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physalian · 10 months ago

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Humanizing Your Characters (And Why You Should)

To humanize a character is not to contort an irredeemable villain into the warped funhouse mirror reflection of a hero in the last 30 seconds to gain “narrative subversion” points. To humanize is not to give said villain a tragic backstory that validates every bad choice they make in attempt to provide nuance where it does not deserve to be.

To humanize a character, villain or otherwise, is to make them flawed. Scuff them up, give them narrative birthmarks and scars and imperfections. Whether it’s your hero, their love interest, the comic relief, the mentor, the villain, the rival, these little narrative details serve to make all your literary babies better.

Why should you humanize your characters?

To do this means to write in details beyond those that service the plot, or the themes, or the motifs, morals, foreshadowing, or story. These might be (and usually are) entirely unimportant in the grand scheme of things. So, if I wrote lengthy diatribes on pacing and why every detail must matter, and character descriptions and thematic importance, why am I now suggesting go free-for-all on the fluff?

Just like real people have quirks and tics and beliefs and pet peeves that serve our no greater purpose, so should fictional people. Your average reader doesn’t have the foggiest idea what literary devices are beyond metaphor, simile foreshadowing, and anecdote, but they can tell when the author is using motif and theme and all the syntactical marvels because it reads that much richer, even if they can’t pinpoint why.

And, for shipping fodder, these tiny little details are what help your audience fall in love with the character. It doesn’t even have to be in a book – Taylor Swift (whether you like her or not) never fills her music with sexual innuendo or going clubbing. She tells stories filled with human details like dancing in the refrigerator light. People can simultaneously relate to these very specific and vivid experiences, and say “not that exactly, but man this reminds me of…” and that’s (part of) the reason her music is so popular.

What kinds of narratives need these details?

All of them. Visual media, audio, written, stage play. Now, to what degree and excess you apply these details depends on your tone, intended audience, and writing style. If your style of writing is introspection heavy, noir character drama, you might go pretty heavy on the character design.

But even if you’re writing a kids book with a scant few paragraphs of setting descriptors and internal narration, or you’re drawing a comic book – if you have characters you want people to care about, do this.

Animators, particularly, are very adept at humanizing non-human characters, because, unlike live acting, every single stroke of the pen is there with intent. They use their own reflections for facial references, record their own movements to draw a dance, and insert little bits of themselves into signature character poses so you know that *that* animator did this one.

How to humanize your characters.

I’m going to break this down into a couple sections: Costume/wardrobe, personality, beliefs/behavior/superstitions, haptics/proxemics/kinesics, and voice. They will all overlap and the sheer variety and possibilities are way too broad for me to capture every facet.

Costumes and Wardrobe

In the film Fellowship of the Ring, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment where, after Boromir is slain by the Uruk-Hai, Aragorn takes Boromir’s Gondorian vambraces to wear in his honor, and in honor of their shared country. He wears them the rest of the trilogy. The editing pays no extra attention to them beyond a split second of Aragorn tightening the straps, it never lingers on them, never reminds you that they’re there, but they kept it in nonetheless. His actor also included a hunting bow that didn't exist in the book because he's a roamer, a ranger, and needs to be able to feed himself, along with a couple other survival tools.

Aragorn wears plenty of other symbolic bits of costume – the light of the Evenstar we see constantly from Arwen, the Lothlorien green cloaks shared by the entire Fellowship, his re-forged sword and eventual full Gondorian regalia, but all those are Epic Movie Moments that serve a thematic purpose.

Taking the vambraces is just a small, otherwise insignificant character moment, a choice made for no other reason than that’s what this character would do. That’s what makes him human, not an archetype.

When you’re writing these details and can’t rely on sneaking them into films, you have to work a little harder to remind your audience that they exist, but not too often. A detail shifts from “human” to “plot point” when it starts to serve a purpose to the themes and story.

Inconsequentiality might be how a character ties, or doesn’t tie their shoelaces, because they just can’t be bothered so they remain permanent knots and tripping hazards. It might be a throw-away line about how they refuse to wear shorts and strictly stick to long pants because they don’t like showing off their legs. It might be perpetually greasy hair from constantly running their fingers through it with stress, or self-soothing. A necklace they fidget with, or a ring, a belt they never bother to replace even though they should, a pair of lucky socks.

Resist the urge to make it more meaningful than “this is just how they are”. If I’m using the untied shoelaces example – in Spiderverse, this became a part of the story’s themes, motifs, and foreshadowing, and doesn’t count. Which isn’t bad! It’s just not what I’m talking about.

Personality

In How to Train Your Dragon, Toothless does not speak. All his personality comes from how he moves, the noises he makes, and the expressions on his face. There’s moments, like in the finale, when his prosthetic has burned off and Hiccup tells him to hold on for a little bit longer, and you can clearly see on his face that he’s deeply uncertain about his ability to do so. It’s almost off the screen, another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Or the beat of hesitation before he lets Hiccup touch him in the Forbidden Friendship scene. Or the irritated noise he makes when he’s impatiently waiting for Hiccup to stop chatting with his dad because they have a giant dragon to murder. Or when he slaps Hiccup with his ear fin for flying them into a rock spire.

None of those details *needed* to exist to endear you to his character or to serve the scenes they’re in. The scenes would carry on just fine without them. He’s a fictional dragon, yes, but these details make him real.

Other personality tics you could include might be a character who gets frustrated with tedious things very quickly and starts making little inteligible curses under their breath. Or how they giggle when they’re excited and start bouncing on their toes. Maybe they have a tic where they snap their fingers when they’re concentrating, trying to will an idea into existence. Or they stick their tongue out while they work and get embarrassed when another character calls them on it. They roll around in their sleep, steal blankets, drool, leave dishes in the sink or are neurotic with how things must be organized. They have one CD in their car, and actually use that CD player instead of the phone jack or Bluetooth. They sing in the shower, while they cook, or while they do homework, no matter how grating their voice.

They like the smell of new shoes or Sharpies. They hate the texture of suede or velvet or sticky residues. They never pick their socks up. They hate the overhead light in their room and use 50 lamps instead. They hate turning into oncoming traffic or don’t trust their backup camera. They collect Funko Pops and insist there’s always room for more.

And about a million others.

Beliefs, Behaviors, and Superstitions

*If you happen to be writing a story where superstitions have merit, maybe skip this one.* Usually, inevitably, these evolve into character centerpieces and I can’t actually think of one off the top of my head that doesn’t become this beyond the ones we all know. A few comedic examples do come to mind:

The Magic Conch in “Club Spongebob” and the sea-bear-proof dirt circle in “The Camping Episode”

Dean Winchester’s fear and panic-driven actions in “Yellow Fever” and “Sam, Interrupted”

The references to the trolls that steal left-foot socks in How to Train Your Dragon

I’m not a fan of wasting time writing a religious character doing their religious thing when Plot Is Happening, but smaller things are what I’m talking about. Like them wearing a cross/rosary and touching it when they’re nervous. Having a specific off-beat prayer, saying, or expression because they don’t believe in cursing.

The classic ones like black cats, ladders, broken mirrors, salt, sidewalk cracks can all be funny. Athletes have plenty, too, and some of them, particularly in baseball culture, are a bit ridiculous. Not washing socks or uniforms, having a team idol they donate Double Bubble to and also rub their toes. A specific workout routine, diet, team morale dance.

Other things, too. A character who’s afraid to go back downstairs once the lights are off, or fear the basement or the backyard shed. Or they’re really put-off by this old family photo for no reason other than how glassy their eyes look and it’s creepy. They like crystals, dreamcatchers, star signs, tarot, or they absolutely do not under any circumstances.

They believe in all the tried and true ways of predicting the weather like a grizzled old sailor. They believe in ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, skinwalkers, doppelgangers, fairies. They talk to the cat statue in their kitchen and named it Fudge Pop. They whisper to the spirit that possessed the fridge so it stops making all that racket, and half the time, it works every time. They wear yellow for good luck or carry a rabbit’s foot. They’re not religious at all but still throw prayers out to whoever’s listening because, you know, just in case. They sit by their window sill and talk to the moon and the stars and pretend like they’re in a music video when they’re driving through the city in the rain.

Haptics, Proxemics, and Kinesics

These are, for all you non-communication and psych majors out there, touch and physical contact, how they move, and how they move around other people.

Behold, your shipping fodder.

Two shining examples of proxemics in action are the famous “close talker” episode of Seinfeld (of which every communication major has been subjected to) and Castiel’s not understanding of personal space (and human chronemic habits) in Supernatural.

These are how a character walks, if they’re flat-footed, clumsy, or tip-toers. If they make a racket or constantly spook the other characters. If they fidget or can’t sit still in a seat for five seconds, if they like to sit backwards or upside down. How they touch themselves, if they do a lot of self-soothing maneuvers (hugging themselves, rubbing their arms, touching their face, drawing their knees up, holding their neck, etc) or if they don’t do any self-soothing at all.

This is how they shake hands, if they dance while they cook or work. It’s how much space they let themselves take up, if they man-spread or keep their limbs in closer. How close they stand to others or how far. If they let themselves be touched at all, or if they always have their skin covered. If they always have their back to a wall, or are always making sure they know where the nearest exit is. If they make grand gestures when they talk and give directions. If they flinch from pats on the back or raised hands. If they lean away from loud voices or project their own. If they use their height to their advantage when arguing, puff their chest, square their shoulders, put their hands on their hips, or point fingers in accusation.

If they touch other characters as they pass by. If they’re huggers or victims of falling asleep on or near their comrades. If they must sleep facing the door, or with something solid behind them. If they can sleep in the middle of a party wholly uncaring. If they sleepwalk, sleeptalk, migrate across the bed to cuddle whoever’s nearest with no idea they’re doing it.

If they like to be held or like to hold others. If they hate being picked up and slung around or are touch-starved for it. If they like their space and stick to it or are more than happy to share.

Do they walk with grace, head held high and back straight? Or are they hunched over, head hung, watching their feet? Are they meanderers or speed-walkers? Do they cross their arms in front or lace their hands behind them? Do they bow to authority or meet that gaze head on?

I have heard that Prince Zuko, in Last Airbender, is usually drawn sleeping with his bad ear down when he doesn’t feel safe, like on his warship or anywhere in the Fire Nation, or on the road. He’s drawn on his other side once he joins the Gaang. In Dead Man’s Chest, just before Davy Jones drives the Flying Dutchman under the waves, two tentacles curl up and around the brim of his hat to keep it from blowing off in the water.

When they fight, do they attack first, or defend first? Do they touch other characters’ hair? Share makeup, share clothes? Touch their faces with boops or bonks or nuzzles and eskimo kisses? Do they crack their knuckles and necks and knees?

Do they stare in baffled curiosity at all the other characters wholly comfortable in each other's spaces because they can’t, won’t, or don’t see the point in all this nonsense? Do they say they’re happy on the outside, but are betrayed by their body language?

Voice

Whether or not to write an accent is entirely up to you. Books like Their Eyes Were Watching God writes dialogue in a vernacular specific to its characters. Westerners and southerners tend to be written with the southern drawl or dialect, ripe with stereotypical contractions. Be advised, however, that in attempt to write an accent to give your character depth, you could be instead turning off your audience who doesn’t have energy to decipher what they’re saying, or you went and wrote a racist stereotype.

Voice isn’t just accent and dialect, nor is it how it sounds, which falls more solidly under useful character descriptions. Voice for the sake of humanizing your characters concerns how they talk, how they convey their thoughts, and how they become distinct from other characters in dialogue and narration.

If you’re writing a narrative that hops heads and don’t want to include a big banner to indicate who’s talking at any given time, this is where voice matters. It is, I think, the least appreciated of all the possible traits to pay attention to.

First person narrators have the most flexibility here because the audience is zero degrees removed from their first-hand experiences. Their personality comes through sharply in how they describe things and what they pay attention to.

But it’s also in what similes and metaphors they use. I read a book that had an average (allegedly straight) male narrator going off and describing colors with types of flowers, some I had to look up because I just don’t know those off the top of my head. My immediate thought was either this character is a poorly written gay, or he’s a florist. Neither (allegedly), the writer was just being too specific.

Do they have crutch words they use? like, um, actually, so…, uh

Or repeat exclamations specific to them? yikes, yowzers, jeepers, jinkies, zoinks, balls, beans, d’oh!

Or idioms they’re fond of? Like a bat out of hell. Snowball’s chance.

Do they stutter when they’re nervous? Do they lose their train of thought and bounce around, losing other characters in the process? Do they have a non-Christian god they pray to and say something other than “thank God”? Are they from another country, culture, time period, realm, or planet with their own gods, beliefs, and idioms?

When they describe settings, how flowery is the language? Would this grizzled war hero use flowery language? How would he or she describe the color pink, versus a PTA mom? Do they use only a generic “blue, green, red” or do they really pay attention with “aquamarine, teal, emerald, viridian, vermillion, rose, ruby”?

How do this character’s hobbies affect how well they can describe dance moves, painting styles, car models, music genres?

This mostly matters when you’re head-hopping and the voice of the narrator serves to be more distinct, otherwise, what’s the point of head-hopping? Just use third-person omniscient.

If you really want to go wild, give a specific narrator unique syntax. Maybe one character is the ghost of Oscar Wild with never-ending run-on sentences. Just be sure to not go too overboard and compromise the integrity of your story.

In the book A Lesson Before Dying, a somewhat illiterate, underprivileged and undereducated minor has been given a mentor, a teacher, before they face the death penalty. At the end of the book, you read all of the letters they wrote to their teacher. There’s misspellings everywhere, almost no punctuation, and long, rambling sentences.

It’s heartbreaking. The subject matter is heavy and horrible, yes, but it’s the choice to write with such poor English that has a much bigger impact than perfect MLA format.

How to implement these details

Most of these, in the written medium, need only show up once or twice before your audience notices and wonders why they’re there. Most fall squarely under character design, which falls under exposition, and should follow all the exposition guidelines.

These details exist to be random and fluffy, but they can’t exist randomly within the narrative. If you want to have your character be superstitious, pick a relevant time to include that superstition.

Others, like ongoing speech habits or movements, still don’t overuse, especially if they’re unique. A character might like to sit backwards in a chair, but if you mention that they’re doing it every single time they sit down, your audience will wonder what’s so important and if the character is unwell.

And, of course, you can let these traits become thematically important, like a superstition being central to their personality or backstory or motivation. These all serve the same purpose of making your character feel like a real person instead of just a “character”.

Just think about tossing in a few random details every now and then and see what happens. One tiny sentence can take a background character and make them candidates for the eventual fandom’s fan favorite. Details like these turn your work from “This a story, and these are the characters who tell it” into “these are my characters, and this is their story.”

#writing advice #character design #writing tips #writing resources #exposition #writing tools #writing a book

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askanaroace · 7 months ago

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The Locked Tomb: Gideon and Harrow - Aro Perspective

Any Locked Tomb fans here?

Just wanted to chat about Griddlehark. It's kind of amazing to be in a fandom where the same ship is end game for like 100% of the community, myself included.

But - and maybe this is just perspective bias - that ship has never been romantic to me. I've never really read anything romantic into Harrow and Gideon's relationship. To me, it's a very strong non-romantic bond that we, in this non-TLT universe, have no appropriate word for. Absolutely a Jaeger pilot (Pacific Rim) sort of bond. The new sff bond: cavalier and necromancer; sword and adept.

(I could go either way on it being sexual or not.)

"You are my only friend. I am undone without you."

--Harrow to Gideon, pg 356 GtN

"[...] the entire point of me is you. You get that, right? That's what cavaliers sign up for. There is no me without you. One flesh, one end."

--Gideon to Harrow, pg 432 GtN

"You think anything I did has been to make her love me? [...]" "Like I said before. She's just not into you. She's into bones. She gave her heart to a corpse when she was ten years old," I said. "She's in love with the refrigerated museum piece in the Locked Tomb. You should've seen the look she had on when she told me about this ice-lolly bimbo. I knew the moment I saw it. I never made her look like that... She can't love me, even if I'd wanted her to. She can't love you. She can't even try." [...] "If you think anything I did, I did to make her love me, then you don't know anything about her and me. I'm her cavalier, dipshit! I'd kill for her! I'd die for her. I did die for her. I'd do anything she needed, anything at all, before she even knew she needed it. I'm her sword, you pasty-faced Coronabeth-looking knock-off." Always your sword, my umbral sovereign; in life, in death, in anything beyond life or death that they want to throw at thee and me. I died knowing you'd hate me for dying; but Nonagesimus, you hating me always meant more than anyone else in this hot and stupid universe loving me. At least I'd had your full attention.

--Gideon to Ianthe, pgs. 435-436 HtN

So Alecto, wearied of talking, kneeled up on the rock and offered up the sword to [Harrow], and placed the child's hand upon the blade, so that it received also the red blood of the child. This made the child exceedingly faint, but it did not swoon of weariness. Which strength pleased Alecto, who said: Notwithstanding, I offer you my service. To which a voice on the opposite side of the shore was raised, exceeding wroth, and Alecto heard it shout in a very great shout: Get in line, thou big slut.

--Alecto's perspective, pg 477 NtN

Like Gideon knows very clearly that Harrow does not romantically love her. But they are the only two children of the Ninth left. They are committed to each other in "one flesh, one end" by now. They are meaningful to each other, and that is enough.

I don't know. I'm just having a lot of feelings about it.

#aromantic #aro spectrum #fandom #the locked tomb #tlt #headcanon #fandom analysis #character analysis #relationship analysis #griddlehark

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follow-up-news · 1 month ago

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A company is recalling nearly 10 million pounds of meat and poultry products made at an Oklahoma plant because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria that can cause illness and death. BrucePac of Woodburn, Oregon, recalled the roughly 5,000 tons of ready-to-eat foods this week after U.S. Agriculture Department officials detected listeria in samples of poultry during routine testing. Further tests identified BrucePac chicken as the source. The recall includes 75 meat and chicken products. The foods include products like grilled chicken breast strips that were made at the company’s facility in Durant, Oklahoma. They were produced between June 19 and Oct. 8 and shipped to restaurants, food service vendors and other sites nationwide, government officials said. The products have a best-by date of June 19, 2025 to Oct. 8, 2025. Officials said they are concerned that the foods may still be available for use or stored in refrigerators or freezers. The products should be thrown away, they added. There are no confirmed reports of illness linked to the recall.

#brucepac #oregon #listeria #recalls

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gumnut-logic · 11 months ago

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Because it is that time of the year again, I just can't help myself :D

-o-o-o-

Looking back, it really could have happened to any of them. Hell, now it had happened once, it was even more likely it could happen to any of the rest of them, but of course it had to be Virgil and, of course, it had to happen a week before Christmas.

Fortunately, not only Gordon and Alan, but also John was aboard Thunderbird Two when her pilot folded in half with a groan. The great green behemoth responded to his touch and for a second there, the whole ship tipped sideways.

Alan lost his hard-earned sandwich, and Gordon, who had been half asleep in the co-pilot’s chair, despite the coffee he had consumed not five minutes ago, received an adrenalin spike that was well used in the next half an hour or so.

It had been a hard week. Australia was on fire. Every year the drought dried continent suffered and every year International Rescue did all it could to help. Brains had even designed some specialised equipment, deployed through Tracy Industries to help dampen the eucalypt fuel load, but the change of climate over the last hundred odd years had done its damage and the ecosystem suffered for it.

It was painful to watch.

And tiring to fight.

John had taken to coming down not only for Christmas, but for the fires. He had developed a communications network, tied into TB5, to help coordinate the fire services of the country and pin point the hot spots. At the end of the last outbreak, Gordon had been gobsmacked to find his usually reclusive brother sprawled in a chair beside the Australian Fire Defense Network chief, beer in hand, swapping stories.

It had helped that the chief was the middle of five himself and a communications specialist pushed into management. There was much commiseration.

But none of the past really foretold this little hiccup.

Later when Gordon referred to said incident as a ‘hiccup’, Virgil’s eyebrows had frowned so much, they’d physically climbed off his head and slapped Gordon around his.

Or it could have been Virgil’s hand. Gordon was too busy ducking to really identify the body parts his brother was using.

So, with three brothers aboard, Virgil had plenty of back up.

Gordon was fully awake and stabilising Two before he had even had a chance to draw in a breath. They were halfway across the Tasman Sea, finally on the way home for a well-deserved break.

“Virgil?” John was out of his seat and moving towards the pilot.

“Uh, I’m okay.” The man straightened, still in his silver firefighting suit, minus the helmet. A quick look in his brother’s direction and Gordon could see it was all a lie. Even through the soot on Virgil’s face, his brother’s complexion was pale, almost green. “Just a stitch.”

“Doesn’t look like one from here, bro.” Gordon frowned as John gently nudged Virgil back in his seat. The pilot closed his eyes and lay back, his shoulders dropping just a little. John reached over to the console and flicked a couple of switches. Virgil’s vitals sprang up in all their holographic glory.

Even Gordon could see something was seriously wrong. “You have a fever. What the hell, Virg?”

His brother stared at his stats and frowned. “Just thought I was hot.”

No surprise considering the conditions they were working in.

John sighed. “Your suit has active refrigeration, Virgil, you know that. You should be the coolest of all of us.”

If it had been a different situation, Gordon would have then started a ‘discussion’ on who exactly was the coolest or the hottest of the brothers. As it was, another groan from his engineer brother killed all conversation other than medical concern.

“What is it?” John disengaged Virgil’s seat from the dash, pulling it back and giving him access to his older brother.

“My side.” Virgil’s eyes were squeezed shut.

His lower right side.

Five minutes later and Gordon was beelining Two to the nearest hospital, which turned out to be Auckland near the northern tip of New Zealand.

Less than an hour later, Virgil had his very angry appendix removed.

Of all things.

For the past three days, it had been a mixture of firefly pod and fire exo-suit. His brother had been tossing about massive hoses, shifting huge amounts of timber, excavating firebreaks and water bombing from Two.

Apparently, all while suffering from appendicitis.

When Scott arrived on scene, he was a walking facepalm.

When Virgil woke up, it was all kind words for the first hour or so while he recovered from the anaesthetic, but after that, the tongue lashing Scott delivered was enough to strip the paint off the walls of Virgil’s hospital room.

Grandma ended up dragging the man from the room.

Everyone was quiet after that.

No one liked it when Scott got scared.

Least of all Scott.

But even Gordon had to agree that his eldest brother had a point. Appendicitis wasn’t something that didn’t come with symptoms. Virgil admitted that he had noted some pain, but he had been busy. There had been more important things.

Scott’s response to that was only suitable for mature audiences.

Gordon couldn’t help but agree after having to watch his brother writhe in pain on one of his own hover stretchers while they had been on approach to Auckland.

But it had happened when it had happened and everyone was safe, Virgil included. There were much worse scenarios available considering their occupations and the entire family was grateful it had turned out best it could.

Scott was still livid, though, likely because the man was exhausted. They were all exhausted.

Grandma eyed all of them in turn, cornering each of them in their hotel rooms. It didn’t take her more than half a day to conclude that International Rescue needed a well-earned break. Virgil’s illness made a great excuse and her meeting with Scott was short, sharp and to the point.

The Commander of International Rescue contacted the GDF not long after, advising their aunt that their organisation would not be available for the next week. Eos was tasked with redirecting emergency calls after Grandma grabbed John by the scruff of his neck and with an equally sharp word in his ear, grounded the spaceman beside his brothers.

Virgil received a few glares, but the tired man just rolled over awkwardly and went back to sleep. Apparently, he agreed with Grandma.

Always did, the big Grandma softie.

Except perhaps with her cooking, but that led Virgil to being the biggest victim in that department because despite his incapacity to lie, he would do anything for the woman.

Virgil was released from the hospital a day after his surgery and they helped him back to their hotel rooms and set him up with the holoprojector and an appropriate stash of snacks and engineering journals. Kayo even bought him a sketchbook and an array of art materials.

For two days, the brothers hung out with him or darted out to the shops for convenience’s sake. Copious amounts of takeout were consumed, a treat they were often denied on the Island. But ultimately five usually very active men got very bored very quickly.

They couldn’t go home, because Virgil wasn’t allowed to fly. His operation excluded air travel for at least seven days, which meant, to add insult to injury, they would be stuck on the mainland for Christmas Day.

Their first Christmas off in who knew how many years, and they couldn’t even share it at home.

John distracted himself by linking in with Eos and helping out with emergency calls...until Grandma discovered him and rounded on both him and Eos with the ire Scott had managed to inherit.

Both father and daughter behaved after that, Eos a little stunned at the power of the eldest Tracy.

Alan dove into his computer games and hermitized. Gordon could only swim so much, so resorted to pranking Alan, which ended up in the brawl of the century and half the penthouse draped in toilet paper.

Scott turned to Tracy Industries and began phone calls that lasted hours. Virgil sent Gordon to chase him down.

Scott quite frankly ignored him, which led to Virgil hauling himself off the couch and doing the chasing himself.

That led to a screaming match that ended with both men pale when Virgil twisted angrily and groaned as he pulled at his stitches.

The atmosphere plummeted after that and the whole penthouse floor deteriorated into a sullen gloom.

It was shaping up to be an ass of a Christmas.

Until Gordon had an idea.

-o-o-o-

We'll be Home For Christmas

#thunderbirds #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #virgil tracy #scott tracy #gordon tracy #john tracy #alan tracy #kermadec au #my longest fic #and special to me for many reasons

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theshittymarimo · 8 months ago

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It's the shame, it's the pride

Fandom: One Piece Characters: Roronoa Zoro, Black leg Sanji, Monkey D. Luffy Words: 3,477 Ao3 Link Summary: "You would die for me, wouldn’t you?"

Luffy asked Zoro and Sanji.

Sanji gaped but nodded.

Zoro narrowed his eyes because he knew Luffy wouldn’t ask that of him. Notes: I listened to "In this shirt" by The Irrepressibles on repeat while writing a lot of this. I recommend listening to it while reading! The title is taken from the lyrics of the song.

The straw hats had arrived at a mysterious, unknown island, a place none of them had heard of before. Not even Robin. It seemed uninhabited, but it was hard to know as it was shrouded in a thick fog that obscured visibility across the entire island. It was eerily quiet and some people in the crew immediately volunteered to remain aboard the ship, while someone else (you could probably guess who) immediately yelled adventure and jumped off the ship before the crew had made any kind of plan.

Nami groaned and yelled after their captain, followed by shouts after Zoro when he went after Luffy.

"Sanji!"

"Yes, Nami-san?" Sanji responded promptly, eager to be of service for her.

"That moron is going to get lost!" Nami said clearly annoyed. "Go after Zoro and pick up Luffy before he causes too much trouble!"

"On my way!" Sanji told her happily before turning to the dense forest that was barely visible in the fog. "Marimo! This fog looks like your sense of direction, you've got no chance in this!"

"Huh?!" Zoro's angry response echoed from a little further within the woods.

But despite that the swordsman could've only been a couple of meters in front of Sanji as they heard each other clearly only seconds ago, as soon as Sanji got into the forest it got quiet.

Sanji stopped after a moment of running, expecting to have caught up with Zoro by now, but instead found himself surrounded by the dense fog and an eerie silence. Not even any sounds of wildlife, was this island truly empty of all life? A chilly feeling suddenly ran down his spine.

He spun around, he had the sudden feeling that someone, or something, was watching him. But there was nothing, just the trees and the fog.

"Hey, who's out there?" Sanji called out tensing up preparing for a fight as he looked around with his senses on high alert.

No response, which made sense as it truly felt like nothing was there except for him. The silence was suffocating, but Sanji knew Zoro and Luffy were out there somewhere.

"Sanji.." Luffy's voice suddenly spoke up from behind him.

Sanji almost shouted in surprise but quickly turned around. He thought he had just looked over the place but now Luffy was standing there.

"Luffy", Sanji sighed in relief. "Good, this island is creepy. Why don't we just find the marimo and then go back to the ship? There's nothing here."

Luffy stood silently and looked back at him with his head tilted, a little smile playing on his lips. Sanji blinked, there was something strange... But no, he wore the same new attire he had donned that morning, courtesy of Brook, along with his straw hat. The same big dark eyes and the same scars. Sanji got the same reassuring feeling he used to from being around his captain. Since the whole cake island that feeling had only grown stronger, and it was the same feeling now. Like anything was possible, like Luffy only needed to ask, and the crew, they, Sanji, would do anything for him.

"Sanji, I'm your captain, right?" Luffy inquired with a little cheeky grin, the kind that promised mischief, the kind that made Sanji ask what Luffy had stolen from the refrigerator this time. It was very familiar and made Sanji sigh.

"Of course", Sanji answered exasperatedly as he dug in a pocket to get his cigarettes.

"If I asked you to do something, would you do it?" Luffy walked closer, hands behind his back, still with the same mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Shitty captain, what do you want?" Sanji frowned, wondering what kind of shit Luffy was up to now. His gaze drifted to the thickening fog, that wasn't good, but when he looked back to Luffy, he couldn't help but feel better as a sense of reassurance washed over him. He felt safe with his captain. Whatever awaited them on the island could wait; they weren't in a hurry, after all.

"Sanji..." Luffy's dark eyes were enthralling, like in the middle of a big fight when he knew that he was going to win. It always brought a reassuring surge of strength and relief, as if Luffy’s win was a given simply because he said so.

“You left me”, Luffy’s grin suddenly vanished. The comforting aura around them disappeared, like all the air was sucked in. He couldn't breathe.

“W-what?” Sanji stuttered, feeling his heart falter in his chest as well.

“Surely you remember it?” Luffy tilted his head looking like he wondered if Sanji was stupid. “You left the crew.”

A trapdoor to a dark, heavy abyss slammed open within Sanji, and he plummeted into its depths. His cigarettes all forgotten, he could only gape as the dark familiar eyes were burrowing deep into his soul.

“But that’s all right”, Luffy’s smile suddenly returned. “You just have to do something for me.”

Sanji’s knees grew weak and he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t. The air was gone from his lungs, replaced with something that felt like tar in his throat.

“You would do anything for me, wouldn’t you?” Luffy asked, suddenly so close, his usual confident large grin in place.

Sanji found himself nod before he could even think about it. Confusion clouding his thoughts, but this was Luffy; he would do anything for his captain, for his forgiveness.

“You would die for me, wouldn’t you?”

Sanji blinked. What did he just say?

“Huh?” he croaked weakly.

“Wouldn’t you die for me?” Luffy repeated with his innocent eyes wide and a faint frown, like Sanji was disappointing him.

Sanji gaped but slowly nodded, his world blurred into a foggy haze after that.

---

Zoro had finally found Luffy in the forest, engrossed in watching a bug that was crawling along a fallen tree. Everything appeared normal; Luffy greeted him with a smile and shouted his name happily, and Zoro felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had felt uneasy after hearing Sanji shout after him and then nothing else, but despite that he kept going after Luffy. But now when he had found Luffy he was prepared to go back and make sure that the cook was alright, just in case. An uneasy feeling itched in the back of his mind.

Zoro looked around while Luffy chattered in the background about the bugs he had seen, how great this adventure was and how great the crew was. Zoro couldn’t shake off the odd sensation lingering in the air but he couldn’t see anything.

"You would do anything for me, wouldn't you?"

Zoro blinked, caught off guard by Luffy’s question.

"What?" Zoro frowned, turning to face Luffy again.

Luffy looked relaxed, his hands resting behind his head, like he hadn't asked anything strange. Just slightly curious.

"Would you do anything for me?" Luffy asked again, looking like he thought Zoro was a little stupid for not understanding him the first time.

The thing was, it was classic Luffy. Everything about him screamed Luffy at Zoro.

“I-… Of course”, Zoro scowled. They all knew that, Luffy included; it was just that no one usually bothered to mention it. “You know that.”

Luffy sniggered his usual laugh, and the corner of Zoro’s lips twitched as if to join in as well. But he didn’t really feel like it, the strange feeling persisted, unsettling him.

“Good”, Luffy grinned, turning around, hands still leisurely behind his head. “Follow me!”

“Luffy!” Zoro huffed in annoyance as he followed his captain who seemed relaxed.

Something was wrong. The nagging feeling in the back of his head was screaming at him, but he couldn’t understand what it was saying.

“Where are we going?” Zoro asked as he looked around in search for any hint of what made his instincts go haywire.

“I have to show you something!” Luffy told him eagerly, pointing off into the distance.

Zoro groaned but followed him, he was used to Luffy’s impulsive detours by now.

“Zoro”, Luffy started after a moment of silence as they went deeper into the forest. “Zoro is a good first mate, you know that?”

“Huh?” Zoro startled and stared at the back head of Luffy in confusion. He felt his cheeks flush and he averted his gaze in embarrassment as he tsked.

“You always look after me”, Luffy continued with laughter in his voice, washing over Zoro, he couldn’t help but look at him again. “I don’t even have to say anything, you always know what I need.”

What is this? Zoro wondered, feeling awkward, they had never spoken like this before.

“You would do anything for me”, Luffy continued.

“I already said yes”, Zoro told him irritated.

“You would die for me, wouldn’t you?” Luffy asked.

Zoro stopped. Everything in front of him screamed Luffy at him, but yet…

Zoro’s hand instinctively reached for the hilts of his blades. Suddenly the screaming feeling in the back of his head sharpened; he knew where it came from. It came from his blades, and they were screaming at him that something was wrong. His new blade Enma sent stinging ripples of pain across his arm that made him gasp and grip the hilt tightly as he looked down at it in surprise.

“Zoro?” Luffy asked as he turned around to him.

Zoro looked up again. And it was like the pain was clearing something in front of him.

“You would die for me, wouldn’t you?” Luffy repeated with a serious look on his face, the one he wore when he meant what he was saying. It was important, it was captain’s orders. And yet…

Zoro slowly drew a blade, pointing it at his captain.

"Luffy already knows that", Zoro spoke slowly, his frown deepening as he kept a vigilant eye on him. "He doesn't like it and wouldn't mention it, but he knows."

Luffy suddenly grinned and laughed in his usual manner, like it didn’t matter. For a fleeting moment, Zoro wavered; it all looked and sounded just like him.

But then, the figure that looked like Luffy began to fade, its form becoming transparent as the thick fog around them slowly lifted.

"Lucky", not-Luffy grinned, with a gleam in his eyes that Zoro didn't like. It looked predatory. But he didn't have time to ask anything as in the next moment the thing that had disguised itself as Luffy was gone.

"Shit", Zoro hissed lowly, drawing a second blade and looked around. The uneasy feeling suddenly grew sevenfold, urging him to hurry. The fog looked more natural and he could see further into the woods, but he still didn't know what way to go.

"Shit", Zoro swore again. He dashed forward, only to quickly stop, with an annoyed growl at himself he pivoted on his heels and ran in the opposite direction.

Soon, a sight caught his eye amidst the trees: two figures walking in tandem. Zoro put in a burst of speed and quickly saw who they were. At first, he was relieved, it was Luffy and Sanji.

However, this Luffy didn't say anything when they both noticed him and stopped. He looked unusually serious and when Zoro glanced at the cook, he noticed a blank look in his eyes, unsettling him even further.

"Where are you going?" Zoro asked carefully, his blades at the ready, preparing himself for whatever might come next.

Luffy grinned in response, and Zoro felt himself relax for a moment, expecting him to answer that they were looking for something to catch for a meal.

"Kill Zoro, Sanji", Luffy said, still with a grin.

Zoro blinked, he barely had time to think. The look on Luffy's face was so different from the words that was spoken that he couldn't fully comprehend it at first.

But when a leg of steel enveloped in burning blue hell flames descended upon him Zoro knew he had to catch up quickly. He grunted when he barely managed to raise his two blades in time to stop the attack from hitting him.

Usually in their fights they worked up to their stronger moves, allowing each other time to warm up, even in their angriest clashes. But this was different; this was an all-out assault from the start.

"Are you serious, shit-cook?!" Zoro gritted out furious with him.

But when he looked at Sanji's face, he almost blanched. The cook always wore his feelings on his sleeve, Zoro could usually guess what he was feeling at the moment from just a look at him. But this Sanji's face was blank, his eyes muddled like he didn’t see what was in front of him, wearing just a slight frown like this was something he had to do.

Zoro knew this was Sanji; no one could fake his attacks this well. Which meant that no matter how much Zoro wanted to, it would create a bigger mess than worth it to kill him like this, and yet he couldn't afford to hold back either. So annoying, Zoro thought as he backed a couple of steps as Sanji prepared for another attack.

As their clash intensified, the surrounding landscape bore the brunt of their attacks, trees crashing under the force of their attacks, the sky aglow with fire. For a moment Zoro wondered if their crewmates saw the fires and wondered what was going on. But he didn't have much time to think as Sanji didn't stop attacking, not even to catch his breath even when Zoro could hear him wheeze in the struggle to be able to take in enough air for his body. But he still wore that blank look in his eyes.

Amidst the chaos, he recalled Sanji’s word in Wano: 'But after the battle, if I am not sane ... you must kill me.' Was it something like this that Sanji had feared?

Zoro glanced at the fake-Luffy and saw that he was still standing there with his arms crossed, looking intrigued like real Luffy did when he watched an interesting fight. In a fit of frustration, Zoro turned around and decided to attack him, it was obvious he had done something to the cook like the other fake-Luffy had done to him. So maybe it would stop Sanji if Zoro attacked the source.

But when he slashed at fake-Luffy he saw movement in the corner of his eye. His eye widened when he realized that Sanji had moved, not to attack Zoro with his back turned at him, but to stand in front of fake-Luffy. He didn't even defend himself, just stood there with his arms outstretched, taking the attack right at his chest.

Zoro gaped, almost yelled, when he saw Sanji crumble, staggering by the force in the attack. Zoro barely noticed the triumphant look on the fake-Luffy's face, his eyes on the cook who instead of falling, he slowly straightened himself with his body looking bended in where Zoro had hit him, his expression unchanged.

"What does it take for you to die?" Fake-Luffy asked in surprise, and for the first time Zoro saw some frustration in his face.

Before Zoro could think of what that implied, a figure, with a furious shout, suddenly collided with fake-Luffy with such a force that both flew several meters away. Both Zoro and Sanji looked over in surprise.

It was Luffy. The real Luffy, Zoro was sure. The anger in his face was unmistakable.

"Lu-.. Luffy?" Sanji's confused voice made Zoro look over at him in surprise. It was the first word he had spoken since Zoro had found them. Sanji was frowning with a muddled look in his eyes as he watched their Luffy attack the fake-Luffy.

The fight didn't last long. The fake-Luffy disappeared like he had done the first time to Zoro. The winning Luffy, their Luffy, didn't look triumphant, instead he looked up at them with a frown.

Zoro opened his mouth to say something but stopped when Luffy walked up to Sanji who still looked confused. Luffy was frowning but Zoro could see the concerned look in his eyes. Gently Luffy put his hand on Sanji's cheek when he stopped in front of him.

"Sanji?" Luffy asked, like to check that he was still there.

“… Captain”, Sanji responded after a moment and blinked. The muddled look in his eyes slowly disappeared as his gaze swept over Luffy’s face and he looked around in confusion. When his eyes fell upon Zoro he frowned before his eyes cleared up and widened in shock. He quickly turned to Luffy again with a shocked look upon his face and then spun to the direction they had been heading.

“He-… It was leading me to a cliff”, Sanji breathed, his words heavy with disbelief as he stared into the distance.

Zoro tensed up with the realization, recalling the ominous question posed by the fake-Luffy.

“You would die for me, wouldn’t you?”

All of a sudden Zoro wished he would’ve been able to do more to the fake-Luffy.

Luffy’s frown mirrored Zoro’s thoughts.

“Sanji”, Luffy’s voice rang out with the authority of a captain that made everyone in the crew snap to attention, as did Sanji who immediately looked to him. “I want you to live.”

A shiver ran down Zoro’s spine. But this time it wasn’t unfamiliar; he knew this feeling very well. Some called it the conqueror’s haki, but Zoro knew this as his captain’s will.

“You understand, Sanji?” Luffy asked again, his gaze piercing.

“Y-yes”, Sanji responded with a slight shiver as he looked down from the unwavering look in Luffy’s eyes.

“… Good!” Luffy suddenly grinned wide, looking like he was already forgetting the whole thing. “I’m hungry, let’s go back to the Sunny!”

Zoro looked after Luffy as he kept talking about what he wanted for lunch. Clearly Luffy had known what the not-Luffy had asked of Zoro, and Sanji, which probably meant that he had faced something similar as well. Probably not himself, and for a moment Zoro wondered what that had been to Luffy. But for now, Luffy was here, and that was all that mattered to Zoro. No need to delve further.

Turning his attention to the cook, Zoro noticed him discreetly wiping his cheeks before following their captain. That swirly-brow needed to stop trying to die Zoro thought and sneered.

“What?” Sanji hissed at the look on Zoro’s face.

“Just your stupid face”, Zoro retorted nonchalantly, as he fell into step behind Luffy.

“What the hell, marimo?!” Sanji shouted back at him.

Back on the ship their crewmates had clearly been worried about them. Nami’s furious shouts filled the air, while Chopper anxiously looked over them for any signs of injuries. Luffy didn’t say anything, and Sanji avoided their gazes as he retreated to the kitchen, muttering about making lunch. When Nami asked Luffy what had happened on the island Luffy told them to not worry before hurrying after Sanji. He shouted happily about food, but Zoro knew that there were other reasons as to why he wanted to be close to the cook for a while longer.

Which left Zoro to answer the concerned crewmates. What a hassle, Zoro sighed. But he told them a very brief account of what happened to him, opting to not mention too much of what he had seen regarding the cook either.

“A-a ghost?!” Usopp’s horrified shriek pierced the air.

“Hm”, Robin hummed looking interested and like she was searching for something in her mind.

“Have you heard of something like that before Robin?” Nami asked worriedly.

“I don’t recall much, but yes”, Robin began which Zoro translated to what she didn’t remember wasn’t particularly noteworthy. “There’s a myth about an onryō, a vengeful spirit, haunting an entire island. It is said that the spirit is able to see into the souls of those they encounter and influence them, driving them to their own demise willingly.”

“Y-you mean…?” Usopp’s complexion paled further.

“According to the myth, yes, it has the ability to compel people to take their own lives.”

“It’s real?!” Chopper cried looking terrified out of his mind.

“I have yet to see it personally”, Robin smiled serenely at him and Usopp groaned that it wasn’t reassuring at all.

“Thank goodness you all returned unharmed!” Nami said glancing at Zoro with an angry look that he knew meant that she was worried. “We are leaving, immediately!”

She looked like she was expecting protests but Zoro merely nodded and shrugged. He was fairly certain that Luffy wouldn’t mind this time.

“Is everything alright, Zoro?” Brook’s discreet inquiry came as the others busied themselves with preparations to depart the island. He sounded like he knew there was more to the story.

“… Yes”, Zoro replied with a fleeting glance. “It is now.”

At least it would be, he thought.

“Very well”, Brook acknowledged, seeming satisfied with that answer.

#one piece #op fanfic #tw: mentions of suicide #not of free will though #light angst #wano spoilers #whole cake spoilers #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #black leg sanji #sanji #my fanfics #my fanfiction #monster trio

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dardanialogistics · 13 days ago

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Refrigerated Transport in Sydney: Keeping Goods Fresh with Dardania Logistics

In terms of delivering perishable goods across Sydney, one of the most important considerations is the reliability of refrigerated transport in Sydney. Dardania Logistics is a renowned name in the logistics arena and recognizes the need for products to be at their freshness level from warehouse to customer. This could range from fresh produce to pharmaceuticals or delicate dairy items. Refrigerated transport serves a crucial role in having these items delivered in perfect condition to their destinations.

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All precautions toward protection have been taken at every step

The main concern for cold storage transportation is safety. Dardania Logistics, with quality products, ensures safe deliveries. This is attributed to the fact that every delivery has been handled with much care since the team has handled perishable goods that demand proper care and does all it can to keep them away from risks associated with contamination or spoilage. Dardania Logistics keeps products safe with stiff security measures and temperature checking frequently.

Why Dardania Logistics Would Be the Best Option to Choose for Refrigerated Transportation in Sydney The reasons for the success of Dardania Logistics as the most reliable name in the refrigerated transport within the city of Sydney is by the dedication to reliability, good standard of safety, and commitment to preservation high quality. From fresh vegetables to medical supplies and the like perishable goods to be transported, Dardania Logistics offers the right choice for Sydney business needs: a reliable method ensuring freshness and quality from production site to the store, to the consumer, throughout the journey.

#Refrigerated Transport Sydney

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goblininawig · 11 months ago

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Red Dwarfcember: Presents

Summary: Lister scavenges gifts for his crewmates.

Prompt: Presents

Rating: T (no warnings)

Words: 1,239

A03 link or keep reading below.

Lister wanders through the refuse of ghosts long gone, scavenging another derelict vessel. This one, though, stands out from most he’s seen. Usually space vessels had seen commercial use of some sort, but this one was a billionaire’s private pleasure vessel.

Unfortunately, he and his many companions seemed to prefer silk, so all of the beddings and clothing had fallen apart over time. The once-fresh food, neither canned nor irradiated, had long since rotted, even what had been in refrigeration units. There were no large stockpiles of supplies, either mechanical or medical.

It seems that there isn’t actually much of anything worth salvaging. But Lister is going through all the rooms and storage spaces just once more. In case he missed something worthwhile. He doesn’t want to go back empty handed, especially since Rimmer and Holly’d already told him it was a waste of time.

In the expansive kitchen, he paws through the objects beneath the sink. He’d ignored most of them before, after seeing that none of it was edible. But now, he looks more carefully, and selects a few likely-looking cleaning products and an unopened packet of sponges. He shoves them all in a duffel, and moves on.

In the master bedroom, he steps into the spacious closet, and sorts through the scraps of clothes, plucking ornate buttons off their rotting threads, and shoving them in his pockets. By the time he’s gone through all the piles, he’s got enough that they clink against each other as he walks.

At the back of the closet, he stands, swinging the duffel up on his shoulder. It hits the wall panel, knocking it loose. Curious, Lister peers into the dimly lit space. It seems to be a secret compartment. Putting his duffel back down, he pries the loose panel away. Lister kneels, and peers at the object inside what appears to be a hermetically sealed plexiglass display box.

“Oh, no smeggin’ way!” he exclaims to himself.

Sat inside the box, on a plush crimson pillow, is a bicorne black beaver felt hat. A faded red, white, and blue cockade is affixed to the top right. It’s Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat. Right there for the taking. So take it, he does.

Back on Red Dwarf, Lister finds Kryten in the Drive Room. “Hey there, Krytes. Found ya somethin’.”

He unzips the duffel and pours out the cleaning products. They fall in a heap on the carpet. Lister drops the bag and scoops the bottles and packet of sponges up in his arms. Clumsily, he passes them over to Kryten. The mechanoid’s lipless mouth turned up into a smile.

“Oh, Mr. Lister, sir! I haven’t seen this brand of cleanser since I was on the Nova 5. This does bring back memories. Oh, thank you, sir!”

“No prob, Kryters,” Lister grins. “Enjoy.”

He leaves the duffel on the floor for Kryten to pick up, and returns to the trolley he left in the corridor. Lister pushes the trolley with the hermetically sealed box to the service lift.

On the way, he spots the Cat, curled up on top of a vending machine, napping. He pulls the handfuls of buttons from his pockets and leaves them in a heap beside the Cat, for him to find when he wakes. Then he keeps on towards the lift.

Lister stops the trolley outside his sleeping quarters and enters to find Rimmer sat at the table with a magazine in front of him, a skutter beside him.

“No, no, no, you moronic mess of metal! Turn the other page! I’ve already read this one.”

Rimmer’s nostrils flare as the skutter makes a rude gesture with his clawed head. He kicks at it in frustration, but his projection, of course, phases right through the skutter, who takes this as its exit cue.

“Sorry to interrupt your fascinating day, Arnie,” Lister smirks, drawing Rimmer’s glare to him. He holds up his hands, placatingly, “I got something to show ya from that ship.”

“Why did you even bother, Listy?” Rimmer tuts, standing and striding closer. “The scans showed there wasn’t a smegging thing worth salvaging.”

“Yeah, well, it wouldn’t be the first time Holly made a mistake, would it?” Lister returns cheerfully. “C’mon, this might make up for your toy soldiers.”

“I hardly think bringing that up will put you on my good side, squire…. Oh, my god,” Rimmer stops just outside the bunkroom, eyes locked on the tricorn hat in its case. “You didn’t – that couldn’t be – it isn’t –”

“Napoleon’s hat, yeah,” Lister taps the small museum-like information card affixed to the front of the case, which identifies the hat’s original owner, and dates the relic to 1815.

Rimmer takes a knee. He shoves his fist into his mouth to muffle a whine of overwhelming fanboy glee. Then he gets up, jogs down to the end of the corridor and back again. He stops in front of the trolley, trembling with excitement. He phases one hand through the case, and mimics touching the black beaver felt. “I’m touching Napoleon’s tricorne!” he whispered.

Lister rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue. The poor smegger hasn’t been this excited since he mistook a garbage pod for an alien vessel.

Lister is starting to regret giving Rimmer the stupid hat. He’s become obsessed. He whined and fussed until Holly gave him the white and blue uniform worn to command the Grande Armée, complete with knee-high boots, golden epaulets and white waistcoat. He won’t let anyone else use the cinema, insisting that he’s got weeks worth of Napoleonic War documentaries to binge. And now, he’s found the git trying to actually put the thing on.

Of course, there’s no way for Rimmer to wear it, but he’s got four skutters holding the case above the chair he’s sat in. When they hold it steady, it looks, for a moment, as if the hat is actually on Rimmer’s head…above a pillow, surrounded by a large case, and likely not the grand effect the hologram had been hoping for.

“Hold it steady, you worthless mechanicals,” Rimmer snips, adjusting his white sash. “It was working there for a moment.

Lister draws a hand down his face. “Rimmer, this is low, even for you. You’re being ridiculous. It’s just a hat.”

Rimmer makes eye contact with him in the mirror. “I’ll have you know, miladdo –” he begins.

But then he stops, as one of the skutters loses hold of the case, causing it to swing wildly through Rimmer’s projection. Everything seems to move in slow-motion, but even still, Lister can’t get to the case before it crashes to the metal deck, breaking off a large corner. He watches, horrified, as the hermetic seal breaks, the felt is exposed to air for the first time in millions of years, and it disintegrates. Rimmer staggers to his feet. There’s a moment of utter silence, and then Rimmer starts to scream.

“You utterly smegging worthless skutters!” he hollers, face turning red. “I’ll see you all disassembled for this! You’ll be used for parts! You’ll never work on this ship again!”

Taking advantage of his frothing tirade, the skutters head for the door. Rimmer growls and rushes after them.

Left alone with the remains of the hat and case, Lister kicks it out of his way, and shrugs. “At least he can’t blame this one on me.” He climbs up into his bunk, and settles in for a nice, quiet smoke.

#red dwarf #reddwarfcember #dave lister #arnold rimmer #kryten #the cat #red dwarf fic #goblininawig

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openboxsurrey · 5 months ago

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The Smart Shopper's Guide to Scratch and Dent Kitchen Appliances at New Country Appliances

When it comes to outfitting your kitchen with top-quality appliances, you might think you need to spend a fortune. However, savvy shoppers know there's a smarter way to get premium kitchen appliances without breaking the bank: scratch and dent appliances. At New Country Appliances, we offer a wide range of scratch and dent kitchen appliances that deliver exceptional value and performance. In this blog, we'll explore what scratch and dent appliances are, their benefits, and why New Country Appliances is your go-to source for these incredible deals.

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Why Choose New Country Appliances?

At New Country Appliances, we pride ourselves on offering the best selection of scratch and dent kitchen appliances in Surrey, BC. Here's why our customers keep coming back:

Wide Selection: Our inventory includes a diverse range of kitchen appliances, from refrigerators and dishwashers to ovens and microwaves. No matter what you need, we have something to suit every kitchen style and budget.

Competitive Prices: We strive to offer the best prices on the market, ensuring that you get the most value for your money. Our competitive pricing means you can afford to upgrade your kitchen without overspending.

Exceptional Customer Service: Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are here to help you find the perfect appliance for your needs. Whether you need assistance with product specifications or advice on choosing the right model, we're here to make your shopping experience as smooth as possible.

Convenient Location: Located in Surrey, BC, New Country Appliances is easily accessible for local shoppers. Visit our showroom to see our products in person and take advantage of our great deals.

How to Choose the Right Scratch and Dent Appliance

When shopping for scratch and dent appliances, keep the following tips in mind:

Inspect the Appliance: Carefully examine the appliance to understand the extent of the cosmetic damage. Ensure that it doesn't affect the functionality or performance of the unit.

Check the Warranty: Verify that the appliance comes with a warranty for peace of mind. Most scratch and dent appliances include a manufacturer's warranty, but it's always good to confirm.

Measure Your Space: Make sure the appliance will fit in your designated space. Measure your kitchen area and compare it with the dimensions of the appliance to avoid any surprises during installation.

Consider Your Needs: Think about your specific needs and preferences. Whether you prioritize energy efficiency, capacity, or advanced features, make sure the appliance you choose aligns with your requirements.

Scratch and dent kitchen appliances offer an unbeatable combination of quality, performance, and affordability. At New Country Appliances, we are committed to providing our customers with the best deals on top-brand appliances that make upgrading your kitchen easy and budget-friendly. Visit us today to explore our selection and discover how you can save big on your next kitchen appliance purchase.

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anbarin-ghanem · 2 years ago

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Al- Nasheet is excited to announce our new temperature controlled delivery service in Dubai. With this service, we can provide refrigerated, frozen, and cold storage shipping solutions to our clients. This is a great option for those who need to transport perishable items or sensitive materials that require controlled temperatures. We look forward to providing this valuable service to our clients in Dubai and the surrounding areas.

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pridegrouplogistics · 2 years ago

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vezlayfood1 · 5 months ago

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Exploring the Advantages of Vegan Product Online

In recent years, the vegan lifestyle has surged in popularity, driven by a growing awareness of the environmental, health, and ethical benefits. As a result, the market for vegan products has expanded dramatically, with a notable shift towards online platforms. In this article, we delve into the myriad advantages of purchasing Vegan Product Online, highlighting the convenience, variety, and quality that these platforms offer.

Convenience and Accessibility

One of the most significant advantages of Buy Vegan Food online is the unparalleled convenience. Shoppers can browse and purchase items from the comfort of their homes, avoiding the need to visit multiple physical stores. Online platforms operate 24/7, allowing consumers to shop at any time that suits their schedule, whether early in the morning or late at night.

Additionally, online stores often provide detailed product descriptions, customer reviews, and ratings, helping shoppers make informed decisions. This accessibility is particularly beneficial for those living in areas where vegan products are not readily available in local stores.

Wide Variety of Products

Online vegan stores typically offer a much broader selection of products compared to traditional brick-and-mortar shops. From plant-based meats and dairy alternatives to vegan snacks and supplements, the variety is vast. This extensive range allows consumers to explore and try new products that they might not find locally.

Moreover, many online retailers specialize in vegan products, ensuring that their entire inventory is free from animal-derived ingredients. This focus simplifies the shopping experience for vegans, who can shop with confidence knowing that all products align with their dietary and ethical preferences.

Competitive Pricing and Exclusive Deals

Shopping for vegan products online often presents opportunities for cost savings. Many online stores offer competitive pricing, frequently lower than physical stores, due to reduced overhead costs. Additionally, consumers can take advantage of exclusive online deals, discounts, and promotional offers that are not available in brick-and-mortar shops.

Furthermore, subscription services offered by some online retailers can lead to additional savings. By subscribing to regular deliveries of favorite vegan products, customers can benefit from reduced prices and the convenience of having items delivered to their doorstep on a regular schedule.

Quality and Freshness

A common concern when purchasing food online is the quality and freshness of the products. However, reputable online vegan retailers have stringent quality control measures in place. Many offer fresh produce, refrigerated items, and frozen goods that are carefully packaged to ensure they arrive in optimal condition.

Additionally, online stores often source products directly from manufacturers or specialized suppliers, ensuring that items are fresh and have a longer shelf life compared to products that might have sat on store shelves for extended periods.

Supporting Ethical and Sustainable Practices

By purchasing vegan products online, consumers can support companies that prioritize ethical and sustainable practices. Many online vegan retailers are committed to sourcing products that are not only cruelty-free but also environmentally friendly. They often use sustainable packaging materials and employ eco-friendly shipping practices.

Furthermore, these retailers typically provide transparency regarding their sourcing and production processes, allowing consumers to make purchases that align with their values. Supporting such companies helps promote a more sustainable and compassionate marketplace.

Access to Niche and Specialty Products

For those with specific dietary needs or preferences, online shopping offers access to niche and specialty vegan products. Whether you are looking for gluten-free, soy-free, or organic vegan items, online stores cater to a wide array of dietary requirements. This inclusivity ensures that everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions, can find suitable vegan products.

Additionally, many online platforms feature unique and hard-to-find items, such as international vegan products, artisanal goods, and limited-edition releases. This variety enriches the shopping experience and allows consumers to discover new and exciting products.

Enhanced Customer Experience

The online shopping experience is continually evolving, with many retailers investing in technologies and services that enhance customer satisfaction. Features such as personalized recommendations, wish lists, and easy reordering contribute to a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience.

Customer service is also a key focus for online vegan retailers. Many offer live chat support, comprehensive FAQs, and responsive customer service teams to address any queries or concerns promptly. These services ensure that customers feel valued and supported throughout their shopping journey.

Educational Resources and Community Engagement

Many online vegan stores go beyond simply selling products by providing educational resources and engaging with the vegan community. Blogs, recipes, and nutritional information are commonly featured on these platforms, helping customers make informed choices and explore new aspects of the vegan lifestyle.

Additionally, online retailers often engage with their customers through social media, newsletters, and online forums. This engagement fosters a sense of community and connection among like-minded individuals, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

Conclusion

The advantages of purchasing vegan products online are numerous, ranging from convenience and variety to quality and ethical considerations. As the demand for vegan products continues to grow, online retailers are well-positioned to meet the needs of consumers seeking accessible, affordable, and high-quality options.

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