rightfullyangry

[inkofamethyst]

January 4, 2023

AFKDJFKSDLFJKSLJGLS UM HELLO I JUST WOKE UP TO AN INTERVIEW OFFER FROM MY CHOICE 4 [Choice F]

I WAS SO EXCITED I THREW MY PHONE (then subsequently called my parents, of course)

REMEMBER, THIS IS THE ONE THAT I SUBMITTED FIRST AND

did not include a transfer transcript from that summer program because the service was being stupid

wrote a really crappy 1000-word research proposal for (actually two crappy research proposals bc I had to split between straightup morphology and evodevo)

used the phrase “since middle school” instead of “for nearly a decade” (I switched out that phrasing in my diversity statement when I applied to my choice 2 lol) and this has been haunting me because I think it shows how young I am which is a bad think for PhD apps I think because it means I could change my mind really easily

it had seven essays most of which were fine, but I’m not really looking forward to reading them over when I prepare for the visit

one of my recs was submitted late

LUCKILY I can choose my date of visitation, so there won’t be overlap between this one and my Choice 2 [Choice D] (I would like to restate for the court that having a numerical list of these feels wrong because a) I haven’t visited any of these schools so I don’t even know if I vibe with the environment and b) each of them have different strengths, and it would be really easy for me to switch around some of their placements, I think (except Choice 7 [Choice A])).

Really, truly, all I’m waiting for is to see if I got the diversity fellowship from my Choice 3 [Choice G] (the one where I know the lady I want to work with).  She said they usually send out that information in January, and if I hear about it before the fifteenth, then I will officially have an option, and I won’t apply to my Choice 7 [Choice A] (and I’ll save $75).  Then I wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of making the decision between attending grad school somewhere I don’t want to go and taking a year off then reapplying (currently leaning toward the year off option if it came to it).  These interview invitations are lovely, but they are not concrete acceptances.

BUT.  I can still bask in the glory of interview offers because they are investing in me.  Choice 4 [Choice F] is also paying for the visit, but their budget is clearly smaller than Choice 2 [Choice D].  That doesn’t necessarily bother me.  My Choice 2 is up there with the Ivies in terms of prestige, but my Choice 4 [Choice F] does have an awesome department (one thing about Choice 4 [Choice F] though is that it’s fully an Anthropology Department, so I would be required to take anth courses outside of my concentration which is fine because I like learning in general and that could prepare me for teaching more general anth courses as a budding prof in the future, but some of the other departments are fully bioanth, so I can finally start learning more about the topics I fell in love with (oh wait not to mention the literal problem with racism that my Choice 4 is having rn,,,,,,,  (I’d really like it if an unproblematic school offered me an interview, actually, that would be lovely [edit 2: this is so funny because three students died at my current uni over the two years before I decided to apply... I don’t know if there really are unproblematic schools]))).

Today is gonna be pretty chill otherwise, so I’m thankful for another interview offer, this is dope.

It does mean that I’m going to have to braid my hair this weekend :/  But it does also mean that I can just put my hair into a puff for the rest of this week, and I was really not looking forward to twisting for six hours today so that’s nice.

It’s so beautiful outside, I’m going to just chill out there today and read, I think (after I wash my dishes and do my hair).

I need to stop qualifying every positive thing with something negative.  This is not bringing balance to the universe or whatever, it’s me actively stealing my own joy.

[edit: it rained on me -_-]

[edit 2.5: the rain didn’t last long, and I went to go get some work done outside, and then I saw a lovely sunset and had a nice walk for my mental health]

[lvllns]

it’s just frustrating bc i had to wait until my diploma got here and now i’m waiting for a response from a professor still and it’s just like. i could’ve been done with this already but noooooooo.

[dindjarindiaries]

DIN’S CHARACTER ARC: A CONVERSATION

This is just a very casual thinking session I had about some elements of Din’s character arc thus far in the show—covering two important critiques of his writing and what I think about them! Feel free to share your opinion if you listened.

TRANSCRIPT:

Hello, everyone! Welcome to some random thoughts with... me.��[chuckling] I’m sitting in a squeaky chair so I’m sorry if it makes sounds. This is very unprofessional, this is literally just me thinking—I don’t have any of this written down and I hope it’s not terribly long or anything.

I guess I’ve just been thinking a lot about Din’s character and his arc throughout seasons one and two. I’ve seen a lot of people say—which is totally fine, we all have our own opinions (I swear!), that’s totally fine. I’m also very open to people critiquing my opinions ‘cause, you know, that’s just... debate is great, I love debate! It’s so good to hear what other people say because I’m the kind of person that can be swayed, you know, pretty easily, so I’m definitely open to hearing any kind of things that you might disagree with me [on.] But... personally, I’ve been thinking a lot about the writing decisions at the end of season two that a lot of people disagree with.

So, one of those things being when Din takes off his helmet, of course. So, a lot of people were, you know, pretty upset by that because he’s been following this Creed for so long and it’s really important to him and it helped him, you know, in the face of—after losing everything, this is what he had to hold on to. And I totally get that, too, like... it was a shock, you know, for Chapter 15—the stakes were raised, so, you know, it was different than like in Chapter 16 where he willingly takes it off in front of other people and doesn’t go in private.

But in my opinion, first of all, the problem with that is that in Chapter 16, it would’ve been really awkward for him to go in private because... you know, he—Luke’s in the way, and all these people are behind him on the bridge, so he would’ve literally had to say, “Hold on, can we just... either all of you leave, or we’re just gonna go to another part of the ship?” It just... there wasn’t a good way to get privacy and I think that’s a big reason why he didn’t get privacy.

In general, for those decisions, I think it actually is a very important part of his character that it did happen, because... the biggest—one of the biggest parts of his character as described by, you know, like Jon and other writers and contributors to the show ever since it started is that... the beskar is not just a physical armor for Din, it’s also been an emotional armor and a psychological armor, you know? So, he’s not—like, he’s hiding in his beskar not just physically, but in every way, he’s hiding in it to get away from his trauma, to get away from—you know, a lot of different things. So, for him to be able to not cling to his armor anymore and to hide within it just because of Grogu is huge growth, and I think that was a really good way of showing it, is... you know, he’s not defining himself by this status of a “Mandalorian” anymore. Like, yes, it’s still important to him that he’s a Mandalorian and that’s not something that he wants to take away from himself or that he will take away from himself, but it’s not something he has to reduce himself to. He’s not just “the Mandalorian,” he’s “Grogu’s father,” and he’s okay with that. He’s willing to not hide anymore, especially for Grogu’s sake—which is just major.

I think that’s why I don’t really have a problem with the helmet removals myself, because it’s just a very effective way of showing Mando’s growth in that way and how Grogu has helped him to realize he doesn’t need to stick to this Creed which, quite frankly, right now his whole Tribe that he was with—that he learned that custom from—they all are gone! They had to break the Creed, you know? Like, he saw their helmets. So, I think that Grogu kinda helped him to let go. And that’s what leads me into my next point about how, you know, a lot of people were upset that Grogu left.

I totally understand that because, you know, that’s heartbreaking, and it seemed like with Ahsoka rejecting Grogu for training and saying, “Well, he can choose his path,” we’re all like, “Okay, well, Grogu obviously doesn’t want to go, he’s gonna choose Din.” But it wasn’t really a matter of Grogu choosing Jedi stuff over Din, it was more like Grogu knew what he had to do to protect Din—because if he doesn’t train, if he doesn’t contain his Force powers, he won’t be able to—like, Din can’t keep him safe forever. So, now, he’s going to train because he knows that if he does, he’ll be able to keep Din safe. So, he doesn’t necessarily want to leave Din, he doesn’t want to go train, but he knows that he has to. And Din knows that he has to. That’s why Din was upset in Chapter 14 when he was talking to Grogu and he’s like, “You have to go with them, I can’t train you,” like, he knows—they both know. So, that’s why he had to go.

For Din, you know, it wasn’t just like he was like, “Oh, this has been my quest, I have to do this,” it’s like... a parent—a parental growth moment of letting go of your kid. When you think about parents who are sending their kids off to college, you know, think about it like... Mando’s quest—sorry, I’ve been switching between Mando and Din, but—the quest is very much like a parent helping their kid choose a college, right? So, they go through this whole process, they’re paying this money for applications, they’re doing college tours, they’re doing all this stuff. But then, their kid is ultimately gonna have to go. They’re gonna have to let go of their kid, like, they’ve done all this stuff for them, they’ve raised them, and they knew that it was gonna reach this point, but that doesn’t make it any easier at the end! You know? I know that my parents cried when I went to college. It’s not easy, no matter how much you prepare for it.

So, for Din, it was like yes he knew, he was fighting all these battles and he was—he risked his life to protect Grogu, but he ultimately knew he was gonna have to give him away. And when that moment came, he didn’t hold back. He didn’t hold Grogu back from what he knows he’s supposed to do. Instead, he was able to let go—which he’s not been able to do! ‘Cause we know he still holds on to his trauma from his childhood and we know that he still holds on to those grudges he had with the gang, even though he treated those better because Grogu has taught him to, you know, be a better person. [chuckles] But his whole problem is that he hasn’t been able to let go and that’s why he hides within himself. But now, he can let go—let go of the Creed, let go of Grogu (but not, you know, he doesn’t actually have to fully and forever let go of Grogu).

Anyway, those are just some random thoughts I had. I could’ve typed them out, I might type them out at some point to make this better. I might do a transcript of this too so then people who can’t listen to audio can hear it, too. And... yeah! But those are just some scrambled thoughts on Mando’s character arc in season two specifically. Feel free to let me know if you disagree with any of these opinions and why. I’m totally open for different opinions—what I say is not, like, the hard golden truth—it’s just my personal thoughts on it. So... thank you for listening!

[voltrontranscript]

VLD S8E9: Knights of Light, Part 1

Season 8 Episode 9: Knights of Light, Part 1

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Summary: After taking the dark entity within herself, Allura discovers she’s now mentally linked to Honerva. Using this connection to reach into Honerva’s mind with the help of the other paladins, they discover that there are more ghosts haunting her than they realized.

[Google Doc]

Honerva’s Voice: Allura. Allura. Allura. Allura… Allura!

Lance: Allura, are you okay?

Allura: What’s going on? Where am I?

Coran: You’re in the medical bay.

Lance: When we got back from Clear Day, we found you collapsed on the ground.

Coran: You’ve been asleep for two quintants. The entity, it’s missing. Did you…?

Allura: I did what needed to be done.

Coran: No.

Lance: What needed to be done? What are you talking about?

Allura: This entity, it is connected to Honerva in some way. I believe we can use it.

Lance: Use it? I…

Coran: I swore to your father that I would look after you, but I fear I may have let him down. This is the path of darkness.

Allura: It is the path toward defeating Honerva.

[Scene change to Shiro approaching a door, where he is greeted by the paladins.]

Shiro: You wanted to see me?

Pidge: We’ve been working on something, and we thought we’d run it by you.

Keith: We think we might have a way to find Honerva.

Allura: The entity has bonded me to Honerva. The link is there whether we utilize it or not. I believe that if the Paladins connect using the shared consciousness of Voltron, we may be able to travel through the void and into Honerva’s mind.

Pidge: That could, in theory, give us access to her physical location, as well as key information on how to defeat her.

Hunk: Which, after what happened the last time we faced her, could be super useful.

Keith: Honerva is capable of creating galactic Komars, wormholes, robeasts, and now Lotor and his mech are out there somewhere. She is the single greatest threat the universe has ever faced, and we don’t have any other leads. It might take lifetimes for another opportunity like this to come around. We think this is worth the risk.

Shiro: I spent a lot of time in the infinite void. It took all my strength not to lose my sanity. And if you face Honerva in the void, she will win. But, if you can find a clue that leads to defeating Honerva and Lotor, it could give us the upper hand in this fight.

Lance: I don’t like the idea of using Allura like this. We’re messing with powers we don’t fully understand that have ruined countless lives. It’s… it’s dangerous.

Allura: Lance, we’re the Paladins of Voltron. There’s no one more capable of taking this on. It has to be us.

Lance: Let’s do it.

Allura: Besides, the team will have our sharpshooter there to keep us safe.

Lance: I knew that nickname was gonna catch on one of these days.

Coran: It’s been a long time since it was only the seven of us in a room together.

Keith: Let’s make sure it’s not the last.

[Cut to Keith in Black Lion as Voltron powers up.]

Lance: Allura, are you okay?

Allura: I’m fine.

[Scene change to Veronica on the bridge.]

Veronica: It doesn’t seem fair that he won with a robot arm.

Iverson: Ah, almost everyone had a robot arm. The last guy had two robot arms.

Shiro: The lions are launching. Put the Atlas on high alert. Iverson, power up the Atlas’ weapons. Veronica, make sure the shield system is go.

Veronica: High alert? What’s going on?

Shiro: We’re just being careful. The Atlas needs to be prepared for any eventuality.

[Cut to Allura in Blue Lion.]

Allura: It is time to begin.

[Scene change to the astral plane.]

Hunk: Now what?

Keith: Allura, do you feel anything?

Allura: We must travel through that light!

Hunk: It looks so far away. How do you know?

Allura: The entity draws me toward it!

Lance: What is this place? It’s like… it’s like I can hear what the universe is thinking.

Pidge: Remember how the Olkari told me that everything is made of the same energy? I think it has something to do with that.

Hunk: So, thoughts are linked across some kind of, what, cosmic connection?

Keith: Yeah, but I think we are the thoughts inside a network of other people’s thoughts.

Lance: Oh, this is making my head hurt.

Hunk: Yeah, I’m actually with Lance on this one.

Allura: If we are to--[screams]

[Cut to the Atlas bridge.]

Coran: I’m detecting fluctuations in Voltron’s energy signature. Should we do anything?

Shiro: Hold.

[Cut back to the Paladins in the astral plane.]

Lance: What was that?

Hunk: It felt like cold water running down my spine.

Allura: That was Honerva.

Lance: What?

Allura: The entity inside of me is connected to her.

Hunk: Wait, then why did we feel it?

Keith: It must be because we’re all connected through Voltron.

Allura: Yes. The psychic link between us is now shared with Honerva. The closer we are to her, the stronger that link.

Lance: This is too dangerous. Honerva is gonna use the connection to find us, to find you.

Allura: No, this is how we are going to find her, but first, I must learn how to utilize this energy to do so.

Keith: This isn’t just on you now, Princess. We’re all in this together. Maybe if we concentrate, we’ll be able to feel her energy. Then we can track it back to its source. Let’s all focus.

Hunk: This is awesome!

[Scene change to a wide starry scape with two planets visible as Voltron flies by.]

Hunk: I can feel something, like an energy inside me.

Allura: It’s the entity.

Lance: This feeling, it’s like…

Keith: Like a dark realization washing over.

Pidge: It’s like we’re being pulled by a tether connected to our souls.

Allura: We’re getting closer. This way.

Hunk: Is this Honerva’s mind?

Allura: It’s on the other side of this wall.

Pidge: What is this?

Allura: It feels like… like these are the souls that Honerva has defeated and corrupted. It’s terrible.

Hunk: Of course we’re gonna have to get on the other side of the--what?

Pidge: Allura!

Keith: Come on! No! Come on!

[Scene change to Pidge inside Honerva’s mind, a green and black plain lit by stars.]

Pidge: Guys? Where am I? Guys, do you copy? Guys?! Team, can you hear me?

[Cut to Hunk inside Honerva’s mind, a yellow and black plain lit by stars.]

Hunk: Hello! Anyone?

[Cut to Lance in a red and black plain lit by stars.]

Lance: Team! Something severed our connection!

[Cut to Allura in a blue and black plain lit by stars.]

Allura: Paladins, respond! Why can you not hear me?

[Cut to Keith, on the black plain that shields Honerva’s mind.]

Keith: There has to be a way in. I can’t feel them.

[Cut to Pidge.]

Pidge: I can’t even feel my lion!

[Cut to Hunk, then Allura.]

Allura: Paladins! I will not let you hurt us any longer! This is some kind of horrible ruse and you will pay dearly for it. Time to end this!

[Flash back to the Castle of Lions armory.]

Alfor: Your suits of armor.

Trigel: They’re incredible.

Zarkon: We will be a force to be reckoned with in these armaments.

Gyrgan: They stretch, right?

Alfor: Yes, Gyrgan, they mold to fit their paladin.

Trigel: When will your wonders end, Alfor?

Alfor: Interesting you should mention that. I have one more piece of equipment for all of you.

Zarkon: What are they?

Alfor: I call them bayards. Now, each bayard is crafted with a small fragment of the comet’s ore.

Zarkon: With this much power, we will be unstoppable.

Alfor: They can create powerful weapons, but they can also act as a key bridging a paladin’s essence with their lion. Only so long as we fight together as a single unit. To defend the universe.

All: To defend the universe!

[Flash forward to return to Allura and Blaytz in the blue and black plain of Honerva’s mind.]

Allura: It’s really you.

[Cut to Pidge and Trigel in the green and black plain.]

Pidge: Your soul! Honerva must have--

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Hunk: --trapped you here somehow! Please, I don’t want to fight you!

[Cut to Lance and Alfor in the red and black plain.]

Lance: Please! Remember who you are!

[Cut to Allura and Blaytz in the blue and black plain again.]

Allura: Blaytz, please.

[Flash back to the Castle of Lions on Altea.]

Alfor: Make no mistake, Zarkon is coming.

Trigel: Then we use the lions, fight him until our last breath.

Alfor: I am not certain we can win this fight. We cannot risk Voltron falling into his hands. We will utilize our lions to seal the Black Lion. Once we are done, we will send our lions as far away as possible. Coran, you and the Castle of Lions will take the Black Lion away.

Coran: You would have me leave your side at the very end?

Alfor: No. I would have you stand by my daughter’s. I am entrusting you with what is most precious to me in this entire universe, Coran.

Coran: It will be my greatest honor.

Gyrgan: Then it is decided. We go into battle together, one last time.

Alfor: To defend the universe.

All: To defend the universe.

[Flash forward to Trigel and Pidge in the green and black plain.]

Trigel: What… Where am I?

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Hunk: You’re in the void just outside of Honerva’s mind. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.

[Cut to Blaytz and Allura in the blue and black plain.]

Blaytz: Are the visions from the lions true?

[Cut to Alfor and Lance in the red and black plain.]

Alfor: Has it really been ten thousand years?

Lance: It has.

[Cut to Hunk and Gyrgan in the yellow and black plain.]

Gyrgan: It saddens me greatly to learn that Zarkon wreaked such destruction in our absence.

Hunk: But not completely. Voltron was reformed and the Paladins fly together again.

Gyrgan: I have always believed that unity is where true power comes from, and true unity can only be born of love.

[Cut to Trigel and Pidge in the green and black plain.]

Trigel: I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to know that someone so connected to the world around her is piloting the Green Lion. My race believes observation to be the most revered attribute. It is where intelligence is born. And for you, it is where it has thrived. The infinite abilities of your mind dwarf the smallness of your size. The Green Lion could not have found a more perfect Paladin.

[Cut to Blaytz and Allura in the blue and black plain.]

Blaytz: People often overlooked me because I was different, but the Blue Lion recognized something in me, something others couldn’t see. It saw the greatness within that even I did not. You, Allura, have greatness within you, as well. You’re so much like your father, and yet so different. You’re a remarkable person. Thank you for saving us.

[Cut to Alfor and Lance in the red and black plain.]

Alfor: Through the lion’s bond, I could feel your love for my daughter.

Lance: I could feel yours, as well.

Alfor: As Paladins, we face many quests throughout the cosmos, but the most amazing journey is that of life. And the biggest question you face is who to go on that journey with. I’m glad my daughter chose you.

[Cut to Keith on the black plain at the boundary of Honerva’s mind.]

Keith: Please. You’re back. You guys are alright. Wait, are they the…

Pidge: Yep, the original paladins.

Alfor: Allura! It is fitting that I would find what is brightest to me in the darkest place.

Allura: All that I have done, I have done to make you proud.

Hunk: Their souls were trapped by Honerva’s dark magic. When we came near Honvera’s consciousness, our connection attracted them to us. Crazy, right?

Pidge: But we used that connection to free them. The lions created a bridge, sharing old memories with new.

Alfor: What’s going on?

Allura: Honerva’s connection grows. We are very close to her now.

Alfor: You hold a dark entity within you. Don’t you know how dangerous that is? That’s what led to Honerva and Zarkon’s end.

Allura: I know the danger, but now I have the power to stop Honerva. You had to make a difficult choice in war by sending the lions away. I also had to make a difficult choice. I’m not going to be afraid to use the power I have. We need to continue.

Lance: But how do we get past the wall?

Allura: It’s… it’s like I can feel her thoughts. The way through is with the darkness.

Alfor: Honerva went mad, obsessed with darkness and power.

Allura: And now, we must enter her mind.

End.

[kusunogatari]

[ ObiRyū October | Day Twenty-Seven | Upside Down ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Verse: Into the Abyss ]

[ Previous ] [ Next ]

“Seal team?”

“Ready.”

“Witnesses?”

Along a wall, the other four Kage watch dourly, expressions and poses wary. “...ready,” Gaara offers, arms crossed but otherwise appearing neutral. Quite a change from A’s teeth-grinding grimace. Both Mei and Kurotsuchi mimic Gaara’s cool look, each a shade of curious.

Giving the group an unreadable glance, Kakashi’s eyes then look back to the subject at hand. “...Obito?”

The Uchiha, currently kept strapped and sealed in a chair at the center of the chamber, heaves a soft sigh. “...ready.”

Around them, a small group is allowed to gather: a record’s keeper to document the event, a backup squad of ANBU...and Obito’s wife.

It’s her he glances to as the four-man cell of fūinjutsu experts surround him in preparation. She looks unusually tense, face drawn and eyes flickering over the room before meeting his own. For a moment, she attempts a smile...but it doesn’t quite register.

He knows she’s nervous. This is, after all, a big day.

For over a year now, he’s had basic access to his chakra, kekkei genkai unlocked only when sent on missions and after prior approval from all five Kage. But after having proved no (current) intention to misuse or mishandle his abilities, Obito is being granted unfettered access to his bloodline limit, and his chakra.

All that will remain of his prior seals will be the Hyūga-like imprint kept at the rear of his head, under his hair: one that, when activated by a small, trusted group of individuals, will completely immobilize him and cut off access to any energy or Sharingan.

It’s never been used...and for that he finds himself thankful.

And he doesn’t plan on it ever being used, either.

Once in position, the seal team all hold their hands aloft, pointed at Obito.

“...begin.”

In rapid, synchronized succession, they all begin forming a series of hand signs. Only once the long, complicated string of gestures is complete do they all lay a hand on Obito’s body: one on each shoulder, one on his back, and one on his chest.

A hot flash of chakra washes over him, earning a quick grunt of pain as the previous seals are released. Along his stomach where they glow, they flash a bright white...and then fade.

Silence falls over the room.

“...and with that, I think we’re finished,” Kakashi offers, hands in his pockets and stance loose as a sign of trust. He blinks owlishly.

Behind him, the ANBU remain tensed.

“Go ahead and unbind him.”

There’s a tick of hesitation, and then the seal team does as ordered. The seal-laden straps along Obito’s ankles and wrists are released.

He doesn’t do much beyond giving a subtle look around. One wrong move, he knows, and he’ll be slammed to the floor and restrained.

Another thing he’d rather avoid.

“...well, as you all can see, he’s hardly leaping up and beginning to destroy the village,” Kakashi then notes, tone almost jovial. “The restraining seal is still in place, and still accessible by myself, the ANBU captain, the other Kage, and his caretaker. If anything happens - which, as I’ve reiterated a hundred times, I doubt - then we can immediately bring him to a stop and reapply the removed seals.”

Unbidden, Obito’s nose wrinkles. They still have to refer to Ryū as his ‘caretaker’, given her supposed role as his control switch. It bothers the hell out of him, but...well, it’s one of the major factors that’s let him come this far. Without her so-called ‘hold’ on him, ensuring he behaves, he’d probably still have his chakra sealed by now. But with her as both a lock and a bargaining chip, he’s managed to earn his way up to this point through good behavior and her diligent reports and management.

Neither of them like it, but...it’s the price they pay.

“So, with that, I believe we’re finished here. The records department will provide copies of the process’ transcripts to all of the Kage for their records. We’ll have the rest of our meeting, and then you’ll all be free to return to your villages, so long as nothing goes wrong. ANBU, you are dismissed - records, you’re free to go make those copies. If you would, fellow Kage, we’ll return to my office to finish our business before retiring for the afternoon.” He then gives his friend a glance. “...and you’re free to go. Just behave yourself.”

“No plans not to,” Obito replies with a sigh, remaining seated as everyone else makes to leave the room.

Everyone but Ryū.

Only once the chamber is empty does she cross the space between them with quiet footsteps. “...well, that went about as smoothly as we could have asked,” she offers dryly, letting a hand come to rest on his shoulder. “Are you all right…?”

“Fine. Stung for a moment but that was it.” As a test, he builds chakra behind his eyes to summon his Sharingan, and then the Mangekyō.

Ryū watches wordlessly, expression unreadable.

“Everything seems to be in working order,” he reports, letting the red eyes fade back to black. “...still odd to have both, though.”

That earns a whisper of a snort.

Considering her silently, Obito then asks, “...are you all right?”

She seems to weigh that question for a moment. “...yes and no. I’m glad you have your freedom back, at least as far as they’ll ever allow. But I’m worried.”

“Why?”

“Because now they have an even greater excuse to hurt you if something goes wrong. You’ll be punished far worse now than before should something go awry.”

Obito wilts a bit, reaching and taking her hands. “It’s going to be fine. We just have to be careful.”

“I know...but there’s only so much we can do.” At his questioning look, she explains, “You still have enemies. People who might try to harm us. And while you should be allowed to fight back, any lean out of line has the potential to see you blamed and punished.”

He sighs. “...true. But we’ll just have to keep going and roll with whatever punches we’re given. Kakashi, I’m sure, will have thought of this too. He’ll be keeping an eye out.”

The wrinkle of worry in her brow doesn’t ease, giving only a hum of affirmation.

“Well...let’s go home,” he offers after a lengthy pause. “You’ve been on your feet all day.”

At that, Ryū gives him a weary glance. “I’m fine.”

Obito pointedly ignores her, standing and letting hands rest on her waist for a moment. Which is getting harder and harder to do, given the swell of her middle.

Looking at it still gets him giddy. Touching it? He’s over the moon.

Part of him still has a hard time comprehending that their baby is growing in there. Their baby…! A conception that was a struggle in and of itself.

Which is why, after so much effort, he tends to get a little...overprotective at times. Besides Kakashi (and maybe to an extent, Naruto), he really doesn’t have anyone else he trusts, let alone cares for.

Gods help anyone that tries to do them harm.

Ignoring her pout, Obito then lets an arm rest across her shoulders, the pair of them leaving the sealing chamber behind. He knows that, for the next couple of weeks at least, he’s going to be watched like a hawk by the ANBU...and not necessarily at Kakashi’s orders. By now the Rokudaime is more than aware that Obito has no foul intentions. Convincing everyone else of that is the hard part.

But he doesn’t mind. He’s gotten rather good at ignoring the feeling of eyes on his back since being released from prison. It’s a near constant. So in reality...little will change. It’s not like he has any plans to abuse his powers.

...well...there is one thing he wants to try, but...that won’t harm anyone or anything. Just a little experiment he wants to attempt for technically the second time. But at a smaller scale, and just to entertain an old idea.

No one will even notice.

Once they’re home, they work on lunch together, both of them having been cleared for the day off. While Obito insists that it must be getting close to time for Ryū to start her maternity leave, she’s been stubbornly continuing little jobs and tasks at the hospitals. Nothing like her usual surgeries. Mostly just outpatient monitoring and patrolling the hallways for any patients in need of help. She’s not due for a few weeks yet, and she claims she wants to ‘miss as little as possible’.

So the forced day off is something he can’t complain about.

They take the rest of the day easy, eventually climbing into bed for the night. Obito wraps arms around his wife, breathing in her scent as he pulls her to his chest.

“Sure you’ll be all right tomorrow?” she asks, referring to her needing to get back to work while he has a rare second day off in a row.

“Yeah, gonna just lounge around and enjoy it. Something you should be doing.”

He can feel her eyes roll. “Soon enough. Send Fubuki if you need anything, okay?”

“Will do.”

With that, they settle in for the night, Ryū rising early for another shift and leaving him alone to doze.

By the time he’s fully awake, she’s already long gone.

Sitting up with a grunt, he lets the blankets pool at his waist for a time, considering his options.

...maybe he could…

A hand reaches up and rubs at his chin, considering it. He doesn’t think it’ll go awry...no one seemed to notice the first time he tried it. And even then, he technically wouldn’t be doing anything to anyone else...just himself.

...to hell with it, he’ll try it. Just for a bit.

Rising and dressing, he downs a quick breakfast first. Then he sits atop a cushion in the middle of the sitting room floor. Sharingan spinning, he concentrates his chakra...and then casts the genjutsu.

As before, it takes a good amount...but when he looks around, he doesn’t feel too tired.

And thankfully, he’s alone.

Heaving to his feet, he glances surreptitiously around the little house. It...doesn’t look much different. Not that he really expected it to.

Whether or not anything else is different, as when he first tried it...well, he’ll just have to go out and see.

Peeking out the front door, he finds the street empty, and makes his way out, attempting to look nonchalant. And once out, he makes a beeline for the administrative building.

“Ah, Hokage-sama!”

Jolting a bit, he pauses as a random chūnin smiles and waves at him.

...it worked…!

He grins, giving a wave back and feeling oddly...giddy. It’s a silly notion, but...well, he just wants to try it, just for a little while.

Limited Tsukuyomi went over well enough the first time, even if he failed to catch Naruto (which...turned out to be a good thing). And this time, though smaller in scale, it seems he’s managed to implement the change he wanted.

He’s Godaime Hokage, being named after Minato to take the seat.

Sure, it was a childhood dream, but...well, given he’s at a place in his life where he can take a little time to indulge himself, why not? Just for an hour or two. Just to see what it would have been like.

So the only remaining question is...will everyone be flipped as they were before? It was a mirrored world, everything backwards in regards to personalities, and some once dead still being alive. He’ll have to find someone he knows well enough to tell.

But for now, he continues on toward ‘his’ office, greeting everyone who does so in turn with a smile. He has to admit...it’s a nice change of pace to the usual glowers and nervous glances he gets.

No wonder Naruto got so wrapped up once he realized the Minato and Kushina of the dream world viewed him as their son. It’s a dangerous temptation: what could be.

But Obito knows he won’t fall completely into it.

He has something far better waiting on the other side.

Still, for now, he reaches the proper building and starts climbing the stairs until he reaches the right floor, opening the door that’s usually concealing Kakashi.

Only this time, he...uh...wait, he’s still here?

“Hokage-sama!” Standing at attention beside the door, Kakashi then gives a swift bow.

Obito stares at him for a moment, a bit...weirded out.

At least now he knows the personalities have indeed been mirrored again. There’s no way Kakashi would greet him like that, even if he were Hokage.

“...er...good morning,” he greets a bit stiffly, still processing his friend’s reaction.

“I’ve prepared today’s paperwork for you, and would like to remind you that the Mizukage will be here for that meeting you scheduled early this afternoon. There’s also the roster of jōnin candidates for you to review when you have a moment. And then of course we have the block to assign missions today. The new genin teams will be arriving today.”

...oh. He’s actually going to have to work, is he? “Thanks. Let’s...start with the reviews.” It’s not like his decisions will have lasting impacts - as soon as he closes the genjutsu, this will all cease to exist. Not that it really exists at all, but...well, semantics.

Settling into the chair, he lets Kakashi hand him the folders of the new candidates. He doesn’t recognize any of them...probably all generated solely for the purpose of the genjutsu.

Either way...this is going to take him a while.

All throughout, people walk in for one reason or another. To Kakashi’s credit, he helps redirect anyone unnecessary, allowing Obito to work in relative peace.

Hours later...he realizes how late it’s getting. It’s actually starting to get dark outside…!

He wasn’t going to be in the illusion for this long!

Granted, time doesn’t pass at the same rate - it’ll have been an hour or two at most outside. And given he hasn’t been pulled back out, it’s safe to say no one’s discovered him. He probably just looks like he’s meditating. But he really should think about getting back.

“Anything else for the night?” Kakashi asks, standing dutifully beside the desk.

Sinking in his chair with a sigh, Obito waves a hand. “No, I think we’re done. Go home.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leaning an elbow against the desk, Obito braces a cheek against his fist before an idea strikes him.

“...actually…”

“Yes?”

“Do me a favor, and summon Suigin Ryū to my office.”

Kakashi blinks. “...Suigin Ryū?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“N-no sir, of course not. Right away.” Giving one last bow, Kakashi dips from the room, letting the door snap shut behind him.

...what was that all about…?

Adjusting his posture, Obito sits up straight, arms folded along his desk. He’s curious what Ryū will be like - will she be reversed as everyone else is? Or maybe she’s somehow avoided it due to his subconscious interference.

Because a particular daydream he’s entertained in the past is stuck in his head, and...maybe he’ll have a chance to give it a try.

Gods know it won’t ever happen in real time.

He jolts, however, as someone flickers into the room.

Several feet out from his desk, an ANBU officer kneels, head bowed in respect. A tightly-woven bun of white hair is all he can really see to define them, otherwise garbed in the rank’s usual attire.

“Tōshō, reporting.”

Eyes wide, Obito blinks. Tōshō...frostbite? Is that their codename?

...wait…

“...er…” He’s...not sure what to say.

This is not what he was expecting.

But as his silence drags on, the ANBU looks up, revealing a dragon’s mask. And behind the gaps in the porcelain, Obito can see a pair of silvery eyes, pupils constricted like a cat’s.

Good gods it is Ryū.

“...permission to speak, Hokage-sama?”

“Of...of course.”

At that, her demeanor suddenly changes. She straightens to her feet, gloved hands (tipped with metal claws) urging her mask from her face.

She looks exactly the same, and yet...different. Her air is sharp, cold, and...confident.

“You shouldn’t ask for me so directly,” she then offers, tone soft and yet oddly firm. “Kakashi is already suspicious, Hokage-sama.”

“Sus...suspicious?” He has no idea what she means.

A small, curt sigh escapes her. “It’s not proper. While we are not breaking any laws, it’s still hardly appropriate for a Hokage to be maintaining this kind of...relationship.”

...okay. He’s...not sure what she means, but he also gets the feeling asking would bring up questions he can’t answer.

His awkward silence, however, prompts her to go on. “All of the previous Hokage had proper marriages and courtships. I know I am not a suitable match for you, and my...disposition may not be -”

Before he can stop himself, her denial of her qualities sets him off. “To hell with that, I love you!”

They both jolt - Obito because he realizes he’s just spoken highly out of turn...and Ryū because she clearly wasn’t expecting that.

“...you…?”

Color blooms hotly in Obito’s face. Oh, how to save this… “I...I don’t care about reputations! You...you…” He wilts. “...you mean...so much to me. Regardless of the circumstances. And your disposition isn’t an issue. You are who you are...but I’m still here calling you, aren’t I?”

To his surprise, she gawks at him, and for a moment this cold, disciplined version of his wife looks very much like her soft, uncensored counterpart. It makes him burn with curiosity about her entire backstory to end up like this. A hardened ANBU with none of Ryū’s typical warmth or loving nature. How on earth could that come to be…?

...but it seems there’s still something between them. Just...nothing ‘proper’, in her words. So some kind of...secret relationship? True, an ANBU and the Hokage could be rather compromising, but...

Slowly, her expression settles back into a cool neutral...but tinged with doubt. “...I am an assassin,” she murmurs. “A trained killer, with suppressed emotions and no regrets. I am...hardly a proper partner for a Hokage. If you were to take a wife, I am the furthest candidate to consider.”

“And how many lives do you think I’ve taken, to get this far? All shinobi kill, Ryū.”

“But few do it as well and as coldly as I do.” She lifts her hands, palms up, looking to them in confliction. “...sometimes I wonder if I am...still human…”

“Of course you are.” Obito stands, coming around his desk. This is...a bit unsettling, he won’t lie. “If I had any doubts on that front...you wouldn't be here.”

Her gaze lifts back to his face.

“Never mind what’s proper or not. I certainly don’t.” A hand lifts to cradle her face, and he has to admit...her lack of reaction to it is...odd. To be this blank...is it possible she was caught up in Root…?

The thought nauseates him, given her actual encounter with the band of shinobi. But it would explain her odd coldness and rank.

She sighs. “...the village expects you to settle down. Properly. And you deserve someone warm. Someone who would be a good wife, a good mother. I fear I could be neither of these things, Hokage-sama.”

Okay, this is really weirding him out. Ryū is an excellent wife, and he’s sure she’ll be a phenomenal mother! Hearing her say otherwise bothers him more than he’d think. “Nonsense. And please...call me Obito.”

“...of course, Obito.”

Sighing, he lets his hand drop back to his side. All of his earlier plans now feel...entirely inappropriate. He can’t do this. Not with...not with this Ryū. As much as he adores the real one...he can’t bring himself to feel the same for someone so completely her opposite, even if she looks exactly the same. This isn’t the woman he loves...all the things he loves her for are...are gone.

“...perhaps we best leave this for another night,” he murmurs. “I...didn’t mean to upset you. And I’d best get some rest.”

Nothing is betrayed in her expression, simply declining her head in agreement. “...have a good night, Hoka-...Obito.”

With that, Obito conjures another surge of chakra, breaking the genjutsu as he finds himself seated back in the sitting room. It looks to be early afternoon, a far cry from his initial sitting this morning.

But Ryū isn’t home yet.

The strangeness of the other world leaves him feeling...itchy. Unsettled. Uncomfortable. So much so that he has to get up and start moving lest it overtake him.

In fact, he leaves the house behind, taking a familiar route. And halfway to his destination, he finds her.

Seems she’s coming home a little early.

Relief washes over him in a way he can’t describe, and Obito goes so far as to flicker the rest of the distance.

“Oh -!” Ryū startles as he appears in front of her, clinging to her tightly (but mindful of her belly). “O...Obito? Are you -?”

“I love you so much,” he murmurs in her ear, face tucked into the crook of her neck.

“Obito, what’s wrong?” She can tell he’s clearly upset, carefully bringing hands up to embrace him back. “Did something happen?”

He can’t explain. Not right now. Instead, he starts rambling. “You’re the best wife I could ever ask for. And...you’re going to be the best mother. I’m so lucky that I have you...that I have this family. If I ever lost it...I…”

Prying him off enough to look at his face, Ryū’s own is pinched with worry. “...koi, please...you’re scaring me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“...I...I used my Sharingan. Made...another world. I’ve done it before: a mirrored world, a test for Mugen Tsukuyomi. I wanted to...to see what it would be like. To live in a world where I became Hokage as I once dreamed. And at first, it was...nice. Everyone recognized me, smiled at me, respected me. But you...you were…” His grip moves to her shoulders, shaking his head. “...you were all wrong…! ANBU, and cold, and...nothing like the real you. It just...it…”

She listens quietly, piecing together the whole story from his jumpy thoughts.

His head bows, and to his surprise, tears bead in his eyes. “...it made me realize how...thankful I need to be. How thankful I haven’t been.”

“Koi, you’ve more than proven what I mean to you! You don’t have to -?” She’s cut off as he hugs her again, staggering back half a step. “...we both know how lucky we are. How blessed. Neither of us take the other for granted, not even for a second. I don’t doubt you. I never could. I’m sorry that...illusion unsettled you so much.” She takes his face in her hands, guiding his brow to rest against her own. Eyes close, trying to convey her feelings. “...I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere. Ever. You have my word.”

His own eyes still open, Obito flickers them over her face. Her soft, open face that can never hide her intentions or her emotions. He loves that about her...he loves it so much, it hurts…!

“...I’m sorry,” he then croaks. “I...must have really scared you. I just…”

“It’s all right. I’m just glad you’re okay.” She looks back to him, expression full of boundless ardor. “...let’s go home. We’ll take it easy tonight so you can regain your bearings.” She moves, taking his hand in hers and giving it a comforting squeeze. “It’s going to be fine, Obito.”

Swallowing harshly, he nods, letting her pull him back down the road toward home.

“...so, how was it, being the Hokage?” she asks, trying to change the subject.

“...boring,” he admits. “I no longer envy Kakashi. But he was my assistant.”

“Oh? Did he do a good job?”

“He did, actually. Almost too good...it freaked me out how helpful he was.”

That gets her to laugh, spare hand hiding her mouth. “Don’t let him hear you say that, he’ll be offended!”

“It’s true!” Obito insists, a warmth blooming in his chest at her laugh.

...no more genjutsu.

He has everything he could ever want, right here.

     Well, I had a very...different idea for this, but Obito ended up noping out on me xD Which...I can’t really blame him. Seeing your wife-not-wife might ruin any ideas you get when it comes to being alone in the Hokage’s office, huehue.      Anyway, I’m still behind :’D And this weekend looks like it’s gonna be a little busy, so I doubt I’ll catch up fully by tomorrow. BUT I will of course be finishing either way. Just...late, as usual xD But on that note, I’ma go~ Thanks for reading!

[hyunllx]

                                                         Heathers & Gargoyles                A complete rewrite of Riverdale Season 3

A game, a cult, a murder. Sounds like a stereotypical october for the town of Riverdale. Yet when Betty, Jughead, Veronica, and newly freed-from-juvie Archie are recruited to join the increasingly dangerous game of Griffins and Gargoyles, they find themselves dodging assassinations and deadly traps designed to keep them on a pre-determined story path. Left without the help of their brainwashed allies, the core four must work in the shadows to stop the rising body count and unmask the King of Gargoyles before their story is finished.

                                                                   Prologue                                                                             Previous Chapter[none] | Read it on AO3

The summer leading up to junior year was like so many others in Riverdale; days spent by Sweetwater River were long and hot. Fireflies doubled the stars in the sky and the scent of wood smoke hung on the midnight air. Pink-grey dawns, filled with the song of birds and dewy treks through the forest while dusks of deep golds and purples painted the skies above countless barbeques and fireworks. The town, for once, seemed happy. Normal, if they could ever grasp the concept of ‘normal’ again. At least… most of the town.

Only in private spaces and shadowy corners was the dark cloud hanging over the community mentioned, as if the town itself wanted to forget, wanted to push away the very thought another tragedy could happen to a child everyone knew, grew up with, and loved. Though the town believed his innocence whole heartedly, they forgot about him the way one forgets a traumatic memory; slow, reluctant, and silent.

In the spaces where his cloud loomed darkest, Betty worked as an intern for Mary Andrews, putting her legal and investigative prowess to test in a more lawful setting than she was used to. She spent her days reading through old case files, police reports, and transcripts of similar court cases, analyzing and decoding the vast arrays of information into easily digestible chunks. Shorthand and stenotypy became her new language and, though she interacted daily with her friends, the codes of court ruled her consciousness until the August hearing. 

On the other side of town, Jughead put the Serpents to work collecting the not-so-legally obtained evidence and testimonies they were used to. Vigilantism was almost a comfort in the wake of Archie’s hanging shadow, a line of work Jughead threw himself into fully. There was a normalcy to it, a sense of nostalgia that ate away the trauma and suffering they had endured in the years since entering high school. 

Hyperfixation eating the peripherals of his awareness, it wasn’t until the final weeks that Serpent King Jughead Jones realized the absence of many of his members. He expected Toni and Cheryl; they spent more time together these days than the rest of the gang, though Jughead didn’t mind. He’d be hypocritical if he did given the time he and Betty and spent alone. However, as August grew from summer gold to deep early autumn red, the absence of Sweet Pea and Fangs caught his attention first.

Jughead would visit their homes in the afternoons and evenings and most of the time, there was no one home. They were often missing from the Serpent gatherings and communal activities, and their reports were brief when he asked favors or gave them a task. By the final weekend of summer vacation, Sweet Pea and Fangs had garnered a following of a dozen young Serpents, high schoolers or younger. All missing when Jughead needed them, all caught returning home or showing up to community meetings late and covered in dirt and various forest remnants. 

Though Jughead wouldn’t have known, it wasn’t just the Serpents undergoing this odd shift in youth attention-span. Veronica witnessed it too as her speakeasy, La Bonne Nuit, came to life under the floors of Pops’. Summer jobs, like most small all-American towns, were the pinnacle of high school vacation culture, and Veronica graciously contributed by hiring many of her classmates to help work on the place. This was, after all, a place for all of them to recover from the tragedies befallen the youth of the town.

Yet, as with the Serpents, many of them started skipping shifts, missing work hours, seemingly uncaring about their work or their pay as August bloomed to life. Though Veronica was not an aggressive person by nature, when she confronted their lack of vigor, she often left frustrated with no answers and a short staff. With her own attention torn between her project and her unjustly imprisoned boyfriend, the progress of La Bonne Nuit slowed to a crawl. 

Veronica was not the only person frustrated by this; her father had taken an interest in the speakeasy's construction and was growing worse at hiding his impatience as the month progressed toward the looming trial. His heed had not gone unchecked, but Veronica ignored it for the time being, not wanting to confront the man who probably put her boyfriend behind bars. It wasn’t difficult to avoid him these days; after school concluded the previous year, he’d also vanished for periods of time. 

“Business stuff,” he always said, a strange answer as he’d usually explain what the business was to her. The mystery and curtness was unusual, making his curiosity in her own projects even more grating. She finally stopped him the day before the trial, his judgement entering the speakeasy after 24 hours or longer missing from home.

“Daddy.” She greeted him with a mirror of his increasingly formal demeanor. 

“Good morning, Mija.” He forced informality as he approached the counter where she stood, rubbing dark stain into the wooden top. The smile on his didn’t reach his eyes, the wrinkles in his crow's feet and heavy brow ridge remaining flat and expressionless, “How is everything going today?”

She didn’t answer him, side-eying his suit as she focused more on the counter. Though he wore suits often, he was more dressed up than usual, and Veronica could already feel the judgement at seeing her helping with the work. Instead she asked, trying to keep the malice from her voice,

“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I had to have an emergency meeting with a business partner.” He was lying, Veronica knew, though she couldn’t prove it. She just could tell from the way his back straightened and his hands clenched and the vein in his neck pulsed against skin as he swallowed. 

“The same business partner that’s been dragging you away all summer, I presume?”

Her father let out a tense sigh, his eyes leaving her face. His shoulders slumped slightly and for the first time that summer he looked as tired as she felt. A manipulation tactic, yet Veronica couldn’t help feel that twinge of pity deep in her chest for her dear old father. She put down the stain rag and wiped her hands on the apron around her waist, the deep mahogany brown leaving streaks on the off-white canvas.

“We’re having a bit of… a setback,” He met her gaze again, his eyes sharp as he thought about his partner with clear scorn, “Their facility is not being built properly and they’re refusing to send their employees elsewhere. It’s wasting a lot of time and money. I thought you might be able to relate.”

Veronica physically shrunk inward, the passive-aggressive swing pulling the pity straight from her torso and her self-esteem with it. She wrung the rag through her fingers again, looking down at the counter. Angry fire smoldered in the pit of her stomach in the sting of his words and she shook her head,

“No, I’m sorry. Things have been progressing just fine here.”

“Hmm…” Hiram looked skeptically at the unfinished furniture and the sparse employees laying wooden planks on the raised stage, the centerpiece for the room. His scrutiny turned back to her stained hands and the dark, unfinished splotches of the bar counter, “Well, for your sake I hope so.”

“Why are you really here? To judge how quickly we’re getting this set up and running?” Hiram looked taken aback by her sudden bite but those smolders of anger were bursting to life now.

“Two days ago the facility that is being built outside of Greendale was broken into. I figured you should know, since you’re in the same boat.”

Veronica rolled her eyes at the guilting; she had already heard about the break-in. That’s why she was working and not preparing for tomorrow’s trial like she should’ve been.

“Thank you for your concern, but I think we’ll be fine.”

Their conversation dragged on with as few words as possible, filled with vitriol and disdain. Even the boys laying the woodwork into the stage glanced over at the tension every so often felt it. Hiram finally decided his chiding was over and left with tense shoulders and a silent goodbye, and Veronica wouldn’t see him until the next day in the trial.

The entire town appeared to crowd around the courthouse that morning, as many bodies as possible squeezing into the seats and the hallway to hear the case of their beloved golden boy. Betty sat with Archie, anxiety overwhelming her relief to see him as they brought him into the room, his mother on his other side clutching his hand as tightly as possible. Jughead and Ronnie sat directly behind him, happy to see him but as anxious as Betty to his left. This could be worse, he thought.

All summer he was back and forth between holding cells, interrogation and visitation rooms, and court. Whatever the sentencing was, Archie was glad this would be over with. He knew he was innocent. His loved ones knew, and from the supportive looks around the room, everyone else did too.

For six grueling hours, Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and the rest of the town of Riverdale sat through recounts of their recent tragedies. The death of Jason Blossom, Archie’s vigilantism, the Black Hood murders, and their apparent involvement in major crimes over the past two years.

The word ‘guilty’ stung the hearts of everyone in the room when the jury announced the verdict late that afternoon. Though the weight of reality was still a shock, Veronica knew as soon as the jury entered the room after deliberation. They made up their minds long before that…. Or had someone make it up for them. 

At Archie’s request, the four had one more day together, then he left, hauled away to juvie the day before the start of their junior year. That looming cloud returned, and the halls of Riverdale High felt empty, heavy, and dark. 

In that darkness, something new and dangerous grew; a monster with stone horns and skull mask. A game where everyone was a player, whether or not they knew it. It started as groups of nerds huddled around an upright-standing folder at lunch tables. Here and there a faint, excited whisper of demons and puzzles.

Jughead and Veronica often found their missing bodies among these secretive spaces. They’d started skipping their Serpent jackets and sports-branded sweaters for odd, costume-like clothing and black hood.

“We’re playing Griffins and Gargoyles.” Sweet Pea told Jughead one day when he’d tried to pry his way into the group.

“What’s that… like Dungeons and Dragons?” Jughead frowned, regarding the map spread out between the ‘players’. They exchanged nervous glances as he asked.

“Um… kind of. But you have to be initiated to play.”

“How do I get initiated?” Not that he wanted to be… the question was more out of curiosity about his former family.

“You wait.” The unfamiliar girl behind the erected folder wall cut in before Sweet Pea could think to respond. Her blue eyes sliced through him under her shadowy black hood. “You wait for the Gargoyle King to call you.”

Veronica had a similarly chilling encounter when players brought the game to work. The Acolytes, so called for their worship of this mysterious Gargoyle King, multiplied like cockroaches over the first week of school. As a virus spreads, so did the game throughout Riverdale High, recruiting more and more players and attracting the “Deathknights” who watched the school grounds with stone masks and tattered black clothes. 

At the surface, it appeared to be just another fun roleplaying game. Underneath, though, lay a labyrinth of danger, destruction, and crime the town’s youth grew entangled in, unable to escape. It was not a game; it was anarchy.

The school became ground-zero for the cult-like following of the game, and Betty, Jughead, Veronica tried their best to navigate their first weeks of school together, away from the rest of their friends who quickly got sucked into the Gargoyle King’s clutches. Cheryl was among the loudest recruiters after being chosen for initiation early in the game. To their surprise, Ethel was as loud as the school’s resident HBIC.

Halls and classrooms became littered, eventually decorated, with iconography, various memorabilia, and art of the ‘game’. By the second Friday of September, kids were finding satchels and cards in hidden books and cracks in the walls.

That second Friday, a large cluster of kids gathered around the outside of Veronica’s home room, their whispers excited as they discussed their latest find. She tried not to pay too much attention to the conversation as she forced her small form through the throng, but anxious whispers of ‘kill’ and ‘plan’ and ‘escape’ assaulted her ears. She pushed it out of her mind. No, they’re talking about a game. This isn’t real.

Like usual, Veronica was early as she forced her way into the classroom, and there were few bodies in the room save for herself and the quiet outcast types that sat by themselves. She attempted a smile in their direction but, as expected, they didn’t return it. Instead, she took a seat at the front of the classroom, placing her books on the desk and sliding her bag under the chair. As she leaned over to do so, she caught sight of a small envelope on the floor, trapped partially under a front desk leg. The back where she expected to see a name or address was face up and blank, but she could tell there was something inside when she yanked it out from under the leg.

The envelope was small enough to fit in her hand, yet a smooth wax of a black seal still pressed into the back enclosure, already open by the rail of paper tear stuck to it. The embossing on the seal was a figure squatting on its hands and knees. Two thin, tined antlers rose from its head, and large, stretching bat wings protruded from its shoulders, the span larger than the size of its body.

Though she knew this was someone else’s, Veronica’s morbid curiosity seized her hands and pulled the flap up. There was only one object inside; cardstock nearly the size of the envelope give or take a few centimeters. Pulling it out carefully, she immediately recognized the pattern on the back of the card as being from the game. It was the same pattern as those people found for quests. This was definitely not for her. As she turned it over, her breath caught in her throat.

The word “QUEST” scrawled in medieval-reminiscent script at the top in bold black letters. Underneath stood a painting of a knight or a soldier; a very young man in shining silver-steel armour encrusted with rubies. She did not recognize the symbol emblazoned in red across his breastplate and intricately depressed into the shield he held at his side. His eyes were a warm brown, his hair an intimately familiar shade of red-orange, and an even familiar still innocent softness to his features. 

He looked just like Archie.

Yet, that was not what shocked Veronica most about the card. At the bottom of the image, a cream-grey box held tet that, mixed with the boy looking so much like her beloved, sent shivers up her spine.

Kill the Red Paladin. 

The trill of the class bell rang through the room and more bodies shuffled in through the door. Fingers trembling, Veronica stuffed the card back into the envelope and that into the back of the textbook on her desk. She’d have to show Betty and Jughead later. For now, she pushed it out of her mind along with the other stresses of her life and pretended to be a normal teen for the day.

September swelled into autumn and left as dangerously as it began, whispers of “Kill the Red Paladin” cards popping up all over school. Betty often inquired parties she caught talking about it, the Acolytes running the games, the Deathknights that now warded the woods and public areas about it, but she met with the same answer each time.

They could not participate until they were initiated. 

Instead of forcing her way in, Betty took the route she knew best and snuck her way through, learning the patterns of the Deathknights and following them long into the nights. They lead her through the forest more often than not, winding trails snaking through trees and long back yards, always ending in the same place, an abandoned recreation center on the outskirts of Riverdale, near the detention center. The grounds swarmed with Deathknights like cockroaches. Betty was certain the Gargoyle King resided inside the building, but she never got close enough to see inside.

While she was busy tracking her way around the cult, Jughead and Veronica focused on Archie. As September wound down, he abruptly became unavailable for phone privileges, and each time they’d travel to visit in person, he had a new scar or bruise somewhere on his once boyish face. He wasn’t the only one, however, as the Serpents stuck in juvie also started appearing with mysterious black eyes and broken noses, even ones released at the ends of their sentences throughout September. 

Jughead and a group of older Serpents visited the detention center on the first day of October, waiting for their most recent member to get released back into their care. When he exited the building with the guards, his face looked the worst out of anyone, including Archie. His nose had broken and started healing out of place and he walked with a significant limp, hunched over his belongings. His lips were twice their normal size with scarred over cuts and untreated swelling.

They drove him home in silence and set him up in a group house watched over by Tom Topaz. The boys that lived there set to work helping tend to their brother’s wounds, some of them recovering from their own horrors from that detention center.

“What happened in there?” Jughead asked when the boy, Slash, started to relax into the environment. He was quiet at first, his eyes trained on the floor and his head shaking as if he were refusing to tell him, just as the others had. Jughead waited a few minutes in silence, but broke just as he made to stand up and leave.

“Fighting pits.” Slash muttered, still looking down. “They put is in fighting pits.”

“Dude-” One boy who’d been in detention previously tried to reprimand him but Jughead snapped to shut him up. If Slash wanted to speak, Jughead needed to hear,

“Like an underground wrestling ring?”

“No. MMA. Bare-knuckle. Whatever you can do to take down the other guy.”

“Why? Just for fun?”

“Lotta rich people come to watch. Place bets. Give us special names. It’s a game or something to them.”

Veronica had given Jughead the Kill the Red Paladin card for safekeeping and it was burning a hole in his pocket listening to Slash, “You’re all forced to fight? What about the other inmates, non-Serpents?”

“You’re asking about Andrews.” It wasn’t a question; Slash’s face grew dark at the memory of Archie in the pits, “Yeah… he’s their main man. The Paladin.” He spat the title with a small stream of bloody spittle. He motioned toward his nose as he continued “I couldn’t take him down like they asked. He knocked me unconscious.”

Slash shook his head. “No, they take us somewhere else. Somewhere old with a big pool.”

Jughead stood up immediately and scrambled for his phone to call Betty and Veronica, recalling the abandoned building Betty found the Deathknights operating out of. He joined her on her near-nightly trek through the trees after that, studying the building, occasionally finding the parking lot filled with shiny and out-of-place cars. The rich folk that played with the lives of the inmates. On those nights, Veronica came to meet them as quickly as she could, using her name and money to barter her way into the games.

She became a witness to the horrible treatment of the kids in the pit, scrawny, bruised, and still forced to fight until one went down in the blood-stained pool. She had yet to see Archie, though every night she went she heard whisperings about him, excitement to see him return. Three weeks from now… two weeks from now… next time... 

Finally, it came to Archie’s fight day. It surprised him to see his friends come together with such an urgency that morning, especially given it was a Friday and they should have been at school. He was even more surprised at their questions about how the guards brought him in to the pits, that he never told them about, and their plan to break him out. 

The rest of the day came in a haze, and as the sun went down, Archie felt detached when the guards retrieved him for the fight. The energy of the pit was different as they paraded Archie through the crowd, the stench of expensive booze and cigar smoke making his growling, empty stomach turn. His eyes scanned the people as they gathered to watch him descend into the pool, many of them hungering with a deadly greed he’d grown accustomed to over the past month.

As he looked over the spectators, he caught the familiar gaze of Veronica, worried yet warm with the mischievous twinkle that told him to trust whatever she was plotting. And he did, wholeheartedly. 

The guards removed the shackles around his wrists as he reached the edge of the abandoned pool. They shoved him between the shoulder blades and he stumbled over the drop, landing sloppily in a 3-point stance. The impact left his sore, bruised muscles straining, but he stood up and faced the opposite end of the makeshift arena.

As expected, the boy was just as young as him, wrapped in a near head-to-toe black cloak with a hood. He’d never faced The Rogue before, but he’d seen plenty of his victims laid up in the infirmary during his recovery time. They allowed him to jump into the pit instead of being pushed, though Archie could see the pain in his form as he landed, all the weight leaning on one leg. Had this been a real fight, he’d know to use that to his advantage.

Excited cheers burst from the crowd as they faced each other, but the sound droned to a dull hum as The Rogue drew his hood back, revealing the familiar face of Joaquin DeSantos. Scars and bruising crossed his face just like all the other boys Archie fought, but he wouldn’t forget the face of a Serpent.

The sound of a bell echoed through the empty pool, shaking Archie straight through the bone and out of his trance with the reverberation. Joaquin stepped onto his off-foot and feigned a jab at Archie’s chest, which he backpedaled away from with ease. It was more playful than serious, mirroring the smile on Joaquin’s lips.

“Hey, Andrews.”

“Follow me.” Archie whispered, side-stepping his opponent into a flanking position. Joaquin frowned at him, confused by his nervousness.

“What?”

Archie scanned the crowd again to make sure no one heard, but the patrons focused on the swing he launched toward his opponent, missing intentionally, “When you see the smoke, follow me.” He repeated, slower, more seriously to get his point across. With a heavy step, he launched forward onto the drain grate, causing the steel to clatter under his feet as it wobbled in its place. With the momentum, Archie slammed his chest into Joaquin’s shoulder, wrapping his arms around his waist and throwing his opponent down next to their escape route.

There was an echoing pop, a clatter of tin against tile, and a wayward shout as smoke began to creep along the bottom of the pool, filling the pit with obscuring whites and greys from all corners. Joaquin scrambled to his feet at the sight, looking to Archie for instruction as the smoke enveloped them like thick autumn fog.

As soon as his visibility of the audience completely vanished, Archie hopped off the grate and dug his fingers into the drainage holes, pulling up with all his weakened might. The steel was heavy, but Joaquin quickly rushed over a pulled on the edge that Archie lifted out of the hole. Struggling for a moment, they pulled it over the side of the hole, nearly taking Archie’s fingers with it. The steel grate banged loudly against the tile, but it didn’t alert the crowd as they rushed toward the exits above them, ushered by Veronica. 

“Come on, this leads outside!” Archie called to Joaquin, beckoning him to jump down first. He wheezed, and a cough wracked his body as the smoke clogged his mouth and nose. Joaquin hesitated, though, so Archie impatiently grabbed his arm and threw him into the drain pipe below. He landed with a loud thud, and Archie took a deep, wheezing breath as left the smoke swirling above.

The pipe was wide enough for them to walk in single-file, but they had to duck and brace their arms against the walls to get out quickly. It felt like hours while they made their way over spalling concrete and lichen growing through cracks in the old pipe. When Archie’s shoulders and thighs began to shake with the effort of holding himself upright, the hot, damp air, thick with the fetor of moss and fungus, suddenly caught the breeze of the outside forest. Rustling of dried leaves and grasses echoed around the mouth of the pipe when they rounded the turn into the dark forest.

“Archie!” Betty called out as soon as she saw the flash of brilliant red hair emerge into the night. She and Jughead waited next to an old pickup on an old, dusty path, the Serpent logo emblazoned on the truck’s rusting black doors. No time for relieved greetings, they packed Archie and Joaquin into the cramped space and sped off along the back roads of the Southside. 

By sunrise, news of the escape spread throughout the town, along with the alleged suicides of the warden and several guards involved in the fights. Governor Dooley issued temporary pardons by noon at the request of Mayor Hermione Lodge. Though not wholly removed from the system, Archie was finally free. 

That was, until late that night, when most of Riverdale was asleep, each of the four awoke to tapping on their window. A mirror of each other, they all grabbed the closest weapon and slowly got out of bed. In unison, the tapping ceased. There, wedged under each of their window sills, sat identical parchment envelopes, the black gargoyle wax seal too thick to slip under all the way.

Upon opening the envelopes, each found a letter summoning them in two night’s time to the Southside junkyard, where the Gargoyle King awaited their arrival. Through their subterfuge and prison escape, he had noticed them, and it was finally time for initiation. 

[bitchesgetriches]

Just wanted to say I'm getting my shit together. Back when I was in college, I fucked up bad and ended up with financial holds at 2 different colleges. Never finished because of them. Today I adulted and called the main one to work out a payment plan. Turns out, everything is good and they just needed to remove the restriction so I can send the transcript to my new school. I was fully prepared on having to wait an extra year before returning. Now, I only have to pay off 1 financial hold!

This is fucking WONDERFUL news. We’re so proud of you.

[honeyby]

Yang is pretty damn smart: a megapost

Okay y’all, I mentioned this was coming and voila, here it is: a collection of each and every moment in the show where we see Yang demonstrate her intelligence (hopefully updated frequently when new episodes air or when someone points out something I missed). Heads up, it’s a long one because it’s almost like she isn’t an airheaded idiot or something

Pre-Show: 

Designed and built Ember Celica 

Seriously, whole posts can and have been made about how ingenious that design is

Has her motorcycle license (the only cast member we know of to have one) which would take time and effort

Likely maintains her own bike (and possibly built it given that she would have the expertise thanks to building Ember Celica)

Yellow trailer: 

Realizes that a guy with criminal ties is more likely to have information on someone like Raven than most people

By punching Junior she gives any civilians a chance to get out of the club

Creates a shockwave to put her enemies off balance, allowing her to focus on them one at a time while they recover

Prioritizes the ranged DJ when he starts shooting at her

Separates the twins so that she can take care of the easier opponent first 

Volume 1:

Got into Beacon (a prestigious academy) the old fashioned way (no forged transcripts (Jaune), no just taking the entrance exam (Blake), no special treatment from Ozpin (Ruby))

Is the first to comment that something seems off about Ozpin (you know, the guy we later find out is an immortal wizard)

After Ozpin tells them their partner is determined via eye contact she puts on her aviators, giving her more control on who she’s paired up with

Uses her landing strategy to cover more ground (putting her closer to her goal of the temple) and also to put some distance between her and Ruby so that Ruby will find a different partner

Then makes plenty of noise so that she’s easy to find for her future partner

She and Blake have no trouble finding the relics and she notices that they aren’t the first pair to do so

Is shown to be paying attention in class in 1x9, more so than any of her teammates sans Weiss (Yang has paper from which she’s presumably taking notes, while Blake does not, and Ruby isn’t paying attention. Yang’s posture is also noticeably straight and attentive)

Is never shown to be struggling in class (unlike Ruby, Jaune, or Cardin)

Stops Russel in Forever Fall so that RWBY and _NPR can find out what’s going on

Volume 2: 

Demonstrates a good sense of strategy and tactical cunning during the Risk-style board game

Takes one look at Weiss’s hand and immediately gives her a winning strategy while also ensuring that she can counter her

Realizes that Junior is a good person to ask about Torchwick especially considering she saw him there last time she was at the club

Her entrance is flashy enough to give any civilians a chance to flee in case a fight breaks out while also demonstrating to Junior that she isn’t looking for a fight

Doesn’t feel the need to ask a stupid question like “where did they go?” looking at you Neptune

Is the one recognize the need to slow the mech down and to give the order to Neptune

Helps plan the dance which shows excellent organizational skills

Is the only person to figure out how to get through to Blake

Used a picture as a child to figure out a possible location of Raven and was smart enough to not leave a toddler unattended

Is not shown to have a poor vocabulary and is one of the people to correct Ruby on tussles/truffles/brussels issue

Is the the one to recall the history of Mountain Glenn

Recognizes the problem with her “go with the flow” nature

Prioritizes their mission by sending Blake and Weiss ahead when they meet Neo 

She also tends to fall into the role of leader when Ruby isn’t around (giving Blake and Weiss orders to go ahead here, and later in volume 3 where she takes the initiative with Weiss when looking for Ruby and Blake)

Attacks Neo first so that she can’t stop Weiss and Blake

Knows better than to use her fire/explosive shells since that would cause the train car to explode

Switches up tactics to utilize throws and holds when her initial assault doesn’t work against Neo

Launches herself into the air for better coverage during the breach and uses her surroundings to her advantage

Volume 3: 

Uses her weapon to give her better mobility on the ice

Immediately understands Weiss’s plan for dealing with ABRN

Actually notices Emerald and Mercury heading off on their own before JNPR’s match

Smart enough to ask Weiss, an Atlas native, what to expect from team FNKI

By destroying the terrain she throws Neon and Flynt off their rhythm, allowing her to easily take both of them out

Knows that she doesn’t have to KO Mercury to win and almost gets him by ring out (which would’ve thrown a wrench in Cinder’s plan)

Volume 4:

Potentially modified her arm (the Atlas scientists would’ve needed the exact specifications of Ember Celica to create a gun that would still be balanced (and others have talked about how precise Yang’s weapon would have to be to not rip her arms out of her socket), so it’s more reasonable that Yang added it herself since she made Ember Celica)

Yang Short:

Recognizes how important it is for Ruby to learn hand-to-hand (which Ozpin brings up later)

Tells Ruby she can’t solve all her problems by running away

Uses the recoil from her weapon to dodge blows, and overall fights very well (and this is pre-Beacon)

Volume 5:

Knows better than to trust the bandit

At the same time realizes he will get her to Raven quicker

By asking him “Is this everyone?” she finds out that there aren’t any in hiding, allowing her to better prepare for the upcoming fight (and as a bonus, she gets confirmation of where the camp is)

She first deploys Ember Celica and then the gun in her prosthetic, giving the bandits multiple chances to reconsider fighting her

Just...the entire fight with the bandits

Walks into Raven’s camp with her wrist things already off, making her more prepared if things go badly and she’s forced to fight

Sees through Raven’s crap and maintains a calm and strong demeanor, which will be more likely to get her what she wants (Yang knows from Tai that Raven respects strength)

Her whole plan to get Raven to take her to Ruby is genius. Like she says, there isn’t a guarantee that Ruby made it to Mistral (and if Yang had left Patch a month or so early it’s possible she could’ve passed them when the detoured in Kuroyuri), whereas she knew essentially where Raven would be and she knows she has the power to send her to Qrow who Yang knows is with Ruby

It is a gamble, but Yang knows that Raven cares about her enough to at least save her life once, and she knows that if it pays off she saves a lot of time

Demonstrates a healthy skepticism towards both Raven and Ozpin

Recognizes Raven’s bird form, which shows very strong observational skills

Calls Ozpin out for not telling them about turning the twins into birds, which shows RNJR that Ozpin and Qrow are still hiding things from them

Is the one to insist on no more lies from Ozpin

Is smart enough to realize that something’s up with Leo and looks around to find anything else out of the ordinary (and once again recognizes her mother and brings it up since she knows she shouldn’t be there)

Doesn’t attack the image of Raven that Emerald conjures and instead blocks Mercury’s attack, implying that she’s getting a basic grasp of what Emerald’s semblance is

Doesn’t let her surprise at seeing Blake again or her irritation at Mercury get in the way of her mission of going after the trio in the vault

Immediately pieces together that Raven is the spring maiden and deduces how the previous one died

Takes control of the conversation and successfully shuts Raven down

Points out the flaws in Raven’s plan and reasoning and convinces her to surrender the relic, essentially defeating one of the strongest beings on the planet without throwing a punch

And since she didn’t know Raven was the spring maiden until she gets down there, a lot of what she says would’ve had to have been thought up on the fly

Shows that she still doesn’t fully trust Oz when she doesn’t tell Qrow that Raven is the spring maiden (which doesn’t hurt them anyway since they now have the relic)

Grimm Eclipse (note: any that are based off of comments Yang has are compared to her teammates’s comments at the same point, so if they’re on here there is a difference which will be noted):

Recognizes the jumping puzzle in Forever Fall as just that: a puzzle (Blake and Ruby only comment that they can make the jumps)

Along with Blake gives the most technical description of the activities on Merlot’s island (calling it an ”industrial sized drilling operation” to be exact)

Recognizes that infiltrating Merlot’s lab has been too easy at the elevators (”this has been all too convenient so far”), and sure enough the very next room is boobytrapped/heavily guarded (Blake makes a similar comment but Ruby and Weiss do not)

Is implied to have her pilot’s license 

Long story short (too late), Yang might be laid-back and willing to crack jokes, but she is not an idiot.

If I’ve missed anything, let me know so I can add it (the Grimm Eclipse section probably has more, but I wanted to avoid examples that were shared by the entire team since it is a game and the player needs a certain amount of information to advance). If you need sources, I can add episodes/timestamps (be warned that would take awhile) or I can elaborate. A few of these are a little more speculative, but the language used reflects that (implied, possibly, etc.) and the reasoning is provided.

[buyforone]

What is a Virtual Assistant?

You don't have time and you want to automate processes, but you can't? Do you dream of a stress free life?

Indeed, we live in totally technological, modern and accelerated times, trying to automate everything we cannot do on a day-to-day basis, and looking for speed and efficiency in business. The management time and productivity have become some of the indispensable elements for the development and growth of enterprises.

There are many entrepreneurs and business owners who have not been able and have not known how to draw the line to delegate their tasks to a virtual assistant, and to be able to grow constantly and without exhaustion. Not having the time for rest, relaxation and play are enough reasons to feel exhausted and stressed.

A Virtual Assistant or VA (for its acronym in English) is a professional who provides support and assistance from a remote location. Most work from home. They use technology and the Internet to offer services to clients around the world.

Why hire a Virtual Assistant

The virtual assistant will help you grow your business. It will help you free yourself from work jams and develop the creativity and innovation you need as a leader in your company.

The virtual assistant has flexible hours; For this reason, if you need to take out an urgent and important project on holidays, you can contact her with just a call or a text message.

One of the main skills of the virtual assistant is communication; there is a clear, honest and direct communication, using the most accessible technological tools such  as: Skype, WhatsApp or hangouts. In this way the response to the requested management is carried out quickly.

You need a local contact due to different time zones and the high costs of international calls; the virtual assistant can help you with your current and potential clients to provide all the necessary information.

A virtual marketing assistant is an experienced professional, who throughout his career has had great responsibilities, has worked in large companies and in environments of high confidentiality and high activity, for this reason they bring with them great ideas and great creativity that can contribute in the execution of your company's projects and tasks.

Assistance involves any administrative task, from coordinating the calendar, customer service, thank you notes to your prospects, social media, management, content creation, to making travel arrangements, and much more.

A simple job like managing your calendar can be time consuming. If you don't keep your calendar properly, you could miss important customer appointments or possibly a sales opportunity.

A virtual assistant can use social media platforms to promote your business. Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook are extremely useful tools to spread your business. This is a daily task that a virtual assistant can take on.

We probably have a very different vision from that of the entrepreneurs of their business, for this reason, instead of restricting specific tasks, we should try to involve the virtual assistant in the general process and in the image business.

Remember something, working in close collaboration and a relationship based on commitment and trust will be the keys to success. To the extent that you involve and commit the virtual assistant in some tasks and responsibilities, success will be mutual and upward.

Virtual assistants as professionals that we are, we are constantly investing in knowledge and skills, to offer a good service and a better experience to our current and potential clients, for this reason they must be given the opportunity to learn, develop and master these tasks that are according to the economic activity of the company that is going to hire us. How a Virtual Assistant can help you

By outsourcing the services of a virtual assistant you will be saving time and money. You will not have to pay benefits, taxes, office equipment, insurance, training, or enable physical space, among others. You will only pay for the work done.

Before hiring a virtual assistant, plan and make sure you have a list of tasks to delegate.

When I talk about planning I mean that you make a list and group the tasks according to importance and frequency, that is, list those that you postpone daily or weekly, either because they take up a lot of time, or you do not like to do them or because you should not do them as an entrepreneur and owner of your own business.

With this I do not mean that they are less important, on the contrary, they are so important that you should not accumulate them, or neglect them or leave them for another time, but if you must recognize when they are tasks that you can delegate, having others of greater impact that you must fully dedicate. Attention and dedication.

Once this list has been prepared, you will have a roadmap to hire and train your AV.

Many virtual marketing assistant offers administrative / secretarial services, however, increasingly you will find those with diverse skills and backgrounds who specialize in other areas, such as marketing,  graphic design, HR, web design, translations, among many others.

What tasks can you delegate to a Virtual Assistant

Below I will provide you with a list of some of the many tasks, by area, that you can find by hiring a Virtual Assistant: Administrative / Secretarial Area

   Travel and meeting arrangement

   Prepare and send emails and business letters

   Monitor emails

   Agenda management

   Process texts

   Help with the to-do list

   Arrange and organize files (Google Drive, Dropbox)

   Podcast transcription

   Billing and budgets

   Create spreadsheets for expenses

   Prepare expense reports

   Prepare and format presentations

   Database entry

   Preparation of reports

Personal Assistance Area

   Prepare and issue quotes

   Manage frequent flyer programs (hotels, rental cars, airlines)

   Manage personal agenda

   Management and arrangement of family trips

   Reconcile account statements

   Find the best restaurants

   Tracking documents or certificates to expire

   Research and buy products online

   Manage supplies

   Prepare itineraries

Online Marketing Area / Social Media / Blog

Manage social media and email, maintaining brand presence in the main ones: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc....)

Develop regular KPI reports

Management of email marketing (Mailchimp)

Updating and managing the blog with its own content or content provided by the company

Reply and manage comments in the blog comment section

Optimize and share blog posts

Research about the topics to be published in the future

Remember something very important that to run a successful business blog, you must share your knowledge with your target market. To do that, you must update your blog regularly.

However, you will not always have the time to create and publish those new posts, and it is there that the Virtual Assistant will help you format, edit, tag, optimize a post on your blog and then publish it, along with a good image or video.

The Virtual Assistant can help you by researching topics related to your area on the internet, using keywords and then sharing them so that you can quickly create content.

Email marketing can help you grow your business. But that can't happen until you have a list. Therefore, you need subscribers to grow your email list.

You will also need a reliable email service provider to manage that list. I recommend Mailchimp, which is a first-rate email service provider, very manageable and versatile.

A Virtual Assistant can help you create and send those emails to your list using Mailchimp. Your subscribers will receive the latest updates and promotional offers from your company. Conclusions

The virtual assistant is a qualified professional with experience, knowledge and own skills to help you in your daily tasks, with all those tasks that you cannot fulfill or like to perform, which take away valuable time to take care of all those of great impact for the growth of your company.

By outsourcing the services of a virtual assistant you will be saving time and money. You will not have to pay benefits, taxes, office equipment, insurance, training, or enable physical space, among others. You will only pay for the work done

Once you have identified the tasks to delegate, you will have a roadmap to be able to hire and train a virtual assistant and integrate her into your work team.

Hiring a virtual assistant means less stress, it will help you free yourself from monotonous and routine work. Trying to handle all the business tasks can be exhausting and with negative results. Consider turning to remote resources to cope with those slow, repetitive, routine tasks.

I cannot conclude without first give  the graces for reading this article and ask you please share it to reach more readers like you; interested in knowing more about the virtual assistant and its benefits when hiring it.

[staircasttext]

Ep 09 Transcript: Spaghetti Junction

Episode 9

[intro music]

PAZ: Hi, everyone, welcome back to Stairway to StarClan, a Warriors Cat reread podcast. I'm Paz.

JULIAN: I'm Julian.

LIZ: And I'm Liz.

PAZ: And I'm recording on a new microphone today. So I hope it sounds okay. We'll see. Yeah, but I'm gonna bring you those dulcet podcast sounds.

LIZ: Does sound pretty good.

PAZ: I would hope so. It's a gamer microphone because I'm a gamer. Thank you. Yeah, so we're back this week, continuing Fire and Ice. We read chapters four through seven, I believe, which features a return of WindClan, which I guess like 11 year old me is very excited about. Anybody have thoughts about chapters or current Warriors events before we do the summaries?

JULIAN: 20 somethings year old me is also very excited about the return of WindClan.

PAZ: Well, yes. Me too.

LIZ: I've heard so much about them from you two. I'm also just kind of pumped. They've got some, some interesting names. We'll get into those later.

PAZ: Yeah.

LIZ: Yeah, I thought in general, these chapters were like, great. Like good tension. Good action. Good character stuff. I liked them a lot.

PAZ: Yeah, they were a really fun set of chapters. Like I said, I think last episode, I love when the cats go on a little journey.

LIZ: Yeah.

JULIAN: Yeah, I got so into chapter five that I like forgot to take notes. I had to go back and reread it.

PAZ: Yeah, chapter five was a big one. But I guess if that's all, I can go into the chapter summaries.

LIZ: Yeah.

PAZ: Okay. In the beginning of chapter four, Fireheart and Graystripe head out to their journey to find WindClan. When the two are crossing WindClan territory they spot a RiverClan patrol hunting in WindClan territory. The two ThunderClan cats hide from the RiverClan patrol in an abandoned badger den. Once the patrol leaves, Fireheart and Graystripe manage to find the abandoned WindClan camp, which shows signs of an intense battle. The WindClan scents show that they were all very scared as they fled. Fireheart and Graystripe pick up their scent trail and follow it back up towards a Twoleg farm.

The two muse if their friend Ravenpaw managed to make it to Barley's farm safely. The two follow the trail near the farm and realize WindClan couldn't stay there because of the dogs that come out at night. The trail then leads to the edge of the Thunderpath and Fireheart worries that they will lose the scent trail after crossing the Thunderpath.

In chapter five, Fireheart crosses the Thunderpath and manages to pick up the scent. They then come upon a network of highways, seen in the prologue, and realize WindClan must have settled in this area. They realize WindClan must be desperate to stay here, and Fireheart decides it's best to hide in the drain tunnel and sleep until morning so they do not startle the clan cats.

In the morning, the two decide to follow the tunnel deeper and come up near a spot where some Twolegs are sleeping. They spot cats near the human camp, but they scatter as people wake up. Fireheart and Graystripe follow them into another tunnel and see the WindClan cats huddled in a spot with a small outside opening. They all look starved and miserable. Then the two ThunderClan cats reveal themselves and WindClan cats get ready to attack them.

In chapter six, Tallstar steps out and determines that they're from ThunderClan and not ShadowClan. Fireheart explains that Bluestar asked them to find WindClan and bring them home. Tallstar is eventually convinced to follow them, after hearing RiverClan is hunting in their old territory. Tallstar does-- wow, I cannot speak today. Tallstar declares that the clan must leave at once, including Morningflower's small kit, who will have to be carried during the journey. The ThunderClan cats lead them back through the other tunnel shortcut. As the cats continue, the strength of the WindClan cats wane. Fireheart carries Morningflower's kit so she can recover her strength.

The group reaches the Thunderpath, and Fireheart decides that the cats should go in small groups, and he and Graystripe will stay to help. Finally as the two get ready to cross with the last group of elders, they nearly get run over by a car, but the car manages to swerve and avoid hitting them. Everyone makes it across safely, and Tallstar and the WindClan warriors acknowledge that Fireheart and Graystripe were prepared to die for them and that they owe them a debt.

The group then nears the Twoleg farm, but they have to stop for the night because it's gonna rain and everyone's really weak. But as they're settling down, Ravenpaw appears. Yay! Fireheart and Graystripe are overjoyed to see their friend safe and healthy. They hide Ravenpaw's identity from WindClan and introduce him as a loner. Ravenpaw offers to help the WindClan cats and leaves to find Barley. Tallstar decides to trust them because Fireheart trusts them. Barley and Ravenpaw return and lead them into an abandoned house, which the cats reluctantly shelter in. Fireheart, Graystripe, Barley, Ravenpaw, and two WindClan cats hunt for the clan.

Fireheart and Graystripe offer to take watch to talk to Ravenpaw alone. They fill each other in on the details of each of the sides of the story. Ravenpaw stays to take watch, and Fireheart muses that Bluestar had been right when she said some cats are better off without a clan. The next morning the WindClan cats prepare to head out, and the medicine cat sees an omen in the clouds. This day shall bring an unnecessary death.

In chapter seven, the cats continue onwards despite the bad omen. They finally reach WindClan territory, and the cats are overjoyed, rushing back to their camp. Tallstar stays outside to thank Fireheart and Graystripe, and sends two cats to escort them safely back to ThunderClan territory. Fireheart suggests they cut through RiverClan territory briefly because he is tired. He eventually convinces the others to follow his plan. However, as they travel along the river, they encounter a RiverClan patrol that instantly attacks them.

Then a ThunderClan patrol, including Tigerclaw, also leaps out to join in. Fireheart saves Sandpaw and a RiverClan cat from falling to the death into the gorge. However, the RiverClan cat Graystripe is fighting falls to their doom into the river, thus fulfilling the prophecy of an unnecessary death. And that is our reading for this week.

JULIAN: We really get the return of himbo Fireheart.

PAZ: It's so funny.

JULIAN: At the end of this.

LIZ: God.

PAZ: He's like so smart throughout this set of chapters right up until that point.

LIZ: He's like, oh, nothing bad could possibly happen. Why would it?

JULIAN: What could go wrong? I'm tired. My paws hurt.

LIZ: Aw, my poor little feet. Oh no.

PAZ: Fireheart really did get hangry in the IKEA and was like, starting trouble. Yeah, I was so impressed by how like smart and diplomatic he was being throughout all the other chapters, and then the last chapter it's gone. He used it all up. All his brains.

JULIAN: And he can't even defend it on being hangry because like, he ate. There's that loving description of how good that rabbit tasted.

LIZ: Yeah.

PAZ: He got into that state of mind, like that mood I get into when I've been hiking for a long time and I'm getting blisters because I didn't wear the right shoes, and I'm out for blood.

JULIAN: God. I was fully expecting-- to go back to the very beginning here-- when they hide in the badger hole, I really expected something bad to be in there. It felt like they were setting up badger doom, and then there was no badger doom.

PAZ: Yeah.

LIZ: They talked about badgers a whole lot.

PAZ: Yeah, I think there is a-- yeah, they mention badgers again like near the highways. We need badger pay off.

LIZ: I want to see the badgers.

PAZ: That's another reason they should all just stay inside. There's badgers.

LIZ: Is there a badger spin off?

PAZ: God, I don't know.

LIZ: They've got bears, right. And what's the other one?

PAZ: The other one was dogs. But that's the author who got fired for being a TERF, I think. So.

LIZ: Well, fuck that one.

PAZ: Yeah. They never did horses. I remember that.

JULIAN: They never did horses.

PAZ: Somebody wanted it, but.

LIZ: Oh, think of the horse names we would have gotten.

PAZ: They'd just be racehorse names.

JULIAN: Potoooooooo.

LIZ: Like Kentucky Fried Fever or something?

PAZ: Yes.

LIZ: That's what horse names are like, right?

PAZ: Absolutely.

JULIAN: Yeah.

LIZ: I mean, but those are like--

JULIAN: Well, they all have to be unique.

LIZ: Yeah, but those are like human-given horse names. Like a horse making a horse name would be like, Swifttail. Fast Feet.

PAZ: I think horses would be into racehorses names.

LIZ: I support that. They do have a different culture from cats.

PAZ: Yeah, remember they--

JULIAN: It's important to be culturally sensitive to the horses.

LIZ: There's a lot of different contexts. Like for one, they can't pick anything up because they don't have any dang hands. They're real big scaredy cats, horses.

PAZ: Yeah. And if they break a leg, they die.

LIZ: If they break a leg, they have to be put down immediately.

PAZ: Horses are kind of fucked up.

LIZ: They're so fucked up.

JULIAN: I think we did a bad job with horses. Actually, we didn't do a bad job with horses. They kind of came out the tin like that.

LIZ: They came out of the tin like that, yes. But humans and horses, there's the whole racehorse thing, where like if you get a little sprained ankle, that's it. You're done. They're not gonna just take you to like the doctor or horse retirement.

PAZ: Why couldn't we selectively engineer horses to not be like, glass? Why didn't we do that?

LIZ: They should be like stout and hardy.

JULIAN: Glass bones, paper skin.

LIZ: Imagine a horse but with like elephant sized legs.

JULIAN: I hate that.

PAZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: I hate to imagine that. You mean a Lego horse?

LIZ: Yeah.

PAZ: Oh god.

LIZ: That's a sturdy boy. You can't knock that one over.

PAZ: Can elephants break their leg? I don't know.

JULIAN: I mean, I think any animal can break a leg. It just takes a lot of doing.

PAZ: No, but I mean can they recover from it?

JULIAN: Oh.

PAZ: Who knows?

LIZ: Well, there's one way to find out. [typing] Can horses recover from broken legs?

PAZ: No, elephants.

LIZ: Oh.

PAZ: Horses can't. That's the thing with horses.

LIZ: Can elephants.

JULIAN: We're gonna get so many angry messages from people who know anything about horses.

PAZ: Yeah, maybe.

LIZ: The answer is really sad. It's mostly no, but it's easier with smaller elephants.

PAZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: Aw.

LIZ: I guess I understand like, why. That sucks.

PAZ: Yeah, out in nature, kinda...

JULIAN: I mean, I do know that elephants tend to like, you know, if there's an elephant that has like problems, they like slow down or try to take care of it. So maybe it's better than horses who I feel like would just leave a horse who had like issues running to the wolves.

PAZ: Despite what Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron says, horses are selfish and will leave you to die.

LIZ: That's why you can't write a book about them. It's real depressing.

JULIAN: Spirit is horse propaganda.

PAZ: Putting money in the pockets of big horse.

LIZ: Hey.

PAZ: Mm-hmm?

LIZ: Oh, just some elephant facts, because we watched the video last night, right? Did you know elephants-- or some elephants are like, they're being born more without their tusks. So there's a lot of tuskless elephants running around now. Yeah.

PAZ: Aw.

LIZ: That's kind of interesting.

PAZ: Yeah, for sad reasons. But if it helps them.

LIZ: Sad reasons with mixed results.

JULIAN: As long as they're safe.

PAZ: Yeah. Should we get back to cats?

JULIAN: Should we talk about cats again?

PAZ: I think that's what our podcast is about.

LIZ: No more of these... pachyderms?

PAZ: Oh God, I don't know.

LIZ: Is a horse a pachyderm? I don't think so.

JULIAN: No.

LIZ: No way.

JULIAN: I think a horse is an ungulate it but an elephant is a pachyderm.

LIZ: Got it.

JULIAN: Herbivores is both of-- they're both herbivores.

PAZ: Vertebrates.

JULIAN: Speaking of vertebrates, cats.

LIZ: Love those vertebrates. Or should we say, purrtebrates.

PAZ: Um, going from the top, RiverClan sucks. They just went straight to hunting in WindClan territory.

LIZ: Why does-- okay, remember that quiz we took last time?

JULIAN: What's up with them?

LIZ: Why does that person like RiverClan so much? They're very mean.

PAZ: I don't know.

JULIAN: I'm trying to remember why I liked RiverClan so much because I was a big RiverClan person--

PAZ: Do you think--

JULIAN: --like as a kid. I think it might just be because my like made up clan was RiverClan? Or not made up clan, but like, I was in RiverClan in our canon divergent series. Um.

PAZ: That would do it.

JULIAN: And so I think, yeah, I don't think I actually cared that much about real RiverClan.

LIZ: Maybe your RiverClan was better. I bet it was.

PAZ: Yeah, this RiverClan so far just sucks. They're like, one, they're cowards, because they just said like, complete capitulation to ShadowClan. And now they're like, liars and thieves. Not a great track record so far.

LIZ: No.

JULIAN: They're doing pretty bad.

LIZ: I like their aesthetic with like, you know, we swim, we fish, but they suck. So I think they should give the aesthetic to someone else.

PAZ: Get well soon.

JULIAN: RiverClan sucks. I also can't believe that Bluestar was like, hey, go track WindClan. And at no point did we mention that it's been two months.

PAZ: Yeah, wasn't her reasoning that like, oh, you're the people who like remember the scent of WindClan the best? I'm like, are these cats fucking bloodhounds? How are they doing this?

LIZ: Well, when you don't get your balls cut off, yes.

PAZ: Oh, of course. I see.

LIZ: Really enhances the nose.

JULIAN: Like, I'm a human. So my nose is pretty bad. But I don't think I would remember many scents after two months.

PAZ: No.

LIZ: No.

JULIAN: I also don't think I would be able to both remember and track two month old smells.

LIZ: That's why Fireheart is so cool and powerful. Strongest nose in the world.

JULIAN: It all makes sense. He is real stupid sometimes because his olfactory bulb is just so big that there's no room for the rest of his brain. Just like a rat.

PAZ: That's tragic.

LIZ: His powerful nose. Your head's so empty, but your nose is full of scents.

JULIAN: I think I would like to see more Warrior Cats fanart where Fireheart has just like a massive schnozz.

LIZ: Or like the cats with like the long face, with like the big ears.

JULIAN: Yes.

PAZ: Yeah. I was thinking of pictures of cats where they get like stung by bees on their nose.

JULIAN: Oh no.

PAZ: They look really funny.

LIZ: Oh god. Um, there's a part in what, chapter... chapter four? Where Fireheart's like remembering like the memory of Bluestar losing one of her lives.

PAZ: Oh yes.

LIZ: And it says, "it stung Fireheart like a wood ant." And that sounds like it's from experience.

PAZ: I wrote that down too.

LIZ: Did a wood ant bite you? Aw.

PAZ: That's what you get for living in the woods.

LIZ: Yeah, there's no wood ants in the house. Just probably regular ants now and then.

PAZ: But um, RiverClan hunting there once again proves a point of like, why-- like you can't catch it up there. It kind of sucks living up in the moors anyway. Like, just let WindClan come back.

JULIAN: Yeah. Also, hey, why did WindClan get stuck with the shittiest territory?

PAZ: Right? I feel like they should have some issues with that maybe.

JULIAN: Yeah, like, hello? Y'all are just chill with this?

PAZ: WindClan needs to rise up for better hunting conditions.

JULIAN: WindClan unionize.

PAZ: Yeah, like even before they were, like, run out, they seemed to have it real rough. I mean, I guess they're survivors because they managed to stay alive for two months not in great places.

JULIAN: I feel so bad for them.

PAZ: I know.

LIZ: They're also like, sad. All their names, even. It's like, there's Deadfoot and Onewhisker. They're all just like--

PAZ: I was wondering about Onewhisker's name.

LIZ: You only have the one?

PAZ: Maybe Onewhisker's a hairless cat.

LIZ: Aw.

PAZ: They're not born with whiskers.

LIZ: Oh, but it's so cold.

JULIAN: Aw, you gotta give him a...

LIZ: Jacket. Sweater.

JULIAN: Oh, okay, well, great news. I googled Onewhisker to see. And the second suggested result was Onewhisker x Fireheart. So that's good.

PAZ: Oh.

LIZ: Oh.

PAZ: Little starcrossed lovers.

LIZ: Is there something here? Hm.

PAZ: Well, we'll have to keep an eye out. We'll have to report back on, that one.

LIZ: I remember--

JULIAN: I'm not seeing any information about why he has his name.

PAZ: Okay.

JULIAN: And in fact, the official art does show him with more than one whisker. So what is the truth?

PAZ: Damn.

LIZ: Can cats grow more?

PAZ: Yeah.

LIZ: Okay, that's good.

JULIAN: Yeah.

PAZ: Yeah, my cats' whiskers fall out, and they'll just be on the floor. And I'm like, thanks, I guess.

LIZ: A gift. It is a gift I've found in things that you've sent to me.

PAZ: Oh, gosh.

LIZ: I'm just imagining though like this hairless cat and this dumb orange cat, and they are in love. I remember nothing pretty much about Onewhisker. But we'll see if this shakes out.

PAZ: I think he was just like a young WindClan warrior. That was about it. Strong. But as we're kind of on chapter five, that was a note where I was like, wow, Fireheart really did grow a brain, because he was like, we should like wait until day probably so they don't just kill us. Smart move.

LIZ: I was enjoying him thinking so much. Like, wow, that makes sense. Wow. What a good plan. Wow, you're being thoughtful.

PAZ: I'm proud of him.

LIZ: Yeah, I guess it takes energy. I'm the same. I can't think if I'm too hungry. All the like Graystripe and Fireheart friendship times on their way there are also very cute. They're just like, they're best friends. And there's a part where they're like, reminiscing about Ravenpaw catching that snake in snake hell. And then it says, "Fireheart purred at the memory." Aw.

PAZ: Yeah, I'm very glad that they like, remembered Ravenpaw and thought about him. I was kind of worried he just like would never be mentioned again, which would have been weird and like a dropped plot point. But not the case.

LIZ: Yeah, he popped up at just the right time. It was very sweet.

PAZ: He did.

LIZ: And like, good thematic parallels, to like, oh, no first book was like we were being attacked by rats. What do we do? A gay cat's here to save us. Book two. Oh no, we're starving. What do we do? Oh, two of them. Great.

PAZ: Yeah, but um, that's like chapter six, I think?

JULIAN: Yeah.

PAZ: Yeah, I mean, most of chapter five is just like seeing that WindClan's living under like a highway overpass and it sucks.

LIZ: Those poor cats.

JULIAN: Yeah, there's one bit where Fireheart's like, it's like, oh, he has no words to describe the tangle of Thunderpaths and it's like, yeah, that's how I feel about spaghetti junctions.

LIZ: Is that what they're called?

JULIAN: I do think they're an abomination. Um, I don't know if that's like a general term or like a name for a specific one.

PAZ: I've never heard it before.

JULIAN: There was one like really, really bad one that I lived near in Atlanta, when I lived down there, and it was like, three or four highways came together in one place.

PAZ: Oh god.

LIZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: I think I've like posted a picture of it before. It's very upsetting to look at.

LIZ: Yeah, I've seen those. I just didn't know that's what they were called. Would hate to be a cat living near those. It's hard enough when you're a person. Ehhhhh.

PAZ: Oh, that's horrible.

JULIAN: I think there's... 1, 2, 3... I can't even count. There's too many roads.

PAZ: Yeah, that would--

LIZ: No. Ridiculous. Spaghetti junction is-- sorry, go on?

PAZ: No, you go ahead.

LIZ: I was just gonna say it's a much more fun name than this thing deserves like. It sounds like a diner with like a jukebox. Come on down to spaghetti junction. Yes, we are cat-friendly. We'll serve you a nice milkshake and your cat a little Fancy Feast.

PAZ: Wow.

JULIAN: Diner's stocked. They keep the good stuff.

LIZ: They do.

JULIAN: Oh, one thing about Deadfoot, it mentions that he has kind of like a bent paw or whatever, which doesn't seem to affect his ability to be deputy at all, which is nice.

LIZ: Oh, I missed that. That's good.

PAZ: Yeah, that is nice. I think he should have a nicer name.

LIZ: Yeah.

JULIAN: Yeah.

PAZ: But considering the like characters with disabilities that appear later in the series--

LIZ: Uh-oh.

PAZ: This is surprisingly good treatment. Which is also baffling, because it's like, the way another character's arc goes like, you had a character who is a deputy with like, a foot he couldn't use. It was fine. Oh my gosh.

JULIAN: Right? He's still like a good leader and can like hunt and mentor his clan. Like, it's fine.

LIZ: I wonder if Deadfoot's gonna like, show up more. And man, I missed the part about his leg earlier and now it feels like real weird to say the name he's given.

PAZ: Yeah. It's Warriors.

LIZ: Cause I thought at first it was like, is this like a goth thing? Is it because he's like a black cat?

PAZ: Damn.

LIZ: But no.

PAZ: No. Yeah, I want to like, have a deep dive on the ableism in the Warriors series but like, I think there's like, a part of coming up in this book that will be like... I think that'll be like the time to address it because it comes more to the forefront, but. The naming convention's not, not great.

I guess the last thing about chapter five for me was the one description that was like, really, really sad. It was when Fireheart and Graystripe were jumping at the noise of the cars, and all the WindClan cats just didn't react because they were so used to it and tired. Poor guys.

JULIAN: That poor kit.

PAZ: Oh, I know.

LIZ: Reading about that tiny, tiny kitten, I was like, I was just picturing it. You know, they're like little beans. They can't...

PAZ: They can't protect it.

LIZ: No! That's how I feel every time I watch like, oh, here's some newborn kittens, like in a video. I'm like, Oh, no.

PAZ: Yeah, I don't know if I'm like, making this up in my head. But I feel like there was a description where like, its eyes were not even really open yet. I was like, that's too small.

LIZ: At least two times, it's referred to as like, a little precious bundle. And I'm like, Oh my god, I can't. You've got to put that somewhere else. It's not safe out here.

JULIAN: Aw, yeah. I think another point it's described as like a sodden lump of fur.

LIZ: Oh god.

JULIAN: And I'm just like, Oh, no.

LIZ: Save it.

PAZ: Oh god. Baby.

JULIAN: Somebody get this baby an umbrella.

LIZ: Oh my god.

PAZ: The baby's safe at the end, though. That's what matters.

JULIAN: The baby is safe. I was also very worried because I don't remember-- I remember very little about what happens this book besides like major plot beats. I was worried that something horrible was going to happen to the kit and I'm glad that that did not happen.

PAZ: Yeah, actually like nothing bad really-- like no one died on the way back. I was kind of surprised by that. I thought for sure someone was gonna like eat it.

LIZ: The tension was like, really good. The action in like the crossing scene was really like... It's like, Oh, is this gonna be the first baby death? Or is this old sad elder cat gonna eat it? Is there going to be mom death? And the answer is no. But they really like--

JULIAN: Thank god.

LIZ: --made you think.

PAZ: We've met the very first human who cares about cats in this series because of that car that was like, swerved to avoid them.

JULIAN: Can you imagine being a driver, and you're like driving down the highway, and there's like, 20 to 30 feral cats crossng the road?

PAZ: I would like, stop and get out. I'd be like, what is happening?

JULIAN: I would try to like-- it's like what you're supposed to do with turtles where you're supposed to move them off the road. I would stop and like try to you know, signal to other drivers that they should be careful. Put your hazards on.

LIZ: Yeah, I wonder like since this, this area that they live in is, you know, like, has enough wooded like nature-y stuff to house a whole bunch of wildlife, like that there isn't more of those, like nature crossing things that go under, like, roads and stuff. Yeah, I mean, it could also be like the time, so.

JULIAN: I guess they probably--

LIZ: Who knows.

JULIAN: Yeah, I feel like they mostly build those for like, bigger animals.

PAZ: Yeah, like deer and stuff.

JULIAN: Yeah. where it's like, it's dangerous for both the deer and the people.

PAZ: Yeah, I live in fear of deer.

LIZ: Oh, God. No.

PAZ: I'm like, I don't ever want to be driving at sunset.

LIZ: No.

PAZ: We'll both be in a bad place.

JULIAN: We had to stop for a moose once.

PAZ: Oh my god.

LIZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: And, like deer are big. I didn't realize how big-- like you know, you're like, Oh, it's a moose. It's really big. But you don't really realize how big it is until you'd see one. And this is like a baby moose and it was still like, bigger than our car.

LIZ: Oh god.

JULIAN: Yeah, they're scary.

PAZ: Yeah, you definitely don't want to run into a moose because they'll just collapse on top of you and crush you.

LIZ: A moose could pancake us. They're just like, they're not of this time. They're some sort of weird ancient megalo whatever, you know. And they haven't died cause nothing can kill them.

JULIAN: That's some megafauna right there. All their predators are dead.

LIZ: Stepped on them.

PAZ: And I'm not gonna go fuck with a moose.

LIZ: No. They were here before us. They're gonna be here after us, probably because they just crush our cars and stuff. And you know what? That's just how it's gonna be.

JULIAN: The cats do not have to deal with moose though. No moose in Britain.

PAZ: No.

LIZ: Do you think there's Canadian cats? Like warrior cats?

PAZ: Wow.

JULIAN: Probably.

PAZ: Yeah, I mean, anywhere there's stray cats you got your warriors.

LIZ: If you were writing about Canadian warrior cats, would moose be sentient enough to talk to them?

PAZ: I would love that.

JULIAN: Although--

LIZ: Would you write a moose spinoff?

JULIAN: The thing about a Canadian wild cat is that they have to compete with bobcats and like--

PAZ: Oh shit.

LIZ: Oh.

PAZ: Damn, I just think a moose should be like a wise wizard.

LIZ: Yeah.

PAZ: I just think that'd be really good.

LIZ: They're solitary, right?

JULIAN: Where's our moose book series?

PAZ: Damn. Somebody needs to get on this.

LIZ: You think a moose is like Gandalf to cats?

PAZ: Yes, exactly.

LIZ: I don't know why I'm talking about Lord of the Rings so much.

PAZ: Yeah, the cats are the little hobbits and moose are Gandalf.

JULIAN: Imagine being a little cat and riding on a moose's shoulder.

PAZ: Oh, yes.

LIZ: You think lynxes or whatever are like elves to cats?

PAZ: Yeah.

JULIAN: Yes. They have the pointy ears and everything.

LIZ: Oh my god.

PAZ: Wow.

LIZ: Wait, stop recording. We need to write this down. Delete this.

JULIAN: Yeah, we can't be giving this shit away.

PAZ: We're copyrighting it. Do not steal.

LIZ: Erin Hunter, fucking watch out.

PAZ: Our intellectual property, thank you.

LIZ: No one's ever thought of elf cats before, I assure you.

PAZ: No. None. Well, back to English Warrior Cats. Yeah, I mean, very exciting. Ravenpaw and Barley show up again. So happy.

LIZ: That's so good.

JULIAN: Barley talks about how nice it is to share a meal with a fellow cat.

PAZ: I know. There's some really cute lines between them. I think like, Barley says something like thanks for sending Ravenpaw to me. Which is just like, aw.

LIZ: Wow, Fireheart like is a real matchmaker if you think about it.

JULIAN: And like Ravenclaw's like, personal growth is so good.

LIZ: It's so good.

PAZ: Yeah, he looks really healthy and well fed and like, isn't anxious, and Fireheart's like, wow, completely different cat.

LIZ: He's like so confident, too, and he's like, joking around with everyone. And like, his humor is kind of like dry, too. Like, when the apprentices are kind of, they're looking at him kind of. What is the word I'm thinking of here? They're giving him the stink eye.

JULIAN: Like side eye?

LIZ: That too. Um, he's like, Oh, yeah, loner cats, we eat apprentices.

PAZ: Yeah, it's very cute and a nice way to see like, how he's matured into his own and also is not like living a fear of murder every single day. Yeah, the fact that he got like, tense again at the mention of Tigerclaw was sad.

JULIAN: I wish that like-- I'm glad that you know Fireheart is like oh, I'm glad this is a better situation for him. But I wish that it wasn't framed-- or I wish Fireheart wasn't framing it as like, oh, some cats just like are better off without a clan. Because it's not that-- like, Ravenpaw clearly likes being around lots of cats. He's joking with the apprentices. He's like putting everyone at ease. It's not that he had a problem with the clan.

LIZ: It's because he had a problem with his murd--

JULIAN: He had a problem with being set to snake hell all the time.

PAZ: Who wouldn't?

LIZ: His murder teacher. His what if the kid has bad vibes dad.

PAZ: Yeah, but he like seems happy with Barley on the farm. But it does suck that he has to like keep pretending be dead, essentially.

LIZ: I hope that after Fireheart has had some time to digest his meal and gain back his brain energy, he'll be like, maybe if this extremely strict unquestioning hierarchy in our society is like bad? Is it bad?

PAZ: That's gonna take a lot of brain power. I don't know if he has it in him.

LIZ: It was a pretty big rabbit, you know. He ate a lot. He just needs to get the juice.

JULIAN: Fireheart, a better world is possible.

LIZ: You can have cats with more than one job.

PAZ: That's radical stuff.

LIZ: Since we're like in this section, I also want to point to like, this is the part where Tallstar is asking Fireheart, like, can we trust him? And then Fireheart is like, he just says, completely. And it's like, aw.

JULIAN: Aw.

PAZ: They're friends.

LIZ: It's a nice conclusion to the subplot about like, doubt, I guess that was running through this before. Once it's actually, you know, once he actually sees Ravenpaw again, it's like no, I was... like, this is something I can trust my gut on. And also my observations, which I forget about sometimes.

PAZ: Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah, I'm curious to see how that will like, feed into his actions going forward.

LIZ: I think it's coming in like an interesting spot because he's having a lot of his like... I can't think of any other word except for like, cons list against like Tigerclaw being confirmed. But at the same time, Tigerclaw is like... a lot of their interests are lining up. They're on the same side with regards to like WindClan basically, even though it's for different reasons. Tigerclaw comes in at the end of our reading to save them. Also just coincidentally, but it's interesting to see that clash.

PAZ: Yeah, that was very funny. Yeah, for sure.

JULIAN: Yeah, that last fight scene-- the whole of chapter seven is like very suspenseful. But the last fight scene is like very, very good and very, very suspenseful.

PAZ: Yeah, I mean, Fireheart did get someone killed just because he was tired of walking. Not a great day. I'm wondering if like Graystripe will feel a lot of guilt too. Because like, he was trying to help that cat up, but then couldn't do it. And it's probably like, indirectly his fault. So he might be going through it. We'll see.

LIZ: If this is like, you could both use some thought juice, I guess, about consequences and stuff. I know they're... This is interesting. An interesting development.

JULIAN: Yeah, they could definitely both use some thought juice.

PAZ: Julian, do we want to say the thing about Tallstar, or?

JULIAN: Yeah, I feel like--

PAZ: Because I don't know if it comes up-- I don't think it comes up in this series.

JULIAN: Yeah, I don't know if it's gonna come up.

PAZ: Yeah, I think it's in like the special book.

JULIAN: I think it comes up in his like, special book.

LIZ: I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

JULIAN: Well, great news. We've met another gay cat.

LIZ: I knew it. I had the vibes. Like this cat is being perceived as too handsome by this other cat. Right? Those are the vibes, aren't they?

PAZ: Yeah, Tallstar is the other gay cat. I don't know. We should say who he's gay for, because it's very funny.

JULIAN: Yeah, we should. He is gay for Fireheart's dad, Jake.

LIZ: What?! His dad's name is Jake?

PAZ: Yes. I love that. Jake.

JULIAN: So Fireheart's family. This is not spoilers. Fireheart's mother's name is Nutmeg.

LIZ: That's perfect.

JULIAN: His father's name is Jake.

LIZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: And his sister is Princess.

LIZ: Oh.

PAZ: Yeah. All very good cat names, I think.

LIZ: God, they're so good.

PAZ: I love when cats are just named-- like they're just a dude. That's just a guy.

[alarm beeping]

PAZ: Like Henry.

JULIAN: Oh, sorry. A car alarm just went off. Oh, it's done. Oh, great news. Tallstar's parents are Palebird and Sandgorse. That's great.

PAZ: Yeah, those are pretty good names.

LIZ: Oh. Bird. That's a good aesthetic.

PAZ: Yeah, if I'm remembering correctly, I think like Tallstar also, like never takes a mate because, yeah.

LIZ: No.

PAZ: No, I mean, well, yeah. I mean, because he's gay.

LIZ: I get it. Holding a candle for Jake.

PAZ: Yeah, it's tragic. They part ways. Crossed worlds.

LIZ: I like a good tragedy. I'm okay with that because we've got at least a few gay cats. And then some of them are doing fine and that's okay.

JULIAN: Oh, they've moved his personal relationships into a separate article. Why?

PAZ: Are people on the wiki-- ugh.

LIZ: Are there a lot of them?

JULIAN: Okay, now, come on.

LIZ: What?

JULIAN: They've censored this. They've said that Jake was the best friend of Tallstar.

LIZ: Boo. Boo.

PAZ: Oh no. Come on.

JULIAN: And they traveled for a while. We got to pull up the screenshots of what it said earlier.

PAZ: Yeah, the Erins have stated in public, like, explicitly.

LIZ: If we put a citation, can we edit that? Parody.

PAZ: I don't--

LIZ: Unless...

PAZ: I don't want to fuck with the Warrior Cats wiki editors. Hold on, I know I posted some stuff in spoilers.

LIZ: Oh, the land I cannot go to.

JULIAN: Yeah, here we go. "Kate has said that Tallstar's heart always belonged to his Jake."

LIZ: Aw.

JULIAN: "Kate thinks that Tallstar goes out of StarClan to visit Jake."

LIZ: Aw!

JULIAN: "In Kate's head she sees Tallstar and Jake as mates." Like, they're not friends.

PAZ: That is pretty clear.

LIZ: Oh, is it requited? Aw.

PAZ: Yeah.

LIZ: I didn't know. It sounded like, you know, one-sided longing. I was okay with that too. Because you know, multiple gay cats.

JULIAN: Yeah, no, Jake is bi, imo.

LIZ: Good for Jake.

PAZ: No, like.

LIZ: World's first bi cat.

PAZ: I mean, he obviously is. Yeah.

LIZ: I haven't met Jake. I wouldn't know. But I'm really happy for him.

PAZ: Well, I mean, he eventually had children.

LIZ: I mean, he's dead.

PAZ: Yeah. From what I know-- I have not read the special book, obviously-- it's just like, crossed worlds. Can a kittypet and warrior fall in love?

LIZ: Yes.

JULIAN: Oh, the Tallstar quotes are on Jake's wiki page, not on Tallstar's.

LIZ: Do you think Nutmeg is also--

JULIAN: I apologize to the editors of the Tallstar wiki page.

PAZ: Oh wait, yeah. Now Liz can see this passage.

LIZ: Finally. Aww, that's very sweet.

PAZ: Yeah, it's just a-- I assume it's in the special book. Once again, I have not read it. It's just Tallstar-- yeah, it's just Tallstar saying, "'Every cat I've known.' He paused as Jake filled his thoughts. He pictured his old friend's green eyes glowing with pride. 'Every cat I've loved has taught me the meaning of friendship and the unbending power of the warrior code.'"

LIZ: [sighs]

PAZ: Romance is real.

JULIAN: Aw.

LIZ: It is.

JULIAN: Warrior Cats invented love.

PAZ: Yeah, maybe it did.

LIZ: Maybe it did. Okay, two questions, though.

PAZ: Yes.

LIZ: Do you think Jake short for Jacob? Or is it just Jake?

PAZ: I think it's just Jake.

LIZ: And do you think Nutmeg is also bi?

PAZ: Who is?

LIZ: Nutmeg, because that's a good name.

PAZ: Oh, hell yeah.

JULIAN: Do we know anything about Nutmeg?

LIZ: I would love to.

PAZ: I don't think so.

JULIAN: Find out.

LIZ: That's such a good name to waste on a mom cat you're never gonna see. You should see more Nutmeg. Listen, if we can learn about Jake... eh?

JULIAN: Yeah, we really know nothing about Nutmeg, I'm afraid.

LIZ: That's such a good name. I can't get over it. Like it's up there with like, Henry for me. It's like those cat names that are just like left of a common food item. Like Barley.

PAZ: Yeah, I would name a cat Nutmeg.

JULIAN: Nutmeg's a good cat name.

PAZ: But yeah, that's our other gay cat. It's Tallstar.

LIZ: Tall gay privilege. Okay, since we're on the topic of gay cats, I just want to draw attention to one more bit from Ravenclaw before we move on. So there's this part where--

PAZ: Ravenpaw, you mean?

LIZ: Sorry?

PAZ: You called him Ravenclaw, I think.

LIZ: Fuck. Almost 10 episodes and I finally fucked up. Ravenpaw. Yeah, there's just this part where he says like, "Barley's been great. I think he likes having me around." It's sweet. He's having a great life now.

PAZ: It's cute.

JULIAN: Also, I think the little bit where Fireheart asks Barley if Ravenpaw is happy, and Barley is like oh, you should ask him is really sweet. And also like aw, Barley. He is.

PAZ: I hope you know, Barley.

LIZ: It's also good that Firepaw just does so directly after that.

JULIAN: Yeah, look at him talking about feelings.

PAZ: Oh, that reminds me of another thing where like, some WindClan cats did like when they're going down like to the abandoned house, like once a kittypet, always a kittypet or something. And Fireheart had another moment of like, internal anger. I don't-- I just like those because it's like, he has thoughts and feelings

LIZ: He does. He is more than just like protagonist boy.

PAZ: Yeah, I'm glad they're leaning more into the like former kittypet angle and like what that does for him for his inner emotions because I feel like the first book did not really...

LIZ: No.

PAZ: Yeah, it didn't really play that much.

JULIAN: It was also really nice. The same apprentices had like a moment when they were-- where Ravenpaw gets to be snarky and Fireheart's response is like, oh you should make friends wherever you can. So it's nice to see him being like, no, like all cats are good cats.

PAZ: All cats are queens.

JULIAN: You know, he hasn't-- now that he's in the clans, hasn't just been like well, fuck it. I don't care about anyone outside of the clans anymore.

PAZ: Yeah. Good for him, because all the clan cats are so xenophobic.

JULIAN: God.

PAZ: At least Tallstar was like yeah, we like owe ThunderClan one. We're gonna stick to that. Thanks.

LIZ: Yeah, there's--

JULIAN: Yeah, hey, Tallstar, your ex was a kittypet. You want to talk to your apprentices?

PAZ: Yeah, get em.

LIZ: Does the book ever talk about how they met? Cause that would be interesting.

PAZ: Yeah, I think it happens in the book.

LIZ: Oh cool.

PAZ: The special book's called Tallstar's Revenge, I believe.

LIZ: Tallstar: Dishonored 2.

PAZ: Wow. Is it-- yeah, it's Tallstar's. His warrior name was Talltail.

LIZ: That's good.

JULIAN: That's a bad name.

LIZ: That's cute, though. It's bad, but it's cute.

PAZ: It's very to the point.

LIZ: Yeah. No, I thought it was like tall tales like he tells stories.

PAZ: Oh.

LIZ: I haven't seen any of that, but that could be fun.

JULIAN: I was just thinking about the mouthfeel.

LIZ: Oh, yeah.

PAZ: It's not good to pronounce. But they're cats. So they meow.

LIZ: Yeah, maybe it just sounds like... does it just sound like nyah?

PAZ: Yes. Oh, speaking of bad names, the medicine cat's name is Barkface.

JULIAN: That's a rough one.

LIZ: That sounds mean.

PAZ: I was like, that's not a nice sounding name.

LIZ: Like tree bark or like, is that how he sounds?

PAZ: I think tree bark, I think.

LIZ: Oh.

JULIAN: I mean, either way, it's not great.

PAZ: No.

LIZ: WindClan, what's up?

PAZ: They're having a rough time out there. They can't think of good names. They don't have very good hunting grounds. They live in a ditch.

LIZ: It's an improvement from living in the sewer. There is like that one cat called Morningflower. That's kind of nice.

PAZ: Yeah, that's a nice name.

JULIAN: Yeah, that's a nice one.

LIZ: What happened, guys? Did you just run out of ideas after that?

JULIAN: Hold up. Barkface's apprentice was called Kestrelflight.

LIZ: What happened?

JULIAN: Clearly y'all got some good names.

PAZ: I think Barkface might be like, similar age to Tallstar. So it might have been the previous leader that did that. I don't know.

LIZ: This fucking like old ass cat leader that's just like, ah, fuck, I don't know. You're... you're... Rock... foot. Tree... tail.

JULIAN: Yeah, actually that does track because Barkface's brother is Shrewclaw, which is also not great.

PAZ: Oh. Wow.

JULIAN: I think we just had a generation of kind of bad names.

LIZ: God. You're Badger...hide.

PAZ: Cause Onewhisker is younger, and that's a fun name.

LIZ: I'm just trying to think of more bad names.

PAZ: They're out there.

LIZ: Slug...bottom.

PAZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: Do we have a Moistkit?

PAZ: No we don't.

JULIAN: We got Runningnose. It's not that far off.

PAZ: Yeah. Slugbottom sounds like a fantasy tavern in like a Redwall situation where they're all little guys.

JULIAN: Mm, it does.

LIZ: You know, Runningnose must have had a good name before like he became Runningnose. Cause like Runningpaw? That's all right.

PAZ: His mom was probably like he'll get a cool name about how fast he is.

LIZ: Yeah, he'll be...

PAZ: No.

LIZ: Runningfoot.

PAZ: Runningwind, I don't know.

LIZ: Yeah, so imagine his poor mother being like, oh, his poor allergies This is so unfair.

PAZ: Was it fuckin... was it Raggedstar or Brokenstar who would have named him that?

JULIAN: Um, I think it was... looking here, it was ah... yeah, it probably would have been Raggedstar.

PAZ: Yeah, well, he was the less evil guy, but that was mean. That was mean. Don't do that.

LIZ: Yeah, that's your only doctor. And also, still just a person.

PAZ: Well, he became doctor after Yellowfang.

LIZ: Still, just don't do that to someone.

JULIAN: Still, your doctor apprentice. Your resident.

PAZ: Yeah, imagine if you went through medical school and at the end they gave you a really mean name. Dr. Runningnose. Mean.

JULIAN: Awful.

PAZ: Excuse me?

LIZ: You get your little like framed cat doctor diploma. And it just says like Dr. Runningnose and you just have to like live with it until you get old.

JULIAN: There's a sentence on the wiki that's like, "later, he received his full name, Runningnose, and was heartbroken." And I thought the sentence ended there, but it did not.

PAZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: The sentence is just like, oh, he was sad about like Yellowfang being exiled.

PAZ: Oh. Fair, but I'd be sad about that name, too. Um, anything else about these chapters?

LIZ: Check my notes.

JULIAN: I'm all set.

LIZ: Think we're good.

PAZ: Yeah, it was just a very fun set of chapters but pretty, like action heavy, I guess. But also really nice character moments, so I'll give this reading set an A plus.

[meow]

So moving on to our next bit. We have learned about the Barnes and Nobles Warrior Cats roleplay scene from a Tumblr post. Would someone else like to introduce us to this this Tumblr post?

JULIAN: Sure. Tumblr user eileensdress says, "Oh my god, I was just looking to see how much a copy of Hamlet would be through Barnes and Noble and people are role playing Warrior Cats in the reviews."

Um, so the first review here, by Anonymous, is posted six years ago. I don't have a date for the original screenshot. So this could be any time. Title of the-- it's a five star review. Title of the review is Crystal. "She lay on her side, blood gushing out of a wound in her side. Claw marks were everywhere on her body." Originally posted on Hamlet. Helpful? Yes, zero. No, one.

LIZ: I have the web-- I just searched Barnes and Noble Hamlet and it is the first result. So I'm just going to put that in the chat.

JULIAN: Oh, good.

LIZ: There are pages of this. Pages.

PAZ: The second comment, also by Anonymous six years ago, says "Silvershadow to my kits. 'Thank StarClan you're okay. Where is Fablekit?' she mewed frantically." Once again, someone has given it a No in terms of being helpful.

JULIAN: I mean, I do think it's not helpful. It doesn't tell me anything about Hamlet the book.

PAZ: Well, maybe so.

JULIAN: The last review is again also five stars.

LIZ: It's from Dawnsky, who says, "'thank you. I will stay here for a night or two.' She fell asleep in a nest." Again, not helpful.

PAZ: And the next comment-- god, it's hard to tell which user this is from. Yeah, the follow up comment from brandnewclty is, "okay I was very involved in the Barnes and Nobles reviews Warrior Cat roleplay scene when I was like 10 to 12. The first few books of the series were general hubs, where people would post ads for their clans and other groups. There was a huge Percy Jackson community I remember participating in too. It worked through the search results. Eg RiverClan would be under the search results rivers. Book One was rules and a map. Book Two might be the main area, Book Three the medicine cat tent, etc. There was also usually a book where people would post lengthy descriptions of their characters. It was a really bizarre little corner of the internet. Also, it was impossible to find any real reviews of any Warriors Cats books because of it."

LIZ: This is amazing. Innovative. Also yes, fuck up Barnes and Noble.

PAZ: I'm amazed they just didn't delete these or moderate it in any conceivable way.

JULIAN: It sounds like they left them up for long enough for them to develop like a structure.

PAZ: Right?

JULIAN: Like Book One is for like a map?

LIZ: If you look on the Barnes and Noble site right now for Hamlet, these are seven years old now.

JULIAN: Oh my god. They're still up?

LIZ: Yeah, they're still up. There's pages of them. Most of them have given Hamlet five star reviews. So you know.

PAZ: Is there a sampling for us?

JULIAN: [gasps]

LIZ: God, there's so many good ones.

JULIAN: [cackling]

PAZ: Yeah?

JULIAN: I've found one. "To Baloo: This is not the real BloodClan. The real BloodClan is at Canterbury Tales."

LIZ: Holy fuck.

PAZ: Oh my god. Oh my god.

JULIAN: That has four up votes.

PAZ: Yeah, you got to set the record straight. How long ago was that?

JULIAN: This is six years ago. So as of 2015, people were still doing this.

LIZ: Good.

PAZ: Yeah. Okay. I went to-- because people were saying people posted on like the first book-- so I went to Into the Wild. A year ago, someone posted this. "HorseClan alive. Hello, if you're a member of the old HorseClan or you're looking to join a new clan that will be active and just like the original RP Clans, please join me, Velvet, one of the original clan leaders, in HorseClan. Ender's Game result one is where we are. Can't wait to see you." Oh my god.

JULIAN: This to me is like such an epitome of the Warrior Cats like the need to roleplay. Because it's like this is not a site that is good for roleplay--

PAZ: No! It's hard.

JULIAN: --meant for roleplaying. Like these people are really fighting to roleplay about their cats.

PAZ: Do they not know about Proboards?

JULIAN: And also I have found one about Percy Jackson.

LIZ: Okay, also, I think most of these reviews, there's like a review count for each person, and they just say one. So these are-- I guess it's individual. Once, or like once every-- this is such a hard format.

PAZ: This is like an ARG for roleplay.

LIZ: Okay by the way, mixed in with the Warrior Cats reviews in the Hamlet book are a lot of I think Percy Jackson roleplay posts, which are mostly profiles. Can I read you one? It's short and sweet.

JULIAN: Yes.

PAZ: Yes, please.

LIZ: Okay, this is from seven years ago, titled CC's Bio. CC is just the letters. "Name, duh. Age, 14. Looks, blond hair and sapphire eyes and pale. Wears, I say what I wear. Parent, Poseidon. Crush, ehhh. Status, ehh." With less Hs. "Weapon, a silver dagger with a diamond encrusted handle. Other, I'm musically talented and I'm nice. I'm not violent."

PAZ: That's beautiful.

JULIAN: That's really good. I've also found another one that I just want to read a single line from.

PAZ: Yes?

JULIAN: Also Percy Jackson. "Lev is 19 years old now. She has long auburn hair and gray eyes. Lev is single. She is broken over the loss of her three kids."

PAZ: Oh.

JULIAN: "Her three kids, brother, and fiance, so she comes off as cold and heartless." There's a like long description of all of her tattoos and like her bracelets and stuff. Her dead twin brother.

LIZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: How does-- she's 19.

LIZ: Wow.

PAZ: Went through it.

JULIAN: This girl is 19 and has experienced more loss.

LIZ: This is terrible. Tragic. Also, a lot of these people are using like, I'm assuming some sort of HTML-like emoji or something because there's a lot of broken HTML in the post.

PAZ: Oh no.

JULIAN: So those symbols should form like a little-- it's like the & less than, & greater than, so it should be like a little like diamond. But yeah, it looks real busted now.

PAZ: I'm still on Into the Wild. Here's a post that just seems-- somebody just seems to be using this as like a chat to DM their friend.

LIZ: Aw.

PAZ: Because here six years ago, "Isaiah, my brother is typing weird stuff again. So my friend told me Pajama Day is tomorrow. Should I listen to her? From Kenzie."

LIZ: Kenzie, I hope you got your answer. That's really urgent. Got a time limit.

PAZ: Yeah, you need to know if you're gonna wear pajamas to school tomorrow.

LIZ: Did you guys ever do that?

JULIAN: Yeah.

PAZ: I don't know. I think I might have been too like self conscious to.

LIZ: Me too.

JULIAN: Oh, here's someone else who is using it as a chat function. We're still in the Hamlet reviews. "Sup with you guys. I've been Facebooking lately. Sorry I haven't been computering you guys --007."

LIZ: This is so good.

JULIAN: I wonder if it's like for people whose parents like wouldn't let them go on a forum or like have social media but like--

LIZ: Mm.

PAZ: That's a good idea, yeah.

JULIAN: --you know, of course ≤you're gonna let me go on the Barnes and Noble website. What could I be doing on the Barnes and Noble website? Nothing.

PAZ: I just love to look at books.

LIZ: I'm just looking at Hamlet for class every day.

JULIAN: Yeah. Every day I look at the reviews of Hamlet.

LIZ: I can't figure out if I should buy it for class or not. Just give me a minute.

PAZ: That's probably right.

JULIAN: This is really wholesome.

LIZ: It's so good.

PAZ: Can I read--

LIZ: Okay, I've got-- oh go. No, you go.

PAZ: May I read another review?

LIZ: Mm-hmm.

JULIAN: Oh, please.

PAZ: Okay, "Hello people of the Warrior world. Hi, I am Trojanstar of MagicClan. I need more cats. If anyone wants to join, I need a deputy and warriors. I also love the books. The first series is the best one to me. If you like the Warriors series, then you might Wings of Fire is all about dragons. It's very awesome and dramatic and funny. Sometimes some people I know don't like me reading them. I don't care. Much of my friend loved the book, and also I can't believe what some people say about the books. Not to be rude but that is soooooo mean of you. I love the books a lot. Sorry about the grammar and spelling mistakes."

JULIAN: Aw.

LIZ: Aw.

PAZ: Somebody out here defending the dragon book.

LIZ: Okay.

JULIAN: There's a lot of reviews that just say "Fart BloodClan."

PAZ: Oh no.

LIZ: Okay, I did check to see if there's any role playing going on in the Guardians of Gahoole books and the answer is yes. And it is Warrior Cats.

PAZ: Oh my god. That's a power move.

JULIAN: Not even Guardians of Gahoole?

LIZ: There's a one star review from Anonymous that just says, "helo?" which is hello with one L, "clan cats. Do you all still come here?"

PAZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: Oh, this is-- okay, this is a Hamlet review that is actually about Hamlet, but it's very good. Okay, so the title is "yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay yay. I love this. Plus, I have the manga version!!!!" Four exclamation marks. "This helped me get Hamlet's part in a play I was just in, and I am a girl btdub. Love it, love it, love it!!!!!" Five exclamation marks. "Heart three."

LIZ: I am feeling this. This is amazing. Good for you.

JULIAN: I'm marking this as helpful. This is helpful. Thank you.

LIZ: Wait, can you rank this even if you don't have an account?

JULIAN: Yeah, you don't have to have an account.

LIZ: Holy shit.

PAZ: Oh my god.

LIZ: This is wild.

PAZ: I went to the Canterbury Tales because somebody said that's what the BloodClan was. It's just Warrior Cats role play.

LIZ: Oh my god. This is allowed?

PAZ: It's all it is.

JULIAN: Oh, someone is unhappy about people. "People shouldn't be role playing on the review section. Wow, don't be so rude. He or she is just saying that the review column for Hamlet is not the place for people to roleplay. There are websites for those and they should find them and do it on there instead. So just chill, okay?"

LIZ: I don't know. I disagree. I think this is the perfect place. It's basically praxis.

JULIAN: I voted no. I voted that that was not helpful.

LIZ: Okay, here's another one star review on the Guardians of Gahoole book. The title is "Moonkit, Snowkit, Firekit," and the content says, "Cry. 'We lost the clan,' they mew."

JULIAN: Aw.

PAZ: Oh no.

LIZ: That's so sad. I am going to put it as helpful, even though it's very sad.

PAZ: I'm going to see what's happening with Fire and Ice.

LIZ: Do you think this happens... is this like every book? It can't be every book. What if it's on like--

JULIAN: I'm so curious to know if like, do the people at Barnes and Noble know about this?

LIZ: Don't tell them. I don't want them to take this away.

PAZ: I don't know.

JULIAN: Like are there... do the people who coded the review section who like do the like systems admin at Barnes and Noble, do they know that they like supported a thriving community of Warrior Cats RPers?

PAZ: Yeah, I'm just, I cannot believe this has been like not been like moderated in some way.

JULIAN: Right?

PAZ: Anyway, here's a little somebody got in a little spat in the comment section of Fire and Ice. Someone posted two years ago, My dad's a vet, "These people are telling the truth. And please stop using their views to make up stupid little stories, RPs, self advertisement, and stuff like that. Some people might want to know what other people think about, and to be honest, it gets really annoying."

JULIAN: Damn.

PAZ: And then someone replied, "To Dad is a vet, we don't care what you think about RP. Some of us like having fun and meeting others."

LIZ: That's such a powerful response.

PAZ: I'm going to mark that second one as helpful.

LIZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: Like I'm so curious... like, what books are all of these in? Are there Warriors Cats RPs in like the Decameron?

PAZ: Someone just like... someone do their like thesis on this. I need to know how this happened and why.

LIZ: The thing that the post said about like there being designated areas for certain like purposes is so fascinating to me, that there's a structure to it.

PAZ: Right?

LIZ: It's like a code. Like the fucking Canterbury Tales?

JULIAN: I think Chaucer would approve.

LIZ: It's so good.

JULIAN: Yeah, if any listeners of this podcast were involved in like the Barnes and Noble RP scene, please let us know. Please tell us how you got involved and like how it worked. I am so curious.

LIZ: I love this so much.

PAZ: This is absolutely wild to me.

JULIAN: Wow.

LIZ: Can I read you part of another bio? We're gonna be here all day if we keep just reading them, but this one's really good.

PAZ: Of course.

JULIAN: Of course.

LIZ: This is five stars, seven years ago, on Hamlet, from Zayn/Razorclaws. They've marked down gender as "Don't be stupid."

JULIAN: That's how I feel about gender.

LIZ: Mates as "man up and ask me."

PAZ: Damn.

LIZ: There's some regular descriptions and stuff. I just like that a lot. That's real powerful. Thank you Zayn/Razorclaws.

PAZ: But you're right. There's so many good ones. We could just be here...

LIZ: I know.

PAZ: For ages.

JULIAN: I'm going into the Harry Potter reviews.

LIZ: Oh no.

PAZ: Please let Warriors take over them. There is someone doing both Percy Jackson here in Fire and Ice, the title of which is Percy Turns Tiny II, Part Four.

LIZ: Part Four.

PAZ: They were just like writing like fanfic in these comments.

LIZ: They want to get on Barnes and Noble as a book. That's why. And I hope them--

JULIAN: Great news. It is hard to find because there's so many reviews of Harry Potter. But there was seven years ago, there was Warrior Cats RP.

LIZ: Good.

JULIAN: And also Percy Jackson RP.

PAZ: Fuck yes.

LIZ: Yeah, we should bring that back. Let's flood those out.

PAZ: Both of those series are better than Harry Potter.

LIZ: Okay, there is someone else's bio in Hamlet, and they're called Silvermoonstar. Their rank is assassin?

PAZ: Fuck yes.

LIZ: This is about the Warrior Cats because of the name and cat descriptions. But it says she's "an ex leader of Evil Chaos," capital letters. "The Resistance," capital letters, "and Evil Within," capital letters.

PAZ: Oh my god. Holy shit.

LIZ: This is amazing. "Other things you should know, eats kits." [gasps] This is a cannibal assassin.

JULIAN: Oh my god.

PAZ: Oh my god.

LIZ: Holy shit.

PAZ: There's some dark stuff happening in the Barnes and Noble comments section.

LIZ: "Family, none anymore. Crush, same as a long time ago."

PAZ: Of course.

JULIAN: Oh, someone has written some fanfiction in the review section of Harry Potter. It's Percy/Oliver.

PAZ: I don't remember who that is.

LIZ: He's your cat.

JULIAN: Oliver Wood, the captain of the Quidditch team and Percy Weasley, the snitch.

PAZ: Oh, I thought you were talking about Percy Jackson. I'm like, who?

JULIAN: Oh no.

LIZ: Oh.

PAZ: I don't know an Oliver. Oh, boy. Well, I'm hungry. So maybe we should leave it there. But this is a rich resource. And I invite all of our listeners to to look into this. Tell us what books you see and maybe that have been taken over by Warriors Cat RP.

LIZ: Can I end this with one last Hamlet review, which is just dialogue? It is addressed to all drunk cats. "What is going on here? What if we get attacked today?"

PAZ: Makes you think.

LIZ: What if we get attacked today?

JULIAN: Wow.

PAZ: Well, that's gonna do it for us today. As always, you can find us @staircast on Twitter. And if you have any questions or anecdotes-- say, if you were in this roleplay scene-- you can send that in to our email stairwaytostarclan@gmail.com. And next week, we'll be reading chapter 8 through 10. So if you're reading along, join us there. Until next time, may StarClan light your path. Bye.

LIZ: Bye.

JULIAN: Bye.

[outro music]

LIZ: Oh my god, is someone modding in the reviews? Sorry. I'm still here. Someone is being a mod in the reviews. I'm gonna just paste it. It's very... [laughs]

JULIAN: Someone else is pretending to be JK Rowling.

LIZ: Oh my god.

JULIAN: In the reviews of Harry Potter.

LIZ: Fuck.

[allenmendezsr]

Data Entry Work Online Jobs - Earn From Home

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ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. CLICKBANK® is a registered trademark of Click Sales Inc., a Delaware corporation located at 1444 S. Entertainment Ave., Suite 410 Boise, ID 83709, USA and used by permission. ClickBank’s role as retailer does not constitute an endorsement, approval or review of these products or any claim, statement or opinion used in promotion of these products.

Earnings Disclaimer | Privacy

© 2020  Home-Jobs-Directory.com,  All rights Reserved

[newtonmediagroup]

How to be Captivating

Captivating people usually refers to telling a story that leaves them listening like children (in a good way). Storytelling is a big topic that is often made overly complex, but there are many ways of creating this feeling in small, everyday ways. To captivate others is no easy feat, but the material and ability lies within all of us. We just have to know where it is and how to access it. An easy way to imagine everyday storytelling is that your life is a series of stories—mini-stories, to be exact. Instead of giving one-word answers, get into the habit of framing your answers as a story with a point. It creates more engagement, lets you show your personality, and allows for smoother conversation. The bonus here is that you can prepare these before a conversation. The 1:1:1 method of storytelling is to simplify it as much as possible. The impact of a story won’t necessarily be stronger if it is ten sentences versus two sentences. Therefore, the 1:1:1: method focuses on the discussion and reaction that occurs after a story. A story can be composed solely of (1) one action, (2) one emotion to be evoked, and (3) a one-sentence summary. Don’t get lost rambling, and also make sure your listener feels that they are fully participating in the conversation.

Better Small Talk: Talk to Anyone, Avoid Awkwardness, Generate Deep Conversations, and Make Real Friends By Patrick King Get the audiobook on Audible at https://bit.ly/BetterSmallTalk Show notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/social-skills-shownotes Learn more or get a free mini-book on conversation tactics at https://bit.ly/pkconsulting For narration information visit Russell Newton at https://bit.ly/VoW-home For production information visit Newton Media Group LLC at https://bit.ly/newtonmg Captivating,Francis Ford Coppola,Russell Newton,NewtonMG,Patrick King,Social Skills Coaching,Storytelling,Better Small Talk #Captivating #FrancisFordCoppola #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PatrickKing #SocialSkillsCoaching #Storytelling #BetterSmallTalk

How to be Captivating

Captivating is a pretty strong word, and as such, it’s probably something that we want to strive for in our interactions.

When we think of a captivating person, what kind of mental image comes to mind? If you were to choose a picture for a “captivating person” in a dictionary, what would the person be? What is this person expressing, how are they acting, and what are you watching them do?

More often than not, this person is going to look like they are on a stage or pulpit gesticulating grandly and expressively, with an emotion-filled face. And I would also bet that this person is in the middle of weaving an engrossing tale that captivates his or her audience. Indeed, if you think about it, it seems that only with storytelling can we mesmerize and charm others into hanging on to our every word.

Okay, that’s up for debate, but determining whether or not that is true is not the aim of this chapter. No one can deny that storytelling is an important element of memorable conversations and discussions that you want to have. The question is always how to capture this elusive skill and make it your own. Therefore, in this chapter, I want to present a few perspectives on how you can use storytelling in your everyday conversations and even small talk.

It’s helpful to first take the mystique away from the whole concept of storytelling. What is storytelling? It’s just telling someone about something that happened. That’s all. Of course, there are better and worse ways to do this, but at the core, storytelling is just talking about the past in a way that makes people pay attention. The first part we have no problem with—we’ve all described our pasts, and we all have great experiences worthy of being told—but the second part is typically the challenge. With that in mind, let’s see how we can get better at storytelling. A Life of Stories

To get better at stories, we have to begin to recognize them in our daily lives. No, seriously. We don’t think of our lives as being very interesting on a day-to-day basis, but we do quite a bit more than we realize. It’s not that every day you are engaging in a massive protest that you can tell your kids about, or you were chased by a wiener dog down a dark alley whereupon a man dressed as a parrot saved you by tackling the dog. These stories are self-evident and don’t need any organization or special way of telling them to make an impact.

We have to draw from our daily lives, and believe me, there is plenty to draw from. It’s just a matter of seeing the mini-stories that are inherent in our everyday existence. What is the definition of a mini-story in this context?

“So what do you do?” “I’m a marketing executive.”

Well, not that. That’s going to get a reply of "Oh, cool. I’m going to the bathroom now, goodbye.” Let’s try again.

“So what do you do?” “I’m a marketing executive. I deal mostly with clients. Just last week we had a crazy client that threatened to send his bodyguards to our office! I definitely wish I dealt more with the creative side.”

[thedecidedgamer-blog]

Fortnite vs Playerunknown's Battlegrounds

In today's episode of TheDecidedGamer podcast I'm talking about the recent controversy surrounding Fortnite's new battle royale mode and how Bluehole, the creator of PUBG, responded to the announcement of the new game type. There also might be something in there about a battle royale style Star Wars game. I'll leave a transcript of the episode down below for you guys as well.

Here's my patreon page if you want to support the the podcast, as well as all of my social media and website:

https://www.patreon.com/thedecidedgamer

https://www.instagram.com/thedecidedgamer/

https://twitter.com/TheDecidedGamer

https://www.facebook.com/Thedecidedgamer-357816271327700/

thedecidedgamer@gmail.com

http://www.thedecidedvoter.com/

As always thank you to my buddy Daren for providing the intro and outro music please subscribe to their channel on Soundcloud here: @ghostisland or the specific album it came from here:  darnfelski.bandcamp.com/

Transcript: 

Hey what’s up gamers. On today’s episode of TheDecideGamer podcast we will be discussing the controversy surrounding Fortnite’s new battle royale mode and the response from Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds creator Bluehole. There’s a lot to unpack here, and somewhere in this episode I might talk about Darth Vader parachuting in looking to win a chicken dinner. So there’s that. Alright, let’s talk about gaming.

So there is a whole bunch of crap wrapped up in this story that we have to untangle. Eww…that’s kind of gross. Anyway, Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, just released a new game mode. Battle Royale. If you don’t know what fortnite is, it’s literally you building a massive fort to try and survive endless hordes of zombies. It’s a builder-survival game. However, as an additional FREE add on, that’s right gamers Free.99, AND its on console. Epic Games has included a battle royale mode. A game mode strikingly similar to Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds. Besides the art style and being able to build bridges and walls mid-combat, it is literally a replica of PUBG and H1Z1. Epic Games, while promoting this new mode in fortnite, named PUBG as an inspiration to the game. This did not sit well with Bluehole, the creator of PUBG, as they made a statement saying that they did not like Epic Games making references to PUBG during their promotions, and then ominously saying that they are considering quote unquote, further action. Complicating the situation even more is the fact that Bluehole is licensing the game engine, Unreal Engine 4, from Epic Games. Just to clear this up: Bluehole created a battle royale game called Playerunknown’s battle grounds. To do this, they used the game engine that Epic Games owns. Bluehole pays royalties to Epic Games for the use of this game engine. Epic Games then input a battle royale mode into Fortnite, a game that they created, essentially replicating the game mode that has been made most popular by PUBG. Jesus. Everybody with me still?

So let’s first decide if Bluehole has an argument. We can only assume that by “further action” that they mean legal action. Do they have a legal case against Epic Games? aaaaaaa not really. They do not have copyright over an entire genre, which is what battle royale is. But, there is still something that feels off in this situation. Epic Games released a game that is incredibly similar to PUBG. They gave Bluehole the license to use Unreal Engine 4, and then built a game on the same engine and promoted that game by stating how much their brand new awesome spectacular game--is just like that other battle royale game that is destroying records on Steam, and on many days, the number one viewed game on Twitch. There may not be a legal case, but it certainly feels a little dirty. Which leads to how Bluehole probably should have reacted.

PUBG is wildly successful. Much has been made of the game breaking the concurrent player record on steam. The press release threatening further action seemed kind of petty, even if it actually wasn’t. Most gamers don’t really care about the behind the scenes workings of how games are produced. By releasing the statement that Bluehole did, they demonstrated how the sausage was made. And nobody wants to see how the sausage is made. Besides that, Bluehole is still carrying itself like an Indie studio. While it certainly is that, it is also evolving. PUBG’s success has been incredible, especially for a game that is not fully released yet. Fortnite might be a good game eventually, but it will have to differentiate itself to compete with PUBG, or even H1Z1. For now, Bluehole should be concentrated on improving their game and getting it transitioned to console properly. If they were offended by Epic Games promoting Fortnite and using PUBG’s name while doing so, contact them behind the scenes. Communicate properly, presenting the dirty laundry for the world to see brings up arguments that I don’t Bluehole is ready to have. Bluehole is clearly not going to sue the company that is licensing them their game engine, so don’t issue a veiled threat like it’s an actual possibility. Act like the monster you are. Whoever is in charge of PR for Bluehole should have said something to the effect of: Fortnite is cute with its cartoon characters and treasure chests. PUBG is where real competition is, and we’re going to continue to deliver great content to keep our game fresh. We wish Fortnite the best, but if you want a real chicken dinner, we’ll see you at the School near Rozhok.

Because here is the simple fact: there will be more of these replicas.

  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing ridiculous reincarnations of PUBG. A Star Wars Battlefront Battle Royale. You’re Darth Vader falling from the sky in a parachute, looking for a Scar and a 4x attachment, all black cape flowing beautifully in the wind. You pass by some soviet propaganda, even though the map is of Tatooine, EA just wanted to piss off Bluehole. Attempting to chase down Yoda, who clearly has an advantage via his size and natural camouflage. Only to be killed by a zooming speeder bike, that taunts you by honking 20 times as you cartwheel endlessly through the air. Shit. This is actually starting to sound badass. Someone contact EA and pitch them the idea…just don’t tell Bluehole.

Clearly I’m having a little bit of fun, but Fortnite is simply the most recent example. With the amount of success PUBG has had, there will be many more to follow, and Bluehole has to be prepared to shrug off the competition and push forward. If not, they will look continue to look petty, even though they raise some valid concerns.

Alright gamers, thanks for tuning in. What do you think of Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode. Do you think Bluehole has a legal argument? Let me know, you can send me comments on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and Gmail by looking up TheDecidedGamer. If you would like to support the podcast please visit my patreon page, which I’ll link in the show description along with all of my social media. You can also visit www.thedecidedvoter.com to see all of the content I produce. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you guys Thursday for Streamer Spotlight. Peace.

  Check out this episode!

[gettheballrunning]

anxious

there are a lot of things happening here. i think its making my anxiety flare up and i can’t sleep (another 2AM post).

-when i got home tonight, i was so convinced there was someone in my house my heart rate was up real high. really, i just hadn't been home since last night and the house is old and creaks.

-i’ve been worried lately that i won’t get in to my school of choice next fall. my grades at CC are just fine- actually really good. but i’m still worried about my past school. i can’t send my transcripts to the new school from the v old school because i am still paying them on a balance i owed. so hopefully they don’t want those. it was a long time ago. do classes expire??

-i got another job- working @ LA fitness. that’ll help a lot with bills even though it’s like 12 hours a week. it’ll also help because my gym payment will go away. plus working on my other blog, trying to get recipes and crafts and life posts up. hard work man.

-work has been busy lately but its nothing i can’t handle. waiting for it to slow down around summer and be easier to get caught up. i take on too many of my coworkers new hires. its exhausting me. even the one i’m very close with has been taking advantage lately and its not fair. i’m going to be the bad guy soon when i tell everyone NO. i like to be helpful, but why does she get to work 2 days a week and i’m working 5????

-my half marathon and 5K are in a month and a half and again, i don’t feel prepared. guess i’ll keep running as much as i can. i’m never fully prepared for these things. 

-other new things happening but not contributing to my anxiety- maybe happy anxiety... more on that later.

LET’S SEE HOW I DO WITH 2 JOBS AND SCHOOL AND TRAINING FOR THE HALF. :D anyone else get anxious over this stuff and overbook themselves? i barely have time for anything else and when i do i feel guilty for doing what i want.  :( should have an OK week though. things should calm down a bit. UGH.

[voltrontranscript]

VLD S6E1: Omega Shield

Season 6 Episode 1: Omega Shield

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Summary: As Lotor continues to affirm his claim on the Galra throne, his governess comes to deliver congratulations and lessons to the protagonists. Then, Lotor receives a distress signal from a labor planet when Sendak attacks and leaves them defenseless. The Paladins go to aid them while Lotor continues to rule from Galra Command.

[Google Doc]

Lotor: To return so triumphantly is a dream I thought I would never achieve. We are one step closer to bringing peace and prosperity to the entire universe. This is all because of you, Princess.

Allura: We did it together, Lotor. I would have never even known of Oriande without you, and therefore could have never unlocked its secrets.

[Cut to Galra Command HQ.]

Shiro: We’ll see what intel is in your briefing and decide what to do from there. Maybe we can--

Dayak: Lotor.

Lotor: Oh, no.

Lance: Uh… who the heck are you?

Dayak: How dare you speak to me without authorization from Blood Emperor Lotor.

Lance: Ow!

Lotor: She was my governess. No one has used the term “Blood Emperor” since before we were a star-faring race. And these are my colleagues. They have more than my permission to speak. Everyone, this is Dayak.

Pidge: Hi!

Coran: A pleasure.

Hunk: Hiya.

Shiro: Hello.

Allura: Nice to meet you.

Lotor: So, to what do we owe the honor?

Dayak: Word of your victory at the Kral Zera has spread throughout the empire. I always knew you had it in you to crush your enemies. Dayak’s raised you from a child to a man, and now I’ll witness your ascension to the throne.

Lance: Wait, she raised you from a child? Aww, is this your nanny?

Lotor: Governess.

Lance: You have a nanny! Oh man, is she going to read you bedtime stories? Is she gonna rock you to sleep? Is she gon--Ow!

Dayak: I instructed Lotor in the ways of the Galra. The history of our conquests, our customs, battle philosophy, the art of war.

Hunk: Hm, Galra customs, huh? Is that like when you guys say “Vrepit Sa” and stuff? There’s so much we don’t know about you.

Lotor: If you’re interested in our society’s history, you couldn’t find a better teacher than Dayak.

Dayak: What Lotor says is true.

Hunk: Oh, wow. Would you really teach me about the Galra?

Lance: What you wanna know about the Galra for?

Hunk: Well, we’re gonna be working with Lotor to bring peace throughout the empire, right? Just makes sense the more we know about their society, the better.

Dayak: If you are to learn the ways of the Galra, you must be prepared for the most challenging trial you could ever undertake. There will be no turning back. Victory or death.

Hunk: Uh, oh, that’s okay.

Allura: Hunk, you’re a Paladin of Voltron. There is no challenge too great for you.

Hunk: Will I learn what “Vrepit Sa” means?

Dayak: Yes.

Hunk: Let’s do it!

Shiro: Let’s get to that briefing.

[Scene change to Galra briefing room.]

Unnamed male Galra: The civil war continues unimpeded. More and more Galra forces are leaving to join other factions. Sendak has claimed the most deserters. They call themselves “the Fire of Purification.”

Lotor: It is time I address all Galra and make my claim as emperor absolute.

Lance: Is that going to start with you freeing planets?

Lotor: It’s not that easy. My grip on the empire is tenuous as is. I need to proffer an alternative to our current state. That’s why it is so important that Allura and I gain access to the quintessence field.

Allura: Are we to focus all of our energy on that?

Lotor: It is paramount. However, we cannot let the empire fall apart. I will address my people at the astral conflux.

[Scene change to training deck in Galra command.]

Hunk: How exactly is holding these weights gonna help me learn Galra history?

Dayak: Palen-bol!

Hunk: Ow!

Dayak: For the mind to learn, the body must be broken.

Hunk: Broken? That seems a little drastic.

Dayak: Palen-bol!

Hunk: Ow! What does that mean?

Dayak: It means “the enlightening pain.” But apparently there is not enough pain to make you enlightened yet.

Hunk: So you’re gonna hurt me until I’m smart?

Dayak: Yes!

Hunk: Aww.

Dayak: The Galra race started as a nation tribe on planet Daibazaal, home to many warring races at the time. In the war to annihilate the opposing tribes, the Galra formed a phalanx of their bravest and made a spear-like attack to the heart of their foes. It was known as the Killing Thrust, or Vrepit Sa.

Hunk: Oh, so that’s what Vrepit Sa means? “Killing Thrust”? That’s so violent.

Dayak: Palen-bol!

Hunk: Ow!

Dayak: Yes, it is violent. The Galra believe combat is the searing light that burns away imperfections on every level, from personal to societal.

Hunk: Cool. Can’t I maybe take a little break?

Dayak: Break? There are no breaks! Your training is finished when you have learned all pain has to teach you.

Hunk: Oh, man. That’s so intense.

Dayak: If you decide to leave your training early, it is an insult to my teaching. An insult that can only be settled by a fight to the death.

Hunk: So you’re saying a fight to the death is the only way out of this? Ow! Okay, yeah, you just said that. I guess I am getting smarter.

[Scene change to the shipyard, where the Sincline ships are being assembled.]

Lotor: You must replicate your father’s work if we are to use this ship to enter the quintessence field.

Allura: But how?

Lotor: Something you learned in Oriande. Something your father learned to become the superior alchemist he was. How he built Voltron is the key.

Guard: My lord. It is time to prepare for your speech.

Lotor: It seems my empire needs me. Please continue.

[Cut to the Galra throne hall.]

Lotor: Galra brothers and sisters, I am your emperor, Lotor, son and successor of Zarkon, slayer of a tyrant, child raised in the void and taught on the battlefield. There are rumors of doubt regarding my leadership. Do not let them poison your ears. Pledge loyalty to me, and I will deliver the Galra Empire unto times of untold prosperity. An age of unlimited quintessence, the likes of which this universe has never known.

Lahn: Commander, radiation belt approaching.

Bogh: Initiate shield.

Lotor’s voice: Soon I will raise our grand empire above the indigence and violence of its past up to new heights of peace and limitless possibility. Those factions that splintered from the empire will pay for their treachery. I urge you now, send me your messages of fealty. Those who choose to turn their backs on their emperor will find themselves lost to the sands of history, unremembered and unmourned.

Lahn: You can’t possibly be thinking about pledging to him. And what’s all that about becoming a peaceful empire? He’s too weak to be our emperor.

Bogh: Enough. Lotor lit the flame. We are honor-bound to do as he says, even if it is… strange. We will be pledging to Lotor.

Lahn: You’re weak, too.

Bogh: Maybe I didn’t make myself clear, Lieutenant Lahn. I’m in charge of this shielding facility, my word is law.

Lahn: Aye, sir. Shield at eighty-five percent. Next radiation event in three vargas.

Bogh: Recharge and prepare for the next radiation sequence. Open a hailing frequency to Galra command.

Galra soldier: Sir, hostile ships incoming.

Sendak: Sending a message to Lotor, are we? And to think, I came here to offer you a chance to serve in the Fire of Purification. Fire the ion cannon.

[Scene change to the training deck of Galra command.]

Hunk: Ow! Ow! I did everything you told me!

Dayak: Yes, but that doughy face of yours is very un-Galra.

Hunk: It’s just my face! Ha!

Dayak: Very good.

Hunk: Owwie!

Dayak: Showing complacency? Palen-bol!

Hunk: Ow, ow, ow!

[Cut to bridge of Galra command.]

Bogh: The planet has already been fired upon and we do not have the means to protect ourselves. You must send assistance immediately.

Lotor: Understood.

Shiro: What’s going on?

Lotor: One of our labor planets is under attack from Sendak and his fleet.

Lance: Sendak? Not that guy again.

Pidge: We’ve gotta help that planet immediately.

Lotor: Sendak would have me respond to his attack and neglect my empire.

Allura: Voltron can handle this while you continue to rule.

Lotor: But, Princess, I need you here. Without you--

Allura: Your plan has waited this long. It can wait a tick longer. We must protect your innocent subjects.

Lotor: Of course. You’re right.

Allura: We will return as soon as we can.

Hunk: Well, looks like I’m gonna have to cut my training short.

Dayak: You dishonor me. A fight to the death!

Hunk: Okay, well, I’ve got to go with them right now, but maybe we can put a pin in that? Reschedule for tomorrow? Or never? Hey, Dayak isn’t really gonna fight me to the death, is she? Is she?

Pidge: She seemed pretty serious. But, I bet if you ask Lotor nicely, he can have her exiled.

Hunk: Oh, that’d be nice. Yeah, I’m not really in the mood to die, you know? Uh, speaking of, is anyone else scared that we’re about to face Sendak? Sendak “who almost took all the Lions” Sendak? And who basically came back from the dead Sendak, that guy?

Pidge: Come on, Hunk. We’re Paladins. We got this. Right, Shiro? Shiro?

Shiro: Pidge is right. Let’s focus on our mission.

[Cut to the labor planet.]

Sendak: Take heed. Galra citizens who side with Lotor will be destroyed. Here at your new master’s bidding?

[Transition to the Patrulian Zone.]

Acxa: We’ve arrived at the coordinates. We can’t go any further without losing power.

Haggar: Stay on course.

[Cut to Voltron.]

Lance: Shiro, are you alright?

Shiro: I’m fine. Come on, team, let’s form Voltron!

Galra Soldier: Sir, cannons aimed at Voltron.

Sendak: No. Aim them at the shield station. I know your true weakness. That you value the lives of others. And I will hammer that weakness until you are crushed beneath my heel.

Pidge: Oh, no! Without those shields in place, the planet will be fully exposed!

Lance: Which means?

Pidge: They’ll have no protection from the radiation bands!

Sendak: The entire planet is doomed. Take us out of here. We’ve won the day.

Lance: We can’t let him get away!

Shiro: Lance, there’s no time. We’ve gotta fix that shield as soon as--

Allura: Shiro, are you alright?

Shiro: I’m fine. We can’t leave that planet unprotected. We are the Paladins of Voltron, working with Emperor Lotor. We’re here to help you. What is the status of your shield system?

Bogh: Paladins, I am Commander Bogh. Our damage report indicates that a plate has been fractured. Our generator is offline and needs rebooting. Other plates have shifted out of their gravitational harnessing and must be repositioned. Only five doboshes until the next solar sequence.

Shiro: You’re the engineer, Hunk. How should we handle this?

Hunk: We need to split up. Pidge, you handle the generator system.

Pidge: Then I’m gonna need Shiro to come with me. I can use his arm to repower the mainframe.

Hunk: Okay, good. Allura, Lance, I need you to re-fuse that fractured plate.

Allura: Affirmative.

Lance: You got it!

Hunk: I’m gonna try to get the plates aligned.

Shiro: Okay, we’ve got our orders. Let’s move!

Hunk: Where does this plate need to be lined up?

Bogh: You’re moving plate 7-2. It needs to be aligned with 8-1.

Hunk: Got it, but those other plates are out of position. There’s just no way I’ll be able to move them all myself.

Bogh: I can activate the manual thrusters on some of the plates. It will be slow going, but I--

Lahn: First you side with Lotor and get our system attacked by Sendak. Then, you willfully work with Voltron, our sworn enemies!

Bogh: Get to your station and begin the thrust sequence. That’s an order!

Hunk: Are you freaking kidding me?! Palen-bol!

Bogh: Huh?

Lahn: Huh?

Hunk: You’re both a dishonor. Do you fight for yourselves or do you fight for the Galra?

Bogh: Galra!

Lahn: Galra!

Hunk: Then victory or death! Enough of the bickering!

Lahn: We’re going to die because of Commander Bogh.

Hunk: You know, long ago, there was a desperate group of Galra that thought they were going to die. They executed a spear-like attack known as the Killing Thrust. Those soldiers knew what it meant to put their life on the line. They won the day. Are you ready to put aside your differences and fight with me?

Bogh: Vrepit Sa!

Lahn: Vrepit Sa!

Hunk: Well, I guess all that pain did make me smarter. Pidge, I’m gonna need you to restore main shield power to get this gravitational harnessing going.

Pidge: We’re on it. Okay, Shiro, let’s jack your hand into that terminal and we’ll get this thing running in no time.

[Cut to Red and Blue by the broken shield plate.]

Lance: Okay, broken massive shield plate. Don’t suppose there’s a quick tutorial video on how to fix this, is there?

Hunk: Make sure the connection is straight. If it’s even one degree off, the shield will fail.

Lance: That’s not a tutorial!

Allura: If you hold them in place, then I could freeze them together, but I don’t think the ice will stand the radiation for very long.

Lance: Hey, maybe after you freeze them, I could use my heat ray to weld them together.

Allura: Great idea, Lance!

Lance: Aww, thanks, princess. I couldn’t have thought of it without you, though. I mean, really, I think we make a great team. Here we are, working together, just the two of us.

Allura: Let’s go, Lance.

Hunk: This isn’t going fast enough.

Lance: They’re all in place!

Allura: That should hold them.

Lance: Hope this works.

Allura: We did it!

Hunk: Nice job, guys. Pidge, you ready? We’re almost at the radiation belt.

Pidge: Hold on. I just need a few more minutes.

Lance: Uh, guys, that radiation belt is getting closer!

Hunk: Last piece in place. Fire up that power, Pidge!

Pidge: Shield’s up!

Lance: Huh? What’s going on with the plates? Allura! [screams]

Allura: Lance! Lance, please respond!

Hunk: The broken plate shorted out. Lance isn’t responding, Allura jumped out of her lion. What else could possibly go wrong right now? Pidge, what happened to the power? We’re almost at the radiation belt.

Pidge: I know. I’m on it. Come on, Shiro. 

Allura: No… No, no.

Hunk: Let’s try this again.

Bogh: Radiation exposure in four…

Hunk: Pidge, hit it now!

Bogh: Three...

Pidge: Come on.

Bogh: Two… One.

Hunk: Great job!

Pidge: It worked!

Hunk: We did it!

Bogh: Shielding complete. Recharge and prepare for the next radiation sequence.

Lance: Huh? You saved me.

Allura: I owed you one.

[Scene change to the station’s bridge.]

Bogh: Thank you for reminding us what it means to be Galra. Vrepit Sa!

Lahn: Vrepit Sa!

Hunk: Vrepit Sa! Man, that’s weird to say.

[Scene change to the Lions.]

Pidge: Nice work out there, Hunk. That Galra training really toughened you up.

End.

[businessliveme]

Trump Impeached by House But Pelosi’s Unscripted Moment Sets Off Delay

(Bloomberg) –The U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress, the culmination of an effort by Democrats that further inflamed partisan tensions in Washington and deepened the nation’s ideological divide.

The historic votes on Wednesday evening, which won the support of almost all Democrats in the House but not a single Republican, make Trump only the third president in U.S. history to be impeached — and likely the only impeached president to win his party’s nomination for re-election.

The Senate will hold a trial early next year to decide whether the president should be convicted on the charges and removed from office, though the Republicans who have the majority in that chamber will almost certainly acquit him.

House Democrats took depositions from more than a dozen witnesses, held weeks of hearings, and wrote hundreds of pages documenting Trump’s efforts to pressure the president of Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

Yet public support for Trump’s impeachment and removal rarely went much above 50% in polling, and there is little evidence that the proceedings left him in a worse position politically on the eve of the 2020 election.

After more than six hours of debate, the House voted 230 to 197 to adopt the first of two impeachment articles, one alleging he misused the power of his office to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. The House voted 229 to 198 on a second article accusing him of obstructing Congress.

The final vote left all sides dissatisfied. Republicans fumed at what they called a rushed process, accusing Democrats of ignoring their demands for witnesses and trying to tarnish Trump heading into his campaign.

But Democrats failed to inflict lasting damage to the president, even as the evidence mounted that he had done what they alleged: Attempting to strong-arm a U.S. ally to investigate a prominent political rival by holding back military aid and an Oval Office visit.

“I could not be prouder or more inspired by the moral courage of House Democrats,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the votes.

‘No Grounds’

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, delivering the closing arguments for the GOP, said the legacy of House Democrats will be “the most partisan and least credible impeachment in American history.”

It is a “case is based on second-hand opinions and hearsay,” he said. “Simply put: they have no grounds for impeachment.”

Minutes before the House began voting, Trump took the stage for a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, a state that was crucial to his victory in 2016 and his chances for re-election next year, to provide a real-time rebuttal to the impeachment debate.

“After three years of sinister witch hunts, hoaxes, scams, tonight, House Democrats are trying to nullify the ballots of tens of millions of patriotic Americans,” Trump told the crowd. He said Democrats would pay the price in the next election.

Shift to Senate

The drama will now shift to the Senate for a trial next month that will be presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts. With a two-thirds vote required to convict the president, Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled chamber is all but assured. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already declared that he is “not an impartial juror” and is setting a course to bring the proceedings to a swift conclusion.

“The president is confident the Senate will restore regular order, fairness, and due process, all of which were ignored in the House proceedings,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement immediately after the second article was adopted. “He is prepared for the next steps and confident that he will be fully exonerated.”

It wasn’t clear Wednesday night how quickly the House would send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, a step that would trigger the trial and stop work on any other matters. Pelosi said she was holding off naming House managers for the trial “until we see what the process is in the Senate.”

“This is a serious matter, even though the majority leader in the United States Senate says it’s OK for the foreman of the jury to be in cahoots with the lawyers of the accused,” Pelosi said. “That doesn’t sound right to us.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans in a floor speech Thursday to call the House probe the “most unfair impeachment inquiry in modern history.” Trump said on Twitter that if the Democrats decide “not to show up, they would lose by Default!”

The historic debate and vote took place in the same chamber where presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached. The arguments on the House floor mostly replayed those made in Judiciary and Intelligence committee impeachment hearings since last month, and on Tuesday as lawmakers set the ground rules for Wednesday’s floor action.

‘Duty’

Opening the debate, Pelosi called Trump an “ongoing threat to our national security,” and declared that, “If we do not act now, we would be derelict in our duty.”

Republican Representative Doug Collins of Georgia, a key defender of the president during Judiciary Committee hearings, said in rebuttal that the president did nothing wrong.

“The people of America see through this,” Collins said. “The people of America understand due process and they understand when it is being trampled in the people’s house.”

The House vote culminates a nearly three-month investigation into Trump’s Ukraine dealings by Democrats led by Pelosi, Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler and Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff.

The inquiry was set off in September by a still-unnamed whistle-blower’s complaint and the White House’s release of a July 25 transcript of phone call between the U.S. President and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Impeachment Momentum

Trump and his Republican backers accuse Democrats of hurtling toward impeachment of the 45th president since the day he won election. In fact, at least a few the most liberal Democrats had been calling for his impeachment since the first reports by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with the 2016 election to Trump’s benefit.

But Pelosi had staved off those demands, until the Ukraine revelations dramatically shifted the sentiment among Democrats, drawing support from more centrist members of the party who were wary of paying a political price with angry Trump voters in their districts.

Only two of the 31 Democrats representing areas Trump won in 2016, Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, voted against impeaching the president. A third, Maine’s Jared Golden, voted for the abuse of power article but against the obstruction article. Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, voted present on both counts.

Michigan Representative Justin Amash, a Trump critic who left the Republican Party earlier this year and became an independent, voted with the Democrats for impeachment. Trump’s Wednesday night rally was held in his district.

Even if the president evades conviction and removal, the House vote will leave a stain on his time in the White House and his place in history.

Political Impact

With polling before the vote showing the country as sharply divided along party lines on impeachment as was the House of Representatives, Trump and his allies are vowing to make it an issue in coming elections. On Tuesday, the president sent an angry and rambling six-page letter to Pelosi saying the impeachment vote would backfire on Democrats.

“Any member of Congress who votes in support of impeachment — against every shred of truth, fact, evidence and legal principle — is showing how deeply they revile the voters and how truly they detest America’s constitutional order,” he wrote.

Although anger surrounding impeachment has animated voters in both parties, it’s not yet clear that it will be the central issue when they cast ballots next November in an election to decide control of the White House and Congress. The cost and availability of health care along with the state of the economy remain the top issues mentioned by voters in most polls. There also may be events over the next 10 months that reshape the campaigns.

“Things move so fast we can’t just assume that things that seem very important now are going to matter later,” Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Chrystal Ball website at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said last week.

–With assistance from Erik Wasson.

Pelosi’s Unscripted Moment Sets Off Fight On Impeachment Delay

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s carefully scripted impeachment of Donald Trump took an unexpected turn an hour after she banged the gavel Wednesday night, as she opened the door to stalling a Senate trial on whether the president should be removed from office.

So far, there are no formal plans by Democrats to delay the impeachment. But Pelosi’s comment drew swift criticism from Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as Democrats have yet to clarify their timetable.

In an unscripted moment before reporters, Pelosi took a step favored by some in her Democratic caucus, but one she hadn’t broached herself: holding off on sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate until she secured changes in the rules for the trial in that chamber.

“So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us,” Pelosi told reporters Wednesday after impeachment vote. She noted that McConnell has said he won’t be an impartial juror and that he will work in coordination with the White House counsel’s office.

“We’re not sending it tonight because it’s difficult to determine who the managers would be until we see the arena in which we will be participating,” Pelosi added. “This is a serious matter, even though the majority leader in the United States Senate says it’s OK for the foreman of the jury to be in cahoots with the lawyers of the accused.”

The idea initially pushed by outside commentators has gained traction among Democrats in a way that surprised even Pelosi’s top deputies. While House leaders were always planning to wait at least a day to name impeachment managers for the Senate trial, the suggestion to hold the impeachment articles in the House demand certain witnesses in the Senate has thrown the process into confusion.

Republicans slammed the proposal as the most egregious example of political manipulation seeping into what should be a serious constitutional exercise. Trump called Democrats the “Do Nothing Party” and retweeted South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham accusing Democrats of “constitutional extortion” and asking “what is driving this crazy idea?”

If House Dems refuse to send Articles of Impeachment to the Senate for trial it would be a breathtaking violation of the Constitution, an act of political cowardice, and fundamentally unfair to President @realdonaldTrump.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 19, 2019

McConnell said the suggestion that the House might not immediately send the impeachment articles to the Senate is a sign that the House may be “second-guessing whether they even want to go to trial.” Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday, McConnell described the House impeachment process as “shoddy” work and said the proposal to delay the articles is “really comical.”

John Dean, former counsel in the Nixon White House and a frequent guest on cable news, has been arguing for weeks that Democrats have leverage because Trump doesn’t want a drawn out process hanging over him going into the 2020 election. Some congressional Democrats have embraced the idea as a way to secure the testimony of White House officials including former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, who leads one of the committees responsible for the impeachment investigation, said Wednesday before the impeachment vote that people outside Congress were pushing that proposal but he didn’t see any advantage to that strategy.

”I hear no discussion about that, and safe to say I would know, being one of the six chairs,” Engel said. Regarding the probability of Trump’s acquittal in the Senate, he said, “we went into this with our eyes wide open.”

It’s unclear how committed Pelosi is to the idea. She is set to address reporters Thursday morning.

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