Beat the filtering
Beat the Streak
2014.04.29 23:03 Beat the Streak
A sub dedicated to providing daily recommendations for MLB's Beat the Streak fantasy game, as well as strategy and analysis.
2013.01.02 00:52 Zaxnaaog Beat The Meatles
Revolution 9 sucks amirite??? Punchy, Granny, Who?, The Drummer. beatles has no sense of humor TheBeatles has a 65+ age requirement pinkfloydcirclejerk banned me radioheadcirclejerk who?
2018.01.22 03:09 ishmetot The Beat Saber Subreddit!
The unofficial subreddit for Beat Saber. Saberians, Beaters, Saberites, Jedi, we have many names.
2024.05.19 21:30 JustSome_Individual [18m] would love for someone to beat me at chess. Look forward to meeting worthy opponents :> (Yes, the glasses is a filter, lost my glasses at the time)
![[18m] would love for someone to beat me at chess. Look forward to meeting worthy opponents :> (Yes, the glasses is a filter, lost my glasses at the time)](https://preview.redd.it/5w7ou709qf1d1.jpeg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=b198d56cfcf74fe95a96e7c0f280eeb30369851e "[18m] would love for someone to beat me at chess. Look forward to meeting worthy opponents :> (Yes, the glasses is a filter, lost my glasses at the time)") | submitted by JustSome_Individual to TeensMeetTeens [link] [comments] |
2024.05.19 16:00 BrodogIsMyName Frontier Fantasy - Chap 39
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Edited by WaveOfWire
- - - - -
Two days… It had been two days that Tracy had gone to sleep while Harrison was working, only to come back in the morning to see him still in the workshop. She knew he was damn productive, sure, but that really couldn’t be healthy. Apparently, it had something to do with the weird bowl of orange… soup… that Cera gave him. No way was it just caffeine; any amount of the stuff would have been filtered out of his system by now. He mentioned a tingling feeling too…
Damn, she did not know enough about drugs to even start assuming what that massive alien had Harrison fucked up on. At least the scanner said he was ‘fine’—if you ignore the other glaring issues the machine brought up. Plus, he said he didn’t mind it. Either way, he managed to complete the weaving component and a few other electrical backbones of the fabricator last night, so the project was practically done, and after seeing the engineer work himself half to death, she was dead-set on finishing it.
She was currently tits-deep into the upper manufacturing portion of the towering machine. It took a tall step-stool—on top of the nearby desk—for her to push her small shoulders through the even smaller access panels high on the everything-printer. It was difficult to fit her torso in, but she managed, holding a flashlight between her teeth as she fiddled with a stubborn series of mechanical ‘hands.’ Nothing new. The situation reminded her of the ‘shop back on Mars; it had the same ever-present scent of copper and industrial sealant. All that was missing was her dad’s ancient tunes blasting through some shitty speakers… Hold on…
The modular component in her grip was successfully attached with a resonating thock. Tracy squirmed out of the dim wire-filled crevice, trying her best to not rip her only tank-top on any bolts or corners, and getting a face-full of the bright flood-lights illuminating the workshop. She scowled and blocked out the searing light with a hand, but she was a bit too late to avoid going half-blind.
“Are the mechanical manipulators in?” Harrison grunted, poking his head out underneath the printer’s floor-adjacent maintenance hatch. She looked down at him as she tried to blink off the spots in her vision. His hair was messy, barely kept in line by his habit of combing through it with his fingers. The areas around his eyes were dark and sunken… Guess that’s what two all-nighters did to a man. He’d be seeing the hat man or start hallucinating if he didn’t get any sleep soon… but then again, the two of them were so close to finishing the fabricator…
“You bet.” She gave him a thumbs up, slamming the panel cover closed. “Feel free to test it.”
He nodded and slid back underneath the machine. “Gotcha”
She gently stepped off the stool and slid off the side of the desk, stretching herself out. If her piss-poor sitting posture or her tank-top puppies hadn’t already fucked her spine up, bending over backward to build this fabricator sure as hell would. She sat down next to the panel where Harrison resided, resting her back against the fabrication tower. Her excited voice broke the muffled noises of the engineer’s work. “So… Harrison?”
“Hmm—”
“—Mind if I play some music?”
The sounds from the hatch stopped, followed by his muffled, shocked tone echoing from beneath the fabricator. “You have music!?”
She smirked at seeing the expression on his face when his head popped out again. “I sure do… Did you seriously not download any to your data pad?”
He slipped out from beneath the fabricator fully, huffing as he took a knee beside her. The scent of melded rubber, wire, and his liquid labor reached her nose not-so-unpleasantly. “You would not believe how much of a pain it is to repair an entire barracks without it… So, yeah, I didn’t.”
“Sooooooooo, whatcha wanna listen to? I’ve got almost everything on here—besides the super niche, of course.” She pulled her data pad out, swiping to the massive music folder
“You wouldn’t like the kinda music I listen to; It’s ancient.”
She gave him a lighthearted, annoyed glare. “Welcome to the club… Now what’ll it be?”
“It’s Old Earth kind of ancient… but alright” He looked up at the ceiling in thought, lips pursed. “Do you have anything from Styx or Sweet?”
She stared at him incredulously, her smirk turning into a fully-fledged smile. “Oh my God. You are an absolute dork! You actually listen to Golden Age music?”
His brows raised, accusatory. “And you somehow know exactly who those bands were and what age of Old Earth music they came from?”
She smugly leaned in closer. “That’s because I’m just as much of a nerd with that kinda music as you apparently are.” She quickly looked upward, addressing the workshop AI. “Sebas, connect nearby speakers to my data pad’s audio.” Tracy elbowed the engineer lightly as the PA system chirped its affirmation. “Now, Mr. Golden Age music, which albums do ya want me to queue up?”
- - - - -
The two of them listened to music for hours, tossing on songs they liked as they came to mind while they worked. Harrison had a ton of recommendations that spanned all over the Golden Ages and some twenty-first century classics. She didn’t even know half of them, but she was vibing either way, adding on her own taste by intermingling some older rock tracks and newer electronic beats. The playlist was steadily built up as the day went on. Thank God her dad showed her a vast array of tunes; she might not have been able to keep up with the engineer if her old man hadn't.
It made the work go by so fast, their conversations blurring as they jumped from topic to topic. They discussed whatever came to mind—old hobbies, old jobs, and old interests. A lot was left behind in Sol… At least she knew that the only other human on the planet was more interesting than a soulless workaholic. It turned out that he was a pretty big history buff, and he apparently read a lot about the colonization of the Sol system and the various wars of independence thereafter. Curious, she asked where the interest stemmed from, and he explained that his grandfather was an admiral in the Slavic-Europan deep-ice submarine fleet, which explained how Harrison’s mother was able to afford to immigrate to Mars from Europa.
He could also play an acoustic guitar, and, unfortunately for Tracy, he wasn’t even the slightest bit interested in printing one out, citing that it was a waste of time and material that would be better used elsewhere. That didn’t stop her from writing a note on her data pad to do so later, though. She hadn’t seen someone play one of those in years—the last time was probably in some old music video from the early twenty-second century. What a shame. She would have liked to hear some of the Europan songs his grandmother taught him.
On the bright side, the man seemed to take an interest in her odd hobbies. He brought up the folder of 3D models that she accidentally uploaded to the inter-module system and asked where she got the inspiration for what was in it. Boy, was he not ready for her ‘WarHalberd40k’ lore dump. Props to the guy for not standing up and leaving the workshop throughout her rambling. He even asked questions about the different factions and their weapons, which she was more than happy to talk about.
She also ended up going over the other franchises and hobbies she was interested in, such as robotics and the like. The only interruptions to their chat were the occasional Akula or Craftsman asking for insight regarding the various tasks he had allotted to them, or Shar coming in to check up on Harrison between guard shifts.
The new dynamic of the group was pretty interesting, to say the least. Tracy hadn’t been out to interact with the whole lot of Malkrin, but she definitely noticed how they treated the engineer. They’d started to look up to him in a way ever since he started showing off technology. In a little over two days, the man had shown them that he could provide the materials for a brick house, fine clothing—especially by the alien’s standards—armor, and delicious food. That wasn’t even mentioning the other benefits the technician heard a few of the ‘banished’ talking about over their meals: heating, electric lights, and other assorted machines.
She’d be feeling pretty happy about herself if she was in his position, having so many look up to him and be grateful at the same time. He seemed to view it a lot more robotically, however, only striving to get the basics done. Luckily for him, his basics were their luxury.
That wasn’t all there was to the topic; the engineer lamented about how the colony was going through food just as quickly as materials. The meals weren’t the direct issue he had, more that he had to start focusing on long-term resource harvesting rather than directly preparing for a literal horde of monsters—which wasn’t exactly ideal. It was a good thing that they just so happened to take on an influx of Malkrin then…
Either way, they finally finished the ‘totally legal modification’ for the fabricator, meaning they could at least partially address the latter half of his worries. The whole process of ripping out an old printer and replacing the parts for a new one felt a lot easier than she imagined… even if it took her at least forty-eight hours to complete it… with help from Harrison. Maybe that was why it felt so easy… She supposed the colony overseers didn’t choose the man for no reason, so his skills made sense.
“So… what do we want to print out first?” Tracy questioned, having finished testing the last major component.
The engineer stretched his arms up into the air and rotated his shoulders, then pulled back the desk’s chair and took a seat. “I’ve had just one thing in mind since the start of this whole project.”
Her brows raised in a mix of excitement and curiosity. She leaned forward, looking at the computer monitor from over his shoulder. “Oh? What’s that, then?”
A smirk formed along his cheek, the computer mouse rapidly clicking through the blueprint folder. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what kind of firearm we need since I started dabbling in belt-fed weapon systems.” He opened one final file, a short loading bar preceding the exploded assembly view of… “An M2 Browning machine gun. It’s more than powerful enough to kill in one shot, while also being capable of fully-automatic fire, with a capacity of however many rounds we want in a belt-box.”
“Uh…huh…” She gave a skeptical nod and took a step back, not exactly sold on the idea. “It looks ancient. It’s kinetic, right? Why aren’t we using energy-based weapons? Don’t we have a gunpowder shortage coming up?”
He moved his chair off to the side to look back at her. “We just can’t; Simple as. We’ll need who knows how many more AI cores before we can get started on that level of equipment, Trace,” he huffed, returning his gaze to the specifications of the firearm. “This isn’t the most ‘modern’ weapon we can make, but its twenty-first century counterpart helps with an improved design… somewhat. And, as I said before, it should be more than capable of killing a bug in one shot, so Shar can just tap-fire it to save ammunition.”
Her head tilted quizzically. “Shar?”
“Yup,” he returned confidently. “It’s the perfect weapon for her.”
She raised a brow. “How so?”
He held his hand up, counting his reasons on his fingers. “She’s always on the front line with a shield, she can absolutely handle the weight and recoil, her four arms make reloading it simple, plus she’ll need something with range and power that isn’t a spear. So, why not? And, if for some reason, she doesn’t want to use it, we can just convert it into a turret—which is something I was planning on doing anyways with however more M2s we print out later.”
“I doubt she’ll say no to any gun you give her,” Tracy chuckled while shaking her head, inadvertently causing her bangs to cover her eyes.
“Fair enough,” he conceded with a bob of his head. “What do you think, then? What kinda weapons do you have in mind?”
She reapplied her goggles into an impromptu hairband, feeling a smirk cross her face. “Thought you’d never ask. What purpose do we need these guns to fulfill? Hordes I’m guessing?”
“That’s the idea, yeah. That doesn’t mean they all need to be machine guns, though.” He tapped the belt-fed shotgun beside him.
“Well, lemme see what we’re working with first.” She suddenly stepped forward, leaning over Harrison’s seat to access the keyboard and mouse. Her arms briefly rubbed against him, forcing him to roll his chair backward. She suppressed a giggle at seeing his incredulous frown.
Her eyes quickly traced the hundreds of individual files, clicking through all sorts of folders, each arranged from pre-twenty-first century ‘antiques,’ to more modern iterations of kinetics and particle weaponry. There was… a lot on there—almost too much to reasonably comb through. Why? Did the colony overseers just say ‘fuck it’ and put whatever they could find on here? Were they expecting the pioneers to make a museum of everything?
She sighed, standing up straight and facing Harrison. “Y’know, I’m actually impressed you managed to find that M2-whatever in there…”
He shifted in his seat, resting an elbow on the desk. “Yup, there’s a lot. I’m almost tempted to just make several of those machine guns and just call it a day, but I feel like that’d be too much of a strain on resources, no?”
“I don’t really know enough about how you fight those spider-crab things, or how to get more gunpowder, so… maybe?” She shrugged, biting her cheek in contemplation. “You might just wanna make a few smaller caliber weapons… like, uh… those old kinetic service rifles. If your pump-action shotgun works fine, I’m sure some normal guns would work just fine for now, right?”
He hardily gripped his firearm, hauling it up to his lap. “Depends on what you mean by ‘smaller caliber.’ The whole reason why the KS-23 here works—” he pulled out a massive shell from the ammo belt, displaying it on his palm. “—is because the twenty-three-millimeter round has enough energy transfer to mess up any bug's shell and insides. I’d say the smallest rounds we could use would be point-two-forty-three caliber to get any similar results.”
Brief flickers of grungy orange shells and gnashing teeth marred Tracy’s sight. She forcibly suppressed them, distracting herself with dry humor and a strained laugh. “Guess those fuckers can really take a punch, huh?”
He shook his head somberly. “I couldn’t imagine going up against them without a gun… Anyway, I like your idea of a standard rifle for now. Then, when we have some product lines up, we can go a little more in depth into personal weapons.”
“So are you gonna take one?” She hopped up on the desk, letting her legs swing off the side.
“Don’t think so, no. I’ll stick with my shotty.” The internals of the heavily modified weapon rattled as he held it up and inspected it. “Doesn’t mean I’ll keep it as is. I’m thinking of printing a laser aiming module so I can point-fire it accurately, and maybe a melee-oriented muzzle brake or a lighter chassis to reduce weight… Not sure though.”
She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, her cheeks in her palms. “Melee-oriented? Oooooh, like a chain-sword or something?”
His short chuckle coerced a smirk to her face. “No, not like that. More something to use as a bludgeoning tool. Right before the blood-moon, I ended up getting just as much use out of this shotgun as a hammer than as a… well, a shotgun.”
“That’s pretty fuckin’ metal. So are you just gonna make the barrel into a giant bayonet?”
He nodded. “Not exactly a bayonet, but something more like a door-breaching break.”
A short silence settled on their conversation, the faint sounds of the fabricator’s hum and distant woodwork coming to light. Right, there was an outside world… She’d been too caught up talking to Harrison for however many hours it had been. She wondered how successful the fisherwomen were in collecting, and how things had been for the others working on the wood storage shack. Maybe it was already completed? The sun peered through the cargo bay door, proving that it was only about midday. What else would they work on today?
“Hey,” she ventured.
“Hm?” the engineer hummed, his eyes focused on the monitor beside the technician.
She scooted closer to his keyboard. “What’re we doing after this?”
“What do you mean?”
She leaned backward, propping herself up on two hands. “Project wise; what’s the next big thing?”
“Uhmmm…” he muttered, interacting with the computer for a few more seconds before finally meeting her gaze. “Well, I’ve just allocated the fabricator to print out the M2, three FALs—wood furniture, of course—then there’s the magazines and ammunition, so we’ve got a lot of time to kill. The next big thing is definitely going to be metal procurement, and— Oh, right!” Harrison stopped mid-sentence, reaching into his backpack and pulling out several finger-sized metallic cubes, a sudden fire in his eyes. “Okay, so a while ago, during an encounter with three colossi, Shar and Akula found a cave with some ‘surface’ metal deposits. I took a piece off to analyze, but never got the chance to until last night. Anyway, we don’t have any machines to examine the ore, so I made use of the recycler and broke it down to its baser components.”
She nodded along, seeing where he was going with his explanation. “I’m guessing those shiny cubes are the metals from the ore?”
“Sure is. So, as it turns out, we have a pretty damn close supply of not only iron, but also, zinc, sulfur, and a small amount of cadmium. I talked with Sebas about it and did a little research. We believe it’s something akin to sphalerite, given its composition and looks, which implies it’s a sedimentary exhalative deposit. That means there must have been some volcanic…”
Harrison continued talking about underwater deposits and ancient rock formations, bringing up some theories brought forward by the now 4-AI-core-powered Sebas, delving into the current land mass’ history and possible ore output. A lot of it went over the tradewoman’s head, but she still listened intently… Honestly, she could have listened to the man talk about finding metals for hours. It was sort of like the podcasts she used to listen to while completing colonist training, but even more personal and somehow easier to get lost in…
“…find some other minerals further down like silver, but it also might be an active lava zone. Again, these are all theories and this world could just throw the fundamentals of geology away as it does for physics. Anyway, sorry for going on for so long about that, just thought it’d be important for getting some metals in the future.”
“No, no,” Tracy assured, alleviating him of concern with a wave of her hand. “If there’s anything the colony overseers emphasized, it was farming and mineral acquisition. Don’t worry.” She smiled, pointing a thumb to herself. “I just wanna know how I can help.”
“Actually, I’ve a few things only you can do. I’d like to make use of your impressive drone-making expertise for a few applications, if you don’t mind.”
The task of keeping eye contact slipped into an impossible feat in the span of a singular second, planting a pang of embarrassment on her reddened face, forcing her to inspect her fidgeting hands. “I-I wouldn’t say ‘impressive’… b-but what do you have in mind?”
She could see him raise a brow out of the corner of her vision. “Well, after what you’ve shown me with the reconnaissance flyers, I’d like your help in setting up a more permanent ‘net’ of them to scour the meadow and parts of the nearby forest to look out for any approaching hordes. I don’t want to be snuck up on… again…”
‘Again.’
She noted his small frown and sunken eyes, both a little more exaggerated than they already were. It wasn’t like she’d deny his request, but the pangs of empathy over their shared situation all but solidified her resolve. It was the least she could do. She could help him. She would help him.
The technician exhaled slowly, taking on a more serious and understanding tone than before. “I… can do that. For sure. What else?”
“I appreciate it.” He gave a wane smile. “I’ll help you with whatever you need for the project. For the other drones, I’m thinking about a small exploration vehicle to map out caves around us and mark any minerals, as well as a submersible to look for potassium deposits in the ocean.”
“So… search bots?” She crossed her arms, confidence growing; those were her specialty. “Depending on how long the fabricators take and what kind of base drones are in the blueprint folders, I should be able to get those done in no time. All I need to know are the search cues for potassium and how many drones you want.”
He quickly shuffled a few folders on the computer, turning the monitor for her to see some scientific documents with various images and walls upon walls of text. “There’re plenty of resources for that on here for what to look for, and there’s always Sebas, so feel free to ask him since he can just sort through the data for you anyway. If you can, I’d like it if you could focus on the submersible after the reconnaissance drones.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll be right on it, then.” She gave him a thumbs up, slipping off his desk and toward her own.
“I’ll bring you lunch in a bit. Imma go check on the others,” he called.
Her stomach grumbled at the mention, her head turning to give him an appreciative smile. “Oh! Thanks!”
\= = = = =
Avian creatures chirped from their perches in the trees nearby. The wind softly rustled red leaves as grass gently gave way to calculated footfalls. A warm sun laid its light on Shar’khee’s neck. It was surprisingly pleasant, were one to take the time to notice. The mainland was a confusing place for the paladin, with its disparate representations of nature contrasting so heavily. Some days were filled with blood and ravenous beasts, while others were left within the domain of simplicity and beauty. She was content to have the latter, yet it felt like a facade veiling the former—a soft exterior covering the maliciously spiked interior. Never could she leave herself to carelessness, no matter how welcoming it might be.
Hence why she worked to ensure the safety of the star-sent’s castles and their inhabitants, her days largely spent patrolling for any roaming swarms that may wish to cause them harm. She typically used the routine to think, but today offered little in the way of solitude. This time, she was accompanied by the previously banished guardswoman, and was tasked with instructing the new one, though the specifics of what such lessons should entail were vague. Still, Shar’khee did all that she could so as not to disappoint Harrison, so she could only attempt to meet his expectations of her.
She told the yellow-skinned female of the threats that the settlement faced, how one was to defeat them, and what to expect from the beasts. The guardswoman was directed to practice her form with the spear in both thrusts and throwing for some time afterward, proving herself to be well-built. Such was expected of her profession after all.
It was pleasing to have another capable of patrolling the settlement’s outskirts for swarms, as it would greatly impact how effectively the colony could react to such a threat. If her routine was to suffer for the colony’s well-being, she was happy to show the new one her patrol route and note what to look out for.
The guardswoman was not a perfect student, however. Shar’khee never addressed it directly, but the yellow-skinned female obviously discredited the danger posed by the abhorrent, not-so-subtly shrugging off any warnings.
…That was until they stumbled upon the ‘hyena-boars,’ as Harrison called them.
The beasts resided in a clearing not too far from the castles, carelessly meandering across the sea of tall grass. Shar’khee quickly crouched, dragging the guardswoman down with her. Once she assessed that the creatures were not an imminent danger, she decided it would be an excellent opportunity to show the new one how to properly engage a threat. She was about to propose the idea, yet her speech was silenced just as swiftly.
Orange flashes darted through the trees around the glade. Taloned feet and gnashing teeth tore across the ground toward the unsuspecting beasts at the center. It was much too late for them. They were slow. Surrounded. Unaware. It was as quick as it was vicious, the forest’s reds turning a deeper crimson hue in a moment's notice underneath the abhorrent’s brutality.
Gangly monstrosities gnawed and ripped at the dead creatures, brief glimpses of raw flesh and white bone protruding from the small spaces between the clumped-up beasts. Repulsive wet splatters of blood and gore overlapped the calm noises of the forest, the grisly scene serenaded by the softest of nature’s symphonies. It was a sickening juxtaposition.
Shar’khee bit back the unease and steeled herself. They were within twenty paces—close enough to smell the abhorrent’s vile stench of rot and bile, yet far enough so as not to be noticed. She briefly considered backing away and retreating, her focus bouncing between the different avenues of escape, or how to cover her footst—
Crack.
Several sets of feral, eyeless maws snapped in their direction, the blood dripping off freshly dampened teeth. The guardswoman gasped, Shar’khee’s gaze following to see the mistake: a singular broken branch crinkled as a yellow-colored foot raised off the splintering twig.
The paladin exhaled sharply and smoothly stood up, brandishing two spears and her shield. Her glare settled on the still crouching guardswoman. “You are to stay behind my shield and let them appr—ch. Rem—ber what I have told you. Aim for their maws when you thrust y—r lance.”
The other female nodded, shakily pulling out her own weapons with unsteady placement hampering her grip. There was an obvious nervousness to her gaze. Hesitance. That would not do.
Shar’khee faced the prowling abhorrent her knuckles shifting hue as she prepared for their advance, for there was no chance that they wouldn’t. True to her experience, the stalking turned to a gallop with several clicks of grotesque tongues, the swarm bolting toward her as one. She snarled and slammed her bulwark into the ground, letting the approaching beasts skewer themselves amongst its spikes.
There were only ten—a paltry amount. She had defended against magnitudes more, and yet she still stood. What is more, they were mindless. Uncoordinated. They would be but stains in the cloth she used to clean her armor. Perhaps, if they were fortunate, they might leave a furrow in her shield to remember them by. Her arms tensed as the first leapt.
One by one, the abhorrent fell, their repulsive green blood splattering under her thrusts. Each awaiting corpse tore across the grove’s grass, lunging to their deaths with gaping maws and unfeeling hunger, yet she did not yield. Their shells were crushed by her shield and impaled by her Goddess-blessed spears, becoming but one more smear across their surface. Ten motionless lumps lay before her, seeping their ichor into the soil, none having passed the barrier she became. Dead, just as the Creator intended. She remained vigilant for a few moments longer, watching for any more of the disgusting creatures.
None showed themselves, finally allowing blood to flow to her fingers once again. The shield’s heavy presence weighed down her back, the blood flicked off of her spears before she returned them to their place.
“Are y–u well?” Shar’khee addressed the frozen Malkrin, wiping away the splatter on her bracers. The guardswoman stared at the small pile of deceased creatures, her heavy breaths and widened eyes moving from the spear from her singular kill. The paladin huffed. “We are fort—ate that there were so few.”
“F-Few? God help us…” Her horrified, stunned gaze slowly met the paladin’s. “Y-You said there were hundreds on the crimson nights? H-How do you… They were s-so fast.”*
”As I h–ve warned,” Shar’khee affirmed.
“You are a paladin! You all exaggerate your feats… I thought it was just a facade!”
“I have no r—son to lie,” she returned tersely, shrugging off the insult to her station and shaking her head. “The mainl—d is far more dangerous than ten gnash—g beasts; more so than that of your island hamlet. Pick yourself up. We m—t inform the others of this incursion.”
The yellow-skinned female snarled, furrowing her brows at the ground in frustration. At whom…? Shar’khee? Herself? Regardless, the female promptly gathered her composure, pushing air through clenched jaws. A step forward had her feet splash in the small pool of blood, the Malkrin nodding toward the paladin to continue back to the castles.
“…for the village.”
Shar’khee paused in her stride and faced her, frowning at the determination and anger leaking through the intent. “W—t was that?”
Her question was returned with honesty, a huffed voice marred by vexation. “Paladin, how am I to defend my village-mates as I am now?”
“‘As you are now?’ What do you m—n?”
The guardswoman stared down at her spear, wood creaking under her grip. “I have faltered before what you deem a paltry threat, and the thought of an even greater one sows dread deep within my bones. I wish… I wish to be better prepared to defend those of my village. I cannot help but see their faces on those of the furred creature in the clearing, and yet, even if I am so close, I am just as unable to protect them.”
Shar’khee stared down the yellow female, a long gaze taking in a rare showing of sincerity. “Y—r fears are one we all share, new one. Do not be ashamed of them. All t—t matters is that you do not let them rem—n mere fear, but make them your strength. So tell me, do you wish to impr—e? To ensure they do not fall while you are support—g them?”
The yellow-skinned female released a shuddering breath that bled off the worst of her indecision, a newly invoked flame flaring within her visage. “I do, paladin. I seek to protect and to be of use.”
“Then, if you wish to make y—rself resilient in the face of all that opposes us, it would be my undertak—g to forge you anew. Fortunately, Harrison has ordered such already, and his guidance shall prove ever useful, should you pursue it.”
The guardswoman shuffled in place at the star-sent’s mention, her eyes slipping downwards. “He is of a great many resources, but I would rather receive your teachings than those of a craftsman… or that of a male, deity-sent he might be.”
She placed a palm on the female’s shoulder. “He is far more than you might ever k—w. Regardless of if you ac—pt his guidance, I commend your conviction. However—” Her hand gripped tighter, though not enough to instill hostility. “—understand that you are protecting more than just your vi—age-mates.”
The new one nodded, staring up at the paladin with stallwart resolve. “Of course. I shall be in your tutelage, then.”
Shar’khee smiled. “T—n let us begin.”
\= = = = =
Akula was becoming increasingly certain that she knew how her parents once felt. The green-skinned fisherwoman was currently rotating between the many tasks placed upon her, guiding the newcomers through the minutia of their tasks so they might live up to the potential Harrison saw within them. She was gratified to have her own talents recognized by the Creator, but it also placed a great many responsibilities in her talons. Of course, she handled each new addition with finesse befitting her heritage, never once balking from the increasing demands. If anything, she felt validated; it was required of her as a female anyway, was it not? The more feminine-appropriate labor and management one undertakes, the higher authority they were granted.
It began with a simple assignment to oversee the chef’s introduction to the star-sent’s provided cooking appliances. As fascinating and convenient as utilities were, she held no interest in preparing any more food than she already had, but teaching another to operate the machines would alleviate such requirements of her. She reluctantly accepted the task when it was proposed, especially considering the fact that Harrison was much too busy with his other projects to bother with something as benign as cooking. His work was more valuable elsewhere.
The task itself went well, and the pink-skinned chef was quick to pick up on the use of the various kitchen devices, as well as the smoker. A grin had grown when she considered the possibility of all males understanding such domestic things readily, yet her mirth at removing the masculine job required of her was short-lived. Despite the newly initiated Malkrin’s success, Harrison had Akula frequently return to oversee the numerous cooking operations being conducted. That was in tandem with the back-to-back fishing trips made by both herself and the newly acquired females.
…Which was something else the green-skinned cycle-worshipper was ordered to oversee.
She had left the chef to his devices after producing another batch of partially seasoned meals, returning to the Creator with hopes of a break. He applauded her efforts with a nod and tersely spoken appreciation, then quickly pushed two spearguns into her hand and directed her to the ocean, where the twins were ‘working with jack shit,’ as the busy male said. She was to give the fisherwomen the tools and make sure they were used properly, and offer additional assistance in acquiring ‘enough fish to have us fed for a little bit.’
So, she left to complete the given task, feeling somewhat appreciative that her speargun was of superior quality to those she would be delivering—the newcomers were only afforded the lesser, roped-bolt version. It was only natural that she was in possession of their greatest assets, of course; the star-sent saw her as the only one capable of wielding such fantastic ammunition, showing trust that was rightfully placed in her. That did not mean the gray-skinned females were unsatisfied with their own gifts, however. The twins were swiftly caught up on the ‘manual of arms’ and sent to work, somehow managing to keep up with Akula in spite of their land-based origins. The two were fast enough to outpace the cycle-worshipper in sheer speed, but their lack of numerous winters spent traversing deeper waters meant they required frequent rests, breaking the ocean’s surface after every third captured fish or so.
Still, she had to appreciate their dedication to their task. They never complained about Akula pushing them further to reach the star-sent’s vague objective. Such a task was entrusted to her—and by proxy, the other two—and thus it would be completed, no matter how much her comfortable bed… couch called her tiring muscles.
The group of three hauled net after full net of fresh meat to the chef—and sewist, who later joined him—forcing him to relegate much of the catch to long-term storage as the kitchen simply could not deal with the surplus. At least three-quarters of the fish were put to slow cook in the now Malkrin-sized smoker. The craftsman had upgraded it with a kit provided by Harrison, who had recycled much of the dining room and workshop furniture to accommodate it. The Creator’s showcased urgency to gather materials was clearly not unfounded… It was admirable how he used what little he had left to ensure food would not be scarce. Additionally, the apparatus exuded an excellent scent for all the survivors to enjoy, the earthy aroma drawing in some of the other Malkrin for their breaks or meals.
Those were not the end of the cycle-worshiper’s tasks, however. She was also required to report on Shar’khee’s progress in training the guardswoman—helping to recycle the small swarm of abhorrent they cleared earlier—as well as the wood storage building’s progress. Indeed, she was advising and assisting however and wherever applicable. To say she was seen all around the settlement would be an understatement.
Nevertheless, she was appreciative to see her efforts bearing fruit by sundown. The processing of their meals from sea to plate was quite efficient, and those that Akula taught were now well-practiced in their duties. The twin fisherwomen dove from wave to wave, bringing fish back to the barracks, where the cook and sewist swiftly worked to transfer the meat to pans and smoker hooks alike. Then, the remnants of the Sea Goddess’ aquatic gifts would be subsequently recycled and given purpose anew as biofuel or perhaps future fertilizer.
The endless onslaught of duties and responsibilities had enlightened her, in a way. She could see where Harrison came from now; having a working project go from one point to another without input nor difficulty was a sight to behold, and it made her swell with pride. It was a surmountable feat to teach the barbaric ground-worshippers to do something properly.
…Well, they were not horrible Malkrin, so perhaps simply calling them ‘uninitiated’ was a more apt descriptor…
No matter the tribulations faced, and no matter how draining her new authority might be, her rest at the end of the day would be one that was well-earned, and it would be had with a sense of satisfaction. She deserved it, and perhaps that extended to the rest of the settlement as well.
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Next time on Total Drama Anomaly Island - Mine! Mine! Mine!
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Edited by WaveOfWire
- - - - -
Two days… It had been two days that Tracy had gone to sleep while Harrison was working, only to come back in the morning to see him still in the workshop. She knew he was damn productive, sure, but that really couldn’t be healthy. Apparently, it had something to do with the weird bowl of orange… soup… that Cera gave him. No way was it just caffeine; any amount of the stuff would have been filtered out of his system by now. He mentioned a tingling feeling too…
Damn, she did not know enough about drugs to even start assuming what that massive alien had Harrison fucked up on. At least the scanner said he was ‘fine’—if you ignore the other glaring issues the machine brought up. Plus, he said he didn’t mind it. Either way, he managed to complete the weaving component and a few other electrical backbones of the fabricator last night, so the project was practically done, and after seeing the engineer work himself half to death, she was dead-set on finishing it.
She was currently tits-deep into the upper manufacturing portion of the towering machine. It took a tall step-stool—on top of the nearby desk—for her to push her small shoulders through the even smaller access panels high on the everything-printer. It was difficult to fit her torso in, but she managed, holding a flashlight between her teeth as she fiddled with a stubborn series of mechanical ‘hands.’ Nothing new. The situation reminded her of the ‘shop back on Mars; it had the same ever-present scent of copper and industrial sealant. All that was missing was her dad’s ancient tunes blasting through some shitty speakers… Hold on…
The modular component in her grip was successfully attached with a resonating thock. Tracy squirmed out of the dim wire-filled crevice, trying her best to not rip her only tank-top on any bolts or corners, and getting a face-full of the bright flood-lights illuminating the workshop. She scowled and blocked out the searing light with a hand, but she was a bit too late to avoid going half-blind.
“Are the mechanical manipulators in?” Harrison grunted, poking his head out underneath the printer’s floor-adjacent maintenance hatch. She looked down at him as she tried to blink off the spots in her vision. His hair was messy, barely kept in line by his habit of combing through it with his fingers. The areas around his eyes were dark and sunken… Guess that’s what two all-nighters did to a man. He’d be seeing the hat man or start hallucinating if he didn’t get any sleep soon… but then again, the two of them were so close to finishing the fabricator…
“You bet.” She gave him a thumbs up, slamming the panel cover closed. “Feel free to test it.”
He nodded and slid back underneath the machine. “Gotcha”
She gently stepped off the stool and slid off the side of the desk, stretching herself out. If her piss-poor sitting posture or her tank-top puppies hadn’t already fucked her spine up, bending over backward to build this fabricator sure as hell would. She sat down next to the panel where Harrison resided, resting her back against the fabrication tower. Her excited voice broke the muffled noises of the engineer’s work. “So… Harrison?”
“Hmm—”
“—Mind if I play some music?”
The sounds from the hatch stopped, followed by his muffled, shocked tone echoing from beneath the fabricator. “You have music!?”
She smirked at seeing the expression on his face when his head popped out again. “I sure do… Did you seriously not download any to your data pad?”
He slipped out from beneath the fabricator fully, huffing as he took a knee beside her. The scent of melded rubber, wire, and his liquid labor reached her nose not-so-unpleasantly. “You would not believe how much of a pain it is to repair an entire barracks without it… So, yeah, I didn’t.”
“Sooooooooo, whatcha wanna listen to? I’ve got almost everything on here—besides the super niche, of course.” She pulled her data pad out, swiping to the massive music folder
“You wouldn’t like the kinda music I listen to; It’s ancient.”
She gave him a lighthearted, annoyed glare. “Welcome to the club… Now what’ll it be?”
“It’s Old Earth kind of ancient… but alright” He looked up at the ceiling in thought, lips pursed. “Do you have anything from Styx or Sweet?”
She stared at him incredulously, her smirk turning into a fully-fledged smile. “Oh my God. You are an absolute dork! You actually listen to Golden Age music?”
His brows raised, accusatory. “And you somehow know exactly who those bands were and what age of Old Earth music they came from?”
She smugly leaned in closer. “That’s because I’m just as much of a nerd with that kinda music as you apparently are.” She quickly looked upward, addressing the workshop AI. “Sebas, connect nearby speakers to my data pad’s audio.” Tracy elbowed the engineer lightly as the PA system chirped its affirmation. “Now, Mr. Golden Age music, which albums do ya want me to queue up?”
- - - - -
The two of them listened to music for hours, tossing on songs they liked as they came to mind while they worked. Harrison had a ton of recommendations that spanned all over the Golden Ages and some twenty-first century classics. She didn’t even know half of them, but she was vibing either way, adding on her own taste by intermingling some older rock tracks and newer electronic beats. The playlist was steadily built up as the day went on. Thank God her dad showed her a vast array of tunes; she might not have been able to keep up with the engineer if her old man hadn't.
It made the work go by so fast, their conversations blurring as they jumped from topic to topic. They discussed whatever came to mind—old hobbies, old jobs, and old interests. A lot was left behind in Sol… At least she knew that the only other human on the planet was more interesting than a soulless workaholic. It turned out that he was a pretty big history buff, and he apparently read a lot about the colonization of the Sol system and the various wars of independence thereafter. Curious, she asked where the interest stemmed from, and he explained that his grandfather was an admiral in the Slavic-Europan deep-ice submarine fleet, which explained how Harrison’s mother was able to afford to immigrate to Mars from Europa.
He could also play an acoustic guitar, and, unfortunately for Tracy, he wasn’t even the slightest bit interested in printing one out, citing that it was a waste of time and material that would be better used elsewhere. That didn’t stop her from writing a note on her data pad to do so later, though. She hadn’t seen someone play one of those in years—the last time was probably in some old music video from the early twenty-second century. What a shame. She would have liked to hear some of the Europan songs his grandmother taught him.
On the bright side, the man seemed to take an interest in her odd hobbies. He brought up the folder of 3D models that she accidentally uploaded to the inter-module system and asked where she got the inspiration for what was in it. Boy, was he not ready for her ‘WarHalberd40k’ lore dump. Props to the guy for not standing up and leaving the workshop throughout her rambling. He even asked questions about the different factions and their weapons, which she was more than happy to talk about.
She also ended up going over the other franchises and hobbies she was interested in, such as robotics and the like. The only interruptions to their chat were the occasional Akula or Craftsman asking for insight regarding the various tasks he had allotted to them, or Shar coming in to check up on Harrison between guard shifts.
The new dynamic of the group was pretty interesting, to say the least. Tracy hadn’t been out to interact with the whole lot of Malkrin, but she definitely noticed how they treated the engineer. They’d started to look up to him in a way ever since he started showing off technology. In a little over two days, the man had shown them that he could provide the materials for a brick house, fine clothing—especially by the alien’s standards—armor, and delicious food. That wasn’t even mentioning the other benefits the technician heard a few of the ‘banished’ talking about over their meals: heating, electric lights, and other assorted machines.
She’d be feeling pretty happy about herself if she was in his position, having so many look up to him and be grateful at the same time. He seemed to view it a lot more robotically, however, only striving to get the basics done. Luckily for him, his basics were their luxury.
That wasn’t all there was to the topic; the engineer lamented about how the colony was going through food just as quickly as materials. The meals weren’t the direct issue he had, more that he had to start focusing on long-term resource harvesting rather than directly preparing for a literal horde of monsters—which wasn’t exactly ideal. It was a good thing that they just so happened to take on an influx of Malkrin then…
Either way, they finally finished the ‘totally legal modification’ for the fabricator, meaning they could at least partially address the latter half of his worries. The whole process of ripping out an old printer and replacing the parts for a new one felt a lot easier than she imagined… even if it took her at least forty-eight hours to complete it… with help from Harrison. Maybe that was why it felt so easy… She supposed the colony overseers didn’t choose the man for no reason, so his skills made sense.
“So… what do we want to print out first?” Tracy questioned, having finished testing the last major component.
The engineer stretched his arms up into the air and rotated his shoulders, then pulled back the desk’s chair and took a seat. “I’ve had just one thing in mind since the start of this whole project.”
Her brows raised in a mix of excitement and curiosity. She leaned forward, looking at the computer monitor from over his shoulder. “Oh? What’s that, then?”
A smirk formed along his cheek, the computer mouse rapidly clicking through the blueprint folder. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what kind of firearm we need since I started dabbling in belt-fed weapon systems.” He opened one final file, a short loading bar preceding the exploded assembly view of… “An M2 Browning machine gun. It’s more than powerful enough to kill in one shot, while also being capable of fully-automatic fire, with a capacity of however many rounds we want in a belt-box.”
“Uh…huh…” She gave a skeptical nod and took a step back, not exactly sold on the idea. “It looks ancient. It’s kinetic, right? Why aren’t we using energy-based weapons? Don’t we have a gunpowder shortage coming up?”
He moved his chair off to the side to look back at her. “We just can’t; Simple as. We’ll need who knows how many more AI cores before we can get started on that level of equipment, Trace,” he huffed, returning his gaze to the specifications of the firearm. “This isn’t the most ‘modern’ weapon we can make, but its twenty-first century counterpart helps with an improved design… somewhat. And, as I said before, it should be more than capable of killing a bug in one shot, so Shar can just tap-fire it to save ammunition.”
Her head tilted quizzically. “Shar?”
“Yup,” he returned confidently. “It’s the perfect weapon for her.”
She raised a brow. “How so?”
He held his hand up, counting his reasons on his fingers. “She’s always on the front line with a shield, she can absolutely handle the weight and recoil, her four arms make reloading it simple, plus she’ll need something with range and power that isn’t a spear. So, why not? And, if for some reason, she doesn’t want to use it, we can just convert it into a turret—which is something I was planning on doing anyways with however more M2s we print out later.”
“I doubt she’ll say no to any gun you give her,” Tracy chuckled while shaking her head, inadvertently causing her bangs to cover her eyes.
“Fair enough,” he conceded with a bob of his head. “What do you think, then? What kinda weapons do you have in mind?”
She reapplied her goggles into an impromptu hairband, feeling a smirk cross her face. “Thought you’d never ask. What purpose do we need these guns to fulfill? Hordes I’m guessing?”
“That’s the idea, yeah. That doesn’t mean they all need to be machine guns, though.” He tapped the belt-fed shotgun beside him.
“Well, lemme see what we’re working with first.” She suddenly stepped forward, leaning over Harrison’s seat to access the keyboard and mouse. Her arms briefly rubbed against him, forcing him to roll his chair backward. She suppressed a giggle at seeing his incredulous frown.
Her eyes quickly traced the hundreds of individual files, clicking through all sorts of folders, each arranged from pre-twenty-first century ‘antiques,’ to more modern iterations of kinetics and particle weaponry. There was… a lot on there—almost too much to reasonably comb through. Why? Did the colony overseers just say ‘fuck it’ and put whatever they could find on here? Were they expecting the pioneers to make a museum of everything?
She sighed, standing up straight and facing Harrison. “Y’know, I’m actually impressed you managed to find that M2-whatever in there…”
He shifted in his seat, resting an elbow on the desk. “Yup, there’s a lot. I’m almost tempted to just make several of those machine guns and just call it a day, but I feel like that’d be too much of a strain on resources, no?”
“I don’t really know enough about how you fight those spider-crab things, or how to get more gunpowder, so… maybe?” She shrugged, biting her cheek in contemplation. “You might just wanna make a few smaller caliber weapons… like, uh… those old kinetic service rifles. If your pump-action shotgun works fine, I’m sure some normal guns would work just fine for now, right?”
He hardily gripped his firearm, hauling it up to his lap. “Depends on what you mean by ‘smaller caliber.’ The whole reason why the KS-23 here works—” he pulled out a massive shell from the ammo belt, displaying it on his palm. “—is because the twenty-three-millimeter round has enough energy transfer to mess up any bug's shell and insides. I’d say the smallest rounds we could use would be point-two-forty-three caliber to get any similar results.”
Brief flickers of grungy orange shells and gnashing teeth marred Tracy’s sight. She forcibly suppressed them, distracting herself with dry humor and a strained laugh. “Guess those fuckers can really take a punch, huh?”
He shook his head somberly. “I couldn’t imagine going up against them without a gun… Anyway, I like your idea of a standard rifle for now. Then, when we have some product lines up, we can go a little more in depth into personal weapons.”
“So are you gonna take one?” She hopped up on the desk, letting her legs swing off the side.
“Don’t think so, no. I’ll stick with my shotty.” The internals of the heavily modified weapon rattled as he held it up and inspected it. “Doesn’t mean I’ll keep it as is. I’m thinking of printing a laser aiming module so I can point-fire it accurately, and maybe a melee-oriented muzzle brake or a lighter chassis to reduce weight… Not sure though.”
She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, her cheeks in her palms. “Melee-oriented? Oooooh, like a chain-sword or something?”
His short chuckle coerced a smirk to her face. “No, not like that. More something to use as a bludgeoning tool. Right before the blood-moon, I ended up getting just as much use out of this shotgun as a hammer than as a… well, a shotgun.”
“That’s pretty fuckin’ metal. So are you just gonna make the barrel into a giant bayonet?”
He nodded. “Not exactly a bayonet, but something more like a door-breaching break.”
A short silence settled on their conversation, the faint sounds of the fabricator’s hum and distant woodwork coming to light. Right, there was an outside world… She’d been too caught up talking to Harrison for however many hours it had been. She wondered how successful the fisherwomen were in collecting, and how things had been for the others working on the wood storage shack. Maybe it was already completed? The sun peered through the cargo bay door, proving that it was only about midday. What else would they work on today?
“Hey,” she ventured.
“Hm?” the engineer hummed, his eyes focused on the monitor beside the technician.
She scooted closer to his keyboard. “What’re we doing after this?”
“What do you mean?”
She leaned backward, propping herself up on two hands. “Project wise; what’s the next big thing?”
“Uhmmm…” he muttered, interacting with the computer for a few more seconds before finally meeting her gaze. “Well, I’ve just allocated the fabricator to print out the M2, three FALs—wood furniture, of course—then there’s the magazines and ammunition, so we’ve got a lot of time to kill. The next big thing is definitely going to be metal procurement, and— Oh, right!” Harrison stopped mid-sentence, reaching into his backpack and pulling out several finger-sized metallic cubes, a sudden fire in his eyes. “Okay, so a while ago, during an encounter with three colossi, Shar and Akula found a cave with some ‘surface’ metal deposits. I took a piece off to analyze, but never got the chance to until last night. Anyway, we don’t have any machines to examine the ore, so I made use of the recycler and broke it down to its baser components.”
She nodded along, seeing where he was going with his explanation. “I’m guessing those shiny cubes are the metals from the ore?”
“Sure is. So, as it turns out, we have a pretty damn close supply of not only iron, but also, zinc, sulfur, and a small amount of cadmium. I talked with Sebas about it and did a little research. We believe it’s something akin to sphalerite, given its composition and looks, which implies it’s a sedimentary exhalative deposit. That means there must have been some volcanic…”
Harrison continued talking about underwater deposits and ancient rock formations, bringing up some theories brought forward by the now 4-AI-core-powered Sebas, delving into the current land mass’ history and possible ore output. A lot of it went over the tradewoman’s head, but she still listened intently… Honestly, she could have listened to the man talk about finding metals for hours. It was sort of like the podcasts she used to listen to while completing colonist training, but even more personal and somehow easier to get lost in…
“…find some other minerals further down like silver, but it also might be an active lava zone. Again, these are all theories and this world could just throw the fundamentals of geology away as it does for physics. Anyway, sorry for going on for so long about that, just thought it’d be important for getting some metals in the future.”
“No, no,” Tracy assured, alleviating him of concern with a wave of her hand. “If there’s anything the colony overseers emphasized, it was farming and mineral acquisition. Don’t worry.” She smiled, pointing a thumb to herself. “I just wanna know how I can help.”
“Actually, I’ve a few things only you can do. I’d like to make use of your impressive drone-making expertise for a few applications, if you don’t mind.”
The task of keeping eye contact slipped into an impossible feat in the span of a singular second, planting a pang of embarrassment on her reddened face, forcing her to inspect her fidgeting hands. “I-I wouldn’t say ‘impressive’… b-but what do you have in mind?”
She could see him raise a brow out of the corner of her vision. “Well, after what you’ve shown me with the reconnaissance flyers, I’d like your help in setting up a more permanent ‘net’ of them to scour the meadow and parts of the nearby forest to look out for any approaching hordes. I don’t want to be snuck up on… again…”
‘Again.’
She noted his small frown and sunken eyes, both a little more exaggerated than they already were. It wasn’t like she’d deny his request, but the pangs of empathy over their shared situation all but solidified her resolve. It was the least she could do. She could help him. She would help him.
The technician exhaled slowly, taking on a more serious and understanding tone than before. “I… can do that. For sure. What else?”
“I appreciate it.” He gave a wane smile. “I’ll help you with whatever you need for the project. For the other drones, I’m thinking about a small exploration vehicle to map out caves around us and mark any minerals, as well as a submersible to look for potassium deposits in the ocean.”
“So… search bots?” She crossed her arms, confidence growing; those were her specialty. “Depending on how long the fabricators take and what kind of base drones are in the blueprint folders, I should be able to get those done in no time. All I need to know are the search cues for potassium and how many drones you want.”
He quickly shuffled a few folders on the computer, turning the monitor for her to see some scientific documents with various images and walls upon walls of text. “There’re plenty of resources for that on here for what to look for, and there’s always Sebas, so feel free to ask him since he can just sort through the data for you anyway. If you can, I’d like it if you could focus on the submersible after the reconnaissance drones.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll be right on it, then.” She gave him a thumbs up, slipping off his desk and toward her own.
“I’ll bring you lunch in a bit. Imma go check on the others,” he called.
Her stomach grumbled at the mention, her head turning to give him an appreciative smile. “Oh! Thanks!”
\= = = = =
Avian creatures chirped from their perches in the trees nearby. The wind softly rustled red leaves as grass gently gave way to calculated footfalls. A warm sun laid its light on Shar’khee’s neck. It was surprisingly pleasant, were one to take the time to notice. The mainland was a confusing place for the paladin, with its disparate representations of nature contrasting so heavily. Some days were filled with blood and ravenous beasts, while others were left within the domain of simplicity and beauty. She was content to have the latter, yet it felt like a facade veiling the former—a soft exterior covering the maliciously spiked interior. Never could she leave herself to carelessness, no matter how welcoming it might be.
Hence why she worked to ensure the safety of the star-sent’s castles and their inhabitants, her days largely spent patrolling for any roaming swarms that may wish to cause them harm. She typically used the routine to think, but today offered little in the way of solitude. This time, she was accompanied by the previously banished guardswoman, and was tasked with instructing the new one, though the specifics of what such lessons should entail were vague. Still, Shar’khee did all that she could so as not to disappoint Harrison, so she could only attempt to meet his expectations of her.
She told the yellow-skinned female of the threats that the settlement faced, how one was to defeat them, and what to expect from the beasts. The guardswoman was directed to practice her form with the spear in both thrusts and throwing for some time afterward, proving herself to be well-built. Such was expected of her profession after all.
It was pleasing to have another capable of patrolling the settlement’s outskirts for swarms, as it would greatly impact how effectively the colony could react to such a threat. If her routine was to suffer for the colony’s well-being, she was happy to show the new one her patrol route and note what to look out for.
The guardswoman was not a perfect student, however. Shar’khee never addressed it directly, but the yellow-skinned female obviously discredited the danger posed by the abhorrent, not-so-subtly shrugging off any warnings.
…That was until they stumbled upon the ‘hyena-boars,’ as Harrison called them.
The beasts resided in a clearing not too far from the castles, carelessly meandering across the sea of tall grass. Shar’khee quickly crouched, dragging the guardswoman down with her. Once she assessed that the creatures were not an imminent danger, she decided it would be an excellent opportunity to show the new one how to properly engage a threat. She was about to propose the idea, yet her speech was silenced just as swiftly.
Orange flashes darted through the trees around the glade. Taloned feet and gnashing teeth tore across the ground toward the unsuspecting beasts at the center. It was much too late for them. They were slow. Surrounded. Unaware. It was as quick as it was vicious, the forest’s reds turning a deeper crimson hue in a moment's notice underneath the abhorrent’s brutality.
Gangly monstrosities gnawed and ripped at the dead creatures, brief glimpses of raw flesh and white bone protruding from the small spaces between the clumped-up beasts. Repulsive wet splatters of blood and gore overlapped the calm noises of the forest, the grisly scene serenaded by the softest of nature’s symphonies. It was a sickening juxtaposition.
Shar’khee bit back the unease and steeled herself. They were within twenty paces—close enough to smell the abhorrent’s vile stench of rot and bile, yet far enough so as not to be noticed. She briefly considered backing away and retreating, her focus bouncing between the different avenues of escape, or how to cover her footst—
Crack.
Several sets of feral, eyeless maws snapped in their direction, the blood dripping off freshly dampened teeth. The guardswoman gasped, Shar’khee’s gaze following to see the mistake: a singular broken branch crinkled as a yellow-colored foot raised off the splintering twig.
The paladin exhaled sharply and smoothly stood up, brandishing two spears and her shield. Her glare settled on the still crouching guardswoman. “You are to stay behind my shield and let them appr—ch. Rem—ber what I have told you. Aim for their maws when you thrust y—r lance.”
The other female nodded, shakily pulling out her own weapons with unsteady placement hampering her grip. There was an obvious nervousness to her gaze. Hesitance. That would not do.
Shar’khee faced the prowling abhorrent her knuckles shifting hue as she prepared for their advance, for there was no chance that they wouldn’t. True to her experience, the stalking turned to a gallop with several clicks of grotesque tongues, the swarm bolting toward her as one. She snarled and slammed her bulwark into the ground, letting the approaching beasts skewer themselves amongst its spikes.
There were only ten—a paltry amount. She had defended against magnitudes more, and yet she still stood. What is more, they were mindless. Uncoordinated. They would be but stains in the cloth she used to clean her armor. Perhaps, if they were fortunate, they might leave a furrow in her shield to remember them by. Her arms tensed as the first leapt.
One by one, the abhorrent fell, their repulsive green blood splattering under her thrusts. Each awaiting corpse tore across the grove’s grass, lunging to their deaths with gaping maws and unfeeling hunger, yet she did not yield. Their shells were crushed by her shield and impaled by her Goddess-blessed spears, becoming but one more smear across their surface. Ten motionless lumps lay before her, seeping their ichor into the soil, none having passed the barrier she became. Dead, just as the Creator intended. She remained vigilant for a few moments longer, watching for any more of the disgusting creatures.
None showed themselves, finally allowing blood to flow to her fingers once again. The shield’s heavy presence weighed down her back, the blood flicked off of her spears before she returned them to their place.
“Are y–u well?” Shar’khee addressed the frozen Malkrin, wiping away the splatter on her bracers. The guardswoman stared at the small pile of deceased creatures, her heavy breaths and widened eyes moving from the spear from her singular kill. The paladin huffed. “We are fort—ate that there were so few.”
“F-Few? God help us…” Her horrified, stunned gaze slowly met the paladin’s. “Y-You said there were hundreds on the crimson nights? H-How do you… They were s-so fast.”*
”As I h–ve warned,” Shar’khee affirmed.
“You are a paladin! You all exaggerate your feats… I thought it was just a facade!”
“I have no r—son to lie,” she returned tersely, shrugging off the insult to her station and shaking her head. “The mainl—d is far more dangerous than ten gnash—g beasts; more so than that of your island hamlet. Pick yourself up. We m—t inform the others of this incursion.”
The yellow-skinned female snarled, furrowing her brows at the ground in frustration. At whom…? Shar’khee? Herself? Regardless, the female promptly gathered her composure, pushing air through clenched jaws. A step forward had her feet splash in the small pool of blood, the Malkrin nodding toward the paladin to continue back to the castles.
“…for the village.”
Shar’khee paused in her stride and faced her, frowning at the determination and anger leaking through the intent. “W—t was that?”
Her question was returned with honesty, a huffed voice marred by vexation. “Paladin, how am I to defend my village-mates as I am now?”
“‘As you are now?’ What do you m—n?”
The guardswoman stared down at her spear, wood creaking under her grip. “I have faltered before what you deem a paltry threat, and the thought of an even greater one sows dread deep within my bones. I wish… I wish to be better prepared to defend those of my village. I cannot help but see their faces on those of the furred creature in the clearing, and yet, even if I am so close, I am just as unable to protect them.”
Shar’khee stared down the yellow female, a long gaze taking in a rare showing of sincerity. “Y—r fears are one we all share, new one. Do not be ashamed of them. All t—t matters is that you do not let them rem—n mere fear, but make them your strength. So tell me, do you wish to impr—e? To ensure they do not fall while you are support—g them?”
The yellow-skinned female released a shuddering breath that bled off the worst of her indecision, a newly invoked flame flaring within her visage. “I do, paladin. I seek to protect and to be of use.”
“Then, if you wish to make y—rself resilient in the face of all that opposes us, it would be my undertak—g to forge you anew. Fortunately, Harrison has ordered such already, and his guidance shall prove ever useful, should you pursue it.”
The guardswoman shuffled in place at the star-sent’s mention, her eyes slipping downwards. “He is of a great many resources, but I would rather receive your teachings than those of a craftsman… or that of a male, deity-sent he might be.”
She placed a palm on the female’s shoulder. “He is far more than you might ever k—w. Regardless of if you ac—pt his guidance, I commend your conviction. However—” Her hand gripped tighter, though not enough to instill hostility. “—understand that you are protecting more than just your vi—age-mates.”
The new one nodded, staring up at the paladin with stallwart resolve. “Of course. I shall be in your tutelage, then.”
Shar’khee smiled. “T—n let us begin.”
\= = = = =
Akula was becoming increasingly certain that she knew how her parents once felt. The green-skinned fisherwoman was currently rotating between the many tasks placed upon her, guiding the newcomers through the minutia of their tasks so they might live up to the potential Harrison saw within them. She was gratified to have her own talents recognized by the Creator, but it also placed a great many responsibilities in her talons. Of course, she handled each new addition with finesse befitting her heritage, never once balking from the increasing demands. If anything, she felt validated; it was required of her as a female anyway, was it not? The more feminine-appropriate labor and management one undertakes, the higher authority they were granted.
It began with a simple assignment to oversee the chef’s introduction to the star-sent’s provided cooking appliances. As fascinating and convenient as utilities were, she held no interest in preparing any more food than she already had, but teaching another to operate the machines would alleviate such requirements of her. She reluctantly accepted the task when it was proposed, especially considering the fact that Harrison was much too busy with his other projects to bother with something as benign as cooking. His work was more valuable elsewhere.
The task itself went well, and the pink-skinned chef was quick to pick up on the use of the various kitchen devices, as well as the smoker. A grin had grown when she considered the possibility of all males understanding such domestic things readily, yet her mirth at removing the masculine job required of her was short-lived. Despite the newly initiated Malkrin’s success, Harrison had Akula frequently return to oversee the numerous cooking operations being conducted. That was in tandem with the back-to-back fishing trips made by both herself and the newly acquired females.
…Which was something else the green-skinned cycle-worshipper was ordered to oversee.
She had left the chef to his devices after producing another batch of partially seasoned meals, returning to the Creator with hopes of a break. He applauded her efforts with a nod and tersely spoken appreciation, then quickly pushed two spearguns into her hand and directed her to the ocean, where the twins were ‘working with jack shit,’ as the busy male said. She was to give the fisherwomen the tools and make sure they were used properly, and offer additional assistance in acquiring ‘enough fish to have us fed for a little bit.’
So, she left to complete the given task, feeling somewhat appreciative that her speargun was of superior quality to those she would be delivering—the newcomers were only afforded the lesser, roped-bolt version. It was only natural that she was in possession of their greatest assets, of course; the star-sent saw her as the only one capable of wielding such fantastic ammunition, showing trust that was rightfully placed in her. That did not mean the gray-skinned females were unsatisfied with their own gifts, however. The twins were swiftly caught up on the ‘manual of arms’ and sent to work, somehow managing to keep up with Akula in spite of their land-based origins. The two were fast enough to outpace the cycle-worshipper in sheer speed, but their lack of numerous winters spent traversing deeper waters meant they required frequent rests, breaking the ocean’s surface after every third captured fish or so.
Still, she had to appreciate their dedication to their task. They never complained about Akula pushing them further to reach the star-sent’s vague objective. Such a task was entrusted to her—and by proxy, the other two—and thus it would be completed, no matter how much her comfortable bed… couch called her tiring muscles.
The group of three hauled net after full net of fresh meat to the chef—and sewist, who later joined him—forcing him to relegate much of the catch to long-term storage as the kitchen simply could not deal with the surplus. At least three-quarters of the fish were put to slow cook in the now Malkrin-sized smoker. The craftsman had upgraded it with a kit provided by Harrison, who had recycled much of the dining room and workshop furniture to accommodate it. The Creator’s showcased urgency to gather materials was clearly not unfounded… It was admirable how he used what little he had left to ensure food would not be scarce. Additionally, the apparatus exuded an excellent scent for all the survivors to enjoy, the earthy aroma drawing in some of the other Malkrin for their breaks or meals.
Those were not the end of the cycle-worshiper’s tasks, however. She was also required to report on Shar’khee’s progress in training the guardswoman—helping to recycle the small swarm of abhorrent they cleared earlier—as well as the wood storage building’s progress. Indeed, she was advising and assisting however and wherever applicable. To say she was seen all around the settlement would be an understatement.
Nevertheless, she was appreciative to see her efforts bearing fruit by sundown. The processing of their meals from sea to plate was quite efficient, and those that Akula taught were now well-practiced in their duties. The twin fisherwomen dove from wave to wave, bringing fish back to the barracks, where the cook and sewist swiftly worked to transfer the meat to pans and smoker hooks alike. Then, the remnants of the Sea Goddess’ aquatic gifts would be subsequently recycled and given purpose anew as biofuel or perhaps future fertilizer.
The endless onslaught of duties and responsibilities had enlightened her, in a way. She could see where Harrison came from now; having a working project go from one point to another without input nor difficulty was a sight to behold, and it made her swell with pride. It was a surmountable feat to teach the barbaric ground-worshippers to do something properly.
…Well, they were not horrible Malkrin, so perhaps simply calling them ‘uninitiated’ was a more apt descriptor…
No matter the tribulations faced, and no matter how draining her new authority might be, her rest at the end of the day would be one that was well-earned, and it would be had with a sense of satisfaction. She deserved it, and perhaps that extended to the rest of the settlement as well.
- - - - -
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Next time on Total Drama Anomaly Island - Mine! Mine! Mine!
2024.05.19 15:30 xiaolii [H] Lots of Games [W] Trade for Games or Paypal (EU)
Last Updated List: 19/05/2024
I'm primarily looking to trade for games from my wishlist, otherwise I am also open to selling them. I am not interested in games I already have and all games I'm getting are for me and activated on my own account. Other than that feel free to offer your list of Steam games and something I may not have and fulfills my criteria I could/would be willing to trade for it/them.
Info:
I kindly ask of you is to be reasonable when making offers to make it a fair trade for both of us.
Let's have a good exchange/trade!
List of games:
submitted by xiaolii to GameTrade [link] [comments]
I'm primarily looking to trade for games from my wishlist, otherwise I am also open to selling them. I am not interested in games I already have and all games I'm getting are for me and activated on my own account. Other than that feel free to offer your list of Steam games and something I may not have and fulfills my criteria I could/would be willing to trade for it/them.
- To trade you must respond to this thread first, I will not respond or accept anyone outside of this thread, only exception are unless we've traded more than once before.
- Only interested in trading for games on Steam.
- I don't do Humble gifts whether receiving or giving, all my keys are in unrevealed form right after purchase.
- No interest in any keys from an unofficial retailesource (aka grey market), curatoreviewer keys (aka beta/reviewebeta-testing/etc.), abandonware, keys for games that are already free on Steam itself, Steam profile-limited keys, and only slight interest in VR-titles and/or de-listed games (no banned games).
- Anything marked as wishlist/paypal, it's self-explanatory and I won't look through lists.
- All my keys are EU keys, if you are outside of EU, make sure you double check for any region locks for your country. For quite a few which I was aware of I already listed the region lock, however this is not my responsibility as I did specify the key's region.
- When buying, I only accept payments in Euro's. Minimum purchase of €1,00. Fees are on buyer.
Info:
- Region (and keys region): Europe
- IGS Rep Page
- SteamTrades
- SteamRep
I kindly ask of you is to be reasonable when making offers to make it a fair trade for both of us.
Let's have a good exchange/trade!
List of games:
- 100% Orange Juice
- 16bit Trader
- 20XX
- 4089: Ghost Within
- 9 Years of Shadows
- 911 Operator
- A Demon's Game - Episode 1
- A Game of Changes
- A Juggler's Tale
- A Normal Lost Phone
- A Plague Tale: Innocence (wishlist or Paypal only)
- A Tale of Paper: Refolded
- ABZU
- Aces and Adventures
- Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion
- Afterimage (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Afterparty
- Airborne Kingdom
- Alien Breed 2: Assault
- Alone in the Dark (2008)
- Amanda the Adventurer
- AMID EVIL
- Amnesia: Rebirth
- An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire
- Animal Shelter (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Anomaly II
- Anomaly: Warzone Earth
- Arcade Paradise
- Arcade Spirits
- Archipelago
- Arizona Sunshine: Deluxe Edition
- Arto (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Ary and the Secret of Seasons
- As Far As The Eye
- Ashina: The Red Witch
- Athena Trivia
- Attack of the Earthlings
- Autonauts
- Autonauts vs PirateBots
- Axiom Verge
- Axiom Verge 2 (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Back 4 Blood (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Backstage Pass
- Baobabs Mausoleum Ep. 1 Ovnifagos Don't Eat Flamingos
- Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
- Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition
- Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
- BattleTrucks
- Beacon Pines (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Beat Or Die The MiniGames
- Beholder
- Ben 10: Power Trip
- Beyond the Long Night
- Big Crown®: Showdown
- Bighead Runner
- Bionic Commando
- Biosys Inc
- bit Dungeon II
- Black Book
- Black Paradox
- Black Skylands
- Blackguards
- Blackguards 2
- Blasphemous (Region Lock: EU/US only)
- Bleep Bloop
- Blind Fate: Edo no Yami
- BLOCKADE War Stories
- Blood And Zombies
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (wishlist or Paypal only)
- BomberZone
- BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
- Brick Breaker
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps And Beans- Buggos
- Calico
- Caliper
- Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
- Cardboard Town
- Carton
- Castle Defender
- CastleStorm
- Cat on a Diet
- Caveblazers
- Cavity Busters
- CHESS CROWN
- Chicago 1930 : The Prohibition
- Children of Silentown
- Chorus (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Chronicon
- Citizen Sleeper
- City Siege: Faction Island
- Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues
- Colortone
- Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
- Company of Heroes 2
- Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes Assault
- Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies: Oberkommando West
- Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
- Cook, Serve, Delicious!
- Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Cookie Cutter (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Copy Kitty
- Coromon
- Corrupted
- Cosmic Star Heroine
- Crash Drive 2
- Crazy Machines 3
- Creepy Tale 3: Ingrid Penance
- CRYPTARK
- Crystals of Time
- Cthulhu Saves Christmas
- Curse: The Eye of Isis
- Cybercube
- Dad Quest
- Dark Deity
- Daymare: 1998
- Dead Estate
- Deadlink (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
- Death's Gambit: Afterlife
- Deathtrap
- Decarnation (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Decay: The Mare
- Deceive Inc.
- Decks Of Power
- Deep Despair 2
- Deflector
- Deponia
- Desert Parkour
- DESOLATE
- Destroy All Humans!
- Dicey Dungeons
- Dinosaur Fossil Hunter
- Disciples II: Rise of the Elves
- Dishonored
- Dogfight 1942
- DOOM II
- Drawful 2
- Dread Templar
- Dread X Collection
- Dread X Collection 2
- Dread X Collection 3
- Dread X Collection 5
- Dread X Collection: The Hunt
- Dreamscaper
- DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders
- Driftland: The Magic Revival
- Drunken Robot Pornography
- Dungeons
- Dungeons 2
- Dungeons 3
- DUSK
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair + 18 DLCs (Complete)
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 WINGDIVER THE SHOOTER
- Eldest Souls
- ELEX II (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Eternal Threads
- Everhood
- Evil Genius 2: World Domination
- Evoland Legendary Edition
- Expect The Unexpected
- Extinction: Deluxe Edition
- Factory Town
- Fairy Escape
- Fall of Porcupine (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Fantasy Kingdom Simulator
- FAR: Lone Sails
- Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Rise of SH1FT3R
- Feel-A-Maze
- Fight'N Rage
- Figment
- Finding Paradise
- Firelight Fantasy: Resistance
- First Class Trouble
- Fishermurs
- Flashback
- Fly O'Clock
- For The King
- Forgive me Father
- Fred3ric
- Frederic: Evil Strikes Back
- Frederic: Resurrection of Music
- From Space
- Frostpunk
- Fury Unleashed
- Garden In!
- Garfield Kart
- Garfield Kart - Furious Racing
- Generation Zero
- Get In The Car, Loser!
- Gloria Victis
- Going Under
- Golden Light
- Golf It!
- Gone: Survival
- Good Night, Knight
- Gotham Knights (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Graveyard Keeper
- Gray Dawn
- GRIP: Combat Racing
- Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
- Guts and Glory
- GYLT (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Haegemonia: Legions of Iron
- Hamilton's Great Adventure
- Hands of Necromancy
- Hard West
- Heads Will Roll
- Hell Pie
- Hellbound
- HELLCARD
- Hellslave
- Hi-Fi RUSH (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Hollow Knight (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story?!
- Homestead Arcana
- Home Sweet Home
- Homeworld Remastered Collection
- Honey, I Joined a Cult
- Hue
- Human Fall Flat
- I Am Fish
- Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure
- ICEY
- Inertial Drift
- Inexistence Rebirth
- Injustice 2 Legendary Edition
- Internet Cafe Simulator 2
- Interstellar Space: Genesis
- Is Simon There?
- ITORAH
- Jagged Alliance: Rage!
- JANITOR BLEEDS
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition
- JUMANJI: The Video Game
- Junkyard Fury 2
- Just Die Already
- Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
- Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
- King Arthur Collection (Sub ID 25825)
- King of Dragon Pass
- King Of The Castle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance + Band of Bastards DLC (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Kingdom Wars 2: Definitive Edition
- Kingdom Wars 4
- King's Bounty: Armored Princess
- Kitaria Fables
- Kitchen Simulator 2015
- Kraken Academy!!
- Kyle is Famous: Complete Edition
- Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager
- Leisure Suit Larry 7 - Love for Sail
- Life is Strange: True Colors (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Lila’s Sky Ark
- Little Orpheus
- Loddlenaut
- Loop Hero
- Lord of the Dark Castle
- Lords and Villeins
- Lords of Football
- Lost Castle
- Lost Planet 3 Complete Pack
- Lucius III
- Lumberhill
- LunarLux
- Mad Max
- Mafia III: Definitive Edition (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mago
- Maid of Sker
- Mail Time
- Main Assembly
- Maneater
- MARSUPILAMI - HOOBADVENTURE (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Marvel's Midnight Suns + DLC (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mechs & Mercs: Black Talons
- Medieval Kingdom Wars
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- MegaRace 1
- MegaRace 2
- MegaRace 3
- Men of War
- Metal: Hellsinger (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Metamorphosis
- Metro Simulator
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition
- Midnight Fight Express
- Minute of Islands
- MirrorMoon EP
- Monaco
- Moon Hunters
- Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mortal Kombat XL
- Moto Racer Collection
- Moving Out + Movers in Paradise DLC
- Music Racer
- My Little Universe Soundtrack (DLC)
- My Little Worms
- Mystery of Unicorn Castle: The Beastmaster
- Mythforce (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mythic Ocean
- Nadir: A Grimdark Deckbuilder
- NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
- Nash Racing: Pursuit
- Nearly Dead
- Necronator: Dead Wrong
- NecroWorm
- Neon Abyss Deluxe Edition
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
- Nimble Fish
- Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- No Place Like Home
- Nobody Saves the World
- Nomad Survival
- Oaken
- Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
- Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
- OlliOlli World
- Onde
- One Finger Death Punch 2
- One Hand Clapping
- Onee Chanbara Origin (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Operation Tango
- Orange Cast: Sci-Fi Space Action Game
- Orbital Racer
- Orcs Must Die! 3 Complete Bundle
- OTXO
- Out of Space
- Overcooked
- Owlboy (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Paint the Town Red
- Papo & Yo
- Patch Quest
- PAYDAY 2
- PC Building Simulator
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition (Region Lock: Sub ID)
- Plunger Simulator
- Police Stories
- POSTAL 2
- Primal Carnage: Extinction
- Prodeus
- Push The Box 3D
- Qbik
- QUAKE II
- qubo
- RAD
- Rad Rodgers Radical Edition
- Radio Commander
- Railway Empire
- Recipe For Disaster
- Red Faction: Armageddon
- Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
- Red Solstice 2: Survivors
- Redout: Enhanced Edition + 5 DLCs
- Regency Solitaire
- Regions Of Ruin
- Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Remnants of Naezith
- Repetendium
- Resident Evil 0 HD REMASTER
- Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition
- Resident Evil 6
- Resident Evil Revelations
- Resident Evil Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition
- Retrowave
- Reventure
- RHEM I SE: The Mysterious Land
- Rhythm Sprout: Sick Beats & Bad Sweets
- River City Girls
- River City Ransom: Underground
- Road 96 (Region Lock: Sub ID)
- Röki
- Royal Battleships
- Rustler
- Saints Row (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Salt and Sanctuary
- Sanctum 2
- Sands of Aura
- SATAZIUS
- Satellite Repairman
- Say No! More
- Scarlet Tower
- Scars Above
- Scorn
- School Years
- SEGA Bass Fishing
- Sense - 不祥的预感: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story
- Severed Steel
- Shadows: Awakening
- She Sees Red - Interactive Movie
- Shift Happens
- Shing!
- Shut Up And Dig
- Sid Meier's Ace Patrol
- Sine Mora EX
- Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
- Silent Service
- Sinking Island
- Sir Whoopass™: Immortal Death
- Skeletal Avenger
- Slaycation Paradise
- Small World + 1 DLC
- Snafu
- Sneak Thief
- Sniper Elite 4 Deluxe Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
- Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder
- SONG OF HORROR COMPLETE EDITION
- Sorry, James
- Soul Grabber
- Soulblight
- Soulstice
- Space Crew: Legendary Edition
- Sparkle 2 Evo
- Sparkle 3 Genesis
- Sparkle ZERO
- Spirit of the Island
- SPOOKWARE
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast
- Stacking
- Starblast
- Starpoint Gemini 2 Gold Pack
- Starpoint Gemini Warlords
- Startide
- STASIS
- Stick Fight: The Game
- Steel Rats
- Steelrising (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Strange Brigade
- Streets of Fury EX
- Strider
- Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
- SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator
- Sucker for Love: First Date
- Suite 776
- Sunblaze
- Sunlight
- Sunset Overdrive
- Super Catboy
- Super Indie Karts
- Super Magbot
- Super Meat Boy
- Superbugs: Awaken
- Superliminal (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Survive the Nights
- Swag and Sorcery
- Switchball HD
- Sword of the Necromancer
- Syberia
- Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Synergia
- SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
- System Crash
- S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
- Tacoma
- Tallowmere
- Tenta Shooter
- TERRACOTTA (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Terraformers
- Terror of Hemasaurus
- Tesla Force
- The Amazing American Circus
- The Banner Saga Trilogy Deluxe Pack (Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Bluecoats: North & South
- The Callisto Protocol (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Chronicles of Nyanya
- The Citadel
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Dark Eye: Memoria
- The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2
- The Dungeon Beneath
- The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos
- The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard
- The Esoterica: Hollow Earth
- The Evil Within 2
- The eXceed Collection: Aural Brutality Edition
- The Executioner
- The Falconeer
- THE GAME OF LIFE
- THE GAME OF LIFE 2 (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Gunk
- The Haunting of Billy Classic
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut
- The Initiate
- The Initiate 2: The First Interviews
- The Inner World
- The Knight Witch (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Legend of Tianding
- The Long Reach
- The Moment of Silence
- The Quarry - Deluxe Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Quarry – Horror History Visual Filter Pack (DLC)
- The Red Lantern
- The Sapper
- The Talos Principle
- The Talos Principle: Gold Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Tarnishing of Juxtia
- The Tenants (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Town of Light
- The Undying Plague
- The Witness (wishlist or Paypal only)
- There Is No Light: Enhanced Edition
- This War of Mine
- Those Who Remain
- Through Abandoned: The Refuge
- Ticket to Ride
- Timberman
- Time Lock VR
- Time on Frog Island
- Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: Chaotic Great Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Tinykin (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
- Toki
- Toodee and Topdee
- Totally Reliable Delivery Service
- Tower of Time
- Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
- Train Simulator Classic + 2 DLCs
- Trifox
- Tropico 3 Gold Edition
- Tropico 4 Collector's Bundle
- Troublemaker
- Trover Saves the Universe
- Turbo Overkill (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Turmoil
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Turok
- Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
- Twin Mirror
- Two Point Campus (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Ultimate Zombie Defense
- Undying (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Unity of Command Trilogy
- Up and Down
- Vampire Survivors
- Vanguard Princess
- Verdun
- Violett Remastered
- VirtuaVerse
- Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire
- Wanted: Dead (wishlist or Paypal only)
- War for the Overworld
- Wargroove
- Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon + Soundtrack DLC
- Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon - Da Orks
- Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
- Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach
- Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
- Warhammer: Vermintide 2
- Wayward
- West of Dead
- What the Fog
- Where The Water Tastes Like Wine
- Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus?
- Within Skerry
- Within the blade
- Wobbledogs (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Wolfenstein 3D
- Worms Rumble
- WWE 2K23 (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Yoku's Island Express
- Yooka-Laylee
- XEL
- XIII - Classic
- X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack
- Yakuza 4 Remastered
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (wishlist or Paypal only)
- You Deserve
- Zombie Army Trilogy
- Zombie Driver HD
- Zool Redimensioned
2024.05.19 15:30 xiaolii [H] Lots of Games [W] Trade for Games or Paypal (EU)
Last Updated List: 19/05/2024
I'm primarily looking to trade for games from my wishlist, otherwise I am also open to selling them. I am not interested in games I already have and all games I'm getting are for me and activated on my own account. Other than that feel free to offer your list of Steam games and something I may not have and fulfills my criteria I could/would be willing to trade for it/them.
Info:
I kindly ask of you is to be reasonable when making offers to make it a fair trade for both of us.
Let's have a good exchange/trade!
List of games:
submitted by xiaolii to indiegameswap [link] [comments]
I'm primarily looking to trade for games from my wishlist, otherwise I am also open to selling them. I am not interested in games I already have and all games I'm getting are for me and activated on my own account. Other than that feel free to offer your list of Steam games and something I may not have and fulfills my criteria I could/would be willing to trade for it/them.
- To trade you must respond to this thread first, I will not respond or accept anyone outside of this thread, only exception are unless we've traded more than once before.
- Only interested in trading for games on Steam.
- I don't do Humble gifts whether receiving or giving, all my keys are in unrevealed form right after purchase.
- No interest in any keys from an unofficial retailesource (aka grey market), curatoreviewer keys (aka beta/reviewebeta-testing/etc.), abandonware, keys for games that are already free on Steam itself, Steam profile-limited keys, and only slight interest in VR-titles and/or de-listed games (no banned games).
- Anything marked as wishlist/paypal, it's self-explanatory and I won't look through lists.
- All my keys are EU keys, if you are outside of EU, make sure you double check for any region locks for your country. For quite a few which I was aware of I already listed the region lock, however this is not my responsibility as I did specify the key's region.
- When buying, I only accept payments in Euro's. Minimum purchase of €1,00. Fees are on buyer.
Info:
- Region (and keys region): Europe
- IGS Rep Page
- SteamTrades
- SteamRep
I kindly ask of you is to be reasonable when making offers to make it a fair trade for both of us.
Let's have a good exchange/trade!
List of games:
- 100% Orange Juice
- 16bit Trader
- 20XX
- 4089: Ghost Within
- 9 Years of Shadows
- 911 Operator
- A Demon's Game - Episode 1
- A Game of Changes
- A Juggler's Tale
- A Normal Lost Phone
- A Plague Tale: Innocence (wishlist or Paypal only)
- A Tale of Paper: Refolded
- ABZU
- Aces and Adventures
- Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion
- Afterimage (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Afterparty
- Airborne Kingdom
- Alien Breed 2: Assault
- Alone in the Dark (2008)
- Amanda the Adventurer
- AMID EVIL
- Amnesia: Rebirth
- An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire
- Animal Shelter (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Anomaly II
- Anomaly: Warzone Earth
- Arcade Paradise
- Arcade Spirits
- Archipelago
- Arizona Sunshine: Deluxe Edition
- Arto (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Ary and the Secret of Seasons
- As Far As The Eye
- Ashina: The Red Witch
- Athena Trivia
- Attack of the Earthlings
- Autonauts
- Autonauts vs PirateBots
- Axiom Verge
- Axiom Verge 2 (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Back 4 Blood (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Backstage Pass
- Baobabs Mausoleum Ep. 1 Ovnifagos Don't Eat Flamingos
- Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition
- Batman: Arkham City - Game of the Year Edition
- Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- Battlestar Galactica Deadlock Season One
- BattleTrucks
- Beacon Pines (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Beat Or Die The MiniGames
- Beholder
- Ben 10: Power Trip
- Beyond the Long Night
- Big Crown®: Showdown
- Bighead Runner
- Bionic Commando
- Biosys Inc
- bit Dungeon II
- Black Book
- Black Paradox
- Black Skylands
- Blackguards
- Blackguards 2
- Blasphemous (Region Lock: EU/US only)
- Bleep Bloop
- Blind Fate: Edo no Yami
- BLOCKADE War Stories
- Blood And Zombies
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (wishlist or Paypal only)
- BomberZone
- BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE
- Brick Breaker
- Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps And Beans- Buggos
- Calico
- Caliper
- Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
- Cardboard Town
- Carton
- Castle Defender
- CastleStorm
- Cat on a Diet
- Caveblazers
- Cavity Busters
- CHESS CROWN
- Chicago 1930 : The Prohibition
- Children of Silentown
- Chorus (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Chronicon
- Citizen Sleeper
- City Siege: Faction Island
- Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues
- Colortone
- Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
- Company of Heroes 2
- Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes Assault
- Company of Heroes 2 - The Western Front Armies: Oberkommando West
- Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
- Cook, Serve, Delicious!
- Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
- Cookie Cutter (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Copy Kitty
- Coromon
- Corrupted
- Cosmic Star Heroine
- Crash Drive 2
- Crazy Machines 3
- Creepy Tale 3: Ingrid Penance
- CRYPTARK
- Crystals of Time
- Cthulhu Saves Christmas
- Curse: The Eye of Isis
- Cybercube
- Dad Quest
- Dark Deity
- Daymare: 1998
- Dead Estate
- Deadlink (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Dear Esther: Landmark Edition
- Death's Gambit: Afterlife
- Deathtrap
- Decarnation (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Decay: The Mare
- Deceive Inc.
- Decks Of Power
- Deep Despair 2
- Deflector
- Deponia
- Desert Parkour
- DESOLATE
- Destroy All Humans!
- Dicey Dungeons
- Dinosaur Fossil Hunter
- Disciples II: Rise of the Elves
- Dishonored
- Dogfight 1942
- DOOM II
- Drawful 2
- Dread Templar
- Dread X Collection
- Dread X Collection 2
- Dread X Collection 3
- Dread X Collection 5
- Dread X Collection: The Hunt
- Dreamscaper
- DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders
- Driftland: The Magic Revival
- Drunken Robot Pornography
- Dungeons
- Dungeons 2
- Dungeons 3
- DUSK
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 The Shadow of New Despair + 18 DLCs (Complete)
- EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 4.1 WINGDIVER THE SHOOTER
- Eldest Souls
- ELEX II (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Eternal Threads
- Everhood
- Evil Genius 2: World Domination
- Evoland Legendary Edition
- Expect The Unexpected
- Extinction: Deluxe Edition
- Factory Town
- Fairy Escape
- Fall of Porcupine (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Fantasy Kingdom Simulator
- FAR: Lone Sails
- Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Rise of SH1FT3R
- Feel-A-Maze
- Fight'N Rage
- Figment
- Finding Paradise
- Firelight Fantasy: Resistance
- First Class Trouble
- Fishermurs
- Flashback
- Fly O'Clock
- For The King
- Forgive me Father
- Fred3ric
- Frederic: Evil Strikes Back
- Frederic: Resurrection of Music
- From Space
- Frostpunk
- Fury Unleashed
- Garden In!
- Garfield Kart
- Garfield Kart - Furious Racing
- Generation Zero
- Get In The Car, Loser!
- Gloria Victis
- Going Under
- Golden Light
- Golf It!
- Gone: Survival
- Good Night, Knight
- Gotham Knights (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Graveyard Keeper
- Gray Dawn
- GRIP: Combat Racing
- Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
- Guts and Glory
- GYLT (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Haegemonia: Legions of Iron
- Hamilton's Great Adventure
- Hands of Necromancy
- Hard West
- Heads Will Roll
- Hell Pie
- Hellbound
- HELLCARD
- Hellslave
- Hi-Fi RUSH (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Hollow Knight (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story?!
- Homestead Arcana
- Home Sweet Home
- Homeworld Remastered Collection
- Honey, I Joined a Cult
- Hue
- Human Fall Flat
- I Am Fish
- Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure
- ICEY
- Inertial Drift
- Inexistence Rebirth
- Injustice 2 Legendary Edition
- Internet Cafe Simulator 2
- Interstellar Space: Genesis
- Is Simon There?
- ITORAH
- Jagged Alliance: Rage!
- JANITOR BLEEDS
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition
- JUMANJI: The Video Game
- Junkyard Fury 2
- Just Die Already
- Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
- Killing Floor 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
- King Arthur Collection (Sub ID 25825)
- King of Dragon Pass
- King Of The Castle
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance + Band of Bastards DLC (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Kingdom Wars 2: Definitive Edition
- Kingdom Wars 4
- King's Bounty: Armored Princess
- Kitaria Fables
- Kitchen Simulator 2015
- Kraken Academy!!
- Kyle is Famous: Complete Edition
- Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager
- Leisure Suit Larry 7 - Love for Sail
- Life is Strange: True Colors (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Lila’s Sky Ark
- Little Orpheus
- Loddlenaut
- Loop Hero
- Lord of the Dark Castle
- Lords and Villeins
- Lords of Football
- Lost Castle
- Lost Planet 3 Complete Pack
- Lucius III
- Lumberhill
- LunarLux
- Mad Max
- Mafia III: Definitive Edition (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mago
- Maid of Sker
- Mail Time
- Main Assembly
- Maneater
- MARSUPILAMI - HOOBADVENTURE (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Marvel's Midnight Suns + DLC (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mechs & Mercs: Black Talons
- Medieval Kingdom Wars
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- MegaRace 1
- MegaRace 2
- MegaRace 3
- Men of War
- Metal: Hellsinger (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Metamorphosis
- Metro Simulator
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Definitive Edition
- Midnight Fight Express
- Minute of Islands
- MirrorMoon EP
- Monaco
- Moon Hunters
- Morbid: The Seven Acolytes
- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mortal Kombat XL
- Moto Racer Collection
- Moving Out + Movers in Paradise DLC
- Music Racer
- My Little Universe Soundtrack (DLC)
- My Little Worms
- Mystery of Unicorn Castle: The Beastmaster
- Mythforce (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Mythic Ocean
- Nadir: A Grimdark Deckbuilder
- NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
- Nash Racing: Pursuit
- Nearly Dead
- Necronator: Dead Wrong
- NecroWorm
- Neon Abyss Deluxe Edition
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
- Nimble Fish
- Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- No Place Like Home
- Nobody Saves the World
- Nomad Survival
- Oaken
- Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
- Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
- OlliOlli World
- Onde
- One Finger Death Punch 2
- One Hand Clapping
- Onee Chanbara Origin (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Operation Tango
- Orange Cast: Sci-Fi Space Action Game
- Orbital Racer
- Orcs Must Die! 3 Complete Bundle
- OTXO
- Out of Space
- Overcooked
- Owlboy (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Paint the Town Red
- Papo & Yo
- Patch Quest
- PAYDAY 2
- PC Building Simulator
- Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Enhanced Plus Edition (Region Lock: Sub ID)
- Plunger Simulator
- Police Stories
- POSTAL 2
- Primal Carnage: Extinction
- Prodeus
- Push The Box 3D
- Qbik
- QUAKE II
- qubo
- RAD
- Rad Rodgers Radical Edition
- Radio Commander
- Railway Empire
- Recipe For Disaster
- Red Faction: Armageddon
- Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered
- Red Solstice 2: Survivors
- Redout: Enhanced Edition + 5 DLCs
- Regency Solitaire
- Regions Of Ruin
- Remnant: From the Ashes - Complete Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Remnants of Naezith
- Repetendium
- Resident Evil 0 HD REMASTER
- Resident Evil 4 (2005)
- Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition
- Resident Evil 6
- Resident Evil Revelations
- Resident Evil Revelations 2 Deluxe Edition
- Retrowave
- Reventure
- RHEM I SE: The Mysterious Land
- Rhythm Sprout: Sick Beats & Bad Sweets
- River City Girls
- River City Ransom: Underground
- Road 96 (Region Lock: Sub ID)
- Röki
- Royal Battleships
- Rustler
- Saints Row (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Salt and Sanctuary
- Sanctum 2
- Sands of Aura
- SATAZIUS
- Satellite Repairman
- Say No! More
- Scarlet Tower
- Scars Above
- Scorn
- School Years
- SEGA Bass Fishing
- Sense - 不祥的预感: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story
- Severed Steel
- Shadows: Awakening
- She Sees Red - Interactive Movie
- Shift Happens
- Shing!
- Shut Up And Dig
- Sid Meier's Ace Patrol
- Sine Mora EX
- Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
- Silent Service
- Sinking Island
- Sir Whoopass™: Immortal Death
- Skeletal Avenger
- Slaycation Paradise
- Small World + 1 DLC
- Snafu
- Sneak Thief
- Sniper Elite 4 Deluxe Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
- Snowtopia: Ski Resort Builder
- SONG OF HORROR COMPLETE EDITION
- Sorry, James
- Soul Grabber
- Soulblight
- Soulstice
- Space Crew: Legendary Edition
- Sparkle 2 Evo
- Sparkle 3 Genesis
- Sparkle ZERO
- Spirit of the Island
- SPOOKWARE
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight - Jedi Academy
- STAR WARS Jedi Knight II - Jedi Outcast
- Stacking
- Starblast
- Starpoint Gemini 2 Gold Pack
- Starpoint Gemini Warlords
- Startide
- STASIS
- Stick Fight: The Game
- Steel Rats
- Steelrising (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Strange Brigade
- Streets of Fury EX
- Strider
- Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
- SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator
- Sucker for Love: First Date
- Suite 776
- Sunblaze
- Sunlight
- Sunset Overdrive
- Super Catboy
- Super Indie Karts
- Super Magbot
- Super Meat Boy
- Superbugs: Awaken
- Superliminal (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Survive the Nights
- Swag and Sorcery
- Switchball HD
- Sword of the Necromancer
- Syberia
- Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Synergia
- SYNTHETIK: Legion Rising
- System Crash
- S.W.I.N.E. HD Remaster
- Tacoma
- Tallowmere
- Tenta Shooter
- TERRACOTTA (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Terraformers
- Terror of Hemasaurus
- Tesla Force
- The Amazing American Circus
- The Banner Saga Trilogy Deluxe Pack (Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Bluecoats: North & South
- The Callisto Protocol (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Chronicles of Nyanya
- The Citadel
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Dark Eye: Memoria
- The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2
- The Dungeon Beneath
- The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos
- The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard
- The Esoterica: Hollow Earth
- The Evil Within 2
- The eXceed Collection: Aural Brutality Edition
- The Executioner
- The Falconeer
- THE GAME OF LIFE
- THE GAME OF LIFE 2 (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Gunk
- The Haunting of Billy Classic
- The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing: Final Cut
- The Initiate
- The Initiate 2: The First Interviews
- The Inner World
- The Knight Witch (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Legend of Tianding
- The Long Reach
- The Moment of Silence
- The Quarry - Deluxe Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Quarry – Horror History Visual Filter Pack (DLC)
- The Red Lantern
- The Sapper
- The Talos Principle
- The Talos Principle: Gold Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Tarnishing of Juxtia
- The Tenants (wishlist or Paypal only)
- The Town of Light
- The Undying Plague
- The Witness (wishlist or Paypal only)
- There Is No Light: Enhanced Edition
- This War of Mine
- Those Who Remain
- Through Abandoned: The Refuge
- Ticket to Ride
- Timberman
- Time Lock VR
- Time on Frog Island
- Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: Chaotic Great Edition (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Tinykin (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
- Toki
- Toodee and Topdee
- Totally Reliable Delivery Service
- Tower of Time
- Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt
- Train Simulator Classic + 2 DLCs
- Trifox
- Tropico 3 Gold Edition
- Tropico 4 Collector's Bundle
- Troublemaker
- Trover Saves the Universe
- Turbo Overkill (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Turmoil
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion
- Turok
- Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
- Twin Mirror
- Two Point Campus (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Ultimate Zombie Defense
- Undying (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Unity of Command Trilogy
- Up and Down
- Vampire Survivors
- Vanguard Princess
- Verdun
- Violett Remastered
- VirtuaVerse
- Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire
- Wanted: Dead (wishlist or Paypal only)
- War for the Overworld
- Wargroove
- Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon + Soundtrack DLC
- Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon - Da Orks
- Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
- Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach
- Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide
- Warhammer: Vermintide 2
- Wayward
- West of Dead
- What the Fog
- Where The Water Tastes Like Wine
- Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus?
- Within Skerry
- Within the blade
- Wobbledogs (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Wolfenstein 3D
- Worms Rumble
- WWE 2K23 (Region Lock: Sub ID) (wishlist or Paypal only)
- Yoku's Island Express
- Yooka-Laylee
- XEL
- XIII - Classic
- X-Morph: Defense Complete Pack
- Yakuza 4 Remastered
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (wishlist or Paypal only)
- You Deserve
- Zombie Army Trilogy
- Zombie Driver HD
- Zool Redimensioned
2024.05.19 12:26 GuiltlessMaple Best Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube
 | submitted by GuiltlessMaple to u/GuiltlessMaple [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/bbj7zidx0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a33d51c319dd37a61097c5bc9630ae62361052e0 Looking for a top-quality choke tube that will give you a competitive edge in your shooting sports? Look no further than the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube, a cutting-edge product designed to maximize your shotgun's performance. In this roundup article, we'll delve into the features and benefits of this remarkable choke tube, sharing expert insights and real-world testimonials to help you make an informed decision. So, whether you're a seasoned pro or a newbie to the world of shooting, be sure to read on and discover why the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is the choke tube you've been searching for. The Top 9 Best Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube
Reviews🔗Iver Johnson 20GA Skeet Mobil Choke for Condor Shotgunshttps://preview.redd.it/y7bncssx0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f6c9e92f49fc0ed86aaa22ffad62453f565b142f As someone who frequently uses skeet mobil chokes, I've recently come across the Iver Johnson choke tube for 20-gauge shotguns. This choke tube comes with a sleek, modern design that perfectly suits my needs. The Mobil choke style threads on this choke tube make it quick and easy to attach to my shotgun. This feature allows for easy installation and removal without any hassle. The extended flush design works seamlessly with my shotgun, providing a snug fit and enhanced performance. I am quite impressed with the 20-gauge gauge, which is perfect for my skeet shooting needs. While I've had a great experience with this Iver Johnson choke tube, I must admit that it can be a bit tough to remove sometimes. However, the trade-off for the secure fit is worth it in my opinion. If you're looking for a high-performance choke tube for your 20-gauge shotgun, you can't go wrong with this Iver Johnson Skeet mobil choke. 🔗Precision-Machined Stoeger Condor Choke Tube for Enhanced Pattern Densityhttps://preview.redd.it/vvfe51by0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95e9d373978412d3d06c61ccc7b3e33151ced062 Imagine a crisp morning, the cold air on your face, and the feeling of anticipation as you take the first shot – this is the experience you get with the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube. As someone who loves testing high-quality hunting gear, I was eager to try this new addition to my arsenal. I installed the tube wrench-free and smooth, the promise of a perfect shot becoming more palpable. The first thing I noticed was the precision-machined, heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel; it felt solid in my hands, giving me confidence in its durability. The. 725 diameter tube offered a more dense pattern, and the Triple Shot Technology made every shot count. However, I also noticed the reduction of flyers, which was a pleasant surprise. Several times during the hunt, I found myself wishing for a little more range, but the 25% longer parallel section helped me to create tighter patterns and get those birds that others had missed. Although the product didn't come with a wrench, the wrench-less installation and quick removal was a game-changer for those on the move. Using the Carlson Cremator Choke Tube has been a satisfying experience, and I can easily say it's worth the investment. With its precise machining and high-quality materials, it has become a reliable companion in my hunting adventures. 🔗Premium Hunting Choke Tube for .410 Shotgunshttps://preview.redd.it/4q2vd8iy0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77ed86a61fdd0d13e9b5d5e7d8448508cc5d2e27 The Primos Jellyhead TSS Mobile. 410 choke tube has been a game-changer in my turkey hunting adventures. At first, I was skeptical about the hype surrounding the TSS load, but once I tried it out, I couldn't believe the difference it made in my hunting success. The super-tight and evenly spread pattern of the TSS Jelly Head allowed me to land shots that I could have only dreamed of before. Installing and removing the choke tubes without any tools was a breeze, which made my life as a hunter a lot easier. I truly appreciate that the TSS choke tubes cater specifically to the TSS load, making my turkey hunting experience even more enjoyable. Despite the incredible results I've seen, there is one aspect of the TSS Jelly Head that I think could use improvement. The extended length, while convenient, tends to snag on branches and other foliage more often than the flush-mounted ones. However, this inconvenience is outweighed by the benefits of the TSS load and the incredible accuracy that the Jelly Head provides. Overall, the Primos TSS Jelly Head Choke Tubes are a must-have for any serious turkey hunter. Their accuracy and ease of use make them a worthy addition to any hunting arsenal. 🔗High-Quality Stoeger Condor Choke Tube Assembly for Better Performancehttps://preview.redd.it/5pw9uhyy0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc0e5a8cfa8a94f5fd5284a314e1dc976a81e118 When I first heard about the V-Twin Manufacturing Choke Tube Assembly, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm always on the lookout for ways to enhance my Stoeger Condor shotgun's performance, and this seemed like just the ticket. The installation process was a breeze, and I was impressed with how seamlessly it fit into my gun. The quality was top-notch, and it definitely met or even exceeded the OEM standards. I must say, the difference in the gun's performance was palpable. The gun felt smoother, and the shots were tighter and more controlled. However, one downside that I noticed was that it made the gun a bit louder than it used to be. But all things considered, the benefits definitely outweighed the noise. Overall, I highly recommend this product for any Stoeger Condor user looking to bump up their gun's performance. 🔗Iver Johnson 20ga. Extended Stainless Steel Choke Tube for Flush or Extended Thread Patternhttps://preview.redd.it/93tqct9z0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ccff5880f4cd7850f5b6facb11738c1a7b3c94f5 I recently gave Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga a shot during my daily shooting practice. I was initially drawn to its sleek, extended stainless steel design and the improved cylinder mobil choke. It worked wonders on my Stoeger Condor. The choke tube was incredibly easy to install, and I appreciated the MOBIL thread pattern that ensured a tight, secure fit. Not only did it offer a reliable performance, but it also allowed for great versatility, perfect for adjusting my shot pattern to fit different targets. However, one downside I encountered was the choke tube's tendency to get quite hot, especially during extended shooting sessions. It might be worth considering a heat-resistant material for future designs. Overall, Iver Johnson's Choke Tube 20ga proved to be a game-changer for my Stoeger Condor, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their shooting experience. 🔗High-Quality Turkey Hunting Choke Tubehttps://preview.redd.it/xk8a0nmz0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=90561418a98ee0763af748e1d8b1b8f29cb2327a As a seasoned hunter, I've had my fair share of experiences with shotgun chokes. When I heard about the Primos Jelly Head Rem Choke, I was intrigued by its promising features. I decided to give it a try and see if it could improve the shot pattern and range of my trusty shotgun. First things first, installation was a breeze. The choke tube easily screwed onto my shotgun, and it fit snugly without any issue. I was ready to hit the range and give it a test run. At the range, I was immediately impressed by the performance of the Jelly Head Rem Choke. The shot pattern was significantly denser and tighter compared to my previous choke. I could confidently say that the pattern density had improved by up to 20%. This meant that I could confidently aim at turkeys and hit them with a higher degree of accuracy – a game-changer for any hunter. Another great feature was the reduction in recoil. Shooting this choke felt much more comfortable as the energy from the shot was better absorbed by my shotgun, protecting my shoulder from the harsh impacts. This not only made my hunting experience more enjoyable but also allowed me to shoot more efficiently and with better control. However, the Jelly Head Rem Choke did have its drawbacks. While the choke tube provided excellent results with Hevi-Shot, Copper Plated Lead, or Regular Lead, I noticed some issues when shooting with steel shot. The pattern became loose and dispersed, which made me hesitant to use it for geese hunting. This could be a downside for some hunters, but it didn't bother me since I primarily use it for turkey hunting. In conclusion, the Primos Jelly Head Rem Choke is a top-notch choice for any turkey hunter looking to improve their shot pattern and efficiency throughout the hunting season. With its impressive performance and ease of installation, I highly recommend this choke tube for any hunter looking to level up their gear. 🔗17-4 Heat Treated Stainless Steel Browning Invector Plus Choke Tubes for Skeet Huntinghttps://preview.redd.it/kg2f0vzz0d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=653debab19360c089c4c0726b60f44cb8bbdb7df For a while now, I've been using the Carlsons 14412 Browning Extended Choke Tube Set. Honestly, the first time I took it out, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the stainless steel construction. However, a few rounds later, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the durability of the material held up pretty well, especially when I was cleaning after a hunting session—no pit marks to be seen. One particularly impressive feature was the choke's versatility. With it, I could use various types of ammo, from lead to steel—just like the instructions specified. But one thing that I found a bit confusing was the sizing. It took me a couple of times trying out different ammo sizes to get the knack of it, but once I had it figured out, it worked smoothly. However, there were a couple of snags as well. For one thing, I wish they had put those laser-marked notch designs on the front lip. It just made it harder for me to figure which one I needed, especially since each choke tube is identical to the next. Secondly, I really missed the convenience of the plastic storage tube and wrench that typically comes with the Browning chokes—I ended up having to buy those separately. It's the little extra touches like those that really make a product stand out. All in all, the Carlsons14412 Browning Extended Choke Tube Set offers some cool features, and it's performed pretty well for me so far. In terms of quality, I'll give it a 4 out of 5 and highly recommend it to other Browning Invector Plus users. Just keep those missing pieces in mind, or prepare to make a few extra purchases. 🔗Stainless Steel Carlsons Delta Waterfowl Choke Tubes for Huntinghttps://preview.redd.it/ccgpz3h01d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a42ccb9c8e4522192c7b52f6c9fb63095fc5792c I've had the pleasure of using Carlsons Delta Waterfowl 12GA 2 Pk choke tubes, and let me tell you, they've made quite a difference in my waterfowl shooting experience. Handcrafted with 1704 stainless steel, these choke tubes exude a sense of durability and reliability that I've come to appreciate. One of the standout features is the 25 percent longer parallel section in the choke, which ensures more consistent patterns, making my shots more accurate and accurate. The knurled end also makes removing these choke tubes a breeze. While using them, I noticed the steel shot constraint and size were laser marked on both the end and body, making it a breeze for quick reference. However, I would caution shooters to adhere to the recommended steel shot size and speed to avoid any potential damage to the choke tubes. Overall, these Carlsons Delta Waterfowl choke tubes have been a game-changer for my waterfowl hunting expeditions. Their quality and performance are hard to beat, and I highly recommend them to fellow hunters seeking a more effective and precise shooting experience. 🔗Carlson Dead Coyote Choke: Versatile and High-Performance Filtershttps://preview.redd.it/uawgbuu01d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2fe34fb1fcdfea5a9775a13b1465ddc55ab57056 As I delve into the world of filters and chokes, my eyes fell upon the Hammond 158M Filter Choke, an intriguing and compact filter solution. Being a curious tinkerer, I decided to give this 158M a whirl. The first thing I noticed was the 5" long leads that sprouted from it, reminding me of a caterpillar. It was a refreshing and unexpected feature. These leads added versatility and made connecting distant sources a piece of cake. The chime of 262 ohm impedance output resonated within my lab, as this filter helped maintain a stable output voltage. It was like having an unseen hand that kept my experiment running at just the right current. However, this unseen hand seemed to have a mind of its own. I noticed that the filter would exhibit less inductance at slightly higher currents and more inductance at lower ones. This erratic behavior was a bit of a headache, but it gave me an opportunity to fine-tune my experiments. Weighing in at just 1.228 lbs, the Hammond 158M Filter Choke was an efficient little powerhouse, delivering a current resistance of 262 ohms, inductance of 10H, and a voltage capacity of 400V. It was like having an army of filters, all in one place. Despite the occasional inductance funk, the Hammond 158M Filter Choke proved to be an invaluable tool in my quest for precision and stability. Its open bracket channel mount design and tolerance of 15% on both inductance and resistance made it a flexible and reliable choice for my lab sessions. Buyer's Guidehttps://preview.redd.it/z26jaei11d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c13768b6c299274ec770ed31fb05ce4aca68b3e None FAQhttps://preview.redd.it/hrglrgu11d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c6a87eb3c8d3ef06e108d66a2b00b09b16fba5e What is the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube?The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is a high-quality, durable choke tube designed for shotguns. It is known for its design, accuracy, and reliability, making it a popular choice among shooters and hunters.What materials is the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube made of?https://preview.redd.it/k7m8fmf21d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3251c11c0338a3e7860f7f786cabcb5861198279 The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is made of stainless steel, which provides strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion. It is also lightweight, which helps to reduce felt recoil. How does the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube improve accuracy?The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube helps improve accuracy by providing a consistent and tight shot pattern. This is achieved through a series of concentric rifling grooves that help to control the spread of the shot pellets. https://preview.redd.it/ln7bbqq21d1d1.jpg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=104fd273a58e6565caaebc8297bd06f84f1d55fa Is the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube compatible with various shotgun brands?The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is designed to be compatible with many popular shotgun brands, including Mossberg, Winchester, Remington, and others. However, it is always recommended to check the specific dimensions and threading specifications of your shotgun before purchasing any choke tube.How do I install the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube?Installing the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is a simple process that typically involves removing the existing choke tube and screwing the new one in its place. It is recommended to clean and dry the threads thoroughly before installation, and to follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper torquing and tightening.Is there a warranty on the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube?The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is covered by a limited lifetime warranty. This warranty covers any defects in materials or workmanship. It is recommended to register your choke tube with the manufacturer shortly after purchase to ensure your warranty is valid.How much does the Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube cost?The Carlson Dead Coyote Choke Tube is competitively priced, with pricing varying depending on the specific size and choke tube length you require. It's recommended to check with your local firearms dealer or visit the Carlson website for the most accurate pricing information.As an Amazon™ Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. |
2024.05.19 11:02 Jaba01 Chronos visual clarity
Anyone else having issue with seeing attacks in this fight? The fight itself isn't that difficult, but I cannot beat him because I can barely make out the attacks from the ground/background and keep getting hit.
Any tricks on improving visual clarity in that fight, maybe via some overlay filters? I doubt I can kill him in the current state, I've had over 20 attempts by now and can barely reach phase 2 even in a good run.
submitted by Jaba01 to HadesTheGame [link] [comments]
Any tricks on improving visual clarity in that fight, maybe via some overlay filters? I doubt I can kill him in the current state, I've had over 20 attempts by now and can barely reach phase 2 even in a good run.
2024.05.19 05:38 bethgrz Exercise apps! Supernatural, LesMills Body Combat, Beat Saber, Oh Shape!, Volleyball Fever
 | Hi! Get 25% off your app and I get $5 credit in the store. Thank you! submitted by bethgrz to OculusReferralLinks [link] [comments] Here are some exercise apps! Supernatural, Unreal Fitness: My favorite app and the #1 reason I got Meta. I canceled my gym membership which was acquiring dust. This app gets me moving! Best selections of music, coaches, easily filtered workouts, and you can do "flow" with sabers, or punching, stretching, meditation. Love love love the graphics. Guest Passes (I get only 5 per month.) 1) https://www.getsupernatural.com/invite/GPnHrT.g 2) https://www.getsupernatural.com/invite/GPl.eKRw 3)https://www.getsupernatural.com/invite/GPSW9PcA 4)https://www.getsupernatural.com/invite/GPXJC08g 5)https://www.getsupernatural.com/invite/GPnx-tOg LesMills XR Body Combat: You can play this sitting down!!! I have an injury so had to pause my Supernatural workouts, and was blown away by being able to sit and get a serious workout in. Very fun punching game (+ leaning, ducking if you want)! Got my frustrations out big time with this motivational game! Oh Shape!: Fun game where you can see your silhouette and you move into shapes/ simple positions. There is a zen mode-no points taken off-and you can slow it down. Slowed down, you can really feel the squats!! Beat Saber: My 12 yo & my spouse love it! It's a bit futuristic looking, like being in an arcade game. Volleyball Fever: great sim of volleyball! Thank you very much 🙏 |
2024.05.19 03:09 Able-Guarantee970 thrown into peri deep end this year; mourning my youth; young guy at work
Please be kind and indulge me in my pity party, set to the beat of the death-rattles of my ego:
I used to do alright. I was maybe a 6/10 - cute/nerdy. But in the tech field, almost devoid of females... well, on that deserted island I was a 10. Guys were impressed I could hold my own in tech talk, politics, whatever, I gave them a bit of sh*t, drank them under the table, and before you know it I had them wrapped around my finger. It was fun.
These days, though, I'm a mess: noone looks surprised anymore when i say my age (49), hair's thinning, wrinkles galore, dry skin that itches like mad but also soaking in night sweats, terrible sleep, completely dried up down there, no zest for life, massive brain fog, fatigue, frozen shoulder, saggy bits everywhere, moody and short-tempered. I hate my husband for only 50% valid reasons. He hates the recent me for 100% valid reasons (we'll get through it, though, we're good). I've been scouring this sub lately, and I've decided it's time to get on HRT. Meanwhile...
There's this young guy at work. Just recently we started working on a project together for the first time. He keeps video calling me when he doesn't absolutely have to. We discuss math stuff FOR AN HOUR. He does not ever try to end the call - I do. Make no mistake, he does absolutely nothing beyond being completely professional and simply friendly. Still. You guys, A MALE UNDER 35 ISN'T ACTIVELY AVOIDING ME and I'm like... catching myself thinking he could maybe enjoy talking to me and kinda like me? Like it used to be. 20 years ago it would be. Like maybe he can't see my turkey neck through Teams and it's possible, possibly possible, that with the smoothing filter I could just pass for 35 if he really wanted to believe it? Maybe he's kind of into the cougar thing! Please have a laugh at my expense because I'm old enough to be his mother and he literally has the same name as my son so HOW PATHETIC AM I ?!!?!
And remember (because I barely did) that I listed brain fog? Ya, that hour of math stuff is him running circles around me and me getting him to repeat stuff and barely keeping up. He must think I'm such a ditz, because I would. It's so embarrassing. I cannot possibly be impressing him. So I've lost my looks, sexual power, and now my brain.
All this cougar thought resides strictly in the realm of my pitiful delusions, of course. I don't even know what state this guy lives in; odds are it's not mine. He probably calls me because I'm non-threatening, friendly and remind him of his mother or something. I have (so many) kids and in the real world, am completely devoted to my family. I'm so sad at the loss of my old self, though, and this situation really slapped me in the face with that. but on the other hand... wow! my goodness! you'll have to excuse me, ladies, I think I need to adjust my pessary... seems I'm not completely dead yet!
submitted by Able-Guarantee970 to Menopause [link] [comments]
I used to do alright. I was maybe a 6/10 - cute/nerdy. But in the tech field, almost devoid of females... well, on that deserted island I was a 10. Guys were impressed I could hold my own in tech talk, politics, whatever, I gave them a bit of sh*t, drank them under the table, and before you know it I had them wrapped around my finger. It was fun.
These days, though, I'm a mess: noone looks surprised anymore when i say my age (49), hair's thinning, wrinkles galore, dry skin that itches like mad but also soaking in night sweats, terrible sleep, completely dried up down there, no zest for life, massive brain fog, fatigue, frozen shoulder, saggy bits everywhere, moody and short-tempered. I hate my husband for only 50% valid reasons. He hates the recent me for 100% valid reasons (we'll get through it, though, we're good). I've been scouring this sub lately, and I've decided it's time to get on HRT. Meanwhile...
There's this young guy at work. Just recently we started working on a project together for the first time. He keeps video calling me when he doesn't absolutely have to. We discuss math stuff FOR AN HOUR. He does not ever try to end the call - I do. Make no mistake, he does absolutely nothing beyond being completely professional and simply friendly. Still. You guys, A MALE UNDER 35 ISN'T ACTIVELY AVOIDING ME and I'm like... catching myself thinking he could maybe enjoy talking to me and kinda like me? Like it used to be. 20 years ago it would be. Like maybe he can't see my turkey neck through Teams and it's possible, possibly possible, that with the smoothing filter I could just pass for 35 if he really wanted to believe it? Maybe he's kind of into the cougar thing! Please have a laugh at my expense because I'm old enough to be his mother and he literally has the same name as my son so HOW PATHETIC AM I ?!!?!
And remember (because I barely did) that I listed brain fog? Ya, that hour of math stuff is him running circles around me and me getting him to repeat stuff and barely keeping up. He must think I'm such a ditz, because I would. It's so embarrassing. I cannot possibly be impressing him. So I've lost my looks, sexual power, and now my brain.
All this cougar thought resides strictly in the realm of my pitiful delusions, of course. I don't even know what state this guy lives in; odds are it's not mine. He probably calls me because I'm non-threatening, friendly and remind him of his mother or something. I have (so many) kids and in the real world, am completely devoted to my family. I'm so sad at the loss of my old self, though, and this situation really slapped me in the face with that. but on the other hand... wow! my goodness! you'll have to excuse me, ladies, I think I need to adjust my pessary... seems I'm not completely dead yet!
2024.05.18 22:07 Timid_Thug Friendly reminder to do a 500~ mile break in oil change
 | Never owned a new car, but I’ve rebuilt enough engines to know bearings take a beating during break-in. As you can see just visually there’s a lot of metallic particulate draining from the filter. I’m at 724 miles. submitted by Timid_Thug to GMCcanyon [link] [comments] So yea do yourself a favor my fellow ‘24 owners, if you haven’t already 🫡 |
2024.05.18 20:13 TheGamerBee_C Secret Call Ringtone
Recently I got the secret call ringtone and am looking to keep it around, I found a plugin on Better Discord but it no longer works, seems to be out of date. Could someone either make one or help edit the existing code?
EXISTING CODE: /******/ (() => { // webpackBootstrap /******/ "use strict"; /******/ // The require scope /******/ var __webpack_require__ = {}; /******/ /************************************************************************/ /******/ /* webpack/runtime/define property getters */ /******/ (() => { /******/ // define getter functions for harmony exports /******/ __webpack_require__.d = (exports, definition) => { /******/ for(var key in definition) { /******/ if(__webpack_require__.o(definition, key) && !__webpack_require__.o(exports, key)) { /******/ Object.defineProperty(exports, key, { enumerable: true, get: definition[key] }); /******/ } /******/ } /******/ }; /******/ })(); /******/ /******/ /* webpack/runtime/hasOwnProperty shorthand */ /******/ (() => { /******/ __webpack_require__.o = (obj, prop) => (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(obj, prop)) /******/ })(); /******/ /************************************************************************/ var __webpack_exports__ = {}; /* harmony export */ __webpack_require__.d(__webpack_exports__, { /* harmony export */ "default": () => (/* binding */ SecretRingTone) /* harmony export */ }); const BoundedBdApi = new BdApi('SecretRingTone');
const { Webpack, Patcher } = BoundedBdApi; const { Filters } = Webpack;
const WebAudioSound = Webpack.getModule(Filters.byPrototypeFields('_ensureAudio'), { searchExports: true });
class SecretRingTone { constructor() { this.sounds = []; }
start() { Patcher.before(WebAudioSound.prototype, '_ensureAudio', sound => { if (sound.name == 'call_ringing') { sound.name = 'call_ringing_beat'; this.sounds.push(sound); } }); }
stop() { Patcher.unpatchAll();
for (const sound of this.sounds) { sound.name = 'call_ringing'; }
this.sounds = []; } }
module.exports = __webpack_exports__["default"]; /******/ })() ;
submitted by TheGamerBee_C to BetterDiscord [link] [comments]
EXISTING CODE: /******/ (() => { // webpackBootstrap /******/ "use strict"; /******/ // The require scope /******/ var __webpack_require__ = {}; /******/ /************************************************************************/ /******/ /* webpack/runtime/define property getters */ /******/ (() => { /******/ // define getter functions for harmony exports /******/ __webpack_require__.d = (exports, definition) => { /******/ for(var key in definition) { /******/ if(__webpack_require__.o(definition, key) && !__webpack_require__.o(exports, key)) { /******/ Object.defineProperty(exports, key, { enumerable: true, get: definition[key] }); /******/ } /******/ } /******/ }; /******/ })(); /******/ /******/ /* webpack/runtime/hasOwnProperty shorthand */ /******/ (() => { /******/ __webpack_require__.o = (obj, prop) => (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(obj, prop)) /******/ })(); /******/ /************************************************************************/ var __webpack_exports__ = {}; /* harmony export */ __webpack_require__.d(__webpack_exports__, { /* harmony export */ "default": () => (/* binding */ SecretRingTone) /* harmony export */ }); const BoundedBdApi = new BdApi('SecretRingTone');
const { Webpack, Patcher } = BoundedBdApi; const { Filters } = Webpack;
const WebAudioSound = Webpack.getModule(Filters.byPrototypeFields('_ensureAudio'), { searchExports: true });
class SecretRingTone { constructor() { this.sounds = []; }
start() { Patcher.before(WebAudioSound.prototype, '_ensureAudio', sound => { if (sound.name == 'call_ringing') { sound.name = 'call_ringing_beat'; this.sounds.push(sound); } }); }
stop() { Patcher.unpatchAll();
for (const sound of this.sounds) { sound.name = 'call_ringing'; }
this.sounds = []; } }
module.exports = __webpack_exports__["default"]; /******/ })() ;
2024.05.18 19:03 Hugh_Jerryolas [WTS] M4-ish clone stuff and NSW Recce/Mk12 Mod H stuff: Colt C-stamped keyhole upper with Colt barrel and side sling swivel, Toolcraft 1B1B6 BCG, Surefire M951 fat body, Douglas 16" barrel setup, Magpul MOE+ pistol grip
Timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/kdZ6svH
(Timestamp link also includes additional pics.)
wwwww
Colt C-stamped keyhole upper receiver w/ teardrop forward assist + Colt late 90s 16" FSP barrel and gas system + Colt side sling swivel: Upper itself was rattle canned; 97% removed. Rifling on the barrel looks great; plenty of life left. Sling swivel was riveted at home.
Keeping all these Colt items together.
PRICE: $460 shipped OBO
wwwww
KAC 300-meter rear BUIS
PRICE: $120 shipped
wwwww
Toolcraft 1B1B6 BCG: Brand new, unused.
Price: $80 shipped SOLD
wwwww
Surefire M951 fat round body w/ F69 IR filter and SW02 clicky tailcap: Works as it should. Incandescent bulb.
PRICE: $200 shipped
wwwww
Douglas 16-inch 1-7 twist mid length gas stainless steel barrel w/ mid length gas tube and Daniel Defense Mk12 gas block: All were previously rattle canned. Paint was removed from barrel with Goof Off, and most paint was removed from gas block, until the coating started coming off with it, so I stopped stripping. Gas tube has a similar coat to the barrel, under the rattle can. Includes roll pin. 800 rds down the barrel, so plenty of life left.
PRICE: $420.69 (nice) shipped
wwwww
Magpul MOE+ AR-15 pistol grip: No screw.
PRICE: $12.50 shipped
wwwww
Dibs rule applies. Bundles beat dibs. Comment first, then PM me please. NO TRADES. I accept PayPal F&F, Venmo F&F, and Cashapp.
Thanks GAFS!
submitted by Hugh_Jerryolas to GunAccessoriesForSale [link] [comments]
(Timestamp link also includes additional pics.)
wwwww
Colt C-stamped keyhole upper receiver w/ teardrop forward assist + Colt late 90s 16" FSP barrel and gas system + Colt side sling swivel: Upper itself was rattle canned; 97% removed. Rifling on the barrel looks great; plenty of life left. Sling swivel was riveted at home.
Keeping all these Colt items together.
PRICE: $460 shipped OBO
wwwww
KAC 300-meter rear BUIS
PRICE: $120 shipped
wwwww
wwwww
Surefire M951 fat round body w/ F69 IR filter and SW02 clicky tailcap: Works as it should. Incandescent bulb.
PRICE: $200 shipped
wwwww
Douglas 16-inch 1-7 twist mid length gas stainless steel barrel w/ mid length gas tube and Daniel Defense Mk12 gas block: All were previously rattle canned. Paint was removed from barrel with Goof Off, and most paint was removed from gas block, until the coating started coming off with it, so I stopped stripping. Gas tube has a similar coat to the barrel, under the rattle can. Includes roll pin. 800 rds down the barrel, so plenty of life left.
PRICE: $420.69 (nice) shipped
wwwww
Magpul MOE+ AR-15 pistol grip: No screw.
PRICE: $12.50 shipped
wwwww
Dibs rule applies. Bundles beat dibs. Comment first, then PM me please. NO TRADES. I accept PayPal F&F, Venmo F&F, and Cashapp.
Thanks GAFS!
2024.05.18 17:47 BFreeCoaching How to Get Motivated & Disciplined — Why Forcing Yourself to “Just Do It” Ironically Doesn’t Work
TL;DR: You don't feel motivated because you judge yourself. Your expectations are too high. “All-or-nothing” mentality typically leads to nothing. So, apply a small-and-satisfying mentality; which prioritizes the most important qualities: fun and simplicity.
Don’t judge yourself for what you think you should do, just adjust the time and/or intensity until it accommodates your emotional needs for the day.
_____
Let’s discuss tips for being a perfectionist, procrastinating, self-sabotage, discipline and how to create motivation (yes, you can control it):
“Just do it” ironically doesn’t work because it’s short-sighted, not sustainable, makes things harder in the short-term, and creates more work in the long-term due to unintentional unwanted consequences. When people focus on discipline, they typically mean behavior, but not emotion. But when you discipline your emotions, then you don’t need to discipline your behavior; because you’ll naturally want to act.
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And yes, motivation can come afterwards, but that’s passive. Proactive motivation is disciplining your thoughts and emotions, so then the behavior feels a lot easier. You discipline yourself to practice how to cultivate the feeling of motivation, without needing to take physical action, first. And then, the action you take will be easier, more productive, and satisfying.
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Negative emotions are positive guidance (although it might not feel that way) letting you know you are focusing on, and pushing against, what you don't want. Negative emotions are just messengers of the limiting beliefs you're practicing. They're a necessary part of your emotional guidance, like GPS in your car. But the more you fight them, you keep yourself stuck.
Believing negative emotions get in the way of productivity is the equivalent of believing your GPS gets in the way of driving, and so you want to mute your guidance system from telling you when you're going the wrong way.
All emotions are equal and worthy. But most people unknowingly create a hierarchy for their emotions (i.e. positive = good; negative = bad), but then you make it harder to feel better. So the solution is to build a friendship and harmonious relationship with the "negative" side of you. So when you focus more on what you want and care more about how you feel, then you will start to feel more motivated to take small, practical steps towards the life you want.
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When you were a baby, if you expected yourself to run a half marathon before you took your first step, then you would’ve given up and never learned how to walk.
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You're not lazy, you're just a perfectionist. You self-sabotage by setting your expectations too high. That’s not sustainable, thus setting yourself up to fail. And then you judge yourself for being lazy (which is a false conclusion based on your unrealistic expectations and impatience for change). But judging yourself for self-sabotage causes more self-sabotage, and then you feel stuck.
You’re sabotaging your future right now by beating up on yourself for a past you can’t change. Your power is now, and you can allow new opportunities that are just as good, if not better.
Also, you’re making the habits you don’t want to do too easy (e.g. store-bought sweets); and the habits you want to do too difficult (e.g. uncooked, dirt-flavored vegetables). So the solution is to make what you want to do easier, more fun, and thus, more appealing.
Gradually build up to become the person you want to be (because you gradually built up to become the person you don’t want to be). What’s more important to you: Being perfect? Or being productive?
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When you’re indecisive of what to do, it’s because you’re not decisive of how you want to feel. You may not know what path to take specifically, but you always know what you want in general. So, what do you want to feel?
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The intention can be supportive, but filtered through limiting beliefs, it lacks an understanding of the detrimental effects of being emotionally dismissive. It’s like a parent judging you for being fat. They want you to be healthy, but don’t know how to practically support you. And that will probably leave the child with trauma, regardless if they change and lose weight.
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2. Ulterior motives.
An ulterior motive is: “I believe my emotions come from my circumstances and other people. So if I can control them, then I can feel better.”
If people feel powerless, then judging you to change your behavior can make them feel reassured that their needs will be met (this can be your parents, partner, friends, boss, etc.). Trying to control you is their understandably misguided solution for controlling their emotions.
Continuing the example from #1, the parent’s intention could be, “I feel uncomfortable, worried and powerless for your health. So, I need you to change, so I can feel better.” Typically when someone dismissively says, “Just do it,” they care more about their own needs.
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3. “Just Do It” Works! … Temporarily.
People can be compartmentalized and short-sighted, so temporary solutions seem effective. But when you take a step back, you notice the pitfalls in sustainability. It can be great for a quick fix, but it’s not a sustainable solution. For ex:
You keep going back to the same old advice again, force yourself to change, and it works!… temporarily. But over time, it leaves you feeling exhausted, depressed, resentful, and ultimately powerless to not only make lasting changes, but powerless to understanding your emotions, which justifies self-judgment, because you assume something’s wrong with you. But the issue is you’re not investing in caring about how you feel for long-term sustainability.
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~ BFree
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Share your thoughts: What’s one step you’re going to do to start caring about how you feel, and modify and adjust a new habit?
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submitted by BFreeCoaching to Adulting [link] [comments]
Don’t judge yourself for what you think you should do, just adjust the time and/or intensity until it accommodates your emotional needs for the day.
- Ex: When you feel good, you workout for an hour. But when you're sad, you don't have the motivation, so scale it back to just 2 minutes. Or 1 pushup. Or get dressed, but don't go to the gym. Keep modifying your desired behavior until it sounds easy and/or fun.
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Let’s discuss tips for being a perfectionist, procrastinating, self-sabotage, discipline and how to create motivation (yes, you can control it):
“Just do it” ironically doesn’t work because it’s short-sighted, not sustainable, makes things harder in the short-term, and creates more work in the long-term due to unintentional unwanted consequences. When people focus on discipline, they typically mean behavior, but not emotion. But when you discipline your emotions, then you don’t need to discipline your behavior; because you’ll naturally want to act.
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“Discipline > Motivation. When your mind says, ‘I don't want to do this,’ that’s the cue to do it.”Motivation is an emotion, and emotions come from your thoughts. You don’t have to discipline what you do, when you discipline what you give your attention to. Use it as a cue to self-reflect, “I don’t want to do this because my expectations are too high. What if I made it easier? And only did half as much time or intensity? Yeah, I can do that.”
- Discipline yourself to focus less on judging anyone or anything; especially yourself. And focus more on accepting and appreciating (e.g. writing lists of what you appreciate about yourself and/or life).
- Discipline yourself to focus on feeling better before, during and after an activity (e.g. focusing on why you want to do it and what do you want to feel?).
“If I waited to be motivated, nothing would get done. You need discipline, and then motivation comes later.”Thankfully, your options aren’t limited to wait or just do it. There’s a third option: Use your power of focus to allow momentum to build (which can be done in a few minutes), and then you’ll create motivation. You’re not sitting around doing nothing; you’re actively engaging your focus to get your mind and emotions on board with your desired behavior. Then, you don’t need to rely on brute force, but instead gentle guidance; which is healthier and far more empowering in the short & long-term.
And yes, motivation can come afterwards, but that’s passive. Proactive motivation is disciplining your thoughts and emotions, so then the behavior feels a lot easier. You discipline yourself to practice how to cultivate the feeling of motivation, without needing to take physical action, first. And then, the action you take will be easier, more productive, and satisfying.
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“Sometimes, you gotta work when you don't feel like it.”Yes, you have to follow through on things. However, you always have the freedom to discipline yourself to feel better.
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Here's How Motivation Works
- Motivation is the result of momentum.
- Momentum is the result of lack of resistance (e.g. a snowball rolling downhill gets bigger and faster).
- Resistance is the result of thoughts focused on (and pushing against or judging) what you don't want.
Negative emotions are positive guidance (although it might not feel that way) letting you know you are focusing on, and pushing against, what you don't want. Negative emotions are just messengers of the limiting beliefs you're practicing. They're a necessary part of your emotional guidance, like GPS in your car. But the more you fight them, you keep yourself stuck.
Believing negative emotions get in the way of productivity is the equivalent of believing your GPS gets in the way of driving, and so you want to mute your guidance system from telling you when you're going the wrong way.
All emotions are equal and worthy. But most people unknowingly create a hierarchy for their emotions (i.e. positive = good; negative = bad), but then you make it harder to feel better. So the solution is to build a friendship and harmonious relationship with the "negative" side of you. So when you focus more on what you want and care more about how you feel, then you will start to feel more motivated to take small, practical steps towards the life you want.
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To Create Motivation, Modify Expectation: Don’t Judge Yourself — Adjust Yourself
Your expectations are too high. Don’t judge yourself for what you can’t do, or think you should do; just adjust the time and/or intensity until it accommodates your emotional needs for the day.- Ex: When you feel good, you workout for an hour. But when you're sad, you don't have the motivation, so scale it back to just 2 minutes. Or 1 pushup. Or get dressed, but don't go to the gym. Keep modifying your desired behavior until it sounds easy and/or fun. And then validate yourself: "It's not my best, but it's my best for today. And that's enough."
- Ex: “What if I worked out for an hour? Oh, that brings up fear. Okay, what about 10 minutes? Still some fear, but better. Okay, what about 1 minute? … Yeah! I can do that. I’ll make a deal with myself: I’ll workout for 1 minute, and then I can go lay back down if I want to because I accomplished my goal.”
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Perfectionism Causes Procrastination. “All-or-Nothing” Typically Leads to Nothing
People get really ambitious for things they've never done. “All-or-nothing” typically leads to nothing. So, apply a small-and-satisfying (that’s what she said) mentality; which prioritizes the most important qualities: fun and simplicity. And, instead of trying to change 100%, simply change by 1%.When you were a baby, if you expected yourself to run a half marathon before you took your first step, then you would’ve given up and never learned how to walk.
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"I want to do things in the most efficient way."The most efficient way is the better-feeling way. The easier and more fun it is, it’s more sustainable, and so you stay consistent with it.
You're not lazy, you're just a perfectionist. You self-sabotage by setting your expectations too high. That’s not sustainable, thus setting yourself up to fail. And then you judge yourself for being lazy (which is a false conclusion based on your unrealistic expectations and impatience for change). But judging yourself for self-sabotage causes more self-sabotage, and then you feel stuck.
You’re sabotaging your future right now by beating up on yourself for a past you can’t change. Your power is now, and you can allow new opportunities that are just as good, if not better.
Also, you’re making the habits you don’t want to do too easy (e.g. store-bought sweets); and the habits you want to do too difficult (e.g. uncooked, dirt-flavored vegetables). So the solution is to make what you want to do easier, more fun, and thus, more appealing.
Gradually build up to become the person you want to be (because you gradually built up to become the person you don’t want to be). What’s more important to you: Being perfect? Or being productive?
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Starting Is Easy. Stopping Is Hard
.“Starting is half the battle. The hardest part is starting a new habit.”Starting is actually the easiest part! Ironically, you don't have an issue with starting; you have an issue with stopping. If you have a perfectionist mentality, then if you're not going to do all of it, then why bother starting? So because you don't want to stop sooner, you don't start at all.
- Ex: If you believe you need to workout for 2 hours, then starting can be challenging. But when you give yourself the freedom to stop after 2 minutes, then starting is super easy. Because there's no pressure of self-imposed expectation of perfection.
“How do I start, when I don’t know the first step?”Since you don't know the whole journey, you're stopping yourself from even starting. But look at your options of what you can do, and pick the one that feels better than the rest. And after you take that step, the next step will be more obvious. The inspiration of what to do next will come; just don't be in a rush.
When you’re indecisive of what to do, it’s because you’re not decisive of how you want to feel. You may not know what path to take specifically, but you always know what you want in general. So, what do you want to feel?
- "I want to feel empowered. I want to feel supported. I want to feel accepted and appreciated. I want to feel comfortable. I want to feel connected. I want to feel strong and healthy. I want to feel capable. I want to feel eager and excited. I want to feel productive. I want to feel clarity. I want to feel satisfied and fulfilled. And I want to have fun.”
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Why “Just Do It” Is Short-Sighted & Not Sustainable
1. It’s Well-Meaning, Just Misguided.The intention can be supportive, but filtered through limiting beliefs, it lacks an understanding of the detrimental effects of being emotionally dismissive. It’s like a parent judging you for being fat. They want you to be healthy, but don’t know how to practically support you. And that will probably leave the child with trauma, regardless if they change and lose weight.
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2. Ulterior motives.
An ulterior motive is: “I believe my emotions come from my circumstances and other people. So if I can control them, then I can feel better.”
If people feel powerless, then judging you to change your behavior can make them feel reassured that their needs will be met (this can be your parents, partner, friends, boss, etc.). Trying to control you is their understandably misguided solution for controlling their emotions.
Continuing the example from #1, the parent’s intention could be, “I feel uncomfortable, worried and powerless for your health. So, I need you to change, so I can feel better.” Typically when someone dismissively says, “Just do it,” they care more about their own needs.
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3. “Just Do It” Works! … Temporarily.
People can be compartmentalized and short-sighted, so temporary solutions seem effective. But when you take a step back, you notice the pitfalls in sustainability. It can be great for a quick fix, but it’s not a sustainable solution. For ex:
- It’s like a diet. Sure, you'll lose weight initially. But fast forward a year and you gained the weight back.
- Finite vs Infinite Game Mindset: A company cuts corners, dilutes quality, and fires employees to save money for investors. Short-term, the business is profitable! Long-term, it erodes company culture, trust and loyalty, and the business can eventually go bankrupt.
- You have to clean the house, and force yourself to do it. Short-term: You got a clean house! But long-term: You may feel drained and reinforce the limiting belief, “Cleaning house = takes a long time and I hate it.” So you plant a seed of resentment to not only prevent you from being motivated to clean in the future, but it also negatively affects how you approach any activity you need to do that you don’t want to (e.g. exercise, getting work done, etc.). And over time, that can lead to burnout or self-sabotage. Chasing temporary gains can erode your motivation for life itself.
You keep going back to the same old advice again, force yourself to change, and it works!… temporarily. But over time, it leaves you feeling exhausted, depressed, resentful, and ultimately powerless to not only make lasting changes, but powerless to understanding your emotions, which justifies self-judgment, because you assume something’s wrong with you. But the issue is you’re not investing in caring about how you feel for long-term sustainability.
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Accept That You Won’t Do It
You’re judging yourself to either force yourself to do it, or make excuses to justify why you’re not doing it. But in either case, it’s still not getting done. So if it won’t get done regardless (like cleaning), then you might as well accept that and feel better about it. And then ironically, when you give yourself permission to accept that you won’t do it… that can motivate you to do it..
Planned Procrastination
Sometimes, I intentionally plan to procrastinate. If I have several weeks to do a project, then I plan to do it the night before. Because realistically, that would’ve happened anyway. The difference is, I don’t worry or judge myself as the deadline approaches, because I planned to have it done at the last minute. So it still gets done, but without the stress (or shame afterwards; making false promises that, “I’ll never do it again. This time I’ll change.”)..
Procrastination Can Be a Wise Decision That Saves Time & Effort
- Ex: You feel better, and need to go to the store, but don’t feel inspired to. But if you just do it and drive down, you find out it’s closed for the day. You weren’t inspired to go, because it would’ve been a waste of time, effort and resources. The better you feel, the more value you get from action; more bang for your buck. So, the inspired solution wasn’t: “Don’t do it.” It’s: “Don’t do it… yet.” When the timing is right, then you’ll naturally want to do it (i.e. tomorrow, when they’re open).
~ BFree
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Share your thoughts: What’s one step you’re going to do to start caring about how you feel, and modify and adjust a new habit?
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2024.05.18 16:27 Hidalgo321 Mono Mime Complete. Retirement Run.
 | CAREER CONCLUSION submitted by Hidalgo321 to pokemonradicalred [link] [comments] Ah, I can rest now. I remember my first run. No, my second. My first I literally rage quit the game for half a year, got on reddit- cried the game was broken, stupidly difficult, cheating, etc. I remember my second run. I beat the Hall of Fame in a WalMart parking lot. This after ~70 attempts over the course of days and days. It was probably the most rewarding gaming experience of my life, I made a whole post saying so. Now it’s the second most. I’ve came from rage quitting the game with every pokemon and move available to me, to taking my favorite mon and his 5 clones to the Hall of Fame- just us. What a ride. Thanks RR- it’s been too real. Best Pokémon rom of all time and it’s not even fucking close. MONO MIME RUN Most useful natures: +SpDef, +SpA Most useful abilities: Filter, Misty Surge Most useful held-items: Terrain Extender, Life Orb, Assault Vest, Focus Sash, Babiri Berry, Light Clay Most useful moves: Encore, Trick Room, Reflect, Psycho Boost, Moonblast, Mystical Fire, Shadow Ball *Most useful setups: * -In general it worked to have 2 defensively natured Mimes with Trick Room, Light Screen, Reflect setups to get the upper hand early in fights. Pairing that with a Terrain ExtendeLight Clay was the ideal start, while resorting to Focus Sash to get T Room off was less than ideal. -Mime has a seriously impressive Special Defense, throwing on an Assault Vest or a Misty Seed with Misty Surge meant he had an insane special chin. This was the only way we could kill Primal Dialga, a Light Screen +SpDef Mime with Misty Seed and cutting Dialgas SpA with Moonblasts. -Life Orb Mimes were essential, with Choice Specs being required in moments. As someone has so sagely pointed out on this sub before, this rom requires kill power to win battles. It will give you opportunities to punish it but your mons have to be strong enough to take advantage of it. Cue life orb/specs. -NOTE: I went into this run planning on spamming a lot of Barriers (great move), Calm Minds, Nasty Plots, etc to make a Mega Mime that swept teams, but alas his HP is too low for practical setups. And he’s too slow. It just never worked. Trick Room/Encore saved this run. Most Challenging Fights: -Giovanni Game Corner (Had to pull some wiccan shit on Mega-Kangaskahn to win this one, video is posted in my history) -Cinnabar Gym Blaine (Ogerpon is a near perfect counter to Mime) -Celadon Gym Erika Rematch (Ogerpon is a near perfect counter to Mime) -Lorelei E4, as is tradition (Glacial Lance Calyrex-Ice is the real reason I’m leaving this game) All bow to Mime. All hail the greatest Pokemon of all, Lord of Nations. Mime kills all. Mime rules all. |
2024.05.18 15:46 PlasmaShovel Needle in The Haystack 14
When I was looking through the finished chapter folder today, one was missing, and I got worried that I deleted it on accident. Turns out it was at the top of the folder instead of the bottom, because I put a space in the title that wasn't supposed to be there. So, crisis averted, I guess.
Many thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for the universe.
Enjoy.
Prev - First - Next
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Chapter 14: Hydrophobic
- Memory Transcription Subject: Meba, Venlil Computer Scientist
Date [Standardized Human Time]: October 20th, 2136
It was comfy.
I wasn’t sure about the whole ‘scarf’ thing, but after finishing it, and putting it on, I actually liked it quite a bit. Finishing it wasn’t even hard, all I had to do was bring the end of the yarn through the last loop and weave in the end, which was a breeze with a little help from Arlene.
She helped me put it on. Apparently, there was a nearly infinite number of ways to wear the garment. Anything from braids, to knots, to wraps, to simply dangling from the neck. It was truly amazing how many ways humans managed to use a simple strip of fabric.
She showed me several different ways to tie it. First only draping it around my neck, then showing me how to do the ‘once around’, next tying a ‘Parisian’ knot, and finally showing me a braided one that was really just a modified version of the Parisian, where instead of bringing both ends through the loop, you only put one through, and then give it a half turn, put the other end in, and repeat until the ends are completely integrated into the braid.
Arlene made a weird squealing noise. “Okay hold on, I need to take a picture of this.” She pulled out her phone and took shots of me from several angles, even pulling the camera right up to my snout at one point, and causing me to flinch.
She turned the phone around to reveal an extremely distorted, and equally unflattering close up of my face. “Everybody loves a fish eye filter.”
I didn’t know what to say. The disrespect was palpable.
“Oh, let me show you a trick.” She undid the braid, taking the scarf and wrapping it around front to back, and bringing the ends back around and down through the loop at the front. Then she took the back part, and brought it over the back of my head in a hood, having a bit of trouble getting it past my wool, and pressing my ears down towards the front of my face. I liked the Parisian better.
“This is really uncomfortable.” My voice sounded muffled with the hood flattening my ears.
“Okay, okay. Just let me get one picture.” She pointed the phone at me again.
Once she was done with her ‘photoshoot’, I took off the scarf. “Is this really that enjoyable for you?”
“Extremely. You have no idea how cute this is. I’ll make one with ear holes for you so you can wear the hood comfortably next time.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever need that much insulation.”
“You never know. What if you go to the night for some reason?”
“Despite my heritage, I don’t have much of a thing for freezing temperatures.”
“Well, it’s up to you. Do you like it?”
I folded up the scarf and put it into my bag. “It’s comfy. Like a hug.”
She smiled. “It looks good on you too.”
My tail wagged of its own accord. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Hold on, let’s get one more picture.” She pulled out her phone again, and crouched next to me to match my height, pointing the camera towards us both. “Smile!”
Flustered, I struggled to make the foreign expression. Arlene put her arm around my shoulder, and took the picture.
“There we go, Dad’s gonna get a kick out of that… once I actually get a way to send it to him.” She tapped away at the screen for a moment. “How much time do we have before we need to leave for dinner?”
“A quarter claw or so.”
“Okay, perfect. Since we have some time…” She smiled. “You wanna learn how to spin thread?”
“Sure.”
Her smile deepened. “Okay okay, come on, let me show you how.” She nearly sprinted over to the spinning wheel.
I followed, though not nearly as eager.
“Sit down.” She ordered, bringing up a chair next to the contraption.
I obliged. Arlene loomed over me, looking even larger while I sat in the wooden seat. A pointless shiver went up my spine.
She brought a little bag of rolags next to the wheel, placing it on the ground, then turning to the wheel.
“It’s already set up, but I’ll redo it so you can see how.” She removed the bobbin from its spot. “Before you start, you need a bit of yarn to start off, so you can attach the new fibers to it.” She tied a loop in the end of the yarn, and slotted the bobbin back in with a clack. “It goes in like this. Then we set the tension, which is how much the bobbin will pull on your side of the yarn. You change it using this little knob down here.” She twisted the knob back and forth a few times for effect. “It should be fine for you, just tell me if it’s pulling too hard.”
I flicked an ear.
“Okay, so we bring the yarn along the hooks here, towards this hole, which is called the orifice. I have a little hook here to pull the yarn through.” She stuck it in, then pulled the yarn back through, and handed it to me.
The yarn was fine; a single strand of wool, though I knew it was actually a tangle of several. As I slid my paw pad along the yarn, it felt slightly fuzzy in my paws, with a few errant hairs struggling to escape.
“Don’t grab it so hard. Try to be firm, but gentle.”
I adjusted my grip. “Better?”
“I wont really know for sure until you start. Let’s try the treadle. You play an instrument?”
“No, why?”
What would music have to do with this?
“Well, just pretend that you do. You need to keep a steady beat so the speed stays constant. Put your foot on the treadle and give it a try.” She smiled.
“Okay then.” I put my paw down, and gave it a push. As the wheel turned, my paw was soon lifted back up from the floor, then reaching the apex of the turn. Instinctively, I pushed down again, and the wheel gained yet more speed. Then, I misplaced my next push, and sent the wheel turning the other way.
A pat on my shoulder. I didn’t realize I was so tense. “Relax, it’s hard at first. Just keep trying. You gotta be gentle with it; you don’t want it to go too fast. You had the right idea before, just let it move your foot, and give it a little tap when needed… oh, and be careful not to let go of the yarn.”
“Uh huh… thanks.” I tried again, paying more attention to my timing now. Keeping the speed consistent was harder than it looked. However, while I didn’t think of myself as more coordinated than the average venlil, I think I was getting the hang of it.
“There ya’ go. That’s pretty good. Can you try changing directions?”
How the brahk am I supposed to do that?
I looked up at her, then back to the wheel, when my concentration faltered.
“Just push down before it goes over the top of the spin. It’s basically what you’re doing now, but in reverse.”
Just keeping it spinning was hard enough. Turning it around? Nope, that wasn’t gonna happen.
“Come on, you can do it.”
Ugh.
I attempted to get it to turn in the other way, to no avail; when I pushed down, it still went over the apex of the turn, and I didn’t take the pressure off fast enough, so it sped up way more than before, throwing me off beat.
“Brahk.” I spat, claws from my free paw digging into my thigh. My face burned with bloom.
The wheel slowed to a crawl, then a stop, lifeless. My eyes fixed on it like hooks to meat.
“Hey, don’t worry, just give it another shot.”
“Y-yeah.” I gave it another push, repeating until it was up to speed. The machine made a gentle whirring as it turned.
I watched the treadle, and the plank that attached it to the wheel. After a few more rotations, I gave it a big push in the other direction, and it slowed greatly. The next rotation, I gave it another push, and it turned around.
“Woo! You did it!”
Arlene’s yelling startled me, and I stopped.
“Let’s get you spinning some thread now.” She gave me a big teeth bearing grin.
I tried not to look at her mouth too hard. “Okay.”
She grabbed a rolag from the pile. “It’s probably best if I just show you.”
“Alright.”
Arlene roughed up the end of the rolag, then she grabbed the yarn from my hand, and looped the fibers around the loop. “Could you start it up again?”
“Yeah.”
Once the wheel was spinning, she slid her fingers down the rolag; the whole thing constricted into a length of yarn, due to the twist.
After it twisted up, she fed it into the orifice, which promptly swallowed it up, and then she repeated the process: thinning out the rolag a bit, sliding the twist in, and feeding it into the machine. She did this 6 times before she ran out of fiber. But that didn’t stop her; she just grabbed another rolag and pressed the feathery end into the yarn, and continued. Three more times, and she stopped.
She motioned for me to stop pedaling. “You get all that?”
I blinked. “It doesn’t look too hard.”
“Let’s get to it then.” She handed me the fibers, and stood back, a thumb pointing up to the sky.
I took them in my paws, and held them in a firm grip, so they wouldn’t come out of my hands when I started pedaling. The wheel came up to speed, blurring slightly. My vision narrowed to the singular point in front of me: the fiber. Heartbeats felt like footsteps in my chest, my breathing slow. I felt the fiber; how it pulled against my paws, the roughness of the strands, the texture of the wool. Drafting a bit of the fibers out, I slid my paw pads along the fiber, to let a little twist into it. It strangled into a single line of yarn. Slowly, carefully, I fed it into the orifice, all while keeping the wheel turning at a reasonable speed. There were bits where the yarn was thicker, and thinner, where I failed to keep the fibers consistent. Particles of dust played in the corner of my vision.
Repeat.
The bumps slid against my paw pads like thorns, though I tried to squish them down. I didn’t know how you were supposed to get rid of them. I pulled along the fiber, feeling the twist rub against me. Another length into the bobbin.
Repeat.
My claws slid along the fibers, twist came in, I fed it into the orifice. Repeat. I drafted more fiber, slid along it, and fed it into the orifice. Repeat. I struggled to pull apart the fibers, so I slowed down the wheel’s speed. Repeat. When I untwisted part of the yarn in my paws, the fiber came apart easier. Repeat. Every now and then, I would grab more yarn from the pile, and attach it to the yarn. My leg burned from the constant motion. Repeat.
Repeat, repeat, repeat,
Instead of hitting wool, my paw struck air. I was out. I sopped pedaling, and the wheel came to a stop.
Arlene struck her hands together in a rhythmic motion. “Good job!” She had moved to the other side of the machine from her original place beside me, and I didn’t even notice. “I was going to show you how to feed the yarn evenly onto the bobbin, but you were so focused I just decided to change the hooks for you. Seriously, you’re a natural; I’ve never seen someone get it so fast.”
My mouth was dry from thirst. How long had I been spinning? I glanced around the room. “W-what time is it?”
Arlene grabbed the end of the fibers from my paws and tied it around an extrusion on the machine. “I think you started about forty minutes ago.” She scratched at her head. “Sorry, that’s uh…”
“So not long?” I asked. My perception of time was completely off. It felt like I had just sat down, though that was obviously not the case.
“Yeah.” She replied. “Wanna take a look at your yarn?”
An ear flick later, and she was humming some Earth tune while removing the bobbing from the spinning wheel, tying off the end of the fiber in an overhand knot to keep it from unraveling. After a moment of inspection, she passed the bobbin to me.
“It’s damn good work for your first time.” She said bluntly.
I ran a paw along the bundled yarn. “There’s a bunch of bumps.”
“Come on, I didn’t even show you how to control the thickness yet. You should be proud.” Arlene ordered, with a slap on the back that struck a cough out of me.
She was just being nice, I knew. Arlene was like that; she would probably praise me even if I somehow managed to destroy the wheel. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit happy about it. I made this. I was holding it in my own two paws.
“Thanks.” I tried to smile.
“Aw, you’re welcome.” Arlene smiled back. It was warm.
“We should get going, or we’ll be late.” I said, handing her the bobbin back.
“Sure, give me a sec.” She replied, grabbing a pocket umbrella from the other room. I considered the claim that humans could smell rain before it started dubious at best. Though, it might have been a good idea to check the weather report.
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I should have listened.
So much rain, and that’s not even mentioning the wind. Anything that wasn’t blown away was pummeled, including us. We huddled under the singular human umbrella, which was wholly insufficient to shield us from the raindrops. We were shuffling towards the restaurant at a painfully slow pace, Arlene unbuttoning her coat to drape its hydrophobic veil around the both of us. From the outside, we probably looked like a horrid chimera of venlil and human, with tough stitched skin, stretching under powerful muscles. It’s a good thing we didn’t have to worry about other pedestrians. It was too late to go back now.
Arlene said something, but I couldn’t hear it over the rain and the wind.
“What?!” I asked.
“I said! Are we close!?” She yelled in response.
“What?!”
She brought the coat around our heads to shield from the wind. “Are we almost there?!”
“Almost!” I said, throat scratchy.
On the horizon—no, it wasn’t the horizon, it was just the edge of our vision in the wet hell we were trapped in—a spattering of warm neon lights shot through the endless layers of water like a photon cannon, while each speck of liquid reflected the shiny oasis, beckoning us closer with promises of warmth and comfort. Arlene slipped on a puddle, her boots caked thick with mud, the rubber treads no longer providing traction. I helped her to steady herself, and almost fell myself.
I saw movement in the window of the establishment, the details of which I couldn’t place. A drop of rain charged straight into my eye, and I lost focus.
There was a small awning above the door, but it didn’t do much to help against the rain, completely useless against the nearly sideways path of the water. Though, at least we weren’t completely soaked. Arlene’s coat was a boon I couldn’t have predicted. I was beginning to see the appeal of human apparel; I couldn’t imagine traveling through such weather with just my wool, or, stars forbid, nothing but skin. Though, that wouldn’t stop my brain from trying.
The rain like gunfire, wind stinging like nettles, piercing right through your insignificant form. Bones rattling with imminent death, breath frozen in the lungs.
We both wiped our feet on the doormat, which was as soaked as everything else. Arlene heaved the door open with excessive force, completely void of concern for the reaction of those inside the building, which was… sub-optimal, to say the least.
I had not yet noticed what an expensive place it was, but as soon as I spotted the two waitstaff near the entrance, I couldn’t help but say a prayer for my wallet, and our survival. Both of them nearly jumped out of their wool as soon as we entered, and almost immediately after, the more confident of the two stepped forward to shove us right back out the doors.
“Get out, get out! You’ll scare the patrons!” He hissed, below the chatter of the dining area.
“We’re not going back into the storm.” Arlene informed him.
“Oh yes you are, human.” The waitstaff corrected.
“We do not serve predators in this establishment.” The second educated further.
You’re not going to let them speak to her like that, are you?
I flicked my tail in disgust, and my voice bounded forth with unprecedented spirit. “Are you brahking dense? You can’t refuse service because she’s human.”
“What a farce. Do you seriously expect the exterminators to comply with that drivel?” The first questioned.
“Who in their right mind would let a blood thirsty animal into a place for eating? Do you want to get someone killed? Or are you just as mad?” Reiterated the second.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I inquired calmly.
Arlene grabbed me by the shoulders. “Hey, calm down. They’re just doing their jobs.”
Jobs? What do jobs have to do with this?
“You must be some sort of mad if you think we’re going back into that storm.” I explained.
The first waitstaff sighed. “Do you even have a reservation?”
“Of course we do!” I pulled my datapad out from its pocket. It wouldn’t turn on.
“What’s wrong?” Arlene asked.
“The rain killed it.” I replied.
“No reservation? I figured.” Said the first waitstaff, with an extremely punchable look on his face. “Then, if you please. Get. Out.”
“Now hold on just a second,” Arlene said, with palms raised in some sort of odd threat display. “it’s murder out there. Won’t you let us stay at least until the rain lets up?”
“Most certainly not.” Said the first.
“Not a chance.” Echoed the second.
“Look, I’m sorry about my friend, he’s on edge because of the storm. We won’t be long, just until it’s safe to leave.” She pleaded.
Some of the people dining noticed the commotion at the door, and more than a few shot sidelong glances at us. Gusts of wind blew against the door, shaking it against the little foyer we were standing in.
As the waitstaff were about to give their rebuttal, I spotted a familiar coat near the back of the dining room, ducking out from behind a covered booth. A small figure, with sandy fur, and a look of endless confidence on his face: Gram. He made his way towards the entrance, stopped a few paces from the foyer, rubbed his eyes, pinched himself, rubbed his eyes again, and then hid a deranged snicker behind his paw.
“H-hey Meba.” He let out a muffled giggle. “Doormen giving you trouble?”
I rolled my eyes.
Gram addressed the waitstaff. “Don’t worry, he’s with me.”
submitted by PlasmaShovel to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
Many thanks to u/SpacePaladin15 for the universe.
Enjoy.
Prev - First - Next
------------------------------------
Chapter 14: Hydrophobic
- Memory Transcription Subject: Meba, Venlil Computer Scientist
Date [Standardized Human Time]: October 20th, 2136
It was comfy.
I wasn’t sure about the whole ‘scarf’ thing, but after finishing it, and putting it on, I actually liked it quite a bit. Finishing it wasn’t even hard, all I had to do was bring the end of the yarn through the last loop and weave in the end, which was a breeze with a little help from Arlene.
She helped me put it on. Apparently, there was a nearly infinite number of ways to wear the garment. Anything from braids, to knots, to wraps, to simply dangling from the neck. It was truly amazing how many ways humans managed to use a simple strip of fabric.
She showed me several different ways to tie it. First only draping it around my neck, then showing me how to do the ‘once around’, next tying a ‘Parisian’ knot, and finally showing me a braided one that was really just a modified version of the Parisian, where instead of bringing both ends through the loop, you only put one through, and then give it a half turn, put the other end in, and repeat until the ends are completely integrated into the braid.
Arlene made a weird squealing noise. “Okay hold on, I need to take a picture of this.” She pulled out her phone and took shots of me from several angles, even pulling the camera right up to my snout at one point, and causing me to flinch.
She turned the phone around to reveal an extremely distorted, and equally unflattering close up of my face. “Everybody loves a fish eye filter.”
I didn’t know what to say. The disrespect was palpable.
“Oh, let me show you a trick.” She undid the braid, taking the scarf and wrapping it around front to back, and bringing the ends back around and down through the loop at the front. Then she took the back part, and brought it over the back of my head in a hood, having a bit of trouble getting it past my wool, and pressing my ears down towards the front of my face. I liked the Parisian better.
“This is really uncomfortable.” My voice sounded muffled with the hood flattening my ears.
“Okay, okay. Just let me get one picture.” She pointed the phone at me again.
Once she was done with her ‘photoshoot’, I took off the scarf. “Is this really that enjoyable for you?”
“Extremely. You have no idea how cute this is. I’ll make one with ear holes for you so you can wear the hood comfortably next time.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever need that much insulation.”
“You never know. What if you go to the night for some reason?”
“Despite my heritage, I don’t have much of a thing for freezing temperatures.”
“Well, it’s up to you. Do you like it?”
I folded up the scarf and put it into my bag. “It’s comfy. Like a hug.”
She smiled. “It looks good on you too.”
My tail wagged of its own accord. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Hold on, let’s get one more picture.” She pulled out her phone again, and crouched next to me to match my height, pointing the camera towards us both. “Smile!”
Flustered, I struggled to make the foreign expression. Arlene put her arm around my shoulder, and took the picture.
“There we go, Dad’s gonna get a kick out of that… once I actually get a way to send it to him.” She tapped away at the screen for a moment. “How much time do we have before we need to leave for dinner?”
“A quarter claw or so.”
“Okay, perfect. Since we have some time…” She smiled. “You wanna learn how to spin thread?”
“Sure.”
Her smile deepened. “Okay okay, come on, let me show you how.” She nearly sprinted over to the spinning wheel.
I followed, though not nearly as eager.
“Sit down.” She ordered, bringing up a chair next to the contraption.
I obliged. Arlene loomed over me, looking even larger while I sat in the wooden seat. A pointless shiver went up my spine.
She brought a little bag of rolags next to the wheel, placing it on the ground, then turning to the wheel.
“It’s already set up, but I’ll redo it so you can see how.” She removed the bobbin from its spot. “Before you start, you need a bit of yarn to start off, so you can attach the new fibers to it.” She tied a loop in the end of the yarn, and slotted the bobbin back in with a clack. “It goes in like this. Then we set the tension, which is how much the bobbin will pull on your side of the yarn. You change it using this little knob down here.” She twisted the knob back and forth a few times for effect. “It should be fine for you, just tell me if it’s pulling too hard.”
I flicked an ear.
“Okay, so we bring the yarn along the hooks here, towards this hole, which is called the orifice. I have a little hook here to pull the yarn through.” She stuck it in, then pulled the yarn back through, and handed it to me.
The yarn was fine; a single strand of wool, though I knew it was actually a tangle of several. As I slid my paw pad along the yarn, it felt slightly fuzzy in my paws, with a few errant hairs struggling to escape.
“Don’t grab it so hard. Try to be firm, but gentle.”
I adjusted my grip. “Better?”
“I wont really know for sure until you start. Let’s try the treadle. You play an instrument?”
“No, why?”
What would music have to do with this?
“Well, just pretend that you do. You need to keep a steady beat so the speed stays constant. Put your foot on the treadle and give it a try.” She smiled.
“Okay then.” I put my paw down, and gave it a push. As the wheel turned, my paw was soon lifted back up from the floor, then reaching the apex of the turn. Instinctively, I pushed down again, and the wheel gained yet more speed. Then, I misplaced my next push, and sent the wheel turning the other way.
A pat on my shoulder. I didn’t realize I was so tense. “Relax, it’s hard at first. Just keep trying. You gotta be gentle with it; you don’t want it to go too fast. You had the right idea before, just let it move your foot, and give it a little tap when needed… oh, and be careful not to let go of the yarn.”
“Uh huh… thanks.” I tried again, paying more attention to my timing now. Keeping the speed consistent was harder than it looked. However, while I didn’t think of myself as more coordinated than the average venlil, I think I was getting the hang of it.
“There ya’ go. That’s pretty good. Can you try changing directions?”
How the brahk am I supposed to do that?
I looked up at her, then back to the wheel, when my concentration faltered.
“Just push down before it goes over the top of the spin. It’s basically what you’re doing now, but in reverse.”
Just keeping it spinning was hard enough. Turning it around? Nope, that wasn’t gonna happen.
“Come on, you can do it.”
Ugh.
I attempted to get it to turn in the other way, to no avail; when I pushed down, it still went over the apex of the turn, and I didn’t take the pressure off fast enough, so it sped up way more than before, throwing me off beat.
“Brahk.” I spat, claws from my free paw digging into my thigh. My face burned with bloom.
The wheel slowed to a crawl, then a stop, lifeless. My eyes fixed on it like hooks to meat.
“Hey, don’t worry, just give it another shot.”
“Y-yeah.” I gave it another push, repeating until it was up to speed. The machine made a gentle whirring as it turned.
I watched the treadle, and the plank that attached it to the wheel. After a few more rotations, I gave it a big push in the other direction, and it slowed greatly. The next rotation, I gave it another push, and it turned around.
“Woo! You did it!”
Arlene’s yelling startled me, and I stopped.
“Let’s get you spinning some thread now.” She gave me a big teeth bearing grin.
I tried not to look at her mouth too hard. “Okay.”
She grabbed a rolag from the pile. “It’s probably best if I just show you.”
“Alright.”
Arlene roughed up the end of the rolag, then she grabbed the yarn from my hand, and looped the fibers around the loop. “Could you start it up again?”
“Yeah.”
Once the wheel was spinning, she slid her fingers down the rolag; the whole thing constricted into a length of yarn, due to the twist.
After it twisted up, she fed it into the orifice, which promptly swallowed it up, and then she repeated the process: thinning out the rolag a bit, sliding the twist in, and feeding it into the machine. She did this 6 times before she ran out of fiber. But that didn’t stop her; she just grabbed another rolag and pressed the feathery end into the yarn, and continued. Three more times, and she stopped.
She motioned for me to stop pedaling. “You get all that?”
I blinked. “It doesn’t look too hard.”
“Let’s get to it then.” She handed me the fibers, and stood back, a thumb pointing up to the sky.
I took them in my paws, and held them in a firm grip, so they wouldn’t come out of my hands when I started pedaling. The wheel came up to speed, blurring slightly. My vision narrowed to the singular point in front of me: the fiber. Heartbeats felt like footsteps in my chest, my breathing slow. I felt the fiber; how it pulled against my paws, the roughness of the strands, the texture of the wool. Drafting a bit of the fibers out, I slid my paw pads along the fiber, to let a little twist into it. It strangled into a single line of yarn. Slowly, carefully, I fed it into the orifice, all while keeping the wheel turning at a reasonable speed. There were bits where the yarn was thicker, and thinner, where I failed to keep the fibers consistent. Particles of dust played in the corner of my vision.
Repeat.
The bumps slid against my paw pads like thorns, though I tried to squish them down. I didn’t know how you were supposed to get rid of them. I pulled along the fiber, feeling the twist rub against me. Another length into the bobbin.
Repeat.
My claws slid along the fibers, twist came in, I fed it into the orifice. Repeat. I drafted more fiber, slid along it, and fed it into the orifice. Repeat. I struggled to pull apart the fibers, so I slowed down the wheel’s speed. Repeat. When I untwisted part of the yarn in my paws, the fiber came apart easier. Repeat. Every now and then, I would grab more yarn from the pile, and attach it to the yarn. My leg burned from the constant motion. Repeat.
Repeat, repeat, repeat,
Instead of hitting wool, my paw struck air. I was out. I sopped pedaling, and the wheel came to a stop.
Arlene struck her hands together in a rhythmic motion. “Good job!” She had moved to the other side of the machine from her original place beside me, and I didn’t even notice. “I was going to show you how to feed the yarn evenly onto the bobbin, but you were so focused I just decided to change the hooks for you. Seriously, you’re a natural; I’ve never seen someone get it so fast.”
My mouth was dry from thirst. How long had I been spinning? I glanced around the room. “W-what time is it?”
Arlene grabbed the end of the fibers from my paws and tied it around an extrusion on the machine. “I think you started about forty minutes ago.” She scratched at her head. “Sorry, that’s uh…”
“So not long?” I asked. My perception of time was completely off. It felt like I had just sat down, though that was obviously not the case.
“Yeah.” She replied. “Wanna take a look at your yarn?”
An ear flick later, and she was humming some Earth tune while removing the bobbing from the spinning wheel, tying off the end of the fiber in an overhand knot to keep it from unraveling. After a moment of inspection, she passed the bobbin to me.
“It’s damn good work for your first time.” She said bluntly.
I ran a paw along the bundled yarn. “There’s a bunch of bumps.”
“Come on, I didn’t even show you how to control the thickness yet. You should be proud.” Arlene ordered, with a slap on the back that struck a cough out of me.
She was just being nice, I knew. Arlene was like that; she would probably praise me even if I somehow managed to destroy the wheel. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit happy about it. I made this. I was holding it in my own two paws.
“Thanks.” I tried to smile.
“Aw, you’re welcome.” Arlene smiled back. It was warm.
“We should get going, or we’ll be late.” I said, handing her the bobbin back.
“Sure, give me a sec.” She replied, grabbing a pocket umbrella from the other room. I considered the claim that humans could smell rain before it started dubious at best. Though, it might have been a good idea to check the weather report.
---
I should have listened.
So much rain, and that’s not even mentioning the wind. Anything that wasn’t blown away was pummeled, including us. We huddled under the singular human umbrella, which was wholly insufficient to shield us from the raindrops. We were shuffling towards the restaurant at a painfully slow pace, Arlene unbuttoning her coat to drape its hydrophobic veil around the both of us. From the outside, we probably looked like a horrid chimera of venlil and human, with tough stitched skin, stretching under powerful muscles. It’s a good thing we didn’t have to worry about other pedestrians. It was too late to go back now.
Arlene said something, but I couldn’t hear it over the rain and the wind.
“What?!” I asked.
“I said! Are we close!?” She yelled in response.
“What?!”
She brought the coat around our heads to shield from the wind. “Are we almost there?!”
“Almost!” I said, throat scratchy.
On the horizon—no, it wasn’t the horizon, it was just the edge of our vision in the wet hell we were trapped in—a spattering of warm neon lights shot through the endless layers of water like a photon cannon, while each speck of liquid reflected the shiny oasis, beckoning us closer with promises of warmth and comfort. Arlene slipped on a puddle, her boots caked thick with mud, the rubber treads no longer providing traction. I helped her to steady herself, and almost fell myself.
I saw movement in the window of the establishment, the details of which I couldn’t place. A drop of rain charged straight into my eye, and I lost focus.
There was a small awning above the door, but it didn’t do much to help against the rain, completely useless against the nearly sideways path of the water. Though, at least we weren’t completely soaked. Arlene’s coat was a boon I couldn’t have predicted. I was beginning to see the appeal of human apparel; I couldn’t imagine traveling through such weather with just my wool, or, stars forbid, nothing but skin. Though, that wouldn’t stop my brain from trying.
The rain like gunfire, wind stinging like nettles, piercing right through your insignificant form. Bones rattling with imminent death, breath frozen in the lungs.
We both wiped our feet on the doormat, which was as soaked as everything else. Arlene heaved the door open with excessive force, completely void of concern for the reaction of those inside the building, which was… sub-optimal, to say the least.
I had not yet noticed what an expensive place it was, but as soon as I spotted the two waitstaff near the entrance, I couldn’t help but say a prayer for my wallet, and our survival. Both of them nearly jumped out of their wool as soon as we entered, and almost immediately after, the more confident of the two stepped forward to shove us right back out the doors.
“Get out, get out! You’ll scare the patrons!” He hissed, below the chatter of the dining area.
“We’re not going back into the storm.” Arlene informed him.
“Oh yes you are, human.” The waitstaff corrected.
“We do not serve predators in this establishment.” The second educated further.
You’re not going to let them speak to her like that, are you?
I flicked my tail in disgust, and my voice bounded forth with unprecedented spirit. “Are you brahking dense? You can’t refuse service because she’s human.”
“What a farce. Do you seriously expect the exterminators to comply with that drivel?” The first questioned.
“Who in their right mind would let a blood thirsty animal into a place for eating? Do you want to get someone killed? Or are you just as mad?” Reiterated the second.
“What the fuck did you just say?” I inquired calmly.
Arlene grabbed me by the shoulders. “Hey, calm down. They’re just doing their jobs.”
Jobs? What do jobs have to do with this?
“You must be some sort of mad if you think we’re going back into that storm.” I explained.
The first waitstaff sighed. “Do you even have a reservation?”
“Of course we do!” I pulled my datapad out from its pocket. It wouldn’t turn on.
“What’s wrong?” Arlene asked.
“The rain killed it.” I replied.
“No reservation? I figured.” Said the first waitstaff, with an extremely punchable look on his face. “Then, if you please. Get. Out.”
“Now hold on just a second,” Arlene said, with palms raised in some sort of odd threat display. “it’s murder out there. Won’t you let us stay at least until the rain lets up?”
“Most certainly not.” Said the first.
“Not a chance.” Echoed the second.
“Look, I’m sorry about my friend, he’s on edge because of the storm. We won’t be long, just until it’s safe to leave.” She pleaded.
Some of the people dining noticed the commotion at the door, and more than a few shot sidelong glances at us. Gusts of wind blew against the door, shaking it against the little foyer we were standing in.
As the waitstaff were about to give their rebuttal, I spotted a familiar coat near the back of the dining room, ducking out from behind a covered booth. A small figure, with sandy fur, and a look of endless confidence on his face: Gram. He made his way towards the entrance, stopped a few paces from the foyer, rubbed his eyes, pinched himself, rubbed his eyes again, and then hid a deranged snicker behind his paw.
“H-hey Meba.” He let out a muffled giggle. “Doormen giving you trouble?”
I rolled my eyes.
Gram addressed the waitstaff. “Don’t worry, he’s with me.”
2024.05.18 15:30 BamOnRedit Roblox Is Gatekeeping Itself
For, i kid you not, nearly 10 years ive been on this platform. from amazon kindles to android tablets to a full unit windows laptop.
and to this day, an Iphone 7 beats me.
Optimization for roblox is a well known subject, iphone 7's and 8's can outperform s22 and s23 by a good amount, and godspeed if you use mediatek and not snapdragon. my laptop's GPU (paired with an Core I7 and 16GB of RAM) can perform roughly 2TFLOPS and can handle games like Apex Legends, CS2, Fallout, and much more.. which much more complex games by the way.. yet the client can max out my GPU at 3 to 5 level graphics, and 50% on 1. there just POLYGONS by the way, and this is on natural disaster survival, this client is horrific. Its not even fair how gorgeous roblox is for iOS and iOS only, and how even windows can struggle to compete with it. This is NOT a lack of raw performance for you little kids that cant understand computers, my laptop is an order of magnitude better across everything compared to chips on the iPhone X, 11, 12 and such. I mean sure its no 3060 and a high level I7 but i shouldnt need that to get good performance on roblox, so much heat and power is used to run such a minimal game that natural disaster survival is.
for YEARS its been the same for android and windows, and gets either nothing better or worse each year, its so unnecessarily garbage and i refuse to believe its a "waah to much hardware for optimization and apple uses universal hardware" garbage.
also, out of every multiplayer game ive played, this app has the worst latency and servers ever, it takes me forever to get to local servers, with no way to filter for them, and there is suspiciously high amounts of ping on internet that is pristine. if i have lag on roblox, id have lag on apex, i dont have lag on apex. i know theres scripts for windows that unlocks FPS, but they dont work and have latency issues, theres extensions for servers but you have to pay for them, but the argument stands for mobile.
my little rant that im convinced roblox is gatekeeping itself, which since i assume a platform that sponsors skibidi toilet games and nothing actually good, isnt even worth playing.
submitted by BamOnRedit to roblox [link] [comments]
and to this day, an Iphone 7 beats me.
Optimization for roblox is a well known subject, iphone 7's and 8's can outperform s22 and s23 by a good amount, and godspeed if you use mediatek and not snapdragon. my laptop's GPU (paired with an Core I7 and 16GB of RAM) can perform roughly 2TFLOPS and can handle games like Apex Legends, CS2, Fallout, and much more.. which much more complex games by the way.. yet the client can max out my GPU at 3 to 5 level graphics, and 50% on 1. there just POLYGONS by the way, and this is on natural disaster survival, this client is horrific. Its not even fair how gorgeous roblox is for iOS and iOS only, and how even windows can struggle to compete with it. This is NOT a lack of raw performance for you little kids that cant understand computers, my laptop is an order of magnitude better across everything compared to chips on the iPhone X, 11, 12 and such. I mean sure its no 3060 and a high level I7 but i shouldnt need that to get good performance on roblox, so much heat and power is used to run such a minimal game that natural disaster survival is.
for YEARS its been the same for android and windows, and gets either nothing better or worse each year, its so unnecessarily garbage and i refuse to believe its a "waah to much hardware for optimization and apple uses universal hardware" garbage.
also, out of every multiplayer game ive played, this app has the worst latency and servers ever, it takes me forever to get to local servers, with no way to filter for them, and there is suspiciously high amounts of ping on internet that is pristine. if i have lag on roblox, id have lag on apex, i dont have lag on apex. i know theres scripts for windows that unlocks FPS, but they dont work and have latency issues, theres extensions for servers but you have to pay for them, but the argument stands for mobile.
my little rant that im convinced roblox is gatekeeping itself, which since i assume a platform that sponsors skibidi toilet games and nothing actually good, isnt even worth playing.
2024.05.18 08:51 RemarkableScience854 Do you ever feel like…
Like you’re sitting inside your brain with a blanket over your eyes, hiding from every single thing you need to do that you haven’t done? Hiding from the damn rotting pumpkin from October that you walk past every day….hiding from the water filter you need to change…hiding from the dishes, the grill you have to clean. —On DND, Hiding from that person you need to call, and that other person you need to text back*?
It’s intolerable. I’m really fighting so hard to believe that I’m not just a lazy POS. But lazy people don’t care. I do care, and I’m scared of it all. Why does my heart beat a little faster when I think about doing a simple task? Is it because deep down I know that I won’t? Or because when ever I do think about one, I remember them all, and at that point, none of them are going to be done because it’s just too. Damn. Much. It’s like 20 people trying to talk to you at the same time-I’m covering my ears. I’m not hearing none of you out right now. I really do feel like I’m physically hiding inside myself, from all these things. Not even an allegory, I can really feel myself covering my mental eyes because it’s so fking stressful. Basic life. And I don’t even have a hard life at all.
submitted by RemarkableScience854 to ADHD [link] [comments]
It’s intolerable. I’m really fighting so hard to believe that I’m not just a lazy POS. But lazy people don’t care. I do care, and I’m scared of it all. Why does my heart beat a little faster when I think about doing a simple task? Is it because deep down I know that I won’t? Or because when ever I do think about one, I remember them all, and at that point, none of them are going to be done because it’s just too. Damn. Much. It’s like 20 people trying to talk to you at the same time-I’m covering my ears. I’m not hearing none of you out right now. I really do feel like I’m physically hiding inside myself, from all these things. Not even an allegory, I can really feel myself covering my mental eyes because it’s so fking stressful. Basic life. And I don’t even have a hard life at all.
2024.05.18 07:58 AshWitE Oil cooler upgrades?
 | Oil cooler is a little beat. Not leaking but looking to replace with a solid unit. CSF is my first option, just have to figure out AN line fittings on the oil filter housing. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Coilovers are as low as they can go. Should of went with the extreme lows from BC Racing. PS. She dirty! submitted by AshWitE to Jaguar [link] [comments] |
2024.05.18 07:03 vadrnz Online Speed Chess Web3 Playtesters Wanted for Checkmate Live
 | submitted by vadrnz to playtoearngames [link] [comments] Web3 playtesters wanted Hi, online speed chess and web3 gamers! We are looking for passionate speed chess players at all skill levels, from casual to pro, to join our Playtesters and Fair Play Champions testing team. Help us make our online chess platform's anti-cheat technology the best it can be. Our First assets are ETH based and Arbitrum for season one. We are an Australian-UAE based indie developer (with remote squad members globally) seeking play testers from all around the globe. We started Checkmate Live after playing a lot of online chess with mates and family when our borders were closed to keep connected. We'd never accuse our mates of it, but like most, we found cheating was an issue. Ever since, we've been working on combating cheating in online chess and creating a platform where players can enjoy fair play, and can compete for more than victory and glory. Flex your Skills and Stats, own your in-game assets - play, collect and trade Last week, we successfully conducted another play test tournament in collaboration with AAII, assessing the efficacy of our ongoing anti-cheat efforts. Casual and ranked players from Australia, India, and Poland participated, and we were even fortunate enough to have legendary Indian Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua join us. In previous tests, we have had international arbitrators lean in to put it through the test. ERC 721 Tradable PFP and 3D AR Filter to protect you privacy and stream We are running test tournaments every weekend for the next few months. We need more keen players, whether you like to play for fun or like to compete to win, to help shape our alpha release and eliminate the last bugs and squash cheaters once for all. We'd love to have you join our squad and push us across the finish line after a marathon effort to develop a platform you can connect, battle and beat your mates and you know they’re playing fair. If you're interested, apply here: https://playbook.checkmate.live/playtester-application Join out Discord to won a chance to win a WL spot and Loot, for our Free Mint and Alpha Pack Drop. |
2024.05.18 06:55 Key_Replacement_1852 Hey there Stranger [A4A] [Supernatural Elements] [Traveling Listener] [Bartender Speaker] [Ambiguous Ending] [Strangers to ??]
Hi Friends! Longtime Viewer first time script poster! Ive started writing a couple of my own to use but this one in particular Im quite proud of so I thought I could share with all of you! Please feel free to use and post at your leisure, monetization is a-ok I would just love a copy or a link to listen to.
[Everything in the brackets are suggestions for sounds and atmosphere , none are necessary and you are more than welcome to add or subtract.] You're welcome to make small changes to the script for flow, its gender neutral for both sides so F4A and M4A ect. are all good! I just ask you dont change the whole script around. (I know it gets suggestive esp toward the end but I dont have any sort of nsfw cut, but if thats your jam you could shoot me a dm and if you wanted to extend the script I would be all ears!)
[[Premise : You are sent to a small town far off the main road,miles and miles away from the big city you live in to look for a missing pastor that had ran off from his congregation a while ago. You arrive late into the evening into a ghost town, lots of shops boarded up and homes without the lights on , except for the large building in the middle of it; soft, warm light filters through the curtained windows and the cracks in the door. It's a bar, and as you enter there are a handful of people curled into their own drinks, at their own tables. The bartender beckons you over with a friendly smile. You just want to find Father Marley and go back home, but something pulls you toward the counter anyway.]]
[The door opens, the listener walks in to the sound of a very quiet bar atmosphere, soft piano music plays from overhead. ]
Haven't seen you around before, stranger.
Come along take a seat, would you like something to drink? It looks like you've been traveling for a while.
[Extra beat of pause]
Just water?
[water poured into a glass, then slid across the counter]
Alright then, if you need anything stronger I'd be happy to let you sample before you buy.
Now, forgive me for being forward but you know, small town…even smaller population. We don't get a whole lot of travelers, the last outsider that came through was old Father Marley.
[Curious] Oh? You know him?
[Extra beat of pause , as if the listener is explaining why they're here]
Ah, that's why you came. [Sigh]
Yes, the priest had rolled through town just a few weeks ago. I'm not quite the religious type, but there was something about the Father that had the whole town riled up.
[A little frustrated] Damn near interrogated every single person that gave him a look.
[Speaker is puttering about, wiping down the counter and putting things away. SFX unnecessary , just a note for atmosphere ]
He said he had a premonition about our town, demons running round and corrupting people. Now I never attended his sermons, but the people at my bar like to talk after a couple rounds, and the stories second hand were enough to make me shiver.
Its true that in the past couple years some people have gone missing, but its easy to move away from this town, we are not all so connected to each other. We mostly keep to ourselves.
[Extra beat of pause]
When did I last see the pastor?
I don't know where he ran off to, a couple days ago he was telling anyone who would listen that he almost had the evil spirit under control.
He knew exactly who it had possessed and he would take care of them that night.
[Quieter, as if leaning down to whisper to the listener]We hadn't heard from him since.
[Normal tone, perhaps a little judgemental] And here you are, fresh off the dirt road , looking for him. I'm afraid you just missed your mark, stranger.
[Dismissive] But enough of crazy old pastors and ghost stories for now, you look tired. I'm sure you'll track down Father Marley in no time, in his condition he couldn't have gone far.
So why dont you rest and stay a night? I'll let you have the spare room upstairs, free of charge , for the trouble.
Really, its no bother for me, its my establishment after all. The room is right next to mine so if you're having any troubles you're free to knock on my door. Though you'll most likely find me down here in the middle of the night, Im a bit of a night owl, good for business at least.
[Extra beat of pause]
Oh? That look on your face is telling me you didnt expect me to be the owner here.
Thats alright, I forgive you. I dont have many other employees, just Al who brings the barrels in and Meredith who takes over so I can have a day off once in a while.
I do live upstairs though, Ill show you your room once I get these glasses put away.
[Have the music fade in and out to represent the passing of a little bit of time, maybe add the sound of glass clinking]
Alright, follow me . Just up the stairs and your room is the last door on the left.
[The speaker leads the listener up and to the room, they enter the room together]
Its just the spare room for folks who are too drunk to walk home, I feel better knowing that my regulars can come back next weekend.
[Amused, teasing tone] And besides, apparently there's monsters lurking around, right?
Dont worry, I clean up after every person stays, so I hope the cot is comfortable enough for the night at least.
Now before I head back down, and let a stranger wander about my living area, could I get your name? Just so I know what to put on the wanted papers in case I find my valuables missing tomorrow.
[Soft laugh or a scoff] I kid, I kid.
But honestly, you've scored a free room for the night, the least you could do is give me the courtesy of knowing your name?
[Extra beat of pause]
[The speaker smiles] Thank you.
[Sigh] [Soft clap of hands ] Well, I'm about to close up for the night so if you're not too tired, I'll come back up with a drink and maybe you could tell me about how you know our dear Father Marley some more.
[The Speaker leaves, closing the door behind them.]
[Extra beat of pause, another chunk of time passing by]
[Door cracked open, then fully opened, the Speaker walks into the room setting down a glass on the bedside table]
You're still up? Oh you couldn't sleep? Do you need another blanket, the ones in here are a bit threadbare.
You've got a headache? The pains of travel I see.
Well maybe a glass of my strongest will ease your aches. Lord knows I need one for myself.
[The speaker sits on the edge of the bed, close to the listener]
Now… that name of yours, it's nice, suits you. I have an intuition for these things, names are important to people.
They hold a certain energy.
When said by someone you love, it can brighten your day. When yelled out in anger it can create a thunderstorm in your heart.
[Leaning closer]
When whispered with a hint of ecstasy it can make you feel like the most powerful thing in the world.
[Extra beat of pause]
A weird fascination you say? I suppose so. Knowing names is a part of my livelihood. Dont you think being greeted by name by an old friend at the bar isnt one of the nicer feelings to experience? I know everyone’s name in this town, well until earlier this evening.
[Tone shift, inquisitive to sultry] Why else did I come up here, after a long day of work- offering you a glass of liquor and my company?
The name itself isn't the most important thing , but when you gave me your's with the intention of wanting a more- intimate connection with me. You left yourself a little vulnerable.
Its not just the name I want , darling. [The speaker is hovering over the listener, cornering them or pinning them down]
Its the soul. [A sound cue, like something being pulled taut]
Did you know that Father Marley isnt his actual name? He was smart, not smart enough in the end, but smart to begin with.
[Chuckling, as if recalling the memory] He fought real hard to hold onto himself, but like all the others, he gave in at the end.
Like Anne-marie. What a sweet soul she was, soft like rose petals and she tasted like pure honey. She practically threw her little self into my arms. [Breathy on the last sentence for a little flair]]
[Extra beat of pause]
[Same pulling sound] You gave me a thread to pull on, stranger. Do you feel it? That little ache in your chest that grows the more I speak?
Its your soul, I've tethered my magic onto it and it calls for me. I can take it from you, but it would taste like roadkill left on the side of the road, on a sunny afternoon.
[Inhale] I want to know the flavor of your pure essence.
[tsk sound, or the smacking/licking of lips] I bet it tastes like the darkest of bourbon.
[sweetly] I want you to give it to me. Just say the words and all your pains and troubles will float away my dear, I promise.
[Extra beat of pause, followed by a small huff of annoyance]
So, I still feel a hint of resistance here.
Are you scared? Because you’ve finally connected the dots, and figured out who I am.
What I am?
Unfortunately the father found out a second too late as- Well, not exactly.
I'm not a demon, not really. I'm not simply corrupting people, if I was, there would be more people in this quiet little town now wouldn't there?
He left this world with a smile on his face though.
I told you, I can make this sweet.
[gravely , tense] What is there to lose? Your mission failed the second you stepped through my doors. Father Marley was long gone before you arrived. Terribly sorry about that.
They sent you to me like a lamb- [laugh] you know the rest of that phrase, dont you?
It would be much better for both of us if you were good, and let me have what is mine. I've already marked your soul, you've let me in that much.
See, if I pulled on this thread any harder, you’d start to feel a pain unlike any you ever felt.
I’ve only had to do that once to a stubborn little lamb.
Their cries went on for hours, and their spirit tasted like ash.
I would rather not experience that again, if at all possible.
So give in, my dear.
[The rustling of sheets, like the listener is fidgeting]
The thread is loosening ever so slightly, sweetness. You were unprepared weren't you. You didn't believe him either. You thought he was crazy, running off like that.
You were expecting to catch a senile old man and trot him back to the church, collect your reward, and leave.
Too bad. What a shame.
Now you're here with me, and who's going to follow up after you?
If I'm lucky, they'll be easier to sway than you were.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, sorry darling. I should be focusing on you.
You have my full attention, and my finest touch, as long as you give me what I want. As long as you say yes.
So?
(Thanks for reading ! Im Waxonwix on yt feel free to shoot me a message or comment if you have any feedback! )
submitted by Key_Replacement_1852 to ASMRScriptHaven [link] [comments]
[Everything in the brackets are suggestions for sounds and atmosphere , none are necessary and you are more than welcome to add or subtract.] You're welcome to make small changes to the script for flow, its gender neutral for both sides so F4A and M4A ect. are all good! I just ask you dont change the whole script around. (I know it gets suggestive esp toward the end but I dont have any sort of nsfw cut, but if thats your jam you could shoot me a dm and if you wanted to extend the script I would be all ears!)
[[Premise : You are sent to a small town far off the main road,miles and miles away from the big city you live in to look for a missing pastor that had ran off from his congregation a while ago. You arrive late into the evening into a ghost town, lots of shops boarded up and homes without the lights on , except for the large building in the middle of it; soft, warm light filters through the curtained windows and the cracks in the door. It's a bar, and as you enter there are a handful of people curled into their own drinks, at their own tables. The bartender beckons you over with a friendly smile. You just want to find Father Marley and go back home, but something pulls you toward the counter anyway.]]
[The door opens, the listener walks in to the sound of a very quiet bar atmosphere, soft piano music plays from overhead. ]
Haven't seen you around before, stranger.
Come along take a seat, would you like something to drink? It looks like you've been traveling for a while.
[Extra beat of pause]
Just water?
[water poured into a glass, then slid across the counter]
Alright then, if you need anything stronger I'd be happy to let you sample before you buy.
Now, forgive me for being forward but you know, small town…even smaller population. We don't get a whole lot of travelers, the last outsider that came through was old Father Marley.
[Curious] Oh? You know him?
[Extra beat of pause , as if the listener is explaining why they're here]
Ah, that's why you came. [Sigh]
Yes, the priest had rolled through town just a few weeks ago. I'm not quite the religious type, but there was something about the Father that had the whole town riled up.
[A little frustrated] Damn near interrogated every single person that gave him a look.
[Speaker is puttering about, wiping down the counter and putting things away. SFX unnecessary , just a note for atmosphere ]
He said he had a premonition about our town, demons running round and corrupting people. Now I never attended his sermons, but the people at my bar like to talk after a couple rounds, and the stories second hand were enough to make me shiver.
Its true that in the past couple years some people have gone missing, but its easy to move away from this town, we are not all so connected to each other. We mostly keep to ourselves.
[Extra beat of pause]
When did I last see the pastor?
I don't know where he ran off to, a couple days ago he was telling anyone who would listen that he almost had the evil spirit under control.
He knew exactly who it had possessed and he would take care of them that night.
[Quieter, as if leaning down to whisper to the listener]We hadn't heard from him since.
[Normal tone, perhaps a little judgemental] And here you are, fresh off the dirt road , looking for him. I'm afraid you just missed your mark, stranger.
[Dismissive] But enough of crazy old pastors and ghost stories for now, you look tired. I'm sure you'll track down Father Marley in no time, in his condition he couldn't have gone far.
So why dont you rest and stay a night? I'll let you have the spare room upstairs, free of charge , for the trouble.
Really, its no bother for me, its my establishment after all. The room is right next to mine so if you're having any troubles you're free to knock on my door. Though you'll most likely find me down here in the middle of the night, Im a bit of a night owl, good for business at least.
[Extra beat of pause]
Oh? That look on your face is telling me you didnt expect me to be the owner here.
Thats alright, I forgive you. I dont have many other employees, just Al who brings the barrels in and Meredith who takes over so I can have a day off once in a while.
I do live upstairs though, Ill show you your room once I get these glasses put away.
[Have the music fade in and out to represent the passing of a little bit of time, maybe add the sound of glass clinking]
Alright, follow me . Just up the stairs and your room is the last door on the left.
[The speaker leads the listener up and to the room, they enter the room together]
Its just the spare room for folks who are too drunk to walk home, I feel better knowing that my regulars can come back next weekend.
[Amused, teasing tone] And besides, apparently there's monsters lurking around, right?
Dont worry, I clean up after every person stays, so I hope the cot is comfortable enough for the night at least.
Now before I head back down, and let a stranger wander about my living area, could I get your name? Just so I know what to put on the wanted papers in case I find my valuables missing tomorrow.
[Soft laugh or a scoff] I kid, I kid.
But honestly, you've scored a free room for the night, the least you could do is give me the courtesy of knowing your name?
[Extra beat of pause]
[The speaker smiles] Thank you.
[Sigh] [Soft clap of hands ] Well, I'm about to close up for the night so if you're not too tired, I'll come back up with a drink and maybe you could tell me about how you know our dear Father Marley some more.
[The Speaker leaves, closing the door behind them.]
[Extra beat of pause, another chunk of time passing by]
[Door cracked open, then fully opened, the Speaker walks into the room setting down a glass on the bedside table]
You're still up? Oh you couldn't sleep? Do you need another blanket, the ones in here are a bit threadbare.
You've got a headache? The pains of travel I see.
Well maybe a glass of my strongest will ease your aches. Lord knows I need one for myself.
[The speaker sits on the edge of the bed, close to the listener]
Now… that name of yours, it's nice, suits you. I have an intuition for these things, names are important to people.
They hold a certain energy.
When said by someone you love, it can brighten your day. When yelled out in anger it can create a thunderstorm in your heart.
[Leaning closer]
When whispered with a hint of ecstasy it can make you feel like the most powerful thing in the world.
[Extra beat of pause]
A weird fascination you say? I suppose so. Knowing names is a part of my livelihood. Dont you think being greeted by name by an old friend at the bar isnt one of the nicer feelings to experience? I know everyone’s name in this town, well until earlier this evening.
[Tone shift, inquisitive to sultry] Why else did I come up here, after a long day of work- offering you a glass of liquor and my company?
The name itself isn't the most important thing , but when you gave me your's with the intention of wanting a more- intimate connection with me. You left yourself a little vulnerable.
Its not just the name I want , darling. [The speaker is hovering over the listener, cornering them or pinning them down]
Its the soul. [A sound cue, like something being pulled taut]
Did you know that Father Marley isnt his actual name? He was smart, not smart enough in the end, but smart to begin with.
[Chuckling, as if recalling the memory] He fought real hard to hold onto himself, but like all the others, he gave in at the end.
Like Anne-marie. What a sweet soul she was, soft like rose petals and she tasted like pure honey. She practically threw her little self into my arms. [Breathy on the last sentence for a little flair]]
[Extra beat of pause]
[Same pulling sound] You gave me a thread to pull on, stranger. Do you feel it? That little ache in your chest that grows the more I speak?
Its your soul, I've tethered my magic onto it and it calls for me. I can take it from you, but it would taste like roadkill left on the side of the road, on a sunny afternoon.
[Inhale] I want to know the flavor of your pure essence.
[tsk sound, or the smacking/licking of lips] I bet it tastes like the darkest of bourbon.
[sweetly] I want you to give it to me. Just say the words and all your pains and troubles will float away my dear, I promise.
[Extra beat of pause, followed by a small huff of annoyance]
So, I still feel a hint of resistance here.
Are you scared? Because you’ve finally connected the dots, and figured out who I am.
What I am?
Unfortunately the father found out a second too late as- Well, not exactly.
I'm not a demon, not really. I'm not simply corrupting people, if I was, there would be more people in this quiet little town now wouldn't there?
He left this world with a smile on his face though.
I told you, I can make this sweet.
[gravely , tense] What is there to lose? Your mission failed the second you stepped through my doors. Father Marley was long gone before you arrived. Terribly sorry about that.
They sent you to me like a lamb- [laugh] you know the rest of that phrase, dont you?
It would be much better for both of us if you were good, and let me have what is mine. I've already marked your soul, you've let me in that much.
See, if I pulled on this thread any harder, you’d start to feel a pain unlike any you ever felt.
I’ve only had to do that once to a stubborn little lamb.
Their cries went on for hours, and their spirit tasted like ash.
I would rather not experience that again, if at all possible.
So give in, my dear.
[The rustling of sheets, like the listener is fidgeting]
The thread is loosening ever so slightly, sweetness. You were unprepared weren't you. You didn't believe him either. You thought he was crazy, running off like that.
You were expecting to catch a senile old man and trot him back to the church, collect your reward, and leave.
Too bad. What a shame.
Now you're here with me, and who's going to follow up after you?
If I'm lucky, they'll be easier to sway than you were.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, sorry darling. I should be focusing on you.
You have my full attention, and my finest touch, as long as you give me what I want. As long as you say yes.
So?
(Thanks for reading ! Im Waxonwix on yt feel free to shoot me a message or comment if you have any feedback! )
2024.05.18 02:57 NotGreendy Oliver (better version) - best ever 6+ Paper
As the clock struck midnight, casting eerie shadows across the room, a sudden, blood-curdling moan shattered the silence. Oliver, a young boy with a penchant for adventure, froze in his tracks, his heart hammering against his ribcage like a caged bird desperate to escape. "What in the world..." Oliver murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper as he cautiously approached the door. Each step felt like an eternity as the agonizing wail continued, echoing through the empty halls of his family's old mansion. With trembling hands, Oliver swung the door open, revealing the darkness of the night beyond. There, lying on the doorstep like a harbinger of doom, was a tattered envelope, its edges frayed, and its surface marred by a thick, viscous substance that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Oliver's curiosity outweighed his fear as he reached for the envelope, his fingers brushing against the slimy residue that coated its surface. With a mixture of trepidation and anticipation, he tore open the envelope, revealing a letter that seemed to emanate a malevolent energy all its own. The words on the page danced before Oliver's eyes, swirling and shifting like shadows in the night. They spoke of a dying plea from his great-grandfather, a man long gone but whose presence seemed to linger in the very air around him. "The time is near, my son," the letter began, its words etched in a handwriting that seemed to writhe and contort before his very eyes. "I need your assistance to travel far. Meet me here: 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E. I wish you the best on your travels." Oliver's head spun with confusion as he read and reread the words, trying to make sense of the cryptic message. His great-grandfather had been dead for years, hadn't he? And yet, here was a letter from beyond the grave, beckoning him into the unknown. With a sense of dread gnawing at his insides, Oliver rushed to call his father for assistance. But to his shock and horror, his father's voice on the other end of the line was thick with confusion. "What do you mean, grandfather died ages ago?" his father slurred, his words tumbling out in a jumble of anxiety and disbelief. Oliver's blood ran cold as he realized the truth - he was alone, trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no escape. With a curse under his breath, Oliver snatched up the letter, his hands trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. "Fuck it," he muttered to himself, his voice a low growl as he stormed out of the house and into the night. Little did he know, he was about to embark on a journey into the heart of darkness, a journey that would test his courage, his resolve, and his very sanity. With the coordinates from the letter burned into his mind, Oliver set out into the night, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. The road stretched out before him like a black ribbon, winding its way through the desolate countryside like a serpent in the dark. As he drove, Oliver's mind raced with a thousand questions, each one more terrifying than the last. What awaited him at the end of this journey? What horrors lurked in the shadows, waiting to pounce on their unsuspecting prey? But despite the doubts that gnawed at his mind, Oliver pressed on, driven by a stubborn determination to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's cryptic message. The night air was thick with the scent of fear and uncertainty, but Oliver refused to be swayed by the darkness that threatened to consume him. As he travelled deeper into the night, the landscape around him began to change, morphing into a twisted, nightmarish version of reality. Trees twisted and contorted like gnarled fingers reaching for the sky, their branches creaking and groaning in the wind like the whispers of the damned. Oliver's heart pounded in his chest as he navigated the treacherous terrain, his eyes darting from side to side in search of any sign of danger. But try as he might, he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched, that unseen eyes were lurking in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he saw it - a corroded steel gate looming in the distance like a sentinel guarding the entrance to some long-forgotten realm. With a sense of trepidation, Oliver slowed his car to a stop, his eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of movement. But the night was silent enough to hear the mournful howl of the wind, and Oliver knew that he was alone. With a shaky hand, he reached for the gate, his fingers brushing against the cold metal as he pushed it open and stepped into the unknown. As Oliver made his way through the forest, the sense of unease that had been gnawing at him since he first set out only grew stronger. The trees seemed to loom overhead like ancient sentinels, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers grasping for purchase in the darkness. But despite the oppressive atmosphere, Oliver pressed on, driven by a stubborn determination to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's mysterious message. The coordinates from the letter burned brightly in his mind, guiding him ever closer to his destination. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he saw it - a looming, dilapidated structure rising from the darkness like a spectre from the past. The hotel stood silent and foreboding, its windows shattered and its walls crumbling with age. With a sense of trepidation, Oliver approached the building, his footsteps echoing in the empty silence of the night. As he stepped through the shattered doorway, he was greeted by a sight that chilled him to the bone - the lobby was empty except for a single figure standing in the shadows. "Hello?" Oliver called out, his voice echoing in the empty space. But there was no response, except for the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. With a sense of unease gnawing at his gut, Oliver approached the figure cautiously, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. But as he drew closer, he realized with a start that the figure was nothing more than a mannequin, its lifeless eyes staring blankly into the void. Relieved but still on edge, Oliver made his way deeper into the hotel, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls. But no matter where he turned, he found only darkness and decay, the once-grand building now nothing more than a crumbling monument to a forgotten era. And then, just as he was about to give up hope, Oliver heard a voice echoing in the darkness - a voice that sent a shiver down his spine and made his blood run cold. "Welcome to the Hotel of Horrors," the voice whispered, its words dripping with malice. "We've been expecting you." As Oliver made his way through the abandoned corridors of the hotel, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Every shadow seemed to conceal some new horror, every creak of the floorboards sending a chill down his spine. But despite the fear that threatened to consume him, Oliver pressed on, determined to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's cryptic message. With each step, he felt the weight of the darkness pressing down on him, a suffocating presence that seemed to seep into his very bones. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he heard a voice echoing in the darkness - a voice that sent a shiver down his spine and made his blood run cold. "Hello, there," the voice said, its tone smooth and mocking. "What brings you to this forsaken place?" Oliver spun around, his heart pounding in his chest as he searched for the source of the voice. And then, emerging from the shadows, he saw him - a figure dressed in fine clothes, his face obscured by the darkness. "Who are you?" Oliver demanded, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. The figure stepped forward; his features bathed in the sickly light of the moon. "My name is Jack," he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "And I'm here to offer you a deal." Oliver's blood ran cold at the mention of a deal, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities. What could this stranger want from him? And what price would he be forced to pay? But before he could voice his concerns, Jack continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. "You see, Oliver, this hotel holds many secrets - secrets that could change your life forever. And I'm willing to share them with you, for a price." Oliver's mind raced as he weighed his options. On the one hand, he knew he should be wary of Jack and his promises of power and wealth. But on the other hand, the allure of the unknown was too strong to resist. And so, with a sense of trepidation and excitement, Oliver made a decision that would change the course of his destiny forever. He would follow Jack into the heart of darkness, and together, they would uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the walls of the Hotel of Horrors. As Oliver made his decision to follow Jack into the depths of the Hotel of Horrors, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that gnawed at him. But the allure of uncovering the secrets hidden within those haunted halls was too strong to resist. With a steady resolve, he nodded to Jack, signalling his agreement to whatever pact lay before them. Jack's smirk widened, revealing a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Excellent choice, Oliver. You won't regret this." With a wave of his hand, Jack led Oliver deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the decrepit hotel. Each step echoed ominously, the sound reverberating through the empty halls like a haunting melody. As they walked, Oliver couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in the atmosphere. The air grew colder, carrying with it a palpable sense of foreboding. Shadows danced on the walls, twisting and contorting in unnatural shapes that seemed to watch their every move. Despite the growing unease in his gut, Oliver pressed on, his curiosity driving him forward. He had come too far to turn back now. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached a grand chamber at the heart of the hotel. The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the broken windows. In the centre of the chamber stood a pedestal, upon which rested a dusty tome bound in ancient leather. Jack approached the pedestal with reverence, his movements careful and deliberate. "This," he said, gesturing to the tome, "is the key to unlocking the true power of this place." Oliver's heart raced as he stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the mysterious book. What secrets did it hold? And what price would he have to pay to uncover them? With a sense of trepidation, Oliver reached out and opened the tome. As he flipped through its pages, he was greeted by a wealth of knowledge - spells, incantations, and rituals dating back centuries. But as he delved deeper into the pages, Oliver's excitement turned to horror. The rituals described within were dark and twisted, their intentions malevolent and cruel. It was clear that this tome held powers far beyond his comprehension. Jack watched with amusement as Oliver's expression darkened. "Impressive, isn't it?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "But power comes at a price, Oliver. Are you willing to pay it?" Oliver hesitated, his mind racing with uncertainty. He knew that delving further into the secrets of the Hotel of Horrors would come with consequences, but the temptation was too strong to resist. And so, with a sense of resignation, Oliver nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes." Jack's smirk widened, a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Excellent," he said. "Then let us begin. "Under Jack's guidance, Oliver delved deeper into the dark arts than he ever thought possible. Night after night, they performed rituals that twisted the fabric of reality, bending it to their will. With each incantation, Oliver felt himself changing, his mind and soul becoming darker and more twisted with each passing day. But the allure of power was too strong to resist, driving him further down the path of darkness. As weeks turned into months, the Hotel of Horrors became their sanctuary, a place where they could explore the darkest depths of magic without fear of judgment or consequence. But as their power grew, so too did their arrogance. They became reckless, summoning creatures from the depths of the abyss and wielding magic beyond their control. And then, one fateful night, they performed a ritual that would change everything. Under the light of a blood-red moon, Oliver and Jack stood before the pedestal in the grand chamber, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of torchlight. With trembling hands, they began to chant, their voices merging into a cacophony of dark whispers that echoed through the empty halls. As the ritual reached its climax, a surge of power coursed through Oliver's veins, filling him with an exhilarating sense of euphoria. But as he looked into Jack's eyes, he saw something flicker beneath the surface - a darkness so deep and consuming that it sent a chill down his spine. And then, with a deafening roar, the ritual reached its climax, unleashing a torrent of energy that tore through the fabric of reality. As the dust settled and the echoes of their chanting faded into silence, Oliver and Jack stood in shock, their minds reeling from what they had unleashed. But as they looked around, they realized with horror that something had gone terribly wrong. The hotel around them was no longer the decrepit ruin they had come to know - it was alive, pulsating with a malevolent energy that seemed to seep into their very bones. And then, emerging from the shadows, they saw them - twisted creatures of nightmare, their forms shifting and changing in the darkness. With a sense of dread sinking in his gut, Oliver realized the true cost of their actions. They had unleashed a darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. And as he looked into Jack's eyes, he knew that there was only one thing left to do - they had to find a way to stop it, before it was too late. As Oliver and Jack confronted the horrors they had unleashed, they found themselves locked in a battle for their very souls. The creatures that lurked within the depths of the hotel were unlike anything they had ever encountered - twisted, grotesque abominations that seemed to defy the laws of nature. But despite the overwhelming odds, Oliver refused to back down. With every ounce of strength he possessed, he fought alongside Jack, determined to undo the damage they had wrought. For days, they battled against the darkness, their bodies weary, and their spirits tested. But no matter how hard they fought, it seemed as though the darkness was inexhaustible, its tendrils spreading like wildfire through the hotel's corridors. And then, just when all hope seemed lost, Oliver made a startling discovery. Hidden within the pages of the tome they had used to perform the ritual was a spell - a spell of binding that could trap the darkness once and for all. With a renewed sense of purpose, Oliver and Jack set out to perform the spell. But as they reached the grand chamber at the heart of the hotel, they were met with a sight that chilled them to the bone. Standing before them, bathed in the sickly light of the moon, was a figure unlike any they had ever seen. Its form was shrouded in darkness, its eyes burning with a malevolent fire that seemed to pierce straight through to their very souls. Oliver's heart raced as he realized the truth - this creature was the embodiment of the darkness they had unleashed, and it would stop at nothing to destroy them. With a sense of determination burning in his chest, Oliver stepped forward, his voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at his insides. "We've come to end this," he said, his words echoing in the empty chamber. "We will not let you consume this world." But the creature only laughed, its voice a twisted cacophony that sent shivers down Oliver's spine. "You cannot stop me, mortal," it said, its words dripping with malice. "I am the darkness that lurks in the hearts of men, the shadow that consumes all in its path. You are nothing but insects to be crushed beneath my heel." But Oliver refused to be intimidated. With a defiant roar, he raised his hands and began to chant the spell of binding, his voice ringing out in the darkness like a clarion call. And then, with a blinding flash of light, the spell took hold, trapping the darkness within the confines of the hotel's walls. For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the sound of their laboured breathing. And then, with a deafening roar, the hotel began to collapse in on itself, its walls crumbling to dust as the darkness was consumed by the very shadows it had spawned. As Oliver and Jack emerged from the ruins of the hotel, they were greeted by the light of the rising sun, its warm rays banishing the darkness that had threatened to consume them. With a sense of relief washing over him, Oliver collapsed to his knees, his body weary from the battle. But as he looked up at the sky above, he knew that the nightmare was finally over. Or so he thought. As Oliver lays in the hospital bed, his mind a maelstrom of confusion and uncertainty, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The events of the past few days seemed like a distant dream, a surreal nightmare from which he couldn't seem to wake. But try as he might, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he remembered. With a sense of unease gnawing at his gut, Oliver glanced around the room, his eyes falling on the figure of a nurse standing by his bedside. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse from disuse. The nurse smiled sympathetically; her eyes filled with concern. "You're in the hospital, dear. You've been in a coma for quite some time. "Oliver's heart skipped a beat at the mention of a coma. How long had he been unconscious? And what had happened to him? As the nurse explained the details of his condition, Oliver's mind raced with a thousand questions. But try as he might, he couldn't seem to piece together the events that had led him here. And then, just as he was about to give up hope, a flicker of memory flashed through his mind - the hotel, the rituals, the darkness. With a start, Oliver realized the truth - it hadn't been a dream at all. The horrors he had faced were all too real, and they had left a mark on his soul that would never fade. As the reality of his situation sank in, Oliver felt a sense of despair wash over him. How could he ever hope to move on from the trauma he had endured? But even as he grappled with his fear and uncertainty, a small voice whispered in the back of his mind - a voice that told him that he was stronger than he knew, and that he would find a way to overcome the darkness that threatened to consume him. With a newfound sense of determination burning in his chest, Oliver vowed to face whatever challenges lay ahead with courage and resilience. For he knew that the journey was far from over, and that the true test of his strength had only just begun. And so, with a sense of resolve burning in his heart, Oliver closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, knowing that no matter what trials awaited him, he would face them head-on, armed with nothing but his own indomitable spirit. But little did he know, the darkness that had once threatened to consume him still lurked in the shadows, biding its time until the moment was right to strike again. And as Oliver drifted off into unconsciousness once more, a sense of dread settled over him, for he knew that the nightmare was far from over, and that the true battle for his soul had only just begun.
submitted by NotGreendy to booktopia [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 02:54 NotGreendy Oliver (better version) - best ever 6+ Paper
As the clock struck midnight, casting eerie shadows across the room, a sudden, blood-curdling moan shattered the silence. Oliver, a young boy with a penchant for adventure, froze in his tracks, his heart hammering against his ribcage like a caged bird desperate to escape. "What in the world..." Oliver murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper as he cautiously approached the door. Each step felt like an eternity as the agonizing wail continued, echoing through the empty halls of his family's old mansion. With trembling hands, Oliver swung the door open, revealing the darkness of the night beyond. There, lying on the doorstep like a harbinger of doom, was a tattered envelope, its edges frayed, and its surface marred by a thick, viscous substance that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. Oliver's curiosity outweighed his fear as he reached for the envelope, his fingers brushing against the slimy residue that coated its surface. With a mixture of trepidation and anticipation, he tore open the envelope, revealing a letter that seemed to emanate a malevolent energy all its own. The words on the page danced before Oliver's eyes, swirling and shifting like shadows in the night. They spoke of a dying plea from his great-grandfather, a man long gone but whose presence seemed to linger in the very air around him. "The time is near, my son," the letter began, its words etched in a handwriting that seemed to writhe and contort before his very eyes. "I need your assistance to travel far. Meet me here: 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E. I wish you the best on your travels." Oliver's head spun with confusion as he read and reread the words, trying to make sense of the cryptic message. His great-grandfather had been dead for years, hadn't he? And yet, here was a letter from beyond the grave, beckoning him into the unknown. With a sense of dread gnawing at his insides, Oliver rushed to call his father for assistance. But to his shock and horror, his father's voice on the other end of the line was thick with confusion. "What do you mean, grandfather died ages ago?" his father slurred, his words tumbling out in a jumble of anxiety and disbelief. Oliver's blood ran cold as he realized the truth - he was alone, trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no escape. With a curse under his breath, Oliver snatched up the letter, his hands trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. "Fuck it," he muttered to himself, his voice a low growl as he stormed out of the house and into the night. Little did he know, he was about to embark on a journey into the heart of darkness, a journey that would test his courage, his resolve, and his very sanity. With the coordinates from the letter burned into his mind, Oliver set out into the night, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. The road stretched out before him like a black ribbon, winding its way through the desolate countryside like a serpent in the dark. As he drove, Oliver's mind raced with a thousand questions, each one more terrifying than the last. What awaited him at the end of this journey? What horrors lurked in the shadows, waiting to pounce on their unsuspecting prey? But despite the doubts that gnawed at his mind, Oliver pressed on, driven by a stubborn determination to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's cryptic message. The night air was thick with the scent of fear and uncertainty, but Oliver refused to be swayed by the darkness that threatened to consume him. As he travelled deeper into the night, the landscape around him began to change, morphing into a twisted, nightmarish version of reality. Trees twisted and contorted like gnarled fingers reaching for the sky, their branches creaking and groaning in the wind like the whispers of the damned. Oliver's heart pounded in his chest as he navigated the treacherous terrain, his eyes darting from side to side in search of any sign of danger. But try as he might, he could not shake the feeling that he was being watched, that unseen eyes were lurking in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he saw it - a corroded steel gate looming in the distance like a sentinel guarding the entrance to some long-forgotten realm. With a sense of trepidation, Oliver slowed his car to a stop, his eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of movement. But the night was silent enough to hear the mournful howl of the wind, and Oliver knew that he was alone. With a shaky hand, he reached for the gate, his fingers brushing against the cold metal as he pushed it open and stepped into the unknown. As Oliver made his way through the forest, the sense of unease that had been gnawing at him since he first set out only grew stronger. The trees seemed to loom overhead like ancient sentinels, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers grasping for purchase in the darkness. But despite the oppressive atmosphere, Oliver pressed on, driven by a stubborn determination to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's mysterious message. The coordinates from the letter burned brightly in his mind, guiding him ever closer to his destination. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he saw it - a looming, dilapidated structure rising from the darkness like a spectre from the past. The hotel stood silent and foreboding, its windows shattered and its walls crumbling with age. With a sense of trepidation, Oliver approached the building, his footsteps echoing in the empty silence of the night. As he stepped through the shattered doorway, he was greeted by a sight that chilled him to the bone - the lobby was empty except for a single figure standing in the shadows. "Hello?" Oliver called out, his voice echoing in the empty space. But there was no response, except for the sound of his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. With a sense of unease gnawing at his gut, Oliver approached the figure cautiously, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. But as he drew closer, he realized with a start that the figure was nothing more than a mannequin, its lifeless eyes staring blankly into the void. Relieved but still on edge, Oliver made his way deeper into the hotel, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls. But no matter where he turned, he found only darkness and decay, the once-grand building now nothing more than a crumbling monument to a forgotten era. And then, just as he was about to give up hope, Oliver heard a voice echoing in the darkness - a voice that sent a shiver down his spine and made his blood run cold. "Welcome to the Hotel of Horrors," the voice whispered, its words dripping with malice. "We've been expecting you." As Oliver made his way through the abandoned corridors of the hotel, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Every shadow seemed to conceal some new horror, every creak of the floorboards sending a chill down his spine. But despite the fear that threatened to consume him, Oliver pressed on, determined to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's cryptic message. With each step, he felt the weight of the darkness pressing down on him, a suffocating presence that seemed to seep into his very bones. And then, just as he thought he could go no further, he heard a voice echoing in the darkness - a voice that sent a shiver down his spine and made his blood run cold. "Hello, there," the voice said, its tone smooth and mocking. "What brings you to this forsaken place?" Oliver spun around, his heart pounding in his chest as he searched for the source of the voice. And then, emerging from the shadows, he saw him - a figure dressed in fine clothes, his face obscured by the darkness. "Who are you?" Oliver demanded, his voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. The figure stepped forward; his features bathed in the sickly light of the moon. "My name is Jack," he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "And I'm here to offer you a deal." Oliver's blood ran cold at the mention of a deal, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities. What could this stranger want from him? And what price would he be forced to pay? But before he could voice his concerns, Jack continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. "You see, Oliver, this hotel holds many secrets - secrets that could change your life forever. And I'm willing to share them with you, for a price." Oliver's mind raced as he weighed his options. On the one hand, he knew he should be wary of Jack and his promises of power and wealth. But on the other hand, the allure of the unknown was too strong to resist. And so, with a sense of trepidation and excitement, Oliver made a decision that would change the course of his destiny forever. He would follow Jack into the heart of darkness, and together, they would uncover the secrets that lay hidden within the walls of the Hotel of Horrors. As Oliver made his decision to follow Jack into the depths of the Hotel of Horrors, he couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that gnawed at him. But the allure of uncovering the secrets hidden within those haunted halls was too strong to resist. With a steady resolve, he nodded to Jack, signalling his agreement to whatever pact lay before them. Jack's smirk widened, revealing a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Excellent choice, Oliver. You won't regret this." With a wave of his hand, Jack led Oliver deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the decrepit hotel. Each step echoed ominously, the sound reverberating through the empty halls like a haunting melody. As they walked, Oliver couldn't help but notice the subtle changes in the atmosphere. The air grew colder, carrying with it a palpable sense of foreboding. Shadows danced on the walls, twisting and contorting in unnatural shapes that seemed to watch their every move. Despite the growing unease in his gut, Oliver pressed on, his curiosity driving him forward. He had come too far to turn back now. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached a grand chamber at the heart of the hotel. The room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the broken windows. In the centre of the chamber stood a pedestal, upon which rested a dusty tome bound in ancient leather. Jack approached the pedestal with reverence, his movements careful and deliberate. "This," he said, gesturing to the tome, "is the key to unlocking the true power of this place." Oliver's heart raced as he stepped closer, his eyes fixed on the mysterious book. What secrets did it hold? And what price would he have to pay to uncover them? With a sense of trepidation, Oliver reached out and opened the tome. As he flipped through its pages, he was greeted by a wealth of knowledge - spells, incantations, and rituals dating back centuries. But as he delved deeper into the pages, Oliver's excitement turned to horror. The rituals described within were dark and twisted, their intentions malevolent and cruel. It was clear that this tome held powers far beyond his comprehension. Jack watched with amusement as Oliver's expression darkened. "Impressive, isn't it?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "But power comes at a price, Oliver. Are you willing to pay it?" Oliver hesitated, his mind racing with uncertainty. He knew that delving further into the secrets of the Hotel of Horrors would come with consequences, but the temptation was too strong to resist. And so, with a sense of resignation, Oliver nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes." Jack's smirk widened, a glint of triumph in his eyes. "Excellent," he said. "Then let us begin. "Under Jack's guidance, Oliver delved deeper into the dark arts than he ever thought possible. Night after night, they performed rituals that twisted the fabric of reality, bending it to their will. With each incantation, Oliver felt himself changing, his mind and soul becoming darker and more twisted with each passing day. But the allure of power was too strong to resist, driving him further down the path of darkness. As weeks turned into months, the Hotel of Horrors became their sanctuary, a place where they could explore the darkest depths of magic without fear of judgment or consequence. But as their power grew, so too did their arrogance. They became reckless, summoning creatures from the depths of the abyss and wielding magic beyond their control. And then, one fateful night, they performed a ritual that would change everything. Under the light of a blood-red moon, Oliver and Jack stood before the pedestal in the grand chamber, their faces illuminated by the flickering glow of torchlight. With trembling hands, they began to chant, their voices merging into a cacophony of dark whispers that echoed through the empty halls. As the ritual reached its climax, a surge of power coursed through Oliver's veins, filling him with an exhilarating sense of euphoria. But as he looked into Jack's eyes, he saw something flicker beneath the surface - a darkness so deep and consuming that it sent a chill down his spine. And then, with a deafening roar, the ritual reached its climax, unleashing a torrent of energy that tore through the fabric of reality. As the dust settled and the echoes of their chanting faded into silence, Oliver and Jack stood in shock, their minds reeling from what they had unleashed. But as they looked around, they realized with horror that something had gone terribly wrong. The hotel around them was no longer the decrepit ruin they had come to know - it was alive, pulsating with a malevolent energy that seemed to seep into their very bones. And then, emerging from the shadows, they saw them - twisted creatures of nightmare, their forms shifting and changing in the darkness. With a sense of dread sinking in his gut, Oliver realized the true cost of their actions. They had unleashed a darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. And as he looked into Jack's eyes, he knew that there was only one thing left to do - they had to find a way to stop it, before it was too late. As Oliver and Jack confronted the horrors they had unleashed, they found themselves locked in a battle for their very souls. The creatures that lurked within the depths of the hotel were unlike anything they had ever encountered - twisted, grotesque abominations that seemed to defy the laws of nature. But despite the overwhelming odds, Oliver refused to back down. With every ounce of strength he possessed, he fought alongside Jack, determined to undo the damage they had wrought. For days, they battled against the darkness, their bodies weary, and their spirits tested. But no matter how hard they fought, it seemed as though the darkness was inexhaustible, its tendrils spreading like wildfire through the hotel's corridors. And then, just when all hope seemed lost, Oliver made a startling discovery. Hidden within the pages of the tome they had used to perform the ritual was a spell - a spell of binding that could trap the darkness once and for all. With a renewed sense of purpose, Oliver and Jack set out to perform the spell. But as they reached the grand chamber at the heart of the hotel, they were met with a sight that chilled them to the bone. Standing before them, bathed in the sickly light of the moon, was a figure unlike any they had ever seen. Its form was shrouded in darkness, its eyes burning with a malevolent fire that seemed to pierce straight through to their very souls. Oliver's heart raced as he realized the truth - this creature was the embodiment of the darkness they had unleashed, and it would stop at nothing to destroy them. With a sense of determination burning in his chest, Oliver stepped forward, his voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at his insides. "We've come to end this," he said, his words echoing in the empty chamber. "We will not let you consume this world." But the creature only laughed, its voice a twisted cacophony that sent shivers down Oliver's spine. "You cannot stop me, mortal," it said, its words dripping with malice. "I am the darkness that lurks in the hearts of men, the shadow that consumes all in its path. You are nothing but insects to be crushed beneath my heel." But Oliver refused to be intimidated. With a defiant roar, he raised his hands and began to chant the spell of binding, his voice ringing out in the darkness like a clarion call. And then, with a blinding flash of light, the spell took hold, trapping the darkness within the confines of the hotel's walls. For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the sound of their laboured breathing. And then, with a deafening roar, the hotel began to collapse in on itself, its walls crumbling to dust as the darkness was consumed by the very shadows it had spawned. As Oliver and Jack emerged from the ruins of the hotel, they were greeted by the light of the rising sun, its warm rays banishing the darkness that had threatened to consume them. With a sense of relief washing over him, Oliver collapsed to his knees, his body weary from the battle. But as he looked up at the sky above, he knew that the nightmare was finally over. Or so he thought. As Oliver lays in the hospital bed, his mind a maelstrom of confusion and uncertainty, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The events of the past few days seemed like a distant dream, a surreal nightmare from which he couldn't seem to wake. But try as he might, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he remembered. With a sense of unease gnawing at his gut, Oliver glanced around the room, his eyes falling on the figure of a nurse standing by his bedside. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse from disuse. The nurse smiled sympathetically; her eyes filled with concern. "You're in the hospital, dear. You've been in a coma for quite some time. "Oliver's heart skipped a beat at the mention of a coma. How long had he been unconscious? And what had happened to him? As the nurse explained the details of his condition, Oliver's mind raced with a thousand questions. But try as he might, he couldn't seem to piece together the events that had led him here. And then, just as he was about to give up hope, a flicker of memory flashed through his mind - the hotel, the rituals, the darkness. With a start, Oliver realized the truth - it hadn't been a dream at all. The horrors he had faced were all too real, and they had left a mark on his soul that would never fade. As the reality of his situation sank in, Oliver felt a sense of despair wash over him. How could he ever hope to move on from the trauma he had endured? But even as he grappled with his fear and uncertainty, a small voice whispered in the back of his mind - a voice that told him that he was stronger than he knew, and that he would find a way to overcome the darkness that threatened to consume him. With a newfound sense of determination burning in his chest, Oliver vowed to face whatever challenges lay ahead with courage and resilience. For he knew that the journey was far from over, and that the true test of his strength had only just begun. And so, with a sense of resolve burning in his heart, Oliver closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, knowing that no matter what trials awaited him, he would face them head-on, armed with nothing but his own indomitable spirit. But little did he know, the darkness that had once threatened to consume him still lurked in the shadows, biding its time until the moment was right to strike again. And as Oliver drifted off into unconsciousness once more, a sense of dread settled over him, for he knew that the nightmare was far from over, and that the true battle for his soul had only just begun.
submitted by NotGreendy to u/NotGreendy [link] [comments]
2024.05.18 02:46 herbistheword Day 1 of my war against hair algae, always open to help
 | I'm just a dummy over here who couldn't figure out why my hair algae was EXPLODING in my 4 month old guppy tank (cycled and otherwise very happy) until I put two and two together and realized my gorgeous, amazing light is maybe too good for plant growth, lol. This picture is after manual removal from the interior glass and some of the plants, a water change, and the addition of a wee otocinclus (I know they don't dig hair algae but I'm sure there's plenty for him to enjoy). On the horizon: cleaning up the filter, focusing on manual removal leaf by leaf, and potentially introducing some bioavailable carbon (not sure if that would help, though?) share your strategies for beating hair algae, please! submitted by herbistheword to Aquariums [link] [comments] |