#hemi: round three

[paganimagevault]

The Jug of Jokhang 7th-8th C. CE. Central Asians (probably Sogdians) depicted on Tibetan art.

"At present, a silver jug stands in a wooden frame in one of the chapels of the Lhasa Jokhang, traditionally regarded as the oldest temple in Tibet (see figs 1-7). This jug is approximately 80 cm in height. It was hammered from silver sheets, cut and assembled in four parts, two hemi- spherical sections joined at the diameter of the circle, a long thin neck, surmounted by an animal head with round mouth from which liquid can be poured. It weighs some 35 kg when full of liquid, and monks fill it daily with offerings of chang, Tibetan barley beer. The gilded designs on the upper bowl of the jug are raised scrolling in heart shaped medallions, while on the lower bowl, there are three scenes representing Central Asian people, two lively solo dancers and three men in drunken revelry". (taken from AsianArt by Amy Heller).

Dance was a skill that Sogdians learned at a young age, and continued to use as they got older:

"The Iranian from Tashkent [Chach] appears young He dances to the music before the wine goblet, as rapid as a bird He wears a cloth cap of foreign make, empty and pointed at the top His Iranian robe of fine felt his tight sleeves" (Shafer 1963, 55 in Lerner 2001, 254)

[inspiredwriterstory]

This is a mini collection of Cars designs. Now in real life Nascar is used to sell real street cars, so each race car has a street counter part. So I got to thinking, what do the Next gen street car counter parts look like? Here's my interpretation and a bit of background as I decided to turn them into characters.

On the left is Dan Hemi, A Chevy Camaro, the same car type as racers like Tim Treadless and Chase Race-a-lot. Now the splitter had to be decided because it was too dangerous to have the full one on the road. He also doesn't have the wing the next gen racers do as he has no need. He's a bit of a tire destroyer as he's a drag racer. He's quiet but quite powerful. You don't wanna screw with his friends or he'll make you run for the hills.

The one on the right is Blaze, A Ford Mustang, the same car type as Cam Spinner but with the standard 2018 rear wing despite being a dark horse mustang. She's a talented driver and does freelance stunt driver and when she's not sliding around corners or flying over jumps she's studying engine maintenance to keep herself from experiencing failing parts mid stunt. She's not very extroverted but she can hold a conversation. She's earned the nickname "Dragon tail" because of the rear louvers that look like dragon spikes, and the fact she whips around corners like one.

Now I was gonna make a street version of Jackson Storm who I see as a Toyota Camray to round out the current three manufacturers in Nascar Irl, but I realized we have one. Cruz Ramirez. I mean think about it, she has the same front bumper, wears the same spoiler meaning she can fit the next gen spoiler on her, and seems to have similar power output.

Tell me what you think! And sorry about the camera quality.

[nonprojectspecific]

Bra Drafting

i'm both a stupid bra size - The A Bra That Fit's Calculator puts me at a 28H (I think it's over estimating me and I'm a 28GG with short roots) - and my skin has problems with spandex and thermoplastics which makes bra shopping kind of impossible. So for the last couple of years I've been trying to draft my own bras with varying levels of success.

Corsets are fantastic but I do not have the energy or joint function to live that everyday corset life.

1940s bras can be made without elastic but the shape is point AF and the support is minimal.

My latest attempts have been to follow both Ann Haggar and the Porcelynne methods for bra drafting.

My first attempts at both were unwearable but both produced wearable bras on the second attempt.

Ann Haggar's method drafts from bodice blocks for an industry standard B cup and trying to work out how to expand that B cup to a GG was challenging. So was dealing with the fact that even without ease these is a significant difference between what my underbust is estimated at diagonal line from my full bust to waist and my actual underbust - 14.4cm to be exact. For both methods the frame was the easiest part, while I find the more severe angles of the bodice block method more suited to a corset style bra as shown below, which allowed me to use less elastic.

The resultant bra is rather torpedo like but comfortable. With the foam cups it's not obvious that I'm omega particularly in my larger breast and the cups do not accommodate that.

Attempt three, tried and failed to accommodate the at omega shape. The darts end far too soon preventing there from being any lifting of the bust.

Porcelynne method is interesting. You calculate a hemi-ovoid with the three axes being your wire diameter, breast height and a projection measure calculated from your wire, underbust and full bust. The method then drafts a cone to contain that hemi-ovoid with an empty point. If this was explained, it would be awesome.

My first attempt was drastically too small but knowing from the bodice block method that I was not just projected but also significantly omega, I calculated the wire size I would need if I was drafting for the largest diameter of my bust (W40) from the omega adjustment I made for the Haggar Method V3. Then:

I did all the calculation for both a W34 (my actual wire) and W40 (my wire plus omega adjustment)

Drafted the frame for a W34

Followed the instructions as though for a W40 until step 15.

Here I symmetrically reduced the wire line on the lower cups by the difference between the two quarter wire diameters. while rounding the curves out and re-truing the wire line

This gave me a cup at step 23 the end of the method with a good shape at the wire line and a point I wasn't using. For my test cup and test bra, I marked:

centrally in the lower cups the bottom cup depth calculated using the W34 wire, which corresponds to my normal BCD, and used that to round out the point

centrally in the upper cup the top cup depth calculated using the W34 and used that to round out the point

The resultant bra is kind of amazing. It's rounded and curved in all the right places and it accommodates my omega bust nicely.

[rpmtrish]

Inaugural Mopar Event Excites from Start to Finish

With ambition and anticipation, Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio staged its Inaugural Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram World of Mopar presented by Arrington Performance, Sept. 22-24, 2023 and by all accounts, it was an extraordinary event. Produced and presented by Summit Motorsports Park with Mopar enthusiasts in mind, it featured three days of racing, a Fun Field Car Show, swap meet, car corral, manufacturers’ midway, concert by Trainwreck Country Band and fireworks. “We couldn’t be happier with our Inaugural Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram World of Mopar presented by Arrington Performance,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “Our team spent several months organizing this event, and we all wanted it to be successful, and we are all very grateful that it was. We had a tremendous turnout, and we look forward to an even bigger event next year. The planning starts now.” On Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, the final round of eliminations in Indy Cylinder Head No Box saw Ron Hicks of Leo, Indiana, rip off a .001 reaction time and race to a 12.45 to defeat Cory Blackford of Toledo, Ohio, who stopped the clocks at 9.89. In Box, Randy Chestnut recorded a .007 on the tree and took the win with a 6.13 over Keith Meador, who went through the traps at 6.16. On Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, the final round of eliminations in Koffel’s Place Super Pro put the spotlight on Gene Nagy of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Cliff Motes of Logan, West Virginia. They inched into the beams before blasting off, and Nagy came out on top with a 4.70 to Motes’ 6.59. In CRT Transmissions Pro, Marcus King of Republic, Ohio and Mike Walwood of Parma, Ohio motored up to the starting line, and King secured the win with a 9.60 elapsed time to Walwood’s 9.85. AA Transmission Hemi Super Stock saw Bob Marshall of Columbus, Ohio and Ron Gallagher of Whitby, Ontario, turn on their red lights, and Marshall won as his light was a bit less red than Gallagher’s. In Mancini Racing Nostalgia Super Stock, Doug Wright of Waterford, Michigan and Mike DeChicco of Ostrander, Ohio put dial-ins on their classic cars before Wright wrapped up the win with a 9.43 to DeChicco’s 11.46. Dan Trainer of Orient, Ohio and Dan Brewer of West Milton, Ohio took the stage for the TTI Exhaust Sportsman final round of eliminations, and Trainer wrapped up the win when Brewer illuminated the red light, with a mere -.005, at the hit. On Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, the final round of eliminations in FireCore 50 Top Gun Full-Bodied saw Jeff Goebel of Stratford, Ontario, flat-foot the pedal on his Duster to a 4.39 for the win over Chris Wheatcraft of Jamestown, Ohio, who clocked a 4.84 in his Demon. In FireCore 50 Top Gun Open-Bodied, Bryan Keller cruised to a 3.70 to earn his trip to the Summit Motorsports Park Winner’s Circle over Keith McLennan, who was .004 at the hit but had to get out of the throttle. Unfortunately, a continuous mist on Sunday evening caused the remaining rounds for other categories to be cancelled.  As an added element to the event, Manufacturers’ Choice Car Show Awards were given during a ceremony on the starting line. The winners were Jerry Imhoff’s 1970 Duster (chosen by Arrington Performance); Rick and Nicole Janosik’s 1973 Challenger (chosen by Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram); Mark Charlton’s 1963 Plymouth Wagon Max Wedge (chosen by Mancini Racing); Pam and Phil Helms’ 1972 Roadrunner Satellite (chosen by Koffel’s Place); Dave Taylor’s 1962 Fury (chosen by CRT Transmissions); Bill Watkins’ 1969 Barracuda (chosen by Moto Lenz Photos); Joe and Pam Mazzola’s 1970 Barracuda (chosen by Indy Cylinder Heads); Paul and Rose Prescott’s 1969 Charger Daytona (chosen by Harland Sharp); Francis McManamon’s 1966 Belvedere II Wagon (chose by FireCore 50) and Randy Slovikosky’s 1978 Trail Duster (chosen by Dornan’s Sales & Service)  As racers and race fans who were at the event over the weekend heard, Bader Jr. has happily announced that the 2nd Annual Ken Ganley Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram World of Mopar presented by Arrington Performance will be Sept. 19-22, 2024, and as a new addition, a Gen III Hemi category will be part of the lineup.  “This event has the ingredients to be enormous, and we are eager to see where we can go from here,” said Bader Jr.  Summit Motorsports Park is at 1300 State Route 18, Norwalk, Ohio. For more information, visit summitmotorsportspark.com or call 419-668-5555. #summitmotorsportspark #arringtonperformance #KenGanleyChrysler #rpmmag #rpmmagazine Read the full article

[jcrmhscasereports]

Myxoid liposarcoma of the spermatic cord: A rare entity by Emmanuel E. Sadava in Journal of Clinical Case Reports Medical Images and Health Sciences 

ABSTRACT

An 81-year-old man consulted at our hospital for evaluation of a long-established left inguinal mass. The patient denied experiencing pain, food intolerance, constipation or urinary tract symptoms in the past. A physical examination revealed a 15x10cm painless mass in the left inguinal region, distinct from the testicle, with no palpable changes during Valsalva´s maneuver. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 79mm heterogeneous lesion of the spermatic cord which projected itself through the inguinal canal into the scrotal sac, displacing the testis inferiorly. Laboratory testings were negative for testicular tumor markers such as α fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin-β. A surgical resection of the inguinal tumor with an “en-bloc” inguinal orchiectomy was performed. The inguinal floor was repaired with a modified Bassini technique without the use of a mesh. The histopathological report confirmed findings were consistent with a myoxid liposarcoma. No further treatment was indicated and the patient continued follow-up with bi-annual MRIs. 18 months later, the patient continues with no signs of recurrence.

Key words: liposarcoma, liposarcoma of the spermatic chord, abdominal wall surgery, inguinal mass.

INTRODUCTION

Sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of rare solid tumors of mesenchymal cell origin. Collectively they account for approximately 1% of all adult malignancies with an annual incidence of 2.5 cases per million population[1]. In adults, the most common soft tissue sarcomas are liposarcomas. Overall, they account for approximately 17% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Most cases arise from de novo, therefore, the development from a preexisting benign lipoma is rare. Liposarcomas usually appear as a slowly enlarging, painless mass in a middle-aged person with a slightly higher incidence in men.

These tumors are classified in three main biologic forms: 1) well-differentiated liposarcoma; 2) myxoid and/or round cell; and 3) pleomorphic. The latter being a rare high-grade with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. The well-differentiated and myxoid types have favorable prognoses. However these tumors locally recur after incomplete excision[2].

The anatomic site of the primary disease represents an important prognostic factor, influencing treatment and outcome. Extremities (43%), the trunk (10%), visceral (19%), retroperitoneum (15%), or head and neck (9%) are the most common primary sites. Scrotal location is relatively rare, accounting for 3.6% of all liposarcomas. The origin of intra scrotal liposarcomas include the spermatic cord (76%), testicular tunic (20%), and the epididymis (4%).

CASE REPORT

An 81-year-old man with a medical history of follicular cutaneous lymphoma and an open left hemi-colectomy for colon cancer consulted at our hospital for evaluation of a long-established left inguinal mass. The patient denied experiencing pain, food intolerance, constipation or urinary tract symptoms in the past. A physical examination revealed a 15x10cm painless mass in the left inguinal region, distinct from the testicle, with no palpable changes during Valsalva´s maneuver. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 79mm heterogeneous lesion of the spermatic cord which projected itself through the inguinal canal into the scrotal sac, displacing the testis inferiorly (Figure 1). Laboratory testings were negative for testicular tumor markers such as α fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin-β. Ultrasound-guided biopsies of the mass were requested and their histopathology analysis revealed myxoid stroma with fusocelular proliferation.

A radical resection was suggested but, a week prior to the surgical procedure, the patient was diagnosed with COVID infection during which he intercurred with myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. He underwent a double coronary angioplasty with drug-eluted stents and required anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy posteriorly. The case was discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting and a conservative management of the inguinal tumor was decided. The patient was reassessed 12 month later with a new MRI, which showed the inguinal mass increased in size (99mm) compared to the previous study, and a computed tomography (CT) with no evidence of metastatic disease. A surgical resection of the inguinal tumor with an “en-bloc” inguinal orchiectomy (Figure 2) was performed. The inguinal floor was repaired with a modified Bassini technique without the use of a mesh. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day two.

The histopathological report confirmed a 130x120x120mm low-grade fibro myxoid neoplasm (Figure 3). The surgical margins were negative. Immunohistochemistry showed strong reactivity for S100 and vimentin, whereas SOX10, desmin, CD34 and estrogen receptors were negative. These findings were consistent with a myoxid liposarcoma. No further treatment was indicated and the patient continued follow-up with bi-annual MRIs. 18 months later, the patient continues with no signs of recurrence.

Figure 1: Pelvis MRI T2 axial and coronal images illustrating a left inguinal canal soft tissue density measuring 78 x 68mm.

Figure 2: A Intraoperative image of the liposarcoma. Left inguinal surgical approach with the spermatic cord lesion and left testicle in vivo. B: Intraoperative image of left inguinal mass (a) excision with radical orchiectomy (o).

Figure 3: A Hematoxylin and eosin staining: fusocelular and myxoid infiltrative neoplastic proliferation, made up of ovoid cells and finely granular chromatin. Scarce elongated cytoplasm arranged in fascicles accompanied by elongated, thin, curvilinear blood vessels with zones of perivascular cellular condensation. B: Immunohistochemistry positive for S-100.

DISCUSSION

Liposarcomas invade through local extension and rarely invade through the lymphatic route, making regional lymph node dissection lose its value and having no impact on survival. Nevertheless, high-grade subtypes are associated with high rates of recurrence and hematogenous spread; lungs, liver and peritoneum being the most common sites of metastasis.  Surgical resection (with appropriate negative margins: >1cm) is the standard primary treatment in most patients with stromal cell sarcomas. Complete tumor resection is the primary prognostic factor for local recurrence, and liposarcomas are not the exception. Performing an “en-bloc” resection involving a high orchiectomy (including the surrounding tissue) is important to obtain negative margins [1].

Local recurrence rates for sarcomas, including liposarcomas of the spermatic cord, have been reported to be as high as 30-50%. Because of this, and despite the patient’s disease-free status, long term follow-up remains a crucial step in the detection of recurrences that might still be potentially curable. Current controversy arises on the use of adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Being a rare and infrequent entity makes it hard for a single institution to accumulate enough cases to perform prospective randomized controlled trials. Extrapolated data from retrospective analyses support the use of adjuvant radiation on selected high-risk situations (tumor recurrence, high-grade tumors or residual disease). Concerning the role of chemotherapy, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy remains controversial and there is no definitive role in the management of localized liposarcomas[3].

In conclusion, myxoid liposarcomas of the spermatic cord are infrequent entities. As most soft tissue sarcomas, they have an indolent course and should be considered as a differential diagnosis of inguinal masses with no palpable changes during Valsalva´s maneuver. Complete surgical resection with high-orchidectomy “en-bloc” is encouraged.

For more information: https://jmedcasereportsimages.org/about-us/

For more submission : https://jmedcasereportsimages.org/

[kkang-zi]

round three | kang & hemi

@hemitekoha

Kang had been lucky enough that he had been matched with vampires so far in this tournament. He had won his first round and taken it in his stride. When he was matched with Gotrik in the second one and his old master was a no-show, it seemed almost insulting, but perhaps Kang should have expected it. His third match was to another Councilman named Hemi, a vampire demon that he had not interacted with very much but knew enough about. His many years at Krovs as a slave had helped him get to know the masters well because it helped to know ones enemies.

There was an atmosphere of excitement in the arena for this next round. The audience was cheering as Kang stepped into the ring to face his opponent dressed in a loose sleeveless top and track pants. His feet were bare because it was easier for him to move that way. They moved to their respective sides of the ring to get ready before the bell sounded and signalled the start of the fight. Kang circled the pit, his eyes staying on Hemi. “Why don’t you make the first move?” he called out as he gave the other man the option. It helped to see what he was up against.

[late-to-the-party-81]

🛍

In my party bag I've got...Loki and a party hat 😌

El, you get something fluffy as well, with just a wee hint of spice

Un-beta'd ramblings, approx 900 words

Divider by @firefly-graphics

“What in the nine realms is this thing?”

Loki looked down, unimpressed, at the brightly coloured, cardboard cone in his hand, pinging the elastic string with his fingers. You grinned at him as you took it out of his hands, stretching out the elastic so you could place the hat on his head and secure the elastic under his chin. You looked at him, straightened it on his head, and then burst out laughing.

“Oh come on, Lokes. It’s a party, surely you can at least try to enjoy it?”

“This, my dear, is not a party. This is thinly veiled chaos.” 

As if to prove his point, you hurriedly jumped out of the way as Peter and Kate came running through, laughing loudly as they were chased by Yelena and Sam, the latter pair covered in silly-string.

“And look at the food…” The Jotun prince gestured at the buffet table, laden with crisps, cocktail sausages, miniature sausage rolls, cupcakes and brightly iced biscuits. “How is this a feast? Where are the braised meats, the fruits and vegetables, the spectacular confections?”

You pointed at a sad looking bowl of salad over towards the back of the table.

“Look, there are some vegetables, and…” you plucked a cocktail stick out of a foil covered hemi-sphere, holding it out in front of his mouth. “Here is some fruit. Pineapple to be exact, with a matching square of cheese. Try it.”

Loki glared at you, but opened his lips, allowing you to place the loaded cocktail stick into his mouth. He brought his teeth together and pulled the pineapple and cheese off the stick as you drew it out. You watched his expression intently as he chewed. He swallowed and gave you a small smile.

“Okay, not entirely unappetising. But I still maintain all of this is nothing compared to Asgardian parties.”

“Come on, Mean Greenie, let’s circulate.”  You hooked your arm through his and dragged him further into the throng. You laughed and joked with the others and when it came time for the party games he stayed glued to your side.

“What is the point of this game?”

“Well as the music plays we run around the chairs, and when the music stops you have to sit on one. But there is one less chair than people, and if you don’t get one then you’re out.”

“But why?”

“Because it’s fun. And if you are the last one in, then you win a prize. So, are you going to play? I warn you, I’m really competitive.”

“Oh, my pet. You have no idea…”

The music started and you, Loki, Peter, Kate, Sam, Steve, Nat and Yelena started to circle the grouping of chairs. Kate was first out, beaten to a chair by a smirking Yelena, but payback was a bitch, when in the second round she was ousted by her sister. Sam was out next, followed by Steve when Nat just gave him ‘a look’ when the music stopped and he just offered the chair to her. Three chairs left and it was just you, Loki, Peter and Nat. Loki had definitely loosened up and he smiled at you as you all moved around the circle. There was a mischievous look to his eyes, and you shivered.

The music stopped and you launched yourself at the same chair as Nat, somehow making it there before her. She gave a fake little pout, patting you on the head, before sashaying over to where the others were now watching.

“My darling, it is just you, me and the spider left…”

The three of you had your hands on the top of the two chairs as you walked around, but when the silence came you found yourself standing at the side of them, instead of infront of one of them.

“Hhmmph.” You vocalised your disappointment.

“Better luck next time, pet…”

Despite feeling put out, you watched the last round with bated breath, Peter and Loki staring at each other, Peter starting to look more and more terrified as Loki’s smile grew broader.

“No daggers, Loki…” you called out.

“As if I would…” he called back. Unfortunately, that was the moment JARVIS stopped the music. 

Peter sat down.

Loki’s mouth opened in shock.

Everyone else cheered. 

As they all congratulated Peter on his win, Loki stalked over to you, heedless of the commiserating shoulder pats from the others as he passed. You shifted in your seat as he edged closer. Then he was right there, in front of you, leaning over with his hands on the back of your chair, caging you in and you looked up at him.

“Umm, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to distract you. It was an accident…”

You were cut off by his lips descending onto yours. You let out a muffled squeak and your hands flew to his leather tunic, looking for purchase. When he drew back, your head was spinning.

“What on earth?”

“Oh, I might have lost the game, my darling, but I’m still claiming my prize.”

In one move he scooped you up out of your chair, kissing you again. Your arms wound round his neck as you kissed him back, trying to block out the hollering and whoops from the others. As Loki began to stride out of the room, towards somewhere more private, you managed to engage your brain for a second.

“Loki, lose the hat.”

[fastmusclecar123]

New Post has been published on https://fastmusclecar.com/the-5-best-muscle-cars-throughout-history/best-muscle-cars/

The 5 Best Muscle Cars Throughout History

Whether you’re a serious collector, enthusiast, or dreamer, you will love this selection of the best classic muscle cars. They may not be your top five favorites, but you’ll probably agree that they’re pretty special. 

If you’re in the market for a classic muscle car, you’re going to need the right kind of insurance that will understand your vehicle’s unique needs and provide you with a custom policy. We’ll cover that after we highlight the five best muscle cars that classic car owners will want to know.

#1 – 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Cost: $1 million+

Pros: 427 cubic-inch engine, 500+ horsepower

Cons: Incredibly rare

There were only 69 built, making this one of the rarest, most desirable, and most expensive muscle cars of all time. Even though Camaro wouldn’t officially sell a Camaro with an engine over 400 cubic inches, they filled an order for a dealer, Fred Gibbs, for this unique high-power, low-weight engine installed in 50 1969 Camaros. 

Later, they manufactured 19 more to round the total out to 69 ‘69s.

#2 – 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible four-speed manual

Cost: $5.75 million+

Pros: Four-speed manual transmission, 425 horsepower

Cons: Cost, rarity

  Only 119 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cudas were produced in 1971. Of that number, 12 were convertibles, and only three were equipped with A833 four-speed manual transmission. When one of these three hit the auction floor in 2021, the high bid of $4.8 million wasn’t enough for the owner to sell. 

#3 – 1973 Pontiac GTO

Photo from Unsplash

  Cost: About $18,700

Pros: Affordable, secure handling, disc brakes

Cons: Gas mileage

  Finally, we included a classic muscle car that the average collector may be able to afford. You might even be able to find one that needs some work for under $10,000. This popular car is as fun to drive as some far more expensive muscle cars, and you can enjoy your time on the road knowing you won’t lose a multi-million dollar investment if something goes wrong.

#4 – 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350

Cost: $400,000+

Pros: Racing engineered suspension, front disc brakes

Cons: Cost, rarity

  Only 562 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350s were produced in 1965. The scarcity of this product contributes to its value. Its racing stripes complete its classic 60s look, and exhaust and lightweight upgrades contribute to its excellent performance.

#5 – 1970 LS6 Chevy Chevelle

Cost: $125,000+

Pros: 450 horsepower, 454 cubic-inch engine, popular in movies, availability

Cons: Clutch durability, cost

  Chevrolet produced 4,475 1970 LS6 Chevelles, which isn’t that many. When you compare that to the production numbers of others on this list, though, it seems like a lot. The Chevelle’s racing stripes are a favorite among enthusiasts as is the classic design.

Insurance for Classic Muscle Cars

When you have a special, highly sought-after, expensive muscle car, you need a special kind of insurance policy to go with it. The standard car insurance policies aren’t adequate for the unique needs of classic cars.

There are a few different companies that specialize in insurance cars with high and increasing values. If your muscle car is in the lower cost range, you may be able to use a standard insurance company, but if your vehicle is pushing the $100,000 price point, you’ll be better off with a specialty insurer.

Melanie Musson writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. She strives to help people understand their insurance needs so they can protect their finances and future financial stability.

[turbobuckeye]

Last of a Legend: 6.4L HEMI®-powered 2023 Chrysler 300C. 📷: #lxbeyondphotography 🚘: @chrysler | www.chrysler.com⁣ 🔹️ Only 2,000 2023 Chrysler 300C vehicles will be produced for the U.S. 🔹️ Featuring a 6.4L 392-cu.-in. HEMI engine with 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque 🔹️ Additional performance features include red four-piston Brembo brakes, a 3.09 limited slip differential, active damping suspension, active exhaust system and black rounded exhaust tips 🔹️ New version of tri-color 300C badge on grille and rear decklid announces unique personality of the limited-production 300C 🔹️ Black Laguna leather front seats sport embossed 300C logo and silver stitching accents 🔹️ 300C interior includes carbon-fiber accents 🔹️ 300C is equipped with premium features, including 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, advanced brake assist, Lane Departure Warning Plus, Full Speed Collision Warning Plus and more 🔹️ Gloss Black, Velvet Red, Bright White 🔹️ 2023 Chrysler 300C features a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $55,000 🔹️ Ordering reservations available now through three simple steps at reservation.chrysler.com #Chrysler #Mopar #300C @stellantisna #chrysler300 @puremichigan #stellantisdesign #carswithoutlimits @chrysler #AmericanMuscle #MuscleCars #HEMI #300fam #300Family #300Mafia #LXBN #300club #ThreeHundred #300life @officialmopar #fcadesign #485hp @spiritplazadetroit @naiasdetroit #michigan (at Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ciu09eNLWVP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[starker-stories]

🎉Happy Birthday To Me🎂

Reposting this for Tony’s 50th birthday

May 29, 1970

Tony wasn’t one to pout. He would deny it to his dying day. Well, his re-dying day. Honestly, it was ridiculous. He’d spent most of his life with one day never mattering more than another. Especially this one. He was usually busy trying to find an excuse not to come home from school after term ended. Or busy with an internship. Or busy working. Or just generally busy. Which he should be today.

But life had slowed down a little. A little more once he and Peter moved in together. With his lover waiting in bed for him every night, he rarely stayed up past midnight in the workshop. Peter insisted that he eat at least one meal a day. Which he did. Breakfast. With Peter. Which he did today. Exactly as usual. Like every single other day of the year.

Well, not every one. Major holidays were observed now since Peter enjoyed observing them. And Peter’s birthday was certainly never missed. How could Tony forget the day they finally got together? After he’d valiantly waited three years, until the boy turned twenty, to ask him on a date. The birthday dinner ended with Tony asking him to move in with him. When they hadn’t even dated. When they hadn’t even kissed. When they hadn’t even done anything yet. Rushing ahead of the typical schedule, earned him a laughing, but emphatic ‘yes’. Tony had never been one to do anything typical.

After they got home from dinner, Tony gave Peter his first birthday present. Before they lived together, Peter’s birthday fell in the category of everyone else’s — usually forgotten and then made up with a ‘get yourself something nice’. Tony’d put the kid on his personal account. Ostensibly the account access was for the kid’s lab budget and school expenses. But it was unlimited, the same as Pepper’s was, even after their ‘til death do you part’ divorce.

His twentieth birthday present was something ridiculously expensive. Peter objected of course, but stopped when he noticed that Tony had actually been hurt at his rejection. It wasn’t that he was trying to buy Peter’s affection, it was that picking out the perfect present had taken a lot of work. And in this case, writing the perfect inscription (when Tony’s mind didn’t exactly work in that direction!) Of course it was expensive. Tony found exactly what he wanted to get for Peter (and wrote words; actual romantic words!) It wasn’t like he’d ever looked at a price tag in his life. Or that he wasn’t a billionaire. A million five was nothing to him. And it was pretty. He knew Peter would love the beauty and appreciate the craftsmanship of the delicate wheels and cogs turning underneath the glass. He simply hoped the back of the watch would prove equally as beautiful of a reminder of both his birthday and the change in their relationship. The tears Peter cried proved that.

That was the end of the price tag argument. Which meant that every year Tony spent months before August tenth planning. (To be honest, he started thinking about it on August eleventh). Twenty-one was a bit more modest. Peter had been asking to learn his way around the garage. Tony found the perfect thing to teach him on. He bought an absolute wreck of a ’70 Dodge Coronet convertible. It had its original Hemi engine — though in about as good a condition as the body. It was a four-seater, so Peter could take his friends with him. But the best part was they’d work on it together for the rest of the year. He gave him the keys at a special breakfast. Tony knew Peter would spend the evening with his friends taking him out for his first legal drinking binge. That was fine with him. As long as they spent the morning together. That set the pattern for the years after.

Twenty-two, the year he got his BS, they left the following day for the start of his present. Peter was spectacularly hungover from the party Ned threw for him (drunk Peter was hilarious as it was found out the previous year, and his best friend couldn't resist.) But the flight attendant made a mean bloody Mary as they flew to Italy. It was the start of an absolutely indulgent vacation that lasted until it was time for Peter to begin his masters’ study. Without interruption. By Stark or by the Avengers. Just the two of them.

Last year, when Peter turned twenty-three… well… that was the day Tony proposed. Enough said.

Their wedding was scheduled for Peter’s twenty-fourth. But Tony’s birthday was a month and a half before Peter’s. It wasn’t like he particularly wanted to remember the fact that on May twenty-ninth he was turning fifty and his fiance was going to be twenty-six years younger than him on their wedding day.

So it was ridiculous to be pouting over Peter’s hurried leave after their breakfast. He’d decided to do concurrent masters in chemistry and mechanical engineering. (He’d loved working on the Coronet.) That meant year-round study. Which he was late for, he announced, leaving with his usual cup of coffee and a handful of bacon.

Going downstairs to the workshop would just give Tony more time to sulk as he pretended to work. So he headed further downstairs to the twenty-fifth floor and his office at Stark. If he was going to be miserable, he might as well actually go down to his office and… ugh… look at whatever Pepper left sitting on his desk since he’d last bothered to show up.

The situation was only made worse by the fact that Pepper remembered. But it was made infinitely better when Morgan showed up for lunch, giving Tony an excuse to beg off the rest of his day to take her shopping after they ate. For which she was already, at only eleven, developing quite the passion. It didn’t help that her dad indulged that passion to an outrageous degree and refused to listen to reason. Pepper was going to be far less than thrilled that the basement of her brownstone was going to be converted into a full lab for their genius daughter. Their shopping consisted of clearing out the nearest scientific supply house. But at least Tony didn’t buy her half of FAO Schwarz this shopping trip. (It wasn’t even anywhere close to half, though that trip claimed Pepper’s attic as Morgan’s playroom. Pepper clearly needed a bigger house. Morgan was a growing child.)

Tony got home very late for dinner (after dropping Morgan off at home and dealing with Pepper’s wrath), but since today was apparently no different from any other, it wasn’t unusual for him to be very late for dinner.

And nothing was missed. Peter was sitting at the dining table, surrounded by books and nibbling on a ham sandwich.

All right, Tony would admit to pouting, and sulking, when he begged off later that night, claiming exhaustion from his and Morgan’s adventure.

After another two days, Tony simply got over it. He was fifty years old for chrissakes. He hadn’t been upset over a missed birthday since he was five. Just because Peter remembered for the past three years, didn’t mean that he was going to continue. Tony would occasionally remember someone’s birthday back in the day. Sometimes, accidentally, even twice in a row. He was busy. Peter was busy. Birthdays were an irrelevant marking of the passing of time. And he had made time irrelevant anyway.

~~~~~

Peter made breakfast that morning. Tony knew before he even got out of bed. He smelled the previous failures. He went to shower, giving the kid time to start over… yet again. The omelette waiting for him looked about as good as the one he served Pepper after the Whiplash incident. Before he had his personal chef teach him how to cook. And the bacon was only slightly black around the edges.

At least the kid had learned how to make a proper cup of coffee. But Tony smiled as he ate it. When they were married, and offence wouldn’t call the event off, he would suggest calling his former chef to give a lesson, or three dozen, to Peter. Maybe even save the Queens Fire Department and make it shared lessons for both him and May.

Peter teased him about being an old man now, officially. Tony took it in stride. He had just turned fifty after all. Then the kid led him to ‘Peter’s’ Star Wars room (that they actually shared, though Tony admitted that to no one.) Sitting in the middle of a new display case was a miniature of Darth Vader’s TIE fighter that was the prop actually used in the filming of the Death Star trench run.

They both babbled on endlessly about the trivia surrounding its use. Including the oft-heard story about how, out of his friend group on Long Island, Tony always played Vader. But new to the story was Tony showing Peter a scan of the schematic he made when he was seven (as the boy-genius son of Howard Stark, every paper he so much as scribbled on had been kept.) He built his own TIE after wrecking four of the toy ones. His lasted the rest of the summer but was lost sometime after he went to school. This one, though fragile and would never be touched, was infinitely better.

Which led to them spending the day on the sofa, watching the ‘original trilogy’, which as always, earned Peter a glare when he referred that way to the only Star Wars movies that existed. Six hours later, much of the movies had been missed due to kissing. But it wasn’t like they hadn’t seen them multiple hundreds of times already. Tony didn’t like to go out on his birthday. Dealing with the crowds of the curious and paparazzi wasn’t his idea of fun. Since Peter had ‘cooked’ breakfast, he started cooking dinner.

Tony was chopping vegetables when he noticed that Peter had become quiet. Not just quiet, but still.

“I forgot,” Peter said sheepishly.

“What did you forget?” He scraped the onions into a hot saute pan.

“Your birthday.” Peter ducked his head. “I forgot it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding? You just gave me the best present I’ve ever gotten in my life. You didn’t forget anything.”

“Yeah, I forgot. I was so involved in writing my quantum mechanics paper that I forgot your birthday.”

Tony laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Peter shook his head. “No. I forgot.”

Tony’s laugh turned into a giggle. “You mean you raided my ridiculously small collection of recreated Pym Particles and cracked into the safe where I keep the time GPSs to go back in time and fix the fact that you forgot my birthday?”

“Yes!” Peter said in a huff. “You should be angry with me!”

Tony went around the counter and gave Peter a hug, followed by a quick kiss. “Pete, how can I be angry with you for that? You got me two birthday presents. The TIE fighter is great and I love it. But you created another whole branch of the multiverse just so you could give it to me.”

“Two branches,” Peter said, ducking his head again. “I had to go back and convince the owner to sell me the TIE.”

“Oh that is fantastic!” Tony leaned back, still holding Peter around the waist. “Two branches of the multiverse exist where my fiance, the brilliant Peter Parker, was so involved in his quantum mechanics paper that he forgot my birthday.” He brought Peter into a passionate kiss. “You are amazing and you are going to be the perfect husband for me. Because that… that is such a me thing to do it’s not even funny.”

Peter laughed. “It is, isn’t it.”

“Yeah. Why do you think I wrote ‘to the next Tony Stark’ on my glasses and not ‘to the next Iron Man’? You’re almost more me than me. I love you, baby.”

“You’re burning the onions.” Peter grinned. “And that is such a me thing to do.”

Also on AO3

[gear-project]

Rev0 Mod Project and my Thoughts...

It has come to my attention that Rev0 (a fan-made mod) of Guilty Gear Xrd Rev2 is in the works.  Details here.

And, to be honest, I have a wishlist, specifically for "Nightmare Bedman"... as a boss.

Here's what I want:

---Bedman's old Forward-Heavyslash (6H) crossup from Xrd Sign (he has to have this back... it's what made him scary in the first place).

---And just for good measure, make it so he can Deja-Vu his 6H as well, as a single-hitting Gamma-blade-like Projectile.

---Aerial Deja Vus like his Rev2 incarnation.

---Air/Ground Backdash can "warp" to the other side of the screen when Bedman's near the screen corner/screen edge, like Arakune in BlazBlue.

---Bedman's "Dash Parry" can be done multiple times consecutively without resetting Bedman to neutral standing state (i.e. he can dash at you, warp-parry, if you attack again quickly, he can warp-parry that too without standing startup).  This would be limited up until Bedman parries a special attack (i.e. Volcanic Viper/Stun Edge).

---Deja Vu Seals last longer and have different strength levels, depending on the special move: Level 1: Task A (headtoss), Task B (beyblade spin) Can be dispelled immediately if the seal is attacked, like normal. Level 2: Task A'Prime (slow headwarp), 6H (dash projectile) the seal can be dispelled after two hits. Level 3: Task C (Bedflip/Beddrop), Synusoidal Helios OD (Bedman's only reversal), these seals take 3 hits to be dispelled or the player has to wait until they disappear.

---Synusoidal Helios can NOW be Deja-Vu'd (Deja Vu input is 421+H) and has two versions: the fast version (421+H) (which now requires no Tension), and the enhanced Overdrive Version (632146+H), which is now a SAFE reversal and cannot be thrown/interrupted. ---Deja Vu version of S.Helios (421+H) is a Level 1 Deja Vu when used with the 421 Tensionless input, but is a Level 3 Deja Vu (same input) when 632146+H version is used.  Burst Overdrive version 632146+D has the same effects, just enhanced damage as per usual. ---Worth noting, Fast S.Helios (421+H) can still be thrown on startup but has no Overdrive animation, but can be dash-buffered like other DP reversal attacks.

---Hemi Jack Summon (632146+S) now has an enhanced input 6+S that determines if Hemi Jack will appear in front of Bedman or behind  Bedman's opponent.  Now only costs 50% Tension instead of the full amount. ---Hemi Jack can absorb/super armor three hits for Bedman but won't disappear until the 4th attack, otherwise he will continue to either track the opponent (can still hit them in crouching or standing position), or will track relatively in front of Bedman's position (632146+S, then 6+S). ---If Hemi Jack hits the opponent there is a 50/50 chance that instead of dizzying the opponent, that their controls are completely randomized for a certain amount of time.

---New Nightmare Theater Overdrive: If Bedman has 100 Tension, he can now perform 222+S, 222+H, or 222+D, and he will perform his "screen wipe" animation (from his second winpose) that instantly transports Bedman and his foe into his "Nightmare Realm"!!!  This move can be done regardless of if Bedman is on the ground or in the air.

222+S version will turn the screen grey and will slow his opponent down to a near-crawl (similar to how Roman Cancel effects work), this effect will last until Bedman runs out of Tension, which will slowly deplete in this state.  The opponent can still block if they are currently in guard frames, but can still be thrown/air thrown, and active hitboxes will still "hit" Bedman, but cannot interrupt this state until Bedman runs out of Tension.

222+H version assails the opponent with a series of Deja Vu attacks (similar or equivalent to Jedah's Finale Rosso attack in Vampire Savior), this move acts as a command grab, regardless of whether or not the opponent is standing, crouching, or jumping.  The attack hits for 66 hits.

222+D version is the Burst Overdrive version, which enhances the damage but has the same effect as the 222+H version, only it performs 666 Hits.

---ULTIMATE Deja Vu Overdrive: This move costs Bedman his Psyche Burst and Full Tension to execute: (input is 2363214+H+D).  Once executed, Bedman will perform an enhanced Deja Vu animation that will completely restore his Lifebar (ala Gill's Resurrection).  Can only be done once per Round.

During this state, the opponent cannot move to attack Bedman, or if they have, their attacks cannot interrupt the startup of this move, only push them backwards.  Blocking the move cannot interrupt the pushback/timefreeze.  Bedman can perform this state from Standing, Jumping, or Reversal.  It does no damage to the opponent.

Welp... I posted everything I want to see.... we'll see what they come up with!

[jadenthehybrid]

Jaden’s Predictions

ROUND THREE:

Seth Harper vs. Kiaan Lucero

Emerson Woods vs. Bear

Hemi Te Koha vs. Kang Zi

Boyd McCormick vs. Finn Winchester

SEMIFINALS:

Kiaan Lucero vs. Bear

Kang Zi vs. Finn Winchester

FINALS:

Kiaan Lucero vs. Kang Zi

WINNER:

Kang Zi

@krovscastleevents

[nottheangel-raphael]

Raphael’s Predictions

ROUND TWO:

Josh Williams vs. Seth Harper

Kiaan Lucero vs. Matthew Alexander

Emerson Woods vs. Iah Yang

Bellamy vs. Bear

Manny Henderson vs. Hemi Te Koha

Kang Zi vs. Gotrik Stenberg

Boyd McCormick vs. Carter Buchanan

Mathias Attano vs. Finn Winchester

ROUND THREE:

Seth Harper vs. Matthew Alexander

Emerson Woods vs. Bear

Hemi Te Koha vs. Gotrik Stenberg

Boyd McCormick vs. Finn Winchester

SEMIFINALS:

Matthew Alexander vs. Bear

Hemi Te Koha vs. Finn Winchester

FINALS:

Matthew Alexander vs. Finn Winchester

WINNER:

Matthew Alexander

@krovscastleevents

[ghostfriendly5]

Goblin Slayer unfanpoem: Christmas Day in the Guildhall

A/N: This is a rather cheeky parody (Okay, a very rude parody) of the controversial anime Goblin Slayer, based on that famous old comic poem ‘Christmas Day in the Workhouse’.

It was Christmas day in the guildhall,

With adventurers full of cheer.

Their faces were filled with gladness,

Their bellies were filled with beer.

In came the Goblinslayer,

As he strode through the draughty halls,

He cried, "Here's to the second season!"

And the Rookies answered...by heaving a half-brick at him!

The Slayer, he was sore outraged,

And swore "By all the gods,

"You'll get no Christmas pudding then,

You trio of silly sods!"

"If FIGHTER isn't coming back,"

Cried one man, bold as brass,

"Take your second season, and the pud,

"And stick them...with Overlord, Shield Hero and the other unwanted shows!"

The Slayer rose to cleave some skulls,

But just before he started,

The Cow Girl, grown to fifteen stone,

Gave three loud cheers and...smothered him with her chest, along with the rest of the harem!

With Phoenix Down, the Slayer arose,

And prepared to carve the duck.

He said, "Who wants the parson's nose?"

And Wizard answered… "In 19th century British parlance, the parson's nose is the fatty knob of meat above the bird's anus, and in this context–it could be called the Goblinslayer's nose, because you suck!"

Some manga and the light novels,

Went round in Christmas parcels, (PArr-Soles)

Some peasants tore the pages out,

And began to wipe their...eyes and noses, at the events of volume 1.

The Priestess bought a holy book,

And read out little bits.

Said one Swordmaiden, near the back,

"That girl gets on…very well as a main heroine, since she hasn't been raped yet."

A steaming bowl of white bread sauce,

Was handed round to some.

An aged gourmet called aloud,

"This bread sauce tastes like…a product of all the pointless sex fanfics round here!"

Mince pie with custard was the next,

And all received a bit.

A hero mused, "This pie's not bad,

"But the custard tastes… as scummy and suspect as everything else in this world, including the bread sauce from the last verse!"

All of the party then began,

To pull their Christmas crackers,

Dwarf Shaman held his too low down,

And blew off both his…own paper hat, and the Lizardman's hemi-penes–that is, the things lizards, and presumably lizardmen, have between their legs instead of KNACKERS!

"This pudding," said the Goblinslayer,

"Is solid, hard and thick.

"How am I going to cut it?"

And a man called… "Use your sword! It's no use for anything else, since you didn't use it to save the Rookies!"

Elf Archer, dishing out the food,

Spilt custard down her front.

She said, "Aren't I a silly billy?"

And they said, "You look…"–but FIGHTER knocked them out for being rude to a lady!

With beer, the Slayer began to moan,

Of tragic family loss,

"I have so much trauma!" FIGHTER, though,

Did not give half a…minute before she explained that he was a Big White Male Marty Stu hero, in a light novel world where women existed to either join his worshipful harem or get raped by goblins that he could subsequently slaughter to show just what a wonderful hero he was. That his claiming, after what had happened to her, to be a tragic hero, or anything but a rapesploitative male power fantasy whose whole story and career were rooted in her suffering...was, frankly, offensive.

Then she drew on the power of Ki and beat Goblinslayer to death with his own helmet.

The Priestess RAISED UP Goblinslayer,

To entertain her flock,

He asked, "What shall I show you?"

And the harem cried…"Promised Neverland, a dark show with no sexual violence! Or Berserk, a dark show with no gratuitous sexual violence–in fact, that isn't a gratuitous waste of ink in its entirety!"

"Your Slayership, may I be excused?"

Said Warrior– worthy chap!

"I don't much care for Ani-may,

I'd rather have…passionate sex with Fighter, now I'm finally back from Hong Kong!

(To which Fighter pouted "Hmph, idiot!" before dragging him offstage by his belt to general rejoicing)

The party then began to sing,

And shook the guildhouse walls,

"Merry Christmas!" cried out Tiny Tim,

And the Wizard answered… "Hang on, you're from a different story, that wasn't a load of…and we already used this rhyme in the second verse!"

The Slayer stood on the burning deck,

Playing a game of cricket.

A ball rolled up his trouser leg,

And stumped his middle wicket!

The Slayer stood on the burning deck,

His real name's Ahab Trollocks.

For the very last time, I regard this show,

As…not really my cup of tea at all!

Then it was Christmas day in the harem!

With the eunuchs caged up there.

GOBLIN EUNUCHS, truth to tell,

Bemoaning their lot unfair!

Then the Sultan–LELOUCH LAMPEROUGE!

Strode through his marble halls,

He cried, "What do you want for Christmas, boys?"

Screamed the goblin eunuchs, "BALLS!"

The Sultan, he was most displeased,

And swore, "If you're not good,

"I'll be a lousy rotter then,

"And stop your Christmas pud!"

"If FIGHTER isn't coming back,"

Cried one, still bold as brass,

"Take your pud, and Goblinslayer's sword,

"And shove them up…etc etc."

[heirs-of-prythian]

5 Times Echo Wanted A Big Brother ... Part 1

Hi guys! I'm done with my newest fic about Azriel's Daughter Echo and Cadan, which is supposed to be a One-shot, but Tumblr is being a bitch about it, so I decided to split it into 6 parts for this website. I'll post a new part everyday.

If you want to read the whole fic, you can find it on Ao3. The link is in my Fic Masterlist, which is linked in my blog description.

This fic is also for the anon, who requested a Fic about adult Cadan. I have played with this fic idea for a long time, but your request has finally pushed me to writing it. I hope you like it.

This (when completed) fic is my longest fic yet! And I hope you'll have as much reading it, as I did writing it.

___________________

1

Three little girls are playing together. Three little girls are twirling and running and jumping around  in colorful dress. What game they were exactly playing nobody knows. They seem to change the rules on a whim. Only a child could imagine a coherent game that includes tiny pink painted wood swords, six blankets, 15 pillows, 20 stuffed animal toys, two pack of Card Games, Three flags on sticks, 12 tiaras, a bed, chalk, two buckets, two tiny tables, three sets of children tea sets and for whatever reason one broom. Whatever they were playing, the three little girls are having the time of their life, screaming a war cry, jumping from the bed onto the heap of pillows they just laid out before climbing on top of the bed.

The first to jump down is the oldest of the three,  being over 5 years old. Her Raven black hair is in a very messy braid, some of her hair already escaped and falls wildy into her face. On her head sits slightly crooked a violet tiara. Her face is flushed from playing and screaming. The blush makes her freckles across her cheeks and nose stand out. Her blue-grey eyes are sparkling like stars on a clear night sky. She was also the palest of the three. Matching the tiara, she is wearing a violet dress. Two playing cards stick out from her dress pockets. Her dark bat-like wings are tucked behind her tightly. She is barefoot. Her hands are covered in blue chalk, as is her forehead and her dress. She lands with a soft thump in the mountains of pillows, nearly being completely swallowed by them. With a laugh she frees herself from it and races back to the other side of the bed to climb on top again.

The second to jump was also the second oldest, having just turned 5 years old two weeks ago. She also had a braid as the girl before her, but it came apart not that long ago. Her black hair is tucked behind her ears, keeping it out of her face. The green tiara is almost falling off her head. Her amber brown eyes are alight with joy. Her chubby cheeks are red. The golden skin nearly glowing. To keep up the trend, her green dress matches her tiara, but instead of cards, a tiny teddy bear is peaking out her pocket. Her wings, the same as the first one's, are folded neatly. She is wearing two different colored socks, one light blue, one dark pink. Her hands seem to be clean, but her dress has white chalk stains.

She jumps and lands on her back with a delighted laugh, before she rolls down the pillow mountain. Jumping back up, she runs around her bed to climb up again. Yes, the girls are certainly playing in her room.

The last and the youngest one, is only 4 years and 6 months old. And she looks the most different from the other two. Her gold brown hair is braided into five different braids that fall messily around her head and face. Her blue tiara fell off some time again. Now her hair is covered in different chalk colors. As was half her face. Her almost bronze colored skin makes the chalk even more stand out. Her fawn brown eyes shine like sunshine and she smiles a big and toothy grin. Her blue dress was also covered in chalk. As are her hands and barefoot feet. She looks like she fell into a pool of chalk dust and rolled around in it. She could make clouds by moving. Her pockets seem to contain two play tea cups and chalks.

She jumps with a scream and lands with a chalk cloud and a giggle. She tries to get out of the pillow mountain before she was completely submerged.  After she managed to crawl out of it with the encouragement of the other two, she just continues crawled around the bed while laughing.

This goes on for two more rounds, when they are interrupted. “Girls, it's late! Could you please clean up before you two get picked up?” Asks a beautiful winged female in the doorway, looking over the chaos the girls have created. The girls make a sound of disappointed.

“Mom, can't we play just a little longer, please?” Pleads the second one with puppy-eyes. “Yes, please?” The other two follow suit. “I'm sorry, Echo, girls, but I have already let you play way longer than usual and this is a mess.” The girls make a grunt in disappointment, but say a small, but defeated fine. But Echo's mother wasn't done. “Arianna, Aurelia, wash of the chalk first.” The girls look down on themselves and than internally agree that yes that should be off before they clean up. “Where did you even get that? We don't own chalk.” “I brought it with me. But now it seem it gone up in dust and clouds of dust.” Aurelia, the chalk covered child admitted with a solemn smile at nothing in particular.

“Move, Aura we still need to wash it off, before we can help Echo!” Arianna, the oldest, demands. She pushes Aura slightly into the direction of the bathroom and while pointing at Echo, who already picks the tea sets back together where they were strewn around In-between stuffed animals and blankets. Ari takes Aura's hand impatiently and strings her behind her, before Aura could move herself. Giggling at being dragged forward, Aura starts skipping to catch up with Ari. Echo meanwhile finds Aura's tiara and places it on her dresser. With a fond smile, Leda, the only grown up in the house at the moment, leaves her daughter and her nieces to their own chaos.

After ten minutes and some shouting and sounds of chaos, which don't sound promising, the doorbell rings. At the sound the girls let out a shriek and the sounds out of Echo's room get more fanatic and chaotic. Shaking her head with a smile, Leda opens the door to reveal three fae. The first through the door and greeting and hugging his Auntie Leda, is Artemas, a Raven haired and lanky fae and Arianna's older brother. The red haired and rather tall female, Hemera, Aurelia's oldest sister, greets and hugs Leda next. The last one, a black haired and buff Half-Illyrian, Cadan, her nephew and the other's cousin, copies Art and Hemy.

“Girls, your pickups are here!” Leda shouts and ushers her older niece and nephews, into the living room.

“We're almost done!” Ari screams back, immediately. “You have five minutes, Ari! Dinner at home is already ready. So move your butts!” Art shouts back. “You said butts!” Aura's giggles can be heard in the living room. “We also don't have that much time, Aura! Mom said dinner's almost ready and grandpa is visiting for dinner.” Hemera hollers back. “We're almost done!” Echo shouts calmly back.

“You want anything to drink, dears?” Leda asks already standing up. “No need Aunt Le, we're fine.” Cadan says and tugs her down to sit again. It wasn't the biggest surprise to see Cadan here, even if he didn't have anyone to pick up. He loves his younger cousins, and was most probably just hanging out with Hemy and Art before coming here. And just decided to go with them, either due to boredom, to hang out with his best friends more, or to see his younger cousins.

He is always welcome in their home, Leda is just happy to see him again.

As they wait for the girls to be done cleaning up, the trio and Leda just talked about trivial things and updates in their personal and familial lifes. At the same time they also partly listen to the sounds of madness from Echo's room.

“I think we're done!” Echo says as she stands in from of her closed door, looking over her room. Ari and Aura standing beside her, nodding and looking rather proud. The room does infact look pretty clean. Here and there are still some things out of place, but otherwise the room looks vastly different from a few minutes before. Both Ari and Aura already had their bags and shoes in hand. Aura's tiara has found its way back on her head. Ari's braid had been so loose that she needed to open it up and put her hair into a ponytail.

Echo opens the door and let's a storming Ari and a skipping Aura out before she follows them to the living room. As they march, if you can call it marching with one charging, one skipping and one jogging, into the living room, the adults in the room stood. Because they know what's comes next.

The Archeron-Night greeting ritual.

A family tradition they adore.

A spiel to say hello and goodbye.

A thing they always do. And always will do.

And the spiel begins.

Ari immediately charges to Hemera and jumps into her open and waiting arms. Ari screams a delighted “Hi, Little Sun!” while Hemy in return mumbles a “Hi, Little Night!” into Ari's hair, avoiding the tiara.

Aura at the same time bounces into Cadan's outstretched arms with a sunny “Hilla, Little Hero!”. Cad laughs out a “Hilla, Sunshine!”, as Aura knocks into him.

Echo, a moment behind Aura, jumps into Art, his arms coming only around her as she makes contact with him. She greets him with a merry “Hi, Little Moon!”. Art purrs out a content “Hi, Little Wonder!” against her temple.

They all hug for a few seconds, before the girls are released and already jumping to the next person.

The spiel continues.

This time Ari lands in Cadan's arms, Aura in Art's and Echo in Hemy's. Greetings are exchanged again and the hugs last a little.

And the spiel is finished for now.

Ari finally jumps into her older brother’s arms and greets him the same as the others. Aura also is now in her oldest sister's arms and greets her in kind. Echo on the other hand lands into arms of one of her only three male cousins, Cadan. The only other male cousin she has, beside Art, is Morpheus, Aunt Mor's son. But Echo likes Cadan the best from her male cousins, even if Art is a good challenger for the top spot.

“Why do you all stink like chalk?” Hemy asks as she sniffs Aura and the air. “Because we played with chalk!” Aura begins merrily. “It got a little out of hand” Echo continues a little apologetic. “Aura was practically dosed in it!” Ari finishes their statement, swinging her feet. “I made pretty chalk dust clouds!” Aura tells them in a wondrous tone, as if she is imagine them in her head.

“Oh Sunshine, you'll definitely need to take a bath before dinner!” Hemera begins as Aura cheers at the mention of bathing. She does like bathing time. A lot. “A quick one, because Mom would never let you to the table like that.” Aura just hums and tilts her head.

“I don't need a bath right? Art?” Ari suddenly asks loudly, drawing the attention to her. Art sniffs and looks at her closely. “I don't think so, Ari. I think a change of clothes should do,” Art shrugs “Now say goodbye to Auntie Leda, Hemy and Cad, Echo and Aura, in that order.” And he sets her down, vanishing her bag and shoes.

At this Echo realizes, she is still in Cadan's warm and strong embrace. She had been in the same height as her friends and was not looking up to them as she most of the time would.

Looking up at them was not one of Echo's favorite things to do. It reminded her of something she doesn't like to think about. That she is an only child and is envious of Ari and Aura having older siblings. By the mother she would love to have an older sibling, she dreams of it sometimes, what it would be like to have an older brother or sister. A big brother like Artemas or Cadan. That would be the dream. A dream that will never come true.

Echo is suddenly startled out of her envious thinking, as Cadan sets her down too, to say goodbye to the others.

And the whole spiel begins again.

Almost everybody hugs and says goodbye to almost everybody. Echo has a feeling she misses a small detail in the goodbye ritual of their family.

After the ritual was done, the two older faes with their little sisters in their arms move to the door, they are trailered by the rest. Finally goodbyes are said as Art and Hemy vanish into nothingness as the crossed the lawn.

Looking a little bit at where she last saw her cousins, Echo sighs, she needs to finish cleaning up her room. Her mother would not be that happy with the way it is right now. She turns and runs right into Cadan's leg.

Startled and baffled she looks up, eyes wide, mouth open in surprise and disbelief. Cadan raises both eyebrows at her. He can't raise one eyebrow.

“What are you still doing here?” Echo knows that the question is rude. But that's the only question that her brain is able to release. She hears her mother beginning of a reprimand, but Cadan throws his head back and laughs. Her mother sighs and smiles softly at Cadan and than goes back into the house.

“Because, Little Wonder, I was invited to dinner and I accepted.” Cadan tells her with a big grin, not acknowledging his Aunt Le's retreat. “And I didn't really had anything else to do today.”

Echo blinks at him and tilts her head with a frown. “Don’t you have Family dinner with Uncle Cass and Aunt Nesta?”

“Ha No, they have date night tonight. I would rather be anywhere but there.” He ends his statement with a shudder. Then he turns and asks into the house. “Speaking of dinner, can I help you with that, Aunt Le?”

“Don't be silly, Little Hero, you're a complete guest tonight. But if you really want to help, than help Echo finish cleaning up her room.” Her mother voice is carried over from the kitchen. The smell of roasted chicken and potatoes and spices is finally reaching the open doorway. Cadan chuckles and than bends down to pick Echo up again.

“Now Echo shall we start our quest of defeating the enemy in your room to report a victorious ending on our side to the Lady of the house?”

Echo starts laughing but nods as Cadan carries her into the house, letting the door close behind him, and into her room.

_______

And that's a wrap for the first part. Five more to go.

I hope you all like it. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to ask me. I would love to answer them.

Tagging: @thelaziestgeek @lux-et-tenebra @mindnumbmikey @starlightheir @guthiix @iamthebonecarverr @tswaney17 @feyres-painting-studio @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks (If you want to get tagged just let me know!)

[king-lobo]

Not normally the kind of thing I do on my blog, but since a very large portion of the States (and some of Canada) are going to be headed straight for another ice age soon, I’m going to impart some knowledge upon you about keeping your vehicle alive and in one piece. Cars are expensive to buy and maintain, so keeping it safe during the coming cold is extremely important. Sources: one, two, three, four 1. 4 wheel drive doesn’t mean 4 wheel stop. Don’t drive like a dumbass. Your ‘Super Duty Hemi V8 Monster 4X4 Rancho King Semi’ Truck is equally at risk of sliding or rolling. Just because you have a big beefy 4WD vehicle doesn’t mean that you’re invincible. Driving like you are is not only putting yourself at risk, but it’s putting everyone else on the road around you at risk.

2. GOOD. WINTER. TIRES. If you can afford the expense, invest in a set of winter tires, and they will be marketed as such (and get them studded if you can!). Winter tires have a different rubber compound and different tread patterns to make them handle a little better on snow and ice. Your all-seasons aren’t gonna cut it in negative degree ice and snow. Also, instead of having your current set of tires on your car removed from the wheels, just find a second set of wheels that fit your vehicle (junkyards or someone parting out their car) and have the new tires mounted on that set. It’s MUCH easier to swap wheels than it is to swap tires. When winter is through, you can swap out the wheels again and store your winter set for next year. (ALSO: Do NOT forget to check your spare tire. The time you forget is going to be the time that you need it most.) 3. Make sure everything is functioning properly. If your windshield is chipped or cracked, get it repaired or replaced. The cold will more than likely make it worse. Have someone help you make sure all of your lights are working properly and if not, replace them. (ALWAYS replace headlights in pairs, regardless of if one still works) Check your regular headlights, high beams, turn signals front and back, brake lights, fog lights if you have them, etc. If it’s been a year or more since you last replaced your windshield wipers, replace them. Have your battery tested - cold temperatures are harder on the cells and cause it to decrease in capacity. If it’s not at peak performance, replace it with a brand new one. 4. Preventative Maintenance. If you’re due for an oil change, go get ALL of the fluids checked and changed if necessary - oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid (if you have it), etc. Have your brakes checked and replaced if necessary, get your car aligned, have your suspension components checked out, make sure your tires are inflated to the correct psi, keep your gas tank at least half full at all times to prevent your fuel lines from freezing and in case you become stranded. If something is making a weird noise, have your mechanic take a look. Preventative maintenance is something you need to do all year round to keep your car in tip top shape - but it’s especially important in extreme weather. 5. Don’t Let Your Car Idle. It’s fine if you start your car a couple minutes before you leave, but it doesn’t help to let it sit for 10-15 minutes or longer - it can actually cause premature wear to your engine. Letting it idle for at least 1-2 minutes is ideal, but your car will warm up faster when you start out driving at slow speeds. If you can avoid it, don’t accelerate hard right away - let your car get up to operating temp first. 6. PACK AN EMERGENCY KIT. Even if you think you won’t need one, do it anyways. A good emergency kit should consist of the following:

A set of jumper cables (extra long cables if you can find them - or invest in one of these) If you already have cables, inspect them thoroughly before adding them to your kit. Are the wires exposed? The clamps corroded? If they’re damaged in any way, replace them with a new set.

Flares and/or triangle reflectors

At least 1 quart or more of motor oil, at least 1 gallon of coolant, and extra serpentine belts. (these are all vehicle specific, make sure you get the correct type for your vehicle)

First-aid kit (look here for a comprehensive guide to first aid)

Normal blankets AND Mylar blankets (mylar blankets are the best at reducing heat loss in emergencies. you most often see them used with people who may be suffering hypothermia, as they reduce heat loss by up to 90%)

Flashlights with extra batteries, or a hand-crank flashlight

Small toolkit with screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench, and pocket knife

Paper towels

Spray bottle with 2/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 water (rubbing alcohol has a freezing temperature of -128.2 °F/ -89°C) Rubbing alcohol can damage your paint, so don’t spray it directly onto your cars finish - only on the glass

Reusable heat packs (yes there are reusable ones out there)

TWO ice scrapers

Pencils and paper

High protein snacks

Bottled water

Extra clothes - socks, hats, coats, pants, shirts, etc.

Sand bags or cat litter (when you get stuck, sprinkle it around all four wheels to help you get better traction)

7. How to Properly Jumpstart a Car. Icemageddon or not, this is something you need to know how to do properly or you could actually cause your battery to explode. NOTE: If your car has an electronic ignition system (push to start) or is an alternatively fueled vehicle, jump starting it is not recommended, as it could damage it.

Red = Positive Black = Negative Dead Car = The car that has a dead battery Live Car = The car you are using to jump the dead car

Locate the batteries on the dead vehicle and the vehicle that is going to be giving you a jump - park them close enough that the cables will be able to reach the battery on both vehicles.

Make sure both vehicles are turned to the OFF position, remove the keys from the ignitions. DO NOT turn them on.

Every set of jumper cables will have four clamps - two for each car. Positive will always be red, negative will always be black. If that is not the case, there should be a symbol somewhere identifying which is which.

From this point on, keep the clamps separated AT ALL TIMES, and keep them up away from the vehicle until you are ready to connect them.

Connect one of the Positive(red) clamps directly to the dead cars POSITIVE (red) terminal. If they’re not color coded, look on the battery for the symbols indicating which terminal is positive and which is negative.

Connect the other positive(red) clamp to the live cars positive(red) terminal.

Connect the Negative(black) clamp to the LIVE cars negative(black) terminal.

Before connecting the second negative clamp, look for a piece of bare (unpainted) metal on the dead car that is away from the battery, and not connected to any important mechanical or electrical components. Some cars will have dedicated locations where you can place the negative clamp - there will either be a sticker under the hood or it will be listed in your owners manual. Do not connect the second negative clamp directly to the battery as it could create sparks. Car batteries contain hydrogen gas which could ignite and cause the battery to explode.

Get in and attempt to start the dead car. If it doesn’t work, check the negative(black) clamp on the dead car and make sure it has a good connection. If it doesn’t start a second time, start the live car and let it run for at least 2 minutes before trying to start the dead car again.

If the dead car starts, disconnect the cables in exactly the opposite way as how you connected them: Remove the negative(black) clamp from the dead car first, then the negative(black) clamp from the live car, then the positive(red) clamp from the live car, and finally remove the positive(red) clamp from the dead car.

Alternatively, if the dead car doesn’t start after two or three attempts, remove the cables and do not try again. Cranking the engine repeatedly can cause damage, such as prematurely wearing out the starter.