#Honda X-Blade Pictures

[demiiemmi]

fuck it ill do it myself

Bellanca Aircruiser, from what I can tell this appears to be the 66/75 variant

Convair F2Y Sea Dart

Beecraft Wee Bee

Seems like a personal project that happened to have a photo shared, can't even find who made it anywhere

Lockheed Martin P-791 Airship

Condor Scnark ZK-JEK, made in New Zealand, seemingly by a single person with the goal of making a 2 seater microlight

Little Wing Autogyro, the name is literally in the picture it's not hard to find

Hiller X-18 Convertiplane experimental cargo transport

Boeing L-15/YL-15 Scout

Rose Hereth/David Rose RP-4, an aircraft designed to break the sound barrier using 2 V8s and a dream (though it seems to not yet be completed so it hasn't actually done it yet)

Blohm & Voss BV-141 Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft

Bartini Berieve VVA-14, a ground effect based, VTOL, amphibious aircraft. It was intended to have inflatable pontoons on outer sections of the fuselage to allow it to land on water, sand, marsh, or basically any other surface, as well as 12 lift jets in two rows along the aircraft body, meant to allow it to have VTOL capabilities so it could take off from anywhere, alongside 2 high power turbofans resting atop the hull to allow it to reach speeds of 760 km/h and altitudes of 33,000 ft using its more conventional wings. Almost none of these features ever came to fruition before the Soviet Union pulled funding to invest in less risky projects while they were on the brink of collapse. oh uh. what were we talking about again?

Bréguet 1050 Alizé

Rutan Model 202 Boomerang

Budd RB-1 Conestoga

MacCready Gossamer Condor, the first ever human powered aircraft. like. flintstones car. but a plane

A modified Northrop F-5 for DARPA sonic boom testing.

Lockheed Martin X-59 QueSST, an aircraft developed by the Lockheed Skunk Works division for NASA's 'Low Boom Flight Demonstrator' project, designed to create a significantly decreased percieved volume sonic boom by using the aircraft shape to direct the majority of it up and into space, away from people on the ground, to demonstrate the possibility for supersonic flight over civilian populations in the current day

Another photo of the Convair F2Y Sea Dart

Lockheed XFV Salmon, a tail sitting VTOL aircraft prototype created to demonstrate VTOL technologies in fighters

Stipa-Caproni, an experimental, barrel shaped aircraft that basically made the entire fuselage a ducted fan

SNECMA C.450 Coléoptère, a tail sitting VTOL aircraft similar to the Lockheed XFV, though with a less conventional annular wing design

McDonnel Douglas MD-81(UHB), a propfan/unducted or open rotor turbofan technology demonstrator, an engine design meant to have the performance of a turbofan with the efficiency of a turboprop, though it never came to fruition due to excessive noise and an inherent decrease in maximum blade tip speed as opposed to a more standard ducted turbofan, though recently CFM International has continued development of technologygy

Hawker Siddley Nimrod (Left: R1, Right: MR2), a British maritime patrol aircraft developed as a modification to the de Havilland Comet, the first ever jet airliner

Lippisch-Dornier Aerodyne, a wingless, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle

Honda HA-420 HondaJet, a light business jet with unconventional over-the-wing engines, positioned allow for the structure within the aircraft for rear mounted engines, allowing Honda to have a smaller cabin length then they otherwise would've been able to squeeze out of the aircraft while not decreasing (or possibly increasing) the total internal cabin size

Rockwell B-1 Lancer, a supersonic, swing wing, heavy bomber.

Left: Northrop YB-35, an experimental heavy bomber designed to be highly efficient due to the reduced parasitic drag and structural weight not responsible for lift. Right: Northrop YB-49, YB-35s converted to jets as the program stalled due to the US Government not wanting to invest heavily in propellor based aircraft as jet aircraft became more common.

Douglas X-3 Stiletto, an experimental aircraft used to test design features suitable for sustained supersonic flight, including the first use of titanium in major airframe components.

Boeing X-32 "Ugly Duckling", a demonstrator designed to compete in the Joint Strike Fighter program, losing to the Lockheed Martin X-35 (developed into the F-35) due to major design inefficiencies (mainly the inability to fly supersonic and have VTOL capabilities without a long, manual transition between configurations which the X-35 was capable of, automatically, mid flight)

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise

Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane

Solar Impulse 2, an experimental solar powered aircraft concept

NASA AD-1, an experimental aircraft designed to test the feasability of an oblique wing design at low speeds (kinda stupid plane because the oblique wings are most beneficial at high (and particularly supersonic) speeds)

Korabl Maket (KM) (Caspian Sea Monster), a Soviet ekranoplan designed as a demonstration for how the ground effect can be used to allow gargantuan aircraft to fly with relative efficiency. Named the Caspian Sea Monster after an American reconnaissance sattelite photographed it resting in a harbour in the Caspian Sea

This appears to be the RC Aircraft PeterStripol made in this video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hgUlIYeA-7k for Flite Test as one of its wings failed mid flight at 12:30

there, that should be all of them, happy?

weird and unsettling aircraft

[fuckingrecipes]

“if you’re driving a vehicle you should be responsible enough to know your tire size, oil type, how to change a tire, etc etc etc

Fuck that noise. 

You DONT need to have all that shit memorized. It’s a lot. Cars are made of metal magic and Go juice. You can learn as you go. Google that shit.

When you own a car, you SHOULD know how to look up parts and basic fixes to save yourself spending $80+ at an auto repair place for what’s actually a $18 part, 10 minutes following along with a video, and no tools aside from your own fingers. There’s a handy list below the cut. 

Mechanics ALSO don’t have every fix for every car memorized. They know generally how cars work, and I’ve SEEN them watching how-to youtube videos for cars they’ve never worked on before. You can, too!

How to learn how to fix your car:

#1: Know your car’s Make (the company who made it like Honda, Ford, Toyota or Hyundai) 

Model (The name of the car’s type, like ‘Civic’ ‘Camry’ ‘Accent’ or ‘Explorer’ - sometimes these are longer, like ‘Explorer Max XL’, which are different from the base standard ‘Explorer’

And Year (The year that model was released. A Toyota Camry 2003 and a Toyota Camry 2021 may have a few similar parts, but many different ones, since car makers tend to make changes to the car’s design every year)

If you don’t have your make/model/year memorized, the car’s VIN - Vehicle Identification Number popped into google will tell you that information. Find the VIN in one of the locations below. It varies for each kind of car. 

Once you know the Make/Model/Year, google it followed by ‘How to X’

For instance: “Toyota Camry 2013 How to change headlight”

There’s instantly a step-by-step video and several text-and-picture how-to guides on how to access the headlight port, how to change it, and how to screw it back in.  Changing a lightbulb on most cars DOES NOT require any tools - just your fingers and knowledge of what to unscrew, in what order.

To find what parts I need, I’d google “Toyota Camry 2013 replacement headlight bulb” - and bam! I’ve got a bunch of websites telling me the serial number of the bulb I’d need! Easy enough to walk into an auto parts place, find that serial number (or ask the front desk to find it for you) buy it, then follow along to the guide to install it.

I could also go to Autozone’s website. At the top you can enter what car you’re working on, and the site will tell you what part goes with that particular car.

Car Fixes that are VERY easy to DIY, are hard to fuck up, and don’t require any tools for most cars:

Changing a headlight, taillight, or blinker < - accessing the bulb depends on the car, but it’s usually behind a panel that pops or twists into place. Rarely, a car will ask you to loosen a nut, which may require a $4-$6 spanner. After that it’s just a fat light bulb. A single bulb usually costs between $10 and $30, depending on which one you’re replacing.  (A mechanic would add an extra $50-$70 to that cost, in labor)

Replacing windshield wipers/ Wiper blades <-- They wiggle on and off. Just buy the replacement blades and pop ‘em on with your hands. No tools needed. Windshield wipers are usually between $10-$40   (A mechanic would add an extra $10-$15 to that cost, in labor)

Replacing Air Filters <-- If you know you won’t be using your car overnight, you can usually re-use air filters by hosing the gunk off until the water runs clear and then THOROUGHLY drying it in front of a fan overnight. Plus there’s no special tool to access them, usually. They’re behind a panel that pops off, or has a small lever that you pull. There’s engine air filters, for air going into your engine, and cabin air filters, for your AC/heat system. Replacing either of them yourself should cost between $20-$40  (A mechanic would add an extra $20-$35 to that cost, in labor)

Refilling Windshield wiper fluid <-- make sure you’re putting the correct fluid in the correct spout! Putting windshield wiper fluid into your oil pan or radiator can fuck up your car pretty good. Double check this one. A gallon jug of it should cost like, $5-$10. You should top up your wiper fluid every 5k miles or so, since letting the reservoir get ENTIRELY empty can damage the motor. Getting the motor replaced is way more expensive. One $3 gallon lasts you a couple fluid fill ups. A mechanic may charge up to $40 for a single fill-up.

Refilling tire air - You’ll need a couple quarters to pay the air pump at a gas station or car wash, but after that it’s all in your hands. Mayyyybe $3 in quarters if you’re topping up all four tires. Some air pumps have a minimum $1.50 before it’ll start. Some gas stations offer free air!

Checking your car’s motor oil (aka engine oil) <-- Free! CHANGING your car’s oil does need several tools and a way to jack up the car, but checking the engine oil’s status is really easy - The oil should be between the 2 dots on the dipstick. If it’s near the bottom dot, or below it, you should add more Motor Oil  (Not gasoline. Motor oil is something different) If the oil is dark brown, black, sludge-like, or frothy, you should get it changed.

 It’s generally cheaper to get your motor oil changed at a shop than to do it yourself, as long as you don’t get ANY other fixes while you’re there, because they upcharge on everything aside from oil changes. For perspective, if I already owned all the tools needed and just needed to buy the oil filter and motor oil, it’d cost me about $40. My local valvoline will give me an oil change for $25, because they can buy oil in bulk and assume I’ll be getting one of the other overcharged services. The cheap oil change is their loss-leader, or something they accept they’ll make no profit on because it attracts customers.

Change Car battery <-- requires 1 adjustable wrench (aka a spanner) - small adjustable spanners can cost as little as $4.  A car battery usually costs between $75 and $125.  It’s literally a battery brick bolted into place. be careful with the order that you remove cables, but if you can replace the batteries in a child’s toy, you can do this. Please drop the used/dead car battery at a recycle center or other proper disposal place (google “car battery disposal near me”)  Mechanics often charge an extra $80-$100+ in labor to switch out a battery.

Check what your check engine light means: FREE! Sometimes a car’s alert light means something is terribly wrong. Sometimes it means a sensor has wiggled loose. You can check what those dash alerts mean FOR FREE by going to Autozone and asking to use their Diagnostic Reader. - It plugs into a port and tells you what code the car’s computer is yelling about. You can then google that code to find out what’s going on in the engine and decide if you need a fix RIGHT NOW, or if it can wait. (How to locate the port to plug it in)

About Jacking Up/ Raising a Car:  Jacking up a car just means you’re making the underside of it safely accessible. You can do this by driving your car half up onto a curb and engaging your parking break so that sucker can’t roll off onto your head.  Don’t use cinderblocks, since they can crumble under a car’s weight, and make sure the ground is HARD, not soft - you don’t want the car sinking into mud or soft earth while you’re under it or when the tire is off.

A proper Car Jack (if you don’t want to use the ‘find a curb’ method) costs $50-$100

Being able to jack up a car gives you access to more complex stuff, if you decide to pursue more work-and-tool intensive DIYs, like flushing your radiator fluid, changing your brake pads, changing tires, replacing oil, etc.

Once you have your car jacked up safely on your wood, curb, or proper jack, all you need to change a tire is

1) the replacement tire, (Google “Car’s Make Model year Replacement Tire” to find which one you need) A regular replacement tire costs about $50-$150. Some cars require low-profile tires, which are ‘sportier’ and more expensive - can be closer to the $200 range.

2) a lug wrench to remove the funky bolts that hold the tire in place. A universal Lug Wrench costs about $15-$20

Have fun!

[alectoperdita]

Fictober - Day 8

prompt: 8 - “Can you stay?” fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters pairing: Jounouchi Katsuya/Kaiba Seto rating: PG-13 warnings: minor character death in the background a/n: holy shit, this is completely unrelated to any previous kaijou i’ve written

Jounouchi sat back and admired the picture that Kaiba presented: bed-tousled hair, the crescent-shaped marks peppered along his spine, and the elegant curve of his shoulder blades as he shrugged on a pressed linen shirt. Given how they’d clawed the clothing off each other, Jounouchi had no idea how the shirt stayed unwrinkled. Kaiba stood, threading one long leg into his underwear. He left behind an indentation in the second-hand mattress inherited from Honda.

Jounouchi’s furniture were all shabby hand-me-downs. The real miracle was Kaiba, with his fancy sports cars and manor-living, tolerating his apartment long enough to visit.

For a brief moment, he fantasized what it’d be like to fuck Kaiba in his home. Would Kaiba make more or less noise spread across his own sheets? How big was his bed? What color were his bedroom walls? Did he have any embarrassing little secrets tucked into the back of his underwear drawer? The questions were moot points. Kaiba’d never invite him to the manor. 

They weren’t dating. They weren’t even friends. At best, they were fuck buddies—with emphasis on the fucking. 

They were almost eleven months into their arrangement with no end in sight. Jounouchi couldn’t fathom why Kaiba sought him out week after week. He was probably overthinking it. They were physically and sexually compatible. That probably made Jounouchi a convenient no-attachment partner. He couldn’t complain too much. It wasn’t a bad arrangement.

“Hey,” he said.

Kaiba tensed, spine steeling at the sound of his voice. He zipped up his pants before responding, “What?” He was especially monosyllabic after sex.

“I’m going out of town. So I won’t be around next week.”

Kaiba turned toward him. As his flinty eyes traced over Jounouchi’s face, Jounouchi suppressed a shiver. He hated this most about Kaiba: how he seemed to dissect Jounouchi with his cutting gaze. Now he regretted telling Kaiba in person, instead of over text like he originally planned.

“I’m visiting Shizuka,” added Jounouchi. It’d been a year since he last saw his sister.

A fraction of tension immediately bled out of Kaiba’s stiff shoulders. With a brisk nod, he returned to fiddling with his cufflinks. “Understood. Text me after you return.”

Jounouchi stayed quiet as Kaiba finished dressing. He was in no hurry to leave bed. He and Kaiba never bothered with social niceties. Yet when Kaiba placed a hand on the doorknob, Jounouchi couldn’t help himself.

He swung his legs over the side of the saggy mattress and sat up. “Should I bring you a souvenir?”

Kaiba craned his neck to meet Jounouchi’s eyes. They stared at each other. Jounouchi waited with bated breath for some insult or banter to fall from Kaiba’s thin lips.

“Have a safe trip, Jounouchi.” Kaiba left the bedroom door ajar in the wake of his swift exit.

Floored by the response, Jounouchi flopped back on the bed. He gawked at his ceiling while Kaiba’s footsteps grew fainter. Seconds later, his front door went thunk, announcing Kaiba’s departure from the apartment. He told himself not to let it go to his head. Falling for Kaiba Seto would be the worst mistake he could make. Worse than throwing his lot with Hirutani’s crew and dumber than taking Ra’s fiery fury straight to the face.

-x-x-x-

Tragedy ultimately cut his visit with Shizuka short. Correction. Jounouchi didn’t know if he really considered his old man’s death a tragedy. Jounouchi Koji died as he lived: stinking drunk. His death, a fatal tumble down the stairs that snapped his neck, was quicker and less painful than he deserved.

Jounouchi headed back to Domino on Shinkansen first. Shizuka promised to follow as soon as she could convince their mother and take time from school. She would break that promise. Not because she didn’t care. But their mother held a grudge. Her icy heart was second only to Kaiba’s.

Even though he hadn’t spoken or seen his father since he moved out three years ago, it fell to Jounouchi to arrange the funeral. Between work and putting the old man’s messy affairs into order, Jounouchi was beyond exhausted. He felt like he aged years in a week. During that hectic period, his friends carried him on their backs. Anzu filled his fridge with containers of “leftovers.” Yuugi spent more nights on Jounouchi’s couch than in his own bed. Honda would “conveniently” stop by in time to shuttle Jounouchi to appointments at the funeral home. 

He never texted Kaiba, and Kaiba didn’t reach out.

Jounouchi didn’t bother throwing a wake. He was already strapped for cash. There was no way he’d lower himself to taking money from Yuugi or his other friends. As his father’s chief mourner, he received condolences at the funeral with a stoic expression. His suit was ill-fitting, something else borrowed from Honda. His friends in attendance outnumbered those who came for his father. Shizuka was barred from coming. Their mother definitely turned her back on the entire affair. 

But Kaiba came. Jounouchi might have been shocked if he could feel anything other than numbness. 

After they laid the flowers—irises[1] which Anzu had hand-picked with an uncharacteristically vicious flourish—around his dad’s body, the casket was sealed and whisked away. The funeral may be over, but Jounouchi’s duties continued at the crematorium tomorrow.

Honda slipped up to him. “C’mon, Jounouchi.”

He didn’t argue. But as he moved to follow Honda out, a hand on his shoulder held him in place. That hand belonged to Kaiba.

“I’ll take him.” Kaiba’s tone left no room for argument.

Jounouchi shrugged. Kaiba led him away, leaving a stunned Honda in their wake. Without noting which luxury sports car Kaiba drove that day, Jounouchi sank into the passenger’s seat. He gazed out the window, blind to the city streets that flew past them. Kaiba never spoke. Jounouchi preferred it that way.

Soon, Jounouchi found himself staring at the nameplate next to his apartment door. He blinked slowly and made no move to unlock the door. A deep sigh sounded to his left. Kaiba, he realized as long fingers slipped into his pockets and retrieved the keys. After unlocking the door, Kaiba followed him inside. While Jounouchi went straight to his worn couch, Kaiba paused in the tiny genkan to remove his shoes. 

“Have you eaten?” Kaiba asked as he approached.

Jounouchi stared. He didn’t understand why Kaiba was still here.

With a huff, Kaiba padded into the kitchenette. The fridge door opened with a soft snick and threw a wide band of light across the wall before Jounouchi. He listened as Kaiba shifted containers, opened them, and sniffed their contents. The fridge shut with another snick. 

Before long, Kaiba thrust a container of beef stew in his face and a spoon in his hand. “Eat,” he ordered.

Even though Kaiba didn’t do him the courtesy of heating it first, Jounouchi ate. He ate without a word. He ate without looking at his unexpected companion. And the entire time he ate, Kaiba sat silently next to him. 

After Jounouchi finished, he was simultaneously too full and too empty. He clutched the spoon so tightly that the metal edge dug into his palm. “Why are you still here?”

Kaiba stayed quiet. Maybe he didn’t plan to justify himself. Maybe he’d just leave. Instead, he said, “I know how exhausting a father’s funeral can be. Even if you despise the man.”

He snapped his head to look at Kaiba. His mouth flapped several times like a landed fish. “I... I didn’t hate him,” he finally managed weakly.

“You didn’t love him either.”

Wetness gathered in the corner of his eyes. His vision wavered. His voice cracked. “He was hard to love.”

Jounouchi had tried—once upon a time. Even after their family of four became two. Maybe even after he moved out. Had he ever truly given up on that hope? But that didn’t matter anymore. Jounouchi Koji was gone. The tears that were nowhere to be found at the funeral assaulted him. No matter how he tried to smother them, they wouldn’t stop. While he cried, Kaiba remained a steady presence at his side. He didn’t hug Jounouchi or hold his hand, but the bony shoulder lightly pressed against Jounouchi’s was more than enough.

After Jounouchi's muffled sobs later subsided, Kaiba shrunk away and asked, "Is there anything else?"

He knew better than to ask. But Jounouchi Katsuya always jumped before looking. “Can you stay?”

Kaiba did.

[1] In hanakotoba, irises can mean “good news.”

Check out other puppy/violetshipping ficlets I’m writing all #fictober19 long

[ohsnapitzlovehacker]

Full Speed Ahead - (f!Colt x M!MC)

Author’s note: Happy Thanksgiving, guys! I’m thankful for this book, for writing, (for fried turkey) and for people to geek out over this series with! Enjoy!

Part 1 

Summary: Issac takes the job with the crew, and gets more than he bargained for.

Word Count: ~3,200

Tagging: (I have a Colt tag list but I don’t think everyone wants to read this so) @lovehugsandcandy @choicesarehard @r3n-s @yaushie​

Issac had done plenty of dumb things in his life, but he’d now graduated to full-blown stupidity. In the other room lay his mother who snored like a freight train and could still be heard clearly through the thick walls separating his room from hers. Sneaking out was something teenagers on TV did; kids with nothing to lose except for their parents’ disappointment or whatever. Issac’s natural life was on the line if his mother caught him sneaking out, and that meant he had to be back in the house without raising suspicion no later than seven A.M. sharp. He didn’t even know what he was sneaking out for, but a part of him didn’t want to be left out of whatever the MPC had planned. Just because they’d technically made his life even more difficult didn’t mean they hadn’t made it at least a bit more interesting. Issac figured he could use some fun in his life, even if it meant he might not live to see tomorrow.  

His Dryve was two minutes late, and the driver was a blading older gentleman who’s car smelled like boiled peanuts. Issac double-checked the car (a 2007 Honda Civic) and driver name (Sheldon Knott) then got in the back seat, holding his breath both literally and metaphorically. A short ride later, Issac was dropped off at Kaneko’s shop, and he stumbled out the car, glad and terrified to finally be there again. He hadn’t brought anything with him except his phone and the clothes on his back, and he figured that would be enough.

** **

“I don’t think he’s coming,” Xi shrugged, his broad shoulders moving up and down in a fluid motion despite his size. Toni nodded in agreement as the crew stood in a circle in the garage, attention on Kaneko. “Might be for the best, don’t you think?” Colleen asked, but the question was directed toward her mother who poured over a set of blueprints she’d more or less memorized. Her only response was a low grunt, and Collen rolled her eyes. Logan stayed quiet, ignoring the looks Toni passed her way. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Mona shook her head, and even Colleen bit back a smile, almost about to make the same remark.  

“We can still make this work with five,” Kaneko said decidedly and everyone stared at her, concerned. Collen and Logan spoke first, talking over one another. 

“--Mom, what the hell--”

“--Kankeo, they already know what you look like--”

“--Stupid ass idea anyway, this wasn’t--”

Only Mona noticed the figure that stepped into the light, almost unnoticeable. But his red chucks squeaked, and she knew how to pick out the things that didn’t belong. “Lover boy’s back,” Mona announced, and all eyes turned to look at Issac who’d entered, frozen to the spot in his Langston hoodie and dark-rimmed glasses. “You’re late,” Kaneko frowned, glaring at Issac. “Can’t be late if you didn’t know I was coming,” Issac mumbled, taking care not to look at Logan. “We’ve missed you, buddy,” Xi grinned, punching Issac in the shoulder. He rubbed the sore spot, giving the older guy a weak smile in return. “Once you get a taste of the unsavory life, it’s hard to leave it alone,” Mona shrugged, but she gave Issac a smile of her own. Issac only nodded, carefully avoiding eye contact with both Logan and Colleen. 

“Might as well fill him in, he’s one of us now,” Colleen smirked, earning a death glare from Logan. “The fuck he’s not,” she spat, and Xi raised his arms to calm them down. “Hey! Knock it off, guys! This isn’t the time for one of your catfights.” Kaneko eyed them both, a flicker of something dangerous in her gaze. “You’re both welcomed to stay here,” she bit out, but only Colleen called her bluff. “Oh please! You need us there! Otherwise, we’re gonna get caught and this’ll all be for nothing.”  

Issac sighed, stepping closer into the circle, hands shoved deep into his pockets. He pushed his glasses up with a finger. “My friend’s covering for me, but I don’t wanna push it. Whatever this is, it won’t take long right?” Colleen snickered. “Otherwise Wonder Boy turns into a pumpkin.” If she was waiting to get a rise out of Issac, it didn’t work; he bit his tongue instead. Kaneko looked liable to run them all over with her car. “If you’re all quite finished,” she started again, and this time, everyone listened. 

The Brotherhood didn’t plan to loosen its grip on the MPC anytime soon, the latest power trip concerning a car theft. But not just any car theft. “2020 Verratti Le Mans Sport,” Toni began, tattooed arms extended towards the small screen with the PowerPoint presentation she’d made. It was more for Issac’s benefit than anything else, but Kaneko allowed her to continue if she was brief. “W-16 engine. 1,200 horsepower. 1,106 pound-feet of torque. Guys, it taps out at 220 MPH!” Toni swooned, and Mona sighed, rubbing her face. “At this rate, we’ll be lucky if we leave before midnight.” Kaneko ignored them both. “They technically aren’t available yet, but there’s one man who has one in his possession. The very one the Brotherhood wants,” Kaneko explained to Issac. “Enter, Tristan Walker,” she sighed and Toni clicked next on her slideshow to bring up the picture of a platinum blonde man nearly bursting from his dark blue tuxedo. His bulging muscles almost put Xi’s to shame. 

Colleen shook her head in disgust. “Great rebound, Mom, you sure know how to pick ‘em.” She stuck a finger down her throat just as Issac stilled. “Wait...you...were a thing with him? The second wealthiest billionaire in North America? That Tristan Walker?” While Issac struggled to pick his jaw off the ground and Colleen pretended to wretch, Kaneko shrugged. “I hardly see that as a problem now considering he has something I want,” she shrugged, and only Mona nodded, mildly impressed. Xi shook his head. “He’s having a soiree tonight at The Queen Havana, to unveil his new car to the public. Well, cars. Two to be exact.” 

Issac drummed his fingers against his crossed arms. “So let me get this straight: we’re stealing two expensive cars...from a highly publicized event...with an equally high chance of getting caught. That’s a thing that we’re doing.”

“I don’t plan on getting caught,” Colleen snorted, taking the earpiece Toni offered her. Issac hadn’t even seen her pull them out, and now she handed them each one. He inspected the tiny device in his hand. “What, we’re just gonna sneak in, snatch the cars from the showroom or wherever it is, and be off like bandits in the night?” Xi, Toni, and Mona all shared looks, then glanced at Issac, confused by his confusion. “More or less,” Toni assured him, but it was Logan’s hand on his arm that startled him. Colleen watched with interest. “You don’t have to do this,” Logan whispered. Issac snatched his arm out of her grasp, looking determinedly at Kaneko. “Put me in, Coach,” he told her, earning another round of blank stares. Mona’s lip twitched as she passed a glance to Logan. “You sure like them corny as fuck, don’t you?” 

** **

Issac would owe Riya big, considering she was the only one Detective Parker still trusted, and Issac wondered what Riya would cash in her favor for. He couldn’t let it preoccupy his mind for too long as he sat shotgun to Logan. Xi, Mona, and Toni were pilled into Mona’s vehicle, while Colleen rode her motorcycle. That left Issac with the choice of squeezing into Mona’s Japanese import, hanging on for dear life on the back of Collen’s bike, or riding shotgun to Logan. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough room for Xi’s towering frame and Issac’s long limbs in the same space, and he needed fancy attire for the event. 

Issac wasn’t sure where everyone had pulled their swanky outfits from, but he was wearing an ill-fitting Tom Ford tuxedo that was loose in the shoulders and long in the arms, thanks to Logan’s ingenuity (and sweet-talking one of the workers at the consignment store not far from the autobody shop). His head swam at the wad of cash she pulled out of her clutch, and he tried to talk her into taking him back to his house to pull something out of the closet, but Logan wouldn’t budge. Issac was determined to return the suite in pristine condition. He was at least thankful for the black oxfords that fit his feet. He concentrated on that rather than the silence in his ear from the tiny earpiece he wore, and his companion who’d gone all out for the event herself. 

“I know you don’t wanna hear this, but I really am sorry,” Logan said, weaving in and out of traffic with ease. Issac kept his eyes to the front, watching the inky black sky littered with headlights and other light pollution. “You’re right, I don’t wanna hear it,” he snapped, and Logan fell silent. He glanced over at her, hardly able to make out the shimmer on her dark eyelids or the stain on her lips. God, she was gorgeous, and his stomach flipped right on cue. She’d pulled her long locs up on top of her head, donned a silver gown, and clipped on ruby red earrings to complete the look. Even in the weak light, Issac could tell she was struggling to say something, but Issac wasn’t interested in apologies. Sorry didn’t get his car back, didn’t get his mom to stop being disappointed that he wasn’t his dad, and it certainly didn’t convince him that he’d made the right decision in helping the MPC again. Unfortunately, he might wrestle with that last one all night. Kaneko’s words from earlier came to mind.

“Mona will be in charge of keeping an eye on Tristan,” Kaneko said and Mona smirked but said nothing. “Toni will be at a computer to help Logan get the cars started. We don’t know much about their onboard systems.” Issac tried to ignore the rising anticipation thrumming in his veins. Xi will take care of any obstacles and meet you all in the showroom.” Kaneko rolled up the plans, her eyes steel as she turned her hardened gaze on Issac. “I suggest you leave now.” 

Even tasked with such a huge responsibility, Issac didn’t feel the usual nerves he did right before a test or even when he was about to approach his mom to ask her permission for something. Peace flooded his system now; he’d never felt more ready in his life. The truth was he was inching to get behind the wheel. Any wheel. His fingers drummed against the dashboard and Logan turned on music to fill the oppressive silence. Tickets to the swanky event were invitation-only, and Toni had already replaced their six faces with random quests. Along with his phone, his trusty watch had had to stay behind. “Leave it here, the rich people will eat you alive if you show up with that thing,” Mona told him, and with a heavy heart, he unstrapped the band and tossed it in the box with the other phones.

Logan parked her Devore GT, and Issac’s home training kicked in. “Oh!” she exclaimed, surprised to see him on her side with his hand extended out. She took it, a small smile on her face, and Issac closed the door behind her. His earpiece crackled to life, and Kaneko’s feminine baritone came through. 

“Remember, enter at separate times.”

“Thanks, Mommy,” Colleen said mockingly, and Issac wondered what it would be like to talk back to his mother. He didn’t have to wonder; his ass would be six feet under. 

“I’m in,” Mona spoke next, and after a bit of silence, Colleen announced her entrance as well. Logan’s hand was still in Issac’s and he gently let go. “After you,” he waggled his eyebrows, and Logan giggled. It was a light and carefree sound. She picked up her gown and began the walk to the gathered crowd just outside the venue. Xi and Toni soon announced they were inside, and Issac said a quick prayer before making his way inside. “Name?” the greeter demanded, holding an iPad, dressed in an extremely short cocktail dress and extremely high platform shoes. She frowned at Issac’s suit but said nothing else. “Braxton Turner,” Issac said, giving the name Toni had instructed him on. The greeter only studied the image on her screen for half a second before waving him in and turning her attention to the next guest. Issac raised a finger to tap his earpiece on and announce his presence when he stuttered over his words. To say he was surrounded by finery was an understatement. 

Tables were decorated with gold, white, red, and silver adornments. Red roses were the centerpieces, and Issac did a double-take at the plates and silverware. Never mind the fanciful lobster meals and gourmet salads that sat atop the tables. Issac was sure that the gold painted on the plates and utensils was very real. “It’s not that impressive, Wonder Boy,” a voice said behind him, and for the second time that night, Issac was tripping over speech. Colleen's hair fell in silky waves across one shoulder, hair pinned back with a midnight blue clip. It matched her strapless, knee-length gown, showing off her long, slender legs. Colleen had even painted her nails, a silver color that replaced her usual greased stained fingers. She looked completely at ease, taking two champagne flutes from a passing server tray and offering one to him. “If you don’t take it, I’ll just drink both,” she smirked. 

** **

She would admit it to no one but herself, but Colleen had kept a watchful eye on the entrance, waiting for Issac to walk in. His black suit jacket was a little big on him, and he wore his glasses tonight, but the way he carried himself even as he took in all the splendor of the room was something she couldn’t tear her eyes away from even if she tried. A quiet, stubborn, confidence; that’s how Kaneko described what Issac when Colleen asked why he was worth the trouble. “He wants to prove himself,” Kaneko explained, and Colleen had nearly exploded. Was that a dig at herself?

“We have to drive tonight, remember?” Issac scoffed, but that didn’t stop him form longingly watching Colleen down both flutes. “You’re so boring, Christ!” she sighed, depositing her empty glasses on another passing tray. The two found an occupied table and sat beside each other. Issac wasn’t sure what to do with his hands and Colleen didn’t hold back her snicker. He glared in response. “On second thought, maybe I will need a drink if I’m gonna be stuck with you all night,” he grumbled, and Colleen laughed, her cheeks and chest warm with the alcohol. 

“If you hate us so much, why the hell did you come?” she asked, and Issac scratched at his beard. “I don’t hate you guys,” he mumbled. Colleen put a hand up to stop him as a waitress came by with two steaming plates. He set them down in front of the couple before moving back to the kitchen. “We’re not gonna sit here and talk about our feelings, okay? I don’t care.”

“If you don’t care so much, then why the hell are you here?” Issac shot back, lowering his voice when neighboring tables looked over at them. “My mom has gone impulsive in her old age, and I seem to be the only one around here with her head on straight.” Colleen didn’t answer the question and she knew it. “I’ve got sights on Tristan,” Mona spoke in their ears. “Good,” Kaneko responded, and the line went silent again. A jazzy tune filled the space, and Colleen and Issac turned to see a small crowd headed out to the dance along to the live band. Issac’s expression turned sly and his eyes slid over to Colleen. She didn’t know what to make of it. 

“Wanna dance?” he asked as if they were old friends. Colleen narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?” She wasn’t fond of sitting around, doing nothing, but it wasn’t like she could go anywhere. Issac grinned at her now, and maybe it was the champagne, but she couldn’t help but be dazzled by it. He pushed his sliding glasses back up his face, and the spell was momentarily broken.

“I don’t dance,” she shook her head but Issac wasn’t deterred. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t make fun of your two left feet,” he cracked up and Colleen stood, her decision made. “Oh fuck off,” she replied hotly. Issac took her hand, leading her closer to the music. The only dancing Colleen was interested in doing was the type that involved sweaty bodies grinding on top of each other, and a thumping baseline that reverberated through her bones. She imagined Issac as her partner and found the image quite pleasing.

“What are you smiling about?” Issac asked as he placed a hand on the small of her back and threaded the fingers of his other through hers. They were almost the same height, but Colleen’s eyes fell to his lips before flicking back up to Isaac’s face. She’d been expecting annoyance or feigned cold indifference, but his expression was so open, Colleen instantly knew he wanted the same thing she wanted. Shit. Isaac twirled her around, his steps so sure it was easy to follow his lead. Easy to follow him anywhere. “This isn’t really my speed, but I see why you’d be into it,” Colleen conceded.

“Oh, really?” 

“Yep.”

“I thought we weren’t talking about our feelings?”

“We aren’t. I’m making an observation.”

“In that case, either I have something on my lips, or you really want to kiss me.” His voice was a low rumble that Colleen felt it deep in her core. Was that an invitation? She didn’t think it through, only reached up, yanked him closer, and kissed him. If Issac was taken by surprise, he didn’t act like it, his lips crashing against hers, lifting her off the ground. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and squeeze her thighs around his waist but remembered where they were. “Follow me,” Issac whispered hoarsely, and Colleen wanted to point out that he didn’t know where shit was, but she needed his body pressed against her again as soon as humanly possible. 

** **

Issac didn’t know where the heck he was going, and frankly, he didn’t care. With his arm wrapped around Colleen, they stumbled into the nearest bathroom, Issac’s heart thundering in his chest and his loose suit very restrictive. She pushed him into a free stall, the bathroom blessedly free, and blew her bangs from her face.

“This damn tux is not doing you justice, Wonder Boy.” she panted in between open-mouthed kisses, tasting sweetly of champagne. “Must have done enough for you,” Issac quipped, and Colleen bit his lip, hard. The pain was sharp but fleeting, followed by a wave of pleasure. He groaned in her mouth, letting her bunch up the fabric of his undershirt. There would be wrinkles and maybe evidence elsewhere on his body of this tangle, but that didn’t stop his intense need to undress her. He wondered if she was even wearing a bra, as the dress fabric was thicker in the bust area than he would have liked. “The dress,” Colleen gasped, her pink lips swollen. “It...unzips...” Issac blindly fumbled for the zipper, his face buried in Colleen’s neck when their earpieces crackled to life with Toni’s voice.

“Guys? Change of plans! We have a problem!” 

[gaadikey]

Honda 2 Wheelers, India’s 2nd largest Two wheeler manufacturer has 3 motorcycles in the 160cc motorcycle category – Unicorn, Hornet and the new X-Blade.  Honda has now widened the premium motorcycle options to its customers. Price wise, Honda X-Blade is placed in between CB Unicorn 160 and CB Hornet 160R. X-Blade motorcycle was first launched in India during the Delhi Auto Expo 2018 along with Honda Activa 5G.  Thanks to Honda 2 Wheelers Corporate team who arranged the new X-Blade motorcycle for us to review.  What follows below is the detailed review of Honda X-Blade motorcycle.

First Impressions

Dhruvdesh Honda, a Bengaluru based Honda dealership handed over the keys of the stunning looking X-Blade in Pearl Spartian Red color. The X-Blade graphics on the bike were pretty appealing, we were able to clearly distinguish the overall design of the bike, it didn’t resemble the Unicorn 160 or CB Hornet 160R (Check Hornet Review). We bet you will clearly notice the protruded nose of X-Blade headlamp in the front – It very much looks like the face of “Iron Man” our review crew concluded.  Unlike the Hornet, this motorcycle looks very much sleek and thinner – you can say it is more Fittest than any other 160cc motorcycles in the market.

Design and Looks

As said in the above section, the X-Blade’s protruded nose/Iron man face steals the show – credit should go to the design team for carving out a shape that is distinct and it is so much new from regular looking motorcycle. The combination of Red and Black is used in a very great proportion – no part of the motorcycle looks overdone – it looks very consistent enhancing the on-road presence. Honda calls describes its fuel tank as “aggressive sculpted” design – well it’s of course true. Every motorcycle has a design character, be it TVS Apache RTR 160, Yamaha FZ, Bajaj Pulsar or big Royal Enfield motorcycle – people often connect with the way it looks for them when they make a purchasing decision. X-Blade is for someone who loves riding a Honda in a brighter and modern skin.

  Headlamps are LED powered that shines through the darkened streets, while all other features and components remains the same like Hornet, it gets a parking indicator switch and a rear Mudguard at the back.  The addition of rear Mudguard is a good thing, as Honda has tried to address the issue faced in Unicorn –  (Sprinkling of mud on pillion rider when driven through wet and rainy roads).

Instrument Cluster

Talking about the front dashboard or instrument cluster – it is fully digital and greets you “SEE YOU” whenever you turn off the motorcycle. The display looks pretty engaging and modern for a current day rider. The Gear position indicator and Service-due indicator has been included (The feature which TVS Apache RTR 160 had 10 years ago!).

Engine, Performance and Dimensions

The all new Honda X-Blade is powered by BS4 compliant, 162.71cc air-cooled, 4-stroke, SI engine.  The engine is capable to churnout maximum power of 13.93 bhp and can deliver a peak torque of 13.9Nm. The motorcycle is equipped with both Self/Kick-start. The kill-switch is missing in this bike, it could have been quite easier for rider to turn off the engine in traffic if it was there.

The Fuel-tank capacity of Honda X-Blade motorcycle is 12 litres and the motorcycle weighs 140 Kgs (Kerb weight). X-Blade measures 2013mm in length, 786mm in width, 1115mm in height and has got a wheelbase of 1347mm. The ground clearance is good with a height of 160mm sparing the motorcycle floor to hot any large hump.

We mostly tested this bike in a typical urban conditions and were happy with the mileage which it returned. The indicators on fuel regulator switch was hard to figure out which is “ON” and which is “RESERVE” initially – as the icons were not readable.

Ride and Handling

We bow down to the team/person who builds this wonderful precision perfect engines. Right from the start and till the end of your trip, you can feel the utterly butterly smoothness and refinement in the engine. If you are a regular motorcycle rider you should probably be able to connect with me.

While we didn’t test the motorcycle for top-speed we did notice the motorcycle had a good capability to reach a speed of 100Kmph very easily.  The Handling and Maneuverability was great with single rider as well as the pillion rider at the back.

Suspension, Braking, Pillion Riding

The Honda X-Blade gets Telescopic suspension in the front  and monoshock rear shock absorber at the rear. Having driven my old Unicorn 150, I can clearly say these days the suspension system has improved a lot – the motorcycle absorbed all bumpy effects which passing through rough terrains and on humps.

The Pillion riding was comfortable – the person at the back didn’t face any issue in seating themselves holding the “Groovy Grab Rail”  – The seat is longer, accommodating a fat person at the back is not a problem even with a backpack bag.

The braking was responsive, it would have been great if Honda included the ABS(Anti-lock Braking System) for further safety (soon this is going to be a rule starting April 2019). The motorcycle gets Disc brake in the front and drum brakes at the rear.

Available Colors

The all new Honda X-Blade is offered in 5 attractive colors:

Matte Marvel Blue Metallic

Pearl Igneous Black

Matte Frozen Silver

Pearl Spartian Red

Matte Marshal Green Metallic

Check out All Honda X-Blade Colors with Photos.

Price and Variants

The Honda X-Blade is available in one single Standard variant which is priced at Rs 81,887 ( Ex-showroom Bangalore).  After adding the local road tax (11,137) and Five year insurance premium (8553), the total on-road price ticks at Rs 1,02,934 in Bangalore.

Verdict

Well, it is a great choice to make if you are a Honda lover and wants to have a bike with appealing design. You will definitely love the design, performance part and the fact that it is priced below Honda Hornet can make you really want to own this motorcycle.  The color options available are great in the market and we wished it came with the ABS safety feature as option ( For those who liked X-Blade design and wants to have ABS).

Check out the full photo gallery of Honda X-Blade below:

You can add more to this story by commenting below.

Honda X Blade Review – Fittest 160cc Motorcycle Honda 2 Wheelers, India's 2nd largest Two wheeler manufacturer has 3 motorcycles in the 160cc motorcycle category - Unicorn, Hornet and the…

[supernatural-idjit-95]

Back To The Start, Part 4

Summary: None. My mind is mush. Warnings: Cursing, Seasons 9&10 Spoilers, mentions of death/violence/blood, sad romance, *Trigger warning in Part 3 (mention of suicide)*, angst Pairings: Dean X Castiel Happy reading! Feedback is encouraged. Dont forget to read Parts 1, 2 & 3! Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 …Enjoy! ****** After a couple of days away, Sam Winchester was en route back to the bunker. His meeting with the Witch he’d gone to for help with the Mark of Cain had gone nowhere. He hated leaving Dean alone, so he cautiously asked Castiel to drop in on him. That was the last thing he’d heard from either of them. Plagued with worry, his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. The sun was nearly setting now, and the beaten up Honda Civic he’d stolen would only go so fast. His long legs were cramped from the drive, irritating him almost as much as the many unanswered phone calls he’d made to Castiel and Dean. Sam reached for his cell phone again and dialed Dean one more time. *Ring*… *Ring*… *Ring*… No answer. “Damnit, Dean!” He howled in frustration. Sam was starting to panic, wondering if something happened to them. Nowadays, it seemed like they had more and more reasons to worry about each other. “Alright…who else can I call for help?” Sam thought. “Crowley. I’ll try him.” Sam hated it, but figured that if something had indeed gone awry-especially if it had to do with the Mark-Crowley would either be in on it, or know about it. He dialed Crowleys number, shaking his head at the notion that he was calling the King of Hell on a cell phone. Crazier things have happened, right? *Ring*… *Ring*..- “Moose,” Crowley’s voice came over the phone.

“Sad to hear from you. But, I assume since you’re calling me something’s wrong, and you need Daddy’s help…am I right?” Sam pursed his lips in annoyance. “Remind me why we haven’t killed you yet?” “Because you love to hate me, and I’m more useful alive, bright one. Now tell Daddy who’s picking on you?” Sam rolled his eyes. “Cut the bullshit, Crowley. Have you heard anything from Dean?” “No, Samantha…are you two in a quarrel again?” Crowley snickered. “No, we’re not. I haven’t heard from him, or Cas all day. I just figured you might know something. Thanks anyway,” Sam began to pull the phone away from his ear to hang up. “Wai-wait-Moose?” Crowley called. “Yeah?” “How is the squirrel, anyway? The Mark…it’s been hard on him.” Sam frowned at the question. That’s all he’d been worried about lately, about how well Dean was handling the Mark of Cain. “That’s old news Crowley. He’s getting worse. I’ve gotta go.” Sam didn’t wait for Crowley to respond, and hung up the phone, tossing it onto the passenger seat. “Damnit, Dean,” Sam said to himself. “You’d better okay.” *** Several hours had passed since Dean took his own life. He had hope that maybe, someone up above would grant he and Castiel another chance. It was a ‘Hail Mary’ kind of move, but the both of them had died several times before, and it just didn’t agree with them; so yes, Dean had reason to be optimistic. He just wanted to tell Cas the truth. He wanted to tell him he loved him, and that he was sorry for being such a disaster. If they could just go back to the beginning and start all over… What a dream that would have been. Ugh. The “What-if’s”… Cas and Dean’s two broken bodies lay side by side. The dungeon was dark again, and nightfall had crept upon the bunker as the day’s tragedies unfolded, one after the other. Suddenly, Dean’s chest began to move up and down slowly. It was a sight that would appear miraculous if anyone had been watching. His eyes fluttered open, lashes stained with the salt of his tears that had flowed so violently earlier. Dean’s emerald green eyes were now replaced with two onyx black orbs that would frighten even the bravest of men. It was a dark contrast against his pale face and the circles under his eyes. He laid there for a moment, still, like a robot recomputing who he was. Finally he stood. The fatal wound from the First Blade he inflicted on himself was gone; though the hole in his shirt, and the blood on his chest and hands remained. “What the hell…” Dean said to himself. He didn’t bother looking around the dungeon at all-not even at Cas. He headed for the door. Treading down the corridor, he reached his bedroom. For someone who’d just come back from the dead, you could say he seemed fairly calm. Stepping into his bedroom, his eyes scanned the wreckage of that morning; broken lamps, mirrors, and broken picture frames littered the floor. “Damnit, looks like I did some damage in here!” Dean jeered out loud. Lifting his feet, he dodged the carnage on the floor. Now standing in front of his half-broken mirror he was blinking his eyes over and over, staring at his reflection. The third time he blinked, his eyes shone black. “Huh…well that’s new.” He said to himself sarcastically. He knew why he was alive. Looking at his arm, the Mark of Cain still remained. He was a demon-a Knight of Hell, to be exact. “Damn, you must really like me, huh?” Dean said, talking to the Mark on his arm as if it were alive. That was the scary part; he half-expected it to answer him. In the mirror, Dean noticed his torn t-shirt. His face showed that he remembered the fatal wound he’d given himself earlier. He pulled the fabric of his shirt off his stomach, stretching it out in front of him to gaze through the hole in it. “Son of a bitch,” Dean said, shaking his head. “This was my favorite shirt.” Dean’s bemusement trailed off as if he remembered something important he had to do. He walked to his desk and pulled a piece of paper and a pen from on top of his stereo speakers. He looked up for a moment in thought, then wrote something down on the paper. Before he left his bedroom, he grinned at the stereo system. It was funny to him how he’d came across it. Dean had hustled some poor bastard at a game of pool, and used the cash to buy the system at a local pawn shop.

He flipped through the discs laying out. Smirking, he slid one-hitting play on repeat, turning it all the way up. With his mission in mind, he finally left his room. *** Standing in the dungeon again, he was reaping the view. “Shit!” Dean chuckled. “I made a mess in here, too!” Just then, Dean’s phone rang. Taking it out, he saw it was Sam who was calling. He rolled his eyes and declined it. “Damn, Sammy. Clingy much?” Dean said aloud as he sorted through his phone notifications. “31 missed calls, 42 text messages, 8 voicemails…and a partridge in a friggin’ pear tree.” His voice trailed off in boredom. Dean took a quick moment to send a vague text message to Crowley. “We need to talk. Now.” He wrote, then pocketed his phone again. Before he could be distracted further, he stood over Cas, and carelessly let the piece of paper he’d written on sail down, landing on top of his chest. Then, Dean crouched down and stoically ran the tips of his fingers down one of the lapels on Castiel’s bloody trenchcoat. He maneuvered Cas’s stark body out of the coat, and with inscrutable expression, he folded it. Hoisting himself from his position next to Cas, he tucked the maimed trenchcoat beneath his arm. Dean began searching his pocket for his car keys. They jingled as he fished them out. He found the First Blade right where he’d awakened on the floor next to Cas. Picking it up, an egoistic smile radiated on his face from ear to ear like a Cheshire Cat, his lips curling with triumph. His eyes bore into the First Blade, admiring the way the dry blood’s red contrast made it gleam.

“Let’s go have some fun.”

****