#(standing on a bench. on a rock. on a half-wall. etc.)

[ace-in-a-shopping-cart]

Freelancer calls Huxley 'squirt'. No, they don't care that they literally come up to his tits, they call him 'small fry', 'runt', 'tiny', 'short stack', etc. Any short joke, they make it. Yes, he is a foot taller than them, they don't care.

[bhandarimarblekishangarh]

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[somethingusefulfromflorida]

So, I learned something recently...

Mary Kate Olsen (the top billed twin; I feel kinda bad for Ashley) is married to a man 17 years her senior, who also happens to be the half brother to the former President of France.

That sounds like the plot to one of their movies! Like, there’s a foreign exchange student at their school and they discover that he’s secretly foreign royalty.  I can picture the whole thing in my head, I’ve thought about this a lot:

It has a late 90s/early 2000s aesthetic; kinda grungey and “totally radical, dude!”

Twins Mary Jane and Kelsey are just your average upper middle class teenagers living in multi-million dollar beachfront property with their widower dad, a security guard with dreams of being a detective.  His firm just got a big contract to provide security for the visiting diplomats of the vaguely Eastern European kingdom of Slovotia (it’s generically foreign; funny accents, weird customs, offensive Slavic stereotypes, the works. The writers based it on Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary, Ruritania, Backwardistan, etc)

At school, the girls are introduced to hunky Slovotian exchange student Nico.  He’s, like, SO cool, but he doesn’t flaunt it.  He’s quiet, tries not to make waves, and sneaks away at lunch to be by himself; the girls follow him and find him talking to a a burly bodyguard.  Turns out, he’s the Crown Prince of Slovotia!  His uncle, Count Bartok (who is clearly the antagonist but SHHH don’t tell anyone, we don’t know that yet) is visiting America as part of the Slovotian delegation; his brother, the King, wants to normalize relations with the west, but the Count doesn’t really like America.

Nico and his bodyguard Dolf (a hulking man of few words) ask the girls not to reveal his secret; he just wants to live a normal life, and be a normal teenager.  The girls decide to show him around town and introduce him to hip American concepts like the mall and beaches and fast food.

They buy a hot dog from a street vendor, and Nico looks appalled.  “My uncle, he say Americans, they are dogs, but I did not know they were to be eating them, yes?”

“They’re not really made out of dog, Nico!  Try it, you’ll like it.”

He takes one bite, and is enraptured.  “This is best thing I have ever to be eating!”  He walks over to the vendor and offers to buy him out.  “You there, meat monger. This dog that is hot, it is food fit for king!  I buy your shop, I pay ten million Slovotian Kronle, good price yes?”

“Sure thing, whatever you say boss!  Good price!  Great price!  My ticket’s finally come it, it’s easy street from here on out!”

They show him around “the city.”  It’s never specified which city that is though; they live on a beach and go surfing, so it might be LA, but there are hotdog vendors and people with Brooklyn accents, so it could just as well be New York.  Maybe there’s a shot in the middle of the film where the bad guys are looking at a satellite map of the USA, and the camera zooms into the center of the country, or there’s a blinking red dot somewhere on a random coast.  The point is that there is no definitive location; it’s just meant to represent whatever city is closest to the viewer’s hometown (the writers didn’t put that much effort into it because this is a no budget direct-to-VHS Mary Kate and Ashley movie.  What did you expect?)

Dolf follows them everywhere they go, and Nico complains that he wants to have some privacy.  “You do not be seeing other kids with bodyguards, yes?”  Wacky hijinks ensue as the trio try to evade him; there’s definitely a chase scene set to a punk rock song like SR-17′s ‘Right Now’ or something by Bowling For Soup.  They sit on a park bench reading newspapers as Dolf runs by, then hightail it in the opposite direction.  They casually steal hats and sunglasses from passersby to blend into the crowd.  They walk in line behind a couple buys carrying a sofa.  The chase ends with them hopping into a taxi and laughing with one another as we see Dolf give chase for a second before giving up in frustration.

Nico confides in the girls that life as a prince is not easy.  His father, King Vladimyr XVI, is always telling him how big a responsibility he has, how important he is to Slovotia’s future.  “My father, he tell me, Nico, you will one day be King, so you must to be acting like one, yes?”  It’s so hard to be royal, he can never just be himself, he has to act a certain way to make his parents happy.  The girls tell him that they know exactly what he means; high school isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either.  They have homework and chores, and they too have to act a certain way or the cool kids will think they’re a couple of losers with a capital L (Nico doesn’t understand what the word cool means, “what does temperature have to be doing with this?”)

Suddenly, the trio is attacked by some dude in a track suit and gold chains with a jersey accent; he tries to kidnap Nico, and just when all hope seems lost Dolf appears from nowhere and lifts the would-be abductor up by the collar.

They interrogate him; Dolf holds him by the ankles from a second story window.  “I ain’t sayins nothin, youse will never get a word outta me.”

Dolf says that if he doesn’t start talking he will disappear.  “Maybe you wake up in gulag, yes?”

He sings like a canary.  He was hired by Count Bartok to kidnap Nico.  Bartok hates America and thinks his older brother Vladimyr is foolish for trying to normalize relations with them.  He hoped that by having Nico kidnapped, he could blame the American government and end the diplomatic mission early.  If anything were to happen to the boy, Bartok would become next in line to be king!  He’s going to blame the girls’ father for Nico’s disappearance because he was supposed to be head of security.

“That’s everything I know. Hey, I’m sorry, okays?  I just needed the money, ya know? I ain’t a bad guy, I’m just in a bad sitchy-ation.”  The girls tell Dolf that he can let the kidnapper go, but he takes this literally and drops him out of the window (onto a bush! He’s fine)

They have to race to city hall to meet the Slovotian delegation and stop Bartok from doing anything drastic.  Mary Kate plays the edgy tomboy, so she teaches Nico and Dolf how to skateboard so they can get across town super fast.  This sequence is filmed with a fish eye lens so it looks “totally bodacious.” As the group barrels down the crowded sidewalk, pedestrians leap out of their way.

They make it just in time to be locked out of the ceremony.  Bartok is giving a big speech condemning the Americans for kidnapping his poor nephew, and the girls have to watch helplessly as their dad is taken away in handcuffs.  Dolf uses his espionage training to break into city hall and get the trio into the sound booth undetected.

“Hey Dolf, where’d you learn to do all this stuff?”

“I have many skills” (he is implied to be ex-KGB and it’s played for laughs)

The girls interrupt Bartok’s speech with video they took of the kidnapper revealing his entire plan.  Bartok denies it, but the girls’ dad pulls some as-yet-unseen sleuthing skills out of his ass to prove that Bartok is lying, finally living his dream of being a detective.  Nico bursts into the room and orders the Slovotian guards to arrest his uncle, but Bartok pulls a pistol and holds one of the twins hostage.  Nico uses some of the American skills he learned to free her (he kicks his skateboard towards Bartok’s feet, and he slips on it)

Bartok is taken away, screaming that he would have gotten away with it were it not for those meddling twins, and the girls break the fourth wall by making a Scooby-Doo joke to the camera.  Nico delivers a heartfelt speech to the gathered crowd at city hall about how much he has come to love America and how he’s proud to be representing Slovotia and normalizing relations with the west.  He wants to open malls and hot dog stands and skateboard parks in Slovotia, and he gets a standing ovation as the mayor awards him the key to the city.

The girls are so proud of their dad, and he is just as proud of them.  Just then, King Vladimyr and Queen Anastasia themselves make a live appearance, apparently having flown all the way from Slovotia (it’s never explained how they got there so fast).  They thank the girls for helping their son, and award their father their kingdom’s highest honor. They even offer him a job as Dolf’s second in command, but he declines, saying he’d rather remain at his humble career and raise his family in the states.

The girls encourage Nico to tell his father how he feels.  He knows he will be king someday, but that is very far off, and he would like some time to just be a kid instead of a prince all the time.  The King decrees that Nico may stay in the United States and have a normal high school experience, “you are to be having twelve bodyguards instead of twenty now, good compromise, yes?”  The girls roll their eyes and laugh; Nico’s dad still has a lot to learn!

Nico tells the girls that they are “very cold” (he meant “cool,” but it’s the thought that counts)  He and Mary Kate kiss, and Ashley jokingly asks if he has a brother.  As it turns out, there’s a nerdy kid at school who is played by the same actor as Nico who’s had a crush on her for years, so she gets with him instead (once he takes off his glasses)

Freeze frame

THE END

Roll credits

80 minute run time

Return the tape to Blockbuster and never watch it again

[mataglap]

Possible prompt: McCree has kept something of Hanzo's--arrow fletching, a weird rock that reminds him of Hanzo's resting bitch face, a bottlecap he tossed at McCree's head in annoyance, etc.--and Hanzo finds it right before or shortly after they've gotten together.

Here’s my part of the deal. :)

Genji wants him to socialize, so Hanzo honestly tries his best — which, considering he’s got his brother’s blood on his hands and everyone knows it, doesn’t amount to much in the end.

Nobody shows him any outright hostility, but the old guard treats him with cool politeness that speaks of mistrust louder than any words. The only ones that talk to him outside the necessary team communications and greetings exchanged in passing are D.Va and Lúcio, but they are both from a different world and a different generation, too loud, too careless, and he doesn’t avoid them as such, but their interests don’t overlap enough for there to be opportunities for social interaction apart from work and an occasional meal.

He’s obviously not invited to any of the little social gatherings held at the Watchpoint, few of them as there is.

He’s long been used to loneliness at this point, so it doesn’t bother him much. He doesn’t mind being thought of as a villain, either, because all things considered, he is one. The boredom, though: that gets to him. There isn’t much to do at the Watchpoint. It’s first and foremost a research facility, and there isn’t really any recreation to be had other than a holovision set in the small living room. There is no shooting range either, not even training equipment of any sort, and while everyone agrees that the Watchpoint needs to be converted into a passable approximation of an HQ, things like gym equipment rank fairly low on the list.

So Hanzo improvises. He sets up a makeshift archery range on the old shuttle launchpad, near the cliffs, far enough from the main building complex that there is no risk of anyone wandering into a stray shot. He drags two low benches out of one of the unused, dusty rooms and buys a pull-up bar to fix inside a tall doorframe. He exercises with what he has: his own body and the environment around him. He practices katas, challenges himself to hit difficult shots, sometimes he goes for a pure endurance training, landing shot after shot in the targets until he’s drenched in sweat and his muscles burn, and after the first few weeks he settles into a rhythm: sleep, eat, work, train, meditate, repeat.

In the second month, he finds himself watched.

It’s the smell that alerts Hanzo to someone else’s presence. He’s out at the targets, gathering his arrows, when he catches a whiff of sweet tobacco smoke. The man sits on the stairs leading to the gallery, hidden in the shadow of the laboratory, a cigar between his teeth; he tips his hat when he sees he’s been noticed.

Hanzo nods at him and goes back to practicing. The self-consciousness fades quickly under the strain and the comforting rhythm of the routine, and the next time he remembers to check, the stranger is gone. Hanzo all but forgets about him until he takes a break and sits in the shadow for a moment, wiping his face with his shirt, and hears loud footsteps descending the stairs.

Everything about the man’s appearance screams ‘American’, so Hanzo isn’t surprised to hear his accent.

���Howdy. Name’s McCree,” he says. He’s holding two bottles of water, wet with condensation, and he tosses one towards Hanzo; Hanzo catches it automatically. “Hot day.”

Hanzo has his own water tucked away under the stairs, hidden from the sun, but this one is icy cold, and he holds the bottle against the back of his neck for a blissful moment before unscrewing the cap. “Thank you,” he says, voice hoarse with disuse, and clears his throat. “Shimada Hanzo. Pleased to meet you.”

There is no hostility or wariness in the man’s gaze at the sound of the name. Hanzo gets another hat tip. “Pleasure’s mine.”

McCree sits on the stairs again; Hanzo leans against the pillar. They both drink in silence.

“Saw you got a nice training setup goin’.” McCree inclines his head towards Hanzo’s makeshift outdoor gym. “Mind if I use it when you’re done?”

“Everything here belongs to Overwatch. Help yourself.”

Hanzo drains the rest of the bottle and goes back to his exercises. McCree doesn’t linger; Hanzo is left alone for the rest of his training.

In the evening, he goes to the gallery out of pure curiosity, and when he looks out of the window, he sees a shirtless, tall figure jump up onto the pull-up bar.

Hanzo learns about the newcomer in the following days. He’s a veteran as well, and Hanzo is surprised at the difference in attitude right until he finds out about Blackwatch and McCree’s gang affiliation of before. That also explains why, despite being one of the old guard, McCree doesn’t seem to hang around the rest of them much.

He does, however, return to watch Hanzo practice three days later, and the day after that. The third time Hanzo spots McCree hiding in the shadows, he finishes a kata and turns towards him.

“You can do your exercises while I train,” he says offhandedly. “As long as you don’t walk into my field of view when I shoot.”

“Much obliged.” McCree nudges the brim of his hat up and smiles. It’s the first time Hanzo’s seen it happen. The smile is bright and boyish, and it transforms McCree’s rugged, weathered face in such an unexpectedly disarming way that Hanzo catches himself smiling in return.

He turns away quickly and begins another kata. His ears feel too warm, but at least he can blame it on the Mediterranean sun.

One day, out of the blue, McCree asks him for an archery lesson. Hanzo surprises himself by agreeing to it, and even more by the fact that he doesn’t mind letting McCree use his bow.

They go through the basics: rules of the range, handling the bow, stringing and de-stringing, calibrating sights. McCree’s a good pupil, Hanzo doesn’t have to repeat himself and hears no complaints, even after he ruthlessly criticizes McCree’s posture — well, at least until he finally deems McCree ready to actually try and shoot.

“Aw, why do I get fake arrows?” McCree whines when presented with a quiver of training arrows, and casts a longing look at Hanzo’s own quiver resting safely against the nearby wall. “Was hopin’ to try one of your fancy, shiny ones.”

“The ‘shiny ones’ are three-state reconfigurable hardlight, McCree. They aren’t cheap or easy to come by, and they are not toys.” Hanzo pushes the quiver into McCree’s hands. “I had these made specifically for you. They’re perfectly suitable for the purpose.”

McCree blinks and smiles. It’s that damnable smile again, the one that never fails to make Hanzo flustered in a way he can only blame on prolonged lack of social interaction. “You made these for me?”

“Torbjörn made them, not me,” Hanzo grumbles and busies himself with stringing the bow, face burning.

McCree’s smile stays on for at least a couple of minutes. Hanzo can’t stop glancing at it instead of paying attention to his pupil’s form. It’s a terrible lesson and he’s a terrible teacher, and it’s only after McCree’s third arrow misses the target completely, hits the concrete wall and shatters, that Hanzo finally gets himself together.

“See, this is why you require special arrows,” he points out while McCree gathers the remaining arrows and hunts down the pieces of the broken one.

“Special arrows for a special archer,” drawls McCree, grinning.

“Your aim is certainly special,” says Hanzo loftily, and McCree starts laughing.

It’s that soft, warm laughter that ultimately dooms him, even though he doesn’t realize it yet.

McCree’s a good pupil, but he’s not a good archer. His instincts are wrong, his posture is wrong, he lacks patience and he wants results too quickly. Despite all that, and despite Hanzo’s ruthless criticism, he comes back for more lessons with determination that is nothing short of admirable.

After McCree hits his first bullseye, he insists that they should go out and celebrate. Hanzo refuses, claims it’s pure luck, orders him to repeat the feat first. Before he knows it, they’re squabbling playfully; McCree punches him in the arm, Hanzo smacks him in the ass with the stringer. Something warm and glowing lodges itself under Hanzo’s ribs and refuses to budge.

McCree hits two more bullseyes during the next session, and gloats so much that even Hanzo’s threat of refusing to give further lessons doesn’t stop him.

They do go out as promised, to a little pub not far from the Rock, and eat and drink and talk until the place closes and the staff politely requests them to leave. McCree insists on escorting Hanzo to the door of his room, as if he’s a gentleman and Hanzo is his date. It’s ridiculous, but Hanzo’s tipsy and the evening has been enjoyable, and after a few token protests he leaves it be. There’s no harm in it, and they’re not done yet, anyway — they’re discussing old movies they’ve both seen as children, and only after they’d been stood in front of Hanzo’s open door for a good couple of minutes Hanzo realizes he should probably stop talking.

McCree bids him goodnight and abruptly pulls him into a brief embrace before leaving.

Hanzo’s left standing in front of the door, shocked speechless, heart hammering in his chest.

The next time they go out, the walk back to the base takes them two hours of meandering around Gibraltar. McCree talks about Deadlock and Blackwatch and, half amused and half deprecating, about the trouble his brash younger self got into over the years. There are more similarities in their life experiences that Hanzo would have expected, but he can only think of the differences.

“You do know about Genji, right?” he blurts out, stopping halfway up the winding road to the reserve.

They have never talked about it. Hanzo doesn’t know why, but he suddenly needs to.

McCree stops, too, hands in his pockets. He doesn’t look at Hanzo; he’s watching the lights of Gibraltar below. “Yeah, I do,” he says slowly. “I also know all the shit I’ve done when I was younger. Only in my case, there are no witnesses left. No one’s gonna come back from the grave to call me out. I’m the only one who remembers or gives a damn.”

Hanzo has no idea what to say to that. He watches McCree’s profile against the dark sky, instead, and waits. Wildlife hums softly around them.

McCree reaches into his pocket, fishes out a cigarillo, lights up, puffs and sighs. “So what I’m tryin’ to say is, I used to be awful quick to judge people,” he says, resuming the walk and motioning for Hanzo to follow. “Still am, to be honest with you. But some things I just ain’t qualified to judge anymore. Especially when it comes to obeying shitty orders.”

Hanzo wants to argue against this unexpected and undeserved leniency, but the memory of McCree’s smile is still fresh in his mind, and for the first time in ages, the righteous anger quietly slips away, leaving behind a strange, warm emptiness.

McCree stops after a dozen steps, turns toward him. “You comin’? Do I need to call you a few names to make you feel better?”

He snorts despite himself and follows, and doesn’t even mind answering McCree’s questions about the Shimada-gumi as they climb.

When they get to his room, Hanzo tenses up, not even knowing whether it’s out of fear or hope or something else. McCree eyes him before silently reaching out. Hanzo swallows and willingly takes two steps forward, walks right into the outstretched arms.

The hug is longer than before. Hanzo gets to breathe against McCree’s collarbone for a good couple of seconds before it becomes too much. He gives McCree an awkward pat on the back, extricates himself from the embrace, mumbles a goodbye without meeting McCree’s eyes and retreats to the safety of his room.

Almost two months after the first lesson, Hanzo declares that he’s taught McCree everything he could, and only regular practice with his own bow can bring further improvement. McCree laughs that even if he wanted one, he can’t afford a proper bow; Hanzo silently decides to find out when his birthday is.

They go out to celebrate. They get drunk, just a little. They sit in the marina and watch the sunset and take their usual long walk before getting back to the base. McCree starts telling terrible jokes, each worse than the previous one; Hanzo laughs so much he has to sit down on the sidewalk and wait for the hiccups to pass.

This time, the embrace outside Hanzo’s room feels different, charged. McCree doesn’t let go, and Hanzo doesn’t pull away. It goes on for entirely too long for Hanzo not to realize certain harsh truths; he reaches up without looking, slides his fingers into the soft hair on McCree’s nape, and the unsteady breath McCree takes is enough of a reply to the unspoken question that it sends Hanzo’s heart hammering.

The kiss is hungrier than he meant it to be. McCree doesn’t seem to mind, he just makes a small sound, backs Hanzo slowly into his own door and kisses him until they’re both out of breath.

Hanzo lets go of McCree’s hair with some regret, slides fingers along his jaw instead, touches his neck. He resists the thought of divesting McCree of his shirt right here in the corridor and limits himself to just two buttons, to lean in and plant a single kiss against a tempting collarbone. There’s a delicate ball chain around McCree’s neck, like he’s wearing old-school military dog tags, and Hanzo reaches for them out of curiosity.

McCree startles and grabs his hand, but it’s too late. It’s not a pair of dog tags. It’s an arrowhead, blunted, smooth, polished, one of the ten Hanzo asked Torbjörn to make two months ago.

McCree lets go of Hanzo’s wrist and chuckles awkwardly, avoiding his eyes. “I can explain?” he offers, sheepish.

Hanzo’s heart soars. “I think you should explain inside,” he says firmly, turns to punch in the door code, grabs McCree by the arm and drags him into the room.

[frillyfacefics]

The Knights’ Pet - Chapter 9

Fandom: Star Wars Rating: Explicit Relationships: Kylo Ren/Clan Techie, Kylo Ren/Armitage Hux (secondary) Warnings: Unhealthy Relationships, Abusive Relationships, Threats of Rape/Non-Con, Non-Consensual Touching, Slavery, Body Horror (specifically eye-related body horror), Self-Esteem Issues, Self-Harm Chapter: 9/14

Uhm, there is a LOT of bad stuff happening in this chapter. If you get triggered or squicked out by child abuse, torture, death, etc., just be careful.

Also, there is gonna be sex in this chapter. Kind of a wild ride, but well.

Also on AO3

Read the first chapter here

Except for a few teasing remarks by Kolka when he came to get the helmet, nothing significant happened in the next few days, which made Techie feel happier than he had in a long time. He finally felt secure, for a lack of a better word; he had a feeling that his mistress didn’t actually plan to do anything bad to him, he got along better and better with Sizzly, who didn’t talk a lot in general, but whose silent companionship was still really comfortable, and he was getting along with the other techs, not just those from Eff’s friend group, but also most of those he had met at the weekly briefings. He still didn’t talk much, but when he did, nobody made fun of his stutter, nobody rushed him to speak faster, and if he made a mistake, which had only happened once in the two weeks he had been here now, he wasn’t yelled at or talked down to, but Sizzly or one of the other security techs just explained what he had done wrong. He enjoyed his work, he liked the people he worked with, and he wasn’t even especially afraid of Kolka anymore. And as far as he had heard, Lord Kylo was supposed to come back any day now. He might not know what exactly Kylo felt for him, but he still felt his stomach flutter just at the thought of being in the same room as him again.

So when he walked around a corner in the Knights’ wing after their weekly briefing, Kolka’s repaired helmet in his hands, and saw Lady Kull standing right in front of him, he suddenly felt his heart drop into his stomach. He had forgotten about this. And now reality was coming to punish him for thinking he could just be happy.

The fear that welled up in him made him see everything that happened as if in slow motion. Lady Kull was not wearing her mask, so Techie could watch as her facial expression changed. She was surprised at first, her eyes opening wider as she saw him, her brown eyebrows rising, her jaw falling slack. But that was only for a second, and then her jaw clenched, her brows drew down, her eyes narrowed. She bared her teeth at him as she came walking towards him. Techie knew that he should turn on his heel and run, but his legs wouldn’t obey him; like always, when he was in danger, he was absolutely useless. Helpless. Frozen in place.

“Why are you still here?!” Kull snarled, then her hand shot out and grabbed Techie’s throat, whirled him around, slammed him into the wall. Techie let out a scared squeak that hardly got through his closed-up throat, and dropped the helmet as his body slammed into the wall. The clattering of the metal on the floor hardly registered in his ears over the panicked beating of his own heart.

Kull was shorter than him, so the pressure of her hand pushed at the bottom of his jaw, made him feel queasy and kept him from looking down, from actually looking at her.

“Why the fuck are you still here?!” she demanded again, yelling this time. Her hand yanked him to the side, and at the same time one of her leg kicked against the side of Techie’s ankle, and he fell to the floor at her feet.

She kicked his thigh, then his side, faster than Techie could react. He let out another pathetic whimper and rolled up into a ball, hoping to give her as little a target as possible.

“Do you think you fucking belong here, huh? Do you think you have any fucking right to be alive?! Just looking at you makes me sick, and I’ve fucking killed people for less, so why the fuck shouldn’t I just kick your ugly, stamped head in, huh?! Fucking answer me, you piece of off-market trash,” she yelled and pulled her leg back for another kick when Techie finally found his voice again.

“Please, please, stop,” he whimpered, his voice high-pitched and panicked. He managed to roll on all fours, still half curled up, putting his forehead on the floor, prostrating himself in front of her. “Please, please, Mistress, please, I’ll do anything, please, don’t hurt me, I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t hurt me…”

The kick he was expecting didn’t come.

Confused, relieved, and still afraid for his life, Techie dared to peek up, and regretted it instantly. Kull was looking at him with a look in her eyes he had never seen before. Her face was paler than it had just been, and he thought he could see shock, confusion, but there was also something so intense, so burning that he thought the mere power of her eyes would make him vaporize in an instant. Hatred, he thought, that was what he was seeing. It was so rare, he had seen it so few times, that he hardly recognized it, but it couldn’t be anything else. Lady Kull was looking at him with a hatred so vibrant that he was wondering why the walls around them were not crumbling to dust.

And then something grabbed him, something invisible, irresistible, and he was hurled across the hallway, smashed against a wall and thrown on his back. And then Kull was there, over him, her face just inches away from him, one hand on his throat, the other hand slamming into his forehead.

He fell, fell, fell into a vortex of darkness, a storm of black lightning, deeper and deeper until nothing existed anymore.

And out of this nothing, images emerged.

He knew these images. He remembered. Or yet, something inside of him remembered, because the conscious part of his mind had long pushed away these memories, had buried them as deep as possible. But that didn’t matter, because now they came back, pushing into him like freshly sharpened knives.

The face of Orny, the old servant who had taken care of him when he had come to his first master, who had helped him find his way in the large house, had secretly reminded him of duties he had forgotten, so he wouldn’t be punished, had even lied for him when he had destroyed a rug from some distant planet by spilling cleaning bleach on it.

Now his face was slowly turning blue, as his body was crushed beneath another large rock, and another, and another, a pyramid built on his frail, old body. It was the punishment for theft, carried out in front of the whole household, and Techie had to watch, just like all the other children. He was standing next to the boy who had actually stolen the brooch, who had been caught nearly red-handed because they had found it under his mattress; who would have been in Orny’s place if the old man hadn’t told their master that it was him who had put the brooch there to hide it, that he had stolen it, that the boy had nothing to do with it.

Techie would only learn about all the other children after his horrible death, after the last crack of his breaking bones, after his last wheezing breath, about all the other children he had helped, just as he had helped him.

-

The bench in the kitchen yard, where he was made to bend over by their foreman, because he had done bad work with the silverware, again. He felt the bite of the whip on his skin, the first time ever, and he cried like any nine-year-old would, and the whip just came down harder, and he could smell his own blood…

-

The intricate pattern of the floor in the reception hall, after a large party, the dirt in the joints between the marble tiles where the master’s son had been sick, the cramps in his fingers, the blood smears his knees left behind, through his trousers; the endless, burning pain as he kept trying to get rid of that blood before anybody saw, but there was so much of it, and it just kept coming…

-

The rough hands of the market medic his master had taken him to before selling him to a trader, the pain when he had pushed his fingers into his additional hole, the incredible pain in his head when they had inked the world ‘male’ into his forehead, the feeling as if they were carving it in his skull, the nauseating knowledge that he was damaged, that he was what the traders called off-market, barely good enough to be sold in the stinking pens at the edge of the slave market, a bargain, hardly worth enough credits for his master to cover the expense of his trip to this trading planet…

-

The first time he had seen MaMa. The grin on her face, exposing blackened teeth, the way she had grabbed his jaw to take a closer look at him. “Good enough.” Her voice, forever the narration of his nightmares.

-

The chain they had used to make sure he didn’t leave his screens the first few years.

-

The copper wires that had been his only diversion. The pain when MaMa had bound them around his fingers and had waited for them to turn blue before she allowed him to beg her to take them off.

-

MaMa’s knife.

-

The look on MaMa’s face when he woke up after he had fallen asleep after working for far too long. The change in her eyes when he begged her for mercy, stuttered that his eyes had hurt so badly, that he had just closed them for a minute to make the burning stop, that he had never wanted to disobey. The way she had run her fingers over his cheek. The sound of her tutting, her honeyed words, so unusual for her that they took Techie completely aback. “Oh, my poor boy. Poor little tired baby. Those pretty green eyes of yours just don’t seem to be strong enough to let you do your work, hmm?”

The burn on his scalp, the shock that went through him when she hauled him off his chair, over to an empty table. The feeling of the hands of her bodyguards when they pushed into his biceps, holding him still. His own screaming, strangely distant.

Her fingers coming closer, long nails dotted with rests of chipping black polish.

Pain, incredible pain, red, and then complete, utter darkness, and a stench he would never forget as vicious fluid ran down his cheeks.

-

The first time he had seen his bionic eyes in a mirror.

-

Suddenly there was a pain that didn’t come from his memories. His throat felt as if somebody had ripped it open, his head burned like fire, and somebody was screaming.

No, he was screaming.

Kylo was above him, masked, his hand around Kull’s throat like hers had been around Techie’s. He was lifting her in the air, then he threw her with unnatural ease against the wall, telling her to get out of his sight, now.

At the edge of his mind, Techie registered that there were other Knights in the hallway now; he didn’t know where they had come from, and he didn’t care, because all he saw was Kylo, Kylo who was shaking, who seemed to be surrounded by a red glow. He whirled around and came to him, grabbed him by his arm and pulled him up, then put the hand to the scruff of his neck and marched him off. Techie’s body followed without any input of his mind. He still didn’t feel like he was quite there, quite at the same place, in the same universe as Kylo. He felt as if his mind was caught behind a wall of transparisteel, watching his body react to a world he couldn’t reach.

Kylo dragged him through a door, then slammed his hand on the closing mechanism.

Before Techie could say anything, ask anything, Kylo grabbed him again, by his collar this time, pulling him with him to another door, a smaller one, which he opened and then shoved Techie inside. The door slammed close behind him, and Techie only needed to look around for a split-second before he realized that he was in a closet. Panic filled him again, made his heart push into his throat. Was he going to be punished? Was this some kind of cell? Was Kylo angry with –

Suddenly he heard a noise coming from outside, an angry scream, then a loud crash, and another, and another. It sounded as if the Temple was coming down; he could feel the vibrations rattle the walls of the closet. He didn’t know what was going on, but the noises were enough to frighten him into the backmost corner of the closet, where he covered his ears with his shaking hands and pressed his eyes closed, trying to escape, trying to be anything but here, in a tiny closet while the world seemed to be ending outside its door.

He was cowering in his corner, his arms crossed in front of his face to cover his ears and his eyes at the same time, when the closet stopped shaking around him. There was a moment of complete quiet, and even though he lowered his arms, he stayed cowered into a tiny ball, ready to pull his arms over his head at any moment to protect himself from whatever was happening out there; from whatever Kylo was doing out there. The fear was acrid and ice-cold in his chest, but it had pulled him back through the pane of transparisteel, had brought him back into the here and now.

His breath was still coming fast, and he pushed farther back into the corner when he suddenly heard the noise of booted feet – a noise he knew so well – approach his closet. The opening mechanism triggered, and the door slid to the side, revealing Kylo’s broad silhouette against the bright light of the room beyond. He couldn’t see Kylo’s face, and he stayed in his corner, not knowing if he was still angry, but Kylo didn’t come charging forward, and he didn’t yell at him, and those were already two very good signs in Techie’s book.

“Come out,” he said, his voice rough but not angry; it just sounded like he had yelled too much. Techie was still shaking, but he nevertheless stood up and slowly walked towards Kylo, who stepped aside to let him into the room.

He had not had a chance to take a good look at the room before he had been pushed into the closet, but he was pretty sure he would have noticed if it had looked like this before. There were parts of… things… strewn everywhere. He thought he could make out a table leg between a couple of pieces of metal, and there were cables hanging out of the wall, over a heap of metal and hard cast-plast that might have been a console at some point. Everything seemed to be charred; the metal’s edges were half melted and half burned, parts of the cast-plast had melted and gave off that disgusting smell of burnt plastic. There were even charred parts on the wall, as if somebody had worked them over with a huge blow-torch.

The cold fear from before came over him again, but now it settled deeper, in his stomach instead of his chest. A deep shiver came over him as he looked around at Kylo; not his face, he wasn’t courageous enough to do that just yet, but his hands. There was no trace of any burning there, or on his clothes, but he had been the only person in this room, this had to be his doing. He knew what the Knights could do, he had seen enough of it through his security screens, and he had seen Kylo’s red sword as well, had seen the way it cut through people as if they were no thicker than flimsi, but this…

It was different, being in a destructed room than watching the destruction from the safety of a security room.

Kylo came closer to him. Techie instinctively pulled his arms up, but Kylo caught his wrists, holding them with such strength and at the same time such care that he didn’t even think to struggle.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said in a low, rumbling voice. “I won’t hurt you.”

He let go of his wrists, and Techie let them sink down slowly. He knew that there was no guarantee that he was telling the truth, but what other option did he have? He definitely would not disobey him.

“That’s good,” he said, and then one of those long hands grabbed his chin and pushed his face up so he was looking into Kylo’s. The look in his eyes was completely breathtaking.

Techie couldn’t describe this look, but later he would still remember the feeling it caused him. His fear melted and was replaced with prickling surprise, and then with tingly warmth that came up all the way to his eyes and once again made him wish he could still cry. Kylo looked at him like that for a long moment, then he leaned forward and kissed his lips, slow and painfully gentle. Techie closed his eyes, pushed into the kiss. His hands found some of the fabric of Kylo’s robes, and he held on to him as one of Kylo’s hands ran through his hair.

But unlike every other time they had kissed, this time it was Techie who ended it. He didn’t know what happened – it felt as if a wall he had built haphazardly, with nothing but loose cables and scrap metal, which he had kept in his back so he didn’t have to fight on two sides at the same time, now became obsolete, because there was no fight in front of him anymore. The wall crumbled, and ugly sobs started to pour out of Techie, and he pulled back from Kylo and pushed his hand against his mouth to keep them in. The memories weren’t gone. He wasn’t caught in his head anymore, but the memories were still there, and now that he had remembered, he couldn’t stop the looping images in his head. His owner. Orny. The Foreman.

MaMa.

He felt his whole body shiver with the pure horror of MaMa’s memory, and his legs gave out. He sank to the floor, in front of Kylo, his hands braced just inches from his boots, his terror-filled sobs turning into heaving as he started to hyperventilate in his panic, whining, high-pitched noises as his lungs seemed to close up.

There were hands again, and suddenly he was being pulled up, then lifted into Kylo’s arms. His clammy fingers immediately sought the fabric of Kylo’s robe again, clinging to it as he closed his eyes and tried to get air into his lungs, just a little bit. Kylo carried him out of the room and into another, smaller part of the quarters, where a large bed took up most of the space. He was laid down on the soft blankets. Kylo leaned over him, ran his hand over his forehead.

“Relax,” he whispered, and Techie could feel the painful tension drain out of his body, could feel his lungs opening up. He let out another sob in relief, but this time wasn’t as wonderful as the other two times had been. His body was relaxed, and his mind was not spiraling anymore, yes, but…

Kylo stood up. “You can sleep here tonight,” he said, and turned to go.

Techie did not know where he took the courage to reach out and grab his sleeve; it was likely a deed of desperation.

“P-Please,” he whispered, his own throat still raw from screaming earlier and sobbing now. “Please…” Kylo turned around, a frown on his face, and Techie swallowed and looked down. He didn’t know if he was going too far, but he couldn’t be alone now, he just couldn’t, so he licked his dry lips and looked at Kylo’s face again.

“Please don’t leave me… It’s…” His voice broke, and he tried again. “It’s still there…”

He didn’t know how to explain, but Kylo seemed to understand. He sat down next to him on the bed and ran his hand over his forehead again.

“It’s a torture technique,” he said lowly, and Techie shivered, either from his words or the fingertips touching his temple. “She should never have used it on you…”

Techie hesitated for a moment before he reached up and grasped Kylo’s hand. Carefully, ready to let go as soon as Kylo showed any sign that he wanted him to, he pulled it down to his lips, and kissed his knuckles reverently. Kylo had saved him. Kylo had pulled him out of his head. And now he was sitting here, being so incredibly kind even though he was the leader of all these powerful people and Techie was nothing…

“Please don’t leave me alone…” he whispered again, and looked up into Kylo’s dark eyes.

There was hesitation in his eyes, and for a moment Techie was sure he’d pull away, leave him alone in the room, alone with his regrets, but then Kylo leaned down and kissed him again.

Something bloomed in Techie’s chest like it hadn’t during any of the other kisses. All of those other times had been spontaneous, spur of the moment, and over before they had even begun. This time was deliberate, and the slow pressure of Kylo’s lips, the wetness of his tongue, told Techie that this was not going to be another five-second kiss that would end with Kylo storming off.

Techie opened his mouth for his tongue, and pushed his own against him. He tasted like iron and heat, and the strange feeling of two tongues sliding against each other drove Techie crazy. He had been kissed a few times, but never like this. The kiss kept going, and Kylo’s hand, which Techie had relinquished by now, ran down his shoulder, to the zipper of his uniform jacket.

The low, purring noise of the zipper made Techie shiver into the kiss. He dared to put one hand on the back of Kylo’s head, just to thread his fingers through his hair and at least feel like he could keep him close. He hardly dared to hope that Kylo would fuck him, he still believed that something would happen that would keep him from doing it, that he might just undress him and then tuck him in and say goodnight, but by all the planets in the galaxy, he wanted him to fuck him so badly. If he could have Master Kylo inside of him, if he could feel his skin against his own, everything would be well, everything would turn out right…

He wanted to beg, but he didn’t dare break the kiss, or break the silence around them. If anything happened, maybe this dream would burst like a soap bubble. Kylo put one hand on the back of his neck and gently pulled him up so he could take off his jacket, then that same hand ran over his neck, his throat, dipped under his collar and tugged on it. Techie had to break the kiss now, no matter how much he didn’t want to do it, and lift his arms so Kylo could take off his shirt.

When the shirt hit the floor beside the bed, Techie opened his lips for another kiss, but Kylo just put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down. He looked up at Kylo with insecurity and fear gnawing on his insides, but the look Kylo gave him just made another shiver run down his body, made even more blood pool between his legs. Kylo’s eyes looked black with how wide his pupils were, his mouth was slightly open and his nostrils flaring with the strength of his breath. He was staring at him with an intensity that nearly frightened Techie, but then he leaned down and kissed him again, harder than the time before, more demanding, pushing his tongue into his mouth and lapping into him and sucking at his lips.

His hands were warm against his naked skin, so different from Krel’s. And they were big, too, spanning his whole chest as he put both of them on his ribs, running them down the sensitive skin of his torso. Fingertips rubbed over his nipples, dipped into his navel, ran over the bones of his hips.

“So soft,” Kylo rumbled against his lips, then his mouth moved down, over his jaw to his throat. Techie stiffened slightly when he felt those warm lips at his Adam’s apple, sure he’d be bitten, but there was no pain, just the delicious heat of a tongue lapping at skin that he couldn’t remember had ever been touched like that. It felt incredible, made him moan out loud, made his brain send sparks to every part of his body. Kylo’s hands were resting on his hips now, just the thumbs running over the bit of skin right over his trousers.

“Please,” Techie whispered, closing his eyes to feel as much of this as he could. “Please, m-my lord…”

Kylo came up from his throat, but just to let his tongue run back over his jaw and then behind his ear, making Techie quake. “What is it that you want?” he whispered, enticingly, with the smallest bit of amusement in his voice that gave Techie the courage to actually ask.

“Please…” He swallowed, then bent his head away from Kylo so he had more space to lick his neck there, “please f-fuck me…”

He could feel Kylo’s broad mouth widen even more as he grinned. “As you wish,” he said, but then he pulled back, and Techie grabbed his arm in panic.

“Don’t go,” he whispered, his voice high and hardly audible.

Kylo ran his free hand over Techie’s head. “If I want to fuck you, I need a few things first.”

But Techie didn’t want to let him go, and even though he could feel his cheeks burning up, he whispered: “You can do it raw, I don’t mind…”

Kylo looked at him for a moment, then he leaned down and kissed his lips again, short and soft. “I won’t do that to you.” Then he pulled back, shaking Techie’s now loose hand off, and went to a cupboard in the corner.

Techie didn’t know if Kylo wanted to do the rest of his undressing or if he was expecting him to do that, but his cock was so hard and painful by now that he took the liberty to shuffle awkwardly out of his pants. Kylo hadn’t been very authoritative up to now, so he hoped that it would be okay that he’d done something without his express permission. But when Kylo turned around and saw him naked on the bed, the look he gave him was definitely approving.

He came back to the bed and put a packet of lube and a packaged barrier next to Techie, then he climbed over him again and immediately caught his lips in another kiss. His hands ran down Techie’s chest again, and then there was a hand around his cock, and Techie felt as if he was going to die; there was just no way anything could feel this good.

He moaned into Kylo’s mouth, a begging, helpless little noise that seemed to draw forth from the depths of his body, and Kylo pulled his hand over the length of his cock, then pushed back down, stroking him slowly, deliberately. There were calluses on his hands, scars and patches of burnt skin that Techie had never paid any particular attention to with his eyes, but now that they were rubbing against his most sensitive part, he couldn’t help but register every single one of them. He put his hand on the back of Kylo’s head again, grabbed hold of him, not just to keep him close but to keep himself anchored, and pushed his tongue into Kylo’s mouth with a brazenness he had never felt before.

This time it was Kylo who moaned, and the noise drove through Techie like fire, fire that gathered right between his legs and made him push up into the wonderful touch of that huge hand. Kylo’s tongue pushed against Techie’s now, playing around it and caressing it until Techie was gasping not just from the touch on his cock. Finally, Kylo pulled out of the kiss and let his lips glide over his chin, down to his neck, where he started to lick and kiss his sensitive skin, the hand that wasn’t dealing with his cock now running over his belly, his chest, fingertips rubbing over a nipple. Techie arched into the touches, whining and moaning as he felt the first drops of precum drip off his tip, smoothening the motions of Kylo’s hand.

It had been so very long since another person had touched him in this way, and even though Techie had dreaded Krel or Kolka doing this, now that he was with Kylo, out of his own volition, because he had asked for it, he just felt so absolutely wonderful, so absolutely overwhelmed that he really didn’t know how much more he would be able to take. If he kept rubbing his cock like that, he’d likely be spilling before Kylo could even make use of that barrier that was still lying next to them… And Kylo didn’t seem to be making any attempt to start fucking him.

So he took that into his own hands again. With his face flushing so hot that he felt like boiling, he pushed Kylo away, then put his hand under one of his knees and pulled it up, presenting himself to Kylo with his legs spread like a needy whore. “P-please,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “Please put it in…”

Kylo seemed surprised for a moment, but then his eyes clouded and he leaned forward to push another kiss against Techie’s lips. “You’re dangerously sweet,” he whispered as his hand ran over the underside of the thigh he was stretching up. “A lesser man might just devour you whole…” His hand reached his buttock now, and a long finger ran down his crease, touching the very outside of his entrance and making the breath hitch in Techie’s chest.

Kylo licked over his lips, licked over his tongue when Techie dutifully opened his mouth. He licked into him for a moment, then broke the kiss again as his finger started rubbing gentle circles into his muscle.

“So sweet…” he murmured, “you’re going to feel so good around my cock… I bet you’d never even fight if I’d use you just for my pleasure, just push in and take you until you’re crying…”

Techie knew it was perverse, that those words should make him feel frightened, should make him want to fight, to run away, but they just sent a visible shiver down his body. “Oh fuck,” he whispered, lips parted around his hard breathing. “Oh please… Please…”

A small smile appeared on that large mouth, and then Kylo bent down again and kissed his cheek, let his lips run to his ear and gently bit his earlobe. “I know you’d be happy if I did that, sweet thing, but I want to make you enjoy it too…”

The finger pulled away, and then came back just a moment later, wet with lube now.

“Relax,” Kylo whispered. There was no magical command behind his voice now, but still Techie felt his body grow softer in anticipation. His finger pushed into him, slowly, carefully, and Techie let out a groan. The leg he was holding up was shaking by now, but he kept his grip on it, too afraid that Kylo might stop if he changed his position. Broad, soft lips were kissing his neck again, and he stared at the ceiling, his lips parted, listening to his own heavy breath and the softer breath of the Knight who was about to take him.

After the first finger had been moving inside of him for a while, getting him used to the feeling of being filled, a second finger pushed against his entrance. He gasped lowly, but did his best to relax enough to let Kylo push that finger in as well. His fingers weren’t just long, but also thick enough to drive sweat onto Techie’s forehead. His breath came in shivering bursts now, and he had started biting his lip to have somewhere to put the nervous energy his body was producing.

Kylo didn’t need long to push a third finger into him, and by that point, Techie was trembling all over and gasping with every breath. His hand was nearly unable to keep his leg up any longer, but he persevered, until Kylo finally pulled out and reached for the barrier.

“Put your leg down,” the Knight ordered, and Techie let out a relieved little sigh as he obeyed. He watched as Kylo shrugged out of his tunic and breeches and then attached the barrier and lubed his cock up. The mere sight of it made Techie shiver – he had assumed that Kylo would be proportionate, and he had been imagining his cock quite a few times now, but actually seeing it was quite a different thing. It was glorious, true; an instrument fitting for somebody so grand and powerful. But he wondered if he would be strong enough to take it – if he would manage to relax enough to let him in. He didn’t want to disappoint him, and if Kylo didn’t want to take him by force, it’d be Techie’s responsibility to try and get that in without hurting himself.

“When have you done this last?” Kylo asked, his fingers rubbing over his hole again.

Techie blushed again. “Not… not in a few years…” he mumbled, averting his eyes a little so he didn’t have to show Kylo just how embarrassed that question was making him. To be honest, he had not the slightest right to be embarrassed. After all, it was him who had asked for this, and who had begged Kylo to fuck him. He couldn’t be both a willing slut and a blushing prude. He really should stick with one.

“Alright,” Kylo said, then he bent down and kissed Techie’s lips again. The touch made Techie’s thoughts melt into the background, and he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to enjoy what Kylo was giving him. They kissed for a while, with Kylo’s hands running over his thighs, his belly, his buttocks, drawing little gasps and shudders from Techie. He was so hot, so full of need, but he didn’t dare push Kylo again; and anyway, he loved the way he was touching him so much, he wouldn’t have made Kylo stop even if his cock threatened to explode with pleasure.

Kylo finally pulled back from the kiss and got up on his knees.

“It’s likely going to hurt a bit right when I get in. It should be a dull pain, and only weak. If it hurts too much, or if you feel a piercing pain, I want you to tell me.” He took Techie’s chin in hand and moved his head so that Techie had to look into his eyes. “That is an order. Understood?”

The slightly rougher tone of his voice at those last words made Techie’s entire skin tingle with heat.

“Yes, my lord,” he whispered.

“Good…” Kylo grabbed his ankles and pushed his legs back, then he settled as close to him as he could. He let one of his legs rest on his shoulders to free up one hand, and then Techie could feel the blunt head of his cock against his already slick hole.

“Just keep calm and breath,” Kylo said, and then he pushed in.

It felt strange at first. It wasn’t painful, not really, just a dull pressure as his muscles tried to keep Kylo out. But it was strange to feel filled – to feel something enter him, even if it wasn’t forced inside. He knew the pain of being fucked without adequate preparation, or just with too much zest and not enough patience, and he would lie if he didn’t admit that he had sometimes tried to replicate this pain when he was touching himself, but this was just slow and intrusive and overwhelming; and then something seemed to give, and Kylo just slid into him, farther and farther.

He breathed slowly, tried to relax around the massive cock inside of him. He felt as if Kylo’s cock was pushing against his stomach, so deep did he seem to be. Every part of his body seemed to be focused on nothing but the pressure inside of him, a pressure that was hardly bearable, not because it had suddenly started to hurt, but because it was just so much. He let out a little whimper, wriggled a little under Kylo to see if he couldn’t get a little relief, but then Kylo touched his cock and the whimper turned into a moan. Yes, this was better, definitely.

Kylo bent over him again and kissed his chin. His whole body was pushing against Techie now, naked skin to naked skin, and again Techie shivered. This was what he had wanted; having Kylo inside of him, against him, completely engulfing him with his huge, massive body. Kylo let go of his cock and grabbed his wrists, pulled them up over his head, holding him there as his lips met Techie’s again. The kiss was slow and lazy, as if Kylo wasn’t balls-deep inside of him, as if Techie’s cock wasn’t rubbing up against a set of firm, smooth abs. Kylo seemed to be everywhere, taking in his whole world, and it absolutely drove him crazy.

He only started to move when Techie got so impatient that he actually pushed back against his cock. Kylo was still kissing him, and Techie, greedy for every touch he would give him, welcomed every sweep of his tongue. With his mouth open to grant complete access to the Knight, every single one of his noises came flowing out freely. He wanted to give Kylo everything of himself, and as his thrusts became faster, harder, and his moans became louder; he felt as if he was evaporating, turning into heat, being absorbed into Kylo’s equally hot body.

They were both sweating by now. Kylo’s skin was sliding against Techie’s, his body was pushing him farther into the mattress, his mouth was devouring him, his cock splitting him in half. Techie could feel his own precum searing between their two bellies, could feel his orgasm build in the depth of his loins. But it was just not enough yet… It wasn’t, quite, just…

“If you want to come, you have to tell me what you need,” Kylo whispered against his lips, and with a little gasp Techie realized that he had been reading his thoughts. He really would never get used to that. But if Kylo already knew what he was thinking… Putting it into actual words wouldn’t hurt, right?

“P-please… Can you… go a bit harder?”

He could feel Kylo’s grin against his lips, and then he pulled away, let go of his hands and grabbed his knees again to push them back and change his angle.

“Of course, sweet thing,” he whispered, then thrust into him quite a bit harder than any of his movements before. Techie moaned and threw his head back, pushing himself closer to Kylo, but to no avail, since his legs were held firmly in his grasp.

“Anything else?” he asked with a grin, and Techie swallowed and gave a tiny nod.

“Can you… can you… can you t-touch like, both of my…?”

Before he had managed to finish his request, Kylo had already changed his grip on his legs so that he was now holding both of them in the air in front of him, his hand around both of his ankles, as his other hand grabbed his cock with his fingers and his thumb went down to the little additional hole just beneath.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” he moaned, and Techie felt a rush of pride at just how aroused he sounded. That thumb rubbed along the edge for a few moments, then pushed in and started to move in and out. He started thrusting again, and timed his thrusts with the movement of the hand caressing Techie’s genitals – thrust forward, hand down, thumb in; pull back, hand up, thumb out.

Techie couldn’t remember ever feeling so good. His body was vibrating with pleasure, heat was boiling between his legs, he felt as if he was going to burst at any moment. He closed his eyes, bit his lip, concentrated on all those feelings. It was dizzying and overwhelming and incredible and yet it soon became too much, too good, too hot. He felt a shudder run through his whole body and he pushed harder against Kylo, whining, pleading. The thrusts became harder, the touches rougher, and then, finally, Techie came with a high-pitched sob. His seed sprayed all over his belly and up to his chest, while Kylo’s thrusts became harder, more erratic, and finally the Knight himself stopped moving and, one hand still grasping Techie’s genitals hard, spilled deep inside of him.

The ebbing waves of his body’s excitement rolled over Techie as he slowly came down from his climax. Kylo remained inside of him for a few moments, then he leaned forward – not giving the mess on Techie’s belly that now also stuck to his own a second thought – and kissed his lips again.

He didn’t say anything after that, just grabbed a piece of clothing from somewhere and cleaned the jizz off both of their bellies and from between Techie’s thighs, then he laid down next to him and pulled him into his arms. The sex had been wonderful, but this was even more than that; it made Techie’s heart melt, feeling those strong arms holding him, feeling Kylo’s chest against his cheek, hearing his heart beating. He closed his eyes and let out a low sigh as he let himself sink into the feelings in his body, the relaxed, warm, vibrant calm of satisfaction that had spread inside of him. His head felt woozy, heavy, and empty all at the same time. He felt Kylo’s breath sync up with his own, felt his warmth, his firmness. He felt absolutely safe for the first time in so long…

A few more moments later, he was deep asleep, and not a single nightmare found its way into his dreams.

[thefamoustownofyeadon]

Bonus RSA Story. Bones in the wall 1988 Sterkfontein Caves near Johannesburg

Two and a half million years ago creatures known to us as Australopithecus Africanis were killed by some beast and dragged into a cave and eaten. Over hundreds of millennia the rocks rose and fell as the geology shifted and in time the debris formed into rock and their skeletons were embedded in it. The bones in the rock were first noticed by miners in the 1890s but were only investigated by scientists in the 1930s. 

The first skull extracted from the rock was nicknamed Mrs Ples (although we now know she may in fact be a teenage boy). In a way she is your grandma x a very big number. The creatures in the rock are early Hominoids or proto humans. Not humans but a creature that led to us. I got really hooked to the point of obsession on this story of human evolution and  what had been happening in this part of Africa and even earlier in the great Rift valley (Kenya/ Tanzania etc). It had started first with a rather wonky diorama in the Johannesburg museum and a bunch of replica skulls but progressed on to be me phoning a Professor Brain (true name) at the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria and asking could I have a look at some of the skulls and bones he had in the cellar. And this bit has always surprised me. He knew that I was just an ordinary chap with an interest but he said “Yes of course, come along”. 

Getting to see these things is a little bit like having your own viewing from the ceiling of Sistine Chapel or sitting down with a Van Gogh painting on your knee. These are unique objects beyond price. The skulls and other bits at the Transvaal Museum are kept in a secure and environmentally controlled vault. Only a handful of none scientists get down there. And the chap who showed me around did  not even know me but said “come along”. I have often wondered why he agreed. I now think it was because we had both had holidays as kids on the Norfolk Broads and we talked about that on the phone.

That visit led to an invitation to attend public lectures at the University of the Witwatersrand given by Philip Tobias and other world famous Physical Anthropologists. From that I got an invite to visit the laboratories where they carefully extracted and preserved the fossils for study. All of this time and help was generously given by people who had far more important things to do but enjoyed sharing their knowledge. Now imagine you get a special invite to go and tag along with scientists who are doing something really special. It was one thing seeing these specimens in a museum or laboratory bench but I was invited to go underground at the site on a hillside just outside of Sterkfontein which is about an hours drive from Johannesburg near a state psychiatric hospital I worked in as a student nurse. 

I am terrified of a lot of things but top of the list is heights and very confined spaces. The journey underground included both of those. We were clambering down to what had been a cave two and a half million years ago but was now a very narrow tunnel with bones in the wall.  At points it was like looking down a very deep hole. Feeling your way with only a rope hand rail attached to the wall, and then the route went horizontally to the right . At first I could almost stand up in what looked like a passage way but this space got progressively smaller until we were less than crawling with only inches above our heads. I am 6’6 tall and not skinny. Nobody even then would have mistaken me for an athletic type. At times I was moving more like a snake. I had been warned that the space got a bit tight but this was worse than anything I imagined. I stopped and imagined all the fifty metres of rock above my head and I had to really fight to control my terror. That low, narrow space opened out into one about four feet high and six feet across. In front of us was a young woman in her early twenties, maybe a graduate student, chipping away at the wall. The scientist who was with me said that they used young women to do this kind of work because they could move about easier. I was still in a state of wild eyed terror. He must have been worried about me. We were only down there a few minutes, I managed to get enough control of myself to properly sit and look at what was in front of me in the wall. The site reminded me of the marbling in meat. Those white streaks that run through a cut of beef. Further across fossilised bone was being exposed by the young woman. What I seeing was essentially a fossilised bone pit and rubbish tip in what had been the furthest end of a cave.  Rain water had washed all this debris along and left it deposited here to turn into stone over two million years. I was allowed to put my hand on the wall. Okay it felt like rock but it was also touching some of our very earliest ancestors. I got an unforgettable kick out of that.

Pictures 

1-A modern photo of the site which had has become a national heritage site. These visitors have a lot more space to move around in.

2- The surface of the site as I saw it 

3- Mrs Ples

Additional info. Wiki Bio of Bob Brain 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australopithecus

Cradle of Humanity Visitors Centre

A an depth film \bout the exploration of Sterkfontein Cavies by a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa

[benditmars]

Five years ago, before I left college, I got an acceptance email regarding a literary publication, From the Writers’ Kitchen. I had to give them additional details and never heard back if I had been published for sure. When I went to check a few months later, I could not find copies and it slipped my mind for a long time. Recently I contacted the university and they sent me a copy with my story.

  Gingerly

  Tom Fuller was lost in the woods. He had been hiking with his friends and decided to go on ahead. Tom thought through experience he would intuitively find his way back. But the woods had no path, and the autumn leaves had easily covered up his footprints as he went.

Tom travelled three of four miles, photographed some interesting birds and decided to call it a day. His friends would certainly envy the beautiful colors he captured without them. He laughed out loud at Buck, Phil and Jake. They would never discover anything being so slow.

He squinted and tried to decipher the dim surroundings. It was getting harder to see. Tom got out his cell phone. There were no bars left but it helped light his way.

For a half-hour Tom attempted retracing his steps, looking for some sign of his companions. He eventually became worried and blasted Pink Floyd through the tiny speakers hoping to catch the attention of anyone nearby. All he succeeded in doing was lowering precious battery life he had left. It was in the red as he finally turned it off.

Having stopped his walking for a moment, Tom realized the cold. He hadn’t noticed it so much while he was moving but wrapped his coat around himself tightly. Sitting under a tree, he then hoped to block the breeze.

Through worry and burgeoning hypothermia he managed sleep after a few short hours. The sunlight felt nice as dawn finally broke over the tree line. It was still bitterly cold but Tom felt warm enough to take off his coat. It did not last long. The temperature hit again as did the realization he was alone, with little hope of rescue.

He trudged along stoic and determined for circulation sake. Morning soon became afternoon and afternoon dusk once more. Tom felt as if he was going around in circles. The snow he tried to eat did little to fight his growing dehydration.

Tom lay down, splaying himself on a path of fallen, icy limbs. Time seemed to be going quicker than normal. He drifted on and off for several hours, not sure of day or night.

In what might have been 6 PM, Midnight or another dawn, the horizon looked remarkably purple. It seemed foreign from the browns, and whites he had grown accustomed to seeing.

Dots of pink and red followed.  Tom thought maybe he was seeing splotches like he did when he closed his eyes back home. But, they were too numerous and lively. Somehow, they blended, clashed like magic was at work. Tom considered he was growing delirious, perhaps close to death.

Seeing the colors becoming more solid, less shifting, Tom followed them, trying to remain rational. They weren’t flowers, or pollen, but they were leading him to something.

A path of reddish rocks started sparkling. They almost looked like candy but that couldn’t be. Candy would not be left out to attract flies and vermin. Rats, Tom noticed were nowhere to be seen…

Several houses eclipsed the path almost immediately. They were gingerbread and large enough for any person to walk into. Frosting decorated the outsides as did giant jellybeans. It was a village of sugary confection.

Stop signs were made of hardtack and roads of black licorice. A large clock tower was also gingerbread with frosting writing for the numbers.

Tom walked through this bizarre netherworld as candies stuck to his shoes. They made it hard to walk and he longed for human contact. Taking a turn off the road, Tom realized it must have been some sort of Hollywood production. Surely, an actress dressed as a witch would be sitting inside one of the houses, rehearsing lines.

His theory could not have been more wrong. As he pushed open the large piece of cookie used for a door, a gingerbread woman was inside. She screamed, as Tom apologized, amazed at how far makeup and costumes had come.

“Excuse me, do you have a warm cup of coffee?” Tom asked. It only furthered her excitation. She picked a large candy cane off the wall and threw it at him.

Tom ducked, his reflexes still quick, despite his long stay in the woods. Something about the place and the sugary air reinvigorated him. But he began to realize something was very wrong.

“I know this is a closed set, but please-“

He never finished the sentence. Another gingerbread person snuck up and hit Tom from behind with a large macadamia nut cookie.

  *****

  A whole jury of gingerbread people ascended around him. They were decorated in black frosting, which must have been formal attire. Beige gumdrop buttons decorated the seams of their outfits.

Tom saw their attention focused on him. What were they waiting for, with their beady small eyes? He hadn’t done anything wrong that he could think of.

The judge entered. He, of all these people, would hear him out, thought Tom. He looked professional in his white frosting wig. The robe was dignified dark taffy.

“Outsider,” he began “you stand accused of attempted murder.”

“No!” Tom shouted.

“Our respected citizen, Lady 1 cup butter, softened 1 & 1/4 cups-“

“Who?” Tom asked.

“Outsider, if you must know, our names are the product of our ingredients. To continue, 1/4 cups brown sugar, packed, 3 eggs, 2 tsps ground cinnamon, etc. was accosted and threatened with use of a deadly hot beverage at approximately 8:15 this morning. These are the charges. Prosecution may now bring forth their first witness.”

“My first witness,” said a stately, thin cookie in a sleek candy-coat, “is the Lady ¼ cups brown sugar, eggs, ground cinnamon.”

“Please approach the bench,” said the judge as she walked up to take the oath with her hand on an old Betty Crocker book. She swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth before the heavenly Baker and was seated.

“What were you doing at 8:15 this morning?” The prosecutor began.

“I was praying for the health of our good King.”

“Ladies and gentlecookies of the jury, you see before us a Baker fearing woman, who only wants the best for her own welfare. Now, tell me, what this monster seated here before us, attempted to do?”

“My memory is a bit fuzzy but I’m sure I remember exactly what happened. Like you said, I was praising our King, when BAM the door gets kicked open. In comes the Outsider, with a pot of coffee in his hand. He threatens to pour it all over my body, reducing me to mush, unless I perform the most unspeakable deeds.”

“And for the sake of putting this scumbag Outsider away, what were these most unspeakable deeds?”

“I can’t even begin to say.”

“Can’t… even… begin…. to say,” repeated the prosecutor slowly, with a thin gingerbread leg set atop a step. “The prosecution rests.”

“Defense,” said the Judge, “your witness.”

Tom waited for a lawyer to approach and help his case. It became readily apparent after ten minutes or so that no one was going to do so. Tom, having realized he was going to defend himself, brushed the sugar dust off his sport coat and approached the Lady on the bench.

“Now, you say I threatened you, but I was merely a visitor looking for some help, that happened to take the form of a hot drink. I, unlike you, am unhurt by such things and even find them rather pleasant.”

The jury gasped. It seemed the wrong thing to say as whispers broke out. Tom continued, however, attempting in vain to find common ground.

“I mean, whatever it is that keeps you nourished, imagine if you went without it-“

He wasn’t reaching any of them. It seemed they ate and drank nothing.

“Just please understand that I come from a different land and forgive me for scaring your upstanding citizen. I never intended her any harm, nor did I force her to perform any unspeakable deeds. Thank you and may your Baker save the king!”

“Excuse me,” a young gingerbread girl from the jury in pastry curls asked, “are you suggesting our King will need saved from you?”

“No, of course not, it’s just an expression-“

“I have heard enough,” the judge said. “I find this Outsider guilty as charged.”

Tom continued to scream as he was grabbed by two burly bailiffs and thrown into the center of the floor. He knew his punishment was coming and he greatly feared he would not survive. Tom closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

No axe was swung, or bullets fired. Tom peeked out an eye to see three gingerbread people blindfolded before him.

“Your sentence,” stated the judge, reading from a large dough scroll, “is to eat them all.”

“You can’t be serious,” said Tom.

“I am. You will eat them all or you will be baked alive.”

Tom looked in horror at what he was charged to do. He got to his feet and walked over to them. They were shaking. Crumbs broke off with every shiver.

Should he eat them slowly if at all? The idea tormented him.

Holding his breath, Tom took off a small piece and put it in his mouth. It tasted wonderful and that made it all the worse. He took off another, then another. The cookie screamed. It was blood curdling but Tom knew he couldn’t quit.

The arms were soon gone. The legs followed. A head and torso then looked up at him in horror. And, still worse, if it be could any more so, something was familiar. The voice, the eyes reminded him of someone. Who could it be, Tom thought while he tore wolf-like into the chest of a condemned gingerbread man?

As Tom swallowed the last eye, an identity became apparent. It was Buck and the other two were Phil and Jake….

Everything became a haze of guilt, confusion and despair. Tom approached Phil and heard him pleading behind a blindfold. He reached out his hand to tear a piece off of his shoulder but couldn’t do it.

“I won’t do it,” Tom said, backing away.

“Very well,” replied the judge. “Bailiffs, prepare the ovens! This Outsider will be baked until he chars.”

The crowd cheered as a large furnace was ignited outside the courtroom. A gurney was rolled over to where Tom had to be restrained. The bailiffs strapped him to its surface with ropes of licorice. It was too tight to break out of. If only Tom could reach to chew…

The whole way to the fire Tom twisted and squirmed, moving his mouth closer to the licorice but never reaching it. The crowd loved his misery and laughed as he pleaded then resigned to prayer.

As fire licked his shoes and melted them, Tom considered his entire life. He hadn’t been raised to turn out the way he did. His parents were nice, considerate people, always willing to help friends. They never bragged or sought to outdo others, as Tom did. Something was just always different about him.

Flames seared through his pants, burning his legs. For some reason it reminded Tom of his first love. He felt her back on top of him.  They swayed to the beat of the car stereo and it was almost magical enough to overcome the pain he felt… Tom began thinking the day she left, and how she said he’d never open up to her. He was too immature to be committed; too self-centered, egotistical…

The last memories swirled in a vortex, indecipherable. Flames soon burned away his old existence. As a cookie in a chef hat pulled out him out of the fire, Tom was changed and charred as the judge had promised him. Tom had become what looked like dough with no discernable features to speak of.

The chef got out a large cutter and shaped him back to form. He sliced away the excess and found frosting for his clothes. Some gumdrops and a smile later Tom was up again. He couldn’t quite remember who or what he was and that seemed fine.

“The judge will see you now,” a bailiff said, guiding him back into the courtroom.

“That sounds wonderful,” Tom replied, “but what’s a judge?”

Gingerly Five years ago, before I left college, I got an acceptance email regarding a literary publication, From the Writers' Kitchen.

[bhandarimarblekishangarh]

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Rajnagar Marble: the World’s largest marble-producing area, with over 2,000 gang saw units located in the nearby town of Udaipur to process the material produced. Agaria is a variety of this area, with numerous other varieties and patterns, primarily in white base. The marble is dolomitic and often has quartz intrusions.

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BHANDARI MARBLE GROUP

Slumber Marble: Also known as Onyx Marble, it has thick bands of green and pink hint. A resemblance to Onyx Marble from Pakistan gives it this name. This is also highly dolomitic.

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Bidasar: These are ultra-basic rocks in shades of brown and green color found in Rajasthan. The criss-cross linear pattern gave it a remarkable resemblance to a photograph of dense forest. These are also known as forest green/brown or fancy green/brown.

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Indian Green Marble: It is found in Rajasthan India, Indian Green Marble’s most quarries are situated in Kesariyaji it is 65 km far from Udaipur Rajasthan India. This Indian green marble is known by name in all over the world. In Europe, people know Indian green marble as a Verde Guatemala. Many varieties are available in Indian green marble. Indian Green Marble is exported to Africa, Europe, Australia, Middle East, and many Asian countries. It is found in the Rishabhdeo town of Udaipur District state Rajasthan of India.

Granite

India has varieties of granite in over 300 shades. As of 2019, Granite reserves in India were 48500 million cubic meters and ranked fifth in the export of the processed product. Resources are found in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.

Sandstone

India is among the leading countries when it comes to mining and export of sandstone. The best part with Sandstone from India is that it is available in different colors and considered best for interior as well as exterior use. Few most popular sandstone products from India include names like Tint Mint, White Mint, Mint Fossils, Modak, Agra Red, Rainbow Sandstone, Raj Green, Teak, Buff Brown, Dholpur Chocolate, Beige, Dholpur Pink, Lalitpur Pink, Mandana Red, Jodhpur pink, Jodhpur red, Jaisalmer yellow, etc.

These sandstones are available in several finishes and come with great strength. However, Sandstone like Rainbow is only available in layered form and so is not suitable when the good thickness is required and Jodhpur sandstone is best when used in front elevation and high comprehensive strength. To illustrate it clearly, you can’t have cobbles out of Rainbow sandstone in particular as it is usually available in the slabs form.

Slate

Slate reserves in India are found in Rajasthan, Behror, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Deposits in Rajasthan are spread over the districts of Alwar, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Pali, Udaipur, Churu, and Chittorgarh. Few important names in slate are Jak Black, Silver Shine, Silver grey, Panther, Deoli Green, Peacock, Peacock Multi, Kund Black, Kund Multi, and so on. Being to some extent fragile in nature, it is good for interior use only and can be used even as washboards.

Flaggy limestone

Kota stone of Kota district and Yellow Limestone of Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan are the prime limestone occurrences in India. Other deposits include the Shahabad Stone of Gulbarga and the Belgaum districts of Karnataka, Kadappa Stone of Kadapa, Kurnool, and the Anantapur & Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh, Milliolitic. Limestone from Saurashtra Region, Gujarat, and Yellow Limestone of Kutch district of Gujarat, amongst others.

Limestone deposits

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana put together possess 32% of the country’s total reserves of limestone. World-renowned Narzi limestone is available in the Kadapa district. Commercial grade limestone deposits are being exploited from Bethamcherla, Macherla, Neereducherla, Tandur, shahabad, Mudimanikyam of Kurnool, Guntur, Anantapur, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts are widely used in our country for paneling and flooring purposes. Sullivan limestone of Karminagar and Warangaldistricts, massive limestones of Mudimanikyam, Nalgonda districts.

Total India’s limestones are estimated at 1 lakh million tones. Limestones are extensively utilized for the manufacturing of cement and also building stones, particularly flooring and roofing.

Other dimensional stones

Some other dimensional stones are being quarried and used in consumption, in addition to the dimensional stones already detailed above. Lateritebricks are quarried in huge quantities and are utilized as bricks in the construction of houses and for pavements in the states of Orissa, Karnataka, Goa, and other parts of coastal states. The felspathic sandstone occurring with the coal seams as overburden is also used as a building stone. The huge deposits of basalt in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat are used as building stones since ancient times. Other quartzitic bands, occurring with phyllites and schists, are also utilized for building purposes. Khondelites from the East coast are being used widely

Interiors, Designers, Engineers, Architects, Builders, are Welcome

We invite designers and architects to find the exclusive quality of stone for all types of projects. We have been a reliable partner for all your MARBLE GRANITE AND NATURAL STONE requirements since the year 1631. Decades of experience in the marble industry have made us what we are and we remain grateful to you for contributing to our success.

We have exclusive relationships with some of the world’s most renowned Architects, Interior designers, Builders, Developers from all around the

Our Five Star hotel projects:

JW Marriott Jaipur

Merritt hotel Jaipur

Clark’s group of hotels

Rajasthani Resort and spa

Our Indian marble granite and stone projects:

The Dilwara Temples or Delvada Temples are a group of Jain temples located about ​2 1⁄2 kilometers from the Mount Abu settlement, Rajasthan’s only hill station. The earliest were built and supposedly designed or at least financed by Vastupala, Jain minister of Dholka

Victoria Memorial

The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, which was built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna. The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by us.

Architecture

Inspiration comes from Nature

With over 387 years of experience in the marble and granite market, we offer exclusive natural stones and personalized customer service.

Find out about our marble granite and stone products

Explore the many interior design applications with our stones. There are more than 700 options of colors, each with its own identity.

All types of marble granite and stone products

Our Production

We bring together over 30 years of expertise, many own quarries, and a complete industrial park, which is prepared to perform with efficiency and high technology. We are among the 10 largest exports of ornamental stones in India. For more than 387 years, we have been striving for the singularity of our material and excellence in service.

Our marble granite and stone Industry

We have a complete industrial park, storage sheds and has an efficient commercial structure trained to ensure support to customers and logistics partners

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Be part of our team. Work with professionals with decades of experience and selling ornamental rocks for the whole world.

Latest News

As the leading manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of natural stone, we showcase the inclination towards perfection. From quarrying to customizing products and consultancy relating to installation and maintenance, we have been involved in end-to-end execution.

With the capacity to mobilize a broad variety of natural stones, we have been carrying out large-scale natural stone projects. As a long-established natural stone exporter, we are committed to providing the most desirable results to our clients. In doing this, we have gone a long way, leaving our trails in different parts of the globe.

Discover the exclusive natural stone projects completed by us.

Natural Stone Projects in World

Marble granite and stone flooring in big aria

The flaunts a beautiful flooring of natural stone. A stunning combination of polished cobbles and thick granite reflects a soothing aesthetic across the area. The granite shown here in the flooring is Indian Flamed, Polished & Honed Jet Brown Granite that bestows depth and sophistication to the flooring aesthetics. The stone has robust characteristics and it requires less maintenance.

Marble granite and stone for shopping mall

Shopping mall upholds the beauty of Indian Granite with a magnanimous central fountain made in Indian Absolute Black Granite. Thanks to the properties of this black granite, the aesthetics remain speckless for decades.

Marble granite and stone for the office place

The official Palace of Kuwait. It showcases a beautiful embellishment of Indian sandstone varieties that have long been the crown of many historic monuments. The palace is built with Indian Pink Dholpur Sandstone and when installed in combination with the lovely greenery, near the poolside, and fancy patios it fills the space with pleasure. Dholpur Beige, Red and Chocolate sandstone decorates several external architectural elements of the beautiful palace. These include thick wall cladding, arches, pillars, railing and flooring, Gazebos & Coping, and entire external hard landscaping.

Marble, granite, and stone for Mosques

Mosque in Kuwait is a legendary monument in itself. Thanks to a wide variety of Indian granite that adorn the architecture of the building in a subtle yet attractive way. The richness and depth of this place are intensified with the exotic combination of premium quality Indian granite which include Serpeggiante, Bottochino, Alicante, Shivakashi Ivory, Kashmir White, Lavender Blue, Tan Brown & Indian Green Marble – water jet Pattern.

Marble granite and stone for Hospital

Hospitals, the primary healthcare center in the city of Kuwait has implemented a mix of natural stones. One of the major installations is the Green Marble, which bestows a calming ambiance for visitors and patients. Being the leading marble exporters, we supply green marble in slabs and tiles, at a huge scale. Absolute Black Granite is another limelight of its aesthetics while holds a reputation as one of the most durable natural stones.

Marble granite and stone for Hotel

Kuwait City is well known for its vast interior and chandeliered dome. To break the monotony, Hotel is constructed in a modern style giving a touch of luxury. Every bathroom, kitchen island, and buffet restaurant is unsheathed with absolute black granite. Along with this, the beauty of the elevator lobby is modified with the installation of Bottochino Marble slabs.

Marble granite and stone for Residencias Tower

The area of Al Kuwait City is supplied with cobblestones and Sierra Grey Granite as interns. The grey color granite is an exclusive variety that blends white, black, and grey creating an appearance that animates the atmosphere. As integral characteristics, the natural stone is resistant to elements, stains, and spills. Other major highlights are Royal Beige Marble and Green Marble that enliven the aesthetic elements with its eye-catching color combination and patterns.

Marble granite and stone for Complex

The Installation of Indian Sandstone has been done in combination with Saudi Riyadh Stone. The exotic pattern created with premium quality natural stone amplifies the aesthetics of the building.

Granite marble for Tower

Tower, the tallest skyscraper in the city of Kuwait has installed the Indian black beauty, Absolute Black Granite. Also known as Jet Black, the granite slabs endow a refined and classic look to its modern aesthetics. As a leading granite exporter, we provide customized cut-to-size stone that offers elegance and uniqueness.

Marble granite for Towers

The Indian Marble installation in Tower, Kuwait City is an explicit example of marble’s magnificence. Grey cobblestones have been used to complement the outer landscape. With high resistance to fire and robust properties, the stones prove to be an excellent choice over concrete.

Big Buildings

The supply of Green Granite slabs enhances the aesthetics with tranquillity. In combination, Tan Brown Granite maintains its clear reputation for lustiness.

Big Complex

Indian Juprana Granite in combination with Green Granite covers flooring, wall cladding, staircase, and elevator lobby area in Complex, Hawally, Kuwait City. Indian Juparana is a picturesque stone with gentle hues of pink and grey.

Residential Buildings

Granite slabs of Madurai Gold are supplied to Residential Building in Kuwait City. The stone boasts a spectacular cream-white backdrop with glittering ochre sprinkled unevenly.

Marble Granite Stone Project in Qatar

The Medical & Research Centre

Indian Flamed Goldstone Granite, a symbol of luxury creates a soothing ambiance in the Medical & Research Centre, Qatar. It was tasked to supply granite slabs with cuts of different sizes to perfectly match the aluminum framing.

Marble Granite projects in Doha

Indian Black Granite installation in buildings, Doha, Qatar the application with durability and beauty. We offer granite slabs in both rectangular and square shapes.

Granite Stone Project for the shopping center

We have supplied premium quality granite slabs to The shopping center in Bahrain. A highly durable and robust solution in the form of Indian Flamed Jet Brown Granite has been used for flooring over an area of sqm. The granite slabs installed are 6 cm thick with brushing and radial cutting.

Granite Stone Project

Consulate is a classic example of high-quality granite slabs sheathing the internal walls and facade. Granite, being one of the resilient natural stones, it is always preferred in high footfall area. The building incorporates a premium range of granite available at Quality Marble to give a robust yet captivating display. Desert Brown Granite and Indian Madura Gold Granite are the major highlights used in internal cladding to mesmerize the ambiance. Absolute Black Granite, one of the most durable natural stones has been used over prefabricated counters and vanity tops.

Sandstone Project

Pavements at City Centre

An old pathway at City Centre in the was renovated using Indian Shotblasted Desert Camel Quartzite, an ultimate variety of sandstone. The stone with a greyish backdrop and intense orange bands transforms the pavement into a beautiful public space. The sandstone slabs with 5cm and thickness were supplied, contributing to a robust and highly durable pathway. With many more international projects accomplished, we have grown progressively and has expanded its footprint in the global market.

A trendsetting collection of natural stones from high-quality marble to exotic stones have helped architectural icons reach new heights.

Feel free to contact us to translate your natural stone project fancy into reality. We will be happy to guide you in choosing the right stone and maintaining its beauty!

Add by expert and Export team of Bhandari Marble World, India, Rajasthan, Kishangarh -305801

[ahmeddawn]

A Moment for “The Dark Knight”: EPIC film that goes beyond comics

I would like to introduce my first guest author - Shayan Mannan.  The following article is written by Shayan - who is an ADJ reader and also my nephew. At 21, he is a musician, an entrepreneur, a soon to be professional blogger, and a Law & Society student at York University. He just released his first album, the "No Cure" EP which is available on iTunes. Check out his music at his MySpace Page I'm personally into new age music, and after listening to his album (which is electronica) my first comment was "This sounds just like a professional musician. I couldn't have guessed that this wasn't made by well-known artists such as Vangelis or Enigma."

A Moment For "The Dark Knight": EPIC Film That Goes Beyond Comics

The lines were packed to the back of the theater, and Batman shirts and joker-painted faces were out full-fledged. What an AMAZING, EPIC movie.

"So where do I begin...now a year ago these cops and lawyers...” The Dark Knight delivers on all fronts, but let’s get something straight - this isn't your typical summer blockbuster - sure, there's action, but this movie is really a character piece and it explores themes of order and anarchy. It raises questions about morals, society's duplicity, when to cross the line, what is good/evil and looks at philosophical musings.

This is the best Batman film EVER. That title easily belonged to Batman Begins, and how the hell Christopher Nolan was able to continue and make even a better one is a mystery all by itself. This movie is 10 times better; it makes Begins look like, as a friend said to me, "Some bonus feature on a DVD that would be there 'just for flavour.'" Remember, sequels almost always SUCK, so what was done here is nothing to be overlooked.

Christopher Nolan:

This film is dark to the core. Thank you Christopher Nolan. Not only has he revived Batman, he's taken it to levels I don't think any filmmaker who tackles future Batman movies can reach. It makes all the other comic-book movies look like child’s play. Nolan balanced out the screen time decadently and gave both the villains their due diligence (unlike Spidey 3, let's try to forget that one). One of the things that really make it special is the REALISM that Nolan's injected into a fictional character and his world that's made everything believable. I think Nolan and Ledger both deserve Oscars. It's really too bad films like these don't get considered for nominations because "comic-book" movies are looked at as derogatory and something you can't take seriously - which is true for most films, but not this.

I don't know how you go out and make a better Batman film. Seriously. And just like Begins, this was packed with great quotes that you'll remember.

Christian Bale:

Once again perfect, portraying Bruce Wayne/Batman's struggle as a warrior whose city crumbles to the ground after being so close to restoring order thanks to the arrival of the Joker. I agree with my friend that Bale's best times were when he's picking away at his gadgets in the basement or contemplating alone about his horrifying and depressing situation. I'm glad they included a bit more of the playboy Bruce Wayne scenes, and they were hilarious; showing up late on purpose to the party with not one or two but THREE women in his arms, making fun of Dent, and just being an arrogant jackass. I also loved that scene where he sacrificed his Lamborghini to save that dude and then was pretending he has no idea what's going on.

Heath Ledger:

You've heard about how sensational he was, and you really have to SEE it to grasp just how scarily good he was as the Joker. The smallest details, like how he puts down the champagne glass softly instead of throwing it, the slight slouch he walks with instead of standing straight, how he licks his face, his movements in general and his facial expressions add to his creepiness factor. His voice is haunting, and anytime you see him on camera it feels uneasy. The best part is though, is that he's believable because he's human: because if you didn't believe he was human he wouldn't be nearly as scary. Ledger really disappeared into this role, you can't even recognize him. And one of the people in the group I went to see it with really didn't; she had no idea it was Heath Ledger. It's tragic the man passed away, and we'll never see him reprise his role again. Oh yeah, Heath Ledger's Joker slaughters every other Joker before him, including Jack Nicholson's...he makes Jack Nicholson look like...well...a clown.

The joker as a villain - what makes him unique is that he does all the crimes, just for the FUN OF IT: "I don't have a plan. I'm just a...dog chasing a car. I-I wouldn't know what I'd do if I ever caught it!" He doesn't give a damn about money, women, sex or drugs. He just wants chaos, and that's what makes him so scary, because he fits into the type of guys that Alfred explains: "…Aren’t looking for anything logical. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn." This joker is sadistic, psychotic and just simply psychologically disturbing. And he's so smart and can read people well; he understands how people think which is quite ironic since he's a crazy sociopath.

Maggie Gyllenhaal:

I originally didn't know what to think, but was just happy that they replaced Katie Holmes (she was so awful). Alas, Gyllenhaal was SOLID and has the personality that was originally needed which Katie Holmes could just not fill.

Morgan Freeman:

never gets old. Plays the same guy in every movie? Yes. Does he ever get boring though? Love the playful conversations he has with Bale.

Michael Caine:

plays that father-figure perfectly and provides that dead-pan humor needed amid a serious scene with Bale. He's got some of the best lines when he gives his advice.

Gary Oldman:

I'll let my friend sum this up - "The man's a chameleon. He really just brings the a-game to every role he does, and it really is hard to believe he played Sid Vicious, Count Dracula, and a drug dealer all with the same dedication." Also, remember Hannibal? You know the rich old guy in a wheelchair who had the deformed face because Hannibal peeled it off and therefore he wants to exact revenge on Hannibal? That's Gary Oldman.

Aaron Eckhart:

another brilliant casting. Let's face it, when we originally heard that Heath Ledger and Aaron Eckhart were chosen to play Joker and Two Face, we didn't know what to think. That scene when he's on the hospital bed and commands Gordon to say the nickname that they used to call him started the whole transformation into Two-Face nicely. "SAY ITT!!!!" And his face was nasty, scary, and REAL as hell. Easily throws Tommy Lee Jones off the bench (but that’s not really his fault, Batman Forever was just an atrocious movie in all angles).

Random thoughts:

If I had to pick one SPECIFIC action scene as my favourite, it was when the Batpod goes by Joker's trailer truck and....FLIPS OVER that thing like it's nobody's business, and then the Batpod turns back around off the wall in a slick Transformers way. And I never would've guessed that the Batpod is literally a part of the Batmobile; when it shot out and ejected, that was ABSURD!

That blue flame in the beginning - MESMERIZING.

It was nice to see Cillian Murphy/Scarecrow in the beginning, and although it wouldn't be necessary at all, I would've enjoyed seeing Carmine Falcone as well just because I liked Tom Wilkinson so much in the first one.

The scene showing Batman's bruises on his back was awesome and important - because it reminds you he's only human, not one of those typical heroes who fight a 100 men and don't even get a scratch.

Batman Begins' main colour for all the posters, promo, etc. was beige/light-brownish/yellowish, Dark Knight's was blue.

Thank GOODNESS Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard was back to do the score - neither of these movies would be the same without them. The music was masterful and I'm going to buy the album like I buy a lot of Hans Zimmer albums.

The ending again was left open, and it was dark. My friend summed it up perfectly: "even as the credits are about to roll, you really have to sit back for a minute and think "wait a minute, the good guys didn't win at all". And they didn't. The only one that really comes out ahead here is Joker, accomplishing his mission to show the city just how low it can really go."

For a two and half hour movie, it wasn't long enough - you heard right. It goes by so fast and you're left wanting more. The length is justified with all the complexities involved and giving all the characters a deserving screen time. There isn't a single bad moment; it's hard to criticize anything.

Make sure you see this in IMAX - this movie was specifically MADE for IMAX - they shot several important, long scenes in IMAX and it's something to experience, like those shots of Batman gliding through the sky (and of course the incredible action scenes itself).

Movie of the year. I'm not just saying that because I'm a Batman fanatic; you can't tell me there's been a better film so far, nothing comes close. Granted there's still half a year left, so we'll just have to wait to see. This wasn't just the best Batman movie, it's one of the best movies ever made period.

Don't forget Jonathan Nolan, Chris Nolan's brother who actually wrote the story with him. This is obviously a key reason why this movie rocked.

Sequel:

I want to see The Riddler. I think he'd be sly and DANGEROUS, especially the way Nolan does films. Just think of all the puzzles and mazes he could put Batman through.

I'm going to go see The Dark Knight again. And again.

- Shayan Mannan

First Published: ADawnJournal.com Published on: Jul 29, 2008

[oselatra]

2017 Best of Arkansas editors' picks

Pie, dog-chasing-geese watching, wrecked groceries, etc.

Best place to get up close and personal with a pegbox

"Rachel, are these all done? Are you working your way down?"

Joe Joyner, violist and owner of the Little Rock Violin Shop, stands behind a row of violins, each instrument sitting on its side, like dominoes, atop a workbench. Rachel Herman, the shop's bookkeeper and sales associate (and an award-winning violinist), is photographing one violin after another as part of the shop's move to offer an increased inventory of restored and repaired violins for sale online. One of the shop dogs — two chocolate long-haired dachshunds named Truffles and Omobono, the latter of whom takes his name from the son of a famous Italian violinmaker, Antonio Stradivari — barks, sensing that the attention has shifted away from him.

At first glance, even for someone who's spent time around orchestras, the violins all look pretty much the same. If you stare at the row long enough, though, variations emerge. One's a muted amber color; another a ruddy orange. A few have pristine, hard candy complexions, others have been around the sun a few more times. Each instrument contains around 80 pieces of hand-carved wood, and a few of the older models have begun to deepen and mature, as organic materials are wont to do. On those models, there's a warmer complexity to the wood, and despite an expert restoration — a replaced chinrest, a new bridge — a couple of them look like they've been around long enough to have a few good stories.

Joyner and his team do much of their business renting instruments, giving lessons and setting beginners up for a trouble-free first year, but old instruments are their passion. "Every instrument has its own story to tell," the shop's website reads, "from the fabled histories of the craftsmen who made them to the remarkable journeys of the musicians, collectors and restorers who have preserved them over the past four centuries. At LRVS we recognize our role as temporary caretakers for these tools of art whose useful life may well exceed our own."

One such temporary caretaker, Josh Wheeler (another accomplished violinist), is seated at another workbench along the shop's perimeter, violin in hand. Like Joyner, he's wearing a heavy canvas apron, and the workspace he's hunched over is lined with at least a dozen plastic bottles, stacks of small cylindrical vials and an assortment of small hand tools. Overhead, violins hang from a rack as if they were pots and pans, and a pegboard lining the wall is equipped with paper merchandise tags, bridges of various sizes and tiny drawers full of tuning pegs and screws.

Joyner picks up a violin that Wheeler restored a year or so ago. "For this one, we took it apart. It was a major restoration. It's from the 1820s, 1830s, probably." It's priced at $6,500. "With a lot of older instruments, you can't really attribute it to a specific maker. The really nice instruments — the old Italian ones that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars — they spend a lot of time and effort to figure out exactly who made it." I ask about the frequency of forgeries, instruments meant to pass as an Italian rarity, worthy of a pedestal and glass case in a museum somewhere. "Absolutely," he said. "That happens, and they're not always intending to pass instruments off as fakes." He tells a story about a violinmaker in England ("one of the best in the world," Joyner says) who used an Italian antique to make what's called a "bench copy" — a replica of a treasured original made with the original instrument present, or, in violinmaker parlance, "on the bench." Once in the hands of a new owner, the violin was passed off as the genuine article and picked up by a big-name auction house, making it to the cover of the house's auction catalog before the violinmaker, seeing it, recognized his own work and called foul.

In the violin world, questions of authenticity are ever-present — and maddeningly subjective. "There are makers today that are every bit as good as Stradivarius," Joyner said. "But their instruments aren't 300 years old. They don't have these fabled histories and they don't inspire players the way playing a 300-year-old instrument does." Blind and double-blind studies tend to support what Joyner says about living violinmakers: Most often, new violins aren't distinguishable or preferred overwhelmingly to those crafted by the old masters.

Joyner should know. He's heard a lot of violins since 1998, when he began playing viola with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. After those first two seasons, Joyner headed for school in Houston, where he played with Orchestra X, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra and the Victoria Symphony. Before returning to Little Rock in 2007, Joyner attended the Bow Making School of America in Salt Lake City, where he honed the skills he'd use to start up his workbench operation the Little Rock Bow Shop, now the much more comprehensive (and tenured) LRVS.

When it comes to his own choice of instrument, Joyner's put his trust in the shop's own luthier, Wesley Rule. Rule makes his home in El Paso (White County), and is in the shop Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Like many luthiers, Rule uses measurements from the old Italian masters to make new ones. For Joyner's instrument, Rule used a pattern based on a viola by the Brothers Amati, two famous luthiers from late 16th century Cremona. "Brothers Amati violas are always my favorite violas to play on. I love the way they sound, so I commissioned him to make one." SS

The Little Rock Violin Shop is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit littlerockviolinshop.com.

Best conspiracy theory

Courtesy of Turnt Woolridge on Twitter (@twooldridge):

"2006: Houston Nutt is forced to hire Gus Malzahn in order to land Mitch Mustain. Nutt resents it, treats Malzahn badly. Malzahn leaves.

2007: In large part due to outrage over Nutt's treatment of Mustain/Malzahn, a message board FOIAs phone records that help take Nutt down.

2011: Freeze coaches ASU for one year, leaving for Ole Miss to replace fired Nutt, and getting replaced by none other than Gus Malzahn.

2017: Nutt gets Freeze fired using the same message board tactics that got him fired, which were precipitated by his treatment of Malzahn.

If Mitch Mustain hadn't decommitted from his first commitment to Arkansas, none of this would have happened."

Best pie

Everyone knows (or should) that Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales in Lake Village is an essential stop en route to New Orleans or the Redneck Riviera for Delta-style tamales, but don't forget pie. Rhoda's half-and-half pecan and sweet potato pie is unrivaled. The secret ingredient, I suspect, is 20 sticks of butter. Or scoops and scoops of lard. Or something else bad for you. But how can a pie so good you dream about it be bad for you? LM

Best place to see a border collie run after geese

There's a big, white bird. I've been told it is a goose but it looks to me like a swan. It hangs around MacArthur Park, near the pond. This bird is an asshole. Whenever I go running in the park and come anywhere near it, the goose-creature-thing makes eye contact, turns up its ugly face, and charges me. I run away scared. While fleeing, the lack of support from any of the other geese always pisses me off. I never get an "I'm sorry for my friend doing that" or "Oh man, the goose-swan is such a jerk, it's actually just working out its own insecurities." These other geese enable the swan-goose by milling about in total silence near the water or pooping in the grass. Their silence damns them, too. Why can't we both enjoy the park, geese? You poop; I run and step in your poop. That's harmony! There does not have to be a conflict! But, there is. So, I called the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department to learn more about my enemies, to hopefully bridge the gap even. I was only disheartened. I learn these are "resident geese." They do not migrate, sticking around the area for the entire year. This is their turf and they are not going to adjust to me. Attempts to relocate them have gone poorly, too — a rope around the pond and flashing yellow lights at night both failed. What to do then? (And, no, I am not anti-goose enough to advocate for the idea of hunting them as was proposed a few years back). But, there is a light in the darkness. "Her name is Jill," Eric Bowden, assistant facilities supervisor for Rebsamen Golf Course tells me. Jill is a border collie that runs after these geese. The geese fly away when they see Jill (safely to another spot where they can relax). "She's a certified goose dog," Bowden told me and "very effective." The geese are scared of Jill because, to them, she has "got that fox look" and so when they land they think it's a predator but it's just Jill and "a scare tactic," Bowden said. No harm to the geese. He also explained to me how the whole geese-clearing process works, he said, "If we see geese, we get her out." Here are some perks of being Jill: She has an AC kennel, she has a steady job with good benefits and she is a hero that runs after the damn geese. Go be a certified goose dog watcher and check out Jill at Rebsamen Golf Course. JR

Best summer jams from a White County native you haven't heard

In this age of music on demand, does a song of summer have to be one that you can't escape, that soundtracks every visit to the pool or roller rink or snow cone stand? Can't you simply decide on your own song of the summer in the comfort of your headphones at work? Of course! In that spirit, consider the new solo record from Judsonia native Beth Ditto, "Fake Sugar," especially the first half of it — tracks 1 through 6 could all be on your S.O.S shortlist. Ditto, who led the now defunct pop-punk band Gossip for more than a decade, has a voice as big as anyone this side of Adele, but until now, it's mostly been used in a kind of agro blues belt. On "Fake Sugar," the arrangements are stripped down and poppy, leaving plenty of room for Ditto to offer up the full range of her vocals. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she name-checked Bobbie Gentry as an influence on the album, and listening to Ditto's Southern-accented riffs on the title track, with lines like "hambone, hambone, where you been," does make me daydream about the possibility of a self-described queer, feminist, fat girl from White County becoming a country pop radio darling. LM

Best summer jams from a White County native you haven't heard, part II

"Hopelessness is a catchy tune we can't get out of our head," Isaac Alexander sings on "Silver Line," one of the many summer bummery pop gems on his new album, "Like a Sinking Stone." Alexander, a Searcy native who lives in Little Rock, has been making music prolifically since he was a teenager (Screaming Mimes, Big Silver, The Easys, The Boondogs, Greers Ferry), but he's slowed down in recent years as he's been putting out solo records. This is his first record in five years. It's sonically and lyrically of a piece of his previous two highly recommended releases, "Antivenin Suite" (2012) and "See Thru Me" (2008): Like those albums, he recorded it in Nashville with Joe McMahan (Luella and the Sun) and other ace session musicians, and he's still writing about the sort of things all of us in middle age obsess over: love, fate, faith, identity, death, boredom. It's dark in spots, but Alexander has a warm sense of humor and an unwavering commitment to melody — the record sticks to you. LM

Best place for weird pantry supplies

Smoked paprika is some next-level stuff, and they don't carry it at my neighborhood Kroger. For that — or for beeswax, or mosquito-repellent citronella essential oil, I need to plant myself just downhill from Professor Bowl on Reservoir Road, squarely between Natural Grocers and Drug Emporium No. 240. Between these two businesses, you could score a giant vat of sunflower oil, soy-based meat substitutes you thought went out of print, a few dozen types of flour, bulk spices like cumin and chili powder, and tempeh that tastes like bacon. And, if you're so inclined, you can choose from a dizzying collection of knock-off designer fragrances the likes of which have not been seen since "Electric Youth" came out. DK

Best place to go if you have a need for speed

The heat off the pavement melts the horizon as tires scream for their lives, forced by the mountainous fury of an 8.4-liter V10. Dozens of bright orange traffic cones denote a winding track. Drivers from all across the region are competing to complete the fastest lap ... in the parking lot of War Memorial Stadium. Welcome to Autocross. The ARSCCA (Arkansas Sports Car Club of America) has been putting on Autocross events for years and have held races at War Memorial, Blytheville Aeroplex, Walnut Ridge and other locations featuring large swaths of flat asphalt. The concept is simple: Make your way through a cone track in as little time as possible. The rules are a bit more complex, however. Cars are inspected and placed into designated classes based on their performance from the factory as well as any modifications installed by the owner. If you're thinking your family sedan isn't fit to make the cut, that's all right. Motorheads of all ages can have a blast at Autocross events even as spectators. If you ask nicely, most of the drivers are happy to oblige a ride-along for those enthusiastic about speed. Stay tuned to arscca.org for scheduling or head up to War Memorial on Aug. 19 for the next event in Little Rock. JL

Best thrifting

The Goodwill store at 16924 Cantrell Road in Little Rock, a.k.a The Good Goodwill (as opposed to The Badwill on Markham), where wage slaves like you and me can pick up McMansionite castoffs galore, including designer clothes, shoes, decent furniture, solid sports equipment and housewares. It's a bit of a haul out there from downtown, but there's always a better class of junk to be had at The Good Goodwill than the stuff at your average thrift store, and all just as cheap as you'd expect. DK

Best gastronomic Everest

That would be the "Free Steak" at Brangus Steakhouse in Russellville, a mammoth 4-pound hunk of choice sirloin, which is yours free if you are able to move it from the table to inside your body in less than one hour. Sadly, you have to bring your own wheelbarrow to have yourself hauled out, groaning. The big 'un does come with two side orders and toast, though, in case you really want to tie one on. If you don't summit Mount Beef in under 60 minutes, no worries: The Free Steak becomes a $60 steak (which, come to think of it, is actually a dang good bargain for a pound of sirloin per person if you want to split that sucker with four friends). Check out their full menu at http://ift.tt/2w1suhf. DK

Best place to buy semi-questionable grub

When a truck hauling food crashes, the insurance company pays off. It would be a little crazy to throw all that food out, though, which is where Wild West Salvage Grocery, at 215 S. Redmond Road in Jacksonville comes in. The fare changes every week and varies by quality (and expiration date... keep an eye on that), but recent offerings in their store (photos at http://ift.tt/2v8OlHn) include cans of Diet Coke 10 for a buck, jars of Heinz chicken gravy two for a dollar, five- pound bags of fully cooked and frozen popcorn chicken for $6.99, five-pound bags of raw catfish fillets for $9.98, plus grocery-store sized cases of name brand candy, orange juice, Starbucks drinks, Gatorade and more for prices that fairly scream: "Why you cheap, cheap bastard!" Yeah, you have to be a little adventurous to shop there, so if all this skeezes you out a bit, pass on by and head to the boring old grocery store, you wastrel. If you're looking for a deal, though, it's an option. DK

Best beach within reach

While we all wish we could teleport to the white sands of the Redneck Riviera down in Florida whenever we want, that day has not yet come. Until then, you can placate yourself with some of the sand beaches available on various lakes around the state. It's definitely better than nothing. Though the long, curving beach at DeGray Lake Resort State Park has been our go-to for several years, it can get a bit crowded on weekends. Our secret fallback is the little beach at Crystal Springs Campground, just off Highway 270 west of Hot Springs. Quiet, secluded, situated on a broad, clear, spring-fed inlet a good ways off the main body of the lake, it's all a bit rustic, but features a combination bathroom and changing house, built-in charcoal grills, a playground for the kiddies and — most importantly — a clean sand beach under the shade trees. The ocean it ain't, but if you're looking for a place to do some swimming, lounging and drinking on the sand, it'll do in a pinch. DK

2017 Best of Arkansas editors' picks

[blubszog]

When In Fog City

I'm now in Burlingame, CA: suburb of San Francisco: the end of the continent. In this Bay Area, it is a grey area blanketed in morning fog. But still the trees are singing, and bells are ringing in a new age, toothauzindsevantean. We are closing in on the conclusion to yet another decade, and still I haven't forgotten my somebodyness. Oh how I yearn to be holy, and yet in my yearning I'll never be holy. So now I'm out of guacamole for my chips, I must make more guacamole. Well, never have I made guacamole, and yet I have made ravioli before, which I enjoy less than guacamole, alas. Yes tuonnysevvinteene, nonetheless we've all got enough shit to examine, both out there and within ourselves. With the rivers drying, trees dying, the oceans rising. Mother Nature deluges us now with a climatic morass comparable to human female pre-menstrual events. By the way, there's a brand new phone that's just hit the market. With it is storage memory enough for 9,000,000 photos and every last mobile application in existence. Never again need you to go out and do anything or speak to anyone, ever, finally! It also has two arms and legs allowing it to move about independently; you can even program its voice to sound like your mother's. Furthermore, it'll pluck out your own pubic hairs on command! Go now on to Snapchat and shoot a live video of your own reaction concerning the emergence of this new, exciting, neat little device. Then, watch others as they pour out their hearts in dramatic testimonials, vote for your favorite one. Hopefully, you'll get fucked in your precious little face with some appreciation! I digress. So San Francisco. Me and some family waltzed around (sometimes practically hiking perpendicular to the ground up and down The City's many undulating hills) getting a good up close and personal look at the idiosyncrasies found in any city. Particularly fascinating concerning San Fran are its building which seem to grow from out of one another in horizontal bunches, blanketing the hills and valleys of a lush, mountainous peninsula on America's West coast. We departed on foot from our hotel in historic, iconic Chinatown, to the Ferry Building for lunch, then to an underground Muni station on the corner of Market and Drumm streets; the underground Muni, being San Fran's subway system. We got off in The Castro, a prominent SF neighborhood known for housing mostly The City's gay contingency. There are prideful, rainbow colored crosswalks and rainbow flags adorning the windows of homes and businesses alike. One such business, a public house called 440 Castro, sports a front door poster. What's on said poster but an image of a faceless, nude male body, nude save for a pair of boxer-briefs donning the imprint of a well-endowed member. It's clarion call reads something like: "Rock Hard: Battle of the Bulges: Every first Monday at 9 p.m.: Hosted by Shando Darby." Be there. Then there is historic Castro Theatre, which displays posters you're more comfortable showing your grandmother, of 'The Sound Of Music' sing-a-long, (oh joy) as well as a showing of '2001: A Space Odyssey.' We proceeded to walk past several well-decorated cafés, salons, and hole-in-the-wall food joints. There's plenty of those kinds of places throughout town, but the difference in this particular neighborhood is they are well-decorated. Now at this point, my aunt expressed her wanting to walk around Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, and, in her words, "Go see some couterculture." We received directions from a volunteer who noticed our unawareness of how to get to our desired location. He was a buddha of a man, indeed a very, very round man with the plan. No distinguishable chin nor head had he, but rather one contiguous neck with a face on it. He had insisted we take the bus, however, we with our unsure, odd midwestern demeanor implied shyly our wishes to walk, when really we were probably afraid of interacting with the whole bus-riding garble in an unfamiliar land with unfamiliar folk. Finally, after not really ignoring him, yet not quite interacting with and heeding him either, he waved us off and gave up. I overheard him say rather cynically half to himself, "I'll just mind my own business" and he returned to sitting on sidewalk bench with his cane and conversing intimately with friend, whom also attempted in vain to assist us. With this, we continued on foot, onward along Castro Street to Haight Street. That's Haight, spelled h.a.i.g.h.t., not h.a.t.e., the neighborhood name, Haight-Ashbury does not tell you to hate Ashbury, nor is it a hotbed for hate crime, actually it's the intersection of two streets marking the epicenter. Now Haight-Ashbury is the hippie capital of the world, or so it was in the 1960's. To get an idea for the place, it's like Dinkytown without the spoiled college students, turn up the general funk of the place to 9,000, three times the size, and add some washed up hippies, bums, and other folk, all of whom are right on the sidewalk; either drunk, stoned, getting drunk, or getting stoned, or of those activities, some permutation. Even now as I describe it, I can almost smell the marijuana wafting from every alleyway. However, don't get the wrong idea, it's a charming place, enough. After all, my aunt, a biology professor at a small college in rural Wisconsin, was willing to walk with her two daughters and two nephews there. We proceeded on into a small clothing shop right off of Haight Street. I didn't rummage through the store's wares myself, but instead made friendly with the young woman working behind the counter. She greeted us as we came in, "hope you're staying warm out there," I found humor in this, as it was a 50 degree evening. I told her we were from MN and WI so the weather was devoid of any hardship. Also I told her we were over to see my uncle in Mendocino County, (which is a couple of hours north in wine and olive country) at this she exclaimed, "I'm from Mendocino, that's so great!" etc. I was sampling the smells of their essential oil collection, when I came across blessed, holy sandalwood. I reveled in its blessing aroma then commented to the gal working there that you couldn't go wrong with it. She agreed, and we ended up saying "great" or some such word in unison. Of course, I was obligated, "Jinks! I like Pepsi." Said she, "I'll have a soda ready for you next time you come by." I chuckled then said "I'll come back, but, well, who knows when that'll be." She was warming up to me, I would have wished to stay a while and talk to her, the least I could've done was take down her contact and then I would've had an ally to turn to in San Francisco. However, none of that occurred, as I was flummoxed by the sudden departure of my kin. I left her forever with a, "oh, looks like my folks are jetting, peace" she just looked somewhat longingly back at me, not saying anything. How I berated and hated myself the remainder of the night and the proceeding day for not even at least inquiring as to her name! Perhaps she could've showed me goings on, new people, new experiences, in a new fascinating town, San Francisco: the end of the continent! Not to mention, she was pretty, too. But still, we must let all this to pass, allow the feelings of desire run their course and ourselves remain in present, for doors to new blessings are always opening and closing, no matter what you do. Despite that, the rest of that night was good, and rest of the trip too was good. We went north into still more lush and mountainous wine country to my uncle's and his newly husband's ranch. What did I learn that day? San Francisco is grooving at the end of the continent. Her buildings, in contiguous horizontal stacks of a Victorian menagerie, a testament to her aesthetic, cultural grandeur. If indeed you find yourself standing on Ferry Plaza, take your look around the around the Bay: away South towards Palo Alto, then to the East, the Oakland skyline, then continuing with your eye northward still to see Sausalito and Marin county beyond, and finally the wide endless ocean; guarded by the Golden Gate. One hell of a bridge, with great, hulking, scarlet, ladder-like doorways, welcoming and fare-thee-well-ing sailors, locals, and travelers alike. Sometimes, you just about can't differentiate whether you're in California, U.S.A. or some dream. Or so it would seem to one such as me, after living in frightfully freezing, flat Minneapolis; which has its own charm, but that is another story.