#old town float base visit 11 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

pffbts · 6 years

Note

Hey loveee, can I request for an imagine where yoongi tells me what this year could just be another year of suffering,but only good things will come out of it? I hope this doesn't sound to werid or bad or anything, it's mainly for comfort if I were to be honest with u. Love u!!

―genre: fluff; angst; crack.

―characters: yoongi x female reader | no supporting character.

―w.c: 2.6 K

―author`s note: on the eve of the day before turning 19, i somehow felt connected to this request – somehow it felt close to heart. thank you to the beautiful anon who requested this. i hope i can touch you through my words. consider this as my birthday treat for you! much love

[11:53 PM] [the sakuras scattered under the wholesome night sky filled with stars for a new season, someone under the warm fuzzy blanket squeezes another`s]

― as usual, the warm baby blue coloured blanket smelled of you. yoongi`s face contorted to a smile getting born under the board daylight through the windows of his room. he called each night with you an unfinished business due at some corner of his existence. this was difficult. time has always been difficult with min yoongi. taking a toll on his words and thoughts, he flourishes in the thoughts that he might try again, just for the sake of you. getting up and on reflex feeling the strain of his neck, yoongi groaned at the warm sunlight which suddenly felt like balls of fire against his pale skin.

he couldn`t be too forward with you but he wanted to try again – try telling you that this new year that awaits for you will come in terms of normality. he wanted to wish that this year of 19 would turn somehow better than ever. this is the year both of you are graduating from school and as the seasons greets, soon you`ll be in some university probably away from each other.

he searched for his phone to catch the time. it read 08:45 AM. shoot, yoongi hissed, he has already wasted a number of precious hours lying on his futon thinking about skin damage and anxiety of being around you.

while taking a warm shower, yoongi started washing the skin of his hands, his chest – half of his face got clouded when he heard an imaginary you clutching onto your stomach and laughing at his skin treatment. ugh, what do you understand about skin treatment and keeping things clean? mindlessly, he showered successfully.

walking out of his house, he was greeted by a cloudy sky and the floating of the cherry blossoms in the air.

“so tomorrow`s spring, huh?”

yoongi looked to his left to find you in your long tracks, blue t-shirt and a cap, kicking the closest cherry blossom tree at its base. sighing internally, yoongi wondered, how can someone like you be born on the starting of people`s favourite season – spring?

“yes! aren`t you relieved?” yoongi started, walking towards you.

“not exactly. it`s just another season.”

of course, you wouldn`t be excited. yoongi knew it all along. it was just for a second he thought you might answer something different this time. after all, it`s your 19th birthday the next day which also according to this year`s calendar schedule is the starting of spring.

“we don`t have to suffer the extreme cold. that`s a relieve factor.” then, sizing up his thoughts, yoongi proceeded with the next words, “but someone here likes the cold too much, i guess.”

“yoongi.”

“yes, yes. i know. don`t get so worked up.”

typically as long as yoongi`s vivid memory goes, you were not completely this cold all the time. not until the death of your parents in a plane crash came down on you. it`s been exactly ten years since your 9th birthday that you`ve heard the heart-wrenching news of their death. before that very day, you were just like any other girl of the neighbourhood who liked flowers, who liked tying her hair in pretty braids. yoongi recalled how you loved the french braids the most. you were just like any other person who liked wearing the traditional outfits for any special occasion. you were like any other person who waited for spring to come because then you also get to celebrate it along with your birthday.

but the 9th year of your life made your world upside down and you ran back to your room waiting for a storm to come and blow you away. you walked away from yourself, from being any other normal human being. you started cutting your hair off, wearing boyish clothes, threw away your pretty sandals and opted for sneakers and vans. slowly, you erased everyone`s memory of the you which they saw growing up since the baby days.

10 years later, you`re still the same and the only one who accepted you for what you were and for what you became was yoongi – the next door boy who grew up along with you, going to the same class in the same school.

yoongi tried saying it every year during this time that the next year will bring something different. but every time he did he would get the cold shoulder from you in return resulting in his successful failure. the spirits of spring sigh every year at his efforts and showers his front yard with cherry blossoms just to console his aching heart.

“yoongi?” a hand which previously looked like fog started becoming clearer in front of his vision. jumping on his feet, yoongi shot a stunt look at you. “where are you, yoon?”

“earth.”

“better. i thought you teleported yourself to Neptune.”

suddenly yoongi realized, the still presently aged 18 years old you have started walking with your back facing him at a distance.

“wait! where are you going? wait for me!”

yoongi ran. as fast as he could to catch up with the same story he writes each year. this year he wanted you to remember that things do change and when they do, the sun won`t suddenly feel like the sun, instead, it would feel like the planets have gathered up for a casual visit with you. when it happens, he`ll always go back to you even if it breaks his heart.

“next spot – karaoke!” a red-faced, half-drunk in soju yoongi announced. sipping the regular coke from the straw, you shook your head disapproving of his plan in silence.

even though his face dropped, he demanded an explanation. then he told you to forget about giving an explanation instead he started lecturing you about how you`re just wasting the youthful days of your life and that you`re already someone in their 60s. then he proceeded to tease you about how your grandparents with whom you live at present are much more joyful than you.

slamming the cup of coke with a force on the spot of the table in front of you, you got up from your seat and pointed a strict finger at the middle of your friend`s brows.

“because unlike you, min yoongi, you`re still living the life.” pulling the finger away, you stared into his wide feline-like eyes, “consider me dead at this point, hun. i`ve been dead for the last ten years, okay? don`t try to do something that`s universally impossible to gain.”

stories. min yoongi has been writing stories for a long time. each year he tries to erase half of their sentences and joins new words to make up for all the things he missed out the previous years. every year he collects sakuras and tried to make it into something of some shape. but then your words strike his motive and he realizes, sakuras are not clay and even clay can`t form any shape if we don`t have waters.

somehow he wants to talk it out with you. but every word that gets thrown to the air in-between both of you, they build up to that moment of rebel where they break apart from your force.

the view in front of him turned into a fog but his ears were still untempted and so he heard the loud, frantic footsteps of your boots on the wooden floor retreating back to the exit and slowly as the sound fades in the air, his vision clears and he finds himself with his forehead resting against the table, his shoulders shaking.

“boys don`t cry, yoon!” a seven-year-old you once said that to him when yoongi fell on the gravel path while coming home from school and got a scratch on his knee. the blood which was seeping out looked too bright on his pale skin.

yoongi`s fist slammed the table beside his head and he felt the warm tears overflowing from his eyes. you always had it wrong. min yoongi always cried because somehow he still couldn`t find how to save you. he has been a useless human being in your life. maybe, maybe it wouldn`t even matter. even if he leaves the town, maybe you`ll not even miss him.

so he cried. if he`s the one who should be crying in that case then he will.

yoongi ran back to you – his eyes red, his emotions out of line and the stories flying here and there. tonight as the town closes in for the preparation of the new season tomorrow, he wants to let you know everything. everything that he has to build up till to this day. he is going to throw all his intuitions and his old, crappy stories. he`s going to write to a new verse, new poems celebrating them with you, even if that mean it would receive silence and empty gaps of air from you.

pulling out his phone from his pant`s pocket and almost stumbling into his room, he texted you to come over. this could go anywhere, yoongi knew this very well. but he still went for it.

after the longest ten minutes in the world, you came into his room and sat Indian style in front of his bed, your shoulder blades pressed against the mattress and wood. a half-asleep yoongi got up from his place in bed and sat there facing the same wall, almost mimicking your posture.

“if you called me to confess about your deep-shit feelings for me, then let me inform you, i`m not into dicks.”

yoongi squeaked at this new out of no-where information from you.

“you`re gay?” lunging forward yoongi tried reading your expression which was really difficult as it was only moonlight in his room. “when did this happen?”

“i`m kidding, idiot.” you replied, your voice sounds like it`s already bored telling the same thing repeatedly.

“thanks jesus. you almost gave me a stroke.”

yoongi, suddenly remembering what was his initial plan, he jolted up, sitting back straight and cleared his throat, “anyway, you can somehow call this a confession too but it`s not anything romantic just so you know.”

“yes, i remembered saying that i would cut your dick off if you ever leak your romantic juice on me, so i guess i can trust you on that.”

jeez, yoongi squeezed his eyes shut for a second, this conversation has already turned into a dark fiction. he just wanted to stay true to his feelings and not get threatened of getting his dick cut off. this girl, he sighed.

“i just…just listen to me out, okay?” he started still questioning. why was he still questioning himself? he didn`t know obviously because he has always been the bad one in accepting the reality, i guess. “i`m not saying this because you`re turning 19 in one hour.”he knew, he just knew that you had glanced at the digital clock sitting on his cupboard pushed against the same wall both of you were facing. not even giving himself a chance to smile, he continued, “i`m just telling you that, you`ll probably suffer a lot this year. maybe this year pain will come in many different ways – much different than the way it had always come at you, at us. but you must know that there will always be a sunray trying to battle its way through the dark clouds. there`ll always be a flower which will bloom in the sidewalks just to let the passerby know that they exist too.”

“let`s just say that we will definitely suffer a lot and that we will cry a lot. maybe not you. maybe it will mostly be me, but i`ll cry a lot. i promise even if it`s for both of us. i hope you know that there are some people in your life who still wants you to live and exist like any other person in the world. i want to tell you that you`re not dead to me, instead, you`ve always been more than alive to me than anyone in my world. of course i love you. i love you a lot to not let you suffer alone because just know that anywhere you go, i`ll go with you. if you find solace in your washroom, crying silently then i`ll be there on the other side of the door, crying with you. if you ever want to laugh even if it is all silly and not needed, i`ll laugh with you.”

yoongi`s voice rose with each passing second, his voice almost grew numb at the choice of words and the emotions that they carried but then he felt light in his chest. for the first time this year, on this last hour of pre-spring, last hour of his friend`s 18th year, he wasn`t making up white lies instead he was overflowing with emotions. he could almost feel himself floating in them.

you, on the other hand, were scared. you were scared for yoongi`s next words and mostly scared to look at his face. because you believed that if you stare at him now, you will lose your sight. he must be glowing right now. he must have become the brightest thing in this room right now and you were scared for the first time to meet his eyes.

“so, yes. i love you, a lot. maybe you`ll get a boyfriend after you leave for college and then a husband after that but this fool right here will always love you and it`s not romantic, okay? you understand? this is not romantic.”

yoongi didn`t even put you in the seat of mercy. he just let you be what you wanted under his gaze and when you got up from your place, screaming, your face tainted with overflowing warm tears, you hit him hard everywhere you could. falling against his bed, both of you cried like there was no tomorrow. you cried with everything that you got. it was like giving birth to a new life, it was like chicks hatching out of their shell – you felt the pain seeping out of you and another set of lungs being replaced in place of the old ones cause they couldn`t function. they weren`t capable of the pain that shot through you.

the clock on his cupboard read 11:53 PM. seven minutes and it will be a new spring. a new day, a new year for the person soundly sleeping beside him, your head resting on the expanse of his chest, your hand resting on the side of his right cheek and another entangled with yoongi`s. the blankets lost the battle to you and to min yoongi, the new cherry blossoms that fell in his front yard looked like heaven`s call for a year that would bring the best spring of your life.

at the end of the day, you are the only spring that matters to him.

111 notes · View notes

excusemewhileiplaykh · 5 years

Text

“Is Any of This Real... or Not?”: Exploring the Possibility that Kingdom Hearts is Set in a Meta-Reality, Pt.5

(Masterpost on previous posts here)

I had previously left off this theory with the discussion of a possible time loop in which Data Sora is actually the Real Sora. In this next part, however, I want to examine new evidence presented by KH 3 and recent KHUX updates that could help support that all of Kingdom Hearts is a simulation, specifically a simulation constructed by the Master of Masters.

(Note: I do still want to elaborate on this time loop, as KH 3 may have had timeloops and timeline divergences in and of itself. Also, I may have some idea on who the Riku that Data Sora speaks to is, as well and perhaps the identity of this Riku may tie into this theory in interesting ways)

To start, I actually want to examine a piece of information we do not get until the end of KH 3, that is the Secret Reports. Secret Reports 11 is particularly of interest. In it Luxu writes:

Yet it seems that someone has pulled the old switcheroo. One of the Five is an imposter, someone the Master did not choose. They represent a virus in the program he so carefully wrote.

The virus has begun a strange undertaking: a reckless plot to allow the Five to escape into another worldline. Surely such a thing can't be possible? We're talking about the same trick that allowed the Dandelions to transfer to other worldlines after the Keyblade War. But these children are no Masters. They haven't the means...unless, of course, a certain lady of magic summoned here from the future knows more than I do.

The whole Union leader thing was supposed to be by the books. Are these new events just another phase in the Master's grand plan?

We know from recent KHUX updates that Brain is actually the virus (more on Brain and the word “virus” later). More relevant, however, is the language Luxu uses.

“They represent a virus in the program he so carefully wrote”

“The whole Union leader thing was supposed to be by the books”

This “he” is undoubtedly MoM and this supposed program must be the Book of Prophecies.

But what exactly is this program? Is it just the worldline the Dandelions and everyone else inhabits?

That cannot be possible because we know the Book of Prophecies contains Data from events that occurred after KHUX (i.e. KH 1, KH 2, BBS, this is evident by the presence of worlds such as Dwarf Woodlands, Agrabah, etc.). Thus, the program must necessarily encapsulate future events as well. This is of no surprise, as the BoP was written to record the future. Moreover, this program must also be in control of future events (i.e. everything we as a player have experienced) if it necessarily contains the Data of everything that occurs from KH 1 and beyond, that would mean the MoM, who programed this Data, was in control of all the events of the series. He is the controller of the data (Refer to Part 1 for more clarification on what I mean here. TL;DR: Every Data World or Datascape has a controller who writes and/or controllers the events that occur in the digital world. Ex. Ansem the Wise controllers Data Twilight Town in KH 2), or perhaps more appropriately now, the programmer of the data.

I am still struck, however, by Luxu’s wording. The Master of Masters wrote the Book Of Prophecies based off of the visions from the Gazing Eye. Describing the BoP as “the program he so carefully wrote”, however, makes it seem as if the Master of Masters wrote things down intentionally. He was not merely seeing the future and writing it down. He instead intentional wrote, crafted, coded the contents of the BoP.

But if that is the case, what of the Gazing Eye? Was not the purpose of the Gazing Eye to view the events of the future so that MoM could write them down?

I had previously discussed in Part 3, I suggested that perhaps the BoP was actually based off of Jiminy’s Journal or other records from the games and I said this:

For all we know though, the Gazing Eye could have just been the Master of Masters way of just making sure things were occurring as they should be and not necessarily a way for him to base his writings in the Book of Prophecies.

I do not think that MoM based his writings off of Jiminy’s Journal anymore, but I do believe the Gazing Eye was merely set in place to ensure everything was going according to plan or according to the code. I would suggest that once MoM observed something in his code went against fate, he would appear, but this is still unclear (more on this later).

Moreover, we know the new worldline the Dandelions inhabit is made of Data, because of the new KHUX update. We see this particular worldline glitching out and we also see that bugs have infested it.

*nyoom*

Note how the bugs appear as bug/heartless hybrids. We have seen such a thing before in Re:Coded with Data Sora’s heartless.

Perhaps the bugs we see in KHUX are actually Bug-Heartless hybrids like Sora’s heartless in Re:Coded? Hybrids that exist alongside the “real” heartless and were produced by Data hearts? It would seem that is the case.

However, I digress. There are other slips by Luxu which suggest the existence of a simulation and also support a point I had brought up in Part 3.

In Part 3, I had looked at that strange scene at the end of DDD where YMX and Sora are in Traverse Town and we see a number of floating Soras. Floating Soras that suspiciously are in the same pose as the death pose in the game over screen. I suggested that all the wandering Soras were actually not only just Soras from the many games wandering through Traverse Town (that is in his visits during 1, COM, Coded, and DDD), but also the Soras that were respawned or reset after a death. Sora/Player are allowed to reset because things need to occur a certain way. Much like a video game has a certain path we must follow, MoM has a certain path he made for Sora he must keep and in order to do this, must allow resets whenever Sora fails. (I recommend reading Part 3 for a more nuanced understanding of what I mean)

With this in mind, let’s remember the few posts that have gone around talking about how Xigbar will say “Alright so the hero thinks he’s ready now” after dying to him once and restarting the battle (one of these posts being this one). This would suggest that Xigbar is conscious of the “reset” nature of the simulation if things do not occur as planned and further supports that those Soras in DDD could represent more than Sora’s various visits to Traverse Town.

Even before this, however, Xigbar seems to know that the Guardians have time traveled. When he confronts them for the first time after they are revived, he says he wants to make sure they’re not “blundering their at toward a second failure” (i.e. a second death) (refer to this post if you want a more nuanced analysis of this scene)

These outburst by Xigbar also made people point out his curious battle phrase “R for Reload”, which is obviously very video-gamey. We can assume then with this evidence that Xigbar/Luxu is well aware of the simulation nature of their reality.

I have thus far gone over the evidence that supports the concept of a meta-reality, but for the next parts, I want to put all this evidence into use and begin to speculate on what MoM is planning and also consider other miscellaneous evidence that may further point to KH being a simulation, such as names related to computer language and other peculiarities.

#kingdom hearts #kh #kh theories #kh meta #kh analysis

58 notes · View notes

shmosnet2 · 5 years

Text

Top 10 Mysterious Monsters Around The World

From the far off snowy mountains of Tibet to the grey and gloomy lochs of Scotland, many different cultures from around the world have reported seeing strange creatures that science just can’t explain. Although evidence is typically scarce and mostly based on hearsay, many hold on to the hope that some of the following mysterious creatures really do exist. 10. The Ropen Papua New Guinea, renowned for its unexplored forests and undiscovered species of both flora and fauna, is home to this mysterious monster. Stories arose from the Umboi Island of a featherless, giant flying creature with a long tail that ends in a flange and a diamond shaped head. Known to the locals as Indava, the Ropen is believed to be a nocturnal Pterosaur, very similar to a Pterodactyl, that glows against the night sky when it flies. The Ropen has become the flying hobby horse of creationists who seek to find living dinosaurs as proof that the earth is far younger than evolutionary scientists would have you believe. Five expeditions between 1994 and 2004 were conducted by said creationists, resulting in only three sightings – but even those were distant, brief views of what has been dubbed the “ropen light”. According to recent investigators over 90% of the sightings on Umboi Island are of this featureless, bright white light. Jonathan Whitcomb went on to write the book ‘Searching for Ropens’ which suggests that most sightings were of one giant creature which sleeps in the island interior during the day and at night it feeds by the reef. The locals interviewed reported that the bright glow of the Ropen lasts for anywhere up to five or six seconds. Even with all this knowledge, no real hard evidence has ever been found. The locals continue to tell stories of the glowing bird and maybe one day scientists will be seeing the same light. 9. The Bunyip

The Bunyip, or kianpraty, is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology which is said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds and waterholes. The word bunyip is usually translated by Aboriginal Australians today as “devil” or “evil spirit”. Aboriginal stories tell of a creature about 11 paces long and 4 paces in breadth. Most people who witness the monster claim to have been in such dread that they were unable to take note of its characteristics, but those that did told of a dog-like face, a crocodile like head, dark fur, a horse-like tail, flippers and walrus-like tusks or horns. Such a creature has never been recorded by European colonists but there has been multiple sightings of mysterious evidence to support such claims. The first sighting of such evidence was by Hamilton Hume and James Meehan in 1818 when they found some large bones of what looked like a hippopotamus or manatee at Lake Bathurst in New South Wales. After this, reports of more fossils came in of “some quadruped much larger than an ox or buffalo” and in 1847 a display at the Australian Museum, Sydney claimed to exhibit a Bunyip skull. Although no real sightings have been documented, the natives still tell stories of the beast screams which can be heard at night. 8. The Dover Demon

Seventeen year old William Bartlett claimed that while driving on April 21, 1977 he saw a large-eyed creature “with tendril-like fingers” and glowing eyes on top of a broken stone wall on Farm Street in Dover, Massachusetts. This was the start of the Dover Demon. Though it was only sighted by a few people in a short period of time, it is considered one of the most mysterious creatures of modern times. The second sighting came just 2 hours after the first when John Baxter swore that he saw the same creature while walking home from his girlfriend’s house. The 15-year-old boy saw it with its arms wrapped around the trunk of a tree, and his description of the thing matched Bartlett’s exactly. The final sighting was reported the next day by 15-year-old Abby Brabham who said it appeared briefly in the car’s headlights while she and her friend were driving. Again, the description was consistent with that of Bartlett. Each claimed they saw a four foot tall, hairless creature with rough-textured skin, long spindly peach-coloured limbs and large glowing orange eyes upon a large watermelon-shaped head which was nearly as big as its body. Though investigations into this unusual case turned up no hard evidence for the reality of the creature, there was also no evidence of a hoax nor a motive for perpetrating one. So was the Dover Demon just a story these kids made up, or is it still out there waiting for the right moment to strike? 7. Mongolian Death Worm

painting: Pieter Dirkx In August 2009, two New Zealanders carrying a video camera and a sack of explosives set off to a remote southern corner of Mongolia’s Gobi desert in search of a creature that few believe exist. The Mongolian Death Worm is known locally as the Allghoi Khorkhoi, or the “intestine worm,” because it is believed to resemble the internal tract of a cow. The Kiwi duo intend to lure the monster to the surface with tremors set off by detonating their explosives. Once emerged, they planned to capture it on film. Unfortunately the men came up empty handed like many expeditions before them. The worm is subject of a number of claims by Mongolian locals and according to legend it is described as bright red with a wide body that is 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 m) long. It lurks beneath the sand of the desert, pouncing on unsuspecting victims with such abilities as spewing acid (which on contact will corrode anything it touches) and being able to kill at a distance with electric discharge. The Mongolians also believe that touching any part of the worm will cause instant death or tremendous pain. It has been told that the worm frequently preyed on camels and laid eggs in its intestines, eventually acquiring the trait of its red-like skin. They say that the worm lives underground, hibernating most of the year except for when it becomes active in June and July. It is reported that this animal is mostly seen on the surface when it rains and the ground is wet. All in all just another reason to stay out of the desert. 6. The Spring-Heeled Jack

During the 19th Century, inhabitants of London became victim to this curious beast. In October 1837 the first sighting of The Spring-Heeled Jack was reported, appearing out of the shadows of night and attacking his victims with dreadful scratches before bounding away with superhuman ability. The first sighting was reported by Mary Stevens when she was walking to work after visiting her parents. A strange figure leapt at her from a dark alley. After immobilising her with a tight grip of his arms, he began to kiss her face while ripping her clothes and touching her flesh with his claws which were, according to her deposition, “cold and clammy as those of a corpse”. In panic, the girl screamed, making the attacker quickly flee from the scene. The commotion brought several residents who immediately launched a search for the aggressor, who could not be found. Polly Adams, a pub worker, was another of three women accosted by Spring-Heeled Jack in September of that year. He allegedly tore her blouse off and scratched at her stomach with iron-like fingernails or claws. Several witnesses claimed to have seen Jack escape the scene of the crime by jumping over a 9 ft (2.7 m) high wall while babbling with a high-pitched, ringing laughter. Through numerous accounts they were able to get a description of the monster which included a man-like hideous face, sharp iron-like claws and glowing eyes all beneath a black cloak. Spring-Heeled Jack is one of the most baffling tales to come out of Victorian England. 5. Giant Anaconda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo0z3Dyd1J0 The vast, teeming Amazon rain forest can kill you in all sorts of ways, from encounters with ravenous piranhas to suspicious native tribes. But the most lethal terror reported to be lurking in these parts is the giant anaconda; a lightning-quick snake more than 30 ft. (9 m) long which is capable of capsizing and crushing wooden boats floating down the Amazon. Reports of giant anacondas date back as far as the European colonization of South America when sightings of snakes upwards of 50 metres (164 feet) began to circulate amongst colonists. The topic has been a subject of debate among cryptozoologists and zoologists ever since. Scientists believe that such a monstrous version of the anaconda, which in real life rarely grows beyond an already scary 17 ft. (about 5 m), no longer exists. In 2009, the discovery of Titanoboa fossils found in South America revealed that snakes in the past did in fact reach sizes of over 40ft. The Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (currently $50,000) for live delivery of any snake of 9 metres (29.5 ft) or more in length, but the prize has never been claimed – despite numerous sightings of giant anacondas. Regular size snakes are enough to set anyone’s nerves on edge, but something this big is the stuff of nightmares. 4. The El Chupacabra

This impish monster – whose name means “goat sucker” in Spanish – allegedly looks like a giant rodent with palsy. A kind of half-reptile, half-kangaroo mutant. It first drew the world’s attention in 1995 when residents of the Puerto Rican town of Canovanas claimed that chupacabras were behind a spate of attacks that killed more than 150 of their livestock, each drained of its blood. Similar killings were report in Moca a few months later. Sightings have since been reported as far north as Maine and as far south as Chile. They have even been spotted outside the Americas in countries like Russia and The Philippines. The most common description of the chupacabra is that of a reptile-like creature said to have leathery or scaly greenish-grey skin and sharp spines or quills running down its back. It is said to be approximately 3 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 m) high, and stands and hops in a fashion similar to that of a kangaroo. Some reports have even stated chupacabras were winged like gargoyles and blinked glowing-red eyes in the dark, heightening the sense of supernatural menace surrounding the creatures. 3. The Yeti

illustration: Philippe Semeria This beast is said to be found deep in the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet. The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, was first reported in 1832 by James Prinsep, one of colonial India’s most venerable scholars. He kept an account of his trip through Nepal where he reportedly saw a tall, hairy, bipedal creature that fled upon being detected. Since then many mountaineers, including Everest conquerors Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, reported footprints far larger than human feet dotting snowy trails. A 1954 expedition commissioned by the British Daily Mail retrieved dark brown hairs from a supposed yeti scalp kept in a secluded Buddhist monastery. It is believed that the Yeti was a part of the pre-Buddhist beliefs of several Himalayan people; the Lepcha people are said to have worshipped a “Glacier Being” as a God of the Hunt. A photographer and member of the Royal Geographical Society, N.A Tombazi wrote that he saw a creature at about 15,000 ft for about a minute, “Unquestionably, the figure in outline was exactly like a human being, walking upright and stopping occasionally to pull at some dwarf rhododendron bushes. It showed up dark against the snow, and as far as I could make out, wore no clothes.” Two hours later Tombazi and his companions descended and reported seeing the creature’s large footprints in the snow. One of the most renowned mysterious monsters, the yeti seems to be a docile creature with no reported attacks. One can only hope it stays this way. 2. Bigfoot

Bigfoot (also known as Sasquatch) is the name given to a cryptid ape or hominid-like creature that is said to inhabit forests in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Indigenous folklore of the Pacific Northwest told of cannibalistic hairy men and giants who roamed the great forests and mountains of the region, abducting children in the dead of night and sabotaging the salmon-catching nets of local fishermen. In 1951, Eric Shipton photographed what he described as a Bigfoot’s footprint – named so because of its size (24 inches long and 8 inches wide). This generated considerable attention and led to the story of the creature entering popular consciousness. The craze went into overdrive in 1967 when two Californians screened a short documentary of footage that allegedly filmed the Yeti’s cousin and, in 2001, the first still picture was captured using an automatically triggered camera attached to a tree. Many tried to pass the images off as “a bear with a severe case of mange”. In 2008, two men claimed they had uncovered the body of a Sasquatch. Most of major US news networks sought images of the beast’s corpse – only to find that its head was hollow and its feet were made of rubber. Still, a cult following of researchers have dedicated their life to proving that this monster does exist. 1. The Loch Ness Monster Reports of a large, long-necked serpent loping around the waterways of the Scottish highlands date back as far as the 7th century, but modern interest in the monster was sparked by a sighting on 22 July 1933. George Spicer and his wife claimed to have saw “a most extraordinary form of animal” cross the road in front of their car. They described the creature as having a large body about 1.2 metres high and 7.6 metres long. It also had a long narrow neck slightly thicker than an elephant’s trunk and as long as the 3-4 m width of the road. It lurched across the road towards the loch, leaving only a trail of broken undergrowth in its wake. In August 1933, a motorcyclist named Arthur Grant claimed to have nearly hit the creature on the north-eastern shore. Grant claimed that he saw a small head attached to a long neck and that the creature saw him and crossed the road back into the loch. He dismounted and followed it but only saw ripples. Sightings of the monster increased following the building of a road along the loch in early 1933, bringing both workmen and tourists to the formerly isolated area. In the past century, dozens of scientists have conducted sonar scans and plunged inside submersibles into the lake’s depths, sometimes picking up tantalizing, albeit inconclusive, readings of some mysterious, unusually sized object. However, a 2003 study commissioned by the BBC employed satellite tracking and took sonar readings from around 600 different locations in the lake and yielded nothing. Despite all this, the legend of ‘Nessie’ lives on.

https://ift.tt/2ObWAuq . Foreign Articles November 23, 2019 at 06:43PM

#. Foreign Articles Top 10 Mysterious Monsters Around The World

1 note · View note

gigglyzero · 6 years

Text

2b2t history, by its wiki

2010

Player Count: 50-70 (Accounts vary)

Nothing is much known about the early days of 2b2t, except that the server began in December of 2010. Some that do claim to have joined during this time say that there was nothing spectacular on the server, and that by then, spawn was already a mess.

2011

Player Count: 50-70

During 2011, a lot of things happened. The largest one being the formation of the Facepunch Republic. 2011 is also when many now famous oldfags joined, like Offtopia, xcc2 and popbob.

Early 2011 - Hausemaster teleports to random players to see the progress of his server. Sometimes he would give random items.

April 2011 - Facepunch Republic begins, 4channers take notice of this and tries to stop them.

May 2011 - Player data corruption and change of world generation, causes spawn to look weird.

July 2011 - First post of the 2b2t Comic by Judge Holden

December 2011 - January 2012 - 2b2t gets backdoored by popbob and co.

2011 - The first dupe on 2b2t, the Piston Dupe, was discovered by someone in Facepunch. This involved pushing the piston real fast to duplicate items.

2012

Player Count: 20-50

This year marked one of the most barren times on the server. The server faced drastic player loss during this time due to several facepunchers leaving, the IP changing, and the server being down for three months, causing players to believe that the server shut down for good.

February 2012 - Facepunch Republic ends

February 2012 - Judge's group base at -1 million -1 million is griefed by x0XP.

April 2012 - ImperatorTerrae finds Viking base and 'reforms' it.

June 2012 - 2k2k is founded by the Zion project

2b2t is shut down for three months and changes the IP address from 2b2t.net to 2b2t.org

2013

Player Count: 10-30

2013 is mostly painted by Valkyria, as most other groups of this time period are all but forgotten

February 2013 - Hitlerwood is founded by Coldwave, Zach3397 and Hinderjd

March 2013 - Anatolia is founded by Sato86, Drewbookman and PyroByte

April 2013 - Valkyria is founded by the members of Hitlerwood and Anatolia (Black Flag Group)

May 2013 - 1.4.7 Dupe, The End Dragon is slain

(Unknown month) 2013, Construction of HardHat's Pyramid has started.

June 2013 - 1st Incursion, IGN video (does not generate hype)

August - October 2013 - 2nd Incursion

October/November 2013 - Shenandoah is founded by jesse_number6

December 2013 - 2b2t gets backdoored, Pyrobyte and iTristan have reached the World Border

2014

Player Count: 30-20

During 2014, Valkyria had broken up into a few smaller groups. These include Gape group and the Legion of Shenandoah

January 2014 - Asgard is abandoned after being griefed by popbob during construction

May 2014 - 2k2k is buried in lavacasts and many ancient bases are annihilated by Withers (Including the NFE and Plugin Town)

June 2014 - Legion of Shenandoah begins and Gape 1 is founded

July 2014 - Infamous message shows up on the server website stating that Hausemaster has left the server forever, leaving it in the care of "an anonymous friend." The owner's personality changes immediately after this post.

September 2014 - Fenrir Project begins

October 2014 - Nova is founded in 3b3t

December 2014 - Southern Canal Project is started by ThebesAndSound

2015

Player Count: 20-40

A large population boost happened during this year, mostly from the numerous articles and a massive Reddit post.

January 2015 - 2b2t is updated to 1.8

February 2015 - Fenrir Project ends

March 2015 - Asgard II is founded

April 2015 - Asgard II is destroyed, the 3rd Incursion begins

May 2015

June 2015

August 2015

October 2015

December 2015

Aureus is founded

3rd Incursion ends

Wrath constructed

Kings Landing is founded

The last Facepunch thread closes

Vortex Coalition founded

Project Vault, (now known is the 2b2t museum), is a project determined to keep every single monument in 2b2t untouched and left as a museum to other players, begins.

Motherboard Article is released

VICE mini incursion begins and ends

Imperator's Base is destroyed by Jared2013. Around this time, the server website shuts down.

2016

Player Count: 10-250

This is when 2b2t was most densely populated. This was caused when TheCampingRusher made a video and posted it onto Youtube

February 2016

March 2016

April 2016

RPS Article released

BedTP Exploit surfaces

Space Valkyria destroyed by the Tyranny

KGB destroyed by the Tyranny

Land of Norphs destroyed by the Tyranny

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

The player count has plummeted, sometimes as low as 1-5 players online.

June 1st - Rusher begins his series on 2b2t. In the coming days, 2b2t becomes flooded with his fans.

June 4th - Rusher declares war on "OGs," a reference to players who have been on the server longer than him.

June 13th - Fit becomes "leader" of Team Veteran, which is supposedly meant to contain the rusher onslaught and preserve the server's pre-rusher culture. This, of course, is debunked later.

June - A lava wall is made around the 500x500 area of spawn, in hopes of keeping Rushers trapped in spawn; this project fails. A very similar project occurs during the 6th Incursion, but fails aswell.

June 17th - Omega City Founded

July 24th - The Fourth Incursion begins with the Veterans raiding Napkin0fTruth's base.

July 28th - 2nd largest battle in 2b2t history (19 players)

July 31st - Aureus is destroyed by the base members themselves.

July - Hardware upgrade, temporary map

The Queue is set up around this time.

August 5th - Fit versus Rusher duel, Fit wins by having more golden apples.

August 19th - Torogadude gets stripped of his priority queue.

September 16th - Largest Battle in 2b2t History: Team Veteran allies with CorruptedUnicorn to take down Rusher. The battle ends in a draw, and Rusher is able to escape.

September 19th - Rusher leaves 2b2t for the first time for about a month.

September 22th - Valley of Wheat destroyed

September - 4th Incursion ends, Newsweek Article released

October 9th - The Rusher War ends. The Veterans say that about 10,400 Rushers had been killed, but this number is frequently questioned.

October 15th -TheCampingRusher returns and makes 3 more videos on 2b2t before he leaves.

October 22nd - Rusher leaves and The Rusher War officially ends. A small presence of rushers/newfags remain, and the server has been radically changed.

October - Offtopia's Drain is destroyed after FitMC made a tour of his base.

November 2016

December 2016

November 11th - 11/11 Dupe leaked to public

November 22nd - Jonathan5454 starts 6Garden. Major construction started sometime in January 2017.

November 25th - AgentGB makes a video on 2b2t. However, he does not make a video afterwards, and states that 2b2t won't be a series.

November 28th - The Fifth Incursion is organized by jared2013, however this fails, and barely makes any attention, and now recognized as a meme.

New coord exploit. Fitlantis is found.

Large battle in Fitlantis

2b2t is updated to 1.11, ending the 11/11 Dupe

AntVenom considers making a video on the history of 2b2t. He asks for the consent of the playerbase and the "admins".

Byrnsy begins his journey to the 2b2t World Border, with hopes of completing the +x Nether Highway. The Nether Highway Expedition group is formed.

The Emperium is founded by TheDark_Emperor.

Player count drops to the low 50s before Fit starts making his videos.

2017

Player Count: 80-200 (50-100 during Temp Maps)

This year saw massive decay of the rusher population and numerous other things

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

April 2017

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

August 2017

September 2017

January 1st - Fit returns to 2b2t, with new jewtuber, kid friendly content (starting with minecraft world records by boat). The impact from this has kept the 2b2t playerbase in its 200s, as many players join from Fit each day.

Construction of Block Game Mecca starts

Mid January - Spawn Masons are founded

Late January - The Vortex Coalition gets "disbanded".

HermeticLock's Spawn Base is constructed and The Third Largest Battle of 2b2t History occurs there. The base was constantly rebuilt and lavacasted over and over

15 milliontown is built by the nether highway group

Highland is founded by The_Grand_Lotus

Toro's Theater begins construction

2b2t logo rebranded

Kinorana hacks all maps in 2b2t. Protests against Kinorana begin.

SpawnMasons founded by Hermeticlock.

Early March - The 4th Reich is disbanded

March 3th - Maps are reset and old maps are deleted off 2b2t. The deathspam protest takes a short ceasefire.

March 15th - The Donkey Dupe is leaked to public.

March 18th - The Donkey Dupe has been patched.

March 21st - Wintermelon is griefed

March 22nd - fr1kin discovers an exploit that can bring the server below 1tps. This had normal attention until Fit claims that the lag could crash the server.

March 26th - World Border reached legitimately through the +X Highway. The +X Highway has been completed. Point Nemo is founded.

March 29th - Point Nemo is griefed

March - A player by the name of PriorityQueue is seen at spawn floating and not taking any damage, it was initially thought that he backdoored the server, however this was later proved to be incorrect (possibly the usage of MineChat).

April 1st - 2017 April fools map. This lasted a few days. The queue was also disabled during the uptime of the map

April 9th - Apocalypse Exploit patched, /kill temporarily disabled

April 13th - 24th - Fit's journey to the World Border

May 18th - Fit visits Point Dory without the permission of its builders.

May 20th - Point Dory is griefed

May 25th - Torogadude leaks the coordinates of his own theater by accident. It got destroyed almost instantly.

June 1st - 1st Anniversary of Rusher's Invasion in 2b2t. 2b2t is flooded with lag machines and various shitposts to celebrate the anniversary.

June 4th - Battle between Spawn Masons and Peacekeepers starts.

June 9th - The +Z Highway is completed to the world border.

June 18th - Omega City is destroyed.

June 23rd - The first server crash

June 29th - HermeticLock announced the "second season" of hanging around at his spawnbase

July 6th - The second server crash

July 6th - 7th - Server shut down, as a preparation for the 1.12 update and the addition of new plugins

July 8th- 22th - 1.12 tempmap

July 23th - The original map returns. The owner announces the deletion of all non-vanilla items. However, he accidentally deleted Axe enchantments, player heads, efficiency on shears, and all dungeon spawners. The 1.12 dupe (also known as the 7/21 dupe), was also discovered, which involved spamming in the crafting book

July 24th - Dupe patched sometime around 10:00 AM (EST).

July 28th - Summermelon griefed by Fit and his crew.

July 29th - Fit is exposed by Offtopia in the 2b2t Subreddit for making stuff up just to get a reason to grief Summermelon. The real reason might have involved his youtube career to get money. Fit does this again in 2018 at offtopia's base, Viper.

August 1st - Server restarted by the owner twice at 12:00 AM August 1st (EST)

August 2nd - The 3rd Major crash causes 2b2t down for a while. (Most likely low tps)

August 4th - Jared2013 obtains bureaucrat permissions through Niftyrobo on the 2b2t wiki, and destroys the wiki.

August 5th - Armorsmith lags the server down to 1tps. Causing the playercount to drop to 50-80 players. Queue virtualy dosen't exist.

August 6th - Riot on the wiki and subreddit to demote jared2013 and niftyrobo for the removal of pages with newfag history and several newfag bases such as 6Garden.

August 7th - Wiki is restored and Jared2013 and Niftyrobo has been banned globally from entering FANDOM Wikia itself. The subreddit explodes with wiki rants due to the new admin team consisting of newfags. The new founder, DarkAnhilator, has gathered a source team, and the subreddit calms down.

September 15th - A Spanish YouTuber, ElRichMC makes a video on the server, causing his fans to join and spam the chat in Spanish. Despite the video being quite popular, ElRichMC decides not to make another video and the server returns to normal in a matter of a few weeks.

Mid September - Project Obsidian Sky is completed. The 500x500 region of spawn now has an obsidian roof at Y256. (Today in Mid 2018, most of the obsidian has been destroyed by withers).

Late September - Elytras are disabled due to large amounts of chunks being loaded in a short amount of time, causing both lag and the server file size to grow much too quickly. Elytras have been disabled for almost an entire year. The SOON™ meme appears all over the subreddit because of this.

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

October 13th - The owner announces removal of pre - June 1st queue.

October 13th - 20th - Bots fill the server in a vain attempt to kill it off, Drachenstein buys oldfags 2 months of priority

November 19th - 20th A redditor named PM_ME_YOUR_TITS_GIRL posted a render of 2b2t on r/gaming and r/minecraft

December 19th - Construction on the Cerulean Islands begins

December 20th - Astral Order is founded after the Purge of Eden

December 21st - VoCo declares the "Vo-Perium" war

December 23rd - X- Digger Team reaches the world border.

December 25th - Armorsmith and Co. planned to lag the server to 0 tps, and succeded to get it down to 0.5 before the owner personally destroyed the machine.

2018

Player Count: 100-250

This year is most known for two incursions (6th and 7th) and the grief of the BGM

January 2018

February 2018

March 2018

April 2018

May 2018

January 1st - Team Inferno reforms into Infrared after all the insiding and griefing

January 10th - United Group Embassy is formed, an initial 15 groups joining.

January 11th - "Vo-Perium" concludes after very little ground is gained. Emperium and VoCo work on building positive relations.

February 4th - Offtopia's Viper Base griefed, led by Fit. Several more subreddit rants occur from this.

February 7th - The 2b2t Media Archive is founded by xyzvp

February 9th - Up to 17 U.G.E. representatives arrive at spawn and begin renovating.

February 13th - 16 U.G.E. representatives fight 4 members of Infrared and Highland at spawn. Renovations continue.

March 20th - Temp map begins while the main map is being transferred from a 4 Terabyte HDD to a 6 TB SSD[1], as it was rapidly approaching the upper size limit of its current hardware. Server traffic is lower than usual but still high. TPS range is around 10 to 13.

March 27th - Main map back up

March 28th - Severe rubberband and lag occours at high TPS as well as several plugins being removed temporarily which allowed for people to use "illegal items" for a short amount of time, as well as being able to use the nether roof while taking heavy amounts of damage.

March 31th - April 2nd - An unnamed April Fools' tempmap starts on March 31st, 2018, and ends April 2nd, 2018. During this period, AntVenom confirms he will be releasing his video on April 3rd. The Sixth Incursion is declared by Sato and the ender dragon on the temp map is killed by the new incursion.

April 2nd - 6th - 2nd tempmap after failure of reverting back the world.

April 3rd - The highly anticipated "Face of Minecraft Anarchy" video is released by AntVenom. New players flood the server. Total player counts reach about 350 at the most.

April 6th - The main map, with very bad timing, comes back online[1] and the owner adds AAC to the server, which causes frequent disconnects and problems in general.

April 12th - 14 million subscriber YouTuber PopularMMOs is seen logging onto the server and is geared by an unknown player. He is later seen at nether spawn and killed with an end crystal. He claims he is not making a video on the server, however not everyone is convinced.

April 16th - 24th - The Obsidian Wall, a wall surrounding 1000 cubic meters of spawn is constructed and finished by Sixth Incursion members. It is named the largest community project ever completed in server history. To get the obsidian necessary , "gulag" slave camps were set up around spawn and new players were captured and forced to mine enderchests to obtain obsidian. This is the first confirmed time slave labor is used in the server's history to complete a community project.

April 26th - The obsidian wall ends up being a failure due to the fact that players are dedicated enough to spend 7 minutes breaking 2 obsidian blocks. Spawn patrolling became a meme after the incursion members became so self-absorbed after the wall was built. Much of the wall got destroyed however it is still very recognizable in most places.

April 29th - The 2b2t Archaeological Society is founded by /r/ryanfortner3333

May 1st - Jared2013 starts "31Days31Greifs" which causes widespread damage across the server

May 3rd - Sixth Incursion ends and is deemed a success.

May 5th - Construction of Mokuzai Island starts.

May 10th - FitMC reveals secrets about the Age of Tyrrany to the general public.

May 18th - Empire's Edge, Emperium's main base, is leaked to the subreddit by an unknown user and the Emperium quickly removes their belongings and destroys the base before anyone else could.

May 25th - The Builders Haven project is founded by Beardler and managed by Jonathan5454

May 28th - All maps on the server are cleared in an attempt to stop more bases from being griefed in any way they might be. The Map Artists of 2b2t claim responsibility for it and most are understanding.

May 30th - The Boedecken, a large base kept secret for nearly two years, is greifed. FitMC makes base tour shortly after. jared2013 did not claim responsibility for the base's greif.

May 31st -

June 2018

July 2018

August 2018

September 2018

October 2018

November 2018

December 2018

June 1st - One of the largest temp-bases on 2b2t, Purgatory was griefed.

June 1st - 700k Spanish-speaking YouTuber TheDaarickPartner starts a series on 2b2t.

June 1st - Second anniversary of Rusher War.

June 1st - The largest base ever built in the server's history and possibly in SMP Minecraft, Block Game Mecca, is greifed. The base members put the blame on Beardler, one of the members of the base. (The basemates later took this back, claiming that Beardler's account was hacked due to negligence, and Beardler had no intent to leak)

June 4th - 65k YouTuber BenMascott makes a video on the server, goes mostly unnoticed

June 7th - Server reaches 50,000 in-game days

June 10th - Large lag spike that lasts for 3 hours, TPS remains 0.6 for the whole time.

June 16th - Purgatory 2, the largest temp-base on 2b2t, was griefed as a revenge act against Beardlers actions.

June 16th - Beardler quits 2b2t, and Block Game Mecca/Boedecken drama ends.

Mid July - Third Donkey Dupe is discovered

July 24th, 2018 - 2b2t wikia hosted on FANDOM was deleted and moved to Miraheze

Mid August - The servers economy is at a point that anything is worthless, including Hacked Items

August 21st - Infrared disbands for the first time

August 22nd - Builders Haven is greifed and disbanded

September 20th - FuzeIII joins 2b2t and begins a series

September 21st - The Seventh Incursion begins

September 21st - Third Donkey Dupe is patched

Sepetember 27th - FuzeIII declares the foundation of Team Baguette and "War on Team Veteran and the Americans"

October 8th - jared2013 is demoted from head of the incursion due to internal drama.

October 13th - The Seventh Incursion is called off by Henry due to lack of leadership initiative. Drama posts on reddit follow soon after.

October 13th - jared2013 makes a new discord and an Incursion revival initiative to complete original goals of the Incursion.

October 30th - jared2013's Incursion Reloaded revival officially ends a day earlier than initial deadline of the 31st due to an inside attempt on the Emperium. This caused jared's discord to be deleted.

October 31st - A 2b2t halloween party was hosted, only lasting for 4 hours

October - Fit's relevancy is questioned after being kicked out of the Seventh Incursion (see Spawn Incursions)

October - New "banning" method involving max filled books with unicode is discovered. Players are "permanently" banned from the server if they are given a certain amount of these books, which will kick them out of the server due to an overflow in packets registered by the server, unless they e-mail Hausemaster to clear their inventories. The phenomena is known as "book banning".

November 7th - 9th - Beardler returns to 2b2t for 2 days and claims he will return in Mid/Late 2019

November 11th - New book related dupe discovered. Dupe causes lag spikes when performed due to constant chunk reloading.

November 17th - BGM (Block Game Mecca) was found to consist of mostly schematic builds, which put an impact on the bases outlook and originality.

November 23rd - 1.13 is announced for 2b2t coming “soon”

November - The 2b2t Wiki is 2 years old

November - Disbanded Infrared is reformed into Iridium

November 29th - The FuzeIII vs Fit duel occurs, Fit "wins".

November 30th - The 2b2t wiki gains public attention due to FuzeIII mentioning the wiki and the general miraheze discord noticing 2b2t. This wiki achieved a record high on Thursday of 900+ views

December 19th - Queue is glitched and drops to 0, resulting in the server being unable to join

December 23rd - Coordinates for planned Christmas party is leaked, chaos ensues.

December 27th - Iridium is disbanded

December - General lack of major activity due to Queue bugs, connection errors, and lag

December - U.G.E is dissolved after long period of inactivity

2019

Player Count: 100-250

"It's the Current Year!"

January 2019

February 2019

January - Lag and queue issues are getting worse.

January 12th - Infrared is revived.

January 19th - Around 18 Vo-Perium members fight 6 Highland members at spawn, making this the largest battle to unfold since the 6th Incursion

January 26th - Infrared disbands once again

January 30th - The owner changes the server message on the player board, saying "1.13 and temporary map expected in February, 2019, with new server hardware. Elytras planned to be re-added. Death messages and end portals re-added."

January 30th - End portals re-disabled

February 20th - Indonesian YouTuber with 187k subscribers, Kurus, makes a video about 2b2t.

February 23rd - The owner changes server message on the player board, it now says "1.13 expected in late March, Book Duplication now Patched due to update of Waterfall."

February 27th - player bflyza constructs thousands of signs above the nether bedrock ceiling at (0, 0) in the nether. Any player who loads this chunk is immediately disconnected from the server, and instantly disconnects upon rejoining in a way that is functionally similar to being book-banned. Dozens of players are chunk-banned due to the exploit.

#2b2t #history #copy paste

7 notes · View notes

drewandhardy · 6 years

Text

#cluecrewquestionnaire

1. What is your favorite Nancy Drew game and why? Ghost of Thornton Hall! My Nancy Drew Holy Grail. This game just does everything right. The backstory of the Thornton family is beautiful and terrible and is the backbone of this game. The cast of characters are amazing. Clara, Wade, Harper -- all tragically complex and interesting. I’ll even throw Frat Boy Colton a bone here and say he added something to the story. Harper is straight up modeled after Helena Bohnem Carter in every role ever (though she most closely resembles Bellatrix Lestrange, probably). I absolutely loved hunting through the graveyard and reading old books to find out more about this family, their past, and this bizarre little southern island they live on. (Side note: Do tiny pieces of real estate like this exist off the coast of Georgia? Okay, I have consulted GoogleMaps and it appears they do. Making a note to visit.) The setting is just gorgeous, in the dreary, creepy way you would expect it to be. It reminded me of the abandoned town of Spectre from Big Fish. In fact, the whole thing has an eerie but beautiful Tim Burton-esque vibe to me. You have some amazing spaces to explore, including locked doors and hidden tunnels to boot. Puzzles are on point. Every puzzle in this game is going to help you advance the plot; nothing is sending you on benign errands. This was just seriously an awesome game. It’s the first ND game I’ve played in the Blahunka era, and it really opened a door to some of my other series favorites.

FIN, DDI, SPY, and TRT probably round of my top 5.

2. Have you played all 32 games in the series? If not, which ones haven’t you played? If yes, which one did you play first? I played MHM first, back in the day. Nothing like a little Abby seance to turn you on to a series.

Though I’ve been play since I was a wee baby jr. sleuth, I really rediscovered the series about 3 years ago. Still haven’t hit some of the more clunky sounding ones: White Wolf, Venice, Twister, Ransom, Medallion (started it but I can’t get through this gd game). I also still haven’t played DED or ASH but definitely looking forward to those.

3. What is your favorite line from any character in the series? Because I’m fresh off of SPY, I’m going to say “Be good. Be a little bad.”

4. If you could change the ending to any game, which one would it be (no spoilers, though)? Less jet packs.

5. Which game is your least favorite, and why? I mean, SCK is obviously not the biggest thrill, but damn I really hated fucking Castle Malloy. I thought I was going to love this concept: An upcoming wedding at a dilapidated castle in Ireland, where the groom suddenly goes missing?! SIGN ME UP, I SAY. But I really ate my words. This game is such a tedious slog to get through. Kyler, the bride in question, sits on her ass reading her damn book while you go on a wild goose chase for her husband. (Wild goose chase is hardly even figurative: there’s a damn chase-sheep-give-them-mohawks puzzle for christ sake.) The puzzles are long, and you frequently have to hunt down several missing pieces before you can even start said puzzles. The ending has to be some of the most bizarro, half-baked writing the Nancy Drew series has ever seen. Not to mention, the final sequence was one of the most infuriating things I’ve ever experienced (and I’m not even certain that this is hyperbole). I blew myself up approximately 35 times before - in a fit of rage - I Googled what nuanced methodology I needed to master in order to simply lift a bottle.

6. Which character is your favorite? Why? Oy, probably Dagny. But give me dem Hardy Boys any day. Also, Hilda Swenson. And Renate (CAP). And Viv (DOG). I tend to enjoy the old eccentric ladies.

7. Which character is your least favorite? Why? I’m pretty sure Holt Scotto (DDI) is part of the alt-right, so.

8. How do you feel about the whole Nancy/Ned vs. Nancy/Frank situation? Do you ship her with someone else? Who, and why? Patiently waiting for Nancy and Frank’s love story to arise in MID.

9. Do you have any fun headcanons about any of the games or characters? DAN is based off of The Devils Wears Prada.

10. If you could visit any of the locations of the games, which ones would they be and why?

That absolutely wild underworld set in LIE (someone explain why you build an elaborate set UNDER the stage instead of on it...)

Dry Creek (SHA)

Thornton’s bouge island

All the cool Pacific Northwest locations in DDI -- lighthouse, island, whale cave, etc

Wickford Castle

Royal Palladium

The Train

11. Did you read any of the original Nancy Drew books? If yes, do you like them? If no, would you consider reading one? I have not! But absolutely. Someone recommend the best one to me!

12. What is one thing any good detective can’t live without? Locked shit.

13. Which game had the best soundtrack? I really liked the Irish-y jig music in DDI and HAU.

14. What is one thing you wish HER would’ve included in any of the games (a conversation, interaction, location, feature, etc.)? I want a decent explanation of what happened in past-Germany in CUR. As in, we know who’s responsible for the monster games in present day, but they sure as shit weren’t alive in the olden days.

15. Do you have any ideas for a future game? What is it? Maybe a game base around the witch trials or something?

16. How long does it take you to finish a game from start to finish? Depends! Replays I can usually do in a single sitting, but first plays will take me a few days.

17. Did any of the games scare you? If yes, which ones? If no, why? Hell yeah, MHM scared the shit out of me when I was little. That “I see you” is like straight out of the Chamber of Secrets. Now that I’m an adult, some of my scariest thoughts are routed in my family falling apart. GTH and SAW and SPY definitely get to me in a psychological way. Thanks Blahunka, you twisted human.

18. Why did you join the Nancy Drew fandom here on tumblr? I have no real-life humans to talk these things through with, so thank you for being my internet humans.

19. What is your favorite Nancy Drew joke (from in-game or even floating around the internet)? In game, it’s gotta be the mom jeans shade from SPY. On the internet, all of the “It’s Locked” puns.

20. Who is someone in the clue crew you’ve always wanted to get to know? All of ya!

21. What are three unpopular opinions you hold about the games? 1. CUR is overrated. 2. LIE is underrated. 3. Lukas > Jane Penvellyn any damn day. I love playing Monster and hate playing damn “Go Dig.”

22. Do you have any fun theories about any of the games? I really think that if Blahunka stayed on, we would have gotten a Nancy/Ned break up at some point, and then a Nancy/Frank relationship later on.

23. Who was your favorite animal character featured in the games? Whale friend from DDI.

24. Do other people in your life know about your love for Nancy Drew? Yes! I’m constantly trying to get others to play!

25. How long have you been playing these games? Since about 2001.

26. What’s your favorite in-game backstory/history?

Ballad of Dirk Valentine and Francis Humbert; it’s truly the beating heart of SHA and the greatest love story in the series history.

The random hilarity of all Jake Hurley’s famous friends in TRN (he’s basically Tahani). Like, they seriously worked the Lincoln Assassination into this shit?? It’s amazing.

TRT, but more for the Wickford story than for the Marie Antoinette story. (When I played this as a child, I became obsessed with Marie Antoinette as a result of this game. I was too young to realize how ridiculous it is that Marie Antoinette’s tower was mysteriously in Wisconsin. I’m now too old to see through that ridiculously convenient pothole.)

Mickey Malone, his bombass girlfriend Vivienne, and his cool speakeasy.

Everything about the history of the Thorntons.

27. What is your favorite cut scene? Oh my god that damn junk shop in CRY. WHY WHY WHY.

#clue crew #nancydrew #herinteractive #cluecrew

13 notes · View notes

thanidiel · 6 years

Text

Choices

Prompt 11: World Building, First Person What if World of Warcraft took a different turn with its inspiration? What if the game was actually based entirely around science fantasy, particularly cyberpunk? I was a cheesy bitch and did The Modern AU(™). For a long piece, use what skills you’ve learned and practiced to narrate AS your character in this different world.

What would their occupation be? What is the world like? Factions? Races? Conflicts? Try to write about a normal or abnormal day for your character in this world—is their name different too? Write in your character’s perspective, and take on a very in-depth look of a different personality and worldview.

[I was very cheesy and went balls deep into a Modern AU story to exercise a more modern narrative style. Lots of references to others and events from World of Warcraft roleplay or Thanidiel’s background, try to catch them all. alsoimsorrythiswassolong.

Mentions: @jessipalooza @stormandozone @captainswingbeard @azriah @immunologist @kinari ]

“Alright, alright. Just, shut the fuck up for, like, I don’t know, an hour. Ethan, cradle your beer, you’re good at that. Elena… I don’t gotta tell you shit.

Let’s start with… the beginning.

So, let’s just get this shit out of the way. Auberry, up in Fresno County, California. Small-time fucking town. My dad was a new recruit to the police department, there. First-generation son to some Lithuanians that couldn’t read shit for English. My mom is a Mono Indian, from the Big Sandy Rancheria next door.

1990, Dad knocked her up when she was in town. I was the result, that she passed right back to Dad. Grew up happy without her, ran around just fine with myself, my Staffordshire, Ted, and all of the neighborhood backdoors left open. Grandparents were out of the picture by then, and Dad had shit hours, so it was up to the Abuelas and Grandma Sallys. Suited all of us just fine.

One day, Dad gets shot up breaking up a domestic dispute. I was six. And as much as we all want to think about those crazy stories up on Reddit and Facebook, no one fucking walks away from a hunting rifle. His coworkers stopped by, took me to the tribe headquarters in town to figure out what to do with me. Off to Big Sandy they sent my ass. I hear the Grandma next to us took Ted.

As much as I want to say things got more chill from there, it didn’t. See, my mom was half-white, already. Mix that with some straight-out-of-Europe dude, and you get a blue-eyed blonde haired kid running around with the Mono. Mom didn’t want me either, and she made that damned clear to the elders, so I was back to being a community effort on a new Grandma’s sofa.

Bless Grandma, she tried. Fed me. Taught me a handful of Monachi. Taught me how to fucking read and write English. Driving, eventually. Hooked me up with a new dog too when I got there, Tamuapaya, albino-assed thing. All of the good parental shit you’re supposed to do, with everything she had.

I ended up as black of a sheep as it gets, though. Scraped with the other kids whenever we crossed each other, dogs got in on it too. Adults couldn’t fucking stand me outside of Grandma ‘cause I didn’t think they deserved anything but lip. And, let me just say, it’s fucking awkward when you realize you’re a fag, hours out from a real city. I was never really accepted with them outside of cook-outs, but that was when you had to take everyone registered in the tribe.

Eventually, I get old enough to start itching to work. So I start the uphill battle of doing the most shit possible small-jobs for the most shit payout for these folk, and as you two know, I am stubborn as fucking shit about my work. So I did every bit of work they pissed at me, with fucking excellence.

Then that got too small when I was like, fifteen, and wanted some real fucking cash. The other black sheep got me then, and let me know it was easy money running drugs between us, peeps at the Casino, Auberry, and Fresno. Next thing I know, I’m sitting in a truck bed heading to Fres’ at 1 A.M. in the morning to pick up with them.

Didn’t take long for Grandma to figure out I wasn’t running off to catch friends at Auberry. She switched me more times than I can remember to try to beat it out of me. Didn’t work, and she didn’t have any full-on proof to get others in it, either - hid the FUCK out of the cash and what we were distributing.

So, eventually, I’m like… seventeen? And I’m passing crack to this military guy visiting relatives in Auberry and wanted some fun up by the Casino. And when he puts the cash in my hand and I put the bag in his, he doesn’t tell me to fuck off. He gives me a good look, asks how old I am, I tell him, and he asks me what the fuck am I going to do out here for another seventy years. I don’t even get to answer when he tells me I should get the fuck out of here, go talk to a recruiter at Fres’.

That got me thinking, so a year later, I’ve found all of my documents and shit in Grandma’s house. I have a pile of cash. And I want to get the fuck out of this shithole. I stuff it all into my backpack, I go with the boys to Fres’. I dump off all of my shit into Christian’s bag; free myself of it. I take a bus to get my ass right to the opposite end of the city. Spend my night in a homeless shelter with my backpack underneath my shirt and sweater, my arms wrapped around it, sleeping on my stomache, and a switch under the extra jacket I was using a pillow.

Next day, I get a free gym trial. I shower and make myself look as respectable as I need. After that, I open up a Bank of America and drop the eight-k. I had into my first savings. I keep three-hundred on me, I grab some Burger King, and I make my way to the Army recruiter.

Guy helps me get set up because it’s like the third time in my life I’ve done paperwork excluding the bank, which did like… everything, for me. After that, it’s floating between the shelter, gym, and getting odd jobs helping at taquerias and panaderias, with their dishes or pushing garbage and carts around for a month. Taking all of those damned test and then waiting for them to process. Grabbed an iPhone 3G during the wait, that was pretty cool.

Fort Jackson for a year, as it goes. Nothing significant in the grand scheme of things; shit was fresh hell, but nothing I couldn’t handle. For the most part. Met Casey there. My age. Actually graduated H.S., attending community nearby for sports medicine. It would still be another two years before fags could be open in the military, but we… got together. When we could. You could—… it was dating. We started dating when I was in B.C.T. And made it work after that.

After basic, I get hauled off all over the place. Okinawa, Hawaii, Ansbach. Mid-2011, they let us be out and loud in the U.S. military. Bad move for my career, but, first thing I did when I took my leave is fuck Casey and ask her to marry me. No ring or any big romantic gesture, we didn’t work like that. She said, yeah, sure. The process went underway, it’s all done by the time I’m heading back to like, Fort Irwin.

We’re separated for a while, then, like, she graduated, because she was a lot fucking smarter than me. And she started living with me on base. Which is fucking awesome. It’s not what I asked for, because she had all of this potential to work with back at home. But, hey, she wanted to travel too. We had our years, we were fucking twenty-years old. I let her come.

So we fucked around in South Korea, Alaska, Italy, it’s almost a blur after everything. Eventually, I get put out in Camp K.A.I.A. in Afghanistan. She’s back in Kansas, ‘cause, naturally, they’re hesitant on letting me drag a U.S. civy out there of all bases. It’s seven months into my deployment, she wants to visit and I let her.

April 28th, 2014. I took her out, a bit south of the airport in city proper for a meal, in the early morning. We were eating lamb korma with turnips— I still can’t fucking handle smelling and eating lamb. Or any soft fucking food: deuces to mashed potatoes and bolognese. God.

So we were eating—… we were eating that. And there was an airplane with a fucked engine that had been making its way towards the airport. It didn’t get close to the runaway. It veered and dropped, right into the city. The wing went right through our building.

I was sitting northward. She was sitting southward. My mind slowed down time, and I watched the way all of this debris and broken cable and a fucking airplane slammed into her back. She hits the table and it’s shooting off. All I see is blood and curry everywhere, then it hits me, too.

I wake up in the hospital two days later. My head feels like shit because my brain got ping-ponged. A sheet of metal opened up my torso from collar to hip, and a piece of flying drywall smashed my right cheek and orbital socket. They couldn’t save the eye. The ceiling falling after meant some heavy shit landed onto my left hand. They couldn’t save that either. And they couldn’t save Casey. She died on contact.

—I’m fine, by the way. Just pass over the whiskey. I’m not finished.

Cutting that long story of recovery short, I stabilize. They get to Landstuhl in Germany. Eventually, I end up back in the States. Sans eye and hand. A little ugly, now, too. Medical discharge. Sucks, but I’m hooked up with a nice prosthetic, at the least. That all takes about eight months to wrap up - not a lot of interest in keeping an uneducated, handless, soldier around.

And, you know, that’s where you come in, Ethan. I don’t think Elena knows this part about us, so bear with me. Ethan, here, was my Sergeant for a damned while. His ass phased out in ‘13. We always got along great, he kept up with us babies even when he was out. Group texts were a great invention; Snapchat groups even better. Now we both get to see all of the stupid shit the rest of those idiots are doing on deployment.

Ethan is basically like my fucking dad. So when fates aligned and I was in the Brooklyn military hospital, he started driving down from his apartment in the city, seeing me about once a week on his weekends. Then, when I was out, he offered me a place to stay, no costs. Naturally, I fucking took it. The last thing I was going to do now that I was out, was gonna walk my ass back to the Mono in that Cali shithole. Not fucking smart to be alone after the shit that had happened.

And, honestly? It worked really well. I used the time he’d be gone with his job at the nearby library to do… basically all of the adult shit I didn’t do in the military. Got my license, borrowing the car from his coworker and our close friend, Esther (nice girl, did volleyball and track for high-school and college, then decided she liked things quiet). Took the bus to therapy with a guy through the V.A., ‘till I grabbed a beat up 2009 Chevy truck from Craigslist. Eventually, started classes for a G.E.D. too. Collected my military checks, saved it all and got pocket-money with a part-time at some flower hippy’s cafe—and, you know, I never realized how fucking hard it is to make legit money in the ‘real world’ until then. Ethan, you’re a fucking saint. Like, three-hundred or whatever a week? Chump ass change compared to when I bounced with the kids in Fres’.

All of that good shit. Plus, it was nice that we both had a drinking buddy. And we both had a way of navigating each other’s bullshit well. Like, Elena, you just heard my wife-story. And you’ve heard about the fire, too. It’s not the fucking same, but it worked out that we had about an inkling of what to do when the other dude’s fucked up.

Eventually, it’s the day for appointment hell. Check up, physical therapy, actual therapy, then likely, a stop by the pharmacist. It’s like, early ‘16, at this point. And before we even get started, the doctor sits me down. Starts talking about this experimental stem-cell research, for organ implantation. Taylor says it’s not at a complex enough stage to restore my hand, but my eye and facial scars would be within the window of possibility. Gives me a card for a Brianna Lalwani-Jindal if I’m interested in volunteering for it.

I get through the day. I finally catch a meal at Jersey Mike’s, and after me and Ethan talk about it over some Coors, like if I wanna do it and how it feels fucking weird, to like, erase what happened to Casey through this, I say, sure, I’ll call. It’s like, eight P.M. She answers like four seconds before it just shoots to her voicemail. The bitch fucking slurs out like she snorted too much Vico, “—yeah, I know I’m fucking late, I’ll be there, I prooomise.”

So me and Ethan pick our jaws off the floor hearing this shit and I’m like, “Nah, Tony Dawson. Doctor Taylor Woodson at the Brooklyn V.A. Hospital referred me to you, about your research trials with the organ implantation. Lalwani?”

There’s a gasp, a lot of shuffling, and a lot of me and Ethan passing around another beer can between us. Then she really starts spilling and it becomes a game of my fucking brain trying to comprehend this Indian accent mixed with that lightspeed fucking way people from those big cities talk, like “Oh shit, okay, okay, okay. Yeah, you’ve got me. Where do you live? What are you missing? When can I meet you? Tomorrow?”

So I tell her about my fucked-up face, but really, I want to know what the fuck I just got myself into with this chick. I don’t get the chance, she blurts out over me, “Sounds great! EYE will see you later, Tony. Tomorrow. Four P.M., Just… show back at the Hospital. We’ll find a vacant office. Ciao.” Then the fucker hangs up. Eventually, we decide that I should probably text the number back, at least. My ‘See you then.’ gets back a kissy-face and ‘I like coffee.’ Subtle.

A vanilla latte and unsweetened black tea, fifteen minutes of us wandering the Hospital, thirty minutes of her talking my ear off about a bunch of medical-scientific garbage, then five minutes of us filling out all of the paperwork, and I was Bri’s new, shiny, case study.

Skipping over all of the shit she ran my face through, we’ll sum it up as: I need contacts and I fucking hate it, but she did what she set out to do. The meetings themselves, were more interesting. I don’t know if she like, fucking sensed that I’d let her get away with her shit. But I’m going to assume that, since she still has her fucking job.

It got unprofessional, pretty fast. Like, beyond what she already hit me with. I’m not sure what got into me, honestly. I hadn’t even considered another girl since the crash. But I spent our introductions looking at her like a piece of meat whenever her back was turned. First real meeting, she’s prodding me about all of my personal interests and shit in some fucked small talk, starting to get into my dating life. I take a risk and just drop straight out that I dig chicks.

She gets a bit quiet, which doesn’t make much of a difference because it’s clear already that she’s a fucking loudmouth. But she gets curious, and keeps looking at me after that the whole time I’m there. Then the meeting after that, we ended up on some fucking talk about blindfolds for some reason, and let me just say that she got a little too into that before we started talking about how, like, I needed to turn down my drinking.

So the whole time I’m letting her and the other doctors Frankenstein my face, there is sexual tension to cut with at every goddamned interaction to be had. It never gets anywhere, because neither of us are fucking stupid. But, just, Jesus Christ.

Cut to a year later at the end of 2016. My face is put back together. Getting used to fucking contacts, getting used to checking my emails for interview requests out of the wazoo for five-hundred documentaries and news sites, after her team’s paper on me came out. By all accounts, I’m looking good and so is the implant. She’s onto new volunteers, my appointments are getting passed to another doctor on her team and stretched out to semi-annuals. That should be the end of the story.

But, uh, couldn’t get her out of my head, frankly. Not for a lack of trying, either. By now, I was really amping the weights at gym to try to get my energy out. Quit the hippy cafe and lined up a new job in armed security. Did my registration for online classes at the community, for a Statistics program. Eventually, it’s like, I don’t know, two months, after the last time I saw her. Ethan drags me out to a bar. Ethan fucks off. I meet a girl, some rich one, named Valencia. We get to talking, for like, fifteen minutes. Next thing I know, I’m texting Ethan I’ll show up later and I spent the night at her place.

It’s fucking great, Valencia’s fucking great. But I’m texting Bri the next afternoon at Starbucks that I want to see her that goddamned night. She shoots me the address of another bar, says to bring friends. Naturally, that means I tag in Ethan and Esther. We show up, she has good ol’ Elena here.

Everyone clicks just like that. And that’s fucking great. Lots of material to work through, especially when Bri started going on about how she and Elena met; some wild case when she was a med. student and the Roma communities in the whole state were having outbreaks. Apparently Elena helped with her outreach a lot, a sort of guide between worlds. Then the two quiet girls started going on about their herb gardens, not to even mention all of the stupid military stories me and Ethan had. We hung out for a long ass while. Eventually, we’re all back at Bri’s place. And our BOI Ethan, here, finally communicates what’s up to you and Esther. So Esther ‘takes you two out to for fast food’ and out of our hairs.

Shit takes even shorter than Valencia. Bri locks the door, we fuck. Then I wake up in the morning, wake her up for another fuck. We sleep around, get some take-out for a late… brunch… hang out, I end up taking her with me to that huge football party Tim was hosting and meeting up with the whole friend group. Then it’s just straight back to her place for a repeat performance.

So, basically, it went from zero to like we had always been fucking dating. I practically moved in with her after the first two weeks. I know all of my stuff ended up in there by the fourth month. Then we put me on the lease entirely sometime during the seventh month when she was renewing it. It all flowed natural as shit too, I didn’t even know how ‘fast’ we were going ‘till about the third time I was throwing shit I needed into boxes to toss at Bri’s and Ethan called me the fuck out when he asked: I just said it’s convenient with how much closer to work she is.

And I know a lot of people were, and still do, giving me shit about it, or just about the whole relationship in general. Apparently we talk too hard at each other and act too casual for it to be serious. Looks like some sorta fling, especially considering our ‘differences’ as people put it. You know, racist people, or people who think I’m fucking stupid ‘cause I got a gun in the drawer.

But lemme just say that I think it takes some real fucking balls in a person, where the first time she ever woke up to me having a PTSD episode, is to slide her ass out of bed, rummage through my coat for my medication, and slap my benzos in front of me with leftover tea and a Crunch bar. All without a single word. It takes real balls, any other person, after getting that from her, is just a discount bitch.

It’s not all her pampering me, either. I realized quick she’s a ‘talker’ with her research. If she isn’t with one of us, she’s locked in the bedroom with a stack of journal articles and a Macbook talking off Luke’s ears like he can fucking bark back. So I started reading everything she had and really going over her team’s paper on me, plus whatever the fuck else her scholar databases had, and a lot of Dictionary.com. And, one weekend, she’s complaining to me over coffee and tea about her shit, I pop that shit right back at her, her jaw drops, she probably shits herself a little. And, from then on, I’m her new interactive rubber duck. And people think I’m fucking dumb.

I mean, not to mention all of the random shit I pay for that bitch, with all of the money I’ve been getting lately between disability, financial aid, and work.

So, we’re basically to the present now. There isn’t much detail to fill in after that besides that life is pretty fucking great and Bri is pretty fucking great, from then to now, the middle of Year of Our Lord, 2018. Which takes us to the crux of this whole ass speech I’ve been going on.

Now you two know my life-story. What I wanna know, now that we’re all open and drunk here, is your fucking thoughts on if I’d be making the best, or the worst, decision of my life if I asked her to hitch with me. I’ll be fucking real; I don’t fucking know what it’s like to make a good choice besides like, I don’t know, where to buy my graphics cards.”

I watch the two shitfaces in front of me process what the fuck I just said. Elena brightens like the Irish daisy she is, pressing her hands together, abso-fucking-lutely wiggling in her seat. Her purple scarf slides off the back of the chair in the process. Ethan is still stretched out across the whole damned table like he’s gonna pass out, with the dopiest smile stretching across his face, but as usual, he’s the ‘loud’ one of the two and starts to talk over Elena’s vague ‘Oh… oh…!’

“Dude? That’s… that’s great. That’s really fucking great. I… Man. Fucking, just fucking go for—”

“So are we just a homeless shelter now, or like, is this a reverse Alcoholics Anonymous?” The door slams shut, Luke is rushing off of the couch, and all four of us are just JEERING (barking) Bri’s name back at her, like it makes it fucking better that these idiots are still in the apartment.

“I was thinking homeless shelter and giving them the living room.”

“Cool. Maybe the floor’ll delay Ethan breaking his back another day.”

“Hey… hey, man. I ain’t that old.”

“Oh! Don’t say that - what if it does happen?”

Twiddle Gray and Twiddle Orange are both looking at me funny right now, considering what was cut into, and Bri is starting to pick that up as she’s putting her keys and shit away.

“So! What were you all talking about? Are you finally leaving me?”

“Food, actually. We were thinking that Himalayan place you like. They can eat the basic bitch shit, I was gonna grab us fried okra and tandoori.”

“I hope you aren’t expecting me to pick my ass up from the couch, now. That shit, ain’t happening. Long day working with by-the-book dunderfucks.”

The Twiddles give each a look, then, and then Ethan launches in.

“Nah… naaaaah. You know what? You sit there. You hang out. The three of us will walk down, sober up.”

“With how you made my fucking apartment smell, not sure if that’s gonna happen. But ‘kay. Have fun, leave me all alone. After I just came back from work. A l o n e.”

The three of us are already draining our waters and grabbing our jackets and wallets. I push Elena towards the door and Ethan is right after her as I shoot back at her,

“Shut the fuck up, you whiny bitch. Thirty minutes. You’d be spending it ignoring us and doing your shitty Buzzfeed quizzes anyway.”

“I mean - you’re right. But you’re still leaving me alone. Shit friends. Shit girlfriend,” she sighs, “What a shit life.”

Elena is the one pushing me through the door now by my arm, forcing me and Ethan’s fat asses into the hallway as she tries to assure Bri.

“It’ll be fast! I love you!”

“Awh. That’s cute.”

The door slams shut.

#writing #thanidiel #bricini #ithanar #elleynah #veya #taeonthrial #esheyn

24 notes · View notes

jasonvtodd · 6 years

Photo

📌 CUT & RUN SERIES FANFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

🔸 Favourites.

💥 The 12 Days of Sidewinder by Astrumiel • M • 1k • nick/kelly, ty/zane • The only way to get Digger out of the kitchen is to put him on a mission. In this case it's to find the perfect Christmas tree.

💥 A Delayed Honeymoon by tacoma_vibes • E • 7k • ty/zane • Ty and Zane take some time-off from their hectic schedules to enjoy themselves, unbridled by CIA assignments and devious cats.

💥🔸 Ask Me No Questions by the_random_writer • T • 2k • ty/zane • Zane and Ty take a moment to consider the joys of customer service.

💥🔸The Bachelor Party by boneslegendaryhands • E • 5k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • Ty, Zane, Deuce and Sidewinder head to Vegas for Ty and Zane's bachelor party and Zane has a special surprise for Ty.

💥 The Bet by mindfluff • M • 3k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • Sidewinder picked up a community blanket while they lived in Jacksonville. It is the bane of Ty's existence even years after they moved apart.

💥 Birthday Blues by tacoma_vibes • E • 7k • ty/zane • Ty is ticked off that they can't celebrate Zane's birthday on a pool float at some faraway resort. But a drug-trafficking case at work holds up all their attention.

💥🔸 Black Market Bar & Grill by lscar123 • T • 3k • ty/zane • Welcome to the Black Market Bar & Grill.On the busiest night of the year bartender Ty Grady is the most in demand person in the bar between the drink orders and the girls trying to get his attention, it's too bad the only thing he can think about is how badly he handled his first meeting with the beautiful dark haired man who owns a bookstore on the other side of town.

💥🔸 Celtic Knot by Astrumiel • M • 5k • nick/kelly • Usually when the phone rings at three in the morning on a Sunday it’s because someone got the wrong number or the world was ending.“The world had better be ending.” Ty snarled at his cell phone when it blared to life, he answered it without looking at the ID. “What?”“Ty man sorry to do this but I need help, big time.” Nick whispered to him clearly anxious. Ty was instantly up and alert glancing around for pants in case he needed to get up and leave immediately.

💥🔸 Click, Click, Splat by tacoma_vibes • E • 6k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • Sidewinder visit Ty and Zane for the weekend and shenanigans follow. Zane has a nasty case of déjà vu.

💥🔸 Crushes, Collisions, and Conspiracies by byericacameron • T • 25k • nick/kelly, ty/zane • Kelly expects the dorm's laundry room to be empty at 2am, but it's not. There's a quiet, kinda jumpy guy named Nick and, once they meet, Kelly can't seem to get the guy out of his head.

💥🔸 Crime and Pun-ishment by the_random_writer • G • 3k • ty/zane • Zane finds an amusing way to pass the time while they're stuck in a traffic jam. Ty is Not Amused.

💥 Day Old Hate by Ricechex • M • 2k • ty/zane • Set between Chapters 10 & 11 of Touch & Geaux. Explores how Ty spent that night after Zane kicked him out of their room.

💥🔸 Double Play by BreTheWriter • T • 10k • ty/zane • Ty didn't know what he expected when he texted the number scratched into the seat next to his. It certainly wasn't to fall in love.

💥 Ducks and Mayhem by zombiegardener • G • under 1k • ty/zane • Ty has a bad day. Ducks may have been responsible, because ducks are evil.

💥🔸 Drunk on a Plane by toboldlydammitjim • G • 3k • nick/kelly • AU where Nick and Kelly meet on a plane, loosely based on the song Drunk on a Plane.

💥 Give & Take by hunenka • E • 2k • ty/zane • Takes place during Fish & Chips. Feeling a little light-headed after winning another round of poker, Zane gets a little possessive of Ty. Hot sex ensues.

💥🔸 Gone, Gone, Gone by TMW • 3k • M • nick/kelly • When life leaves you high and dry I'll be at your door tonight If you need help, if you need help. I'll shut down the city lights, I'll lie, cheat, I'll beg and bribe To make you well, to make you well.

💥 Grand Slam by BreTheWriter • T • 7k • ty/zane • Or, Five Times Ty Called Zane From the Road (+ One Time He Didn't Have To) *sequel to “Double Play”

💥🔸 Semper Fi by slashsailing • 6k • E • ty/zane, nick/kelly • A story detailing the most awkward double date in the history of double dates: Ty, Zane, Nick and Kelly end up spending the weekend together in Kelly’s cabin where Nick and Ty takes some time to work through their issues.

💥🔸 Scoundrels by a_quick_drink • T • 43k • Welcome to Miami, where truth is always stranger than fiction. And Kelly Abbott's life is about to get a whole lot stranger when a chance meeting lands him in the sights of Nick O'Flaherty, the new manager of the Sidewinder nightclub.

💥🔸 Sharing & Caring by Blue_My_Mind • G • 2k • ty/zane • "But now it’s your turn. Let us hear what’s brewing behind that poker face. Tell us something about Zane Garret we didn’t know yet."Sidewinder all confessed their well-kept secrets to each other and finally cleared the air in Part & Parcel. Just Zane didn't say anything in that round, as that was a team-thing he had no room in. So now it's Zane's turn to make a confession.

💥 Short Shorts by moonblossom • G • 1k • nick/kelly • Of course someone decided to wear a sexy costume to the Halloween party. Of course it had to be Kelly.

💥 Spectator Sports by byericacameron • T • 1k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • Sidewinder was supposed to meet Ty and Zane for dinner, but a quiet sit-down isn't what they find when they arrive.

💥🔸 The Texan Flair by tacoma_vibes • E • 12k • ty/zane • Ty and Zane decide to visit Zane's ranch in Texas. Shooting, chaos and a honky-tonk soiree ensues.

💥🔸 The Tumblr Month by TMW • M • 6k • nick/kelly • As part of a routine (and at the urgings of his therapist), Nick joins Tumblr and soon meets an intriguing user named DevilDoc.

💥 Vigil by mindfluff • G • 3k • nick/kelly, ty/zane • So this pic came across my news feed, and after reading the story, I got some serious Ty/Nick feels. So now you get to have them too.

💥 What a Night by MelJoyAZ• E • 8k • ty/zane • Night out at a gay club, voyeurism, sex with D/s elements

💥 While You Weren't Sleeping by moonblossom • E • 1k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • It's not that different from sharing a house all those years ago, is it?

💥 Zombies And Restless Partners by KingOnHisBoard • T • 1k • ty/zane, nick/kelly • A ficlet in which Zane and Nick are trying to have a Walking Dead marathon, and Ty and Kelly are twitchy.

#cut & run #cut and run #tyzane #ty grady #zane garrett #nick o'flaherty #kelly abbott #otp: the workings of fate #otp: beacon in a storm #em recs #fanfic rec #no one cares about this series and the fandom has literally disappeared as has the author from tumbrl BUUT #WATCH ME STAN THIS SERIES TILL I DIE YA'LL #stow it em

57 notes · View notes

ezatluba · 4 years

Photo

AUG. 17, 2020

Can I Interest You in a Dogshare ?

Rachel Levin

Maybe I’m a monster, but all the posts of pandemic puppies have annoyed me. As have the calls from friends that precede them. “I’ve got news!” no longer applies to just engagements and pregnancy but rescue mutts and $4,000 bernedoodles. It’s not that I don’t find all these new dogs adorable — I do. It’s just that with everyone I e-meet, it feels like I’m one step closer to succumbing to my family’s command: that we get a dog, too.

Thirty-one days into quarantine, they ambushed me after the 31st dinner I’d cooked in a row, with a PowerPoint presentation entitled “WHY WE SHOULD GET A DOG,” littered with pictures of irresistible pups and prayer-hand emoji. My sweet little 11-year-old daughter poured her heart and soul into these slides and argued her case like an extra-small RBG, and still: Being the cold-hearted mother I guess I am, I remained unconvinced. And told her so. And made her cry.

I didn’t want a dog pre-COVID, and I don’t want one post-COVID, though I admit I can see the appeal of a dog mid-COVID.

The begging continued. My kids told me I’m “ruining everything.” In the heat of quarantine bliss my husband said he wants a dog so that when we get divorced he has someone who loves him. Around Day 120, I semi-acquiesced: Okay. We can get a dog, I said, on one condition — and one word: DOGSHARE. Part-time. Splitsies. A cuddly King Charles or bark-y beagle, maybe even a giant Newfoundland (please God, anything but a golden retriever) that will shuttle evenly between two loving, likeminded homes, like the child of an amicable divorce. My friend Samantha is onboard. She lives by San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. Our urban dog would have a beach house!

It’s an idea I’d been chewing on for a while. It sounds dreamy. All that puppy love and affection for half the price. The pros appear plenty. Week on, week off. No $35/hour dogsitters. No pleading with friends to pleaaase watch Wobbles. We could hike any trail! Loll on any beach! Rent any Airbnb. Fly back east to visit family without spending money to board a dog and a plane. The cons seemed nonexistent, until I started talking about it. “Once you have a dog, you’re not going to want to share her,” warned Nina, snuggling her new Cockapoo the other night on Zoom. “It won’t know its true owners,” counseled Maddy. “The dog will get confused.” Bullshit! (Which, I declared, I don’t want to pick up either.)

I rang a professional dog person. “Am I being selfish?” I asked Clive Wynne, a behavioral scientist, founding director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University, and author of the 2019 book Dog Is Love. “Oh, I don’t think so,” he assured. “Dogs experience strong emotional connections, but they also come into and out of relationships easily. I see no reason at all that a dog couldn’t find it tremendously satisfying. I bet the dog would be thrilled!”

In his three-decade career, Dr. Wynne has never known anyone to dogshare, he said, but it sounds like a decent antidote to the modern ill of dog loneliness. In normal, non-quarantined times, “We bring dogs into our busy lives, then treat them like Wii consoles,” he said. “Alexa doesn’t get depressed if you don’t speak to her for a week, but a dog does.” A dog shared across two parties, he reasoned, is better than a dog too often ignored by one. After all, what will become of all the pandemic pups once the pandemic ends (if it ever ends) and their owners get back to their busy lives?

After mulling it over, Cameron Woo, co-founder of long-running magazine The Bark, agreed. “The traditional concept of the nuclear family has been turned upside down … What we consider a traditional dog’s family could, too.”

Woo certainly has a point. Why, in a world where we share cars and houses and clothes, hasn’t this clearly win-win notion of dogsharing caught on?Services like Copuppy and Let’s Share a Dog cropped up several years ago, allowing strangers to enjoy a furry fling for a walk or a weekend, but neither ever really took off. Breakups often lead to embattled co-custody of pets, and the legal contracts that go with it. So why not two families willing to share a Fido — forever — from the get-go?

“It’s not the dogs, it’s the humans,” said Dr. Wynne. Consistency is key for dogs, which calls for agreement among people. How many walks a day? Is the dog allowed on the couch? At the table? Is that $7,000 surgery necessary? Dogsharing wouldn’t work for everybody, he warned.

It works for Heather McIlhany. “It’s the freaking best,” said the D.C.-based marketing executive. She and her ex-boyfriend share two Jack Russell mixes, swapping every week and splitting all expenses. Just because she loves having her dogs half time doesn’t mean she loves them any less, she points out. “A dog shouldn’t be treated like an end table. When I’m with Cora and Crash, we go for long walks. But they also puke on the couch, bark at every falling leaf. If I had them every week, it might feel like a burden.” Sure, she gets “a little pang” watching the dogs run into her ex’s house, nary a look back, and since the pandemic began it’s been lonelier. But then they’re reunited and it feels so good. “I tell everyone they should set their life up this way!”

Not all experts think such a set up affords a good dog life, though. Crossing town every two weeks would be “disruptive” for all but the most resilient dogs, said Dr. Stephanie Borns-Weil, a veterinary behaviorist at Tufts’ Cummings Medical Center. “You have to think not just how it’s going to be for you — but how it’s going to be for the dog.”

For Lulu, a French bulldog in San Francisco, it’s been fabulous. “She has two families,” said Suma Gona, a psychiatrist. For the last ten years, they’ve split the week with another couple. “I thought it was crazy, but they just fell in love with Lulu. They take her to acupuncture! She has this whole other life!” At 14, it has also been a long life. No doubt due, in part, to all the attention that’s come from their unique arrangement — which will likely expire with Lulu. “The kids want to get another dog, but I don’t know …” said Dr. Gona, considering the full-time commitment. “That would be a lot.”

My fear exactly. Dogs are work! I whined to Dr. Borns-Weil. “Well, I also have a ball python,” she offered. “They like to wrap around your arm and you only have to feed them once a week.” (Albeit “a defrosted medium-size rat.”) I floated the option to my family.

They prefer a dog. “But I’ll take a snake,” said my 8-year-old, “if we don’t have to share it.”

Rachel Levin is the author of Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds.

0 notes

muellerewald-blog · 5 years

Photo

Already thinking about where you want to be escaping the UK winter months? Our selection of winter sun destinations will inspire you to get booking that holiday well ahead of time!

DUBAI

Winter is arguably the best time of year to take a holiday to Dubai considering that this desert destination is often sweltering later in the year. Anytime between November and March is ideal for bearable temperatures of around 25°C, perfect for lying by the pool! Dubai is home to some lovely beaches and boasts the number one water park in the whole of the Middle East and Europe.

No trip to Dubai is complete without experiencing a Sunset Safari or a visit to the tallest skyscraper in the world, the Burj Khalifa, to get a birds-eye view of the city, desert and ocean from the 134th floor.

COSTA BLANCA

During the winter months temperatures on the Costa Blanca average at a moderate 15°C. Located in the province of Alicante, Costa Blanca is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations. Also known as the ‘White Coast’ due its mile of gorgeous sandy beaches and clear waters, here you’ll find everything from beach watersports, restaurants and great nightlife, to lush green almond trees and orange groves that make the region unique.

The coastline boasts countless resorts, the most popular including Benidorm, Torrevieja and Calpe. The annual Benidorm Fiesta is held each November and attracts a huge following with many visitors returning year after year. This amazing celebration honours the Patron Saints of Benidorm, La Virgen del Sufrage and Jaime Apostol and lasts for 6 pulsating days. In 2019 the party starts 8 November and lasts until 13 November.

TENERIFE

Tenerife is always a popular destination for winter sun. The coolest month of the year for this beautiful island is December, when temperatures still hover around 20°C. If you fancy some quiet relaxation then head to the charming town of Los Cristianos on the southwest coast or for something a little more energetic, Playa De Las Amèricas has a lively nightlife scene and six beaches.

The island has plenty of activities to offer such as scuba diving, horse riding and swimming. Visit the town Los Gigantos with its lovely harbour where boat trips offer you the chance to see dolphins play in the waters with the stunning backdrop of the Los Gigantos ‘giants’ in the background, vertical cliffs reaching heights of 500 m in some places. For the wine connoisseurs, Festival of San Andres takes place 29th to 30th November where the first wines of the new season are ready. Producers from vineyards open wines for sampling at the harbour of Puerto de la Cruz.

FLORIDA

Temperatures in Florida during the winter months rarely drop below 20℃, and the sea stays nice and warm too. Great for a day at the beach! There’s plenty to do off the beach too, with Universal Studios Orlando and Walt Disney World just two attractions offering entertainment for children and adults alike.

If you’ve always fancied exploring the wildlife of the Everglades, now’s the perfect time to go because humidity is low, and mosquitoes are rare. For something a little different, the Halifax Art Festival takes place 1st to 2nd November in downtown Daytona Beach. This is the second oldest art festival in Florida and attracts hundreds of top artists and thousands of visitors.

FUERTEVENTURA

Due to its close proximity to the African coast, it’s not surprising that Fuerteventura enjoys 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, making it a popular destination for winter sun holidays. Fuerteventura is the second largest of the Canary Islands, famous for its long sandy beaches and towering sand dunes. The main resort of Corralejo can be found in the north of the island, with a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. There are dozens of great restaurants and cafes and bars and a beach ideal for water sports.

Caleta de Fuste is a purpose-built holiday resort situated on the east coast of the island. If you are looking for a beach holiday, combined with lots of family orientated activities, then Caleta de Fuste is the perfect destination. The International Kite Festival takes place every November in Corralejo, with about 700 kites in various shapes and colours decorating the sky. It lasts for three days and attracts large crowds from all over the island.

COSTA DEL SOL

Costa Del Sol has around 320 sunny days a year and an average winter temperatures of 20ºC. The mild temperatures make it possible to walk on the beach, eat al fresco with views of the sea or explore the charming whitewashed towns. While summer on the Costa Del Sol is busy, the winter months are perfect to take advantage of the substantially shorter queues at major attractions. Besides the beaches and sunshine, Costa del Sol is full of artistic and cultural offerings.

Granada is home to one of Europe’s greatest treasures – the Alhambra. Malaga has everything, from Roman ruins and Moorish fortresses to contemporary museums and art galleries. Marbella’s Old Town is a charming blend of Andalusian and Moorish architecture, and Fuengirola boasts a striking Arab fortress. The Nerja Feria is a festival in honour of the patron saint of the village, Virgen de las Angustias, with events, music and celebrations happening all over the town. It takes place in the second week of October and is one of the most exciting times in the village.

ALGARVE

The Algarve has more than 300 days of sunshine each year and very few rainy days making it ideal for those wanting to get away from the Irish winter. With the average temperatures ranging between 10 and 15C in most coastal cities in the winter months, the dry and warm conditions make it excellent for exploring outdoors. Boasting over 100 miles of golden beaches, including the Blue Flag Praia d’Oura and Praia de Vale Figueira, the Algarve is Portugal’s most popular region for holidaymakers. Known for its limestone caves and cliff tops, whitewashed villages, water sports and golf scene, the Algarve has it all.

One of the Algarve’s most popular areas is Albufeira, close to Faro airport. In the popular Old Town, you’ll find churches, restaurants, cafés and bars in abundance. Every 11th November in the port city of Portimão, the ancient festival of Feira de São Martinho (St Martin’s Fair), takes place and is a real slice of Algarve culture. There are stalls, street food and carnival games to enjoy but the festival is mainly celebrated by eating roast chestnuts and drinking the first of the year’s wine (called a magusto).

MALTA

Malta enjoys some of the highest average hours of sunshine in Europe throughout the year and from October to April you can expect temperatures from 10 to 25C. With over 250 km of barely inhabited coastline and beautiful inland landscapes, Malta in the winter months is a great destination for a walking holiday. The weather is perfect for heading out trekking or exploring without having to worry about getting sunburnt or overheated.

Malta’s rich history offers an abundance of indoor or even underground sites to discover, the prehistoric Ghar Dalam cave is a must. There are a variety of interesting museums, palaces, dungeons and lavishly decorated cathedrals to enjoy too. One of the most popular areas in Malta is in the northern region of St. Paul’s Bay. The neighbouring resorts of Qawra and Bugibba have lots of amazing hotel options and it’s a great place to base yourself if you want to explore more of Malta. The Carnival in Valletta is one of the oldest cultural events that takes place in Malta. From 28th to 5th March, the streets are full of extraordinary floats, each followed by groups of dancers and musicians in themed costumes.

The post 8 Locations for a Winter Getaway appeared first on TravelRepublic Blog.

0 notes

infinitehours · 5 years

Text

Chapter 5

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you didn’t heed The Ghost Host’s warning about flash photography and too many bright lights?

What a coincidence; so have I!

Hello and welcome to part 2 of my Ted Talk series, “Let’s Torture Karen For Fun”. Thank you all for joining me here.

Oh. I should mention that this is the “scary” chapter. As in, it probably won’t frighten you, but it is a bit creepier than the other chapters.

There’s a character based off of a face character in Epcot in this chapter. This particular face character I’ve always thought was some kind of spirit when I was younger, hence why they’re referenced here.

Also, you’re going to start to see signs of the references I’ve put in to both the Phantom Manor and the Phantom of the Opera (only natural since the book/musical inspired the Phantom Manor).

Additionally, I wanted to explain/reference the two mansions and why only one has the aging man portrait in the foyer.

Van Winkle was an actual delegate back around that time; I may go back and change it to a fake name later. As well as maybe edit this chapter later. If anyone can give me tips and pointers, that would be appreciated.

Also I apologize for the really terrible art. I will probably go back and edit them later.

~~~~

Trigger warnings: ghosts, death concepts/discussions, murder, suicide, abuse, blood, lots of scary stuff (horror), implied sexual abuse, cursing (damn and hell), drug abuse, attempted rape (never completed; in a later chapter).

~~~

Table of Contents Link

~~~

Ch 5: Poor Unfortunate Souls

~~~

”If you want to cross a bridge, My Sweet, You’ve got to pay the toll.”

-Ursula, Disney’s The Little Mermaid

~~~~

Cautiously, she began to climb the stairs. They were going up; not down to where Michael presumably was, but she could swear that statue was going to spring to life at any moment and jump her. And she couldn’t bear to be around when that happened.

On the next floor was another hallway, this time it was framed with doors lining either side as far as she could see.

No, literally. She could not see the end of the hallway.

It seemed to go on for miles and miles; if there even WAS an end to it, it was certainly well out of the visual range of any human being.

Who the heck would even make a house like this?

There was not a soul in a sight, but there was creaking throughout. The walls creaked, the floors creaked; Karen just hoped it was the house settling.

She muttered disgruntled strings of sentences insulting the Ghost Host as she turned at a junction reached for what she had hoped was the light switch for that next set of hallways.

The old fixtures of the chandeliers above her were sluggish in illuminating her surroundings. That wasn’t too comforting when there were shadows at one side that she couldn’t quite account for, but relief came when this turned out to be merely another table with papers.

Out of curiosity (and because it couldn’t possibly make her anymore lost than she already was), she briefly shuffled through them.

Among the items that caught her eye was a newspaper. It was faded in several places, but the words of one particular headline stood out.

“LION EATS MAN

On this morning, officers of the law have found what is believed to be the half eaten remains of local man, one Mr. Hugh Hudson. Mr. Hudson had been reported missing by his cousin and overseer, Mr. Jefferson Lewis of the textile company Williams Textiles, just earlier today, when he had neglected to show for work or respond to visitations to his home. Mr. Hudson frequently suffered from unseemly bouts with the bottle, and it was under such influence that it was believed that he had happened across the grounds of the traveling Circus, The Museum of the Weird.

Although initially a suspect in this terrible tragedy, ------, the owner and ringmaster of the circus”

Karen squinted her eyes, but the name wasn’t faded but deliberately blacked out.

“Although initially a suspect in this terrible tragedy, -----, the owner and ringmaster of the circus has cooperated in full with authorities and was henceforth released from suspicions. He expressed his opinion that exceptional drunkenness was a type of evil, second only to lecherous behavior, and that such tragedies were an inevitable consequence of Mr. Hugh’s choices.

No evidence has been found that would implicate foul play. Officers of the law have investigated and determined that the methods by which the scene happened involved Mr. Hugh hefting himself over the fencing using a nearby ladder. After which, becoming trapped when there was method of climbing on the other side. Authorities are working with the assumption that the remains are, indeed, Mr. Hugh, in spite of the condition they are, which is to say, in rendered completely unidentifiable, as there was a bottle of his favored heavy wet near the beast’s cage. And, furthermore, on the good logic that none others in town have been found to be missing.”

Lion. Unidentified body. And again, that Museum of the Weird.

Karen looked at the date. 1879. Was this the same event that the other letter she had found described?

Underneath the paper were more letters. She opened a few, but most of them had names she didn’t recognize. Until she came across one addressed to ‘A Mr. James Bartholomew Gracey’.

Gracey. That was the surname of the other letter author. She opened it up.

“Mr. James Bartholomew Gracey,

You had wrote previously expressing interest in our convention that took place in Wheeling; I write to you now that we shall hold a second convention on the 11th of June. Ordinarily, only delegates are meant to attend, but as you have previously provided a great service for many of our members I do not think that your presence will incur an uproar.

Take care, my friend. For there have been rumors of late of those who wish to secede stirring trouble in towns. I recognize that you have a certain attachment to your estate, and I do not contest it is very much your birthright, but I urge you to consider relocating closer to Parkersburg, where you could be among the many who share your sentiments. At the very least, I pray you take care until this war reaches its conclusion.

Sincerely,

P. Van Winkle”

This one didn’t have a year date or any other identifying features, but it mentioned a war.

She sighed, rubbing her forehead. This was going to be a headache and a half to make sense of any of this, and likely wouldn’t even get her any closer to finding Michael.

Gracey. Given that she was finding so many letters with that surname, and given that Solomon’s portrait was hanging prominently in the foyer, she’d have to guess that the family lived in this mansion at some point.

She frowned when she went back to staring at the letter. Why was it…darker…?

Looking up, it seemed to have escaped her notice that the hallways she came from were now nearly black. Goosebumps prickled over her arms and neck.

Someone had turned off the lights.

And, judging from the human sized shadow that stood in the murky darkness: that ‘someone’ was still there.

“H-hello?” She asked in a voice much smaller than she’d intended.

The only sounds she could hear was the echoes of a door slamming off somewhere in a distant part of the house. The shadow didn’t change its position.

“Michael?” She said, a little too hopefully. But he would never have pulled a prank like this; she knew that even before she was met with silence once again.

“G-Ghost Host?”

Not a sound. This was likely too subtle for someone as show-offy as he was.

“Please….won’t you….won’t you say something? I can see you, you kn-”

THE SHADOW SUDDENLY LURCHED, JERKY INHUMAN MOVEMENTS COMING CLOSER COMING TO HER

She screamed and turned and fled. Down the hall in the opposite direction, she came across even more intersections and just blindly went down another and another, turning on the light switches as she went because she couldn’t stand to be left in the dark with whatever the heck that thing was.

[Frightfully sensitive to bright lights]

She winched. There it was again, a thought floating to the surface of her mind that distinctively did NOT belong to her. Unlike with the memory of Solomon, this thought didn’t gradually come upon her but was instead thrusted into the forefront of her mind. And complete with an unwanted sense of anxiety to boot.

She dared to look behind her, and despaired to find that the hallways she left were already dark again. Getting desperate and running out of breath, she grabbed the first few things she could find, another table and an unlit candelabra, and positioned them under the light switch so that the prongs of the candelabra held the switch on.

Karen didn’t actually think this was going to do much, but as she went to the next hallway she witnessed the candelabra shake. On its own. Violently, at first, but as she stared, the object moved less and less frequently until it stopped. The light switch remained on.

She sighed in great relief, hoping to all heck that whatever it was, ghost or not, that it had given up its attempts. The shadow certainly didn’t seem prepared to peep around the corner without the darkness there, so for all points and purposes it had worked.

Frightfully sensitive to bright lights…Had that been some kind of hint? Was she somehow peering into the desires of another being? Or was it a purposely sent message? Did the shadow really think she was going to turn off all the lights and allow herself to be at the mercy of a creature she knew nothing about?

She shook those thoughts away. It didn’t matter anymore; a quick glance at the candelabra confirmed it was still there, keeping the lights safely on. And so long as they were on, she apparently needn’t do anything about the shadow.

Another table. Another pile of assorted papers. She’d have briefly scanned over them and just kept moving, as she didn’t want to risk the shadow getting brave, but the top ones….

…Were etchings of the two different types of houses she had seen when they first came across this place.

Just like how she’d seen before. EXACTLY.

One was a Southern style house, with a flat roof and four large Roman-esque pillars surrounding the front door. There was a second story veranda that wrapped around the entire house, with iron wrought bannisters that looked just as decorative as they were practical. Though the etching was in black and white, she recalled from her previous contact that the building was mostly white and looked like it was made of paneled painted wood.

The other was in a style she’d seen around really old houses in mostly the Northeast. A brick building, with roofs slopping at sharp angles and a decorative turret with many decorative toppers scattered on key points of the roof. One of the most notable and visible points of interest was a glass room on the side that formed a half circle before fusing into the rest of the building.

Underneath these was a note.

“Mr. Solomon Gracey,

Apologies, but I am afraid I have no answers for you again. Though we have had a thorough investigation, the authorities have not been able to locate the evil persons who had accomplished the fire set to your home. Many of us have the opinion that the fire was a joint effort by many persons, who were eager to take advantage of your late father’s passing and your current absence. And that Mr. Wyatt Williams may be involved. As there were no fatalities, we thought it wise to let the matter drop; granting, of course, that you do not wish to press further.

As requested, the style of the new exterior will be a marked difference from your original inheritance. You recall your acquaintance in Pennsylvania, for whom you had favorably mentioned his newly completed estate some three years prior? We were able to coax Mr. Asa Packer, the architect of that estate, for advice.

You will be pleased, but likely as puzzled as we were, to know that much of the core inner rooms had remained perfectly intact. Indeed, it was because so many rooms were unscathed that injuries and deaths were prevented. The resulting consequences should be that it will not take more than a handful of years to fully complete her, as only really the outmost rooms and outside appearance need be worked on. And, of course, we will extend the conservatory in accordance to your previous wishes. I believe I can speak on behalf of my sister and say that the promise of this particular expansion delighted her.

I hope I am not out of line in the choice of my next words, but know that it is out of concern for your safety that I state them. Stay at the University. The town has been broiled over with unrest as of late, perhaps due to the circumstances by which our new President was elected. Coupled with the unpopularity of the Gracey family among the townspeople, returning now may only elicit additional responses against the estate before it has even reached completion.

Besides which, your presence is not needed for the reconstruction, and I offer my assurances that myself and the rest of staff will make do with the family townhouse in the meantime. We will take care; you needn’t express such worry as you’ve have.

Regards,

Edgar Galloway”

She looked back down to the pictures but they were go-

She was standing somewhere else again.

It was….it was the foyer. And the man standing in front of her…

Solomon Gracey.

There were two rows of people before him. On the right, was a row of maids in the green, pinstripe dress she had seen before on both Nell and the maid from the other memory-dream. On the left, was an apparent row of butlers. They, too, were dressed in a deep forest green, albeit as a suit. They had a pinstriped vest of a more grayish-purple color under their open jackets with a row of golden buttons, and a black tie around their neck. Both sides were standing rigid as if at attention.

As a butler took hold of Solomon Gracey’s hat and outer coat, she could hear one of the maids whisper to the other ‘You’re right. He is quite handsome in person. That portrait hardly does him justice!’

At the other end were a maid and butler pair; they seemed to be in charge, because the maid silenced the other two with a harsh glare.

Solomon, for his part, smirked in good humor. “Thank you. I’ll consider that a compliment.”

And the maids, upon being found out, couldn’t help but giggle in both embarrassment and relief until the head maid interrupted them with a cough.

Head maid and butler stepped forward to greet him. Both had similar shades of hair, a deep raven black. The woman’s was longer and had been tied in the back to be plaited into a single braid. The man’s was cut very short and side swept at the front, but there was still much left on the sides that it would have just covered his ears if he hadn’t had it swept behind them. Both, too, had cloudy grey eyes.

“Welcome home, sir.” The head maid said.

“Thank you. It is good to be back. Despite…” His face fell as he surveyed the room, “Well, despite everything.”

“We did do our best, sir, to organize the reconstruction and recreate many of the rooms.” The butler said. “But there were limitations-“

“I know, Edgar. I do thank you all for the effort and the willingness to stay despite the hardship this must have brought.”

“How was the University?” Edgar said.

“Boring. It was everything I had hated from the academy plus the addition of an overbearing school administrators that paraded the grounds as though it were their battlefield. The amount of posturing would have you nauseated. But at the very least, I’ve passed the bar and can now open a practice.”

He stopped short when he came upon his own likeness up above the fireplace.

“Oh, is this the previously mentioned portrait?” He turned to Edgar and the head maid with a raised eyebrow and a wry smile. “What on Earth were you thinking?”

“Sir, we thought it would be wise to have your portrait displayed prominently for guests who may come to call upon us.” The maid replied, giving even Solomon a pointed look of warning. “It would do much to send a message that, despite your youth, you are indeed the current, true master of Gracey manor.”

“Indeed, a wise choice,” Solomon agreed, still smiling. “But couldn’t you have commissioned someone who displayed my chin a little LESS prominently?”

The maids fell into a giggling fit again, and the butlers seemed threatened to join them, but a clap from both overseers put them back into line again.

…..

Karen could feel the scene fade away; this time, the change was much more obvious.

The hallway returned. The pictures and letters returned.

This…this was the same house.

Plink. Plink.

She picked up the two drawings and placed them side by side.

Plink. Plink.

The same exact house, just at two different points in time.

Plink. Plink.

Most of the same inner rooms, just a different exterior.

Plink. Plink.

Is that why she saw BOTH when they were approaching the mansion?

Plink. Plink.

Wait….What….

Plink. Plink.

….was that sound?

She looked up from the table….only to realize, in horror, that the other end of the hallway was dark.

And the shadow was waiting there.

Plink.

Shards of small glass came down from one of the above light fixtures, and the room grew a shade darker. It was then that it dawned on her, fresh goosebumps rising, what the shadow intended to do.

PlinkPlinkPlink.

Three lights tauntingly broke all in quick succession. The shadow was halfway down.

[Fire. Fire. Fire. Fire. Fire.]

Another unwanted thought. Wrapped in fear and anxiety.

She fled again further down the hall.

[Catching up. Catching up.]

Another corner. Again, again.

PlinkPlinkPlink.

But this corner had a stop.

Stop around the corner. There was no place left to go.

[Catching up. Catching up.]

PlinkPlinkPlink.

There was no more hallway left, only rows of doors that led to a door at the end.

Can’t go back. She’d run right into the shadow.

[I SEE YOU]

Try one. Try two. Why are all of these doors locked?

PlinkPlinkPlink.

Finally. The door at the end.

She opens it and slips through.

PlinkPlinkPlink.

She looks around for the light switch. A single bulb in the center of the room, dangling from a thread.

She closed the door behind here and learns the hard way why this door wasn’t locked.

It was because it didn’t have a lock.

The sounds of breaking bulbs gets closer.

She opts to put her weight against the door.

Only just to register what’s actually IN this room.

…..

Coffins.

There are coffins in this room.

Why were there coffins in a storage closet?

Piled high, undecorated, unpainted. Just plain wooden coffins.

She doesn’t have time to think about it; already the door is pushing her back.

Keep it closed. Keep it closed.

Digs her heels in, gaining leverage to force the door closed again.

She manages to find the perfect spot to put her feet.

It will close for sure.

Keep the pressure up.

But the lightbulb, the lightbulb. The single lightbulb.

It was already flickering.

Please don’t go out. Please don’t go out.

The shapes of the shadows of coffins dance in the flickering light like an old movie.

Sometimes, they seem to move.

Please don’t. Please don’t.

The pressure against her back again.

Her hand in her pocket. It curls around the ring.

The ring in her pocket she’d forgotten about.

The ring, the ring….

The water.

She was standing up near the water. Someplace in town near the water. She couldn’t recognize where.

The fear. Nauseating fear, it didn’t go away.

A woman was there. That woman. It was from the first memory. The maid and the boy and the angry young man. But she wasn’t wearing a maid’s uniform. And she was scared.

Yes. So scared. Please.

“Rolly!” She cried, stumbling in the darkness. Her blonde hair fell in curls about her neck, and her eyes were a dull grey-blue.

Why was it dark?

That’s right, because it’s nighttime.

But we were in a closet….weren’t we?

“Rolly! Rolly please!”

Please save me.

Someone. Please help me.

“Good evening.”

Both of them turned to see. That wasn’t Rolly….that….that voice….

A man dressed in all black. He was almost impossibly tall and thin, his face covered by a grotesque, demon-like mask.

The mask had horns, it looked like it was screaming, and there was a crack on the right eye socket of the mask which displayed the unusually large eyeball the man had. An eyeball that held a color electrifyingly blue; a shape and size and color that was so different from his ordinary looking left eye.

Almost instictively, she wanted to run at the sound of his voice.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?? Do you-do you want to hurt me??”

“Would you take comfort in hearing me say ‘no’?”

Run.

Run off into the town; after all, it was right there. But she was held into place.

Couldn’t move.

….

…This was the Ghost Host. Seeing the Ghost Host having an actual, physical form. Not merely a voice floating on the wind. And all back when he was alive.

“What….what do you want, then?” The woman anxiously looked at him, but also kept looking around her. “Rolly? Rolly are you near? Please, Rolly!”

“He cannot hear you.”

“Why?? What have you done with him??” She was frantic.

“Why I’ve done nothing, Miss Slater. It is Miss Slater, correct?”

“How do you know that?!”

“I know someone who knows things. And I happen to know that your friend has traveled the next town over in search of some work.”

“He…..he wouldn’t. Not without telling me.”

“Are you so sure, Madame? And even if he was here, are you so certain he would be able to help you? That he would have the funds at the moment to spare food for an extra mouth?”

Miss Slater was silent. Karen was silent.

The nervousness was hers. Or was it Miss Slaters? Was SHE Miss Slater?

This was bad.

“And what would his friends think, hmm? His former captain? As I understand, he gets a generous sum of money as a sort of thanks for a good length of service from a company that just so happens to be owned by the Graceys. And you?…Well…You were just fired from their house for meddling with one of the master’s sons, weren’t you?”

“That..! You…!” The woman’s face went pale. She doubled over as if in pain, her hand clutched to her heart.

Karen felt a tinge of pain in her own heart. Stabbing. Burning.

“Now, now. Calm yourself. You wouldn’t want to aggravate your condition, now would you?”

The man chuckled darkly, circling around her like a wolf with prey. Her eyes followed nervously along.

“I hold no judgement of you nor bear any grudge. In fact, I’m rather well aware that, as a mere maid, you had little choice but to say ‘yes’ to the young master’s amorous affections. How awful that must have felt; kicked out in the cold because you only did what you were told!”

“Stop!” Miss Slater’s eyes were winced shut, the tears beginning to streak down her face.

The man. The Ghost Host. Waited patiently for her to catch her breath.

“Nathaniel said he loved me.” She said, mournfully. “And I….I convinced myself that I felt the same, if only to make it easier.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I don’t. …I don’t know anymore. I think…I think a part of me did. In a way. In a twisted, awful sort of way, because he only ever made me feel twisted…and…”

She sat shaking on the riverbank. Sobbing quietly.

“Twisted….twisted and awful….I hate him….I want to get away….And I”

She gulped.

“And I don’t…I-I don’t have anywhere to go….”

The man’s hands lifted, and those long, bony fingers ghosted along the woman’s frail shoulders. Skeletal white against the bare of her arms.

“Allow me to help you.” Fingers caught underneath her elbows just as they reached them, and she was coaxed to stand.

“You could come with me. My troupe and I just so happen to be moving out tonight. A fresh start. Fresh clothes. A warm bed, warm food. Does that interest you at all?” This last part was whispered right at the shell of her ear, and she felt compelled to pull away in response.

“And what,” She said, glaring at him. “Pray tell, is your price for such luxuries?”

The man laughed, and his booming voice caused the woman to nervously ease herself away even further from him.

“I assure you, Miss Slater,” The man’s toothy smile could barely be seen underneath the shadow of the mask. “I am not THAT kind of man. I apologize if I have given the wrong impression. It is fear that interests me, not lust. As for my price, I’m not asking much. What I want from you is...” The man reached out to very gently lift her chin. “….your voice.”

Her hand went to her throat. Her face no less filled with anxiety than before.

“Do you mean to rip it from me then, sir?”

He chuckled. “Nothing so macabre. I merely want you to perform with us. Your performance needn’t be strenuous. A song here, a song there. Surely a fair price for what I offer in return, yes?”

“I’m not a singer, sir! Only for my own enjoyment; I’ve never performed or had any sort of train-“

“Unnecessary, I promise. The sort of clientele we get is often far from the obnoxious, discerning upper crust. You need only be decent, and we shall fill the whole tent!”

He offered his hand, and she hesitated to look at it.

She reached up, gently, slowly. Until her hand was firmly in his grasp.

The man smiled.

“Welcome to the Museum of the Weird, Miss Emily Slater.”

Jerked from below.

Taken back into darkness.

Pitch darkness.

But there were outlines of coffins, despite the darkness.

Oh.

She was back in the closet.

The memory was gone again.

And the single lightbulb must have gone out.

Karen sat there, her back against the door, and attempted to regulate her breathing. The room had dropped a whole 20 degrees, accented by an awful burnt smell that reeked through the air; her jacket, which felt particularly heavy against her shoulders, did little to ward off the chill. In fact, it felt as though the cold went right through its threads.

When she was sure that she could actually hold her own weight without passing out, she made the attempt to sta-

……

She tried to sta-

……

She. Tried. To. Stand.

Stand Up.

….

She couldn’t stand up.

She felt the color drain from her face, the burning smell threatening to overpower her as she lifted her shaking hands up….up to her neck….

Only to find.

An….an arm.

…..

Made of stone.

The hand was on her right shoulder, the arm itself resting on her collarbone, the bend in the elbow right on her left shoulder and all of it coming from…

…No….coming through the door.

...The arm was coming through the door. Unhindered. As if the door wasn’t there at all.

She whimpered. Tears lightly stinging her eyes, she stayed perfectly still. As still as she could with all the shaking she was doing.

The statue...The statue had been chasing her this entire time?

….she tried…to go under the arm. To wiggle…

…wiggle

…wigg-

The arm suddenly pushed down on her collarbone, pinning her harder against the door.

She cried out in response, the burning smell was getting worse, and worse…and worse…

The…head…of the statue was now through the door. Stoney eyes staring directly at her.

She whimpered again, silently wishing someone would hear her. Would know she was there.

Her arms clung to the stone, trying to pull it off her but it was too solid and heavy.

Stoney eyes staring at her.

“P-please…..Please….” She whispered. Was it for her savior to hear? Or the statue? Karen herself didn’t know who she was calling for. The tears were running down her face and she couldn’t care to stifle them.

They remained like this, the two of them. A statue and a person. The smell of burnt carcass enveloping her just as strongly as the arm did.

But there was an eventual shift on the statue’s face. The stone eyelids…flickering….Opening. Revealing…

Actual human eyeballs.

This only made her cry harder, because not only was it unnerving to see eyeballs set in stone, but they didn’t have any pupils.

At least, at first, they hadn’t any pupils. But dark pools began to phase into their center, stronger and stronger until the pupils fully appeared.

And with them came….a sort…of softer gaze. The statue looked at her with some sort of recognition.

And….And slowly….meticulously….the statue’s hold began to soften too…

The face moved away….The arm moved away….

Even the single lightbulb in the center of the room came back on.

The burnt smell disappeared.

Without the strength to hold herself in a sitting position, or even the statue to pin her there, Karen slumped to the floor.

Shaking.

In a closet full of coffins. Curled up on the floor, shaking, with the tears still streaming down.

And she finally was able to shudder back to life A nice, long, deep breath.

#chapter 5

0 notes

auroraparkcottages-blog · 5 years

Text

What you must do on your trip to Calistoga in Napa Valley?

Calistoga is located at the base of Mount Saint Helena and offers a charm of a 19th century western town. This beautiful town in Napa Valley offers some of the most creative and finest food. You can also indulge in hot soaks, saunas, massages and the ultimate Calistoga experience, the mud bath as the town is filled with luxurious spas and resorts.

The best time to visit Calistoga is during spring and fall as weather is best at that time of the year. You will find alluring art galleries, bookstores, winery shops, and other fun boutiques in Calistoga.

Some of the most exciting things to do in Calistoga are listed below:

Stunning views of Calistoga

The 11 mile Palisades trail is a great way to explore the rustic landscape of this beautiful town. This hiking trail is meant specifically for the experienced hikers. It is a one way hike, so plan accordingly. You can book a shuttle car in case you don’t want to backtrack.

Another option to catch the spectacular views of the town is Oat Hill Mine Road. It is a 4 mile round trip and there is no need of booking a shuttle.

Castello Di Amorosa

The structure of this winery is inspired by a 12th century style Italian castle. It has 107 rooms, a dungeon with torture devices, underground cellars, escape tunnels, and a wooden drawbridge. It has a fully functioning winery that grows good quality Italian grapes for its label.

Visitors can have a two hour long tour of the winery accompanied with wine sampling in the great hall and a seminar where they can learn how to make Super-Tuscans.

Hot air balloon ride

On your trip, you must not miss another Napa Valley signature experience; a hot air balloon ride. Calistoga is the key spot for it. You are sure to get an experience that you’ll cherish your whole life, floating above the morning mist and looking at the spectacular views across the region.

Old Faithful Geyser

This regularly erupting geyser emits steam and hot water 20 to 80 feet into the air. It is also a great detector of earthquake. The park also has huge picnic grounds where you can chill with your friends and family. You can also have glimpse of a stunning rainbow that often appears after the eruption at sunset.

Petrified Forest

On a trail less than a mile, you get to see many beautifully preserved trees that are largest in the entire world. Due to a natural calamity on the forest millions of years ago, a volcano located nearby erupted and lava buried the tress. Due to a process known as petrification, wood turned into silica and quartz. You can opt for a free guided tour.

Indulge in a mud bath

Calistoga is known as the “Spa Capital of Northern California”. In downtown Calistoga, there are more than two dozen spas where you can opt for a massage therapy or a relaxing mud bath treatment.

Where to stay during your trip?

Plan a trip to Napa Valley, one of the most beautiful and celebrated wine making regions across the world.

On your visit to Calistoga, stay at one of the best Napa Valley Cottages like Aurora Park Cottages. Settle in to these luxurious private cottages that feature amenities designed for your ultimate comfort. Contemporary decor, cozy furnishings and premium down-filled beds invite you to relax and forget the outside world. Complimentary Wi-Fi and high-definition TV keep will you entertained during your stay. Private decks with inviting tables offer the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee or a glass of local wine.

#Napa Valley Cottages

0 notes

wecocogg-blog · 5 years

Photo

Jaipur, India.

As old as civilization, Indian culture is an amalgam of eras, colours, traditions, beliefs and more. The cultural aura at various holiday destinations in India conveys the diversity and the richness of the country. Besides the beautiful beaches, hills, wildlife, backwaters, desert, cities, impressive architecture and more, there a number of cultural places in India that offer an unforgettable experience. Here is our list of some of the best places in India to experience the culture of the country

1. Varanasi

When you are at the oldest city in India, Varanasi, you are surely in for a cultural holiday like never before. In fact, the city along the holy River Ganga is among the oldest cities in the human civilization. Ancient temples, secret alleys, palaces, mansions, river ghats, and the holy ambiance make Varanasi one of the must-visit pilgrimage destinations in India. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Varanasi

Ganga Aarti in the evening at Dashaswamedh Ghat

Ritual bath in River Ganga

Get blessings at temples and holy river ghats

Observe Hindu rituals associated with life as well as death

Visit the weaver’s village famous for their exquisite pieces of Banarasi saris

Varanasi, India.

2. Jaipur

The royal capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur is among the best holiday destinations in India that lure with its colorful culture. Fondly known as ‘Pink City’, the city has much to offer. Besides, regal architecture, massive forts, royal palaces, museums, there is shopping, colorful shows, dining and more. Stay at the some of the best heritage hotels in India in the city to have a memorable experience. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Jaipur

Attend colorful live folk dance performances and puppet shows

Enjoy shopping for handmade artifacts

Relish Rajasthani dishes while dining

Dress up like locals in their unique garbs

Participate in the revelries of the local festivals

3. Madurai

Moving on, Madurai is one of the most prominent cultural holiday destinations in India. Dating back to 2500 years, lying beside the River Vaigai, Madurai is undoubtedly is the soul of culture of Tamil Nadu. Owing to the multiple ancient temples, the title of “City of Temples” suits best. Marvel at the colorful artistic carvings while you get blessings. The traditional food is a must try, while the same goes for shopping. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Madurai

Attend the holy temple festivals

Savor the mouthwatering taste of South Indian dishes

Marvel at classical music and dance performances

Pray at the beautiful temples

Shop for the amazing saris crafted by artisans here

Madurai, India.

4. Delhi

The fascinating capital city of India, Delhi truly deserves to be among the best places in India for cultural holidays. A testimony to eras and cultures, the city has much to keep you busy. While there are amazing architecture marvels from almost every period of history including the UNESCO World heritage sites; delicious food, stay at heritage hotels, and shopping add to the thrill. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Delhi

Sightseeing in Old Delhi

Savor the delightful dishes

Visit the various religious places in the city

Shop for handmade arts and crafts

Explore the numerous museums including one dedicated for trains, dolls, toilets among the many interest exhibitions.

5. Kerala

Among the favorite holiday destinations in India, Kerala has an unbeatable position. Besides, beauty beyond words, the south Indian state has 5000 years of history to boast about. Over the years, royal kingdoms as well as travelers from foreign lands have equally contributed towards the culture. Equally important is the attachment to nature, eco-friendly living as well as the bliss holistic science of Ayurveda. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Kerala

Visit to traditional villages

Attend the temples festivities

Observe the folk dance, music and arts

Pampering hospitality with homestays

Learn about history while sightseeing, museum-hopping as well as visit to religious places

Kerala, India.

6. Udaipur

Rajputana culture is an integral part of Indian culture, therefore our list comprise Udaipur- the former royal province of Mewar. Besides its status as one of the most romantic places in the world, it is among the most cultural places in India. Royal hospitality, colorful arts, crafts, religious traditions in addition of incredible sightseeing makes your holiday in Udaipur truly memorable. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Udaipur

Marvel at puppet shows and folk dances

Shop for the colorful creations of Udaipur

Go sightseeing at palaces, museums and more

Pray at holy temples

Attend the vibrant festivities

Enjoy Marwar Hospitality at the luxury hotels

Udaipur, India.

7. Bhubaneswar

The ancient capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar is a cultural treasure. The many olden temples, in fact 700 temples have granted it the title of “City of Temples”. The olden days of royal kingdoms are fondly preserved. Trace the roots Buddhism. Marvel at the tribal culture, their arts and crafts. Spend your holiday in Bhubaneswar exploring monuments, shopping, taste of local food and festivals. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Bhubaneswar

Pray at the ancient temples

Learn about tribal heritage

Savor delightful food

Shop for the arts and crafts

Explore the museums for treasures

Bhubaneswar, India.

8. Hampi

The testimony to the glorious days of the past, Hampi is simply perfect for cultural holidays in India. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the town of ruins of the former Vijayanagara Empire. While time has ravaged the town, the beauty nor the charm is lost. Explore what is left of the erstwhile royal kingdom. Ponder over the bygone days gazing at the languid Tungabhadra River. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Hampi

Explore the ruins with UNESCO World Heritage Site status

Observe the fine artistic carvings

Shop for miniatures to take home

Marvel at interesting architecture and layout

Hampi, India.

9. Jodhpur

Moving on with the list of the best cultural destinations in India, we come back to one of the most interesting places in Rajasthan. Jodhpur famous as ‘Blue City’ has a fascinating heritage. The mighty Mehrangarh fort overlooks the town, while the nook and corners have many takes of the old. Temples, villages, markets and more steal your hearts. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Jodhpur

Explore the Old city

Go sightseeing including a visit to Umaid Bhavan Palace

Spend time with the Bishnoi community

Go shopping while having a taste of local treats

Jodhpur, India.

10. Rishikesh

Owing to a number of ashrams, unrivaled serenity and sacred river Ganga, no doubt Rishikesh makes for a cultural holiday destination in India. The serenity prevailing in the town lends a divine aura. Chanting of hymns, performing of various rituals and visiting innumerable temples offer matchless experience. Practice the satvik way of living by relishing vegetarian food. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Rishikesh

Attend Ganga Aarti.

Practice yoga and meditation.

Listen to spiritual talks by Sadhus.

Get insights about the Chota Char Dham Yatra, as the city acts as a base point for the sojourn.

11. Ujjain

One of the seven sacred cities of Hindus, Ujjain flaunts historical legacy whose cultural impact is still prevailing here. Home to Mahakaleshwar Temple, the holy abode of one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the city lure ardent devotees from everywhere. Head to the ghats of River Kshipra to feel the gist of the city. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Ujjain

Partake in Maha Shivratri festival.

Witness the Bhasma Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple held every day in the morning.

The city hosts Kumbh Mela once after every twelve years.

Be a part of the various other festivals which are celebrated here from time to time.

Ujjain, India.

12. Mahabalipuram

Showcasing the cultural diversity of North and South India, Mahabalipuram should be your next cultural holiday destination. Boasting of Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town lures history and architecture lovers alike. From architecture, cuisines to traditions, everything exudes its own charm. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Mahabalipuram

Shop for unique handicrafts.

Marvel at the architectural brilliance at the Shore Temple.

Unveil the mysteries of Varaha Cave Temple and Tiger Cave.

Gaze at the intricate carvings on the Descent of the Ganges.

Mahabalipuram, India.

13. Kolkata

Famed as the ‘Cultural Capital of India’, Kolkata truly deserves to be one of the top cultural destinations in India. A potpourri of age-old traditions, rich culture, artistic heritage together with literary wealth, the city is blissful beyond words. From food, festivals, books, music, sports, festivals, film etc., the destination is a delight for a cultural aficionado. Innumerable monuments clearly showcase the imprints of the British dominated past of the city. Highlights of Cultural holidays in Kolkata

Attend the extremely popular Durga Puja festival to witness the zeal of the aboriginals to welcome their dear Goddess.

More than 30 well-stocked museums which are nothing less than a treasure trove of ancient artifacts.

Don’t forget to savor local delicacies. Bengali sweets are an absolute must.

Partake in Holi festival which is celebrated distinctively at Shantiniketan.

Kolkata, India.

.colored-box-content { clear: both; float: left; width: 100%; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -ms-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; background-color: padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; -webkit-border-top-left-radius: 0px; -moz-border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-left-radius: 0px; -webkit-border-top-right-radius: 0px; -moz-border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; -moz-border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; -moz-border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px;}

AUTHOR BIO A soul bred in the mountains, Akansha Negi doles out travel inspiration from solo wandering, experiencing adventures, exploring heritage and culture tours, and tasting local cuisine. If you are planning your cultural holiday to India, follow her write-up.

#element-8de84e2b-84be-46eb-a4f2-8d4e209001ec #f4f7f8;

0 notes

biercepage4 · 5 years

Text

Space tourism to be a reality any day now

New Post has been published on https://tourguidepress.com/news/space-tourism-to-be-a-reality-any-day-now/

Space tourism to be a reality any day now

California is considered someplace in which the problem of responsible travel is crucial. Because of the distinction as an enticing choice, travelers are passionate about Californian trips. Is there a perfect location?

A Vacation In California

What website is going to provide the more trustworthy pointers involving where you’re thinking of going? It’s no surprise that finding area coverage is a lot more interesting than in depth travel magazine descriptions. This relevant blog post is making the rounds then the team determined you might be interested in it. By my count there are not enough pieces that consist of complete content. Hopefully it is looked at as perfectly okay to publish yet one more prominent analysis about facts to decide upon for anybody assessing an Californian getaway.

What source is likely to supply you with the more trusted knowledge in regards to vacations? Info from community writers generally offer good perception for most people researching attraction details. A fresh helpful think piece appeared after that we calculated it is suitable for posting here. The thing that seems to get noticed are stories that cover complete content. According to our guidelines it’s believed to be worthwhile to present another example of a well crafted article about things that have consequences for people checking an Californian journey.

A Vacation In California, Eureka!

Space tourism to be a reality any day now

was written by , 2019-05-11 07:13:05 be sure to visit their website, source link is at the end of the article

Santa Fe: Billionaire Richard Branson is moving Virgin Galactic’s winged passenger rocket and more than 100 employees from California to a remote commercial launch and landing facility in southern New Mexico, bringing his space-tourism dream a step closer to reality.

Branson said Friday at a news conference that Virgin Galactic’s development and testing programme has advanced enough to make the move to the custom-tailored hangar and runway at the taxpayer-financed Spaceport America facility near the town of Truth or Consequences. Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said a small number of flight tests are pending. He declined to set a specific deadline for the first commercial flight.

An interior cabin for the company’s space rocket is being tested and pilots and engineers are among the employees relocating from California to New Mexico. The move to New Mexico puts the company in the “home stretch,” Whitesides said. The manufacturing of the space vehicles by a sister enterprise, The Spaceship Company, will remain based in the community of Mojave, California.

Taxpayers invested over USD 200 million in Spaceport America after Branson and then Governor Bill Richardson, a Democrat, pitched the plan for the facility, with Virgin Galactic as the anchor tenant. Virgin Galactic’s spaceship development has taken far longer than expected and had a major setback when the company’s first experimental craft broke apart during a 2014 test flight, killing the co-pilot.

Branson thanked New Mexico politicians and residents for their patience over the past decade. He said he believes space tourism is likely to bring about profound change. “Our future success as a species rests on the planetary perspective. The perspective that we know comes sharply into focus when that planet is viewed from the black sky of space,” Branson said.

Branson described a vision of hotels in space and a network of spaceports allowing supersonic, transcontinental travel anywhere on earth within a few hours. He indicated, however, that building financial viability comes first.

“We need the financial impetus to be able to do all that,” he said. “If the space program is successful as I think … then the sky is the limit.” In February, a new version of Virgin Galactic’s winged craft SpaceShipTwo soared at three times the speed of sound to an altitude of nearly 56 miles (99 kilometers) in a test flight over Southern California, as a crew member soaked in the experience.

On Friday, that crew member, Beth Moses, recounted her voyage into weightlessness and the visual spectacle of pitch-black space and the earth below. “Everything is silent and still and you can unstrap and float about the cabin,” she said. “Pictures do not do the view from space justice. … I will be able to see it forever.”

The company’s current spaceship doesn’t launch from the ground. It is carried under a special plane to an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) before detaching and igniting its rocket engine. “Release is like freefall at an amusement park, except it keeps going,” Moses said. “And then the rocket motor lights. Before you know it, you’re supersonic.”

Space tourism has not been a complete novelty since millionaire US engineer Dennis Tito in 2001 paid USD 20 million to join a Russian space mission to the International Space Station. Branson’s goal has been to “democratise” space by opening travel up to more and more people. The endeavour began in 2004 when Branson announced the founding of Virgin Galactic in the heady days after the flights of SpaceShipOne, the first privately financed manned spacecraft that made three flights into space.

…

Original Source for Space tourism to be a reality any day now

California journey

We’ve noticed that the most instructive written content does not come from sweeping technical research but pragmatic experiences showcasing people and small communities. Then again, unexpectedly frequently it’s the big institutions offering the fresh and informative accounts. Admittedly there is also a place for tourism statistical statements or policy assessment. Posts about traveling to California, the Golden State like Space tourism to be a reality any day now assist us to take a look at the far reaching ideas of sustainable tourism and hospitality.

Regardless if it stems from marketing programs or social sensibilities generally people like sustainable tourism and want to be responsible visitors. California is a region in which sustainable tourism is mandatory.

People will have their own opinions but the endorsed spots for nearly everybody going to California should include the following referrals about sights, attractions, and activities to do.

In case you haven’t already identified a particular California area in mind, these are routine tour guide tips for prominent destinations Lake Tahoe, Monterey and Carmel, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Keep in mind that California is a big place and these options are not necessarily near one another.

Highlights of Californian legendary and most well-known sights and places to see.

Los Angeles

LA hosts famous museums and galleries, unique accommodation options, assorted experiences and beaches.

The city of angels Holiday

San Diego

Sea World: This popular aquatic theme park offers rides, animal exhibits, and shows. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park: World-class reputations, enjoyable for everyone. Old Town San Diego: Quaint district with shops, incredible Mexican food.

San Diego Travel

#california tourism #california travel #lodging #nature #Tourism #Traveler #wildlife

0 notes

shardclan · 8 years

Photo

Here’s the Clan Aphaster specific map, which I feel pretty pleased with, and will probably reference pretty much constantly.

Below the cut are some basic descriptions of locations including some points of interest not pictured, and just my sort of collated thoughts from other posts.

This is going to be An Important Lore Post(tm), but only because it will be a nice central world-building summary.

Left to right:

Diver’s March: Borderland protected by the Water Representative. Due to Peacetide’s death and Boreas declining to take the position, it remains empty until a suitable and trustworthy Representative can be found to become the Water Margrave. Boreas serves as the Head Knight of the area.

Sundew Fishery: Equal parts seafood pantry and fish nursery that reports to the Water Margrave. In spawning season, they cease local fishing activity, ensure the river is kept peaceful, and monitor the fish for signs of sea lice and other pestilence.

Summerland Spa: The sister site to the Starwood Spa, opened after Pistis decides on a proper site, hires replacements for Camellia and Willow, and re-establishes trade with Aeronwy by developing new Light-based products to replace those exclusive to the Starwood Spa. Once House Betelgeuse’s port is operational, the Starwood Spa also re-opens with Camellia as primary management. Pistis moves between the two. Their opening products include Chickweed Oil and Whitesand scrubs, Day Lily therapy (to assist in the correction of fouled circadian rhythms), and celestine soaking pools. Primarily defended by the Water Margrave, but the Shadow Margrave also guards the spa.

Leyline Gardens and Solar Farms: Pre-existing branch of the Leyline Gardens, which are present in Arcane, Light, Nature, and Fire. With their founder Tawhaki and their manager Chlorophyll both lost during the Exodus, Kea takes responsibility for the local branch as the best fit and also passes through House Betelgeuse to tend to the original Arcane branch, which she is eventually able to leave its care to the Longnecks with the agreement that Clan Aphaster may take 30% of the yield. The Solar Farms crop up downland from the food growing area when Suncore and Amonix arrive to the clan and develop a local power grid.

House Perihelion: Formed initially as a socio-political group of the clan who believed it was best to explore ways to thrive in the Sunbeam Ruins, and that there was nothing un-Arcane about doing so. They play with new ideas, are the first to bond with new ally clans, and are the backing force behind most of the clan’s new technologies and exports, such as the Solar Farms, the Glassworks and Textiles sections of the Twilight Labs and Artisan’s Guild, and the Summerland Spa. Their founding motto was “Stella a stella est” or “A star is a star”

Earthsong Nursery: (Not pictured) Because House Perihelion’s architecture was so new and required a lot of effort and energy, Eoria and her sisters gave the power of their songs to help quickly facilitate the construction and boost the capabilities of the Earth Mage who had to mold the materials he was provided. Because the raw magic of the songs were channeled through Eoria’s runes, she fell into a deep sleep that she was not expect to wake from for several eons. The remaining sisters, Metafalica, Harvestasha, and Frelia, created the clan’s nursery area in the enclosure created by her arms. It is regarded as the safest place in the territory.

Foxfire March: The only one of the four marches to have been immediately manned and given a name because Caress, the Shadow Representative, immediately took the offer to become the Shadow Margrave when it was offered to her. Her Head Knight is Tawny, but the area is known to be an exceptionally peaceful pleasure district, so mostly he plays cards and does fire tricks for the ladies. One could almost be fooled into thinking he was complacent if they knew nothing about the local Margravine.

Thunder’s March: The march that sees the most traffic as it’s situated at the end of Trader’s Walk. It was a clunky and much argued over march at first, but began to flourish and flow properly when Noon Point cropped up Then it became possible to direct weary travelers there and keep the arrivals moving while simultaneously being able to observe them on the rest of the path.

Noon Point: A small midway resting town largely brought into being by virtue of being half-way between House Betelgeuse and House Perihelion, but which was able to flourish via its proximity to Trader’s Walk. Travelers can access many services here, including but not limited to: Noon Point Inn, Sundial Brewery, 11 Flights Mail Service, Sunway Ranger and Escorting, and Occult Services.

Nature’s March: The longest to go without a Margrave due to the difficulty inherent in crossing the open ocean from Nature to Light. Opalite is the watchdog, paying it visits daily to ensure everything is well, but a proper Margrave and Knight set up is not in place until the clan begins work on carving out a new Step and building a trader’s bridge from Mirrorlight Bay to the Everspring Isles.

Hall of Five Lights: Originally a flatland area outside the Promenade where the entire clan would gather to sleep at night in their first tumultuous days in the territory. The first task of the Earth Mage who eventually built House Perihelion was to turn it into a proper gathering area. The clan was still shy of roofing at the time, so the side was large arcades and open tunnel vaults. Eventually, it became the governmental area, and as their loyalty was proved to the Lightweaver, they were allowed to bring the pieces of the Chalcedony Circle to prevent their misuse in the Isles, so long as they were interwoven with blocks of white granite and pathing stones were mixed with celestine to prevent activation and eventually drain their long-built stores of magic. The four paths are the entrance/exit, the Tribunal Hall, the resting place of the Chalcedony Seat, and a longer path which leads to the Promenade Medical Hall.

Promenade Medical Hall: Originally opened at it’s location because it was where everyone was gathering at night. Eventually remained due to proximity to Noon Point and Trader’s Walk, and to espouse Haematica’s intent to serve either House with absolute neutrality. Tungsten still technically works there mixing salves and seeing to general health concerns, but her work on the Tribune often keeps her busy.

Twilight Labs and Artisans (A): Called the Twilight Guild for short. This site came first and is situated on the outskirts of what piece of the Hewn City exists on the mainland. It contains the Alchemy Labs, the Forge, and the Smallcraft Area.

Twilight Labs and Artisans (B): Also called the Twilight Guild for short. This site came into being when new industries and new processes required new space. It contains the Textile Workshop, the Glassworks, and the Processing Area for large materials brought by House Betelgeuse. Site B is connected to Site A by a waste pipe which leads out to Rot Cliff.

Rot Cliff: An outlet area for waste generated by the clan, organic, alchemical, or otherwise. It is managed entirely by two plague dragons. One utilizes her powers as a Rot Witch to decompose harmless wastes and deliver them back to the mainland for use as fertilizer or fuel. The other eats and/or drinks harmful wastes and liquid run-offs best not left to flow out to the ocean.

House Betelgeuse: Formed initially as a sociopolitical group of the clan who believed in preserving the old ways and preserving their relationships and ability to return to the Starfall isles. The first thing they accomplished toward this goal was portal magic that initially relied on locking onto the signature of the Chalcedony Seat. With their newfound ability to come and go, they were able to arrange for the Starfall longneck clans they were friendly with to ‘inherit’ their territory until such time as they could return. They also staged an effort retrieve lost articles and were able to allow the members of the clan who couldn’t leave the Isles to come to their new clan. Theirs was a house that enjoyed massive popularity due to their pursuits in closure for the clan, but fell out of it just as quickly due to the first founder overstepping their boundaries. While they drew the ire of the Lightweaver, it was through the corrective action that Telos took the god saw where the loyalty of the clan lied, and allowed the house to keep existing. Their founding phrase, quickly struck down as it was, was ‘Higher than the Sun’.

Skyboat Docks: Clan Skyboat is a nomadic clan primarily composed of 11 peppy fae and one snuffling, sleepy imperial who make it their business to fly the sick, injured, or naturally flightless safely across Sornieth. They came to an agreement with Clan Aphaster to use some of their open flat land as a dock area in Light. While they originally made their business proposition to House Perihelion, they ended up creating the dock near House Betelgeuse because they were interested in the gravity magics used to keep the entire structure floating off the Hewn Canyon cliff-side. The skyboat itself comes and go, but two fae: a mechanic and a Glasswings ace, usually remain on-site to act as Liasions and are treated as honorary members of Clan Aphaster.

#World Building #Clan Aphaster #This is very long so I hope you're buckled in if you want to read this #Future Plans #Aphaster Map

13 notes · View notes