#sky's group tier lists

[skytsunrose]

We did this square enix x Disney shipping tier list for kingdom hearts on my kh discord server today in VC! It was fun, but man some of these ships we had to think about lmao. Also link this time too for tier list XD

@sarahsartedits @eradicatetehnormal

[solomonssock]

Made my mc and I as sheep!! Ty @gracedcoup for this awesome picrew. If you want to make one, you can here!!

[elegantduelliste]

Epistles of Saints & Sinners

Chapter Summary:

Raphael makes an unwelcomed appearance and Tav spends time with Astarion.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Story Summary:

When Astarion meets the humble bard, Tav, he soon finds out he's the only one between them that knows they are bound as soulmates through their marks. Deciding it's more trouble than its worth, he refuses to tell her along the course of their journey across Faerûn.

But, unbeknownst to him and their companions, Tav is harboring a gruesome secret that she only thought was nothing more than a traumatized period in her life.

As they both come to face to face with their pasts and presents, will they choose to move forward or let it consume them?

Healing isn’t linear—after all.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Chapter 5: Devils

Ao3

Next Chapter

Previous Chapter

Main Page & Chapter List

Word Count: 5.2k

Pairing: Astarion x female bard Tav

CW: Emotional Abuse, Sexual Language, Violence, Act 1 Spoilers

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Devils are not to be trusted. There is always a price to pay if you accept their offer of aid. With brimstone and lies they feed. When all faith in dreams is lost is when they appear. The temptation of contracts because of tumbling stones. Ah, but this isn’t only about our fiery constituents in hell. Man can also be the devil you never wanted to know.

— Wyll Ravengard, journal entry 666

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

She was to blame.

In the second year of their relationship, when she lamented immaturely about her friends ignoring her on her birthday because it made her feel alone, he punched one of the wooden shelves hanging in their cottage.

The apologies spilled, but it was too late.

I hate myself. I have nothing to offer him. He’s better off without me. If only I had better reactions to him.

As she cried and asked him to please stop, he told her to ‘shut up’ and threw a figurine her best friend gifted her at the wall.

While she was huddled over, shaking with sobs, silently picking up the broken pieces of ceramic, he yelled at her for being selfish. He exclaimed that his declarations of love and celebration for her birthday were not important enough.

He’s right. He’s right. He’s right.

In the evening, she prayed to the revolving constellations in the sky. Her only birthday wish was to be someone else. To be pleasant and lovely always. That her negative qualities be erased, so she would no longer cause anymore pain to those she loved. She begged and pleaded to the listless stars until Algos placed a hand on her shoulder and coaxed her to bed.

That night, as he entered her to the hilt—telling her how good she felt wrapped around his cock—she held onto him closely, moaning his name loudly, grateful that he still wanted to be with someone like her.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

“The mouse smiled brightly; it outfoxed the cat! Then down came the claw, and that, love, was that,” Raphael smirked slyly as he mimicked a claw with his hand. “They do know how to write them in Cormyr, don’t they? I’m sure you’re familiar with some of their writings, aren’t you bard of Deepingdale?”

“How did you—,” Tav inquired cautiously. “And which are you? The cat or the mouse?”

“Neither. I’m the fox, a silent observer, if you will. Listening, always ready to break the silence with a pounce. Shall we speak somewhere more private?”

Raphael spoke in sonnets. Euphemisms laced within the speech of his gentlemanly demeanor. He was all outwardly middle-aged extravagance, with a lullaby for his voice, wrapped tautly over the cambion he hides.

The companions are whisked away to a lavish room, eerily prepared for their arrival. A large table sat with a feast that would typically suit the upper crust of Baldur’s Gate. Pigs heads, roasted chicken, and smoked venison was spread in various spots throughout. In the middle, there was a tier of platters: figgy pudding, beignets, tarts, and freshly baked rolls.

With a courteous bow and arms wide open, Raphael greeted the group cordially. “Welcome to my House of Hope. Please, indulge yourselves with an invigorating meal. What kind of host would I be, after all, to not offer such luxuries to those I have personally brought to my abode?”

There was a foul scent in the air. Covered suspiciously by the fragrance of the banquet. Tav can smell it. Sulfur. Ashes. Singed hair. And the heaviness of discord.

Raphael regaled himself as their savior. He wanted to give them hope, to provide another way for the removal of their tadpoles. And the price? Well, he was withholding such a disclosure until the moment was ripe. A contract forged in blood and the licking flames of Avernus. Something to mull over.

Then, a flash and his appearance was changed. Standing taller, red, and winged—he was a devil. His eyes are fit for their environment with an unsettling flame set in black pools, but they have not changed the seductive entreaty that bores into each of their minds. A devil they now know.

Through the Devil’s jargon, you’re offered a golden brain through a Faustian bargain.

“Tell me bard, how beautifully do you think you’ll sing once your skin rends and your lamprey teeth craves the brain?”

Tav stepped forward, a quiet anger in her eyes. She cannot ignore that his proposition seems to exhibit the fullest amount of truth they’ve come across thus far, but where Raphael’s deceit lies was in the way he presented ”hope”. How he has managed to twist it into one of perversion, could dazzle even the most gods-fearing of men. His game was wicked, with a promise to quench the parch they have yet to answer.

She was aware of the folly they may face. Should any of them decide to want the feel of his jagged onyx nails scratching pleasurably down their sides, the cost will most likely be what they are least ready to part with—possibly more than that.

“Ah, and let us not forget the worshiper of the Lady of Loss herself! Do you think your dark goddess will surely save you when you are writhing in pain on the ground as tentacles sprout from your head begging for release?” Raphael clicked his tongue in what could only be described as blight amusement to Shadowheart.

The cleric’s fists clenched at her sides as she stepped towards the devil. ”Bite your tongue about my Lady you…” Tav held out her arm to the side, abruptly stopping Shadowheart in her tracks. Her head shook in a subtle “no.”

Raphael chuckled. “Such a formidable leader you have found to silence you with a mere gesture of her head. Though, let us move on, hmm?” His field of fiery vision lands on Wyll. “Yes. The one in an infernal pact with a fellow member of my race. Where once you had a choice on what to do with your soul, becoming an illithid will surely blot out the worry of the decision.”

Wyll remained silent. Tav desired to learn information concerning his pact with the nine hells fiend. Like the others, the warlock had ordained himself to withhold his past. She had the notion the topic could be a sensitive breach, but perhaps he wished to wait until his pact owner appeared to give proper weight to the story he aimed to tell.

Everyone in their crew were eccentric misfits with lives that were uprooted by the mind flayers. For better or worse they all shared the knowledge that the monsters entrenched in the marrow of their bones, would have to either be bathed clean or drenched in blood with malevolence.

But, then the enigmatic cambion set his sights on Astarion. His grin was wide, teeth sharp, a taste of brimstone nectar thick in his timbre.

The songbird’s body suddenly became rigid. Her and Astarion hadn’t been on speaking terms for a couple of days. That much was apparent during their excursions to scout the outer regions of the Goblin Camp. His cantankerous attitude left her without a proper apology from their exchange at the Grove, instead relying on his usual quips of skepticism about the mandates of their journey to the whole of their camp. She could feel his brooding pierce her back, until she would turn to him and his narrowed scarlet eyes would refocus on a random subject.

However, her heart sped up considerably knowing Raphael meant to spell despair for the vampire to hear. The desperation to connect with Astarion’s tadpole was profound. Holding her fingers against her temple, she tried to enter his mind.

Protect him. Protect him. Protect him.

It was a fruitless effort. As they connected, the force of his worm severed it. She tried to weave her way through several more times, beads of sweat on her forehead, but she was pushed out harshly with a sharp pain of warning in her frontal lobe.

“And you—young beautiful vampling. So very far from the bonds of your master. While you may lose the powers you’ve gained with the worm should it be removed, if it were to remain as an inhabitant, I wonder as you lose the control of your body that has recently been gifted to you—with the slithering of mucus and the fading of your mind—if one of your last thoughts will be memories from inside the dungeon he so graciously kept you.”

Tav decried the horror on Astarion’s face as the missive from the devil’s maw was discharged among the liturgy of his halls. The threads around her heart split as it ached for him. There was a deepened torture that ran as a black river inside him that he had been continuously drowning in. And she beheld only one of the thousands of quills—that had entered his soul one millimeter per second—the night he allowed her to see a vision of his involuntary dinner of squealing rats.

Raphael was perceptive enough to be his redeemer, dipping his hands into the icy flow with deliverance for him.

She flinched combatively, leaning forward with her jaw thrust forward ready to hiss. “That’s enough Raphael! Return us immediately!”

The devil bore a scheming smirk as he glimpsed back and forth between Tav and Astarion, as if he just discovered a precious artifact that he could fortuitously collect.

With forked tongues slick in worship at their feet, the payment could be steep for pleasures above. For what is the most expensive thing to part with, if not the promise of love.

“I’ll be there when your luck runs out. May hope ever find you when you require it most.”

And with a snap of his fingers, they were returned.

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

Karlach was a breath of fresh air.

She was brazenly good humored.

An impassioned barbarian.

With an unmatchable gratitude for her life after cheating her imprisonment from the archdevil, Zariel.

“You have a dog?! Gods, I haven’t seen a fucking dog in ages! 10 years at least. Wish to hells I could scruff ya, but here!” Karlach cheerfully threw the mutt’s ball.

“We found him starving near his deceased former master. Scratch has been a welcome addition to our quaint family ever since.” Tav laughed as the dog came trotting back to them, ball in his mouth, proud of his achievement. She squatted down to pet him, placing a kiss on his furry head.

“Aww! You’re one of the good ones, aren’t you? I can tell. I may not be able to touch him, but it does my ole ticker a hearth of warmth knowing I’ve come across you lot.”

Tav ruffed his fur a final time before throwing his ball once more. She peered up into the tiefling’s face, watching as the infernal lights glowed on and off. “You can't touch anyone?”

Karlach sighed mournfully. “Part of Zariel’s fucked up experiments. Infernal engine or ‘The Hellion’s Heart’ where my blood pumper should be. I burn hot—always. Let me tell you how bored I’ve gotten of using my hands to take care of myself, soldier! I mean, sure, I have fun if I conjure up a fantasy of me riding a beautiful person until I see stars, but gods, I’d settle for a hug at this point!”

Tav stood, shielding beams of the setting sun with her hand as a visor over her brows. She found herself casting a pensive look in the direction of Astarion’s tent. He hadn’t been present since they returned from Raphael’s intrusion.

Why had she gone through such lengths to try and shield him earlier? She didn’t even lift a finger for the others when the devil laid bare the raw meat of their inner devices. But, when it came to this pale man, she felt compelled to battle for him. To keep him by her side when there was no light in the claret swirl of his eyes, wrapping her hands around his head to blind him from all that would try to desecrate him.

Karlach smirked. “He’ll be back. Something tells me he needs us—even though that toff would hate to admit it. I know I’m the greenhorn of our company, but Astarion lives behind a handsome face of pain. It’s similar to how I looked being in Zariel’s clutches. I’d know that hallmark anywhere.”

⸺⋘✤⋙⸺

The fragrance of lavender and vanilla seeped diligently into the hollow of her décolletage and the sanctity of her pulse points.

It had been the first time in over a week—since the crash—that she felt like herself as she fit a long linen skirt around her waist. She paired it with an off the shoulder chemise that ended halfway down her elbows, revealing all of the stunning ink work on her left arm. Then, laced up a navy blue corset bodice over her torso, giving a tantalizing view of the top heap of her bosom.

With the final accessory of a black velvet ribbon tied into a bow around her neck, she picked up her lute—donated to her by Alfira—and promenaded confidently out of her tent. Tav exhaled blissfully. It was remarkable just how a simple bar of soap and a washcloth could mollify the rifts of her plights.

Her companions had settled for the night. Wyll and Karlach were exchanging tales of the Blood War by his tent as they sipped from oversized cups of wine. Shadowheart was offering prayers to her goddess, pleading to steadfastly stick to her mission. Lae’zel stood in front of their local grinding stone, sharpening the blade of her longsword in silence. Gale was fiddling with a mirror image duplication spell that summoned illusionary doppelgängers.

Ah, but then there was him. The vampire still estranged from their camp. She wondered where he ventured off to, if he would return to them soon. The phantom noise of his voice and laughter rooted itself in her mind and she grinned. She envisioned him biting down on the neck of another and then she frowned.

Still, this man was no hero. Far from it. He was the seductive dastard that placed fingertips against his lips to kiss, while pickpocketing their purses. He was the exact type of man that holy temples would lock their doors around. With his tongue so derisive and his touch a tender elegy, Astarion was the nephilim of fanged little deaths.

Hells, did she miss him? 

She felt a troubled heat within her chest at the mere thought of crawling to him, touching his palms, offering a truce betwixt them.

Tav heard a long howl of a whistle. “Fucking hells, soldier. You didn’t tell us how well you could clean up!”

Her skin flushed into the deepest shade of red as she performed her signature bow that resembled the outstretched wings of a bird.

The entirety of the camp gaped at her as Karlach whistled again with a slow clap of her strong hands. Compliments on her radiance or questions of her plans for the night circled around the flock all at once. But, Tav only flashed a beguiling smile in silence.

“If you’ll excuse me, I am going to take a walk along the river while the moon is still high.” She regarded them with a downward stroke on the strings of her lute and headed towards the sound of the currents.

Tav’s feet carried her on the warm dark earth. A predestination in mind towards the weeping tree she saw midday, branches sweeping in the water, slender leaves dancing wrinkles on the surface. When she reached it, her throat widened like the peaceful openness in a forest clearing. She cadenced her fingers to pluck at her instrument as she breathed in, belting out an innocent tune of yearning.

♫ The moon’s streams wandered into my eyes, Leading me to you, But from the dusk of your soul, I can hear your heartbeat.

I’ll stay here with you, In this starry canopy of twilight, Because darkness can bring unholy things, But the sharpness of our blades will shine.

And I’ll sing to you, Telling you about the sun and orchards, Because lover, we can bury our pasts in the ground, And embrace in the beam of the lune as we restart.♫

There was complete silence as she ended her tune. A mirage of lights reflecting off the waterfront as Tav sighed longingly. But, the interruption of pages of parchment turning in a book distracted her. She peered around the large trunk of the tree, her fingers holding onto the bark.

“As— Astarion?”

The vampire lounged against the tree, reading one of the many books he tended to during the more subdued moments of their voyage. The silver of the moon illuminated his curls, much like fallen stardust.

“Evening, darling.”

She rounded the rest of her body around the tree, trying to stop her smile from growing wider. She was supposed to still be upset with him—after all. “You’ve been here the entire time?”

“Ohh, something like that! And what about you dearest songbird? Did you come out here to sing especially for me or to form your own search party because you missed my striking...,” he trailed off as he tilted his head upwards, examining Tav with novel attention to her appearance.

She caught his eyes lining her curves up and down. “You—now which poor bastard did you save in my absence that paid you in clothes?"

Tav playfully sneered. “None. In fact, I sold some of those ornate pillows you have insisted on carrying around for your splendid arse to sit upon.”

He unceremoniously shut his book. His stare was wide in feigned shock. “What?! You wouldn’t dare!”

Tav nodded her head quickly. “Fetched quite a bit of coin too! I even managed to buy a whole new wardrobe for Karlach before it suddenly burned to a crisp from her excitement.”

And then Astarion laughed. Fangs glinting in the light with a bellowing hearty rumble from his chest she couldn’t stop herself but to admire. As it tapered off, he tucked the tome underneath his armpit.

His expression was abruptly strained. “Back at camp, when we were leaving the grove, I—you’re a wretch, you know that?”

Tav was initially confused by his sudden change in demeanor, but then realized he was referring to their recent spat. This was him expressing regret.

Ignoring her better judgement, she had long forgiven him. He had an undefined hold over her. She propped the lute against the tree and stood tall with her hands on her hips. A tease trickling in her voice. “And you’re a scoundrel.”

He attempted a chuckle, despite the subtle underlying concern in his tone. “One of my many lovable qualities, my dear.”

A few sleepy minutes passed between them—the only noises being the stream and a solemn breeze. Tav noticed he was struggling to speak. There seemed to be a lot he had reflected on since they last saw one another. She had half a mind to inquire about the use of their worms to ease him, but there was a recognition that he probably needed to use his voice. The elf wondered when was the last time Astarion was able to speak so freely without consequences floating over his head like a hurricane.

Astarion shifted uncomfortably. “That devil, Raphael, he has a plan for us. If we’re not careful, we’ll collapse along with the bridge we stand on. He’s toying with us. Knocking on our door as if we are important patriars.” His eyes were dilated. Serious. “My old master, Cazador, enjoyed toying with people too. Let them think there was hope until he snatched it away at the last moment.”

“Your old master—you don’t have to tell me about him if you don’t want to,” she replied with an equally serious low inflection.

He was suddenly defensive. “I don’t want to say a damned thing, but it won’t help anyone, especially me.” Then, he calmed himself enough to explain. “Cazador Szarr is a vampire lord and patriarch of his coven in Baldur’s Gate. He’s a monster obsessed with power. Power over people—to control them completely. Nearly two hundred years ago, I became his slave, a spawn, and he became my tormenter.”

Tav was revulsed. She glowered inwardly thinking about what kind of torture Astarion may have encountered unwillingly. “He attacked you to turn you then?”

“No. A gang of thugs beat me up, angry about a ruling I handed down as magistrate. As I wavered between death’s door and the life that was fading out of my grasp—Cazador appeared. It wasn’t until later I realized how long ‘eternal life’ could actually be.”

Astarion’s hand waved showily in the air, his voice lifting like a dramatization of a play. “Ah, and the little ritual he played. I would bring him back the most beautiful of souls and he would ask if I wanted to dine with him, if I said yes, he’d feed me a dead rat. If I said no, well, let’s just say the flay is no stranger to me.”

He held his hand in front of her to shush her from speaking as the stickiness of her mouth detached itself to talk. “There is no need for your sympathies. Just be aware that there are other monsters than mind flayers lurking in the shadows.”

With no color left in your skin, you can’t escape your master’s blood.

Tav closed her mouth, respectfully. Of all the things Astarion could have confided in her, she could not have prophesied this tale. Her guts churned unpleasantly, ruminating over the abuse he had encountered for that length of time. She felt like she now understood his personality and behavior. Every disagreement, deflection, sarcastic joke, it all made sense. He was trying to survive—just like her.

Attempting to change the subject to allow him space with his trauma, she reached out to grab the hand floating in front of her, flipping it over to examine his nails. “Forgive me for saying so, but your nails are a mess.”

He cocked his eyebrow, narrowing his puzzled eyes. When she applied a bit of pressure on his nail beds, he winced. “Ouch! All that lock-picking and murdering surely has me ruined. You can clearly see the state of them.”

“I know you deplore my insistence on helping, but I do have something that could soothe the soreness and heal your split cuticles.”

“Oh, do indulge me darling! What did you have in mind,” he grinned with a deviant twist on his mouth.

Tav removed a vial of cuticle oil and hand lotion from the satchel hanging on the looped belt around her hips.

“Not to worry, I only traded some of your candles for them,” she jested with a crooked smile. “I was pleasantly surprised to find these at one of the vendors, though, I suppose it makes sense the druids make all sorts of concoctions. When I traveled the roads, I used to carry these with me frequently while I played music. They helped a great deal in keeping my hands softened so they wouldn’t crack open and bleed. A dreadful thing to happen if you play a stringed instrument—I might add.”

“I will certainly not refuse such kindness since it’s going to save them from such frightfulness. At least someone around here is able to acknowledge how handsome I am.” Astarion presented both of his appendages to her.

She rolled her eyes while she uncorked the bottle of oil. On each of his nails, she deposited a drop of the liquid. “I’m going to rub this into your cuticles and nail folds now, is that okay?”

He nodded his permission.

With the tips of her fingers, she meticulously rubbed the yellowish substance into his nails, focusing on the splits. The chill of a shuddery breath exhaled, splaying out against her forehead while she had her head slanted down. After she finished with the oil, she plopped a spoonful of lavender scented lotion into her palm and massaged his hands.

Astarion startled her with a groan. Her head moved upwards and she could see his eyes had fluttered closed.

“Am I hurting you?” She asked timidly.

The Adam's apple of his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “No. It feels good. Gods.”

The way the cream permeated his pale skin like pearls being dropped into the finest white wine—fascinated her. She burrowed her fingers deeper into his hands, skimming them across slowly, relishing she was able to nourish this horrible angel of a man in such a way. When her thumb slid from his inner palm near his wrist, up towards his middle finger, another whimper of pleasure hissed from his plush lips.

As if fathoming the effect her touch was having on him, his eyes flew open and he spun her around, pinning her between the tree and his body. The scent of the lavender heavily wafted from him. He held onto her elbows and started to move in, garnet unflinching in the wake of her steely blue.

“What are you doing to me,” he fanned out.

“I—“

But, there would be no time to answer because the gods were in mourning and the rain began to pour.

The branches of the tree barely defended them from the onslaught of the droplets, soaking them completely.

“I think my tent is closer. I have some towels we can dry off with.” Tav gathered up their objects hurriedly with a chuckle.

“It never ceases to amaze me how perilous events are always around the corner with you. On the count of three, we run.” He held out his arm for her to grab onto.

She reached out gracefully, tightly holding onto his bicep and with a loud giggle she boomed, ”Three!”

They ran back to camp, passing along each of the tents, their boots now soaked and soiled with mud. When they reached Tav’s, they huddled inside with titters still rising from their chests. She deposited her items into the corner and motioned for both of them to remove their shoes, leaving them isolated near the tent’s flap.

Astarion lifted up his book by the cover, it flew open with a splash of water falling from the pages into his lap. “Guess I won’t be finishing this story up anytime soon.” He tossed it to his side.

Tav grabbed a couple of towels from a basket she kept on top of a chest. She unpinned her hair brooch, rubbing her lengthy strands and face in the towel all at once. Astarion followed suit, soaking up the water on his arms and chest before moving towards his scalp. His curls were deliciously wild as he shook the friction of the towel over them.

“Wait, let me. Before you frizz yourself to death.”

“I’m already dead, darling, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

She pursed her lips pretending to be annoyed. “You know what I mean, rouge.”

He conceded and passed the towel to her. Tav stood on her knees and scooted closer in between his legs. She lifted herself to tower over him. Holding the towel near his head, she wrung out the water into it while she scrunched his hoary strands.

“Much better,” she whispered above him.

But, the air had altered rapidly without their knowledge. There was an unformed spell that was pulling them together: a combination of untolds, hesitations, and growing affections. This time, unlike near the weeping willow, it refused to be disturbed.

Tav knew she was in trouble.

Astarion stared up into her face as if he were admiring the exquisiteness of a goddess forever captured in marble. Daintily, he placed his hands on either side of her hips, bidding her closer to him with a compress of his digits digging into her plumpness.

Tav lowered herself to sit back onto her heels, refusing to break eye contact with him. Her hands regretfully left the entangled mess of his snowy curls and settled in her lap—fervently hanging onto the towel tightly—out of concern she had gone too far in her succor.

Astarion traced the outline of her lips with a bewitching gaze. He lightly curved his spine forward and pressed a tiny peck at the corner of her mouth. Tav’s stomach morphed into butterflies. His breath smelled of wild mint and a trace of gamey blood. The half-lidded stare of consent she bestowed to him was followed by the eagerness of her chest inflating and deflating.

Then, his lips were ghosting along the flush of her skin towards her neck. She could feel the cool touch of his fingers combing her soaked hair out of the way, giving him access to the full expanse of her opulent flesh. Tav prepared to hold her breath, believing he would sink his teeth into her at any moment. Instead, he moved to place a firmer, chaste kiss along the side of her neck, right behind and just below her ear lobe. She sighed heavenly into the pointed shell of his ear.

Finally, he glided his nose across her flushed skin, pursuing a trail from her neck to her forehead. The habit of his breathing from his former mortal life, was now motionless. He placed a longer peck in the middle of her brow, watching her calmly with such reverence, that her heart palpitated alongside the action.

“You’re breathtaking,” Astarion complimented her with a deep bass of his tone.

The knight has arrived. Daggers to anoint foes skin with a sweep of its cold metal. He will shatter your kingdom and you will beg him to continue.

“Tav?”

“Yes?” She nearly gasped.

He slid his hand onto her arm, caressing it lightly. “Back at the ruins, you said you couldn’t do this. Has that changed?”

Tav was nearly rigid with shock. She was unsure what to do, where to touch, how to react. If she should respond with the bustling elation that’s overtaking her with each surge of blood pumping through her veins. But, with the way his fingers were tingling over her arms like an architect measuring lines, she could not control herself any longer.

She leaned forward in turn, pressing her lips to his jawline. Delighted when the cool of his breath was back to deliver its own chorus into her ear. Then, she warily moved to push her mouth onto one of the bones of his clavicle, feeling him clasp onto her tighter.

The rain has slowed into soft patters hitting the tent. The night, a mystical flare of secret romance.

And in the raging vestibules of warring beasts and luminaries leading to her heart, Tav questioned if she was ready to belong to another. For another to belong to her. If he could be the one to peel these crosses from her body that sealed in every piece of herself like those that seal forces within stones.

The bard leaned away slightly from him, positioning her hands to repose flatly against his frigid chest. She searched his eyes for an inkling of intimate fondness for her. Any bit of affection to attest to the vows tugging within her breast that this was right.

“Astarion? Please don’t hurt me.”

But, as he gripped her hip again to pull her gently towards him—his other hand falling to the back of her head to angle her face—she could not see that his eyes were devoid of the same euphoric light she felt, when he kissed her lips in a passionate mingling of their temperatures.

There would be no salvation for these lovers.

[mahou-furbies]

Closing thoughts on Hirogaru Sky! Precure

This has a really strong beginning and ending and a super likable cast (sans Ellee) so I really would like to put this to my top tier, but there is just the unfortunate unavoidable fact that the middle kinda sucks.

(spoilers)

Sora might be my favourite Precure lead so far, fresh colour scheme and excellent design aside she also has this wonderful earnest dumbass energy about her. Tsubasa is my second fave of the season for being serious and dutiful. Meanwhile Ellee was pretty much dead on arrival because mascot babies never work for me; she's not as bad as some of the early franchise ones since they focus more on the cute aspects of babies instead of temper tantrums, but even the "aww look the baby said a cute thing!" content really doesn't interest me either. I also liked the villains as characters, even if on the story front they were pretty lacking.

The story really is the biggest issue here, like with DeliParty and TropiRouge we spent a lot of time in the middle getting nowhere and then got all the lore at the very end. And I didn't really like DeliParty that much to begin with and TropiRouge had a very different vibe so doing nothing important at least fit it better, but with the hero theme I would expect more plot. And in other seasons there's at least a new character added in the middle so there's some new group dynamics, but here they do absolutely nothing with Majesty. So when there's no interpersonal conflict in the group and everyone gets along perfectly (admittedly an issue in the other seasons as well) and everyone goes everywhere together and even lives in the same house, and doesn't interact much with anyone else, things just got really dull.

And in the interest of fairness since I bitched about this with Otona and take any opportunity to complain about Mana being the only one to get a powerup, I must say that it is kind of a bummer that there isn't a super form for everyone. I said that it's gotten pretty stale how in the past years the Cures only get one powerup for the mid-season group attack and nothing after that, and I do still agree with that, but holding onto the hope that we'd get a late-season powerup instead didn't pay off this time. But Mana is still not off the hook though because at least this time the other cast still got plenty of time in the limelight.

The super form we did get was really cool though, I would have preferred if it wasn't so much of a palette swap but at least there's some other differences. And story-wise it's a fresh thing for the protagonist to do. But man imagine if the hero/strength theme was better developed with Sora, like at times I had trouble figuring out what the theme of the season was supposed to be in the first place when we spent so much time doing nothing.

Overall I did like the season, but that's mostly because I like Sora so much and without her this would probably fall a rank or two in my listing.

[team-heavenly]

Chapter 23 - Blizzard Island Rescue

And by the randomizer list, I dub thee... Chapter Name.

...Thank you, RNG 🙄

I guess I'm making title cards for the post-game chapters now! Well, this shot came out too nice for me not to use.

(Also this post was supposed to come out several days ago but my job had other plans for me... Sorry.)

Some days after the ascension of Sky Peak Cloudy Well...

Hey, Starmie? Any reason why you're standing <2 inches in front of Aerodactyl? Let him breathe!!

Seaking for Scizor, huh? Yeah, I can see that! Both names start with an S, anyway.

The... the what.

*Imagines a 4-way intersection made of rubber bands*

Wait... *processing*

Just to be a joy kill, I'm having the same thought I did at Sky Peak... Why couldn't Ice Types handle this rescue? Or were there none around? Or did they just go "F*ck this guy in particular"?

Incredible team? Saving the world? You could almost call us... a gift from Heaven!

...I'll see myself out.

👀 Would I? Would I?? You betcha! If nothing else, I want to know what the hell an Elastic Crossroad is.

...Just kidding, I don't want to know anymore. (Gee, this looks awfully familiar.)

Thankfully, unlike Nonsensical Castle, there's not too much for me to say here. To help me construct these posts, I take notes whenever something of significance happens. And my only notes for Elastic Crossing are as follows (verbatim):

Linoone spamming Dark Void in a single room floor and having Bad Dreams 🥲

Lots of one-room floors actually... 2, 8, 9.

Good job team, we made it through relatively painlessly!

So yeah, I'll just share the few shots I have and we can move on 😃

I believe this is the Icicle Forest aesthetic? Cold and foreboding indeed.

🥺️ Oh, honey. You're not in the world you think you are (thank god).

🎩 HE WAS NUMBER ONE!! ☝️

Ngl, a room full of poisonous frogs and snakes, violent piranhas, and god-tier apes would be mortifying irl. But here, we get through without too much trouble and eventually emerge to find...

Oh... Yaaaaaay...

Dirty Province 💀 This is two steps away from being... you know what, never mind.

Crevice Cave is a gentrified village?? Or perhaps referring to a certain Danish prince.

Uh. No comment on this one. ._.

Okay, Teresa officially has the BEST IQ group ever. Coin Watcher, Wise and Quick Healer, Self Curer, Brick Tough, Deep Breather, All-Terrain Hiker... Well, I guess that one is irrelevant with her Flying type. And now Trap Buster?? Talk about a GAME-changer!

In the lowest depths of the "Ghetto"...

I'm gonna posit their shock is due to seeing a Scizor instead of a Seaking...?

But suddenly! A wild Snow Storm appeared!

Ooooo, okay, who's our Froslass?

O-O YEAH OKAY THAT WOULD BE TERRIFYING! GOOD CALL, RANDOMIZER!

Ironically(?), this happened immediately afterward:

This was before anyone made a move, so I guess Steelix has Drizzle?

LOOK AT THAT DAMAGE!! SUPER EFFECTIVE CRITICAL HIT BABEY!!!

As this image suggests... Steelix went down after only two turns of Mud Slap and Octazooka. Not so scary now, huh?

Tee-hee... See you never ❤️️

May as well click here to advance to Part 2 and give Seaking time to thaw.

[capraccio]

Random Metroid headcanons

-Currently space is embodied by two collections of planets then some independent ones. There’s the Galactic Federation that we know that is a Republic, though a lot of planetary elections for their official is pretty rigged, and there’s another one that’s a dictatorship.

-The dictatorship only loosely supports the Space Pirates, the Space Pirates being a smaller extremist group within it, though the dictatorship to preserve face will say they are not affiliated a lot of their weaponry is supplied through them.

-The Chozo are actually now independent of the Galactic Federation. Having helped formed it with each population having different beliefs and goals and the aging population they officially left to avoid any inner conflicts. 

-The Galactic Federation has a very prolific Navy. Split into different squadrons and typically different races are in their own section to standardize the process, it’s pretty rare you’ll see a non-human in the human sector and vice versa, Samus being one of the few exceptions as she was stuck in the human sector for being mostly human, but it’s clear she’s not that human the second she’s within them.

-It’s very easy to go independent or do illicit activities due to how open space is. Bounty Hunters are prolific due to being an easy way to skirt on the edge of legality without much paperwork involved because anything they do is their own doing and not representative of the body that is paying them, even if they’re paid to do it. 

-The Chozo are actually quite controversial, having been their own version of colonizers in the past. On one hand they gave many planets the technology beyond what they could have ever accomplished in the next few centuries. On the other it definitely came with a steep price to many. 

-Humans are mostly seen as annoying and inferior. They are everywhere and don’t have specializations like other species do. So they’re good grunts but if you want anyone truly competent a non human is preferred.

-You will always run into the risk of being poisoned in space solely because what is poison to you is good substance to another species and you have to be very, very careful. A lot of this was learned through trial and error.

-Chozo food is very bitter compared to human food. It’s also mostly seeds, nuts, greens, ect. Samus doesn’t really have the gut to process meat and dairy cause of this so she just says she’s vegan. She finds most foods too sweet due to being raised on Chozo food and will be found eating birdseed as a ‘snack’. 

-Samus also has a tendency to collect shiny things and has jumped off cliffs to collect a particularly shiny rock before. It stresses out whoever she’s with every time. 

-Samus is also messy and her living spaces aren’t very organized. She knows exactly where everything is though.

-Bounty Hunters have a tier list. Hitting ‘S Tier’ is nigh impossible, Samus, Sylux, and very few others have obtained it. Their prices are astronomical due to that. Samus tends to get bored though and give random discounts. 

-There’s a movie about Samus made by a human company. It’s bad. She found it hilarious how off they were. 

-Samus is actually a very dry person to interact with. She talks almost like she’s reporting on something and her humor can be easy to miss cause of that. When she gets emotional she goes quiet, even when happy so it’s hard to catch when she’s actually feeling intense emotions.

-Samus finds gender silly but likes femininity. Dresses, makeup, doing your hair, bright colors and flowers, and various other feminine things she finds very novel but fun. She especially loves wearing feminine Chozo clothes. While head pieces tend to face up to the sky for men, women’s face downward. She loves wearing headpieces that face downwards for that reason. 

-Samus tends to use her spare time to learn something, a habit instilled by the Chozo who only allowed her to watch documentaries and historically accurate period pieces if she wasn’t in active lessons. Because of that she’s really smart and will correct you if she catches an inaccuracy. 

-She plays video games now though, Space Animal Crossing is her favorite. She plays exclusively cute games. Ian Malkovich introduced them to her. 

[minuy600]

The 70s Wrap Up FINALE: Almost All Arcade Game Tier List

Never thought I had it in me. Woooo. Here we go, it's the farewell to a decade of technological growth, from when games were just a dot and some rectangles to full color displays with clear objectives.

I enjoyed the trip, but am also very grateful I can put it behind me. The 80s have significantly more deeper titles and a lot more to write about than the likes of Galaxian and Space Invaders do. Obviously helped by launch of the Famicom & NES, the Master System, the Atari 7800 and even the Mega Drive and Game Boy at the tail end of it all.

As one last look back, it's time to rank 'em all once more. No Atari Football and Fire Truck unfortunately, for reasons stated earlier. One day...

Considering the swaths of quality the arcade had at this point when compared to the Atari 2600 (and company), the structure has changed to lack an F tier, and instead have an S tier at the top. Thankfully we didn't have some extreme stinkers... but believe me, they are comin'. You'll see when the density of the release schedule increases.

D Tier

#21 Sprint 8 (16/40)

Despite the addition of color and the 8 player multiplayer, this is actually less enjoyable than Sprint 2 was. Whatever they did to the controls didn't work out in their favor. The blown up graphics look exactly as described. Lastly, they got rid of the scoring system that made the singleplayer worth a damn. If you get stupid lucky with your friend group, this could fare a little better, however. Hence why I won't call it genuinely awful.

#20 Sprint 2 (22/40)

One of the earliest examples of an overhead racer. Painfully mid. What I do like is the 12 different tracks included, means you can compete for best times for a respectable amount of time. Got obsoleted extremely quickly by Atari itself, though it did surprisingly well in American arcades.

#19 Avalanche (19/40)

Kaboom before Kaboom. It ain't that great, but that's my opinion about Kaboom too. The sound effects are pretty grating, in addition to this game suffering from the Breakout issue where you can lose far too quickly if you haven't mastered the controls. A forgettable high score chaser.

#18 Sky Diver (19/40)

The worst sounds known to man, combined with alright gameplay. Seeking out the full 'Skydiver' word, while pointless, does give an incentive to land 8 times I s'pose. The wind factor helps the replayability a tiny bit. On the verge of a C, i'd say.

C Tier

#17 Atari Baseball (22/40)

The praise I had for Atari Basketball cannot quite be replicated here. It does a better job than Home Run to replicate America's pastime, however they actually made it a bit too slow and repetitive for it to be properly enjoyable. The visuals stink too- the nice UI notwithstanding.

#16 Pool Shark (23/40)

Completely average, typical Kee Games affair which tries to replicate the game of pool in the year of our lord 1977. They almost succeeded. The Atari Flashback Classics achievement made the building of muscle memory a fair distraction. I'm pretty sure I am technically one of the best players of the world according to it's rankings now!

#15 Dominos (24/40)

Got a soft spot for this one. The game is abysmally slight, only being exactly like a shortened round of Surround, a game you can easily play at home. On the flip side however, the sounds are GODLIKE for no reason at all. How they did it with the typical Kee Games flair is beyond me.

#14 Canyon Bomber (24/40)

The first of the duo of games that involve dropping bombs out of the sky for shits and giggles. This one has the gimmick of gravity actually being a thing and allowing the numbered rocks (I think) to drop down to the floor. Aiming precisely and going for the higher numbers is alright enough. Took a couple hours for me.

#13 Destroyer (24/40)

And there's the other half. With an overlay on, this has some of the prettiest visuals i've seen as of now. As far as the game plays, it adds a little more to the table since you have to properly aim to blow up your enemies. I like it a little less than Canyon Bomber, however the aforementioned positives let it shine a touch brighter as a whole product.

B Tier

#12 Atari Basketball (26/40)

An improvement over the Atari 2600 title, in all aspects. I mean, duh, but i'm surprised how far they took that. Visually one of the most realistic titles so far, and gameplay-wise it adds a layer of complexity and snappiness to the experience. Having an actual crowd noise is the cherry on top. A good early sports title.

#11 Breakout (23/40)

In 1976, having a high score to chase and a decent dash of color was a big deal, and we HAVE seen some good games based around this one. With a regular controller however, which is the most likely way you're gonna be playing it, it's easily the least functional and forgiving of this genre. Constantly losing directly after starting and having sincere trouble to reach the top of the playing field isn't fun at all. Still, very innovative for the era.

#10 Lunar Lander (25/40)

Another milestone, it's the game that plays differently depending on the settings. You can make it pretty hard for yourself in there by constantly having to fight your spacecraft *and* gravity. Doesn't have a long lasting appeal. Perfect as a tech demo you try in the arcade once or twice. No McDonald's easter egg is a big loss.

#9 Super Breakout (26/40)

Of course Super Breakout's gotta go above regular Breakout. This one has 3 modes and slightly more forgiving gameplay in 2 of those. I can at least say I found it easier not to hate playing this over it's predecessor. It does lose some of the pre-microprocessor charm in the audiovisuals, though.

#8 Super Bug (28/40)

The shifter controls are fun as sh*t to learn as they aren't super difficult while you get gradually faster across it's 2 tracks. Setting up personal goals for this one was a hoot, too. You know what? It's an underrated jolly time. I'll vouch for it any day. If it had more replay value, it would have been an easy A tier.

#7 Lunar Rescue (28/40)

Would've expected a touch more from Taito at this point. It's a bit more on the shallow side than I would have expected in late 1979 from a company this influential. Don't take this as me saying I didn't enjoy it while it lasted, but seeing the Space Invaders show up twice kinda makes me think they knew it wasn't gonna be as hard a hitter... Hey, at least the little guys falling into nothingness is hilarious.

#6 Asteroids (28/40)

Jack of all trades, master of none. According to ME at least. It's made out of a scrapheap combination of Space War, Space Invaders and even Computer Space, which made it transform into a verrrry competent game. Shooting your laser is just all around solid. Nothing more. For that, it would've needed more meat on it's bones. So many games peak at level 4 and this is no exception.

A Tier

#5 Pong (31/40)

THE way to kick off gaming right. Computer Space was the first proper arcade release, but it was too complex to make heads or tails from back then. This, however, was something everyone understood, with a ridiculous amount of people flocking to try it out. Still remained relevant for a while as a small burst of competitive play.

#4 Galaxian (32/40)

A bit stiff to play and doesn't vary it up enough in the later rounds. That's all the negatives though. This is the best looking game by a WIDE margin due to it's extremely appealing popping colors. Considering they had only created Gee Bee and Bomb Bee before then (they did publish for Atari in Japan for a bit), that's a brutally impressive accomplishment. I still think arcade goers would easily be lured in by this cabinet 44 years later.

S Tier

#3 Space Invaders (34/40)

The first real video game characters. The first game that could go on forever rather than hitting a kill screen. The game that started a revolution in Japan and had serious traction in the USA too. The first game to have a strategy guide release for it. So many goddamn clones and follow ups on this exact hardware. Need I say more?

#2 Cutie Q (33/40)

Namco made a Breakout/pinball trilogy and RAN with it, man. Each game is more perfected and polished than the last, ending with the peak that is Cutie Q. Obscure and underrated despite being made in part by Pac-creator Toru Iwatani himself. You can tell with how much charm this one brings to the table. I doubt paddle-less brick destroying action will be as fun ever again.

#1 Space Invaders Part II (34/40)

Better Space Invaders. A stronger challenge via some extra variables, your name appearing on the high score. The quirky little cutscene. Etc. Etc. What has been said about Space Invaders can also be applied here. Doesn't matter what version you play, you'll at least have a blast from a historical perspective.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I got some ghosts to chomp and missiles to direct... Gimme a few more days!

[bleachbleachbleach]

This started off as a harebrained trip that I took to celebrate Aizen’s birthday, but I felt like it would’ve been waste if I only used the photos for a single occasion. So here we are, on Ichigo’s birthday, and I’m using more of the photos I took. I’m particularly tickled by the Hollow chuckwalla and roaming herds of Menos. Can you imagine??

Honestly, it’s kinda weird that Hueco Mundo made it into a travel book, but it isn’t surprising at all that Soul Society holds territories. Because lolllll why not just add colonialism to the list of questionable Soul Society practices?

(I also encourage you to click on the images to view them because all these photos are very large but you cannot tell when they are rendered onto the page)

[Plain text copy]

Hueco Mundo: Dark, Dangerous, Seemingly Dead??

Quick Facts

Size: ???

Establishment: Acquired as a territory an unknown number of years ago

Recent history: After serving as a base of operations for a group of traitors, Hueco Mundo has been unofficially given back to the local Hollows. However, there is no formal government structure– the strongest being wields power. After a period of unrest, the arrancar Tier Hallibel has a tentative rule.

Why Go?

Hueco Mundo is the largest unincorporated territory of Soul Society. There are no roads and amenities are hard to come by, but visitors are always awed by the breathtaking vistas and rugged landscapes. This is the only place in the realm where you can find all 5 types of sand dunes occurring in one place. This trip should not be undertaken by the unprepared though– there are many dangers (both known and unknown) that are frequently encountered. Ferocious hollows, including Gillians and Arrancar, sandstorms, and other entities may pop up at any time. The sands are also unrelenting and with very few landmarks to go by, it is easy to get lost. Make sure you bring plenty of supplies and possess strong navigating skills.

How to Get There

Hueco Mundo is located between the Human World and Soul Society, though it is separated by the bordering dimension known as the Dangai. Travelers can go via Dangai, although that passage itself can be a bit hairy (see: Dangai Cleaner). It can also be accessed by traversing the Garganta. Access to a Garganta requires a positive relationship with Hollows though, which is hard to come by.

When To Go

This land exists in an unchanging night, so you never have to worry about getting sunburned in this desert! The moon here is on the opposite lunar phase of that in the Living World, so if you want to navigate by moonlight, make sure you plan accordingly. 

Did You Know?

Like in Soul Society, the atmosphere is filled with a high concentration of reishi, thus allowing smaller Hollows to gain nourishment despite the lack of Human souls.

What to Bring

The sandstorms can be something fierce, so bring something to protect yourself from the elements. Our models on the cover of this book chose to wear capes, which are both classy and functional!

Things To Do

Take a ride on BawaBawa!

This giant snake/worm-like hollow may look ferocious, but he’s actually an emotional softie. Just make sure you include him in your antics, and he’ll be your friend for life!

Visit Las Noches!

This fortress is the former base of operations of a group of Soul Society defectors. The massive structure can be seen for miles and boasts impressive architecture. Las Noches was built to be state of the art,  and includes amenities such as a medical facility as well as detention wings. Perhaps most impressive of all is the artificial sky installed in the largest dome. The dome ceiling mimics the sky of the Living World and is rumored to have allowed the ruler to spy on the activities taking place below. The positions of the hallways are interchangeable, meaning a map is no good here! Just wander around to your heart’s content.

Local Flora and Fauna

At first glance one may be tempted to say that Hueco Mundo is devoid of all life, but that would be a mistake! Hueco Mundo is actually a diversity hot spot of flora and fauna. Most of the creatures in this desertscape are small and uniquely adapted to the harsh conditions. Keep an eye out though and you’ll see the ground is teeming with life such as small lizards, quartz trees, and other things science hasn’t even described yet! If you’re lucky you may be treated to the sight of majestic herds of Menos traversing the sands. Just make sure to keep a safe distance away!

[wham-bam-thank-you-jam-wrestling]

What a time to be a wrestling fan!

It's the biggest non-Wrestlamania wrestling weekend of the year, with 3 major shows and a ton of intrigue surrounding the main events of at least 2 of those shoes. As such I thought I might do a little preview for all three shows, attempting to predict what's going to happen in every match in as economical a fashion as I can.

I'll preview these events in chronological order and the matches on each card in the order they were listed on Wikipedia. Full disclosure, I think that Clash at the Castle had already got underway before I started transcribing these predictions (that I recorded on my mobile phone as I was out and about on Friday) into this blog.

WWE Clash at the Castle

Bailey, Dakota Kai & Io Sky vs. Bianca Belair, Asuka & Alexa Bliss

The heels need to go over here. It could have gone the other way had Sky and Kai won the Women's Tag Team Titles on RAW, but they didn't and this group still doesn't have a big win to hang their hats on. Belair hasn't taken an L since Extreme Rules 2021 as far as I'm aware, and she didn't take the pin in that match, so she can be on the losing side here,. Asuka or Bliss can take the pin. One of those two should also turn heel (I'm getting soon-to-be-heel vibes from Asuka right now) once they've distanced themselves a little from this programme.

Sheamus vs. Gunther

A Sheamus W wouldn't be the worst, but Gunther is the right call. Conventional logic suggests that either Sheamus or Drew needs to win in order to truly satisfy fans in attendance. Sheamus deserves something for the effort he has put into elevating middle material for who knows how long, but Gunther needs another big scalp. A W for Gunther does more for him and the IC Title than it does for Sheamus. Craft stories, not just moments. Even a quick hot shotting of the belt onto Sheamus and then back to Gunther would damage the effort that has been put into restoring the perceived prestige that has been built over the past couple of months.

The Judgement Day vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio

Finn Balor and Damien Priest should get the W because this stable is only now, FINALLY starting to get some momentum. They lost their last high-profile match - Edge over Priest in Toronto - so they come out on top here. Dominic costing Edge the victory ahead of an eventual full heel turn on his old man is a good way to go about this. The Dom tun feels both inevitable and hopeless, so you may as well roll the dice at this stage. You can't read water forever. It's sink or swim time, Dom.

Shayna Baszler vs. Liv Morgan

This one sucks either way. Liv wins clean and you're immediately undercutting Shayna's recent positive character development. Liv wins dirty and she looses the fans. Shayna wins clean and you've given up on Liv entirely, for now. Shayna wins dirty and both women look a little weaker or stupider but the story suffers. The best way to go is to rip off the band-aid as quickly as possible. Liv is young, give her a little break from the main event and rebuild her over the next 6-8 months. Just don't fumble at the goal line this time. This could be the last chance for a Shayna monster heel run and a big time feud with Ronda Rousey while they're both hot. Shayna wins, clean.

Matt Riddle vs. Seth Rollins

Give this one to Seth. His last win at a major show was the DQ win over Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble in January and yet he hasn't lost any heat. Watching that one recently, the way it played out didn't put him over as much as I remember. The man is pretty much Teflon. You need to keep him at the top of the card because he is just that good. He can slide into the main event picture for a PLE or 3 when you need him to, or help elevate the tier below. This should be a luxury for WWE but feels more like a necessity at this point. Riddle can take an L here, particularly given this rivalry will likely continue into Extreme Rules.

Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns

Roman has to win. Sorry, Wales (Scotland?). Roman's Title reign has to end in a way that makes someone new, not someone who has been hovering around the mid-card for almost 2 years, pinch-hitting in the main event. Drew deserves another reign at some point, just not now. The build over the last month or so has papered over the fact that there was almost no build at all up until then. The U.K. crowd will get over the "disappointing" end to the show. There are more fans out there than the ones in attendance and more fans will engage if the story is told properly. Besides, WWE aren't in Wales every week, they have more than enough time to reheat the crowd to ensure they sell out their next major event in that part of the world.

NXT World's Collide

Ricochet vs. Carmelo Hayes

Theoretically, this should be a banger. It's a strange use of Ricochet given the mini push he's had on Smackdown recently, but maybe that was more about the 2nd downfall of Happy Corbin? An L for either man isn't a great look. Hayes is brilliant but isn't quite ready for a move to the main roster; what would he do there? Ricochet can get his heat back on Smackdown with another W or 2, or by hanging out with Pat McAfee some more. Ricochet endorsing Carmello post-match could be on the cards.

Pretty Deadly vs. Gallus vs. Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs vs. The Creed Brothers

Least enticing match of the entire weekend? Although there is that mixed tag on All Out. NXT might want Gallus to win here, so as to put The Creeds back in that chasing position. A better option is to keep the Creeds as the top dogs in the division. Throw a new challenge their way every week and when the time comes, make a new team by knocking them off. Schism are next on the dance card, right? This division is pretty weak right now.

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H

The main roster team should lose and then revert to their actual names before being given a better showing on RAW or Smackdown. Chance and Carter are fine here. Their promo saying how they had beaten all challengers on NXT lacked credulity but also spoke to the lack of thought put into this division. They're going to face Toxic Attraction once again after this. NXT need to build up some new teams while that feud plays out.

Blair Davenport vs. Meiko Satomura vs. Mandy Rose

Mandy is main roster-bound, surely. All three of Toxic Attraction will probably be on RAW or Smackdown by the end of the year. If Meiko is also headed in that direction then Davenport wins by default. It's not a bad outcome; there are plenty of good challengers lining up. Mandy should get a one-on-one rematch before she leaves. If Meiko is sticking around in non-developmental developmental, put the belts on her and let her do her thing for the next year or until she decides to hang up the boots really.

Tyler Bate vs. Bron Breakker

Bron wins. He is much further away from being main roster ready than most people realise. Also, he's going to look small when he gets there so will need to add some more interesting aspects to his character first. The incoming NXT UK talent should give him a handful more options to feud with over the next 6-8 months. Also, Apollo Crewes and Giovanni Vinci. Not sure where Tyler Bate goes after this. His character is interesting but doesn't scream "future face of the industry". Bate would make a good opponent for Carmelo Hayes, JD McDonagh or Tony D (conspicuous by his absence on this card), or an interesting foil for Grayson Waller. The NXT pecking order is hard to gauge.

AEW All Out

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Eddie Kingston

The brief history/hype package on Rampage was really good. Great match. Eddie wins.

Kip Sabian vs. Pac

A loss on return isn't a great look for Sabian but it's too early fo a title change. The match should be good. Hopefully it is competitive and both.

Angelo Parker vs. Hook

A really fun squash. Hook wins, obviously.

Tay Melo & Sami Guevara vs. Ruby Soho & Ortiz

Why? Intergender Titles are silly and not good silly. It's great that the talent gets a PPV payday but do we really need 15 matches on a single night show?

Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho

It's pro wrestling blasphemy but I generally really like rather than love Danielson matches. Jericho matches have over delivered in 2022, Eddie Kingston and barbed wire aside. This one will be better than solid but has a ceiling. Danielson gets the win and moves back in the World Title picture. I'll explain further in a later prediction but AEW has made it really difficult for themselves with regards to that picture. It will be interesting to see how the Daniel Garcia piece of the puzzle fits here. He should side with Jericho for now, tease out the face turn a little longer. Jericho vs. Garcia at Full Gear?

Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Hakaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm

I like this match. It's a bit of a no can't lose situation and a chance at a soft reset of the AEW Women's division, which has been a bit of a disaster, to be honest. Baker is a safe choice and is an all-around excellent performer. Shida is great and it would be fun if she swept in and won the (interim) Title after the other 3 and Thunder Rosa have spent so much time feuding amongst themselves in recent months. Toni Storm is slowly building a potential face-of-the-company type skillset. Hayter is the most interesting choice and the direction they should go. She'd be the least stale opponent for the returning Rosa. She should win that unification bout too.

House of Black vs. Miro, Darby Allin & Sting

Malakai Black and co. can't just keep losing and still be considered a threat to anyone. Sting can lose and still be Sting. Allin can cop a loss without losing too much heat. Miro shouldn't lose right now, but what can you do? Buddy Matthews will probably end up taking the pin and the feud will continue as HOB feuds tend to do. The match will be fantastic but I want more for everyone involved.

Athena vs. Jade Cargill

Cargill's run has been approximately 70% of what it could have been given some more competent booking. The lack of a compelling feud has been the main issue. This Athena programme threatened being that feud for "that bitch", but alas. Cargill should retain until (a) they build up the right succesor and (b) they know what she is going to do next.

Jungle Boy vs. Christian Cage

Or is it Jack Perry vs. Christian Cage? This hasn't landed as it should have despite solid work from all involved. The Luchasaurus stuff has been strange. If they think they can get more from the programme and want another go at getting Jungle Boy proper over they should extend the feud. Maybe have the big dinosaur man turn on Jungle Jack for real? Otherwise, put Jack Perry over and get him into a programme with another established heel. Jericho vs. Jungle Boys anyone?

Jay Lethal & The Motor Coty Machine Guns vs. Wardlow & FTR

The good guys obviously go over here. MCMG should probably turn on Jay and friends post-match. It's a shame they lost faith in Satnam Singh, or lost faith in Wardlow's ability to powerbomb Singh, because that was the hook for this match. The FTR and MCMG exchanges will be the highlight but I'm not sure where everyone goes after this. It's a shame MJF ruined the conclusion of Wardlow's last extended programme, but please give the big man something to sink his teeth into.

Casino Ladder Match

We've seen almost every combination of these performers in either singles or tag team action over the past 3 months, so it's difficult to get excited about yet another ladder match. It will be fun, no doubt, and the joker gimmick always holds some intrigue. It will probably be W.Morrisey and he will be the odds on favourite to win. Dante Martin getting a W because he's taken more than his share of Ls recently would be a plesant surprise. Whoever wins isn't winning the title.

The Acclaimed vs. Swerve In Our Glory

One of if not the weakest AEW Tag Team Title PPV matches ever. I feel bad for all 4 men; the booking of this division has become an afterthought. Swerve and Lee to win. Not enthused about whatever angle develops on the back of this.

Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

I'm getting The Rock vs. Ken Shamrock circa 1998 vibes about this feud. Hobbs to win this match and potentially the feud but Ricky to be the breakout star. Starks looked strong on Rampage dispatching the entire Factory with ease. Hobbs is a beast and so much fun to watch. The feud should continue because there isn't enough space up the card for either man at the moment.

The Elite vs. Hangman Page & The Dark Order

The Elite are brilliant. Hangman is eternally endearing. The Dark Order are fun. Kenny and The Young Bucks will and it will be a great match. The Hangman interactions with Omega and Matt Jackson will be hot. The Elite melodrama will continue after this, which will be interesting because the Trios Titles will still need to be defended. Who will challenge for those belts? Do they get their own rankings? DO rankings still matter? Surely Adam Cole will be involved somehow, though he no longer has a team with him.

CM Punk vs. Jon Moxley

The first match was so unnecessary. You could have gotten to the exact same spot, with the exact same story beats without that match. now, if Moxley wins the Punk, arguably the biggest draw in the company, is ruined for the foreseeable future. If Punk wins clean then Moxley's first win means nothing. Also, it recontextualises all Mox's recent promos as the nonsense talk of a blowhard. Moxley won't cheat to win, so the best bet is to have Punk cheat or take shortcuts. Basically, Punk needs to turn heel. That's a tougher sell than it would be if the event weren't Chicago, but Mox and Punk can make it work. An MJF appearance is likely, in what capacity remains to be seen. MJF as a face doesn't really work long-term.

Finally, contemplating the immediate future of the AEW World Title picture, do they build Bryan Danielson vs. CM Punk for Full Gear? Danielson really needs to win the title on his next attempt, but that would make for another short AEW World Title reign; another reason they shouldn't have done the first Mox vs. Punk match.

Cheers.

[mysgprop-cstee]

Skypark Celeste Phuket

🇹🇭 Skypark Celeste (Tower D/ E/ F) Laguna Phuket, Thailand

SKYPARK - THE NEWEST LAGUNA BEACH CONDO AT BANG TAO BEACH 📌 Affordable price from THB 4.x M/ SGD 1xx K 📌 Approximate 90 mins flight from Singapore to Phuket daily 📌 Foreign Freehold Ownership  Available  📌 Deferred payment up to 5 years Asia’s first and multi-awarding winning integrated resort  ✔ New Freehold Condominiums In The Heart of Laguna Phuket ✔ Overlooking Laguna Phuket Golf Course ✔ Only 3 Mins to the Beach ✔ Multi-awards winning with public listed developer (30+ years of experience) ✔ Inteligently Design Apartments ✔ Unique interconnected rooftop skypools, garden and recreation facilities ✔ The First Running Track in Phuket ✔ Professionally Management by Laguna Resorts & Hotels ✔ Worldwide Discount & Privileges From The Banyan Tree Group ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ sɢᴅ1xxᴋ ᴏɴʟʏ  1 Bedroom 29-39 sqm: Freehold title from THB 6.1 m/ Leasehold from THB 4.8x mil 2 Bedroom 40-60 sqm: Freehold title from THB 10.x mil / Leasehold from THB 6.9x mil 

Skypark Celeste Phuket https://youtu.be/vTPqMndQe8M https://youtu.be/tN0DnA0u6dQ Skypark Celeste (Tower D/ E/ F), Phuket, Thailand "Raise Your Lifestyle Up To The Sky" Set amidst lush natural landscapes overlooking the green Laguna Phuket Golf Course, Skypark is Laguna's latest condominium for sale near Bang Tao Beach, offering owners a tranquil place to call their home. Skypark provides residents with peace of mind with affordable residential condominiums that add convenience and lifestyle to the tropics. Skypark Aurora are the first 3 low-rise buildings which already fully sold and completed (A&B&C), with residents moving into the various studio, one- and two-bedroom condominiums, and forming our park community in the sky.  Skypark Celeste (Building D & E &F) are the latest phase for sale in Skypark Phuket. The Tower D is now nearly fully sold out. Skypark Celeste Laguna offers owners a tranquil place to call home, nestled within the natural landscaping of Laguna & overlooking the Laguna Phuket Golf Course. Skypark Celeste has a choice of 1BR & 2BR units for sale. Some special condominiums are available with a large terrace on the 1st floor.

Residents can enjoy exclusive access to the rooftop leisure facilities, with full of relaxing recreational areas and a social hub. Enjoy the infinity-edge pool with Jacuzzi, expansive BBQ area, spacious sky deck, yoga space and an open lawn designed for hosting events and to capture the panoramic views of the estate’s lush surroundings. The buildings of the complex are connected with each other by aerial bridges, forming a large Skypark surrounded by greenery, with views of the lagoon and ocean views. An infinity pool with panoramic views and a unique sky jogging path keep residents and visitors healthy while enjoying stunning views of the surrounding countryside. From its location on the edge of Laguna Phuket Golf Course, the units offer their residents great views over the lush fairway. For the first time in Phuket, a unique sky running track spans multiple buildings connected by sky bridges to deliver a new dimension for an active tropical lifestyle on this popular resort island.

Laguna Phuket

Skypark Aurora Master Plan Map Overlooking the top-tier Laguna Phuket Golf Course, the property occupies a prime location inside Laguna Phuket, Asia’s finest integrated resort, and puts residents within close proximity of the three-kilometre-long Bang Tao beach. Its affordable live-in condominiums add convenience and style to tropical living. SKYPARK Phuket offers investors affordable live-in condominiums in Asia’s finest integrated resort surrounded by tropical greenery, lagoon views, and glimpses of the Andaman Sea. TypeDescriptionsProject NameSkypark Celeste, Laguna PhuketDeveloper NameLaguna Resorts & Hotels Public Company LimitedLocationLaguna Phuket, Thalang, Phuket 83110, ThailandTenure of LandForeign Freehold and leasehold options area available FREEHOLD (Foreigners Eligible) Leasehold  (renewable leasehold basis, 30Y + 30Y)Expected Date of Completion (T.O.P.)Q4 2025Site area7 Rai (194.8 square wah) (7-1-94.8 Rai)Total No. of Units384 units in 3 blocks of 7 storeys builidngs. Size range 29 - 60 sqm, Price Updated Fact Sheet for Skypark Celeste Phuket

Beginning in 1994 as a sanctuary for the senses, Banyan Tree Holdings’ presence grew from a single resort in Phuket to become one of the world’s leading independent, multi-branded hospitality groups today. The Group’s diversified portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, galleries, golf and residences is centered on five award-winning brands – Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa and Laguna – that offer exceptional design-led experiences for global travellers of today and tomorrow. Banyan Tree Holdings’ business comprises three core operating segments: Hotel Investments, Residences and Extended Stay for Hotel and Laguna Residences, and Fee-based which include hotel management, club management and fund management, Spa and Gallery operations and Design and Other Services. These collectively form an operating portfolio of diversified yet interconnected offerings aimed at capturing distinct market segments and flowing them through the different brands to extend customer lifetime value. Banyan Tree Holdings has received over 2649 industry awards and accolades since inception. It has also received recognition for its commitment to environmental protection and community development through its Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF), which aligns the Group’s efforts to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Executing on its regionalised growth strategy, the Group’s global footprint continues to grow with 46 new hotels and resorts under design and construction in the pipeline, in addition to 49 operating hotels in 24 countries as of November 2020. Banyan Tree Holdings entered a strategic long-term partnership with Accor in 2016 to develop and manage Banyan Tree branded hotels around the world along with the access to Accor’s global reservations and sales network, as well as the loyalty programme ALL – Accor Live Limitless. It also formed a joint venture with China Vanke Co. Ltd. in 2017 – focusing on active ageing and wellness hospitality projects.

LAGUNA PROPERTY Laguna Resorts & Hotels Public Company Limited, a subsidiary of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, acquired the Laguna Phuket site in the early 1980s, turning what was a barren tin mine into Laguna Phuket, Asia’s first integrated resort complex. The company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1993 and has gained a reputation as a responsible developer whose interest combine hotels and real estate. Today, Laguna Property, the property development arm of the company has formed itself as the largest and most established developer on Phuket with a respective international presence, and gained a strong industry reputation, combining interests in hotels and real estate with the emphasis on quality and environmental protection. Its continued success has been consistently recognized through the years with numerous environmental and tourism awards. Laguna Property offers properties ranging from sea-view apartments, contemporary townhomes, to luxurious pool villas with an appealing combination of lifestyle gains and return on capital investment. Perfectly situated to benefit from Laguna Phuket’s diverse choice of attractions and amenities, all brands of properties by the Banyan Tree Group offer an appealing combination of lifestyle benefits, capital returns and rental yields, backed up by professional management services.

• Multi-awarding winning developer with 30+ years of experience • Listed on Thailand and Singapore Stock exchanges • Affordable entry level into exclusive Laguna Phuket • Safe and controlled environment • Competitively priced versus the market • Flexible fit-out options • Foreign freehold ownership available • Deferred payment plans up to 5 years • In the “heart” of Laguna Phuket • Overlooking Laguna Phuket Golf course • Unique rooftop skypools, gardens and recreation areas including yoga lawn, jogging track and BBQ areas • Only 3 mins to beach and 20 mins to Phuket International Airport • Walking distance to Boat Avenue and Central Porto de Phuket • Worldwide discounts and privileges from Banyan Tree Group’s “Sanctuary Club” • Professional management by Laguna including rentals, individual property management services, building facilities and common areas.

A Quick on Phuket Island: West Coast is most popular area with > 90% of hotel supply and has the best beaches: •West Coast (South) – mass market tourism and nightlife ( Patong •West Coast (North) – less developed and far from main attractions • West Coast (Central) – more exclusive with upscale and luxury hotels and home to Laguna Phuket , Asia’s first integrated destination resort • East Coast is less developed but has majority of marinas (access to Phang Nga Bay) but l acks beaches. •Inland area has limited hotels (mainly Phuket Town) but has shopping malls, hospitals, schools and is more a local residential area • South Coast has limited number of hotels and is more a local residential area. Laguna Phuket, a world-renowned, and Asia’s premier integrated resort destination in Phuket, Thailand.  Having Andaman Sea set as it’s backdrop, and a 3 km stretch of pristine beach, Laguna Phuket is the home to eight world-class hotels, premium facilities, alongside with the branded residences. Spanning over 1,000 acres of lush parkland and beachfront, and is just 25 minutes drive from Phuket International Airport.  Offering owners and visitors with numerous choices of lifestyle activities, inclusive of an award-winning 18-hoe golf course – Laguna Golf Phuket, luxury spas, restaurants, bars, and countless activities to create an unforgettable experiences during their stay in Phuket, Thailand.  The entire area is acquired and developed by Laguna Resorts & Hotels Public Company Limited since early 1980s, turning the barren tine mine into this world-renowned Asia’s first integrated resort complex. 

Skypark Aurora Location Map Skypark Celeste Laguna Phuket is overlooking laguna phuket golf course and lagoons, adjacent to Laguna Park 1 gated estate and close proximity to beach, hotels, golf and nearby Boat Avenue/ Central Proto de Phuket boutique retail/ dining precinct. Within this development, shuttle bus transport to Laguna Phuket Hotels, beach and golf is provided. Residents have access to the inter-resort shuttle service to enjoy the facilities of five star resorts and deluxe leisure pursuits within the awardwinning complex. In addition to the choice luxurious spas, upscale resorts, facilities and activities within Laguna Phuket, homeowners are also well placed to make the most of lifestyle attractions such as the nearby Boat Avenue shopping complex and the upcoming Central Porto de Phuket boutique retail and dining complex. Malls:  Canal Village Laguna Shopping 508m Boat Avenue 1.61km  Hospital:  Bangkok Hospital Clinic Bangtao 510m Bankok International Hospital 3.74km School: Laguna Phuket Kindergarten 129m Blossom House International Kindergarten and Pre-School 1.74km Choeng Thale Wittayakom School 2km Skypark Celeste truly brings home the essence of living in a lap of luxury with exclusive unblocked view to Laguna Golf Course, where each unit comes fully fitted with various imported fittings and appliances.  Reaching for the sky, the well-planned rooftop facilities allow residents to make the most of the great outdoors and include an infinity-edged pool with Jacuzzi and a unique sky running track. The al fresco social hub also features a large BBQ area, spacious sky deck, yoga space and open, lawned relaxation area with green landscaping and a panoramic view point offering sweeping vistas of the tropical surroundings.

Site Plan Building C (Aurora), D (Celeste), E, F

SkyPark Celeste Laguna Phuket

Tower D Low Floor

Tower D High Floor

Site Plan Level 1 to 4

Site Plan Level 5 to 8

Tower F Low Floor

Tower F High Floor Live with top quality finishes of chic and sleek and spacious layout that is meticulously designed with luxury and elegance in mind. Each individual space is fitted with best of fittings and finishes with you in mind. Unit Mixes:  - 1 Bedroom 29-39sqm - 2 Bedroom 40-60 sqm Units Provisions:  - Basic fit-out option includes flooring, walls, sanitary ware, kitchen bench and sink. - Fitted option includes fixed furnishings (wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and build-in kitchen appliances, air conditioning, etc) - Furnished option includes loose furniture and amenities (beds, linen and towels, sofa, dining table and chairs, curtains, etc) Floor Plan & Virtual Tours:

1BR Type 1A 29sqm

1BR Type 1B 31sqm

1BR Type 1BX 34sqm

1BR Type 1C 36sqm

1BR Type 1CX 39sqm

1BR Type 1D 33sqm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUYwFS2skog

2BR Type 2A-1 40sqm

2BR Type 2A-2 40sqm

2BR Type 2Ax-1 43sqm

2BR Type 2Ax-2 43sqm

2BR Type 2B-1 46sqm

2BR Type 2B-2 46sqm

2BR Type 2Bx-2 52sqm

2BR Type 2C-1 53sqm Read the full article

[outpost51]

hi ily let's do some emoji asks [cracks knuckles] marius and the ex-wives, rosie and faith, bantia and septilea, and sawyer for (yes i grabbed some at random no issue if you have to skip--)

👻 GHOST - do they believe in ghosts? what are their "ghostly experiences", if any?

🥞 PANCAKE - what is their comfort breakfast?

🙈 SEE-NO-EVIL - whats a side of your oc that they don't want to show other people?

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

🌟 GLOWING STAR - what do they think about when they look at the night sky? is there someone they want to star gaze with?

💙 BLUE HEART - do they miss their s/o easily? how do they act when their s/o isn't around?

OC Emoji Asks

oh BOY here we go under a cut!!

👻 GHOST - do they believe in ghosts? what are their "ghostly experiences", if any?

not going into the second part, but:

marius -- oh yeah

avicia -- no, but she humors her family

calveria -- unsure, there's shit she can't explain but she doesn't put too much stock in it

rosie and faith -- big ol yes

bantia -- no, but her wife and daughter do, so she goes along with it

septilea -- absolutely, goes on ghost hunts with her daughter, has a chuckle when bantia gets jumpy

🥞 PANCAKE - what is their comfort breakfast?

marius -- the biggest plate of bacon possible, and two eggs over easy

avicia -- smoked fish on a slice of artisan toast with capers and a light, creamy spread

calveria -- shrimp and grits, but like... their equivalent of it obvs

rosie and faith -- waffles!! their mom's recipe, to be specific

bantia -- if you wake her up before noon, you'll be breakfast

septilea -- anything she doesn't have to cook or pay for!

🙈 SEE-NO-EVIL - whats a side of your oc that they don't want to show other people?

marius -- the soft, tender side only his family gets to see

avicia -- the side only calveria gets to see, because she's the only one that needs to be reminded where she falls in the food chain

calveria -- that what avicia says actually does hurt, but she bottles it up so good--

rosie and faith -- i don't think they have one?? i mean, they've got their special twin bond when it's just them but there's really not much difference

bantia -- the one that likes to be little and safe in her wife's arms

septilea -- SECRET NERD

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

marius -- more grandkids lmao; he's... average, he'd rather get a list, pick a few things, and have literally anybody else wrap it

avicia -- nice, soft lounge clothes; terrifyingly great at it, how does she Know so much

calveria -- anything her sons make, even if they're adults now; also great at it, you're getting something soft and warm and knitted

rosie and faith -- just happy to be here!! also great at gift-giving, blame the hyperempathy and having two brains to conspire

bantia -- cookware and recipe books (or even just cards, if they're personal)!! she loves cooking and baking in her downtime, their kitchen is loaded with gadgets; she's good if she's got her wife or daughter with her, it's the decision paralysis that trips her up

septilea -- secret nerd shit for her secret nerd cave; god tier, even the silly ones are perf

🌟 GLOWING STAR - what do they think about when they look at the night sky? is there someone they want to star gaze with?

marius -- [lies down, tries not to cry, fails miserably] the family he's lost, the ones he throws flowers into the lake for every holiday; he's just happy for the company

avicia -- it's a night sky; it's cold, there are bugs, she wants to go inside

calveria -- she likes to make up constellations; once a week (weather permitting), she goes and has stargazing time with her sons

rosie and faith -- what's Out There, are we alone in the universe, etc etc; obvs each other, but the whole friend group too!

bantia and septilea -- smushing them together for this one, but they think about all the places they've been stationed, just general old lady reminiscing; after elysium, they spend a lot of time having night picnics with their daughter

💙 BLUE HEART - do they miss their s/o easily? how do they act when their s/o isn't around?

marius, avicia, calveria -- they say they don't, but the second there's a chance to, they end up cuddled up to each other, even if it's just avicia and calveria sometimes

rosie and faith -- n/a

bantia and septilea -- so much. they miss each other so fucking much. they're both just a little less Themselves when they're not around each other

[seeringsaga]

CHAPTER 3

            Coming back to the city was a bad idea. Nasha knew that before they had ditched their skyship in a canyon outside the industrial villages and factory-farms surrounding Needen Citadel and climbed through the ancient tunnels underneath the city’s lowest levels. When they reached the surface again, the nagging feeling of danger in Nasha’s stomach turned to a knotted weight. Her face was plastered across every screen and holo-projection in the sky over the city. Everywhere she looked, her face was looking back at her – a woman in her early thirties with brown eyes so dark they were almost black, high cheekbones, a dark complexion, and tangled black hair pulled back into a high braid. She didn’t remember anyone taking this picture, and realized it must be an approximation made out of security footage from the raid and her old military photos. They displayed both names under her photo, Ral Zand and Tam Nasha, and listed her crimes as high treason, murder, kidnapping, assaulting an enforcer, and a litany of other charges. The bounty for her was set to 100,000,000 Currents – the highest she had ever seen for any criminal.

            The Undercity was always bustling, even in the late hours of the night. The smoky smell of roasted jhi meat wafted from their mongers’ stalls, and Sligo dealers called out their prices for anyone to hear, while addicts slumped against the sides of buildings and each other. A group of a half dozen Disciples of Uu stood on a street corner preaching their message of peace and unity, toting artifacts from the Oil Age found in the far reaches of the Wastes as evidence of some ancient deity. Some propped up a faded yellow sign portraying their symbol, like two long halves of an oval conjoined on the sides, while others held up pictures of the crowned Mother Goddess holding a scaled worm in each hand. A few Lurks dressed in their subculturally significant tiered and layered outfits stood outside the door of a nightclub, passing around a lit vin-roll and adjusting their carefully dyed and layered hair. The barely audible beat of a classic Kli Drumo track reverberated out of the closed door of the nightclub, pounding rhythmically in groups of twos and threes.

            The two women had disguised themselves as elderly beggars, wearing ragged cloaks with hoods that covered their faces, and adopted a hunched posture to play the part. No one in the darkened lower layer of the city had taken any notice to them, as such a sight was common for Needen Citadel’s undercity. KL kept trying to sneakily look out the side of her hood at the city around her. Just like the Wastes had enraptured her, the Citadel had done the same – towers so tall they blotted out the sky itself, skyships rushing in perfect lines overhead, millions of people all going about their lives, working around one another, unaware of the chaos and disaster that stirred in their future.

            They made their way towards a storefront with a holo-sign that read “Gan’s Bounty” in bright green letters and ‘We buy and sell used computer parts!’ underneath in a smaller font. An emoticon face made from different symbols danced and shifted forms next to the words of the sign, and a downward-pointing arrow directed customers towards a set of stairs leading to a basement level. Nasha and KL made their way down the stairs and entered the store. A shaggy-haired old man sat at the counter surrounded by piles of bits of metal and scraps of circuitry, tampering with the insides of an automaton’s skull. He raised his head to look at them, then narrowed his eyes at Nasha and said nothing.

            “Hi Gan,” she said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “We’re here to look at the sunset.”

            Gan’s eyes shifted to KL. The younger woman stared back, her black eyes fixed on his. After a tense moment, he grunted and gestured with his shoulder towards a door at the back of the shop and got back to his work.

            “Be careful, Nasha,” he said. His voice was a thin rasp.

            “I always am.”

            KL and Nasha walked to the door and descended down the flight of steps beyond it. Asking to see the sunset was an old code they had always used because it was such a ridiculous request – no one could see the sunset from the lower levels of the city, and even at the higher levels the sky was so crowded with skyships and holo-projections displaying military propaganda and advertising Needen-sanctioned corporations that it would be nearly impossible to get a good view.

            At the bottom of the staircase was a small and dimly lit storeroom housing even more piles of unsorted junk which smelled of must and fried circuitry. Nasha pushed past the refuse with KL close behind, making her way towards a cluttered shelf on the far wall. She got down on her hands and knees and pulled out the bottom shelf, revealing a passageway with a ladder that descended even further into the earth. A small orange glow emanated from below.

            “Below us is Dusklight’s safe house,” Nasha explained. “You’ll be safe here for the time being.”

            “What is ‘Dusklight’?” KL asked apprehensively.

            “Dusklight is a paramilitary organization dedicated to fighting against Needen.”

            KL stared back blankly, not fully understanding Nasha’s explanation.

            “The Needen were the people who we rescued you from.”

            KL understood that, and she seemed to feel more at ease. She climbed into the open portal in the shelf and Nasha followed behind her, then slid the shelf back in place over their heads. As they climbed further down the shaft, the temperature grew colder.

            “Nasha,” KL whispered from below. “Something’s wrong, I can feel it.”

            “I feel it too,” Nasha said. She peered into the future and found nothing but an anxious rumbling. She pushed harder, trying to make her powers reveal more, but it refused to yield to her. All she could make out was an image of herself standing on a high balcony overlooking the city. What that had to do with the immediate future, she had no idea.

            “No choice but forward, I guess,” Nasha shrugged. KL nodded.

            At the bottom of the ladder was a small grotto hewn from rough stone which yawned into a larger cavern beyond. Braziers filled with burning coals lined the walls, casting an eerie amber light and providing a little warmth. The air around the braziers smelled slightly sweet, hinting that the chemicals that made up the coals were unnatural. A long shadow crept along the far wall, followed by the silhouette of an older woman.

            “We need to leave here,” KL insisted, tugging at the sleeve of Nasha’s robe.

            “It’s okay, I trust these people,” Nasha said. She tried her best to sound comforting and hide her feelings, but her anxiety seeped through.

            “You shouldn’t have come here,” the woman hissed. She stepped into the light, and Nasha could see the familiar aged face of Dusklight’s venerable leader Telna. Her white hair was pulled back into two braids, and her green eyes shone with a youthful energy, and in this case, anger. Telna was the last surviving founder of Dusklight, and had helped form the group nearly sixty years ago. She had often chastised Nasha for her brashness and desire to take the battle to the Needen, and it was obvious that this time she had gone too far in that quest.

            “I’m sorry Telna, but – “

            “Everyone in the citadel knows your face,” Telna said, her voice filled with frustration. “How do you know you weren’t followed here?”

            “We weren’t, I was careful.”

            “You’re always careful, aren’t you? You were so careful when you marched into that laboratory, kidnapped this poor girl, and then caused the largest core meltdown in the last two decades, weren’t you?”

            Nasha didn’t know what to say. Telna was right, but her words still stung. Her eyes blazed with barely contained rage, and Nasha had trouble meeting them. Finally, Telna softened her gaze and relented. Sadness crept into her voice and she looked almost mournful.

            “Fine. Come with me and we will find a space for our new friend.”

            The three of them made their way further into the cavern and came to a massive hall where at least two dozen people stood around makeshift shack-homes built between piles of crates. Some of the crates were open, revealing stockpiles of weapons, food, clothes, and other necessities for the Dusklight.

            The atmosphere in the hall was unsettling. Nasha had called this place her home for some time, and she knew it to be a boisterous place filled with hope and a bond that ran stronger than any familial ties. Instead, it was completely silent. No one moved or spoke as the trio entered the hall, even those who Nasha had been close with. Some cast forlorn glances at them, other stared hard with anger. Some had eyes that were red with freshly shed tears, and others stifled sobs.

            “This is bad,” KL whispered to Nasha. Nasha reached out to touch KL’s arm to reassure her, but instead KL grabbed it tightly in her four-digited hands. Her grip was stronger than Nasha had expected, and she realized that KL was shivering.

            “What happened here?” Nasha asked Telna. She turned to face Nasha.

            “I’m sorry Nasha, but it was you or it was us. I’ve worked far too long on this organization to see it fall to one woman’s hubris.”

            As if on cue, nearly twenty Needen soldiers led by a half dozen Warlocks emerged from the piles of crates and shadowy corners of the room, pointing ends of beamers and wands at the terrified Dusklight rebels. Nasha's heart sank. This is my fault.

            One of them stepped forward to face Nasha. He wore the typical metallic blue armor of the other Warlocks, complete with a fiendish grin. He looked much older than his fellow soldiers, with crow’s feet around his eyes and salt and pepper hair thinning at the edges. He pointed the end of his wand at Nasha’s chest.

            “Thank you for bringing yourself to us, Ral Zand,” he said, his voice a deep bellow that was all but jovial. His eyes moved to KL, still squeezing Nasha’s hand tight, and they grew wide.

            “And the girl too? My, you’ve been so generous!” Some of the other soldiers smiled and even laughed. He was obviously putting on a show for them.

            “You promised to let my people go if we gave you Nasha,” Telna interrupted the Warlock. “Leave this place with them, never return.”

            The smile on his face dropped into a scowl.

            “You people,” he growled. “You people are the lowest life forms, lower than the Yuenaw, lower than animals. We have built a glorious home for you, with order and structure, out of the scraps left behind in the last war. And this is how you repay us? With treachery?” His face was turning rosy with anger. He believed every word he said, and that disgusted Nasha. She had seen the chaos and poverty in the streets of the Undercity above them, those unfortunate souls who had been forsaken by the Needen.

            He turned to his soldiers and raised his fist.

            “Kill them all.”

            “No!” Nasha screamed. The hall exploded into cacophony as people screamed and plasma beams and exomatter bursts streaked across the room, filling the room with the stench of ozone.

            Nasha felt cold night air on her skin, and instead of screams and violence she heard the endlessly buzzing commotion of the citadel’s streets and skies. She was disoriented, and gripped the metal railing beside her with both hands. Below her, the Needen Citadel crawled with nightlife, skyships buzzed by and people milled about on promenades between skyscrapers. She could even see the OverSeer’s palace, its architecture unique from the rest of the city, with white buttresses arching upwards into a great tower.

            Her head still spinning, she looked down and saw KL sitting on the ground, slumped over with her back against the railing. At first she thought that KL must have gotten hit by a stray blast, but realized it was something else entirely – bits of skin were sloughing off her hands and face, dead tissue peeling off in strips. Blood stained her cloak, pooling around the edges of the hood in maroon clumps.

            “KL! Are you okay? What did you do?” Nasha bent down and took the girl’s face in her hands. Her eyes were rolling back in her head and she murmured unintelligibly. She cradled the girl in her arms and mustered all her physical strength before lifting her up in one smooth motion. She looked around and realized that they were on the private balcony of someone’s upper-level apartment. She peered to the left and saw that on a neighboring balcony there was a sleek, silver skyship. It had a pointed nose with three wings positioned equally at 120-degree angles, curved backwards like metallic fins. It had a small enclosed cockpit that looked like it could hold two people. It was practically begging for Nasha to take it.

            Kismet, she thought.

[thetoxicgamer]

Apex Legends season 17 mixes up World’s Edge’s Fragment, adds new POIs

World's Edge has seen some map changes as a result of the Apex Legends season 17: Arsenal update, including the addition of two new POIs, improved lighting, and some chasm reduction. As the area cools and becomes less volatile, much of the lava will now be walkable. In addition, a few fan-favorite locations in the first-person shooter game have either been moved or replaced to offer World's Edge a brand-new vibe for the first time since season 10. During a recent press event attended by PCGamesN, Respawn’s lead map designer, Jeff Shaw, provided plenty of info on the map update from a design standpoint. “We’ve tweaked, and tuned, and balanced a bunch of the map’s components, even down to changing the map’s lighting and sky,” Shaw said. This time around, World’s Edge has received the Kings Canyon treatment from season 14 in terms of visual improvements. World’s Edge is in the process of healing, which means that the fissures and floaty chasms found across the map are being filled in to allow for quicker movement. The remaining lava has risen, allowing you to walk across it at the cost of a bit of health. The most notable changes, however, are the new Monument and Stacks POIs. Monument is a structure that acts as a sort of museum bunker, and it mixes Fragment with the map’s center – you can see it in the header image above. Stacks, on the other hand, is a group of tall construction buildings that fully replace Lava City to the southeast. Apex Legends Season 17 removes chasms from World's Edge, adds new POI: construction buildings with ziplines attached to them “We knew we needed to do something to shake up the map’s center,” said Shaw when outlining the changes made to the ever-popular Fragment hotspot. “It’s been a long time coming that brings us to Monument… it’s a museum that celebrates Apex’s past, present, and future.” Shaw describes Monument as a reminder of how far Apex Legends has come since launch. From a gameplay standpoint, it serves as an underground bunker with a sniper nest up top, and a glass ceiling separating its top and bottom halves to provide intel on what’s happening on both ends. In contrast, Stacks is a much more vertical POI with interconnected rooftops. The Fragment construction building is the heart of this new location, and it’s the perfect playground for crafty Legends like Wraith or Octane. You’ll be able to learn the ins and outs of the World’s Edge map changes for yourself when the Apex Legends season 17 release date rolls around on May 9. Ahead of then, be sure to check out our Apex Legends tier list to see where your faves are currently ranking. Read the full article

[propertyok]

LODHA WORLD TOWERS: A GAME-CHANGING BUILDING IN THE HEART OF MUMBAI

About Lodha World Towers:

The Lodha Group is the developer of the 76-story Lodha World Towers or Lodha World View, located next to Lodha Supremus on Tulsi Pipe Road in world tower Lower Parel. Launched in June 2016, Lodha World View is expected to be in your possession by June 2020. Twenty-four projects are now under construction, and nine are ready for possession by the Lodha Group. Good evaluations have been given to Lodha World View, and this project is rated about a 5 out of 5.

At Lodha Excelus, N.M. Joshi Marg, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai, 400 011, is where you can find Lodha World Towers. The entire address is the Lower Parel, Senapati Bapat Marg, opposite Lodha Supremus, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 2R2G+WRX.

Over $321 million USD was spent on the construction of World One. Its height was projected to be 442 meters (1,450 feet), and construction started in 2011. However, the project was put on hold for a few years since the developer could not get the Airports Authority of India’s approval for that height. The project was redesigned to the current height and finished after the delay. India has a large number of talented and Professional real estate agents in India who can help clients buy or sell properties efficiently. Property dealers in India have a deep understanding of the Indian real estate market, including its legal, financial, and regulatory aspects, which makes them valuable resources for their clients.Pei Cobb Freed & Partners is World One’s architect, Leslie E. Robertson Associates is the structural engineer, and Buro Happold Engineers is the MEP engineer. Three skyscrapers make up the entire project or The World Towers. Simplex (World One), Muscovite Group, and Arabian Construction Co. were the two construction civil contractors participating (World Crest, World View). Indian millionaires participate in and own a portion of this enormous structure.

The World Towers, a spectacular glass and steel sculpture is made up of three towers with a distinctive curvilinear design. The World Towers soar and reshape Mumbai’s skyline, serving as a potent representation of the city’s unrestrained ambitions and unyielding energy. 

The World Towers, a spectacular 17-acre real estate sector located in Mumbai’s glittering Mumbai Mile, home to some of the city’s best homes, offices, and luxury hotels, represents the pinnacle of luxury on a worldwide scale.

The Avenue welcomes you into a huge landscaped entrance plaza measuring over 100,000 square feet. The Avenue is a classy boulevard with palm trees home to some of the best fine dining establishments. The World Towers are located here, rising into the sky on a 5-acre pedestal surrounded by peaceful water features and gardens.

So, How many units are there in the Lodha world towers? It has 445 units in it. And what is the total price of Lodha world towers? So, the net price is around 7.5 cr.

The RERA has approved Lodha World View and has the registration number P51900008962 and World One Tier II P51900008345.

 The cost of real estate in Lower Parel Mumbai ranges from INR 24,000 to 28,000 for outright purchases of completed and unfinished projects.

The wide connectivity offered by the project:

The project’s location or distance is from 187: Dr. Annie Besant Road is 1.7 km and km from 238: N. M. Joshi Marg.

Transportation facilities –

The international airport is located 5 kilometers, and the nearest train station is 1.7 km distant.

The station closest to Lodha World One in Worli is Currey Road.

Health facilities nearby –

The nearest hospitals in the list are –

Esis Hospital.

BDD Chawl Dispensary.

Dr. Tilak Hospital.

JC Diagonistic Centre.

Shenoy Nursing Home.

 Educational institutions nearby –

The nearest schools are –

Maratha High School – .43 Km.

DSB International School – .57 Km.

KGT International School – .59 Km.

Medifit Medical Academy – 1.02 Km.

Greenlawns School – 1.4 Km.

KMSEnglish Medium School – 1.43 Km.

Dr. Shirodkar High School – 1.44 Km.

Malls and shopping centers nearby

 It is just 1.7 km away from the famous shopping destination, Colaba.

 Recreational hotspots nearby

On the shimmering Mumbai Mile, flanked by the beautiful Mahalaxmi Race Course, which has iconic residential and commercial projects next to the finest hotels, upscale shops, and premier entertainment destinations, The World Towers takes center stage.

The real estate sector provides quick access to major thoroughfares via Lodha Place. In addition, you have rapid access to the Sea Link via a secondary access path. The World Towers tenants have easy access to the city and the suburbs.

Bandra-Worli Sea Link at 20 mins.

 Domestic & International Airports at 30 mins.

Peninsula Corporate Park at 10 mins.

Palladium & High Street Phoenix at 5 mins.

The Alluring Amenities:

In Lodha, there are some distinctive top-notch amenities like a swimming pool, a gym, a library, a business center, and many more like;

 Six Senses Spa

Fitness center

Grand Ballroom

Dance and yoga studio

 Private theatre

 Pool deck

 Temperature-controlled indoor pool

 Leisure pool

Kid’s pool

Basketball court

Wooden deck ramp

Outdoor kids’ play area

Volleyball court

 Club lawn

Barbeque

 Rain curtain

 Island

Activities room

 Kid’s playroom

Multipurpose sports court

Sports Zone

Football turf

 Rock climbing wall

Athletic track

Tennis courts

Lap pool

Sports arena roof

 Squash courts

Hedge

Cricket ground

Kid’s zone

Uphill

 Downhill

Sand boat

Forest boat

Water wheel & watergate

Arch bridge

Swing

 Archimedes screw

Treehouse

Speaking/listening to dishes & Drum table and seats

Seating walls

Art & Culture Spaces

Art gallery

Library

Jain temple

Walking track

Vine screen

Garden Zone

 The Great Lawn

Open air amphitheater

Long putt

 Garden Pavillion

 Secret grove

Theatre lawn

 Temple

 Green wall

 Water jets

Dog run

Lotus pool

 Roundabout

 Water fountain

Outdoor gym

Exercise lawn

Veranda cafe

 Juice bar

Ice cream parlor

 Fragrant herb garden

Seating pod

 Lounge chairs

 Urban farms

Central Courtyard

 Grand fountain

Grand entrance

 Trees by the fountain

 Water feature

Flower garden

 Glass canopied drop-offs

Tree-lined sidewalks

In Lower Parel, Mumbai, Lodha World One gives potential homeowners a chance to live in their 4BHK apartment with an ocean view. These apartments are offered through the developer and resale and can be moved into them now. Each unit has two balconies so that residents can take in a view of the ocean. 

A large portion of the 7-acre site has been transformed into a children’s play area, clubhouse, swimming pool, and gymnasium to improve the lives of homeowners. 

The Lodha Group was established in 1980 and has since worked on fifty-four properties, thirty of which are still being built. In addition, they have projects in Thane West and Dombivli that are outside of Mumbai.

The 300 residential towers in the Lodha World Crest Mumbai residential project will be of the 3 and 4 BHK type, ranging from 2826 to 3888 square feet. To satisfy the tastes and preferences of its prestigious clients, the apartments are generously sized, tastefully constructed, and guarantee modern high-class living standards. Moreover, for the advantage of its residents, 

Lodha World Crest will also include a variety of contemporary amenities, such as a gymnasium, swimming pool, 24-hour security, power backup, cafeteria, clubhouse, children’s play area, library, basketball court, etc.

 Prices for the Lodha World Crest and more project information are available upon request.

The elegant interiors of the project:

Because of its lavish features, The World Towers World One Tier 2 is a perfect place to live. 

Let’s examine some of the luxurious elements of the flats that meet your expectations:

The walls in the master bedroom are acrylic emulsion.

Vitrified tiles on the floor in the master bedroom.

Various Bedrooms – Tiles made of vitrified glass.

Acrylic Emulsion for Walls.

 Vitrified tiles in the living room.

 Equipment for the kitchen: microwave

Bathroom: Geyser, Luxury Bath Fixtures, and Exhaust Fan Building Type: RCC Frame Construction

Summing Up:

Due to questionable building techniques, public safety concerns, and misrepresentations of the areas being offered for sale to clients, The Lodha Group’s development projects in Mumbai are currently the target of intense public criticism. The Lodha Group has attempted to combat this through judicial gag orders and anti-defamation guidelines on digital platforms but has had only sporadic success.

Lodha World Towers or Lodha World One gives potential homeowners a chance to live in a 4BHK flat with a sea view in Lower Parel, Mumbai. These apartments are available from the developer and can be purchased for immediate occupancy. Two balconies on each apartment allow residents to enjoy the sea view. 

For homeowners’ convenience, a large portion of the 7-acre site has been transformed into a playground, clubhouse, swimming pool, and gymnasium. Since its inception in 1980, the Lodha Group has worked on 54 properties, thirty of which are still being built. Thane West and Dombivali are two locations where they have projects outside of Mumbai.

Read More…

Experienced real estate agents in India

PropertyOK Realtors LLP,

Star Towers, Marappalam, PO,

Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram,

Kerala 695004

Phone: +91 6000760005

[shao-hujiaqi]

Anthropologist Hu Jiaqi: A Withered City & Ideals Nowhere To Place

If it wasn't for the trending topic, I would never have heard the name “Hegang” in my entire life.

However, such a remote town, with its incredibly low housing prices, ranked at the top of the trending topic list and took people’s breath away repeatedly, attracting the attention of people (especially the young).

On social media and in short videos, Hegang is a nice place: the vast blue sky, clean air, inexpensive and delicious meals, hospitable and humorous locals, and strikingly low housing prices. For young people struggling in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, the appeal of such life is self-evident.

In those metropolitan cities mentioned above, even if someone struggles for half of his/her life, he/she may not get the chance to live there forever. In contrast, Hegang shows generosity. Search for "Hegang" on the real estate platform and you will find that the lowest local housing price is 894 yuan/㎡, and the highest is 6,272 yuan/㎡. Houses with an average price of less than 5,000 yuan/㎡ constitute the vast majority of housing resources in the city.

So, the young people, tired of the hustle and bustle of big cities, are going north. Because Heilongjiang province is in Northeast China, and Hegang is in the northeast of Heilongjiang Province, we can say Hegang is located in the most northeast part of our country. All of a sudden, it seems to have become the modern version of “Arcadia”.

In the video recording the life in Hegang, people express their happiness heartily. But is this happiness related to Hegang or "exodus"?

"Happiness is especially present in the comparison of hopes," said Mr. Hu Jiaqi, who is devoted to research on anthropology.

Compared with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, in Hegang, there are no restaurants open until late hours of the night, no crowded hospitals, no busy commercial streets, and no crowds being in a hurry. In Hegang, the sunset seems to stay still on the horizon; the restless dogs and chickens make annoying noise in the morning time; the four seasons have distinct colors. This place is filled with bleakness and desolation, far away from the hurly-burly of city life. By comparison, people who are dying to leave cities are heartily happy. But such happiness doesn’t belong to Hegang, but to “an escape from cities”.

Concerning this feeling of unhappiness and desire to escape from cities, Mr. Hu Jiaqi says: “Over the past decade, if the standard of living has been growing rapidly each year, people’s inner peace would be broken when the living standards suddenly slows down at some point. Although today is still better than yesterday, the pace of improvement becomes slower, making it hard for people to be happy.”

The young people who settle in Hegang should also admit that the life there is not all roses. They mainly fall into two groups. Freelancers constitute the first group, whose work doesn’t rely on the city itself. But being far away from first-tier cities also means that they cannot get easy access to convenient public transportation networks or a rich recreational life. The second group is composed by those who are bored with the “rat race” in big cities. They want to live a different life at minimum cost. Low prices generally mean low wages, and it is unclear how long such a state of life can last.

Meanwhile, the local young people set off from Hegang, going all the way to the south, to find the real city in their hearts.

As I see it, Hegang is the place far away enough from prosperity, while close enough to cities. It’s not a migration because people are not moving from one place to another for survival. It’s more of “an inspection tour” and a long-lasting orgy of extravagance.

Thereupon, Hegang is no longer just a remote small town in Heilongjiang province. It could represent any city with low housing prices, or someone’s hometown, or even an insubstantial symbol. After experiencing the boom and depression of the old time, these remote resource-depleted cities are ready to embrace a new spring amongst the comparing and balancing of young people.

[melbournenewsvine]

Betr opens with a bang offering $101 odds on the Melbourne Cup

Matthew Tripp launched his new betting venture ‘betr’ on Wednesday afternoon and you could say they have come out of the gates well with with a special $101 odds on every horse in the 2022 Melbourne Cup offer until Derby Day spearheading the new bettings sites initial acquisition driver. Punters can get $101 odds on every horse in betr’s Melbourne Cup market Click Here (max $10 bet) until Derby Day and it’s set to be a hit with new punters on the platform. The betr website went live 4pm on Wednesday ahead of the Caulfield Cup and The Everest this weekend with the team set to be thrown straight into the deep end with the busiest weeks of the year for bookmakers. BETR  You can Bet on the new Betr website by CLICKING HERE Tripp has teamed up with News Corp Australia, Las Vegas-based Tekkorp Capital, and ASX-listed BetMakers Technology Group to launch the new betting brand named betr which will launch with an app and desktop site betr.com.au. “We haven’t re-entered this market to play second fiddle to anyone,” Tripp told Nine. “We want to grow sensibly through (marketing and advertising) and organically with the partnerships that we forged with everyone. “We believe we will be — certainly a tier one operator very quickly — but in time the most prominent brand in the country.” The team is set to leverage News Corps media outlets to push the brand and gain a slice in the lucrative yet competitive betting landscape in the country. Betr chief executive Andrew Menz told Nine newspapers: “The genesis of the idea is the wagering company, media organisation partnership.” “We’ve seen that model work so spectacularly well with Sky BET in the UK and we saw that model as the one that could supercharge the growth of an existing company … and the way to launch a start-up.” Another great offer the team has is $21 for Anamoe to win the Cox Plate which has also proven to be very popular with punters.   *Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly. Source link Originally published at Melbourne News Vine