https://i.redd.it/umw0d2sjiwd21.jpg
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Name - Yuriko Oyama/Lady [Deathstrike/Deathstryke]
Series - Marvel Comics
Gender - Female
Age - Unknown
Classification - Magically-Enhanced Cyborg, Pilot, Assassin, Martial Artist, Swordswoman, Supervillainess
General Powers/Abilities/Hax - Superhuman Strength, Speed, Agility, Durability, Stamina, Endurance, Resilience, Longevity, Regeneration, Adamantium Nail Manipulation, Limited Technological Manipulation, Mental Manipulation Resistance, Weapons Mastery, Martial Arts Mastery
Attack Potency - Varies (Comparable To X-23 And Wolverine: http://imgur.com/a/QUMdL http://imgur.com/a/meIBD http://imgur.com/a/ND92H), Far Higher Via Adamantium Nail Strikes (Can Harm Cable: http://i.imgur.com/g7kGZaX.jpg)
Combat Speed - Varies, Supersonic+ Via Feats And Powerscaling (Can React To Gunfire: http://i.imgur.com/xREqTmw.jpg], Comparable To X-23, Hawkeye And Wolverine: http://i.imgur.com/1cNq09s.jpg)
Travel Speed - Unknown
Lifting Strength - Superhuman
Striking Strength - Varies (Can Harm X-23 With Her Blows: http://imgur.com/a/QUMdL], Can Trade Blows With Wolverine: http://imgur.com/a/ND92H), Far Higher Via Adamantium Nail Strikes (Can Harm Cable: http://i.imgur.com/g7kGZaX.jpg)
Durability - Varies (Can Tank Explosions: http://imgur.com/a/hOYJO], Can Tank Attacks From X-23 And Wolverine: http://imgur.com/a/meIBD http://imgur.com/a/ND92H http://imgur.com/a/QUMdL http://i.imgur.com/EBFHh6w.jpg); Regeneration Makes Her Very Difficult To Kill
Stamina - Very High
Range - Melee Range, Several Dozen Meters With Blasters
Standard Equipment - None Notable
Intelligence - Very High; She Is A Skilled Pilot, Assassin, Martial Artist And Swordswoman.
Weaknesses - Mental Instability
Every residence design project is pestered with its own style challenges, a few of which need a skilled expert to help address. However, there are points that I see homeowners do over and over again that land them in a scenario where their theme and interior layout just don’t work.
You might think this is the result of a series of very poor judgment calls. But just because the end is a catastrophe doesn’t mean these rooms were doomed from the start. The fact is, it only takes following a few guidelines to take your interior from amateur hour to championship status.
So let us consider a few of these “do’s and don’ts” to help make your home the envy of the block.
Don’t trap your furniture against some flat surface; give it room to breathe. Allow everything to float into the room so that each component can enjoy it’s own space.
You paid for the whole couch, why not let your guests see the whole thing. This also means that each element will be closer to the rest, forcing guests to engage each other no matter where they park their seat.
Cushions need to be generous, overstuffed and formable. Use soft, plush, down-filled cushions that can readily take shape. There are other great fill options, as well.
Make use of the classic "designer's chop" to make sure they’ll shape up: a fast martial arts slice to separate the cushion's “blockiness”. Do away with any kind of dead cushions that sit like a swelling.
Say goodbye to postage-stamp-sized cushions and also matchy-matchy ones that featured the furnishings. Rather, overstuff an 18-inch pillow cover with a 20-inch insert for a professional appearance.
Be thorough and deliberate or leave it the professionals. Painting over is never a good idea, as it will show all of the little imperfections left behind from the old coat.
If you have never worked with a color wheel I wouldn’t recommend blending colors either. It takes experience to appropriately read tones and create new colors. Seek advice from a pro on this one.
The mistake I see usually is lights that are too tiny or that don't properly cover the room. Use the right wattage based on the size and color of the room.
Lighting, more than other element, asserts style, just like a selected piece of jewelry defines the style of a little black gown. Also, don't be afraid to use your furniture to help manipulate the light in the room.
An area rug is meant to draw attention towards the furniture not away from it. Acquire one huge enough to lie under at least the front legs of each furniture piece in the area.
Develop circulation from one room another by visually connections. Repeat a pattern or carry an accent shade or another visual element (such as a leg detail) from one room the next, and so on.
Have you ever heard the term less is more? Well with drapes, more is more. Specialists utilize fabric that are 2, even 3 times the width of the window for fully functional drapes.
With fixed sides you can escape fabric twice. Don't cut corners. Go big.
Matching is boring. You don’t need everything to look the same – just related. A designer's job is to develop an accumulated look.
Look for a collection of pieces with something in common, such as style, theme, shade, history, material or mood.
I sometimes find the hardest thing for my customers to comprehend is that the details make the layout. Nailheads, custom pillows, millwork trim and inlaid floors develop a custom look that's drop-dead gorgeous.
As soon as you educate your eye to notice these nuances, you'll see that a chair hand-crafted by a proficient artisan may not be as fitting as a machine-cut industrial piece. Piping, welding, or even nail-heads; each thing by itself may seem like junk. But as a complement to the appropriate theme they can be just what your room needs.
Developers make use of layering as well as repetition of elements and concepts to attain a professional look. The majority of people get the principle of layering when it comes to style. In layout it isn't really a lot different.
Pick something you like and after that repeat the shade or the pattern. One caveat is to remember the right time to stop. Quitting before the look ends up too “matchy” is key.
Subtlety can help combat uniformity. Drape, wallpaper, pillows, throws, bedding, accessories-- all are terrific alternatives for layering in a room. You make the call but remember: layering good, matching bad!
We are also expect in office interior design , bedroom design ideas, bathroom décor, interior renovation, living room design ideas.
EP-entitled parent SB-spoiled brat N-nephew X- ex
Sit back, it’s a long one. no cops or assault though, so feel free to peace out.
Background: My X was in his 40s myself in my 30s, neither of us have kids. We both worked full time and lived comfortably.
X brother was late 30s, married to EP, two kids N (8) and SB (3).
——— X expressed a wish to get more involved in Ns life. Neither parent were interested in academics, N was expected to play sports, which he liked, until he didn’t. Turns out he was more into science and video games neither parent was remotely interested or supportive.
X was an adult gamer addict, so showered N with all the gear games etc but i pressed that being involved meant spending time not money, and so we started taking him on whale watches, to museums, movies, fairs, not a lot, but every couple months generally.
We fed him, bought him stuff sometimes but mostly gave him cash to pick out his own things, telling him if he didn’t spend it he could take it home. So basically, how much do you really want it?
Not huge sums of money mind you, 20/30 depending. Most of the time he’d choose to buy a hoodie from the place, or trinkets, etc. If he didn’t, it was his, but he liked buying little souvenirs from the places he went. Pretty good gig for the kid and he was always super polite, respectful, and generally a pleasure to be around.
Until EP ruined it.
Early on, at drop off she starts with “N what did you get for your sister?” mind you, they hand him over with zero cash. Like most kids, he mumbles something and feels bad, bc he didn’t always think of it. Sometimes if i remembered I’d grab something for her, sometimes no. It started pissing me off bc our objective was to give N a day of attention, BECAUSE....
EP and SB have this “pretty pretty princess” obsession like that gross thing where “they’re TWINS!” . EP would brag about how talented a singer, a dancer, etc. this went on for years, so 3-6 maybe.
SB always had the spotlight, she and EP made sure of it, 4 yr old getting regular trips to get her nails done ( to match mommy, of course), and the endless dance recitals that are a 4 hour trip through hell, cost 30 bucks (always had to reimburse) to watch a basic toddler stumble around on stage for 3 minutes. Ugh not my or X cup of tea but we went, even brought her flowers a few times.
Anyway, I’m pretty good with most kids I always played with SB when we visited, Im into art so i would draw things for her to color, letting her tell me what to draw, so don’t think this child was left out. She’s a kid, none of this is her fault, her mom is the problem and i know it. I’m not a monster though, and still could have fun with the little girl,, and did.
But she absolutely refused to listen or obey anything i said to her in terms of limit setting even for basic safety hygiene type things. X was 6’4 and huge, and SB was afraid of him, refused to speak to him and would run away.
this did get better over time but he wasn’t super great with little kids and didn’t really do the work to fix it so he was in no great rush to bring her either.
Soon after we started taking N, EP started letting SB make a scene every time we picked up N, running to our car, screaming crying having to be dragged away etc. like that is really going to convince us to add that nightmare to our fun day.
No surprise, I hear EP comforting her, saying “baby they’ll take you somewhere special next time.” what? no.
So time passes, this continues and EP starts hinting “Oh you saw birds? SB LOOOOOVES birds, she would enjoy that so much.” “uh huh”. not buying what you’re selling lady, no way.
Finally she asks point blank when we ask to take N somewhere “okay, and you’ll take SB this time right?”
and i said the thing that all EPs and SBs hate.... no.
you would have thought i just told her her kid was a crusted piece of shit on the bottom of my shoe. She lays into me about how unfair it is we take N and not her, and we were mean and hurting her family and most of all SBs feelings.
Calmly i explained to her that we would love to take her, but she has proven over and over again in her own house that she won’t respect or mind me, which is fine, she’s a child, but i’m not taking her in public where she’s my responsibility.
I have two days off a week, and her son manages these trips beautifully, i am not signing up for babysitting a child that young, she could get hurt or lost, and i’m not interested. When she is older, maybe.
Of course she says i’m so wrong SB is an angel and would be perfect. Impossible, the second she feels left out she starts screaming. i don’t do little kids screaming.
But ok she’s not going to see that point, i try a different approach and say (in a very nice way) all the nail salon and dance stuff SB does is so fun for her, but leaves N out, not that he wants those things but it’s nice to feel special, we want to give him that since X and i sometimes do things he enjoys, we’re happy to include him.
She gets a little huffy at this point (because i’m right) and says “well you should do more things that they both will enjoy then.”
Umm that’s just the problem, he’s 5 yrs older than her, so you defer to SBs developmental level and instantly the poor kid is bored, plus if it isn’t pink fluffy shiny or LOUD and something she can immediately be the center of, SB is instantly bored which leads to tantrums and problem behavior.
I told EP X And i don’t enjoy those types of things, and won’t be spending our days off doing them, when we visit their home I’m happy to engage with SB though, or if EP and husband wanted to come along we could ALL go as a family somewhere everyone would enjoy.
Nope, not having it, she calls me selfish and unfair (lady i have been nurturing N now for years, and still making sure SB got all the obnoxious pink tutus ruby slippers sparkle stickers etc on Xmas and birthday bc before I came along X would be stopping at target on the way over) and unless i changed my shitty attitude we could no longer take N.
Well that sure sucked, but you’re crazy if you think THAT is going to manipulate me. That was the end of the day trips for N. They would have been ruined anyway, as N commented sometimes it was nice to have time away from SB “being a baby”.
It coincided with him becoming a teenager, so it wasn’t as big of a deal as it could have been, he wanted to hang with his friends, and was gaming online with X, so at least they had forged a relationship over the years through hanging out with us.
We broke up, so i have no reports on SB, but last i saw her she remained a taller version of the same snotty entitled princess I refused to take out of the house
Way to go EP though, ruin a good thing for your already neglected son in favor of your spoiled ass over indulged daughter.
thanks for reading, i know crazy long.
Hello everyone. I am looking to trade off the following. I have this posted on r/GameSale at this link for anyone willing to pay instead. Also have posts on bookexchange and mangaswap for a few other things.
HAVE
| NAME AND FORMAT | CONDITION AND DETAILS |
|---|---|
| PC | |
| Crysis | manual included, disc in excellent condition |
| PSX | |
| Tekken 3 (black label) | JP version, light scratches on disk |
| PSP | |
| Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0 | black label case but red label game and I don't remember why; includes manual |
| Lego Indiana Jones (red label) | CIB |
| Lego Batman (red label) | CIB, top latch of case broken and does not snap close |
| YuGiOh 5Ds Tag Force 5 | CIB |
| Lego Pirates of the Caribbean | CIB |
| Tokobot | CIB, some wear to edges of manual; back of UMD plastic is scuffed but disk is clean |
| Gran Turismo | UMD only, comes in case |
| UMD cases, set of 4 | for individually holding discs |
| XBox | |
| Advent Rising | CIB, scuffing to case, light scratches on disk |
| X360 | |
| Sonic Generations | CIB |
| Perfect Dark Zero | CIB, scuffs on case front |
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Uncaged Edition | CIB, scuffs on case |
| Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad | CIB, sticker residue on case front, light scratches on disk |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | CASE ONLY, GS sticker on back |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | CIB but case is damaged, scratches on disk |
| Need for Speed: Pro Street | DISK ONLY, scratches on disk |
| Tales of Vesperia | DISK ONLY, scratches on disk |
| Halo 3 | DISK ONLY, comes in GS case, disk in good condition |
| Rock Band 2 | GAME ONLY, CIB |
| Borderlands GOTY Edition | ADD ON CONTENT DISK ONLY, game has been lost for years but add on disk, case and manual still with me |
| Forza Motorsport 3 | CIB, play disc has scratches |
| Mass Effect 2 | CIB, light scratches on disk |
| Dante's Inferno | CIB, scuffs on disk |
| Wet | CIB, sticker residue on case front and back, light scratches on disk |
| Bayonetta | CIB, light scratches on disk |
| Star Ocean: The Last Hope | CIB, light scratches on disk 2 (includes all 3), some damage to manual edge, GS stickers on front and back |
| Mass Effect | CIB, scratches on disk, cracks in case |
| Rock Band | GAME ONLY, CIB, scratches on disk, crack in case |
| The King of Fighters XIII | CIB, disk in excellent condition |
| XBox 360 unit | FOR PARTS OR REPAIR. It works, but has a faulty tray motor or something along those lines (it doesn't want to open on its own, needed to be opened manually to remove a game). Purchased second hand so the mods to the body are not done by me. Will come with two hard drives and all cords, one controller, two battery packs, and one battery cover |
| PS3 | |
| Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend | CIB |
| Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 | CIB |
| Hitman: Absolution | CIB, wear to case |
| PS2 | |
| Resident Evil 4 (black label) | CIB, sticker residue on case front, light scratches on disk |
| Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories (black label) | CIB, disk in excellent condition |
| The King of Fighters 2006 | CIB, GS sticker on front |
| Kingdom Hearts II (red label) | CIB, some wear to case, light scratches on disk |
| Devil May Cry 2 (black label) | CIB, sticker residue on front and back, both disks in excellent condition |
| The King of Fighters XI | CASE ONLY, some wear |
| Fatal Fury Battle Archives Volume 1 | CIB, GS sticker on back, light scratches on disk |
| Devil May Cry (black label) | CIB, some wear to case, disk in excellent condition |
| Samurai Warriors | CIB, sticker residue on front, some wear to case, light scratches on disk |
| Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King | CIB, some wear to case, light scratches on disk |
| The King of Fighters Collection --The Orochi Saga-- | CIB, some wear to case, disk in excellent condition |
| DVDs | |
| Lord of the Rings, Widescreen Versions | good condition, minimal wear to cases from storage. All discs in great condition, no scratches. Willing to trade separately as each has its own case (green, red, blue respectively) |
| Bones, complete seasons 1 through 7 | minimal wear to cases from storage; season 3 has a cardboard slipcover with mild damage to some corners. All discs in excellent condition. Willing to trade separately |
| Blu-ray | |
| Dexter, Season 2 and 3 | Good condition. Season 2 case has small damage on top of spine. Some wear to cases from storage. All discs in excellent condition. Willing to trade separately. |
| CDs | |
| Beastie Boys -- Ill Communication | wear to outside of case, inner spindle broken, CD has many scuffs but plays fine |
| King of Fighters, The King of Soundtracks (4CDs) | minimal wear to case from storage, thin scratches on 2 discs but do not interfere with play |
| Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11 | good condition, some light scuffing to case, disc in good condition with only small scratches or marks |
| Nine Inch Nails -- pretty hate machine | damage to case only, disc in excellent condition |
| The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus -- Don't You Fake It | excellent condition |
| AFI -- Decemberunderground | case in good condition with marks on front, disc in excellent condition |
| A Flock of Seagulls -- essential new wave | scuffing to case edge, disk has light scuffs that do not interfere with play |
| Live -- throwing copper | scuffs on case, disc in excellent condition with light small scratches that do not interfere with play |
| Raices Group -- Native American Music Vol. 7 | case and disc in excellent condition; it is a disc of traditional style Incan music |
| Lily Allen -- Alright, Still | case and disc have light scuffs but disk plays fine. Uncensored version |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Loot Crate Supernatural 1967 Impala die cast car 1:64 scale | new in packaging |
| Save the Children phone case stick-on pocket | new in packaging |
| LG G2 black TPU case | new in packaging |
| Skylanders Superchargers Stormblade figure | NIB but plastic is bent |
| Pokemon Go Plus | CIB, comes with wooden protector attached but should be removable |
| Dell USB keyboard model KB216p | used on my PC prior to getting a mech. keyboard; still in very good condition, there are no broken or unresponsive buttons; has been cleaned and will clean again upon time of shipment |
| Super Mario N3DS plates | never used and I don't want them, please take these somebody D: |
| DS/3DS game case | clear; holds a max of 22 games and 2 memory cards |
| Sonic Mania Sonic the Hedgehog figure | comes in original box, FIGURE ONLY, no game or extras, damage to box corner from delivery |
In the case of the Xbox unit and the Sonic Mania figure, I am willing to ship as long as I feel the trade is equivalent for the shipping cost.
WANT
| Vita | 3DS/DS | PSP | PSX | PS2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rayman Origins | Rhythm Heaven | Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles | Jet Moto | Bujingai: The Forsaken City |
| Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box | Midnight Club 3 DUB Edition | Bloody Roar | DragonBall Z Budokai 2 | |
| Megaman Advent ZX | Viewtiful Joe: Redhot Rumble | Die Hard Trilogy | Dynasty Warriors 3 | |
| Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light | Knights in the Nightmare | Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit | Jet Li Rise to Honor | |
| Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion | Spider-Man | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (Greatest Hits) | |
| Flower Sun and Rain | Pokemon Pearl Version | Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories | Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc | |
| Trace Memory | Samurai Western | |||
| The Simpsons Road Rage | ||||
| Smuggler's Run | ||||
| Tekken 5 (Greatest Hits) | ||||
| Viewtiful Joe |
I'm also open to other offers and will take everyone in consideration in time order.
Thank you for reading.
Forgot to post the "hey I'm new here and I'm sorry if I put some dumb shit wrong here" for my first r/niceguys post.
CAST:
devilsknifetotheyeet: Me (4'9 potato with schizophrenia and antisocial issues that has breakdowns often and is anxious 24/7 with a shitty voice of reason in my head)
EM: Entitled Mother
KD: Kind Dad (Also my school's counsellor that I get sent to way more often because of my mental issues haha)
EB: Entitled Brat/Child
E: Employee (Aidyn's elder brother and also current supervisor)
So, I'm an artist (not professional, just hobbyist). I often bring my A4 sized black hard cover sketchbook, wireless earphones, wired earphones, a small phone for my music and my drawing tablet (it's Samsung) with me everywhere I go. It's my soul separated into items and I can have a panic attack if I ever leave one at home. Anyways, tis was a rather hot day yesterday here in Australia (obviously dear god it's summer, it was like, 86 degrees out here) and I was taking a walk with a good friend of mine, Aidyn.
We had our homes the same way so we often did this with my dog, Vodka (weird name, I know). We were just having a good time, chatting and stuff when I decided to go into a café in which I'm a regular at for a break and a drink. Aidyn didn't want to, and offered to bring Vodka on the walk herself and go home. Usually I'm not okay with this, saying I'll just go home instead, but I had this really bad craving for drinks in a café that I just said, "Aight, bet." We said our goodbyes, I told Vodka to not be a bother, and walked into the café.
The employees greeted me and I greeted them back. I ordered a caramel latte. I took my usual seat (corner next to window) and set up my 'art altar'. Basically, my sketchbook open on the left, my tablet and its holder to keep it upright in front of me, a drink on my right, my phone right beside my tablet with music playing (headphones included, duh. Can't let anybody listen to me blasting Bring Me to Life, hah) and yeah, that's my setup.
I get my order, sit down, start music and plug my wireless earphones in. I was working on a The World Revolving animatic at the time (still am, I only have 30 frames done right now) but decided for a break and finish up a complex art piece. I made sure to have my sketchbook open for character references. About fifteen minutes in, I see a family walk inside. A father (rather kind and aged looking), a mother (the retailers know what I mean, talking loudly on her phone, hand on her hip, 'let me see your manager' haircut) and a child (nothing special looking about her aside from wearing a pretty expensive looking pair of shoes, how much should I bet they're Yeezys ha).
The mother was ordering something, didn't bother to hear because one, she was loud, I had to raise the volume, and two, why would I want to do that-- Anyways. I just rose the volume for my music and continued to draw. My face looks like I'm angry but seriously I'm always focused at this type of stuff, it just looks like I'm glaring. The family gets their order and sits down beside me at a table for three. The father was closest to me, so he smiled down when walking past and said a greeting. I smiled back and nodded in acknowledgement since I am a good girl and he is my school counsellor.
After around three minutes, I felt a presence beside me. I didn't turn my head but my eyes peer at the figure. It was the child, around 5-6 years old. It wasn't surprising, a lot of kids stare at me as I draw, so I shrug it off. It was a pretty nice drawing of Jevil and Spade King from Delta Rune (that game ruined me). Suddenly, she reaches out and tries to take my sketchbook and tablet. My instinct immediately kicked in. I slapped her hand away. I would have just said, "No, this is mine," but her hand was fast. Whenever someone reaches for my things fast, my first instinct is to slap.
The child stumbled back slightly, holding her hand. Her lip quivered and she called out for her mother. EM came over to me, this exchange occurs:
EM: Excuse me, what did you just do?!
Devilsknife: I'm sorry ma'am, but your kid was trying to grab my things.
EM: Ugh, so?! She's just a kid, at least let her see!
Devilsknife: I won't mind her seeing, but she was trying to grab.
EM: And you slapped her hand?!
Devilsknife: (long pause)
Devilsknife: ...yes.
EM: That's child abuse, you know!
Devilsknife: Cool! Okay! I did a mistake slapping your kid's hand, I'm sorry!
-Around this point, a few heads turn to us. I'm not a confrontational person and if people look at me during a confrontation you better expect me to have a breakdown.-
EM: You should give her these! -She gestures to my tablet and sketchbook- For slapping my child who did nothing wrong!
Devilsknife: I'll give her an apology but I am not giving her the things I paid for because your child tried to take without asking.
EB: Why should I ask?!
Devilsknife: Beca-
EM: Yeah, why should she?! She's top of her class, smartest in her grade and aced her exams!
Devilsknife: I-I really don't care?
EM: What?! You probably failed your courses. It doesn't matter anyway, give it here!
-EM legit shoots her hand out to grab my sketchbook. I panic immediately. I slam it shut, making a loud 'BAM' echo through the usually calm and quiet café playing jazz or smth like that and clutch all three phone, tablet and sketchbook tight to my chest, standing up.-
EM: How... dare you!
Devilsknife: Don't touch these things, these are mine.
-The father stands up, setting a hand on her shoulder.-
KD: EM, come on, sweetheart, she's still young, don't take stuff from her.
EM: Can't you see?! She slapped our child's hand!
KD: I see that, but-
EM: She's probably hiding some sketchy stuff!
-I know she meant some illegal creepy shit but I can't help but snort. 'Sketch', 'sketchbook' haha. Apparently this did not fly well.-
EB: Mommy, she's laughing at you!
EM: SHE WHAT?!
Devilsknife: God damnit. Look, ma'am, please. I'm sorry I slapped your kid's hand but I am NOT giving you this sketchbook!
-Around this time, an employee (he was Aidyn's elder brother), walked up to me.-
E: Excuse me, what's happening here?
EM: This rude girl -jabs a finger in my direction, damn that nail breaking would def hurt- took my daughter's drawing book and tablet!
....
....
yeah excuse me what the fuck-
THIS WOMAN
CLAIMED MY STUFF AS HERS?
-E looks at me while I just look like I'm about to have a nervous breakdown. I usually get like this when accusations are upon me. One more and---
E: Uhuh, sure, what else?
EM: She also slapped my child!
-And there goes sanity. I drop back to my seat, phone and tablet cluttering onto the sofa chair thing while my sketchbook drops to the ground. EB tries to get on her knees and grab bit but KD holds her wrist, pulling her back slightly. My mind went a bit fuzzy.with the panic, but I made out that KD was in front of me, holding my shoulders, trying to calm me down, E was looking done with EM's stupid bullshit accusations and EB was bawling her eyes out saying, "I WANT MY DRAWINGS, MOMMY!" After a few minutes, one to two I think, I finally get a grasp on my senses.-
EM: ...AND I WANT YOU TO KICK HER OUT!
-Lmao whoops what senses back to a panic attack I go. I grip my hair, tugging tightly, my glasses were taken off my KD so I won't like, step on them or smth if they fell. After a few more seconds, KD calmed me down, helped me drink the iced water he ordered (why would someone order ice water in a cafe, I dunno, but it was helpful) and I was taking deeper breaths and calming down.-
E: Ma'am, I can't do that.
EM: WHAT?! Why not?! She stole my sweet daughter's things which I bought her since she was doing so well in school AND slapped her!
E: Because I know for a fact those things do not belong to your daughter. However, I can suspend her from coming back here if I get evidence that she slapped your daughter.
EM: Sweetie, tell the man--
EB: I WAS SLAPPED BY THE MEAN LADY!
Devilsknife: Oh my god
E: Not from you or your child. Sorry, Devilsknife, not you too. I need to hear it from the father.
EM: KD, tell him how that brat slapped our sweet EB!
-KD scowled slightly but sighed. He looked at the EB, still bawling, and his wife who glared at me and then at me, the 4'9 female with tears in my eyes that had both nervous breakdown and panic attack happen in a short span of time.-
KD: Sir, she did slap my daughter (side note, when he said this, I was about to cry) but for a good reason. EB was reaching out to grab Devilsknife's things.
E: That's all I needed to hear, thank you, sir.
-E pats my shoulder and I gave him a weak smile. He looks at EM and EB, who was fuming at KD.-
E: Ma'am, I'm afraid your husband has said it. You owe Devilsknife an apology.
EM: I AM NOT--
E: You are apologising to her or else I am kicking you out of this café for not only accusing a fake crime, but also claiming things and making a scene. If you haven't noticed, my customers are trying to have a good time in this here cafe.
-EM was sputtering things including multiple curses and offensive words while KD shook his head solemnly at his wife. EB was still crying and them EM scowled at KD.-
EM: WHY WOULD YOU DEFEND THIS BRAT?!
KD: Because I'm tired of this, EM. You're always 'entitled' to so many things even if you aren't. I put up with it because I love you and EB both, but I can't stand it if you raise her this way. This girl was just drawing, doing nothing wrong. Why would I defend you lying twice?
-EM begins YELLING at him about how he's a horrible father for "making little EB cry" and EB was yelling also that she should have gotten my stuff while I just honestly wanted to abscond.-
E: THAT'S ENOUGH!
EM: Wh-
EB: Huh?!
KD: ...
E: Ma'am, you are creating more of a ruckus, I NEED YOU TO LEAVE, NOW!
EM: LET ME SPEAK TO YOUR MANAGER!
E: Manager is away on a family trip, but if you'd like, I can get the supervisor.
EM: WHATEVER!
E: Cool, hold on.
-He walked off a few steps, turned back to us and walked up, arms crossed.-
E: I'm E. Sorry the manager is away, I'm supervisor.
EM: What-!
E: And as supervisor I suggest you leave now before I call security.
-EM sputters out cusses in front of her child towards E and I before grabbing EB's wrist.-
EM: Come on, KD, let's leave.
E: Your husband can stay if he wants to.
KD: I'd like to stay for a while.
-EM only scowls and walks away. When she was gone from sight (I think she went to the park where Aidyn was, god save the mother if the kid wants my dog too because Aidyn won't be afraid to cuss out a human). Once both mom and child was away, E snapped out of his 'serious' state and apologised profusely to KD, who only laughed it off. KD got a discount on his next drink which he ordered again, a black coffee and a refill for ice water to calm me down more even if the ice water was free oof ha.-
E and I had another school counselling session which felt better than ever since he did get to see me hold my nerve. Thing is, before counselling, any type of confrontation would make my voice of reason say, 'let's attack' and I'd immediately snap aggressively. Since counselling, I've gotten better.
That coffee I tasted was better than ever and I had a smile on my face. KD also said my art improved and I felt prouder.
Hi all! Thanks in advance for taking a look at my list :)
Minis are located at the end of the list!
Wishlist - I have a wishlist, but I am mostly looking to sell unless you have these specific items to swap.
Beauty Heroes, Art of Organics, Petit Vour items
Palettes
Eyes (see the end of my list for minis!)
Lips (see the end of my list for minis!)
Face (see the end of my list for minis!)
Skincare & Body (see the end of my list for minis!)
Nails
Hair
Tools, etc.
Minis & DS Items
Freebies
I have been biting my nails for over a decade now in my life. It started because a family friend died and I bit my nails to calm existential anxiety and depression that began from that as well as becoming a teenager. Since then I tried everything but it doesn't seem to work. I bit through the bitter nail polish, bandaids, hot pepper, gloves. I had bloody nubs for a long time. I would get acrylic nails on and off as a teenager but stopped due to it being pretty pricey going back all the time to the nail salon. I didn't bite my nails as bad when I had acrylics and gel but if the manicured became chipped I would start again. I stopped for the most part when I really occupied in college and at work. Now after graduating college I notice myself biting down again at work. I've noticed that my biting habits pick up again when I feel bored and anxious and it sets off this chain of me biting the free edge of the nail off until it's crooked and then I bite it again. I get obsessed about the nails not looking straight and not feeling "correct". I've noticed that free edge grows back more thicker and covers more of an area than the nails that are not as bitten.
I want this to stop! I feel like I lose so much time just sitting around and biting my nails and picking at them than being productive. I'm tired of having ugly nails and being self conscious and gross about it.
What do you all recommend. I saw a post about dip powder which seems to be the new thing in nail art. Is it worth it? I know that covering my nail with polish does help but it has to stay on long enough for me to unlearn this habit and it hasn't happened long enough for me to fully rid myself of the habit and once again I go back to munching because it's not "correct" and the free edge grosses me out.
I'm currently studying an MA in Urban Design but have started to have doubts over how my course is ran and potentially going into the career at all, i did my undergraduate in Urban Planning and opted for modules in urban design through out
My issue is there seems to be a distinct difference between Town Planning urban design modules and MA urban design modules, namely my undergraduate modules seemed to focus on the concept, ideas and innovations and how they would actually work over the graphic representations (they were graphically represented and backed up by a report) where as what im finding now on the MA just seems to be advanced colouring, there is a clear focus on the graphics which seems to take precedent over the actual details of the concept, an example of this is we were informed that any writing on our final crit was simply going to be ignored as they wouldnt bother to read them, and this shift in focus is reflected in the mark schemes too.
my main concern is how does it actually work in the real world of practice? i dont have an art qualification but im pretty good with design packages like sketchup, adobe suite etc but where does real world practice focus more so on the graphics or the concepts? is it achievable to have a career focusing on the actual concepts, designs and innovations?
i understand these are questions i should probably be asking my tutor but seen as my MA personal tutor is also the head of the course and main marker i dont know where to really turn with my doubts, i fought tooth and nail to get on this course but its just not what i expected. is there a career in the built environment market which has my focus, is it this one? im lost and this is the only place i could think to turn.
my main interests are around; Community engagement, festivalisation, retrofitting and smart city implementation, ive always had an interest in urban exploration and how to bring theses unused spaces back into a vibrant part of the city
I'm a long-time Riven Player, as well as Custom Skin maker. I write this to you to give you feedback about the revealed Particle Update for Riven. I've seen the footage attached to the boards post and playtested it on PBE as well.
First of all, thanks for taking the time to update Riven's particles. There's for sure players claiming they prefer the "old" particles to what you've showed, but I think everyone agrees that Riven's particles are dated. That's what I believe and I'm here to help you do this right so everyone's happy about the update, and you can be proud of it too.
Anyways, let's get right into the actual feedback. This will be ordered by abilities. Everytime, I will point out the pros and cons of each element, and provide what I would do if I were to make this myself.
1) Color Scheme
Overall, the particles have a LOT of green. Like, seriously, a lot of it. Too much. It's something you have seen in feedback a lot probably already, but it gives off this overall "poisonous" feeling with the abilities, like if we're playing some sort of melee Cassiopeia / Twitch caster. This doesn't match with what Riven does in game. Also, I think that the color overload harms readability and clarity overall. Especially on Summoner's Rift, a map that already has a lot of green on it.
Here's my suggestion. Switch the Green accents from that sort of yellowish-green, which is very "poisony", to something slightly more "Emerald". Basically closer to have you've used on the E shield than what you used for the auto attack and Q on-target effects. Afterthought: not so necessary, more moderate use of Green will be sufficient to reduce the poisonous feeling. However, most importantly, it is important to use Green much more seldom. It will only make it look better. I think there should be a lot more of Dirt, Dust and Sand colors being used to represent the physical motion and energy released by the abilities. Green accents should only be used to highlight when "runic powers" are augmenting an ability. With this iteration of particles, it feels like it's the sword doing all the work, but I think most players prefer to think that it's mostly Riven with her physical strength and mental willpower.
2) Absence of Runic shards and markings
Now either this is an intentional choice, an artistic take you went for I suppose. In fact, on Riven's original particles, many of the runic shards and markings displayed were cropped directly from concept art and used as VFX.
However, many people appreciated those markings as they represented the extension of Riven's strength through her blade's powers. It also helped balance the color palette of her particles, adding a bit of clearly defined dark gray / black spots. I think you should give a go at integrating them again in the particles, as they were widely used and completely getting rid of them definitely affects the feel of the champion. Having clearly defined dark areas is also prettier than moderate but large-sized black blurs on the ground and such.
I suggest adding Runic shards and / or markings in some meaningful ways into the abilities again for thematic and aesthetic purposes.
3) No differentiation of particle effects between ult on vs ult off
Despite owning every single Riven skin on my main account (except that pesky Championship 2012 skin), I find myself to head back to using the Classic skin quite often. And quite a bunch of us do, actually. One of the reasons for it is that the Classic set of particles (base, redeemed, crimson, bunny) do quite a good job at differentiating particles between ult onf and ult off. The Q and W effects are bigger essentially.
Not only does this serve a satisfaction purpose, it helps clarity. It emphasizes the "big moment" that are the 15 seconds of Riven's ultimate, and also highlights the fact that Q and W have increased range during that time.
My suggestion is to simply figure out some way to differentiate them more. For example, have more green accents be used on the ulted version of abilities, assuming you go for much more seldom use of green in the first place. That can also just be larger sized particles, etc.
Also, I'll mention this here: looks like you fixed a long-lasting bug with Riven's particles (been there since Dawnbringer release). For a long time, Riven's Q1 during R didn't have particles on all skins except Dragonblade and old Championship. But it's not the case anymore, so it's nice, great job.
1) Basic attacks don't have blood effects
I know this might be a censoring issue. Because Chinese servers have special censoring for blood, skin artists tend to move away from blood splurts to avoid having them turn into black blood effects on the screens of LPL for censorship reasons.
However, these blood effects are important. What happens when Yasuo does a basic attack ? He has a trail coming from the edge of his katana, a very nice "slash" particle on his target, and blood splurts out. Heck, he even makes towers bleed. I think it's important for Riven's blade to be just the same. It should make enemies bleed. Just censor it to black blood on Chinese servers, or just get rid of the particle altogether on Chinese regional settings.
1) Radiocative Riven
The passive felt very weird to me. I the idea of making the blade glow is very cool and makes sense. However, the execution makes it so that it just feels like Riven is holding a sword made of Plutonium 239 (radioactive af). I don't have a suggestion as to how to adress it really, maybe make the glow less ominous, or only concentrated around the part of the blade that has a runic marking.
On live servers, the blade emits particles (including those good old runic markings) which decay and slowly fall down, which means there's be particles floating in the air as Riven moves around, and that is actually a good thing. It means people in game get a visual clue for Riven's passive without looking at her blade itself.
I think either version (sword glowing vs. runic markings) is fine, maybe a combination of both is best. I suggest one of the following: - Modernize the current (live) style of particles, with something looking clean such as Dragonblade for instance. - Tweak the version you made to have it feel less "radioactive", somehow.
1) Q particles have too much color and feel too poisonous
Seriously though, playtesting this felt like casting noxious blast. But it's Riven. There's way too much color going on at once. It's not as bas as W, but it still feels like too much. There should be more Dust / Sand / Dirt to emphasize the kinetic energy bound to the ability.
The trail following the sword is very good though. Making Riven custom skins, it was probably one of the toughest things to nail right for me, and I think you did it. Maybe the trail should only be very bright green at the front of the trail though, and should transition back to dustier tones further on.
2) The slashing marks on the ground are great! Too great, in fact
I think this addition is amazing. First introduced with God King Darius (I think?) and further on used by Odyssey Kayn, I think those markings on the ground are very satisfying and very crisp. I think it's a great way to emphasize the size of a hitbox for clarity and providing that extra "oomph" at that same time.
However, in this case, it's a bit much. I suggest reducing the size of the arc on the ground from Riven's Q1 and Q2 to something like a 220-240 degree arc. In fact, the hitbox isn't even a full circle, so it makes sense for clarity.
1) Satisfaction issues, poisonous issues, electric issues
I'll go ahead and say this right here: I feel like W is the particle that needs the most adjustment. It's overloaded with green colors, the dark glow on the ground makes it feel like a dark green which conveys, yet again, that poisonous feeling. It doesn't feel satisfying to use, the particle lasts for a way too short amount of time.
The direction you went for was to add some electric sparks around Riven, a very widely used VFX among many skins in my experience. However, there's something wrong thematically. Riven's W stuns people because of the simple blast of energy. In some story of the lore, they mention people being blasted away by a brutal gust caused by the blade's runic powers. This is a perfect way to use dusty/sandy colors to represent this sort of "wind" effect, so strong it stuns people.
The particle needs to also remain for a longer time, or at least decay a bit slower. Trails and long decays are a big factor for satisfaction of particles, and this is no exception.
I don't think you guys have to load it so much with particles, it can have a lighter visual load and feel more satisfying at the same time. I also believe that the runic marks on the ground that were cast and expanding outward when casting played a great deal of what made the particle satisfying to use.
1) Actually pretty good
The E shield effects are quite nice, the way they form up look really good in my opinion. The floating runic pieces are a bit large, but they do the job and look better than we had before. We need more runic stuff across the board though (read: other abilities).
2) Lacks a bit of motion
The one thing I disagree with how the E works is that it doesn't emphasize the motion of the ability as much. Despite the windy / motion effects drawn on the ground, they don't stand out a lot. I suggest using somewhat lighter tones on those, as well as adding them directly following Riven's body instead of being kept to only her feet. Maybe a colored trail (not too large) would help emphasize the motion too.
1) Ult activation (R1) looks great, here's how to make it even better!
I really like what you did with R1. First, a full-sword glow pops up, then it gradually transitions to the actual blade. Really cool. Let's make it even better !
There's a devblog post about Riven's development that explains how Riven's ultimate was originally intended to look like. They wanted to make the sword gradually reforge from the handle to the tip of the blade. However, they deemed that 0.25s of cast time just isn't long enough to do that. I disagree and I think it's totally enough.
Now here's how to do it: have the full-sword glow appear gradually, like scrolling from the bottom of the blade to the tip. There's other ways to make it appear gradually by the way, if you believe it is more fitting, it's just an example. This gradual effect should start as soon as Riven presses R, not at the end of the 0.25s like the current effects are. After the 0.25s, the glow would transition into the actual blade, and voilà.
I think having VFX start immediately from the beginning of R instead of the very end of the cast time also helps clarity. Every time Riven ults, it will give the enemy an extra quarter of a second to realize "oh boy, I'm getting all-inned".
If you struggle too much to make the particle start from the very beginning of the cast time, no worries, I think what you've done for R1 already looks very cool.
2) Reforged blade still doesn't cast a shadow on the ground
Pretty self explanatory, if you ult, your blade doesn't cast a shadow on the ground. I'm pretty sure it's possible to code particles to cast a shadow on the ground. If it isn't, well no big deal because I'm probably among the 9 people in the world to have noticed it.
3) Wind Slash (R2) isn't ugly, but it's lackluster.
The Wind Slash is another "big moment" when playing Riven, and it's important for it to feel cool to use. The one you made for the skin basically looks like the HUD icon, and nothing more... If you compare it to Dragonblade's Wind Slash, there's a world of difference between the two. Dragonblade makes use of bright colors, darker tones, and some more discrete smoke / wind / dust effects, across the entire length of the hitbox. Here, you just have a green arc passing by.
I think the on-target hit particles are actually alright, they could do with more finnesse, more richness. Yet again (last time, I swear), dusty / sandy colors to create a trail and an aftermath behind the Slash itself would make it much, mure more satisfying. In the lore, Wind Slash killed Yasuo's elder. It's an execute ability after all, it should feel big and impressive. There should be visible remains of the slash after its cast, dust floating, wind effects, you get me.
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That is all the feedback I had to provide. I hope you will take it into account to improve the particles. My personal opinion is that those particles do have plenty of issues (as you've read) and therefore shouldn't be shipped to live in that state. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and updating the visuals of our beloved champion.
Cheers :)
I'm very hyped for the hornet dlc for hollow knight and in REALLY curious how hornet is gonna play but here are some things I'd like to see:
DIRECTIONAL DASH: I would find it cool if you could dash directionally. I am aware that this is a hard thing to execute but it would work as a placeholder for desolate dive too.
NAIL PROJECTILE: Now this is by far the most interesting one. Hornets nail is a lot different from the knights nail and it has some kind of string attached to it. I would be a possibility to throw it and if it sticks to a wall dash toward it.
REGENERATING HEALTH: I'm not sure how team cherry is going to handle health in the hornet dlc. I'm not sure if hornet is going to be able to focus soul or not. If she can't it would be nice if hornet has 8 or more masks so it doesn't get too hard.
NAILSTORM: I'm referring to the attack where she is whirling her nail around herself like crazy. This could work like a nail art in the game which would be a nice thing to see in the dlc.
(I'm sorry if my english lacks in some parts)
Do you also sigh over pictures and wallpapers of home interior design that you see online or on television and wish to have your own home? This is very common and happens with people who live in a rented apartment. In the search of jobs, we move to cities and settled down there. Many people can’t afford to have their own home so they live in a rented apartment. Search for top interiors in Hyderabad to get interior design services.
Nobody feels like investing money on beautifying the rented home. Also, there are some landlords who put restrictions on alteration policy and do not allow us to drill or nail on the wall. Here are a few things that you can start with –
Light it right
When you first shifted in your rented apartment, you have seen dusty CFLs but indeed you must have changed them within a few days. Remove these boring lights and put on layered lighting that creates different zones and moods in the same house. Lighting has a great role to play when it comes to mood change. There are several types of bedside lamp that throws light patterns on the wall and great backdrop for midnight conversation on a bed. Interior designers in Hyderabad can help you design your home in such a way that would not bother your landlord.
Change your wall art
These days, there are wall arts that are very simple to put on the walls. You have to peel them off the wall and they are not going to damage the plaster or paint on the wall. You can choose multiple types of wall art like quotes in floral, animals, cartoons, nature etc. Get suggestions form top interiors in Hyderabad.
Change the paint color
When we shift to a rented apartment, we generally do not like the paint color used in the house. So, if the same case happens with you, just select paint color of your choice and get your home painted. It will definitely give the new look and feel to the home interior design. This also one thing that your landlord will not complain about.
Floor decoration
A rug is a simple way to make our home feel homely. You can use fancy rugs in low footfall areas and durable rugs for the area that have higher footfalls. Ask your interior designers in Hyderabad that which floor decoration will match with your home interior design.
Window dressing
You can enhance the decoration of your rented apartment by selecting curtains of pastel shades that has a cozy feel and satiny textures along with intricate patterns. Along with this, you can take matching color cushions and covers. Get the best interior design services and transform your home.
Indoor plants
There are several ways to decorate the rented home. Indoor plants are in trend these days. People are using them for home interior design. These small plants help in keeping the interior environment good and fresh. Each indoor plant has different qualities and it helps in keeping the environment clean and fresh.
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Decided to write an A-Team story for the monthly challenge, part of a followup to One Big Misunderstanding. This takes place about six months after that story. Third of four chapters.
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Chapter 3
“I must confess,” said Peri, quite calmly, “this was not who I expected to make a- gllk!”
Harper’d pressed the gun hard into the soft part of her throat. “Quiet.” He looked up, meeting my eyes, pushing his way up to his feet, keeping Peri dangling from his arms. Scrawny though he was, the training I’d put him through had him in excellent shape, and his muscles stood out like steel cables as he held her in the joint lock. I had my rifle aimed squarely at his face. “I think you can make the shot, sarge. I think you could shoot me right in the head, easy as pie. I know Lars could do it.” He looked to one side, where Lars stood with his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed. “If you do it before I’ve said my piece, Ariel’s going to shut off a lot more than the gravity.”
“If my master is harmed, I’ll have your lungs!
I’ll gouge out your eyes, and rip out your tongues!”
“Harper,” I said, calmly, without rancor. “This isn’t the smart play. There’s no way we can pull off your plan, now.”
“If the Choir drone dies,” said Harper, his eyes narrowed, “then there’s no proof of anything. It’s already been damn dangerous in here. More dangerous than it was supposed to be, because she couldn’t intercept a hostile ship. The Stillness is a gift straight from the Source, sarge. If we get ahold of it...”
“What’s this?” said Bergman, standing up slowly, shaking his arm, wincing a bit. “You found a way to subvert the ship?”
“I can put this ship in our hands, without anyone off the ship ever finding out,” said Harper. “If she’s dead, there’s no one who’ll spill the beans. This ship, on its own, could cripple the entire Choir. Who do you think is going to try to shit on humanity, when we can wipe out a planet at will, sarge?”
“That’s who you’d have us become?” said Lars, his grip on his sword still steady, his expression calm. “Slay those who offend us? Purge their planets? Become precisely what they fear us to be?”
“We wouldn’t have to!” said Harper, his voice breaking a bit. “We could scare them! Make it clear that they’d never win, and we can have peace!”
“Not with me,” said Peri, her voice choked, and grating. “You’ll never have peace, Child of the Divine. Not until you silence me.”
“Do you hear it?!” said Harper, his teeth gritted. “This is what they’re like, sarge! The threats! We didn’t do anything wrong! We didn’t hurt anyone! We tried to offer them gifts, we tried to be kind, and this thing threatened us every inch of the way! We’re prepared to throw away our lives for this fucking callous monster, but you won’t sacrifice one mindless drone for the chance for humanity to live? They’re never going to trust us. They’re never going to forgive us. They’re going to kill us sooner or later, when they get scared. We’ll either spend the rest of our short existence walking on eggshells, or we’re going to show them that they can’t fuck with us!”
“You know,” said Bergman, lightly, a smile spreading across his face, “the kid has a point. Perhaps this deserves a little more debate.”
“There’s no debate, here,” I said, firmly. “Let her go, Harper. You’ve made enough of a shitshow as it is. I’m disappointed in you.” The words hit the boy like a physical blow, and he looked to one side, his grip loosening.
“You know,” said Peri, “the boy is right. My sensory mechanisms have never been very good at interpreting Subspace. This ship could let you exterminate me. You’re caught in the horns of a dilemma, sergeant Bayheart. Let him shoot me, and I will be suspicious, but that is all. As pointed out, this is a dangerous mission. If you let me go, I will know, for certain, that your people would have taken this ship if only they had been a little bit less closely watched. I will never trust y-”
“You hear that?” said Harper, his arms tightening again, cutting Peri off, his expression furious. “They were never going to trust us. The thing sent this drone just to confirm its suspicions. I agreed to die for humanity, Sarge. I didn’t agree to die for some fucked up monster that would sooner see us die in the attempt!”
“I’m not going to give you a speech, kid. That’s more Bergman’s style. I just thought you wanted to show we were better than the aliens. That’s why I’m disappointed in you.”
The words cut Harper like a knife. His eyes widened slightly. Then he released Peri, letting the drone drop to the ground, the gun falling with it. He looked down at his feet, which is probably why Bergman got to him so easily. Suddenly, Harper’s eyes were bulging, one of Bergman’s hands on his chin, the other on the back of his head, pinky and thumb pressing into the carotid artery. Shorter than Harper, he had the kid bowed backwards, using him as a human shield.
“Foul blackguard! If you think that this shall pass-” began Ariel, only to stop as Bergman pinched a little tighter and Harper turned blue.
“Shut up,” said Bergman, softly, calmly. “I doubt that you’ve got the stomach to kill humans, even in a fit of vengeance, if what I suspect is true. And there’s no way the Kalisaxian AI would let you kill us, even if you could. Now be quiet and let the real people talk.”
“Bergman,” growled Lars.
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning on killing the kid. Not today. I just need to make something clear. Harper, little buddy, if you ever let your stupidity push you to do something that threatens me again, if you ever act like a child in front of me like this again, I’ll flay you.” His fingers twitched, and another shining switchblade appeared between his middle and ring fingers, the blade shining, barely half an inch from Harper’s eye. “Do we understand?”
Harper didn’t answer. His adam’s apple bobbed furiously in his long, skinny throat.
“Bergman, drop the knife before I drop you,” I said, firmly.
“Of course, sarge.” The knife disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, as Bergman straightened. Harper didn’t move as Bergman let go of him, walking back over to the corner. He shivered slightly.
“Do you know why I don’t accept the gifts, Harper?” asked Peri, softly.
“I don’t care,” he said, his voice a little bit strangled as he sat down at the edge of the room.
“You should. You see, in this world, there is one awful thing, and that is that everyone has his reasons.”
“Ah, The Rules of the Game,” said Lars, nodding. I glanced at him, and Bergman raised an eyebrow in an unspoken question. “I have always considered myself a man of culture.”
“Yes. It is a very good film. I found it very interesting. Wouldn’t you like to know my reasons, Harper? Or is it easier if I am simply a faceless, mindless threat to you? I’m good at playing that role, as you may have noticed.”
“Do we have time for this?” I asked.
“Couple hours while the Subspace Nexus is rigged,” said Harper, his arms crossed around his shins, his knees pulled up to his chin. “Got nothing else to do besides get lectured.”
“There is a reason I, more than most, do not trust the gifts you offer,” said Peri. She breathed deep. “I met the Divine. Understand that what I tell you now, I do not share with other sapients, and I would be grateful if you do not share it either. I am telling you because you must understand me.” She sat down, a few feet from Harper, faced in the same direction, fingers laced together, legs crossed beneath her. It was a very human affectation. “I was not the only hive-mind on my planet. The mental linkage that made each of my drones a synapse in my neural network was a common feature of many species on my world. When one of us achieved sapience, technology, the trick spread quickly. It was only over time that we learned to keep secrets. When the Divine came to our world, we were locked in a war. On the verge of extinguishing our biosphere through a full nuclear conflict. We had grown apart, and few more distant from our harmony than I. I was... warlike. Belligerent. More so than any other. I had many resources, and more enemies.”
“Huh,” said Lars, fishing around in his pack. He took out a can of sterno, and set it on the floor, lighting it quickly, and taking out a set of hot-dogs. The tiny fire burned merrily, casting surprisingly cheerful shadows across the room. “Contagious sapience. I’ve never heard of such a thing. The galaxy is beautifully unique, isn’t it?”
“When the Divine arrived, they took representative drones from each of us. They asked us to prove which of us was worthy. Some offered diplomacy. Some offered art. Some offered science. I offered a threat. If they supported my enemies, I would consider them an enemy. They laughed, and then they chose us. They gave us a wealth of technology. And within a year, we were the sole mind remaining on our world. With the gifts of the Divine, my fellows stood no chance against us. Even united. Within five years, we had colonized our home star system. We spread out rapidly. And when we met our benefactors... We were grateful.”
“Really?” said Bergman, laconically. “Sounds like you weren’t much for living with others.”
“We had grudges against the others. Imagine a world of a thousand immortals, squabbling and fighting for millenia for every scrap of resources. In space, those resources were available in abundance, and the galaxy was so blessedly calm. The Divine had done nothing but aid us. They were new, and they were kind. And so we greeted them as our saviors. For providing to us the gift of the stars. They laughed, and told us that they had a challenge for us. They would strive to wipe us out, utterly. If we could kill but one of the Divine, then we would be allowed to spread. To coexist.”
“Did you?” said Lars, leaning forward, holding a hotdog over the can of sterno. The crackling smell was making me hungry.
“I do not know. I fought many engagements with the Divine. But I never won decisively. I made many incursions onto their ships, but I could not see what happened to the drones therein. Perhaps I succeeded. Perhaps I failed. Perhaps there were never any of the Divine aboard the ships at all. The Divine were hardly under any obligation to keep their word. It makes no difference. I was driven back to my world, my forces shattered, my technological base annihilated. And I began to rebuild.” Peri let out a sigh. “Four times I did this. Each time I expanded for a time, more stealthily and carefully than before. No matter what I did, they always found me, hunted me back to my home world, and bombed me into a near coma. By the fourth time, I did not have the resources left to reach space. I had to engineer the destruction of my home world simply to escape the gravity well, to retrieve enough of the debris of the endless wars to escape. Hundreds of thousands of cycles had passed. I destroyed the handful of automated defenses left in my system. And I found a galaxy empty of the Divine.”
“Lucky for you.”
“Is it? I experienced both the rise and the fall of the Divine. The first time I rose, they were in the infancy of their power. Mighty, but still one among many species. The second, they were embarking on pogroms, and at war with countless other species. The third, they ruled triumphantly over a silent galaxy. The fourth, they didn’t even respond to me before annihilating me. When I rose again, I won, simply because they were gone.”
Harper was staring down at his feet.
“The gifts were poison. All they gave me turned to ash. I was forced to learn my own techniques, to rely on myself, and it still was never enough. I sacrificed everything, and when I finally found space... I found a crippled galaxy. Eight hundred thousand years, and no one has ever even approached the level of the Divine. Their viruses, their monopolization of resources, their legacy, the lurking fear of what they represent... It has made all of those around us afraid to reach for greatness. I am one of only three known hive mind species extant among the stars, and I suspect that it was because the Divine held a special loathing for my kind. Certainly, they were well-suited to countering my advantages.”
"We’re not the Kalisaxians,” I said, unmoved. Every species out there had a sob story. Life was a hard game.
“No, you’re not. You will not simply die out. If you rise, your kind may never fall. The Divine were doomed by their own genetics, their own philosophies. You are not so benignly flawed. The Children of the Divine surpass their parents.” She was quiet for a moment. “My kind had a philosophy. Or a religion. The difference seems subjective.”
“Religion? In a hive mind? You’re effectively a single creature,” said Bergman. “What could you worship, beyond yourself?”
“It was a thing from before I ascended and became the last of my kind. Many followed it. My own view was... heretical. That was one of the reasons I was at odds with so many of them. It stated that there was harmony, and there was discord. To worship harmony was to offer the greatest freedom one could to others. To seek a state of mind and behavior where others were afforded the freedom to act, without compromising one’s own freedom. Discord was to deliberately cross the lines of others. The greatest of sins, to intrude on the freedom of another. When the Divine arrived, and offered me their gifts, I began to believe. I thought that the Divine represented true harmony.”
“I’m guessing that you didn’t hold onto that view long after they started killing you,” said Bergman, lip quirked in a smile. Peri was silent, staring down at her lap. There was only so much information she could keep in her mind. It was interesting to me that she’d kept this part there. I didn’t know if it was the unvarnished truth, but I couldn’t think of many reasons for her to lie. We’d already spared her life.
“And what do you believe now?” asked Harper.
“Harmony can be found only in the joining of many voices. Discord is when those voices clash. But that can be a music all its own. That was my heresy, that discord was no sin.” She raised her chin. “The Divine represented a third stance, that of silence. They would have choked this galaxy, strangled every voice but one, and then left none. They may still. I fought their poisoned legacy tooth and nail in the hopes that someday, in a far distant future, this galaxy could begin to hope again. And along you come, with a golden gift, promising freedom from that cruel legacy in just a few short years. A solution, far more elegant, far grander, than everything I could ever manage. That is why I don’t want you to share my history. Because I failed, every time I faced the Kalisaxians. If the peoples of the galaxy knew that, their hope in me would die.”
“Good god,” said Bergman, chuckling. “You’re insecure? You are an interesting one, aren’t you?”
And Peri didn’t deny it. She just stared, quietly, at her lap.
“My station,” said Harper. He cleared his throat. “Uh, my station was big on AI research. We had a grant and everything from the planetary government. It was secret. We weren’t supposed to be doing AI research because of, well, you know. The whole Kalisaxian thing. My mom and dad, they were the heads of research. We kept it secret. And we got hit.” He coughed. “Sorry. But you shared your whole life story... I thought I should share the favor. Can I have one of those hot dogs, Lars? I haven’t eaten since we left the Discourse.”
“Of course, young friend,” said Lars. He tossed one of the hotdogs through the air, and Harper caught it, nibbling.
“So,” he said, mouth full, wiping his lips and swallowing. “Uh. There was a trading ship. One of the Heten clans. Solar sail ship, you know? We needed some more... exotic supplies. This was right after the Fermi. Well, they must not have done a very thorough job cleaning up their databases, because when they docked with us, a Kalisaxian wyrm infected the computers. It tore through our early AI like they were nothing. Ripped them apart. Shut off the atmosphere, bathed parts of the station in lethal radiation.”
“By Thor’s locks,” said Lars, brows knitted. “I thought Kalisaxian technology didn’t assault humans?”
“Maybe it was damaged. Maybe it just attacked the AI because they didn’t scan as ‘human’, and wound up going nuts. I didn’t really get the chance to find an answer. Ariel was one of the newest AI we’d made. I’d been helping to design and socialize her. She was just a kid, then, in AI terms, but she was about the most advanced we had. I hid in the cold room where we kept her. I linked her into the station, and she kept the air on, kept me safe, killed the wyrm stone dead. That’s why I named her. Shakespeare, you know? Spirit of air, lion of god. But she got hurt.”
“Curious, I thought you only read dreadful science fiction,” said Bergman, a sharp smile on his face. “Is that why it does that whole dreadful rhyming thing?”
“I do not choose to sing in these couplets
If I had my choice, I would cool my jets!”
“Whatever,” grumbled Harper. “A few days later, a Concord ship arrives. They find me. They tell me that my parents committed treason. I’m a minor, so I can’t be held responsible for what happened. But they’re taking Ariel, and dissecting her to see what they can learn. Shut her down, tease out her neural structures. It would’ve killed her. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“You volunteered your services in exchange for an artificial intelligence?” said Peri, an eyebrow raised.
“He hacked into the ship and stole it, leaving two Concord agents stranded,” I clarified. “Tried to go on the run and disappear into the underworld on Kapteyn. It was a major manhunt to catch him. Cost the Concord billions.”
“I was protecting Ariel,” he said, sharply.
“You were,” I agreed, nodding. “That‘s why I offered him the choice. Amnesty for Ariel in exchange for joining this group. We checked her out noninvasively for the last three months to make sure she wasn’t herself a carrier for the Kalisaxian wyrm, but aside from the whole rhyming couplets thing, she’s clean.” I sighed. “Everyone does stupid things when they’re young and don’t know any better. It’s after they’ve done stupid things and should know better that I get intolerant. Consider that a warning, Harper.”
The boy flushed. “It was the right thing to do, anyway. Humans have a lot to offer, you know. We deserve to exist. Just because some ancient assholes happened to make a mistake about us doesn’t mean we should be killed.” He looked over at Bergman, and I could see the question in his eyes.
“Oh, well,” said Bergman. “If we’re spilling our guts. My sister, you see. She has leukemia. Well, had. It’s a shame, but the Concord threatened me- You see, I’d discovered this cancer-cure, not a simple tumor-inhibtor, something that would permanently repair the genetic code, and they wanted to keep it secret because of payoffs from-”
“Bergman,” I said, softly. “Don’t fuck around.”
Bergman went quiet at that. His face hardened. “The universe is fifteen billion years old. We’ve got another few trillion years to go before it stops having anything worth seeing. The Concord government suspects that the Kalisaxians had an immortality serum. They feared death like anyone. It would only have made sense. If I work with the Concord, they guarantee me a dose.”
“You’re doing all of this,” said Lars, an eyebrow raised. “Risking your life, because you were promised that if a totally hypothetical immortality serum exists, you’ll get some. That doesn’t seem a tad self-defeating to you?”
“The life of a human is a candle-flame. Brief, and easily snuffed out. The only thing worth risking death for is immortality. Besides, I’m not going on pure faith. I have... suspicions.” Bergman leaned back. “And how about you, Lars?”
“Well. I was born in Minnesota, in the Great Lakes Confederation. My mother and father were devout members of the Reformed Church of Thor. I joined a mercenary company, as my father did before me. We wound up working for the Vot-hot-pot, during the Atagian raids, back a couple of years ago. This, mind you, was long before the Fermi, perhaps twenty years after the first contact. We were quartered in the capital city of one of their colonies. There, I became quite fascinated with their culture, and began to spend my days exploring the city’s historic districts. What caught my imagination most was their museum, where they kept a legendary suit of cursed armor.”
Bergman opened his mouth, and Lars held up a finger.
“Shush, Aaron. My story time. No smart comments. This armor had been with the Vot-hot-pot since their antiquity. It had fallen to the home-world of the Vot-hot-pot long ago. It was said that a great king had worn it, and fought many battles in it, only to die on the verge of uniting one of their continents. It was said that only a reincarnation of that king could wear it. Anyone else who touched it with their bare hands would die. Of course, once they reached space, they learned of the Blade-Fiends, and the mystery was quite handily solved. No one had attempted to wear it in several hundred years. It was, after all, a quite literal death trap, blasting any non-blade fiend with a substantial dose of high-energy radiation. A very unpleasant death.”
Peri and the others had moved closer. Bergman had moved to the door. I lifted the tablet, and studied it for a moment. No changes. I frowned at a slight power fluctuation that didn’t seem to coincide with the guns firing, but it didn’t develop into a major instability.
“The Atagian Pirate Clan, The Black-Sun Eaters, decided to launch a major raid.” Lars frowned. “It was a bad one. Thousands killed, butchered. The rest of my unit fell gloriously, and I was forced to fall back. I was surrounded by Atagian patrols, and dying stupidly was no more acceptable than hiding or fleeing. I was losing blood, and was on the verge of passing out. And then, I heard the voice of Thor. He told me, in a booming voice, that the Jotun were at the gate, and that I could choose to die gloriously, or pitifully. I begged him for a glorious death, and he told me to touch the armor. I trusted him.”
“So, you had a delusional hallucination, and got lucky,” said Bergman, from the doorway, tapping his fingers on the barrel of his rifle.
“I believe I told you to shush, Aaron. Perhaps it was a mere delusion. Perhaps it was Thor’s doing. What matters is that I took the armor. It flowed onto my body in a flash of lightning-”
“Tachyons-” began Bergman, but he went quiet as Lars grabbed the hilt of the blue sword, and drew it forward.
“And I smote the Atagians! Single-handedly, I drove them back, though it took several days. Then I slept, and drank, for approximately thirty-six hours each. I was the toast of the Vot-hot-pot court, famed in song and story!”
“Wait,” said Harper, frowning. “I mean... ownership of a Kalisaxian artifact isn’t illegal, if it doesn’t have an AI. The worst the government could’ve done is purchase it off you with eminent domain. You were willing to die to keep that thing?”
“What? Nonsense! I volunteered for this group!” said Lars, chuckling merrily.
“Well, don’t forget about the Empress, Larson,” I said, smiling to myself as I did another check of the sensors.
“Empress?” said Harper, curious.
“Empress?“ said Bergman, grinning.
“Ah. Yes. Well, the Empress of the Vot-hot-pot was quite fond of me. Extremely fond. I didn’t intend to encourage it, but, well, it was widely suggested I might be a reincarnation of one of their greatest mythological rulers...”
“You had sex with an alien?” said Harper, shocked.
“I thought you read science fiction, kid,” said Bergman. “That’s not the shocking part. See, Lars… I was under the impression that the Vot-hot-pot were silicon-based lifeforms.”
“The Church of Thor does always say that being strange and alien does not mean that they would not make a good wife,” said Lars, reproachfully. “Alloys and all that. Besides, they have both skin hunger and sexual reproduction. It was a delicate affair, but quite tender.”
“Talk about getting your rocks off,” said Bergman. Peri was simply staring. I wasn’t able to read Choir facial expressions that closely, but she might have been blushing.
“Wait. That‘s not illegal either,” said Harper, brow furrowed.
“Yeeees, not under Concord law, certainly. Unfortunately, the Vot-hot-pot emperor took it... very much personally. The Concord pulled quite a few strings to get me extradited, and offered me a choice.”
“Of course, to his credit, he leapt at it,” I said, and smiled. “But I feel Larson should always be reminded of his failures.”
“Rare though they may be,” Lars grumbled, though with a smile as he cooked another hot-dog on a bayonet. “You know, though, Bayheart, I never quite figured why you were in on this whole suicide mission kick. What did you do to wind up risking your life like this? It’s hard to imagine a war hero being forced into this line of work.”
I let out a slow sigh. “That was decades ago. I was thirty back then.” I nibbled the hot dog slowly. “Can’t believe someone your age knows about that.”
“Well, it was very impressive. All of that carnage, those pirates regretted their actions thoroughly.” A slight smile quirked his lips. “So what happened? A fall from grace?”
“I’m getting old.” I shrugged. “Bergman said the only thing worth dying for is immortality. But we all die, sooner or later. Most people die for something stupid or trite, like money, or an extra burger, or one last round of wild, hot sex, or because their great grandfather built the family house by the river, not knowing that a war would ravage the land a hundred years later. Given the choice of how to die, I’d rather it be for something that’ll save a lot of people.”
“You’re doing it because it’s the right thing?” asked Bergman, amused. “Not for fame, or money, or blackmail? Weirdo.” His eyes were as cold as ever, but there was something just a little bit envious there. Or maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see in him. Bergman was good at making people see that.
“You have a very heavy moral center, don’t you? All of that ‘be better than the aliens.’ I must look truly bloodthirsty to you,” said Peri, her head tilted, her expression unreadable in that way only an alien could manage. “Do you really believe that, if our positions were reversed, humanity would be better? That you would advocate for our survival, in spite of the threat we might pose?”
“I don’t know about humanity. I’m pretty sure I, personally, did exactly that not so long ago, when someone had a gun pressed against your head. Hell, for that matter, when it came right down to it, Harper didn’t have the heart to pull the trigger.”
“Some could call that bigoted,” said Peri, but a slight smile showed on her face. “What do you say to that?”
“Probably true.” I sighed. “I remember when I was all full of vim and vigor about bionic rights, then we’re out in the galaxy, bionics are considered table stakes, and all the kids are fucking aliens or seeking immortality or making googoo eyes at artificial intelligences…” I tsked softly. “I don’t get it, but dying so that old people can be crotchety and young people can be rebellious, that’s not a bad death either. I had a good life, barring a few rough days. Makes sense to lose the last few years of crapping bad and walking worse so someone else can have a good life, too.” I smiled. “Never had kids, never found the time. Never really made anything. And all of this, well…” I sighed. “Anyway. How’s that nexus looking, Harper?”
“Uh?” Harper shook his head, and looked down at the tablet. Then his expression fell. “Ah, shit.”
