at Texas A&M University. (For meteorologists, summer runs from June through August.) 

For several cities in addition to Houston, it was the hottest. Among them was San Antonio, where water main breaks averaged about 470 per month from January to June and then jumped to 725 in July and 1,076 in August as extreme heat bore down. 

And that doesn’t factor in the burden borne by others for repairs to pipes on private property tying water mains to homes and businesses. “It’s been a rough summer,” said Anne Hayden, a spokesperson for the San Antonio Water System.

Laredo, where the season tied the summer of 2011 as the hottest on record, spent $464,000 on 89 water main repairs in July and August, according to the city water utility, up from $106,000 on 72 repairs in 2021.

Fixing even a minor break can be pricey, because pipes typically lie beneath roadways. In Austin, repairs can cost the city anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per incident, according to Joe Hoepken, a supervising engineer at Austin Water.

“Typically a repair is going to entail ripping into asphalt or concrete,” Hoepken said. “Then it’s cutting out a few feet of the bad pipe that ruptured and sleeving on a section of newer pipe.” After that, the city transportation department resurfaces the spot where repairs took place. 

Austin repaired 464 water mains and service lines in July and August, up from 300 in 2021 and 435 in 2022. 

In West Texas, KOSA News reported a surge in water main breaks disrupting service for customers in Midland late last month. And in North Texas, KJTL News reported a similar increase in Wichita Falls.

Even before this summer’s damage, Texas cities were struggling to keep up with the costs of addressing water leaks, said Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, a water-sector lobbying group.

He said that state legislators had that in mind this year when they authorized the creation of a $1 billion Texas Water Fund that will provide aid to water supply and wastewater projects across the state. Voters will decide on the measure, known as Proposition 6, in a referendum in November. 

Fowler said that while the fund would help finance repairs of water leaks, it won’t solve the overarching problem. 

“It’s a significant amount, but it’s not going to be substantial enough to have a water infrastructure investment renaissance in Texas,” he said. “The challenges out there with the aging infrastructure are widespread.”

[diegeticdivinity]

I wrote a thing

It was well known among Space Worms that they had to return the Wormlings they had given away to trusted caretakers back to the White Void about every "month", or how long it takes the closest planet around the Wormlings' star to go around once. Kuria wasn't the biggest fan of this rule, mostly because it also required her to return to the White Void herself and deal with at least a few people who did not approve of their lifestyle. Hence why she was so happy to have Gammen back after they were done.

They nuzzled their head against their child's, a happy chirp emanating from wherever their voice came from.

"Gammen! So, how was your first meeting? Was it fun? Did you learn lots?"

Gammen wrapped himself around his mother.

"I did! There were so many other people…do they all share a star with me?"

"They sure do! The Matron Worm creates new Wormlings in a big ol batch once they find the perfect star!"

Gammen was awestruck.

"Really? Oh, the Matron Worm was the really big person, right? We met them, they were really kind!"

"They always are."

They both headed back out into the universe they had been exploring prior to Gammen's meeting.

"Mama? Can I ask you something?"

"I dunno, can you?"

"Yes?"

Kuria laughed a bit, gently bumping Gammen's body with hers.

"Just teasing you. What do you want to know?"

"Do you have a job like the other Worms?"

Kuria stopped, and thought about how to answer.

"Exploring the universe is my job!"

"No, I mean like a job like the other Worms have, watching over people."

Kuria felt herself shake just a bit.

"I do that with you and your mom already, silly."

"No! Like the other Worms! Some of the older ones told me that it was our purpose to have jobs and watch over people! Do you do that?"

Kuria now felt very upset. They had tried to avoid talking about that with Space Worms their own age, and now they had sent her own child after them? She tried to keep her voice steady and her body calm.

"No, Gammy, I don't have a job like that."

"Why not?"

They sighed.

"Let's…find a place to land, OK?"

Gammen now felt very nervous, and Kuria could tell.

"Alright…did I make you upset?"

"A little, but I know you didn't know it would make ,e upset nor did you mean to make me upset. I'm not mad."

"Ok…"

They both found a rocky, chalky surfaced moon to rest on and talk. Kuria shifted forms into something more humanoid, she couldn't bear to be Worm-like now. Gammon copied her, and she pulled them close.

"So, you want to know why I don't have a job like my star-mates?"

Gammen nodded eagerly.

"Well, I decided when I was a bit younger then you that I didn't want that kind of life. I wanted to travel, I wanted to see everything…and having a job, no matter what it was, would restrict that. I would be tied to a single timeline. I would want to retire on the spot! Imagine sitting through loop after loop, always the same, watching everything play out in the same order over and over with maybe different people if you're lucky. I didn't want that."

Kuria looked out to the stars.

"So I just…didn't get a job like everyone else did. I decided to strike out on my own. I have never regretted it, not one second of my life."

Gammen hummed a bit, like they were thinking.

"Something on your mind?"

"Well…you like to travel right? And Mom doesn't. So why…why did you pick her?"

Kuria let out a laugh at this, a loud whooping one that would have carried across an ocean.

"Gammy, I did not just choose your mother. It took a lot of time and realization before we even tried having a relationship. I remember the first time we met I had just stumbled across the Care Center and she was showing me around, and I was just in awe about how different it all was but how much it felt like our White Void. That's the reason whenever I read something I read it in your mother's voice, she was so good at explaining things. I left, but something made me come back over and over. I just had to see her again. It's not that she made my life complete…my life was just made better by knowing she existed.

As for her not liking traveling? That was an important discussion we had at first. You see…we both were so willing to give up everything we were for each other. I know it sounds silly, but I swear that if your mother told me to drop everything and stay with her and never travel again I would do it, and traveling is the one thing that gives me meaning so you can just tell I adore her. You know, she ever tried to explore with me. She didn't like it at all, but I knew that she felt the same about me. She would give up what gave her meaning just for me."

Kuria held Gammen close.

"Then I realized I couldn't be alone in this universe, I needed someone to learn with me and that I could teach all I know, someone to care for. Can you guess who that is?"

"Me?"

They pressed their forehead against Gammen's.

"That's right. You make my life so much better, so does your mother. I would do anything for the two of you, anything at all."

Gammen snuggled up to their mother.

"Mama? Will I…will I ever have someone I would give up everything for? That kind of person sounds really important…"

"I have no doubt you will. Just remember to not force it. It will come to you unexpectedly, and it will just hit you."

"Did that happen with you? It just hit you?"

"Oh, it sure did. I remember floating through the void, just relaxing when I felt a sort of…clenching. It hurt a bit but then I could only thing about one thing: If I had to go the rest of my existence without seeing your mother smile, it would rip me to shreds. That's when I knew."

Gammen looked very uneasy.

"What if I don't find someone I love like that?"

"Then you just have to love yourself that much, but that is a bit of a requirement before you can really feel so,etching towards someone else."

"OK…Will I have to marry the person, like you did mother?"

"Goodness no! No, no, no, you see, it's just…I feel the same way about your mother asI do about you, right? You can feel things like that towards anyone! With me and your mother, it's love, the romantic kind, but any kind of love can make you feel like that. Don't worry if you don't find a partner, just worry about meeting people. You'll find a trusted friend, a child you care about, a rival, or maybe a lover, it won't matter as long as you have that real, true feeling in you. You'll know it when you feel it."

"Alright, that sounds good!"

"Less worried now?"

"A lot…thank you, mama."

"Of course, Gammy! Anything you need, you ask me."

She held Gammen close, rocking them both back and forth. This is the kind of thing that made her life worthwhile, moments like these where she can just feel. She still felt a little upset at being called out by something her child picked up, but she also loved Gammen to death and that overtook everything.

"I love you, Gammy."

"I love you too, mama!"

-

Ga-men did eventually find out what Kuria had explained, twice over. The first time was at an orphanage, the second time was in a destroyed city on a planet other then Earth.

He loved Tommy from the first second the boy walked up to him to hand him a drawing. Ga-men had volunteered to read to the children there, he found himself just drawn to the young ones and their energy and life. He was just about to leave when a young boy, his face freckled and his hair in a bit of a wild mop around his head tugged on his sleeve.

"Mis..Mister Ga-men? I drew you a picture!"

"How kind of you, little one."

The picture was of Ga-men reading in the same artstyle all children have at that age. Ga-men's heart melted.

"Thank you so much…Tommy, was your name? You liked The Gruffalo the best, and you like dogs? Have I got all that correct?"

Tommy was amazed. Ga-men knew this information about all the children, he prided himself on his perception, but to see someone so happy he remembered them filled him with pure joy.

"Yeah! That-That's all right!"

Ga-men found himself making a small happy chirp as his fingers tapped on his briefcase. He wanted to scream out his happiness, but he kept it under reins.

"Wonderful! Well, I will see you next week Mister Tommy, and I will ensure to read a book I think you would like."

"OK! Bye Mister Ga-men!"

Ga-men began the adoption process for Tommy the next day.

Of course, the second one was far more…tragic, but he recognized the feeling in himself instantly. He was moving through a city that had just been under seige by something he feared very much: A Bright, the only predator a Space Worm had to fear, one that could pursue them to their own reality. He was only there because he was curious. He planned to get out as soon as there was any sign of danger - he was a father at this point, after all - but once he saw the figure, he couldn't.

It was a small child of the world he was on, huddled up and crying alone. He knew at once that the child was not what it seemed, but only in the species sense. They were still a scared child. He went down on one knee a few meters away from them.

"Hello, little one."

The child raised their head, and sniffled.

"H-hi…"

Ga-men smiled gently.

"You sought refuge in there, didn't you? I don't blame you. Did…was this you?"

He didn't accuse the child, it was just a gentle question. They wiped their eyes with their hand before they spoke.

"Only a little…there was something bad happening, and I got scared…I didn't mean to hurt anyone…"

"I know you didn't. You're just a child, a scared child who's all alone. You panicked; No one can begrudge you for trying to keep yourself safe and alive."

"You aren't mad?"

Ga-men shook his head. He was feeling the same thrill he got when he got the picture from Tommy, and knew in an instant that he needed to protect this young one, no matter what species they were. Not even if he was rasing the one thing he feared.

"Please, come here. I can take you somewhere safe, somewhere I can help you understand what you need and why you do things. I will not hurt you."

The child hesitantly got up and stepped towards him, eventually going into Ga-men's arms.

"There we go…do you have a name?"

"Passport Guardian…"

"Ah, yes, Brights have titles. I a, quite curious how you picked up that vocabulary…"

The Passport Guardian sniffled.

"The body…I think its name was Benrey. I heard someone yelling it after I got inside."

"What would you like me to call you then?"

"Uhh…Benrey, I guess. It would be nice to the body."

"Benrey it is. Let's get you home."

He wasn't overly strong, but Benrey was quite light so he could easily pick them up and bear them away.

He later told his mama the circumstances around the adoption of his two children. She smiled.

"I knew you would find them eventually."

AAAAaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Holy sparkles YOUR WRITING IS ALWAYS SO INCREDIBLE I-

[ltwilliammowett]

The Petty Tally

This is a very special box that every human captain should have with him. At least that was the opinion of Captain John Smith, who wrote about it in his book The Sea Man's Grammar, 1627, and recommended it to all mariners. This box was a mixture of medicine and provisions to be used on special occasions to ensure a good and healthy crew.

He recommended the following to be carried:

"Fine wheat flower close well-packed, Rice, Currants, Sugar, Prunes, Cynamon, Ginger, Pepper, Cloves, Green Ginger, Oil, Butter, Holland Cheese or old Cheese, Wine- vinegar, Canarie-Sack, Aqua- vitae, the best Wines, the best Waters, the juyce of Limons for the scurvy, white Bisket, Oatmeal, Gammons of Bacons, dried Neats tongues, Beef packed up in Vinegear, Legs of Mutton minced and stewed, and close packed up, with tried Sewet or Butter in Earth Pots. To entertain Strangers Marmalade, Suckets, Almonds Comfits and such like”.

Captain Smith goes on to justify providing such niceties to the crew, providing himself an exceptionally humane leader in an era when most were not known for such qualities.

" Some will say I would have men rather to feast than to fight. But I say the want of these necessaries occasions the loss of more men than any English Fleet hath been slain since 88. For when a man is ill, or at the point of death, I would know whether a dish of buttered Rice with a little Cynamon, Ginger and Sugar, a little minced meat, or rost Beef, a few stew’d Prunes, a race of green Ginger, a Flap- Jack, a Kan of fresh water brewed with a little Cynamon and Sugar be not better than a little poor John, or salt fish, with Oil and Mustard, or Bisket, Butter, Cheese, or Oatmeal potage on Fish dayes, or on Flesh days, Salt, Beef Pork and Pease, with six shillings beer, this is your ordinary ship’s allowance, and good for them are well of well conditioned which is not alwayes as Seamen can witnesse. And after a storme, when poor men are all wet, and some have not so much as a cloth to shift them, shaking with cold, few of those but will tell you a little sack of Aqua- vitae is much better to keep them in health, than a little small Beer, or cold water although it be sweet. Now that every one should provide for himself, few of them have either that providence or means, and there is neither Ale-house, Tavern nor Inne to burn a faggot in, neither Grocer, Poulterer, Apothcary nor Butcher’s Shop, and therefore the use of this petty Tally is necessary, and thus to be employed as there is occasion.”

As well-intentioned as Smith's advice was, not everyone followed it or even tried to establish something like it on board.

[oss-crime]

Chapter 2-Project “Ma” –Eve–; Scene 4

Original Sin Story: Crime, pages 37-48

Seth’s wound wasn’t too bad, but for safety’s sake he wound up receiving treatment at a hospital in the Twelve Royal Capitals.

He got on one of the huge automated carriages of the security force and went back with the soldier driving it.

Adam wound up staying in the village of Nemu for a time along with his bodyguard, Gammon.

Naturally their goal was to search for the “Witch of the Forest”.

And Eve…she served as their guide when the two headed out to the Forest of Held, as well as their driver for the carriage.

The fee they paid her for this service had far greater profit to her than her income selling ingredients from the forest, so she had no reason to refuse.

Eve knew of several of the villages where the people of the forest lived, and so she first took the two of them to those.

And then they tried going around to the places where the witch was rumored to be, or just moved through aimlessly.

But the days passed without achieving any particular result.

.

That day as well the three of them had been advancing along a forest path with the automated carriage.

The sky was overcast with thick clouds. When Eve suggested that it might rain, Adam replied that they perhaps ought to end things early today.

“That aside, you’re quite skilled with driving the automated carriage, Eve,” Adam complimented. “You must be, to move so smoothly through such narrow pathways.”

“It’s no big deal if you’re used to it. But as you’d expect you can’t get to the deeper parts of the forest with a carriage.”

“Still, people would seldom be going in such places. So they’re not likely to be targets of the tribesmen, and thus there’s a low chance of the witch showing up there.”

Putting together the information that Adam and Gammon had been able to obtain up until now, the Witch of the Forest would apparently make her appearances in public to rescue people attacked by the white army.

But strangely, none of the people who had been rescued by her could remember what this witch looked like.

“She has green hair, is a woman, fires lightning from a blue spoon…And that’s all they can remember, oddly enough.”

“They’re all probably in a state of shock from being attacked by the white army, so that’s understandable isn’t it?”

“I wonder. Maybe…this witch can use a spell that manipulates people’s minds.”

Upon hearing that, Eve’s eyes widened for a moment. Then she quickly chuckled. “That’d be pretty convenient, if there really were such a spell. I’d control all the big-wigs into making me the queen.”

“Haha, I guess so. You could have all the wealth and influence you want…Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“I’ve been raised in a village of sorcerers for over twenty years, but not once, no. Do you know of anything, Adam? You’re seem pretty well educated.”

“I’ve hardly done any studies on magic.”

“Huh…That’s a bit surprising. Don’t you have all this magical potential?”

“I only learned that relatively recently.”

As the two of them talked, Gammon simply looked around at their surroundings without showing the least amount of interest in their conversation.

Over these past few days Eve had been able to learn quite well that taken favorably he was a man who was very dedicated to his work, but taken unfavorably he was a very strait-laced person with little flexibility.

Adam was also a bit too serious, but he at least was easy to get along with.

Among the people who had come over from the capital there were some every now and then who would look down upon a country bumpkin like Eve. But Adam never showed any sign of such behavior.

From what she’d heard, while he was currently living in the Twelve Royal Capitals, originally he had been raised on the coast west from there.

“Just like you…I was an orphan.”

Apparently when he was a child he had been able to make a living and fend off starvation by hunting fish in the sea.

“One day a man suddenly appeared before me. He took me back to his home in the royal capital, and adopted me as his son. Even now I’m not sure why he did that. After that I received an education as a student under my adoptive father—Horus Solntse.”

“Did you…not have any parental figures until then?”

At Eve’s question, Adam responded without hesitation, “I did have a mother. …Though she was a whale.”

“Eh?”

“Ever since I can remember, that white whale had always been by my side. She watched over me…Or so I always thought. Though she never did anything to actually help me, ha ha.”

“…”

“Do you think my story is strange?”

“Mm, nooo…” Eve shook her head, and then replied earnestly, “I’m positive that whale must have been the manifestation of a spirit.”

“A spirit?”

“There are a lot of them in this forest; spirits that take the form of animals. Robins, chipmunks…I can’t talk to them, but I know of them.”

“I see…”

Adam listened in to Eve’s story, offering neither affirmations or denial.

“I too…had times when I was a child where I felt unbearably lonely. My adoptive mother and father were very kind people. But of course they weren’t my real parents…I couldn’t stand that.”

“…I understand that feeling.”

“In the middle of the night I ran out of the village and into the forest. But it was pitch-black, and I couldn’t tell my left from my right…I sat down alone and started crying. And then…it appeared.”

Eve’s shoulders faintly shook.

A drop of water fell from the sky and hit her face.

It had started to rain. There was no roof on this carriage.

Eve stopped the carriage under the shade of a large tree to keep from getting soaked.

“It?” Adam asked.

“A bear. A frightening bear…Here, look.”

Eve suddenly rolled up her skirt.

Adam unthinkingly moved to avert his eyes at catching sight of her bare skin.

But when he noticed the large scar on her thigh, he regained his composure.

“It bit you?”

“Because it was hungry. A little bit longer and I would have ended my life inside that bear’s stomach. But at that moment—the animals of the forest all attacked the bear at once. And they saved me.”

“And so they…were spirits of the forest.”

“I never saw a bear in this forest again. The spirits might have gotten rid of them, or else directed me so that I never got close to one…In any case, the spirits are my friends, and I owe them my life.”

Eve had never really told that story to anyone.

That was because anyone who didn’t know much about the forest in particular would likely think it was just a silly tall tale.

But in that drizzling rain Adam listened to her speak with a serious countenance. Conversely, Eve started to regret having told him.

Thinking on his goals…It would be only natural for him to start to hold some doubts towards Eve, upon hearing that story.

“Eve. So you really are—"

Before Adam could continue speaking, they could suddenly hear a loud explosion from far off.

“--!?”

They all turned over there at once.

…There was smoke coming from the direction of Nemu village.

“—What’s happened!?” Gammon shouted as he whipped out the sword at his hip.

What came to Eve’s mind was the white army.

They had never once attacked the village directly…And yet, she couldn’t think of anything else it could be.

As though in support of that, several tribesmen wielding weapons appeared from the shadows of the trees and circled the carriage.

“Oh, we’re not letting you get back to the village,” said a woman standing in the center of the tribesmen, glowering at Eve and the others.

Gammon had swiftly leapt down from the carriage, and shifted his piercing gaze to the woman.

“You must be the commander of the white army…The ‘White Fiend of Jakoku’.”

“Oh my. How impressive, that you know of my illustrious title…Your henchmen serve you well, it seems.” Gammon asked her if she had come here as payback for what happened on the plains, but Raisa shook her head. “Though there is a little of that, yes. This is more—a test.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I…Or rather, all of us, are planning to let loose much bigger fireworks after this.”

Giving no indication that she would explain any further, Raisa and her cohorts started to steadily draw closer to the carriage, weapons at the ready.

“You louts, tread cautiously! This military bastard looks pretty tough. Not to mention—” Raisa glared at Eve. “—He’s traveling with the ‘Witch of the Forest’, too.”

As though in response to those words, Eve got down from the carriage and stood next to Gammon.

“…You seem to be under a misunderstanding. I’m not a witch.”

Eve maintained a calm demeanor, but in response to that Raisa laid bare her anger.

“Don’t bullshit me! Countless of my people have been reduced to ashes by you!”

The moment she spoke, Raisa ran towards Eve.

Pale fire curled around the long and thin weapon she held in both hands.

These flames were not put out by the rain; they were likely some type of magic, or else produced by a unique power she had.

“…”

Eve glanced briefly at Adam, still inside the carriage.

He looked like he had something he wanted to say to Eve.

She didn’t have time to hesitate now.

First…she would need to do something about the enemy in front of her.

And she was worried about the village, too.

--Eve took out the spoon she’d kept hidden on her person.

A blue spoon. The item that was publicly referred to as the wand of the Witch of the Forest. For Eve it was a memento that she’d received from her adoptive mother.

She turned it toward Raisa, who was still heading towards her.

And then—expressionlessly, and concisely, she chanted a short spell phrase.

“Medvedi ubit!”

And it was all over.

It was a lightning spell she had been taught by her adoptive father.

A large bolt of lightning shot from the spoon, and then Raisa and her underlings in their entirety were swallowed up in a flash of light.

.

--The lightning strike that had engulfed the area had no effect on the trees of the forest or the animals.

It was the same with Adam and Gammon who were nearby Eve.

The lightning spell could only burn up that which it had been fired at. And after the flash of light went away, all of the tribesmen that had been surrounding the carriage had been reduced to charred corpses.

…No, there was one exception.

Raisa must have taken the direct brunt of the lightning, and yet despite her body having sustained massive burns she was still clinging to life.

“Wow…I’m surprised. That’s the first time anyone’s taken that shot and lived.” Eve looked down on Raisa with a cold expression.

“Y…you bitch…”

Gammon pressed down on Raisa’s body as she tried to crawl into the forest to escape.

“What an unexpected bounty, to be able to capture the head of the white army. For now let’s get her to the village—”

As he turned his face to the village, Gammon stopped speaking.

There was still smoke rising from that direction.

Eve quickly got back into the carriage and put her hand on the control crystal.

But Adam gripped her thin arm.

“The village will be dangerous. The bulk of the white army is probably attacking it now.”

“That’s why we have to go help my father and the others!”

Gammon tossed something at the carriage as it started to move.

Adam caught the weapon.

“This is…”

It was the peculiarly shaped sword that Raisa had been carrying.

“Take it! It should serve as some protection,” Gammon shouted to Adam. “I can’t let Raisa get away. You’ll have to go on your own!”

His words were in a sense an abandonment of his responsibilities as bodyguard, but under the circumstances he must have judged there was nothing more he could do.

Or maybe he was dazzled by the potential for glory that had fallen before him.

Eve didn’t care which it was.

Whatever the case, she was focused on the situation in the village now.

Though I can’t imagine my father would be done in by the white army so easily…

The residents of the village of Nemu were a band of once famous sorcerers.

Even so, Eve couldn’t help the unease in her chest.

The carriage started to race, Adam sitting beside her.

And in this way they advanced at full speed along the forest path, headed for the village.

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[dsoe-masteroftheheavenlyyard]

Chapter 2–Hunt for the Deadly Sins; Scene 5

master of the heavenly yard pages 38-47

After they got out of the forest, the two of them started to talk about what they had just witnessed.

“—That was disturbing.”

“Yeah. And there were so many things I didn’t get…For now let’s first talk about that man named Gammon. He said that he was given the ‘Blackbox’ from ‘god’…”

“Here in Evillious there are four people—or rather, ‘divine beings’, who are the subject of religious belief as ‘gods’. The sun god Sickle, the land god Held, and the twin gods Levia and Behemo. Maybe the ‘god’ that Gammon spoke of is one of them…Though we can rule out it being Levia at least.”

“I believe you. There are a lot of things about the other three that are inscrutable to me, but…I’d say the odds of it being them are slim.” As Allen spoke, he was struck by the fact that he was acquainted with all four of the gods.

When he really thought about it, that was pretty bizarre.

--That aside, in that case who gifted Gammon that ‘Blackbox’ and gave him the order to erase Riliane and the others?

There was a chance that Gammon was lying. Essentially that the ‘god’ he spoke of did not exist, and that all of it was entirely his own idea—

In that case, what could have been Gammon’s motive for taking such action?

“Was Gammon that kind of person when he was alive?” Allen asked Nemesis.

“He was, sort of…But there’s something off about him, too. My honest impression from that display we just witnessed was—‘Who’s he to talk, someone who ran away from his position as party head?’.”

“But the soldiers seemed to respect him.”

“I’ll admit that he has charisma. The Tasan Party was able to secure hegemony in Elphegort because of his merits, for sure. There’s no party member who isn’t aware of that. …Only, he hadn’t been that devout a person as far as I knew.”

“And the figures that Gammon pointed out as targets…Except for you, all of them are people who lived a very long time ago, that he’s never met before. Though, well, Duke Venomania is Gammon’s ancestor, and Kayo and Banica have a distant relation to him as well, so it’s not like there’s no connection whatsoever—”

“…He would have had some familiarity with Riliane too, wouldn’t he? If Gammon was in the theater up until his death, then Postman—a reincarnated Riliane—was also there.”

“Yeah, that’s right. That is true.”

The two of them hadn’t said it out loud, but there was another big commonality in the five targets.

--All of them were people who had contracted with a “Demon of Deadly Sin”.

But in the course of this thousand-year history, it wasn’t just those five who had contracted with demons. …So then why had he selected them as targets?

“Rather than just rambling on pondering it here, it might be faster if we ask Gammon—or rather, assuming his ‘god’ actually exists, them—directly,” Nemesis said, though Allen didn’t seem to be in agreement.

“That would be dangerous. You’re being targeted by him too.”

“…Let me confirm something here quick. I am alive, and everyone else—including Gammon and the soldiers and you…have all died and become souls, yes?”

“Yes.”

“So in other words, they have no physical body…Are they even still able to interact with me, given that I’m alive?”

“Do you remember the action you took before we left from where Gammon and others were?”

“Huh? Did I do something weird?”

“You tapped my shoulder. Even though I am a spirit with no physical body.”

“Ah…now that you mention it.”

Nemesis had done it without realizing, but now that she was thinking on it again, that had been strange.

“It’s the same as the trees in the forest. Even though your body is alive, you’re able to interact with souls, and vice versa.”

Nemesis lifted her head and glared at the moon above her.

Living people can touch “spirit data”? I wasn’t aware of such a system. …It seems that “Sickle” has been tinkering with the Third Period’s rules far more than expected.

Despite her bitterness, Nemesis strove to keep it from showing on her expression and turned back to Allen. “One more thing. All the targets aside from me are, of course, souls. How do they plan to kill people who are already dead?”

“—Gammon didn’t use the word ‘kill’, he said ‘erase’.”

“…So he must have some method for doing so.”

“Perhaps that ‘Blackbox’ itself is that. If what Gammon said was true, I think you might know more about that box than I do. …Does the ‘Blackbox’ have such an function?”

Nemesis thought for a moment after she was asked that question.

Assuming that it was the “Type S” that Seth made, then that feature would be—

--Shifting to a parallel world.

The Type S was originally created to prove a theory of Seth’s, him having been a physicist.

Only a limited number of people could use it. I was one of them. And I…became a subject of the Type S and was transferred to another time and space.

The parallel world that her soul—her spirit data had reached at the end was a place that greatly resembled the world that she lived in.

And there, I—met “another me”.

…Now wasn’t the time to be going over old memories.

Nemesis shook her head and settled her thoughts.

Then she said to Allen, “—Gammon’s ‘Blackbox’ may be able to transport a soul to an alternate dimension. So if he were to pull the trick of making it so that a transported soul was unable to come back…that could be said to have ‘erased’ them from this world.”

“Hmm…I wonder who made that box. I can’t imagine it was Gammon—”

“…It was probably Seth.”

“--!? Then is Seth the ‘god’ that Gammon spoke of--?”

“I don’t think so. I can’t imagine he’s pulling any sinister plots this late in the game. And Gumillia’s been keeping an eye on him. Maybe Gammon found something Seth made long ago and abandoned. …I think it would be fastest to ask Seth himself about it.”

“Would have been nice if he’d come with us instead of going off doing something else.”

“—When you arrived at where I was, you had Gumillia, Seth, and Michaela with you. Where did you meet with all of them?”

“I met Michaela in the forest. That was the first place I was when I landed down on the ground world. I asked that she come with me. She readily agreed when I told her that it was to help you.”

“And Gumillia and Seth?”

“With them…The ‘Master of the Hellish Yard’ just suddenly appeared from deep in the earth. Apparently they were chasing sinners who escaped from hell. I think maybe they’ve returned to doing that job right now.”

“In that case…I’ve got no idea where they might be.”

And there Allen seemed to think of something. “Ah, wait just a second. The sinners that Gumillia and Seth are looking for…are people who have contracted with a ‘Demon of Deadly Sin’.”

“--! Then if we go to the ‘Deadly Sin contractors’ that Gammon and the rest are searching for, there’s a chance we’ll reunite with Gumillia and Seth.”

“Right. Only, not all of Gammon’s targets are people that Gumillia is going after. Among those five, the only one who’s really fallen to hell…is Duke Venomania.”

“Huh?”

“You—Nemesis—are still alive, of course…And Banica Conchita didn’t actually die, strictly speaking. She assimilated the ‘Demon of Gluttony’ and became a new demon.”

“Ah, now that you mention it…”

Nemesis remembered that she had met Banica once in the parallel space that had been called the “court”.

Irina had called her the “Demon of Gluttony”…No, it wasn’t just then.

Nemesis had met Banica at a different place, too.

Back when she’d first headed to the theater, looking for Gammon…That woman in the red dress who had blocked her way in that forest graveyard—

Allen continued talking.

“So Banica has always been inside the wineglass. And Riliane…After she died, her spirit didn’t go to heaven or hell—it just continued to be reincarnated.”

“Reincarnation…Leaving aside the gods and their kin, that’s a very particular ability granted only to the ‘Twins of God’—I’m quite certain you and Riliane are different beings from them. Though you look similar.”

“Honestly, I don’t know the reason why Riliane reincarnated either.”

“Sickle didn’t tell you?”

“Yeah. But Sickle did call me ‘Irregular’. If that word applies to Riliane as well, then maybe there’s some relation there.”

“Or…maybe it’s connected to the circumstances of your birth.”

“…?”

“Well, let’s just leave it there. Now…What about Kayo Sudou?”

The moment that she voiced that name, Nemesis’ heart sank a little.

For she had the same full name as the woman that she had once called “mother”.

“Kayo-san…Well, how shall I put this…She has Gumillia’s favor.”

“Wha?”

“I guess because her appearance is the same as that of her old mentor. Gumillia apparently decided not to drop Kayo-san into hell, and instead keeps her around to make her clothes.”

“…Pfff. Ha ha ha…” Nemesis suddenly burst into laughter. “That’s so Gumillia. Come to think of it, she was wearing a pretty stylish outfit.”

“Yeah. Kayo-san made it for her.”

“Haha…That aside, looks like the place we should go next is where Duke Venomania is. You know where he’s been staying?”

“I do. He’s probably in Asmodean. But—” The next thing Allen uttered was a bit unexpected for Nemesis. “—Let’s still head to Lucifenia like we originally planned.”

Nemesis started to ask him why, but before she could she realized what he was feeling by looking at his expression.

…He’s worried about his sister.

Allen had come to take a much more mature attitude compared to how he’d been in life. That was only natural, considering close to five hundred years had passed since then.

What’s more, thanks to the “Blackbox” on the moon he had gained an ordinarily impossible amount of knowledge.

And yet, the fact remained that he was still a human being. Even if they became a spirit, no matter how much time passed, a concern for those closest to them was constant, and at times it could even drive a person mad.

--Just as it had with Nemesis herself.

“…Let me justify myself for a moment,” Allen cut in somewhat awkwardly, appearing to have guessed what Nemesis was thinking. “I’m not just saying that out of my own personal feelings. I said so earlier, but Riliane has been in the theater as Postman—Lilith. She may know something about Gammon and this ‘Blackbox’.”

“But in that case couldn’t we also go to Banica?”

Allen shook his head at her somewhat unkind question.

“Our original reasoning was that we had to go meet with Gumillia—or, more accurately, Seth that she’s wearing as a mask. The odds are slim that Gumillia is pursuing Riliane. …But if we go to Lucifenia, there may be other ‘Deadly Sin contractors’ there.”

“You mean—”

“People you know quite well yourself. Apparently Riliane is currently throwing a banquet in Lucifenia for all of the souls she used to know. A great deal of figures from other countries are going to the illusory palace.”

“—I get it. You mean Kyle Marlon.”

“Right. And Keel Freezis’ wife, Lady Mikina.”

The face of another ‘Deadly Sin contractor’ came to Nemesis’ mind.

Prim…But of course, she wouldn’t be going to a party hosted by Riliane.

The Lucifenian Revolution—there were many who had contracted with “Demons of Deadly Sin” before and after that chaos.

And there were figures among them that Gumillia would know, as well.

“That sounds like a pretty good start.”

“Yeah, and even you too—”

“—Right. It’s not like I don’t have anyone I’ve been wanting to see again. …Alright. Let’s go to Lucifenia. I imagine it’s closer than Asmodean.”

If they headed further south from here, Lucifenia would be right there.

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[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day.

Yesterday, my beautiful friend (The Temptress Of Tottenham) Theresa Tee Mills asked for a definitive definition of a ‘gammon’. One of my oldest friends Stephen Conway gave her the ‘urban dictionary’ definition of ‘gammon’, which is hilarious. And, with so much gammon-like behaviour destroying the very fabric of our society, it really made me think about these white people who truly make me deeply ashamed to be white. (Although my dad was Jewish, so they’ve probably got an anti-Semitic slur for me too.) What an amazing word it is. Yes, it’s delightful to have a bit of gammon on your Christmas table but, in truth, it is a big lump of pork, which is why the term is so effective. My least favourite gammons? Probably racist trolls. Cowardly dregs that think it’s fun to call Diane Abbott every name under the sun. Why not? After all, black lives don’t matter. But what if I were to call his mum a “fat ugly slag”? Can you imagine how irate the gammon would get? Or how about the hideous slugs that tell Marcus Rashford he should stick to football (despite the fact that he’s feeding their kids.) Yannick Bollasie actually outed a gammon troll yesterday and wondered why, when they meet him in person, they never come with such bigoted energy? Why? Because they’re shrivelling little toads that probably still live at home and have numerous fake profiles on dating sites. I guess the most irritating thing is that white privilege makes these gammons think they’re intelligent (spouting any old shit they read in the Tory press!) Oh, well. We will have to struggle on. Despite the fact that some gammon has just ruined someone’s morning and will spend the afternoon looking for another person to abuse.

Yesterday, I woke up at 6.00 am, worked until 7.00 pm and, at that point, the hunter-gatherer went to Sainsbury’s in Ladbroke Grove. The doughnuts were half-price, so I grabbed myself a treat. I felt I’d earned it. Having worked for 13 hours, I was in a bit of a daze; wandering the aisles aimlessly, hoping I would remember everything. They say a woman’s work is never done but real men put in a decent shift too!

Have a throbbing and thrusting Thursday (with hopefully a few thrills through your thoroughfare?) I love you all. And, if you’re looking for an interesting book to read, check out my second novel ‘Whatever Makes Them Dance’ (72 Five-Star Amazon Global Ratings to date!)

[ithinkthereforiamfandom]

A Merry Mystrade update!

As promised and regrettably delayed by the chaos of Covid-19 an update of my current Patreon WIP.

...

He made a quick scan of the CCTV around Baker street before clocking off and spotted the Watsons, daughter in her father’s arms, and Mrs Hudson heading off to church without Sherlock. Worried as always about Sherlock being alone for any evening he sent a quick text. To check up on his brother in the only suitable fashion. The east wind was no longer a simple matter or suitable for gaging his brother’s mental state but there was more than one way to poke a badger or indeed a dragon slayer.

SH

Not off to church with the family Sherlock? How does your good John handle living with a godless heathen over these holy days

MH

A brief argument would distract Sherlock though he only had time for a brief one. Ella had pointed out during their one brief session that open simple communication was more beneficial for his relationship with his brother than riling him up to check the response but he genuinely wondered if John had been upset by Sherlock’s refusing to attend church and why change a formula if it works anyway. She had refused to understand that if he asked Sherlock a direct question all he was met with was evasion and misdirection. Their patterns were already established to change them now in times of so much turmoil would be disastrous and he needed to know how Sherlock was coping because… well, he just did.

MH

My Good John hardly needs to handle our differences in beliefs, my lack of faith has never been a cause of contention, it’s called Respect Mycroft. I understand you may be unfamiliar with the word, you prefer to lead your underlings through manipulation or intimidation and I choose to respect that. My partner respects me!

SH

The response sent relief through his mind and he managed a deep breath. Very few people respected Sherlock like the good doctor and few people claimed as much of his respect or indeed his affections as the Baker street bunch. Having lifted his brother’s head from any maudlin contemplation he set off home, Gregory was on a late shift for month end paper work and stubbornly refused to allow Mycroft to reassign the task. He had to admire the man’s loyalty to his team, it was vital but he would have preferred to admire his Greg, in the ridiculous Christmas butcher’s apron he claimed was necessary to cook a gammon, or even soup. It sang and would have been added to the kindling bucket but there was a rich laugh in the kitchen every time Rudolph’s nose took a bump and Mycroft couldn’t part with the sound.

...

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