#{{ should lv technically be here???

[circeyoru]

Shadow and Void _ Part 3

[Yandere!Sung Jinwoo x Enemy Monarch!Reader]

Part 1 ― Part 2 ― Part 3 (here)

NAME: [REDACTED]

LV. UNMEASURABLE

CLASS: SPACE, MONARCH, HUMAN

TITLE: <MONARCH OF VOID>, <KING OF THE FORGOTTEN>, <THE HIDDEN ONE>, <HERALD OF FAVOUR>, <HARBINGER OF [REDACTED]>, <[REDACTED]>, MORE

HP: UNMEASURABLE

MP: UNMEASURABLE

FATIGUE: UNMEASURABLE

STRENGTH: UNMEASURABLE

AGILITY: UNMEASURABLE

PERCEPTION: UNMEASURABLE

STAMINA: UNMEASURABLE

INTELLIGENCE: UNMEASURABLE

SKILLS: [REDACTED], [REDACTED], DIMENSION VORTEX, SPACE MANIPULATION, POCKET DIMENSION, MIST MANIPULATION, ULTIMATE STEALTH, MANIFESTATION, MORE+

DESCRIPTION: THE MONARCH OF VOID IS A SOUGHT-OUT ALLY WITHIN THE MONARCHS AND A GREATER ENEMY ON THE BATTLEFIELD. WITH THE MERE AID FROM THE MONARCH OF MIST, THE BATTLE COULD BE OVERTURNED EASILY. THE MONARCH IS CAUTIOUS AROUND OTHERS BUT HAS A SOFT SPOT FOR THE MONARCH OF SHADOWS, ASHBORN. THE MONARCH IS LOYAL TO NONE AND HAS NO CARE FOR OTHERS’ WELLBEING, FOR THE MONARCH IS SELF-CENTERED TO THE POINT OF ABANDONING OTHERS FOR SURVIVABILITY.

[REDACTED] INFORMATION CANNOT TO FOUND THROUGH ANY METHODS. IT IS SUGGESTED FOR PLAYER TO BE CLOSER TO THE MONARCH OF VOID TO GAIN MORE RELATED INFORMATION.

“Hey. Hey!” 

Jinwoo’s eyes blinked repeatedly as he turned his chair around to back his desk, away from the floor-to-ceiling glass window of the city buildings around his. Also to stop reading the information window on his newest ally. “Yes?”

“I’ve been calling you for a while, but you keep on staring at the scenery.” You frowned, arms crossed over your chest. “Are you staring at yourself in the glass’s reflection?”

“I zoned out.” Jinwoo partially lied. While reading the window at first, he was quick to zone out after reading your description. Though, your words provided him with the information that you couldn’t see or know about the System like he does. So Ashborn didn’t tell you about anything in technical terms.

You groaned and scratched the back of your head. 

Jinwoo watched with interest. It was a very human thing for you to do. He had expected you to be more indifferent and cold, perhaps even expressionless or doll-like. However, even in the memories of Ashborn, you didn’t even have a form, just a smokey and misty outline or mass. Now, you were solid. Not that he minded, but with you being in a more solid figure, it was advantageous to him.

“Can you tell me why I should be around you?” You glared at him with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows, you quickly pointed a finger at him when he opened his mouth to say something. “And don’t say it’s for supervision. You have your minions in my shadow already, so that’s supervision enough. Besides… You only stay in your office all the time and nothing happens.” You retracted your finger back to your crossed arms. “At least let me enjoy all that your humans have created before it’s all gone.”

“You’re confident the humans would lose?” Jinwoo plopped his cheek in his palm while his elbow was on his desk, his gaze piercing yours. 

You blinked at him, raising a brow, “Isn’t it obvious? Humans don’t stand a chance against the Monarchs, even with the help of the Fragments of Brilliant Light or whatever their names are.” You blinked again, this time your expression turning neutral or mildly surprised, perhaps amused as well. “You don’t think you can fight them all off, right? You can’t manage the Monarch of Frost last time. How can you when they all come at you or Earth?” You took a short few-second pause, before he could even get a word out, you added. “And! They will bring along their armies.”

“I have you with me this time.” Jinwoo leaned back in his chair, his eyes glowed a purple hue that made you flinch involuntarily. “I heard you can turn the tides of war easily like a snap of a finger, in fact, I bet they are wondering where you have gone right now. Maybe they even realized you had stayed by my side. Willingly or forcefully.” He got up from his seat and approached your form, circling you with his hands behind his back. “Either way, they know you’re not on their side now. Won’t they see you as an enemy too? Won’t it be better if we worked together?”

“I am an ally of myself. You’re saying all this, so I’ll be more inclined to be your ally.” You glared up at him, “Well, it’s not working, nor will it. Everyone knows I pick no side and I’ll stay on my own side. You may have me now, but at the slight opportunity I have to escape from you…” Your eyes glowed too, though you had a silver-grey hue. “I’ll take it without a second thought.”

“Go ahead and try. You will have another dagger in your fresh.” Jinwoo warned.

Your eye twitched, “Don’t act all high and mighty. You only have what you have now because of Ashborn. Your skills, your abilities, your army, your allies, your enemies. Even your confidence, pride, and ego. You’re nothing without him. You will never amount to anything.”

Jinwoo grinned, “We’ll see.”

The two of you shared a stare at each other, unmoving as if a competition was declared, though without warning of any kind. 

Knocks on his office door broke the tension in the room and, most importantly, the little competition between you two. You groaned and turned your heel, heading in the direction of the closest seat in the vicinity, which happened to be the very chair he had been sitting in moments ago. As you took a seat, Jinwoo went to the door and opened it, revealing the vice-guildmaster on the other side.

“Hyung! I wasn’t interrupting you, right?” Jinho peeked behind Jinwoo to see you all crossed with a scowl on your face.

Jinwoo looked back at you, making you turn his chair so that the back of it was facing him and blocking his view of you. The man chuckled and turned his attention back to Jinho. “No. Is there something you need help with?”

“Actually, there’s someone for you.” Jinho jabbed a finger at the reception area.

It would have been a point of curiosity for Jinwoo had he not been perceptive or didn’t had his guard up because of you. Still, he easily had his answer as to who it was that visited his guild office and has the guts to request him. Cha Hae-In.

Formerly he would have been interested enough to go to her or indulge her, but now that you were around, he saw no need for another that could cause a misunderstanding. It would be better if she wasn’t here in the first place and he’d have more private time alone with yo—

Wait. What was he thinking just now? No way was he being this tied up when you were around. Just a few days ago, he had you pinned to the wall with his daggers and you two were at odds even just now. There was nothing pleasant between the two of you. No way. Even a blind person can see they were enemies!

Perhaps it was just because he valued your abilities as a Monarch and the memories of Ashborn was having an effect on him. So then, there was no way he’d want to appeal to you in a gentle and kind manner like friends would. Yes, that explains it.

Jinwoo mentally let out a sigh of relief, feeling his head clear up a bit. Now, the correct and ideal course of action was to meet Hunter Cha and see why she was here. But first, he walked over to you and stared down at you, who was already distracted by scrolling through your phone. “Come with me.”

“I’m not staying by your side while you deal with your boring human business. Call me when you’re going to a dungeon or something that requires violence.” You brushed him off and swirled the chair again so that the back faced his face.

Before you could slam the back in his face, his hand gripped onto the arms of the chair and froze you in place. He leaned down, caging you in as he spoke lowly, and his eyes glowed purple. “You’re coming with me whether you like it or not. Or do you prefer being pinned to the wall in my daggers?”

You raised a brow at him, your bored and neutral face unchanged, “Maybe that would be better than seeing that woman flirt with you.”

Jinwoo’s threatening and oppressive atmosphere immediately diminished to nothing. “What?” 

“Yup, why not? Just pin me to the wall.” You shrugged. 

“No, go back to what you said about Hunter Cha.”

“Ha?” Your eyebrows furrowed at him with a look of ‘are you serious right now’. Jinwoo controlled himself so as not to pinch your cheek because of cuteness. You sighed, “It’s obvious what’s happening. That woman is crushing on you. Romantically. You must have done something to her before.”

Jinwoo looked up and off to the side as he tried to recall. Some memories came to mind, and he muttered with some sense of understanding. “Oh. I guess I did save her during an S-Rank Raid and helped her guild out in another dungeon…”

You deadpanned at this vessel of Ashborn. No wonder he was picked to be the vessel. Just as clueless as that former Ruler. What are you going to do? “See? But then you only have fights and monsters and dungeons on your mind, huh.” Your form cringed from the memories of your vessel falling in love with someone and you had to watch it happen as well. “So now you get it, leave me out of your romance story.”

Note: Been quite busy cause of work. So posts would be less for these 2 months. Hope you like this one though~

Circe Y.

My Works: MASTERLIST

Taglist:

@o-qi-shisme @2021animeandwebtoons @mochinon-yah @skylar896 @rai-xxx

[pttucker]

⸢And everyone lived happily ever after.⸥ I always hated that phrase. However, the current me dearly wished for that phrase to become true. [Constellation, 'Demon King of Salvation' has reached his ■■.] [You have become the 'Oldest Dream'.] The disappearing lights in the distance resembled the Constellations that still remembered me. And with that, my endless voyage got underway. [Your ■■ is 'Eternity'.]

I was this close to making a reaction post about the supposed "miracle" that happened and why the worldline wasn't collapsing despite Oldest Dream no longer dreaming.

I mean, I was certain it was because Dokja was maintaining the dream and maybe he himself hadn't realized it yet, what with him literally being Oldest Dream. Guess he had one final trick up his sleeve.

I will say that I'm super amused that my theory of him being an avatar and not knowing it was apparently 100% correct but in a manner I completely did not expect. If I have to pick, I wanna say that the moment he chose to break himself apart was right here:

That left only three people behind. "Kim Dokja." It was unknown who among Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk called that name out first. The former asked with a questioning pair of eyes. "We are getting off together, right?" [Someone has activated 'Lie Detection Lv… '] That prompted Kim Dokja to smirk softly. "Of course. We should." ['Lie Detection' has confirmed 'Kim Dokja's' words as truth.] "Let's go."

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky. Dokja scheming until the very last second. Sacrificing himself for his companions One. Last. Time.

Though not as much of a sacrifice as before; he'll still get to "read" about them just like he loves and technically he will also get to live with everybody in a big house just like he wanted. So while part of me is clenching my heart, it's overall a happy ending.

And I looooove that we've circled back to Dokja's ■■ and why it has both the meaning of Eternity and Final Chapter.

I'll admit that I'm still a little fuzzy on what exactly happened with Secretive Plotter, the 999ths and Oldest Dream. I guess they reached the epilogue of their stories and this is the epilogue of Dokja's story? So now they're off in an entirely different worldline once again?

And it seems we have 34 chapters of epilogues to go through now! As well as ongoing side stories! The latter of which I still need to figure out if anyone is currently translating into English.

I'll admit when I heard that ORV had ongoing side stories I wasn't certain what exactly they'd be about but it appears we've still got a lot to wrap up even after the happy ending and you can't tell me that at least in one future side story (or maybe one of these epilogues) Dokja doesn't meet himself again or at least realize that he's missing half his memories.

...Or perhaps his companions will realize something fishy is going on, what with living right beside him and Dokja not remembering a whole 50% of his life. Hmmm.

A tale of this new world continued to flow on. But then, just as the subway's doors closed, Han Sooyoung looked behind her with a slightly unsure, hard-to-read face of someone that left something behind. Even Yoo Joonghyuk looked back, too. The only person who didn't was Kim Dokja. Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk's gazes ran into each other, and they began growling at the same time. "What you looking at?!" "I should ask you that, you basta…"

Well, if nothing else, I do dearly wish to see more of these three idiots together. I love that both of them refused to get off the train until they were certain Dokja was coming with them and they both seemed to sense that they'd just lost something.

And I do wonder how exactly the world is going to go on after all of this mess and if they really will try to take Joonghyuk's sword from him. (Not a good idea.)

I mean, they seem to still have all of their abilities and stats? I think? So they're just supposed to live in normal, modern day Korea as if nothing happened while having superpowers??? And I assume most of the world's population is gone unless that was miraculously rewritten.

Or...???

Guess I'll find out.

[superthatguy62]

Things Final Fantasy III does not tell you about Final Fantasy III.

When it comes to RPGs, information that the player has is far from a guarantee. Some games will tell players practically everything about their systems and leave it to the player to use that information. Others will leave some mechanics in the background, quietly applying them without the player's knowledge. The Final Fantasy III remake falls into the latter category, as there are some mechanics that the player may not realize even exist unless they look outside of the game. Here are seven of them.

This is based on the Future Press Official Strategy Guide. As far as SGs go, it seems pretty close to the Japanese SE guide (baring at least one case).

Party Member Levels (Life of the Party)

While temporary party aren't directly controllable, they seem to have their own levels and stats. Interestingly the Future Press strategy guide states that they also have stats. Though I should clarify: At this time, I have yet to find these in the Japanese strategy guide, so I am not entirely sure that these are accurate. However, the FP guide in general is close to the Japanese guide in terms of technical information, so I am willing to accept that risk.

These are:

Sara: Lv 5 (Str/Vit/Agi/Min: 6, Int: 7)

Cid: Lv 3 (Str/Agi: 5, Vit/Int/Min: 8)

Desch: Lv 10 (Str: 15, Vit: 10, Agi: 14, Int: 7, Min: 6

Aria: Lv 25 (All: 25)

Alus: Lv 30 (All: 35)

Doga/Unei: Lv 50 (All: 45)

Some observations:

The guide notes that the characters stats are usually significantly higher than the main characters' at the same levels. This is especially noticeable with Alus (The party's base stats, by compare, will be: Str/Agi: 24, Vit/Min/Int: 20)

Cid is the only party member to be weaker than the character before him (Sara), presumably due to how little time the party spends with him. He does have an impressively strong hammer, though.

Despite being portrayed as a White Mage, Sara's Int (7) is slightly higher than her Min (6).

It seems that after Desch, the devs kinda gave up with making varied stats, so Aria, Alus, Doga and Unei have the same number for all their stats.

Coincidence or otherwise, Aria's stat number also matches her level.

Doga and Unei share the same levels and stats as each other, a distinction no other party member has. For extra fun, Xande is also level 50, although his actual stats are unfortunately but understandably different.

Alus, a 10 year old boy is somehow twice as strong as Desch, a grown man.

Mognet Details (Stampin' N Stompin')

Most of Mognet's discussion usually begins and ends with it being connected to the sidequests. Because of this, there are a few features of Mognet that go undernoticed.

One particular aspect is the cards: For meeting the Legendary Smith with a mastered job and defeating the Iron Giant, the party can get cards signifying their mastery.

(I have yet to defeat the Iron Giant. I apologize for being a fraud).

In the PSP and Steam versions, these cards are mostly just rewards. In the DS version, however, they can be used as stamps for Mognet. And while the Iron Giant is purely to flaunt your superiority over the beast, the job mastery cards actually allow players to help out other players: If a player holding a signed letter runs into the Legendary Smith, she will give the player the respective job mastery item without having a level 99 job. While it doesn't break the game, due to how late it is before you can encounter the Smith, it does cut down on the grind you'd need if you wanted those items.

Encounter Frequency (Fights in the A.M. P.M. F.M.)

In Octopath Traveler, a later game by Team Asano, entering a new location will usually show you a danger level, giving you a general idea of how strong the enemies in that area are. While the mechanic is visible in OT, it was actually deployed discreetly in Final Fantasy III: Each area has a level that the guides recommend the player be at. However, the game itself uses a more subtle method: If your party is below the recommended level, the encounter rate will be higher than usual. By contrast, the further above the recommended level that the party is (up to six levels), the lower the encounter rate will be.

For example: The Nepto Shrine has a Danger Level of 10. If the party made it to the Shrine at level 7, then they will likely encounter more enemies than they would at level 10. By contrast, at level 16, they will have a chance at encountering the least amount of enemies.

Attack Types (SMASH! SLASH! STAB!)

In Final Fantasy III, elemental weaknesses are clear and easily implied by the fact that Mages have themed spells. However, the game also has a second, subtle weakness system: Attack Types, the physical counterpart.

The four attack types are

Unhanded: Despite the name, Claws are also included

Blow: Weapons that focus on slamming or bludgeoning the foe

Cut: Weapons that actually cut the foe, like Swords

Stab: Weapons that stab or have a stab-like effect, like Arrows

Interestingly, some weapons aren't mutually exclusive: Axes count for both blows and cuts, Knives count for both stabs and cuts and Unarmed counts for both Unhanded and Blow.

Hands (The Hands of Fate)

The Hand stat is a secret stat that the game silently keeps track of for each character. The hand stat represents how many times a physical attack has been made with a particular hand, the hand getting 3 XP for each use. Much like job levels only one hand level can be gained per battle, regardless of how many points are racked up. Theoretically, if you can have hands of different levels, although given how much III encourages dual-wielding, it's unlikely.

The FP guide recommends using the Ranger's barrage if you want to build up the hand stat, as that is a multi-hit attack that nonetheless counts each hit for the hand.

Weight (The Weight of the World)

Weight is not a new mechanic to Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy V, in particular has the stat help to determine who quickly a character acts (i.e. how fast the ATB bar fills up). However, V is the rare game where the game will actively inform the player of its existence. Other games in the series have it, including III (at least, in the remake).

Weight, along with Agility, determines how soon a character will act during the turn, as well as how many hits a character does (alongside the aforementioned Hand stat). This is why a Warrior with an axe will generally hit less than a Warrior with a sword, despite having higher attack. Interestingly magic also has weight to it with spells having a specific weight/cast time to it.

Boss Scripts (Script Write)

Bosses changing strategy mid-fight has been a Final Fantasy staple since at least Final Fantasy IV (Zeromus, for example, only starts to spam Meteo when he's close to dying), so the FF3 remake isn't particularly new or original for using this. Still, it's something to be aware of in case you make a particular fight harder than it needs to be.

A likely candidate for this is actually the final boss: While the Cloud of Darkness uses Particle Beam (and spams it during the last phase), it actually doesn't use the move until it's down to 80% of its HP, using the less threatening standard attack instead. This means that a player willing to take some turns to lower the danger can focus on the tentacles, which are the more immediate threat.

[beevean]

I did it! I beat the game! Grinding truly does pay off...

I am so proud of myself, beevean. With that all said and done... which Castlevania game should I do next?

Hell yeah, congrats 💪 hope you had fun demolishing the very structure of the game with the Crissaegrim :P

(wow I don't think I ever reached lv 49 lol)

Well, that's the million dollar question lol. Usually, when people talk about the best IGAvanias, Aria of Sorrow is lumped in with SoTN. The structure and gameplay don't quite feel the same, but AoS is probably the least flawed game in the series, no intrusive gimmicks, relatively intuitive to explore, good movement, you become very powerful by the end... it's also very grindy, so if you got into it, be my guest :P (it also has a direct sequel, Dawn of Sorrow, so you don't have to ask which game to try next!)

Harmony of Dissonance feels like it really wants to be SoTN 2, in plot, structure of the castle and some gimmicks: it will likely feel familiar to you since you just finished SoTN. Difficulty wise, it is considered to be very easy, perhaps too much, so in that sense it's a good beginner's game. What makes it unpopular is that during your first playthrough it is quite cryptic to navigate, especially when the game opens up. You'll backtrack a lot :P

Portrait of Ruin is a personal fave of mine, and I think it's well rounded on all fronts, difficulty and navigation - while you do explore a big castle, one of its gimmicks is that it has extra levels in the form of paintings. The other gimmick is the team mechanic, as you control two characters at the same time. Very fun!

And that's going for the IGAvanias. SoTN is technically a sequel to Rondo of Blood, a Classicvania, so it has all the rage-inducing platforming you could ask for :P if you were wondering what was the deal with Richter, there you go, he starred here. While it's not a very easy game, its main gimmick is finding extra levels through alternative paths, which gives it replay value. (and if you unlock Maria, then yes, it... basically beats itself lmao. If you know Sonic, she's basically the series' Cream)

Those are my suggestions for now. Have fun!

[leclerced]

I found the bracelet! I’m so relieved I didnt actually loose it just put it in a different drawer😮‍💨

Also I’ve listened to news from F1. I swear if they put Ric in Red Bull imma combust on the place. This guy needs to retire sorry not sorry. Give Liam a seat or I’ll fucking show up on your doorstep red bull. Newey’s possible contract talks with Ferrari are in kind of a dead end. The wind whispers he considers McLaren or Aaston. Rolex’ contract comes to an end. It was for 50 million. Now the company that owns the big things like LV and this shit I believe will be the sponsor. I mean in Poland we have a saying “z deszczu pod rynnę” and…yeah… Toyota wants some kind of deal with Haas but rather small one (the wind/aerodynamic tunnel? Is that what it’s called?). Possibly Ocon to Haas. What’s Ollie done in his short 19 years of life to deserve this? Hopes and prayers if it’s true

im so glad you found it !! i knew it would turn up. this post takes up my whole screen on my pc so im adding a read more for everyone's sake.

i think they should knock out two birds with one stone and retire checo and daniel, then put yuki in the rb because he's been in the vcarb since 2021, and put liam and a new driver in the vcarb seats. and if yuki doesn't do well in the rb, they can swap him and liam around so yuki can mentor the new rookie on the vcarb team or somethinggg idk.

i saw that ferrari apparently doesn't want to pay newey as much as he wants (they spent all their money on lewis?) but mclaren and aston will, so we will see how that turns out. i personally think it'd be fun to have lewis in a car designed by newey, so i still would like to see him go to ferrari but it doesn't look like it'll happen.

the lvmh group or whateverrr owns tag heuer, who currently sponsors redbull and used to be their official time keeper and had their engine branded with tag heuer until their partnership with toyota began! so likely, tag heuer will be the new time keepers instead of rolex. wonder what will happen with the redbull sponsorship, are they going to keep supporting the bulls or will they solely be sponsoring f1 as a whole?? i looked up that saying and it seems we have it here too! out of the frying pan and into the fire. it's a good one and very fitting for a lot of things currently

the article i skimmed earlier was talking about haas using toyota's technical facility in germany because they have better/more specialized equipment including two wind tunnels, (it mentioned other things too that i don't recall) and more employees, so it would all around be better for the research and development of future cars!

im so confused about ocon at haas tbh i don't know what to think about that. i genuinely forget he exists sometimes. oopsies. im rooting for ollie, i hope he does well when he gets a seat. i'd hate to see another rookie be bumped up too early ):

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Chapter 27- Part 4

Here we go with Giga Drain again!

A bit late for that, given the angle your tendrils are at, but go off sir.

Now, my question is- do the trap doors still active?

They don't, very good. We can explore unimpeded!

Alright, a few things to note- the Healing Shard in the lower room, another scientist, an item in the upper room…one of those is a more potent issue right now, though.

Wow, this guy must be a low-ranking member, he doesn't even get the Meteor battle music! Regardless, we'll start with Glare™ once again-

And then we use Crunch to- oooh, he switched out, okay.

Another Charjabug, huh? Well, same strategy as before, I suppose. Send in Crater-

Gotta admit, that's a very silly move to have a bulky little guy like Charjabug use with that animation. Looks like a brick flinging itself around. Humor aside, it's Lava Plume time!

And this time, Glare should be all free to get the kill!

Oh, it's not paralyzed anymore? It must have Natural Cure as its Ability…not that it'll save Trevenant from Crunch! (ignore the little bit of damage it already has, I definitely didn't click Acid Spray by accident earlier-)

Two Crunches, actually.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Now, we don't really need that Healing Shard right now, so let's see that item instead.

Oh, it's about time I found one of those! Now the Stone collection is…almost complete? Sorta? Ah well, let's keep looking around.

What is this room's purpose.

AVRIL LAVIGNE???

Alright, well- technically, Prong or Bloom are best to deal with this, but Kirin could really use exp., so I'll let her handle it. 

Zen Headbutt wasn't enough to kill, but it did trigger a flinch, which let her finish it with Stomp.

Gothorita- experience from beating that should get her even closer to Lv. 40, so we'll keep Kirin in.

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[scabopolis]

fic recs: l/v non-linear timeline fics

In anticipation of the upcoming 2023 Logan x Veronica "New Year, New Fic" fest, I bring you a small selection of fics inspired by Logan and Veronica getting busy and getting in fights in a non-linear timeline fashion (think flashbacks, think time loops, think in media res).

Day 1 of the challenge is February 1, 2023 so be sure to check out the #2023 LV New Year here on tumblr or the AO3 collection for more fic and art.

As a reminder, there are so many fics that fill these tropes. These are just a smattering, so make sure to make note of the ones you love the most and next week, when the challenge starts, maybe go drop those you love a kudos, a comment, or both to share the joy.

Fic: Slipstream by @cheshirecatstrut Rating: M, for smut, and it making me feel mature love feelings for both Logan and Veronica Tropes and Themes: It's Groundhog's Day but in a sexy way, team detecting, and this really being the true definition of "in every reality I choose you" Read if: You like nice things

Fic: How the powder burns by @scabopolis (it's a me! Mario!) Rating: T, for some swears, and some unfair jumping to conclusions that ultimately are resolved Tropes and Themes: There's only one bed (but they're mad about it), the author has never met a story she couldn't tell in media res Read if: You like unnecessary and copious amounts of flirting over margaritas Fic: Five Lives Never Led (or, everything in Time should be either titillating or epic) by lovesrogue36 Rating: E for "bow chicka wow wow" Tropes and Themes: A classic five times fic you will want to devour in one single setting, angsty as as all getout but so delicious (really, heed those tags) Read if: A recommendation by the fair @thelillykane who is never wrong - so read it if you like to never be wrong Fic: A Fine and Endless Cycle by kartography Rating: E for sexiness, and two college students who really need to get their ish together Tropes and Themes: non-linear as it jumps back and forth in time, two people finding their way, sexy makeout times Read if: You like reading fics that feel like catharsis and that give you a heavy reward at the end (if that makes ANY sense). Another rec by @thelillykane who reports that this fic makes her "scream, claw, etc." Fic: Knowing the Difference by @vmsteenbeans Rating: T for Terrific, and sometimes Terribly frustrating (because of EMOTIONS) but that is ultimately Tremendous Tropes and Themes: Expert use of flashbacks, classic post-s3 AU, these two work at it and holy hell is that great Read if: You want a true classic VM fic; the world of VM fic for years and years was built on post-s3 future fics and Steen's is a gold standard

Fic: I'm the hero of the story by monroeslittle Rating: PG technically, but emotionally it's a gut punch in the best way so idk, man Tropes and Themes: It's amnesia fic baby!, domestic delightfulness, and adorable child, Piz getting dumped AGAIN Read if: You want to see character growth in such a beautifully succinct way; probably in my top-10 most read fics Fic: Choices: How to Make a Life by TXQuill Rating: T, as in "TXQuill only wrote this one fic for VM and that is a TRAGEDY" Tropes and Themes: Growing up and growing smarter, is it a dream or is it real?, man they EARN that happy ending Read if: You never have before because I think it's a gem. I still remember all the feelings from when I first read it.

[whoiskt]

Grad School Q2 - Week 1

I might seem late with this but I had the day off from school for the holiday so it's technically my Sunday.

I don't have a lot to show. You think by the time you get to a graduate education you'd be past "syllabus day" but no, it never ends. I spent most of my first week writing. But, I want to start sharing some of my writing sometimes, so I'm going to include an excerpt.

Because of that this is a longer post than usual so.......

For one class we are doing a project over the course of the quarter that is a 6-8 page comic. My problem is that metric means nothing to me because my brain doesn't think in comic pages? I don't know how much of a story 6 pages is like I would if it was a written movie/TV script. I wrote out that script, here's an excerpt:

EXT. ABANDONED BARN - DAY An extremely run-down looking barn stands abandoned in a field off the side of a road, surrounded by trees on an overcast day. Pieces of the wood siding have fallen to the ground. NARRATOR (V.O.) They say that the barn off highway 10 is haunted. On the side of the highway, an OLD MAN has pulled off the road and has his hazard lights on. He looks disgruntled at whatever car problems he’s having, but for some reason looks up at the barn. NARRATOR (V.O.) Some people have seen the ghost of the farmer’s dead son, Tolko, running in and out of the barn. The old man suddenly notices the small figure of a child darting into the barn from the crop of trees nearby. The old man looks around for any signs of other people, but there’s nothing, just the busy highway. Concerned, he makes his way into the field toward the barn.

That is roughly half a page of a script. I have thumbnailed that out and that translates to a grand total of 4 panels. The total script is 4.5 pages, which if I generously extrapolate that means this should be about 36 panels, but there's a bit of chatter in the middle which makes me think I can get it down to my ACTUAL goal, which is 30.

My professor was like, "You want to do 30 storyboards with backgrounds and color? That's a lot of work, you know?" and I was like, TELL ME WHY ONE OF MY PROFESSORS MADE ME DO THAT IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LAST SEMESTER THEN? I literally did 28 detailed boards in full grayscale in 2.5 weeks for ONE CLASS. Doing that here again (I'm going with monotone colors this time) in 9 weeks seems easy.

Storyboards aren't usually environmentally focused, so I guess making my goal for this semester to be background focused was counter-intuitive. But, I want to get better at backgrounds, goddammit! So, I guess I'm breaking all the rules with this one.

Personally, I've been working on editing some LV scripts which has come along great. Especially considered my first draft of one of these scripts was probably about 60 pages long (this is supposed to be a half hour of TV 💀) and I have edited all the way down to 35 pages. Still needs work but MUCH better, lol.

I am finally going to do the character outfit concepts like I have been wanting to do. I'll leave you with an extremely sketchy example featuring Morse because I was excited to visualize his flashback appearance. (Showing off his ribcage, scandalous!)

[skorchinq]

Bows Only: So, I Finally Did The Ascension Quest...

[IDs in alt text]

Hey, so, I wrote this post three weeks ago, saved it to my drafts, and then forgot to post it until now. Whoops...

So, uh. Here’s the post. That should’ve been posted three weeks ago. TTwTT

To start off, we’ve got some more Tartaglia pulls...

Another Stringless, huh? Technically even an R1 stringless is better than an R5 Raven Bow, so the logical thing to do here would be to build this as an upgrade for Fischl. But... hmmm... refinements for our current Stringless... mmmm...

I haven’t done it yet but it is certainly tempting. right now I’m just leaving the Stringless at lv. 1 and I’ll decide later whether to use it for refinement or not.

Still no sign of Childe, so we need to get some primos. And what better way than to do some story quests? It’s not like I’m still in the middle of the Inazuma Archon quest and have made barely any progress since 2.8. Hahaha. No way.

We still hadn’t gotten around to Xingqiu’s story quest, and all you do in the character trial bits is fight enemies, no element-based puzzles, so our lack of a hydro bow character was no issue.

And then, what do you know, we actually reached BP 50 in v. 3.2!

This is the first time I’ve reached BP level 50 on this account, so I’m very pleased.

And then, after days of grinding primos from daily commissions, events, and even briefly venturing back into the Spiral Abyss, the last day before Tartaglia’s banner ended:

He finally came home, at 75 pity!

We tried to get him up to speed, fighting the oceanid for his ascension and hunting down some Agents to level up Rust (a weapon which is not only good for him gameplay-wise but also really matches his design aesthetically, btw), but the most challenging thing was probably the starconch hunt... And to think Yelan uses starconches, too...

Then, server maintenance started, and the 3.3 update dropped. I made a couple of wishes in hopes of getting Faruzan, or at least perhaps some Gorou constellations, but...

Bruh...

I went to the crafting bench, because I had things to craft, and accidentally started a quest I meant to do on my main account first:

At first I was confused, but then I realized: of course, Genius Invocation TCG! That’s what this is about!

And this is just the plot of Yu-gi-oh isn’t it. Gosh

Anyway. I got both Gorou and Tartaglia A4, so it was finally time to do the ascension quest! Boy, I sure hope I don’t jump straight up to AR 50 and have to do another ascension quest!

Our boy Childe even lead the charge! And I only very briefly wished I had brought Amber instead after realizing that dendro and cryo can’t destroy the revival prism in a single charged shot like pyro can...

(except that I’m looking at the wiki right now and it says all three of those elements should take the same amount? maybe it has something to do with the level of the hypostasis then, or the individual characters applying more or less of their respective element in a charged shot than another... idk... look the point is every other time I’ve fought this thing both in ascension quest and open world Amber could take out a revival prism in a single shot and neither Diona nor Collei were able to do that this time around)

Regardless, I beat the thing easily enough and completed the domain.

And while it wasn’t quite enough to go straight to 50, it was near enough...

Oh, and DavidBowie is C6 now! How useful!

Either way, it’s time to start working on ascending and leveling up our character more (especially because people I match with in artifact domains keep thinking I’m trolling when I try to bring my lvl 60 Amber and kick me...)

Starting, of course, with the OG, our favorite Outrider Amber!

And now for the rest of them... not to mention everyone’s weapons and talents and artifacts and... ugh...

[legendtraineremily]

Pokémon Yellow Nuzlocke!

(Reminder: These days occurred late July 2023)

Day 11

Celadon City—the Las Vegas of Kanto (or ya’ know, the shopping and Pachinko-filled areas of Tokyo if we’re gonna get into exacts and technicalities). Shopping at the department store, getting all sorts of info and things from the condo’s, gambling away in the Game Corner for prizes that aren’t allowed in this play through, a gym full of lovely ladies and their Grass-types, it’s got it all. However the one thing it has that I can’t stand is a large concentration of Team Rocket members due to their main hideout being inside the above mentioned Game Corner. But that’s something we can take care of pretty easily given our power team. Let’s check-in on them, shall we?

Pikachu/Zippy-Lv. 28

Mike/Hypno-Lv. 27

Nidoqueen/Lily-Lv. 27

Weepinbell/Belle-Lv. 27

Diglett/PlowBoy-Lv. 24

Charmeleon/Crispy-Lv. 20

We’re in good shape so far, I’d say. There’s always room for improvement and growth. I mean we are barely to halfway through our gym challenge on the way to the Pokémon league. Although we could always use another gift Pokémon for the road.

Gift Pokémon—Eevee/Veebee

Lv. 25

Hp: 67

Attack: 39

Defense: 33

Speed: 33

Special: 38

You see this, Gary? I got my own Eevee now! It’s already at level 25 which does limit the moves it will learn if and when I evolve it but not too badly in the case of Flareon but he gets shafted in his stats. Oh well, for now he gets to stay safe in the box. Next on our to-do list is going shopping!

Now if you ever meet me in person, you’d learn that I’m a habitual window shopper and, at times, a terrible impulse buyer. Going into a virtual shopping center with basically unlimited cash would be dangerous were it not for my list: a Leaf Stone, a few more Potions, a couple more Great Balls, and a drink from the vending machine for the Saffron City guards. I would typically grab a whole bunch of revives too, but we are in a Nuzlocke and so fainting=end of fighting career. Oh! I need to sell off and store a few items so I have enough room in my bag (curse you limited programming!). Okay, we’ve got the items we needed and now it’s off to the gate between Route 7 and Saffron.

Here’s a bit of Fresh Water for ya dude. Next time, bring some with you to work so you don’t get dehydrated! (And that goes for all you lovely folks at home too. Drink your water!)

While we’re here, let’s take a moment to check out the Pokémon Center and the local Mart then head over to the Fighting Dojo. You may remember I mentioned getting a more reliable Fighting-type in the form of the kick master Hitmonlee? Beating the meat-heads in here will gift us the chance to grab one! First up and…oh. Right. This is supposed to be a challenge for a little later in the game’s progression. First guy has Lv. 31’s against Mike who is still Lv. 27. No matter! We’ll take him out and get back on track to where we’re supposed to be—back in Celadon to beat the gym and take out the Team Rocket base. After an only theoretically tense battle (Psychic once again proving its Gen 1 cheese here), I’m out to head back to Celadon. And here I’ll save and start up again after some family fun this weekend.

Day 12

Back to the fun of Pokémon Yellow! Today is the day we take on Celadon Gym and Erica’s Grass-types. Excuse me, Grass/Poison-types! This makes it much easier for me, as Crispy won’t be the only one with a significant type advantage.

These Gym Trainers are providing the perfect opportunity for Crispy to level up a bit; well I should add “for the most part,” since they keep throwing the various status powders around all crazy-like. Stun Spore here, Sleep Powder there; oops, looks like another Poison Powder made me use my last Antidote on hand so I’ll have to grab more. It’s a bit tedious yet still giving ample EXP. Now onto the Leader, Erica. She starts out with a Tangela which is met by Crispy—ready to start burning the whole gym down by this point—and all goes as expected. Her Pokémon goes for a Bind and halts my movement but not the momentum! The Bind breaks and Crispy fires off (ha) an Ember attack to finish the pile of vines, that is Tangela. Next up is her Weepinbell and I keep Crispy out for this. He’s 6 levels under but should be able to do some good damage before switching out. …okay that Wrap wasn’t fun but Crispy deals a nasty critical Ember that manages to inflict a Burn! With that in mind, let’s use the only Potion for the battle and heal up Crispy. A little Wrap won’t hold us forever! Especially when I just need to wait out the Burn damage to end the Weepinbell. Now we’re onto the final Pokémon, Erica’s Gloom. This thing may be problematic due to its stronger attacks in Petal Dance and Acid. I’ll try to get another Burn on it and make this a battle of attrition again. The Ember hits but no such luck with a Burn. And the Acid makes things more dangerous by lowering Defense. Eh, I’ll be fine.

No, not fine! Erika finally goes for a Sleep Powder and I’m not chancing Crispy on those kind of odds, so I’m switching to Mike to finish this thing. Confusion isn’t doing as much as I need it to but I can make it! Or maybe I get hit with a few Acids, have defense drop twice, be put to sleep, then have the Gloom start up a round of Petal Dances. Now Petal Dance is one of the moves that gets set and only ends when either the Pokémon faints or gets confused from fatigue. I don’t think Mike will survive another hit so I almost start to panic wondering who could switch into a nasty Grass-type move and not only survive but be able to finish the fight as well. Then I see Belle, who would be mostly unaffected by Grass moves due to her Grass/Poison typing. And with a move like Wrap, I can put the squeeze on Gloom and end this battle. Finally.

With the Rainbow badge in hand, it’s time to take down the Rockets and their base under the Game Corner. I heal up and press the “secret” button to enter the Lair of Team Rocket. And dang, these guys are a breeze compared to the gym trainers! I forgot how much of a difficulty drop they are. Then again it makes sense in the context that they are supposed to be all around horrible trainers in-universe.

On the other hand, I’m doing well enough with my team that PlowBoy decided this was the time to show these rubes how to be a big battler and evolve into a Dugtrio! Go forth PlowBoy! Show this pitiful Grimer your awesome-oof! Oh, that wasn’t even fair. PlowBoy, buddy, a critical, super-effective Dig attack is almost overkill. Almost. Keep it up for the most part, dude. Oh! And another crit Dig on the Koffing! So much destruction! The Poké-manity! …cool.

Let’s see, we’ve got the Lift Key for the elevator now and we’re just cleaning up some resistance from the Grunts before taking on Giovanni, Team Rocket’s leader. And of course, before we can get to Giovanni, we have Jessie&James to beat up again. Nothing hard, though Meowth’s PayDay attack was a little annoying (and yet rewarding). Giovanni should be a piece of cake as well. At least his Onix and Rhyhorn will be. I’ll send Belle out to take care of those Rock/Ground Types. My worry, as it pops out of its ball, is Persian. Persian has a high speed and thus a deadly critical hit chance. I’m sending in the big guns, aka Lily, to Double Kick it into the dirt. And as expected, the crits are painful. Lily can take it I’m sure but that last PayDay put us into the warning zone of health. Not quite red but I don’t even like orange when it comes to a nuzlocke. I’m taking all precautions here not to lose any other Pokémon!

Giovanni leaves in defeat and conveniently drops the Silph Scope for us to pick up. Now we can head back to spooky town and head on up Pokémon Tower and its many ghostly inhabitants. Speaking of which, here’s my rival again!

Okay dude, you really need to give it up already! I’ve kicked your butt, what, 4 times already? Stop it. Get some help.

And again he leads with the bird, this time an evolved Fearow. No matter, Zippy’s got this in Spades. Zippy zapped and Fearow fried. Next is Shelder. A Vine Whip from Belle takes that down in a single hit. He sends out his Vulpix hoping to cook my Weepinbell but no such luck for him; I’ve got my Dugtrio on standby. No little fire fox, you may not act scary and Roar—Gen 1 doesn’t allow that. Belle take out the Sandshrew and Lilly uses the Eevee for punting practice. So, no dude, I really don’t think that you had to “go easy” on me. Feh.

Continuing onward and upward, we now enter the realm of spirits and spooky things. At least that’s what Zippy seems to think. I, however, have a Silph Scope and two Pokémon that can easily handle the Ghost/Poison Ghastly and Haunter here. Although I can’t seem to get any to app-

Pokémon Tower Encounter—Haunter/Freddy

Lv. 20

Hp: 50

Attack: 28

Defense: 25

Speed: 45

Special: 56

If only I had the two things I needed to make you useful, my macabre friend—someone to trade with to evolve you and a way to make your Ghost-type be reprogrammed to work like it was intended in this game. Alas, no such luck and Freddy is stuck haunting Box 2 in the PC.

I’m getting tired and it’s getting late, so I’m closing out for the day. Love y’all, and stay safe!-Emily

[crepearchives]

Crepe Archives Master Post: The Tutorial Process of “Cookie Run: OvenBreak”

Should this tutorial process change due to a massive update and change in progression and/or economy, notify me ASAP. This tutorial line might also incite a marching order for my upcoming posts, but this is not final.

⚙️ Welcome to my findings for the tutorial of Cookie Run: OvenBreak! There might be a number of reasons why you want to see the tutorial (probably again). Maybe you want to get your friends or yourself to play the game despite Devsisters’ shortcomings. Or maybe you want to see what the tutorial’s like as of late. Anyways, Meringue started an alt for a Coffee Cookie invite event and went through the tutorial. What you’re seeing here is the scripted order in which you learn how to play the game from scratch since the “Project Cookie Runway” update in March 2023.

Learn the Controls as you help GingerBrave Escape the Oven

Enter Player Name in the Lobby

Meet GingerBrave & Choco Drop

Learn About Cookie Trials

GingerBrave’s Trial (lv 1 Cookie/Pet) +2 Trial Star Candies

Meet Hero Cookie & Jellyco Cube (requires 2 Trial Star Candies to unlock)

Learn about the Treasure Gacha (1 normal -> Divine Guardian Shield obtained in my run, possibly random Epic)

Receive Rainbow Headphones & Candy Dynamite as a gift from Hero Cookie

Hero Cookie’s Trial (lv 1 Cookie/Pet/Treasures) +2 Trial Star Candies

Meet Lemon Cookie & Electro Lemon (requires 4 Trial Star Candies to unlock)

Lemon Cookie’s Trial (lv 1 Cookie/Pet/Treasures) +1 Trial Star Candy (Intentionally scripted to not be capable of unlocking Moonlight Cookie due to Lemon Cookie’s level, Electro Lemon’s level, and not getting enough Trial Star Candies with your achieved rank)

Learn How to Upgrade Cookies & Pets -> Upgrade Lemon Cookie to level 4 (you will have 1,500 starting Crystals)

Learn About Magic Candies -> Make Lemon Cookie’s Magic Candy at level 1 with starting pre-provided ingredients

Upgrade Electro Lemon to level 3

Re-Attempt Lemon Cookie’s Trial (lv 4/1 Cookie, lv 3 Pet, lv 1 Treasures) +1 more Trial Star Candy from trial if you reach a higher rank

Meet Moonlight Cookie & Dreamcatcher (requires 6 Trial Star Candies to unlock)

Moonlight Cookie’s Trial (lv 1 Cookie/Pet/Treasures) +1 Trial Star Candy (You can now meet Cheesecake Cookie & Fluffy Cheese Cat @ 7 Trial Star Candies, but this is not scripted in since Cheesecake Cookie does not have a trial. She will, however, be useful in the early game for farming Coins)

Prompt to upgrade Moonlight Cookie to level 2 with rewards from her Trial run (Materials gained from Moonlight Cookie’s Trial at a Gold/Emerald rank can also upgrade Dreamcatcher to level 2 and make Moonlight Cookie’s level 1 Magic Candy)

[Tutorial Officially Ends Here]

You’ll reach Escape Level 2 with most of your Escape Points having been collected from the scripted upgrades during the tutorial (6,000 escape points for level 2, 12,170 total points will advance you to level 3) (Receive 10 Cookie Potions, Mint Bean Basic Jelly Shape, +50 points for basic jellies boost for level 2)

Game Modes to Unlock

Rewards Tab (Reach Escape Level 2)

Technical License (Reach Escape Level 10)

Trophy Race (Unlock 6 Cookie Trials)

Main Story (Unlock 7 Cookie Trials)

Raid Run (Unlock 7 Cookie Trials)

Island of Memories (Unlock 7 Cookie Trials)

Champion’s League (Unlock 10 Cookie Trials)

Breakout (Main Episode Unlocked From Beginning) -> You’ll want to have unlocked 20 Cookies/Pets and 60 Treasures for this to get a good rank in the Main Episode, especially as a new player. If you have less than 20 Cookies or Pets, you can’t finish a full run and might have to settle for a smaller run and lower rank.

Special Episode (Reach Ruby V in Breakout Main Episode)

Random Breakout Challenge (Reach Ruby V in Breakout Main Episode)

Title/Main Events (Open From Beginning)

Special/Secondary Events (Open From Beginning)

Events Tab (Open From Beginning)

Guild Run (Join a Guild!) -> Guild creation and the option to join a guild are both open immediately after the tutorial, but new players might be deemed a liability in Guild Runs due to their lower levels and inaccessibility to certain Cookies.

[selvagroup]

Why Obtaining Electricity Fit-Out Connections from DEWA is Vital for Your Business?

Do you intend to establish a new company in Dubai or grow an existing one? If so, your main priority should be obtaining DEWA electricity fit-out connections. Having a dependable and effective electrical connection may make all the difference in today's environment when an uninterrupted power supply is essential for operating any business efficiently. Let's examine the importance of obtaining power fit-out connections from DEWA for your company and how doing so may help you in the long term.

Obtaining DEWA's electricity fit-out connections

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) must provide power fit-out connections if you intend to open a new company in Dubai. The business DEWA, which is controlled by the government, oversees the offering of water and electrical services in Dubai.

Low voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV) power services are both available in Dubai. While HV connections are for big commercial and in clients; clients, LV connections are for residential and small business users.

To assist companies in connecting to the main power supply, DEWA provides several services. This includes offering technical assistance during the installation process and assisting businesses with obtaining the required permissions and licenses.

DEWA also provides a variety of continuous support services, such as energy efficiency guidance, to assist companies in lowering their energy usage and bill payments.

Benefits

There are several advantages to connecting your company to DEWA because it is the top supplier of electrical fit-out connections in Dubai. Here are a few of the main advantages:

1. DEWA has a solid reputation for providing high-quality service and is a dependable and trustworthy source of power.

2. DEWA's extensive network of electrical connection points makes it simple to connect your company to the grid across Dubai.

3. DEWA is a cheap alternative for businesses since it offers competitive pricing for electrical fit-out connections.

4. DEWA provides a variety of value-added services, such as support with government incentive applications and advice on energy saving.

5. DEWA is dedicated to preserving the environment and provides green energy choices for companies who wish to lessen their carbon footprint.

DEWA Fit-Out Connection Types

Depending on the requirements of your company and its size, you may select between three different DEWA fit-out connections:

Low Voltage Connection (LV)

Small enterprises that use little power should use this. 90 kilowatts (kW) is the maximum demand for this kind of connection.

Medium Voltage (MV) Connection:

This is perfect for companies that use a lot of power. One thousand kW is the maximum demand for this connection type.

High Voltage (HV) Connection:

This is ideal for big companies with a lot of power use. The highest possible demand for this connection type is 5,000 kW.

You will need to choose which kind of DEWA fit-out connection is most appropriate for your needs based on the size of your business.

Process

The only source of energy and water in the Emirate of Dubai is the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Customers of DEWA can choose from a variety of services, including connections for new enterprises' fit-outs.

The following steps must be followed in order to receive electrical fit-out connections from DEWA:

1. Customers must first submit the form to DEWA along with the necessary paperwork.

2. DEWA will give the client a quote for the connection fees when the application has been examined and accepted.

3. Following the customer's payment of the connection costs to DEWA, work on the connection will start.

4. DEWA will give the consumer an occupancy certificate when the connection is complete.

Required Documents

You must apply for an electricity fit-out connection with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) if you want to start a new company in Dubai. Since DEWA oversees providing energy to every business in Dubai, this is a crucial step in getting your enterprise up and operating.

You must provide the following paperwork to apply for a fit-out connection:

Form of Application:

This is available for download from the DEWA website.

Intent letter:

This should include a statement about your desire to make an application for a fit-out connection and be submitted with your application form.

Plot Assignment Letter:

This document, which you should get from the Dubai Land Department, should attest to the fact that you have been given a parcel of land on which to construct your company.

Building Permit:

This document, which you should receive from the Dubai Municipality, will attest to the approval of your building designs.

Authority Letter:

This letter, which you should get from your free zone authority or sponsor, will attest to their approval of your application to open a company in Dubai.

Bank Statement:

This document, which you should receive from your bank, will demonstrate that you have the money necessary to start a new company in Dubai.

Photographs of the Site:

For DEWA to evaluate your needs for a fit-out connection, you need to provide them with at least 5 photographs of the site.

With this information, we want to assist you in contacting DEWA to request a fit-out connection. Please contact us if you require any more help.

How Can Cost Savings Be Maximized?

Getting power fit-out connections from DEWA has various advantages, including cost savings. Using DEWA's power fit-out connections can help you save money in the following ways:

1. Begin by carefully planning your project and submitting your connection request at least 60 days before you require power. This will prevent any last-minute rush fees and ensure a quick and easy transaction.

2. If you are doing a significant remodeling or construction project, think about requesting a temporary suspension of service rather than scheduling the work during peak hours. Both the connection cost and the power usage charge may be reduced as a result.

3. To ensure that DEWA can provide you with an accurate price, be sure to include all necessary information and documentation when completing your application. This will help prevent any unforeseen fees in the future.

4. After you have your price, thoroughly check it to make sure all the expenses are disclosed and there are no unforeseen charges. Please feel free to ask DEWA customer care for more details if you have any.

5. Pay special attention to the deadline for finishing the assignment. Electricians frequently try to charge consumers more by extending the deadline without a good reason. If you think the deadline is arbitrary, haggle with the electrician or, if required, ask DEWA for an extension.

You may maximize cost savings through DEWA's power fit-out connections by using these suggestions.

Different Options for Payment

For electrical fit-out connections, DEWA provides a variety of payment alternatives. These include credit/debit cards, e-Dirham cards, and post-dated checks.

Both one-time and recurring payments can be made with post-date checks. You can make one-time payments or regular payments using e-Dirham cards. You can make one-time payments or regular payments using credit/debit cards.

DEWA guidelines and norms

Because DEWA policies and regulations control how structures are linked to the power grid, they are crucial for enterprises operating in Dubai. All industrial and commercial structures are required to be wired into the DEWA electrical grid, and these connections are subject to stringent guidelines.

Disconnection from the energy grid is one of the serious penalties for breaking DEWA's laws and regulations. Before beginning any maintenance on the electrical system of your building, it is crucial to ensure that you understand the DEWA laws and regulations because this can seriously disrupt companies.

Before starting any work on the electrical system of your building, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with DEWA's laws and regulations, since they are intended to safeguard both consumers and companies. You can stay connected to the electrical grid and prevent any issues by being aware of the DEWA laws and regulations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DEWA becomes the ideal fit-out partner for companies in Dubai. In addition to offering quick connections that will save you time and money, it also delivers a secure, dependable, and environmentally friendly electrical source for your company. In addition, its helpful customer support staff is always available to assist with any questions or problems you might have with your connection. Make sure to make a sensible option when investing in a fit-out connection from DEWA because it might be one of the most important ones when launching a business.

[ravetaper]

CAPOZZI Live Set December 2022 Downtown LA

This is a 68-minute audio recording of Capozzi live set 12-3-2022 in Downtown LA. The event took place at 1720 E. 16th Street in Los Angeles. The set started at 11:15 pm.

Rave Tapes · CAPOZZI Live Set December 2022 Downtown LA

YES!! I got it! I got a recording of Jordan Capozzi playing an intimate warehouse in my hometown of Los Angeles! 1720 is a smallish concert venue situated on a dark, grimy corner in LA's warehouse district. It was what I imagined to be an ideal venue to see Capozzi. The atmosphere outside was ominous but thrilling, just like Capozi's music.

I wasn't sure how the recording would come out. My recent recordings from Exchange LA – one of the city's premier EDM venues – sound rough. The acoustics in that room are boom-y, and the sound system is hit or miss. Sometimes it's tuned nicely, sometimes it sounds off. Same with the Hollywood Palladium. Bigger names play that spot, but the sound system always seems underpowered. Recordings from those two venues are often barely passable.

The sound at 1720, on the other hand, was good! Loud but clean with plenty of low end. It's not a massive venue, so getting to the sweet spot between the hanging speakers wasn't a problem. The result is a recording that's too good not to share.

The crowd was lively af. Recurring screams, hoots, and whoop-whoop disco calls expressed the crowd's overflowing excitement.

The show itself was blissful. It proved that Capozzi's set at EDC LV 2022 was not a fluke. This girl has serious talent. While her mixing skills are solid (more on this later), she really shines in selecting tracks.

There are several factors that define a good dj. The main criteria include technical skill, mastery of the gear, knowledge of the music, and ability to read a crowd. In reality, those elements aren't too hard to learn. Modern dj gear can automatically match beats. Countless YouTube videos teach novices how to transition from one track to another. But the one skill that can't be taught – is selection, knowing which tracks to play, in which order.

The bass house field is crowded with players. Some have been around for years and have significant followings. I've listened to quite a few. Many are good, very good. Capozzi belongs in the top echelon of bass house deejays. I say this because Capozzi's track selections are extraordinary.

The main criterion for my fandom is whether a dj's selections move me. Do the songs evoke some kind of emotional response, or not? Is there something in the track that is sonically interesting? It could be a compelling melody, a creative use of effects, a hypnotic pattern of chords, inspired lyrics and vocals, etc.

I have an easy litmus test. If I find myself saying numerous times during a set "holy crap I can't believe what I am hearing; this is one of the coolest things I have ever heard!" then I know it's a good set and I like the dj. Pretty simple. However, lots of sets by big dj's are mixed – they have good parts as well as parts that drag on a bit, or just don't feel inspired. They don't move me.

For some reason, Capozzi's selections push all my buttons. Yes, the tracks have that medium tempo and shuffle groove I love. But more importantly, there's soul in the selections. There's heart, there's funk, there's something unique that makes each track memorable. There are also no "filler" tracks in Capozzi sets. Each track she plays brings something juicy to the table.

And I should note here that this music is straight up bass house – the sub-genre to which I've recently become addicted.

For me, bass house represents a perfect culmination of EDM's best musical elements. It has a moderate tempo, clocking in around 126 beats per minute. Not too fast, not too slow. The rhythms are often syncopated with "swing" or "shuffle" patterns – giving them an upbeat and danceable groove. The synth-heavy instrumentation is reminiscent of techno. Rarely will congas, pianos, or rhythm guitars be heard – the sounds of traditional house music. Bass house composition is minimalist yet compelling. Naturally, rumbling sub-bass is ever-present. Good bass house tracks can be incredibly intoxicating.

Good bass house tracks. That's the key. Not all dj's are as skilled at picking good bass house tracks. And that's exactly where Capozzi excels.

Capozzi plays a track with the lyric: "rate...my...selection!"

Sure. I'll rate your selection. This one was 10/10, again!

Purists will appreciate how Capozzi matches beats manually, by ear, the old-fashioned way. I know this because I can hear it in the mixes.

Personally, I am ambivalent about sync. I see nothing wrong with using technology to make the dj's job easier. But some old-timers insist beat matching must be done manually to be considered a "real dj".

Right or wrong, those traditionalists would be satisfied with Capozzi's methods. Not every mix is perfect, but to old school heads, that's perfectly ok. The issue isn't getting out of sync. That happens to everyone who beat-matches manually. The issue is how a dj handles it, how the dj gets back into sync. Capozzi mixes like a long-time veteran – she manipulates the tempo faders and nudges the jog wheels to align the beats, or accelerates the transition into the new track. Standard dj procedure, really. No big deal. However, I chuckle to myself because I'm amused (and amazed) that Capozzi chooses to mix the traditional way. It's a sign of chutzpah and tenacity. I love it.

But damn, this set was so fun, so satisfying. I had perma-grin from start to finish. Several times I pinched myself as I realized how amazing it felt to be at a Capozzi show, live and in person.

I haven't felt this much enthusiasm for an artist for a long time. It reminds me of the fanaticism of Grateful Dead followers, some of the most diehard fans. Like them, I hung on to every note, curious to know which song was coming next. Certain songs have become recognizable, signature tracks. Like a committed Deadhead, I cheered when I heard familiar tracks fading in:

All Eyes on Me by Capozzi

Selection by No Signe

Kick a Hole in the Speaker by Capozzi

I'm glad I made the effort to get this one. I already know I will savor this recording for a long time. I must have listened to the Capozzi EDC 2022 set 50 times. I've been craving new material. This provides the fix I needed.

I'm stressing about when the next show will be. Countdown NYE wasn't in my plans. The venue is far out of the way, it's in a sketchy neighborhood, it gets packed, and lots of other reasons. I also usually spend new years eve with family. But. Capozzi. Is. Playing. Uggh! Still not sure what I'm going to do for that one.

Well, at least I have something to keep me satiated for a moment. I'm sure I will play the crap out of this set, blasting it at home and in the car. I just hope it doesn't take me 6 months to make it to another Capozzi set.

Buy Capozzi music on Beatport!

Follow Capozzi on Instagram!

Follow Capozzi on Spotify!

Here are some not-great images from the show:

Official Insomniac flyer:

[metellastella]

In Honor of Deltarune Chapter 2, Lemme tell you about exactly HOW world-breaking Chara really was, and IS.

Here's the thing about Chara. It is implied that they are THE PLAYER's insatiable thirst for new video game worlds (or, they have latched onto it). As in, they accompany the player to the next world they go to.

Direct quote:

"HP. ATK. DEF. GOLD. EXP. LV. Every time a number increases, that feeling . . . That's me. Chara. Now, we have reached the absolute. There is nothing left for us here. Let us erase this pointless world, and move on to the next." i.e.: Let US move on to the next.

Every time THE PLAYER conquers and sets aside a new game . . . they have effectively DESTROYED it. Because they do not "exist" unless they are played and interacted with. Also, they only exist up until the end of the game anyway (most of the time)

And- I say usually- no matter how many times THE PLAYER plays a game- they will eventually tire of it. Also, if they play 500 games in their lifetime . . . it is unlikely they will re-play that many consistently. Plus, add on random internet "mini" games.

Now, that's only considering ONE player.

But since Chara is a multi-dimensional being, because they are aware of other worlds . . . it's not much of a stretch to say that the millions of people who are carrying around Chara "with" them count . . . as Chara.

Bill Cipher, from Gravity Falls, to my knowledge, despite his reality-warping godly demon powers, makes no such 4th wall shattering and domineering claim.

Let's assume for sanity's sake, that this current dimension you're sitting in and reading this screen on is the primary reality. There ARE no dimensions higher than this. All others are contained within human imagination. Bill Cipher was Created by a Creator.

All the 'lower' dimensions we can muck around in as basically gods. (gods or demigods either incarnate as weaklings, or come about some other way, in many mythologies, but then grow steadily stronger to realize their godhood. Ya know, Hercules. Krishna. In Hinduism. That sort of thing.) We can travel between dimensions on a whim by flipping a switch. With enough Determination, we can ALWAYS reach the end. Now, sometimes collaboration does expand these universes a little bit- through comics and fanfiction. But even these created 'higher spheres' nearer to this primary dimension, author 'omniscience' is taken as a given. Actually there is some debate about that, given the real-world phenomenon of novel writers in some cases having no clue where characters are taking them . . . they just sit down to write with a kernel of an idea. That's how I operate, for instance. In that case, they somehow have had their 'future sight' that should be default as a god, blocked. People who outline plots and know where they're going with a story beforehand, and then create characters to fill in the gaps, they're the type of 'gods' that could tell their characters future events, if they wanted to. Anyway. Back to video games specifically, and their fandoms. There is only so much CONTENT and it can always be recorded and shared. So there is still a limting factor.  Here's the weird thing about Undertale. You are there as a 'god.' Just as usual. That's nothing special. You're just there to muck around. But. The whole toe-curling horror aspect UT was demonstrating, for specific characters NPCs who realize this sobering fact . . . such as Asgore and Sans, they are driven to despair, mental instability, and in two cases, suicide, by the fact.

If Homestuck is considered a "game" that is destroyed once you reach the end? It is rolled into all of this as well.  Homestuck is a game. What evidence to I have of this, since it's a 'written story'? It has many playable elements and 90% of its lore and plot is based on deconstructing game conventions and sticking them back together in weird angled positions with crazy glue.  Therefore. If the player reads Homestuck after playing Undertale, (i.e., someone who is newer to internet culture, and entered it after Undertale came out, which was far after Homestuck) Chara has CANONICALLY destroyed the Homestuck Universe.  (or, if you re-read Homestuck after playing Undertale)

YOU. The PLAYER make or break all fictional characters. They live and die by your interest in them, or, for games, your direction, and no other character has explicitly taken YOUR control over the game, as Chara has. In Homestuck, it never gives you something to "do" and then takes the decision away from you, as Undertale does.

Chara, except for someone who has 100% control of that little dopamine rush that comes with leveling up (read: no one), is out there, gleefully wringing out, growing bored of, and then destroying hundreds of thousands of worlds. Chara is the first of zeir kind.  And possibly the last.  Or at least, anything that comes afterwards will be but a pale imitation.  Toby Fox is truly LEGENDARY, in this way.  I'm not sure even he fully understand what he's done here.  Let me try to explain this.  Our education system is currenlty ripping itself to pieces over back-breaking student loans and the realization that we don't actually need all these professors because of the easy availability of information on the internet (Demonstrated, in a roundabout way, in one or two deft lines of dialog in the movie A Beauriful Mind). Now, let's say colleges and universities do survive this shift in society, going foward. It's probable that at the very least technical colleges and vocational schools will. Any others, including high schools, will be replaced by students shrugging and just taking a G.E.D. certification, because why should they spend time at a high school if they hate it, or if they want to learn at their own individualized pace? No reason to do that at all. If the stuffy old guard of the outdated higher education system ever starts treating stories told by video games as literature, as they ABSOLUTELY SHOULD, because they're merely a different medium, not some weird separate thing . . . Toby Fox, having overturned the "trope" of the RPG "genre", wrecking and dismantling it so thouroughly that it has unsettled millions of people who ever again play an RPG where they slaughter any monsters for 'points.'  He should be immortalized. Just like any other author in history who has churned out a landmark piece of literature.  It's merely his fair due.  Perfectly logical, right?  He is the Ubermench game-changer. Literally.  I hope Sans appreciates the pun. Chara is the vehicle through which this overturning of the trope happens. Chara stares directly at the player, deconstructs a longstanding staple in the 'literary genre,' and gives a body and voice to the psychologically addictive quality of video games.

One estimate says there are more than 60,000 video games in existence. And millions of copies of each one.

Chara, as we've established canonically, has access to ALL that are played after a runthrough of Undertale. (or at the very least, genocide Undertale) In Hinduism, it is Shiva that is the god of destruction.  To quote Oppenheimer,  Chara has become Death, Destroyer of Worlds.  Checkmate.

Q. E. D.

Endgame.

[timextoxhajima]

Love Me A Little Less: Chapter 10 - Pudding & Champagne

LOVE ME A LITTLE LESS CHAPTER MASTERLIST

Member: (3rd person pov) arranged marriage au with Lee Juyeon

Genre: angsty wangsty

Taglist: @hyunjaethereal @sunwoowuvbot​ @suzy-rainbow @miingxuxi​​​​

“What would it have been like, had she been the one in Kim Jang Won’s shoes instead?”

“What was that about?” Jang Won’s look of disapproval is the strongest on her face now than he has ever seen on her. “The Hell’s wrong with you? Have you not been to a check-up before? Were you mad you couldn’t go in with me? What?”

“We... can get you to another hospital for your check-ups, how’s that? I can recommend you my family doctor and he’s one of the best in the city-”

“What? Is that what it is? You’re upset because I’m not seeing ‘one of the best doctors’ in the city?”

Juyeon refuses to respond, her wrist in his grip as she’s trying to wriggle her way out. “Juyeon!”

“Please, just shut up, and trust me, will you?”

“Trust you? You don’t even want to tell me what the Hell’s going on!” 

Upon reaching the car, Juyeon finally releases her, leaving a bright peach-pink mark on her wrists where he held her too tightly. He pulls open the passenger’s door, but she violently slams it back shut, palm reaching out and pressing into the line where the top of the door connects to the roof of the car.

“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what that was.”

“Jesus Christ, will you just trust me for this once? This has nothing to do with HERA & ARTEMIS or your family! This is for your own health and I... I have my own reasons, okay?” Juyeon huffs, running his hands through his hair and ruining the efforts of Younghoon’s hairstylist from the morning. “Not everything is about money, or your reputation, or The Board, okay? I just have a bad feeling about... this.”

Jang Won reels backwards, frown deepening and her lips pursed into a tight, thin, suspicious line. 

He inhales a sharp breath, turning around on his feet and paces up and down in the next lot. He sucks in his lips between his teeth with his hands on the back of his neck. Silently; harshly, begging his intelligence to cook up some stupid, believable reason before she drives a knife into his back for being unreasonable. 

“Okay,” Whirling around, he lifts a single finger and approaches her slowly. “So don’t change hospitals. But every time you go for your check-up, you tell me. If she prescribes you medication, I see it, okay?”

Her pupils are shaking, now that he’s closer and he’s got his palms on her shoulders. Her lips part, wishing to hurl a string of vulgarities at him for even thinking he can dictate her life.

But then he opens his arms and wraps them around her, her frown fading and shock replacing her anger instead. His breath is heavy into the hair that fell onto her back, and she can feel his chest rising against her shoulders.

“What the- Juyeon...”

“Please, just promise me this one thing,” The layer of wetness coat his eyes, and he keeps his mouth open to regulate his breathing. “Please.”

There’s a growing, uneasy nausea in her stomach when she struggles to process his words. It’s in her instincts to pull away, probably send a palm into one of his cheeks for thinking that he has the autonomy and power to decide what she gets to do and what she doesn’t, but she can’t. Almost ashamed, she finds herself buying his plea. 

Is this what genuine care and concern sounds like?

He pulls away, the heat of the carpark air rushing between their bodies. He’s searching her face for any sign of relent, any sign of resignation, and she finds desperation in his. The questions in her head can’t even begin to formulate, because there’s absolutely no reason for Juyeon to be so bothered by her health, and yet he’s got no agenda to be suspicious about. 

He’d be the richer, more powerful one of the two in just about a month’s time.

“Jang Won.”

“Okay!” Shutting her eyes and raising her hands, she trembles as she agrees. “Okay. I’ll bring you along whenever I come for a check-up.”

Relief washes over him, and she can see his lungs deflate, like he was holding his breath waiting for her response. She looks away, unable to maintain any form of eye contact with him after experiencing what seems to be like cared for. It’s disgustingly alien, and it kind of wants to make her cry too. 

It’s like finding your favourite toy stashed away in some obscure cabinet after 20 years. 

Juyeon rests his palms on her shoulders again, then gradually pulls her in once more, this time gentler; less aggressive. A protest rises in her throat, but is interrupted by the form of his palm stroking the hair on the back of her head. 

Yoo Hye In is twirling the stray bit of fringe hanging from her face, Jang Won’s folder in her left hand, stuck between her torso and her right elbow. It was a pity she had missed most of the conversation between her patient and her husband, but nonetheless, the sight of them intrigues her. 

What would it have been like, had she been the one in Kim Jang Won’s shoes instead?

The Porsche starts up with a melancholic atmosphere - not a single word exchanged between the two when they part and he opens the door for her. Already, she can tell that Juyeon is harboring a parasite, one that he will grow to hate and despise. His heart is opening up to her, a piece of stone-cold, less-than-human brat who has no clue how lucky she was to be born into the family that shouldn’t even have existed. The warmth for Kim Jang Won was beginning to brew in the depths of Juyeon’s gut, against his wishes, against his needs, against his wants.

He must have a world of problems to worry about, and now, to throw Kim Jang Won into the floor plan?

Yoo Hye In fails to contain the slight smirk that arises on her lips when the car drives off with Juyeon at the wheel. Pushing herself off the wall of the lift lobby, she turns, heading back into the lift. 

Younghoon was busy sieving through the racks and racks and racks of clothes in the second master bedroom when he hears his little sister’s heels clack and echo along the corridor. 

“Ms Kim, your brother is here.”

“Huh?”

“Surprise!” Younghoon sticks his head out of the second master, eyeing the couple entering the hallway and the butler chasing after them from the stairs. 

“What are you doing with my honeymoon closet?” She hurriedly steps over, heels clacking noisily as she rushes to greet him with a slap on his arm. 

“Tea will be ready in 15, Mr Lee,” Mr Ro bows from the stairs, not bothering to make it to the second floor. Juyeon nods, turning to listen to the muffled bickering emitting from the second master.

“This is alot of clothes for a cool climate. It’s not gonna snow, is it?” Younghoon dumps himself in one of the sofa seats by the coffee table, bringing his feet up to the edge of the bed where some leather patches were displaying scarfs and other garments. Jang Won reaches over and slaps his feet off, pressing down into the scarfs to neaten them. 

“No, it’s not. But you know me, I’m extra and greedy and I have no clue what’s appropriate, so.”

Juyeon enters the room, eyes glossing over the almost 20 racks of clothes, and easily half of them were clothes for him, from HERA & ARTEMIS (and probably like, Dior, and Chanel, or LV, or Gucci, or HERMES). He bows and greets Younghoon, who waves it off nonchalantly as he stands.

“I heard you stayed over,” Raising an arm and casually resting it over Juyeon’s shoulders, Younghoon cheekily side-eyes him. 

“It was an impromptu situation,” Juyeon’s eyes slightly widen with caution.

“Yeah, he ran away from home. Lovely, right?” Jang Won chortles, moving over to one of the racks and skimming through the dresses. 

Younghoon chuckles in disbelief, brows high up on his forehead as he turns to Juyeon, holding him by his shoulder. 

“What?” His glossy eyes flicker. “I’m technically her husband now, which means I could technically live here too.”

“You wish,” Jang Won removes some clothes from the rack and into an empty one.

“Anyway, I managed to get a PI to dig out more information on Mr Nam’s body swap.”

“Body swap?” Juyeon’s eyes light up with caution disguised in curiosity. “You mean... the one that replaced your father?”

“The one and only,” Jang Won sings with a matter-of-fact tone. 

“They actually didn’t figure out much, which is weird, but we did get information on where he used to go for health check ups. Turns out, he went to the same hospital as you do.”

“Aren’t the hospital fees expensive? Did Artemis Ent. provide coverage costs?”

“We don’t cover the entire bill but there is a discount or some kind of partial coverage.”

“Did we get a doctor’s name or something?”

“Multiple, actually,” Younghoon scratches the line where his hairline meets his forehead. “He kept changing doctors because his diagnosis kept changing.”

“This is alot of information at once. Can’t you get it in a folder and have it mailed to me or something? My honeymoon is soon and I’d like the time to myself and not worry about a dead man.”

“Sure, it’s not like I was gonna recite every piece of information to you now,” Younghoon turns and heads for the door. “Tea’s ready, by the way.”

And then, for some strange reason, Younghoon runs.

“Oh! No!” Jang Won’s sudden change in mannerism stuns Juyeon. She flings the clothes back onto her bed and dashes after Younghoon right after he leaves the room. “No! You’re gonna finish the pudding on your own!”

The footsteps slam down into the marble floor when Younghoon starts running down the steps as well. She yells, and her heels click-clack to an abrupt stop for her to remove her shoes. 

“You’re going on your honeymoon, you should give me the pudding!”

With one sharp burst of a sprint, Jang Won manages to catch up to Younghoon, pulling his neck into a headlock and struggling to yank the end of his blazer over his head. 

“Agh!” He shouts, almost losing his balance as he stumbles backwards. “That’s cheating!”

Jang Won giggles, the marble cold against her feet as she pushes past him and runs backwards into the dining hall. Panting, she turns on her heels, hair slightly tousled but the scent of butter pudding wafting in the air was enough to make an appetite.

However, her appetite hits the streets once she sees that the table was one seat occupied. Her breaths immediately become shallow as Younghoon pats himself down, reaching the table and sitting down even before she does. 

“What-”

“Ms Kim,” Mr Ro interrupts, pushing the kitchen door open for the kitchen staff to bring out one more tray of cream puffs. “A guest must also eat.”

“But-”

“Do you want him to die in your house? And then compromise... everything?”

Jang Won puffs her cheeks and frowns. Glaring at Mr Ro, she pulls out the nearest seat, far, far away from her father, and dumps her butt in the chair. 

Watching Jang Won sit down in her seat like a child after acting like one with her brother draws a susceptible smile on Juyeon’s face as he makes his way into the dining hall. 

She picks up the fork as Juyeon bows subtly to Kim Jo-Pil, taking a seat next to her. 

“‘A guest must also eat’,” She whines under her breath. Juyeon’s gaze darts to her when he can hear her mockery. “‘Do you want him to die in your house?’”

“You know I can hear you, right?” Younghoon calls from across the table, hands occupied with spreading jam across his toast. 

“Does it look like I was talking to you?” Jang Won sticks her tongue out at him, and he does the same.

“Children,” Juyeon criticises under his breath, smirk prancing on his lips. In his peripheral vision, he spots a smile emerging on Kim Jo-Pil’s face. It’s the kind of smile that only a father would have, when he’s at the dining table watching his two children argue with one another.

Kim Jo-Pil can’t decide if he was grateful or resentful for the fact that he was alive again. Fate has a strange way of forcing people into thinking the worst or the best out of situations that you weren’t meant to be in, and right now, Kim Jo-Pil knows for a fact that he shouldn’t be sitting here. 

He should’ve been lying in a coffin, 6 feet under, rotting. He had been given a second shot at life, and by the last person he’d expected to birth him one. 

But if Yoo Hye In had Se Kyung’s eyes, Jang Won had the rest of her. 

On the balcony outside Jang Won’s massive bedroom, Juyeon finds himself fiddling with a glass of champagne that Mr Ro had offered him in secret. Jang Won’s favourite champagne, tens of thousands of dollars per bottle.

In the distance and past the metal bars, he can make out the lights in the city against the navy-blue nightsky. All the tall skyscrapers and amongst one of them was the building his family owned, where he should’ve been today and all the days prior. Maybe even next week. But he’d be halfway across the globe in about 5 days, spending time with his wife, not by choice, but by force - and yet he’s gone all soft for her. It’s strange, how his expectations have changed drastically throughout this ordeal. For some moments in this silence he has to himself, he worries if this is sympathy he feels for her.

Then again, sympathy is better than if it were anything more serious. 

Like love.

The door being pulled open from behind him drags him out of his drowning thoughts. The secrets piled up in his memory chucks itself away in fear upon the sight of Jang Won’s head sticking out through the gap between the doors.

“I’ve been told a bottle of my favourite champagne has been opened.”

Juyeon turns back to the glass sitting on the floor and picks it up. “I was given this glass, in case you were wondering if I went into your wine cellar. Want the rest?”

With a childish grin on her face, Jang Won pulls out the entire bottle and an empty from behind her back. Juyeon raises both brows in delightful surprise, chuckling under his breath. 

“I was gonna offer it to you anyway, so it doesn’t matter that Mr Ro’s given you a glass himself,” She slots the rest of her body through the gaps and shuts it behind her. Sinking into the sofa seat (Juyeon had known it was hers and decided to make himself comfortable on the floor instead), she places the bottle on the stand and yanks the cork off. 

“You were gonna offer me your favourite champagne?” He raises a skeptic brow. “After you called me a coward yesterday? After our wedding?”

“That was yesterday?” Jang Won tilts the bottle over her glass. “Feels like last week.”

He snorts at her attempt to change the focus of the conversation. “It does.”

“I just... thought that since the wedding was all for show and none of it was real...” She places the bottle back down and swirls the champagne. “At least this was by choice.”

“What, hanging out on your balcony and drinking champagne?”

Jang Won snickers and pulls her legs onto the seat, taking a sip of her share. 

“Are you really okay with giving me 50% of HERA & ARTEMIS though?” 

“I don’t have a choice, do I? I’m not gonna give my father all 100% of it.”

Juyeon turns away and stares at the bit of champagne left in his glass. “What’s your plan after that? After your father and I get half each and your brother for Artemis Ent.”

“I’ll worry about that then,” She gulps down the rest of her champagne, then reaches over to grab the bottle. “Right now, I just can’t wait to get out of here.”

Juyeon’s finishes the rest of his champagne then looks up to see her gulping straight from the bottle. 

“Do you have a death wish?” He stands and places his glass next to hers. She doesn’t stop. Wrapping his fingers around the cool glass, he gently pulls it away from her lips and tears it out of her grip. Judging by the weight of the bottle, she’s downed half of it in one shot. 

He sucks in a deep breath, turning and leaving the bottle in the corner of the balcony where it’s out of her reach. 

“Do you think your parents love you?”

The question turns his attention back to her. 

“Why do you ask that?” His voice is quiet and low as he sits himself between her and the bottle. “You know I would say no but I can’t say that in front of you.”

“Do you think they did what they did solely for the family’s name?”

“Their defence would be that I get to live with the benefits. So-”

“I’m not talking about them, I’m asking about what you think.”

Juyeon pauses to think, but Jang Won speaks first anyway.

“I think they do, you know. That they do love you. They just... grew up in an environment where they’re just doing what their parents did for them. They turned out fine, so I think they just assume you’ll turn out fine as well.”

“‘Fine’ now is different from being ‘fine’ in the 1960s and 70s,” Juyeon leans his head against the metal bars keeping him safe within the balcony. 

Jang Won’s head was resting against the backseat of the sofa chair, hair dribbled all over the woven wooden strips and her eyes reflecting the dim, amber balcony lights from above. She’s tired, and definitely feeling like the entire world is against her. 

If she squinted hard enough, she could barely make out the huge H&A signs stuck to the side of shopping malls all around the city. By now, she can feel her cheeks heat up from the alcohol ingested in such a short amount of time, but luckily for her, the amber lights are helping the pink in her cheeks camouflage into her skin. 

She turns to find Juyeon staring at the bottle’s label, like he were memorizing the details of it.

“I’ll get you a new bottle,” Juyeon holds the neck and grunts as he stands, hands reaching for the cork on the stand. “Also, your cheeks are pink. I think that’s good enough reason to get you to sleep.”

Juyeon reaches for the door grip to slide it open, pulling it open just a few inches. 

“I miss my mom.”

He stops. 

“Tomorrow’s her death anniversary,” She whispers under her breath. “It’s been five long years without her.”

They lock eyes, but Jang Won turns away first. 

“Hera’s Manor was meant for the both of us. The blueprint of the house... every room and every statue purchased and made the way we wanted it to be made. But before the house could be moved into, she leaves me. All alone.”

Jang Won’s eyes flit to Juyeon, and he can’t look at her in the eye. He’s not used to her opening up like this, but it’s all thanks to the champagne anyway. Never in a million years would she bother to do this if she wasn’t tipsy. 

“I mean... Does she know I’m here now? In this very spot, wondering what had gone wrong?”

Juyeon lowers his head and seals his eyes shut. The guilt stirs within him.

“I wish I could tell her that I’m okay, at least. She always worried about me more than Younghoon, for some strange reason, because I was a girl in the administration of The Board,” Her voice cracks and Juyeon’s eyes are open now. “And yet, I’m the one taking care of him now.”

She gulps loudly, trying her best to swallow the ball of sobs stuck in her throat. Shaking her head and prying out a painful smile, she finally snaps when she looks down into her lap where her hands are.

Gritting her teeth, and pursing her lips, it’s a meagre attempt at trying to stop the hiccups that are already in the back of her mouth. The tears begin to collect in her palms and kiss the material of her pajama pants, the warmth seeping through the cotton and sticking it to her thighs. 

The shuffling rustles through her left ear, followed by a soft thud of the glass decanter, and then she feels a warmth hold her hands. Cold tears bleed through the lines of their palms when she opens her eyes, just barely, to meet Juyeon’s. 

He’s got a painful, pitiful look in his eyes that she would punch him in the face for, but even she can’t disagree that she was being a sad mope right now. 

“Your mother knows,” He nods, reaching up to her forehead and pushing a strand of hair out of her tear streaks. “I promise you.”

Her facial muscles crush towards the middle when the sobs finally break past her discipline, and she crumbles her face into her hands. The sorrow in Juyeon carefully motivates her off the seat, and he shuffles to get his back against the metal bars of the balcony, and her in his arms between his legs. 

His nose sours and his vision starts to blur when he can feel her torso shiver and jerk with every sob he hears. The side of her head nestles into his left shoulder, hands tightly clenched together against her stomach with his elbow resting on her bent knees. 

He parts his lips to inhale, but he looks down to watch the tears drip off her chin. 

“Are you going to meet Younghoon to see your mother tomorrow?” He whispers, gently pushing her hair out of her tears. 

She sniffles, wiping away the mucus on her philtrum. “Yeah.”

“Okay,” He nods, keeping her head on his shoulder. “I’ll go with you.”

“Okay.”

[darkx-the-dragon-kn1ght]

Chapter 5- Part 1

So, given what we learned last time, we need to get the party up to Lv. 14. That shouldn’t be too difficult, as I believe there are still more Trainers to battle, which should be good sources of exp. points.

We’ll be back, Fern, just you wait! JUST YOU WAIT! Even though Xera has no memory of the battle that happened, I won’t forget!

But also, uh- that old guy wasn’t there before. Where did he come from? And what does he have to say?

That’s…unfortunate, buddy, probably best to put your health first?

But besides that- I guess there are new NPCs out and about, now that the rain’s done? That’s gotta be why this old guy’s here now. I’ll be navigating around as I try to find new Trainers to battle against, so I’m sure I’ll be able to confirm this one way or another.

Like this guy up here!

Oh, really? Well, that finally explains what the PokéSnax are for and why I’ve found more than one of them. I speculated before whether they were for friendship things or not, but I don’t think there’s been any confirmation until now (not helped by the PokéSnax’s vague description).

Ah yeah, that’s exactly what happened with Echo. I wonder if this means there will be other event Pokémon that can only be caught if you have PokéSnax in your Bag? I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case, we’ve only just started this game after all.

SAKJHFDJSHDS- 650 Pokémon Dollars!? Excuse me, what kind of price tag is that at this point in the game!? What do they put in those food pellets, ultra-rare Berries or something?

But the thing is, I want to buy PokéSnax, I really do! I want to give the team some nice treats and it’d be well within Xera’s character to do so, but…we cannot afford… :(

I mean we can, technically, but it’s like half of Xera’s money for just one PokéSnax and we’d need that money for things like Potions or Antidotes.

I’d still like to know that too, but alas- story pacing, I suppose. Ain’t nothing but a heartbreak, lady.

I mean, Xera’s been all over the tracks this whole time, back and forth, and no one’s tried to stop her yet, so…probably? Xera can be a little bit of a bad influence on the kids, as a treat.

And here we go- new Trainers abound! I can see even more (probably) up on that upper part of the ward, but we’ll get to that when we get there. Let’s focus on whatever’s down here, like that lady over there.

Oddish, huh? Not too scary, but not the best for Riptide, so we’ll bring in Breeze instead. Gust does good damage, naturally, but Oddish using Acid does a lot more damage than I expected. I had Breeze use Sand Attack to lower its Accuracy, though, which did help in taking it down.

Maybe not, but it was the change I was looking for (even if it wasn’t a lot), so thanks for that! Xera gets ever so slightly richer by the day!

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