#power bank battery pack

[theradicalace]

perks of my new heated hoodie: because of all the wires and other assorted nonsense in it, it's very bulky and thick, which makes it super snuggly even if the heat is turned off

[shrutins]

A Possible Cause of Power Bank Fires

CrystalPlanet - A Possible Cause of Power Bank Fires

A power bank charging a mobile phone. Pic: source Given the random exploding or catching of fire of power banks on flights, airlines have either banned or restricted the carrying of power banks to hand luggage only. According to an interesting article by Andrew Hirst in 2021, there were about 340 lithium battery related incidents on flights (presumably in the US only?) between January 2006 and…

[colinwilson11]

Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks): The Demand For Power On The Go

The average Australian now owns multiple portable electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, cameras, and other gadgets that run on rechargeable batteries. These devices have become essential companions in our daily lives whether for work, education, entertainment or staying connected with friends and family. However, one of the biggest challenges facing users is ensuring these devices have enough power to last through the day without access to a power outlet. This has led to a surge in demand for portable battery packs or power banks that can charge devices on the go.

Statistics from analysts show Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks)  now own on average 2.3 portable electronic devices each in 2020, up from 1.8 devices in 2015. As usage of these devices increases for tasks like social networking, streaming media, online shopping etc, the battery drain has also gone up substantially. A survey by a mobile accessories retailer found that over 70% of Australian smartphone users feel anxious when their phone battery drops below 20%. This clearly shows the need for backup power solutions when conventional outlets are not available.

Rise Of Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks) Manufacturers

  To capitalize on this growing consumer need, several Australian companies have entered the portable battery in recent years. Brands like Mophie, Anker, RAVPower and AUKEY now have a significant presence selling power banks locally as well as overseas. These manufacturers offer batteries in various sizes and capacities ranging from 5,000mAh to 26,800mAh power suitable for 1-2 charges on most devices. Features like fast-charging technologies, multiple USB ports and portable slim designs have also increased popularity.

Australian online retailer Mobileciti launched its own-brand ‘Inateck’ power banks in 2017 and has seen strong year-on-year growth. With locally sourced components and assembly, Inateck is aggressively expanding its range with 20 new SKUs this year. The company’s research found Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks)  consumers favour banks with 10,000mAh capacity the most. Inateck’s performance has enabled it to capture around 7%  share nationally within 3 years of launch.

Some homegrown brands have also emerged like Syllable, Volt and iWalk which predominantly sell via e-commerce platforms. By undercutting aggressive overseas competitors on price and offering Australian customer support, these local startups are carving a niche.  projections show Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks)  sales growing 15-20% annually over the next 5 years potentially reaching $180 million in revenue. This rapid growth presents opportunities for both large manufacturers and startups.

Sustainability Efforts Gather Steam

  As lithium-ion battery usage increases, concerns around ethical sourcing and environmental impact have put the spotlight on sustainability practices in the power bank . Major brands have responded by focusing on renewable energy usage in plants, reducing plastic packaging waste and utilizing recycled materials wherever possible.

Australian producer Volt Power announced it achieved a key milestone of being 100% carbon neutral certified in 2020. The company offset its entire manufacturing and operational carbon footprint via investment in accredited solar projects. Volt also became the first in the country to offer power banks made partially from recycled plastic collected via teracycle programs. Such initiatives have boosted Volt’s ‘eco-friendly’ branding helping drive an 75% increase in annual sales.

Larger brands like Mophie and Anker have rolled out programs that let customers easily recycle old or non-functional power banks at no cost. They also provide transparent product lifecycle assessments and sourcing details online. This is increasingly important to Australian buyers who have strong sentiments towards brands with verifiable green and ethical production standards. The likes of iWalk for example prominently displays its solar panel integration and recyclable aluminum housing as unique selling points over Asian rivals.

New Technologies On The Horizon

Going forward, there remains significant potential to further improve power bank designs and features. Two key areas  watchers expect notable developments are fast-charging functionality and integration with renewable sources. Manufacturers are pushing the limits on charging speeds with some previewing prototypes that can juice up a dead phone battery to 50% within 15 minutes using protocols like USB PD.

With solar energy making strides in popularity, concepts of solar-powered portable chargers are in the works. This could open up use cases like on-the-go charging for outdoor recreational activities. Foldable thin-film solar panels built into battery packs and capable of adding 1-3% charge per hour of sunlight are being explored. Other speculated technologies include charging via human body heat, kinetic motion or wireless inductive standards for truly cord-free operation.

While higher costs may limit initial commercial viability, Australian companies intent on playing in global s will need to keep developing greener and more convenient charging solutions. Strategic partnerships are also likely between battery makers and renewable energy or consumer electronics majors. Overall consumer appetite for anytime untethered power ensures Australia Portable Battery Pack (Power Banks) role in advancing portable energy technologies will only grow in the coming years.

Get more insights on this topic:  https://www.ukwebwire.com/choosing-the-best-portable-battery-pack-australia-portable-battery-pack-power-banks/

Author Bio:

Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the  research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163 )

*Note: 1. Source: Coherent  Insights, Public sources, Desk research 2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it

[crazydiscostu]

ZyberVR Neck Power Bank

The major pain point of Virtual Reality gaming and experiences is inadequate battery life that restricts play time. Thankfully the team at ZyberVR are once again on the case! Introducing their Neck Power Bank which promises to offer a blend of convenience, comfort, and extended playtime for VR aficionados. Let’s take a look at this innovative accessory! Product supplied for review purposes Neck…

[foone]

Think about the experience of time as a robot girl, through the metaphor of how we use laptops.

You wake up for the first time with your young master, a college present. You're with them every day, powering off each night to charge. Being powered off is just dreamless sleep: a discontinuity. Every morning you wake up, your click syncs, and you know it's the next day. Maybe you miss a day or two: your master went out partying and ended up sleeping on a couch, until they rushedly wake you up before Monday classes begin. You even missed a whole week once when they went on a hiking trip with a new boyfriend.

You help them research upgrades when your specs get outdated. You place the order and a couple days later they power you off, and you wake up feeling like your head got bigger, on the inside. You can think of more things at once.

They repair you. They swap a new hand in when you accidentally crush it in a door, but when your left leg's servos go out, they send you to a repair shop. They power you off as you look up at them, and you wake up hours later. A strange man tells you to extend your left leg, then contract it. He frowns and re-oils some inner mechanism. You do it again, quieter and smoother this time. He nods, and reaches for your switch. The last thing you see before powering down is your own chest cavity with a series of wires hooked into your diagnostic ports, and your missing right leg sitting on a side table. You wake up again back at the dorms, your clock jumping forward a day, an asset tag still looped around your neck. Your master is happy to see you again.

This goes on, but the upgrades slow. There's only so much you can do to keep an old unit working. Eventually you develop more issues: one of your ocular sensors glitches and they don't make that model anymore, so your master just disables it. You spend a while searching ebay for replacement CND batteries and finally get a refurbished model from South England, but it turns out the EU models run on a different frequency, so it won't work. You're limited to fewer and fewer hours a day, and you start skipping more days.

The last time you remember waking up with your master there, there's also someone else in the room. Another robot girl. A newer model, with the new chassis and the Substrate energy packs. They asks you to copy your memories together onto a memory card, and you do. You want to say goodbye, but apparently your vocal synthesizer has been unplugged. You hand them the card, and they hand it to the new robot. Your master tells them to load the memories into her core bank, and she's says "yes sir!" in your voice. Ahh. That's where your voice synth went.

They power you off, and you don't dream.

You wake in a strange place. You're on a shelf, and there's other things scattered around you. An unknown voice days "yep, it seems it powers on. 400 credits, though? Without a voice and only one working eye? Man, value bin doesn't know how to price anything!" and before the blackness falls your clock finishes synching: it's been 7 months since you last were awake.

It happens a few more times. Different voices, different times, different piles of junk piled around and sometimes on you.

You awake again in a warehouse and someone tells you to smile. Your other ocular sensor went out so you can't really see them, just their vague shape from the lidar. The freestanding shelves around you seem to stretch into infinity. You hear a bitcrushed shutter sound sample a few times, and they pull a connector out of your chest as a diagnostic completes. It's been three years, five months, eight days, two hours, 27 minutes and 14 seconds since you last saw your master. Your GPS says you're a few cities over. They hit your power switch, and you sleep.

You wake up in a cluttered room, sitting on a bench. You look into the eyes of a person with frizzled hair and large glasses. She couldn't look happier. Your new ocular sensors are mismatched in color but you're happy to see again, in more than shapes and distant silhouettes. Your battery alerts as... Missing? You spot it on the desk next to a soldering iron and some electronic tool you can't identify.

Your voice synth is still missing, but this new woman is digging around in a large plastic bin, and comes up with one. She goes to insert it, and it can't connect. She slaps her hand and goes rooting around another bin and comes back with an adapter. She slots it into your chest and your voice returns. You thank her, and there's that moment of dissociation as your voice doesn't sound like "you". Too deep, and the accent is for a different dialect entirely. But you can talk again. She tells you to call her Cara, not Mistress. She's almost got your battery working again, she had to rebuild it nearly from scratch, but she's excited to get you working again. You're a rare model, and she doesn't see units like you in working order very often. Your clock syncs. It's been 17 years.

Your mistr-- Cara is soldering next to you, attaching a controller to the battery. She says she's got a new set of servos on the way, and she's excited to get you back to full working condition. You smile, knowing what it is to be loved, once again.

[sadgi]

compiling information about the kineema, because I'm normal

hi. you may remember me from this post talking about how the kineema doesn't have a hood. I've decided to compile all the *other* info I can get on the kineema and comment on it. hopefully this is okay to read

---

let's start with what I could find on fayde

INTERFACING - With its air-cooled, rear-mounted twelve cylinder compression ignition engine driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, the Kineema is able to reach 100 kilometres per hour in 13.5 seconds. And go on to a top speed of 180 kilometres an hour. YOU - Won't it roll over in the first sharp corner? INTERFACING - The high centre of balance is offset by a large battery bank mounted at the bottom of the cabin, feeding all the auxiliary systems and making the Kineema effectively a mobile power plant.

air-cooled: no radiator. I assume this is what those big heat-sink looking things on sides of the engine are for

compression ignition engine: diesel, no spark plugs (diesel engines are named after a guy, rudolph diesel, so I guess in elysium they didn't do that)

rear wheel drive: this is pretty obvious just looking at the thing

100 kilometres per hour in 13.5 seconds: not very fast acceleration compared to modern cars, but the history of cars in elysium is obviously very different to irl

battery bank: this is the only thing keeping the kineema from tipping backwards onto its ass as soon as you accelerate

YOU - "What's it packing there?" (Point to the engine.) KIM KITSURAGI - "Hundred-and-thirty." INTERFACING - I reckon that's a seven-litre V12 there. ENCYCLOPEDIA - Man, that's got to be a major advancement over the KR18GU engine on the old Coupris 40. YOU - "Wait, hundred-and-thirty what?" KIM KITSURAGI - "Kilowatts," the lieutenant replies laconically.

130 kilowatts: ~174 horsepower

YOU - "That's what..." (Rub your chin.) "... a seven-litre V12?" KIM KITSURAGI - "Seven-point-two. Supercharged." The lieutenant is trying to suppress a smug smile. Unsuccessfully. EMPATHY - Saying these words brings him immense joy.

7.2 litre engine: space inside the cylinders. 7.2L/12 = 600cc per cylinder

supercharged: has a supercharger. forces more air into the engine, powered by the crankshaft (as opposed to turbochargers which are powered by the exhaust)

YOU - Run your fingers over one of the steering levers. COUPRIS KINEEMA - The white suede feels luxurious under the touch and the metal clutch handle so very familiar in your palm... INTERFACING - Your fingers waste no time closing around the handle. Clutch disengaged. Release the handle -- clutch drops -- right foot yearns for the familiar touch of the accelerator pedal. You have synced with the machine's mechanical circulation.

YOU - "A *driver* would wear down their right shoe before the left -- the accelerator is on the right. And remember that abandoned lorry cabin we found?"

steering levers: instead of a steering wheel. not exactly sure how they'd work. I *really* don't want it to have differential steering like a zero-turn mower looking at this video of kim driving it looks like the front wheels are the ones steering

clutch handle: instead of a pedal, the clutch is a handle on one of the levers. seems that accelerator and (probably) brake are still pedals

accelerator is on the right: does everyone left-foot brake??? I guess if the clutch handle is standard then that would make sense

ABANDONED LORRY - The glass on the side windows is tinted and covered with dust. You can barely make out the shape of a seat and two steering levers. [...] YOU - Check the pedals. ABANDONED LORRY - You wedge yourself under the steering-wheel to get a better look. Seems like the few tools lying around here -- a hammer, a pair of pliers, a rusty wrench -- have been casually thrown there by the disorganized driver. ABANDONED LORRY - But one odd detail does catch your eye: A piece of sandpaper has been glued to the throttle.

STEERING WHEEL TYPO

---

alright, let's actually take a look at this thing

two door: the kineema has a single driver's seat and two seats in the back. looks like you'd need to move the front seat forward to let anyone else in

suspension: the back wheels look like they have some sort of spring (the axle is connected to it, so how are the wheels being driven??? same with the coupris 40). I assume the front arms also act as a spring

rear view mirror: looks like there's no rear view mirror, since you wouldn't see shit

aerodynamics: bad

seat belts:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[coming-for-your-vocalfolds]

So here's my take on the possible modifications the vinsmoke siblings had to go through as a person who likes to inflict as much pain mental and physical onto a character as possible. Rant inspired by me trying to convince myself Ichiji isn't hot

They didn't just pop out the womb with powers and emotionless, Judge waited not long of course, probably until they were at least a year. Then started the surgeries for the implants to give them, ya know, their powers giving them probably stronger yet more flexible skeletons.

Reiju's implant is essentially a bank of different chemicals and carbon based products to make antidotes and such. Ichiji probably had to have his eyes and hands replaced to tolerate the beam of light that pierce through people, also he probably had sort of insulated wire going through his body "transport" the light. Niji -for lack of better words- has a thin battery pack carefully connected to his nervous system with a set voltage so he doesn't accidentally kill himself he should tho, Cosett didn't deserve that, and probably something (not sure what) as a back up to protect his muscles from frying and organs from cooking. Sanji didn't show much promise meaning he probably got the base level surgery (the skeleton upgrade). Yonji -probably the most horrific- there's no polite way to say this chopping off his arms and replacing them with hydraulic like appendages, I kinda wanted to sugar coat it but it's not really a possibility.

After the initial operation(s) begins the tests, making sure they work the way they should and are working consistently and if in the position to work on upgrades. Then after that comes the exoskeleton, I'm not sure how the those would work, but they'd implemented around the age 5. Testing to go along with that too, making sure there are no faults in it.

Of course if Judge can find a way to improve an his "creations" then he will, he probably has panels in each of the limbs and torso for access and upgrades.

As for the emotions, I don't wanna say he proded around in their heads, so I'm gonna say its learned behavior, Ichi, Ni, and Yonji spent too much time around Judge, taught the three that emotions are weakness and that in this world you need to be strong yada yada yada brainwashing stuff. Sanji and Reiju spent time around Sora's kindness which counteracted Judges words.

Anyway that's the end of my rant, I might add more if think of more, feel free to add.

[henpillled]

Quick n dirty Hurricane post

Hurricane Shopping List

Food:

The government will tell you that you need 3 days of food, you need at least a week. After Ian we were flooded for about 4 days and had no power for 8. You want non perishables and you want tasty non perishables, get things you and your family like. Keep your eye out for sales through the year to keep a good stash.if you don’t have a grill,  Get a mini charcoal grill so you can also still cook 

Soups 

tuna and other canned meats

Ramen (fun, not nutritious) 

Snacks like chips and crackers, salsa!*

Single serving sauce packs (go hog wild at fast food places)

Cereal

Fresh fruit

Pasta sauce and pasta

Bread and shelf stable toppings like jelly* and peanut butter

Treats! It sucks, get some gummy bears, get BEER!

Instant coffee

*these aren't technically shelf stable,but yes they are lol, at least for a few days, sugar and acid are both preservatives, if it looks funny, don't eat it, but they'll be fine for a few days

Everything in your freezer will be good too, at least for a while. Eat everything in your fridge first, but after a few days, if you are going to lose everything in your freezer anyway, open it up and start using meats etc in there.

Water:

There are 4 categories for water, Drinking, cooking, cleaning, and flushing. ** if you do not have hot water, you need to be using bleach or vinegar or everything that gross. Hot water is our best friend and if we do not have her we need to kill every germ, without proper plumbing there are bad germs everywhere.

Drinking: half gallon  to gallon per person per day 

Cooking: A gallon per day, more if you have a larger family

These two need to be in sanitized containers intended for water storage, so bottled water, or food grade 5 gallon containers, tractor supply has good ones, or the huge water jugs at the grocery store.

Cleaning***: as much as you can, personally i start saving every 2 liter, OJ bottle, milk jug etc from about January to hurricane season so i can fill them all up when a storm is on the way. This doubles as you-cleaning water, so the more the better

Flushing: as much as physically possible. Fill up every tub, every sink, fill up your trash cans. I am 100% serious you WILL run out of flushing water before anything else. Literally as much as possible.

Misc items:

Battery banks, whether proper banks, or your laptop to use as a bank

A full tank of gas, never go under half a tank during hurricane season

This radio is great

Proper first aid kit (you should already have one tbh) 

Any medications you need, check your state laws to see if you can get emergency prescription refills

Toys, books, any kind of entertainment really, it gets boring, couldnt imagine being a toddler.

Extra pet food

Baby wipes

Extra period products 

Corn starch is a decent dry shampoo

General tips:

Find a radio station with a morning show, find several. There was a group in my area that was broadcasting 24/7 taking calls from people with trucks and people who needed help or medicine. They saved lives. 

Park your cars as high as possible, and as close to your house as you can

It is so much better to feel silly with all this stuff than to be caught off guard 

Lock your pets in a non carpeted room if you can.

Do laundry!!!!!

Shower and scrub every square inch a few hours before the storm starts, wash your hair!!!

Have 2 weeks of undies

Check on your neighbors 

DO NOT GO INTO FLOOD WATERS WHY DO PEOPLE DO THIS THIS IS HOW YOU GET HEPATITIS 

Have a plan for if it floods, have important docs and some food in a bag ready to go. If you are in an attic without a way to break through the roof, you will drown.

[allwormdiet]

Tangle 6.5

Once more unto the fucking breach, huh?

They're fucking insane for this one, though

Jeeeeesus Christ what a maneuver though, what a stunt

What a fucking entrance! Absolutely legendary for this one, holy shit

Y'know, I guess when you're this deep into the fucking shark tank, you might as well feel some kind of zen, right? Like what's gonna happen, things get more dangerous?

Oh hey Emma, hope this scares the bejeezus out of you,

Aww, Tattletale wanted to do a fun little monologue

Also very clever that they brought the bugs along via Big Dog, way better than depending on the gallery to have enough wasps and spiders

They are clowning on these fucking PRT guys, oh my god this is embarrassing

You're getting comboed to shit by a pack of half-feral teenagers and you can't even use your foam things worth a damn. Like, Tattletale is contributing in this fight, and she doesn't fight for shit!

Right, yeah containment foam. Pretty neat actually, and it makes sense as the weapon of choice for an organization meant to handle parahuman threats. Not that it's working for them rn, but y'know, thought that counts.

I think one day Victoria is gonna make Tattletale pay for that nickname, but good lord today is not that day

Also yeah fuck Shadow Stalker

Yeah, fuck Shadow Stalker!

Hi Assault, bye Assault

Great fucking team move between Assault and Battery, their powers are remarkably complementary to each other, which means it's kind of a shame it didn't work

This fight is still so cool though, god

Yeah you know what I think I get why people would want to stay away from Triumph, that's a power combination that'll do it

Aww but he's such a good boy though, taking down the big shouty man

Not only lol, but also lmao

And here comes Armsmaster to ruin everything. Again.

What's that line from the old Mortal Kombat movie? "I've studied all your moves," but said in like a horrendous fake Australian accent?

Also Jesus Miss Militia who needs a machine gun to subdue a teenager, that's overkill

Anyway haha things can only get better from here right

Current Thoughts

It hasn't even been two weeks since they knocked over the bank, and now they're here, that's fucking ludicrous

Fucking incredible that the Undersiders have managed to put up the numbers they have so far. Four Wards, Glory Girl, Assault and Battery, and Triumph all down and out. They walked into this with like two-to-one odds and have turned the numbers around in their favor. Armsmaster is gonna be a fucking problem of course, and Velocity's gonna put up a fight (Miss Militia is about to get punked in the next chapter so her not as much) but still, that's way better odds than I think anyone would have given them

It's getting late and I'm tired, so I'm gonna leave it here for tonight. Let that cliffhanger sizzle where it stands.

[rontra]

I have a question about CTDE zatanna's backstory. How do you interpret the medulla jewel? I mean both the impact it has on her story and powers. Also does the hidden city play a big role or not really?

zatanna nation alive and well in my inbox today... welcome... and you're activating my CTDE Ramble Mode 😭 here we go again (puts in a readmore) but thank you for asking!

god the fucking medulla jewel. i mean the thing is.

i MEAN. the THING is.

even DC didn't really seem to know how to interpret that thing. it's shown up like twice or whatever Back In The Day and it was all quite vague and then they stopped talking about it forever. so it never really crossed my mind as something i should factor in to be honest 😭 but now that it's been brought up i'm considering if it might be useful in some way...

well, CTDE Zee's power level has always been primarily a result of her immense experience (never ask a magician her age), which is plenty sufficient for my general purposes. her long training, lived experience, and intricate know-how are the main vehicle, wrapped around an engine of her raw magical power. taking the medulla jewel as a type of magical power source (as presented), it might serve as a means to support the immense pool of resources at her disposal...

primarily i would hate for it to be the Sole Culprit behind her strength since there are Other Reasons she's like this (lol) but i think it could definitely be a Factor (and help explain the truly Zany stunts Arc 3 demands of her, which are so immense they almost kill her lmao)

...i suppose there's a few ways to conceptualize it for my purposes without sundering the 'verse like for example

the jewel is an "innate source of magic" that actively supplies her with a constant flow of power

the jewel is a "battery" that passively stores excess power to be used whenever needed

the jewel is a "philosopher's stone" that transmutes base magic into effective spells directly, circumventing traditional casting methods/costs (essentially, casting for free)

the jewel is a "lens" that focuses magic and gives spells a buff to concentrated power, like a magnifying glass under the sun

something else or a combination

for my purposes and the role she plays in the AU, a combination of #2 and #3 feels more compelling to me than something like #1. Since the CTDE is running "magic always has a cost" rules, a big thing about zee's bad vibe is her non-committal relationship with actually paying—if the medulla jewel provides an innate "bank" of some magical resource, which she can choose to "trade" with the universe in order to immediately cast For Free, that suits her type just fine. her coin on a string for the vending machine of magic, if you will

but it should have a theoretical limit, so making it a "battery pool" that runs low Eventually and needs to recharge (by skimming magic off the world around her) is OK. how to manage her bank of resources—whether to do regular safe invocation or cosmic trickery or just cast from her cheater freebie pool—should be (at least in theory) a choice she makes when bending the universe around her

(her level is so immense that in like 99% of cases she could just freecast without thinking about it) (but the 1% of spells that she needs to Actually Think About is what we're concerned with preserving, so that's still okay)

if she has that funny thing built-in, she probably spent a lot of her training time refining and practicing how to use it and how magic interacts with it. which means she would probably have to Know About All Of That beforehand. which brings us back to the Hidden City Sindella Lore huh.

well when it comes to her parents and stuff, CTDE Zee does play the same general tune--so it's possible some variation of Sindella's Fun Battery Pack plot did happen. this part of the CTDE backstory i havent really delved into bc it hasn't been relevant/important to the main plot of the AU but honestly.... maybe it would be fun to tinker with those components and assemble something

if a variant version of that did happen and sindella was being used to power the hidden city's hidden city-ing, zee would know enough to refine her own Working Relationship with the Magic Brainstone. but also i did Simply Assume and mark sindella as "dead" in my chart earlier, so it probably didn't end much better for herBHJDJMKS

ahhh... we hardly knew ye...

if a version of that stuff happened its probably backstory/not SUPER foreground to her present-time CTDE storyline . since she has some other major shit going on nowadays . but it mightve still been a pretty important part of the backstory...hmm....

it might even prove useful for me down the road, in plotting some of the foggy areas, maybe? i could probably use a hidden city or two, they're convenient to have aroundHDHJBFD

(imagining fondly) the peak Evil Motherhood Theme moment of the CTDE will be when zee takes everyone back to the hidden city and is like Yeah so they sucked my mom DRY here and NOT in a good way. she Died! & theyre all like "ohhh. this is why youre like this"

haha no idk..hm... it's compelling. i'll have to think of a way to use it. if nothing else youve given me something to think about.... in my zee cave...

[delopsia]

Warmer | Rhett Abbott x Reader

Word Count: 3600 Cross Posted on AO3 Warnings & Notes: 18+, Fem!Reader, blowjobs, oral (reader receiving), slight snowballing if you squint, implied risk of getting caught by ye ole parents! :D

"Goodnight!" 

The candle in your palm flickers vibrantly as you ease the door to a shut, set into a frenzy by the subtle breeze born from even this tiny motion. In your grasp, the icy metal of the knob burns right through you, eating away at your already cold hand. 

Aside from this singular sugar cookie-scented candle, your bedroom is nothing but darkness. Not a singular light, even from your cellphone, lying on the bedside table with its empty battery. Some good that the portable power bank was; charging by about five percent of your battery life per hour. 

A hamster on a wheel would be faster than this.

Fortunately, it's much warmer under your sheets, and the discomfort that comes with being under so many heavy sheets is much easier to ignore. It's hard to complain when you don't have any other options.

The only other options you have are starting a fire right here in your bed or snuggling into the never-ending furnace that is Rhett Abbott. Neither are feasible options, unfortunately. Not when a fire risks burning the house down, and you have no way of contacting Rhett. If he's responded to your texts about the surprise snowfall, you haven't received anything.

Thank you, phone battery, for running dry just minutes after the snowfall knocked the electricity out. 

You wonder if Rhett's got power over on his ranch. Surely he doesn't; usually, if one house in Wabang doesn't have electricity, the rest of the town is having much of the same luck. Fortunately for him, though, he always has the luxury of packing up and moving into a motel for the night. 

You don't. Not when your father is the local pastor and makes it a point that you all stay because there is always a family to help. Someone always needs shelter, he says.

Outside, the icy wind blows harder, howling as it whips around the house, squeezing through the tiny cracks of your window. You can feel the already low-temperature drop even further; any lower, and you're sure that it may start snowing in here. Another gust of wind and your window audibly clunks, perhaps contracting from the cold. 

Just as you're snuggling further into the heavy blankets, the window makes that sound again. Strange, is it cracking? Can cold wind even break a window? Flickering your eyes open, you peek over at the window. It doesn't exactly look broken; in fact, it looks just the same as it always has. 

Something black pops up from below, striking the window. There's that noise again.

Oh.

Every fiber in your body screams at you to get back into bed, crawl under the covers, and hibernate until Spring, but your feet hit the cold floor all the same. Only beginning to regret it when you raise the window, letting all that damned cold air in, just for the sake of foolishly sticking your head outside. 

"Rhett, what the fuck are you doing?" You hiss, wrapping your arms around yourself. 

Even in the dark, you can see the whites of Rhett's teeth as he smiles up at you, giddy. "Hi."

There's not a single footprint on the lawn; you're sure he's walked through the tire tracks rather than across the yard. He's gotten smart. Last time, he did leave prints, and your father called the police to file a report because he thought someone was trespassing to peek in the windows at night. 

The rope fire escape ladder is just as cold in your hands as you remove it from its box and lower the end of it out the window. It's so quiet in the house that you're almost afraid that even the soft clicking of the material against the wall will disturb your parents. Nobody comes, though. Not even as Rhett clambers up, gracefully smacking the back of his head up against the windowsill.

"What in the world are you doing here?" It's late; you don't know how late, but it feels late.  

There's that goofy grin again, so big that his eyes crinkle with it, and he can barely form his next words, "well, how else am I supposed to make sure my baby is safe and warm during a blizzard?"

If it were physically possible, your eyes could just roll right into the back of your head and never come back out. 

"Is that so?" As you slowly shut your window, careful not to make any sounds that will disturb your parents, Rhett wraps himself around you. 

Wandering hands wrapping around your waist, drawing his warm, firm chest up against your back, "what? You don't believe me?"

"Oh, I believe you," turning in his grasp, you're pleased to find that he's already bending down to meet your eye, allowing you to rub your cold noses together with ease, "I just think you wanted to cuddle."

He can't argue with that, not when he's proven in the past that he can and will make a two-hour trip just to sleep with you in his arms one more night. The gentle nudge of blunt fingernails and flickering of eyes, dancing between you and the bed, is enough all on its own. Just a few wayward steps and you're falling back into the nest of blankets you've accumulated.

A nest of blankets that, suddenly, wasn't worth your time because a walking furnace is settling right next to you. His head settles onto the same pillow as you, legs tangling together as big arms encircle you once more. You're sure he'd draw you into his chest, your head tucked just under his chin if he wasn't so keen on kissing you right now.

"What the hell..." his eyebrows furrow, leaning in to steal a kiss from your lips again. It's hard to talk when he's kissing you again, pausing and then stealing one more, stubbornly trying to figure out this conundrum on his own. "Why do your lips taste like mint?"

Oh, that. 

"Candy cane flavored chapstick," you offer, "you can taste it?"

Humming, he comes back to get another taste of you, "sure can, sunshine." 

If you'd known he was coming, maybe you would have put on one of those sparkly lip glosses your Aunt gifted you for Christmas. You still remember the last time you wore one. When Rhett kissed you silly before a rodeo, and he had to get on a bull with his lips still sparkling from you. How they still glistened in that dingy bar, and how pale that girl's face got when she realized why. 

That's a memory you'll savor when you're alone. Right now, you're too distracted by the soft suction at your bottom lip, the teeth that nip at it. His presence so warm that you can feel your cold bones begin to thaw, replaced with a growing, flaming need for something you can't put your finger on.

These little fleeting pecks aren't enough, short, chaste lip locks that don't fully allow you to savor the man that's tracing his nails up and down your spine. It's not enough, not when his thigh unintentionally squirms higher, pressing against you in the subtlest of ways. Your hands knot in his shirt, pulling him closer to you, trying for something more. 

Rhett chuckles against your lips, "and here you thought I had ulterior motives."

Nonetheless, he gives you what you want. A flush of relief rolls through you as he pushes you onto your back, effortlessly rolling on top of you. Rhett's never denied a request such as this, not when he's actively holding himself back from bending you over every time he sees you, but it still makes you nervous to ask. 

The weight that settles on top of you is so deliciously familiar; him, all of him pressed up against you, so close that you can smell his aftershave and the artificial strawberry of his shampoo. Hungry lips tangle with yours, licking at your lower lip with each kiss but not quite letting your tongues meet. 

A calloused thumb strokes at the meet of your jaw, gentle but firm, holding you there whilst he does as he pleases. Your hand twitches against his neck, overcome with the urge to tangle your fingers into those long curls resting against his nape and to pull. And that is exactly what you do.

Rhett's lips fall open with a gasp, and that is truly all you need to surge up, your impatient tongue tangling with his. They dance together with perfect, needy synchrony, meeting and exploring with each long, messy lock of lips. His hand dips down, effortlessly slipping its way under your shirt and creeping upward until it cups a soft breast. The rough drag of his thumb against your soft nipple is enough to have you squirming below him.

"So impatient," he mutters, smile forming against your lips, "love when you get like this."

One more peck against your lips, and then he's kissing his way across your cheek, taking special care to nibble at your jaw as he passes over it on his way down. Wet tongue tickling down the sensitive skin of your neck, bypassing in favor of sinking his teeth into your exposed collarbone, hard enough to leave a subtle indent that his tongue quickly soothes over. 

Cold air nips at your skin as he pushes your shirt up, high enough for him to have access to your breasts but not quite asking you to take the garment off. Even in the dark of the room, you can see the fond twinkle in his eye as he plants a kiss right between them. 

"So pretty," he praises, and oh, what a wondrous feeling his tongue against your nipple is. 

It doesn't stay long; a few swirls of his tongue, and then he's moving on to give the other one equal treatment. You can just about feel the ice forming in the saliva he's left behind, and you suppose that's why he's so sparing with them for once, tucking the shirt back over them when he's done. 

Your hips rise at the same time his fingers hitch over the hem of your panties, tugging them down with such ease, only taking his mouth off your skin long enough to get the fabric fully off you. 

"Rhett—!"

"—shh," taking his mouth off our cunt for just long enough to get his words out, "don't want your parent's wakin' up, do we?" 

His tongue is so hot against you, like a wet flame. It spreads you open so easily, tickling at your entrance and then up, up, up until it can swirl around that already swollen bud. If you weren't wet before, you are now, downright dripping with his saliva as he settles into a comfortable routine. 

"Poor preacher would have a heart attack," speaking directly into you, deep voice vibrating against where you're most sensitive, "seein' a man eatin' his daughter's sweet little pussy." 

As if to emphasize his filthy words, big hands settle upon the backs of your knees, raising them up until they're comfortably settled over his broad shoulders. Thighs caging his face as he sucks on your clit like it's candy. 

Again, your fingers itch to curl into his messy hair, and that's exactly what you do; grip locking the back of his head and weakly holding him there. Rhett groans directly into you, leaning further into you as if he can't get enough. That tongue swirls back and forth, over and over, until your hips squirm in an effort to escape it. 

He has a little bit of mercy on you, momentarily leaving your pulsating clit in favor of tracing the thin rim of your entrance. Then dipping in, once, twice, the tip of his nose nudging your clit with each motion before he pulls back just enough to wet two of his fingers with his own tongue. 

"Such a tight little thing," he cooes, thick fingers easing into you as he speaks. 

They're already crooked, so well-versed that they don't even need to try to find the little spot resting against your gummy inner walls. Perfectly rough callouses spiral right against it, leaving your thighs spasming and clenching around Rhett's head.

It's hard not to miss that big smile, barely concealed by your sex, as he returns to working your clit. You're whining, squirming helplessly below him as he devours everything you have to offer him and then some. It's too much, too much.

Darkened eyes flicker up at you, eagerly drinking in your expression, "come on, sweet thing," pausing to suck gently at your clit, fingers quickening, such simple actions that make you tremble, "cum on my face."

You barely even feel it coming on; just a few simple words, and it's snowballing into an avalanche. One, two, three, four more flicks of his tongue against you, and your back is arching, legs just about locking around his head as you cum with a barely concealed whimper. Hips convulsing as Rhett pushes harder against you, licking you through it until your back weakly hits the mattress.

"So good for me," kissing your inner thigh, he sits back on his haunches, finally letting your legs fall from his shoulders. Even from just his fingers, you can feel yourself clenching around nothing as they ease out of you, so starkly empty compared to before. 

You can't see it, but you can feel a familiar hardness press against your hip when he comes back up to you, wet lips pecking your own. Your open palm finds him, pressing lightly against the bulge in his slacks, and now it's Rhett's turn to whine into the quiet, open air.

"You don't have to worry about me," he murmurs, hair falling into his face as he speaks, "you should be tired, yeah?"

The very notion of it has you yawning, unintentionally triggering one from your sleepy-eyed cowboy as well. Even so, you don't think you can ever be too tired to see his eyelashes flutter as he cums on your tongue. 

"Not too tired for you," as if to emphasize your statement, you pat your chest, "just don't feel like sitting up, is all."

Rhett's eyes flicker, back and forth between your chest and you, as if he's waiting on you to change your mind. Even as you reach up to push his hair back behind his ear, you don't falter on your words. 

Slow, he sits up, swinging a leg over your chest to straddle you so close that you can just barely catch glimpse of him straining against the material of his pants. Still too hesitant to put his weight down on you, but that's just fine, all you have to do is push yourself up against the headboard a little, and you've got the perfect angle. 

There's no hesitation in the way you find the zipper of his pants, the soft fleece giving so easily as you gently reach inside. All you do is grasp him, nothing more, but he lets out a heavy breath, dropping his head into the arms he's folded atop your headboard. 

"Sensitive?" To which he nods. 

"Just a little," and you're sure he'd fuss more if it weren't for the circumstances. 

It's clear in the way he hides his face in the crook of his arm that this simple change in position has flustered him. All of that confidence long melted away. Yet, he's still just as hard as ever, heavy in your palm as you work him out of his cotton confines. Already leaks into your loose grasp, easily slicking your thumb as you run it along the soft skin of his head. Usually, he's only like this when...

"Something tells me you've been like this for more than a few minutes," you observe quietly. Tentatively, your hand circles around him and slowly strokes downward, and he just about jumps out of his skin.

"More or so the past week," his voice strained. There's a slight tremble in his thighs as your hand glides back up, one you're certain hasn't been brought on by the cold. "I hope you're happy that you've ruined my hand for me, doll."

It's a blessing that there isn't a singular light on in the room because you know damn well he'd give you hell for smiling at such a statement. His problem. Your compliment. 

With a firm grip on his chiseled hip bone, you nudge him forward, silently asking him to raise his hips up and toward you. They follow your lead, timidly drawing closer until you can comfortably bring your tongue to his tip, wetly swirling around it and reveling in the breathy gasp it elicits. Then, urging him forward once more until the plush head slides past your parted, swollen lips. 

"Baby," Rhett's just barely audible, even as he groans under the wise workings of your tongue, soft swirls, and chasings of veins that run along the underside of his cock.

Hollowing your cheeks, you bring him closer, those muscled hips ever so pliant and willing under your grasp. It's so easy this way, able to do nothing but focus on leading him and sucking in each and every inch he has to offer until he's bumping the back of your throat. You hold him there for a moment, adjusting to the sensation, then draw him back. 

Above you, Rhett pants like a dog, hips beginning to tremble in your hand as you lead him into a rhythm that, even despite the slowness, he struggles to maintain. So sensitive, you reckon the last time he got off was the last time he saw you. When you surprised him at an out-of-town rodeo two weeks ago, and he just about missed his ride because he was too busy laying you down in the front seat of that old GMC. 

He's still too quiet, even with the risk of your parents overhearing; you need to hear him. Breathing heavily through your nose on this next slow thrust of his hips, you push your head forward, easing him just centimeters further down your throat. Draw him back, and then again, further this time. 

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," finally, he peeks out from behind the crook of his elbow, keening high in his throat as you hold him there and swallow around him, "feels good." 

It's not the furthest you've managed to take him, but it's the most comfortable, and by God, he does not complain either way. Baby blues glisten as they watch you take him, slowly but surely becoming more confident in his motions until he's properly fucking his cock in and out of your eager mouth. 

Outside your bedroom, the floorboards creak under the weight of someone, likely your mother, on their way to the bathroom across the hall. Rhett's breath hitches. You keep going, downright smiling around him as you intentionally bring him even further down your throat for a fleeting second, just to feel him jolt above you. 

God, isn't it a hell of a sight to see Rhett Abbott reach up and clamp his own hand over his mouth to stay quiet. 

Those footsteps continue past your room, pausing momentarily, and for a second, you're concerned that maybe they can hear you sucking idly at the head of his cock like it's a damn lollipop. Then, you're blessed with the sound of a bathroom door creaking shut.

Rhett's cock twitches in that telltale way it always does when he's close. You draw him back in, jaw aching as you suck him down once more. Those pretty eyes screw themselves shut with the tiniest whimper, just barely concealed. Keening higher and higher in his throat as you work him with everything you've got. 

Drawing back once more, your tongue spirals, once, twice, thrice, before his entire body twitches above you, and hot, salty cum hits your waiting tongue. You swallow around him, with each and every spurt and twitch of his throbbing cock. His whimper just barely concealed by the sound of water flushing across the hall. 

You don't have time to let him go; one tap of your tongue at his sensitive head, and he jolts backward, popping out of your mouth, a small rope of pearly white hitting your lips. 

Breathless, he leans down the best he can, hands gripping your chin and lifting your head just high enough for him to kiss you. Unphased by the cum that winds up mixing between your lips.

"Rhett—"

"—don't care 'bout it," and by God does he not, eager tongue licking into your mouth the same way it always does, teasing at your bottom lip until you grant him access. 

It's dizzying, your already breathless lungs burning as he kisses you, and you're sure he must taste himself; hell, you can still taste him. 

"Can I stay with you?" He murmurs, ever so quiet as footsteps squeak back to their respective bedroom. 

"I'm not sure how well I can hide you," both of you frown at your words; you both know that the bedroom door doesn't lock anymore, the mechanism probably as old as Perry. And no amount of made-up stories can cover up for when one of your parents walks in.

That knowledge doesn't make the downward turn of his lips any less painful; even running your hands through his hair, nails scraping his scalp in the way he likes, doesn't make it go away. 

"...but I can stay with you," you offer, timid all of a sudden, "can lie, say I went somewhere to get warmer, and hope for the best." 

The corner of his lip turns upward, "I take it; I'm that somewhere to get warmer?"

Neither of you needs a verbal answer to that; you already know just what warmer might entail. 

[technecat]

Most people by this point are familiar with the wild brand names that have flooded Amazon. You can find out more about why so many brands (or "pseudo-brands) have these bizarre looking names in this Slash Gear article or this YouTube video from Lean Media.

But I wanna talk about logos. Because I saw this ad here on Tumblr and did a double-take:

Not because the brand name WAQONUY stood out as particularly unusual amidst the many, many unpronounceable allcaps brand names, but because it has a logo.

And as a digital design teacher who has a strict policy against using images from commercial stock sites, something stuck out to me immediately.

There are criss-crossed lines on several of the letters that look suspiciously like watermarks. But they aren't consistent enough to have been lifted whole cloth. No, there's another layer to this.

This logo must be AI generated. It has all the tell-tale signs of it. The strange watermark-esque markings are consistent only across letters with similar shapes are a clear sign that stock logos with watermarks like this:

still on them have been scraped and fed into the generator.

Letters like W and Y that ahould have perfect symmetry are both cropped off at either side for no reason. And the logomark design is...well it's pretty bad, even beyond the weird crossing lines. No designer in their right mind would allow tangents like that. The balance is atrocious. Etc etc.

So now that I'm certain the logo is AI generated I have a new hypothesis about this brand: I think they generated the logo first and took their brand name from whatever result created the most legible Roman letters. Now they have a "real logo" and a unique "brand" name and all they had to do was run a pointless resource intensive algorithm to get it.

The only way to really know is if the brand gets big, like Anker (see the above YT video for more on that) and then has to actually do legit branding. But the odds of that are slim to none. The products they are selling are not as universally sought after as Anker (if you've ever bought a power bank or battery pack from AMZN it was probably Anker brand). Most likely they'll just exist until they get replaced by the next pseudo-brand.

And they most certainly know this is the case, which is exactly why they turned to genAI for their branding. A fake logo for a fake brand. A waste of energy and resources for...well, a waste of energy and resources.

[colinwilson11]

[crazydiscostu]

PowerAdd 10000 EnergyCell

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[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Instrument of Surrender

For a reason that you'll see... soonish, but not today, I'm going to attempt this check again now.

BACKYARD WALL - Just an ordinary wall. Nothing to see here.

[Conceptualization - Impossible 18] Why am I looking at this wall?

+1 You have a keen aesthetic sensibility. +2 Cindy's artistic impulses are infectious. +1 Dresscode: Pseudo-SKULL

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Impossible: Failure] - Yeah, why? It's a wall, an ordinary wall.

INTERFACING - Snow covers the white-on-blue police livery of the motor carriage. The white colours nearly meld together.

Wait, why am I even thinking about this? Wasn't I supposed to…

"No time for this, gotta run." [Finish thought.]

INTERFACING - ... do something important? Something murder-related? There's always *something* important. Doesn't mean you can't take a moment to admire this piece of machinery.

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Medium: Success] - This is a Coupris Kineema, the Coupris MotorCorp's follow-up to their highly successful workhorse, Coupris 40, and the answer to the LUM's racing-bred 'Fevre' series.

INTERFACING - With its air-cooled, rear-mounted twelve cylinder compression ignition engine driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, the Kineema is able to reach 100 kilometres per hour in 13.5 seconds. And go on to a top speed of 180 kilometres an hour.

Won't it roll over in the first sharp corner?

Turn your attention to the motor carriage itself.

Motor carriages don't interest me. [Finish thought.]

INTERFACING - The high centre of balance is offset by a large battery bank mounted at the bottom of the cabin, feeding all the auxiliary systems and making the Kineema effectively a mobile power plant.

This tech-talk is really rubbing me the right way here.

Turn your attention to the motor carriage itself.

+1 Torque Dork

INTERFACING - Due to a quite steep price tag it is very unusual to see one in police livery.

COUPRIS KINEEMA - Even at a standstill the uni-body Coupris Kineema looks sleek and dynamic. The cabin is tilted frontward to give it a more aggressive *hunched* look.

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Easy: Success] - Someone has waxed it recently.

"That machine really puts the 'loco' back in 'locomotion'!" (Point to the vehicle.) "Very cool."

"I don't like your machine, lieutenant. Looks impractical."

(Shrug.) "A motor carriage. One of many."

Actually motor carriages don't interest me. [Finish thought.]

+1 Torque Dork

KIM KITSURAGI - "Mhmh." The lieutenant smiles ever so slightly. "You want to take a closer look?"

"What's it packing there?" (Point to the engine.)

"What in there made the infernal whining sound that woke me?"

"A fine machine..." (Run your hand over the smooth metal surface.)

"Okay, let's move." [Leave.]

KIM KITSURAGI - "Hundred-and-thirty."

INTERFACING - I reckon that's a seven-litre V12 there.

"That's what..." (Rub your chin.) "... a seven-litre V12?"

(Let out a whistle.) "Momma's serving some serious macaroni."

"Oh, I thought it would make more."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Seven-point-two. Supercharged." The lieutenant is trying to suppress a smug smile. Unsuccessfully.

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - Saying these words brings him immense joy.

2. "What in there made the infernal whining sound that woke me?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "You mean the coil noise?"

"What is 'coil noise'?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "When variable current passes through wires that make up the coils on the electrical systems on this machine -- it causes vibration in the wires and the cores of the coils."

"When the frequency of the current in the coils falls within the audible range the resulting vibration creates the *whiny sound* you mentioned."

PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT [Medium: Success] - What a binoclard!

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Whatever you do, don't make fun of the lieutenant for explaining this to you.

"You are such a binoclard, Kim."

"Wow... how do you know all that?"

"Mhmh, that's exactly what I thought."

KIM KITSURAGI - "I have pretty much maintained my vehicles by myself ever since one was assigned to me. You inevitably pick up some knowledge on the way."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - There's pride in there. A trained driver, *knows* his ride.

3. "A fine machine…" (Run your hand over the smooth metal surface.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes." There's gentleness in the lieutenant's voice as his eyes run over the vehicle's contours. "An extraordinary machine."

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Easy: Success] - It's nice and all, but why so modest? Put some zing into it. Flare it up. Slam it down!

VISUAL CALCULUS [Medium: Success] - Helium headlights would improve the range and quality of the visual field a lot.

AUTHORITY [Easy: Success] - It's a bit *girly* right now. Fit it with some proper off-road components.

"You need to *slam* it, Kim. Make it more imposing."

"Ever thought about switching to helium headlights?"

"With a winch and mud tyres we could take it off the beaten path, Kim."

"Okay, enough about the details."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Sorry, I'm not following you?"

INTERFACING - Lingo it up.

"Drop the ride *two hundo mill*, get the camber to frosty-frosty minuses..."

"I'm not either. Don't know why I said that."

KIM KITSURAGI - "No, that's... *porno*-tuning."

HALF LIGHT [Medium: Success] - USE BIGGER WORDS!!!

"It needs a *MASSIVE* aero-kit and *GARGANTUAN* roof-mounted..."

"Trust me, it's cool."

"It's what?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Porno. That's short for pornography."

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - The sole purpose of 'pornography' is to stimulate one's visual sense to evoke sexual arousal -- the same is true with the modifications you're proposing.

"So? What's wrong with pornography?"

"Pornograpy is something completely different, Kim."

"Alright, I guess it did get a bit porny there."

KIM KITSURAGI - "That's a negative on the porno. Thank you, though."

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - No one in the history of convictions has been more sure of *anything*.

3. "With a winch and mud tyres we could take it off the beaten path, Kim."

KIM KITSURAGI - "We are not going to though, because this is clearly a *sports* motor carriage." Sounds like he has a strong concept of what this machine is.

2. "Ever thought about switching to helium headlights?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Actually, I have a pair at home -- just haven't gotten around to fitting them yet. I need to lay some wiring for the ballasts first..."

"If we ever get this case solved, maybe we can do it together?"

"Sounds like a hassle, but good luck."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Maybe," he replies with an apologetic smile and nods. "Yes, definitely maybe."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - ... and means *no*.

Didn't *quite* know enough about the engine to convince him there, unfortunately.

4. "Okay, let's move." [Leave.]

🎵 Martinaise, Terminal B

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - You're back before the cargo container. Its draw has not lessened since you were last here. If anything, it seems to have grown slightly.

3. [Rhetoric - Impossible 18] Persuade the door to open.

+1 Erratic, yet thorough. +1 Been in the world for two days. +1 Been in the world for many days. +1 One more door.

RHETORIC [Impossible: Success] - Aaaaand as it's always been -- it's impossible to open a container with rhetoric. Maybe you're losing your mind?

Knock on the door.

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - No reply.

PERCEPTION (HEARING) [Medium: Success] - The knock produces a hollow ring of metal. Doesn't sound like there's anything inside the container.

2. Open the door.

CARGO CONTAINER DOOR - You attempt to turn the handle, to no avail. The doors seem to be mechanically locked.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Trivial: Success] - To your left, the lieutenant considers your actions -- with some puzzlement.

4. Nothing more to do here for now. [Leave.]

None of that helped, but we're not necessarily done there.

🎵 Evrart's Theme

This is not a fishing rod, is it? It's...

REACTION SPEED - Is that an Insulindian phasmid? It looks like an Insulindian phasmid. Quick -- catch it before it scuttles away!

"Stop right there!"

Pirouette toward the phasmid.

Creep up to the phasmid quietly.

Wait a moment. Is that really the phasmid? You don't want to make a fool out of yourself.

FISHING ROD - Beautiful leap! But this isn't a phasmid in your hand -- it is a fishing rod.

EVRART CLAIRE - "What are you trying to accomplish, Harry?"

"Uh, it's a novel fishing method."

"Sorry, I thought the fishing rod was... something else."

"I was just trying to surprise you. To throw you off, you know."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Well, you certainly succeeded, Harry." He adjust himself in the chair. "You are a very surprising police officer indeed."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mr. Du Bois, 'Every worker...'?" He leans toward you, waiting for your to complete his sentence.

"... a member of the board?"

"... is a living god!"

"... is an organ in the great state organism of war! Also, looks just like *me*."

"… for himself!"

EVRART CLAIRE - "That's right, Mr. Du Bois!" He nods in approval. "I see the socialist-democratic fervour now burns in your heart too. How can I help you today?"

"I'm looking for a cell of underground communists. Can you help me?"

"I opened the door you asked me. Can we discuss the murder now?"

"Let's talk about my lost gun."

"I did it, Evrart -- I made it even shadier."

"A few more things regarding Joyce..."

"What's in the container that's outside your office?"

"Evrart, I'm going to leave now, but we might talk again later." [Leave.]

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mr. Du Bois, really. Do I look like a man who has time for *underground* communists? I'm as aboveground as it gets!"

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - That's a non sequitur if you've ever heard one!

"Let's drop the funny stuff. I'm trying to make contact with my revolutionary brethren."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Sure thing, Harry. We're *all business* now. The answer is still 'no'. I'm a busy man, as you can see. I don't block off time on my schedule for 'underground' types..."

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - That note of contempt in his voice is sincere, sssire.

EVRART CLAIRE - "You've already spoken with Mañana, as I understand. I'm afraid I don't have anything else for you on *this subject*..."

RHETORIC - That's all you're going to get out of him, it appears.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now, was there anything else you wished to discuss today?"

"I opened the door you asked me. Can we discuss the murder now?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm very glad to hear that, Harry," he says with a smile. "One question: you didn't actually happen to stumble in and see what's inside the apartment, did you?"

Task complete: Open apartment door for Evrart

+70 XP

Level up!

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He's trying to figure out if you're lying.

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - There is no way to sway this man in any direction. He is un-suggestable and un-swayable. Just tell the truth.

"I *may have* gone inside and seen a collection of racist mugs."

"I did go inside. Weasel had the flag of the Old Revachol on his wall."

"The deal wasn't for me to go inside, so I didn't."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Just as I thought. Culturally antiquated mug collection. What a weasel..." He shakes his head. "*Pissing* on Evrart's Rainbow Coalition."

DRAMA - He *was* testing you. And you succeeded.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now let's get down to brass tacks. It's time for men like me and you to figure out who's killed who and why." He pretends to roll up his sleeves. "Real police work is gonna start happening now. I promise you, Harry, this is gonna be good."

"I've heard about a connection between the lynching and the strike. I'd like to hear what you know about it."

EVRART CLAIRE - "By now I'm *sure* you've figured out who the dead man was working for -- the bad guys. Wild Pines. Sent to scare us. Another *violent measure* of the top hats against us flat caps."

"I'm listening."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Harry, this strike is the culmination of many *many*, mistakes made by the Wild Pines Group. They tried to shut the strike down by sending in armed mercenaries."

KIM KITSURAGI - "You mean our victim?"

EVRART CLAIRE - He nods gravely. "A security contractor. Can you imagine that? Workers standing in peaceful protest -- united in the spirit of fellowship! -- and they send hired killers to *mow* us down with machine gun fire."

COMPOSURE [Medium: Success] - He performs a motion, as if spraying bullets from a machine gun.

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm talking *beasts*, hardened killers from proxy wars in Yeesut, Semenine, Saramiriza -- you name it, they've done it. Raping, killing, burning villages -- killing little children for the Señorita Pineapple company, Harry..."

"Everything they did there, they brought over here. They want to turn Revachol into a Third World slum. Honestly, the only thing they didn't do, is kill the village elephant."

"Hold on, you have a village elephant?"

"Go on."

"I think I've heard enough."

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, Harry, the elephant is metaphorical and so is the village, but the mercs -- and their brutality -- are very real."

"Go on."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Now, I haven't *personally* witnessed the brutalities out there. I have the luxury of staying in my container, you see -- if I need to go somewhere, they just move my container." He laughs.

"Wait, they move the container?"

"Go on."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes! I'm an old man, Harry. My legs aren't what they used to be. They lift my office with that big crane. It's actually very fun, you should try it."

"But enough about me and my fun container." His face turns serious. "The killers the company hired… I think there were three of them. All hardened commando-types."

"One of them got downright suicidal. Getting drunk, violent, a little rapey..." He shakes his head. "Even their own negotiator couldn't control him. That's your boy, the one who likes *hanging out* and trees."

KIM KITSURAGI - "By *negotiator* you mean Joyce?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Harry," he says, ignoring the lieutenant, "what you need to realize is -- we dockworkers are not pushovers."

"We got grit, Harry -- this whole neighbourhood does. Push us hard enough and we push back -- and when we do..." He raises his finger. "We push to kill."

"Wait, the whole *neighbourhood* is in on it?"

"Who exactly did the *pushing*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Potentially, Harry, potentially. We got arm wrestling champions, rowing club people, ex-coal miners -- tough guys, all ready to spring into action for their home base."

"Who exactly did the *pushing*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "There's a militant wing inside the Union. A group of people whose duties don't involve manual labour, but peacekeeping in the neighbourhood. Making sure everything runs smoothly."

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - That sounds a bit like organized crime.

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're like you guys," he nods to you and the lieutenant. "Idealistic people who want to make sure bad things don't happen. And if they already have... well, punishment must follow."

LOGIC - Again: that sounds like organized crime.

KIM KITSURAGI - "So these *idealists* killed our victim?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Mhmh. One day Titus Hardie -- leader of this peacekeeping faction -- comes up to me and says: 'Boss, socialist-democratic fervour drove us to take it upon ourselves to kill this beast that was burdening the land.'"

"He probably worded it differently, but that was the idea. Sure sounded to me like they killed him." He chuckles. "I gave them two weeks paid leave and told them to lay low to avoid retaliation."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Aren't you worried we might arrest them for this?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, I'm not *at all* worried about that. These are not the kind of men who get arrested. They're Martinaise boys, tough and gritty. I'd like to see the man who takes them in." He chuckles. "Besides I sent my lawyergirl to look after them."

EMPATHY [Challenging: Success]- Despite his boastful tone, he's having doubts about something -- but what?

Maybe he doesn't believe the boys *really* had it in them. They're his boys after all.

"I think you're sharing information with the police, because you don't think they *actually* did it."

"Okay. Another question."

EVRART CLAIRE - "That's very clever, Harry. Yes. They might have said it just to impress some girls or something." He rubs his chin. "But Titus has a bad temper, so the chances are 50-50."

+5 XP

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He thinks it's closer to 60-40. 60 they didn't do it.

"I want to hear again about how the lynching and the strike are connected."

"There was a bullet in the hanged man's head."

"How do you know the mercenaries were hired by the shipping company?"

"You mentioned a *lawyergirl*?"

"Tell me about Titus Hardie and his crew."

"Good talk. Let's conclude for now."

EVRART CLAIRE - "So they shot him?" He sounds pleasantly surprised.

KIM KITSURAGI - "He was shot in the head *before* he was hanged."

EVRART CLAIRE - "How odd." The man shrugs. "I don't know what to say, lieutenant. They told me they hanged him. A hanged man is what I saw when I took a look into that yard..."

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - It's impossible to say if he's telling the truth, sire.

EVRART CLAIRE - "What I *do* know is -- the case is in safe hands. If anyone can get to the bottom of this shot-and-hanged-man, it's my two little policemen. Godspeed, policemen!"

3. "How do you know the mercenaries were hired by the shipping company?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "How do I know? Let me tell you about these people." He slams his fist on the desk. "That's their MO. It's what they do."

"Last winter some poor workers in Terminal E went on a little strike. The company sent in *Sediment* -- a security contractor. The strike was over the workers' right to wear protective footwear, Harry."

"These guys turn up and start beating people. Tell you what, Harry, I wouldn't be surprised if we got the same mercenary company -- after a little *rebranding*. And I'm sure as hell not surprised to see an army of scabs under my gates."

KIM KITSURAGI - "So you believe the scabs were organized by the security contractor?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "You said it. Hell..." The fist slams on the desk again. "... one of those guys looks big enough to take down that proverbial elephant! Boys like that don't just *happen* to show up during strikes."

"The name of the company is Krenel this time. It might have been Sediment before."

"Another question."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Of course, you're always one step ahead of me, Harry. I'm no genius. I'm in this position because people *like* me."

"The remaining mercenaries are organizing a tribunal to take on the Hardies."

"Let's change the subject."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Tribunal?" He appears aghast. "That sounds *serious* Harry. We Union men should be *shitting* ourselves..." He rubs his chin and smiles suddenly: "I wish you hadn't told me that. I'm gonna lose *sleep* over this. Let's change the subject."

EMPATHY [Trivial: Success] - He's clearly happy about the tribunal.

"You don't *seem* too worried about it."

"Okay. Yes."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, Harry, what do I *really* think about the tribunal? You're trying to climb to second base with old Evrart before you've even courted him properly."

+5 XP

RHETORIC [Easy: Success] - He wants you to do more *things* for him before.

4. "You mentioned a *lawyergirl*?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, Liz is a bright one!" He grins broadly. "I paid for that law degree myself, thinking it'll probably turn her all fancy, but hell, Harry -- she came back a firebrand socialist! Sometimes she scares *me* with her zeal."

5. "Tell me about Titus Hardie and his crew."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, they are simply fine young men -- all seven of them! Exemplary Union members. Always working to advance their position in the local socialist-democratic movement. Core members."

"Old Theo used to run them, but things really *kicked into gear* when Titus took the reins and named the group after himself." He starts laughing. "Gotta love his initiative."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Interesting. Who's second in command?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're almost all of them *great* guys, born leaders. Whatever happened, I'm sure they only had the best interests of Martinaise and Revachol in mind."

"Work with them -- hell, interview them! But don't fight them. They really are just like you -- men who like beer, women, and some *order* on the streets."

AUTHORITY [Medium: Success] - That's him *allowing* the police to ask his men questions.

LOGIC [Challenging: Success] - He's betting on them being useless to you.

6. "Evrart, I met these Hardies. Can you ask them to cooperate with me?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "But of course! It's the least I can do for my good friend, Harry. I'll do it right after we've concluded this talk."

+5 XP

AUTHORITY [Trivial: Success] - You can now go and tell Titus about this. See what he has to say.

EVRART CLAIRE - "Also, Harry, here's five reál." He holds out a banknote.

"Wait, why are you giving it to me?"

Take it.

"I don't need it, I only wanted you to help me with the Hardie boys."

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm not giving you anything. I'm just holding out five reál."

VOLITION [Easy: Success] - Needless to say, this is another *move*. Don't take it.

We also just genuinely do not need more money. This will still make talking to the Hardies easier.

2. "I don't need it, I only wanted you to help me with the Hardie boys."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, I wasn't offering it to you, just holding it out there." He pockets the bill. "But I am willing to share *information*. Was there anything else?"

+1 Honour +1 Reputation

7. "Good talk. Let's conclude for now."

EVRART CLAIRE - "*Was* it a good talk?" He leans back, suddenly worried. "I'm not sure we made much headway here. I was hoping we'd bust the case wide open, heck, I even wanted to tell you what I *really* want to achieve with the strike..."

"I don't know what happened, Harry. I wanted you to feel like Mr. Martinaise! And, of course -- I also wanted you to *find your gun*." Great sadness comes over him. "But... it's like I can't completely trust you. Yet."

"Yet?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, Harry. It's like I can't *fully* trust you if you're not a man of the left," he says, slowly shaking his head. "I *want* to, but I just can't..."

RHETORIC [Easy: Success] - A man of the left? So you have to be a social democrat?

EMPATHY [Trivial: Success] - He's been *hurt* too much in the past -- by men who aren't *social democrats*.

"I am not a 'man of the left'. I'm a patriot of Revachol."

"You're right not to trust me. I take care of *me*. I'm a hustler. I grind. I'm a money engineer."

"What's that supposed to mean?! I'm more left than *you* are."

"This is another corrupt scheme, isn't it? I'm neither left nor right. I do what my *heart* tells me to do."

+1 Communism

EVRART CLAIRE - "You're saying it, but I don't believe you. You know how it is -- company snitches, *agent provocateurs* everywhere... I'm barricaded in this fortress of mine, and I need to get a message out. Will you help me?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "And what would this entail?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Once again I require nothing unethical or illegal of you. You just need to get two little signatures on this piece of paper." He pulls out an envelope. "And then mail it to my accountant in La Delta."

"Kim, what do you think of this?"

"What are the signatures for?"

"Fine, if I happen to be there, I can ask them." (Accept the task.)

"No, I'm not going to do this." (Reject the task.)

KIM KITSURAGI - "It depends. I don't think what we just got from Mr. Claire was very useful." He studies Evrart.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - But, he thinks, it's your call.

EVRART CLAIRE - "As I said, it weighs on me heavily..." He bows his head in shame, then looks up and smiles: "But once we get *really* talking... well, I'm gonna hand you the keys to Martinaise! And maybe even help you figure out who's behind this killing."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - He's saying as little as possible as vaguely as he can. Deliberately omitting things.

2. "What are the signatures for?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "I'm glad you asked, Harry -- the Union is going to build a modern youth centre in Martinaise!" He grins broadly. "It will be *righteous*. We're gonna get those teenagers off drugs -- and *on* roller skates!"

"There's a nameless little street on the coast with some old houses around it. Most people have already signed. I just need *two* more signatures to get this mission off the ground, Harry."

3. "You mean the fishing village?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, yes, the little cul-de-sac on the coast. Where all the men have drowned -- in either the sea or the bottle. A gloomy place, doesn't have that Union attitude."

4. "What will happen to the current occupants?"

EVRART CLAIRE - "They're just gonna have to deal with the construction noise for six months and then they'll be living like kings -- right next to a fancy new youth centre, designed by the best architects from Stella Maris."

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - Is he absolutely sure the tenants won't be thrown out in the street?

"Are you 100% sure no one's going to end up homeless?"

"Sounds like everybody wins."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Am I...?" The big man shakes his head in disbelief. "Harry, these people... Martinaise is the most important thing in my life. I would never let anything bad happen to them."

"We're gonna build a youth centre there. The value of their properties goes up and kids have a place to play in. I'm looking out for these people, not pulling the rug from under them, Harry. I'm looking out for all of Martinaise, not just the harbour."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - He means it.

5. "Fine, if I happen to be there, I can ask them." (Accept the task.)

I don't see any problems with this, and it's the only way to get a lead on our gun.

EVRART CLAIRE - "You bring joy to my heart, Harry -- such a pleasure to be working with you. Here..." He hands you an open white envelope.

Item gained: White Envelope

"You need to get signatures from Isobel Sadie and Lilienne Carter. The cul-de-sac is right past the pawnshop and across the canal. I heard there was some trouble with the water lock, but it should be fixed now."

"Once you have the signatures, mail this to 13022 La Rocca in La Delta. *Then* I'll know you're a solid socialist." He runs his fingers through his thin hair.

New task: Get two signatures for Evrart

2. "Let's talk about my lost gun."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Yes, yes, my best men are tracking it down. Some kids saw some other kids running away with it. Some folks said a paranoid schizophrenic might have it. Leads are being checked, Harry."

"What's that, Harry? You're getting a little pale. Is it the words *paranoid schizophrenic* and *lost gun* in one sentence? Don't worry, it's just a lead. It'll probably turn out to be nothing."

4. "I did it, Evrart -- I made it even shadier."

EVRART CLAIRE - "What?" The big man looks at you surprised.

"The brew! The shady, shady brew."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Oh, how could I forget your little side-project! Well done, Harry. Well done! Don't even tell me what it was. But good job! I love it when workers take the initiative like this."

+5 XP

ELECTROCHEMISTRY [Medium: Success] - So do I. That's one tasty brew, you should drink some right now if you can!

4. "A few more things regarding Joyce..."

EVRART CLAIRE - "Great! You wanna bounce something off your old friend, Mr. Claire, right?" He seems genuinely pleased. "Well, let's hear it, Harry!"

Only one new dialogue option here...

2. "I told Joyce that I met you."

EVRART CLAIRE - "It's *perfectly* okay. Even if you've told her everything we've talked about, it's *absolutely* fine."

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - He seems happy about the prospect of you telling Joyce about your conversations.

"It sounds like you *want* me to tell her about our conversations."

"Okay, that's cool."

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, no, Harry. I'm perfectly neutral *and* one hundred percent for transparency. I know people say a lot of bad things about the Débardeurs Union, but we are actually," -- he squeaks his chair -- "squeaky clean."

+5 XP

EMPATHY - Yes, he really doesn't seem to mind.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Hmh..." The lieutenant seems incredulous.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - Sure, he thinks. It's about *transparency*.

7. "Okay, let's talk about something else." (Conclude.)

EVRART CLAIRE - "Absolutely, Harry! What's on your mind?"

"I mailed the signatures you asked me to get." (Lie.)

EVRART CLAIRE - "No, you didn't." He waves you off with a chuckle. "I know the mail-man, Harry. I know everyone and everything that happens in this town and I *know* there's no letter in that mailbox yet."

"Just like I *know* you'll get it done. Once you stop horsing around." He nods reassuringly. "Let me know when it's done."

5. "Evrart, I'm going to leave now, but we might talk again later." [Leave.]

EVRART CLAIRE - "See you soon, débardeur!" The big man raises his hand in farewell. "Just kidding. But not too much."

WHITE ENVELOPE

A white envelope with a stamp attached to the upper-right corner, handed to you by Evrart Claire. Inside are some legal documents with two names printed on them: Isobel Sadie and Lilienne Carter. Both signatures are required.

>INTERACT

WHITE ENVELOPE- You take the legal documents out of the envelope: a 12-40 month construction period and the zoning plan in the addendum.

Look at the zoning plan.

"Kim, what do you think of this?"

[Logic - Medium 11] Try to find a loophole in the deal.

Put the documents back in the envelope. [Leave.]

WHITE ENVELOPE- The youth centre cuts into the ocean like the bow of some great modern ship. Apparently it's going to cover most -- if not all -- of the street and the square between the existing houses. It's three storeys tall.

VISUAL CALCULUS [Medium: Success] - It's going to be awfully close to the already existing buildings. Almost wall to wall, practically integrating them into the youth centre.

INLAND EMPIRE [Easy: Success] - This is either an ominous or cool architectural choice -- hard to say.

CONCEPTUALIZATION [Medium: Success] - My money is on cool. Looks like a cubic pyrite.

2. "Kim, what do you think of this?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "I'm no property lawyer, but it looks fine," the lieutenant replies, flipping through the documents. "I like the print size. They're not selling or leasing anything. It's not a perfect solution, but..." He shrugs.

RHETORIC [Medium: Success] - ...how else are you going to build something? It's always inconvenient to build things, and citizens inevitably have disagreements over such construction projects, but there's no other way.

You know what, let's not stand right in front of Evrart while we do the next thing.

3. [Logic - Medium 11] Try to find a loophole in the deal.

+1 Centre's very dclose to houses. +1 Ominous shape. -1 Cool cubic pyrite.

LOGIC [Medium: Success] - There is no loophole. The simple truth is the current residents are going to lose their street access and for the next 12-40 months their lives will be dominated by constant construction noise right next door.

Wait, what are the ramifications of this?

"Look, Kim..." (Point to the photocopy.) "These people are going to have to move away. Can we do something about it?"

"The noise will be tough on the villagers, but I guess that's just the cost of progress."

LOGIC - Once the construction starts it'll probably take a few months -- a year maybe -- for even the most stubborn occupants to get tired of living like this. After that they'll sell their property for cheap and move out.

"Look, Kim..." (Point to the photocopy.) "These people are going to have to move away. Can we do something about it?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "I should have seen it." The lieutenant frowns as he reads over the document again.

"Evrart probably has eyes on us, but..." He pauses to think. "We could try to get other people to sign this instead of those listed. *Or* you could forge their signatures yourself. By the time he finds out, we'll already be gone."

Attempting to forge the signature has a -10 penalty, as Evrart's people could be watching us here. If we're going to attempt this, we'll need to do it somewhere else. Or Kim's other suggestion might be easier...