#Office Shed Salem

[guestshed]

The Best Guide to Guest House Sheds in Portland and Salem

At Better Built Barns, we understand the importance of having additional living space. Whether you need a guest house shed Portland or a guest house shed Salem, we offer superior solutions tailored to meet your specific needs. Our sheds are designed to blend seamlessly into your property, providing a functional and stylish space for guests, family, or even as a rental opportunity. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the benefits of guest house sheds, design options, and why Better Built Barns is the best choice for your project.

Why Choose a Guest House Shed?

Maximize Your Property's Potential

Investing in a guest house shed is an excellent way to maximize your property's potential. These structures offer versatile space that can serve multiple purposes:

Accommodation: Perfect for hosting guests, providing them with a comfortable and private space.

Home Office: An ideal solution for remote work, offering a quiet and dedicated workspace.

Rental Income: Generate additional income by renting out the space on platforms like Airbnb.

Hobby Room: A dedicated area for crafts, workouts, or any other hobbies.

Cost-Effective Solution

Building a guest house shed is often more cost-effective than constructing a traditional home extension. With a variety of sizes and customization options, you can create a functional living space without breaking the bank.

Quick and Efficient Construction

Our guest house sheds are pre-fabricated, ensuring a quick and efficient construction process. This means less disruption to your daily life and faster occupancy.

Design Options for Guest House Sheds

Customizable Designs

At Better Built Barns, we offer a wide range of customizable designs to fit your aesthetic and functional preferences. Our design options include:

Traditional: Classic designs that complement any property style.

Modern: Sleek and contemporary designs with clean lines and minimalist features.

Rustic: Charming and cozy designs that bring a touch of countryside elegance.

Interior Layouts

We understand that every homeowner has unique needs. Our guest house sheds come with various interior layout options, allowing you to choose the configuration that best suits your requirements. Some popular layouts include:

Open Plan: A spacious design with a combined living and sleeping area.

Separate Rooms: Distinct living, sleeping, and bathroom areas for added privacy.

Loft Space: Utilizes vertical space, offering a sleeping loft and more room on the main floor.

High-Quality Materials

Our commitment to quality is reflected in the materials we use. We offer a range of high-quality materials to ensure your guest house shed is durable, weather-resistant, and aesthetically pleasing. Options include:

Wood: Classic and versatile, providing a warm and natural look.

Metal: Durable and modern, ideal for contemporary designs.

Vinyl: Low-maintenance and weather-resistant, perfect for long-term durability.

The Better Built Barns Difference

Expert Craftsmanship

At Better Built Barns, we pride ourselves on our expert craftsmanship. Our team of skilled professionals ensures that every guest house shed is built to the highest standards, providing you with a structure that is both beautiful and functional.

Personalized Service

We believe in offering personalized service to every customer. From the initial consultation to the final installation, our team is dedicated to understanding your needs and delivering a guest house shed that exceeds your expectations.

Sustainable Practices

We are committed to sustainable building practices. Our sheds are constructed using eco-friendly materials and methods, ensuring minimal impact on the environment.

Guest House Sheds in Portland

Embracing the Portland Lifestyle

Portland is known for its vibrant culture and emphasis on sustainable living. A guest house shed from Better Built Barns fits perfectly into this lifestyle. Whether you're accommodating visiting friends or creating a home office, our sheds offer a practical and stylish solution.

Local Building Regulations

We are well-versed in the local building regulations and zoning laws in Portland. Our team will handle all necessary permits and ensure that your guest house shed complies with local codes, providing you with a hassle-free experience.

Guest House Sheds in Salem

Enhancing Your Salem Property

Salem, with its rich history and scenic beauty, is an ideal location for a guest house shed. Our sheds are designed to enhance your property, providing additional space without compromising on style or quality.

Community-Focused Solutions

We understand the unique needs of Salem residents. Our guest house sheds are built to meet the community's standards and expectations, offering a practical solution for those in need of extra space.

Conclusion

A guest house shed from Better Built Barns is a smart investment for homeowners in Portland and Salem. With customizable designs, high-quality materials, and expert craftsmanship, our sheds offer the perfect solution for additional living space. Whether you're looking to accommodate guests, create a home office, or generate rental income, our guest house sheds provide versatility and value. Contact us today to start your project and see why Better Built Barns is the preferred choice for discerning homeowners.

[betterbuiltbarnssus]

Finding the best custom sheds near me in Portland and Salem.

When you're in search of high-quality, durable, and beautifully designed custom sheds near Portland or Salem, Better Built Barns is your go-to destination. We specialize in crafting custom sheds that perfectly blend functionality, style, and affordability, ensuring that your outdoor storage needs are met with a structure that stands the test of time. Here's why our custom sheds are the perfect addition to your backyard or garden.

Why Choose Better Built Barns for Your Custom Shed?

At Better Built Barns, we take pride in creating sheds that aren't just functional but are also tailored to meet your unique specifications. Whether you're looking for a shed to store your garden tools, outdoor equipment, or even to create a personal workshop or home office, we’ve got you covered.

Custom Designs: No two homes are the same, so why should your shed be? Our custom sheds allow you to choose from a variety of sizes, styles, and materials. Whether you're located in the lush landscapes of Portland or the picturesque surroundings of Salem, we can build a shed that complements your home and your needs.

Durability You Can Trust: All our sheds are built to last, designed to withstand the elements, from the rain and wind of Portland to the changing seasons of Salem. We use high-quality materials and superior craftsmanship to ensure your shed remains sturdy and reliable for years to come.

Local Craftsmanship: As a local business with a strong presence in both Portland and Salem, we understand the specific requirements of the climate in the Pacific Northwest. Our team of expert builders is dedicated to providing the best in local craftsmanship, ensuring that every custom shed we build is not only beautiful but also perfectly suited to Oregon’s weather conditions.

Finding Custom Sheds Near Me in Portland

Portland is known for its vibrant culture and lush outdoor spaces, making it the perfect place to have a custom shed that adds both practicality and aesthetic appeal to your property. Whether you need a small garden shed to store your tools or a larger structure to serve as a backyard studio, our Portland customers appreciate the versatility and durability of our sheds. Our process is straightforward and stress-free. From the moment you contact us, we work with you to design a shed that fits your space and meets your needs. We deliver and install your shed on-site, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.

Locating Custom Sheds Near Me in Salem

For our customers in Salem, our custom sheds offer the perfect solution for enhancing your outdoor space. Whether you're looking for a classic barn-style shed or a modern, sleek design, we work with you to create a structure that aligns with your vision. Living in Salem often means having space for larger yards, gardens, and even small farms, which is why a custom shed from Better Built Barns can be a valuable addition to your property. Our sheds offer not just storage, but also an attractive, well-built addition that boosts the value and usability of your outdoor area.

The Better Built Barns Difference

What sets us apart from other shed builders in Portland and Salem is our dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. We understand that investing in a custom shed is a big decision, and we’re committed to making the process as smooth as possible.

Here are a few reasons to choose Better Built Barns:

Custom Options: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. You have control over every detail of your shed, from the design and layout to the finishing touches.

Professional Installation: Our experienced team ensures that your custom shed is delivered and installed with precision, allowing you to start using it immediately.

Affordable Pricing: Despite the superior quality and customization options, our pricing remains competitive. We believe in offering great value for your investment.

Conclusion

If you’ve been searching for "custom sheds near me Portland” or “custom sheds near me Salem”, look no further than Better Built Barns. We’re ready to help you design and build the perfect shed that meets all your storage or workspace needs. To get started, contact us today or visit our website to explore our gallery of past projects. Let us bring your vision to life with a custom shed built to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.

[betterbuiltbarns]

Find the top shed builders near you in Portland and Salem.

When it comes to enhancing your property with a quality shed, finding the right builder is crucial. At Better Built Barns, we specialize in crafting custom sheds that perfectly suit your needs, whether you're in Portland or Salem. Our reputation as premier shed builders in these areas speaks to our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

Why Choose Better Built Barns?

1. Local Expertise:

Our team of expert shed builders understands the unique requirements of Portland and Salem areas. From the specific climate conditions to the architectural styles common in these regions, we tailor each project to fit seamlessly with your surroundings.

2. Custom Designs:

We believe that your shed should be as unique as you are. That’s why we offer a wide range of customizable options, including size, design, and materials. Whether you’re looking for a classic barn-style shed or a modern structure, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life.

3. Quality Craftsmanship:

At Better Built Barns, we take pride in using only the highest quality materials and techniques. Our skilled builders ensure that every shed is constructed with precision and care, resulting in a durable, long-lasting structure that stands the test of time.

4. Personalized Service:

From the initial consultation to the final installation, we work closely with you to ensure that every detail is covered. Our goal is to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, providing you with a shed that exceeds your expectations.

Portland’s Premier Shed Builders

Portland’s diverse landscape and unique weather conditions require a specialized approach to shed construction. Our Portland team is adept at handling these challenges, ensuring that your shed will withstand the elements while enhancing the beauty and functionality of your property.

Popular Shed Styles in Portland:

Garden Sheds: Perfect for storing tools and equipment, while adding charm to your garden.

Workshop Sheds: Ideal for hobbyists and craftsmen who need extra workspace.

Storage Sheds: Designed to keep your belongings safe and organized.

Salem’s Trusted Shed Builders

In Salem, our shed builders are known for their attention to detail and commitment to quality. Whether you need a shed for storage, a home office, or a recreational space, we have the experience and skills to deliver outstanding results.

Popular Shed Styles in Salem:

Man Cave Sheds: Create a personal retreat where you can unwind and relax.

Utility Sheds: Great for practical storage solutions that keep your property tidy.

Playhouse Sheds: Perfect for children to have their own space for creativity and play.

Conclusion

If you’re searching for “shed builders near me Portland” or “shed builders near me Salem”, Better Built Barns is your go-to choice for quality, custom sheds. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and get started on your project. Our team is eager to help you create a shed that perfectly fits your needs and enhances your property.

[iknowaguyconstructionservices]

Exceptional Construction Services in Winston-Salem, NC

When we talk about Construction Services Winston-Salem, NC, we mean building or fixing things like houses, offices, or schools. These services help make buildings safe and nice. This is very important in a place like Winston-Salem, NC. I Know A Guy Construction Services is a trusted company in the area. They help people with many building projects. For instance, if you need a new roof or want to build a new room, they can help. Their work is very good, and many people in Winston-Salem, NC, trust them.

Good construction services are important for many reasons. First, they make sure buildings are safe. No one wants to live or work in a building that could fall apart. Good construction keeps us safe. Also, quality work makes buildings look nice. This is important because nice-looking buildings make the whole neighborhood better. So, choosing the right construction service, like I Know A Guy Construction Services, is very important. They offer many services, from building new houses to fixing old ones. In addition, they always make sure their work is the best it can be.

Our Construction Services

What Are Construction Services?

Construction services mean building or fixing things like houses, offices, and schools. They make sure buildings are safe and look good. In other words, these services help make places where people can live, work, and learn. In Winston-Salem, NC, construction services are very important. They also help the community grow and stay beautiful.

Different Types of Construction Services

New Home Builder

Building a new home is a big job.

It starts with making a plan.

After that, workers build the house from the ground up.

New home builders make sure everything is done right.

They create safe and comfortable homes for families.

Home Additions

Sometimes, people need more space in their homes.

Home additions are a great way to add rooms.

For instance, you might want a new bedroom or a bigger kitchen.

In addition, adding to a home can make it more valuable.

Remodeling

Remodeling means making changes to a home.

This can be anything from a new kitchen to a bigger bathroom.

Remodeling helps keep homes up to date and comfortable.

Therefore, many people choose to remodel instead of moving to a new house.

Decks

Decks are outdoor spaces where people can relax.

Building a deck adds more space to a home.

It’s a great place for family gatherings and barbecues.

In other words, decks make homes more fun and enjoyable.

Porches

Porches are another type of outdoor space.

They are usually in the front of the house.

Porches can be small or big.

They are great for sitting and watching the world go by.

So, a nice porch can make a home feel more welcoming.

Season Rooms

Season rooms are special rooms added to homes.

They have lots of windows and let you enjoy the outdoors while being inside.

For instance, you can use a season room in any weather.

In addition, they add more living space to a home.

Sheds

Sheds are small buildings usually in the backyard.

People use them to store tools and other things.

Sheds help keep homes and yards tidy.

So, they are very useful for homeowners.

Why Choose I Know A Guy Construction Services?

I Know A Guy Construction Services offers all these services in Winston-Salem, NC. They are experts in construction services. Above all, they make sure every job is done right. Their work helps make Winston-Salem, NC, a better place to live.

Green Building and Sustainability

The Importance of Green Building and Sustainability

Green building means making buildings in a way that is good for the environment. It helps keep our planet clean and healthy. In other words, it’s about using materials and methods that don’t hurt nature. Green building is very important because it saves energy and water. So, it helps reduce pollution and makes the air cleaner. Therefore, more people are choosing green building to protect the earth.

Eco-Friendly Construction Practices in Winston-Salem, NC

In Winston-Salem, NC, many companies are using eco-friendly practices. For instance, they use materials that can be recycled. Also, they make buildings that use less energy. This means using special windows that keep heat in during winter and out during summer. In addition, they use solar panels to get energy from the sun. This helps save money on electricity bills.

Choosing the Right Construction Company

Tips for Selecting a Reliable Construction Company

Choosing the right construction company is very important. You want to make sure your project is done well. So, here are some tips to help you pick the best company for Construction Services Winston-Salem, NC.

Check Their Experience

Look for a company with a lot of experience. Experienced companies know how to handle different projects. For instance, they have worked on many homes and buildings. So, they know what to do and what not to do.

Make Sure They Have Licenses and Insurance

A good construction company should have the right licenses and insurance. This means they are allowed to do the work and can pay for any accidents. So, if something goes wrong, you are protected.

Communicate Clearly

Make sure the company listens to you and understands what you want. Good communication is key. For instance, they should answer your questions and explain things clearly. This helps avoid problems later on.

Conclusion

We talked about many things in this article. We learned about the different types of Construction Services Winston-Salem, NC offers. This includes building new homes, adding rooms, remodeling, and more. We also discussed green building and the steps in the construction process.

Quality construction services are very important. Good construction keeps buildings safe and looking nice. Therefore, choosing the right company for Construction Services Winston-Salem, NC is crucial. Contact I Know A Guy Construction Services for any construction help. They are experts and care about doing a great job. So, reach out to them for your construction needs.

FAQs

1. What Are Construction Services?

Construction services mean building or fixing things like houses, offices, or schools. In Winston-Salem, NC, so this means making new buildings or improving old ones.

2. Why Are Construction Services Important?

Construction services keep buildings safe and looking good. Good construction makes sure homes and offices are strong and last a long time. So, this is very important in Winston-Salem, NC.

3. What Is Green Building?

Green building means making buildings in a way that is good for the environment. For instance, it uses less energy and water. So, it helps keep our planet healthy.

4. What Is Remodeling?

Remodeling means making changes to a home or building. For example, it could be updating a kitchen or adding a new bathroom. In Winston-Salem, NC, many people choose remodeling to improve their homes.

5. What Are Home Additions?

Home additions mean adding more space to your house. For instance, you might add a new bedroom or a bigger kitchen. This also helps make your home more comfortable and valuable.

6. How Do I Choose the Right Construction Company?

To choose the right construction company, look at their experience and reviews. Also, ask for references and check their past work. For instance, I Know A Guy Construction Services in Winston-Salem, NC, has great reviews and lots of experience.

7. What Is the Construction Process?

The construction process includes planning, getting permits, preparing the site, and building. After that, they add finishes and do final inspections. So, this makes sure everything is done right.

8. Why Should I Choose I Know A Guy Construction Services?

I Know A Guy Construction Services is a top choice in Winston-Salem, NC. Also, they have many years of experience, great reviews, and use eco-friendly practices. So, they make sure every project is done well.

9. What Is Eco-Friendly Construction?

Eco-friendly construction uses materials and methods that are good for the environment. For example, using recycled materials or solar panels. This helps save energy and reduce pollution.

10. How Can I Contact I Know A Guy Construction Services?

So, you can contact I Know A Guy Construction Services by calling or visiting their website. Also, they are experts in Construction Services Winston-Salem, NC, and are ready to help with your project.

[better-built-barns]

Find Your Ideal She Shed in Portland and Salem with Better Built Barns

Are you dreaming of a personal retreat, a cozy corner just for you amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life? Look no further than Better Built Barns, your premier destination for custom she shed Portland and she shed Salem. Our beautifully crafted sheds are not just structures; they are personalized sanctuaries designed to cater to your unique needs and style.

What is a She Shed?

A she shed is the female counterpart to the man cave – a space dedicated entirely to you. It can serve as a tranquil retreat for relaxation, a creative studio for arts and crafts, a home office, or even a chic entertainment spot. The possibilities are endless when you partner with Better Built Barns to bring your vision to life.

She Sheds in Portland: Urban Oasis

Portland, with its vibrant culture and lush landscapes, is the perfect backdrop for a bespoke she shed. Imagine stepping into your own serene space amidst the city's dynamic energy. Whether you're an artist seeking inspiration, a book lover desiring a quiet nook, or simply in need of a private getaway, a she shed from Better Built Barns can transform your Portland backyard into an urban oasis.

Custom Designs Tailored to You

Our team at Better Built Barns specializes in crafting custom she sheds that reflect your personal style and preferences. From modern minimalist designs to rustic charming retreats, we work closely with you to ensure every detail is perfect. Portland residents can enjoy a seamless blend of city life and personal tranquility with our expertly designed sheds.

She Sheds in Salem: Country Charm

For those in Salem, our she sheds offer a slice of countryside charm. Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, Salem is an ideal location for a she shed that embraces the beauty of nature. Whether your property boasts sprawling gardens or a quaint backyard, a she shed from Better Built Barns can enhance your outdoor space and provide a haven of relaxation.

Functional and Stylish Spaces

Salem homeowners can benefit from our commitment to functionality and style. Our she sheds are built to withstand the elements while providing a beautiful and comfortable environment. From cozy reading nooks to functional home offices, our designs are versatile and crafted to meet your specific needs.

Why Choose Better Built Barns?

At Better Built Barns, we pride ourselves on delivering superior craftsmanship and personalized service. Here are a few reasons why we're the best choice for your she shed project in Portland or Salem:

Quality Materials: We use only the highest quality materials to ensure your she shed is durable and long-lasting.

Customization: Every she shed is tailored to your unique tastes and requirements, ensuring a perfect fit for your lifestyle.

Expert Craftsmanship: Our skilled team of builders and designers bring years of experience to every project, ensuring exceptional results.

Local Knowledge: As a locally owned company, we understand the specific needs and preferences of Portland and Salem residents.

Start Your She Shed Journey Today

Ready to create your dream she shed in Portland or Salem? Better Built Barns is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start designing your personalized retreat. Transform your backyard into a beautiful and functional space that you'll love for years to come.

Conclusion

Visit our website Better Built Barns or call us at (503) 555-1234 to learn more about our she sheds and to view our portfolio of completed projects. Follow us on social media for inspiration and updates on our latest designs and offerings.

[phawareglobal]

Morris Salem, MD - phaware® interview 459

In this episode, Dr. Morris Salem, a pediatric cardiologist, discusses his involvement with Camp del Corazon, a camp for children with congenital heart disease. Dr. Salem emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional well-being of these patients, in addition to their physical health. He believes that the camp helps boost their self-confidence and allows them to have normal experiences. Dr. Salem also mentions the positive impact the camp has on parents, some of whom become involved in planning and fundraising for the organization. Dr. Salem is also a 2024 Gala del Sol Honoree. This gala is a major fundraiser for the camp taking place Saturday, April 13, 2024. Click Here for Tickets. Click Here to take part in the virtual auction.  #galadelsol #campdelcorazon #heartcamp #camplove #supportagoodcause 

Hi, my name is Dr. Morris Salem. I am a board certified pediatric cardiologist and I have an additional board certification in adult congenital heart disease. I work at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and I am happy to say that I'm one of the honorees at the Gala del Sol, that's going to be occurring on April 13th, 2024. I've been involved with this camp, Camp del Corazon, for over 20 years. I was very close friends with the founders of this camp, Lisa Knight, and I continue to be very close friends with Kevin Shannon, MD. Over the last 20 some odd years, I've been referring lots of patients to this camp. It's truly been an incredible experience when these patients come back and tell me about the best time that they've had in their entire lives and that they want to go back. I have on my desk right in front of me a prescription pad that says, "This is a prescription from me to you to go to camp." I find kids that are 7, 8, 10, 12, teenagers who are shy, who are in a space in their lives where they're not confident at all. They don't have a whole lot of friends and they're not feeling confident about themselves. In the 15, 20, 30 minutes that they're in the office with me, it's pretty obvious. I've known a lot of these patients their entire lives from when there were fetuses all the way up to however old they are, and you can tell. You can tell that they're just not confident. They are very gun shy and perhaps very self-conscious about who they are and what they're able to do and what their role is in life. Every time I see one of these patients, I run to my office, grab a prescription and hand it over to them. I tell them that they have to do this. This is a requirement. This is medication. A fair number of them actually take me up on it and sign up for camp. A lot of these kids are really sheltered by their parents just because of everything they've been through. The parents are just as hesitant as the kids are in terms of letting their little babies go off and do whatever they need to do. Now, obviously they're not babies, they're older kids, but they treat them like they're a piece of ceramic. They're very, very sheltered. It is quite difficult to get both the parents and the kids to agree to go to this, but a lot of times there's a lot of tears shed on both the parents' part and the kids' parts before they leave. But once they get there, it is a transformative experience. It is one that completely changes their outlook on life. They don't want to come back. I had one patient, recently, who fit this scenario precisely. Parents didn't want him to go. He didn't want to go. I forced him to go. He went and due to some weather circumstances, they actually got trapped there for an extra day or two and he did not want to come back. Absolutely did not want to come back. I saw him shortly after his trip and he was just glowing, bubbling. He's going to be a frequent flyer. He's going to keep going back until somebody tells him he cannot go back anymore. It's always very difficult when you get patients who have done nothing wrong. This is not of any fault of themselves. This is something that's just happened to them and unfortunately they have to learn to deal with it, and our job is not just to help them deal with it from a physical standpoint, but also from an emotional standpoint. The physical standpoint, we can take care of. We have medications, we have procedures, we have all sorts of different things that we can do. We can tell you with the ultrasound what the heart function looks like. We can give it numbers, but the emotional aspect is something that's a lot more challenging for us to deal with. Learning how to treat these patients as not just as patients, but as human beings who think like any other child does. They need to experience things that other kids who don't have these limitations and don't have to think about, can I do this? Can I not do this? Should I do it? Should I not do it? That's really what keeps us going and keeps us motivated to keep pushing and treating these patients and helping them to have normal experiences. That's what the point of all of this is, not just the body, but the mind and the soul. I think camp and self-confidence and your ability to see your self-worth as who you truly are and not as a diagnosis really helps open up a lot of opportunities for you. These kids come back and they want to do things. They want to go out and run a little bit faster in PE. They want to join that team. Maybe they're not the fastest, maybe they're not the strongest. It doesn't matter. They just want to be involved. That in and of itself really helps to propel them and open up more and more and more doors and really make them productive members of our society, which is very important. It's very interesting, I think a lot of our parents are also incredibly positively impacted by this camp experience that their children have. One of my parents of a child who actually attended camp has actually become very, very invested and very, very involved in the camp in terms of planning and in terms of fundraising, in terms of all aspects of this camp. It is a sense of belonging. It's a sense of making a difference and taking this experience that you had nothing to do with provoking or bringing onto yourself, but turning it into a positive aspect and turning it into something that you can share with other people who are going through the same experience. Being at Kaiser, we take care of roughly 5 million members in the Southern California region. As you can imagine, that's a huge, huge number of patients that we deal with. I've been at Kaiser close to 25 years, and I've seen and taken care of thousands upon thousands of patients. Part of what I do is really coordinate and take care of all sorts of patients with congenital heart disease and all sorts of associated conditions from San Diego all the way up to Bakersfield. I'm well known and affiliated with all the major institutions in town, including UCLA, Children's Hospital of LA, Loma Linda, everybody in Southern California. It's through my affiliation with all these institutions and my referral to the camp, many, many patients over the last 20 years, that the camp committee took notice and said, "Wait a second. Maybe this guy who does a lot of work and refers a lot of patients should be someone we recognize." I really want to encourage everybody to look into this amazing organization, Camp del Corazon. They are a purely volunteer led organization with one goal and one goal only in mind, and that is to take care of these children and their families with congenital heart disease. They do this out of love. They do this out of commitment. They do this out of a sense of purpose. This Gala that's set for April 13th, 2024 is their major fundraiser. It is where they collect a majority of the funds that they're going to be utilizing over the summertime for this camp that is held in Catalina. This camp is really intended for patients who are special, patients with congenital heart disease, other affiliated conditions like pulmonary hypertension, anything that involves the heart and the lungs as a chronic issue. These are the types of kids that attend this camp in a very safe and very closely monitored fashion so nothing can happen to them. If it does, there are people there who can take care of them and make sure that they're safe. It is free of costs. All expenses are completely paid for, mainly from fundraisers such as this. There is a virtual camp for families that cannot make it to California to make it to this camp. There is both a silent auction and a live auction that will be offered at Gala del Sol on April 13th. That is well, well worth everyone to sign in and look at if you can't physically make it to this Gala. My name is Dr. Morris Salem and I'm aware that my patients are rare.

Learn more about pulmonary hypertension trials at www.phaware.global/clinicaltrials. Follow us on social @phaware Engage for a cure: www.phaware.global/donate #phaware Share your story: info@phaware.com

Listen and View more on the official phaware™ podcast site

[thecavavoice]

The Ohio Train Crash and The Toxicity of Construction

by Eric V.

(Photo: CNN)

February 3rd was the start of a tragic event in Salem, Ohio. Its inhabitants were having a typical Friday night, when they heard the common noise of a train making its trip to who-knows-where. But what happened that night changed the lives of everyone living nearby.

Security footage caught the train passing right before the mass event, and the footage sheds light on evidence that the crash started with the wheels on the train sparking against the metal rails. These small sparks reacted to the chemicals the train was transporting, resulting in the train catching fire completely and releasing very toxic chemicals into the environment. 

The chemicals present on the train before the incident included vinyl chloride, 1.1 billion pounds of it, that was released not only into the environment and the atmosphere, but it was released into many residential areas. Scientists have proven that vinyl chloride is a very toxic chemical that can cause all sorts of issues. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, “Exposure to vinyl chloride may increase a person's risk of developing cancer. Human and animal studies show higher rates of liver, lung and several other types of cancer. Being exposed to vinyl chloride can affect a person's liver, kidney, lung, spleen, nervous system and blood.” 

According to Green Matters, “PVC is the most environmentally damaging plastic. The PVC lifecycle -- its production, use, and disposal -- results in the release of toxic, chlorine-based chemicals. These toxins are building up in the water, air and food chain.” Vinyl chloride is found most commonly in PVC pipes, and was undoubtedly the reason why the train in Ohio was transporting such a dangerous chemical. But when the vinyl chloride was released into the atmosphere it was released into the environment. Salem, Ohio had to close access to water because it was contaminated by the chemical. Fish in local lakes were found dead, as a result of the exposure of vinyl chloride. The air was polluted, and many witnesses recall the sky being darkened in a black cloud for days. 

As dangerous as vinyl chloride is, it wasn’t the only chemical present. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “About 20 rail cars were reported to have been carrying hazardous materials. Vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ethers were released into the air, surface soil and surface waters, it said.”  All of these chemicals have construction purposes, for adhesives, plastics, rubbers, etc. When handled carefully they are not much of a threat, but when released into the atmosphere as a gas cloud, all mixed together, it becomes a toxic cloud. 

This train crash incident has opened our eyes to the danger of these chemicals, which are purely used for construction purposes. The fact that these chemicals have the potential to pollute the air, water, and damage the health of people poses a concern for construction methods.

According to the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr, “Construction is a highly dangerous industry. According to statistics from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in 2019, one out of every five worker fatalities were in the construction industry. When it comes to work injuries and illnesses, construction is one of the top 10 most dangerous occupations. Working at heights, and around electrical installations, heavy machinery, and moving vehicles, are all part of a normal day on a construction site, but workers must also be aware of the dangers associated with exposure to toxic chemicals.” Everything is built through construction, and it poses a massive threat to not only construction workers, but the environment as well. The metals we use, the rubber, plastics, tools, and solubles are toxic, and get turned into the houses and buildings we live and work in, bridges we walk and drive on, the very existence of any man made structure has a toxic element involved. The house you live in and are breathing in at this second consists of toxic chemicals and materials. According to the University of Michigan, “University of Michigan researchers have identified 55 chemicals of concern found in the walls, floors, ceilings and furniture in homes across the United States, including some that have concentrations that are 1,000 times higher than recommended.” 

According to The Oshan Firm, “10% of all birth defects are the result of exposure to chemicals and industrial products.“ That small percentage has a lot of impact, and is proof that not only are we being affected, but so are our future generations, and the generations that haven’t even been born yet. 

There is always room for improvement, and there’s no time like the present. We can innovate a new way of construction, one that involves less toxins and chemicals, and one that provides a safer, brighter, greener future. It hasn’t been found yet, but it can and will, given the right people know about it and care enough to volunteer a few brain cells. We shouldn’t live in fear and wear gas masks our entire lives, but if we don’t act fast that might be the future we live in. 

[thebrewstorian]

New hops collection alert! Wigrich Ranche Photographic Album, circa 1915.

Yay for new collections!

At some point during the 30 years we've been in a pandemic we got this delightful photograph album of the Wigrich Ranche (sic), a hops farm located in Buena Vista, Oregon. It's approximately 3 miles southeast of Independence in an area that was called the “Hop Center of the World” between 1900 and 1940.

Originally known as the Krebs Ranch, the largest hop farm in the state, it was purchased by English hops merchants Wigans and Richardson in 1911, who called the farm Wigrich Ranche, a combination of Wigan and Richardson. In the 1920s, the Wigrich Ranche was said to be the largest hop yard under a single trellis in the world. In 1941, they sold the farm to the Steiner Company, headquartered in New York, and it was renamed the Golden Gate Hop Ranch. It was sold again in 1949 to Herman and Myrtle Moritz and then to Robert Fitts in 1952, who stopped raising hops.

Major W. Lewis Rose, formerly of the British Army, began his work as farm manager in 1913. He was formerly an estate manager in Ireland and in the army with Richardson. He managed the farm until 1928, when he resigned due to ill health; he died in Victoria, B.C. in 1930.

The photo above shows Rose with his wife Charlotte and daughter Winifred in front of their house.

The bulk of the album shows operations and worker activities.

Also included are photographs of large drying kilns, storage sheds, and other equipment; the office of the yard boss; the bakery, restaurant, grocery store, market, dance hall, and blacksmith shop.

There are photos of a newly-planted orchard; plants damaged by a wind storm; bales of hops en route to warehouse storage and being loaded on a train at the Wigrich railroad stop; livestock used on the ranch (Jersey and Durham cows, and Poland Chinese and Duroc Jersey boars).

Interior shots include a furnace room with a drying kiln; a tram car loaded with hops entering a kiln; men examining the hops harvest; hops stored in a warehouse, and men preparing bread in the bakery to feed the pickers. There are many photographs of workers, including group-portraits of laborers harvesting hops or transporting them to the warehouse; men in a baling pit; a view of a tent camp and grounds; workers waiting for mail delivery at the post office in the grocery store; dressed-up workers at the dance hall; and workers leaving the ranch after harvest to return home via train or automobile.

One image shows a group of Armenian laborers of the Arslanien Brothers Contracting Co. training newly-established bines (hop vines) in a field.

A series of photos entitled “Twelve Views of the Pickers,” shows seasonal workers divided into twelve groups, many wearing large hats, holding hops plants, pets, bales, etc. Some men are perched on wire fencing. The presence of women and children indicates many seasonal workers brought their families along.

The album is 8” x 12”, with black leather covers and 51 4.75” x 6.75” silver prints mounted on 32 brown leaves. There are 62 photographs. This genre of albums were created to document the operations of businesses; in some cases as a visual record and memento for management, for promotional purposes, or distributed to potential or existing customers. The photographs were taken by the Parker Studio, Salem, Oregon.

Several of these photographs were used in Kenneth Helphand's book Hops: Historic Photographs of the Oregon Hopscape (OSU Press, 2020). It's a lovely "visual dive into the physical presence of the plant and its distinctive landscape and culture."

[itsclydebitches]

Maybe this is just the big problem with making a companion book advertising itself as giving you the details of the world as well as BTS info, then adding a note outside of the book explaining that "Oh yeah, some of this information is just some of the character's interpretation." with nothing to help us distinguish between that and fact. What about parts that are shedding light on unclear details? Is that a scene direction being cleared up or just an 'interpretation'?

This has been a problem with RWBY for years now, simply by virtue of RT not bothering to keep track of the ways in which they’re dispersing information to their audience and whether it all hangs together. I can think of multiple examples off the top of my head: 

“Oscar must be pretty powerful now if he’s able to punch Neo like that.” “No, we learned that this was just an animation error.” 

“We learned from this stream that Ironwood’s semblance was active during the office scene.” “No, it was later revealed that they forgot his semblance had broken.”

“There are no queer men in RWBY.” “Yes there are, you just need to have heard about Scarlet on twitter.” 

“There are no queer women in RWBY besides Terra, Saphron, and Ilia.” “Yes there are, you just need to read the novels to find out about Coco.” 

“RT queerbaited on social media by deliberately teasing a Clover/Qrow relationship before Clover was killed off.” “No, the social media team is separate so the writers didn’t have control over this.” 

“The show has given us no information about how these grimm have evolved.” “Sure it has, you just need to play this mobile game and find a specific card about it.” 

“This is how aura works. I know this because it was established during the initiation arc.” “No, things changed later during the Haven arc.” 

“This is (maybe) Salem’s motivation. I know this because it was established during the lore episode.” “No, things changed later during the kidnapping.” 

RWBY is all over the place. Add this to a plot built on secrets, lies, and miscommunication, making it incredibly hard to keep track of what the facts are vs. what characters mistakenly believe. Now add THAT to the sheer number of confusing/open-ended elements of the story. Are Blake and Yang a couple? Depends on how you interpret their interactions. Did Ironwood kill that councilman? Depends on what you imagine happened off screen. How was Amity finished? No idea, just ignore everything that was established before this volume. I’m not going to pretend that managing a story across multiple mediums with numerous authors involved (writers, animators, directors, social media managers, etc.) is in any way easy... but RWBY has 100% dropped the ball. In a world where this is the norm now and plenty of other stories have juggled this with only the occasional (understandable) mistake, RWBY comes out looking incredibly shoddy. 

The longer this goes on, the less surprised I am that RWBY is one of the more vitriolic fandoms I’ve been in. When you give your audience almost nothing but subjective, contradictory, and hard to find information, attach that to characters they fell in love with (and often grew up with), likewise attach that to numerous markers of our identity that are, by default, sensitive subjects (sexuality, racism), and then encourage your audience to engage with the show on their own time... you’re going to end up with an incredibly tense, defensive community. RT created a show people got emotionally invested in for a number of different reasons and then failed to provide a consistent, unified foundation for the audience to enjoy it together. It’s no wonder everyone is at each other’s throats trying to defend the version of RWBY they’ve engaged with (one that’s show only, with novels but not mobile game, mobile game but not companion book, whatever) as well as the version of that version that they’ve personally interpreted (all those subjective questions). At this point, almost no one is watching the same RWBY as the next blog over. 

[littlemisssquiggles]

Is it just me or is anyone else getting slowly uncomfortable with the fact that Ruby is still trying to act like everything happen was not her fault or a result of her poor judgement. Dor example, when Penny brought up Ironwood and team RWBY's disagreement. Ruby look generally surprised that Penny was even thinking about Ironwood. It is lowkey, Team RWBY ruined that the alliance with Ironwood fell apart in the first place. Even Oscar apologized about confronting Ironwood alone. But I don't feel any ounce of sorriness from Ruby about how bad this situation has gotten. This situation ia only going to worse now that Oscar is gone. I firmly believe Penny will betray them or disappear and try to confront Salem on her own as a sacrifice but it will be futile. It just seems Team RWBY made so mistakes and lied so much...

...What I personally don’t get is why are folks (fans as well as the actual characters within the show) placing all the blame for the heroes divorce from working with the General and the Atlesian Military on Ruby Rose and Ruby Rose ONLY while ignoring the all-important that detail that it was in fact the actions of Yang Xiao Long (and by extension Blake Belladonna) that landed the group in hot water and not really what Ruby did.

Don’t get me wrong anon-chan. You are correct in the fact that Ruby’s choice to deceive the General was the first mistake the heroes made and while I agree that Ruby does deserve to be pulled up for that failed leadership choices, she isn’t the only person meant to be on trial here for the repercussions of their mistakes. Are we forgetting that the bit about the heroes choosing to lie and withhold the truth about Salem was all brought to light before the General and ironed out by Oscar?

Are we forgetting that back in RWBY V7CH9---after the others left to go assist in the evacuation down in Mantle with the Ace Ops, Oscar and Ironwood had a discussion where not only did the little prince shed light on the truth about Salem but he also explained the rationalization behind the group’s choice to withhold such information from the General for so long.

When Ironwood called out RWBY in his office in V7CH11, it wasn’t for their choice to withhold the truth about Salem---it was actually regarding how Robyn Hill learned about the Amity Project. A secret that was revealed to the Happy Huntress by Yang and Blake in V7CH7 and as far as I’m aware of, the Bees never informed the others about what they had done on the night of the ambush.

We got no scene afterwards that confirmed this (at least to my recollection). Not even during the brief meeting between RWBY and Oscar at the start of V7CH8. As far as the audience is aware, Yang and Blake acted on their own to reveal the Amity Project to the Happy Huntresses and failed to alert the others.

And in reviewing the episode where this happened (V7CH7)---I noticed that it was actually Yang who made the call to reveal the truth to Robyn since Blake looked to her for approval first before spilling the beans to Robyn. 

So essentially Yang is to be held responsible for relaying the Amity Project to the leader of the Happy Huntresses…and then choosing to not tell the rest of the team?

This is what has been bugging me about the showrunners’ choice to have Yang be the one to call out Ruby for her mistakes in leadership. This presents Yang as a hypocrite in my eyes since in my opinion, she has no right to pull up Ruby while ignoring that she herself is responsible for the group losing their alliance with the Military.

Let me say this again---it was NOT Ruby’s choice for the group to deceive the General about Salem that caused their inevitable rift. It was Yang’s choice for her and Blake to tell the Happy Huntresses about Amity. THAT is what Ironwood called RWBY out for last season. And let me also remind you of the detail that while the WHOLE team knew about Ruby’s choice, NO ONE else other than Blake knew about Yang’s (as far as I know).

So yeah, while I agree with you on your lack of sympathy towards Ruby right now since she does deserve to have her leadership questioned, at the same time, I hate that all the blame is being slapped on Ruby’s shoulders when it isn’t entirely her fault. Yang is ALSO responsible yet she gets a slap on the wrist by the PLOT. Nah son! I’m not liking this angle at all.

Ruby deserves to be called out yes, but someone NEEDS to tell off Yang too and pull her up too. From where I’m standing, both sisters screwed up and got the group in trouble. So I’d like for someone to confront Yang too and at the moment, I’m banking on it being Blake since, judging by the first episode, she didn’t look too keen on what Yang said to Ruby by calling out her leadership. Not to mention that when the teams divided, Blake sided with Ruby and NOT Yang which, to be me, is very interesting. So I’m hoping this leads to Blake standing up for Ruby in the event of another confrontation and blame game, leading to the Belladonna girl telling off Yang.

I understand the show has been “strengthening” the bond between the Bees since V6 (as a result of the story potentially leading into the two huntresses being paired up romantically) however I would have mad respect for the writers if, not only did they have Blake be the one to reprimand Yang for her poor choices but additionally if that leads into the two girls finally discussing their relationship and all the things that was left unsaid between them from seasons ago since Blake’s return.

Not saying this will occur. Just saying that if it did, I’d have nothing but mad respect for the writers for this bit of good development between the Bees.

As for Penny P---I agree with you on the possibility of Penny betraying the heroes. If her option for her to surrender over the Staff of Creation to Salem in exchange for her kingdom’s salvation wasn’t a clear as day red flag then I don’t know what is. It’s as blunt as a bullet to the foot, m’dude. 

It is very evident with her expressions and mannerisms that Penny is emotionally stunted by the tension between the two hero factions (our heroes and the Atlesian Military) with whom she shares affiliation with. It’s like watching a child suffer through their parents going through a bitter divorce and custody battle knowing fully well that things aren’t okay while simultaneously being assured that all will be well (when it isn’t and probably won’t be in the end given the tone of the opening and season thus far). Ruby and General Ironwood---the two core leaders of both hero factions---are like the dysfunctional parents in this scenario and Penny, as the party member who is linked to both of them, is being forced to choose a side. At least, that’s how it felt when Ironwood contacted Penny.

Again it’s like watching a child in a dysfunctional family where one parent is forcing them to choose between the other while ignoring the child’s feelings in this predicament. It’s all there. In this moment, Penny is like a child. Even the way she’s been talking to everyone feels more child-like and innocent than usual.

And Ironwood giving Penny the guilt trip by placing the fall of Mantle in her hands---it is such a manipulative move. I hate it for what it’s doing to Penny right now in the show but I love it at the same time for what it could eventually lead into for her character and arc later in the story.

The point I’m trying to make here is that I do think Penny will betray everyone in the end. Without a doubt. Given the beef between both sides, I feel as if we’re likely to see Penny ultimately chose to take matter into her own hands---disowning BOTH sides and choosing to do things HER way out of what SHE felt was best for EVERYONE.

In the beginning, Penny started off on Ironwood’s side with the Military (mainly) back in V7. Then in V8, she’s with RWBY and the others. However I think in the end, Penny will revoke her alliance with both sides of heroes, deeming them all unfit to lead and help anyone right now; essentially holding their current squabble accountable for the tragedies of both Atlas and Mantle (which…she wouldn’t be wrong for saying).

And thus, this will culminate in Penny doing the very, very stupid---I mean gullible thing she said she would do. The thing everyone warned her not to do. For this squiggle meister’s perspective, I’m anticipating that Penny will probably betray RWBN to side with Ironwood just so she can be given access to the Staff of Creation in the Vault of the Winter Maiden. Then once the Staff in revealed, Penny will then betray Ironwood and take the Staff to Salem as a bargaining chip for Atlas’ salvation.

From here, she will either be destroyed again---killed on the spot with the Winter Maiden powers going straight to Cinder or…who knows, maybe there’ll be another twist in there where Penny is kept alive to be made into Salem’s Maiden of Magic in place of Cinder Fall who she’ll probably end up punishing yet again for her insolence (since we’re probably going to see Cinder defy Salem again due to her greed). Or perhaps…Penny 2.0 has always been a pawn of Salem since her rebirth and has been unknowingly playing our heroes---both sides---like a fiddle since the get-go. Or something like that. That’s how I’m seeing it. But this is just my thoughts on that.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2020)

[real-jaune-isms]

RWBY Volume 8 Chapter 10 Review/Remix

WHAT the ever loving FUCK was that just now RT?? You give us several great answers and scenes we really wanted to see, and then rip all that joy away in the last 3 minutes!!! I want to sue for emotional damages, but I really can’t be mad cuz it’s very masterful writing on their part. After years of shows doing redemption arcs we finally have it... the bastardization arc~

We open, perhaps to the disappointment of some, on Ironwood staring out the windows of his office at the battlefield and city in turmoil below. He’s being given a situation update on the destruction of the cellblock two episodes back, and he takes the news a little differently than might have been expected (read: worse). Jacques apparently stayed right where he was and let himself be put back into custody, while Qrow avoided much harm by being a bird and ending up in a spot where the rubble wasn’t landing directly on him. Robyn was only slightly lucky, she was under some large debris but doesn’t seem terribly hurt and is actually conscious when Atlas soldiers uncover her and say she’ll be moved to a new cell elsewhere. Qrow isn’t about to be put back in a cage though, and flies right at the soldier who finds him. Behind a conveniently placed piece of wall he turns back and, as I was somewhat praised for phrasing it in a discord chat, he tackled that man as a man. We can assume he knocks out the guy about to apprehend Robyn, and the two make a getaway. Ironwood doesn’t like this news one bit, though he focuses more on recapturing the two huntsmen he had arrested on paranoid treason charges than the actual war criminal he lost an arm catching whose dangerous work on the city of Mantle still hasn’t been undone. Not cool, dude. He yells at the soldiers who had come to report this, and they leave to try and find the jailbirds. He stares out the window again in contemplation and tries to calm down a little before turning on his earpiece to get an update on the status of some thing or another, probably the bomb, when something massive happens.

With a blinding flash and an array of gold and green, Oscar’s staff goes off with whatever he was charging up. It’s as bright and forceful as you’d expect a nuclear bomb to be, and it knocks Winter and the Ace Ops off their feet as they were heading towards Monstra lugging their own bomb. Weiss and Nora see it from Schnee Manor, and it seems to do a real number on the Grimm around Monstra and in the city. Rooster Teeth had to give a flashing lights warning at the start of the episode for those it would adversely affect, and I can totally understand why after the crazy display this gave us. When the light fades and the noise settles, Monstra has been snapped and is fading away to dust, and in that dust cloud we hear and barely see Neopolitan skipping away with the Lamp in hand. What a little punk... Winter gets back on her feet and is quick to ask her squad for their status, she doesn’t want to have lost anyone or suffered serious wounds from whatever the hell they just saw/felt. No one is hurt, though Elm’s ears seem to still be ringing. But Marrow is very distressed, realizing they still hadn’t heard back from Jaune and the others and they may have been killed in that blast. Nobody has anything to say that would appease him, so they stay silent. Vine tries to put a reassuring hand on Elm’s shoulder but she brushes him off. Guess after they got called out by Ren she wants to show even less emotion and sentimentality than before. Ironwood contacts them under the false assumption this was the result of their bomb, and requests they return to HQ for an update on the new problem he wants to deal with. Marrow naturally points out that the destruction wasn’t their doing, and Winter decides that will be news best delivered in person, so they load the bomb back on the airship and take off. 

Cutting into the city, we see Watts and Cinder viewing the destruction of their mobile HQ from a distance. Nobody is returning Cinder’s calls but they know Salem will be back so Watts suggests they come up with a plan in the meantime. But Cinder is fully confident that they can still do what they originally intended, that being having her kill Penny and take the Winter Maiden powers after Watts brings the synthezoid to her. But this was a plan made under false assumptions, because apparently she misunderstood the terminology in his message and thought he could puppeteer Penny to go wherever he demands when really he just laid a new prime directive to send her straight to the Vault as we saw two episodes back. Hearing this pisses Cinder off immensely, especially the part about Penny being set to self destruct as soon as the Vault is open since that means the next recipient of the powers will be randomized again and she’ll have lost her chance to yoink them. Watts is too busy grumpily musing to himself about Penny having free will and a spirit that doesn’t want to succumb to his leet hacks to notice Cinder growing more and more enraged, until he turns around and she pulls him in close to yell at him. But Watts is having none of that, he works for Salem not her, and his plans weren’t made to give this flaming whining goth what she wants every single time. He’s just supposed to get the Vault open for Salem, and this is how he’s doing that. This is not the kind of answer Cinder wanted to hear, and she stretches her arm out to shove Watts to the edge of the roof and leave him on the verge of falling over to his demise. He doesn’t seem terribly fazed, calling her bluff and saying her mission was to bring him back and Salem won’t be a bit pleased if he dies. But you know what Salem is not? Here right now to stop Cinder from dealing with this arrogant self righteous prick once and for all. So she fully intends to drop him and then tear up Atlas on a fiery path to the Vault where she can intercept Penny and steal the Winter powers before tearing her to pieces herself and being the triumphant follower getting everything done that Salem really needed. And Watts just... laughs. Chris Sabat must have had a great time in the VO booth for this one, because he gets to have an absolute roast session the likes of which he hasn’t delivered since Majin Vegeta tore that clown Kakarot a new one. Naturally Cinder’s plan would be to brute force her way to victory and get glory for none but herself with her every whim satisfied along the way. Because that’s always her plan. And it always fails. She tried to storm Fria’s hospital room like that and got her ass handed to her by some teenagers and a dying woman before Penny took the powers before she could. She did the same damn thing 2 Volumes ago when she tried to massacre all her enemies under one roof in an alliance with a woman she thought she could outwit, but ended up blindsided by a surprise Maiden reveal and almost died while her outnumbered forces were on the verge of surrendering without her. And did anyone warn her not to do that? YES! WATTS DID!!! WATTS IS ALWAYS RIGHT, YOU FOOL!!! Well, okay, he’s really not. But he’s more clever and meticulous so he saw the flaws her arrogance left her blind to. And then Watts really tears into her by saying she isn’t smart, she isn’t worthy, and she isn’t entitled to what she wants because she’s suffered in the past. The one thing she is is a goddamn migraine. I’m a little mad Tyrian stole the show’s first cuss 4 years back cuz I really would have liked for Watts to cap this off by calling Cinder a bitch. This roasting literally lights a fire under Cinder and she seems ready to snap and kill Watts here and now, but instead she pulls him back onto the roof and stares off blankly into space before her fire fades and she walks off to sit on the ledge of a different side of the building to really think about his harsh words and shed a single tear. It’s a little unclear if she’s just feeling sorry for herself and realizing she’s more of a failure than she wanted to admit, or if she’s just overwhelmed by Watts reminding her of her childhood trauma. Maybe she’s realizing how powerless she’s truly remained all this time after fighting so hard for her own freedom and independence, and crying at the fact that she seems unable to escape that role she hates so much. Whatever the case, it’s real rough for her but I don’t feel like shedding any of my own tears for her sake. She doesn’t seem like she’s gonna change her allegiances so I don’t feel much need to cheer for her, but maybe she’ll reevaluate her strategy and become a force to be reckoned with as a villain because of this. I wouldn’t mind that. We’ll have to wait and see.

Back in the ruins of Monstra, we see Yang Ren and Jaune are all doing alright, and Oscar seems to be as well. Jaune is using his Semblance to help Oscar heal up quicker so that’s good to see too. Yang answers a call and sees Blake anxiously hoping she’ll pick up. The biggest smile comes to her face when she does, and the two halves of the group are ecstatic to hear the other is still alive and well. Neither are quite ready to tell the full tale of what they’ve been up to, but Weiss pulls up a map of the city and lays out a safe route through the subway tunnels that will take OYRJ straight to the mansion so they can actually reunite. Oscar isn’t about to leave Emerald behind though, and we see her knelt in the chaos holding out her hands as if hoping to catch some of the dust that was once her father figure. Yang is vocally against the idea of bringing Emerald with them, but Oscar advocates for her being every bit against Salem as them so the enemy of their enemy should be their friend. Emerald actually doesn’t seem to want to keep hanging around them and says they should just part ways, but Jaune isn’t about to let her walk free without facing any kind of justice for her past crimes. Ren thinks they need to be able to see past their emotional hang ups and consider the value in having her as an ally, and Yang is quick to remind them all that Emerald is part of the reason she lost her arm. Technically that is true, Adam was working with Cinder and if Yang hadn’t been framed as a brutal criminal she would have been around the rest of the team when everything popped off so maybe that first fight would have gone differently. But I do feel like it’s a bit of a stretch. Yang keeps going about why she can’t just forgive and forget when Em had been such a snake in the grass back at Beacon, but that’s not what Oscar is asking of her. He just wants her to try and give the girl a second chance to be better. He gets a little cryptic about how they’ve already gotten help from someone they haven’t had the best track record trusting, and Ren perfectly guesses he means that Oz has reemerged in his mind. This takes the blondes by surprise, and Oscar stands up for the old soul by saying he took the brunt of the beatings and told him how to impede Salem like he did just there. Turns out we’ll be finding out the secret of Ozpin’s cane today: It’s been made into a magical repository for kinetic energy stored over dozens of past lives to be made into a sort of bomb to set off when needed. I don’t know quite enough about physics to describe how exactly that would work, but it seems to make sense that it does. But the blast that took out Monstra used up the majority of what was in there so he can’t rely on it for that kind of attack again. It seems likely that was what Ozpin used against Cinder in the Beacon Vault, but didn’t use very much of it, and again what Oscar used to bust a hole in the bottom of the pit Ironwood shot him into. Oscar finishes making his case that Oz really does want to aid them, and the others seem convinced. What’s worth noting is that all eyes had been on him during this, but Emerald made no attempt to run away or even lower her hands. Guess she might really want to stick around after all... The moment is interrupted by the not so distant sound of a crying baby, and they all run further down the tunnel to find a subway station where the people of Atlas are taking shelter on Ironwood’s orders. Emerald starts to feel the weight of her action and those she used to side with, especially when she sees kids scared and hungry like she was before Cinder found her. They continue past the station on their way to the manor, and Oscar offers some encouragement to Emerald that they need her help in this war considering what she’s capable of. Considering the feats she performed under stress back in Volume 5, I’m inclined to agree. 

We fade away from that scene to Ironwood’s office and the camera rises up the stairs as if being held by the Ace Ops as they and Winter come through the still broken doors to give their report to the general. He’s looking at multiple holographic screens projecting from his table: one with graphics telling him the status of all the airships mechs and soldiers, one pulling up news articles and any other info they can get on Monstra presumably for the purpose of cataloguing it in case they ever need to worry about another one, the third seems to be a map of city to monitor the damage so far, and the last is all the info they have on Cinder. He congratulates the team for their work destroying the Grimm, but Winter admits it wasn’t their bomb that did the job, they still have it intact for him. This confuses Ironwood greatly, but he sees an opportunity in this twist of fate. Penny hasn’t come to the Vault like he wanted her to be programmed to do, so he assumes Watts did a shit job of reprogramming her or just intentionally screwed them over. Yet the truth is something he can’t seem to imagine, she has free will and doesn’t want to do as she’s told. Who’s the real tool now Jimmy? He informs them that Cinder broke Watts out, and he seems to consider Qrow and Robyn escaping to be an even worse consequence. Harriet seems ready to sprint out of the room and haul them back here herself, but Ironwood stays her hand... or foot in this case. With Salem temporarily halted, now is the best time they’ve got for him to have the Winter Maiden open the Vault and use the Staff to lift Atlas higher than she can reach like he wanted so badly. So he wants Winter to bring him Yang Jaune and Ren. Winter doesn’t see the purpose of that, or she does and hates to imagine it’s truly what he intends, but either way she knows she can’t do what he’s asking. He plans to make full use of the lives they hold in their hands, and he’s going to use Jaune and the others as leverage to make Penny do what he says. He acts as if he’s actually proud of himself for realizing this is an option available to him, and I think it’s his Semblance that’s partially blinding him to the moral reasons why it should not be an option worth considering. Winter is left wilting under his unaware and proud gaze, and then Harriet pipes up to tattle on her commanding officer. Winter gave the kids a chance to try and rescue their friends from inside the whale(they don’t mention that friend was Oscar so he still doesn’t know the kid survived his attempted murder), and they weren’t seen exiting before it blew up. I want to say I’m shocked and disgusted that Harriet snitched on Winter just for the brownie points of being honest and taking Winter down a peg, but I’m really not. She’s been a loyal bootlicker since this time last Volume, and this feels like payback for that whole “I outrank you so you can’t stop me from giving them a chance” thing in chapter 7. Ironwood removes the proud and probably intended to be comforting hand he had placed on Winter’s shoulder, as if ashamed to be touching her after she let him down like this. This was his last plan for his definition of success, and now it’s ruined so he can’t do anything. In a fit of rage he smashes his table like the goddamn Hulk and the Ace Ops are left to watch and wonder just how in his right mind he actually is. As he tries to catch his breath, the general gets an urgent transmission that dozens of non-military aircraft have shown up on radar. I and probably a few dozen other people watching this hoped this was an Avengers Endgame moment of tons of allies coming to the rescue of the down and out heroes. But no, its the Schnee Dust Company ships Whitley sent out. Almost forgot about that plan, whoops. Ironwood immediately recognizes this as Weiss’ handiwork for the sake of saving Mantle, because nobody would have guessed Whitley would show some humanity and make this plan himself. Winter immediately shows attentive concern hearing her sister has done this, and Harriet gives her a look as if to say “you are such a bleeding heart for these little criminals...” Ironwood makes the very one dimensional assumption that everything Ruby and the others have been doing is simply to protect Mantle, as if they didn’t have a serious conversation with May about helping Atlas as well as Mantle 3 episodes back. With that knowledge in mind, he decides he needs to make a call. 

Speaking of phones, Cinder gets a cheeky text and an accompanying selfie from Neo revealing she has the Lamp and she knows Salem will tear Cinder to pieces if she doesn’t bring it back to her. So she’s proposing a trade; Cinder gets the name to activate the Lamp, and in return she has to bring Neo to Ruby for the revenge she so deeply craves. Watts can’t see Cinder’s screen so he wonders who among their comrades has survived. Unclear if Cinder is going to tell him.

At last, we see Ruby throw open the front doors of Schnee Manor with Weiss and Blake flanking her, to see Yang and the others on the front steps. The sisters immediately embrace and Ruby sheds a tear of relief and joy that they’re all okay. Yang tells her she missed her too, and that seems to be that for the distrust and argument they had back in chapter 1. Ruby goes to greet the guys, and Yang gives Weiss a nice hug too. Then she sees Blake has taken a few steps away from the group and seems ashamed or embarrassed, unable to even look in their direction in Yang’s direction. Yang puts a hand to her cheek, her thumb softly stroking up and down as she turns Blake’s head to meet her gays gaze. Yang blushes and smiles, Bake returns the smile, and the two softly press their foreheads together. The intense sapphic energy of this deeply intimate moment was almost overwhelming, and many couldn’t help but adore it. I know I couldn’t stop myself from being a little giggly. Ren notices Nora isn’t there to greet them, and Weiss seems like she’s going to bring him up to her room and possibly even explain what happened along the way. Ruby takes this chance to go and greet Oscar with a hug, but stops short when she sees Emerald behind him. She seems real mad and is about to go on the attack, but Oscar steps between them and insists he can vouch for her, or maybe he’s saying he can explain? We don’t quite know because they get cut off by the sound of Ruby’s Scroll ringing. May is calling from the crater to say that the SDC freighters aren’t the only thing in the air right now, and she seems very panicked by what she sees. She yells for everyone to run into the mines for shelter, and an explosion is hear before the call is cut short. Before anyone has time to try and puzzle out what they just heard, a loud alarm tone goes off on all their Scrolls. It’s a fun detail that as a Faunus Blake covers her ears cuz the loud noise is especially bad for her. An emergency CCT broadcast is coming in for everyone in the kingdom, and Ruby magnifies her Scroll’s playing of it to be projected into the air for all of them to watch. The cargo ships are shown being shot down by military ships, and then the feed cuts to Ironwood standing ominously under a single light to deliver a downright villainous speech. He claims he has been trying his best to protect the technology and future of the kingdom from those who would do it harm, but I think it is VERY telling he never mentions protecting the people. Because that’s not what matters to him anymore. Not really. He says the only person stopping him from finishing his plans of making sure the currently crippled Salem can’t hurt them anymore is Penny. So he has an ultimatum for Penny and her friends, because he knows they will be listening right now. Either she turn herself over to him so he can have her do her “duty” and save as much of the Kingdom as possible and forget about trying to save Mantle, or he will nuke Mantle as punishment for her selfishness. The more he talks the more angry Ruby and the others get, and we are right there with them. He somehow thinks that if Mantle is destroyed then Penny will be free to only care about Atlas and its protection and will gladly work with him to do so. What a delusional bastard. And if anyone tries anything other than what he has said to do, he will use the bomb. 1 hour to decide how they will respond, and a hell of a lot riding on that choice.

There can be absolutely no question now, Ironwood will be the villain for the rest of the Volume and Salem will probably return at the end to ruin whatever hope putting him down will have raised in our heroes... And I’m kinda excited for how that’s gonna play out. Let’s see how team RWBY get out of this one~

[smallfrost]

Hi! Might be a stupid question but I was wondering if you knew if Scylla was supposed to be a War College student in S1? She's mentioned as a second year cadet and she's already working on a specialty and I don't know what that means exactly in this universe. Is War College even on the same campus as Fort Salem, or is it that she's supposed to be done with War College and is back for like an internship in Necro? If you could help shed some light on this I'd very much appreciate it, thanks!

This is one of the biggest head scratching questions and if given the chance to ask Eliot one thing, it would probably be this (and how it relates to the structure of war college overall). Short answer is we have no idea. (Insert MFSRI “ELIOT EXPLAIN” Gif here).

I personally don’t know too much about the military training system. I’ll keep this vague and ask someone who really knows to reblog with info or reply. But my guess is that War College is officer training, not combat training. It’s for leadership route instead of infantry. And I would say it is definitely at Fort Salem because of its proximity to Alder and the power of the grounds. Too many top shelf resources to be solely for cadets in basic training. (Also, I’m sure there is more than just “combat infantry” - maybe advanced specialization infantry training programs like Rangers or Special Forces?)

There is probably some training in each specialization in War College but with a focus on command over foot soldier. And I’d guess for Necros and Fixers it would almost be like going to medical school to get a doctorate. Willa was probably more like an EMT, which you need certification for but not a medical degree. Doesn’t mean she wasn’t a skilled medic. I’m guessing they have specialized training for combat infantry.

As for Necros, they are a complete mystery. There is still no consensus on what “second year” means. Is she still in basic? Is she a Sophomore in War College? If the latter, why not just refer to it as such? So my head canon is that Necros are prescreened/selected because they have a specific affinity (there also seem to be very few overall compared to the other specializations, so more rare?) and immediately go into a “pre-med” like training program where first year is general basic (Physical conditioning, vocal training, etc.) and second year is like AP bio (where they get to learn more about Necro specific seeds and play with death things). Then they go to War College/Med school (where they would become researchers coming up with new seeds/uses for dead things) or infantry/special forces to become bomb/mine builders or recon specialists.

Just some thoughts. tl;dr We still don’t know. Add this to the list of things to ask Eliot when we get the chance.

[razorblade180]

You still holding out hope for Atlas to fall like Sokovia?

*cracks knuckles*

Yes. If I could have my cake and eat it too-

Raven breaks Qrow and Robyn out then everyone regroups.

She opens another portal to Tai so they can all leave but RWBY and a few others refuse.

A very heated ass conversation starts and Raven tries to get it through their heads that they lost and need to go.

RWBY still refuses.

Raven stops arguing with them all and simply catches all of them off gaurd with her maiden powers then forces them through the portal; except for Penny.

Raven threatens Penny that she can either go up to Atlas and take the staff herself, or possibly become scrap metal because if she doesn’t do it then Raven will try and take the powers herself in order to steal it. That way Salem isn’t anywhere near it.

Penny is conflicted seeing how Atlas will fall if she takes it. We get another morality conflict between characters.

Penny:People will die in Mantle and Atlas if it falls. As protector I-

Raven:Look around you! People are already dying! And they’re going to keep dying the closer Salem gets to achieving her goal! So are you going to worry about a kingdom, or are you going to worry about Remnant?

We cut to Tai gardening until a portal opens up and his family, friends, and their friends fly out of it.

Everyone is in a state of shock and anger. Because it closes before anyone can process what happened.

Yang is keeping quiet like a hypocrite because everyone is also flipping out about Raven being a maiden and drawing their on conclusions on how that’s possible. Also Ruby is panicking because Penny isn’t around.

Their anger starts to peak until another portal appears. They get ready to attack Raven the moment she steps out but it never happens. Instead, several random people fall out of it and then it closes.

Another portal appears close by and does the same thing and it keeps happening repeatedly.

We cut back to Atlas to see Raven rushing around to different safe spots that civilians were evacuated to while Penny is racing towards the vault before anyone notices. A compromise was reached. Raven will continue to do this up until someone either corners her or Penny finally gets the relic.

Team RWBY keeps seeing more and more people show up and Ruby herself attempts to do something stupid. She tries jumping through a portal quickly but is stopped by Qrow who informs everyone it would be really bad if Raven doesn’t notice that and they’re left stranded in Atlas. She tries to argue but Tai also intervenes for obvious reasons.

Raven bumps into Winter who is in a very shoot first and last questions later kind of mode with everything falling apart. She attempts to confront Raven but Raven simply opens a portal in between them and Winter accidentally flies through. Weiss is very relieved on the other side.

Penny told Raven certain names that came to mind during their arraignment. Raven ends up going to Schnee manor because of this and gets Whitley out of there. Willow tells her she’s not leaving; essentially giving up on life and satisfied that her kids are safe and Jacques is probably trapped in a cell somewhere.

Penny informs Raven that she’s reached the vault so Raven begins to make her way over there. On the way she sees the Ace Ops still tied up and portals them to safety.

Penny Retrieves the relic and is confronted by Ironwood on the way out. Bitter words and morality speeches are once again shouted as things crumble horribly. Ironwood angry how another trusted individual messed up his plans

Raven shows up and it turns into a shouting contest about is their a point in trying anything at this point and if following or not following Ozpin into this suicide war was a smart call.

At the end of it all, the Tin Man is done with everything. He’s lost his friends, followers, and soon his kingdom. So he chooses to simply stop. He gives them a look of conceding defeat, but recognize their plan is what’s currently the best attempt to prolonging the rest of the worlds destruction. Ironwood leaves and goes back to his office; deciding to go down with his kingdom.

Penny tries to stop him but is enterupted by Raven and is ordered to go through the portal; their mission complete.

They come out the other side and Penny is in tears. Knowing that while some Iives were saved, there are still plenty who are about to die. Before Ruby can even say anything, she gets suckerd punched by Harriet who is immediately held back by her team. She begins yelling at Ruby and the rest of team; claiming that things would not have gotten this drastic if they did not go against the General. We see Harriet cry for the first time and get emotional.

Harriet:It just had to be your way or the highway huh!? Do you think we didn’t feel bad about what we were about to do? We know people Mantle. Friends, family, loved ones, neighbors....we knew that we’d probably lose so many precious things, but at least we still have people to who made it Atlas that we could protect and call home. We still have a home. NOW WE HAVE NOTHING AND IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BE A HERO INSTEAD OF A HUNTSMAN!

The steam is shaken by those words and we see them in a state of disbelief and pain over the situation. Looking around to see what looks to be a couple hundred people at best. A far cry from the thousands of people that were still left in Mantle and Atlas.

We get one final cut of James sitting in his chair and looking out through the window. His kingdom on fire and grimm running through it as red lights blare because of the missing power source. He sheds one tear that rolls down his face drops the moment Atlas starts to plummet.

Salem watches it fall from grace with all of her subordinates still alive and retrieved during all the chaos. Now the world is fully aware of this great evil and things are more dire than they ever been.

The best part about this is all of this can happen in like a couple episodes, or the premier if they made it long enough and nothing but nonstop action; a brief flashback at the beginning of Raven having a conversation with Tai after V5 to explain why she’s in at least the mindset of making sure her family is dead. Then we get the entire volume to deal with how these characters we love will deal with all this. Some might grow, some might leave, regress, finally get any kind of development, maybe even a brief time skip just so see how the world is reacting to this now known terror.

TLDR: I want Atlas to be a loss and our main characters to realize did some smart things but a lot of stupid things that warrants some fighting about. AKA, let Ruby say fuck, get some character development, and wrip into Yang because for the 2-3 volumes Yang has been digging herself a whole and hasn’t really done the team any favors when it comes to sticking together or making things not worse.

[inkdrinkershadowsinger]

Snape Vs. Dumbledore Points Battle

It all starts with something that Severus simply cannot forgive. Dumbledore, in a fit of his usual all knowing all omnipotent manner givens twenty points to Frederick Winhouse of Hufflepuff for proper and quick usage of the levitation charm during the first week of school. Granted, the ending result could have been quite messy for all of those at the Badger table had that blasted nincompoop failed in counteracting that overzealous first years reach for the ginormous pastel colored cake in the middle of the table, but still…..twenty points? That simply act had pushed the Hufflepuff’s to the lead in an almost ostentatious manner. And to announce it in the middle of dinner? Ridiculous. Snape will never rid the sound of a hundred cheery Hufflepuff’s shouting in unison as loudly as they can from his subconscious.

               It only gets worse with the coming weeks.

Severus knows that the war has had a horrible effect on the man. Dumbledore was the leader for the light, and the man who had given him refuge from the cold terrors of Azkaban in the wake of his turncoat against the Dark Lord. The pressure, even now with the Dark Lord gone, but have been too much for the old man.

               Severus can take the oddities though. He can take the, uh, colorful clothing and the eccentric speeches at the start of each new term, but what he cannot take is the points.

               Approximately in the first week of school, Dumbledore awards the following points.

To Huflfepuff:

               Broderick Bones, 7 points for picking up a piece of fallen parchment from an otherwise spotly hallway, and thus, “Maintaining the highest standards for cleanliness at Hogwart’s School.”

And to,

               Salem Cartwright, 3 points, for enquiring as to whether Bones should recycle said parchment as that is the common thing to do in the Muggle world, and we should all “be conscious of the environment.”

               A conscientious Muggleborn, exactly what he needs.

In the same week, Snape removes 10 points from Cartwright for voicing his moral objections to the dissection of a flobberworm the fool child has named Abernathy. Sorry, Sir. Abernathy.

               Dumbledore then awards Cartwright 11 points for the ingenious naming of a Flobberworm and the careful handling of creatures big and small.

To Ravenclaw:

               Jemilea Robbins gains 27 points for dutiful handwriting after Dumbledore has to take over Professor McGonagall’s class one afternoon.

               Snape removes 15 points from Robbin’s sister, Gaia, for her “absolutely atrocious chicken scratch”.

               No one complains, other teachers or students. Snape believes that they are all afraid of him or at the very least hate him for his role in the last war. His status in the last conflict might not be as readily available as the mark on his arm, but word gets around. They may not know about all the evil that he has done with his former compatriots, but imagination coupled with perception is sometimes all you need.

               The only person who seems to be comfortable around him is Albus.

Snape loves the power to take points. With so many of his students doubling as his former classmates who not only remember the long nosed Snape but whose families have been deeply affected by the Dark Lord, Snape is far too familiar with the people that he is supposed to be teaching. So, he rules with an iron fist.

               Dumbledore, however, seems to lead…differently.

Snape has seen the powerful man fight with fire blazing from his wand and spells so powerful that they have incapacitated the most fearsome supporters of the Dark, but here, at this place, Albus Dumbledore is as tame as a kitten. He presents a grandfatherly air, handing sweets out to crying first years, and calling upon unsuspecting third years to congratulate them on a well-cast charm that he couldn’t possibly know about. He rules with rewards while Snape rules with punishments.

               Severus decides that he is going to break the old man. Snape understands that he is lucky. He understands that Albus Dumbledore has given him a chance at reformation. He realizes that without this man he would be in Azkaban suffering under the horrible bearings of the Dementors. Still, when he lays at night under the same stones that sheltered him as a child and the same protective castle magic that allowed for healing and peace for a scared half blood and a new, incredibly bright Muggleborn, he feels like the dementors are here, and that he will never again know that same peace or happiness. He aches for what once was, and condemns himself and Dumbledore for not giving him this chance at redemption sooner. What could he have done if he could have just changed thing sooner before everything became so bleak?

               So, with a new resolution to best the greatest light wizard of the age, Severus starts strategizing. Each morning he looks at the point counters in the Great Hall and calculates.

               In short order, he quickly removes 74 points from Gryffindor, 56 points from Ravenclaw, 33 from Hufflepuff, and even 19 from Slytherin. Crimes wage from eating in class from a Belby to waking to quickly in the corridor, to incorrect placement of a cutting tool on the work station, to breathing too loudly. Severus understands that he is being petty, but with the old man continuing to give points for ridiculous things like 20 points for each house for a beautiful handwritten anonymous piece of poetry that he found in the hallway outside of the Transfiguration classroom and 15 points to Ravenclaw for having the most students in the library at one time, Snape has his work cut out for him.

               The rest of the staff seem to be aware that something is amiss, but choose wisely to keep out of it. But this, Snape can absolutely not abide.

               It’s James and Lily all over again. It’s blatant favoritism for Dumbledore’s old house. Keaton Lang and Alex Shingle have gotten back together for approximately the seventh time this school year, and in a show of “fantastic forgiving and true love” Dumbledore has awarded Gryffindor house 70 points. Snape is going to be sick.

               He barges into Dumbledore’s office, and bright lights explode into his face. Sparklers sprinkle down on him from the door frame, and Snape is sure that these are the sticking kind that will only be extinguished by a certain charm that he is sure that he has forgotten.

               “Dumbledore, I demand an explana…..”

Snape is stunned into silence.

               Dumbledore’s office looks as if St. Valentine himself has decorated, and Eros and Aphrodite are going to jump out at him any second and poke him in the arse with an arrow.

               “Oh, Severus, it’s great to see you. Would you like a sherbet lemon drop? I’ve just recently acquired a taste for them.”

               Severus nods morosely.

“I’m here to talk about Shingle and Lang, specifically about the points that have been awarded for them for “true love”.” Snape doesn’t use physical air quotes, but he trusts that they are felt by the professor.

               “It’s great, isn’t it, Severus.”

Snape, about to launch into a tirade about why it is certainly not great at all, is stopped when Dumbledore begins to speak again.

               “After everything that this school and our world has been through it’s nice that we are finding ways for each of us to be celebrated. So many of the students have lost loved ones. I believe that it is important to bring about a community here where students can feel protected and appreciated. Wouldn’t you agree? And what a better time than Valentine’s. Well, just after Lang and Shingle rejoined, Parks and Tuttle from Slytherin finally confessed that they are in fact a unit. I believe that there will be wedding bells for those two shortly after graduation.”

               Snape stopped. He knew Parks and Tuttle. Both were from mid range politically inclined families, but the two who had so far escaped the extremism that had colored Slytherin during the Dark Lord’s reign. Both were studious, and both were clearly infatuated with one another.

               “I awarded them nearly a hundred points with the condition that I be invited to the wedding. They agreed quite happily. It’s time to celebrate things again, wouldn’t you say, Severus, at least for a little while.”

               Dumbledore looked at him, and nodded curtly. He turned to leave.

“But what were you wanting to discuss Severus?” Dumbledore called after him.

               Severus stopped and smirked.

“I just wanted to make you aware, Headmaster, that the moment Shingle and Lang break up once again and Lang has the nerve to shed even one melodramatic tear in my classroom that Gryffindor will be losing quite the hefty sum of points for lack of fortitude.”

               Severus tensed for a minute before he heard Dumbledore chuckle from behind him.

“And very well too,” Dumbledore said. “I’ll never be invited to their wedding if they keep breaking up.”

               Severus turned, and somehow behind him he could see both the fierce wizard that laid waste to many on the field of battle and the kind old man who adored lemon flavored candy at the same time.

               “We’ll make it yet, won’t we Severus.”

Severus nodded.

               “We will.”

[better-built-barns]

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[the-second-circle-ffxiv]

Proposition

Asagi looked around in a mess of a room she had just casually walked into through an unlocked door. Somewhere deep down she wished that she, too, could still be that carefree. Silke's small apartment was so full of miscellaneous things, that at the first glance it seemed to be chaotic. However, after watching more closely, despite of the amount of things everything was in surprisingly good order. Opposite the door, on the other side of the living room was obviously her personal fortress: a huge, inviting and soft-looking canopy bed accompanied by a gigantic bookshelf that almost touched the roof. It had been crammed full of books, and even then she hadn't managed to fit them all in there. About half of the tomes were either laying on the floor or had been piled next to the shelf. On the right side of the living room the eye-catcher element was definitely a cluster of a small fireplace and an odd, winged sofa alongside a couple of round armchairs. Asagi was just thinking how her usually somewhat unorganized and clumsy sister had matured so much since starting her mage studies and finally reached some level of elegance. Then her gaze moved into the darkest, farthest corner of the room, where an old cupboard slouched both doors open like a drunkard passed out while still sitting in a chair. Bundles of clothes, cleaning tools and who knows what else were hanging from the drawers crammed so full of stuff they couldn't fully close. Shaking her head, Asagi turned to look on the other, tidier side of the room, where Silke had displayed her greatest treasures. A couple of far eastern drawers were almost bending under the weight of all plush toys and figurines on them. Silke liked to travel, and she had a habit of bringing something cute back home from every place she had visited.

Asagi couldn't help but smile when she noticed a happy looking emerald Carbuncle sitting on a round, red pillow and holding a gold coin almost as big as itself. It was very old, but it still looked almost like new. Back in the days when Asagi and Silke had been kids and lived in Kugane, they had gone to fair with their parents and brother. Some old merchant had noticed Silke's greedy stare and they had told the girl such artifacts brought luck. Asagi wasn't sure did she believe in such or not, but Silke couldn't have cared less. She had thought the creature was pretty colored and cute and that was all that mattered. She decided right then and there she wouldn't leave the fair without it.

However, the money their parents had given for the fair had not been enough for the item. Silke had asked for more without success. A heated debate had followed, which Silke had lost. Gracefully she had dropped on the ground and started screaming like a banshee, attracting too much unwanted attention. Their parents had finally bought the damn thing just to avoid possible Sekiseigumi questions about domestic violence. When Asagi's gaze finally ended up into the last corner of the room, a frustrated exclamation wasn't far. It was Silke's desk. The dummy had piled paperwork on it - judging from the amount since the day she had moved into the apartment - and a candelabrum peeked out from the messy mass. It was purely absurd to keep it in such place, and even more with a shiba inu in the house. Damn creature, Asagi thought in passing, while lifting the candelabrum away from the desk and relocating it on one of the drawers. The little red beast wasn't annoying in the same way most of dogs were, who barked at everything, smelled like animals, shed their fur everywhere and were messy in general. No, Laurence von Salem - though Silke and Lareine called him also Lucy for some reason, had way too much fun with it and Asagi had not the slightest clue why - was like people, except he looked like a dog. Just like a few minutes ago, when Asagi had arrived. Normal dogs would've barked their lungs out, dashed to greet her and dropped all nearby movables with their swooshing tail. But no, Laurence had just lazily gotten up from his spot in the living room next to Silke's bed, slowly padded towards the little hallway like he'd own the place and stared at Asagi for a moment while looking like he had just smelled something bad. Then he had apparently decided Asagi wasn't a threat, since he had silently snorted and continued his way into the kitchen, after which Asagi had heard rippling of water before it had become silent again. He hadn't come back though. It was probably cooler in the kitchen. Bah, enough of recollection, Asagi thought to herself. She took a couple of steps next to the couch where Silke was laying in a half sitting position, facing towards the fireplace and neck bent in such an unnatural way it almost hurt just to look at.

"Hey, sis", Asagi said, poking her sister carefully. "Can I sit down for a while, or are you busy?" Silke flinched and turned to look at Asagi, dazed. Her long, black hair was unkempt and glasses tilted. She was wearing one of her pompous robes, as usual. It was rare to see her in a more casual outfit. The girl just loved robes. "Oh, hi!" Silke exclaimed and glanced around like not being completely sure about her surroundings. "Yeah, by all means", she giggled awkwardly and then added: "I think I just fell asleep." "You should seriously sleep for a change... have you pulled an all-nighter with those books of yours again?" Asagi asked accusingly and took a seat next to Silke, reaching out towards her and gently fixed her glasses. Silke rolled her eyes with dark circles around them. "Not my fault they make books so interesting. And I gotta say I hate schedules. There ain't enough hours in a day for me to do stuff, I swear." She became more serious all of a sudden. "But oh, you got me interested. This must be something very important for you to leave your work and drop by." Her sleepy gaze focused a bit. "Maybe one day you'll find a way to add more hours into your day... as an archmage and all that", Asagi noted smiling, but let her expression quickly fade away. "And well... it's about my work. I do not know who to talk to, but you are all I have so... Silke, what would you say if I told you I have hit a mid-life crisis?" There was a short silence. Silke's eyes widened for a moment while she was staring at Asagi in disbelief. Then she burst out laughing, but soon after noticing Asagi's darkening expression she forced herself to stop and coughed awkwardly. "Eh... what? Why? Wait... Does this have something to do with that new hair color of yours?" It was Asagi's turn to roll her eyes. "Oh, go on and laugh, you silly little gremlin", she snapped playfully. "I mean... I have been thinking. What do I have? The bar... yes. But it's all there is. And honestly: the recent accident with the drunkard made me wonder. Is it all even worth it? Day after day I'm stuck inside those red walls. Seeing the same old faces. Hearing the same dry stories time after time. I have started to see myself as I will be when I grow old: a bitter woman, wiping puke off the table."

Silke listened closely while nodding rapidly. "Hm, well... I don't think other occupations are any more exciting", she pondered, rolling her hair around her finger. "Less risky they may be, but... My professors for example. Their job looks exciting from a student’s point of view, but I've thought of what it's like to them. Same old routine day by day, teaching students at days and fixing paperwork at evenings and nights. I think all regular occupations are like that in the end, after the first charm has worn off. You just gotta pick a career of which routines you like the most." Asagi couldn't do anything but to stare at her for a moment. Silke was usually so cheerful, but this was probably the most depressing thing she had ever said. And it made the whole thing even more depressing, that Asagi thought she was right. "At least you have choices", Asagi notified. "You don't have to become a professor. You can use your knowledge in so many ways. Maybe you can become a seer in a royal court. A mercenary... Maybe a researcher of old. Only the sky is the limit with your talent, Silke. Don't even think about locking yourself into some dusty, old office!" While Silke was frowning, Asagi let out a long sigh. "For me, though... I don't want to say this... but I don't know what to do. Time to time I find myself just thinking about burning the whole shit down." Silke tilted her head, frowning even more. She lifted her feet alongside a pair of moogle slippers from the floor and turned around so that she was facing Asagi completely, sitting cross-legged. "Huh? How are those royal seers or mercenaries any different then?" she started to grill. "They have their own routines as well." She rolled her eyes once again. "Personally I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I've always thought your occupation is interesting. It includes more risks than ordinary duties, but that's about the only thing I don't like about it."

Asagi leaned her back onto the sofa's comfy curve while crossing her legs. "Well, at least days would be different. But I guess you are right", she admitted.

If Silke of all people thought her occupation interesting, it couldn't be too bad after all. All those poor souls depended on her. Sure, most of them were drunkards, but despite of some bad choices of life, deep down they were just ordinary folk. One usually had a very good reason to grab a bottle. Asagi couldn't deny her bar was a peerless way to gather information, both for herself and her customers. She also had her doubts of being on the game for so long it might actually be close to impossible to step out from the shadows without dragging them along with her. "And it's bringing food to the table", Asagi added after a short while. "I'm proud of what I've achieved. But you see... I never see you for example. I miss the old days in Kugane. We used to do a lot together. Now it's just... Bah, look at me being all sentimental! I think I'm finally starting to drop the ball for good." "Now that you mention it, I'd like to see you more often, too", Silke noted, smiling. "But I don't think there's another bar in Foundation area like yours. And no, I'm totally not including Forgotten Knight! Imagine all those poor folk who'd have no longer a place to go and have fun in if you quit. But honestly, if you're feeling bored, what is stopping you from changing careers? What would you rather like to do?" "That... is a good question", Asagi pondered. "Anything connected to magic is off limits. My magic is way too unstable as it is. My blade? Years have made me rusty, and I don't want to risk my life again." "Of course your skills will get rusty if you don't do anything with them for a long time", Silke notified. "If you want to live by the sword again, all you need to is to pick it up and start using it. Geez..." Asagi had been thinking about it herself as well, but she had ended up into a conclusion it was too big of a risk and could lead into another mistake way too easily. And perhaps this time she would lose more than just an eye. "Nah", she said and couldn't help but smile. "I want to make sure I stay alive and see you becoming an archmage. And maybe get married. Then I could be the uptight aunt Asagi." "You?" Silke exclaimed, eyes round with horror. "Married?" She burst out laughing uncontrollably. "As if!"

Asagi blinked, her mouth hanging ajar. Before she was able to regain her voice, Silke suddenly stopped laughing and slowly turned to look at her. "Wait... Does this mean you actually have someone you like?!" "No! What?! No!" Asagi cried out. "I was talking about you anyway!" "Oh." "But speaking of which: why do you find me getting married so impossible of an idea?! You are hurting my soul, sister..." Asagi turned away from her dramatically. Silke puckered up her lips, and the tips of her ears started to droop a bit. "Meh... And here I was getting all excited for you." Then she sighed deeply and looked away. "You should know by now. I'm not interested in relationships, even less getting married. It's too much work and takes too much time. I've had my share of dating partners who've been jealous of my studies or my hobbies, or even magic itself! Relationships feel like someone tying a leash around my neck and tugging me all the time, telling me to stop doing what I love the most and give them attention instead. There's no way I could live like that. Ugh...", she rubbed her temples, eyes squeezed shut. "My brain starts to hurt just by thinking about it. Let's not talk about me." Asagi wasn't sure what she should've said. She found it extremely hard to believe there would've been anyone in the whole world fitting to be her own lifemate. She had also noticed she shared her sister's problem: she wanted a partner who wouldn't make her feel like she was trapped. If such a miracle were to happen, she would - by all means - welcome it. But still she thought the mere chance was low in astronomical proportions. Thus she wanted Silke at least to experience it, but so far it seemed she was following in Asagi's footsteps. She couldn't keep anyone for long, and wasn't even sure did she truly want it. Silke wiped the melancholic expression from her face like a pinch of dust from a table, and in an instant it was replaced by her more familiar, impish grin. "As far as I've watched other people's relationships from afar, there seems to be awfully lots of people who're seeking... ya know... the princess type, who they can protect or something like that. You couldn't be a princess even if your life depended on it, no offense!" Silke started to laugh again. Asagi smirked playfully and reached out to pinch Silke's ear. She let out a surprised squeal and yanked her ear away. "Here I was just teasing you, but you are shooting me with actual poisoned arrows!" Asagi proclaimed. "How dare you? I can be a delicate princess if I want to! Anyway, I guess you are right. I will just keep doing what I do. And maybe try working a bit less and seeing you more. I'm... kind of worried about you anyway." "Worried about me? Why?" Silke repeated, frowning slightly. "I haven't even blown anything up lately. Is that what worries you? If that's the case, it's easily fixed." If it had been something so simple, Asagi certainly wouldn't have had any need to talk about it. She had been postponing this discussion for as long as she had been able to, but lately she had started to feel she should've said something much earlier. "You are spending quite a lot of time time with that experiment girl", Asagi finally stated. "You hardly see people, and when you do, it's that... what does she call herself? Lareine? Don't get me wrong. I'm glad you have found a friend. But you know what I mean." Silke tilted her head again. "Experiment girl?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes. "Yes, her name is Lareine. She happens to be the only person who has enough spare time in her hands to see me when I'm able to go out. And what's even more important: she doesn't annoy me, like most of other people." Asagi let out a drawn-out sigh, looking at the flames dancing in the fireplace. "She's not right in the head. She is an outcome of what that man did to a poor woman. I may see him in different light these days, but I'm afraid this Lareine is just pulling you closer to Blacksoul. You will end up being an experiment as she is." Asagi hadn't been completely honest when she had told Varg she didn't care about the rumors about him. In a way it was true - while no one she knew was involved with the man in any way. However, it was completely another matter when Silke of all people had started to spend her time in such questionable company. Silke made a gesture with her hand like shooing away a fly. "Pff, oh please. This is probably the most ridiculous thing I've heard all week. You're being mean now." Silke obviously tried to keep a brave face on, but Asagi still noticed that strange hue in her sister's eyes she always had when someone had been poking her into the wrong place. "Lareine has been through so much shite it's no wonder it has left its mark", Silke started to speak formally like she'd been addressing an audience. "She's one of those few people who actually like to have me around and who doesn't think I'm crazy. Would you like me to rather hang out with my classmates? The normal ones? The ones who're bored during classes, who badmouth professors behind their back, who call me a nerd because I actually like to study..." Silke's voice was dripping with bitterness. She inhaled deeply and continued: "I've always wanted to ask them why do they even bother going to school if they don't want to be there. It's not even a grade school anymore, it's completely optional! No one is forcing them!" She shook her head, trying to regain at least some of her composure. "About Grumpy, I mean, the old man Varg-Varg... you're just being paranoid, dear sis. He may appear intimidating, sure, but in reality he's just an ordinary dude and totally under Lareine's slipper. He's not interested in me in any way. He probably wouldn't even want me visiting there." When Silke finally stopped talking, she was slightly out of breath. Asagi remained silent for a while, studying her. She certainly hadn't wanted to make her this upset. She wasn't sure did Silke know about it, but few months back Asagi had marched to Varg's door and demanded him to leave Silke alone. Back then Asagi had been certain he had lied when he had said he had no clue what she was talking about and told her to put her sister on a leash or something, so that she wouldn't stray into his house anymore. "...I'm sorry, sis. You are right", Asagi admitted finally. "You're a grown up woman. Just promise me to keep your eyes open, okay?" "Don't I always?" Silke asked, glancing at Asagi, sounding a bit tired. "Every time someone has tried something shady with me, they've ended up burning themselves..." Her eyes unfocused for a moment. She was either thinking very rapidly or wasn't thinking at all. Then she turned to look at Asagi again. "Perhaps you should join me next time I go visit them?" Asagi blinked. "J... join you? To Blacksoul Manor?" she broke into a giggle. "Oh, Varg would love that for sure!" She wasn’t certain was the suggestion either genius or plain stupid. If Varg didn't want either of them around, it would've been best to stay away. But Silke and Lareine were best friends, and Asagi had only heard good things about the butler, Arsene, who seemed to be delighted when he had guests to serve. It couldn't be good for Lareine either to spend her days alone in that grim, old estate. If she was important to Silke, and she wanted to keep her close, Asagi would certainly help her with it. "I may consider", Asagi agreed finally. "Maybe it's good time for me to pull my head out of a wine barrel. I guess I have been so drowned into my work I have not even noticed you growing up... You are hardly the same girl who got in trouble on the streets of Kugane. And what am I? Your mother? Bah... I'm not the one to tell you what to do." Silke shrugged and grinned. "I don't want you to worry, and I want to show you there actually is nothing to worry. What would be a better way than facing your doubts head on? Besides, grandpa Arsene is the best cook I've ever met. His skill may even rival our dad's. You haven't truly lived until you've tasted his stuff." "I guess that's an offer I can't refuse", Asagi giggled. "If someone is competing with dad in cooking, I have to see it with my own eyes. Tell me when you are going over, and I shall find some time. But talking about work...", Asagi got up from the couch and ruffled Silke's already messed up hair. "My shift is about to start. I will see you later, okay? Thanks for listening to my ramblings." Silke yawned and stretched her limbs, but didn't get up. "Haa, I’m glad I was able to be of help. I think I'm gonna try and sleep some more. Keep your eyes open at work as well, sis!" "I will." While walking towards the hallway, Asagi glanced over her shoulder and saw a petite, pale hand waving at her from behind the back rest. Smiling, she turned back towards the door, but then she noticed an eerie silhouette of a shiba inu staring at her in the kitchen doorway. The setting sun created long, sharp rays that cut the view like in far eastern paintings. Laurence was standing there, his back against the window, making himself seem like a black figure basking in an explosion of bright, orange light. What a drama queen, Asagi thought to herself, frowning. Laurence strutted closer to her and looked at her accusingly like she'd been a cheap sausage. "Lucyyy~!" Silke yelled from the living room. "C'mere, boy!" In an instant the arrogant expression disappeared from the dog's face and suddenly he was beaming as happily as the sun itself. His tightly curled tail started to wag rapidly but clumsily as he dashed into the living room so eagerly he was about to slip. Silently, Asagi opened the door and stepped outside. Before closing it, she could still hear Silke babbling at the dog in a high-pitched tone: "Whooza good boy? You are and you know it, don’t ya? Yes, yes~" --- With @lareine-kira​ :3c